53

Fraught and Frustrated

It was a long afternoon of waiting and hoping for information about their parents, but none came. So, for a second night in a row, Nick and Lottica were huddled in the parlor after a rather solemn dinner with the grown ups attempting to fathom the ever-deepening mysteries of Lebreima.

Nick poked at the feeble fire he’d built, he listened to Weirhamatt and Heidein debate the significance of his father and mother's "return" as they referred to it. Just as Grandfather and Grandmother Breima had seemed relatively unsurprised when Deilune had phoned them from the pizzeria to tell them of his and Linda’s “return,” Weirhamatt reacted with similar calm when Heidein filled him in. It was like zombie parents were old news in the Old World

Helping her grandmother, her ladamei, set the coffee table with small platters of sweets and fruit, Lottica tried to follow Weirhamatt, Heidein and Grandfather Breima’s conversation as they slipped between Lebreiman and English. She felt overwhelmed.

Her grandmother noticed. "Eat," she encouraged, motioning to the delicate sweets.

"I'm not hungry, Ladamei," Lottica answered.

"Me either," said Nick.

Grandmother Breima rarely betrayed emotion, but she sighed at their refusal. Grandfather Breima noted the exchange. He lightly touched his wife on the shoulder and she followed him back into the kitchen.

Heidein crossed to the coffee table and gathered a small plate of sweets. "These are Lebreiman delicacies. You should try them."

Nick turned back to poking at the fire, so Lottica answered. "We're just a little too anxious about our parents."

"Of course," Heidein said. "But we will find them. The police are now searching everywhere for Beilla and Abzeig."

"Yes, but the police aren't looking for our parents. They could be hurt," Lottica said and looked away before finishing, "or worse."

She felt a hand on her shoulder. Weirhamatt stood beside her with a kindly smile. "It is not time for dire worry. Concern is healthy. But we must have clear heads now. There is thinking to be done."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Yes, clear heads," Grandfather Breima echoed, carrying in a tray with a silver vessel and petite china cups. "Warm seimei will clear head."

Even Nick perked up at the rich aroma of the chocolate that filled the room. He looked over as his grandfather began to fill the cups. Though tempted to taste the rich chocolate once again, his mind protested the diversion from finding his parents. The clink and clatter of the cups and saucers grated on his nerves, and when he saw Lottica reach for the cup being offered, he stood up.

"Have your little seimei. I'm going to look for Dad and Mom!" he snapped at them and started toward the door.

Heidein deftly headed him off. "Nick, this is when coolness is needed. Anger and its senseless heat will burn your reason away, like it has Beilla's. We need careful thought."

His jaw set, Nick challenged him. "Then what is your well-reasoned plan to get my parents back?"

"The first step is patience,” Heidein explained. “It is something my brother, Beilla, sorely lacks. He does not have a clear plan. He acted rashly in coming here when he heard from Weirhamatt that you and Lottica had come to Lebreima. He believes he can somehow gather the Tireima. That the lifestones will make him invincible. He thinks your parents are important, but he does not know what to do with them. I think he has taken them as a form of security. It does not mean there is not danger. It is just not imminent."

"The fact that Beilla might harm our parents later rather than sooner isn’t very reassuring,” Nick argued. “He blew them up once to get what he wanted.”

Heidein steered Nick over to the coffee table. "You are right. Beilla is driven by madness. However, he must have a new respect for the power of the Kareima. It is more of an unknown to him than to us."

"What do you mean?” Nick asked. “What do we, or you, know that Beilla doesn't?"

In answer, Heidein looked at his watch and then glanced out the broad parlor window. He went to the large table with the photocopies laid out and picked up the statue of Hawk. Its iron eyes were distant and unreadable. With Hawk cradled in his arms, he said, "Follow me, please."

Lottica realized with a strange sense of deja vu that she had followed a procession much like this the night before. Heidein led them on the same path, down the hall, through the kitchen and out the back doors onto the patio that was rapidly darkening in the autumn dusk. The chill in the air was deeper than last night and Lottica sidled up to her grandmother who, as if she'd done it a thousand times, drew Lottica in front of her and held her close against her fine wool sweater.

Heidein stood staring out at the horizon while Nick looked from him back to Lottica. Nick didn’t try to hide the sarcasm in his voice, "And the answer to all my questions is?"

"Rising just above the horizon," replied Heidein confidently.

To the east, just as last night, stars began to appear and wheel up from the tree line. Quickly, as the night before, the constellation their grandfather had pointed out as Hawk took shape.

Nick moved next to Heidein. "We've seen this. Grandfather Breima showed this to us last night. What does this have to do with finding my parents?"

The tall, silhouetted figure of Heidein turned to face Nick. In his hands, the statue of Hawk pulsed with light. Its eyes, glowing and dimming, alive with anticipation.

Holding forth the mysterious statue, he softly reminded Nick, "In answer to all your questions, do not forget, young Breima, the phrase I taught you. Heidein zei. Hawk knows."