Aria tsked. She was embarrassed for Pan. The colors on her friend pumped in incriminating shades.
Pan puffed a vigorous pink in Sotir’s direction. Ahead, she sent a green-purple line to Gladiolus’ cell. Aria could only describe the shade as friendly mischief and pride. Everywhere else, Pan left splotches of purple. The only sign that Pan felt any remorse ran in a thread towards Aria. The sad grey-blue seemed to beg forgiveness.
Aria didn’t think toying with one man’s feelings to elevate another’s was the worst sin, but it was a bad look, just the same. Aria reached for Pan’s arm and pinched her, not too hard.
“Ow.” Pan rubbed her arm.
“What was that for?” Sotir asked.
“You’ll see,” Aria warned.
Pan shook her head. “No, you won’t.”
Sotir’s aura showed apprehension in hues of orange and yellow. Aria had seen the same colors on Gavain, when he insisted that the walls of their old house had no hazardous chemicals. They checked anyway.
Pan stopped at the cell. She held her finger over the button that would turn Gladiolus’ door clear. “Should I wait for him, or do you think we can start talking?”
Pan meant Alban. Aria was about to vote they wait.
Sotir hit the button. “We can talk.”
The door’s opaque qualities faded, and Aria peered through a thin aura to see Galdiolus, sitting atop a bed, just as Pan had, a mere two or so years ago. Well, not exactly the same. His tentacles littered the small space and threw aural light onto the base of the window, keeping that part opaque to Aria’s eyes.
More aural colors painted streaks across the door, but Aria could see enough. She loved the brig because it saw such rare use, especially on the Ischyros. She didn’t know how long her luck would hold. Already, aura crept around the edges and threatened to take more of the view.
Gladiolus raised his gaze. His eyes widened as soon as he took in Pan, and his aura turned a grey-red.
Sotir hit the button that would allow them all to talk. “Hello,” he greeted Gladiolus.
Gladiolus’ eyes flicked to Sotir but moved back to Pan. “Is that your man?”
“Yes,” Pan said, with a nod. Her purple fluttered in shallow waves but stayed close to her body.
Aria saw the fun in the arrangement – that Gladiolus wanted Pan, when Pan didn’t feel the same and how sweet it must feel for Pan to show him that she was quite taken. Aria could empathize, but she refused to join in.
Aria shot a quick glance at Pan. Pan avoided her eyes.
“You let him do that to you?” Gladiolus stared.
Pan backed away. Her aura withdrew and paled. The fun disappointed.
Thank the Mother Tree. Aria saw a thrum of blue leave her own aura. It was the puff of relief she’d just felt.
Spiteful mischief was best left to a younger Pan. Aria almost relaxed but caught a stream of purple elsewhere, in shades of pride. It came from Sotir’s aura. Aria rubbed the bridge of her nose and prayed for Alban’s arrival.
“It's not really your business,” Sotir answered.
Gladiolus looked away. He stared at the wall, maintaining an aura of grey-red. “I was wondering where you were this whole time. I didn’t think the Anther would let you out of combat duty so easy.” He sat with his arms crossed. His lower tentacles coiled. Some made rings. Others twisted together. His head tentacles writhed slowly. The red-grey of his aura began to draw new streaks on the door.
“The Scaldin, not the Anther,” Sotir corrected. “And, we get to decide some of our own futures. It's not all up to our people.” Red entered Sotir’s aura. It slapped more color onto Aria’s view, looking like a very wet paintbrush.
Gladiolus smirked, behind a haze of red. His eyes met Pan’s. “Really?”
Pan remained quiet. Her aura turned grey, and a hint of puke green blended into the shade.
“Are you already talking to him?” Alban’s voice came from behind. “Can’t you wait for a couple of officers?”
Sotir stepped aside. He pulled Pan with him. “Sorry. We were just getting the necessities out of the way.”
Alban glanced at them. “Good, I guess.” Then, he gave Aria an appraising look. Finally, he set his eyes on Gladiolus. “I’m sure you know why you’re here.”
“You want information from me, but information won’t help you save yourselves. You need good fighters, and I won’t do that for you.” Gladiolus leaned close to the window and tried to get a glimpse of Pan again.
Sotir nudged her behind him. She gladly sank into the background.
And, the last of Aria’s view disappeared under a new splotch of red - Gladiolus’. She wouldn’t see inside that cell for weeks.
“Now, now. You can help us without fighting yourself.” Alban smiled. “I think you’d be surprised how far information can go.”
Unable to see Gladiolus, Aria looked to the second officer. It was Rooks. The Curator stood back and observed the conversation, just out of Gladiolus’ sight. Her dark blue aura showed its threads of gold, but they seemed weaker than usual. Equally weak threads of pink showed the beginnings of attraction on Rooks’ part. Aria guessed that attraction owed its existence to Alban.
Aria checked Alban’s aura. He had all his usual colors – blue and red. A stronger pink wove between the seams. Aria declared them an item and resolved to tell Pan as soon as possible. New gossip would distract Pan from her Volanter branded drama.
Alban asked, “How would you like to give our Pan a little lesson in unbinding?” Alban glanced Pan’s way. “She thinks she has the basics, but it’s always good to have a teacher. Or, you can just do the circle yourself.”
“I’m not an Anther. I don’t know how the process of binding works. If there’s a circle, I can practice it till I know it,” Gladiolus said. “Otherwise, I can’t help you there. And, I should warn you – if you release me from whatever poison you’ve given me, I’ll see how many ships I can destroy before my people get back. I don’t care if I die.” A pause followed, but Gladiolus wasn’t done. “I’d rather not destroy her, but seeing as she made her choice, it’s unavoidable.”
“Then, you teach Pan,” Alban said. “You teach her, and we might let you go.” He pointed to a place inside the cell. “I would like to let you know that those vents release an aerosolized form of the suppressant. That is not as well tested as the injected form, and we have to overdose you to make sure it keeps you docile. Long term use of suppressant…?” Alban shrugged. “Could be bad.”
Aria grimaced. She didn’t see strong emotions in Alban’s colors, but a few of those colors moved through her own. She, like all arcanes, balked at the mention of suppressant. She wouldn’t wish it on her worst enemy, not even a Volanter. Aria noticed the same puke green, and other colors of discomfort, roll in Sotir and Pan’s auras.
“He might never get his magic back,” Pan whispered. She stood on tiptoe to reach Sotir’s ear.
Sotir grabbed her wrist and glanced back at her. A subdued grey entered his aura, and he shushed Pan.
Aria thought a life without magic might be one of the worst things that could happen to an arcane.
Gladiolus seemed to agree. He said, “I’ll teach her. I just don’t want to see that man around.”
Aria imagined that Gladiolus pointed at Sotir.
“It will be my pleasure not to see you.” Sotir took Pan’s hand and started to lead her away. “We’re going to take a break. Then, Pan can show him the circles she’s working on.”
“Take your time,” Alban said.
Pan followed Sotir, her hand in his. Aria followed them both.
“Where’s your man? I don’t imagine there are many negotiations ongoing.” Gladiolus’ voice traveled from the cell.
Aria paused in front of the door and stared at the aura strewn glass. She didn’t know why Gladiolus had to drag her into it.
Alban pressed a hand against Aria’s back. “Keep walking.”
Aria hurried after Pan and Sotir. They waited at the end of the brig. Sotir held the door open for both women. They trotted through, and the brig door banged closed.
Pan drew a sharp breath.
Sotir stopped and looked her over. “What?”
“That was uncomfortable.”
Sotir’s aura brightened, with his usual yellow and green. Despite the flare of color, Aria saw his grin. “Uncomfortable? Are you now just realizing this? I haven’t liked Gladiolus from the start.” Sotir’s smiled weakened but remained. “All in all, I didn’t think it was that bad. Could have been worse.” A hint of deep purple added color to his aura, but then, his colors greyed. Sotir sighed and added, “Just be careful when you get lessons from him.”
Pan frowned. “I don’t think he’ll be able to do much on a steady diet of poisoned air.”
Aria shivered. “That is awful.”
“No other way.” Sotir clasped his staff with both hands. He lifted it off the ground and began to walk away from the brig.
Aria and Pan trailed. Pan took a deep breath and exhaled slow. That caught Aria’s attention. She looked at Pan and found Pan looked back. They held eye contact, and Aria saw all the exhaustion and concern that she felt reflected in Pan’s gaze.
Finally, Pan averted her eyes. “When are we going to let the other Volanter we’ve captured go?”
Sotir glanced over his shoulder; eyes narrowed. “You mean the ghost?”
“Yes. When does he get his sun burial?”
Sotir remained silent. He faced forward again and continued to walk. It seemed Pan might not get her answer.
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Aria frowned. Her thoughts lingered on prisoners: the ghosts, Gladiolus, and others. She’d seen her fair share, but they usually didn’t receive poison, with the exception of Era. Era received an implant that pumped suppressant into her body. At least, it was the well tested injectable.
“What about Era?” Aria asked.
Ripples of righteous red ran through Pan’s aura. “Yeah, what about Era? Is she still here? Still receiving suppressant too?”
Sotir hesitated. His aura showed a hint of anxious yellow. “What do you two want me to say? I don’t have any good news. None of the prisoners are set to be freed in the near future, perhaps even in the long term.”
“Damned Mother Tree.” Pan stopped and stared down the hall, towards the path that would lead to the Ischyros’ morgue, set somewhere just below the medical bay.
It wasn’t a big morgue, but it was enough to hold a body or ten. Aria hadn’t been inside, but it was probably a sanctuary against overwhelming aural colors.
While Pan showed a stream of concern for the ghost Volanter, Aria felt more concern for Era. Era lived, after all.
“What about Era? She could help.” Aria also halted.
Pan perked up. “She could – if she doesn’t destroy our ships.”
“Maybe, you should do a read on her.” Aria watched Sotir’s retreating aura for promising colors.
Yellow compassion clouded his person. Slowly, he stopped and turned. “I’ll look, but if you want to get her free, you might ask Gavain for help.”
Aria would. She would ask as soon as she rejoined her husband.
Pan sighed. “We have Gladiolus now. We can let the other one free. Who do I pester for the ghost’s freedom?” Pan lowered her gaze and shone in grey. “I don’t see how information is going to help us much anymore.”
Sotir nodded at the now distant brig door. “Really? Alban is probably getting an idea of the total size of the Volanter population, how many ships they have, and maybe even their future plans of attack.” Sotir tapped his temple. “Stuff I could use. Remember. All I have to work with is information, and I’ve gotten the better of you more than a few times.”
Pan frowned. “Alright. Information is wonderful. I’ll admit I have an appetite for it, but what if all we learn is that we’re doomed? Failure is always an option.”
“I know that’s not true – yet. I’m sorry; I can’t help you with the ghost situation.” Sotir’s eyes shifted side to side. He looked between Pan and Aria. He gestured for them to follow again.
Pan linked arms with Aria. Pan’s pet project might be doomed, but Aria had hope for Era.
Aria begged Gavain to plead on Era’s behalf. He sat on the couch and faced forward. She knelt at his side and sent her pleas right into his ear. Gavain shot her a few sidelong glances, but for the most part, he tried to watch a recording of the recent news.
The newscaster reported casualties. Then, the man read off a list of shelters for the major cities. In the case of rural Scaldin, the newscaster advised residents to check their local information sources, as shelters had been set up in the basements of churches, town halls, and schools.
Aria was glad to be a on a ship, but she would be gladder still if Era could fill in for Pan.
Aria grabbed Gavain’s shoulder. “She has a ton of powers – most of which are good in fights. She can even fly through space! So, she’s destroyed a whole space station, but it wasn’t ours. And, it just proves how strong she is. With Pan unable to do as much as she did in the first set of battles, we could use Era. She’s…”
“Very powerful. Aria, I know.” Gavain waved a dismissive hand and, in so doing, swatted his own colors of yellow and purple. “But, we can’t talk about this now.”
Aria leaned further into his space. “We can’t just let Era remain in a prison cell. If we let her out now, she might look upon the Scaldin favorably and be one of us forever. You said that you spoke to her a few weeks ago, and that she has a growing disdain for the Soffigen. Now is the time.”
“She might defect.” Gavain smiled through his aura of confident purple.
“Let me read her then. If she helps us, she can get her freedom and a life. And, it’ll be good for us.”
“There are many who think she’s crazier than Pan.” Gavain picked up his wallet and tucked it into his pocket. He had to arch his back, since he sat on the couch.
Aria clasped her hands. “We’ve destroyed only three or four of their ships. Pan might be able to help us destroy more, but even she’ll have trouble, considering all the enchantments the Volanter added. We can’t fight forever. Let me read Era, please.”
Gavain stood. He passed by a table, picked up Aria’s ID, and slipped it into his other pocket. A bit of lavender played in his aura. “Alright, let’s go read her.”
Aria froze. She felt her eyes widen, and she stared at him. “What? That was…too easy.”
Gavain smiled ruefully. “With Pan out of commission, it just so happens that there are many Scaldin who agree with you. I didn’t want to work on this tonight, but we’ve been ordered to speak to Era and help make the final determination, concerning her involvement. Honestly, it’s all but decided in her favor.” Gavain spread his hands. “I don’t feel good about it, but it’s not my decision.”
“So, how much have you talked to her in the last few weeks?”
“A fair amount.” Gavain’s aura showed some grey, but his base colors stayed in sight too. “I think she’s…” Gavain shook his head. “She’s wild. That’s why I suggested that you look at her as well. It was supposed to be tomorrow, but seeing how eager you are…” Gavain gestured to the door. “Let’s get it over with.”
Aria slipped off the couch. “We’re going to Scaldigir?”
“No, we can find Era on the ship Etaireia. I have to warn you – she’s as belligerent as ever. I won’t be surprised if you see colors so concerning that it changes everyone’s minds.”
Aria stood. For a moment, she felt light headed. She swayed, and her regular vision dimmed. Her hearing buzzed. But, her senses returned. She regained her balance, only to find Gavain’s hand on her shoulder. “Thanks. We just need to give her a chance.” She didn’t brush his hand away. Instead, she grabbed his arm.
“Stand on your own two feet, or we’ll wait till tomorrow.” Gavain let her keep his arm but waited.
Aria took a deep breath and let go of him. “I can do that, but it’s a very inopportune time for you to withdraw your help. Some might even call you a jerk.”
Gavain’s eyes widened. His aura played in lavender. “I won’t withdraw my help. I’m testing you. Talking to Era is not going to be like talking to Pan.” Gavain’s aura dimmed, accentuating the seriousness of his words.
Aria stared. “I think you underestimate how hard it was to talk Pan out of her sabotage spree. I cared so much. This time should be easier.”
Gavain gave her a short nod. “Alright then.”
A short time later, they rode a shuttle to the Etaireia. Aria couldn’t see out. Her window-blindness usually gave her a false sense of security, but with the Volanter an omnipresent threat, she felt naked in the small ship. She prayed to the Mother Tree to let them journey safe there and back again.
With that prayer out of the way, Aria’s mind moved ahead to other concerns. She hoped they could help Pan’s cause – the trapped and suffering ghost. Era came first because Era was both alive and could help them with their Volanter problem. Though the ghost’s plight was not worth less.
Aria paused. A flicker of bright color caught her eyes. She looked down and saw that brightness in her own aura, and not in her usual shades.
Aria’s aura held some flickers of gold. Slowly, Aria ran a hand through the threads. The color scattered. She withdrew her hand, and the gold returned. Aria caught her breath.
She supposed that she wanted to help Era for the right reasons, such as seeing Era return to a society. Era had been abandoned by her own people, the Soffigen. She had a chance to join the Scaldin, and it would be in the Scaldins’ best interest to let her.
Aria put a hand to her breast. She couldn’t believe it. She’d never seen so much gold in her aura.
Pan still had more, but Pan also had a long head start, having begun at the age of twelve. And, perhaps, Pan’s desire to free the ghost was more gold. The ghost couldn’t help them anymore. Pan wanted to free him because it was right and just. A little bit of gold went a long way, especially for Pan. A lot of gold did wonders. Whether Pan knew it or not, there was a lot more gold about her, in spite of her sojourns into the baser colors.
When all was said and done, and the Volanter had gone; they could be gold together. It might take them till their later years, till the hardships of their lives passed, but they’d get there.
“We’re docking. Don’t be surprised if this little meeting doesn’t go as planned.” Gavain unstrapped and stood. He offered his hand to Aria.
A few minutes later, Gavain and Aria took the winding halls of the Etaireia. Neither knew their way and had to rely on an officer to guide them. Aria used to think the design changes provided more harm than good. She knew better now. No Volanter could imagine his or her way into a Scaldin ship the way that Pan had imagined herself into Volanter engineering rooms and gardens.
“Good luck. She’s tied up,” the officer said.
“Glad to hear that. Did they begin detox?” Gavain’s hand hovered over a lock. His aura shivered in his usual colors, but anxious yellow brightened the edge.
“If they want her available for the next fight, they have to. She’s detoxing, but don’t worry, she shouldn’t be able to use any powers yet. We’ll also have someone watch, and if she tries anything, we’ll reactivate the implant.” The officer hit the button. “Best of luck.”
Gavain withdrew his hand. He led Aria into the room. She couldn’t peek around his shoulders, until she slipped through the doorway.
“Hel…” Gavain began.
Era interrupted, “The negotiator is back. I don’t think I need you. They already shut off my implant. I get to come out and play as soon as those Volanter show up again.”
Gavain held up a finger. “Not just yet. They can still restart the flow of suppressant.” Gavain beckoned Aria around him.
As she joined Gavain at his side, Aria studied Era. She saw the sparkling colors, common to the Soffigen. Nothing in white, but shades of red, orange, yellow, and even a bright green greeted Aria. Soffigen auras often hurt her eyes, with their bright glitter. Aria forced herself to study Era’s.
Era strained at her bonds and tried to sit taller. “You brought your wife? Oh, it’s the reaper’s friend. Why did you marry the reaper’s friend?” Era’s glittering aura obscured her eyes, but Era turned her head to Gavain. Her mouth dropped open. The aura itself said more. Surprise of a deep, baffled nature rippled in Era’s aura. After Era gave Gavain a long look, she turned to Aria. She looked Aria up and down. “Hey, are you…? Are you thirty? I didn’t think Scaldin started manufacturing babies till their thirties. Is the reaper that old?”
“Almost.” Aria glanced at Gavain. She ignored the shockwave of yellow that shook Era.
Gavain folded his hands. “Era, this is your chance to prove you can live among the Scaldin. The Soffigen don’t want you to return. They consider you one of us. Now, if you do anything to a Scaldin vessel, someone will reactivate your implant. In space, that could be deadly.” Gavain’s aura hewed close to his body. The normal purple and yellow took on a greyish tinge. The anxious yellow glowed bright. “If you defect, someone will be able to reactivate your implant before the Volanter can whisk you away. Is that clear?”
Era shifted in her seat. She couldn’t move much. “Yes. That’s clear. I won’t defect. I don’t want to be with the tentacle people and end up in a boring time bubble. I won’t destroy any precious Scaldin vessels, seeing as losing my powers in space will mean I suffocate. I just want to destroy some stuff.”
Era’s aura showed a different kind of red – determination. It was the shade most common in Alban’s. Era’s bright green denoted a kind of pride, coupled with envy. The hues flared most when Era set eyes on Aria – possible jealousy. Of course, Era had the usual red, orange, and yellow. The fiery colors denoted anger, anxiety, and distrust. But, one particular shade of yellow didn’t fit. It was a hue of hope.
“Well?” Gavain leaned close to Aria.
“Yeah, aura reader. What do you see?” Era stared.
“Her strongest color is a determined red. She’s very eager to destroy something, as she puts it. I see her usual anger, as well as some anxiety and distrust. But, I think she wants to trust us.”
Gavain stared Aria in the eyes. His aura thickened, and he got most of the benefit of the eye contact, as his face faded from view. “What brings you to think that?”
Aria thought her eyes had strayed from his, so she looked away, down to his chest, or maybe further. Aria cleared her throat. “She has a yellow shade suggestive of hope.”
Era shouted something in Soffigen. Aria could speak proficient Soffigen, but she didn’t understand Era’s shouted words, which were garbled in their volume.
Gavain blew out a sigh. “Just ignore her. No, on second thought. You’d better look.”
Aria glanced at Era. The young Soffigen woman seethed. She pumped glittering red sparkles onto the table in front of her. She also blazed with orange embarrassment.
“How’s she look?” Gavain prompted.
“Not too bad.” Aria drew back though she wanted to sit at the table. Her head began to ache, and her knees felt weak. Still, she opted to stand.
“You’re backing up. You sure she doesn’t look bad?” Gavain joined Aria in her shuffle and scooted back.
Era laughed loud. Her aura showed yellow amusement and hope.
“She’s fine.”
Gavain’s aura winced in a sick green. He didn’t buy it, but he said, “Alright. What else do you see?”
“She’s a bit embarrassed that I said she had hope.”
“I am not!” Era shouted.
Aria lowered her voice and stepped close to Gavain’s chest.
He turned his ear to her mouth.
Aria whispered, “She’s jealous, especially when she looks my way.”
Gavain whispered back, “She might like me. That’s part of the reason I don’t want her free.”
“What are you saying about me?!”
Aria felt her stomach drop. “Oh.” A sick green washed through her aura. Now, she knew how Sotir felt. Aria sighed. “Let’s just give her the chance and get out of here.”
“Really?” he whispered back. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Aria glanced at Era again. She spotted colors of shame. “I don’t think I’m in danger.”
Gavain stepped forward. He turned to Era and clapped his hands. The sound reverberated through the Soffigen swear words that Era spewed.
Gavain raised his voice. “Well, Era. You’ve passed the test. You get your chance. We’ll let you have a turn to destroy as many Volanter ships as you like. All you have to do is behave. Can you do that?”
“Just tell me what you said about me,” Era insisted.
“When you’re more civil, we’ll tell you.”
Era fell instantly quiet. Her aura withdrew.
“That’s better.” Gavain turned away.
Aria said, “We want you to have a home. Era, that can be here. You just have to show us that you’ll give us the same chance we’re giving you.”
Era frowned. “I can do that.” Her aura showed some promising colors, more subdued. She wore shame. She wore a touch of regret, and most important, she didn’t send shoots to Gavain. She never had, but it was good to see that she didn’t start that moment. “I just want to know what you said about me.”
Aria looked to Gavain.
“We talked about your colors. That’s as specific as I can be,” Gavain said.
“What? Why?”
Gavain guided Aria out of the room. “I’m sorry. I can’t stay longer. I have to get her back. Good-bye for now, Era.”
Era’s aura glittered in determined red. A bit of anger sparkled there too, but Era reigned it in.