It took two days into his journey for Somadina to begin to reconsider his choices. The initial stretch had been pleasant enough. Beyond the Rush, the landscape unfurled into a tapestry of verdant grasslands, punctuated by meadows bursting with vibrant wildflowers. The air was thick with the sweet scent of nectar and the gentle hum of insects and dotting this picturesque scene were orchards of soul trees, their branches heavy with ripe, glowing fruits that pulsed with latent anwansi.
Somadina approached these ones with great caution. Though he had recently created his core, marking his transition to a dibia, he had yet to perform the ritual that would bond him to a Firstborn. Not only was this crucial step needed to actually complete his advancement to the first rank, it would also determine the aspect of magic he'd cultivate for the rest of his life. The weight of this decision pressed on him as he absently thumbed through Omaliko's Testament, the ancient tome cool against his fingers as he gave a particularly large tree a wide berth. None of the Firstborn listed within had captured his imagination as of yet, and he wasn't eager to risk the wrath of the soul trees by being overly presumptuous.
These younger specimens, while not fully sentient, still possessed enough power to manifest anwansi-forged avatars. Somadina had heard tales of unwary travellers having their bones pulverised for showing disrespect. With this in mind, he limited himself to a single spirit fruit each day, savouring its burst of ethereal flavour and the rush of energy it provided.
According to the Testament, even with an active core, not all of his body's deficiencies had been rectified. The surge of anwansi from overindulgence in spirit fruit could potentially do more harm than good. Somadina couldn't afford such risks, not when his journey had barely begun.
Heeding his mother's and Mama G's warnings, he took the long way around the orchards, avoiding the main road that led out of the valley. This path was less travelled but offered glimpses of the valley's hidden beauty – secluded grottos draped in luminescent moss, and quiet streams where soul fish darted beneath the surface, their scales glinting like submerged jewels.
As he skirted the edges of the orchards, Somadina occasionally caught sight of dibias from other clans. They moved with purpose among the trees, their robes adorned with intricate patterns that spoke of their magical affinities. While trade and cordial relations existed between these clans and Omata village, Somadina was acutely aware of his outsider status. So, he kept to the shadows, his heart racing whenever a dibia's gaze swept near his hiding spot.
Still though, his journey progressed smoothly up until he reached the Spine – the formidable mountain range that served as a natural barrier between their secluded valley and the wider continent of Kajiri. The very instant Somadina set foot in the mountain pass, the previously clear sky darkened ominously and within moments, the heavens opened, unleashing a torrential downpour that transformed the ground into a treacherous mix of slippery stone and clinging mud.
Somadina scowled at the sky, muttering darkly. It was just his luck that it had started to rain the moment he was far from any shelter. Still, he soldiered on, occasionally glancing at the walls of the Pass in hopes of finding a cave or even a small overhang that might offer respite. Even when minutes passed and he failed to find any, Somadina never lost spirit. A bit of rain never hurt anybody. And who knew, maybe it would stop soon.
The rain did not stop soon.
Hours crept by and it still came down until Somadina was fully and thoroughly drenched, his clothes clinging to his skin like a frightened child. Great clumps of mud clung to his feet, making him seem like some worm that had crawled out of the bowels of the earth.
But Somadina was far more concerned with the Testament in his satchel and fumbling with cold-numbed fingers, he checked the ancient book, sighing in relief when he found it perfectly dry. A previously unnoticed protection script glowed faintly on its cover, repelling the water. His other belongings, however, had not fared as well, which only soured his mood further. Something that wasn't helped when he finally stumbled upon a cave and it turned out to be a nest of mosquito-wasps. The tiny soul beasts had not been pleased with his intrusion and only by immediately fleeing had he saved himself from getting stung to death.
Lightning split the sky, followed by a boom of thunder that seemed to shake the very mountains and to Somadina's weary mind, it felt as if the sky itself was mocking his misfortune.
Just as he was about to admit defeat and seek shelter under a soul tree, a crevice caught his eye, nestled almost out of sight in the rock face. Approaching warily – the encounter with the mosquito-wasp nest still fresh in his mind – Somadina found the narrow opening blessedly empty and, most importantly, dry.
With a grateful sigh, he squeezed inside, immediately setting about the task of starting a fire. The process proved challenging with his wet kindling stones, but eventually, a small flame sputtered to life, casting flickering shadows on the crevice walls.
Somadina methodically unpacked his satchel, laying out his soaked belongings near the fire to dry. And finally, out came the kilishi – strips of spiced, dried meat – that he held over the flames until they were warm before hungrily devouring them. The familiar taste brought a small measure of comfort, a reminder of home in this inhospitable place.
As he gnawed on the tough meat, Somadina studied his map, tracing the route ahead with a calloused finger. It would take three more days before he emerged from the Pass and entered the Savage Lands. It was a dangerous place. Aside from the Aberrations and soul beasts that called the place home, it was also filled with many clans that had earned the place its name, all of whom would love the opportunity to do several interesting things to him and/or his corpse.
Somadina chewed his kilishi, frowning, as he considered his situation. The Savage clansmen were well known for their disdain of foreigners. While they were nomadic, and usually much more interested in fighting each other in their never-ending wars, there was no guarantee he wouldn't run into them.
Somadina sighed, licking the last of the spices from his fingers. Well, there was no helping it. The Tower of Plenty lay beyond the Savage Lands, and that was his destination.
I'll figure something out, he thought, replacing the map near the fire to dry. Rising to wring out his clothes, Somadina turned towards the crevice's entrance – and froze.
Framed by the narrow opening was a soul beast, its massive form blocking out what little light remained of the day.
Somadina backed away, mouth open in a soundless scream as the creature squeezed its bulk into the crevice. Even on all fours, it towered over him, its broad shoulders and long legs speaking of raw power. Its sleek body was covered in a thick coat of white fur, adorned with striking black stripes and a long, sinuous tail that terminated in an explosion of feathers, matching the white plumage of its folded wings.
The beast's head was a curious blend of feline and avian features – a cat's face covered in downy feathers, tapering to a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth and impressive fangs. This was an owlcat, a creature Somadina had only ever seen in the illustrations of his bestiary.
The owlcat loomed over him, its presence filling the small space and lowered its head, sniffing at Somadina's hand – the same hand that had so recently held strips of kilishi.
Now, what happened next wasn't entirely Somadina's fault. The stress of the journey, the hours spent in the relentless rain, Here’s the first passage I want to work on; let me know your thoughts: Two days in and Somadina was starting to reconsider his choices. It had been fine at first. The lands beyond the Rush were pleasant fields of green grasslands, meadows of colourful flowers and orchards of soul trees, ripe with fruits. He had been careful with those. Though he was technically a dibia now that he had activated his anwansi core, he was yet to perform the ritual that would allow him to bond with a Firstborn and take the first steps in the aspect of magic he would cultivate and nurture for the rest of his life. While he had leafed through Omaliko's Testament a couple of times, none of the Firstborn listed there had caught his eye. Plus, he wasn’t too keen on possibly angering the trees. These ones weren’t old enough to be truly sentient, but they were powerful enough to manifest anwansi forged avatars that would have no problems pulverising his bones.
So he had been careful to take and eat only a single spirit fruit, once a day. According to the book, even with an active core, not every deficiency had been rectified. He couldn't be sure the extra surge of anwansi the spirit fruit gave him wouldn't cause more harm than good.
With that in mind, he took care not to linger around the orchards. They lined the road leading out of the valley, and they were often frequented by dibias from the other clans in the valley. While they did trade regularly with Omata, and for all intents and purposes, maintained a cordial relationship with the village, it was a risk he was not willing to take. He remembered his mother's and Mama G's warnings. So he took the long way around, avoiding contact.
Things had gone pretty well, until he attempted to cross the Spine, the mountain range that cut off their valley from the rest of the continent. The moment he stepped foot in the Pass, the sky opened and unleashed a torrential downpour that made the ground slippery and sticky and thoroughly ruined his day.
Somadina scowled at the sky, muttering darkly. It was just his luck that it had started to rain the moment he was far from any shelter. Still, he soldiered on, occasionally glancing at the walls of the Pass in hopes of finding a cave or a crevice to shelter in. Even when minutes passed and he failed to find any, Somadina never lost spirit. A bit of rain never hurt anybody. And who knew, maybe it would stop soon.
The rain did not stop soon.
Hours crept by and it still came down until Somadina was fully and thoroughly drenched. Great clumps of mud clung to his feet, making him seem like some worm that had crawled out of the bowels of the earth. But Somadina was far more concerned with the Testament which was sitting in his completely soaked satchel. He needn't have worried. A quick check revealed that it was perfectly dry, a previously unnoticed protection script aglow on its cover. The rest of his belongings did not fare as well though, which soured his mood even further.
Something that wasn't helped when he finally stumbled upon a cave and it turned out to be a nest of mosquito-wasps. The tiny soul beasts had not been pleased with his intrusion and only by immediately fleeing had he saved himself from getting stung to death. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed overhead, as if the sky itself was laughing at him.
At this point, Somadina was just about to call it quits and head back to his tree, when he looked and found a crevice, nestled just out of sight. He approached it warily, remembering the mosquito-wasps, but it was thankfully empty, and most importantly, dry.
Sighing in relief, he hurried inside. His first priority was a fire, which proved a bit difficult to accomplish with his wet kindling stones. Still, he managed it and dragged his satchel closer to the flames. Out came his clothes, his map and lastly, his kilishi. All were soaked, so he pulled most of them closer to the fire to dry. The kilishi he held over the flames until they were warm, before he proceeded to stuff them into his mouth. Leaving several more strips by the logs to heat up, he went back outside and washed the mud off him, also taking the opportunity to fill up his water gourd. That done, Somadina returned and leaned back against the wall, gnawing on a strip of the cured meat as he considered the map.
It would take three more days before he emerged from the Pass and entered the Savage Lands. It was a dangerous place. Aside from the Aberrations and soul beasts that called the place home, it was also filled with many clans that had earned the place its name, all of whom would love the opportunity to do several interesting things to him and/or his corpse.
Somadina chewed his kilishi, frowning, as he considered his situation. The Savage clansmen were well known for their disdain of foreigners. While they were nomadic, and usually much more interested in fighting each other in their never-ending wars, there was no guarantee he wouldn't run into them. Somadina let out a breath and licked his fingers. Well, there was no helping it. He had to pass through the Savage Lands if he wanted to make it to the Tower of Plenty.
I'll figure something out, he thought, placing the map in its previous position near the fire. He rose and turned towards the entrance, intending to squeeze his clothes free of water, and froze.
There was a soul beast at the mouth of the cave. Somadina backed up, mouth open in a soundless scream as the beast entered the cave and rose to its full height. Even on all fours, it towered over him, all broad shoulders and long legs. Its sleek body was covered in a thick coat of white fur that had black stripes running across it. Its long, long tail terminated in a burst of feathers that matched the white plumage on the folded wings that served as its forelimbs. Its head was a cat's, but feathered, and tapered down to a mouth filled with several sharp teeth and a very impressive set of fangs. The owlcat loomed over him, bigger than anything, and sniffed at the hand that had recently been holding several strips of kilishi.
Now, what happened next wasn't entirely Somadina's fault. He'd been out in the rain for hours and it had been stressful and there was a limit to what he could take. So, when the owlcat sniffed him and opened its mouth, displaying all of its teeth, he looked it directly in the eye.
And fainted immediately.
***
When Somadina came to, his first coherent thought was a mixture of surprise and relief. He had fully expected to find his arms chewed off and his legs lying in an unnatural direction. Instead, as his senses gradually sharpened, he became aware of a comforting weight pressed against his chest, a rhythmic purring vibrating against his skin.
He cracked open an eye, then the other. A pair of luminous gold eyes, each ringed with charcoal, stared back at him as the creature they belonged perched atop his chest, meticulously licking its claws clean. Strands of spiced, dried meat–his kilishi, freshly stolen from the fire–clung to its whiskers.
A strangled cry escaped Somadina's lips.
The sudden noise startled the owlcat, causing it to hiss in alarm. In a flash of movement almost too quick for his eyes to follow, the beast leapt off his chest. But instead of fleeing into the wilderness as he might have expected, it made a beeline for his satchel, disappearing into its depths with a rustle of feathers and a soft thump.
Somadina blinked, his mind struggling to process what he had just witnessed. He sat up slowly, wincing at the various aches and pains that made themselves known and let his gaze fix on his satchel, which was now rustling slightly with the movements of its unexpected occupant.
Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Somadina cautiously approached his belongings. He hesitated for a moment, then, in a burst of determination, seized the strap of the satchel and shook it open.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
The owlcat tumbled out with an indignant yowl, its wings flapping ineffectually as it tried to right itself. Once on its feet, the creature darted to a dark corner of the clearing, where it crouched, quivering, its large eyes fixed warily on Somadina.
Instantly, Somadina felt a pang of guilt. The creature, for all its strangeness, looked terrified. Its earlier confidence had vanished, replaced by a vulnerability that tugged at Somadina's heart. Without really thinking about it, he found himself speaking in a soft, soothing tone.
"Hey. Come here. I won't hurt you."
The soul beast – for Somadina was now certain that's what it was – raised its head slightly, its gaze still locked on him. There was an intelligence in those eyes that went beyond that of a normal animal, a depth that spoke of understanding.
"That's it," Somadina continued, encouraged by the creature's response. "I won't hurt you." He managed a small grin and slowly extended an arm, palm up, in a gesture of peace.
The owlcat's nose twitched as it sniffed the air, its eyes never leaving Somadina's face. After a moment of apparent deliberation, it took a tentative step forward. Then another. Finally, it was close enough to stretch out one of its wings, gently brushing it against Somadina's outstretched hand.
The touch was electric. Somadina felt a tingling sensation where the feathers met his skin, almost like a static charge but somehow... more. It was as if he could sense the creature's essence, the unique blend of animal and spirit that made up its being.
The owlcat meowed once, the sound somehow managing to convey a question and Somadina felt his heart warm.
"Yes," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Come here."
For a moment, the owlcat hesitated, its body tensed as if ready to flee at the slightest provocation. Then, in a move that took Somadina completely by surprise, it launched itself into his arms.
Somadina staggered back, caught off guard by the unexpected weight. He managed to regain his balance, his arms instinctively wrapping around the creature to keep it from falling. As he steadied himself, he found himself staring down at the soul beast in wonder.
Up close, the owlcat was smaller than he had initially thought, just the right size to fit comfortably in his arms. Its fur was incredibly soft, and he could feel the steady rhythm of its heartbeat against his chest. But something nagged at the back of Somadina's mind. He could have sworn the creature had been much larger when it had first attacked him.
Somadina's brow furrowed as he considered this discrepancy. He knew that soul beasts, as a result of their unique nature, often possessed abilities that went beyond those of normal animals. Some could control elements, others could communicate telepathically, and still others were said to be able to see glimpses of the future. Could this one have the power to change its size?
"Weren't you bigger before?" he asked the creature, not really expecting an answer. To his surprise, the owlcat meowed in response, then rubbed its head against his chest in an unmistakably affectionate gesture.
Somadina couldn't help but smile. He tentatively stroked the creature's head, marvelling at the silky texture of its fur. The owlcat responded by laying its head on his chest and purring contentedly, the sound vibrating through Somadina's body.
As the initial wonder of the moment began to fade, practical concerns started to intrude on Somadina's thoughts. He glanced over at the fire, noticing for the first time that it was significantly smaller than he remembered. More importantly, he realised that there was no trace left of the kilishi he had been cooking.
"What am I going to do with you?" he asked the owlcat, his tone a mixture of exasperation and fondness. "You've eaten all of my kilishi."
The soul beast responded with a wide yawn, as if to say it couldn't be bothered to care about such trivial matters. Then, with the abruptness that Somadina was quickly learning was characteristic of the creature, it promptly fell asleep in his arms.
Somadina glared half-heartedly at the owlcat, but he found it impossible to stay annoyed. Instead, he found himself considering the sleeping creature with a mixture of curiosity and growing affection.
What am I going to call you? he wondered. A discreet check revealed that the owlcat was female, and for a brief moment, Somadina considered naming her after his mother, Kambili. But the thought sent a sharp pang through his heart – that wound was still too raw, too fresh to poke at in such a manner.
As he pondered, a name from the old stories his mother used to tell him came to mind. "What about... Rai?" he asked out loud, his voice soft so as not to wake the sleeping soul beast. "Short for Ranyinudo Asika. She was one of the greatest dibias to have ever lived. Helped define the cultivation techniques we still use today." He looked down at the owlcat, a small smile playing on his lips. "Rai. You like it?"
To his surprise, the owlcat purred in her sleep, her tail swishing contentedly as if in approval of the name. Somadina chuckled softly, taking it as a sign of agreement.
The events of the day suddenly seemed to catch up with Somadina all at once. The grief of his mother's passing, the terror of the Aberration attack, the strange encounter with the book and cypher stone, and now this unexpected companionship – it all swirled in his mind, leaving him feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
Deciding that Rai had the right idea, Somadina carefully made his way back to the fire. He gently laid the owlcat next to the dying embers, where it was warmest, taking care not to disturb her slumber. For a long moment, he simply sat there, watching the rise and fall of her small body as she slept.
"This day couldn't have gotten any weirder."
And with that proclamation, he stretched out beside her and was soon asleep
***
Morning painted the sky in hues of pale gold and rose as Somadina emerged from the cave, his spirits as light as his pack. The rain that had plagued him the night before had finally ceased, leaving behind the earthy scent of damp soil and the promise of a new day. Even his meagre belongings, spread out to dry, seemed to bask in the newfound warmth, with only a few stubborn patches of moisture remaining on his worn leather satchel.
Rai, the owlcat, was still with him, her self-appointed adoption seemingly permanent. She had watched him with those luminous gold eyes as he packed, her tail twitching with an almost feline curiosity. When he had finished, she rose, stretching languidly before fixing him with an expectant stare. A soft meow escaped her throat, a question in its inflection.
"We're leaving," Somadina explained, slinging his pack over his shoulder. "I have somewhere I have to get to. And besides," he added, directing a pointed look at the owlcat, "we can't stay here. Someone ate all our provisions."
Rai, seemingly unconcerned by the accusation, licked a paw and proceeded to meticulously groom her feathers. Somadina snorted, a smile tugging at his lips. He should be more concerned about the audacity of this creature, this predator that had adopted him as its own. But there was a warmth in his chest, a flicker of something akin to companionship that he hadn't felt since… well, since Kambili.
He turned back to Rai, a furrow in his brow. "How are we going to do this?" he wondered aloud. "I'm a pretty fast walker, and I'm not sure you'll be able to keep up." He paused, considering. "Maybe you could fly? How long can you stay in the air?"
The owlcat tilted her head, as if contemplating his words. Then, with a decisive sniff, she leapt onto his shoulders, settling herself gracefully in the crook of his neck.
Somadina gaped at her. "You're joking."
Rai, in response, simply nuzzled closer, her tail snaking up to wrap loosely around his neck. He stood there for a moment, stunned. Then, with a shake of his head and a muttered complaint about lazy soul beasts who refused to use their own wings, he set off into the mountain pass.
To his surprise, walking was easier with Rai at his side. He had grumbled about the added weight, but she quickly proved her worth. Her sharp eyes spotted a rock python, coiled and camouflaged amongst the foliage, before Somadina even registered the danger and a hiss from her, sharp and urgent, saved him from stumbling into a pit disguised by a thin layer of leaves and dirt.
He might have noticed these dangers on his own, eventually. But he was still grateful for her vigilance nonetheless. Each time she alerted him to a hazard, he offered a word of thanks, scratching her under the chin – a gesture she seemed to particularly enjoy.
After several hours of walking, what little foliage there was began to thin even more, finally giving way to a vista that made Somadina catch his breath. He had reached the edge of the Pass, the gateway to the Savage Lands. They stood there for a while, man and soul beast, and regarded the land that stretched out before them.
Compared to what he had imagined when he had first heard the name, the Savage Lands looked quite pleasant. A thin layer of hardy brown grass sprouted from a bed of red earth and dotted sporadically around the landscape were acacia trees, their wide branches spread out, as if to embrace the sky. Though, in the distance, Somadina could make out denser and wilder vegetation, some of which he judged tall enough to scrape against his chest.
Rocks, however, were the defining feature of the Savage Lands. And they were everywhere. Pebbles, no bigger than his fingernail, crunched underfoot. Giant boulders, some as tall as a house, rose from the earth like ancient sentinels. Inselbergs, their sides adorned with tenacious flowers and grasses, punctuated the landscape, miniature mountains defying the harshness of their surroundings.
At first glance, the place looked inhospitable, but Somadina’s expert eyes had already spotted some wild yams and onions growing near the inselbergs, and the abundance of vegetation made him guess a watering hole wasn’t too far off.
Somadina mulled it over. He could go for the yams and onions immediately, but that would be extra weight he would have to carry and there was no telling how long he would be on the road. On the other hand, he couldn’t be sure yams grew everywhere here. What if he wasn’t able to find any food when he needed it?
In the end, Rai made the choice for him. She tensed, her body coiling like a spring, her whipping tail the only warning, before she launched herself at a plump rat that had emerged from a nearby termite mound.
She missed by a hair's breadth.
"Hey!" Somadina cried, scrambling after the fleeing owlcat. "Come back!"
Rai, her hunting instincts engaged, ignored him. Somadina, muttering a curse about acute diarrhoea afflicting all of his enemies, had no choice but to follow. He briefly considered abandoning her, letting her fend for herself. But the memory of her warmth, the trusting weight of her body against his, chased away the thought.
He finally caught up to her at the bottom of a rocky slope. Rai, perched on a ledge, regarded him with those luminous eyes, most of the rat disappearing down her throat.
"What am I going to do with you?" Somadina sighed, exasperated. "You can't keep running off like that. What if you got hurt? What if I got hurt chasing after you?"
Rai, in response, licked her claws and let out a soft meow. It was not an apology. It was a statement. I am a predator, her posture seemed to say. This is what I do.
Somadina could only shake his head. He offered her his arm, and she hopped onto his shoulder, carefully sheathing her claws. He scratched her head absently, his gaze scanning their surroundings. He was standing on a hill, overlooking a minor drop, just out of sight. Rai purred, arching her back, then went still, ears swishing back and forth.
"What is it?" Somadina whispered, his hand instinctively reaching for the knife at his belt.
Then he heard them too. Voices, hushed but distinct, carried on the breeze. He ducked behind a boulder, his eyes searching for the source. Rai, her tail flicking back and forth in agitation, butted her head against his cheek, pointing him in the right direction.
The voices were coming from the bottom of the slope.
He crept closer, careful to avoid loose stones, and peered through the screen of grass. Two figures, their backs to him, came into view and Somadina's breath caught in his throat.
He recognized them instantly.
Olisa and Kainene.
The two dibias he had encountered weeks ago. The ones who had… well, the ones who had threatened him.
They seemed to be arguing, their voices tight with tension. In their hands, they clutched clumps of mushrooms and Somadina felt his eyes widening at the sight. Those were Angel Banes. And from the looks of it, they were arguing whether or not it was safe to eat it..
He hesitated, torn. Should he intervene? They were strangers, and dangerous ones at that. Whatever happened to them really wasn’t any of his business, right? He looked down at Rai, who stared back, tail swishing every which way.
“I should probably stop them from poisoning themselves, shouldn't I?” he murmured, more to himself than to the owlcat. With a resigned sigh, he rose to his feet and stepped out into the open.
“Hey!” he called out, waving his arms to get their attention. “Don’t eat those! They’re not safe!”
Their reaction was instantaneous.
One moment he was standing there, the next he was sprawled on his back, two staffs, their ends glowing with an ominous light, pointed at his throat. Rai, a hissing, spitting ball of fury, landed on his chest, her feathers ruffled, her eyes blazing.
Somadina groaned, his chest aching where he had landed. This, he thought ruefully, is getting ridiculous. Why was he always the one getting knocked down?
Olisa was the first to lower his weapon, blinking first at the furious owlcat, then at the prostrate Somadina. “Wait a minute. I know you.” He turned to his partner. “It's that unbonded boy. Som… Som…”
“Somadina,” he finished for him, sitting up groggily. “What is you people’s problem anyway? Do you always knock down strangers, or is it just me?”
“It's just you,” Kainene replied bluntly. “We usually just kill them.”
But she helped him get to his feet and quickly scanned him for injuries.
“No broken bones,” she announced, like that made up for everything. She returned her staff to its sheath on her back and faced him, arms crossed over her chest.
“What are you doing here?” She peered closer at him, her frown deepening. “And why do you have an active core?”
Somadina brushed the dirt from his clothes. “I made an Ancestral Seed.”
She stared at him. “You made an Ancestral Seed.” It was clear she didn’t believe him and Somadina, who wasn’t in the mood to argue, just yanked out Omaliko’s Testament and thrust it at her.
Kainene took it gingerly, as though fearing it might bite her, and quickly flipped through it with Olisa hovering over her shoulder, peering closely at it. Somadina watched, amused, as their expressions went from scepticism to shock and wonder.
“This is—”
“Incredible. I know.” He took the book from her and shoved it into his satchel. “You won’t take it from me, will you?”
Kainene looked like she had been insulted. "Of course not," she said, her voice laced with indignation. "Even if I wanted it, which I don't, I would have to fight you for it. And there is no honour in fighting an opponent far weaker than yourself."”
Somadina raised an eyebrow at that, then turned to Olisa when he started chuckling.
“Kainene can be big on honour and all that.” He waved a dismissive hand. “You get used to it.” Which earned him a smack upside the head.
“Don’t exaggerate,” she scolded, before training that fiery gaze back onto Somadina. “What are you doing here? Don’t you know it's dangerous?”
“I do. But I couldn’t stay.” He raised his satchel. “I’m headed to the Tower of Plenty. I heard it’s a Firstborn stronghold, so I figured I might find a couple more treasures like this book there. I’m pretty good at scavenging. Also,” he added with a sheepish grin. “I was hoping to find a teacher along the way and get stronger.”
Kainene’s left eye twitched. “Let me get this straight. You set off for one of the most dangerous places in the world, in hopes of maybe finding an incredibly valuable artefact with no magical prowess whatsoever and with the hope of finding a teacher along the way? That was stupid. Very stupid. You’re just as likely to stumble across someone who would kill you just for breathing the same air as them.”
“I didn’t have a choice okay! I couldn’t stay there. Not after…” He paused and took a deep breath. “Look. Something happened that showed me that I needed to get stronger. And that I needed to do it in my own way. So yeah, it was stupid to set off on my own, but practically every hero that has ever lived has pulled something similar. They achieved great things, even though the road they were taking was dangerous.”
He gave them a shrewd look. “Besides, if I hadn’t come, you two would currently be choking on your own tongues.” He frowned some more. “How could you have considered eating that? It’s called Angel Bane.”
“Told you,” Olisa chimed in. He had seated himself on a rock, watching as the drama unfolded with bored amusement. “Told you it was poisonous.”
"Oh, now you decide to speak," Kainene retorted, rolling her eyes. "I thought the End had finally come for you."
“I love you too,” Olisa told her cheerfully.
Kainene made a sound of exasperation, but Somadina could see the hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. She turned back to Somadina, brandishing the mushrooms as if they were a bouquet of flowers. "And you are just being dramatic. They're probably not that dangerous."
“It’s oozing green slime,” Somadina exclaimed, unable to believe his ears. What was wrong with this girl?
“Don’t mind Kainene. She knows we’re both right. She just doesn’t like to concede defeat,” he explained as he ran fingers through his hair. “It’s something we’ve been working on.”
“The End take you!”
“Along with her temper,” he added with a grin.
“Right.” Somadina stared at the quarrelling couple and decided he wanted none of it. Rai seemed to agree as she immediately leapt onto his shoulders as he pulled on his satchel. “Well, thanks I guess. I’ll be on my way now.”
Kainene ceased trying to immolate Olisa with her eyes. “Absolutely not. It’s far too dangerous.” She put both arms behind her back, a general about to issue commands to her subordinates. “Olisa and I are headed to the Tower as well. And you're travelling with us."
Somadina stopped in his tracks. "I am?"
"It's too dangerous to travel alone," Kainene explained, her tone brooking no argument. "We'll make sure you don't do anything stupid... like get yourself killed."
“And Somadina can make sure we don’t poison ourselves,” Olisa added thoughtfully. “Brilliant! You’d think after spending years on the road some of us would know which planets are safe to eat.”
“The End take you,” Kainene repeated, but there was no heat to it and she was obviously trying to hide a smile. She turned to Somadina, her expression softening. “Well? What do you say?”
He considered it, weighing his options. Traveling with them was undoubtedly safer, and, to be honest, he could use all the help he could get. But could he trust them? He glanced down at Rai, who was watching the exchange with an unreadable expression.
“What about you girl? Think we should join them?”
The owlcat purred her assent, tail coiling back into its place around his neck. And with that, it was set. For good or for worse, he was now stuck with these two. It was odd, but for a heartbeat, Somadina felt like some being had just nudged a game piece into place.