“I want you to know,” one of the ummin pilots said, “I appreciate all the time you spend with us, Lady Vy.”

Vy smiled. A medic was an important part of a fleet. That was why she felt needed.

But she was also learning, to her chagrin, that certain species had advantages as pilots. Ummins could adjust their vision to an almost telescopic focus, and they were also quick at processing dangerous obstacles. She doubted that even the best Torth pilots could escape a determined ummin fleet.

At least she was getting to know which ones were mavericks. It was useful to learn who took daring risks, who asked for instructions, and who was good at cheering others up.

They would soon see combat. Vy knew that Thomas was getting ready to use this fleet, probably for some inventive new strategy. He had asked for regular updates from Fayfer, the little ummin who served the war council as Admiral of the Airforce.

“Have a wonderful night,” Vy told her fellow pilots.

They offered cheerful goodbyes. Many would continue to hang out, visiting all-night cafes, but Vy was never in the mood to join them for carousing. Not while Ariock was busy conquering yet another metropolis on Nuss. Was it Lava City today? Or Playland Arena?

She walked towards a lamplit street with her hands shoved in the pockets of her bomber jacket, wondering when—or if—she would get to hang out with Ariock again.

There were always more cities for him to invade and conquer. Considering how enormous the galaxy-spanning Torth Empire was, this war would drag on for centuries.

More than a human lifespan.

All the while, Ariock would keep growing like a teenage boy. If Evenjos had told the truth, Ariock was destined to become a literal titan. He might forget Vy entirely within a few decades, or think of her like she was a childhood doll he used to play with.

And he wouldn’t think twice about causing violent deaths if he did it every day for centuries. All that guilt that humanized him … it would ebb away.

He might become worse than Garrett.

A breeze stirred some wooden marionettes on display outside a shop, knocking them together like wind-chimes. Vy studied wood-carved ummins and kneeling penitent Torth. The latter looked uncomfortably like human figurines. Like praying children.

Like the abused children her mom sheltered and raised.

Vy wondered how her mom was handling the Hollander Home without help. She must be struggling, and also mourning the loss of her only biological child.

She might even blame herself for the disappearance of Vy, Cherise, and Thomas.

It hurt.

Vy moved on, past unique little shops that were all closed for the night. The air had a salty freshness out here. She tried to appreciate it. She kept trying to make her peace with being an alien among aliens.

The banded planet in the sky ensured colorful days and nights, so the mountain peaks each seemed to have a glowing corona even in the depths of nighttime. The city was perfectly laid out, designed by a super-genius. It was easy enough to find one’s way to major boulevards.

Yet she kept remembering her small town home on Earth.

“Good evening,” a feminine voice said. “May I join you?”

Vy turned around.

There stood Evenjos, resplendent in a gown made of clingy fabric. Her purple hair was loose and flowing in the breeze. Her angelic wings arced behind her, framing her in that extra-imperious way.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

And she was roughly eight feet tall.

Vy did not bother to force a friendly look. Evenjos might be the best healer in the universe, and she might have earned the worship of many folks, but she had a lot of personality flaws. Like, why had she made herself eight feet tall? Did she really find it necessary to tower over Vy in an intimidating way?

“Let’s have a little chat,” Evenjos said in a perky tone.

“Not interested.” Vy began to turn away.

Evenjos whipped towards her, striking like a snake.

Vy tried to react.

Before she even registered what was happening, her feet left the ground, and she was wrapped in an iron embrace, wind roaring around them.

Evenjos was flying. With Vy.

Vy tried to scream. But a hand clasped her mouth, silencing her. All she could do was hyperventilate through her nose.

She had flown in this helpless way before, with Ariock, but he made it fun. He took her to beautiful, private destinations, known only to him and no one else. They had hiked on the rim of a volcano. They had swum in a tropical sea.

Evenjos seemed to be taking her straight up.

The wind grew cold and thin, and they passed through a wreath of clouds. Vy quit struggling and gripped Evenjos’s arm with both of her hands. Please don’t drop me, she begged, too frightened to speak out loud. Please don’t drop me.

“Have no fear, Violet.” Evenjos spoke with lazy assurance. “I have no desire to hurt you.”

Vy swallowed the lump of terror in her throat. Terror, and shame.

This helpless feeling was slavery.

Anything she tried would backfire. If she bit the woman’s hand, Evenjos would just laugh and instantly heal.

Vy had been foolish enough to feel safe. All the Torth on this beautiful planet were either in cages or wearing collars, and she slept in a room near the ruler of the city. Everyone knew who she was. She had refused bodyguards whenever Weptolyso, Jinishta, or Ariock offered them.

Not that bodyguards would protect her from Evenjos.

Now she realized that her blithe queenliness was wrong. And stupid. She was just a girl from Afton, New Hampshire, not a queen, no matter how nicely people treated her. And she was dating far, far outside her league.

“I have learned a few things from you,” Evenjos said. “For that, you have my gratitude. So I am giving you a chance.”

A chance for what? Vy asked in her mind.

“It will be obvious.” Evenjos sounded amused. She plucked the jeweled supercom off of Vy’s ear and tossed it away, into the shadowy canyons below.

So much for communication.

Vy recognized the pilot training grounds. They were flying away from the city, into the wilderness, where twelve-ton predators roamed. Beyond these mountains, herds of even more massive beasts caused the ground to tremble. Their migrations squashed the grasslands into a soupy bog.

Evenjos took her hand off Vy’s mouth. They were so far away from people, no one else would be able to hear them.

“Where are you taking me?” Vy pleaded.

Evenjos ignored her.

Vy was ashamed of the wheedling sound of her own voice, so she did not ask again. She merely held on tight, and tried to imagine what Ariock would do once he found out about this. He would probably yell at Evenjos. Storm clouds would appear.

And then dissipate.

There wasn’t much anyone could do against Evenjos.

Ariock would not physically attack her. Not near a city full of innocent people. And although he could banish her … would he?

Probably not. And if he did? All the people who died from the lack of an expert healer would owe their deaths to Vy. Evenjos was one of the four heroes of prophecy. If they lost the war because Evenjos was gone, it would be Vy’s fault.

She was such a useless burden.

Evenjos angled towards a cliff that was as toothy as a jawbone. As they drew closer, Vy saw a shack, like a hermit’s cottage. It looked ramshackle rather than cozy. It was all loose slabs and planks.

Who would be insane enough to live out here?

“I built it this morning,” Evenjos said, perhaps answering Vy’s thoughts.

They landed on the promontory.

Vy stumbled on the uneven ground. At least she managed to keep from falling.

“It’s to protect you from predators.” Evenjos gestured to the shanty. “You should be safe inside. You’ll find torches, just in case. And you have your blaster glove. I left you an igniter, a lantern, some nonperishable food, and a jug of water. There’s even some blankets for bedding.”

“Why…” Vy stared from Evenjos to the shanty hut.

“This is one of the regular pilot training routes.” Evenjos gestured at the canyon. “I’m sure a pilot is likely to spot you tomorrow. Or the day after.” She sounded sympathetic. “You will be fine, I am sure.”

With that, Evenjos took a few jogging steps and leaped off the cliff.

“WAIT!” Vy yelled.

The Lady of Sorrow soared away. If she heard Vy’s lonely, echoing shouts, she ignored them. She banked towards the distant glow on the horizon, heading back towards the bustling city.

Vy reached for her earpiece. But the damnable Lady of Sorrow had thrown it away.

The wind blew. It was cold and lonely.

Vy kicked a rock off the edge of the cliff, cursing. She felt like a discarded piece of junk. Or a child locked up in a playpen, so that her mother could get some “me” time. She just couldn’t guess why Evenjos wanted her out of the way.

On second thought, she could imagine it.

All too well.

Vy made fists. She hurled rocks off the cliff, one after another.

Soon, she began to cry. She could no longer aim her fury at the canyon. It went inward, towards herself.