Callumkal was the kind of groundling who was surprised that a Raksura could sound so civilized. He got over it quickly, though, saying, “Delin has told us about what happened in the underwater city. I was hoping for a first-person account.”
“Why?” Moon tilted his head. “You already know from Delin what we found. Would hearing it from me make you change your mind about what you plan to do?”
“Probably not,” Callumkal admitted. “But if my party doesn’t enter this city, I fear who else will.”
Moon looked at Delin. Delin told him, “That was one of the things I wish to speak to you about.” He added to Callumkal, “It is better if my friends and I speak in private. There are others I wish to consult.” He started briskly toward the window.
In Raksuran, Moon said, “Jade, Delin’s about to jump out. Be sure to catch him.”
As Callumkal stared, uncomprehending, Delin boosted himself into the open window. Callumkal began, “You can’t mean to—”
Delin heaved himself out head first. Moon heard the whish of Jade’s wings an instant later. This let him approach the window at a leisurely pace. He was curious to see whether Callumkal would try to stop him.
Callumkal seemed too nonplussed to react. Moon said, “He’ll send word to you in the morning.” He caught hold of the sill and slipped out.
He dropped and shifted, and snapped his wings out. He heard someone cry out in alarm from above. He flapped into the cover of the tree canopy and landed on the branch where Jade stood with Delin and the warriors. Delin was looking up at Stone’s large form and smiling. He said, “Friend Stone! It is good to see you again. It’s good to see all of you.”
“We like you too,” Chime told him, bewildered, “but what are you doing here?”
“First, a warning.” Delin turned to Moon. “You saw the harness Callumkal wore?”
Moon nodded, remembering that Delin wouldn’t be able to read the flash of spines that meant assent. “I was wondering about that.”
“It attaches to a device that holds a plant material, the same as in the construction of their sky-ship, that allows the wearer a simple, limited form of flight.”
“Oh, that’s great.” Moon looked at the flying boat again. Figures moved on the deck, but none of the groundlings leapt into the air. Just the idea that they might was nerve-racking.
Above them, Stone rumbled in severe annoyance. Balm hissed and said, “As if we don’t have enough to worry about.”
Jade watched Delin intently. “That groundling said that he was afraid of who else would enter the city. Did he mean what I think he meant?”
“I fear so,” Delin said. “It is the Fell, I am sorry to say. There are signs the Fell have found this strange ancient city. That is what we have to discuss.”
CHAPTER THREE
Moon and the others flew back to the colony while Jade left Aura, Serene, and Vine to watch the flying boat from a careful distance.
Moon carried Delin, and so was able to plan his route to make the most of the moment when he flew out away from the overgrown platforms and concealing branches of the untamed mountain-trees. Delin had visited before but still murmured in appreciation.
The colony tree filled the huge clearing, the multiple branches that reached up to form the green canopy stretching out high overhead. The platforms extended out on the lower branches, many levels of them, some more than five hundred paces across. A waterfall fell out of the knothole entrance, which from outside was nearly big enough to sail a wind-ship through. The water plunged down to collect in a pool on one of the platforms, then fell to the next, and the next, until it disappeared into the shadows and mist far below.
When the court had first returned to take possession of the old colony tree, the platforms had held only overgrown gardens and the skeletons of irrigation systems and ornamental ponds. Now they were neatly planted with fruit orchards, root crops, tea plants and herbs, and the various fiber plants the Arbora used for making cloth and paper. It was obvious the colony was occupied now, with Arbora working or lounging out in the gardens and warriors circling the clearing on patrol.
Moon landed in the knothole and set Delin on his feet, while the others went ahead into the passage that led inside. The channel that fed the waterfall ran nearby, and decorative pieces of snail shell had been set into the smoothly polished wood. Moon lifted a wing to shield Delin from the whoosh of displaced air as Stone landed at the edge of the knothole. Stone shifted down to his groundling form, and Moon furled his wings and shifted too. To Delin, Moon said, “You never really said whether those other groundlings stole you or not.”
“It’s a hard question.” Delin looked around, taking a deep breath. It was cool and damp in the cave-like knothole, and the water mist concentrated the sweet scent of the colony tree. “Your home is so beautiful.”
“It’s not a hard question,” Stone countered. “Did they steal you or did you make them take you along? I know what you’re like.”
“You compliment me.” Delin’s tone was not ironic. Moon supposed that was answer enough. More seriously, Delin said, “I admit I want to see this city they have discovered, and study it. But I know enough to fear what might be there. I wanted to discuss this with others who also know that the answers the city might provide may not be worth the risk.”
“How do you know they aren’t lying to you about it?” Moon asked. “It could be a trick to get you to take them here, to us.” If so it was an elaborate trick, but to some species it would make sense.
Delin cocked his head up at Moon. “They have an artifact. I have seen it. When I show you the drawing of it, it will become clear.”
Moon exchanged a look with Stone. Stone sighed, and said, “There’s something we need to tell you, too.”
They started down the entrance passage, which was too narrow for Stone’s winged form, and full of twists and turns meant to slow and trap attackers. As they walked, Moon told Delin about the shared dream. In the glow of the spell-lights, the furrows in Delin’s face grew deeper as he listened. He said, finally, “A strange omen. I see why you are so disturbed.”
They came out of the passage and into the cavernous greeting hall. It was more occupied than usual, with the warriors who had arrived back from the hunt still here and the Arbora and warriors who had stayed behind gathering to hear about everything that had happened.
Delin’s arrival caused a minor sensation, and he flung his arms wide and headed for the Arbora. “Blossom, Rill, my friends! Niran sends you greetings!”
Stone glanced at the nearest warrior, who happened to be Band. “Go make sure Pearl knows Delin is here.” Moon didn’t think Jade would have forgotten to send someone to tell the reigning queen what had happened, but with Pearl it was always best to err on the safe side.
Band stared. “Me?”
Stone didn’t have time to do more than tilt his head threateningly before Band realized his mistake and leapt for the nearest balcony.
“She’s not going to like this,” Moon said.
Stone gave him an ironic grimace. “That’s putting it mildly.”
Then Pearl dropped out of the upper levels and landed lightly on the hall floor.
It took a while to get Delin through the gauntlet of warriors and Arbora who wanted to greet him before they could hear the whole story. Finally Delin was settled in one of the small rooms behind the greeting hall, with water heating on the stones in the hearth bowl for tea.