52. Malachite Returns to Opal Night, part 3

Walking into Opal Night was like a dream. At some point Feather had forgotten, or given up, any idea of walking into a real colony again.  Yet here they were.

Since they hadn't been formally welcomed, the Arbora brought them in not through the main entrance, but to one of the colony tree's hidden doorways, concealed in the rocks below the tree's roots. She and Bright were led through a long rough passage that opened suddenly out into a massive atrium space in the heart of the tree. Above them a waterfall fell to a large pool, and terraced gardens sloped up to vine-draped windows and balconies. Feather inhaled all the scents of a court: clean water and damp air, the leaves of cultivated roots, clean cloth, baking flatbread, and hundreds of strange Raksura. She wanted to fling herself down on the thick grass and roll around. Beside her, Bright made a keening noise in her throat.

The Opal Night Arbora politely pretended not to notice. They led Feather and Bright around the edge of the atrium and up into a section of bowers that was clean but seemed disused, as if no one lived in this part of the tree anymore. Feather had read and heard enough mentors' histories to know this would be common in the Reaches, where enormous courts had had to split off into new colonies in the Great Leaving, or had died off from disease or overpopulation. The empty rooms and winding stairs and passages were all elegantly decorated with carvings, and the familiar touches to the style of art made her heart beat faster. She tried not to read anything into the choice of this part of the colony as a meeting place. The Arbora wouldn't want their Aeriat to know about this, not yet.

Feather didn't want to let herself hope yet, but it was hard not to see all these comfortable spaces, empty and ready for Raksura to move into, as an invitation.

They went into a large bower where cushions and woven rugs and grass mats had been arranged on the floor, heating stones placed in a raised hearth, and a tea pot and cups stood ready. Five more Arbora were waiting for them, all in their groundling forms, and Feather didn't have to be told that these were the leaders of Opal Night Arbora castes. She and Bright took seats. Except for murmured greetings and introductions, everyone was quiet as Tear settled herself and one of the other Arbora served tea.

The scent wafting up from the delicate yellow tea made Feather want to burst into tears but she managed to control herself. Or thought she had, until she looked up from the cup and saw all the Opal Night Arbora watching her sympathetically. Her pride got the better of her sense for a moment, and she set the cup down. "Our queen has managed to keep us well-supplied, despite everything. If you think--"

She cut herself off when Bright pinched her thigh. Bright, pretending Feather hadn't spoken, took the cup, refilled it, refilled the others the Opal Night Arbora hastily extended, and firmly handed it back to Feather. Feather took it and swallowed down a mouthful of tea. Don't be an idiot, she told herself.

Tear said, "If you could tell the others what you told me. It's better for them to hear it in your own words, not second hand."

Bright glanced at Feather. Feather sipped her tea again and started the story. "We had no idea there was a large Fell flight in the area. Most of us had never seen one before. We think the Rulers were able to trick their way past the soldiers and warriors..."

Feather told the whole story, as she had told Tear. How Malachite had scouted the Fell flight with the surviving warriors, how they had finally returned with the captured Arbora and their children. She finished, "The children aren't Fell.  They are fledglings and babies of our bloodlines."

The others were quiet, then Mountain, the leader of the Opal Night soldiers' caste, asked, "This includes your first consort's bloodline?"

Feather nodded, her throat too dry to make a better answer. 

Bright leaned forward and added, "You have to understand, Malachite knows more than anyone now about how the progenitors and rulers control the Fell. She had to find this out before she could destroy the flight. This knowledge is valuable. One day you may need--"

Feather moved to stop her; they weren't here to argue or beg. But Tear held up a hand. "We made our decision before we asked you to come here."

Feather's heart thumped. The other Arbora nodded, their expressions grim or calm. But she had to be sure. "Why?" she challenged them. "Why do this for us?"

Ashwood, the leader of the Opal Night teachers, said, "Our reigning queen is asking us to turn away a court in desperate need, because they won't give up their half-Fell children. That would be bad enough. But you're our court, our bloodlines. Even Onyx admits there's no mistake. You're the other half of Opal Night." She shook her head. "It's her or all of you."

Lilyflower, another mentor, said, "But you have to swear your queen won't kill her." The others signaled agreement, and watched Feather closely.

Feather took a breath, and realized she didn't want this queen Onyx to die, no matter how much trouble she was. Beginning this homecoming with the death of a reigning queen would sour the court. It would come back to haunt them, to destroy them, she could see it with a mentor's clarity. It was like the half-Fell children. Killing them would have doomed the court. The only way forward was to accept them as Raksura and go on. Feather said, "I swear. I don't know what I'll have to do to prevent it, but I swear it."

The others looked at Tear, who met Feather's gaze. Her face grave, Tear said, "Witnessed by a mentor."

Bright said, "I'll tell Malachite that if she kills Onyx, I'll kill myself."

Feather regarded her with exasperation. She might end up having to throw her body between Malachite and Onyx, but she thought Bright was being overdramatic. "Agreed. If Malachite kills Onyx, Bright will kill herself."

Bright shoved Feather in the arm. "Thanks!"

The joke made the others relax and settled themselves a little Mountain looked around and asked, "Now what?"

Tear said, "Now we go to the consorts."