40. Blossom and the other Arbora in the Golden Isles

Delin set his trap in the common room that linked the main part of his family's home to the guest quarters. He put down a cushion for himself, took a seat, and spread out the armload of books and papers he had brought.

The Arbora who had helped Stone and Niran return the Valendera and the Indala had never been in a groundling habitation before and were understandably nervous. Stone only meant for them to stay the night and to leave early in the morning, the warriors carrying the Arbora as they flew back to the Reaches. So Delin knew he didn't have much time.

Delin had only sat in the common room for a short while when he became conscious of four sets of eyes watching curiously from the shadows beyond the doorway. Still looking down at the books, he said, "You can come and see if you want."

There was a hesitation, then he sensed rather than heard movement. He lifted his head slowly and saw an Arbora with seated on her heels barely a pace away, looking down at the scattered papers. He had thought she might be the oldest one, with strands of gray in her dark hair, but her copper skin was smooth and unlined, and her shoulders under the bright material of her tunic were broad and strong.

"You perhaps read Altanic?" he asked her, turning the top page to face her.

"A little." Her voice was deeper than he expected. She edged the paper closer. "What is this book about?"

Delin had spoken to scholars who insisted that the Raksura were little more than intelligent animals, that the Golden Isles past dealings with them were somehow aberrations. After this it would be even more infuriating. "It is about a place nearby called the Ataran Sea, which begins where the Yellow Sea ends."

She turned a page to reveal the map, and carefully unfolded it. Her fingers were thick and work-roughened but also deft and gentle with the paper. "My name is Blossom," she said, and flicked a quick smile at him.

"Welcome to the Golden Isles, Blossom." Delin smiled back. 

Blossom touched the map. "This is all water?"

"Yes, and far more shallow than our waters, being in some places barely three or four paces deep. Flying islands are very common there, and many are quite large enough to support small cities. I thought it might interest you, with so much of the life taking place in the air."

Another female had eased over during this speech, lying on her side, crouching beside the first. She said, "The people have wings?"

"This is Bead," Blossom said absently, still engrossed in the map.

"Hello, Bead. No, the inhabitants have no wings, not so that I've heard," Delin said. "They use flying boats, as we do. Some of course are shallow water sealings, and spend much of their time in the water. There are sea-going boats too," he added to Blossom. "You see where there are reefs marked on the map, and regions where sandbars often form."

The other two had come in now, listening curiously. "Can we go there?" one said. He nudged Blossom. "Ask Stone if we can go there."

"It's the wrong direction," Blossom said, firm but regretful. "If we talk him into going there, it means he won't want to stop any place else along the way."

"He didn't want to stop any place else on the way here but he did."

Bead gave him an exasperated push. "You sound like an idiot warrior. Getting Stone to stop takes planning."

"Is Stone related to any of you?" Delin asked. 

"To all of us. He's a line grandfather." Blossom turned another page. She glanced up at Delin. "Do you know what that means?"

"I have some idea. He is very old, and has many descendants. But my understanding of the way your bloodlines function is woefully inadequate."

Bead sat up. "Do you have any paper and ink we can use? It's easier to explain if I can draw it."

They spent the next few hours comfortably occupied, assembling a massive chart of Indigo Cloud's various intertwined bloodlines and deceptively complex societal structure. All the Arbora helped, while taking turns to study the maps and books Delin had brought for them.

It was late evening when Stone walked in and stared in consternation at the papers covering the floor in organized chaos. Delin looked up at him. "I must go back with you. I am so near to completing my natural history of the Raksura."

Blossom, a pile of manuscript on her lap, said, "He has to come with us, Stone. He can't leave it unfinished."

Stone clapped his hands over his face, sighed, and left the room.

Note:  Some people have been asking what's going to happen with the Patreon since The Harbors of the Sun has come out and it's the end of the series, and really, at the moment, I don't know.  It's been kind of a stressful July and while I've thought about it I haven't reached any kind of decision yet.  And some people have made great suggestions for stories about events and characters in Harbors, but I do want to hold off on that for a bit because the stories would be spoilery for those who haven't read the book yet.  

News:  If you're in or near Austin, TX next weekend Aug 4-6, I'll be a panelist at ArmadilloCon http://armadillocon.org/d39/#

I'll also be reading from The Murderbot Diaries: Artificial Condition on Saturday morning.

And FYI, my blog is here http://marthawells.dreamwidth.org where I post news about what I'm doing, book lists, etc.