Page 12 of The Midnight Arrow
“It sounds beautiful,” he told me. “It sounds like you know the words, that you truly feel them when you sing.”
“Sometimes I wonder if we instinctively know our ancient languages. Like the words still speak to some part of me,” I told him, my lips curling in a small smile.
“It’s a nice sentiment.”
I nodded, chancing a peek back up at his glittering eyes, wondering if I should be afraid of them.
“Very few races now live on their home planets. Language is forever changed because of it,” I said. “Especially the universal language…that’s the only one I know. It’s evolved and changed over centuries. And though it’s universal, it’s different everywhere but similar enough to communicate at the travel ports. Our language on Allavar? It’s the universal tongue, yes, but it’s also littered with old Allavari and even Kylorr languages. Ernitians have a difficult time with it, I know, when they first come here.”
“Were you born in the village?” he wondered. “In Rolara?”
“Yes,” I told him. “It’s the only place I’ve known. Were you?”
He closed his eyes briefly. “No. Not in the village.”
“But on Allavar?” I prompted.
“Yes.”
“So secretive,” I teased gently, watching his eyelids lift and a familiar expression take over his features, though it was tired. I studied the ever-changing blue of his eyes. “Keep your secrets, Lorik. I’m not sure I want to know them.”
“And what secrets do you have, I wonder?” Lorik asked, his voice a soft rasp, drifting over my skin.
That I’m afraid,I thought immediately.So very afraid.Of dying alone in the Black Veil, of never knowing true love, of never having a family of my own, of having crushing regrets as I take my last breath.
“I have nothing to hide,” I told him. “I live a quiet life, and there’s no reason to keep secrets.”
“Everyone has secrets,” he told me. “One of yours for one of mine.”
I let out a gentle laugh.
“It can be anything,” he added, sounding tired.
“Don’t you think I deserve all your secrets after tending to you all day?” I asked. “I’ve seen you at your worst. What else can you be hiding?”
Something flashed over his face, a surprisingly intense expression, especially when he still looked like he was on the threshold of death’s door.
“But I’ll play along,” I told him, if only to keep talking to him. I didn’t want to admit how worried I’d been today. He hadn’t woken once. This was the first time since last night.
“I’m waiting,” he prompted after a lengthy silence.
“I’m thinking.”
“It takes you that long to think up a secret?”
One that I can tell you, yes,I thought silently. It was actually strangely difficult.
“Have you ever stolen anything?” he asked, trying to help.
“Yes!” I said, more excitedly than I probably should’ve, and his unexpected laugh made his chest heave. “Sorry. Yes, I have.”
“And? What did you steal, little witch?”
I dipped the cloth back into the water in the basin before wringing it out.
“A bracelet,” I told him. “My sister, Aysia, always looked at this one bracelet at a shop in the village. It’s not there anymore, but back then, they had beautiful jewelry. Expensive. The owner, Merec, was a talented jeweler who imported gems from the northern islands, and he’d always smile at us when he saw us looking in the window.”
Guilt rose, as it always did. Though, I often thought of Merec fondly, I didn’t like to think of why we’d met.