CHAPTER 349: 349: QUESTIONS, AND A PROMISE

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Azhara leaned her head back on the stone and watched the ceiling. "I had a dream," she said. "A big wave came across the sand. It was not water. It was people. They wore red. They had drums. The drums sounded like feet."

"Your dreams are always dramatic," Vel said.

"Sometimes they are right," She said quietly.

Kai filed the words in the shelf where warnings live. He did not speak of it now. Not in the bath. Not before breakfast. He would ask the wind on the ridge later. He would listen to sand.

They climbed out one by one. Lirien offered towels. Akayoroi had a neat stack ready. Naaro shook her lower legs and made a funny face when water tickled her lower lips. Azhara wrung her hair with both hands and spread water everywhere on purpose. Vel slipped once and Kai caught her elbow. She laughed and said thank you in a small voice like a child saved from a silly fall.

Luna took Kai’s towel and dried his arms herself. Then she handed him the rest. "Dress up, it’s morning... and your naked body is making everyone here tingle." she said. "We will eat first. Then talk later. Now is not the time for pleasure."

"Agreed," he said.

They dressed by the bench. Kai pulled on a clean shirt from the basket Lirien had brought and tied his belt. Luna smoothed her own tunic and pinned her hair. Azhara tied a bright cloth at her waist and looked like trouble wearing a ribbon. Vel and Sha bumped shoulders and whispered. Naaro checked the band at her lower back and made sure the plates sat right. Akayoroi set her veil back with a firm hand. Lirien tucked the soap stone away with great care.

The cactus which Naaro always carries was near the clothes basket.

As they walked out, Shadeclaw and Silvershadow stepped back into the room to check the vents again. Shadeclaw gave Kai a short nod that asked a question. Kai shook his head once. Later. Silvershadow looked toward the top shaft, then back at Kai. "Skyweaver is still on the ridge," he said. "I heard Miryam laugh."

"Good," Kai said. "I want to hear it too."

They moved down the corridor toward the food hall. The mountain air was cool and smelled of clean stone and cooked meat. The sound of Alka’s claws on the upper ledge echoed down in a steady beat. It was the sound of a guardian who was bored and content.

Luna walked at Kai’s side. She did not take his hand. She did not pull away. She glanced at him now and then with a look that said the storm on her tongue had shrunk, but had not yet passed. He could live with that. He would face it after they ate and after he saw Miryam fly, or float, or whatever name she had given to the way she now moved in air.

"Kai," Luna said as they turned a corner.

"Yes."

"I am still angry," she said. "But I do not want to fight you in front of everyone. After we eat, come with me to the high ledge. We will finish this talk there. A wife’s instinct is never wrong. I am afraid that you hid many truths about last night. My bunny nose is very sharp. I smelled a woman’s scent on your waist and your anaconda. Last night... You will tell me every piece you think I shouldn’t hear. I am your wife. I deserve to know the truth."

"I will," he said. "You are my first wife. I will not hide anything from you. Now is not the time. I will tell you everything tonight."

She breathed out and nodded. "Good. I just want to know the truth. I want to know how many women will fight with me for your love and care."

"Cough! Cough!"

He looked ahead and saw the light spill from the food hall. He could hear plates and cups and low talk. He could smell meat and tea and fresh bread. He felt the mountain under his feet, the steady hum of the egg chamber in the stone, and the soft thread in his chest that ran east into the trees.

He would call Ikea at dusk. He would stand with Luna at noon. He would watch Miryam at the top of the world. He would listen to the wind. He would plan for drums.

The hall was warm and bright, full of steam and the sound of spoons. Big clay bowls waited on a long stone table, each one brimming with root stew and strips of roasted dune hare. Flat stonebread leaned in stacks, still hot. A pot of thorn tea hissed where it met the cool air.

Vexor saw Kai first and stood so fast his bench scraped. "King back," he called, grinning. "Seat saved. Food guarded. Only a little was stolen."

"By you," Shale said, pushing him down again. Shale slid a full bowl toward Kai. "Eat. Then speak."

Flint dropped a pinch of salt crystals into the stew and winked. "Better now. I tested three times."

Needle set a small plate of dried fire berries by Kai’s hand. "Fast sugar. For patrol bones."

Luna took the place at Kai’s right. Azhara flopped across from them and stole a berry without shame. Vel and Sha shared a bowl and argued over whose spoon was faster. Naaro ate in steady mouthfuls, eyes always moving to the door. Akayoroi poured tea for everyone with patient hands. Lirien tore stonebread into neat halves and passed them out like medals.

Shadeclaw and Silvershadow came in with short bows, then sat a little apart, eating quickly between quiet words about vents and watch-posts. Alka’s head poked through the high hatch. She blinked at the steam and let out a pleased chirp. The twins tossed her a strip of meat. She caught it without looking.

"Report from the right flank," Shale said, eyes on Kai.

"Later," Luna answered, firm but calm. "He eats first."

Vexor leaned in. "How many snakes does a king need to fight before breakfast."

"Enough," Kai said, and the table relaxed. He ate, listened, and asked small questions. Who sharpened the new picks. Which tunnel ran damp in the night. Whether the stew needed more root next time. Little answers built a larger calm.

For now he walked into the hall with his wives and his people. For now he sat, and ate, and listened.