Chapter 6

It had been 33 days and 33 nights …companionship with Kay & Eulin, had grown gradually as time went on, they seemed to trust her, she had learned a lot about the pair of them and the unique Martian customs and its culture, its little quirks and eccentricities.

Eulin enjoyed singing early in the morning or last thing at night and was well practiced. Often, she could hear him at first light chirping from his dovecote as he started his scales, she’d lie in her comfortable bed and then slip into an old coat, descend the spiral staircase, ask Ourainne to run her a bath as she began listening to his morningsong.

Mornings began early in kalithia.

Li kay, on the other hand, was a complicated fellow, he was multilayered, and what was at his core he kept shrouded, but the rare facets he was more than obliging, to share. He loved to practice his martial arts, early in the morning sunshine. An internal style called Chaunie, it seemed to work on the principles of bending incoming force and redirecting it. He must have been a master, as he often tried to apply its principles to daily life, his stance and movement were visually breathtaking, often he took on the appearance of being unbreakable, and then sometimes elastic. Brownie regularly watched as he winded his movements and writhed back and forth, she even joined him in walking a circle once when he showed her another system called tā zhang.

Tā Zhang was similar to circle dancing; it left a lasting memory as she recalled the two set of footprints in the orange sand making a circle, it would be a memory that would stay within the tenement halls of her mind, one she would cherish. There were many forms, forms within forms saber, fan, longsword, Brownie wondered what age he must have started practicing, he must have led a life of devotion.

Afternoons seemed to be Work-related. Everyone enjoyed lunch and spoke about pressing matters, coming together to ensure that any tasks that needed to accomplished were shared out equally, although, kay often said that Brownies task was to play as she was young, but she always endeavored to help out in anyway she could to be helpful.

For entertainment sometimes, kay and Eulin would arrange to perform on the evening, Eulin would sing, and kay would play a wooden flute he had whittled out of a piece of wyne tree wood. Or maybe there would be a poetry recital that evening instead, Martian poetry was odd, it didn’t rhyme most of the time, and it was short.

Her favorite poem was called merely “Zen.”
And it Went something like.

Life is like a reunion,
And that’s how I first met you,
We’ll meet again, when eyes are weary, half in, half out, between the spaces.

Occasionally there would be a lull in the weather and kay would inspect his plants. He often talked to his plants, and come to think of it… himself, a symptom of loneliness perhaps. When pressed he would say he was just thinking out loud and brush it off as no big deal. He would then repair tears in the counterpanes, assess damage, but the wind would always return, and they would have to take shelter indoors once again.

Brownie when she got the chance, mapped out the garden in her mind. She knew how many steps the perimeter was, where the Columns all were situated, it was an archaeologist thing, she clearly could see the advantage of knowing the exact topography of the garden, it was quite big, but unfortunately, it was covered in orange sand which made her dusty too.

Then there was the roof Terrance which was better; you could see a panoramic view of the whole of mārin village. It was quite picturesque, the villagers would shout to one another, across the flat roofs, to see if they were ok, if they needed anything between the storms, a man called El shouted across to kay, and kay would have a conversation with the man. He usually talked about sport. Or the arts, and often laughter would ensue.

33 days being cooped up, each day comfortable, 33 nights blissfully unaware about the outside, each night wrapped in cotton wool, playing happy families, there would not be a 34th.

At last, Brownie sat in her chamber on her chase lounge contemplating everything that had happened. She was playing with her hair, as she put a hank of it in her mouth, it helped her think about things, the note, the key, her arrival at this moment, at this place, the clouds finally began to clear. she felt Eulins voice in her mind” Jussi- that’s it, it’s over, we can go outside again!”

She passed a cursory glance over to Eulin who had perched himself on the backrest of the chase lounge ” are you sure?” Asked Brownie, he straightened his long neck and nodded his beak, “well!” said Brownie “so what happens now?”

She had been drawing the swirly Martian writing onto the window pane, using her breath to mist the window, whilst she was pensive and relaxed, Eulin seemed captivated,” whose names are those?” She felt him say. Brownie looked at him and said, “I have no idea what it says,
” jussi- I am no scholar, but I would bet my bill that those are names!”

” but whose names,” she asked rhetorically “that is the question!” He answered.

Both sat there puzzling over the conundrum, it left a bitter taste in Brownies mouth she checked in her book bag to see if the key was still there, and It was.

The moment was brief and over quickly as they could hear the voice of Li kay ” you two, come quick, there’s something beautiful, about to happen? meet me at the observatory!” And with that, he was quickly gone.

Both of them wondered what the beautiful thing kay mentioned actually was?

Outside in the garden it was indeed clear kay had somehow managed to take down a section of the windbreakers enough to see the sky, Brownie moved underneath the arches and into the outside building that was the observatory.

Even though tempest retreats had concluded the dust was still hanging in the air, rays of sunshine were breaking through the dust like shafts of light, as it slowly started to settle on the cold hard ground of the courtyard

Brownie entered the observatory it was a room with a reinforced table, in the center their looked to be what Brownie thought of as a giant crystal ball set on a black metal pedestal.
And the ceiling was just panes of glass artistically put together with what looked like lead strips between each pane.

On the table, there were many scrolls, notes, diagrams, and paintings, but all of them were once again written in the swirly writing of Meese.

“Are we too late!” Asked Brownie as she entered the room? Kay was engrossed with what he was doing he kept right on and answered: ” no, Sprite, you’re right on time!”
” you my dear have the pleasure of witnessing the Aurora Feya!” He said as if she should be overjoyed. “What like the northern lights !” she asked, he pointed a finger straight up” I know not of these North lights! ” he said as he paused, he put his hand on the crystal orb, it illuminated, a Bit like a computer tablet booting up for the first time. it presented a picture of the sky he looked at Brownie and remarked: ” here we go!”

They waited, but all they could see was the light blue sky above them and on the crystal viewer, and then it began fairy lights like streamers in the air, beautiful wisps of gaseous colorful clouds red and emerald green ” oh wow!” Said Brownie As she watched on in amusement. Kay began to tell a story as the two of them observed the phenomenon. He began “the ancients used to say, That the two gaseous wisps, Where the only remaining remnants of Times the goddess of love and beauty, and Kiren, the god of nature. That they danced once a year, After Tempest retreats from the philosopher’s gate in the south, all the way to the spirit gates, and that was the only way you could ever find where the spirit gates actually were located!”

” gates ?!” Asked Brownie
“Well, the whole story goes, that when the goddess of love and beauty, and the god of nature, fell madly and passionately in love, they were sad. because they didn’t want their bonds of affection to perish, as the life that is everliving, will outlast the love that’s ever-enduring, instead of a life of decay they decided to ask leer the night personified, herself to grant them mortality!”

Brownie loved mythology stories and fables, she rested her head between her palms” oh I think that’s really sweet!” She said wide-eyed as she was hanging on Kay’s every word, “before they were made mortal, they left a parting gift. To the world, something to leave their mark for those that know how to see, some think of it as the ultimate weapon in the known universe. a perfect wish, with no clauses, or strings attached, …!”
It wasn’t the way she expected the story to go, but then Martian culture never seemed to stay within ordinary lines.

” you could wish for anyone , even that you were to become someone else, or something else, perhaps even the supreme being in the whole of the universe!” He paused ” if you wanted to, that is!”

He continued
“no feared, coveted, desired, or mistrusted thing has ever existed!” He paused ” the daughter of leer -Yeva, the moon princess, locked the perfect wish in a giant Ruby and locked them away behind four gates, the last gate and most infamous …the spirit gate, to be found at the doorway to heaven itself!” Brownie could see he was enthused telling the story, he smiled and continued ” or as men of science today conclude it could be a wormhole!”

“Even so it makes a good story don’t you think?” Brownie wasn’t sure if kay was telling her the whole truth, but like all old stories, sagas, she figured there had to be a sliver of truth in the tale somewhere.
” why would you use the wish like that?” Brownie said thinking out loud?”
Then Kay asked, ” what would you wish for?!”
“Hhhmmm, I’d use it for good.”
Kay smiled ” Sprite, I Truly believe you would!”

It was an incredible display, their excitement seeing lights move across the sky, like waves of gas, weaving their way across the Martian skyline.

If they weren’t so distracted, they might have heard footsteps approaching, they may have been more on Guard, but the three of them did not see the dark, malevolent silhouette of the women who stood at the entrance. Her face was stern she wore a uniform of slate grey robes and had a cloth hat that reminded Brownie of an old milkmaids’ hat with a broach gem attached to it. Even her hair looked slate with a washed out blue tinge. she had the same marking across the bridge of her nose as kay, and pointy ears, darker amber eyes, her first impression seemed very clinical a mature Martian, but she had a look of being very capable, and austere ” Ahem!” She said as she cleared her throat, “can someone fill me in on the current occurrings, I can see ” she said as she widened her amber eyes” there has been quite a few changes!”

She looked at Brownie ” and what type of creature are you!” She said as she casually brushed her aside, Brownie swallowed hard, she had never felt unwelcome until now, kay interrupted “This is my new acquaintance, she is a Brownie, And I do think she’s brought us good luck! ”

“Well, Imp! ” she said cuttingly, Brownie had never loved being called sprite, but she had disdain to being addressed like any old piece of rag “We must lay some ground rules, we will talk later! “, Kay looked at her, he could not let her poorly mannered insult go without being challenged “Beiba – I am the master of this villa, I will not have you intruding, and intimidating my guests!!”
Beiba continued in a blasé manner ” a word please in private!” Kay followed her out into the courtyard.
Brownie looked at Eulin ” who on Mars is that, horrid wretch!”

“That’s Beiba Li Kay’s Governess!” Brownie motioned with her hand to come closer She leaned over and quietly spoke: ” I know trouble when I see it, shits about to go left, Eu!” It seemed odd and out of character her saying that, but Eulin jumped onto her shoulder anyway. Brownie drew her index finger across her lips, as if to signal to be deathly quiet, she followed the pair into the courtyard slowly and quietly like a ninja creeping to assassinate its mark, stealthily and silently avoiding detection.
She hid behind one of the columns; knowing she was in the right place as there were raised voices arguing! Eulin stretched his long neck to take a quick peek!

“Why have you invited these twisted perversions, I will have to report this back to the ministry!” The woman’s voice was enraged. The little Sprite took a quick peek around the column to get a quick lay of the land. Kay was standing calmly with both hands clasped behind his back, whilst the woman was pacing up and down. Brownie took out of her pocket a small round compact mirror she flipped it open to see what was going on in the reflection, she had got the idea from the story of Perseus and the Medusa. It meant she could see at an angle, Kay’s innermost hand had the index finger, and the pinky extended as he griped them behind his back. The woman went on talking, yet he stood calmly. Finally, the woman had said all she was going to say li kay began to speak” I know what you really are Beiba, I know why I’m still alive, who do you answer too!” She looked dumbfounded ” it’s alright, I could tell you what you want to know, but!” He paused ” it wouldn’t help you B!” He tried to appeal to her better nature ” you’d find yourself in a place like this with no liberty!”
“Ah purlease!” Brownie heard her say with contempt
Kay said calmly and quietly ” you want to know, what I did to the Emrys A.I, and the Defense grid!” It seemed too quiet the women, as she looked point blank at kay, she was broadcasting her thinking across her face, can I trust, this?? Brownie had goosebumps.

“I’ll tell you, but you’ll have to come closer!” Beiba replied, ” before I do you should know I’m expected to check in, at a given time!”

” by whom?” He asked intrigued
The silence was deafening
He concluded “The faceless men! Hmm!”

He brought her close and whispered the secret into her ear, she had a look of astonishment, and a realization crept onto her face, as she had just slotted the pieces together, seeing the bigger picture for the first time. she almost looked as if she was going to cry, ” you been through hell because of that!” He nodded, “you should have lived it B!” He was going to say it was even worse than what you could even imagine, but he refrained Beiba in her own standoffish way, had always been kind, sometimes it didn’t seem like kindness, but … she was another face when he was alone, and over the years, she grew on him…he continued ” and now, even if you wanted too, you couldn’t tell another soul!”
” so, you see you’re going to report back to the ministry as normal; things are fine everything is going according to plan!”

She went to leave, kay called her back, and she looked at him “Beiba if it’s anything at all I always cared about you, you stay safe! ”
She looked at him and left.

Kay now stood forlornly and alone. There was silence, and even the aurora had passed. The skies were a washed out grey with a tint of blue, he stood for a moment, and then something seemed to solicit his attention. There was a gust of wind and the wind chimes rattled. His gaze was drawn to a small piece of cloth he saw lying on the ground. He picked up the cloth, he seemed to recognize it and pressed it to his cheek, was he emotional, he swept his eyes, was li kay crying, what on earth could it be to alter his mood, so suddenly Brownie thought.
It was as if he were looking for someone perhaps hiding behind the counterpanes or just inside the perimeter, someone, or something that was good at hiding, “please stranger don’t run off!” He called out, but it was as if he was talking to no one,  he was coddling the handkerchief. Brownie could see from her mirror kay fall to his knees, and his face had a terrible pang; he pressed his cheek into the spot where he found the kerchief lying on the dusty ground. He was helpless, and he was crying, crying like a baby, what could it represent thought Brownie.
Eulin all this time had remained still and quiet. Suddenly he ascended and flew the short distance over to kay; Brownie felt him say ” jussi, what is the matter?” As he landed next to where kay was. He looked up
With pain in his eyes as he looked at the Whitebird! Not physical pain but more mental anguish.

Kay rose up to his feet shell-shocked, to discover Brownie hugging him, not saying anything, just hugging him in a warm embrace. He wrapped his arms around her and pushed his cheek into the top of her scalp, for the first time he knew he wasn’t alone, and it gave him a purpose that previously was lacking.
He asked Brownie ” let me stroke your face Sprite!” A strange request but Brownie obliged, she nodded as she allowed him to run his fingers over the ridge of her nose, ” so that’s what that feels like.” He was, of course, talking about her not having a join on her face … “are you ok!” She asked, “Yes he replied, I just tripped over my own feet!”
” are you injured?”
“No Sprite, I’m ok!” he said reassuringly
To wit, Brownie replied” I’ll look after you!!, now Let’s get you inside, and get some sweet moonflower cider down you! He looked at her ” for levity, might make you feel better!”

And with that, the three of them huddled indoors.