Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 37

Shen exited the dome and out of the castle. Where the wall met mountain, Irksome was there, with mates. He had built a nest. The females rushed him but stopped short of physically engaging him. Irksome made a noise. They pawed the earth.

“Have the corner, it’s yours,” Shen said, and continued on his way.

He made it to the tree house and slept the night there. TL was with him, but gave him space. It took effort not to talk to her. He found it difficult to sleep. Morning came just when he found he could sleep and decided to linger until lying on the wood irritated him. He got up went straight to Midelay. He was hailed but didn’t speak. He went to the circle, followed the protocol, and entered, went to his knees and waited to be officially recognized.

“Shen, I see you. State your request,” Flame said.

“I would like to speak to N’Ma,” Shen said. He did not look up.

It took an hour before N’Ma and her entourage arrived. Her chair-stool was placed. In some ways he was reminded of the Vulcan T’Pau and their protocols for bringing her present. N’Ma was just about her age, if not older.

“Rise, child of the forest,” N’Ma said.

Shen stood. “Please, teach me about the forest.”

“You already know more than you should,” N’Ma said.

“Why do you ban men from learning?” Shen asked.

“We do not ban them from learning,” N’Ma said. “They have a different path.”

“May I go to Sinter and speak with the Elders?” Shen asked.

“I will send a petition,” N’Ma said. “I doubt very seriously that you will be accepted.”

“Why?” Shen asked.

“You’re not on the path,” N’Ma said.

“Tell me what I have to do?”

“You won’t do it,” N’Ma said.

“What is it? Fight? You want me to kill people?” Shen asked. “I have sworn off killing.”

“I know,” N’Ma said. “I would not ask you to renounce that. I actually agree with that.”

“Then what?” Shen asked.

“Return to Easterly,” N’Ma said. “Remain there till I call you.”

“That’s it?”

“Well, no. You need to contribute to the family, to the village,” N’Ma said. “Be a part of that community. You can’t be a child of the forest and expect a path to Sinter to just magically open to you. Demonstrate to me you can be one of us.”

Shen looked at the ground. N’ma was silent, observing, trying to understand him.

“Shen, you could fight your way there. People will die. Even as powerful as you are, and I have a small understanding of that, you will not go to Sinter without a tremendous amount of death. And, I guarantee you, you will die on that path. You may think we are simple folks, but I assure you a level of power will be brought against you that even you can’t resist,” N’Ma said. “You could go to war with us; people will die. You will die. That is one path. The other path, the easier path, is to be one of us. Or, you can go live your life in the forest and dance with ghosts.”

Shen brought his eyes up. “Maybe I should.”

“That’s not why you’re here,” N’Ma said.

“How do you know?” Shen said.

“There’s time enough for ghosting when you’re dead,” N’Ma said. “You’re here to live and to contribute.”

“You don’t have a clue why I am here,” Shen said.

“Do I understand your soul mission in life? No. I do not understand that. I do understand life and death. The things we do in death are not the things we do in life. Those are two different worlds. There is a twilight area where the two worlds meet, and together the two worlds have a purpose, but you don’t rush the river to the ocean. It gets there when it gets there. That’s it.”

“I can’t just go live a simple life with no tech and no magic,” Shen said.

“Can’t or won’t?” N’Ma said. “Can a boy who has everything be impoverished?”

Shen nodded. He sat with that a long moment and nodded again. N’Ma was completely patient with him, and no one dare be less patient than she could command in her presence, so even her entourage tried to impress boredom upon him. “May I pass through your Light to the other side? I wish to go East and home.”

“Of course, son of my Sister’s light,” N’Ma said. “And if you could tolerate an old woman’s company, I personally will escort you.”

“I am extremely grateful for you company,” Shen said.

“Come, let’s walk,” N’ma said. “I invite you to dine with me tonight in Middle, and then go to East Midelay in the morning.”