Erin pulled the warm mug of tea to her lips and took in the unusual but pleasing aroma. All this time she’d thought her partner was an ambassador or science specialist. Instead, he was closer to royalty.

The two philosophers sounded as if they were arguing as they discussed the orb in their native tongue. She caught the words danger, disgrace, and a word repeated many times that sounded like sho’za, the end.
“We need to get going, D’aerul.”

“Philosopher Cho’lu has something that will help us on our journey.”

“Let me guess. He won’t let us have it, will he?”

D’aerul’s reptilian claws gouged deep recesses into the arms of his chair.

“Wa’bebwab’de wa’be’baswefa ay baseseta ek’bas!”

“He says he can’t give us the rods because you are not of Talus. It would be a disgrace,” said D’aerul.

Erin sat her mug down, rose from her seat and headed for the door. “He knows what will happen if we don’t find the source?”

“Yes. As do I.”

“I’ll wait for you downstairs,” said Erin.

Before she reached the bottom of the stairs, the tension had drenched the air. Shouts echoed off the walls. There was a crash and then D’aerul vaulted over her stunned face.

“Let’s go! We only have a few minutes at most.”

© Amanda Makepeace

Part Ten coming October 19th.

New to Other Worlds? Start at the beginning.