"We're doing interspecies tests, Imosi Lehare, Ilosi Yetsimbi, Khetshe Yetsimbi, Cabucabu and myself. A Cold Stepper... would do nicely," She touched Liyema's hand gently pulling it in hers, delicate, slow for a woman like her.
"What's happening?" Liyema asked.
Thato ignored her.
"Yes... I'm positive of one thing. You were told to assist in everything that will keep you here, right?"
Aphiwe cocked her head.
What did that mean? Were Liyema and Aphiwe tied together? Her mother kept talking but Aphiwe needed to catch up. They were, weren't they? Yes, her mother was inspecting her, top to bottom. They were tied and Thato was gonna milk it.
Esihle's bosom pressed against Liyema's back.
"They're all over me." Liyema said to Aphiwe.
"Of course they are." Aphiwe thought. "Now hurry up and say yes. It'll make you more bored than anything. But what would you be doing while I'm reading anyway? Do whatever my mother asked" She said quickly, "hurry and join them."
"Only if you let me join you." Liyema sighed in her mind.
"There is a real chance you'll die. Or start a war." Aphiwe said.
"This is why I need to be near you, there's so much the Prime doesn't understand about the Ndlovu-Sana house. Or rather." Liyema said.
"Stop, it's not about the house. It's about my mother." Aphiwe stopped and sighed audibly. Liyema nodded and bowed.
"I would be happy to be tested."
"Okay,"
"I hope it isn't too bad."
"Well, perish the thought, by the way, do you have a Golden Eagle anywhere near?" Thato asked.
Liyema shrugged.
Thato beamed.
Aphiwe smiled.
"You shouldn't have done that." Aphiwe thought.
"Fantastic!" Thato said nodding back at Liyema.
"Wait, do you need a Golden Eagle?"
Thato, along with the other girls, froze.
"Where? You have one. Outside?"
A nod.
The collection of women perked up and rushed to the window. Somehow Liyema was dragged along. Aphiwe barely blinked and she too had been pulled? It didn't matter. She was there.
"Does the Golden Eagle have a Black Air Raider feather?" Thato asked.
"Wow, you have a good mind for research. As I understand, there's little more to the feather there."
"I have a few, Babalwa." Thato said.
Liyema froze.
Aunty Babalwa was already running, Thato grabbed her daughter.
"You have to watch carefully; this is going to be fun."
"Wait." Liyema yelled. "What are you planning?"
No one was listening.
"Aphiwe, we've been working on creatures a while, I'm sure you know there's a complex biological connection between Black Air Raiders and Golden Eagles. Both races have wings, but have real differences. Black Air Raiders are tall, over two and a half meters. Golden Eagles are two meters. Black Air Raiders are a volatile, angry species, able to go from zero to attack in no time at all. But they've controlled it with an intense culture. The Golden Eagles were the exact opposite, they're extremely passive. To the point where they were nearly led to extinction. The thing that saved their biology were Black Air Raider feathers. It was an 'ability' that allowed the Golden Eagles to become like Black Air Raiders, more so, depending on the amount of feathers. Now look at her. I love that it's a lady." She almost purred the last part.
There was a Chui woman in armour, flanked by a large Golden Eagle. Broad shouldered and lax, randomly kicking the dirt. She kicked again, which was odd. Was something there? There must have been, it circled, bouncing around, more and more antsy.
"And now, the fun. Babalwa." Thato whispered.
YOU ARE READING
The Open Book
FantasyThe Biography of a Biography. Aphiwe is sick and stuck in bed having just fought for her life. All she got out of it was a stupid book. But the book says: "Do not read this if being alive is the most important thing to you. If greatness is the more...
