Fractured Earth

Chapter 9 Part 2

Marshal Isen and Oleipha sat in a cool, air-conditioned meeting room at the Commensurate camp, Arbiter Saight's appearance visible on the monitor before them. Oleipha knew that their plan would have to go through her, and her stomach flipped cartwheels at the thought of speaking with Kalam's aunty let alone at the possibility that Kalam himself would be attending. He wasn't; Oleipha couldn't decide if she was sad or happy about that.

"It's a decent plan," Saight tapped her fingertips together. "And well thought out. Risky, obviously - Oleipha, are you sure Ranal will buy into this?"

Oleipha met Saight's gaze. She could see so much of Kalam in her; the kindness, the gentle determination. She cleared her throat.

"Very sure. He's headstrong and brash, too confident, and - queasy though it makes me to admit this - too sure of himself to for a moment think that I could possibly not be attracted to him and want his affections." She looked down at the table, her cheeks hot. This was rather mortifying.

"I understand," Saight's voice was soft. "I trust your judgement on this one, Oleipha. Considering what Ranal's put you through..." She paused sighed. "What he's put Kalam through. Well, I don't doubt you want your revenge, and though I wouldn't usually condone anything based on revenge - this time I'm happy to help you get it."

Oleipha's eyes prickled. She smiled up at the Arbiter. "Thank you. The revenge is an added extra, but this runs deeper than just that. This is about doing what's right and exposing the Missionaries for what they really are."

Isen touched her friend's arm briefly. "If we get the go-ahead, we can set things in motion immediately, to be implemented within a couple of days. We know Deacon Kaiss is stationed at the Missionary camp - Oleipha will visit him. The vainglorious viper of a man won't refuse an opportunity to machinate."

"Oleipha? Are you amenable to this?" Arbiter Saight fixed her with a look of concern.

"I'm the one who suggested it," Oleipha smiled a little. "I'm more than amenable."

"Alright. But be careful, please. Your plan is solid, but be cautious all the same. You're dealing with the Missionaries here - their capacity for unscrupulous behaviour knows no bounds."

*

She sat at the foot of a gnarled, leafless tree trunk that jutted askew from the hard, dusty ground, pushed sideways by years and years of the harsh winds that buffeted against it from the west as it grew. The moon picked out every little undulation on the mostly featureless terrain, each tiny pebble casting long shadows that turned the dull ground into a black-streaked carpet.

She tugged her shawl a little closer around her shoulders. It was hot here during the days, a dry, stinging heat that pinched her skin, but in the nights when the sun set, the temperature plummeted and the place came alive. Bugs chirped all around her, night birds whooped and preeped and trilled their throaty calls, bats piched and pivoted their chaotic dances near the camp's night-lights, feasting on the bugs that the light attracted.

"Hey Leiph," his voice carried to her and she opened her eyes to look in his direction, pulling herself away from drowning in the cacophony of sounds. Well, that was part one out of the way - the Deacon must have believed her mock lovesick protestations enough to send Ranal to visit her; that or had been too intrigued to let the opportunity pass. Ranal stalked towards her in the darkness, his form outlined in silver moonlight. She pushed herself to her feet and brushed the dust off the seat of her clothing.

"Ranal," Oleipha forced a smile. "It is good to see you. How are you?"

"I'm well!" He reached her and returned her smile, and after a brief moment of hesitation, embraced her in an awkward hug that she endured through gritted teeth. "I'm so glad you're stationed here too. Isn't it funny? When I joined the Missionaries and you hated me for it, and we thought we'd never see each other again, and now we just keep running into each other."