Book 1: Youth of Delarn

Chapter 7: Don't Tell Them

Delarn had expected things to be different after what happened in the underground, but it really wasn't. The only thing that had changed was she was now living with Solene now, and was now treating his parents like hers.

She was no longer only friends with the Salv children, but one of them. People didn't curse her openly, but she noticed the way they acted in passing. She may as well have been diseased.

"Everyone is talking about you," Hyde told her. He was wearing his big goofy grin that was easy to make out even half blind. "You're a real Salvikan now." He gave her shoulder a hearty pat as they gathered around her—James, Solene, Margaret, and Hyde. Bargas wasn't there, but she didn't expect him to be.

"I don't really know what that means," she answered. "I don't feel any different. I feel sick, actually. That was really—"

She paused as considered she couldn't say it was scary. She didn't know what people were saying about her, but she couldn't be a baby if she was also chosen. She faced them one by one. She could tell Solene was smug and James impressed. Hyde was always happy, and never seemed to have a problem with anyone, but she knew Margaret was watching her with open criticism, her body tense.

"It was really crazy," she finished. "I don't know what else to say about it."

"We knew you wouldn't be scared," James said, shoving her playfully. "You've always been tough and nothing can stop you."

"Yeah," she said, finding it in herself to grin even with an icy stomach.

"And what does she know about being Salvikan?" Margaret muttered. "She survived one little ceremony and thinks she deserves to be one of us."

"She didn't just survive it," James replied. "She practically destroyed it. She brought the place down." Delarn didn't miss how they faced each other and Margaret suddenly seemed to make herself smaller. She felt bad about that because she knew how much she liked him.

"I know why Marry is so upset about it," Solene said before Delarn could think of something. "Her father was the one holding the knife, but it wasn't like it was a bad thing for them. A lot of people think it makes him just as exalted as Delarn was."

Delarn frowned. It was weird to think they meant her to die from that, and weirder that Solene knew that, but she didn't want to make it any weirder knowing they were living together.

"Well, if she doesn't know what it means to be a Salvikan, we can teach her," Hyde said, reaching to take her hand. "It's so different for all of us that if we all show her she'll have a pretty good idea after."

"Hey, dummy," James said, "You know Salvika is about not knowing what to expect, don't you?" He smirked at Delarn as if he expected her to agree with him.

"I think it's a good idea," Delarn answered, "I know it's about not knowing, but I also know I want to see for myself." He returned his look sternly and felt surprised to find him quelling a lot like Margaret did.

"Yeah, of course. I was just saying—yeah, let's do it." James moved forward to take her hand.

Solene cut in, grabbing her same arm. "She's living with me so I should have her first."

"No," James said. "She's living at your house so you can show her whatever you want, so give me a turn."

Hyde clearly didn't know what to do, still holding her other hand lightly, but she didn't think he was going to let go until they had decided. Desperate to be free of them, she looked at Margaret and said, "I think she should choose. I think she should show me something first."

"What? Her? The one with the dad that was going to sacrifice you?" Solene said.

"Yeah," Delarn said, thinking it over and rolling with it. "Yeah, I want to meet him. I want to know what he thinks and what he has to tell me. That'll make it better for me as well."