Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Osha
“Osha!”
I don’t know why luck hates me. I’m barely five steps away from the weapons room when I hear Fillik call out. Sweet, nice, persistent Fillik. The one with the kicked puppy expression I ignore every time I dodge his requests to get a drink after work. I make sure my smile is soft as I turn around.
“Did you need something, Fillik? My shift is about to start.”
His jog is unhurried, and he stops a polite distance away.
“I wanted to thank you in person for fixing my knife. It was a gift from my father. That was some fine repair work.”
“Oh.” I don’t have to feign pleasure as I take in his compliment. I’d taken extra care with the knife because he’d mentioned it being a family heirloom when he dropped it off.
“You don’t have to thank me. It was a fun piece to work on. It’s rare I get my hands on something so fancy nowadays.”
I can’t stop my eyes from sweeping over his broad shoulders as he takes a breath, stretching the fabric of his t-shirt across them. Mistake.
Fillik’s smile kicks to the side as he steps forward into my space.
“You didn’t come out with us last night. We’re only gonna be docked for a few more days. Have you even been off craft yet?”
“I was busy.”
“You’re always busy, Osh. You’ve got to give yourself a break and have fun every once in a while.”
I hate when people call me Osh, which is why I let Fillik do it. It’s always easier to turn him down when he’s annoying me.
“Who said I wasn’t having fun?” I give a quick wave and turn to exit the conversation.
“You want to go out for a drink tonight? My treat.”
I don’t quite know how to handle Fillik. He’s so complementary and polite, but he’s smart enough to pick up on the fact that I’m not interested. And he still pushes.
I’m trying to decide how blunt I need to be when my comm goes off.
“Employee O. Aniseya, please report to the Captain’s office immediately.” The admin message plays loud enough for both of us to hear, and I shrug my shoulders.
“Can’t be late for that.” I grin as I pass him and walk back the way I’d come.
I’d have to thank the Captain for getting me out of that. I know he finds the relationship between me and his son amusing.
I skip—just a little—to the doors leading outside. The best part about being docked is taking shortcuts across the deck. Guaranteed access to the sky. No one who lives on a submersible craft wastes an opportunity to go topside.
The sky is such a bright shade of blue that it hurts my eyes. Today, the sea is calm, unlike the days when I worry it will devour me. We’re docked at a sea station, and I have no idea what the nearest land mass is. Here, the world is a massive metal structure with hundreds of sea and aircraft buzzing around in transit or docked at rest.
There are small cities within sea stations that are this large. Hundreds of thousands of people are probably stationed here or visiting at any given time.
I prefer sea stations over land ports. They cater to so many visitors that the overall atmosphere is usually a lot less… strict. Fewer laws to worry about.
As soon as I enter the hall leading to the Captain’s quarters, I can tell something is wrong. The men on guard look tense. They don’t acknowledge me with the usual nods and tight smiles. They stare straight ahead, on alert.
I brush my hand against my pockets, reassuring myself that the thin cylinder I carry on me at all times is still there. I try to project confidence I don’t feel as I open the door to the Captain’s office.
There are three people in the room. My stomach drops as I’m pulled into a pair of familiar, guarded brown eyes.
“Yord?”
“Osha Aniseya.” He says my name with all the empty warmth I expect from a Magistrate. The look he gives me holds no real affection or anger, just lightly restrained curiosity.
It’s been 6 years since I left Coruscant, and he’s changed from the teenage boy I’d known there. He’s always been tall, but now he’s also broad and muscled. The baby-faced goofiness I’d been fond of isn’t present in his face. I can’t tell if it’s covered up by the new mustache and scruff or if it’s really just no longer there. I don’t like it, but he looks good, especially in his armor.
He gives me a weird smile. Mechanical. Like he wasn’t my closest friend for over ten years.
“I see you finally got your metals.” I place a smile on my face that I know he’ll recognize. He hesitates for a moment before brushing his hand across his breastplate’s intricate gold and white pattern.
“Two years ago. Took me a little longer, just like you said it would.”
“So the two of you are acquainted.” The booming voice makes me jump and snap away from Yord Fandar’s softening eyes. I’d forgotten there were other people in the room. I glance at the other Magistrate before standing at attention in front of my Captain.
Captain Coyt is a good man. I need to get the Magi off of his ship.
“My apologies, Sir. Yes. Yord Fandar and I attended Magi training together—”
“It’s illegal for magicians to work on any military vessel outside of the jurisdiction of the Magi.” Yord interrupts me, turning to give his full attention to Coyt. The older man smiles at him and relaxes back in his chair.
“It’s a good thing the Reverent is a shipping freight and not a military vessel then, isn’t it lad.”
Yord doesn’t flinch at being condescended to. He matches the Captain’s demeanor until the pair resemble two men having a pleasant conversation. If I didn’t know them so well, I wouldn’t be able to pick up on the tension and annoyance running through them both.
“I’ve never heard of a shipping freight submersible before. Is it normal to need stealth technology for trading enterprise?”
“Oh, absolutely. The war has changed all of our lives.” Captain Coyt’s smile takes on a dark edge, and I can see Yord mentally adjusting his tactics.
“The laws against magicians working in a military or security capacity outside of the jurisdiction of the Magi are for your own protection. Only the Magi can properly control magicians exposed to violent environments.”
“And here I thought that handy dandy little muzzle you lot placed on the girl neutralized her enough to be in polite company.”
I know he’s defending my right to work on his craft, but Coyt’s words sting enough that the metal bracelet on my right wrist starts to heat up. My hand covers its soft glow in an automatic response to the sensation. The movement does not go unnoticed by Yord.
“What is Ms. Aniseya’s job on this vessel?”
“I’m just a member of the crew. This isn’t a Magi ship, Yord. We all have to cover a range of—“
“What are the skills being provided by Ms. Aniseya?”
Yord’s always been a pretentious bastard, and the 6 years we’ve been apart haven’t done him any favors. I glare at the back of his head as he steps forward and continues to ignore me.
“Osha is the weapons master on this craft. I’m surprised you even need to ask. I’ve complied with Coruscant’s demands for updates on her status aboard my ship.”
My breath stops, and a chill passes over me. Coyt’s eyes are apologetic as they meet mine before moving back to Yord who is examining his comm. He swipes through a few pages before a satisfied smile settles on his face.
“Ah. I see now. You have been quite diligent with your monthly updates. The Magi thank you for your compliance.”
I know that smile. Yord wants me to have this information. Coyt’s mouth hardens into a tight line across his face, and deep red blotches appear on his skin.
“If you have what you need then why are you aboard my ship, boy?”
Yord swipes up on his comm, sending a correspondence that beeps across Coyt’s own handheld.
“Ms. Aniseya has been summoned to Coruscant for questioning. We are here as her formal escort.”
He finally turns those flat eyes and smile on me. “I’ve sent someone to your rooms to gather your belongings. You should not plan on returning to this vessel.”
“Hold on just a damn minute—“Coyt yells as Yord attempts to steer me out of the room without directly touching me. A brief look of confusion passes over Yord’s face as he looks back at the older man.
“If you feel put out by the abrupt loss of your weapons master, feel free to lodge a formal complaint with the Magistrates’ Office. I will personally ensure you are made whole as quickly as possible.”
Coyt glares at him before swinging his eyes over to me.
“I don’t know what’s going on, Osha, but you’re damn right I’m going to raise hell about it. You have been an exemplary member of this crew. Beyond reproach. That’s what I’ve told them in all the reports. They have no right to sweep in here and disrupt your life like this.”
I want to reply, but my mind is blank on words. I’m still stuck on the fact that this man who has been my protector and mentor on this ship as I’ve tried to carve out a new life for myself has been reporting on me to the Magi. He knows how I feel about them—as much as anyone can—because he’s coaxed me into telling him. Has he reported on that too? My sadness? My regret?
I’d agreed to suppress my magic in exchange for freedom, but the freedom I’d found on this ship is an illusion.
I don’t remember saying goodbye to Captain Coyt or anyone else aboard the Reverent. We’re in the Captain’s office one moment, and the next, we’re on the deck.
I’m still in my head when an airship materializes right in front of me, nearly blinding me the instant it appears as the sun shines harshly against its gleaming curves. White and gold metal. The same white and gold as the armor of the two magistrates that flank me. I shade my eyes and frown at Yord.
“Stealth magic to hide your ship? You didn’t want me to know you were coming for me?”
“It’s the proper procedure to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.” His weird smile is gone now. I’m sure his frown matches my own.
“Sure it is.” I laugh as I take in the glyphs and markings etched into the siding of the craft. I know for a fact that it’s real gold protected from scratches by magic. Just like the markings on their armor.
The other Magistrate, a woman whose name I still do not know, begins to board the craft, and I make my way after her, but Yord stops me.
“This is also proper procedure.” He says, holding up an identical bracelet to the one already wrapped around my right wrist.
The look I give him must be withering because he actually blanches a bit.
“What is this? Am I under arrest?”
“All will be explained when we get to Coruscant,” he says as he snaps the bracelet on my naked wrist. Once on, both bracelets heat and magnetize to each other. They pull together tightly with a loud snap, and I’m cuffed.
The Magi woman watches us from the entrance of the craft, eyebrows raised. A look I can’t discern passes between her and Yord before he gives a slight nod of his head.
She rolls her eyes, but orange dots of light begin to glow on her cheekbones and up her temples. The same orange glow appears in tiny tendrils across her nails and fingertips as she reaches out in my direction.
“There’s nothing on her person besides a small cylinder in the front right pocket of her pants. A sprite capsule, maybe?”
Yord gives me a look of genuine surprise.
“Pip?”
I don’t give him a response beyond hardening my glare.
“It’s alright, she can keep it.”
As I’m boarding the craft, I hear a familiar voice call out my name again. Fillik is running toward us.
“Oh good,” says Yord. “I asked someone to bring your belongings.”
Fillik’s eyes are wild.
“My father filled me in on what’s happening. As much as he could, I guess.” He eyes Yord, the ship, and my cuffed hands warily. “We’re gonna fight this, Osha. Whatever’s going on here, we’ll bring you home.”
I let my eyes take in Fillik, the Reverent, and the sea station beyond. I let the word home sit on my chest.
“Thank you for my stuff, Fillik.” I glance at Yord, and he grabs the small backpack and unzips it. There’s not much there. I don’t own hardly anything.
Yord lifts up a knife. It’s beautiful and familiar, with red and black jewels climbing the hilt and scabbard in a pattern of flowers. I frown at Fillik while Yord frowns at me.
“This isn’t really appropriate for someone in custody.”
“It’s a gift.” Fillik’s voice cracks, and I know he’s talking to me more than he’s talking to the Magi. Frown deepening more than I thought possible, Yord stuffs the knife back into the bag.
“It’ll be returned to her if she’s cleared of charges.”
He turns his back on Fillik and motions for me to board the airship, again taking great care not to touch me.
I look over my shoulder at Fillik and try to feel the word home again. It sits there like a solid thing, firmly outside of me, and doesn’t penetrate. I wait for a feeling of sadness, but it doesn’t come as I enter the ship. I wait for a sense of excitement or anticipation for what might lie ahead, and that doesn’t come either. The only thing I can seem to grasp onto as the ship lifts off to Coruscant is numbness.
Qimir
Mae’s face looks perturbed as I join her in the chambered entrance to the tunnels. The force field that keeps her from crossing over into Brendok alerted me to her presence about forty minutes ago. I’ve kept her waiting on purpose, and it’s written all over her face that she suspects that’s the case.
It’s far too easy to get under her skin. I wish she’d work harder on fixing that.
I let a wild smile and a jovial look take over my face.
“Mae! I’m so glad you’re back. Sorry to keep you waiting. I was in the archives and Professor Sybil wanted me to cross reference a text he’d read on the potential magic properties of the bunta tree. I told him I’d only ever come across mentions of bunta in texts about poison but he insisted that—“
“For the love of the Great Mother, please shut up,” Mae spits, still on the other side of the force field. I try to make my face fall completely, but I must not be entirely successful because her scowl hardens.
“I didn’t mean to leave you here for more than 10 minutes, I swear—“
“If you don’t let me in right this second, Qimir, I will stab you in the throat.”
I brush my thumb across the diamond and sapphire ring on my other hand while envisioning Mae crossing the invisible barrier.
The world tilts for a moment until she’s standing right beside me. She shoulder-checks me roughly as she walks past, deeper into the tunnels. It doesn’t hurt, but I pretend it does, rubbing my shoulder and letting out a small “Ow” for good measure.
Mae sneers at me. We walk in silence as I wait for her to ask.
“Where is he? He said he would be here this time.”
I make a face at her that I know she hates. A dramatic grimace.
“He’s not here. He’s on a mission.”
“Where?!” Her frustration is palpable, ready to boil over.
“You know he never tells me where he’s going. It did sound like he’ll be gone for a while, though.”
She closes her eyes in defeat, knowing there’s nothing she can do.
“Why do you need to see him so badly?” I ask.
“I have something I need you to give him.”
“Give it to me, and I’ll hold it for him.”
“Oh yeah?”
Mae’s face takes on a delighted, cruel edge as she pulls a necklace out of her bag. Hanging from a delicate gold chain is a sliver of kyber crystal, black and identical to the crystal piece hanging around her neck.
She laughs as I back away from the jewelry in her outstretched hand.
“Is it true that if a non-magical person touches kyber, they’ll pass right on out? Or worse?” Mae’s smile grows as she thrusts the necklace at me again.
“Very funny. Hold on, I’ve got something for it.” I take a glass cylinder display case from my satchel and hold it open for the necklace. Mae’s laughter dies down as she rolls her eyes.
“He told you I was bringing it.”
It’s my turn to give her a look for saying something stupid.
“Of course he did. I’ll store it in the archives until he returns for it. If you read your comm messages, you’d see he sent those instructions to both of us.”
Mae sighs and drops the necklace into the display case. As soon as I close the case, the necklace begins to float, suspended within it.
I’m barely putting the case away when Mae starts walking back the way she came.
“Hold on! I’m supposed to ask you things.”
She stops and gives me a bored look.
“The Magi you got this from, is she dead?”
“Indara? Yes.”
“Did you kill her?”
Mae thinks about the question for a moment before answering.
“Technically, yes.” Interesting answer. I nod casually to downplay the fact that I think so.
“I’ll let him know. Before you return to your mission, I have something to show you.”
I take out my comm, and she moves to stand close. She knows that if I could’ve sent it, I would have. Waiting until we were in person means I have something to share that I can’t send comm to comm.
“You know the deal. Once I open the picture you have 10 seconds to look at it before it deletes.”
Mae nods, and I open the image. I know what it is, so I watch Mae’s face as she takes it in.
Her tan brown skin pales in a way I didn’t think it could. The color drains from her cheeks as she stands frozen like a statue beyond the point where the image deletes.
I let my head tilt dramatically in a gesture she’ll recognize from Qimir, and I don’t hide that I’m watching her closely while I wait for her to respond.
“Osha’s alive?” Her voice is girlish, small in a way I haven’t heard her use it before.
“It appears so,” I answer her, but I’m still watching every small reaction that passes over her features. Shock. Disbelief. Fear.
“Where? What was that?” Mae reaches for my comm, but I pull it out of range and put it away.
“I’m not sure. I saw her name on the school ledger and took the picture for you. That’s all the information I have. You know I don’t really leave the archives much. But if I had someone here to help me dig around…”
“Tell me where to look, and I’ll do it.” She’s never looked at me with this much interest before. Maybe something personal like this is what she needs to break through to the next level.
The smile on my face is genuine now.
“Great. We’ll work together to find out what this means.” The two of us start walking back to Brendok in silence once more.
“Does he know? About Osha’s name on the ledger?”
“I haven’t told him. Yet.”
“Can we keep this between just the two of us?”
I raise a single eyebrow at her, and she hurries on.
“It’s just that we don’t even know why her name is on that list or what it means. I don’t want to bother him with something inconsequential if he doesn’t need to be involved.”
I make a non-committal but assenting noise, and Mae beams at me.
“Thank you for showing me, Qimir. I really do appreciate it.”
The gratitude is good. If Mae feels grateful for my help, that means she hasn’t clocked this as a test. Whether she passes or fails, we’ll be able to trust the results, which will go a long way toward showing us whether or not she’s worthy.