Root (Energy Anthology) Read Free

familiarity that was also inside him for this woman quickly overcame it. He wasn’t sure what had happened to him, but he realized he did want to go with Ric’ua. He smiled at her and offered his other hand. Seemingly comforted by his gesture, she slowly placed her hand inside it. With their eyes locked on each other’s, they stood together as their own circle in front of the Shen-Ma, in front of the bonfire, in front of the people, in front of the stars.
    The old woman had said he was of the stars. What was the word she had used? Seed. He knew seeds were planted. Had the stars planted him? Were there people among the stars? If so, why had they planted him here? These people here seemed to know him already though. Had he been planted some time ago, and it was just now being recognized? Why didn’t he remember?
    He knew seeds grew into plants, and he knew that after a time, plants bore fruit. This could explain why it was just now becoming known. Perhaps his fruit was just beginning to show.
    Another part of him also knew fruit was then plucked.
    Yet Lam felt he knew this woman. He was aware that Ric’ua was the most familiar to him of all these people. The warmth for her in his chest spread to his face, and his smile widened naturally and easily. What was this feeling? There was a word for it. Love. Yes, he thought. Love. Comfort. Safety. He felt safe with this woman. He wanted to be near this woman.
    The crowd continued to celebrate as Ric’ua— now bearing a tiny but cautious smile of her own— released his second hand and turned to the side. She began leading Lam away from the fire, away from the people.
    The old woman suddenly released an ear-piercing cry. Lam whipped his head around to see both her arms up, raising her stick to the skies. Ric’ua seemed to pay no attention, and continued walking, beginning to pull Lam along a bit roughly, like a mother with her grips on a child who has misbehaved.
    They crossed back over the stream he had splashed through as he fled the Others. A fear began to creep into his mind again. Were these the Others after all? Was she leading him right back to where he would be caught and killed? No, he could not go here! He didn’t want to die!
    Just as the urge to break free of her grasp and run again reached a peak, they came to the cluster of dwellings he had also passed. Ric’ua turned toward a hut next to the largest tree in the area, and led him inside. A new level of familiarity descended upon him. He had been here before. In that moment, Lam realized he had not fully believed these people. Even the warm and knowing feelings he felt with Ric’ua had not fully convinced him. He had still assumed it was all a case of mistaken identity, and could be humored until it was safe to do otherwise. It could all be sorted out later— anything to keep himself from being killed.
    “What happened to me?” he asked.
    Ric’ua turned and looked at him quickly, but said nothing. She pointed to a pallet of straw and furs in one corner of the room.
    Lam was confused. Hadn’t she heard him? Did she have no intention of talking to him? Why had she brought him here? Was she afraid of the Shen-Ma, and therefore doing only as the old woman asked, and no more?
    “But I don’t understand…” he trailed off as Ric’ua merely jabbed her finger at the corner. He slowly went and laid down. He became aware he was exhausted again, and found himself drifting to sleep, despite his better judgment— he still had no confirmation he was truly safe here yet.

 
    • FIVE •
    Ric’ua barely acknowledged Lam for three days.
    Each day, he wandered out of the house and into the village, pretending not to notice the stares and whispers of those around him. The tension was nearly thick enough to cut with a knife, but he sensed no actual hostility toward him. By the end of the third day, he had relaxed enough— or gotten used to it enough— that he barely noticed. Or perhaps it was the people who had grown