The Star Whorl (The Totality Cycles Book 1) Read online

  He gestured assent, and the administrative glyphs let him go.

  Ro-Becilo’Ran came up to him as he turned away and the crowd dispersed, the Proctor leading the un-induced, dazed, and blood-covered young man to the healing chamber.

  “How did you do that?” he demanded, grabbing Kreceno’Tiv’s shoulder. “Anyone else would have been dragged up before the Secondus Magistrar!”

  Kreceno’Tiv shrugged, gesturing self-effacement. He had fully expected to get into trouble. Being dismissed without a formal reprimand had surprised him, too. He thought about the glyph of desire-not-to-be-reprimanded, but did not credit that with his narrowly gained clemency. Besides, there will be an inquiry. Mother and Father will not be pleased – I’m not even clear of my punishment for getting Okon, the little Heretian girl, out of that abandoned building. I’m definitely not completely clear of castigation, yet.

  Whorl Sixty Nine

  Pavtala Ralili’Bax ran up to him also, her face etched with concern.

  “Are you all right?” she asked, looking up at him. She slid her arms around him, and her chemi-scent was comforting again, soothing. He breathed deep of it, and smiled, held her close. He was surprised to find that he was trembling.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” he said, trying to be as reassuring. But he was not fine. He was angry, very, very angry. Gotra Pelani’Dun had gone too far!

  By the Hives, I wish I’d never met her! he fumed, even as he gestured acknowledgement to other queries of his wellbeing. Added to that was the knowledge that there were atavistic features within him that could actually be made to emerge, and the entire situation had him in a kind of shock. Physiology had never covered that, that battle-scythes could still be made potent! Or – did the rage and chemi-scent induction generate the battle-edges to those ancient bone features? He shuddered, trying to repress it, but Pavtala Ralili’Bax felt it.

  “I’ll take notes for us,” she said, as they walked to their next lecture. Ro-Becilo’Ran, on his other side, gestured assent. “You just – recover, all right?”

  He did not argue. His brain still felt a little hazy, the need to fight jangling just below the surface of his control. He could not, would not be able to concentrate, not as he was. Wishing he could go home and just rest, he sat through the next few lectures, staring off into the middle distance. He could feel glyphs of curiosity directed at him once again, and had to consciously unclench his hands and breathe slowly, to keep from exploding. The mid-turn break for a meal helped, as his friends buffered him from probing questions, talking overloud in the meal-hall, and parrying or talking right over questions thrown at him. By the last lecture he had regained some of his equanimity, and no longer wanted to swing a blow at anyone too near and not one of his friends.

  On the ride home in Pavtala Ralili’Bax’s own transport, sparing him from the confines of the Secondus transport, she kept her arms wrapped tight around him, her chemi-scent gloming comfortingly, and he closed his eyes and relaxed against her, doing his best to empty his mind. For he knew his trials were not over yet. There were still his parents to face.

  Whorl Seventy

  Vespa Kareni’Tiv was waiting for him when Kreceno’Tiv got home, sitting in the formal salon. He felt his elytra-pace tighten with stress as soon as he entered the domicive.

  “Son,” she said, as he approached her, hiding his reluctance. “I received a communication from your Proctors at Secondus.” She did not have to ask outright what had happened, the question was understood.

  Vespar-Drelano’Sev’Tiv stepped into the salon by the other entrance, not coming in behind Kreceno’Tiv, avoiding the ostensible gesture of caging him in, for which he was grateful. The gesture meant that they were not yet completely put out and ready to chastise him, that they were at least giving him a chance to explain. He did so, leaving nothing out. His parents exchanged glances when he told of Gotra Pelani’Dun’s mentioning Vespa Kareni’Tiv’s pedigree, but otherwise they just gazed at him steadily as he told all the events that had led up to the near-fight, and then the confrontation itself.

  “And – you resisted answering the challenge?” his father clarified, obviously looking him up and down and seeing no physiological changes due to challenge-rage. “The Proctors did not have to un-induce you?”

  “Yes, Father – I mean, that’s right, they didn’t,” he replied, wanting to nervously preen his vuu’erio, but refraining. “I – I realized that that was what she wanted, for me to seek her out so that I would be able to hold my own against the mate-challenge. But then, I would be Geni’vhes to her again, or worse, Geni’vhal, so I resisted. I didn’t know what else to do. She kept... kept trying to get my attention, since the beginning of the term, kept after me. When I did not return her interest again, she set Hytiro’Vel on me.”

  Again, a glance shared. Were they passing glyphs that he could not detect? Kreceno’Tiv waited, his elytra-pace clacking despite himself. What punishment would he receive, this time? Never mind that he had not instigated the situation – breaking the mating-accords was serious, and all involved were sure to be chastised. Will they ban me from seeing my friends, from seeing Ralili? Will they keep me from going to Tertius? Those were the only things left that was of value that they could take away.

  “Go and put your study tools away, Kreceno’Tiv,” Vespa Kareni’Tiv said, standing. Her face and voice gave away nothing. “We’ve been summoned before the Secondus Magistrar, and we need to leave immediately. You will have to repeat what you told us under truth-induction glyph.” The underlying warning was that he had better have told the truth, because he would not be able to lie to the Magistrars. And if his story to them did not match his explanation to his parents, the consequences would be dire.

  He gestured assent and went up to his suite to put his things down and change. Then he went back down and silently followed his parents to their transport, and the glyph of it formed around them, surrounding them with the construct. They rode in silence back to Secondus, but to the administrative complex rather than the lecture sub-Hives. There, Gotra Pelani’Dun’s parents were already standing in the spacious waiting area, with Gotra Pelani’Dun behind them. Hytiro’Vel and his parents were seated across the room. The other young male’s arms and shoulders were bandaged, where the natural weapons for mate-challenge had recessed, once more dormant. When Kreceno’Tiv and his parents arrived, the other two groups looked up, their expressions unreadable. Kreceno’Tiv wanted to shiver at those cold gazes. Was there a touch of covetousness in Gotra Pelani’Dun’s father’s eyes? He did not look at either group directly, but stared at the middle-distance before him, his vuu’erio tucked away.

  Whorl Seventy One

  The Magistrar came out of her office, then, her Thynnu markings stark. She gestured tense welcome to them.

  “I am Thynnu Fel, head of Secondus. Please, all of you, come within so that we may begin this inquiry,” she said, indicating the entryway behind her.

  Vespa Kareni’Tiv and Vespar-Drelano’Sev’Tiv went first, and Kreceno’Tiv followed them. Then came Gotra Pelani’Dun and her parents. Last was Hytiro’Vel and his parents. They all sat at a large, round table, with several seats separating them. There were other officiates seated there, also, among whom the Magistrar sat.

  “I am Magistrar Thynnu Fel,” the Magistrar said again, looking around the table. She did not volunteer her given name. “This is Counselor Vespa Dem, Counselor Pavtala Suv, Justicer Thynnur Kem’Jat, Justicer Polista Lif, and Justicer Gotrar Sor’Dar. This unfortunate event is quite serious, and we need to get all the perspectives of the event, and punish those who are directly responsible. Breaking the mating-accords is a grave offense – sending a young male into battle-fever is forbidden, and you young people need to understand the significance of your actions.”

  Kreceno’Tiv shivered. He already knew that breaking the accords was a serious offense – he had researched it before leaving Secondus that turn, and what he had found had made him feel sick. After the dominion, and
occasional cruelty of the Malkia, the Genii had all agreed that no woman would induce a man to battle to the death to win her favor, among other things. Contravening this agreement could result in having the woman’s ability to permanently mate taken away.

  He had also researched the battle-scythes, and had found out that the structural physique to make the natural offensive weapons was already present, as he had known, but they needed the Genus-induction and repudiation of a woman to transform them.

  “Well,” Magistrar Fel said, her face grim, “shall we begin? Does anyone want to claim responsibility for instigating this situation? Remember, you are all under truth-glyph in this chamber – you may tell what you believe to be the truth, but any outright lie will be apparent.”

  Kreceno’Tiv felt a subtle touch on his elytra-pace, from his mother. He sat forward, not wanting to go first, but the touch was undeniable.

  “Gotra Pelani’Dun and I were Geni’vhes for a term and a half, beginning our fourth term of Secondus” he said, focusing on the table-top. “She ended it last term to pre-mate to Hytiro’Vel.” Another subtle touch told him to stop, and let the officials mull his words and their implications over.

  The Magistrar and those around her turned their attention and vuu’erio tennae to him, and seemed to expect more. But when he said nothing further, they turned to Gotra Pelani’Dun.

  “Gotra Pelani’Dun?” Fel prompted.

  “I – I was interested in someone else,” she said, reluctantly. “So I ended my association with Kreceno’Tiv.” She also stopped at some unseen cue. The panel of officials was patient, waiting another measure of time before turning to Hytiro’Vel.

  “Hytiro’Vel?” the Magistrar prompted again, looking to the third group.

  Hytiro’Vel slouched, not meeting anyone’s eyes. “Last term, Pelani’Dun made her interest apparent to me, and we became Geni’vhes,” he said gruffly, stopping on his own.

  “Now that that has been established, what led to the events of this turn?” the official on the left of the Magistrar asked patiently.

  Kreceno’Tiv did not feel a prompting touch, and gladly forwent speaking up first again. Let Gotra Pelani’Dun explain herself, if she could. But she, too, stayed silent, her gaze lowered.

  The Counselor to the left of the Magistrar sat forward, and the sense of authority coming from her was subtle yet overt. Kreceno’Tiv allowed himself to shiver once more. She was obviously highly placed in the Gu’Anin Magistrate Council, and commanded much power and respect. She might even be from the Solidarim, itself.

  “One of you had better begin explaining,” she said, her voice stern. “We have not had an incident such as this in a generation, and it is inexcusable. Who began it?”

  Kreceno’Tiv did not want to speak up. He had not started it, and felt no urge to take any of the responsibility. But there was that touch, prompting him. Why? Was it because of Vespar-Drelano’Sev’Tiv’s place in the Solidarim?

  “Counselor Dem, here is what I know,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “Pelani’Dun turned her favor to Hytiro’Vel. I was distraught for a time, but I cannot rekindle interest where it is not, so I repined, then recovered. I did not try to interfere in their association, I did not cast aspersions or instigate any conflict. She wanted someone else, and there was nothing for me to do about it.” They listened intensely, but he only told the truth, from his own perspective. “It hurt. Then it did not hurt so much. Over the break between terms, I recovered. I – also bloomed late, came into my second growth. I returned to Secondus, and...” There was the touch. He cut off his words, mid-sentence.

  “And?” the Magistrar gestured for him to continue, but his father kept a hand on his elytra-pace, holding him silent. There was more going on than he knew, something, perhaps, to do with the Solidarim? “Well, young Tiv? And what?”

  Kreceno’Tiv did not glance at his parents, but did not continue. The overt gesture from his father was too much to ignore. He merely gestured noncommittally.

  Gesturing exasperation, the Magistrar finally turned to Gotra Pelani’Dun. “Young Gotra Dun? We have that you had interest in the Tiv son, then transferred to the Vel son. Then, what?”

  Gotra Pelani’Dun looked from side to side but not at her parents. She said nothing.

  “Someone had better answer me,” the Magistrar said, her voice full of warning, not that she could do anything to Kreceno’Tiv directly, he was almost certain. Not just because he had not instigated it, or because he had not answered the challenge, but also because of his famiya’s position. But I didn’t do anything wrong, he reminded himself. That was the most important factor.

  The Secondus Head looked around, then centered on Hytiro’Vel. “Young Vel?”

  Hytiro’Vel sat up as if stung, then slouched his head forward again. “Pelan, she... I mean Pelani’Dun said, at the start of the term, that she did not want to associate closely with me, anymore. When I asked her why, she said – she said she had to leave me, that she...” he looked at Gotra Pelani’Dun, and the puzzlement and hurt in his face was painful to see. Kreceno’Tiv looked away. Much as he did not like the other male, he knew that pain, and did not want to remember it.

  “She....?” the Magistrar looked from Hytiro’Vel to Gotra Pelani’Dun.

  How long is she going to drag this out? Kreceno’Tiv thought, angry and tired. I have assignments to do. Just say it, and have done!

  The official to the left of the Magistrar gestured directly at Gotra Pelani’Dun. “Young Gotra Dun daughter, you will give a full account of what happened. You are the Genus-inducer for whom this young male was wearing battle-colors, and the entire responsibility of this mess can be attributed to you, and very selfish and dangerous machinations construed as your motive, if you do not explain. Do you understand what will happen to your branch of the Gotra Dun famiya if you are found to be responsible without any mitigation or explanation? Do you understand that your own mating-rights are in serious jeopardy at this time?”

  “Magistrar,” Gotrar-Teriso’Cor’Dun finally spoke up, as if goaded, “we found Hytiro’Vel to be – not quite an acceptable association for our daughter. We wanted only what was best for her.” It was as open an admission as they were likely to get from her parents, of having put her up to this.

  “I see,” Fel said, sitting back. “But that explanation only ends the association between Pelani’Dun and Hytiro’Vel. That does not explain the situation of this turn.” She turned her eyes back to Kreceno’Tiv.

  He gestured ignorance of what could have been the instigating motive. He had a pretty good notion, but he would not be volunteering it.

  “Pelani’Dun?” the Magistrar turned to her again. “You have the most to lose in this. You will explain how Hytiro’Vel came to be displaying your Gotrar-battle-induction and was ready to fight a mating-challenge. You will explain, or we will judge summarily against you and you will bear the full brunt of the responsibility for it!”

  Gotra Pelani’Dun began to cry. “I – I did not want to be with Hytiro’Vel anymore,” she said, as if her words were rehearsed. “I – realized that I still liked Kreceno’Tiv. When I saw him again at the beginning of the term... I tried to let him know that I was interested again. But he did not seem to notice,” she said between sniffs.

  Now that was a lie, he thought angrily. I noticed, I just wasn’t interested. You made it so obvious, a corpse would have noticed!

  “So I approached him, to apologize, and he – he snubbed me,” she continued.

  Kreceno’Tiv stiffened in indignation, but a touch from his mother kept him from refuting her claim. A slight tinge of – something – began to form around Gotra Pelani’Dun. Contravening the truth-glyph? He relaxed again.

  “Did he, in truth?” the Magistrar interrupted, her expression and voice flat. “In what way did he snub you?”

  “He – he used his famiya and Genus lineage,” she said, the large tears that had gathered in her eyes beginning to slide down her face. “He told me to wait f
or another male who...” she did not continue, leaving the inferences up to the panel. The tinge of deception around her deepened, for, while in essence, most of what she said was accurate, the intent was false.

  “I see,” the Magistrar said again, her voice harder. “Well, regardless of what was said, how did Hytiro’Vel come to have the challenge-rage?”

  She looked around, cornered. “I was... Hytiro’Vel came to me, and I was upset... I... did not mean...” She stumbled through a few more half-formed sentences before halting. But in the final glyph-vuuing, she could not defend enflaming Hytiro’Vel and then sending him after Kreceno’Tiv. It was obvious to him that her parents had put her up to trying to reacquire him as a potential mate, but even they could not have put her to making Hytiro’Vel challenge him. Their faces were stiff as she tried and failed to excuse herself.

  “I was so upset... I – I didn’t know what I was doing... Then I was in Hytiro’Vel’s arms, and he was kissing me, and I guess it went too far... I – I tried to recall the chemi-induction, but... he got upset again, when I told him why I was upset... he flew into a rage, but I... I didn’t think...”

  “Enough,” the Magistrar said, scowling. “Obviously you have never been thwarted in your interests, before. Hytiro’Vel, you should have known better than to try to reacquaint with Gotra Pelani’Dun once she made it clear that she was no longer interested – that left you open to just this form of manipulation. Please wait with your parents in the waiting area, you will receive our judgment in a moment. Kreceno’Tiv, as you are not directly responsible for initiating this situation, and you did not respond to the provocation presented by Hytiro’Vel, you are excused, with no imputations against you. You may leave.”

  Kreceno’Tiv stood, relieved, and followed his parents out of the chamber. He was glad he would not have to see the punishment meted out to Gotra Pelani’Dun or Hytiro’Vel.