Page 31 of Spectral Seas (Spectral Worlds #2)

A ROBED MONK waited in front of the tented pavilion at the mouth of the Indicus mines. When the group approached, he pulled a tarp away from the door and led them into a tented tunnel. Abby, Leta, and Soren were then split from the Viridians and escorted to a draped chamber furnished wall to wall with low soft cushion couches and small tables topped with platters of blue produce.

“The fruitsss and vegetablesss are fresh from the fieldsss,” said the hooded monk. “And to the back you’ll find an antechamber, with running water…to refresh.” The monk then left the three alone.

Abby removed his coat, eased himself onto a low couch, and plucked what looked to be a plump grape from the tabletop bowl in front of him. Leta sat on a cushion across the table. She watched Soren exit to the antechamber, then softly asked Abby, “Is that the first time that’s happened?”

Abby popped another grape into his mouth, clenched his right eye closed as he pondered an answer, then said, “ You mean since all of the—” he jabbed his hand out, fingers wide.

Leta nodded. “Yes. Since our encounter with the Maro,” she said. “The first time since Jazz—”

“Disappeared?”

“Yeah,” said Leta. She eased back into her seat and looked away. “Since Jazz disappeared.”

“I’m sorry,” said Abby. “I know you mean well.”

“I just want to know if you were okay.”

“After glowing like a lamp and slipping out of existence to who knows where?”

Abby didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to. Across his face was written the memory of what had happened. How he’d morphed into something greater than mortal, vanquished dozens of Maro warriors by touch, and how it’d been beyond his control. It was more than simply shifting slightly up or down the spectrum. And this was the fourth time that mysterious something inside him had switched on.

He rose from the sofa, went to the beverage bar to the side of the room, and sorted through the clear decanters—all of which contained liquids in varying shades of blue. When he found one that glowed neon, he uncorked it and gave it a whiff. He wrinkled his nose, held the bottle up to examine it closer, then poured some into a rock glass. He returned to the sofa, popped yet another grape into his mouth, then took a drink.

Leta waited until he appeared satisfied then asked, “Well, are you? Okay, I mean.”

“I’m okay,” he said. “I was just caught off guard.”

“So, you didn’t will it to happen?”

“No.” He raised his eyebrows. “Not at all. I’m sure it was a fight or flight type reaction, which means it could happen again. Fortunately, you’re still the only one to have noticed anytime it’s happened.” He raised his glass. “So we have that.”

“Yes. I’m glad of that too. I think it’d be a bit hard to explain away.”

Abby brought the glass to his lips, then paused to say, “A bridge I don’t want to cross.” He took another draw of the blue liquor then winced.

“Is that the Harmon Blue you like?”

“Oh. You remember that. No. To be so lucky. This is called Arak. It’s distilled from the skins of the blue fruit. Not much different from grappa.” He swished the thick fluid around in the glass, producing a thin neon coating on the inner sides, then shrugged. “It’s grappa.”

Upon Soren’s return, Leta stood. “I think I’ll check out that running water,” she said.

Abby raised his glass to her as she exited, then finished what he had poured and closed his eyes to rest.

~*~