Sarah Zettel: Reclamation

"It’s all still out there,” he said eventually. “The Realm, and the laws of the Nameless, and the Teachers, and the Vitae. The whole Quarter Galaxy is still out there. And you’re still a Notouch and I’m still a Teacher.” He handed her the can of juice. “You finish that.” He paused. “Your sister is still on the other side of the World’s Wall."

"We’ll get her back. The Mind is looking after her.” She swallowed the last drops. “Then we’re going to need to get those arias out of the Temple vaults and see if the Mind has a way to identify who they belong to. Then we have to find those people and see if they’re willing to learn how to be Eyes. I think that should be my job, and Trail’s when we get her back.” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “So, Eric Born kenu Teacher Hand kenu Lord Hand on the Seablade dena Enemy of the Aunorante Sangh, what will you do about all this?” She waved toward the dome’s tattered wall. “About what is still out there?"

He didn’t say anything for a long while. Aria waited. He looked down at his naked hands. They trembled slightly and she knew he wanted to reach for the Mind again. She did too. Parts of her soul were still down there, rejoicing in the freedom of her power.

She couldn’t do anything for him if he decided to give in to that false joy.

Eric looked her straight in the eyes. “When my brother-in-law gets back, I’ll help get us all to First City. My parents are not averse to getting themselves a little extra power. They won’t mind that their son is heir to the Servant and can prove it. I’ll help you find your children again. I’ll get to the U-Kenai and get a message to Dorias, and the Unifiers, and the Shessel and Kethran Colony. We’re going to need friends, Aria Stone, and they’re going to need to know who we are, and who the Vitae are.

"Will that be enough?"

"It’ll be a good start.” She nodded. “What will you do about yourself?"

"I will learn what I can from you.” He took her hand. “I will try to deal with what I am.” His hand tightened a little. “With what we are."

She laid her scarred hand over his power-gifted one. “That is an even better start."

After a while they picked themselves up out of the dome’s wreckage and, climbing carefully over the debris, made their way out into the daylight.

About the Author

Sarah Anne Zettel was born in Sacramento, California. She began writing stories in the fourth grade and never stopped. Her interest in writing has followed her through ten cities, four states, two countries, and one college, where she earned a BA in Communications.

A professional technical writer, Sarah’s short fiction has been nationally published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact and Realms of Fantasy. Her second science fiction novel is scheduled to appear from Warner Aspect in April 1997. When not actually writing, Sarah sings, dances, and plays the hammered dulcimer, although not all at once.