Page 34 of When Eden Falls

The blue caped guard pulled the chair out for me. Even though I was a purified mess inside, I took the seat with confidence, still holding Havav’s friendly, yet assessing gaze.

While Havav welcomed Cora and Zamya, signalling where they should sit, I caught Rooke’s stare from across the table. He was looking at me as if it was the first time he’d laid eyes on me. I raised my eyebrows in question, but his lips twitched into a smile; a teasing smile. I felt the colour rise in my cheeks and I tugged gently at the material exposing my open cleavage. Further amusement danced across his face. I knew he’d find my attire laughable, but then, he looked ridiculous without his facial hair.

Zamya, seating herself in between Rooke and Kobe, shifted my attention. Cora was now sitting to my right. Several guards lined the walls on either side of the room, standing stiff and responsive, and the blue caped one stood to my left, behind Havav. I felt his eyes constantly surveying the room, landing on me several times.

“Thank you for joining us,” Havav drawled, inclining his head towards me. “Your commander informed me you were finding the segregation from your male comrades rather…distressing.”

I flicked my gaze to Rooke, who was trying to conceal his smirk. “Did he now?”

“I suppose after living in such close proximity to each other for months, it must feel strange not to have them close by.”

“Yes…quite.”

Havav nodded, assessing the look I threw Rooke. “Miss Eden, I feel you and I did not get off to a good start yesterday.”

Slightly shocked, I forced a smile, looking down at the place setting in front of me. The table had the same marble effect as the floor, dark and swirling. The cutlery looked like pieces of reinforced coral tied together by a piece of decorative string. The drinking glass had a short neck with a wide, crystalised bowl. Eyeing it, I wished it was full of wine so I could drink as a distraction.

“I apologise if I came across abrupt or rude,” I said, albeit half-heartedly. “Yesterday, I was exhausted and more than a little harassed about the situation. However, your hospitality has been overly generous, and our attendants are nothing but kind and attentive.”

Havav hummed his approval as a flurry of bodies entered the room, carrying plates of food and glass bottles of what I hoped was wine. I caught Rooke’s eye. He subtly nodded his head, pleased with my show of apology and appreciation. This was all an act in the name of diplomacy. We had to keep on the right side of Havav, for Oz’s sake more than anything else.

Once the wine was poured and the bright, colourful food distributed, we began to eat. I went straight for the peach-coloured wine. To my surprise it tasted spicy yet smooth, and exceptionally morish.

“I have spent the day with your commander and Mr. Kobe,” Havav went on. “They explained who Allurans are and where you originally came from.”

“So, you know it is said we originated from Earth?”

He nodded. “The Akquarian people were emerging from the waters when the human race was fretting about the Igknamai. They were too focused on the beasts to notice our species’ presence.”

I noticed Zamya’s attention pique. She sat up straighter in her chair, her dark eyes glistening as she listened. But it was Cora who spoke, “So the Igknamai were the reason the human race left?”

“I believe so. My species was intellectually young at the time. But we were evolved enough that we no longer relied solely on the ocean.”

“So, you are an evolved species of fish?” Zamya asked.

Havav shot her a glare. He appeared offended. “No. We are the same as you, with…some physical differences.”

“Which explains the intellect, I guess.”

“Indeed.” Havav smiled at Zamya. A smile that relaxed the harsh lines of his pale face. He looked oddly handsome. And in a way similar to Yuska, his features were young yet carried an older, wiser expression, especially around the eyes.

Cora spoke again, “So why did the Igknamai drive the humans from this world, yet your people remained?”

“Firstly, we did not have mechanical transportation as the humans did, and secondly, we are water people. The Igknamai do not like water. They avoid it as much as possible. Even when it rains, they tend to disappear.”

Well, that explained why they only munched on the dry underside of our ship, and why they scarpered early yesterday morning when it had started raining.

“This fortress is surrounded by sea. It is a safe haven from the savage beasts who roam the land.”

“Have they ever attacked your people?” I asked, still sipping on the heavenly wine.

“Yes. They attack anything that lingers on dry land. We have lost many of those who farm the fields in the past. We have better defences now, ones the Igknamai tend to avoid. But yes…we have lost many.” There was a sudden sadness in his eyes. He’d lost someone close; he must have.

“So, if the humans left without making any semblance of contact with you,” Zamya said, cutting into her food, “how do you know our language so well?”

“Ahh.” Havav smiled and lent back. “Your ancestors lived in cities, bigger than imaginable. And when they left, they didn’t take any superficial commodities with them, including their libraries. My ancestors found these exquisite buildings full of knowledge and retrieved many books before the Igknamai found and destroyed them. Through those books we learnt their languages, including the one you speak. The one we call the ancient tongue. We have a large library here full of said books.”

Cora practically squealed. “A library? Full of ancient texts?”