Page 136 of Earthbound

Yeeran had given up so much to fight for Mosima: her regiment, her city, even Salawa’s love. All she had rejected in order to stand shoulder to shoulder with the fae because she believed in their cause of reclaiming their homeland.

Meow.

Miller made himself known by breaking the tense silence in the room. He trotted through the obeah door as though it were made for him and jumped onto Furi’s lap.

The cat had made a full recovery and become a permanent guest in the palace.

Furi stroked him fondly.

‘See, Miller’s on my side.’

Yeeran looked at the queen, imploring her one final time. ‘You’ll be forced to make a home on the Wasted Marshes.’

‘The elves have done it for nearly half a year, I think we’d survive,’ Furi said.

She was not changing her mind, and from the looks on Golan and Rayan’s faces, neither were they.

Yeeran sat back on her heels. ‘Let us at least put it to a vote. Let the people choose on this matter.’

‘Yes,’ Golan said. ‘A decision this big cannot be made by us alone.’

Rayan and Furi exchanged a glance then nodded.

‘Yes, I think you’re right. Let us put it to the people,’ Furi said.

—

Yeeran watched from the edges of the Royal Woodland as Furi and Rayan called the animals of the city to their side. Letters had been drafted and were being dutifully attached to the animals’ hindquarters to circulate around Mosima. But Yeeran knew the whisper networks would work faster than any letter.

‘You’re disappointed,’ Golan said beside her.

Yeeran ran her hand through her short curls. The seawater had dried it out and it was in dire need of oiling.

‘Frustrated more than disappointed. We’ve been fighting for so long, I don’t like giving up.’

Golan frowned. ‘You have held up your weapon for so long that you no longer feel your body straining to lay it down. Can’t you see that?’

Yeeran had been a soldier for two decades. First it had been Salawa who had given her purpose, then Furi.

‘I’m not sure who I am without a war to fight,’ she admitted softly.

‘You’ll still be you,’ Golan said. ‘But you’ll be lighter as you’ll no longer carry the burden of other lives in your hands.’

Yeeran stroked her drum absentmindedly as she spoke. ‘I don’t even know what I’m good at beyond fighting. I don’t have the skills you do.’

Golan laughed bitterly. ‘Do you think I knew I was good at painting faces until I did it? Perhaps if I’d been born an elf I would have been a chieftain by now. Necessity is what moulds us. You’ll find something you’re good at.’

Yeeran looked at Furi. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright and clear as she helped pull together the missives.

Maybe I’ll become a healer, she thought. Her time with Jay in the quarantine district had been rewarding. Though it had been awful to see people die under her care, she hadn’t been overwhelmed by guilt. Their blood was on her hands, yes, but at least she knew she’d done everything she could to prevent their deaths, not cause them.

You would make a good healer, Pila said. And so would I–I like giving cuddles the most.

Yeeran smiled. There are more things to healing than cuddling.

I know, but you did cuddle Furi a lot when she was sick.

I did, Yeeran replied. You could, you know–become a healer when you’re human.