Page 14 of Earthbound

They had reached one of the many resting rooms used in the village. Those that were occupied had a fern leaf tied to the door handle. No one had ownership of any of the rooms in particular, to keep the spirit of the Nomads alive for those who could no longer travel long distances.

‘Dart, what’s the commotion?’ Mia was standing in the doorway, her swollen belly much larger than the last time Alder had seen it. Despite the circumstances, he couldn’t help grinning.

‘Oh Mia, look at you,’ he said. Her dark hair was thick and glossy, falling like rivulets of spilled ink on either side of her almond face.

She stared at him and her eyes filled with tears. ‘Alder?’

‘Finally, someone can actually see us,’ Lettle said.

But Dart shook his head at her. ‘Don’t, Mia, I don’t want you shunned too.’

Mia hesitated, her arms twitching as if about to embrace Alder.

‘I found something out that might change everything for everyone,’ he said.

When they didn’t reply Alder continued. ‘And Dart, I think you might be able to help me learn more about it.’

Mia made a pained sound in her throat but no words came out.

‘Moon’s mercy, he’s human!’ Lettle shouted. Her voice echoed around the mountain, and every Nomad in earshot went silent.

‘What did you say?’ Dart asked.

Alder released a sigh of relief. ‘I’m human, or part human, I guess. Somehow I’m connected to the obeah too.’

‘This is no trick?’ Dart said.

‘Of course, we travelled for four months just to pull off this most elaborate jest,’ Lettle muttered.

‘No, Dart. This is no trick. I need to learn everything I can about where I was found.’

Dart and Mia exchanged a glance, communicating silently, as only those truly attuned to each other know how to do.

‘We must vote,’ Dart said.

Lettle growled low in her throat. ‘That doesn’t sound like a quick process.’

It was not. While Lettle went to retrieve Farhan, who had somehow found himself fishing with a group of perturbed Nomads in a nearby river, Dart called together all the Nomads of voting age into the speaking hall. The room was used rarely, only when decisions of import had to be implemented.

Alder hated the speaking hall. It was so large that your voice would echo much further than intended. Moss grew in abundance across the walls due to the constant dampness from the waterfall on the other side. Every memory he had of the hall was bad: How would they combat the impending floods? Three children were missing from a hunting trip. Who would be the next Wayfarer?

The latter had been particularly terrifying as it had been Alder himself who had been nominated and elected. A role he had never asked for but had accepted willingly.

Alder shivered and wrapped his arms around himself as the Nomads filed in.

‘Why have you called us before No One?’ one of the elders asked when the room was full. Their voice boomed in the vacuous space.

‘Alder has returned to us—’ Some tittered as Dart used Alder’s name. ‘He claims he has discovered important information and requires our help. I believe that under these circumstances he should be seen.’

‘We see only No One,’ another Nomad said.

‘Please, let me explain?’ Alder called out to the room. But still the crowd didn’t acknowledge him.

Dart nodded to him, reassuringly. It was only because Dart was giving Alder this chance that he had not already been escorted away.

‘You will have heard the news that the fae live among us,’ Alder began. People began to turn away, but then he said, ‘But so do humans.’

A hush fell over the congregation. The Nomads turned their shocked gazes to Alder. His words had finally caught their attention, and though it was unnerving to be assessed by so many, this was his opportunity to convince them he was worthy of being seen.