The Hollow

Qayid

"—don't think conversation is enough. What else?"

"I've seen him throw a spear. You already know where he got his."

"Already have a harpoonist. And he sleeps late. 'Where he's been' is all he has going for him?"

Nom's eyelids felt cemented shut, and hurt almost as badly as the rest of his body, until he got one open. Then he decided they hurt worse than his body, being part of his head. "Grrngh," he managed to say.

"Not much of a conversationalist, at that. No, my decision is final."

Nom focussed his working eye on the blue blur that spoke, and an old man came into focus, older than himself by decades. His wrinkled skin was blackened by sun and tattoos. Intricate white patterns covered his satiny dark blue shirt, folded over and tucked into loose white pants. Straps were tied around his sleeves at the wrists, and Nom assumed his pants accommodated the same style. It was a local maritime outfit, but his white hair was cropped short, rather than long and braided as was the custom in Endo. Something about the tattoos was familiar, but Nom's headache wouldn't let him focus enough to recall. The man stood up.

A woman's voice spoke for the first time, hastily adding, "Fine, I'll do it. I'll be—her." She took a quick deep breath and let it out. "But only near the end, when we're farthest in." Omega? Yes. Nom pushed himself to a sitting position. The old man regarded him critically, shifting his sharp eyes between Omega and Nom. Ahden sat nearby. His must have been the other voice. Dev also stood in the room, looking on with apprehension.

"Oa, don't," Ahden said.

Omega parted her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She sighed and stared up at the old man, maintaining her offer. Nom had questions, but felt this was not a good time to speak up.

"Agreed," the old man said. He looked seriously at Nom and said, "Adi daruni," then walked out the door.

Nom was shocked awake by that. "What did he—? What did you just agree to girl?" he asked, but she did not answer, only looked down and away from the rest of them.

Ahden said "You don't have to, we'll find another way."

"There is no other way, and there is no other price," Omega blurted. She suddenly stood, and wiped her eyes under her goggles as she left the room.

"She's right, you know," said Dev.

"Then we'll stop, live with it, leave the Hollow, leave this to someone else. He won't even tell us who we're looking for!" Ahden pointed at Nom. "And the first thing he did tell us was to abandon this whole thing."

"Hold up," Nom said defensively, "I didn't even want to leave my home before you showed up. I was doing just fine there. But what's going on? Who is that old guy?"

Ahden quickly responded, "C'mon, is Elocant really your home? You were quick to leave. What are we getting into, who is this darkseer, and why won't you talk about him?"

Nom winced, and sat mute.

"Nōm, that was Qayid," said Dev. "He's the captain of the Pelican who agreed to sail us around the mountains. The only one who would. Now I think Ahden's right, you owe us an explanation about—"

"You lads can think all you want," Nom cut him off with a chop of his hand, "but I know where we're headed. And it's best not to speak of it, just trust me."

Ahden stood and said flatly, "I'll go see how she's doing," then left to find her.

Nom let out his breath, held his aching head and slumped down. "Nice to see you Dev, it really is," he said, "but what was that about?"