Page 127 of Moon Chosen

“Mari, I didn’t kill him,” Nik said.

“What are you doing out here in our territory, Nik?”

Nik hesitated, but the decision wasn’t difficult to make. He didn’t want to lie, and this girl—this part Companion, part Earth Walker girl who had saved his life—deserved better than a web of lies and half-truths. His father would agree with him, even if no one else in the Tribe would. So he’d tell her the truth—or as much of it as he could—but he needed information in return.

“I’ll answer any questions you have for me, but I need something from you in return,” Nik said.

Her brows went up. “That’s a pretty arrogant thing to say to the girl who just saved your life.”

Nik sighed and then grimaced at the pain the movement caused and shifted restlessly trying to find a more comfortable position. Finally, he said, “I didn’t mean it to sound arrogant. I know I’m in your debt. But I think you can imagine that I have questions for you, too.”

Mari nodded her head slightly. “Yeah, I can imagine that. Fine. I’ll trade you question for question. What do you want to know?”

“Why aren’t you childlike or filled with melancholy? Why are you and Sora normal?”

Mari blinked in surprise, and then laughed—heartily and loudly—causing Rigel to jump and bark with joy around her. She had to settle the pup and wipe her eyes before she answered him, and when she finally did her gray eyes still sparkled with suppressed amusement.

“Sorry about that. It’s just that thinking of Sora and me asnormalis actually pretty funny.”

“So the rest of the Scra—um—I mean Earth Walker females are depressed and listless, even catatonic?”

“No, of course not. But Sora and I are, well,” she hesitated, obviously choosing her words carefully. “I suppose the best way to describe what we are is to call us Healers. And there is usually only one Healer per Earth Walker Clan.”

“That’s why you’re unusual? Because there are two of you for your Clan?” he asked.

“Kind of. There was only one Healer for our Clan, and she was my mother. She died without having fully trained an apprentice. You could say that Sora and I are working together to try to take Mama’s place—and neither of us knows as much as we should. That’s unusual because Healers usually only have one apprentice.”

“I’m still alive, so it seems to me that you’re doing well,” Nik said.

“I’m doing my best, and that isn’t as good as Mama, but it’s all I can do,” she said.

“I’m sorry, I’m still confused. You’re talking with me normally, as if you’re just another member of the Tribe. And I don’t remember all that happened during the past several days, but I think I would have remembered if Sora was mortally depressed. All I remember is her being angry and wanting to kill me.”

“That sums up how Sora feels about you. And, nope, she’s not depressed.”

“But why not?” Nik flung out his hands and then had to freeze, squeeze his eyes shut, and breathe through a wave of pain and nausea. When he opened his eyes, Mari was beside his pallet, peering down at him with concern.

“I think you should drink the tea and quit moving around. Seven days ago you came very close to dying,” she said.

“I will, but this is important.” He hated how weak his voice sounded. “Could I have a drink of water?”

Mari went to the drinking bucket, filled a wooden mug, and brought it back to him.

“Thank you.” He drank deeply before he continued. “Here’s why I’m so confused. The only, ur, Earth Walkers I’ve known couldn’t carry on an intelligent conversation because of their depression. They’re also childlike in their inability to care for themselves. Or, if they were men, they actively tried to kill me, and I don’t mean like Sora who said she wanted to kill me, but didn’t actually attack. So, why? Why are you two different? And look at this burrow! It’s lovely. The art is incredible. Who did it? Are all your homes like this?”

She met his eyes and shook her head, sending him an incredulous look. “First, that’s way more than one question. Second, let me guess—the only Earth Walkers you’ve known, except for Sora and me, were your prisoners.”

“Well, yes. I mean, they were all on Farm Island,” Nik said, feeling very uncomfortable, and this time not from his wounds.

“Farm Island? That’s what you call the place where you hold our people in slavery?”

“They—um—work for us there. Yes.”

“No, Nik. If theyworkedfor you they could leave at any time. But if they try to leave,your people kill them.Holding people against their will and forcing them to work for you is slavery.”

Nik didn’t look away from her angry gray gaze. “You’re right. Yes. Farm Island is where we keep the women who tend our fields. They’re all depressed. So depressed that they eventually just lie down and die. But they’re not like you. They don’t—”

“They would be like me if they were free again!” The words seemed to explode from Mari’s mouth. “We can’t be caged. It kills us. Your people kill us. Why would our men not attack you on sight? They’re protecting us, just like Xander did Jenna when your group captured her. You killed him for it, and he was her father.”