Salt Storm: The Salted Series: Episodes #31-35 by Galvin, Aaron (top 5 books to read TXT) 📗

Bryant shifted. “How did you come across it, then? How did you find them?”

“I saw the light of Mother Africa upon her and the boy, Allambee Omondi, in my dreams,” said Marisa. “And so I went to her and spoke as I speak to you now – told her of my dreams, the past and future too. Of all the choices made that led she and Atsidi Darksnout together, as with all the forces aligned against them to keep the pair apart also.”

“Why would you take the tooth from her, then, if that’s all the reminder she had of him?” Chidi asked.

“Because I told her what she already knew of her great love – that Atsidi Darksnout had never truly trusted anyone in this world but her. That I could help the boy to meet his father, but the Hammer chieftain would not believe my words alone of the son he had sired. The brooding and distrustful Hammer chieftain would require proof.” Her gaze fell upon the tooth and necklace. “Proof of a time he relinquished all his doubts and fears that he might know the deeper power of love, if for a scattered moment in time.”

Chidi clenched the tooth tighter. She winced when feeling the razored bite of its jagged sides scratching at her skin. Not enough to wound for the force of her grip alone, but a reminder of the lost deadly force the tooth once could wield. “You lied to her too, then,” Chidi accused Marisa. “You lied to Allambee’s mother.”

“How did I lie?” Marisa asked. “I promised that I would share her message with Atsidi Darksnout, just as I would reunite their son with his father.”

“What message of hers did you share?” Bryant asked.

Marisa smirked. “You know better than to ask of the private, whispered words shared between lovers, David Bryant. I would not betray their secrets to you, not even if you held the remaining three keys we require.”

“What did Atsidi say when you first showed him the tooth and necklace, then?” Chidi asked, her blood warming again. “When you promised to reunite him with Allambee?”

Marisa shrugged. “His long-suffering doubts led him to disbelieve me there also, despite the gift I brought him from his lost love. It was then that I struck the bargain with him - that he would know my words for true when our currents crossed again, the same night as Atsidi Darksnout would both finally meet his son . . . aye, and lose him to the green waters also.”

Thoughts of Allambee swimming in her mind, Chidi’s fingernails dug into the palm of her hands at Marisa’s words.

Bryant interrupted before Chidi could speak. “Bourgeois, you said these keys, or gifts, you’re looking for couldn’t be taken, but it sounds to me like you put this Nomad leader in a corner . . . forced him to return that tooth to you, or else to break his word.”

“Perhaps you are right,” said Marisa. “But, had I required the gift from Atsidi Darksnout, had it not been freely given over, then no doubt it would lose such power as I believe it holds within it now.”

Chidi spoke up. “You told him to though,” she said. “You reminded him of the bargain made.”

“Aye,” said Marisa. “But you were the necklace and his tooth not for the bargain struck between he and I, but for the kindness and friendship you shared with his son, Chidi. Say rather a testament to the sacrifice his son laid down to save your life.”

“You used me too, then,” Chidi sputtered the words. “The same as you used Allambee and his family.”

Marisa’s face pained. “Is that how you see all that I have told you, Chidi? Again, that you are merely a pawn upon a board? Aye, and me the player to choose where you are moved or not?”

“How else should I see it?” she asked.

Marisa took her time in parsing her words. “I know not who the true players are in this game we live out. Nor do I know if there be but one Creator, or several, to move us all upon the board. I understand well, however, that I am not their favored piece, Chidi. Why else would they torment with such terrible visions of all that to come, unless I carry out the actions that They would have from me?”

“But you don’t have to,” said Chidi. “You tell me ‘There is always a choice’ and yet you act like you don’t have any.”

“I have choices, Chidi,” said Marisa. “And yet I am to wise enough somewhat to understand there are things I am meant to see and do, as well as many other things that I will never be deemed worthy of seeing or doing.”

“How’s that, then?” Bryant challenged her. “Seems you got examples all the while when it comes us and the decisions we’ve been made. How ‘bout you turn that all-seeing eye on back yourself there, girlie, and give us an example.”

Marisa’s face tightened at his rebuking tone. “When I ventured ashore into your country with Allambee Omondi at my side, I chose to seek out Zymon Gorski with the hope that I was wrong about all the things to come. I hoped that Zymon might hide and protect the boy for me until I could free his father and bring them both to meet in safer circumstances. Instead, I found myself hunted by others I have long seen and fled from in my dreams.” Marisa’s gaze turned away from him, and upon Chidi once more. “Aye, instead of reuniting the boy with his father, I was surrounded by your Selkie catcher crew instead, Chidi. Trapped and forced to either give up myself . . . or sacrifice the boy in my place. For when I saw Lenny Dolan’s face and recognized him from my dreams, I knew then that I was soon to meet you thereafter also. Aye, and that the boy would be safe with you until such time