Free Keir by Pippa Jay

greetings with Taler, and she introduced him as Sky. He had the same small, white face, ice-blue eyes and fangs as she did, but his spiked hair was pale blue as opposed to her purple. After a rapid discussion that might have been in a foreign language for all Keir understood of it, she bid Sky farewell with a promise to meet in an hour. A few moments later a tall, silvery woman crossed their path and greeted them with a gesture, her flawlessly sculpted face impassive. Taler returned the movement with an expression of awe and they both paused to watch her pass, elegant in her long silver dress and cascading mane of bright silver hair.
    “Who is she?” he found the courage to ask, impressed by Taler’s reaction to one of her own compatriots.
    “That’s Mercury,” she explained. “She’s a synthetic humanoid, the only one of her kind. I rarely see her.”
    A few more twists and turns and suddenly real sunlight flooded the corridor, blinding in its intensity. Once his eyes had adjusted to the blaze of golden light, Keir saw that one entire wall was made of sections of glass that looked out across the landscape and encircled a huge, round garden.
    A small waterfall emptied into a pond that reflected the perfect blue of the sky. The lush green lawn was interspersed with areas of gravel, all surrounded by a riot of colorful plants. Through the far side of the wall Keir saw rolling green hills and groves of silvery trees still clad in sparse golden foliage. Quin sat alone on a carved stone bench, eyes fixed on the distant horizon and her red hair stirring in a gentle breeze. She still wore black, as if in mourning, her face pale and serious.
    Something strange shivered through him at the sight of her and his breathing faltered. He had spent his life alone, resigned to exile, yet he felt drawn to Quin, wanting her company, to hear her voice. The sudden inexplicable need terrified him.
    Taler opened one of the glass panels and gave him a gentle push when he did not move, sealing the door behind him. His feet carried him forward. The sun warmed his skin and a stiff breeze ruffled his hair. There was a bite to the wind and a scent of dampness, hinting at the approach of autumn displayed by the changing leaves. Only the distant splash of the waterfall and the rustling of nearby greenery broke the silence of Lyagnius, Keir’s footsteps muffled by the grass beneath his feet. A tremble in his legs made him slow down as he drew closer.
    Quin turned and saw him. With a cry, she jumped to her feet and darted to him, stopping just shy of touching distance. He hesitated, his heart pounding furiously. For an instant he had the impression she had intended to touch him, hold him. The idea terrified him, and yet he felt a sliver of disappointment that she had held back.
    Quin smiled at him, her eyes searching his face. “I’m glad to see you.”
    The sight of her face warmed him as much as her words. “And I you.”
    Her hand twitched toward him as if reaching for his hand, but instead she hugged herself, one thumb rubbing at her arm as if it bothered her.
    “Are you cold?” he asked. There was definitely an edge to the breeze but her clothing looked thicker than his.
    “No, I…” Her gaze shifted, returned to his face again. “Are you all right?”
    The quiver in his legs increased.
    “Quin, I think I must sit down,” he said. The admission annoyed him, but he feared his legs giving out.
    Her face a picture of concern, she gestured him to a bench, then crouched in front of him as he sat. “Medical weren’t supposed to release you unless you were fit,” she scolded. “How are you feeling?”
    “A bit weak,” he confessed, “but I will be all right. Taler tells me I am healed.”
    “You do look better.” She smiled, her relief evident as she touched his sleeve. “These look much better on you than those rags. Are they okay?”
    “Yes,” Keir assured her, “but… ”
    “What?”
    “I still feel…exposed,” he