Free Edge of Worlds (The Books of the Raksura) by Martha Wells Page A

that. She eyed Moon critically. “You shouldn’t have confronted her in front of Delin. You know how she is about groundlings.”
    She was probably right about that. But it had felt like everyone was ignoring the important point. And if you were going to challenge Pearl on something like this, it was better to get it over with as quickly as possible. He said, earnestly, “I thought she liked it when I confront her.”
    “Very funny.” Jade’s spines twitched in a combination of annoyance and amusement. Balm stepped into the doorway, and Chime cautiously leaned in after her.
    “We have to send somebody.” Chime grimaced in dismay. “I don’t want to see one of those things again. But I’d rather see it still trapped in a forerunner city than see it in the Reaches.”
    There was a quiet moment where everyone was clearly thinking that over. You can’t wish Delin hadn’t come to us , Moon thought, because if one of those things got loose and came looking for Raksura ... He said, “We could send to Opal Night for help. Malachite would realize how bad this could be—”
    “I am not asking your mother for help,” Jade cut him off. “Not until we know what we’re dealing with.”
    Moon had no problem admitting that Malachite was a nerve-racking companion. He said, “But you think if we told her about this, she would believe it was serious enough to investigate.”
    Jade’s mouth twisted as she thought it over. “Yes. I do.”
    Balm put in, “Maybe we should send her a message.” Jade gave her a look and Balm held up her hands. “If worse comes to worst, we might need help. And you wouldn’t have to convince her how dangerous this could be. She already knows.”
    “She’s right,” Stone said.
    Jade shook her head in resignation. “I know, I know.” Moon, Balm, and Stone all drew breath to speak, and Jade held up her hands to stop them. “We’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let me talk to these groundlings of Delin’s first and just see what they say.”
    Moon subsided, a little unwillingly. Then a female Arbora ducked under Chime’s arm and stepped into the bower, looking around at them all in confusion. Jade asked, “What’s wrong, Weave?”
    “Ah, this is my bower?” Weave said uncertainly. “Do you need it? I don’t mind.”
    “No, sorry.” Jade sighed and squeezed Weave’s shoulder. “We’re just leaving.”
    Moon followed her and the others out, back to the meeting room. Delin was still sitting with Heart, having tea. Vine was there now too, in his groundling form, waiting impatiently. Before the meeting, Jade had sent five warriors back to the flying boat, to take over for Aura, Vine, and Serene.
    Vine stood up. “Jade, we saw those pack things. Like Delin said, the groundlings are using them to fly around.”
    Jade’s fangs showed briefly, a sign of strong annoyance. “Wonderful.” She turned to Delin. “We’re going to have to approach them and arrange a meeting.”
    Delin set his tea cup aside. “If you could return me to their ship, I can do this. You do not wish them to come here, but to meet at some neutral location?”
    “You don’t want to spend the night here?” Heart asked him.
    “It would be better not to give them time to plan.” Delin’s tone was wry. “Or to argue amongst themselves.”
    Moon almost made a sarcastic comment about nobody here knowing what that was like, but managed to restrain himself.
    Jade considered it. “We’ll take you back. Balm will show you where we can have the meeting on the way, so you can guide the groundlings tomorrow.”
    So it was all settled. At least for tonight.

C HAPTER F OUR
    I t was nearing twilight and a light rain-mist was in the air when Moon went with Balm, Chime, and Floret to take Delin back to the groundlings’ boat. They landed with him on a mountain-tree branch, heavily screened by leaves but with a view of the flying boat in its clearing. The warriors who were keeping an eye on it waited there.
    As Moon