Free Moth by Daniel Arenson Page B

silvery-cheeked guard opened a scroll. It rolled down to his feet. Hundreds of ribbons, all of different colors and designs, were pinned to the parchment. With a quill, he inked a word onto the scroll.
    "Koy Mai . . ." he mumbled, jotting down letters.
    "Ko yee Mai," she corrected him. "Ko- yee . Of Oshy."
    He coughed uncomfortably, scratched out the letters, and wrote again. "Ko yee Mai of Oshy. Here to speak of ancient spirits."
    "Timandrians," she said. "And they're not ancient spirits. They're real. They've alive. They're dangerous."
    But the guard had already placed the quill back into his belt. He plucked a blue-and-silver ribbon from the scroll and handed it to her.
    "You are now four-hundred and seventy-third in line to see the elders." He smiled pleasantly. "We will call your name when your time comes."
    Koyee raised her eyebrows and groaned. "How long will it take?"
    "We approximate . . . forty-seven turns of a standard hourglass."
    "But . . ." Koyee sputtered. "But I can't wait that long! That's almost two moons! I already spent ten hourglass turns sailing here from Oshy. What if more Timandrians attack? I have to speak to them now ."
    She marched forward, trying to push her way between the guards.
    The men calmly pressed closer together, blocking her way. Koyee growled, but there were ten of them, each one twice her size.
    "Thank you for requesting an audience with the elders," said one, voice as pleasant as ever, his smile stoic. "Feel free to wander Pahmey and enjoy its sights while you wait. We will call your name when your turn has come."
    Koyee marched away with clenched fists, her shoulders stooped and her eyebrows bunched together. Timandrians had invaded Eloria and slain her father—they were real, not just ancient spirits—and these guards simply dismissed her? She fumed.
    Yet what could she do—stand on a street corner and shout of the threat? Koyee had a feeling that would only land her in a dungeon. Leave this city and travel farther east, walking across rocky plains to Yintao, capital of Qaelin? That journey could take three or four moons, even if she had enough supplies. Marching away, Koyee stuffed the ribbon into her pocket.
    "Well, Eelani, old friend, we might just have to wait." A sigh flowed across her. "Maybe the wait will be shorter than the guards said. I just pray no more Timandrians emerge from the dusk until those stuffy elders send soldiers Oshy's way."
    Her belly rumbled, and Koyee swore she could hear a tiny rumble from above her shoulder.
    "You're hungry too, I know, Eelani." Koyee bit her lip. "But we've got no food. I'd return to the river and fish, but we've got no coins left, and we wouldn't be able to reenter the city. We're going to need to find something to eat, even if we steal it. Do you know how to steal, Eelani?"
    Her spirit friend was silent as always.
    Koyee wandered along the streets, belly empty and legs weak. Weariness tugged on her, stronger even than her hunger; she hadn't slept in an hourglass's night. She wanted to return to the market, to try and steal or beg for a meal, but could not remembered the way back, and she felt too tired to keep walking.
    She found an alleyway, crawled inside, and sat against a wall. Above between the roofs, she saw the fish constellation, her stars, and the sight comforted her. Perhaps here too she was blessed.
    Koyee pulled her knees to her chest, lowered her head, and slept. She dreamed of glass towers, swinging lanterns, and demons of sunfire streaming through city streets.

 
 
CHAPTER SEVEN:
THE DUST FACE GHOSTS

    Pat. Pat. The noise thumped in the abyss. Pat. Hiss.
    Koyee mumbled in the darkness, clouds of mist shrouding her.
    Hiss. Thump thump. Swish.
    The creature was stalking her, a beast of shadow, fur bristling, tail flailing. For an instant its eyes blazed, two white lanterns, then vanished. Its growl rumbled.
    Koyee raised her spear, its iron shaft wrapped in fur. The tip glinted in the moonlight.
    "Go away!"