Strange sights and sounds threaten to overwhelm me as I try to ignore them and focus on finding my son. “Ethan!” I call out over and over. Sojek and I check under and behind every table, structure, tree, and crevice where a small boy could hide.
Ethan’s never been to Pen’Kesh. I don’t even know why or when he stowed away in the cart.
My baby’s in this market with dozens of dangers everywhere. Deadly beings with long, sharp teeth and claws, open pits with no barriers to prevent falls, weapon demonstrations performed in the open where anyone could easily become a victim by turning the wrong corner.
“Where does that go?” I ask Sojek, pointing to a path that leads away from the market.
“To the woods and a river beyond. I’ve only traveled that wayonce. There are many paths like that one, all leading away from Pen’Kesh.”
“Oh, god. Ethan could be anywhere. How are we going to find him?”
“By being thorough,” Sojek says, mirroring Verig’s confidence, though he doesn’t look as confident. At least he’s level-headed and calm, unlike me. I’m falling apart.
I take a deep breath and then I start all over again, calling out Ethan’s name.
After an hour of searching Pen’Kesh,I’m too frantic to think straight. Not only does it seem as if Ethan has disappeared into thin air, I’m sure someone’s watching me. My skin’s crawling. I wish Verig were here. I need him. I need my baby…
Sojek calls me to him from across a series of tents in the bantaran section, which stands higher than the other quarters. He agreed to split up to cover more ground, but only if I promised to stay where he could see me. He’s standing on a stone wall, looking at the low-lying areas.
I race up the hill and peer over the wall to see where he’s pointing. A small blond child stands by the animal pens watching a herd of sheep-like animals.
“We should have taken the tumek to the moxxels after all,” Sojek jokes as I squeal at finally seeing my Ethan, alive and well.
I’ll appreciate Sojek’s humor later, after I’m holding Ethan in my arms. “Get me down there fast, before he disappears again.”
Sojek dips and dives through the market, slowing only to keep from losing me. He has longer legs, and I’m definitely out of shape, but I don’t care if I die from not being able to breathe fast enough. I’m not slowing down until we reach Ethan.
We enter the moxxel quarter and weave our way to the animalpens in minutes, but I don’t see Ethan. I force myself to stay calm. He’s here. Somewhere.
As I climb the fence to the pen to search among the herd, Sojek yells, “Over there!” He points past the thick crowd to a distant corner, where a huge orc crouches in front of Ethan.
Verig!
I’ve never been so relieved in my life.
My instincts say to run to them, but there’s something about the sight of Verig bending down to Ethan’s level, talking to him calmly, that steals my heart. My hand flies to my mouth, and I suppress a joyful cry.
“He’s fine,” Sojek reassures me. He doesn’t understand the emotions swirling through me. I’m not sure I totally understand them either. He takes my hand again and we weave around the stalls, working our way over to Verig and my Ethan.
As we approach from behind, Verig taps Ethan’s chest. “You rode in the cart without permission. You were to stay with the other human females in their quarters.”
“But I wanted to come see the animals.”
Verig runs his hand down Ethan’s arm. “We do not always get what we want. Our choices affect more than ourselves. Do you understand, youngling?”
“I’ll be quiet, I promise.”
Verig takes a deep breath but remains calm. “The night I took you to see your mom, we needed to be quiet to stay safe. Back with my people, in the tunnels and the woods near Mount Racha, you are safe. This market is not safe. That is why your mother told you to stay with the human females. It is her job to keep you safe, just like my job as a warrior is to keep all of our people safe. I disobeyed our grak recently, which is why I’ve been punished with chores I do not like.”
“Then why do you do them?”
“Because they are necessary. And our grak ordered it. If Idisobey him, others might get hurt. Just like if you disobey your mother, you could get hurt.”
“Are you going to punish me?”
“That is for your mother to do, but do not fear punishment, Ethan. Punishments make us stronger, better males.”
“What if she doesn’t let me visit the gorjas anymore?”
