Zodiac (Zodiac, #1)(69)
But now I have to address all the Houses and find a way to convince them we are one necklace. Every pearl matters. What happens to one star in our universe can and does affect every other.
That’s the advantage Ophiuchus holds over us: As long we keep on distrusting each other, we’re easier to pick off, one pearl at a time.
26
WHEN WE GET TO THE VILLAGE, we have to remove our collars. The community is enclosed within a solid black fence, and guards barricade the only entrance, so we can’t sneak past without alerting them.
We’re immediately asked for proof of identification. An Aerian soldier holds out a small screen for our thumbprints. His colleagues scowl at the grime on our clothes.
As soon as Hysan’s thumb hovers over the screen, a hologram pops up of his face, and beneath it the words Hysan Dax, House Libra, Diplomatic Envoy. Plus a bunch of facts like his astrological fingerprint, birthdate, schooling, and other information I can’t see. Mathias goes next. Lodestar Mathias Thais, House Cancer, Royal Advisor. Then me. Mother Rhoma Grace, House Cancer, Guardian.
The soldiers look at me curiously.
“Thank you,” says Hysan, reaching out to bump fists with each of them. I spy glints of gold in the soldiers’ hands when they pull away, and each slips what look like galactic gold coins in their pockets. Then Hysan takes my hand and hurriedly pulls me through the entrance, Mathias following close behind.
On the other side of the wall, the International Village looks like a smaller version of our solar system. The village is round, like a clock, and divided into twelve embassies. At its center is an inter-House market with food and amenities from across the Zodiac.
The look, style, and operation of each House is so diverse that the effect is dizzying. The only thing I can compare this place to is an amusement park, where every section has a different theme. The embassies are considered sovereign territory, so they don’t fall under Ariean rule.
We pop in on the Libran side. Their building is a sleek-walled, armed fortress, surrounded by surveillance cameras and Zodai from their Royal Guard. To our other side is Virgo. The round, golden embassy looks like a beehive, and its recessed entrance gives way to a colorful fruit-and-vegetable garden on its front lawn.
Mathias runs ahead, and I break into a sprint after him. We both sense the Cancer Sea’s call.
We rush past Leo, an elevated theater house with live lions prowling the front—a couple of them are ripping into a hunk of raw meat—and then we see the Fourth House. The Cancrian embassy looks like an island villa: Instead of one building, we have four multilevel bungalows, each draped with airy curtains, the structures built from sand and seashells.
Like home on Kalymnos, I think with a rush of breath.
Weaving through the four bungalows, and forming a protective barrier around the whole embassy, is a wide stream of water, winding like a serpent made from the Cancer Sea. There’s a plank bridging the stream, but two members of our Royal Guard are removing it for the night. I recognize their faces from Oceon 6. I sent them here the night I took my Guardian’s oath.
“Westky! Bromston!” Mathias calls out to the two Lodestars, and they stop what they’re doing.
“Lodestar Thais!” one shouts back, recognizing Mathias. “Are you here with Holy Mother?”
“He is,” I say, running up behind Mathias, a little out of breath. A smile spreads across my face. Home, at last . . . kind of.
The Lodestars reset the plank, and the three of us cross over. The ground floor of the first bungalow is the only place with lights on, so we go inside—which is easy, since it has no doors. From a quick glance, none of the four bungalows seem to offer any privacy on the first floor. Doors and walls are only for the higher stories.
The lobby we step into is designed to be a waiting area. Half the room is decked with hammocks and rocking chairs, each equipped with an embassy Wave for checking news and sending messages. The second half is taken up by a saltwater pool for swimming.
The only person here is a man seated at an official-looking desk. When we get closer, I realize he’s a hologram.
“I’m Lodestar Mathias Thais,” says Mathias as we approach. “Holy Mother is with me. We are looking for Amanta and Egon Thais.”
The holographic man’s eyes widen. They linger on me. Then they turn to Hysan. “Who is the Libran?”
“He’s—”
“Diplomatic envoy Hysan Dax,” says Hysan, cutting Mathias off mid-answer.
The explanation irritates Mathias because he clarifies, “He has been chauffeuring us on our journey. Do you know where my parents are?”
The hologram nods. “I was just shutting off for the night. I’m transmitting from bungalow three. Your parents are only one floor up. I’ll tell them you’re here.”
The hologram disappears. Just seconds later, two people run in toward us and fold Mathias up in their arms.
Hysan and I step away to give them privacy, the absence of my family suddenly hurting like real physical pain. This whole journey, I’ve tried to be strong, to focus on the mission, to put aside my own needs . . . but the truth is, I’ve never felt lonelier. Maybe I can try Waving Dad and Stanton from here. There might be a way to reach them by now.
Mathias brings his parents over to introduce me. Their eyes are rimmed red, but they smile and bow together. “Holy Mother.”