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Chapter Fifty: Laws are Broken
Ilyria looked at Astrapi. “The rest of the world seems ambitious,” she said, “Can we start with Idixat.”
Astrapi shrugged as if it were all the same to him.
“Come,” said Bonbon, assuming Madame Skia’s role, “Let us sit while we can.”
Sidian lit the tapers around the room and a soft glow suffused the dining hall making it seem warm and welcoming. Except for the thuds and shouts and blows that still emanated from the streets of the city and that set the boarded windows to shuddering. Bonbon looked out the hall and reported back that the canopy had burned out. There were benefits to the stone structure of the House.
They settled at their habitual places in the dining hall, too weary for more panic. By silent agreement, the head of the table was left for the Mogul. Astrapi declined a seat—his wings made him an uncomfortable partner at the table—and stayed near the door.
“It started around a fortnight ago,” said Thas
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Ilyria and the Lightning Bird Chapter Fifty-One: A Flawed Plan
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Ilyria and the Lightning Bird Chapter Fifty-Two: A Familiar Stranger
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Ilyria and the Lightning Bird Chapter Fifty-Three: Five Days to Twin Moon
“Suluu,” she said. Though her mind was racing she could not find the words to say to the man who had spent intimate days, weeks with. The man who she had even considered having a baby with. The man who she had betrayed Astrapi with. “Ilyria,” said Suluu. His voice cracked and she saw his need. Why do you stay away from me, his grey eyes seemed to ask, why do you not run toward me? She remembered the feel of the water against their skins. It was the last true memory. The water at the oasis. The feel of his mouth catching the water droplets that ran down her skin. The cool night air on their bodies. And then he was gone. She could not bring herself to recall the time lost in Utzed. That was an illusion that felt unfair. A conjuring of the twisted minds of the sirens. Not what she had wanted, Madame Skia had been wrong. The sirens had taken her loves and turned them all into physical desire only. There was so much more. She looked at Suluu standing in hi
Ilyria and the Lightning Bird Chapter Fifty-Four: Astrapi's Story
“I did not want you to take on that journey to Utzed,” said Astrapi, beginning his story, “But you were so angry with me, I knew you wouldn’t listen, so I joined the caravan as Suluu. It was easy enough as long as I didn’t let Thassa see me.” “You believe I am the one to find Nicos on my own, but you didn’t believe I could be the one to find Utzed?” Ilryia was no longer angry, just incredulous. Astrapi’s concern for her sometimes showed itself in strange ways. Or not at all. Like when he had left her on Yxat. “I’m sorry,” said Astrapi, “I know this is hard to follow at times, but I’m learning about you as we go. I am always amazed by you.” Ilyria tried not to show how much his praise meant to her but then gave up and grinned happily at him. “Me too, actually,” she said. “I’m also sometimes amazed by me.” They laughed together, Ilyria snorting flower tea from her nose which made them laugh even more. They settled again, leaning t
Ilyria and the Lightning Bird Chapter Fifty-Five: Menos
Astrapi was shouting something at her, but she could not hear him over the sound of the sandstorm. Her ears were filled with the shifting, sighing sand that felt as if it coated every inch of her. Beneath her scarf she licked her lips and her tongue came away coated with it. So far, Menos was more like the City of Sand than the City of Earth. Astrapi was still shouting and she turned her head, to see him, irritated as the tiniest exposed parts of her skin were strafed. He was holding up his arm and pointing at it. His arm? He wanted to show her something on his arm? Her arm. Of course, the codes. It would be impossible to bring out the map in this storm though so what good would the codes be. She held up her arm, shaking her head and as she did so, the sleeve fell. Something bright red and blinking shot out from her arm and hovered directly in front of her face. Astrapi was nodding and gesturing with his hand to move forward. She took a step and the b
Ilyria and the Lightning Bird Chapter Fifty-Six: Benguzi
Ilyria and Astrapi rose higher and higher as the ground beneath them churned. The garden was gone, the changing city made of sand was gone. Even the sandstorm that had swirled around the city building and rebuilding the spires and domes and craters, had dwindled. Where once there had been buildings there were now only waves blowing across the desert sands. With Astrapi’s hands around her waist, and her feet tucked around his, she pushed up her sleeve. The skin there was smooth and pale and absolutely blank. She turned her head in a panic. “Astrapi,” she said, “Look!” But Astrapi was struggling to hold both her and the harness. The bag holding the seedling swayed wildly and Ilyria was afraid it would fall. If it fell to the earth below, it would be lost. Astrapi nodded. He had seen it too. They had to find somewhere safe and soon. Either of them would be able to conjure a path back to the aerie. But then they would lose time travelling to the n
Ilyria and the Lightning Bird Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Chord of Life
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Ilyria and the Lightning Bird Chapter Fifty-Eight: Two Nights Before Twin Moon
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