Gama and Hest: An Ahsenthe Cycle companion novella (The Ahsenthe Cycle) by Alexes Razevich Page A

was wrong. Home had refused her entrance just as it had Hest. Except, when she thought about it, everyone else who’d been turned away was male. Maybe it was just Hest Home didn’t want inside. Maybe she could go back and live there.
    She sent Home the question — her thought-grains moving through the darkened room like tiny dull lights.
    Yes , it sent back. You may return . It’s Hest who is no longer welcome .
    Gama pulled the coverlet tight over her chest, as if that would slow her suddenly speeding heartbeats. She could go back, stay again where she was happiest, most comfortable.
    But without Hest.
    Why not Hest ? she sent.
    Have you not noticed ? Home sent back. When bad things happen , a male is always there . No bad thing has happened with only females around . Males bring the bad things to us . I cannot be safe with a male within my walls .
    Gama sucked air across her teeth. Home had been thinking along the same lines she had.
    I was there , too , Gama cautiously sent. She didn’t want Home to change its mind about letting her in. I was there when the beasts disappeared , and when Frarm vanished .
    She thought again that probably she and Hest should have built their own dwelling rather than moving into an existing one. A dwelling they’d built together, with their blood and sweat mixed into its mortar, would never have turned either of them away. Kis had made the same mistake they had — moving into an already built structure.
    Will you be coming back ? Home sent.
    She felt her neck warm with the bright-greenish-blue of wanting. To sleep in her own cot. To have her own things around her, placed where she wanted them. To not feel forced to walk stealthily, trying to stay out of Reln’s and Prill’s way.
    Without Hest.
    Without. Hest.
    She ran her hand over her scalp. I’ll stay here a while longer .
    Home breathed a long, windy sigh. Best be careful then . Two males under one roof with you and Prill — anything could happen . And tell Reln , the soumyo need to make things right for all of Reev . It’s his responsibility . He must do something quickly .
     
    -=o=-
     
    “What do the structures expect us to do?” Reln swirled the drink in the tumbler he held. The communiteria was nearly full but strangely quiet. Reln kept his voice down. “They must know that if there was some way to stop this upheaval, we would.”
    Gama rubbed her hands on her thighs. “I told Home I’d tell you what it said, and I have.”
    Reln shook his head. “Your dwelling isn’t the only one. Community Hall, Wall, my dwelling, others — they’re all demanding we stop whatever is happening from happening anymore.”
    “How are the soumyo supposed to do that?” Hest said.
    She knew Communiteria was listening to their conversation and would spread it to all the structures of Reev. Once the structures knew, the corenta-kin would know as well. Reln needed to offer some kind of plan — something to help them all feel safe.
    Prill looked down at her hands, resting on the table. “Yesterday five of our sisters stopped me on my way back from the storage sheds. They wanted to know how full or empty they were. I told them nearly empty.”
    Reln nodded. “That’s true. We’re going to have to send a foraging group out soon.”
    The blue-red of anxiety was bright on Prill’s neck. She didn’t look up. “They said our troubles were the males’ fault. That male energy brought these difficulties to us.”
    Hest’s eyes widened, but he kept silent. Reln didn’t say anything either.
    “How could that be possible?” Even as Gama spoke, she remembered thinking the same way in the night, remembered their dwelling saying it wouldn’t let Hest back in. Maybe these sisters knew something. She shifted her gaze to Hest. He was staring hard at Prill.
    Prill kept her eyes focused on the tabletop.
    “Maybe you should send an all-female foraging group out.” Gama thought for a moment. “I’ll go. I’ll take the lead, if you want —