Shadows of the Dark Crystal by J. M. Lee Page A

real. And even if he had been real, so what? The songs might be fun to listen to while they were being sung—but after they were said and done, the song teller’s lute was packed away. They didn’t help her now. In a way, they were nothing but soft-speak, huff-puff only good for distraction, children, and the curious Podlings.
    No, what had been real were the glistening beaks and crafty eyes of the Skeksis Lords. Their coats and cloaks and robes and mantles all layered upon one another in opulent richness, in colors made of dyes Naia had never seen before, most likely cured from the fruits and vegetables all across Thra. And their ornaments! How had they cast such intricate shapes, in twisted metals? And that
book
, that counted all the Gelfling in Sami Thicket, and probably villages elsewhere. How many numbers were within it, and to what end? For whatever end, Maudra Mera would spend the night and the following days pursuing it, that was to be sure. Naia, however, would follow the opposite path, treading alone to stand on trial for her missing brother before the Gelfling All-Maudra.
    Well, she would bring honor to her people, if Gurjin would not. Before long, she told herself, the names of the Drenchen would be marked in the thick pages of Lord skekLach’s tome, and their number would be recorded in history. That held in mind, Naia stared at the wood beams of the ceiling for a long time, watching the shadows sway until their slow dance finally lulled her to sleep.

Chapter 10
    T he following morning, Naia woke early. Though her body was tired, she was eager to leave Sami Thicket. On the road toward her destination, there would only be plants and animals to deal with. She made her bed and folded the blankets, though in her light sleep, she really hadn’t disturbed them much. From the calm quiet that had settled on the square outside, it seemed the lords had taken their leave. When Naia peered out the front-facing window, through a soft cloth curtain, she saw no sign of them, their feathered steeds, or their decorated attendants anywhere. She sucked in a breath when she realized she was not alone in the common room. Maudra Mera was mending pieces of leather with a short tough needle and sinew thread, rocking slowly in a finely finished chair. Her fingertips glowed blue with
vliyaya
, though it wasn’t the same healing magic as Naia had learned from her mother. Maudra Mera’s power infused itself in the thread with which she sewed, binding it tightly to the fabric through which it wound. Maudra Mera’s attention was on her hands, but her voice was for Naia when she said, “Eager to leave, my dear?”
    Naia straightened her tunic and brushed off her knees. “Thank you for your hospitality,
maudra
. But I have important business in Ha’rar, so I should be going.”
    Maudra Mera set aside her craft and walked Naia to the door. Naia’s pack was waiting for her, though it looked fuller than it had been when she arrived. Inside she found packed food and a skin of water. Hanging from the side by the laces were a pair of Nebrie-skin shoes.
    â€œOh!” Naia exclaimed, almost too touched for words. “Thank you . . .”
    Maudra Mera tightened the drawstring at the top and hefted it for Naia, helping her sling it over her shoulder. For once, Naia thought the
maudra
might finally reveal some secret fondness for her—but instead, all the woman did was pat Naia on the arm and say, “You’ll tell your mother I took you in, won’t you? What good care we took of you?”
    Naia bit back a sigh and nodded.
    â€œThank you,” she said shortly. “I will.”
    Sami Thicket was still sleepy in the early morning, the main street empty save for the hearth tender stationed in the center of the square and two night guards relieved of duty, returning home. None paid Naia any mind, not even to stare, as she left. Once she had crossed through the wood that