CHAPTER 15

The next day, they set out toward the 'volcano' that served as an escape from the smoke of the forges without dismantling the camp. It was quite possible that this would be their base of operations for a while during the exploration.

Lÿarah took in every detail of the place. Every stone, every slope, every elevation, just as Igor had specified in the notes he gave her.

But one stone in particular made her eager to find it. One that bore the same symbol as her pendant. She didn’t wear the artifact around her neck; she carried it in her bag.

Finally, she found what she had been searching for near the sixth hour—a stone engraved with the same symbol as her pendant.

“Wait a minute... what are you doing with a pendant with the Mathematician’s symbol?”

“Long story... I mean, it’s not very long because I don’t know all the details... There’s no way I can simplify this for you.”

“Then try,” Alex said, very curious.

She looked at him, wondering whether to tell him.

The warrior sighed irritably. She decided to tell him.

“I am the daughter of the Mathematician.”

“What?” Alex made a face as if that was the most absurd thing he’d ever heard in his life.

And it was.

“Well, not exactly of the Mathematician who’s in power now... but the daughter of the Mathematician who was supposed to be the current one.”

“What?” Alex was perplexed. “No, wait... explain that properly.”

“There’s not much to explain. Do you remember my father’s name?”

“I remember... It’s Igor, right?”

At that very moment, Alex froze, not from the cold but in shock.

“No!”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Yes, I’m saying yes!”

“Noooooooo!”

Lÿarah rolled her eyes. Alex was still in disbelief.

“Igor? That Igor?”

“I don’t know exactly what the deal is with ‘that Igor,’ but I imagine it’s him.”

“But ‘that’ Igor is the late older brother of Ivan, the current Mathematician.”

“As you saw, he’s not really that dead.”

Alex brought his hand to his chin as if to keep it from falling.

“And you were planning to tell me this when?”

“Actually, I didn’t mean to..., but then I saw your curious face and thought... Should I tell or not?”

“And you told me!”

“Yeah, your curious expression was so cute.”

“Huh?” Alex said, caught off guard.

“It’s serious. I didn’t think so before. Actually, I thought you were pretty boring, you know?”

“I know...”

“So, but now, I don’t know why, I look at you and think you’re handsome. And that face you made just now; I couldn’t take it. So I told you.”

“Oh... yeah... of course... Thanks then.” He smiled awkwardly. “But I thought you were pretty at first.”

Both blushed.

“Oh, yeah... shall we figure out how to use this?” She pointed to the pendant.

“How do you use it? And is it even possible to use? What are you going to do? Hit the stone with the pendant?”

“No! That would ruin it.” She said, protecting the pendant between her fingers. “There must be a right way to do this.”

“Would it be some kind of ‘key’?” Alex theorized.

“Maybe...” She brought the pendant closer to the symbol engraved on the stone. “Let me try something.”

A light emanated from the stone and the pendant when they were close together.

“But what is it?” Alex said, startled.

Some stones on the slope near them slid downhill, revealing a hidden entrance.

“Look at that! A cave appeared.” Lÿarah pointed.

“It can only be the entrance. Let’s go!”

They climbed the slope to the cave’s entrance. Lÿarah helped Alex up over the rocks covered in mud and snow.

“We’re almost there.”

They reached the entrance and stopped before the darkness inside.

“Shall we?” Alex encouraged her.

“Let's go.”

They entered the cave. As the daylight faded behind them and darkness filled everything, Lÿarah lit an incandescent stone to illuminate the place.

A few minutes later, the stones and muddy earth gave way to a paved path, lined with metal walls.

“Fascinating, look at this work. Who made this?” Said Lÿarah, amazed.

“Good question... this must be thousands of years old.”

“Be careful where you step; try not to touch anything. There might be traps.”

“Really? But if a key protected the entrance... why would there be more traps along the way?” Thought Alex.

“Yeah, but better safe than sorry. Stay alert.”

“Okay.”

They continued walking for another half hour into the tunnels.

“It’s hot here.” Said Lÿarah.

“Behind these walls, all the smoke from the artificial volcano must escape; that’s why it’s so hot.” Confirmed Alex.

“We’ll have to do without some of our layers of clothing. Let’s leave our bags here with them and take only what we can.”

“I agree.” Said Alex.

After shedding much of their outerwear, Alex had the privilege of seeing Lÿarah’s beauty without so many layers of clothes and hides hiding her slender silhouette.

“Lÿarah?”

“Yes?”

“I want to ask you something.”

“Ask; if I can help, I will.”

“After we finish this mission here... I want... I mean... I want...”

“Want what?”

“To go back with you.”

“To come back with me?” She said, surprised.

“Yes. I don’t want to live in Mu anymore. I want to go back with you, live with you... I mean, with your tribe and your people... I believe I’d be happier...”

“We plan to bring everyone to Mu too...”

“Yes, yes, but I mean... I want to be where you are. Wherever you are.”

Lÿarah never imagined she would be so happy to hear just a few words like those.

“You want to live with me?”

“Can I?”

“Well, you can... I mean, you can. In that case, you’re implying you want to be my partner. My mate?”

“Your partner? Well... if you put it that way...”

“You’re talking about union for real. Being partners, a couple, and having children?”

“Well, that’s pretty literal, but something like that. Would I be a worthy partner?”

“I believe you wouldn’t treat me as your servant or property, nor would you force me to address you as ‘my lord and husband,’ as the women of my tribe do.”

“I have no such intention.”

“So... yes, thinking about it that way, you’d be a good partner for me. After all, if the men of my people have a taboo about me, I know you don’t suffer from that problem. Right?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s right. I don’t have that problem.”

“You’re not strong...” Lÿarah analyzed him technically. “And you don’t seem very healthy, but I think I can fix that. If we combine my diet with your tasty cooking, we can find a way to help you gain weight. A little training with Master BahDehToh, and you could get some muscles... I mean, if you want, of course!”

“Huh? Okay... thank you... that could work. I want to.” He said, confused.

“So that’s it. We’re getting married.”

“Wow! So, you agree?”

“Well, I’m the one proposing... Of course I do.” She said, laughing.

Alex jumped with joy.

“Quiet, man! We’re still on a mission, remember?”

“No, sorry, I’ll be more careful.” He said, ecstatic. “But I was so moved by what you said!”

“I’m happy too. And I must have a silly, persistent smile on my face, for sure.”

“You do, and it’s beautiful.” He smiled at her. “When we finish the mission, we can throw a party and...”

“Party? Why have a party? And why wait until the mission is over?”

“What do you mean?”

“You want to get married, right?”

“Yes... I do.”

“Great.” Lÿarah took her knife.

“What are you going to do?”

She cut her own palm and handed him the knife.

Lÿarah waited. It took him a while to realize he needed to do the same.

Even grimacing, he made the cut. Small, but he did it.

“And now?”

She took his hand and licked the wound. Then she offered her hand so he could do the same.

Even though it was awkward and very unusual, he licked her wound.

Then she took his injured hand and squeezed it with her own wounded hand, so their blood would mix.

“Done. You are blood of my blood now.” She said, smiling. Then she took bandages.

“And that’s it?”

“Yes, we’re married.”

“That simple?”

“Yes. It’s done.” She smiled.

He also smiled at her.

“So, we’re... husband and wife?”

“Almost. We’re in a gray zone now.”

“What do you mean?”

“My people only recognize this ritual after the marriage is consummated in our own home. And since we’re far from home... that will have to wait.”

“Yes... of course... obviously... just as well.” He said, unsettled.

“Try not to die during the mission so we can consummate it as soon as we have the chance, okay?”

“Of course... I’ll do my best. The idea is not to die... noted!”