Flux

considering they were both exhausted from a day of travel, but somehow neither was in the mood for gentle and sweet. Afterward, Ennek spooned behind Miner, kissing the sweat away from around his collar, allowing them both some time for their hearts and lungs to calm. He hadn’t shaved that morning and his chin was scratchy against Miner’s skin. Miner liked it.
    Ennek pulled away slightly, then pressed his lips instead over the brand. That felt good, too, as if his kiss had healing properties.
    “It’s ironic,” Ennek said.
    “Hmm?” Miner was in the pleasant fuzzy floating zone that came before sleep.
    “That someone would burn the symbols for freedom on a man he’d just bought.”
    “Hai-Shui said my owner—”
    “He was never your owner!” Ennek growled.
    “Fine. Hai-Shui said the man who bought me probably never knew the symbols could have that meaning. It’s obscure, he said. Mostly used among healers and scholars.”
    Ennek kissed him again, sending pleasant little shivers down Miner’s spine. “I know. I heard. I’m the one who translated for you, in fact. But it’s still ironic. And…strange. Besides, Hai-Shui also said it’s a sign, and you didn’t want to listen to that part.”
    “It makes me uncomfortable.”
    “Why?”
    “Because…because I don’t know what it means.”
    “Nobody ever knows exactly what omens mean. The gods like to be obscure.” Ennek shifted slightly again to place his mouth just behind Miner’s ear. He feathered his fingertips over the healing wound on Miner’s arm.
    “Then why bother with signs at all? Why not just let things happen?”
    Miner felt the flutter of Ennek’s sigh against the shell of his ear. “I don’t know, Mine. Nobody knows why the gods do what they do. Maybe they just think it’s funny.”
    “Well, they’ve had quite a joke this time, putting a sign on someone like me.”
    “What do you mean, someone like you?”
    Miner shrugged, which wasn’t easy with Ennek pressed against him. “Ordinary. Omens should be given to special people.”
    Another ticklish sigh. “If you don’t realize how special you are, then you’re thicker than I ever was.”
    Miner smiled a little into the darkness. When Ennek said things like that, Miner could almost believe him.

    ***

    The Bhujanga tried to hurry them along, chirping and squawking and sometimes even diving at them before veering to the side. They ignored it. Finally, a day and a half into their journey, it flew away in disgust. Miner actually cheered a little to see it go, but they both missed the little black bird when it was replaced by a much larger bird, an eagle or something like one, with a hooked beak and long, sharp talons. When it screeched and plunged toward them, they had to throw themselves to the dirt road to avoid being hurt. The bird rose back into the sky and called triumphantly.
    “We’re coming, you bitch!” Ennek roared furiously. He scrambled to his feet and brushed off the dust. Miner did the same. “It’s not enough she sent us on her filthy errand,” Ennek fumed. “She endangered us both. And all the people I almost killed because of her, and what she did to Yuening’s family….” He growled and kicked at a rock. It was fortunate the shoemaker had given them proper boots; in sandals he’d have injured his toes.
    Miner didn’t answer, but simply continued walking. After a few moments Ennek finished his tantrum and stomped to Miner’s side. His face was still dark with anger, though, and neither of them spoke for a long time.
    The bird continued to worry at them and, although Ennek snarled and fumed, they did hurry their pace a little. And because the moon was bright they even continued walking after the sun set, so they arrived in Jiangbei late in the afternoon of the third day. The local residents were just finishing their labors for the day, stretching sore muscles, collecting tools, loading things into wheelbarrows and small carts. With expressionless faces and blank eyes they watched Miner and Ennek pass. Miner couldn’t help but notice how strangely silent the village was with no children.
    The eagle wheeled away and disappeared as they approached Akilina’s house. She was standing outside the doors with her hands on her hips. Miner couldn’t read her face at all, but her hair was wilder than Ennek’s ever got, standing up around her head in a frizzy froth. She was dressed all in white: a white skirt that floated about her ankles, a white