Chapter 6 Mah’Keht

Dai’Ahnah is gonna murder me when I return to Eh’Fi. If my calculations are correct, I’ve been gone exactly 23 days, 14 hours, and 43 minutes her time. I’ve done my best to give my undivided attention to each expansion to my Rehlm, but every second apart from Dai’Ahnah makes my core ache. All that’s left to deal with is the inner halls of my castle, but after several arguments regarding its completeness, I give up on the idea.

“I’m visiting Deh’Mi in Brae’Yah,” I tell them. “Stop your arguing and figure out how to finish this place by the time I get back.”

“And when will that be?” Behls asks, crossing her arms.

I rake my hands through my flames. “Come on, guys. Don’t be that way. I promise to return soon. And as a gift for your efforts so far.”

Their curiosity grows as I pluck four feathers from my wings and bestow one to each of them. Ridah twirls the feather in his hand, his eyebrow raised in confusion.

“What are we supposed to do with this?” he mumbles.

“Consider this a promise,” I say. “As long as you have this feather, I will return.”

Their edges ease and they bow as I walk towards the entrance. Hopefully, this will give me enough time to see my plan through.

The darker forests of my Rehlm fade away as I walk through the portal to the mountains of Drahkoh’Mahj. I leap off the cliffside and fly through the deep valleys carved into the landscape. Finally, a place where I can come and go as I please without worry. Let Drah’Koh and Mahn’Ji have direct access to as many Rehlms as they want. As long as I can reach Eh’Fi, the rest of the Universe can do as it pleases. I catch a glimpse of Eh’Fi’s portal in the distance and slow down my flight. Should I skip Brae’Yah and go straight to Eh’Fi? But if I go right to Dai, there’s very little chance that I’ll get to ask Deh’Mi for advice on-

“Mah’Keht!”

Shit. Not now. Drah’Koh and Mahn’Ji’s bloodlust is evident as I zoom towards the main portal. The heat of their beings are on my heels but I refuse to be beaten by these two. Their tactics are as familiar as my own and I dodge each attack with ease. Fireball here. Double flank spin attack there. The main portal is in sight and I pump my wings fast and hard. There’s no way they'll catch up to me before I fly through that portal. I’ll probably have to convince them to let me back through to go see Dai’Ahnah. Whatever. Any chance to smoke these guys in a race is always welcome.

“Now!”

Drah’Koh’s voice startles me and I struggle to stop my momentum before I run headfirst into a few lizard-like beings blocking the portal. Their scales seem to have a cloaking spell embedded into them and they flap their small green-tipped wings in excitement when I hover back in defeat.

I glare at the twins. “That’s cheating!”

“Hey,” Drah’Koh holds his hands up. “If your court were here, it would’ve been a fair fight.”

“Plus we had to come up with something to stop you from flying off again,” Mahn’Ji pouts. “You keep portaling through here without bothering to say hello. What gives?”

I tug on my horns with impatience. “I’m just busy guys. Geez, I thought you’d be excited to have a whole Rehlm to yourself.”

“We are,” Drah’Koh says. “But the Mah’Keht we know wouldn’t be flying all over the Universe without a good reason. What is it? Materials? Another one of your Kri’Aeshons get loose?”

“I’m fine, guys. Really.”

Mahn’Ji floats in front of me with a squint. “When was the last time you Kri’Aeted something?”

“I-” Fuck. When was the last time I sat down and made something? Inventions are my specialty. My reason for being. And yet I haven't had the itch to make something since beyond a simple throne and trinkets.

“You know what happens when you don’t use your powers,” Mahn’Ji scolds.

“That was one time!”

“Your rampage lives on in Seh’Fahrait’s history as ‘The Darkest Night’,” Drah’Koh yells. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to clean up your messes?”

“Relax. I’ll have all eternity to make Kri’Aeshons once I claim Dai as my bride.”

I take great pleasure in watching their jaws drop and I shoo the lizardmen away from the portal with a dismissive wave. Drah’Koh’s claws dig into my shoulder as he whirls me around to face him.

“Are you serious? Tell me you're joking.”

“Did it look like I was joking when you saw us together?”

“We saw you guys together?” Mahn’Ji asks.

Drah’Koh ignores his twin and studies me with a mix of concerned skepticism. I meet his gaze with tired sincerity, raking an impatient hand through my flames.

“Why do you look like you might throw up lava?” he asks.

“Because this Rehlm runs at a different speed than Eh’Fi,” I groan. “And it has just hit a month that I’ve been away from Dai’Ahnah her time. I can feel her pang of loneliness in my gut.”

“You can feel her?” Mahn’Ji glances at Drah’Koh. “I thought you could only do that with a Twin Link.”

“Apparently not,” I sigh. “Anyway, I still have to ask Deh’Mi how to get married and all that so, if y’all don’t mind.”

I brush Drah’Koh off my shoulder and fly toward the portal without any more protest. I know the Twins mean well, but having best friends can sometimes be exhausting. Especially Drah’Koh’s know-it-all ass. As if I don’t know that I’m already screwed if I’m asking Deh’Mi, breaker of Rehlms, for advice. Might as well take my genius card away right here and now. I notice a few rainbow-colored bubbles float by and follow them right to the portal of Brae’Yah. Riz swings her legs on the edge of the Keh’Li’O Bridge, her rainbow-colored headdress clinking as she blows more bubbles into the air.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

Riz blows a few bubbles my way. “Helping.”

“By blowing bubbles.”

“No, I’m just passing the time this way. Deh’Mi requested that no one enter his Rehlm for an entire year. Not even his siblings are allowed in Brae’Yah.”

“That’s harsh.”

Riz rolls her eyes. “You have no idea how pissed they were. I nearly had to throw those three through the portal to Seh’Fahrait so they could cool off. Fae handled the rest and-”

“Can you get a message to Deh’Mi for me?” I ask. “It’s kind of important.”

“Since when do you have anything important to do?” She waves me away, blowing more bubbles into the Void. “Go and ruin someone else’s day with your schemes. I’m not in the mood.”

“It’s not a scheme this time. It’s…” How do I even begin to explain this to her?

Riz’s eyebrows perk up at my hesitation. Her pursed lips are frozen mid-bubble-blowing as she tilts her head and analyzes me.

“What?” I snap.

“You have that look?”

“What look?”

“The look Deh’Mi had when he asked me to stand guard. Like nervous jitters mixed with mischief, which is unsettling coming from beings like you two. What gives?”

“Call it the look of love, I guess. I don’t know.”

“You? Love?” Riz bursts out laughing, and I think of Isla back at the Forge.

“Why is it so impossible to believe?” I ask.

Riz flies over to me, her bubbles forgotten. “Mah’Kahet, I know I was practically made yesterday, but we’ve spent some time together. You are a dark and brilliant being. Kind of like my brother. And brilliance doesn’t settle down easily. If ever.”

“Well, believe it or don’t. I couldn’t care less. Now call Deh’Mi out here so I can get on with my life. Like I said, I’m busy.”

Riz throws her hands in the air. “Fine. Whatever. Gimmi a sec.”

She closes her eyes and the edges of the portal ripple. I can hear a faint hum of her voice in my mind, but it’s quickly replaced with the low rumble of Deh’Mi’s energy. Riz opens her eyes and looks at me with sympathy.

“You better brace yourself.”

“For what?”

“There’s no way!”

Deh’Mi leaps out of the portal, his scarred charcoal hands gripping my shoulders in a fury. The edges of his being flicker with anger and impatience as he sizes me up.

“Nice to see you too, cuz,” I smirk. “I take it the marriage is going well?”

“How dare you make up that ridiculous lie just to lure me out of Brae’Yah,” he growls. “Have you no shame?”

“I didn’t lie. It’s true.”

“Bullshit,” he spits. “You don’t know the first thing about love.”

“I beg to differ.” I snatch his hand and press his palm against my chest.

Deh’Mi’s golden embers flicker with confusion. “Why does your core feel like that?”

“A product of spending too much time apart from Dai’Ahnah,” I snap, shoving him away.

“Dai’Ahnah? As in the Dark Moon of Eh’Fi?”

“Yes,” I sigh, exasperated. “I want to marry her. But, like you said, I don’t know the first thing about this love stuff. And, as much as I hate to admit it, you are the master of marriage.”

“Yes, well-”

“Please,” I bow. “Help me.”

Riz gasps, leaning on Deh’Mi’s shoulder. “Oh, Deh’Mi. He’s serious!”

“What good will marrying an apparition do for a being like you?” Deh’Mi asks.

“I plan to free her of that fate.”

“How?”

“I don’t know yet,” I mumble, tugging at my horn as I look up at him. “But I swear I’ll figure it out. Even if it takes all of eternity to set her free, I want her to see the rest of the Universe with her own eyes.”

Deh’Mi’s skepticism softens, and he rakes a hand through his pitch-black flames, a deep laugh escaping him. “You never fail to surprise me, Mah’Keht. I’m glad to hear this isn’t one of your schemes for once.”

“Just tell me how to marry her.”

“I can marry you two once I’ve spent a full year alone with my own wife,” Deh’Mi says. “Until then, I suggest you ensure she loves you in return. You can’t force someone into this kind of ritual. It binds you for eternity, you know.”

“I know. That’s why I already got that part covered.” I whip out the white box from my pocket. “I had something special made for Dai’Ahnah to profess my eternal love. Tonight.”

Riz snatches it out of my grasp and the two peek inside.

“Wow, that’s beautiful!” Riz gushes.

Deh’Mi glances at me with a frown. “Are you trying to embarrass me?”

“What?” I smirk. “Didn’t think to give Kah’Muae anything?”

“I’ve given her half of my soul. I think she has all I can give. But this…” Deh’Mi shakes his head. “Dai’Ahnah’s gonna love it.”

“You guys are too intense about this love stuff,” Riz says, slamming the box closed before tossing it to me.

I catch it with one hand and shove it back in my pocket. “You have no idea.”

Deh’Mi turns back towards the portal with a wave over his shoulder. “Good luck, cuz. See ya in a year for your ceremony.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” I call before he disappears completely into Brae’Yah.

A giddy feeling vibrates through me as I fly closer to Eh’Fi. Only a little longer, my love. For once, it seems like everything is falling into place.