The Cycles of Revelation Series

Artifact of the Dawn: Yanen (A Queer Sci-Fi Story)

Episode 87: After visiting Maala’naa, Ardyn and Jevan head toward Jevan’s home village of Yanen.

At dawn the next morning, Ardyn introduced Jevan to his old ritual of taking a brisk bath in the nearby creek. He couldn’t help but laugh when Jevan cried out after he jumped into the natural pool, only to shriek a moment later when Jevan splashed him with the icy water.

“Why would you willingly bathe in that freezing water?” Jevan asked through chattering teeth, as he dried himself and dressed quickly, trying to get warm. “I am really missing our hot showers back on the Rahn’naa right now.”

“I see now why my ancestors thought technology might spoil us,” Ardyn teased.

They broke their fast with Ardyn’s parents, and Ardyn took the time to look at some artifacts the Triumvirate had kept hidden from their people all these centuries. Taesys learned of them after the Elders initiated him into the Triumvirate and thought Ardyn and Jevan should see them. “It appears they kept several pieces of technology that they probably used, beyond just the sensors around the Aria’una and life form tracker,” Taesys pointed out.

“This is a tissue regenerator,” Jevan said, picking up a device. “It’s the same kind that Amyra used to heal your arm after the battle, remember?”

Ardyn took it and stared at it for a long moment. “I remember. Well, we’ve known for a while that our ancestors were hypocrites, so this is unsurprising. Do you plan to return these to the Rahn’naa?”

Taesys looked around at everything gathered there. “I probably should, but I will wait until we’ve vetted two new elders into the Triumvirate. With all this upheaval, I haven’t had the opportunity to do so.”

“Two? What about Elder Taeglyn?” Ardyn asked.

“His duties on the Council of Vestos will keep him too busy to attend to the needs of the Athla’bhat,” Taesys explained. “The letter he gave you was his resignation from the Triumvirate. Perhaps now that the council exists, we won’t need the Triumvirate anymore, but I think it’s too soon for us to abandon all our ways.”

“You’re right,” Jevan agreed. “The Medellan leadership isn’t disbanding either. They created the council to bring our people together, rather than to replace our governments.”

Ardyn put down the scanner he still held and walked to one of the open windows. “I am glad I don’t have to worry about any of that. Hopefully, all the changes will continue to move forward peacefully. I noticed some noises of discontent last night.”

Taesys came over and put his arm around his son’s shoulders. “Not everyone is accepting of the changes, and there will be challenging days ahead. Druyndar stirred up a lot of old prejudices. However, I am determined to maintain the peace we fought so hard for. Therefore, I am relying on Taeglyn to help me vet the next members of the Triumvirate, and we are also holding open discussions with our people from across Vestos. I want to make sure everyone feels they are being heard.”

“That’s very wise of you, Papa,” Ardyn said with a smile. “Our people will be in excellent hands.”

After they finished breakfast, it was time for them to set out for the next leg of their journey. They had received so many gifts from old friends and well-wishers that Jevan contacted Keryth and asked if he could send someone to Maala’naa to pick everything up for them. Once they had that arranged, they headed toward Yanen.

Jevan took Ardyn’s hand as they made their way, both of their minds filled with the memory of their desperate flight all those months before. “I’m so glad we can take our time.”

“So am I,” Ardyn admitted. “I never want to run that far, for that long, ever again.”

While there wasn’t a well-defined path through the woods, the hike to Yanen was much shorter, and they arrived by the late evening, where they found Mathias waiting for them in Asha’s home, along with Jenira and Micah.

Jevan gave a surprised greeting to his ard. “Mathias! Why didn’t you tell me you were going to be here? I thought you were busy with council business back at the Rahn’naa.”

“I have been, but Yanen has been without an ard for too long. Keryth transported me here so I could instate the new ard. After Taeglyn stepped down from the Triumvirate, I decided to do the same. I know it’s unprecedented for an ard to resign, but the work we’re doing in the council is more meaningful than anything I’ve ever done in Yanen.”

“You also didn’t want to give up those hot showers,” Jevan teased.

With a hearty laugh, Mathias patted Jevan on the back. “Hah. You’ve found me out. Actually, I’ve put forth a measure before the council to allow Medellans throughout Vestos to have access to their technology. Can you imagine having hot showers and replicated meals right here in Yanen?”

It hadn’t occurred to Jevan, and that surprised him. “Wow, that really would change things around here. So, do you think Eldon is ready to take on the role of ard? He hasn’t been apprenticed to you that long.”

“With all the changes, I think a younger perspective is exactly what Yanen needs right now.”

“Speaking of changes,” Jevan said, looking around his mother’s home. “This place looks different.”

Jenira beamed with happiness, placing a hand on her growing belly. “Since Micah has taken on the role of trader for Yanen, we’ve swapped homes with mother. The trader’s cottage was too small for our growing family.”

Jevan nodded in agreement. “It is small, but it was perfect for me. I expected you to build an addition to that house, so you’d have room for your child.”

Asha patted her son on the back. “That would be silly. This house is much bigger and more suited for raising children, and I was happy to move into your old cottage. It’s the right size for an old widow like myself.”

“You’re not that old yet, Mother,” Jevan admonished.

“I turned forty-six this past summer,” she reminded him.

Ardyn smiled at the banter and chimed in. “That’s not that old at all. I will be thirty-six next autumn.”

Asha looked at him in surprise. “You’re older than Jevan? You look like you’re barely out of your teens!”

“Athla’naa age slower than Medellans,” Jevan explained. “His oldest daughter is ten now, and she’s more like a five-year-old Medellan child.”

“That’s true,” Ardyn said. “We don’t even reach sexual maturity before the age of twenty-five.”

Instead of responding to that, Asha herded everyone toward the dining table they had set with a late supper. “Well, enough of that talk. We should eat before the food gets cold.”

The meal they shared was a less grand affair, with a hearty portion of paal’dak and vegetable stew, lightly seasoned with herbs that Medellans favored, and served with a slice of homemade bread. Ardyn smiled as it was Jevan’s turn to feel the fondness of home when eating his mother’s cooking.

“I’m sorry I missed your birthday, mother,” Jevan said between bites of his meal. “I usually try to be home for that.”

“You mean you’re sorry you missed out on some cake?” Jenira teased.

Jevan laughed, as he couldn’t deny that. “You’re right. You know how much I love mother’s fruitcake! Especially when soaked in some whiskey.”

Asha smiled at him fondly. “You’re in luck. I baked one just for this occasion. We have much to celebrate. I am so proud of you, my son.”

A wave of emotions hit Jevan, and he looked over to see tears streaming down Ardyn’s face. “Are you okay, dear heart?”

Wiping his face, Ardyn nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. Seeing all the love you and your family have for each other makes me so happy.”

Unprompted, Jevan pulled Ardyn into his arms and planted a quick kiss on his lips, which made Jenira cry out in mock protest. “Ew! Go somewhere else if you’re going to do that.”

Everyone laughed, and Ardyn ducked his head against Jevan in embarrassment. “You did that on purpose.”

After dinner, they all enjoyed the special cake Asha made, and Ardyn really loved how some whiskey complemented the flavors of the sweet fruit. “You must give me your recipe so we can replicate this on Aria’naa. I bet this would be just as delicious with some wah’roh.”

Mathias laughed. “You’re not wrong. I tested that out with the replicator in my quarters.”

That night, Asha offered them her home to sleep in, while she stayed with Jenira and Micah, sleeping in Jevan’s old room. As they entered the home where Mathias had kept them confined, it didn’t evoke as many bad memories as either of them had feared.

“Wow, mother really fixed up this place,” Jevan said, noting the new cozy furnishings. Instead of a wooden bench by the fireplace, there was now a comfortable couch. The mattress on the bed was new and much more comfortable. There were herbs hung in the corner by the small table and chairs where he and Jevan had eaten their meals, and they added a lovely aroma to the entire home.

Laying in each other’s arms, they couldn’t help but reminisce about their time here. “This was the first bed we shared,” Jevan recalled. “I tried my best, but I will admit that my thoughts about you weren’t always pure.”

Jevan flashed some memories of the salacious thoughts he’d had, and Ardyn laughed while snuggling closer. “I suspected as much, but I am glad we spent so much time getting to know each other. It made our first coupling more meaningful.”

Hugging him, Jevan lovingly kissed the top of his head. “You are still the most beautiful Athla’naa I’ve ever met, and I am so grateful you came into my life.”

Ardyn ducked his head into the crook of Jevan’s arm for a moment before leaning up to give Jevan an affectionate kiss, conveying everything he felt for Jevan. “Yawen Asharra ior.”

“I love you, too. So very much.”