“No.” Aunt Armetrethe didn't even twitch. “If you can tell us honestly that she'd agree to such a plan, we will go back to the Home of Queens and tell her about it.”
No, she'd never agree, and you know it, and we know it. Res, stop thinking about this.
Aunt Senejess turned her ears toward Theia. “Things are not good in t'Aori, you know this.” She opened her hands to the ground to appeal to the Ancestors. “Why are things not good? Because nobody knows whether we can truly trust the ‘Esaph. Some say yes, some say no, and they pull against each other.” She shook her head until her ears flopped.
“If we go and search out the ‘Esaph's reasons for changing the schedule, and there is nothing dangerous, then we know we can trust them. If there is something dangerous, then we know we cannot trust them.” She spread her hands. “Either way, we will know, and we will put an end to this division in the Great Family.”
Her aunt leaned close. Theia could feel how Senejess needed, wished, willed her to understand. She wanted to, badly, but it was wrong. Res wanted to do this, she could feel it running hot through her veins and into her brain, washing away all her own thoughts.
Theia bolted. She ran out the door and into the yard. The sprawling heutai tree loomed in her path. She caught hold of one of the smooth-skinned lower branches and swung herself up. The tree had plenty of branches, and she was barefoot, so she climbed easily from one to the other until she felt them bending under her weight. She perched on a limb as thick around as her forearm, and waited for Res to catch up with her.
Res climbed more carefully, but eventually she got there.
“You're acting like a baby.” Res hunkered down in a cleft in the trunk.
“I am not. You're acting like an idiot,” Theia spat. “Ancestors mine! Can't you see what's going on!”
“I can, but you can't,” Res cuffed her shoulder gently. “Theia, they're giving us a chance to help Mother.”
Theia shifted herself around until she straddled the branch and looked Res in both eyes. “What are you talking about?”
This is the absolute, Theia.” Res's voice dropped to an excited whisper. “I'll be able to watch Aunt Senejess the whole time. I'll learn who all her contacts are, how she does her work. I can pretend to be really interested in her side of things, and she'll tell me what they think and what they're planning. Then, I can tell you and Mother.”
“You'd leave us, just like that?” Theia felt her ears sinking slowly toward the scalp. “You'd leave me? You'd leave Mother when the Change could happen any second?” She knew that wasn't true. So far, the hormones were working, but she said it anyway.
Res's face furrowed. She reached out and covered Theia's hand where it grasped the branch. “I'm scared, too.”
“Then don't go.” Theia felt her throat tighten. “Don't leave me alone. This place is crazy. Our family, they hate everybody. They're all crazy.”
Res didn't say anything. She hunched in the crook of the tree with her hand on Theia's. The branch dug into Theia. Parts of her bottom started to go numb.
“I want to help Mother,” said Res, finally. “I know the aunts are crazy, but they're right. We need to find out if the Getesaph are up to anything. If they are, we can tell Mother and Mother can tell the Queens, so they can take it to the Confederation before the aunts and their friends can do anything with it.”
Theia's ears drooped. She'd never win this. Res wanted it too much.
“What can I do?”
Res's ears quivered. The skin on her palms rolled against the back of Theia's hands. A jolt of hope and happiness ran through her but did not sink in.
“Mother probably won't be back until after midnight. The aunts've got to know that, or they wouldn't be doing this now. So, tonight when everyone's gone to sleep, you use the comm station to get her a message. Say she should contact Lynn and let her know what's going on.”
“But what'll Lynn be able to do from here…”
“They said the Human coordinator's going to the Hundred Isles. That's got to be Lynn. She'd be right there. She won't let us down.” Res squeezed Theia's hands again, “This isn't so stupid, Theia. We've got more friends than they know about I won't be on my own.”
Theia couldn't think of anything to say, so she just sat there, holding on to her sister and her supporting branch.
“Mother and I need you to be strong for us, Theia. This isn't going to be easy for anybody.”
Theia dipped her ears. “I need you to come back, Res.”
Res bared her teeth. “Let anyone and their Ancestors try to stop me.” She chafed the back of Theia's hands. “Now come down with me and let us put this plan into action.”