Wardens of Archos

by Sarina Langer

  The woman closed her eyes and hummed. Rachael’s stomach clenched. “I see pain in your future, my lady! Pain and death!” Rachael frowned. She’d hoped for something a little more exciting—and frowned again when she realised pain and death had become the dull norm of her new life. “I see a man—a young man!” The woman grinned. “A young, handsome man, my lady. He would like to make you his, but he doesn’t know how.”

  Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all. She got up, but the woman held out her hand. “I’m not paying for that. You haven’t told me anything I didn’t know already.” Apart from the bit about the young man, but the woman likely told every girl the same thing. Wasn’t this what most young women wanted to hear? To be desired? Rachael blushed a deep shade of red. Was that what she wanted? Did she want to be desired? To be made his? She just wanted to survive, and not be killed by demons. She remembered Cale smiling at her, promising to protect her.

  “Wait, my lady! There’s something else!”

  Rachael sighed, and turned to join Kiana who was still invested in the knives, when the elderly woman continued regardless. “Beware the dragon, my lady! The spell of the dragon!” Her raspy voice had turned into a hiss. “Yes, dark times are coming for you. Tendrils in the dark!”

  Rachael froze. “What did you say?” She needed to make sure she hadn’t misheard. There had been too many mentions of dragons over the last few weeks for it all to be coincidence.

  “The spell of the dragon. I—”

  “Rachael?” She jumped when Cale appeared behind her. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. This woman just told me my fortune, and—” The elderly lady was gone. The small tent was still there, but it didn’t look like anyone had used it in a while. A thin layer of dust lay over the silken pillows and finery. Ashes were all that remained of the incense sticks.

  “What woman?”

  Rachael shook her head. They were in Krymistis. Was it so odd to think it was simply magic? Harmless magic? “Never mind. What did you need?”

  “You looked scared. I wanted to make sure you were okay. I also wanted to let you know we should find somewhere to rest soon. We can take Lady Nerine up on her offer, if you like. It’s too dark to travel, and we’ll proceed faster if we’ve all had a good night’s sleep and a hot meal.” He scowled. “Or not fish and dried meats, at least.”

  Rachael nodded. “How long will it take us to get to Midoka from here?”

  “Not long. We’re close to the border, but I don’t know how long it’ll take us to reach Naikino. We’ll leave in the morning.”

  Rachael walked with Cale over to Kiana. The scent of incense and the promise of tendrils in the dark followed her.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  They hired a carriage the following morning, to make up for the time they’d spent in the market. They’d stayed in Lady Nerine’s summer house overnight, but Rachael didn’t want to delay any longer. The house was near the water and furnished with every comfort Rachael could imagine, but she’d felt like she was intruding. The carriage itself was comfortable and adorned with colourful sides and wheels, and cushions on the inside. There were no doors, and the warm breeze felt wonderful on Rachael’s skin. It was much hotter in Krymistis than she’d ever known it to be in Rifarne, and she was grateful for the breeze. She wasn’t convinced she could walk far in such temperatures.

  The landscape changed quickly once they were out of S'saros Gora and headed for the sea. Midoka was no longer a faraway sight in the distance. It was close now, and blanketed by fog that swirled around its mountains in slow circles. All Rachael could tell for sure was that Midoka was green; its vibrancy shone through the veil surrounding it. Behind them lay the desert; vast sands as far as Rachael saw, S'saros Gora a jewel within the monotony. Ahead of them lay green Midoka, filled with magic and secrets Rachael couldn’t guess at. And between those two different neighbours lay the Asai Nera archipelago. To both sides was the ocean, a vast blue and glistening under the sunlight. The Asai Nera was its stark opposite; pale-blue rivers speckled by small islands and shallow water, the most exotic thing Rachael had ever seen. It was magic in its most natural form. It was beautiful and stunning, and Rachael wished they could stay longer to take in its beauty.

  Long bridges spanned the archipelago in several places. Torches lined the railings, empty now but no doubt breathtaking at night. The bridge was wide enough for two carriages to comfortably pass each other, with enough room on either side for travellers to cross on foot. The breeze was cooler out here, the heat not as oppressing as it had been in S'saros Gora. Several fishing boats dotted the ocean.

  As they got closer, the fog lifted. Rachael couldn’t tell if it was an illusion, or if the fog was just as thick as it had been before and merely allowed them to see because they had been granted entry.

  They reached the end of the bridge, where the final two torches were lit and flickered with an eerie blue-green light.

  At first glance, Midoka appeared normal. The architecture was different, but otherwise it looked like any other place. But then Rachael looked closer. The air around some people vibrated and shimmered, children played by calling forth a small breeze or orbs of water, and—if she strained her eyes a little—small, luminous creatures danced in the shadows of the purple leaves.

  Midoka was so fundamentally different Rachael couldn’t understand how two such vast spaces could exist within the same world. Rifarne, where magic was feared, and Midoka, where magic oozed out of nature and seeped into its people.

  The mountains wrapped around the road as the carriage took them farther inland. The area grew ever more mountainous and the road became steeper. The carriage struggled on some angles and made up time when the path led downhill.

  The sun was setting when they reached Naikino, a small village nestled into the hillside. Rachael saw both ends from where they sat; not two hundred people could have lived here. A small fountain added the soothing trickle of flowing water, and all around hidden lights had begun to shine through the coming darkness. In the subtle glow, the trees with purple leaves looked like they reached into their realm from beyond the Mists.

  Kaida paid the driver, and turned to her companions. “Two friends of mine live just up the road. They know we are coming and are expecting us.”

  “Thank you.” Rachael was apprehensive but they had no choice. She wasn't familiar with this place, and neither were her Sparrows. In truth, she was more curious than anything. She hadn’t known what to expect of Midoka other than it being different, and it had exceeded her expectations already. The only two Mist Women she’d met were complete opposites to each other. She wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt despite her reservations.

  “Follow me.” Kaida walked past the fountain and up the cobblestone path without waiting for a response.

  They left Naikino behind and climbed the steps which drew up right behind the village. The view over the small town was stunning; the trees had kept their ethereal glow from higher up, and small, green spirits danced between the leaves. Too high up to hear the splashing of the fountain, a preternatural silence had fallen over the town. Rachael was tired from the journey, and soon she was too focused on walking another step to enjoy the view. Cale and Kiana, on the other hand, kept up without effort, while Reeve and Ludo hung back a little.

  They turned a corner and found themselves in front of a small, two-storey house that was nestled into the mountainside, yet overlooked the village below.

  The courtyard was carefully kept, with a small fountain in its centre and three benches surrounding it. One bench stood right before the cliff, offering a relaxed view of the life beneath them. More of the same purple-leafed trees were dotted around the centre. The house itself was built from a red wood. Its black slate roof curved down and red pillars lined the front.

  Kaida knocked four times; Rachael had a feeling there was a code hidden within it, a signal to tell whoever was inside who had arrived. Moments later the door opened, an
d two women greeted Kaida by pulling her into their arms.

  “Kaida!”

  “It is good to see you, sister.”

  Rachael knew them for Mist Women—they had the same air of power and danger about them as Kaida and Aeron. Rachael couldn't help staring—their long hair was impossibly smooth, their long dresses had been bound and tied around them for a perfect fit, accentuating areas that made Rachael blush and look away. They were like cats, or snakes, moving with grace to lure their prey into letting its guard down before striking. The only difference was in their complexion. One was pale, her hair and eyes as dark as a moonless sky at midnight, whereas the other woman’s skin was sun-kissed and freckled but still too light to be Krymistian. Kiana had told Rachael a little about Vistria, a warm country neighbouring Rifarne and Tramura. Rachael guessed the second woman was from there, but needed to hear her voice to rule out the beautiful Krymistian accent.

  Rachael had never felt more paranoid and awed at the same time.

  Kaida freed herself from the woman’s hug and faced Rachael, a bright smile on her lips. “Come inside. Yoko and Natalia have prepared beds and meals for us.”

  Rachael nodded, and walked toward the three Mist Women who could kill her simply by snapping their fingers.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The Mist Women’s home was a peculiar place. Kaida called it their sanctuary, but to Rachael it was as alien and as magical as the rest of Midoka.

  The scent of mild lavender filled every room. It was weak but consistent, there but hiding, like something watched her from the shadows. At first it had made Rachael's skin crawl, but the longer she stayed inside the house, the more she relaxed into it. It was a sweet, comforting aroma, which hugged her senses in a warm embrace and made her feel welcome. It made this strange place feel safe, and Rachael kept her senses as sharp as the fragrance allowed. She couldn’t shake the feeling they had walked into a serpent's hunting ground, and worried the incense was there to lull her into a relaxed state. They had only arrived a few hours ago, and already her perception of the scent had changed. Her mind told her to be cautious. Her gut told her to embrace the warmth.

  Cosy furniture adorned every corner, and the walls were lined with books. She would have loved to search the tomes and read every one of them, but she doubted she would understand them. They were certain to be written in Midokan, and she understood nothing of the beautiful language. Candles and more unused incense holders decorated the tables, and a soft breeze caressed her skin no matter where she went, despite the windows being closed.

  The Sparrows were pacing, refusing to sit for longer than a few seconds at a time. Reeve had made himself at home in the darkest corner of the house, watching everything without being noticed. Ludo was the only one who was sitting down, his eyes flitting from Reeve to the Sparrows to Kaida, and back to Reeve.

  Kaida had become another person altogether. Her dangerous, cool manner was gone, her knowing smile had grown into a relaxed laugh, and she danced through every movement. Her voice, which had always been melodic, had taken on a playful hint, and embraced the Midokan language. It was a lyrical speech made for poetry and music. Rachael swayed between enjoying it and wondering if they were talking about her. It was nice to see a more insouciant side to Kaida, and Rachael relaxed a little despite the tension.

  After an hour of uneasy listening and pacing, Kaida joined them in the living room.

  “Yoko and Natalia are happy to provide beds and food for us for as long as we need. They have the information I seek here, so we will not need to stay for long.”

  “And what is it you seek?” asked Rachael. She knew she held no authority in a house of Mist Women and secrets, but they were here because of her, and Kaida was here to help. She wanted to know about everything that was discussed. She wanted every final decision to be hers.

  Kaida hesitated for only a second, her hands twitching ever so slightly. It was the most uncomfortable Rachael had ever seen her.

  “I cannot say.”

  Next to her, Cale tensed. Kiana glared at Kaida from across the room, her hands on her daggers. Even Reeve’s shadow had darkened. Ludo looked confused but straightened, taking a defensive posture.

  “Why not? You insisted we come here. I deserve to know.”

  “I am sorry, Rachael. There is something I must look into while we are here. I could not let this opportunity pass by when we were so close to Naikino. The battle against the Dark One will not be easy. I need to arm myself with every weapon available to me.”

  “And you don’t think we need extra help?” asked Kiana, fingers on her daggers.

  “If we’re here because of a weapon, we need to know,” said Cale.

  Rachael still hoped Kaida had a good reason for the deception, but the Mist Woman’s smile was gone.

  “The aid I seek is of magical origin. It is ancient, not many people have the knowledge or the power to wield it. I am sorry, Rachael, but this is how it has to be.”

  Rachael didn’t agree and wanted to demand answers, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn’t even create the smallest flame with her gift—what chance did she have against three Mist Women? Kaida had lost the trust she’d earned, but Rachael still preferred her as a questionable ally than a definite enemy.

  “Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”

  A flash of sadness cut across Kaida’s face, but it was gone so quickly Rachael wasn't sure if she'd imagined it.

  “No. This is everything.”

  “Do your research fast.” Cale’s voice was sharp. “We shouldn’t delay for long.”

  Rachael got up and turned to leave. It had been a long day; she was tired of people betraying her.

  Reeve slid out of the perfumed shadows of the house into the warm dark of night. It didn't come as a surprise to him that Kaida had lied to Rachael; Mist Women and sorceresses always had ulterior motives. He’d have told her to watch her back, but Cale had already tried to warn her and Rachael hadn’t listened to him. She hadn’t believed him when he had accused Ludo, and she seemed to like the Mist Woman. There’d been no point to him telling her the obvious when she wasn’t prepared to see it.

  The heady scents inside the house were giving him a headache. It was beyond him how they could work when every room smelled of jasmine or lavender, or both. The effect was disorienting.

  Reeve couldn't fault the outside, however. The garden in front of the temple was beautiful, and more relaxing than any incense could ever hope to be. Now that the sun had set, the stars and moon cast a soft glow over everything. A few lights shone up to him from Naikino, and more lights shone through from the distance. He didn't trust the magic of this place, especially the gift of the Mist Women, but he couldn't deny its beauty. There was something wild about Midoka. Like a feral cat who didn't want to be domesticated, and knew how to get by just fine with its own talents. It was natural, and untamed. Its beauty was raw, unlike Rifarne, where magic had been subjugated.

  “You're making a habit of hiding from me.”

  Reeve sighed. Of course Ludo had come to find him. Was it that easy to read him, or was Ludo just better at it than anyone else? The thought that Ludo watched him more closely than the others sneaked into his mind. Reeve didn't mind it. Not entirely.

  “I'm not hiding.”

  “Then you won't mind if I join you.”

  Reeve shrugged. He couldn't trust himself around Ludo, and he wasn't so sure he wanted to. Romance wasn’t his strong point, but he had a feeling Ludo had made it his art and perfected it.

  “Why are you here?”

  “Are you asking me again if I'm an assassin?”

  Was he? Ludo hadn't tried to attack Rachael a second time, and there had been plenty of chances to kill her. Reeve couldn’t even be sure Ludo had tried attacking her that first time. What was he waiting for?

  “No.” But then why did it matter? Maker, if he was sure Ludo wasn't a murderer for hire, then what did any of his reservations matter? “I don't k
now.”

  He hated not knowing his opponent's strategy, and he still didn't know why Ludo was here. Something was missing. He hated that he couldn't see what it was.

  He was better than this, but Ludo brought out the worst in him. Maybe he could bring out Reeve’s best, too.

  Ludo stepped closer and took in the village below. “So you've decided I'm not an assassin?” He breathed a sigh of relief. “That's good! I was running out of things to say to convince you!”

  Reeve snorted. “If you're an assassin, you're terrible at your job.”

  Ludo grinned, and closed the gap between them. Reeve didn't step away.

  “Is that so? Maybe I just want to lower your guard before I strike.” Every word was a whisper, and deliberate. Reeve hated how they made him feel. He wanted to feel more.

  “You'd have to lower Cale’s and Kiana's guards as well. Do you get this close to them, too?”

  “No.” Ludo's lips were too close. Reeve could feel their warmth on him. “Just you.”

  It'd be so easy to close the remaining distance. All he had to do was lean forward.

  But he was still missing the final piece, and it bothered him too much. He was certain it wasn’t a dangerous secret, just a personal one; he wouldn’t set Cale on him for that.

  In the end, it was Ludo who walked away.

  “I don't know about you, but I'm dying to sleep in a real bed! Don't stay up too late.” He grinned. “You're cranky when you don't get enough sleep.”

  Reeve sank down onto the bench overlooking the valley. He'd find that last important secret Ludo was hiding. Maybe then he'd close the gap himself.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  There’d always been something at the back of Rachael's mind telling her Kaida was trustworthy. No matter how suspicious Kaida had seemed and despite what everyone else had told her, Rachael had wanted to believe the Mist Woman. Now Rachael wished she’d trusted everyone else instead. What if Kaida had put a spell on her to deceive her? How was she supposed to defend herself against magical manipulations like that? Rachael didn't want to think Kaida had taken precautions as harsh as that, but how could she know? Trust was earned and hard to come by. Kaida had played with hers, and now she’d lost it.