Defying Destiny

by Andrew Rowe

  “And the other runes?”

  “One of them ties me to that Hartigan’s Star Replica. That’s how I was able to enhance my flame sorcery enough to hurt Lavender. The other is tied to an amulet that provides the wearer’s spirit and essence.”

  Velas examined him for a moment, seeming to consider that. “Is that how you retained your sorcery after Lavender grabbed you?”

  “I think that’s a part of it. Also, she threw me almost immediately. Even without the mark, I don’t think she would have had time to drain my sorcery entirely...but I’m still glad I had it.”

  “Were you planning to be grabbed by a vae’kes? Is that why you got so close to her?”

  “Oh, Vaelien, no. That was me having terrible combat instincts. You should understand that I’m not a fighter like you, Velas. I never should have gotten anywhere near her.” Jonan sighed. “I’ll need to be more cautious in the future.”

  “You’re a strange one, Kestrian. Half the time I think you’re brilliant, the other half...”

  “I get the idea.” Jonan smirked. “I’ll try to be more careful. Maybe in a few years I’ll be brilliant fifty-five percent of the time.”

  Velas snorted. “I don’t think it works like that, but sure, you go ahead and try.” She paused, seeming to process everything they’d just talked about. “So, the dominion marks are neat, but they’re not your current plan to help Rialla. What is?”

  “We need to get her back to that tavern.”

  “Why? Do you think Jaden can do something?”

  Jonan shook his head. “Not precisely. There’s a Xixian vault under her inn, and it has a stasis chamber in it.”

  “...What?”

  Jonan nodded. “Yes. It won’t fix Rialla’s condition, but I think stability sorcery on that scale will keep her, well, stable. We can use that time to find a more permanent solution.”

  “How’d you know all this? Did you get your mirrors to convey sound as well as sight?”

  Jonan snorted. “No. I’m still working on that, and maybe you can help me with it later. Lydia just told me about the stasis pool. I chatted with her briefly after Aladir healed me.”

  “Oh.” Velas blinked. “That’s significantly more mundane.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you.” Jonan sighed. “I suppose that’s my lot in life.”

  “Oh, cut the self-deprecation, Kestrian. This plan is more on the brilliant side of things. And if Rialla actually lives through this, the new Symphony will owe you one.”

  “That sounds more intimidating than reassuring.”

  Velas smiled. “It was supposed to.”

  ***

  With Symphony’s veils and Jonan’s illusions to nudge things further, Velas was Symphony, the Lady of Thieves. No one in Selyr would dare to deny her.

  Aayara had to know we’d work together to make this happen. She’s been driving us together from the start.

  They arrived together at a certain blacksmith shop, invisible. When Jonan used a basic sight spell to glance through the walls, he felt a sharp spike of pain in his remaining functional eye.

  Still, when the haze of pain cleared, he could see who he wanted inside.

  He made a gesture to Velas, who slipped behind him, still invisible. Then he appeared and knocked on the door in the proper sequence.

  Taer’vys opened it a moment later. “Kestrian. You survived. And I heard there was quite a shake up with the Disciples of the First?”

  “I’ll inform you about the details later. For now, there’s someone you need to meet.”

  “Oh?” Taer’vys raised an eyebrow.

  “Hello, Taer’vys.”

  Velas had slipped behind Taer’vys during the conversation, concealed by both invisibility and her own silence spell.

  Now, as she spoke, her voice was a perfect copy of Aayara’s.

  When Taer’vys spun around, his hand went to his hip in a flash — and then he froze as he processed the crimson veils in front of him.

  “I heard you were interested in meeting me. Please, come inside.” She gestured toward the interior of the building, as if she was the one who owned it.

  Taer’vys didn’t spare Jonan another glance as he stepped back inside, following “Symphony”.

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Lady Aayara.”

  “Please, darling. It’s Symphony right now. Now, have a seat. I have a few tasks for you.”

  A grin stretched across Taer’vys face. “Anything you wish, Symphony.”

  ***

  It took all of ten minutes for Taer’vys to arrange for a travel sorcerer that would transport them and Rialla Dianis back to The Perfect Stranger tavern outside town, no questions asked.

  It took an extra dozen to extract a substantial amount of gold from the local bank, which she knew she’d need shortly thereafter.

  The hardest part was convincing Aladir to let them take her.

  “We gave up the Shrouded One to get Rialla out alive. You could just be taking her back to Aayara. We know you work for her.”

  He...has a point, Jonan had to admit.

  After a few more minutes of banter, they simply agreed to allow Aladir to go with them to the tavern and the vault.

  “You should be aware that Wrynn has the whole place trapped,” Aladir explained.

  “Of course she does.” Jonan groaned. “Do you know how to get through them?”

  Aladir shook his head. “Sorry. Taelien is the only one who accompanied Wrynn all the way into the vault. We’ll have to break our way inside, then apologize to her later.”

  That is, perhaps, the worst plan I’ve heard all week. And I have heard some truly terrible plans. I’ve made them. I’ve experienced them. This is the worst.

  Fortunately, by the time they arrived, Wrynn was back to tending the bar. She looked like she had a terrible hangover, but she was on her feet.

  As they carried Rialla inside, Wrynn gave them a quizzical look.

  “Can I...help you?”

  Velas walked over, dropped a sack full of gold coins in Wrynn’s hands, and said, “We need to use your swimming pool for a little while.”

  Wrynn raised an eyebrow, lifted the bag of money, tilted her head to the side appraisingly, and then said, “Follow me.”

  ***

  “It won’t fix her condition, you know.” Wrynn was sitting with Aladir, Velas, and Jonan on the first floor of the vault. Rialla had been placed inside the water upstairs, and it appeared to work just as Lydia had described — she appeared to be in a state of suspended animation.

  I wonder how Wrynn manages to get out of that pool on her own? Maybe she has a way to set the enchantments on the pool to turn off after a set time? Or some kind of inherent ability that lets her remain partially conscious inside? Or maybe she sets a golem or a shadow to pull her out after a while...

  He shook his head. It didn’t matter at the moment. Rialla was stable, but they still had problems to solve.

  “I have Rialla’s notes from what she’d discovered about her brother’s condition, as well as what I could find from Edon’s old journal. We have a starting point.” Jonan looked at Wrynn, then gestured at her arms. “And you have some interesting marks there. Would those happen to be related to dominion marks?”

  “Ah, not these. I have some of those, but...” Wrynn frowned. “I can’t help. The majority of my powers are sealed, as no doubt you’ve already heard. If I had a solution to the uvar, I would have used it years ago, believe me. Maybe between the lot of us, we can put something together, though, if you’re willing to put in some work.”

  “We’d appreciate your help, Witch of a Thousand Shadows.” Aladir gave her a smile.

  “Please, it’s just Wrynn. I mean, unless you’re flirting with me. In which case use as many titles as possible.”

  Aladir blushed. “I, uh...”

  Wrynn laughed. “You’re adorable. Okay. Are you willing to share your notes with me?”

  Velas and Jonan exchanged glances. “If
you think you can solve this. What’s this idea you were talking about that involves ‘work’?”

  “Well, I know something that might be able to help your friend. But it’s going to take some traveling, and there are risks.”

  “Why’s that?” Velas asked.

  “Because these types of powers,” she gestured to the marks on her arms, “aren’t from around here. You’d need to go to Kaldwyn or Artinia to get anything like them.”

  Jonan took a deep breath. “Well,” he glanced at Velas, “Then I suppose one of us is probably going to have to go to another continent at some point, aren’t we?”

  Velas nodded. “We can flip a coin for it.”

  Epilogue – Lydia – Home

  Lydia spent much of the day after the battle with Sterling discussing what had happened with Aladir while he treated her wounds. Given how badly injured he had been during the fight with Lavender and how many other people he had to heal, he had little essence to spare for her, but a few minor regeneration spells helped supplement what Wrynn had already done to help her.

  That hadn’t fixed her finger, though. Apparently, the dominion marked sword that Sterling had severed it with had damaged it too badly to be properly reattached. She’d most likely be missing that finger permanently.

  She had little time to mourn the loss.

  Just after getting healed, she’d been approached for a deal. She’d negotiated trading Lavender for Rialla with significant reservations, but she felt it was the right choice. Saving a life was always a priority for the Paladins of Tae’os, and more importantly, she was not at all convinced that they could keep Lavender captive.

  They’d prepared a special prison in Velthryn for one vae’kes, not two. An oversight, in retrospect, but she hadn’t known that the Shrouded One would be another vae’kes with any certainty. It was one option that had been considered, but even if they’d known, the resources to prepare multiple cells — and multiple transportation rituals to move the prisoners — were beyond what they could have amassed without alerting the entire paladin order to the situation.

  Even after the trade, they’d made several important gains. They had Sterling, another piece of Vendria’s fragmented form, and Wrynn had sent a message indicating she would be visiting to discuss the distribution of spoils she’d picked up with Taelien after she’d rested.

  She had En-Vamir, too. The hammer wasn’t a perfect weapon for her — she could barely lift it without Venora increasing her strength — but it was a tremendously powerful relic, even in its damaged state.

  And, perhaps most importantly, they’d discovered much of Lavender’s agenda. She still didn’t understand it entirely, but from what Jonan had told her, Lavender seemed to be pushing toward a very specific set of events that she believed needed to happen. They could use that information to try to predict any future movements the Disciples of the First attempted to make.

  She couldn’t take any direct actions against the other members of the Disciples of the First — she didn’t have any local authority. Fortunately, Jonan and Velas seemed to have that in hand. They didn’t tell her any details, but apparently Velas had somehow gained some influence with the local Thornguard, and arrests were being made.

  I’ll need to ask her about that later, but for now, it seems like we’re on the same side.

  All in all, it had been a productive journey, even if she mourned the loss of another ally. The Wandering War had been a strange one, but she’d seen value in his life all the same.

  With her business in Selyr concluded, it was finally time to go back home. She had a great deal of preparation to do.

  ***

  “Hello, Sterling.”

  Lydia was carrying En-Vamir over her shoulder as she walked to the edge of his cell. She was positively brimming with protective spells, as well as boosted strength from Venora. She wouldn’t take any chances if he somehow had managed to break free from his bonds.

  For the moment, however, Sterling didn’t make any hostile movements. He simply sat on the bed of his cell, his hands and legs shackled to the wall, allowing enough freedom of movement for him to lie down or pick up the nearby books or food if he needed it.

  “Lydia. I was wondering when you’d come and visit.” Sterling smiled. “I’d tip my hat, but I’m afraid they’ve taken all of my personal belongings. Now, I’m forced to sit in this terribly unstylish prison garb.”

  “I’m afraid we couldn’t take the chances that any of your clothing had enchantments we couldn’t detect.”

  Sterling smiled. “You’re wise to be thorough, even if it’s irritating. So, how can I help you?”

  “Lavender was working from history books that appeared to be from the future. She appeared to be ordering people — including you — to ensure that specific events occurred. Why?”

  “Ah.” Sterling nodded. “Finally, someone is asking the right questions. We’re trying to save the world.”

  Lydia raised any eyebrow. “Trying to save it from who? Or what?”

  “Fate.” Sterling folded his hands together in front of him, staring at Lydia. “I resisted the idea at first. Most people do. But if you’ve seen what I’ve seen, century after century...well, time has a way of changing us all.”

  Lydia frowned. “So, your plan was to follow this book like an instruction manual to avoid some sort of terrible fate?”

  “That’s a good way of thinking about it. I’m sure you’ve talked to your oracle friend about the consequences of resisting fate.”

  Lydia nodded. “I’m aware of her background. She tried to save a little girl, and after she did, she learned that nearly the entire girl’s family had been killed the next day as a result.”

  “Right.” Sterling snapped his fingers. Lydia braced herself for a spell, but apparently it was just a gesture this time. “You push up against fate, and eventually it pushes back, harder. I like it as little as you do, but I’ve lost enough to know when it’s time to concede. Have you?”

  Lydia shook her head. “I don’t believe in people being pushed around by concepts. There must be an architect to what you speak of.”

  “Maybe.” Sterling shrugged. “But it’s beyond you. Beyond me.”

  “I’ll evaluate that as I learn more. The books that speak of the future. Where do they come from?”

  “I’m afraid that’s one of the questions that I won’t be able to answer.”

  Lydia nodded, unsurprised. “And do you know anything else related to what is going to happen, aside from what is written in these books?”

  “Sure. I know all sorts of things.” Sterling smiled.

  “Such as?”

  Sterling leaned back against the wall of his cell, pulling his hands behind his head to use them like a pillow. “Velthryn. This mighty city of yours...it’s going to burn. It’s going to burn to the ground.”

  Lydia felt a shiver as he spoke. There was something about his tone that felt...final.

  And, perhaps more worryingly, it felt familiar.

  “How?”

  Sterling shook his head. “You can’t stop it, Lydia. Trying to is only going to make it worse.”

  “I can make a choice when I have more information.”

  “I think you’re going to be a little biased. But you know what? I’m feeling generous. And, I’ll admit, maybe even a little curious. So, ask me your questions, and maybe I’ll answer. You may want to pull up a chair, though. You have a lot to learn.”

  Lydia nodded. She gestured to one of the nearby guards, who brought a chair for her to sit in.

  She sat, draping the hammer across her lap, and looked at Sterling.

  “So,” Sterling stared back at her. “Where should we begin?”

  Lydia reached up and adjusted her glasses, taking a breath.

  “Tell me everything you know about the Fall of Velthryn.”

  Epilogue – Taelien – Endings and Beginnings

  Taelien walked through the streets of Selyr, still keeping his hand floating near the sw
ord at his side. He’d grown up near here, but he couldn’t trust the area to be safe. Not after everything that had happened.

  He wore the cloak the Wandering War had given him to conceal the sword at his hip. He didn’t need any extra attention.

  The cloak didn’t seem as hot as it once had. The sorcery within it had faded, leaving only a memory of the warmth it had once contained.

  Maybe I’ll ask him if he can heat it up again next time I see him.

  The streets were busy with ordinary people, but that didn’t mean he could count on getting help if something happened. This was a Thornguard city. The vae’kes were like gods to them, and it was possible someone had already put a warrant out for his arrest if they’d learned he’d hurt one.

  He was almost to his goal when he heard a set of footsteps fall into sync with his own. He was being followed.

  Nope, not being subtle about this.

  He spun around, coming face-to-face with what looked like a young woman with shining blonde hair. She wore a rapier on her hip and the leather garb of a stereotypical rogue.

  “Aayara.” It took great effort to keep himself from pulling the Sae’kes out of its scabbard immediately.

  She raised a finger to her lips. “Not so loud, dear. I wouldn’t want to draw too much attention. Come, this way.”

  Aayara waved a hand, leading him to what was among the world’s most conspicuous dark alleys. “Perfect.” She leaned against a wall nearby. “A clandestine meeting between paladin and rogue. This is nostalgic.”

  He folded his arms. “What do you want, Aayara?”

  “I believe you have something for me?”

  Taelien tightened his jaw. “You set me up to fight Kyestri and Sterling.”

  “Yes, obviously. But do you have the mask?”

  Taelien sighed. “Yes. But I’ll need to talk to my superior officers before handing it over, given that you were clearly being duplicitous with your deal.”

  Aayara gave him an appraising look, then shrugged. “Very well. I didn’t need the mask, anyway. You can keep it. I suppose that concludes our business.”