by K. E. Young
"You've got to be joking. How could they possibly stay hidden so long?" Despite his words, Gelal didn't seem to discount the theory. He looked thoughtful.
Kaio spoke up. "Dragos told me the valbore often show up as soon a region achieves peace and stability. In looking through the faction histories leading up to our arrival I found every time anyone tried to do something that would have brought about an alliance or even temporary stability an incident occurred, without fail. Assassination, accident, miscommunication, or bad luck to all appearances, except it was too consistent. The appearances of the valbore over time show the same tactics, just on a larger scale."
Dragos took over the briefing. "When Sara fixed the pillar, it restored the old spell structure the Mage-Kings used in this kingdom's defense. Once I identified what the spells did, I looked back over the histories of the eastern regions. In the light of Sara's theory, I looked at the similarities in events. All of them show the same influences Kaio mentioned except Therys. Valbore have shown up in Vallen three times over the last eight hundred years. Every time they showed up just as the country achieved a stable, benevolent government. All of the regions on this side of the Blue Sea are stable now except Therys, all of them with oppressive monarchies. Most of those came to power either after a valbore wiped out the previous ruling dynasty or through assassination. Vallen is the most recent, coming to power after the last valbore. All of them are friendly with each other and antagonistic with everyone else."
Kaio said, "When Dragos and I were going over my findings last night, his words reminded me of something I couldn't recall then. It wasn't until later today that the memory resurfaced. The first valbore. During the Mage War, they summoned it after the Guild's failed attempt to seize the Shurshu al Atlani. The reason we could respond to it so quickly was because we had troops collecting the sick and those injured in the last battle. We never identified the culprit but the Mages Guild ruled most of Vallen and Marin for fifty years before they were overthrown. They weren't a monarchy, but they too were oppressive."
Dragos flashed a smile at me. "I'd always had my suspicions about the appearances of the valbore, Gelal, but it was Lady Sara who got me wondering if it was the same group all along. She said she thought our current troubles here were the work of a faction trying to take over before the dragonlords came to Therys, they did not intend to fight the valbore themselves, and they simply want to take over when the dragonlords defeat it. And it fit — not just Therys, but Vallen, Corthis, Marin, and Derrelat. Every single time a valbore is defeated, an oppressive monarchy takes over. Eventually, they get ousted and as long as the region is unsettled, no valbore. As soon as a stable benevolent government is in power, we get attempts to destabilize. If those fail, a valbore shows up."
Kaio took up the thread. "It was when we couldn't trace it to a specific faction, and the trend towards destabilizing efforts by a shadow party became apparent that we began looking wider. The same tactics used at different scales over long periods. If you can come up with another way to explain it other than our mysterious Arboren, I want to hear it."
Gelal growled and said, "Unfortunately, I don't have another explanation. You're right. It fits. It makes the appearance of a valbore here so soon after the last one understandable too. Infiltrating the dragonlords to destabilize our efforts the way they could everyone else' was impossible so they had to go with their final choice. They know how costly it is to us to fight those things. They keep our numbers down low enough we don't look to expand in their direction, while still keeping us available to control the valbore. We are their tools to clear out valbore just as the valbore are tools to clear out those they wish to supplant. Once they have what they want, they'll stop summoning valbore and from the looks of it, Therys is the final piece. Otherwise, this Dagresh fellow wouldn't have told Lady Sara they'd soon have their birthright. Which means the end of Theryn's line was their work as well."
The Emperor wiped his face tiredly. "I know I've come across the name Arboren before somewhere. I wish I could remember where. Perhaps Ren will know it."
"Tomorrow, Sara wants to start with the library. It will take her a couple days to recover from today's work, but reading in the library shouldn't be too taxing. She wants to destroy the valbore permanently." Kaio smiled. "If anyone can do it, it's her."
Gelal laughed. "Kaio, has your fondness made you soft in the head? Valbore are immortal. They can't be killed, just locked away."
His dismissive attitude towards Kaio angered me and my tone was sharp. "Immortal or not, someone created the Valbore. What has been made can be unmade. I may not be able to kill it, but when I get done with it, it won't be a valbore anymore."
Gelal wasn't laughing anymore. He was staring at me thoughtfully.
Kaio came over to stand behind me, his hands on my shoulders. "In her old world, Sara trained to break down complex tasks into sets of simple commands. She described magic to me as if it were a language and spells were simply bits of a conversation as the Mage-Kings did, a language based on logic. Now, we teach mages to perform set spells because it's what we know. The Mage-Kings built new spells as needed but it's something we have lost. No new spells have been devised in the last eight hundred years because we don't know how." His hands squeezed my shoulders.
"She's had little time to learn how to use her magic yet she built the river course without difficulty. The limiting factor was her strength, not the range of spells she had learned. She created the spells she needed as she needed them, exactly as the Mage-Kings did.
He paused for a heartbeat. "She made stone flow like water, Gelal. No earth mage has done that in a thousand years. I know if she can figure out how the Accusers created the valbore, she can figure out how to destroy them. Not because she believes she can do it, but because she has already built a tool that will allow her to do it, a language of magic."
Gelal's gaze had never broken from mine, his gaze thoughtful throughout. "You may be right. We have a few days before we need to act. If she needs anything from me, she has it. Meanwhile, it's been a long day for everyone." A slight smile curled his mouth. "Kaio, maybe you should take your mate to bed. She looks exhausted."
Urash sighed. "I agree. Tomorrow will come soon enough."
Kaio helped me to my feet and we turned towards the door where Captain Blas was waiting.
"I discovered that your man Calum is still in Therys. He was pressed into helping with the evacuation efforts. I've sent one of my men to collect him. The Emperor's orders take precedence. Lady Sara's safety is more critical than the survival of a few locals. Callous I know, but true. Thorn is already waiting at Lady Zenra's camp with Lady Sara's dinner."
As we exited the building and started through the crowd Blas's men formed up around us. It drew attention and people pointed and whispered. It bothered me. I've always hated coming to anyone's attention. Too often, that attention was painful. Kaio rubbed my shoulder gently as we walked and his warmth suffused the bond. "They're just interested to see the earth mage everyone is talking about. News that Urash won't make you Empress hasn't spread yet though." I didn't bother to respond. I was too tired.
We reached Zenra's camp without issue and Thorn grinned in obvious relief as he led us to a separate tent with a largish round table and several chairs. Zenra was already waiting along with three others. I sat next to her with Kaio on my other side. Thorn placed a heavily loaded tray in front of me and whipped the cover off. Despite the constant snacking during the day, I was starved, so I dug in with a will.
The man to Zenra's other side laughed. "Magic has a way of taking it out of you, doesn't it? I hear your efforts today are impressive. I've spoken with a few of those who supplemented you today. All are in awe of what you did. It's been a long time since even an earth mage has done anything on this scale."
I swallowed my mouthful. "It isn't the scale that's important here. It's that I finished it in time. Even a few seconds later would have meant disaster. The valbore was moving."
&n
bsp; "We do not question the importance of the timing, my dear. The timing of your efforts saved hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. However, we mustn't discount the scale of the work. It too is important but in a different way. Thanks to Lord Haradis and his men, the legend of the broken pillar and its mending by you are common knowledge among the people. They hope you have mended what was broken about Therys. Your building of the river course brought the golden age of the Mage-Kings forcefully to mind. It gave hope to those who need it most. It gave us hope too. I am proud to call you family."
Zenra wiped her mouth and smiled at me. "I should introduce you. Sara, this is my brother Lord Kadingir Laras and his sons Daro and Tiro."
More names I'm too tired to remember. I'll ask Kaio to remind me later. "Oh. I'm pleased to meet you. Sorry if I was rude, I'm not used to all this. I've never been important before. It's odd."
He chuckled. "It's all right my dear. You've been through a great deal in a short time. Some disorientation is expected. You'll find your balance soon enough. If you need any help, you may call on me. We're kin now."
I felt tears gather. "Thank you." Family.
"Eat up my dear. You need food and rest to recover." His words were gentle.
I smiled. He sounded like my dad. "Yes, sir." I dug in again with a light heart.
"Mother, is there some pain medicine available? Sara mentioned her remaining injuries were bothering her."
"Of course, Kaio. You know I'm always prepared." She caught the eye of a servant and nodded. He hurried out. "One of Dragos' men brought word a healer will be here in the morning to check on her progress. Samra mentioned a bath too." She went on about other preparations and plans she had in progress, but I didn't listen, I was too tired. I finished the contents of the tray and felt overfull, but I knew that would fade soon enough. My stomach would be growling at Kaio again come morning.
Kaio prodded me. "Come My One. Let's get you to bed before you fall asleep in your chair."
I nodded and accepted his aid to rise. I collected good nights and a kiss on the forehead from both Laras and Zenra. Back at our bedroom tent, Kaio introduced a kindly looking older woman as Samra.
"Samra was my caretaker when I was growing up. She made sure I paid attention to my studies, treated my hurts, and kept me from getting in too much trouble with my father. Before that, she was my mother's maid. She knows everything you need to know about etiquette and protocol. She will serve you well. I trust her implicitly, and I can't think of anyone I'd rather have for you." It was clear from his tone and expression he was fond of the old woman.
Samra smiled fondly at him. "Ah, Kaio, you were always a kind-hearted boy. I would have been hurt if Zenra chose anyone else for your Lady. She's lovely." Samra tilted her head with a motherly smile. "But I think Lady Shalatu needs to get to bed. Come. I have everything ready for you."
Samra pulled me behind the screen and pulled the cloak I still wore off my shoulders. She undressed me and lifted a nightgown over my head. A heavy robe hung next to a brazier to warm followed. She handed me a cup of tea and motioned me to sit down on a stool she had moved into place. As I drank the tea, which turned out to be some of the stuff the healers had been giving me for pain, she removed my boots, washed my feet in a basin of blessedly hot water, dried them, and then tucked them into furry slippers. She finished by brushing out my hair. When she finished, I felt warmer than I had since leaving the palace that morning.
"There, that should feel better. I'll have a proper bath ready for you as soon as you wake in the morning. Now finish that. I imagine Kaio is lonely for you. Dragons are always clingy for the first few weeks of a mating."
I smiled. "I don't mind. He makes me feel safe."
She smiled and ushered me into bed, pulling off the robe and slippers at the last moment. As promised, Kaio was already in bed waiting for me and I snuggled close to his warmth. Samra dimmed the lamps and I tumbled into sleep.
Kaio: 34th of Hunting, 3837
Kaio was glad Sara could sleep so readily. When her nightmare began, the fear coming through the bond woke him. He sent her what comfort he could, but had to rouse her to break her out of the dream. Fortunately, she fell asleep again quickly. He mused on how difficult her life would have been without support. What she had told him of her life didn't lead him to believe she'd had anyone she could count on except her father. Even her mother hadn't protected her that he could see. It made Sara too willing to believe she was unimportant and unworthy of help. She would learn. Sara was so strong, but she wasn't alone anymore and didn't have to bear the burden all by herself.
She snuggled close and his dragon purred. She trusted him more and more. In time, it would be enough. He smiled and dropped into a light sleep, ever watchful for her nightmares.
He woke at dawn, the sounds of the camp carrying even here. Sara was still asleep and he was loath to wake her, but he knew the world would intrude soon. For these few moments, he reveled in the feel of her. The silk of her hair, her warmth against him. His dragon was impatient but understood she needed time. He hoped she didn't need too much longer though. He wanted a little girl just like her.
In time, Samra poked her head in and told him his lady's bath was ready and she expected the healer in an hour and a half. He nodded and bent his attention to Sara. He kissed her. "Wake up my love. Wake up."
"Hmm?"
"Wake up, My One. It's morning and your bath is waiting for you. You don't want it to get cold."
"Oh. Okay." She wasn't truly awake, but she was moving. He laughed and wrapped her in the waiting robe and slippers, stealing a hug and another kiss before sending her to Samra. He washed up in the basin behind the screen and dressed in the clothes Samra had laid out for him. Calum had arrived and was sent for Sara's breakfast. Kaio himself grabbed a quick breakfast from the selection laid out in the dining tent. He was finishing as Master Bedin arrived.
Samra had bathed, buffed, and polished Sara to exacting standards. Despite all the extra food Sara had been eating, she was still too gaunt. Bedin didn't think she was eating enough but admitted after what had happened the previous day it was to be expected. In his opinion, Lady Sara shouldn't expend herself that way though.
Master Bedin was even less happy with the progress of healing. The efforts of the previous day had drained his spells and her healing hadn't progressed at all from the previous day. Kaio was glad and asked if it would be better to give her a day without the magic-reinforced healing and let her recover more. Bedin admitted it might be a wise choice as long as she took medicine for the additional pain she would feel.
After he had left, Sara finished the meal the healer's arrival had interrupted. "My love, are you ready?" She nodded vigorously as she wiped her mouth, and grinned at him.
He had to laugh. Her eagerness was contagious and a joy to see. In moments such as this, he could see clearly the person Sara was meant to be.
They collected Captain Blas, Calum, and a contingent of guards and set off. The library had been moved to the most protected part of the ruined fort, close to the Emperor's rooms they had visited the previous night. The only parts of the fort more secure were the dungeons underneath the fort where those evacuated from the prison were housed. Dragos and the Emperor had been unwilling to leave even them for the valbore.
They arrived to find Urash had issued orders for Sara to have every assistance in her search. Someone had already laid out writing materials and the most likely sources for her, and a dozen or more mages were poring over others to see what they might contribute. A comfortable chair Kaio last recalled from the Emperor's quarters the previous night awaited her. She seated herself and dug in promptly. She knew what she was looking for. It was merely a matter of finding it.
Kaio was looking around wondering what he could do to help when he spotted his father. The elder Shalatu didn't look happy and was making a beeline towards Sara. Kaio dampened down the thrill of alarm that went through him so he didn't disturb Sara. Kaio had a good idea why Ren wan
ted to talk to her. He caught the Captain's eye and moved to intercept his father.
"Step aside Kaio. She has made a terrible mistake and since no-one else seems to be willing to tell her…"
"Be silent!" The fury Kaio had been building up for years against his father boiled over in those two words. It stunned his father enough Kaio and Blas could maneuver him into the hallway without incident.
Captain Blas took the lead and led them to the Emperor's office. "Your majesty. As you predicted."
"Guard the door. This may get loud." Urash turned his attention to Ren and frowned.
"Your majesty, I think…"
"Silence, Shalatu Ren! You have caused enough trouble with your words. Right now, I'm contemplating having you jailed for treason. Sit." He waited for the cowed man to sit before turning to Kaio. "Did he bother her?"
"I did not give him the chance." Kaio was still livid.
"Good." He leaned against his desk and stared at the older man for a minute. "What am I to do with you Ren? You are a good man, honorable, strong, and intelligent. You are a fine mage and a scholar without equal but you are an unmitigated disaster in politics. Every time you dabble in it, you do or say absolutely the wrong thing. Every single time.
"I don't understand it. How can a man as intelligent as you be so utterly blind? Your son is my heir. Not because of birthright, but because of ability. He is my heir because he can make the hard choices. He makes them every day in his role as Dragos' spymaster. Yes, I know your opinions. I doubt anyone over the age of ten is unaware of your opinions. You have the right to your opinions — until you act on them against my express wishes. Then you court treason."
Urash took a sip from the mug on his desk. "Tell me, Ren. When did I give you the right to countermand my orders?"
