by Tom Rogal
He couldn’t even tell her. It was a moment that, no matter how much he tried to forget, kept returning to him. He had a feeling Divi could sense it too. She didn’t need to know about the incident, though. Not yet.
Divi commented, “I sense seven of them. Four are in the light, including that one we see. The others are hiding in the shadows.”
She might not know magic, but she was already proving very helpful. He knew their strategy: the first group of attackers provided a distraction for the rest. The trick was finding them all. A miscalculation usually means an arrow or a knife in your back
“What do we do?” Divi asked.
Levus had a plan. It wasn’t a good plan. It relied on luck, sprinkling in a bit of hope the Tigerions fell for his ruse. But he wasn’t going to sit here and let these people die . . . especially fat the hands of these thieves. They had taken much from him already. It was time for a little payback.
“Divi, are you able to stop arrows and such with your powers?”
“Sure. What do you want me to do?”
“I can fight the ones we see. I need you to protect me from the others. If you can take them out, even better. Just stay hidden. I don’t want them to know you are a mage.”
She nodded and watched intently as Levus began to circle the torchlit area. She knew exactly where the others were: in the trees with arrows pointed downward. If they were further apart, it would have made this difficult. As it were, this was going to be easy even for her with her limited knowledge.
While Levus got into position, Divi listened to the thieves mocking their targets.
“So, you’d have us believe that you are just poor folk just happening on at night? Do you think us stupid?”
The leader watched as his minions feverishly questioned the scared family. These tended to be the easy ones--- a woman and kids only suggested the father was dead or too far away to be of a concern. When they traveled in a cart, it usually meant they were returning home from a town. Their cargo didn’t have to be jewels or money to be valuable. Silver and other metals would sell just as much.
The woman cried, “I swear! We have nothing of value! It is just clothing and some food for our village! Please let us go!”
The thief closest to the leader asked, “What shall we do, Sidus? I think they’re lying to us. Why would you travel at night unless you had something worth some pretty coin? Especially a pretty little thing like that.”
Sidus could tell what his man really wanted. Although rape was never encouraged, when a band of men traveled together for months, sometimes their natural urges got the best of them. Who was he to argue? He had mistresses in nearly every town on this damn rock. He did feel a little bad because they would most likely do her daughter as well. He had his limits. The scum he had under him had zero morals, being mostly escaped convicts or enemies of the state. He wouldn’t stop them, though. The Tigerion were known for their ruthlessness beyond anything else. If he got in the way, it might cost him his life. No one left this clan unless by death.
Sidus finally ordered, “Search the cart and take anything you see is valuable. If you want the woman, have at it. Though I would prefer you spare the child. Let them have a quick death.” They never took prisoners, only valuables.
The three thieves smiled and laughed. Sidus gave a silent sigh. Oh, well. I tried.
The woman and her kids began to scream as the thieves advanced toward them. Before they could strip them of their clothes, a voice from behind froze them all with shock.
“Many pardons, but do you know how far I am from the next town?”
Sidus and the rest of the thieves looked at Levus as he stepped in the light−the reaction he was hoping for. Confusion was a powerful tool when needing extra time to view his surroundings. He at least had a good idea that the others were not on the ground, which meant they were in the trees. He was going to need to seek cover after things started.
One of the thieves asked, “Is he serious?”
Sidus looked at the boy cautiously. If he was from a rival faction he wouldn’t have warned them of his presence. Possibly the boy was just naive or dense. Forest folk, as he learned, were not the best educated.
“This is no concern of yours, boy. Leave now while you still can. I’ll be generous.”
“Let him leave?” one of his men said. “He knows where we are and will tell others! Get the Dyyros Army on us for sure!”
The other two protested as well. Sidus didn’t find any of their arguments viable, especially the one about the Army. Since Ulcinar had taken over in the capital, the Tigerions had free reign over the Dyyros Woods. One of their clan had even robbed someone in earshot of Fort Kerran and never got a response. News like that tended to travel fast in the Woods. They hadn’t been bold enough to try and take over a town since they failed years ago with Arnis, but the point was, they could if they wanted.
Sidus knew the reason they wanted too. They had a reputation and they wanted to keep it. If he didn’t, they would follow his orders, but they would also tell his superior. That caused doubt to enter people’s minds and it was not something he wanted. He loved the power of his position. Still, he felt even now a slave to the clan’s strict rules.
While the thieves argued, Levus looked at the mother and her two children as he tried to reassure them everything was going to be okay. He could see the fear in their eyes. If he couldn’t save them, they were as good as dead.
Sidus, sick of the arguing, finally succumbed, “Kill the man then! I just want this over. This has been taking too long!”
The three converged and tried to surround Levus. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, waiting for them to make the first move. The archers were less likely to fire when one of their own was in the way. Then again, “accidently” killing another member of the crew could mean a larger cut for the others. He sure hoped thieves, even ones as ruthless as these, had some type of code.
One charged at Levus, who skillfully parried the initial blows as Sidus watched. This boy had some training, making it unlikely that he came from one of the small villages. His crew took a defensive pattern as none of them seemed capable of striking Levus. Why is never anything easy? He hated to do this, but he wanted to end this quickly. He gave a signal to the archers in the trees.
Instead of arrows raining down, though, the archers themselves did, one by one. One of them injured his back from the fall, while the other two were frantically trying to figure out what happened. Sidus was as well. What sorcery is going on here?
Meanwhile, the thieves, temporarily distracted by the what happened, were once again surrounding Levus. They decided it would be easier to corner him, then try and run him through. The two fallen archers joined him with knives at the ready. This wasn’t totally going as he planned. If only he could understand how he did that move with Kile’s men. That would have taken out all of them in one attack.
Just when they meant to strike, their shadows, cast by the torches, begin to move. They looked up and nearly dropped their weapons in horror. The torch hovered in the air. Levus smiled. You might not know magic, but you are a godsend, Divi!
In a majestic booming voice, Divi said, “Leave these people alone! If one drop of their blood touches my earth, then you will all burn!”
Using her telekinetic powers, she quickly moved the other torches toward the thieves. They tried running away while Divi did her best to mark every one of them by burning their skin so they’d never forget this night. It was amusing seeing how brave these misfits were until something fought them back.
Sidus, knowing they were way in over their heads, ordered, “Retreat, everyone! There must be some curse here! A burial ground we know not of! Run!”
He didn’t have to say it twice. His entire crew was out of the clearing before he finished his sentence. They forgot all about Levus, who leaned on the tree. The family wanted to run as the kids were terrified.
As soon as he made certain they were gone, Levus said, “Divi! You can com
e out!”
She walked out from behind the cart very pleased with herself. She could tell the family eased up seeing that the voice belonged to a fried of their rescuer. Divi met him in front of the cart, gazing into each other’s eyes for seemingly a long time. She didn’t understand what she was feeling. It was like she could look in his eyes for hours and never get tired of them.
Levus finally asked, “And if I may ask how you did that?”
She smiled. “I learned it from Dinermar in the Illusions School. My telekinetics can magnify an object or a voice. He showed me so I could spook my father if I so chose to.”
This girl continued to amaze him. She was smart, innovative, and had a kind heart. He could only acknowledge one of those traits in Leeta. His current girlfriend was smart, but she normally didn’t think outside the box and only did kind things for others when she knew people were watching. Divi was different, and he was liking it.
“We are in your debt.” The mother and her two children bowed. Levus didn’t need to see their faces to know they were grateful.
“Glad we could help. My name is Levus and this here is Divi. What were you doing out here this late at night?”
“My name is Sahara. This is Jovio, my only son, and Elissa, my oldest daughter. We were just on our way back from one of the coastal villages. Usually the thieves don’t come near us because the Porsita Guard patrol this land. We are as surprised as you are.”
Divi had a good idea why. With Porsita taken by the Dyyros Army, she had a feeling that the port city’s forces were dismantled. It always seemed the unlawful had the upper hand in such things. There was always the possibility the thieves worked for the Army, but she dismissed that based off what one of them said.
Levus continued, “Regardless, they will think twice about trying to attack at night for a short while. You don’t happen to know how far we are from Porsita?”
Sahara replied, “At least a half day, though it can be perilous, as you know. Our village is not far, just north of the bridge. Why not spend the night? It is the least we can do as thanks for saving us.”
A half day? Was he truly losing his senses? Sahara was right. To travel in the Woods now would be too dangerous, especially with Tigerion members still scuttling about. He only wished he knew why they were here. That clan’s territory was south, near Arnis. Thieves were extremely territorial and deadly skirmishes had been known to occur when they crossed paths.
“That’s a good idea,” he told Sahara. “Lead the way!”
Morning came much sooner than Levus wanted. When they arrived at the village of Gyum, they were so exhausted that they collapsed, tired from the battle and fast walking, and fell asleep almost instantly.
Although he was up now, he couldn’t move yet. Divi was still asleep, her right arm draped across his chest and her body pressing his side. She was using his arm as a pillow. She did look very beautiful. Her skin felt so soft. Even though he wanted to get up, he truly didn’t want to. For as long as Levus had been courting Leeta, never once had they cuddled like this. Especially not lately, because of . . .
He tried to shake that memory away. He wished he could. It rocked the very foundation of their relationship. They didn’t tell anyone, though. How could they? Diera would have gone ballistic and Levus wasn’t even sure how his mom would handle it. For their two families, in a village where a name meant everything, this alliance was an important one. Leeta and he understood that. That is why they had been trying to repair the damage on their own. They had been making good progress, but he rarely saw her the last few months and the doubt was always present, justified or not.
Divi began to squirm as her eyes hesitated to open. Her tongue licked her lips as she moaned slightly.
Good. Sleep longer, Divi. She barely slept the other nights, so he was glad she found enough comfort now. By her motions, she must have been having a dream. What kind to cause her to moan . . . The urge to kiss her was strong, but he held himself back. It was strange. He barely knew Divi other than she was a mage and part of her childhood, yet he was so attracted to her. This had been the first time in all these nights that they slept right next to each other. He used the excuse for bodily warmth as this night was colder than all the others. Truthfully . . .
Hide those feelings, he told himself. You have a girlfriend already.
Finally opening her eyes, Divi looked around, a little lost. It wasn’t until her gaze met Levus’ that they both smiled.
Levus said, “Good morning! Looks like we both needed the rest.”
She stretched with a loud yawn, “Yeah, seems so. Where are we?”
Levus sat up as he explained, “This is the village of Gyum, slightly northeast of Porsita. Usually overlooked because Porsita is a half day’s journey from here, so most continue until they reach it. Started out a nomadic camp, but since they found this place safe to settle, they made it permanent. I’ve never been here before, either.”
Divi didn’t know what she was feeling. It seemed every night she had been inching closer and closer to her rescuer. And just last night, they slept next to each other. Well, more like on each other. Among mages, personal contact like that was usually reserved for married couples. She had never even felt the desire to sleep that close to anyone before. It had to be the experiences they’d had. Yeah, that has to be it.
When Divi stepped outside, she saw Levus with Elissa and Sahara. Both were laughing as they talked to him. Levus smiled as he looked Divi’s way. For a local who lived in the forest, he did have a good set of teeth.
Divi walked up just as they concluded whatever talk they’d been having, “Sounds like I missed something good.”
Levus explained, “It’s just for what we did to save them, Sahara had the village elders anoint us as residents of the village. They are our sisters now.”
Divi smiled. She guessed it didn’t take much. Then again, she was so unfamiliar with the customs of this place, it was probably best to just go with it. If anything, she could brag about being the first mage to have human sisters and not be a half-mage. That brought a small chuckle from her.
Sahara said, “Before you go, Levus, would you mind helping some of the men lift a tree? It fell at the entrance of our village hours after we arrived. Both of you slept right through it.”
“Sure! So long as we leave before the mid-sun, we should make it to Porsita by night. Where is it?”
Sahara led him to the south. The log was easy to see as the village was barely larger than the town square back in Arnis. There were about thirty men already there, so she doubted that they needed him. Yet, as he were now part of the village and these were now his brothers, it was probably best that Levus helped in any way he could.
Divi couldn’t take her eyes off him. In Myyril, manual labor was rarely necessary because telekinetics could do mostly everything. Plus, it was considered good practice for young mages. To see him help lift that heavy trunk with the others gave her a sensation she never saw or felt before.
“Is he your husband?”
Divi was so focused on watching Levus that she hadn’t even realized Elissa remained at her side. The question took her aback.
“What gave you that impression?”
Elissa smiled. “By the way you look at him. How he looks at you. Just how you act together.”
Divi’s head was spinning. She didn’t know what to say. Did she think Levus was cute? Definitely. For all the people she had met on the mainland, she had never met anyone like him before. “No, we’re not married,” she said. “He saved me and now is taking me back to Porsita to reunite me with my family. That’s all.”
Her voice was shaking, something Elissa picked up on easily. Love on first sight happened often with her people. Divi and Levus now had a bond, albeit still in its younger stages. If she was anywhere near as good as her mother at observing people, she would almost bet on them one day being together.
“My mom always told me to never hide what I feel, as you never know when you’ll hav
e the chance to show it. We are who we are.”
Divi thought about those words as Elissa took her leave. She didn’t think she was hiding her true self. Her decision not learn magic certainly personified herself. Why would she have such strong feelings for him? Sure, he rescued her from Kile and he acted in ways that no one had done for her, well . . . ever. That didn’t mean it was love. Not that she knew what that felt like either.
Divi caught Levus smiling at her as he wiped the sweat off his brow. She returned it instinctively, yet shyly. The other villagers were laughing and singing to celebrate their hard work. As Levus met her gaze again, she felt a strong thumping in her chest. She had to get away. She turned around and entered the hut that they had slept in.
***
“Thank you very much for your hospitality.”
After a brief meal, Levus knew it was time to head out for Porsita. Just because they were close didn’t mean they could waste any daylight. He did notice Divi remained distant, almost like she was hiding from him. He wasn’t sure what caused that. At least now, as they were leaving, she seemed to be her normal self.
Sahara stepped up with the village leader, a man named Yarlin. Levus guessed he was in his upper thirties. Like most of the men, he had large muscles. He could attest to their strength just from that log. He struggled with his part while the others barely broke a sweat. Even though Sahara was not short, Yarlin made her look like the mythical dwarves.
Yarlin said, “Thank you for saving Sahara and her family and for your help with the tree. You and your friend are always welcome in this village. As I told you before, you are now our brother and sister.”
The village gave a celebratory hoot, men and women alike. That was one of the strangest things about this place. To them, the men and the women were considered equals in everything. Even Yarlin performed menial tasks and he was their leader. It was an approach Levus would have loved to see in Arnis as well as everywhere else on Dyyros. His hometown wasn’t as bad, but there were other places in the Woods that strictly prohibited women from taking part in important business. Training with Marian throughout his early childhood made the heaviest impact on his life. She was the woman who showed him that she could best any man and still be a good person.
