The Timeless One

by Lexy Wolfe

  "Father said something about earning my name..." Jaison sighed heavily. "He said he regretted I would not earn mine once I left Desantiva. But I never understood the importance of names. Not really."

  "Our names are sacred things, given to us by the Totani or the Raging One himself." Storm sighed. "It would not have mattered. If you had been taken into the tribe as a child, you never would have become a Guardian."

  Shaking her head, she continued. "The ritual to bring a child into a tribe is different than those for an adult." Storm smiled faintly. "It is the first ritual to welcome the newborn into the tribe, or to accept another tribe's children, and give them the full bayuli-volsha bond. You have only had the birth bond to sustain you."

  "Another tribe's children?"

  Skyfire nodded. "Sometimes, when a tribe is too large, they will ask another smaller tribe to accept some of their children to keep both tribes strong, if some of the large tribe do not break off to become a tribe of their own."

  Storm averted her eyes. "We will be a tribe of only two."

  Jaison held out his hands to Storm. "Only for now. There is time enough to consider the future of the na'Zhekali. Please. I want this. I want what my mother wanted me to be. To be my father's son. Desantiva lives within you. I can see that." She looked up to meet his eyes. "Bring Desantiva back to me, Storm na'Zhekali. Please." Storm nodded and took his hands in hers.

  Chapter 33

  The line marking the border into the heart of the Timeless One's earthly domain was more than the ornate, lifelike statues of winged men and women that flanked the road between Sanctuary and Sharindel. A tangible sensation made Threshold unique.

  Bella sat with a despondent Almek on a bench nearest the crossing over point. She patted his shoulder. "You really should have known, Almek," she said reassuringly. "The Desanti have proven time and again to be fiercely independent. If Storm was willing to challenge our mistress, what else could anyone expect when you and Jaison kept pushing them to give up the traditions you did not approve of?"

  "I should have anticipated this. I should have seen this possibility." Almek looked tired. "I just... How could Storm and Skyfire do this? I did not think that they would turn their backs on us--"

  "Don't blame the Desanti," Bella scolded mildly. She tilted her head as she studied him. "These misunderstandings are not simply their fault for being unwilling to change. The misunderstandings are as much our fault for not trying to embrace what it means to be Desanti as Fortress has embraced the other three nations of the Sundered Lands." She tsked. "You were the one who taught me that, Almek. You should practice what you preach."

  Almek laughed tiredly. "I never realized how much was unknown about the Desanti until now. They seemed to adapt so well to the world outside of their lands."

  "Because that is Desanti nature," Bella pointed out blandly. "They adapt to the environment they find themselves in. Can't you tell by how the Vodani adapt? The oceans, the rivers, the coasts." She looked over towards Mureln. "Even far inland living with Sevmanen gypsies. We adapt to survive. But none of us give up everything that makes us who we are. And Desanti are unlike anyone else."

  He closed his eyes. "I thought they would accept Jaison because... he was more like them."

  "Because he is a Vodani with a Desanti temper?" Bella frowned slightly. "Because the Vodani are cousins to the Desanti? The desert folk tolerate our people. At best. They call us foreigners where they call you outlanders." She shook her head, waving a dismissive hand. "The Sevmanen and Forenten are cousins as well, but they are unique to each other, too. You would never expect a Forentan to consider a Sevmanan kin, or vice versa. Not to the degree they would warmly accept one another based simply on that relationship. Why expect it between Desanti and Vodani?"

  "Jaison is not so different from Storm and Skyfire as you believe," Almek said enigmatically. He looked over at Taylin sitting with Lyra, the healer's arm consolingly around the dejected girl, then to Ash standing with his back to them all, staring back down the road like a lost soul. "At my age, I should know better than to turn a blind eye to things that complicate matters."

  "At your age, you should be dead," Bella pointed out blandly. "You're allowed to make mistakes, Almek. You are human. We all are."

  From a log bench across the path from the others, Mureln and Terrence sat with the gypsies. "Th' mage looks like a lost puppy," Emil observed as he idly whittled a piece of wood with his belt knife. "It ain't right Ash an' Storm be separated. Not after all they been through."

  "I've never known Mas-... Ash to look so lost." Terrence closed his eyes, looking down at his hands. "I'm afraid he will lose any desire to seek knowledge. Perhaps any desire even to continue living. I don't want to lose him. Not like this. It-It's just wrong."

  Mureln sighed softly, getting to his feet. "I'm going to see how he's doing." The bard joined the mage, following his gaze back towards the village. "Ever since we found Storm, you have held onto her with such ferocity, I expected anyone or anything coming between you to suffer untold torment." He looked at Ash's profile. "I am surprised you let her go."

  "She would have stayed if I asked. But I couldn't. Nolyn once told me I could change a lyon's spots, but then it wouldn't be a lyon." He looked at Mureln, his eyes the depth of despair. "If I made them stay, it would have changed them. It would have changed her, and I... I love her as she is, as maddeningly illogical as she is." He looked back down the trail. "She promised she would wait for me, Mureln. Even though I know it means..."

  The mage closed his eyes tightly. "Desanti lives are short because they do not hold back from challenges. She will not hold back for long, even though she promised. But she did not want me to lose this chance to... to learn. To honor Forentan learning."

  "Without anyone but Skyfire to look after her, she may not be there when you can finally return to her." Mureln pressed his lips together tightly. "Even if she were here, it has always been a risk she could die anytime."

  "I know. I know!" Ash glared at Mureln briefly before the melancholy overwhelmed him again. "We both acknowledged our duties would separate us when one of us would die. But we wanted to spend what time Fate would allow us together. She will likely be the one who dies first. I wanted... to have memories of our time together at the very least. Not the time we must be separated." Mureln looked at Ash sympathetically, putting his hand on the mage's shoulder. "One day she will be gone and I will be alone again. I just don't know what I will do without her, Mureln. I do not know if I can live without her." He put his hand over his heart, haunted by the memories of Storm's brushes with death that physically affected him as well. "I don't want to find out."

  The bard started to open his mouth to say something when he looked sharply down the road where they had come from, tilting his head to listen. "I don't know if you will have to find out." The bard smiled a little, pointing down the path. "Listen!" Ash blinked at Mureln in confusion. After several minutes, he took a half step forward, barely daring to hope. The others looked over with growing curiosity at the sudden change in the Forentan's demeanor. The shrill shriek of the drizar echoed up the treelined path, followed by the less emphatic drizzen. Everyone got to their feet with hopeful expressions.

  Lyra ran over to Ash, clasping his hand in both of hers. "Master Ash?" she asked breathlessly. "Do you think... Do you think they changed their minds?"

  Ash's voice caught in his throat, not daring to answer Lyra out of fear he was allowing his hope to overwhelm reality. When the three rounded the corner, he couldn't even move, just staring at Storm, holding his breath.

  "Skyfire!" Lyra ran to the tall Desanti man, throwing her arms around his neck as she jumped into his arms. The man easily caught her, holding her tightly as he laughed at her exuberance. "Oh, Skyfire, thank the goddess you came! I don’t think I could have done this without you."

  "Of course you could have," Skyfire said warmly, setting her back on her feet. "You are as strong as you are beautiful, my dearest Lyra. You just need to
believe that you are as much as I do."

  Storm walked up to Ash, managing a small smile. "Breathe, beloved." She reached up, touching his cheek. He exhaled, closing his eyes. "All is well. I am here. On my terms, not theirs."

  The others' attentions had moved from the two Swordanzen to Jaison who trailed behind them. Bella stared as he approached. "What... in the world...?" She looked at Storm, then back at Jaison. "What in the world is going on, Jaison? You look like... her."

  "I am half Desanti," Jaison explained, brushing back his dusky brown hair now streaked with red and blond. His olive Vodani complexion was now more bronzed with the coppery hue Storm bore, his eyes a greener shade of green-gold. "Specifically, I am half na'Zhekali." He looked over at the Swordanzen woman with a smile. "By Desanti traditions, I am a part of Storm's tribe now. Part of the na'Zhekali tribe."

  Ash blinked as the words registered, looking at Jaison, then at Storm with such an expression of bewildered dismay that she laughed. "He is no rival for me. Beloved, to my people, he's still a child. But don't make me think too hard about that. It makes my head hurt." She looked to Almek. "Before I change my mind, shall we go?"

  Almek smiled, reaching to clasp Storm's hand briefly, unable to express his gratitude to her. "Of course, child. Of course."

  Chapter 33

  As the group approached a towering, red granite wall, a horn sounded and the giant, mahogany colored gates swung open to admit them. Rising above the main level, the steep, cliff-like face of the mountain had paths, steps and balconies carved into it.

  The high wall edged the expansive plateau, an assortment of buildings, fountains and other stonework fixtures surrounding a broad, central courtyard. In the center of the wide, central fountain, a larger-than-life marble statue of a mermaid held her hands to the sky, a large spiraling shell cradled in her palms. Water flowed from the mouth of the shell to cascade down the mermaid's body to fall onto stone carvings that sent rivulets of water in all directions.

  Almek nodded to the gathering Guardians, offering a smile as they gave him deep bows of respect. Their hushed murmurs of concern over how drastically he had aged within the short time he had been gone were quite audible when uttered as one. Eyes were drawn away from Almek to those who followed him, the murmurs growing to more vocal expressions of shock, amazement and other, less welcoming emotions on seeing the Desanti. With a wry, apologetic expression, he turned to his students. "Welcome to Sanctuary."

  As the drizar walked through the archway, a high pitched, whining male voice disrupted the relative tranquility. The Desanti, drizar and drizzen looked in his direction, the animals baring their teeth with hisses. Both Bella and Jaison groaned in unison. "Oh, here we go," Bella muttered despairingly. She stuck her tongue out at Jaison when he elbowed her to behave.

  "Dusvet Almek Two-Tones! It is highly irregular to bring beasts into Sanctuary," a man of obvious Forentan descent stated acerbically as he approached the group, looking disdainfully at the drizzen. "Whatever those hideous things are, I do not care. They must go!"

  "I am well aware of what is regular and what is irregular, Dremmen," Almek stated blandly. "They are drizzen and they are quite well behaved, I assure you." Seemingly contrary to the Dusvet's words, the drizar snorted and stomped at the slender man, his metal-shod claws striking sparks. He angled his head as if he prepared to impale the irritating man. Ignoring the drizar's behavior altogether, Almek scanned the crowds gathering in the huge courtyard. "Where is Tyrsan? I had sent word ahead about our arrival. I expected him to be here to meet us."

  "The Dulain is otherwise occupied," Dremmen stated airily. He could not meet the baleful gaze of the drizar for long. "These misbegotten beasts are a danger to all of us, Dusvet. Look at this one! We cannot have such monsters roaming Sanctuary freely. They should be turned out or put down. The latter would be safer for all of us."

  Storm put her hand on the drizar's neck, cooing soothingly to him. She flicked a look at the pinched features of the Forentan-born Unsvet that regarded her and Skyfire with such criticism. "Drizzen do not attack what does not threaten them, Unsvet," Storm stated with the utmost respect, though there was wariness in her posture.

  "Perhaps you should send word to the Dulain, since the decision is ultimately his," Almek suggested casually. Despite the bored demeanor he presented, the Dusvet's eyes were keenly intent on the confrontation between Dremmen and Storm.

  Oblivious to the observation, Dremmen focused his attention entirely on the Desanti and their mounts. The man scoffed dismissively as he looked down his nose at Storm, flicking glances at Skyfire and Jaison. "Desanti. You are little more than filthy animals yourselves." He looked Jaison up and down and snorted. "I should have guessed you were one of those animals. Having one filthy Desanti in Sanctuary is bad enough. You were, at least, housebroken by the Dusvet." Storm and Skyfire traded quizzical looks, not comprehending the insult since the term was not used by the desert folk. Jaison, however, scowled darkly at the insult, opening his mouth to respond as Dremmen continued his tirade. "I'll not have our Mistress's domain sullied any further by allowing them--"

  "Dusvet!" Jaison waved a hand. "You can't--" He fell silent when Almek raised a hand to silence him.

  "Observe, Jaison," Almek instructed sotto voce. Sullenly, Jaison complied, crossing his arms belligerently.

  "The Timeless One Herself welcomed us," Storm stated in flat tones, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Both she and Skyfire rested their hands on the hilts of their Swordanzen blades, but did not draw their weapons.

  Assuming Storm spoke figuratively, Dremmen spun back on the Desanti pair. "What makes you think that you belong anywhere near civilized people, filthy savage? Who do you think you are?"

  Whatever respect Storm held for the new Guardian evaporated as her face flushed with anger at the insult. "I know who I am," Storm responded, her eyes flashing in barely restrained fury. "Who are you to decide that my people are unfit for your 'civilization'?"

  Moving away from the drizar, Storm turned to face Dremmen. Every measured step forward she took, he took a hasty one back. "My people have had only honor and respect for Fortress and those that serve Her, despite that only Lord Almek would come to us. Yet you spit on me as if you have the right to condemn us?! The Timeless One's chosen belong to all nations." Slowly, she drew her two-edged sword, her gaze not leaving his eyes. "You dishonor your goddess and Her sacred edicts by contradicting Her."

  "Do you see, Almek?" Dremmen continued to back away from Storm as she advanced on him with her weapon drawn. "I advised you to give up your quest to bring Desanti back to Fortress. I warned you the dogs would turn on anyone the first chance they got! I told you nothing good could come out of those gods forsaken wastelands!" Almek rolled his eyes, shaking his head with a despairing sigh.

  Dremmen would have continued his rant but for tripping backwards over Emil's foot. A ripple of quiet laughter ran through the watching Guardians. Emil failed miserably at looking apologetic. "Oops. Sorry 'bout that there, Unsvet. I jus' washed m' boots. Can't do a thing with 'em."

  "Gypsies?!" Dremmen exclaimed. "You have brought Desanti and gypsies into Sanctuary? What will you bring next? Trained swine and asses to become Guardians?" He inhaled sharply as the glittering point of Storm's Swordanzen blade appeared suddenly just in front of his nose.

  "Looks like that's been done already," Mureln stated coldly, crossing his arms as he fixed Dremmen with a scathing look of condemnation. "Though that is insulting to swine and asses."

  "Lord Almek." Storm's green-gold eyes fixed unwaveringly on Dremmen's pale blue ones, her voice cold and without inflection. "You speak for the Timeless One. Do you wish this one to cross the blade for straying from the honorable path?"

  Almek did not reply immediately. Dremmen looked at the Dusvet, panic in his pleading gaze, the threat behind the Desanti euphemism quite clear. "No, Adept Elite Storm," Almek said, emphasizing her full Guardian title. "He cannot learn better if he is dead."

  Looking ske
ptical, Storm took a step backwards as she ritually sheathed the blade. "If it is your will, Lord Almek, then he will live. For now." She started to turn her back on the man when Ash suddenly grabbed her arm, pulling her behind him as he put himself between Dremmen and his lifemate, right hand half cocked to fling a spell. His sleeve slid down to his elbow.

  The fallen Unsvet froze, his own hand raised in preparation to cast a time spell. Dremmen's eyes went wide as they fell on the metallic braids of color covering Ash's arm. "Illaini Magus?!"

  "I am glad to see you have not forgotten that much of your heritage, Unsvet," Ash stated coldly. "I suggest you also remember what it means to be a god's servant, or it will not be the Desanti you need worry about."

  "Unsvet Dremmen!" an imperious voice snapped, a tall man striding over to join the group. Were it not for the slash of silvered blue on his tanned cheek, the speaker might have been mistaken for a common soldier. Having run from wherever he had been, the huge bull of a man was flushed and breathing heavily as he glowered down on Dremmen.

  "Dulain Unsvet Tyrsan," Dremmen said as he picked himself up. "I did not realize you were back from the spires." Brushing himself off and tugging his clothing straight, Dremmen stated loftily, "The Dusvet has brought back--"

  Fixing dark, furious eyes on Dremmen, Tyrsan stated harshly, "I am well aware of who Dusvet Almek has brought back, given he had sent word ahead. Word that had apparently gotten waylaid on its journey to me. Luckily for you, Bella graciously had her arrowhawk deliver it to me." Tyrsan made a dismissive gesture away. "You are late for your duties on the northern palisades."

  Dremmen's expression faltered when what Tyrsan said registered consciously. "What? I am not supposed to--"

  Turning a foreboding look at the smaller man, Tyrsan stated coldly, "Leave, Dremmen. I am not in the mood for you." Biting back a retort, Dremmen scowled at Storm before turning on his heel.

  Watching Dremmen leave in silence, Tyrsan forced his expression to smooth, turning his attention back to the newest arrivals. Respectfully, he bowed to Almek, hand over his heart. "Forgive me, Dusvet Guardian. I would have been here sooner, but Dremmen has taken it into his head that 'assisting' me means dealing with matters without informing me about them."