by Lexy Wolfe
Gareth stood and stretched. “Well, I will leave you to get some sleep, too, friend Doom, and I’ll see to it there is plenty of food that she can handle when she wakes up. My cousins, nieces and nephews are the curious sort. Extremely curious. If they discover you awake, you’ll be forever answering questions and telling stories. Nothing scares those imps. They’d crawl all over a dragon if one would sit still long enough to allow it.” Doom chuckled and nodded. As the bard shut the door, he rested his head on one arm, keeping a hand resting on Tiwaz’s shoulder protectively.
"THIS HOUSE BELONGS to whose family?”
“Relax, Ti. Gareth is a friend.”
“I still don’t trust him!”
“You know you are in no shape to go anywhere, so stop trying to get up.”
Gareth stood in the hall, listening by the slightly ajar door. He sighed heavily, closing his eyes. He felt a light tugging on his sleeve and smiled at a little girl the color of dark honey, her sightless eyes turned up towards him. “Hello, Cara.”
She tilted her head in puzzlement. “What’s the matter, Uncle Gareth? Why are you so sad?”
Gareth smiled sadly, patting her hair lightly. “I’m afraid your uncle made an enemy when he was trying to make a friend.” He looked towards the door. “The woman I brought here hates me. A lot.”
Cara pursed her lips. “Is she blind like me? You said she has no problems with her friend Doom, and everyone says he is really ugly.” Sensing his chiding expression, she held her hands out. “No one is being mean. He said so himself first!”
The man chuckled, albeit sadly. “It is a long story.” He looked down sharply when she let go of his sleeve and pushed the door open. “Cara! What are you—?” he hissed, trying to catch the girl, but years of rough housing with sighted siblings and cousins enabled her to avoid his reaching hand.
She paused a few steps in, saying over her shoulder. “Well, someone has to talk to her so she understands. You are a nice man!” Gareth closed his eyes at Tiwaz’s exclamation of surprise at the intrusion. He sighed in relief when the irritation did not change into greater anger.
Doom followed Tiwaz’s stare and smiled a little, taking the girl’s extended hand to guide her over. “Hello, Cara. What are you doing in here?”
“Hello, Uncle Doom!” she greeted brightly, then looked more serious. “I wanted to know why your friend doesn’t like Uncle Gareth. He is really nice, you know,” she said towards Tiwaz. “And he is really, really sorry he made you mad and everything and he would really like to apologize. He just wants to be your friend. Honest.”
Tiwaz stared at the girl, her stricken expression worrying Doom. “Ti?”
The woman tentatively touched the girl’s cheek lightly. “You are blind?” Her voice reflected absolute despair on the child’s plight.
Cara tilted her head to the side, puzzled. “Why are you so sad? I was blind since I was a baby. Mama said I had gotten really sick and my eyes didn’t work after that. But it’s okay!” She smiled brightly. “My uncle tells me the most wonderful stories. Maybe he can tell you a story that will cheer you up, too.” The tiny face became troubled. “You will talk to him, won’t you? Please? He is really sad because he says you don’t like him.”
Tiwaz sighed. “All right. I will talk to him.” Doom smiled and looked towards the door, nodding. Gareth entered, and stood, uncertain, unable to meet her vivid green eyes. Doom stood and picked up the little girl.
“Uncle Doom, would you tell me about gromeks again?” she asked brightly. Doom chuckled as he agreed, walking out to let Gareth and Tiwaz talk in private. He shut the door quietly behind him.
Tiwaz glared at Gareth as he sat down where Doom had been moments before. They remained that way for quite a while, Tiwaz refusing to speak first. The bard sighed. “Look, Ti, I’m sorry.”
Her expression darkened. “Only Doom calls me ‘Ti.’”
“All right, then. Tiwaz.” He looked at her with a quizzical expression. “Why are you so hostile towards me? I have not done anything to hurt you. In fact, I helped Doom find you in time and brought you both here so you would both be safe. He might be great in the forest, but he’s terrible with civilization. Civilization such as it is where we found you.”
“Why I am the way I am is no business of yours or anyone else’s.” She paused a moment then demanded, “Why were you following us? Tracking us for Alimar?”
Gareth frowned in deep insulted. “If I had wanted to turn you and Doom over to that…that…” He could think of no suitable insulting term for the sorcerer, so skipped it with an inarticulate sound of disgust. “I could have done it back in Dramaden. But I didn’t. So, get the damned chip off of your shoulder and calm down.”
She glared at him. “Alimar is not the only one with other motives. What do you want with Doom?”
The question took the bard by surprise. He blinked, dumbfounded for several heartbeats. “With Doom? You don’t ask what I want with you?”
“I don’t need to ask. There are few reasons men want women.” She fixed her suspicious glare on him. “I won’t let you hurt him.”
Gareth was silent, thoughtful. “What did that bastard do to you?” he asked himself aloud. Her eyes narrowed sharply, but she refused to speak. Exhaling, he spoke in calm, neutral tones. “All I want is to be a friend to you, Tiwaz. And to Doom. I have always liked non-humans better than humans. Humans tend to be so close-minded.”
Tiwaz’s eyes went wide in shock, her pupils dilating until the iris nearly vanished, her voice barely a whisper. “You know. You know what I am.” There was real fear in her voice. “Everyone fears shape-shifters. All they want is death for them all.”
“Yes,” he said slowly, calmly. “I know. I was with Doom when he found you. I saw your panther form, and I saw you change back to human form.” He leaned forward a little. “I will agree with you that people don’t react well to shape-shifters most times. They see no difference between them and lycanthropes. You are right and justified to be cautious.” His voice emphasized the vow he made to her. “But I would never betray your secret.”
“There are others here. I have heard them. Does anyone else know what I am?” She relaxed when he shook his head.
“No. I promised Doom I wouldn’t say a word. No one in my family knows. And believe me, I am very good at keeping secrets. My aunt gives me enough to keep.” His irritation drew a chuckle from the young gladiator, which made him smile in return. “That’s better. It is always best to be relaxed when you have to heal up. It helps.”
Grudgingly, Tiwaz stated, “I was wrong about you, Gareth Tavarius. I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “Hey, I understand. It is hard to trust anyone when you have so much you could lose. You just focus on getting better.” He put his hand near hers on the bed, not touching her. “And I just want to be a friend. Honest. I like you and Doom. You’re interesting. And not just because both of you have been kind enough to allow me to live.” Tiwaz chuckled, shaking her head slightly in bemusement.
"GOOD NIGHT, UNCLE Doom! Thanks for the stories!” the children called as they filed out of the guest room, closing the door behind them. Nestled against him under his arm, Tiwaz chuckled sleepily. “Uncle Doom. They love you.” He chuckled and felt her relax into sleep.
Careful of the tender remnants of her injuries, Doom shifted slightly, tightening his arm around her. “I know it is hard for you to open up to people. Alimar hurt everyone you ever cared about to hurt you. But they would love you, too, if you just let them in.” He kissed the top of her head lightly. “I hope someday you won’t isolate your heart so much.” His eyes closed, content to sleep where they sat on the floor.
The gromek jerked awake when he felt Tiwaz jolt. Her eyes were wide, and the hand that had been resting on his leg had clenched convulsively so hard it pinched. Before he could speak, Gareth ran into the room, nearly as upset as Tiwaz. The woman met the bard’s eyes, her voice flat. “He’s here.”
Doom felt as though his blood
had suddenly congealed. “Alimar? He is in Crossroads?”
Gareth nodded unhappily. “Not in the city yet, but within the fracture borders, yes. Apparently, he comes to Crossroads regularly to collect…specialties that cannot be found anywhere else. Especially things from the Eastern Kingdoms that are found in the black market.” He ran his fingers through his hair irritably. “I don’t know how you know, Tiwaz, but there’s no time to figure it out.”
“We must leave.” Tiwaz tried to jump to her feet, succeeding only in staggering one step and landing on her bad knee. Apprehensive, Doom helped her to the side of the bed. “Your family is in danger if we stay. I won’t be the cause of more suffering.”
“Tiwaz, relax,” the bard ordered, daring to put his hands on her shoulders, locking his eyes on hers. “There is time to get you out of Crossroads. I was warned through my connections his ship is making port within the next few hours. He doesn’t even suspect you’re alive and he doesn’t do his ‘hunting’ treks through Crossroads, so he has no reason to use his spells to search.”
“But he might find out,” she argued, averting her eyes. “We were seen. Someone might tell him we are here.”
Gareth shook his head. “Odds are against it, since he typically doesn’t associate with the poor sections where you were attacked, but if he hears the rumors of a werepanther and a demon together, that might change. But even then.” He took her hand in one of his, putting his other hand over her wrist. “He believes you are still magically shackled.”
She calmed, but her expression remained anguished. “It is my fault we are still here,” she whispered. “If I had not left—”
“Stop it!” Doom scolded in muted, edged tones as he began getting their gear together. She flinched, keeping her eyes turned downwards.
Gareth pressed his lips together. “Forgive me. I’ve caused you both unnecessary anguish with my careless approach and lack of foresight. I should have realized the risk of you staying in the city. I never really paid much attention to who came and went from here. So many do.”
“It is not anyone’s fault. But we need to get moving.” Doom finished securing their gear, cinching both backpacks snug. “I figured we would be moving on sooner or later,” he explained to Gareth’s surprise at his swiftness. “I was hoping it would be later for your sake, Ti.” His eyes looked over her. “Are you able to—?”
“I can walk.” She looked at her backpack and sighed. “But not much more than that. Everything still hurts so much. Breathing hurts.” The males traded worried looks at her admission.
Doom reassured, “I can manage our gear. You just take it easy, Ti. You may need the extra energy if we don’t make it.” He hesitated, then asked, “But how did you know he was near?”
Tiwaz hugged herself, shivering with more than cold. “I have always been able to sense where Master was.” She looked up, pain and worry in the depths of her eyes. “Where can we go? He is so close to us here, and I am… There is no way we can get farther than his search spells.”
Gareth’s chuckle reflected his own nerves. “Have you forgotten the nature of the fractures already?” The pair looked at him, cautious hope in their eyes at his confidence. “Remember, the fractures between the lands are like walls to magical energies. Only divine magic can pierce the veils between, no matter how powerful the caster. On top of that, each fracture has a different…vibration. I don’t care how powerful Alimar thinks he is, so long as you’re not within the same fracture, no spell of his could find you. All we need to do is get you both across the border.”
“You’re certain?” Tiwaz asked.
“Very,” the bard said with such conviction, neither Tiwaz nor Doom doubted him.
Doom secured the last of their gear across his back before he held his arm out to his friend. “Ready?” She nodded, putting her arm through his. Gareth waited for the two to precede him before shutting the door.
As they were about to leave the house, Cara appeared from the shadows. Her expression was one of hurt. “You’re leaving? Why? Don’t you like us anymore?” Doom and Tiwaz exchanged looks both perplexed and anguished at the girl’s hurt question.
Gareth knelt by her, brushing strands of hair out of her face, trying to soothe her. “They have to leave, honey. It isn’t safe in Crossroads for them anymore.”
“But I don’t want them to go!” she cried, hugging Doom’s leg so tightly, Gareth couldn’t pry her off without hurting her. He looked up at the pair helplessly.
Tiwaz knelt unsteadily, then put her hand on the girl’s back. “Cara? You must be very brave. We aren’t leaving because we don’t like it here. We like your family very much. But there is an evil, powerful man who doesn’t like me or Doom who has come here to Crossroads. He would hurt us and everyone between us and him to get us if he found out we were here. He would hurt everyone who helped us. That’s why we have to leave. He can’t ever know we were here. We want you to be safe.”
Cara slowly let go of Doom’s leg, sniffling. “I-I will be brave, Tiwaz. I don’t want you or Uncle Doom to get hurt either.”
Doom reached down and picked the child up, hugging her tightly without crushing her. “I will miss you, Cara. Take care of yourself.”
The little girl pulled back, looking in his eyes. “You aren’t coming back?”
He shook his head. Tiwaz said as she struggled to her feet again, “When we can be certain this man can never hurt anyone again, we will try. But right now, we have to go.” He gently put her down.
Cara looked directly at Tiwaz with sightless eyes. “If you don’t, I’ll look for you.” She turned and ran back inside, sniffling. With aching hearts, they turned with resolution and headed out into the darkness.
GROVES UPON GROVES of fruit and nut trees lined the northern road leading out of the city. The winds howled over the covered bridge that crossed the fracture border, seeping through to angrily whip the traveler’s cloaks around their legs. As they emerged, Tiwaz gasped and clung tightly to Doom’s arm, favoring her leg. “I…must…stop.” The pain in her voice was evident. Doom glanced at Gareth.
“We’ve crossed the border. If he wasn’t tracking you already, you’re safe.” Tiwaz let Doom ease her to a boulder to rest her leg.
Doom studied Tiwaz, his hand on her shoulder and a question in his eyes. She managed a weak smile. “I’ll…be fine,” she said between gasping breaths. “Don’t…worry…about me. Sorry…I couldn’t…go farther without…needing rest.”
Gareth blinked at the display of sheer determination. “Good gods, is she always that stubborn?” He outright laughed when both nodded. “Keth’s tail, I’m going to miss having you two around here. So’re the kids. They took a real liking to you, Doom.”
Doom shrugged. “Can’t be helped, unfortunately. It is too much of a risk to stay. We won’t put your family in danger.”
“I know,” Gareth sighed. “Still, doesn’t mean I have to like the necessity of it.” Shrugging, he held out his hands. “But, I’ll come find you once I know that bastard is well and truly gone and no threat to you. If you don’t mind an old bard hanging about.”
Tiwaz looked at him, confused. “How would you find us? We don’t even know where we’re going.”
The bard winked with roguish playfulness. “I am a bard. I get around, much to the chagrin of many a pretty lass and her father.” The pair managed smiles despite their worries. He added with more reassurance, “I’ll manage. Besides, I love to wander and I’ve not been north for years. It’ll be fun.” His smile faded and he added soberly, “I really will miss you both.” He held out a hand to Doom, the gromek taking it carefully to avoid crushing it. “Take care of your gladiator, Doom. She’s an important person.” Doom only nodded in agreement with the sentiment regarding his friend.
Gareth turned towards Tiwaz, his expression unreadable. “Could I talk to you alone for a moment, Tiwaz?” Tiwaz glanced at Doom, who smiled encouragingly and turned to walk a few paces further up the road. Close enough to keep his fri
end in sight, but far enough to give them privacy.
She regarded Gareth without the hostility she displayed during their first meetings. His gratitude for that was apparent. “I wanted to give you this.” He took out a necklace, carefully draping it around her neck.
Looking at the pendant, she frowned a little. “This has magic. It has a familiar quality, but I don’t recognize it.”
“Northern-cast magic. The thong should be long enough that it would fit when you are in your panther form, so you need not take it off. I’ve one for Doom that you can give him.” He held out the item, placing it in her hand.
She sniffed at the second one, frowning as she contemplated it. “It is strange. What does it do?”
“It negates searching spells,” he replied. “In case someone gets it in their head to tell Alimar about you and Doom. If he ever actually crosses the border to try to cast a spell to seek you out, he will see nothing.”
She frowned faintly. “It would not have worked in Crossroads because it was made in this fracture?”
“Exactly. I had them made before you regained consciousness because I knew you both intended to head north. I had hoped there was more time before…Well. I wanted to give them to you after you recovered and things between us were mended.” She nodded, eyes on the pendant in her hand. He took her hand in both of his. “Tiwaz, I hope you find what you’re looking for. You have a great future ahead of you.”
“However long my future may be,” she said with maddening practicality, “I hope so, too.” Cheeks turning faintly pink with uncharacteristic shyness, she whispered, “Thank you for your tolerance of my temper. Freedom is not as easy as some believe.” He only smiled and nodded, patting her hand in understanding and acceptance. “If we do not meet again—”
“Have faith, Tiwaz. We will.” He helped her to her feet, then embraced her briefly. She returned the gesture, though stiffly. “Take care of Doom. And yourself. I’d hate to find out you were eaten by a rabid squirrel.” She chuckled at the mental image that provoked. He touched her jaw with the tips of his fingers very lightly. “And do keep smiling. You may not believe you are beautiful, but you are. More so when you aren’t glowering.”
