I shook my head. “No, she cannot cut through lightning, though she has channeled magical lightning through her, which has changed her nature. She cannot be chipped nor dulled.”
He actually licked his lips as he looked at her hilt. I asked innocently, “Would you like to see her?” There was a chorus of yeses.
I glanced around and held an arm wide at the other patrons who had been slowly congregating. Everyone backed off and gave me room when I dropped into one of the first Kanset forms, drawing both blades smoothly then bladed my body. Then I went through the Kanset form kata. I loved this one over the other forms the weapons masters have taught.
This was a Mountain Gypsy form which felt more like dancing to me than fighting. It was an almost forgotten form, as there are virtually no Gypsies who use two bladed combat, other than wielding a parrying blade. Great Mother Ranelle herself had been the one to instruct me in it.
When I had asked her how long it took to master the form, she had simply winked and told me that she would let me know if she ever mastered it fully herself.
My form blurred and ghosted, leaving misty afterimages of me in snapshots of time. It made the deadly dance I performed, blades flashing and gliding through the air, look almost ethereal. The people around me looked virtually enraptured by the display, so I smiled inwardly and thrust to each side with my blades, causing future versions of myself to burst from me as wispy white doppelgangers. Each of me performing the kata in staggered points in time. This caused ooing and clapping from the excited children.
I ended the kata with my own ghosts falling back into me as I caught up with them. It was something I had learned to control after using it to great success in Highland Reach, when I fought against the Marauders led by the wanted rogue, Aelwen, ex-Duchess of Solomon. Mother Udele believes it is a byproduct of the transference I can accomplish using my Gypsy Sight.
I ended with Hera sliding into her sheath, and Anadele offered across my arm, hilt first to Galein. His eyes, wide from my display, widened even farther. He reached out hesitantly, “May I?”
I nodded, and he hefted my blade like it were a toy. He furrowed his brow. “It is so light.” He moved out to where I had performed my kata then the boy surprised me by performing a kata of his own, with large sweeps and lunges that were punctuated by huge leg sweeps that balanced the movements, as his robe fluttered behind him.
It was a bit unpolished and a little clumsy, but it was such a beautiful kata. I have never seen a Knight from Hell's Gate fight before, was this one of their katas? He finished then offered my sword back to me. “She has beautiful balance for a noncurved blade.”
I took her and absently sheathed her, my eyes on the boy as I asked, “How did you learn that?” It was exceedingly rare for a commoner to have any weapons training in any of the realms I had visited.
He shrugged. “All children are taught the basics, to defend ourselves against sand marauders.”
I arched an eyebrow. That was both amazing and a little frightening that they were all trained to defend themselves, and that there was so much marauder activity in the Burning Desert that such a thing was needed. I absently wondered if a similar program might not benefit other realms. Then maybe marauders wouldn't pose such a threat. And it would have the added benefit of freeing up knight patrols for more troubled areas. I'd have to discuss this with Celeste.
I clasped his shoulder. “Well done. You would make a good knight one day.”
He beamed at that, as it was exceedingly rare for a commoner to become a knight.
I looked around. “Please, I have taken enough of your valuable time children when there are so many wonders waiting for you in the tomes and scrolls of the library. I've a meeting to attend.
After a cute round of goodbyes, and thank you Penny Ladys, I hugged Emily and clasped Jacklyn's hand as she mouthed, “Thank you.” I inclined my head and scurried off to the main doors.
I would have loved to stay and watch the awe on the children's faces as they discovered wonder after wonder about the Great Wizards of the Before. I also knew I'd have to pay for calling Emily the Queen of the Scrolls, but right now, I was about to embark upon a rescue mission, a year in the making...
Chapter 1 – Cedar Ridge
I strode through the re-emerging town of Cedar Ridge, formerly Gus Davis Ford until we learned of its true name. Though the people of Wexbury refer to it affectionately as The Dig. More and more buildings have been excavated from the time prior to the Great Impact which brought down the civilization of the Great Wizards of the Before.
The town, like all the others, was buried in the great earth rumbles that followed the Impact.
A rogue astral body had collided with Mother Luna and tore her asunder over twenty-seven hundred years aforetime. The Earth was nearly destroyed, and most life and the great oceans which covered the planet surface were wiped out.
The Three Sisters emerged out of the debris field which ringed the Earth. Mother Luna dominated the night sky with her great red eye staring down at us from the center of her oblong egg shape. Her two smaller sisters, Athena and Freya, which formed afterward, now trail behind her in an endless chase. Our scholars say that one day they will catch her in their celestial dance, and once again Mother Luna will be whole.
I glanced around the improvised town square, amazed at how crowded Cedar Ridge had become. People from all the realms of Sparo scurried about. They were drawn by the public library, the amazing wonders being unearthed daily, as more of the settlement was revealed. And some more enterprising individuals have come for the crowds, to strike their fortunes peddling their wares.
In just over a year, the improvised “Templar's Market” as the populace refers to it, has drawn vendors from everywhere. I'm continually amazed at the craftsmanship from the realms of the Lower Ten which I haven't had the pleasure of visiting yet. There wasn't a market anywhere with such diversity in offerings.
I was also heartbroken at the sheer amount of destitute commoners who arrive daily, on the rumors of work to be had to earn coin to feed their families. Some had traveled from as far away as Hell's Gate or Far Reach in the hope the rumors were true.
My Steward of the Dig, Yvette, put every man and woman seeking employment to work unearthing the multiple square miles of village indicated on the ancient maps of Cedar Ridge we had found in the library. Through my own funds and the Crown subsidizing, we paid an unheard of iron penny for each week of labor. I would see none go hungry when winter struck.
Any overflow of workers were sent north with the caravans, to work on Prince George's massive undertaking. The Great Bridging of the Gap was progressing at a phenomenal pace. Once thought a pie in the sky idea, it was now a reality.
The canal to bring irrigation across the forty mile crossing of the Uninhabitable Lands between Highland and the Lower Ten had already been completed. And the Ring, the cobbled highway that connected all realms, had been extended to Highland. All that remained now was to bring soil from both sides of the Gap to create a mile-wide grassland for the wildlife of both regions to migrate freely between the two lands.
Who would have thought I would have lived to witness the joining of the only known inhabitable lands on the planet. I smiled inwardly and corrected myself. The only known inhabitable lands, until now.
I hesitated when I saw a small group of people heading toward the library, looking nervous and out of place. Their clothing marked them as Outsiders. I smiled widely. I could tell they weren't sure if the rumors were true, that the library was open to all.
I looked toward my destination then sighed, my Lady Celeste and the others would just have to wait for me. This was important too. I veered off to greet the group. I admired their durable looking clothing, and even the woman wore trousers like I had when I was a herder and scavenger, it was just more practical than dresses to work in. Their clothing was well worn but tidily patched. And it still struck me as odd that Outsiders didn't wear the colors of any Realm nor Gypsy band.
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br /> They drifted freely through the realms, obeying the laws of the lands they traveled through, living off the land. I understood the need for freedom, to be your own master and answer to none. I envied it in them, as being a Templar, I was supposed to bow to no man, but I felt more constrained with less freedom to do as I liked than ever before at times.
I stopped in front of them, and they looked as if they were ready to run away and hide in the shadows. I rasped out to them in Outsider; a mashup of English, Mountain Gypsy, and... of all things, an ancient language virtually nobody spoke anymore... Welsh. “Hello. Welcome to Cedar Ridge. Have you come for work? Or the Library?”
The man who seemed to be the patriarch of their small group blinked in surprise. I understood since not many Altii could speak Outsider. I could only because the woodcutter, Corrick, who had been courting my mother when I was young, had taught it to me. Mother had always said that we fail ourselves if we do not take the time to educate ourselves in all things and that one should learn all they could in the short time we had on this Earth.
He slid his cap off and clenched it nervously in both hands as he looked over his people then over to me. “Miss.” He inclined his head, his eyes creasing in slight confusion.
I'm sure it was my combination of Altii and Gypsy armor coupled with the magics dropping off of me in a fine white mist.
Then he looked back like he wasn't sure it had been a good idea to be here. He inhaled deeply then asked, his eyes on the three children of the group who looked to be about to become teens, “Is it true that the tomes in this Penny Library are magic, and can educate our children? So they would know the letters of the world and the maths? We do not have much, but we have strong backs to barter.”
I felt as if I had been struck in the gut, the ache inside me was so profound. This, I told myself, this right there was the reason mother and I had fought so hard to have Duke Fredrick of Wexbury educate every last child in the realm.
I nodded slowly. “The knowledge inside the Library can indeed impart knowledge, but it is not magic. That magic is inside of all of you, inside your children already, their ability to learn new concepts and ideas. We can help not only your children but any of your group who wish to learn to read. It will take weeks, you can find work here while you learn.”
Then I spoke in a cold tone, showing my distaste. “There is no cost for knowledge. It is your right as a person to be educated. We would be amiss if we did not help people to realize this right. It is the whole ideology around this public library.”
The children could barely contain their excitement as they fidgeted, the adults looked at me dubiously. I understood, as commoners, we are taught that we got nothing in this world which we didn't sweat blood and tears for.
I asked, “Do any of you speak English?”
They all nodded, and the man said in broken English, “Yes Miss. Needed we to trade with Keeps.”
I smiled and said in English, “Splendid.” Then I caught the eye of a passing Digger boy. I swear we had more and more Diggers excavating every day. He hustled over when I nudged my chin toward us.
The boy bowed and said in a deeper voice than I would have imagined, “Lady?”
I smiled at him and said, “Would you please see to it that this group meets with one of the volunteer scholars, they wish to gain the education needed to read the scrolls in the Library.”
The boy beamed a smile at them, and his eyes widened when he saw a girl his age. The two looked quickly away from each other. It was like a magic of its own when a crush is kindled to life into this world. He said to me with enthusiasm as he bowed again, “Lady.”
Then he told the group, purposefully trying not to glance at the girl every two seconds, who was now bashfully brushing her dark hair back over her ear, “If you would follow me please.”
The man offered an arm to me, noted the dirt and dust from travel on his weather-beaten skin and started to pull back. But I clasped his arm in enthusiasm. He was a little shocked a Lady wasn't afraid to get dirty, then he said in Outsider, “Thank you, miss. If you are ever in need of strong backs, send for Eldrock or my kin, we are at your service.”
I inclined my head in acknowledgment, and he prompted in English as he released my arm, “Your name. To thank young person girl.”
I smiled as I started to turn back to the planning meeting I was late for. “Laney.”
Then I hurried away as I heard the gasps when the Digger boy amended, “Sora Laney of the Lupei, Templar of Sparo.” I don't know why but I was feeling smug and sneaky, getting away with talking to someone just as me, not the overinflated station I held just for political reasons. I sometimes begrudged George for doing that to me.
As I headed for the Templar Hall by the paddle wheel power station on the Hawktail River, I heard some squealing screams, “Sora Laney!” “Mom!” And I had to grin. Then two girls burst from the crowd in front of me, their eyes wild and full of mischief and hijinx as a tall boy burst out after them, yelling, “You little snot! It is my job to tell her, not your's!”
My daughter was grinning widely as she turned back and yelled, “It is my duty as Commander of the Junior Regiment to...”
My brother, Jace, cut her off. “There is no such thing as the Junior Regiment you sneaky wretch!”
The crowd was parting around the boisterous children as Jace gained rapidly on Misty and Ingr, who were running hand in hand, squealing as he gained on them. As fast as they were, Jace was faster and getting faster and stronger every day.
Jace went to pass them, but Misty pulled out her wooden sword, Anadelea, and smacked his shin. He went sprawling down upon the ground in front of me, then oofed when Misty skidded to a stop and sat on his back. They were all panting, and as my daughter and brother tried to catch their breath, the ever adorable gypsy girl and my pseudo-niece, Ingr, held up a finger and said, “Sora Celeste says we are to retrieve her wayward bride and remind her that the planning session began ten minutes ago.”
I smiled at her and winked as the other two caught their breath and started whining, “Ingrrrrr, I wanted to tell her.” And, “Hey brat! It's my job to relay the messages.”
She shrugged cutely at both of them. They both returned the smile sheepishly. Yup, she won. There is no defense against that much cute compressed down into such a small package.
I rolled my eyes at their antics and said, “Come along, you noisy cloud of chaos, we're late.”
Misty squealed as Jace stood, he was such a good older brother figure for her even though he was her uncle now. He had let her believe she had him pinned on the ground, but to him, she weighed virtually nothing. He had a hand behind his back, pinning her upside down to him as he walked.
Ingr cutely just held Misty's hand and walked behind them. Those two were thick as thieves and were always inseparable when the Lupei were in Wexbury. I couldn't believe that in just a few short months, both of the girls would be twelve. Where had the time gone?
I hesitated at the large stone walls topped by spiked iron rails which surrounded the just completed Templar Hall. I couldn't believe the speed of the stonemasons sent from Highland Reach to build our new residence. The hall beyond looked like a small castle of a Keep. And it frustrated Prince George that Celeste and I still slept most nights in the Gypsy wagon gifted to us by the Lupei. We saw that little house on wheels as our home.
The volunteer knights at the gate straightened to attention, their full plate armor gleaming in the sun and their dangerous looking pikes at the ready. I had to smile. One wore the colors of Perth Hollow and the other of Defiance Keep. There was a lottery for the twenty men who guarded the Templar Hall grounds throughout the realms. Each group of volunteers served three months.
I thought it all silly. Who would ever attack a stronghold where Celeste lived? The other realms called her the Harbinger of Wexbury for a reason.
As we all stepped through the small portcullis, Jace let Misty down as we gazed upon the residence hall. It still felt surreal
that this was all for me and the other two templars, Celeste and our close friend and inventor, Lord Bexinton.
I looked back at the guards and wondered, not for the first time if they were really protecting us from the world, or the world from us. Between Celeste and I, we had more deaths on our hands than any other knights out there.
I shook off that feeling and forced a smile on my face and strode purposefully toward the main entry, noting the stables overflowing with horses and wagons. This was going to be the biggest expedition ever undertaken, and I was both excited, and terrified. I had seen what awaits us in a vision, and it still had me waking up in cold sweats all these months later.
Especially after a man from the lost Fifteenth Tribe of the Mountain Gypsies had told us when he had regained consciousness before slipping back into his coma. His words haunt me. “Help us!” Then as he started to lose consciousness again, he said with fear dripping off his words on the verge of terror, “The Great Wizards have returned.”
Chapter 2 – The Fifteenth Band
There hasn't been a day that has gone by since that I hadn't thought upon those words. The Great Wizards had returned? Had they somehow survived the Great Impact and have just been in hiding until now? We had thought them evolved beyond cruelty to other men. Was it truly them in my vision, with those great iron beasts belching fire, killing the men, women, and children fleeing from them?
As the months moved on, I have experienced that vision more and more frequently. Telling me it is no longer in the distant future but is approaching relentlessly with the steady march of time. We had to help the fifteenth band, we needed to protect the Cristea family.
It was still such a shocking development when the man in archaic gypsy garb had appeared beyond the Fringe, at the outer marker of the West Weigh Station out in the Uninhabitable Lands.
The Cristea band had long since been lost to history when they believed that there had to be more inhabitable lands out there than Sparo, the lands of Hope. They were the thinkers and intellectuals of the Mountain Gypsy tribes. They left Sparo to the four points of the compass and were never heard from again.
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