by Dean Murray
I'rone, on the other hand, was the best present, and not by a small margin. The massive Guadel was skilled enough he could take the two next best fighters three fights out of five, but watching his mentor in between fights, Va'del was struck not by I'rone's unquestionable skill, but rather by the fact he seemed just a pale shadow of the warrior the teen had seen cut down eight bag'ligs with almost negligent ease.
Suddenly bits and pieces of things Jasmin had said over the last few weeks combined with observations he'd made, creating a picture he somehow knew was right. His wives, they're somehow making him more than human.
Once I'rone released him from practice, Va'del sought out Jasmin. "You and Betreec did something to make I'rone so much faster during the fight with the bag'ligs didn't you? You make him faster and stronger.
Jasmin put the harness she's been mending down and nodded. "You're right. I'rone is amazing by himself, but it is the augmentation Betreec and I do that makes him capable of fighting off three or four opponents. Of course, you must not ever let anyone in the villages know that. If they find out, the female Guadel would be even more vulnerable than they are already."
Va'del nodded in understanding, "So the exercises you are having me do are what makes it possible for someone to link?"
Jasmin's eyes suddenly lit up. "Yes, and now that you know what they are for there isn't any reason we can't link to show you what it’s like."
Stretching tired muscles, the teen shrugged. "If you say so, I would have thought it'd be proscribed."
"Well, it is frowned upon. Usually you wouldn't link until just before you were accepted by the Council, but Stephens' bloodline has always been more than a little unorthodox. I'rone and Betreec have more or less approved the idea, so let’s give it a try. If this all works, go back out to I'rone and he'll put you through your paces."
Va'del soon found himself meditating cross-legged on one of the thick rugs that protected the guest rooms' inhabitants from the icy cold of the rock floor.
Having a purpose to the exercises somehow made it easier to focus on the melting walls of ice, to ignore the vague sense of pressure on the outside of his mind. Va'del found he was able to vividly picture the trickling streams of water rolling down the ice, weakening it to the point where a simple push would shatter it, and then Jasmin was suddenly inside his mind.
The Guadel's presence seemed to snap into place with a mental pop, and tired muscles were suddenly energized as everything slowed down to a snail's pace. The web of light Jasmin was creating inside Va'del's mind became more intricate, and the effect increased until his body seemed to hum with power and energy.
Rising to his feet and snatching up his practice weapons, the teenager found that even a task as mundane as walking had somehow changed. The faster Va'del tried to walk, the more the cool air seemed to resist his efforts, but it didn't matter as much as it would have otherwise because his body felt strong and seemed to welcome the fight. If nothing else, it represented a way to bleed off some of the energy flickering back and forth between his limbs.
The walk out to the cavern where I'rone and the guards were practicing seemed to take far longer than normal, but once Va'del arrived and saw how slowly everyone was moving he realized just how much faster he was really moving.
I'rone looked up from the practice forms he'd been doing, and Va'del had the satisfaction of seeing the Guadel's eyes slowly widen.
At I'rone's command, the guardsmen in the cavern stopped what they were doing and fell back to create a circle. The process was slow enough Va'del found his attention wandering to other things, like the subtle tightness of his skin where his muscles had swollen beyond their normal size, or the pleasant sense of warmth flowing from his navel out to the rest of his body.
Looking up Va'del saw that three of the guardsmen had remained in the circle, and were slowly bringing their weapons up in a salute to him. An incredible sense of eagerness washed over the teenager, and he drew his own practice weapons and returned their salute while walking forward.
Normally it would have looked like the guardsmen attacked as one, but Va'del found he had plenty of time in which to analyze their expressions and determine who would strike first. It then became a simple matter to intercept the first blow with his sword while sliding far enough to the right that the second guardsman's strike was easily parried with his dagger.
The normally complicated task of monitoring two weapons had become easy due to the simple fact that Va'del found himself with plenty of time to shift his attention back and forth between the two, ensuring each was moving in a perfect arc to land where he wanted it.
The third guardsman was a heartbeat behind his fellows, and Va'del took advantage of their dispersion to snap his foot out in one of the powerful kicks I'rone had been teaching him. The blow took the guardsman in the side and launched him back into the spectators.
The first two guardsmen had disengaged and attacked again, but Va'del easily dodged the first blow while parrying the second with his dagger. Before either opponent could recover, Va'del's sword licked out and gave each what would have been mortal wounds.
A sudden whistling sound from behind the teenager clued him into a new attack, but the air seemed to push against him as he tried to spin around, slowing him just enough that I'rone's sword gently bounced against his ribs.
As quickly as that, the world returned to normal, speeding up until it was just as he remembered it, and Va'del was left panting from exertion.
I'rone clapped his protege on the back. "Good. The blade you don't see will be the one that ends up marking you." Giving the young man a gentle push, I'rone sent him back to the guest quarters, where he found Jasmin asleep.
Betreec came out of the other room and smiled at Va'del. "The poor thing is exhausted, but she'll be ok after a good day's rest. She burned up her reserves during the fight with the bag'ligs and with the testing we've been doing hasn't had a good chance to replenish them yet."
The euphoric high Va'del had felt after seeing how the guardsmen had been looking at him came crashing down as he realized what it had cost Jasmin. "You're sure she'll be ok?"
The older wife nodded. "She's fine. She has a good heart that one, but even so, she wouldn't exhaust herself like that for just anyone. You're important to her, important to us all really, but especially her."
Va'del nodded past the lump in his throat. The feeling he'd finally found a family was back, and somehow he didn't think it would ever leave. As long as I have these three, I'll never be quite so alone again.
Chapter 6
The leave taking from the village earlier that morning had been harder than Va'del expected. It'd been obvious the villagers still didn't know everything about the Guadel and their powers, but they knew much more than the people in Screaming Wind, and as a consequence, their welcome had been warmer, and their stay much more relaxed.
The villagers had actually been sorry to see the Guadel leave, which had shocked Va'del. It was quickly becoming apparent that a small change in how the villagers perceived the Guadel made a huge difference in how I'rone's family was treated. More and more, Va'del was realizing just how little sense it made for the Guadel to exert so much effort to remain a mystery.
The path the small group followed had broadened out enough for Jasmin and Va'del to walk side-by-side. The heavy coats and hoods they all wore made it hard to tell much about what a person was thinking, but Va'del nevertheless had the feeling Jasmin was deep in thought.
As reluctant as he was to interrupt her solitude, the questions pulling at Va'del's thoughts were so insistent he finally cleared his throat.
"I thought bag'ligs were lowland beasts--what brought them up so high?"
Jasmin picked her way across the hardened snow, her breath frosting the air before her, for nearly a minute before answering. "They are lowland beasts, but they do sometimes come up this high when they have reason."
"What kind of reason would drive them up where there isn't really any food?"
The hooded figure next to him stopped for a second before pulling on her gurra's lead and continuing on. "I don't know for sure, none of us really know why such a large group would come up this high, but I'rone suspects that they were driven up here, possibly as a kind of weapon. There aren't many lowlanders who can survive up here, but if they wanted to make life more difficult for us they could always push the bag'ligs up the mountain. The elevation doesn't bother bag'ligs as much as it does people."
Va'del's question as to why someone would hate the People so much was cut short as I'rone suddenly stopped, his head sweeping rapidly back and forth, scanning an arc before them. Betreec took the lead to I'rone's gurra as Jasmin and Va'del hurried over to her side.
Jasmin took Va'del's lead and tapped his sword hilt as she gave him a nervous smile. Within moments both women had sunk into the trances that would allow them to augment I'rone's speed and strength, and Va'del's heart was racing.
As the now-familiar air of deadliness and grace settled on I'rone; the Guadel pulled Va'del to him. "Be ready to protect the women if I fall."
While the teenager was still processing the words, I'rone took off at a run through the snow towards the unseen danger. The whole situation seemed so surreal to Va'del that he had a hard time believing it wasn't all a dream until six rough-looking men rose from behind a snow drift and pointed crossbows at the lone figure running toward them.
Heart in his throat, Va'del watched six quarrels leap from the crossbows and streak towards I'rone. He's dead. Maybe if I charge them before they can reload?
Amazingly, none of the deadly projectiles found I'rone. Instead, he dodged some of them and even knocked one or two out of the air with his weapons before rushing forward to engage the attackers.
Va'del nearly stopped his headlong flight towards the attackers, thinking that if I'rone had been able to handle eight bag'ligs that he'd be able to handle six men. But the bag'ligs were shorter and didn't have swords of their own. Once they've cut him down they'll use the crossbows to kill the rest of us.
I'rone cut down the first bandit before anyone else could reach him, but the next three engaged him at the same time, and he was only able to kill one of those before the last two attackers joined their fellows.
Va'del was now half way to the battle, his lungs burning from the cold air and his legs starting to tremble slightly from the effort of running with ice spikes strapped to his boots.
The four men seemed to be pressing I'rone sorely now. He still moved so quickly Va'del couldn't follow what was happening with his eyes, but streaks of red were starting to appear on the Guadel's massive body as more and more of the blows he was dodging didn't quite miss.
Va'del stumbled and fell down as a particularly complex exchange resulted in one of the men reeling away with what appeared to be a mortal wound. The teenager stumbled back to his feet just as a scream from behind him brought his head around in time to see Betreec slump backwards, a stubby quarrel protruding from her chest as a pair of gurra fled back the way they'd come.
Oh, Powers! There was one more. He circled around behind us.
A flicker of motion as the bandit disappeared behind a snow drift to reload his crossbow told Va'del where the shot had come from, and he once again broke into a run.
Jasmin is still ok; maybe that will be enough.
Questions about whether or not Betreec was already dead, or if I'rone was still capable of facing three men with only Jasmin's help were secondary to the need to run, to put his body between Jasmin and the crossbow.
Under other circumstances, Va'del might have been able to make it, but not tired and hindered by the snow. Va'del hadn't quite covered half of the distance to the crossbowman when another quarrel sliced through the air and tore into Jasmin.
The sounds of fighting from behind had grown fainter, but there was no time to check whether or not I'rone had managed to kill his attackers before the loss of his wives had made him nothing more than a normal man facing incredible odds.
Maybe she can still heal herself.
The bitter wind pulled at Va'del, but couldn't disguise the sound of footsteps behind him as he got near enough to hear the bandit swearing at his weapon and the bulky windlass that served to ready the crossbow for its next shot.
Just as the teenager felt a sliver of hope that he'd make it before the crossbow was ready, a scruffy-faced bandit appeared above the snow drift and leveled the deadly weapon.
Va'del tried to throw himself to the side, only to realize as the quarrel flashed past that it wasn't aimed at him. A crashing sound announced that I'rone had been hit, and then Va'del was upon the bandit.
Nearly overcome as he was by rage, it was fortunate his opponent wasn't very skilled with a sword, or Va'del would have been killed in the first careless exchange of blows.
Once the bandit lay dead at his feet, Va'del dropped his weapons and ran over to Jasmin. Oh, Powers, she isn't breathing. There isn't a pulse either.
Betreec was already starting to cool, and Va'del felt his world start to crumble as tears formed in his eyes and then coursed down his face.
"Boy, Va'del, come here." The words were weak and full of pain, but recognizable, and Va'del blindly started back towards the sound of I'rone's voice.
"They're dead, they're both dead. I'm so sorry, it was my fault. I should have stayed where I was."
I'rone shook his head, which started him coughing weakly. "Don't blame yourself. Jasmin wouldn't have wanted you to think it was your fault."
Looking at the smooth shaft protruding from the Guadel's heaving chest, Va'del wondered how long I'rone could last. "The gurra ran off, and I can't carry you. Can you walk?"
I'rone shook his head. "Go back to the village. They'll send a group out with a litter."
Va'del felt tears start down his face again. "No, I won't leave you."
"You have to. There isn't any other way to get help."
##
The trip back was a thing of nightmare. Va'del couldn't run, but he pushed himself to the point where his legs trembled and his lungs burned, and then tried to find the energy to go faster. Halfway back to the village, the hint of breeze that'd been present all morning became something strong enough to provide a solid push. It brought a measure of relief to the teenager's tired body, but also increased the risk he'd be pushed into a misstep that would send him tumbling down the mountain to his death.
I can't let that happen, I'rone is depending on me, and I can't let him down again.
Despite the tears still flowing down Va'del's cheeks, dropping to his coat to freeze unnoticed, he got the feeling he was in a state of shock. His mind struggled to protect him from feeling the full effects of the loss he'd just experienced. Even so, the exhaustion he felt as he stumbled the last few steps to the village entrance was a much emotional as it was physical.
Concerned guardsmen caught Va'del as he collapsed, and as soon as they recognized him, a runner was sent for the village Headman. Va'del's strength was exhausted, but he tried to choke out his message around coughs before the darkness claimed him. As he heard footsteps running down the corridor towards them, the teenager lost his battle and slipped into unconsciousness.
Chapter 7
The darkness seemed petulant in its desire to hold Va'del. No matter how the teenager tried to fight his way back to consciousness, it seemed that a series of unexplainable forces were effectively immobilizing him.
Only after Va'del had exhausted himself in a futile effort to awake, did it occur to him to wonder why it was so important he do so. Powers, we have to get back out there.
His sense of urgency redoubled, Va'del finally forced his eyes open and looked around at unfamiliar surroundings which were barely illuminated by a partially-covered glow sphere.
The teenager's cries for help came out sounding like nothing he'd ever heard from a human throat. It wasn't until he thrashed weakly in an attempt to get out of bed that he finally captured someone's attention. Gentle but firm hands wer
e soon restraining him.
"Hold still, you're too weak to get up."
She doesn't understand, I have to.
"If you don't stop now I'll gladly put you back under. Your lungs were burned worse than any others I've ever seen. I'm not about to go to the effort of clearing the liquid out of them again if you overdo it." Once Va'del stopped moving the hands disappeared and the covering was removed from the glow sphere. "If you promise to stay there I'll send for the Headman so you can ask your questions."
Not trusting his voice, Va'del nodded, and then waited while the healer disappeared behind the privacy screen. When the ancient, white-haired woman returned, she was carrying a steel tray piled with food and drink.
"You're probably too weak still to manage this by yourself."
Va'del quickly found that the healer was right. His hands were willing to make the effort, but they shook too badly.
A short time later a stocky man arrived. As Va'del looked over the balding man, he realized he'd never met the Headman prior to this.
The Headman pulled one of the low metal chairs around, and sat down facing the healer and her patient. "I'm Headman Allen; how do you feel?"
When Va'del didn't respond, the Headman sighed. "I suppose that is a foolish question for someone that has been asleep for the last two days isn't it? We sent out a group out this morning. Would have sent one out yesterday, but the winds were too bad. Honestly I'm not sure how you made it back with that wind howling at you the entire way."
The slim hope Va'del had been holding out withered away. There was no way I'rone could have survived two full days in the cold without help. The teenager wanted to scream and swear at the Headman, at the healer, at the unfeeling heavens, but even in despair he knew that it wasn't really their fault. No, it's entirely my fault.
##
The cold once again tore at Va'del's skin while a slight breeze did its best to slip abrasive snow and ice crystals through his hood to rub his face raw. He didn't bother adjusting his hood; it was such a small pain compared to everything else he was feeling.
