by Phil Stern
In fact, the river land and coastal dwellers often provided what would be known on Earth as “operational” intelligence on the werewolves. The Coven never asked where the Pyrons got such high-quality information, but it had saved many human lives over the years.
Barbara’s mission now was to expand their informal alliance with the strong aquatic race, perhaps even beyond Peth itself. Indeed, as Tiffany already knew, Eleanor hoped to take Pyron warriors to Earth as magical muscle on the Coven’s behalf. Whether the lusty, resilient Pyrons would find this sort of thing intriguing, or merely regard Barbara’s proposals as upsetting the apple cart, remained to be seen.
In any event, an hour after their arrival Tiffany found herself leaning against a post in a Pyron village circle, drinking an alcoholic beverage called tenar. Normally, Tiffany was a very light social drinker, but in the coastal region everybody drank like, well, fish. Of course, Pyron metabolism was able to handle all that alcohol much better than the young women of the Coven. Tiffany had learned long ago how to nurse a glass of tenar for hours.
“So, Tiffany!” Swaggering up, an exquisitely muscled man touched her arm. “Remember me?”
Sighing, she took another sip. “Wanbar, I think?”
“Ah, to be so vividly recalled by such a beautiful woman!” Slipping an arm about her waist, Wanbar leaned in close. “That island is still out there, in the near channel, waiting for your mesmerizing presence...”
“Listen, Wanbar.” Firmly disentangling herself, Tiffany pointedly pushed him away. This wasn’t considered rude by Pyron standards, just highly disappointing. “I have a headache today. The other girls might be much more fun.”
“A big headache?”
“Huge,” she assured him. “Run along now.”
“Let’s at least take a swim together in the lagoon,” he persisted. “You did say I was the most beautiful orca you’d ever seen.”
“Well, I say a lot of things.” Ruefully, Tiffany held up her glass. “Especially after I’ve had a few of these.”
“By all means, have more then!” Stealing a quick kiss on her cheek, Wanbar went on his way. Laughing, he fell in with two other Pyron males, all of whom turned and blew more kisses in her direction.
Despite herself, Tiffany smiled and raised her glass at the retreating men. With the Pyrons nothing was held back, though things were never taken farther than they should. All in all, it really was hard not to like these guys.
“Look at you.” Sauntering up, Marissa accepted a glass of tenar from the woman at the stall beside Tiffany’s post. As with all Pyron females, she was stunningly beautiful in an entirely natural, easygoing fashion. “Holding court here in the village center, while the rest of us girls just have to beg for attention in the shadows.”
“Hardly,” Tiffany drawled, glancing at her friend. “In fact, I’ve been sending them your way.”
“Oh dear.” Leaning against a low rail by her companion’s side, the two young humans tiredly watched the Pyrons walk past. The men, of course, smiled and waved, each one better looking than the next. All the women were equally amazing, with long, sumptuous hair that oscillated between shades of pink, yellow, and green. “Does that mean you still intend on being a spoilsport?”
“Indeed it does.” Propping a booted foot back against the post, Tiffany waited a moment. “Speaking of which, are we okay? I know things got pretty crazy back on the bridge.”
Thoughtfully taking a sip, Marissa didn’t answer directly. “So what happened down on the ground?”
“I found Solia.”
“Yeah, that I gathered. Was she in trouble? Hurt?”
Regretfully, Tiffany smiled at another would-be suitor. “Let’s just say the next time I see any old crones, there isn’t going to be much conversation.”
“That bad, huh?” Pausing, Marissa looked up at the quickly darkening sky. “I guess it’s a good thing you went down there.”
“Yes, it is,” Tiffany pointedly agreed. There was something about her friend’s tone she didn’t like. “I’ve attended enough memorial services in Haven to last a lifetime.”
“So have I, Tiff.”
“So what’s your point?”
Sighing, Marissa looked down into her drink. “Well, I guess I’m trying to say that I was wrong for trying to stop you.”
Tiredly, Tiffany rubbed her own forehead. She really wasn’t in the mood for this right now. “Look, let’s just...”
“I’m also sorry for the other stuff I said out there.” Suddenly speaking very softly, the other sorceress was almost difficult to hear, though they were standing side-by-side. “That wasn’t fair.”
“You mean, all that stuff about me always having to be a heroine?”
Marissa irritably tossed her beautiful hair to one side. “Yeah, that.”
“I don’t even know why you’d say that! I don’t brag, or look for attention!” Now stiffly taking another sip, Tiffany looked away. “You, of all people, should know that.”
“Look, Tiff, you’re right,” she softly agreed. “Listen, maybe I was just a little shocked. To dive off of that bridge, by yourself...”
“You would have done the same thing!”
“But I didn’t!” Marissa bitterly replied. “You did all the heavy lifting, while I just shuffled Barbara off to safety.”
“Oh, come on!” Trying to lighten the mood, Tiffany saluted another group of passing Pyron males with her drink. “Who saved my ass when I was about to fall through that bridge? At that point, I wasn’t prepared to drop all the way down to the ground! I could have wound up like Solia. Or worse! Really Marissa, you’re not giving yourself enough credit.”
“Look, you just don’t get it.” Obviously frustrated, Marissa tossed back the rest of her tenar. “You never do.”
Rolling her eyes, Tiffany pointedly studied the crowd. Marissa briskly refilled her drink, then turned back to uneasily stand by her friend. Nearly a minute passed, each sorceress lost in her own thoughts.
“All right, so help me get it.” Deliberately pausing, Tiffany glanced up at the soft Peth sky, a lone purple moon drifting low overhead. “How did I somehow succeed back there, while you somehow failed?”
Marissa carefully considered her response. “In going after Solia, you took the tougher job and much greater risk.”
“Well, taking care of Barbara was our job.” Now Tiffany shifted feet, propping her other boot back against the post. Boy, would it feel good to take these things off tonight. “Hell, some people might even say you exercised the better judgment!”
“Maybe.” With a stiff shake of the head, Marissa sent yet another disappointed Pyron man on his way. “But you took the leap, both figuratively and literally, while I hid behind duty. And I chided you for doing it.”
“Listen, it all worked out.” Now Tiffany smiled and nodded at a curious Pyron child, who promptly hid behind his mother’s leg. “And what you did wasn’t easy. You collected all our gear and safely got a wounded comrade through hostile country. That was good work. ”
“Yeah, but...”
“Look.” Turning and touching Marissa’s shoulder, Tiffany deliberately held her friend’s eye. “You fought to come after me in Zarth two weeks ago, standing up to both Eleanor and Barbara. I won’t forget that.”
“But you know what, Tiff? When all was said and done, I didn’t go into Zarth!” Suddenly looking very uncertain, Marissa idly swept a bug away. “Or jump off of Orly’s Bridge. Or defeat any mad wizards!”
“Marissa...”
“Oh I tried to beat Gensrow.” Pausing, she bitterly looked off into the distance. “But all I have to show for it is a dead partner and a wicked scar on my chest!”
“Hey! Don’t say that!” Flabbergasted, Tiffany drew back. She had no idea her friend felt this way. “You did your best in an impossible situation! You’re one of the most respected...”
“Oh, come off it, Tiff.” With a grimace, Marissa again finished her drink in one shot. “You got Gensrow, while I flun
ked out.”
Holding herself very still, Tiffany then looked back at the crowd. Marissa had been paired with April two years before in their offensive against the mad wizard. The pair had been waylaid in a Jainian village, resulting in April’s death and Marissa’s severe wounding and capture. To Tiffany’s great distress, a few of their sisters had indeed drawn similar, unfair conclusions as to her and Marissa’s relative success and failure.
“I don’t look at it that way,” Tiffany firmly stated. “If I’d been with April that day, the exact same thing would have happened.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“I most certainly do! Marissa, how could...”
“Look, let’s just drop it.”
“No! You’re not going to get all mopey on me!” Exasperated, Tiffany now lightly punched her fellow sorceress on the arm. “You did a great job with the werewolves! And are you forgetting that I was the one who failed to clear that first crone off the bridge to begin with? That was a big mistake.”
“Well, they would have attacked anyway, I think.” Shrugging, Marissa looked out at the passing Pyrons once more. “Look. All I’m saying is that you...”
A general roar of approval suddenly came from the other side of the village. Several Pyron males ran from the open area, with others excitedly drifting after them. Their nerves shot, both sorceresses instinctively reached for the Coven Sticks on their belts.
Still, Tiffany was grateful for the interruption. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, it’s probably the other girls,” Marissa said, once more leaning back against the railing. “You know how the Pyrons are. The more the merrier.”
Sure enough, the crowd soon parted just enough for three more sorceresses to enter the village circle. Keri was in the lead, followed by Keyla and Rachel.
Tiffany, of course, had worked a lot with Keri in recent weeks, including missions on Tethra and Earth. Initially, the brash strawberry blonde had irked the older sorceress no end, though she’d soon come to appreciate her skills and reflexes. Rachel was a younger girl, just a few years past her majority.
But Tiffany was more than a little surprised to see Keyla out in the field. Along with two other girls, the slim redhead had been one of Gensrow’s captives two years ago. Abused and deprived of her earth stone for a prolonged period of time, Keyla had still managed to stabilize Marissa after their drastically wounded Coven-mate had been thrown into a dungeon with them. It was very shortly after this that Tiffany herself had tracked Gensrow to his castle, defeating him and freeing her sisters.
Keyla had actually been Tiffany’s housemate in Haven at the time of her capture, though she’d immediately moved out following the horrific ordeal. As far as Tiffany knew, she hadn’t often left the Coven’s home dimension since.
Grinding her teeth together, Tiffany suddenly wished it had been anyone but Keyla strolling into the village circle right then. Though glad to see her Coven-mate back out in the universe-at-large, her most unexpected appearance was an almost bizarre affirmation of Marissa’s vehement self-recrimination.
Amid much shouting and excitement, the three newcomers sauntered over to where their companions were standing. Saying nothing, Marissa and Tiffany simply watched them approach.
“Well, it’s good to see you too!” Misinterpreting Tiffany’s sudden discomfort, Keri walked right up to her. “Why the sour face?”
“Oh, I’m sorry!” Quickly recovering, Tiffany gave the younger girl a hug. “It’s just been a long, long day, that’s all.”
“Ladies, have a drink.” Also shifting moods quickly, Marissa began handing out tenar from the stall behind her. “Just take it slow.”
“Unlike you, it seems!” Eyes twinkling with excitement, Rachel motioned at Marissa’s large glass. “It looks like that isn’t your first.”
“Her fourth, I think,” Tiffany supplied. “But who’s counting?”
Hugs were shared all around, Tiffany making a point of giving Keyla an extra squeeze. “It’s good to see you out and about again,” she whispered in her ear.
“Yeah, it’s good to be here.” Pulling back, Keyla smiled. “Though the Pyrons can be a bit much.”
“Yeah, tell that to Solia!” Giggling, Rachel nodded at the other side of the village. “We passed by her in the next circle over. Trust me, she’s already having quite the time!”
“Well, sometimes you just need to cut loose,” Tiffany evasively replied, wondering just how much Pyron hospitality was good for Solia right now.
“Hey, that’s what the Pyrons are for!” Keri declared. “By the way, the werewolves are on the prowl. We had a little skirmish with them on the way here.”
“So did we,” Marissa said. “Actually, we were a little worried about you.”
“No sweat.” Shrugging, Keri elbowed Keyla in the ribs. “This one sent a wolfie up to mutt heaven.”
“Really?” Unbidden, Tiffany’s werewolf wound from nine years before let out a mild throb. “Sounds like a party.”
“Speaking of parties...” Trailing off, Rachel pointedly looked around at the growing crowd. By now nearly a dozen strapping Pyron mermen were expectantly gathered about, just smiling and staring at them. “Are we done for the night?”
“Have fun.” Raising her glass in salute, Tiffany smiled. “Just keep your Coven Stick handy in case there’s trouble.”
“Always.” With wide eyes and an excited wave, Rachel turned and strolled between two males, putting her arms around both at once.
“My, my,” Marissa sighed, tossing away her newest, empty glass. “What a witch. I’ve had my eyes on those two for the past hour.
*****
Approaching Blake’s isolated New York cabin on foot, Adrina paused once more to magically scan the surrounding area.
There had been no further contact with the Haven witches since the dustup in the alley. Even now, there wasn’t even a wisp of active magic coming from the small structure, or anywhere else in the surrounding woods. Apparently, they’d given up the chase.
Which told the ruby assassin a lot. If Adrina herself had been in charge of their skirmish forces on Earth, there’s no way she would have allowed someone to just attack her girls and then disappear. Clearly, their opponents had no stomach for real conflict. Soon they’d drive the Haven Coven out of Earth entirely, which would clear the way for the revolution on Zarth.
But first things first. Her ruby stone gently pulsing, Adrina left the wood line and confidently strode across the darkened landscape. No lights were showing in the cabin, which was to be expected. But if Valensa and/or Blake were indeed holed up here, she’d make short work of them and report back to Claire forthwith. In fact, she’d learned a lot in this little foray that her own Coven Leader would find quite interesting...
Rocking to a halt, all of the tall blonde’s magical senses were suddenly flooded at once. Frowning, she now definitely sensed something in the cabin, firmly locking onto her own ruby stone.
Throwing up a shield in the nick of time, Adrina was nevertheless sent hurtling back against a stout trunk by a wave of pure energy. The magical explosion welled outward from the cabin, which promptly buckled and collapsed in upon itself. Stunned by both the initial blast and subsequent impact with the tree, Adrina just slumped down to the ground, dazed and disoriented.
A moment later all was quiet again, the cabin’s power source fading as quickly as it had ignited. All that remained was the ruined structure before her and a splitting headache.
Still, the witch knew she’d dodged a huge bullet. This was a potent booby trap, set by a very skilled sorceress. Set off by the proximity of her own ruby stone, she was lucky there had been any warning at all.
Gingerly standing, the Zarth warrior angrily flung away a stick that had become tangled in her hair. Well, this was a cabin owned by Tiffany Smith’s boyfriend, so there wasn’t much mystery as to who had set the trap. That explosion could have very easily killed Adrina, or anyone else wearing a ruby stone.
It was still a beautiful night, the clear Earth sky spread out like a giant celestial theater. Stars twinkled high above, while a nearly full moon hung on the horizon. With her magical senses now fully alert, the Zarth sorceress could also detect a dozen airplanes majestically cruising by overhead, with nearly as many satellites hovering in low earth orbit.
But in the midst of this natural and technological splendor, all Adrina felt was a growing, intoxicating fury. Eyes flashing ruby red, she made herself a solemn vow. No matter what happened between Claire and Eleanor at their formal powwow tomorrow night, both Smith sisters would die.
It wasn’t personal before, but it was now.
CHAPTER SEVEN
HESITANTLY PASSING THROUGH the Boundary portal into Peth, 18-year-old Tiffany Smith promptly tripped over a thick root. Laughing, an older Coven-Mate hauled the neophyte witch back to her feet. Just stand over there, she was told, and stay out of the way. The werewolves were on the prowl. After the last girl was through, they’d be off.
At this time of year the western Peth highlands were quite chilly at night. Shivering, Tiffany anxiously shifted from foot to foot on the edge of the clearing, watching hot steam shoot out from the unicorns’ nostrils. At times, the mighty equines’ breath seemed almost like it was on fire, with tiny licks of flame curling up past their deadly horns.
Protected within the unicorn ring, nearly a dozen witches were professionally checking swords and other magical weapons. The still-active Boundary portal cast a garish, dancing light over the fantastic scene, while the full moon’s bright glow bathed the surrounding area in a more natural illumination. Of course, Tiffany was anxious to help. But this being her very first combat mission, she didn’t even know how.
