by Jordan Baker
"You speak as Ansari," Kasha said. "Do you say that we see only the sandstorm and forget the ground beneath our feet?"
"Perhaps you have seen only what you were meant to see," Ehlena suggested. "Or perhaps what you wished to see."
"It is not Ansari to see what we wish, but to seek the truth of things, to find the stone beneath the desert."
"And if you find stone that is merely sand that appears to be stone, what then?" Ehlena asked.
"This does not change the truth that you bring the poison of the shadow, a power that crumbles the very stone itself, turning all to dust."
"And yet, that dust, the sand itself, can be remade to stone with fire, and the shadow burned away with true light." Ehlena felt her strength begin to return a little, along with her hope, as she saw the Ansari woman's expression soften slightly, for it was becoming clear that they were both now speaking about Aaron.
"What would you have us do?" Kasha asked.
"Do what must be done," Ehlena said. "Banish the shadow with your light, and return the dust to stone once more."
"If that is what you wish," Kasha said. "It will be done."
"It is not my wish," Ehlena told her. "In his words, we must not hold back, when the time comes."
"And what of you?" Kasha asked. "Can the shadow that plagues you be burned away?"
"The shadow that afflicts me is but dust, and in time even the wind may scour it clean," Ehlena told her. "I have been weakened by it, that is all."
"And you wish for us to fight in your stead," Kasha said.
"I wish for you to fight for the truth of the world," Ehlena replied, then she decided to speak plainly to the Ansari woman. "Aaron is willing to sacrifice himself if it will bring an end to the shadow and spare the lives of others. That is not his wish, but it is his will. I hope you can see that, for it is his truth."
"It is not Ansari to seek one's end, but it is Ansari to seek truth," Kasha replied, thoughtfully. "It may be that I have seen the sand and believed it to be stone."
"The sands are ever changing," Ehlena said, smiling at her with her darkened eyes. "And the stone may become buried beneath the sand, but stone it remains."
"You are under my domain," Kasha said, glancing over at Ashan. "You may rest here safely. I will discuss this with Ansari."
Ehlena nodded as Kasha turned and left the tent, then she sat back down and leaned on some cushions, exhausted from the strain of talking with the Ansari woman.
"You remember many things," Ashan commented, and Ehlena smiled up at him.
"I do, Ashan," she said. "Things you have said."
"What did you mean about stone and sand?" Tash asked. "Is Aaron going to be all right?"
"I hope so, Tash," Ehlena said. "He is in a dangerous place, and there is nothing we can do to save him."
"Why not?"
"If I understood all that Ansari nonsense you were speaking, it sounds like our friend Aaron must save himself," Jax said.
"You see well," Ashan said. "It is a shame you do not follow your truth."
"Yes, I know," Jax said with a sigh. "Ansari don't like thieves and liars."
"It is not Ansari to deceive," Ashan said, and Jax snorted with disbelief.
"What do you call shifting around, taking different shapes?" he scoffed. "A bigger pack of liars I've never seen before."
"We change our forms like the sands, but we remain true as the stone," Ashan told him.
"Yes, yes, I know," Jax replied. "You tell the truth and live the truth, but that sounds rather boring to me."
"You don't tell the truth?" Tash asked, her eyes wide.
"Sometimes I do," Jax said, with a mischievous grin. "And if you truly know Ansari, you'll be able to tell when."
"You are a difficult man, Jax Larian," Tash said, squinting up at him.
"A difficult man? Did you come up with that on your own or were you listening to Kasha talk about me?" Jax asked, and Tash covered her mouth.
"Tash," Ashan said. "Pay no heed to his words, for his actions are what will define his truth."
"Oh, no, there you go ruining my fun, Ashan," Jax said.
"Tash is right, and so is Kasha," Ashan said. "You are a difficult man, though I see your tricks for what they are."
"And what is that?" Jax asked.
"Merely tricks," Ashan said. "Your words are like bits of sand, cast into the eyes, like a fighter without honor."
"Now I am insulted," Jax said, laughing. "Perhaps we might dance in the circle some time, old man."
"I would welcome it," Ashan said, cracking a smile. "It would be interesting to discover what Kasha ever saw in you."
"Well, you've got me there," Jax said. "I don't know what I saw in her either, though I must admit, she is a magnificent fighter."
"That she is," Ashan agreed.
"Almost as skilled with a blade as I am," Jax said, nodding in mock seriousness. "And that is a real compliment."
"Is Ehlena sick?" Tash asked, and both Ashan and Jax saw that the pale girl goddess had fallen asleep.
"She is poisoned by the shadow," Ashan told her. "I have seen this once before and it is very dangerous."
"Can I get poisoned by it?" Tash asked, looking more closely at her.
"No," Ashan said, but to be sure, he touched Ehlena's forehead and carefully used his power to see if the dark stains that ran under her skin posed any threat. "You are safe, but I fear the poison is still consuming her."
Tash sat down next to Ehlena and rested her head on her shoulder.
"I will stay here," Tash said. "You and Jax go tell Ansari that we have to save Aaron."
"I don't think your Ansari leader will pay much attention to me," Jax said.
"You could make a challenge," Ashan suggested.
"Ha!" Jax chuckled. "With swords, not a problem, but I'm no shapeshifter."
"You would be at a disadvantage then," Ashan said.
"Perhaps," Jax said, then his face took on a more solemn expression. "Let's go and let the Lady get some rest."
"A wise and thoughtful action," Ashan agreed, and the two of them left Tash and Ehlena in the tent.
Jax followed Ashan through the camp to where the Ansari had all gathered around a stone fighting circle. They found Kasha standing opposite the large Ansari leader, and it was obvious that they were about to fight.
"What is she doing?" Jax asked.
"Kasha has made a challenge," Ashan said, watching the two warriors move around the circle. "It is her right, as it is the right of any Ansari."
"And she has to fight that giant?" Jax asked, in disbelief.
"If she is to speak for Ansari, then she must," Ashan said.
*****
Lexi circled over the forest overtop the small mound among the trees to which Brian had pointed. It had occurred to Brian that Fergus and the people of White Falls might not be expecting a dragon, so he had Lexi set down a short distance away, then she shifted to her other form and the two of them made the rest of the way on foot. They both noticed that the forest was eerily quiet, without even the sounds of birds or animals, and Brian stopped and pressed his hand against the ground, using Kroma's power to sense if there might be trouble ahead, but there was no movement of any kind.
"Something isn't right," he said, keeping his voice low, and both of them slowly drew their weapons.
"I smell Darga," Lexi hissed as the wind changed. "I smell blood."
"I hope they are all right," Brian said, feeling a knot in his throat and a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Do not let your emotions distract you," Kroma rumbled quietly in his thoughts.
"I won't," Brian told him, but he knew the god was right the he should stay focused and keep his thoughts clear.
Lexi flitted forward, moving in a blur, then it was as though she disappeared, but Brian felt Kroma offering his power to him, and a moment later, he could see the half-Darga girl moving through the trees, her figure outlined in the air like a ripple on the surface of a p
ond. Lexi was almost at the place where the entrance to the tunnels would be when he saw her stop and kneel down. A moment later, she reappeared in his normal sight, then she turned and waved to him and Brian felt his legs break into a run, almost of their own volition. Lexi rose to her feet as he approached, and she did not have to say anything, for the scene around the mound, at the tunnel entrance was clear to see.
Dark patches of blood that were not quite fresh, marred the ground, and clawed footprints had scratched the soft, damp earth of the forest floor, intermingled with boot prints. Lexi walked over to a dense bush, then she reached underneath its foliage and dragged out the lifeless body of a young boy. Brian's heart lurched for a moment, and while he was relieved when he saw that it was not his brother, Diller, he was no less horrified and angered at such a senseless death. He recognized the boy as being one of the local children from White Falls, not a Borderman, nor one trained for battle, yet he held a dagger in his hand, which was seared and burned with the dark blood of a Darga.
It was clear that there had been a battle, and they found several more bodies and many more signs that others had been dragged off, with trails of blood that told the tale. The entrance to the tunnel refuge was closed and barely visible among the roots and dirt that covered it. Were it not for the faint path that mysteriously ended at the side of the mound, no one would know it was even there unless they knew to look. Brian dug through the dirt and found the latch, and a moment later, the heavy, stone door began to move. It was dark inside, and quiet. Lexi stepped forward, and was about to enter the tunnel, when there was a loud snap, and a bolt flew out from the darkness. She knocked the arrow aside, and hissed quietly, ready for an attack.
"Lexi," Brian said. "Step aside."
"As you wish," she said, and did as he asked, then Brian approached the tunnel entrance.
"You can come out now," he said. "It's safe."
He was greeted with silence, but with the sight Kroma had given him, Brian could see a group of people, most of them young boys and girls, standing together behind a girl with a crossbow, into which she was hurriedly loading another bolt.
"It is me, Brian of Ashford," he said. "Lord Kaleb's man, of White Falls. I have returned and there is no danger here."
"What about the lizard?" asked the girl, her voice trembling as she held up the crossbow, ready to shoot.
"She is with me, on our side. You have nothing to fear." Brian said. "Where is Fergus? Is my brother, Diller with you?"
"They're gone," the girl said, still hiding behind her crossbow. "They ran away and left us here."
"What do you mean, they ran away?"
"Fergus made us hide here, then he closed the door and didn't come back," another voice said.
"How long have you been here?" Brian asked.
"A day maybe," the girl said as she finally lowered the bow and walked out from the darkness into the light. Her crossbow snapped back up when she caught sight of Lexi, standing nearby with her sword drawn.
"She won't hurt you," Brian said.
"That's a lizardman," the girl said.
"I am not a man," Lexi said. "I am Lexi, a half-Darga, and I am a girl like you."
"What's your name?" Brian asked the girl and she turned and looked at him.
"Rain," she said.
"Well, Rain, the lizardmen are gone, and you are among friends now."
"What if they come back?" she asked.
"Then I will kill them," Lexi said.
"You are safe," Brian told her again. "Lexi has killed many Darga."
"You don't look the same as the lizards," Rain said, letting her bow fall to her side.
"I am only half-Darga," Lexi reminded her. "I will not hurt you, unless you try to shoot me again."
Rain looked at the bow.
"I'm sorry," she said, and her chin began to quiver. "I didn't know."
"It's fine," Lexi said. "Are you the protector of the rest of these children."
"Yes," Rain said, nodding her head.
"Then you did very well," Lexi told her. "If I was a Darga, I would be dead."
"I'm glad you're not a Darga," Rain said, as tears began to run down her cheeks.
"It's okay," Brian said, then he looked into the tunnel. "The rest of you can come out, but don't wander off."
"It's safe, everyone," Rain said to them, her voice trembling, and a few moments later they began to emerge from the darkness, rubbing their eyes from the daylight.
"Can you smell which way they might have gone?" Brian asked Lexi, and she sniffed the air.
"No," she said. "The wind is different all the time."
Brian walked to the entrance to the tunnel and touched the stone with his hand.
"Keepers," he said.
"Defender of the blood," the voices chimed, and he could tell they were pleased.
"Where is the one called Fergus?"
"He is not with us," they replied. "The Fergus is far away from us, to the north."
"How far?" Brian asked.
"Almost too far. He is in danger. The Fergus will die. He must return."
"North then," Brian said, then he walked over to where Lexi stood with Rain and the rest of the children, of which there looked to be several dozen. "Fergus is to the north, and I think he is in trouble."
"We should fly to him," Lexi said.
"Someone should guard these children in case the Darga return," Brian said. "But Fergus and the others don't know you, so they could easily mistake you for the enemy."
"I will stay," Lexi said.
"Good," Brian agreed, then he looked at the group. "You will stay here with Lexi. If you are afraid, you can hide in the tunnel, but you have nothing to fear. You will be safe with her."
"What if the bad lizard people come back," asked a young boy, who reminded him of Diller.
"I said I will kill them," Lexi told him.
"What if there are lots of them?" another one asked.
"Then I will kill all of them."
A number of the children backed away from her and Lexi cocked her head, confused for she could smell their nervousness.
"Are you afraid of me?" she asked.
"Maybe a little," Rain said.
"You need not be afraid," Brian said, then he turned to Lexi. "Can you show them some lightning?"
"Why would I do that?"
"I think it might give them confidence if they saw that you have some power."
"I could turn into a dragon and breathe fire on some trees," Lexi offered and, at first, Brian did not realize that she was being completely serious.
"No," he said, with an uncomfortable laugh. "That might scare them. A little energy bolt would probably be enough to catch their interest."
Lexi turned to the group of children and held her finger high in the air, then white crackling energy began to course through her hand, and a moment later a bolt of lightning shot from the sky. Next, she turned and pointed at a nearby tree stump and a bolt of blinding light leapt from her finger and it destroyed the stump completely.
"Was that what you wanted to see?" she asked Brian, and he looked at the awestruck young faces all staring at Lexi.
"Well done, Lexi," he said. "I think they believe you now. I will return soon."
Brian gathered Kroma's power and purposely left a wide hole in the ground when he leapt away, and began to run through the trees. Behind him, he thought he heard one of the children ask Lexi if she really could turn into a dragon, and he knew that they would be fine. The voices of the keepers had told him that Fergus was to the north, and they had also given him a vague impression of where he was. From the look of the forest, it appeared that a group of Darga had pursued him and the others, with signs of battle and disturbed underbrush in their path.
Brian leapt through the forest, then heard shouting ahead and saw the flash of reptilian scales through the trees, and he leapt high into the air, above the trees and, with his axes ready, he came down right on top of a Darga. His blades bit deep into both side
s of the creature's neck and he let his weight drive it into the ground. The three Bordermen, who had been battling the beast, scattered out of the way, avoiding the acidic blood as it spattered the ground. Brian stood and stepped off the back of the fallen creature.
"How many are there?" he asked.
"Five or six, that's been chasing us," one of them said. "Not really sure, but Fergus got one, and there's the one you just killed."
"All right," Brian said. "Let's go find them."
"They're deadly," another said. "Our swords are useless against 'em."
"Strike for the neck, and the leathery parts," Brian told him. "And keep your swords clean. Their blood will eat steel and dull your blade if you don't wipe it right away. Always remember, if they can bleed, they can die."
"Right, sir," said the third man.
"I am no knight," Brian told him. "So no need to be calling me by fancy titles. Now, let's go."
Brian led them through the trees, following the sound of another fight. They entered a clearing where two Darga were fighting back to back against a dozen of Kaleb's men, who had them surrounded. The beasts were wounded and so were the ones fighting them, and there were three more fighters from White Falls who had fallen to the ground, either badly wounded or dead. Brian let out a yell as he charged toward the fray, singling out one of the Darga, while the three who followed him ran toward the other one. The others moved out of the way as Brian's axes swung toward the lizardman, and the creature caught his blades on a jagged sword and ducked, dodging his attack.
Brian landed in a crouch and, with Kroma's power, he made himself as heavy as stone, then he swung one of his axes at the Darga again. The creature tried to block again, but the sword in its clawed grip shattered from the force of Brian's attack. His axe smashed through steel and bit into the creature's arm, cutting through armored scales, then Brian swung his other axe toward the Darga's neck. Roaring in pain, the Darga still managed to duck and its claws slashed at Brian, scraping harmlessly across his armored chest piece as Brian dropped low then slammed his shoulder into the creature's middle, knocking it backward. He leapt forward after it, his axes a blur as he sliced the Darga in the stomach with their blades as it fell away from him. Entrails spilled from two large gashes, and Brian stepped forward and swung one of his axes hard and fast, slicing another deep cut in the creature's throat. Clutching at its stomach, and choking on its dark blood, the Darga tried to roar but its guttural voice was lost in a choked gurgle as it fell to the ground, dead.
