by Walls, Devri
“No, this was an accident.” He walked over to her grinning. “I am slowly learning that we have hardly begun to see what you are capable of. Malena, will you take Kiora to visit Leo? I have a feeling she will feel better once she sees that he is okay.”
“Come Kiora,” Malena fluttered in front of her. “I will take you to Leo.”
Kiora trudged off, leaving footprints in the ash that now blanketed the ground.
***
Eleana materialized next to Aleric, who was searching through the rubble to find the book of Arian.
“Hello Eleana, I never did get the hang of that,” he nodded his head in her direction. “Materializing, that is.”
“Humans can’t, Aleric,” she said dryly, evaluating the destruction.
“Yes, but it would be convenient.” Aleric rubbed his hands, shaking off the ash. He turned to Eleana. “Haven’t left yet, I see.”
“I visited the Wings today. Dralazar has sent for them.”
Aleric sat back on his heels, his bushy eyebrows drawing themselves together “All of them?”
“I believe so. I saw five signals go out. It won’t be long before they arrive.”
“And you will not join us in this battle?”
Eleana turned her head away, “You know I will not.”
“Yes, but I do not understand why. And neither did Arian.”
Eleana closed her eyes, “There are some things, Aleric, that once done cannot be undone. No matter how badly you wish you could.”
Knowing that he would get nothing more, Aleric asked, “What do you think he is planning to do?”
“Kiora’s shield against Raynor gave us a little insight into her potential. I am sure Dralazar saw it as well. It has made him nervous enough to move up his plans. The faster he moves, the less time she has to develop.” She ran her fingers over one of the charred trees. “What happened here?”
Aleric smiled with pride. “Kiora.”
“What was she trying to do?”
“A shield, but at the last second she thought about Dralazar sending out the Hounds after her, so this is what happened instead. An impressive accident don’t you think?”
“Very. That is encouraging. She is moving much faster than expected. Drustan will be pleased to hear it, they are cautious to say the least.”
“Emane?” he asked.
“That is half the problem yes.” Looking around again Eleana asked, “Were there any injuries?”
Aleric nodded. “Leo was caught in the blast, but Malena assured us he will be fine. I think Emane was as shook up as Kiora, he left before I could talk with him.” He finally found what he was looking for. “Here we go.”
Pulling the book out of the rubble he examined it anxiously, but it appeared to be unharmed. Standing back up he waved his hand, “eeno repar tow.” In a blur, everything was repaired and stood as it was before, the ground now free of ash. Aleric glanced over at the charred tree trunks. “I am afraid that is beyond my abilities.”
Eleana glided over to the trees and placed her hands on the trunk of each one. The light spread out from her beneath her fingers, healing as it went.
Chapter Five
REVELATIONS
IT WAS WELL PAST lunch as Kiora ran through the Hollow looking for Aleric, The Book of Arian clutched in her hand. She found him in a clearing sword fighting with Emane.
Sliding to a stop, her panic was set aside for a moment as she watched them, they were both magnificent. Aleric moved with the speed and agility of a man half his age. Watching him, she noticed how much he had changed since they had met.
That first day, outside of her home, he had moved slowly with age. But now, he moved fluidly and with the grace of a much younger man, as if his use of magic had returned him somewhat to his youth. Only his white hair and deeply lined face spoke to his age at the moment.
Emane’s training was evident as he easily countered every move Aleric made. His feet moved so lightly it was hard to tell if they were touching the ground at all. In one fluid movement Aleric lowered his sword and raised his hand. Emane countered quickly moving his sword as if blocking some move Aleric had not made. There was a clang that sounded like clashing metal as something invisible hit Emane’s sword. Half a second later Aleric was knocked off his feet, hair flying back off his shoulders like white wings.
“Yes! It worked.” Emane shouted thrusting his sword into the air.
Aleric was smiling as he got up from the ground, dusting himself off. “Excellent, Emane. Your timing was perfect. It sent the spell back before I could counter it.”
“Will that work with all spells?”
“Yes. Every spell,” Aleric grinned, his eyes lighting up, “except the exceptions.
Emane growled, burying the tip of his sword in the ground. “What exceptions?”
Aleric moaned, “Oh, I don’t know.” Placing his hands in the small of his back he stretched backwards, “but I am sure there will be something.”
“Great.”
Aleric became aware of their guest, “Kiora, welcome. I assume that Leo has recovered?”
“Yes, he is fine.” She bit her lip. “Completely healed actually.”
“That’s good right?” Aleric asked, still smiling.
“Yes.” She dropped her head in shame holding the book up, “I think I may have done something to it in the blast.”
Aleric’s brow furrowed, “Why do you think that?”
Kiora’s voice started to wobble, “When I got back from checking on Leo, I pulled the book back out and...” She took a deep breath, determined not to cry again. “It’s full, the whole thing.” She shoved the book towards him, “How am I suppose to know what I can work on, or what is too hard? I might...” she paused, “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Aleric gently took the book out of her hand and thumbed through it. “It is indeed full. And some of the spells were very dangerous,” Aleric said. “Kiora, you didn’t damage the book. The book just knows more about what is happening than you do.” He held it back out to Kiora.
Warily, she reached out, taking the book back. “What’s the matter then?”
Aleric had gone still, his eyes focused on the ground, deep in thought.
“Kiora, I want you to go back to you tent and practice your bubbles and your summoning. Emane, I want you to continue working with all of your new weaponry.” Aleric turned, heading back to the center of the Hollow. Kiora clutched the book to her chest watching him. Aleric stopped, looking back, but not looking at either of them. “Emane, always put your weapons back in the trunk when you are finished with them. That is very important.”
***
Emane and Aleric were in the dinner tent waiting for Kiora. Aleric sat, his thumb under his chin, his forefinger across his lips, tapping.
“Where is she?” Emane asked impatiently. “She should have been here by now.”
Aleric stopped tapping long enough to say, “Perhaps she got caught up in practicing and lost track of time.”
Emane shook his head. “Maybe we should go check on her. She is a magnet for trouble after all.”
Aleric opened his mouth to answer but Kiora’s voice cut him off as she appeared in the chair next to Emane
“Am I?” she said, crossing her arms smugly in front of her.
Emane almost knocked his chair over trying to get out of it. “KIORA! What is wrong with you!? If I would have my sword and you did that…” Emane was so mad he started stuttering. “You people and your magic... I... why...” His mouth clamped shut. Glowering, he grabbed his chair pulling it out with a jerk and slammed himself back into it. Folding his arms, he stared straight ahead, his jaw clenched so tight he was liable to break a tooth.
Aleric and Kiora were both trying hard not to laugh.
“I’m sorry Emane,” she said trying to wipe the smile from her face. “I was just practicing my bubbles. I wanted to see if I could get past Aleric.”
Aleric nodded his approval. “Excellent job, Kiora.”
“How long, exactly, had you been there?” Emane asked between tight lips, still keeping his eyes glued forward.
‘I beat you here, but I couldn’t figure out how to move the chair without you seeing it.”
Emane slowly turned his entire body to face her. His lips were a thin line and she was pretty sure she saw his right eye twitch. “The whole time? You sat here for the last fifteen minutes? What exactly were you hoping to hear?”
Kiora’s smile was now officially gone. “Nothing, I just wanted to see how long I could hold onto the bubble.” She said shifting in her chair. Moving her attention to Aleric she asked, “How long before you could feel me?”
“I wasn’t getting anything until right before you spoke. And even then, it was so slight I barely recognized it. You were here the whole time?”
She nodded, trying not to grin. Emane’s glare kept it in check.
“That is extremely impressive Kiora,” Aleric said leaning back, “I can’t do much more than that myself.”
“Really?!”
Emane interrupted, “Doesn’t anybody but me mind that she sat here eavesdropping for the last fifteen minutes?”
Aleric reached and grabbed a roll out of the center basket, “No,” he said taking a bite.
Kiora snorted.
“Perfect.” Emane snatched a roll, viciously biting a chunk off the side.
Kiora ladled some of the soup into her bowl taking a bite, “Mmm, this is wonderful.”
Emane took a bite of his soup. Dropping his spoon back into the bowl he snapped, “It would have been better warm.”
Kiora scowled at him, “You didn’t have to wait for me.”
“Of course I did Kiora. It’s called being a gentleman!”
Fighting the urge to ask if being a gentleman included yelling at girls, she took another bite of soup before laying her spoon down next to her bowl. Sighing, she tried to catch his eye, which was yet again fixed on the wall behind her. “I’m sorry Emane. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Emane just shook his head in disgust and shoveled another spoonful of soup into his mouth.
The tension in the room was getting rather thick before Aleric finally spoke. “So Kiora, you seem to be in better spirits than last I saw you.”
Kiora sighed, “I was before you reminded me.” She forced a smile. “At least before I believed that the book was only giving me what I could handle. But now, I am scared to even look at some of those spells.”
“I understand your fear. Magic is a very powerful thing.”
“You said you thought you knew why the book filled up,” she said, taking another bite of soup. It exploded with flavor in her mouth.
“I have my ideas.”
Kiora looked at him waiting for an answer. Aleric sat calmly eating his soup and bread.
“Well?” she asked.
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to tell me?”
“Probably,” and Aleric went back to eating.
Kiora sat and stared at him again, he continued to eat his dinner. After a minute or two, Eleana glided in through the tent flaps.
Without looking up Aleric said, “Finally! I was worried Kiora was going to stare a hole straight through me.”
Emane mumbled under his breath. “Better than blowing a hole straight through you.”
Kiora’s spoon dropped into her bowl with a loud clang. Her stomach twisted within her as she stared at him in horror. “What did you say?” she whispered.
Emane looked up to see Eleana and Aleric looking at him with equally horrified looks. Kiora was staring straight forward white as ghost.
“Nothing. I didn’t…”
“I’m not hungry.” Kiora stood slowly, trying to regain her composure before running out of the tent. Emane heard her sobs breaking shortly after.
“Kiora!” he shouted, his chair clattering to floor as he jumped up.
Aleric’s quiet voice cut through him like a knife, “Emane…”
The disappointment evident in that one word humbled him in a way no one had before. Aleric didn’t need to say anymore. Emane had crossed the line and he knew it. He took off after Kiora.
“Kiora,” he shouted. “KIORA!” He saw a flash of white and followed her. He ran until he found her huddled at the base of a large tree across a small clearing. Emane stood there motionless. His shame was growing as he thought about what he had said. There was probably not anything he could have said that would have hurt her more. He wanted to kick himself.
“Go away!” Kiora shouted, “I know you’re there.”
Emane rolled his eyes. These threads were a pain in his neck. He didn’t even have time to think of what he was going to say. “Kiora, I need to talk to you.”
“Why would you want to talk to me?” Kiora yelled back across the clearing. “I’m just the girl who ruined your life and blew up the Hollow.” She broke out into sobs again.
Emane broke into a jog, crossing the clearing. “Kiora,” he stood awkwardly behind her. She sat on the ground with her knees pulled up to her chest, her chin set on top, her back shaking. Emane knelt down next to her putting his hand on her shoulder. “I am sorry, Kiora.”
She jerked her shoulder away. “Sorry is not good enough, Emane.”
Emane pulled his hand back as Kiora stood up and moved a few feet away before plopping back down. She curled her knees back underneath her and wrapped her arms around them squeezing them in as tight as she could.
“Kiora, I...”
“You have no idea what I have been through,” she shouted at him. “I can’t…” Clamping her mouth shut she dropped her head back onto her knees. Her tear streaked face was illuminated by the moonlight. Emane’s mouth was suddenly dry and his palms sweaty— Kiora really was beautiful. Swallowing hard, he looked away.
He stood up and moved closer to her. “Kiora, you’re right. Sorry is not good enough. But I don’t know what else to do to make it better.” He tentatively reached over and placed his hand on her back. She tensed underneath his touch, but did not move away. He swallowed again closing his eyes. He wanted to pull her into his arms, it was foolish. “Kiora, I’m not very good at apologizing.”
She turned her head up, “You don’t say.”
Turning his head to the side he nearly smiled at her bluntness. Tentatively he reached out with a finger, brushing a tear off her check. Her beautiful green eyes widened before quickly turning her head away. He cursed himself for his stupidity and waited for her to jerk away from him again, but she didn’t.
“I’m scared, Emane.”
He knew he should move his hand, but instead he wrapped it around her shoulder pulling her closer. “What are you scared about?”
“You saw what I did today,” she paused and then dryly added, “obviously.”
“It was just an accident, Kiora.”
She shook his arm off her shoulder, standing. “It was an accident? What if it would have been you, Emane, instead of Leo that was outside that tent? Would you be so apologetic if it would have been you I blasted into a tree?!” Kiora’s voice was getting louder. “I could have killed someone, Emane. I got lucky that it was a Guardian. How am I supposed to deal with the fact that if I think the wrong thing at the wrong time, I’m going to blow somebody up!” She broke down again covering her face with her hands.
Emane stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do. “I don’t,” he dropped his head, shuffling his feet in dirt. “I’m sorry, I wish..”
She moaned. Stepping into him she shoved her face into his chest. Startled, he looked down at her before slowly wrapping his arms around her. Standing there in the dark he didn’t say anything, he just let her cry. Her sobs began to slow after a couple of minutes and she leaned back to wipe her eyes.
“Kiora...” before he could finish his sentence she gasped and stumbled backwards.
“It’s… happening… again…,” she said between gasps of air.
“What’s happening?”
Kiora’s eyes were blank and
distant. “Kiora.” Emane grabbed her by the shoulders. “What’s happening?” Her legs gave out and she crumbled like a rag doll, her eyes rolling back in her head. Dropping with her, Emane put his arm under her head to prevent her from slamming into the ground.
“ALERIC!” Emane screamed. “Aleric, Eleana, Arturo.... somebody help me!” Turning back to Kiora, he ran his hand over her hair. “It’s going to be alright Kiora.”
Kiora didn’t hear any of it. She was already deep within her vision.
***
She hadn’t had time to prepare herself for it when she felt herself falling again into the blackness. The first part was the worst, sucking blackness pulling her backward into her own mind.
When the light returned she found herself in an unknown place, so much different than the lush green forests she was used to. She slowly turned around, surveying the dismal landscape. Everything around her was charred and black. It looked as if a fire had ripped through the trees breaking them off, leaving only their blackened stumps standing like little forlorn footmen guarding the lake before her.
The small lake was inexplicably boiling with steam rising from its surface. The smell was overwhelming, reeking of sulfur and she crinkled her nose in response. This land was so desolate. The only color that caught her eye was a plume of purple smoke.
It looked almost alive the way it slinked and slithered its way from the sky to the earth, sliding across the charred land. The front of the smoke plume nodded back and forth, looking for something. It snaked its way up a blackened hill curling around the side and continuing on its way up the back. She followed its course around a massive hole in the ground; the smoke circled around the edge before it slid in and was gone.
As Kiora inched herself closer to the hole she peered over, looking for the smoke. A roar exploded upward with a blast of heat. She scrambled backwards as fast as she could. Another roar came, sounding closer than the last, and then a dragon the size of a small house came shooting out of the hole and into the sky. Behind him another dragon came hurtling out, followed by another. She watched them as their wings strained, pushing themselves farther into the sky, growing smaller and smaller before disappearing into the blackness.
