“I'm glad we were able to do so. I can only apologize once again for my deception, but we thought it best to act quickly,” Aleister said.
“Just so. I hear you are in our care until you leave, that you took on the punishment meant for my hawks,” Kasai said.
“Yes. I can't say I understand why I was placed here. Seems an odd choice. But the hawks are loyal, of that I have no doubt. There was little they could do to see through my illusions. The fault was not theirs,” the Fox murmured.
Kasai narrowed his eyes, thinking once more that it was indeed a strange sort of punishment. Then again, maybe it was to keep up his training, since the magisters were supposed to serve as guardians. The Harrier doubted you could find better protection than an Arkaddian warrior. He snorted in irritation.
“I suppose I should thank you for that also. Khasar tells me you're progressing quite well. Let's see what you've got,” Kasai grinned at Aleister's uncertain look as he backed away and drew the slender swords across his back. Such impromptu tests weren't out of character for the Master Harrier and he could see some of the other hawks were gathering at a respectful distance to watch. This 'test' would be a way to vent some of his frustration as well as to get an idea of the magister's fighting skills. Despite what Khasar and the other hawks had told him, Kasai still had difficulty in believing that his brother, living as a thief all these years, would still be the match of a vykr warrior, much less a Harrier.
Aleister blinked as the Master Harrier settled into an easy stance, the twin swords held before him. The magister sensed that there was more to this unexpected test than simply seeing how well he was doing. He could sense Kasai's anger and wasn't sure what to make of it. He slid his own swords free, but stayed where he was, waiting for the Harrier to make the first move. For a moment they simply stared at one another. Then the Harrier's eyes narrowed and he lunged forward. Aleister danced back, batting one blade away and blocking the other. He reversed direction, darting forward again, faster than he had a right to be, lashing out with quick strikes that the Harrier blocked, but sometimes only just.
Back and forth the pair of them went, each gaining and losing ground, until Kasai nodded, backing up.
“Enough.”
Kasai sheathed the swords and gave a series of sharp whistles. Aleister frowned, understanding what the Master Harrier wanted. Sure enough, before long another hawk came trotting from the vykr herds leading two of the shaggy beasts. The magister mimicked Kasai as the Harrier leapt lightly onto the back of one of the vykr.
Another hawk handed each of them a bow and a quiver of arrows. Kasai kicked his mount into a gallop, heading for the target field with Aleister right behind him. As they thundered down the courseway they fired arrows into the straw targets. Kasai whistled a sharp command as they finished and Aleister urged his mount in a loop opposite of the Master Harrier's. They met again at the beginning and raced through a second time, crisscrossing one another's paths while firing at the targets.
Kasai whistled again and sent his mount cantering back to where Khasar was now standing. As he and Aleister dismounted, a hawk came and took the vykr back to the herds. The Harrier had the true measure of his quarry now, even if he wasn't yet sure how to deal with him. Kaze was every bit as good as Khasar had said. Master Harrier smirked, dark amusement dancing in his eyes.
“You're doing well, Al-.” Kasai shook his head. “No, you need an Arkaddian name. You're quick on your feet and fast as the wind. Ah, let that be your name. Kaze.” The Harrier smirked again as Aleister flinched back.
The magister dipped a bow, heart hammering. He felt too hot, and dizziness threatened to bring him to his knees.
Surely the Master Harrier didn't know who he was. It was a coincidence. Just a coincidence. It had to be. Otherwise, things might get nasty again.
“As you wish,” Aleister said, low. A lifetime of practise kept the anxiety from his voice.
“Everything okay, Aleister?” Kalla asked.
“Not really…” He paused for a moment. “Kasai is back. He said my training has gone well. He also said that I needed a new name. An Arkaddian name. He chose Kaze… I'm hoping it's a coincidence,” the magister replied. Kalla was silent for a moment.
“Most likely. But… be careful. We just have a few more days,” she said.
Aleister sighed as her mind receded. It was the first time he'd spoken to his mage since he'd been sent to the Mews. Just as today was the first time he'd seen her in three long days.
He sighed again. Despite Kalla's comforting mind-presence, which was always there, he missed the chance to be near her. Kituk's dream, and all the promise it had held, was fast becoming a fading memory whose truth the magister was less and less certain of. He wanted to ask, yet he was terrified of the answer, remembering how he'd felt when he'd thought Kalla was going to allow Kituk to break the bond.
Aleister bowed in acknowledgment as Kasai and Khasar dismissed him, and headed into the Mews thinking back to the odd conversation he'd had with Koumugi earlier and thinking, too, that those few days couldn't pass fast enough.
Crookfang
Arkaddia, Evalyce, Year of the Mythril Serpent, 2014 CE
Early morning of their sixth day at Karokorum. Aleister yawned as he uncurled from his nest, wondering why he was being roused even earlier than the Harriers' normal early hours. The sun was far from rising. The Fox yawned again as he collected his weapons as Khasar had bid. Further down the central 'nesting' area, the magister heard Khasar gently waking another of the hawks.
Aleister made his way quietly through the room, careful not to further disturb the sleeping Harriers. Outside he was greeted by a Master Harrier who was entirely too energetic for this time of the morning. He dipped a bow while trying to stifle another yawn, frowning as he noticed three vykr standing patiently in the Mews courtyard with small packs beside them. Lightweight saddles meant for long travel were draped over their backs.
Just as he was about to ask Kasai what was up, Kiba and Khasar exited the building. Aleister grinned as Kiba worked to stifle his own yawn and was not quite as successful as the Fox had been. The younger hawk was apparently just as tired as he was. Khasar, on the other hand, looked as chipper as the Master Harrier. Once they were all assembled, Kasai led them over to the waiting vykr, as Khasar disappeared back into the Mews.
Picking up a pack, he swung himself up into the cloth saddle of one vykr, fixing the pack behind him and stashing his weapons safely within reach, but out of harm's way. Aleister exchanged a confused look with Kiba before both did likewise. Once they were all mounted, Kasai spoke.
“We're going hunting. There is to be a feast tomorrow night and the Khan wishes to provide his guests with the best the Plains has to offer. The other Clans have chosen to help also and have sent hunters to the north, east and west of the city. That leaves us to head south.” Without another word the Harrier wheeled his mount around and trotted off into the darkness. Kiba followed and Aleister brought up the rear, wondering why he, of all the hawks, had been chosen for the hunt.
By the time the sun rose the three were far from the city. Winter grass spread out all around them, a vast undulating sea that whispered softly in the wind, a gentle, soothing susurration. Aleister sighed, enjoying the chance to be out and about, yet he was ill at ease by the silence. The three had communicated only by the innocuous whistling language of the Harriers, sounds that would be familiar to potential prey and of no consequence. He scanned the horizon again, on the lookout for any sign of a pronghorn herd. In front of him, Kiba and Kasai were doing the same.
Aleister froze, bringing his mount to a halt just as Kasai whistled the signal to stop. The Master Harrier was tense, likely having heard the same faint sound that the Fox had- the hoarse rasping cough of a hunting longtooth. It wasn't uncommon for the fearsome beasts to hunt humans, though it was uncommon for the big cats to be active this early in the day. The rasping cough came again, causing the vykr to dance in agitation.
The
warriors started to slide their weapons free when a full-fledged growl broke the air and a huge shape rose from the grass, launching itself at Aleister. The magister barely had time to throw his arms up before the longtooth collided with him, knocking him from the screaming vykr. Pain seared through his left arm and his chest as the sabre teeth sank into him.
In a haze of agony, Aleister shoved his right hand under the cat's throat and willed one of his daggers into existence. The force of the desperate summoning punched the blade up through the jaws and into the longtooth's skull. Blood poured from the huge creature's mouth, a crimson river that drenched him in seconds, mingling with his own ruby flood. The cat slumped forward, driving the sabre teeth further into the magister's body.
Dimly, Aleister registered Kiba and Kasai calling his name, as they tried to heave the heavy body off of him. From far away, a voice howled in his mind- frustration, anger, fear- and then Kalla's was there, urging him to speak, yet the effort was too great.
He shivered, wondering why he was so cold. Why wouldn't they just leave him alone? He wanted sleep. That was all. He muttered something incoherent and tried to push the Harriers away only to have his hand gently grasped and pushed down by Vander.
Aleister frowned as he tried to focus on the flame-haired Dashmari bent over him, pony-tail draped over his shoulder. He groaned and gave up his battle to stay awake as Kalla appeared on his other side.
The Healer gently placed her hands against Aleister's chest, assessing the damage, even as she began healing it. His wounds were grievous. One long sabre tooth had nicked his heart and he had lost a great deal of blood.
She felt Vander's presence as he did his own assessment. He grunted and placed a hand beside hers on the Fox's chest. The other he placed on Aleister's mangled arm. Kalla gasped as a tingling sensation washed through the area, just under Aleister's skin and she took a moment to marvel at the ingenious solution Vander had come up with.
Melding his Defensor's knowledge of wards and shields with the Healer's gift he had reconstructed the broken vessels with micro wards, keeping the magister from losing any more blood. She spared a small murmur of thanks before returning to her task, working to repair the damage to his heart.
Vander frowned, watching Kalla deep in concentration. He had set up miniature wards to keep Aleister stable, but the magister had already lost so much blood that the War Mage was afraid that their intervention had come too late. He racked his mind for some answer, sifting through all of the Healing knowledge he had gained from Kalla.
Aleister needed more blood. Vander sent his essence into the Fox, seeking the centers of blood creation, the marrow of the bones, and he used his power to send them into overdrive, feeding it so that the magister's already overtaxed body wasn't being burdened.
Ever so slowly, Vander felt Aleister's blood levels begin to increase. He lost track of time as he sat by the wounded man's side, fueling the process he had started, as Kalla continued to recreate vessels, bone, and flesh from the shattered remnants of the Fox's arm and chest.
Kalla paused for a moment, noting with a start that the sun was now high overhead. They had been at work for some time now. Behind her, Kalla could hear Kasai as the Master Harrier worked over the carcass of the longtooth Aleister had slain. Kiba had been sent back to Karokorum to get help. She didn't have the heart to tell the Harrier that no help would be needed. She planned to teleport the three of them back as soon as Aleister was stable enough.
The Healer was astounded by the sheer size of the cat in question, twice the size of a normal adult male longtooth. Crookfang was the name Kasai had given it, whispered out in a hushed reverence. Crookfang. Kalla knew that name from Hauss' stories. The Ghost of the Plains, said to be the father of all longteeth. A great grizzled beast with a crooked left saber tooth and a mane dashed with silver. A lone hunter to whom all prides bowed. A stealer of vykr and people alike. Could it be that Aleister had actually killed the creature that had eluded some of the best hunters from many nations? Utter dumb luck, if that be the case.
Kalla turned part of her attention to Vander, slumped over the magister's other side. Once more he had managed to amaze her. After creating the wards, Vander had pushed the body's blood production into full gear. He made for a great Healer, if a somewhat aggressive one, she had to give him that.
Kalla frowned as she noticed the drawn look on the War Mage's face. He was filtering power from her to Aleister and back to her again, locked in a circuit of his own creation. The question was, how long could he keep it up. Reluctantly, Kalla turned back to her own work.
Kasai sat near the broken down carcass of Crookfang, still stunned that Aleister had managed to kill the Ghost. The Harrier had skinned the cat and carved the meat up. Longtooth meat would be even better for the planned feast than the pronghorn they had set out after.
The Harrier didn't think luck had anything to do with Aleister's slaying of the beast. Even while being mauled by a creature that outweighed him several times over, the man had kept his calm enough to shove a blade in exactly the right place. It was a reaction worthy of a hawk.
Kasai had so hoped that the longtooth might take care of his 'fox' problem for him, but the magi had arrived, teleporting to his side. He had seen the pure panic and fear in Kalla's eyes, and wondered yet again whether or not he could put his past behind him, not for Aleister's sake, but for the sake of the mage who had done so much for his people. Clearly she cared a great deal for her magister.
The Master Harrier's gaze honed in on Vander. The War Mage was looking increasingly worse. Whatever he was doing to aid Kalla, it was beginning to seriously affect him. He swayed slightly and Kasai jumped up, reaching him just as he started to pitch forward.
Kasai reached out to catch Vandet and was startled by cries of “NO!” from both Kalla and Vander. The warning came too late though, just after he'd caught the War Mage. Kasai choked, trying to suck in a breath as a mind tore through his and, in desperation, began to siphon strength from him. He let go of the mage, but still the connection was there. A voice whispered 'I'm sorry…' in his mind before Vander completely collapsed against the inert Aleister. Kalla looked up from her work, repeating the apology in a sad voice.
“I am sorry, Kasai. That wasn't meant to happen. I am taking them back now. Aleister is stable enough. Please, come find me when you return,” the Healer murmured as she turned her attentions back to the two before her. With a crack of power, Kasai was left, not quite alone, to wait for Kiba's return. The presence was still in the back of his mind, slumbering and silent. Kasai had the sinking feeling that he had just been drafted as a guardian to the magisterless War Mage.
* * *
Kalla sighed as she woke up for what felt like the fortieth time that day. Though she was exhausted, her two charges were more important. Aleister was stable and doing well, now that the damage had been healed.
Vander, on the other hand, exhibited all of the symptoms of a mage who had extended nearly all of their life force. He hadn't woken back up yet, and his skin was clammy and cold. At least Aleister's temperature was warm, and he had briefly woken earlier, if only for a few minutes. She had used magick to clean the three of them up, covered in blood as they had been.
The Healer was ill at ease by the lack of contact with the War Mage. The forging of a true magisterial bond had broken the link she shared with him. Kalla no longer felt the Dashmari in her mind, slumbering or otherwise. She felt worse for the fact that she hadn't warned the Harrier off earlier, thinking that an accidental forging impossible given the bond she already shared with Vander. Now they had effectively enslaved the hawk, the Khan's own Master Harrier. Kalla feared Vander's reaction, given the less than stellar relationship he'd had with his last magister.
And what of the Master Harrier's own feelings in this matter? He'd only been trying to help, and now he was chained to the War Mage and would be forced to leave everything he'd ever known. It wasn't fair, her mind railed. For the Harrier, it would be a punishmen
t, not a blessed second chance at life. The Healer gave the two a once over and settled back down in her nest of blankets, dozing off once more.
Kalla tensed, a thin growl trickling from her throat as she woke to realize that there was someone else in the room with them. Someone who had managed to pass the still existing wards. A scent of Arkaddian and ginger. It was night-time now and as her eyes adjusted she could make out Kasai's form, huddled near the door. Of course, now tied to Vander, the Harrier would have access to the room. The corded muscles of his neck stood out as he clenched his jaw
“We need to talk, Lady Kalla,” his lilting voice was weak, though he tried to hide it. Kalla nodded agreement as she sat up, pulling a blanket around her shoulders. The Healer turned her attention to the two beside her, instinctively checking them.
Aleister was stable, and sleeping soundly. Vander, on the other hand, was still lingering on the edge, despite the energy drawn from his newly acquired magister. Kalla conjured a globe of magelight, leaving it to spin lazily in the air. By its light she could better see how badly the hawk had been affected. The ailing War Mage must still be draining a great deal of energy from him.
“How did this happen? Why did the War Mage come here without a magister of his own already?” Kasai growled.
“He didn't have a magister because he was my magister. At least, I thought he was. We shared a similar bond, one forged by Balgeras, the guardian god of House Solidor. That is a story you can better learn from Vander himself. I had no reason to believe that bond could be broken. A true magister's bond cannot be broken except through death.” Kalla paused. Her chest ached with the heavy weight of what had been done to the Harrier.
“Whether it be because he is magi also or because the bond was something altogether different, it broke under the strain of both of us doing extensive magick at the same time. Unfortunately, he took the brunt of the drain. Without a magister to draw strength from, his essence reached out for a source.”
Lady of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper Book 2) Page 7
