by Lexy Wolfe
"They are god-touched warriors," Mureln countered gently, his worry for the pair no less than the women's. "And she is the Raging One's daughter. If there is any way to help you help Almek and not hurt our unborn child, Storm will find it." He sighed, turning back towards the house.
"Oh, no," Lyra whispered in apprehension. The other two followed her gaze towards the main road leading to the house.
Ash, Terrence, and Nolyn appeared over the rise as they returned from the Magus Academy. Ash's azure eyes noted the evidence of the recent training in the corral, as well as the Desanti's puzzling absence. "Where are the Swordanzen?" Mureln and Taylin traded looks, not relishing needing to explain to the Illaini Magus.
Chapter 50
The wind gusted as the two Desanti took shelter on the lee side of one of the giant tree roots. Storm looked skyward morosely, muttering under her breath. "How anything survives in this sun-forsaken land..."
"Let's just hope Kailee and Thandar are willing to help us." The man blew on his hands as they knelt facing each other. "If this would be in vain..."
Storm scowled as she drew her knife. "It will not be in vain. I will not allow it to be." She studied her blade as she rested it in her open palm. Eyes closed as she focused her attention inwards, she closed her hand over the blade and drew it out abruptly with a sharp inhalation. She looked at Skyfire as he, too, opened his sliced hand to let the blood drip. Both reversed the blades and impaled the frozen ground as though it were soft butter.
The whisper of distant thunder announced the arrival of the two Totani. Thandar's form shifted from the eagle to the half-man as he settled next to Storm, putting his wing-like arm around her. Kailee's half-woman shape leaned protectively against Skyfire in an attempt to warm him.
Thandar did not bother with the pretenses of greetings, speaking immediately on the reason they were called. "I know better than to ask if you know the risk you are asking to take when you ask our help in this." Storm leaned against him, smiling faintly at his dry tone.
Kailee echoed the dubiousness in Thandar's tone of voice. "Is the life of this unborn outlander-foreigner half breed worth your own lives?"
Skyfire looked at Kailee with unwavering conviction. "They are our tribemates. As much as ones such as them can be of a Desanti tribe. And as much as we Swordanzen can have a tribe. Taylin had given of herself to help our Lord for no other reason than to ease his suffering, regardless that he is the lord of the warrior folk. She is the only one who has the ability to save Lord Almek's life." He looked over to Thandar. "Is saving the last Dusvet Guardian's life not reason enough to protect her unborn?"
"Even without worrying about the infant, Taylin will need all the strength she can get to preserve Almek." Storm leaned against Thandar. "If giving my own life would keep Almek alive, I would do it without hesitation." She looked up at Thandar. "You know I would."
Thandar closed his eyes as he rested his cheek on Storm's head with a sigh. "I know, child." He looked to Kailee as he reached for Storm's bleeding hand. "We must work quickly. This cold drains your strength." Cupping the back of Storm's bleeding hand with his own, he guided her hand towards Kailee and Skyfire's hands.
The two Swordanzen gasped as their blood touched, seeming to burn with the heat of the Rumbleland volcanoes themselves. Thandar reached forward to catch the blood crystal that fell from between the humans' hands, Kailee reaching over to touch the tip, drawing out a gold chain.
"Your lives are bound to the healer's child now," Kailee said in a purring voice. "When she begins to draw on life force, it will be yours she draws."
"But be careful," Thandar said as he touched Storm's cheek, the woman's eyes half closed, weakened from the energy drawn. "The weight of time upon him is heavy. Even with three, it will be too heavy to lift completely."
Kailee looked from Skyfire to Thandar. "We can stay no longer, Brother, else they will be too weak to return." She nuzzled Skyfire's sickly pale cheek. "I am proud of you, my Skyfire. I am with you always." She moved away, taking her feline form again before fading.
Thandar was more reluctant to leave Storm, tightening his arms around her briefly. Whispering in her ear, he stepped away as well, taking flight in his eagle form before he, too, vanished. As one, the two Swordanzen pulled their knives free, gasping as the blood magic spell ended.
Skyfire looked at his palm, the gash slowly closing, then raised his eyes to Storm. He reached out to shake her shoulder lightly. "Come. We must return."
Storm shook her head to clear it as she staggered to her feet. The two leaned on each other for support. "I am not sure of the way," she murmured. "So tired."
"The drizzen can find us," Skyfire stated quietly. "We must keep moving. For Almek's sake." Storm nodded minutely, clutching the blood crystal tightly as they staggered into the falling snow.
Chapter 51
A knife could have cut the tension in the common room. Everyone sat in near silence, barely whispering to one another as minutes, then hours, passed. As the sky began to color with the coming sunset, Ash surged to his feet. "Enough of this nonsense! The Desanti need to be found before they freeze to death." He headed towards the front door, impatience in his gait.
To everyone's surprise, Lyra intercepted him, blocking his path. "No, Master Ash! You cannot go! Mistress Storm said not to look for them before sunset."
Ash scowled, momentarily taken aback at the normally demure young woman's sudden boldness. "Out of my way, Miss Lyra."
Though she could not meet the furious Illaini Magus' eyes, neither did Lyra back down. "No, Master Ash. It is not yet sunset." The slight girl was shaking visibly, but she stood her ground between Ash and the door. "She said only if they do not return before nightfall."
"Do you want them to die?" Ash asked incredulously. "Move, girl!"
Lyra shook her head, still unable to look at him. "No, Master Ash, I very much do not want either of them to die. But I have faith that they can succeed in whatever they set for themselves to do, even if I do not understand it. They asked only for time to do so." She finally raised her eyes to meet his. "Don't you believe in them, Master Ash?"
Ash growled, hands curling into fists. The girl cringed when he raised one hand as if to backhand her, but did not otherwise back down. Staring at her for a long time, he finally lowered his hand, closing his eyes and looking away.
When no blows were forthcoming, Lyra finally peeked. Her expression was contrite. She boldly hugged Ash tightly. "I am worried about them, too," she whispered.
Ash stiffened at the unexpected physical contact, then sighed, slowly hugging her tightly in return. "I know, Lyra," he said simply, consoling the girl as much as she consoled him.
Looking grey and drawn, Almek sat in the large chair, Taylin resting her hand on his, squeezing it. His eyes were on the flames. "This is my fault," he stated unhappily, coughing.
Taylin shook her head once sharply, tightening her grip on his hand briefly. "It is not. You did as you have taught all of us. To allow your instincts to guide you to be where you need to be." She released his hand to pour him some more tea. "The Desanti have been doing that all their lives. In a way, they are a different breed of Guardians."
The Dusvet Guardian managed to smile. "You will all be a different breed of Guardian." He sighed wistfully. "I wanted to be there to see their faces when you returned to Fortress after your tests with your colors." He coughed again. "Wouldn't that just irritate all of those hidebound traditionalists to no end?"
Emil frowned at Almek. "What are ye talkin' like ye ain't goin' t' be there t' see 'em come back from their testin'? Ye think fer one minute Storm is goin' t' be allowin' anyone t'die? Hells," the mercenary muttered. "I think Death be afraid o' crossin' that'n."
Some minutes later, Mureln frowned, standing abruptly as he listened to a familiar beastial challenge. "The drizar is upset. We better check on him before he destroys something. Beast has a temper worse than Storm's." He went to the door, reaching for his cloak and tossing Ash'
s cloak to him.
"Master Ash!" The mage paused at the threshold, looking back at Lyra, angry she was stalling him again. "Here." Lyra brought Skyfire and Storm's cloaks to the men. She managed a smile. "I know once you go out that door, you will not come back without the Desanti."
Ash managed a small smile, taking Storm's cloak and tossing Skyfire's to Mureln. "Lyra, go tell Kelafy to find some extra blankets. When we return with the Swordanzen, they will need to be warmed." Lyra nodded and hurried off.
Having watched the interplay between everyone, Nolyn finally stood away from the wall he had been leaning on. "I will seek you out if you do not return within the hour, Ash."
Clasping Nolyn's right hand, Ash managed a smile. "You would wait that long?"
"Get out of here," Nolyn stated gruffly, shoving Ash's shoulder lightly. "Find your Swordanzen."
Ash and Mureln discovered the drizar was not simply upset. He and the drizzen had gotten out of the stables and jumped the corral fence as was typical. What was not typical was the pair waiting in the clearing in front of the house instead of seeking their riders. The larger male shrieked impatiently, pawing at the frozen ground as he glared at Ash malevolently. As the mage and bard moved to sidestep the two agitated desert creatures, both charged the men, stopping short and eyeing them balefully.
The mage held up a hand to the animal as he approached cautiously. He jumped back a half step when the drizar suddenly lowered into the snow. The female did the same as Mureln approached. "Normally I would hesitate to do this without either Skyfire or Storm here." Ash carefully swung his leg over to mount the animal. "But I think if I do not agree to ride, he will impale me."
"Agreed." Equally uncertain about the temperamental beast, Mureln mounted Skyfire's drizzen as well. The abrupt motion of the drizzen rising forced the bard to lean forward to grab the animal's neck to stay astride. "I need to practice bareback more," he stated as a promise to himself. "How does Storm stay astride when she rides without a saddle? They are so slick backed!"
Ash, more practiced, was still unsteady as the drizar surged to his feet. "Easy on us." The drizar snorted in response, his bronze-encased horns flashing as he bobbed his head. Whether the animal understood somehow or not, the desert beasts did not go any faster than the two men could handle.
Some distance away, they found the two Desanti crouched together in the path, huddled together as the drifting snow began covering them, the pair so cold it was not even melting. The drizzen lowered themselves into the snow again, and remained there making worried noises as the bard and mage ran to the Desanti. "Gods, they're half frozen," Mureln stated as he patted Skyfire's cheek, relieved to get a semi-coherent response. "Skyfire, man, we've got to get you back to the house. Come on."
Eyes unfocused, Skyfire trusted Mureln to guide him as he lurched to his feet. "Tried... return. Would have... return sooner. Couldn't find... So cold." The Swordanzen man staggered towards his drizzen, keeping upright only with Mureln's aid.
Ash called to Storm several times before he finally got a response. Storm clung to Ash as he got her to her feet. She fumbled for his hand, shaking violently, and pressed a small object into it. "What is this?" he asked as he supported her, looking at the intricate gold chain with a blood colored stone pendant.
"F-for Taylin." Already moving slowly, Storm could not focus on moving and speaking at the same time. "P-protect b-baby. D-draw strength f-from us." She stumbled, and the mage simply scooped her up into his arms impatiently and carried her to the drizar, wrapping her in her cloak. He sat her on the animal's back, then sat behind her, holding her tightly as the drizar stood as carefully as he could manage, mindful of his human's state.
Putting both his own cloak and Skyfire's around the Desanti man's shoulders, Mureln sat in front of him, letting Skyfire hold onto him as the drizzen stood. "Good thing we waited," the bard observed as they rode as fast as the riders could manage without risking falling off the smooth-backed animals. "I don't know if we'd have found them without the drizzen."
Ash pulled his cloak around Storm, covering her hands with his to try and warm her. Realizing the truth of Mureln's words, he was silent for a time, troubled. "We might have," he finally stated. "But not in time..." He shook his head, banishing the thought of what could have been. The mage felt Storm fumbling for his hand and clasped it tightly in a reassuring grip.
"F-forgive us," Storm murmured. "H-had to f-find way... protect baby and L-lord Almek." She swallowed, leaning into him. "Ha-had t-to be a-alone."
Closing his eyes at the heartfelt earnestness, Ash felt a pang of guilt for his earlier anger. "I can't say that I agree or understand why you had to be alone," Ash murmured in her ear. He tightened his arms around her. "I am grateful you were not lost to us."
"M-me, too." He frowned as she abruptly went slack against him. "So tired..." she whispered weakly.
Ash frowned and shook her a little. "Don't sleep. Not yet." He looked at the bard who was trying to rouse Skyfire to stay awake. "They're going deeper into shock. Don't let them fall asleep until we can get them warmed again."
The bard nodded unhappily. "I hate having to do this, but it's the only way I know will work." He pulled out his flute, eyeing it reluctantly. Taking a deep breath, he focused on a discomfiting tune, fixing the two Desanti in his mind to direct his focus. While it was uncomfortable in its dissonance to Ash, the music Mureln played certainly worked to rouse the Desanti. They groaned, shaking their heads in discomfort.
"Make it stop," Storm begged Ash. "Please. Just want rest."
Ash held her tightly. "I am sorry, my Swordanzen," he whispered. "You would understand." He ached for both of the Desanti as the bard modulated the music to ease its intensity before they were moved to try to flee or strike him, then strengthen it to keep them awake. It was with no small amount of relief when they saw the house coming into view.
Chapter 52
After the Desanti were bundled in what seemed to be nearly every spare blanket in the house and several personal ones from the many servants, Ash handed the strange pendant to Taylin, who held it up curiously. Almek's eyes widened as he reached out to touch the tip of the blood red crystal. "Incredible," the old man said more to himself.
Taylin looked curious. "Do you know what this is?"
He shook his head. "I have never seen its like. But I can see what it is intended to do." He looked up at Taylin, expression quite serious. "The Desanti are both tied to it, and it is tied to your baby." He looked at the two Swordanzen seated on the floor with Lyra and Ash sitting by them protectively.
"It is called a blood crystal," Storm stated, closing her eyes as she rested her head on Ash's shoulder. "You will not need to worry about your healing harming your baby. When you heal, you will draw strength from us, not the baby."
Mureln frowning slightly as he looked between the pendant and the Desanti. "What if something happens to you? Will it harm Taylin or her child?"
"No, nothing will happen to either of them." Skyfire still shivered from the overlong exposure to the cold, though looking considerably healthier. He managed a half smile. "You are our tribe. We protect our own."
Lyra frowned at the Desanti man, swatting his shoulder. "Don't make it so hard for us to protect you!" He looked mildly surprised, but could not help but smile affectionately at the young woman as she hugged him fiercely.
Ash watched Storm as she stared into the fire. "Are you all right?" he asked her quietly.
She nodded, not looking away from the flames. "It was good to see Thandar and Kailee again." She closed her eyes, not raising her head from his shoulder. "Thank you," she murmured.
The mage snorted softly. "After everything we have endured together, did you think I would not go looking for you?" he asked teasingly. "It is becoming a habit between us."
The woman did not smile, eyes remaining closed. "For not getting angry with me."
He blinked, and then put one arm around her, holding her close. "How could I blame you for wanting
to do something to protect their baby and help Almek?" The mage lightly kissed her hair, bringing a small smile to her lips. He looked down at her as she pulled her hand free of the tangle of blankets, touching the elegant design of the Illaini mark on his hand.
"So it is your divine mark. You no longer hide it." Her pleasure was apparent.
The mage looked surprised. "You knew it was there?"
She traced the design lightly. Though the Illaini god-mark was normally cooler than Ash's skin normally, her fingers were colder still. He clasped her hand in his to warm her. "I was puzzled why you had no mark at first. If you were god chosen as I had been." She closed her eyes halfway. "Then I was able to sense it, but I thought I was blind to it because I was Desanti." The pain in her voice at her lack made his heart ache for her. "When I saw it before... I was not sure. It is forbidden to hide the mark in Desantiva. We had to make certain Kailee and Thandar accepted the beadwork on our clothing's shoulders as acceptable."
"Mother allowed me to hide it." Ash kissed her temple. "There is nothing lacking within you about this. The lack was within me." He blinked when Storm shuddered, looking up to follow the Desanti woman's gaze as Taylin put the necklace around her neck.
Taylin settled the blood crystal in place, tucking it inside. "It feels strange," she said quietly. "Warm, like it was sitting in the sunlight all day." Glancing at the two Desanti, Taylin bit her lip. She went to Almek. "I want to try healing you a little to see how the healing will affect them, before I attempt anything greater." Almek nodded in agreement, the others watching in utter silence.
Taylin knelt in front of Almek and put her hand over his heart, closing her eyes. The man stiffened as the glow around her hands shifted from white to intense, electric blue. It was several minutes into the healing before the effect was seen on the two Desanti. Both grimaced in discomfort, the color draining from their already pale complexions.
