by Lexy Wolfe
Chapter 59
"Three days," Ash murmured in an agonized voice, barely noticing Mureln top off his glass of wine as they sat in the Se'edai Magus' audience chamber. "Three days and there has been no change in either Storm or Skyfire's condition."
"We can be grateful they have not worsened," Mureln stated emphatically. "We're lucky the drizzen are even willing to listen to you, Nolyn, and I, else the entire stables would need to be rebuilt."
Emil grumped from where he sat on the ledge of the stained glass window. "Still think it be Shodwyn, Dusvet. Nothin' else would be s'devious t'pull this off."
"Shodwyn?" Ellis stared at Mureln and Emil as the two fully explained their suspicions finally to Ellis, Nolyn and Ash. "It would explain a great deal of the things Bennu and I had suspected long ago." He frowned slightly. "It is possible there may be some on the council who would favor an alliance with the likes of them, if they are not members themselves."
Almek shook his head. "If they are part of the Shodwyn, they could very well be unaware of the nature of their alliance. The Shodwyn were not many in number when the Guardians last faced them at the height of their power. But their influence was considerable. Few truly understood who or what they had allied to. The promise of power or some coveted reward was often enough to bind people to them."
"What about that woman Storm revealed and you banished?" Mureln asked. "The previous Se'edai Magus."
Almek looked towards his troubled students. "Even Ysai might not have realized who she had allied to so long ago at first. Shodwyn prefer to be the power behind the throne. It is easier to replace puppets, and it deflects attention away from themselves when things go poorly. But the Shodwyn must have been emboldened by the lack of questioning to allow a darkling to fully possess someone in a seat of power." He looked towards Ash. "Either that, or the presence of one favored by the gifts of the Timeless One and the Knowing One coming into his own was enough to attempt a more direct approach."
"Many on the Edai Tredecima were placed there by Ysai," Nolyn said in a low voice. "Could they be—?"
"I will not say it is impossible, but it is unlikely," Almek replied. "Unlike Guardians, Shodwyn are solitary in nature. They obey only their leader, and even then, if any consider themselves strong enough to defeat him, they will work against him. We had thought we wiped them all out." He sighed. "But it seems it simply took them this long to regain their influence. I should have worked harder to restore the Dusvet ranks."
"You couldn't have known this would have happened, though," Ash said, finally breaking his silence. He looked up at the Dusvet Guardian. "You said your deterioration had been accelerated because of how much you've had to manipulate time energies and from being away from the Fortress of Time. It is now painfully obvious how time shifters may be infiltrating Forenta and Sevmana."
"And Vodanya," Mureln added reluctantly, "though my people prefer not to speak of those instances to foreigners."
Ash nodded once to the bard, then looked back to Almek and Ellis. "Except for Sumalen, I have never heard of the Desanti having such... troubles."
Almek managed a wan smile. "No. Shodwyn never could infiltrate the Desanti successfully, even before the Great War. Time shifters are not necessarily Shodwyn, but the Shodwyn have ties to them."
Everyone looked up at a loud smack at the window, a shadow of a bird visible as it flapped impatiently against the barrier then flew off. Mureln pushed himself to his feet, expression apologetic. "If you will excuse me. That particular arrowhawk gets ugly when it is impatient." Ellis waved Mureln and the two mercenaries off.
Ellis watched Ash for several minutes as the younger Avarian rested his brow in the palm of one hand, the slight tremble of exhaustion and emotion visible even through his rigid self control. "Ash. Go get some sleep. You've been awake for days. You'll be of no use to anyone if you're exhausted."
Nolyn smiled wanly as he stood away from the shadow along the wall he had been occupying. "Come on, Ash. I'll keep you from walking into the walls." The Illaini Magus scowled irritably, but got to his feet, wavering a little before he recovered his balance with Nolyn's discrete hand on his arm.
Once the Se'edai and Dusvet were alone, Ellis rose to retrieve two glasses and a dusty bottle, pouring a potent golden liquid into each and offering one to Almek. "Your students will be fine," Ellis reassured confidently. "Have faith."
"In them, I do," Almek replied quietly, taking a sip of the drink, closing his eyes. "In myself, I am not as certain. I did not consider something could have been driving me away from Fortress so I would be outside my Mistress's protection."
Ellis tilted his head to one side. "Then let their faith be your strength, my friend."
Chapter 60
In the Oracle Voice's chambers, the atmosphere bordered on despairing, as the two Desanti remained inert on the couches moved nearer the window so the sunlight could shine on the pair. Taylin sat between them, squeezing out a damp towel and gently brushing it across Skyfire's brow tenderly. "I do not understand it. They are not asleep. Their spirits are not lost. But they do not seem to hear us." She touched Skyfire's drawn cheek, sighing. "It is as if they have given up."
Nolyn shrugged as he closed the door to the other room. "I finally got both Lyra and Ash to sleep. Zoe's watching over them." He smiled sadly as he looked at the two Desanti. "I wonder if the Swordanzen realize how attached to them Lyra and Ash are." He glanced around. "Where is your mate? I thought he would have returned from fetching that messenger bird by now."
"Mate?" Taylin blinked, then blushed brightly. "I guess Mureln is my mate, isn't he?" She cleared her throat, cheeks still deep red. "He said he was waiting for a reply to a message he had sent to someone in Vodanya. He wasn't more specific than that, though."
"Ah, I see." Nolyn sighed a bit and went to sit by the windowsill to look outside, his gaze fixed on a distant point.
Taylin watched him. "About the guardsmen who died, Nolyn... I am sorry—"
"Don't be," Nolyn interrupted. He looked at her, expression sadly resigned. "I mourn my people, but at least their deaths were not in vain. I am grateful for that." He shook his head. "There have been too many pointless deaths. My people as a whole do not appreciate the fragility of life. How precious it is. They have built themselves gilded cages and exchanged a life of risk and freedom for one of imprisoned security." He looked at the two Desanti. "To see two 'savages' who are willing to give their lives without hesitation to protect an unborn child, to save the life of the Dusvet..." He shook his head. "I am almost ashamed to call myself Forentan."
Thoughtfully, Taylin mused, "Perhaps both Sevmanen and Forenten have grown too accustomed to living in lands of bounty. The oceans and the desert are both harsh environments. Mureln has said on the Vodanya, the moment a person grows complacent, they often die. It is as if the ocean itself reminds them their lives are a gift not meant to be taken for granted."
"I have never been further than our closest Sevmanen neighbors to the south. I should like to see both Vodanya and Desantiva one day, I think." Nolyn looked over Taylin critically. "You look exhausted. Why don't you get some rest yourself. I can watch over the Desanti."
"No, I need to be here for them," Taylin stated. She fumbled the rag, barely catching the basin of water before it tipped.
"Master Healer," Nolyn reminded her, "you have more than yourself to worry about."
Taylin looked down at herself, putting a hand over the slight swell of her abdomen. "Yes. I do not want their sacrifices to be in... in vain." Realizing the hopelessness of her words, she covered her mouth, choking back a sob before hurrying to the other room.
Nolyn watched her disappear for a long moment before he moved to sit on the vacated chair between the Swordanzen's couches. He simply looked at them for some time before he spoke, his voice quiet. "I understand. Believe me, Swordanzen, I understand. You came close to... how did Mureln say you refer to it...? You came close to crossing the sword. Close enough, I would bet, that you can s
ee the others who had crossed before you." He closed his eyes in pain. "I know. I had been there. It would be so easy just to let go. Escape the pain of grief and loss."
Dipping the rag in the bowl of water, he squeezed it out, then dabbed at Skyfire's face. "Maybe I am being arrogant thinking I understand anything about your people. Goddess, the few stories I have heard, you must have come that close to death any number of times before now." He paused, studying Skyfire, then Storm. "Or is it you have given up out of guilt? For being in lands overwhelming with bounty when your people struggle simply to exist? Or because you are ashamed that even sacrificing your own lives is still not enough to save the Dusvet? There is no shame in the attempt. It is more than many would be willing to do."
Setting the rag aside, he took their hands. "Storm, Skyfire, you are both so desperately needed. Your people need you. One day, the bounty will return to your lands. Someday, somehow. They will need your experience to guide them so your lands will one day thrive again." Nolyn whispered, "And... My people need you. They need to learn to accept our way is not the only way to see the world." Squeezing their hands, he stated with heartfelt anxiety, "Lyra and Ash need you. Please. Come back to us."
There was no response. The Edai Magus sighed heavily, releasing their hands to pick up the towel again. He stopped as he reached towards Storm, blinking in surprise to see a single tear tracing a path from the corner of her eye into her hair. Gently, he wiped it away with the towel. "Swordanzen Storm," he greeted, keeping his voice neutral.
"Master Nolyn," the woman whispered, her voice breaking. She opened her eyes, slowly focusing on his face. "What are you doing here?"
"Someone needed to watch over you both while the others get rest," the mage replied evenly. "Your friends were worried something went wrong and they lost you both."
Skyfire groaned softly, straining to lift his hand to his forehead. "Something nearly did go wrong." Swearing colorfully in Desanti, the dark-skinned man said, "Kailee's tail! Even the air feels heavy. Every fiber of my body screams in agony."
Silent, Storm closed her eyes again, looking away slightly. Frowning in concern, Nolyn touched the back of her hand lightly. "Swordanzen Storm?"
"If Desanti were not broken, perhaps we would have succeeded in saving Almek. All we have done... is delay the inevitable." With a supreme effort, she sat up, not looking at Nolyn. The pain it caused her was vivid in her expression. "I will fail my oath to the Dusvet."
Nolyn frowned, his voice sharply chiding. "Don't even start going down that road, Swordanzen. Yes, you have only delayed the Dusvet Guardian's death, but it is not a failure." He stared hard at her until she finally looked up at him. "You bought him time, and no one knows how precious a gift that is more than he does. There is time now to seek a solution that is not a short term fix... nor one that will kill you."
Skyfire pushed himself up as well, reaching across to touch Storm's knee. "Listen to him, Storm. He speaks wisely." Pausing, he added, "Surprisingly wise for a treewalker."
Nolyn arched an eyebrow, meeting Skyfire's eyes for a moment. The Swordanzen man merely smiled faintly, inclining his head respectfully. Both looked at Storm when she laughed weakly, both amusement and sadness weighing the sound. She wrapped her arms around her middle, grimacing. "Oh, Thandar's talons, I hurt so much."
The chamber doors opened to admit Mureln, Emil and Emaris. Mureln carried a sleek black bird on his shoulder, wrapping a strip of cloth around his bird-bitten hand. All three men looked relieved to see the two Swordanzen were awake. "Oh, thank the tides," the bard breathed. "I was hoping having to contact Ilsa would be worth the torment."
"Ilsa?" Nolyn asked in puzzlement.
"Mureln's old girlfriend," Emil said drolly. "Suffice t'say she be a woman who can make m' own nads try'n crawl inside." He shuddered comically. "Least it only be Mureln she gots a fixation on."
Mureln rolled his eyes at his friend as he went to the table to empty some powder from a silken packet into two cups, filling them with water. He brought them over to the two Desanti. "Here. Ilsa promises this will help you restore your strength after your dance with death." Neither Storm nor Skyfire had the strength to hold the cups.
"Allow me to assist," Nolyn offered to Storm, taking the cup from Mureln. He put her hands around it, and then put his hands around hers to support it. Mureln helped with Skyfire's cup. As they drank, they both grew visibly stronger. Eventually, both were able to hold the cups themselves, drinking without stopping until they were empty.
Skyfire rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. "I feel better. Not like I was trampled in an angry drizzen stampede."
"If they be stampeding, wouldn't they be angry t'begin with?" Emil wondered at the strange emphasis on the type of stampede.
Storm shook her head. "Happy drizzen will go around you. Frightened drizzen will run over you only once." She smiled a little. "Angry drizzen will come back to dance on your broken body until you stop twitching."
"And then eat you," Skyfire added, amused at the horrified expressions of the non-Desanti men.
"Eat... you?" Nolyn asked.
"Oh, aye, I not be surprised by that a' tall. Th' bleedin' beasts eat everythin'," Emil confirmed sourly. "Plants. Meats. Rocks. Amazin' there be anything standin' in Desantiva."
The Edai Magus blinked several times, then got up to find himself something to drink. He looked at Storm, expression droll. "Swordanzen Storm, I suddenly have a new appreciation for the bond between you and your drizar." Storm only smiled at the man.
Chapter 61
Nolyn and Ash rode side by side as they followed the others on the way home from the Magus Academy after nearly a week. "It is amazing how well they can hide how impaired they are," Nolyn mused.
"Perhaps. There is little that surprises me about the Desanti anymore." Ash's eyes did not waver from Storm. "They seem capable of doing anything if they are determined enough." After they returned, Nolyn started to bid farewell and turn to leave. Ash stopped him. "Where do you think you are going?"
Nolyn turned to arch an eyebrow at his brother curiously. "Going home, of course."
"To that hole in a tree you call home?" The Illaini Magus snorted, crossing his arms. "You are an Edai Magus now, Nolyn. That place was insufficient before for a captain of the guard to begin with."
Mirroring Ash's posture, Nolyn had a difficult time hiding the smile threatening to curl his lips. "And where do you propose I go?"
Ash walked to Nolyn, the two clasping their right hands tightly. "Stay with us. Miss Kelafy would be delighted to have another 'power sink' to take care of."
Nolyn chuckled finally. "I suppose it would lessen the amount of time needed to hunt you down to scold you for being the most intelligent idiot in the lands." The others laughed at the brotherly gesture as Ash lightly socked Nolyn's shoulder.
Chapter 62
The first dinner at home was a subdued event, the conversations quiet and topics shallow, staying far from sensitive subjects. Afterwards, when everyone parted ways, Terrence made his way to one of the outer branches to think. Petal flitted to his shoulder, silent for once. Terrence sat staring at the braided marks on his arm "So this must be the Petal that the Great Mother was speaking of." Terrence jumped in surprise at Nolyn's unexpected voice. The startled sprite leapt straight up with a shrill squeal of panic and dove into Terrence's hood.
"Master Nolyn!" Startled, Terrence instinctively put his hand over the lump in his hood protectively.
"Master Terrence." Nolyn smiled at the flush that colored the younger man's cheeks. "You know, Ash is going to have a time with all the students who will start seeking him as a master now, what with being an Avarian and Illaini Magus who trained such an unlikely candidate to become a master and Illaini Magus as well."
Terrence looked worried. "Master Ash always did hate people pandering to him. They will do so more now, won't they? He won't be mad, will he?"
Nolyn grinned, waving Terrence's concern away. "Bah, don't worry about it.
It will be good for him." He looked around to the tiny eyes peeking out from the hood. "I don't bite, little one. I've glimpsed your kind before in the forests. It is a pleasure to see you up close." He tilted his head as the tiny face peeked out through the tangle she'd made of Terrence's hair. "You are quite lovely."
Terrence drew the small creature out, placing her back on his shoulder after disentangling her from the hair she had clung to in her panic. "Did you need me for something, Master Nolyn?"
"Yes, Master Terrence," the older man replied mildly. "I was wondering if you could answer something for me." He paused a moment, looking out towards the horizon. "Why were you so traumatized when the Great Mother named you her Illaini? It is the dream of nearly every Forentan in existence. Mine, too, when I was your age. Until I realized the sacrifices Ash had to give."
Going pale, Terrence looked down, not answering immediately. Finally, he whispered, "Because I am also Githalin."
Nolyn blinked at him, not expecting that reply. "...What? A Githalin? You are a Swordanzen?" he asked dubiously.
Terrence shook his head. "I am not... I am not a Swordanzen. Swordanzen are masters of physical combat. Even if I trained for the rest of my life on nothing but the martial arts, I do not think I could ever be as good as Mistress Storm and Master Skyfire. Truly, they are terrifying in their skill." He pulled his sleeve up to reveal the dark image on his shoulder, warm where the Illaini mark was cool. "To the Desanti, I am called Sumyr il'Dzee. I am just... not quite sure what that means yet."
"How in the world did you manage to be tapped by a Desanti god-servant?" Nolyn wondered without scorn, his curiosity obvious.
Taking a deep breath, Terrence explained what happened in Desantiva. "During the Great War, the Totani Dzee was ripped from her mortal shell. Her body was saved, but her soul was missing on the ethereal plane. Dzee was desperate to return to the Raging One, and was misled by entities unknown into killing Desanti to stay on the physical plane. Storm believed she was dinnais or a darkling as we call them."
