The Raging One

by Lexy Wolfe

  Emil snorted and muttered loudly, "I need t' be wit'out a woman fer a lot longer b'fore I be desperate enough t' look at that one." Those nearest the wiry man fought to swallow their laughter, especially when Amelana started demanding to know what everyone was discussing. The laughing stopped as soon as they stepped out of the tunnel onto the wide stone floor of a great basin, staring in awe at the sight before them.

  Soaring cliffs of colorful rock rose above the floor of the half enclosed basin facing the ocean. Framed by the cliff face was a great tree that dwarfed any they had seen in the Forentan capital. Roots like giant arms cascaded over rocky protrusions, framing giant natural steps. Opposite the tree, the horizon was a flat blue line that shimmered in the sun, the distant sound of crashing waves hinting at a long drop from the ledge.

  With the demeanor of someone who had grown used to the sight, Ash did not stop to stare in wonder. He walked towards a low, flat rock across from the tunnel along the cliff face. With the utmost care, he laid Dessa on the flat rock, resting his hand on her forehead for a long moment as he knelt by her.

  "We mourn with you, Ash Andar," a soft voice using the royal 'we' whispered in the breeze, startling the others as they looked towards the source. Seated on the lowest of the roots, a woman regarded Ash with a maternal sadness. Delicate, willowy in build, the dryad resembled carved and polished wood herself, save for large, deep brown eyes. "We will protect her spirit in our branches until she has healed enough to return."

  Ash looked upwards towards the woman, his face a mask of neutrality. "Naiya. Thank you." He approached her and sank to one knee with subservient respect.

  "Rise, Ash Andar." Naiya rested her delicate hand atop his head as a mother would comfort a child. "Ease your heart knowing we are proud of you, always." She turned her head to regard the others. "It is unexpected you bring us a Dusvet Guardian." She turned to address Almek. "We are very relieved to know you live. We have been greatly troubled by the silence from all of our siblings for so long. There are so many mortal voices now beyond our domain; it makes it difficult to separate a few from so many to be able to reach out discretely. I have only heard the whispers of the Singing One."

  Almek approached, though he did not kneel as the mage had, instead offering his palm to the woman. "My mentor Salais had told me of you before she died, but since Illaini Magus Perisi died, I knew of no others who spoke for you." He sighed softly. "There has been a great deal of knowledge lost over the past centuries with the loss of the Dusvets."

  Naiya frowned, the branches of the great tree above rustling, as she tilted her head. "Then you truly are the last? This is unexpected. And troublesome." She rose, walking up the root a pace, beckoning for Almek and his students to follow her. "There is grave danger. Not only to the present, but the future as well." She paused to look over her shoulder. "Unsvet Guardians do not have the vision or the strength. We are uncertain a single Dusvet will be strong enough."

  "Do you know what we are facing?" Almek asked hopefully. "I sought the vision of the Timeless One, but even She could not see clearly what it is that preys on us." He looked towards Dessa's body down below. "What we have encountered feels more to be foot soldiers than the minds behind the cruelty."

  Naiya stepped onto the soft soil of the next higher step, circling each member of the group, inspecting them critically. "Unfortunately, We do not know either. We know whatever it is, it is being very careful. The Knowing One is only dimly aware of its presence. Outside and inside of time, it knows the currents enough to conceal its ripples."

  Almek frowned, looking towards the ocean's horizon. "What of the Seeing One?"

  "We do not know where He is." Naiya went back to the root, laying her cheek on it, seeming to seek comfort. "He has been silent a very long time. We had hoped He only rested, as He likes to do. But it has been too long now and We cannot find Him. We do not believe Him dead, but that He is beyond Our reach worries Us." She stood straight, waving a hand towards the tree. "Our grief has only been eased watching our son Ash mature."

  "Wait," Mureln interrupted, his eyes wide. "The Knowing One... is the tree, not you?"

  Naiya looked highly amused, coming to Mureln to put a hand over his heart lightly. "Do not your people speak of the Tree of Knowledge? There is much truth within the old stories you have so diligently learned, Master Bard of Water's Resonance. I am Her voice." Mild surprise colored her features as she looked to Mureln. "He has the Vision. But barely trained. It is unexpected that a Dusvet would so poorly train his students."

  "I have only recently taken them as my students. It seems even the Guardians of Fortress fail to consider the possibility of one person being able to touch more than a single energy." Almek shook his head bitterly. "Most have their other gifts discovered well before a Guardian appears to encounter them."

  "Guardians had been present in Forenta in the years before he was taken into the Academy of Magic," Naiya pointed out.

  Almek looked at Ash. "I believe they thought he was too lowborn to succeed and would shame the Forentan people. They attempted to forbid him from accepting my offer to teach him already."

  Naiya's expression darkened, and the ground seemed to tingle as the tree shuddered. "Lowborn?! What does his birth matter when We have chosen Him ourselves to be Our Illaini? How dare they insult Us! We who have protected and sheltered them from their enemies?" Roots erupted from the soil to ensnare Terrence and Amelana. "They will all be punished, starting with these two! Ash is our Illaini! Our son!"

  Ash grabbed Naiya's shoulders, shaking her in urgency. "Naiya! Mother! Release them! They are my students!"

  She looked at him, her visage terrible in the shared goddess's fury. "They have caused our Illaini pain! Why should they not all suffer? Have you forgiven them?"

  "Not all of them caused me pain," Ash stated firmly. "I have sworn to protect the Forentan people. Your children! That includes them. It is for me to deal with, not You. Please. Release them."

  Naiya stared at Ash for a long moment before the roots released Terrence and Amelana, letting them fall into the soft dirt, gasping for breath. "For you alone, because you ask it, We will spare them. But know, Ash of Andar, that you are much beloved of Us. We will not be so forgiving in the future." Turning away from the mage, Naiya returned to the root, climbing back onto it again. Her eerie gaze settled on Almek. "We wish there was more We could offer to help you, Dusvet. But We..." She paused a moment. "We are afraid. We very much need your help."

  The humans looked between each other in dismayed shock. "But you are... a god. You are so much more powerful than any of us mere mortals." Mureln's puzzlement spoke for all but Almek. "What can we possibly do that a god could not?"

  The branches creaked as they moved, drawing all eyes towards the towering trunk. Naiya nodded and returned her gaze to the gathered. "Understand. It required balance for the Creator and the Destroyer to create the world. For every strength, a weakness must balance it. For every weakness, a strength must balance it. When there are too many plants, there must be more plant eaters. When there are too many plant eaters, there must be predators. When there is too much life, there must be death to prevent inevitable suffering.

  "So it is with power. Each of Us Old Ones pays a price for Our power. We are the Knowing One. Our roots reach into time itself. Even to preserve Our self, We cannot simply... how you would say it?... We cannot speak bluntly of what can be learned for one's self. We can only reveal hints of what we know so others may learn for themselves."

  Naiya reached down to rest her hand on the root's surface and said softly in a gentler voice, "She cannot leave this place, Dusvet. And she mourns. Her three siblings... have been missing for a long time."

  Almek frowned, looking down as he thought deeply. "Her brothers... I know the Ancient Triad of the Creator, the Destroyer, and the Timeless One. And their children, you, the Seeing One, and the Singing one..." He looked perplexed. "Who is the fourth?"

  Naiya's expression was deeply apologetic. "
She will not permit me to speak more. Forgive me, Dusvet. Forgive Her. Her shame..." The dryad paused a moment, shaking her head, then squared her shoulders resolutely, her voice resuming the duality quality when the Knowing One spoke through her. "Our shame is as old as the sundered lands. To speak of it endangers the balance. We cannot speak more, else We will have spoken too much." Naiya approached Almek, taking his hands in hers. "It is for you to discover. The path is dangerous. But the world depends on your success. On your students' success."

  Turning from Almek, the Dryad looked to the Illaini Magus. "Ash Andar," Naiya said with maternal affection, the young mage approaching and taking her offered hands in his. "Your path has always been your own. Know We are always with you, no matter how distant your path takes you from Us."

  The mage nodded, though grimness had settled on his features. "I have always known, Mother. I will not fail You."

  Naiya cupped his face in her hands with a maternal sadness. "Do not fail yourself, My son."

  Chapter 17

  THE trees began to diminish in size and number as the group approached the borders of the port city of Corast. The thunder of hooves slowed as the tempo of the bard's piping did until they came to a stop on a rise that overlooked the wide valley, the line of the ocean's blue glittering in the distance.

  Terrence leaned down to stroke his mare's neck, thumping her shoulder affectionately. "They are barely winded, and we have ridden at a dead run all day! I have never seen such magic before, Master Mureln!" His excitement at the discovery of a gift not born of Forenta glittered in his eyes.

  Mureln smiled indulgently as he carefully tended to his twin flute before putting it away again. "It is not magic," he corrected, sounding exhausted. "Vodani have none as Forenten and Sevmanen do."

  The young man looked puzzled, tilting his head. "But how, then? It is obvious your music had some effect."

  Emil chuckled as he rode over to Mureln, offering him a bottle. "Ye no' need be worryin' about it, lad. It be a Vodani thing. Bards always bringin' inspiration t' all around 'em. Even th' beasts." The wiry gypsy guffawed at Mureln's expression when he took a long swig from the bottle. "Ye should be use ta gypsy brew by now, Mureln!"

  Apart from the others, Ash reached up for the forest sprite riding on his shoulder, the small creature forlorn. "Li not like when you leaving Forenta," she complained, hugging his finger as he stroked her hair gently. "Too far for Li to find easily."

  Ash nodded. "I know. But I go where my master goes, Li."

  "You will come home?" she asked hopefully, sitting forward on her knees, her expression begging."

  Unable to be anything but honest, Ash replied simply, "Perhaps someday, Li. Thank you," he said quietly, resting the back of his finger against her cheek, the tiny sprite hugging it tightly. "You were always the one to find me when I needed to be found. Now it is my turn to find what is needed." Carefully holding the sprite in his hands, Ash walked over to a rose bush and gently sat Li on it. "Guard Mother well, my friend." As he turned to go to his horse, Li keened mournfully before taking wing and disappearing into the dense forests.

  "So, what now?" Emil asked curiously. "Can't exactly be askin' 'round bout these shifter things. People'll either think we're nuts and try an' stone the madness outta us or panic, which looks like is th' effect these things want in th' first place." He glanced at Emaris. "An' so far, ain't been much fer gold t' be had."

  "I would have thought you found plenty of gold when you went through the box in the kitchen," Ash stated tonelessly, eyes fixed forward. When Emil stammered denials, Ash shrugged one shoulder. "It matters not. That was where I put money for Dessa for the market. She no longer needs it." Though he stated his words without inflection, the others looked away from the mage.

  Amelana urged her horse forward, though the beasts made intimacy impossible. "Oh, Ash..." The mage leveled a cold look on her and she smoothly corrected herself. "Master Ash, you should not let the death of that servant girl bother you so much." She started to reach towards him. "After all, you still have me—" Her voice and motion towards him both froze when his expression did not change.

  "Ow!" Emil's exclamation disrupted the interplay between Amelana and Ash, the smaller man rubbing his shoulder, glaring at his massive companion. "Why did ya hit me like that for?" he demanded. "Damned near broke me arm, ya big lunk! I was just makin' an observation 'bout..." He glanced at Ash and Amelana and coughed. "Oh, er. Yeah. That's why. Ne'ermind."

  "Master Bard," Ash called as he joined Mureln and his Sevmanen companions. "A moment of your time?" Mureln waved Emil and Emaris on, guiding his horse nearer to Ash. "I have ridden horses all my life. There are spells that can compel beasts to push themselves beyond their endurance, but it usually costs them their lives."

  Neutrally, Mureln nodded. "I am aware of those, yes. My people possess no magic as you or Sevmanen possess. I assure you." Giving Ash a cool look, he stated, "We are no threat to your dominion."

  "Dominion...?" Ash frowned in puzzlement before the implication dawned on him. "Sevmanen have minor gifts as well. I would have no issue if your people had similar abilities as mine, Master Mureln." Ash pulled his horse around gently to face towards the others, his eyes moving over them as he spoke.

  "Then you are unique among your people, Master Ash." Mureln's words were clipped. "Can we get to the heart of what you want to talk with me about quickly? Regardless of my helping the horses extend their endurance range, the ride was long, and I am concerned about Almek. He is not a young man."

  Ash pressed his lips together at the chiding, fixing his gaze on the Dusvet Guardian, Taylin hovering near him. "I had heard stories about the music of bards being able to affect things as if it were magic. I had assumed it was the fanciful babblings of foreigners. But as my apprentice noticed, they are barely even winded." The mage arched an eyebrow at the bard. "You are smiling."

  Mureln's smile widened as he thumped the broad neck of his mount. "Yes, I am." Urging his horse forward, he asked simply, "Do you believe there is nothing else besides Forenta's magic in the world? Nothing beyond her borders?" Ash opened his mouth to answer, then shut it again, frowning thoughtfully as he followed the bard back towards the others.

  "Ye have never been outside Forenta's borders?" Emil was incredulous as the apprentice mage turned bright red. The gypsy tsked and shook his head. "A right shame. There be a lot of interestin' things, 'specially th' farther south ye go."

  "You recommended a place here in Corast." Almek looked towards Mureln. "Is that where you still believe we should go?"

  The bard looked amused. "You always said not to second guess intuition. Has that changed now?" With the confidence born of a long time master, Mureln waved a hand forward. "Besides, if I'm wrong, the travel will be far easier along the coast than inland. Let's go before that gods awful brew of Emil's wears off and I fall asleep where I stand. I've not had to move so many at once for years." Almek chuckled and headed down the road towards the distant gathering of buildings that marked the port town.

  Residing on the border of Forenta and Vodanya, the scent of the border town Corast was strange and unique. The salted air of the ocean mingled with the crisp scent of trees. The half circle harbor was crowded with vessels of all sizes, from tiny two-man skiffs to large merchant ships and even one massive Vodani vessel called a maternasi that housed an entire clan, all vying for space along the many finger-like floating piers that reached out into the cool waters.

  Along the road, orchards and fields fanned out from the heart of Corast, all neat and ordered. Deeper into Corast, humans, beasts of burden, and massive wagons piled high with crates and barrels choked the wide streets. Unlike most towns and cities, Corast was without a central market, but it was not lacking for commerce. It appeared as if every building bore a sign indicating some type of business housed there. Merchants who were not local or had no building of their own hawked their wares from carts or wagons.

  Word spread quickly of the Dusvet Guardian's arrival, and
many vendors' attentions focused on him specifically in the hopes they could win the bragging rights for his business. As realization that the Illaini Magus was traveling with the Dusvet, efforts seemed to double.

  "Corast has grown since I was last here with Bennu." Ash frowned slightly. "There is a great deal I do not recognize anymore."

  Mureln chuckled quietly, contentedly letting his horse navigate the sea of humanity that flowed around them. "Where there is a significant population of Vodani, there will be change," the bard said mildly. "The wandering spirit guides us. Some more so than others." Pausing a moment, he tossed a coin to a flower vendor, then turned and offered the flower he bought to Taylin with flourish. He smiled when she blushed, accepting the flower uncertainly. Standing up in his saddle, Mureln scanned the streets ahead of them. "If we are lucky, the place I have in mind will have space for all of us to stay for a few days."

  Emil perked up with interest. "The Rusty Pelican?" he asked hopefully, a teasing tone in his voice.

  Mureln looked at Emil sideways. "You know Mia'll gut you where you stand if she hears you call her place that." He looked to Almek. "The place is called The Silver Seagull. It's a very popular inn with locals and transients alike." Looking at Emil meaningfully, he added, "Not one of the dives Emil likes to frequent."

  "Hey! I gots t' make a livin' somehow," Emil countered. "Them high brow places are always so prissy. Never have any good games of chance goin' a'tall."

  Mureln snorted softly. "They have games, they just don't want your light fingers anywhere near their well-heeled patrons." Taylin coughed, covering her smile behind her hand. Her giggles only increased at the sorrowful expression Emil tried to garner sympathy with.

  "I have never seen so many foreigners at once, Master Ash!" Terrence said in wonder. He watched several Forentan and Vodani men working together to lift large crates from the back of a wagon and carry them into a building. There was an easy camaraderie between them that did not exist between Forenten and the visiting races in Ithesra. "And everyone seems to be able to work side by side no matter if they are Vodani or Forentan," he said in fascination. "I did not think that was possible!"