by Lexy Wolfe
"It is hard not to." Terrence looked out at the horizon again. "They seem very quick to anger as a people."
Emil chuckled. "Yeah, well, imagine there bein' a whole lot more of 'em. I might be shittin' m'self, too, if someone be tellin' me they're out fer m' blood." He poked the younger man's shoulder. "But that been their fault. Not yers. Not a'tall."
"But it was still wrong!"
"Hell, yeah, it was wrong! But th' fault not be yers." Emil grinned a little. "Gods, boy, ye helped a Totani t' live again. Ye already proved ye not be like them ones in th' past. There prolly be others of yer and yer master's mind that think what happened was wrong, or least could be easily convinced. Just... well. They be afraid t' speak up b'cause of people like that bitch journeyman of yer master's. Or they be happy ignorin' everything around 'em. Hoping all th' trouble will go away or at least won't be them that will be bit in the arse."
Terrence sighed heavily, looking at the gypsy helplessly. "So, what should I do?"
Emil reached up to scratch behind his ear idly. "Well, I figure ye gots two choices. Ferget it an' go on like it ain't a problem like them ones that be more like sheep. Or do what ye can t' help make it right again, like ye already done fer Dzee. There be a lot t' be fixed, ye know? Just don't be blamin' yerself fer it needin' t' be fixed."
Terrence considered the Sevmanan's words and finally smiled weakly. "You are right." He sighed heavily, looking at the horizon. "I can't help but feel sorry for the Desanti for all they've had to suffer."
"Pfft!" Emil held up both hands in a warding gesture. "Dear gods, don’t go an' pity them desert folks, lad! Not where they know it, anyway. They ain't want none of that, I promise ye." He held out his hands as Terrence looked at him in surprise. "They be a proud an' strong people. Hafta be t' live here. Ye pity 'em, and they will get riled up that ye think they ain't as good as ye fer their sufferin'. An' that'd likely start th' bad feelings b'tween yer peoples all over again."
Terrence frowned a bit. "That's... not going to be easy."
"Never said it would be, lad." Emil stood up, offering a hand to the younger man to pull him to his feet. "C'mon, b'fore th' Totani get impatient wi' me an' start trying t' hunt ye down. They are very infatuated wi' thems they like. And you they are fascinated with."
As they started down the steep incline, Terrence said, "You are a very wise man, Emil."
The mercenary nearly lost his footing, looking back at the mage with a comical expression of horror. "Don’t ye be goin’ blabbin’ anything like that around, lad! Mureln’ll never let me live it down and Emaris’ll just have a smirk on his face and life’d just be unbearable between th’ two of them great louts."
Terrence looked amused. "It will be our secret then."
Emil grinned back over his shoulder. "Yer a smart one, ye are, lad. Now ‘bout that game ye owe me..."
Chapter 45
THE cooler breezes of the coming nightfall gusted over Almek and his companions minus Amelana and Storm as they sat among the Totani in front of the Raging One. The brilliant panorama of colors in the sky was slowly shifting to the deeper purples of the night sky. Tiny, jewel-like motes of light starting to become visible, tiny tracks of light breaking the stillness occasionally as a shooting star raced across the heavens.
Taylin smiled shyly as Mureln sat by her. He arched an eyebrow in amusement when she shifted to sit nearer to him, but said nothing. Her smile faded as she looked to the great dragon, the rattle of his chains reminding them of his state. "Dusvet, I remember stories from my childhood about Shadowlords, but I thought they were just... make believe." Her cheeks colored a bit at the grumbling of the Totani. "But even in the stories, they were not really described well. What are they?"
Almek ran his fingers through his even greyer hair, considering his reply. "Part of an ancient, secret society. Speaking of them was dangerous in itself. Even now, most will not discuss them for fear others like them will reappear."
The Raging One raised his head to regard Almek. "They are gone?"
Almek closed his eyes, expression pained as he remembered. "I very much hope so, for the sakes of the Dusvets who died to eliminate them as a threat to the great balance."
Taylin opened her mouth to ask more about those days, but went silent when Mureln put a hand atop hers, shaking his head with a very uncharacteristic seriousness. She closed her mouth for a moment before speaking slowly. "You told me that Fate itself will work to maintain the great balance." She looked towards Ash briefly before looking to Almek. "What could those of dual talents be needed for? There never were any before."
The dragon shifted uncomfortably on His bed of jagged rock. "It had not been unheard of before the Great War, but it was exceedingly rare because few can give all of themselves to more than one discipline fully enough to master both." Almek regarded the dragon with open shock. The god snorted softly. "Do not look so surprised, Sentinel. Since creation all things have been the union of opposites, a balance of order and chaos." He stretched his wings to their full extension, blotting the sky briefly. "Even Us gods."
Ash rubbed at a scar in the palm of his hand, frowning pensively. "What has changed that we are needed now and had not been needed before?"
Almek looked troubled. "I am beginning to wonder if it has not been a matter of potentials with other gifts were not being born, but that they were simply not found." He looked at the mage and said grimly, "Or killed by some agency that could see their potential before others and sought to eliminate it." The comment caused a ripple of unease, the Totani moving uneasily as the Raging One growled deep in his chest, the glow in his eyes briefly flaring brighter.
"Strings are definitely being pulled," Mureln agreed. "Though I do not think everyone is dancing to the tune that's intended. Forenta and Desantiva always seem to be the major focus." He looked over at Taylin, grim. "I think the only reason Sevmanen and Vodani have not been so tainted is we are considered... lesser than our cousins."
Thandar stretched his wings wide, flipping them to his back with a snap. "Many of the Vodani skills you had described are facets of Swordanzen arts. But the shorter lives and great amount of knowledge to master make it impossible for them to attain the mastery Vodani have."
"I think it must be likewise for Sevmana, cousins to the Forenten as they are." In her humanoid form, Dzee raised sad eyes up to the dragon. "Those who attacked Desantiva stripped the land of the part of the life force that was my heart. If not for Terrence..." She looked away, pained. "I will never forgive myself for the pain I brought you, my lord."
The Raging One growled, spines along his back rising. But when he lowered his head to bump Dzee, his touch was incredibly loving and gentle. "I have already forgiven you, my light." She covered her face with her hands, leaning against his cheek.
Kailee mrowred unhappily as she hopped down from her perch to the ground near Thandar. "So, we face a battle with an unknown evil that has an unknown purpose and unknown resources with a decided lack of those trained to have any hope of survival." The sand grey mountain lion stretched, raking slashes in the stone with her claws. "And our lord imprisoned by one of His own. This bodes well." The cat's sarcasm was thick in her voice. She hissed at Thandar when he smacked her haunches with one wing.
"How can it be that He cannot free himself?" Taylin wondered, drawing dark looks from the Totani. She flinched a little, but continued. "The Raging One must be as powerful as the Timeless One or the Knowing One. What could possibly prevent Him from just... breaking the chains that imprison him?"
Standing stiffly, still suffering from the lingering aches resulting from Dzee's restoration, Ash slowly approached the dragon god, putting a hand on the cuff of the nearest shackle. "The laws of magic bind him." He looked up to regard the god levelly, others looking between the two in careful amazement at the mage's confidence in approaching Him. "The Knowing One... my mother... She must have feared You meant to harm Her, but She could not bring Herself to kill You, Her own brother, despite Her belief You woul
d kill Her."
The dragon growled in irritation, jerking back on the chains. "I never intended to kill Her. I still do not. She is My sister!" He lifted the foot, the massive links rattling dissonantly. "Yet they still hold."
"All binding spells require both the binder and the bound to agree on the fundamental purpose of the binding. She cast it with the belief You wanted to hurt Her." Ash paused a moment. "The moment it was cast, You did want to hurt Her." He gazed up challengingly. "You still do want to hurt Her, and She still believes You do."
"Of course I want to hurt Her!" the dragon bellowed, beating the air with his wings as he pulled against his restraints. "I have had to suffer thousands of years being unable to move from this place of torture, unable to go to my children when they need Me! Because of Her! Yes! I want to hurt Her! I want Her to know My suffering!"
"Then you will never be free, Father." Storm appeared unexpectedly, startling dragon, Totani, and humans alike. "And neither will Desantiva until you forgive Her."
"Forgive? Forgive She who imprisoned Me?!" The dragon swung His head down, nose a hand’s breadth away from the Githalin Swordanzen. Storm did not flinch, did not cross her arms in judgment. She simply stood there. "You ask too much of Me, Daughter."
"No more than I know You can give, Father." The dragon roared to the heavens in frustration. Storm looked down, shoulders sagging slightly. She looked towards Ash. "If the spell cannot be undone because Father will not stop wanting to harm His sister, would it be enough if His sister could be convinced He would not harm Her?"
Ash considered for a moment and nodded. "It might. But She would have to believe it without suspicion. All She knows is His pain and anger. She cannot come here Herself and hear His words." He looked at the Raging One, pressing his lips together. "I am loathe to deceive Her. But things must change."
"Then I will go to Her and speak on my Father's behalf."
The dragon was stunned to silence, the eyes of the Raging One and all of the Totani suddenly falling onto the young woman. "Leave Desantiva? You would leave Desantiva, Daughter?"
"I love you, Father. For you, I would suffer an eternity of torment if it would end yours." She went to him, resting her cheek on His leg.
Ash watched Storm, his expression unreadable. Meeting Almek's eyes, he waved the Dusvet Guardian over to him. "I need your help." He whispered to the Guardian, the older man nodding in agreement. While the Totani and dragon were distracted, the two approached the god's resting place, filled with mercilessly jagged rocks that offered no comfort or peace, endlessly cutting into his hide. Focusing together, the Guardian and his mage student forced the will of time on the rocks, the jagged points wearing away until there was nothing but a smoothed, shallow pit of black and red sand. The dragon went almost limp, eyes half closing at the easing of the once inescapable torture.
Almek nodded approvingly to Ash as teacher to student. "Your instincts serve you well, Ash." He looked to the dragon. "We cannot undo the bindings, Raging One. But we wished to bring you some small comfort."
"Thank you." The dragon closed his eyes for a moment, relaxed for the first time in centuries. "I will... try to do as Storm asks of me. But I can make no promises." Ash and Almek nodded, returning to the others of their traveling group. He looked at the young Desanti woman. "You need not leave, Daughter. Stay with me. I will be free in time."
"I must go, Father. If there is a chance You can be freed sooner, while I am still alive to know you are free, I must go."
The dragon heaved a sigh. "Very well." He raised his head and looked to Dzee.
Nodding wordlessly, Dzee approached the group. "You came to Desantiva knowing only something was wrong and have helped to mend the land. Desantiva wishes you to know We are grateful to you and accept you as siblings to Our children." Growing like glowing vines, blades emerged from the ground at the feet of all but Radisen. "Take these so the children of Desantiva know you are accepted and welcomed here. May the strength of your hearts protect you."
Before Dzee could turn to Radisen, the mountain lion leaped between them, snarling at the other Totani. "Do not try to steal what is mine, Dzee! You know I claim him!"
Dzee snorted, waving a dismissive hand. "Then stop playing your games, Kailee. I have no patience for them." Kailee snarled at Dzee’s back. Dzee, back remaining to the lioness, waved a dismissive hand.
Radisen took a half step back as the snarling mountain lion turned back towards him. "Foolish child. You gave up when you did not pass your Naming trial instead of trying to prove yourself worthy!" Calming, the Totani's hackles lowered, her voice reflecting pride. "But when our lord’s daughter needed you, you selflessly stepped up to be what you have always been despite being without your Name." The lion crouched and sprang on Radisen, looking as if it meant to rip his throat out. He gasped as claws ripped the shoulder of his tunic off, revealing a silhouette of a mountain cat mid-attack.
Kailee licked his cheek. "Do not be such a fool again, Skyfire." The lion sprang back off of Radisen, a gleaming two-edged short sword much like Storm’s resting by him with an ornate sheath. On either side, two, single-edged blades rested as well.
Storm offered a hand to Radisen, smiling knowingly. "Welcome, Githalin Swordanzen Skyfire il’Kailee."
Dizzily putting a hand to his head, Skyfire cleared his throat. "If I’d known what being Githalin entailed, I would never have envied you, Storm."
The others chuckled as Storm laughed outright. "Such is the price we pay for the love of our Totani." She looked at Thandar affectionately, then to the dragon with an unconditional love touched with sadness.
Chapter 46
EVEN the non-Desanti noticed a change in the land the moment they began the journey back to First Home. Subtle at first, a distinct increase in plant life became noticeable, lurking around the many rocks. Not visibly but no less noticeable, there was a certain air of peace they had not known since they stepped onto Desantiva's shores.
The valley of First Home seemed desolate with the Time of Gathering over. Only the age worn paths hinted at the massive community that had been there only weeks earlier. A handful of Desanti remained, tending to the meager fields near the oases that dotted the valley, serving those for whom the nomadic life had become too harsh.
Verris na'Zhekali was the first of the elders to come out to welcome Almek and his outlander students. He skidded to a stop when he saw Skyfire standing by Storm, his jaw dropping in shock. "You... you are..."
The Desanti man stepped forward, bowing to Verris and the other Desanti gathering around them, all staring in awed shock. "Githalin Swordanzen Skyfire il'Kailee." Sounding like he was still getting used to his new name and title, the man stood with pride.
Storm looked smugly amused. "I had told you, Grandfather. You cannot change a Swordanzen to be anything other than what they are." She gave Skyfire the gentlest smile any of her companions had seen yet. "He has earned his Name and more. He is th'yala to me."
"I, er, well... ahem." Verris looked lost for a moment, as all the hopes he had for Storm slipped from his fingers. "The tribes... are blessed to have you both guarding us all."
Smile fading, Storm spoke carefully. "The tribes will not have us for long. We must leave Desantiva with Lord Almek." The surrounding Desanti went wide-eyed and pale at her words. She added, "Both of us."
The elders, attendants and guardsmen shook off their paralysis all at once, all speaking and moving animatedly. "What?!" "You cannot leave!" "Desanti do not leave Desantiva!" Hateful, accusatory glares were turned on Almek and his students. Guardsmen drew weapons, as if killing the outlanders would prevent their departure. Even the attendants started reaching for their knives.
Both Storm and Skyfire responded by drawing their own twin blades, standing protectively in front of Almek. Facing two Githalin Swordanzen gave the Desanti pause. "Outlanders have never come to Desantiva since the Great War with any intentions other than to destroy us!" Her words were clipped as she held one sword out, pointing tow
ard Ash and Terrence. "Can you not feel the change in the Psia Re? How it has eased? Have you not seen the changes in the land?!" The other Desanti hesitated, trading confused looks as their weapons lowered.
Turning her piercing green-gold eyes on Verris, she stated in clipped tones, "I will not be stopped, Grandfather. You do not know the things I do. You do not understand that I must do this. Desantiva's continued survival depends upon this journey."
The elderly man stared at her a long moment before his shoulders sagged, going to her to cup her cheeks in his hands. "Your eyes are so old, dear child. I have only ever wanted to spare you suffering and erase your curse to restore our tribe."
Storm smiled sadly. "I know, Grandfather. But the lines in the sand have been drawn, and I must stand to meet the challenge, else all the Swordanzen in history will not be enough to save Desantiva." She covered his hands with hers, gently pulling them away. "It is my duty."
"I will accompany her, Elder." Skyfire's voice was filled with a quiet confidence that had not been there before. He put his hand on her shoulder, meeting her eyes with an understanding affection. "I would never abandon Storm."
Verris sighed and nodded. "Very well. Tia, have food and drink brought to the dining hall." He waved Almek and his students to follow him. "Come. Tell us what we must know. We will prepare the tribes for the trials that come. Before Storm, there had not been a Githalin for two generations. We endured before, we can do so again." He looked at Storm and Skyfire. "It is our duty as Desanti to protect the land."
Chapter 47
THE early morning sunlight flashed off the bronze metal shod horns of the drizar as he led the line of drizzen towards Home Port. His shrill cry announcing himself turned the heads of the Vodani tending to the small patches of food plants. The surprised Vodani stared in childlike wonder at the sight of the full male drizzen, running to the edge of the road to get a closer look.
