The Raging One

by Lexy Wolfe

  The Guardian was amused. "Storm is an exceptional young woman. Many of the abilities of a Guardian she has, she has simply accepted and uses instinctively. The problem is she does not understand what she sees or knows much of the time. It makes teaching her much more difficult."

  "Can you tell a person's birth home?" Taylin asked curiously. When Almek shook his head, she was startled. "No? But you said...?"

  "I suspect it is something about the Desanti. They are... different than the other races." Almek smiled apologetically to the bard. "No offense, Mureln, but Vodani have changed over the years. It is not just the soothing rhythms of the currents have changed them. Some blending of Sevmanan and Vodani bloodlines that have blunted some of the Desanti edge has occurred as well."

  Mureln straighten, staring at Almek. "You are calling me a mixed blood?" The hurt in his voice was apparent.

  "No." Almek gazed into the distance. "I am calling myself a mixed blood."

  Taylin gasped softly, covering her mouth. "Oh, Master Almek... I thought what I sensed when I healed you before was just because... because you are so-so old..." She hugged Mureln's arm. "He is both Vodani and Sevmanan." The bard drew back, staring.

  Almek sighed, closing his eyes. "The mixing of nations happens more often at the border towns, and Ganessi is one of the oldest Vodani port cities." He smiled wanly over at the startled pair. "It wasn't always so disdained, having mixed heritages. Many Guardians are actually of mixed blood. Once they have survived their trials and bear the mark, their birthright is meaningless." He shook his head. "Sometimes, the only way to be truly accepted is to leave all of what you were behind."

  Mureln closed his eyes. "Forgive me, Almek. I should not..."

  "There is nothing to forgive, Mureln. I am five hundred years removed from these people. No one remembers I came from here. But I have never forgotten what it was like to be a bordertown child." He bowed his head as Taylin move to one side to put a comforting arm around him, resting her head on his shoulder. Mureln leaned on the rail at his other side, his presence enough to give comfort.

  Chapter 59

  THE thicker green of the less populated coastline gave way to the sprawling city of Ganessi, the peaks of tall buildings looming over those that had only a second floor at best. The bewildered Desanti could not help but wonder at the size of the 'permanent tents' that crowded each other.

  "There must be as many people in this city as there are in all of Desantiva." Skyfire looked both awed and troubled. "The bard says many live in the same place all their lives."

  Storm's narrowed eyes fixed on the edge of land as the Wave Dancer neared the piers. "That means they know the area better than we will. We will need to be vigilant."

  "Storm," Mureln chided patiently. "There is not always going to be a fight wherever you go. Relax." The bard drew back involuntarily as the Desanti woman gave Mureln her full attention. He held up his hands. "Okay, okay. Never mind me."

  Almek put a hand on Storm’s shoulder. "Storm, I do not object to preparing for the unexpected. But I do not want you reacting to everything unfamiliar with violence." He squeezed lightly. "There will be many strange things you and Skyfire will see."

  Skyfire put a reassuring hand on Storm’s resting on the rail. Storm lowered her eyes and nodded with a sigh. "I will do my best, Lord Almek," she promised. "I will not draw a weapon unless one is drawn on me first." She looked up to meet his eyes. "That is all I can promise."

  Smiling, Almek patted her shoulder. "That is all I ask, my lovely warrior." He chuckled when she made a disagreeable noise at the word 'lovely.'

  Not long after the Wave Dancer docked, crowds started gathering as word spread about the desert folk and their beasts arriving. Skyfire and Storm sat astride their drizzen once they were on the dock, both aloof and unconcerned at the attention. At least, they projected that appearance. When something or someone spooked the drizzen, hands fell far too quickly to sword hilts.

  The group rode through town slowly, too many crowding the streets. Mureln quietly suggested a place to go on the edge of the town, when a group of drunkards stumbled out of one of the many taverns along the street. Taylin stiffened, remembering the men from the Forentan town who did not behave much differently from these. Mureln glanced at her and moved himself between her and the drunkards.

  "Lookit! It be one of them desert dogs. And look, he's got his bitch with'im." The men laughed, amused at their joke. "Hey, girly, why you got all them blades on ya? Ye might hurt yerself ye know!" Admirably, Storm and Skyfire ignored the hecklers, navigating the ancy drizzen around the people who tried to cross the street too close to the nervous reptilian beasts.

  Without warning, the drizar shrieked and reared back when one of the men started coming too close to him, the brilliant metal that covered his claws making sparks as he struck the cobblestones. Screams and shouts of panic filled the air as the man drew a wicked looking axe, raising it to attack the unsettled creature. Storm suddenly stood on the moving drizar's back, crouching as she placed a foot in the man's throat.

  The screaming and shouting subsided as the attacker staggered back, gurgling before he dropped to his knees, then onto his face, unmoving. Wide eyes turned to stare at Storm, who easily balanced half-crouched on the drizar's broad back with her paired single-edged blades drawn as she waited for someone else to be fool enough to get near enough to threaten.

  Five black horses approached the group, the crimson and silver uniforms marking them as the city guard. What was left of the crowd quickly melted back watching attentively. Would the savage woman attack them, too? Would five guardsmen be enough for two savages? The whispers were ill-concealed, but to their credits, neither Desanti nor guardsmen reacted to them.

  The Dusvet Guardian made a gesture to Storm. She nodded slightly, lowering her weapons but unwilling to relax completely, eyeing the approaching men. Almek turned towards the man with more ornamentation on his uniform and nodded, smiling faintly in recognition, both of rank and the man himself. "Captain Dylar. A surprise and pleasure to see you." Indicating the rank insignia, Almek smiled faintly. "You have done well for yourself."

  It was obvious by the man's reactions that word of the Dusvet Guardian's arrival had been overtaken by the news of the violence. "Ah, Dusvet Guardian Almek?" He looked towards Storm and Skyfire, waving a hand towards the darkly tanned pair of warriors. "These are with you?" Storm and Skyfire awarded the guardsman captain with hostile frowns. "Could you get the woman to put her blades away, perhaps? It would help with calming the crowd immensely."

  "Lord Almek, could you get the man to ask the woman to put her blades away, perhaps?" Storm's heavily accented trade common was icy and mocking. "I am neither animal nor stupid." Ritually sheathing the weapons, she gracefully resumed her seat, cold gaze never leaving that of the guard captain.

  The captain's subordinates were at a loss, looking between the two as if trying to decide what they should be doing. The captain and Swordanzen stared at each other until the man finally grinned. "I like her, Dusvet. Bold as brass and tough as nails. Some of my boys could stand a bit more backbone like that."

  "I am sure if they wanted to learn some of the desert warrior arts, your men only need ask." Almek tempered his reassurance with caution. "However, do be careful. They are quite strict, hands-on teachers." He glanced at Storm and Skyfire, who traded looks and then offered a polite nod to the guardsmen. "It has been many years since I was here. I wondered if you could direct us to the Blue Rose Inn, please? It has been a very long, eventful voyage."

  Dylar nodded and said, "Allow me and my men to escort you so there are no more..." He looked at the fallen man. "Adventures." He waved to three of his men to take up escort positions, the fourth remaining to see the body attended to.

  "Thank you, Captain," Almek said with a faint smile.

  "Sorry I was not here sooner, Dusvet. I know some of the less desirable sorts here can get unruly." He glanced over his shoulder. "Though I doubt she'd have much problems
dealing with any trouble."

  "I would rather not risk my Swordanzen so soon." Almek kept his voice even. "They are both rather important, else I would not have brought them with me."

  "Edgy though. Dangerous around here. It can draw unwanted attention from some of the less trustworthy in the more influential of Ganessi."

  The Guardian offered a polite nod to the worker near the Blue Rose Inn stables as they arrived at the rather remote inn, younger stable hands emerging and gaping at the pair of desert mounts. "Your warning is duly noted, Captain Dylar."

  Dylar nodded as his men moved back behind him, waiting to depart. "I suggest you leave as soon as you're able, Dusvet. There is only so much my men will be able to do. The reverence to Fortress is not what it should be these days."

  Almek nodded, resigned. "Of course. We will not be lingering any longer than necessary. My thanks, Captain."

  The Sevmanan innkeeper came out, looking at the assorted members of the group, nervously eyeing the Swordanzen before going pale to see Almek. "Dusvet Guardian?!" Bowing low, the man hastened to make up for his disrespectful reaction. "W-we are honored you have ch-chosen our humble esa-esta... place. Please, do come in."

  Storm dismounted, holding her mount's reins. "I will be in shortly," she promised. "The drizar does not like the smells here. He will require coaxing to behave." Turning to the monstrous looking creature, she cooed softly to it like an aristocrat would to a small pet. The drizar lowered his head, affectionately nibbling her shoulder. He flinched and looked like a scolded puppy when she swatted his nose at a too hard nip.

  "I ain't never seen a hangdog expression like that b'fore," Emil said, staring at the otherwise violent beast.

  "See why I don't cross her when she's in a temper?" Skyfire moved to his drizzen's other side away from Storm.

  The mercenaries chuckled as the Desanti led the animals into the barn and gave Almek an offhanded salute. "We will wait for 'em, Dusvet." Emaris nodding in mute agreement. "We do not need t'have no more twits comin' around." The implied meaning was clear. It was too risky to leave the two desert folk alone.

  Chapter 60

  TO honor the Dusvet Guardian and his companions, the Blue Rose's innkeeper provided a bountiful meal. Despite Almek's reassurances, the man continually apologized for being unable to provide as lavish a meal as was due to a Guardian, much less the Dusvet Guardian.

  It was not long before the tension between the Forenten and Desanti became noticeable. The two Swordanzen eyed the food with keen distrust, reaching for nothing and pushing away anything set before them.

  Taylin attempted to coax them with reason, her tones matter-of-fact. "You cannot go without food forever, Storm."

  Storm's expression resembled that of a vexed feline when she pinned an annoyed look on the Sevmanan healer. Sitting back with a child's petulance, she crossed her arms defiantly. "Watch me."

  Seated across from Storm on Almek's other side, Ash looked up to pin a cold look on the Desanti woman. "You are being unreasonable." He met glare for glare when she turned her irritation away from the healer onto him. "It is nearly two week's travel just to reach the borders of Forenta, and another week to reach our destination. If we do not stop to rest or resupply."

  "I am being unreasonable." Storm's scowl darkened. "I am being unreasonable?! I did not come to this land to be held to outlander standards!"

  "It does not matter your intentions, you will be held to different standards here than your people hold so dear in your barren wastelands!" Ash snapped back. He inwardly cringed the moment he spoke, knowing he erred when Storm's eyes dilated. Skyfire grabbed one of her arms, Almek putting a hand on the other.

  Almek fixed a disapproving look on the Illaini Magus. "Stop instigating. The Great War ended over two thousand years ago. I will not have the two of you start a new one!"

  "Stupid savage," Amelana muttered, yelping when red wine suddenly splashed over her. She glared at Terrence. "You stupid boy! I should—!" She gasped when Emil made a show of tripping and splashing her with his own drink. Apoplectic, the Forentan woman ran up to her room, trailing a stream of invectives.

  Terrence coughed, unable to hide a smile behind his hand. Schooling his features, he looked towards Ash and Almek. "Forgive me, Master Ash, Master Almek." Both men waved to the apprentice mage dismissively, more engrossed with the matter between the Illaini Magus and Githalin Swordanzen. He blushed when Mureln gave him a thumbs up, Taylin winking at him.

  Almek turned his attention to Storm. "Look at me, Githalin Swordanzen." When the woman finally turned her attention away from Ash and onto him, he stated, "I will not have you starve yourself. You need to eat."

  "No, I do not need to eat. I am not hungry, and I will not be hungry for days." Storm flashed a dark look at Ash. "Thanks to the defilers, what is unreasonable for them has become reasonable for our people." Standing, she hissed, "Are you not proud of what you have done?" Before anyone could speak, she turned on her heel and stalked towards the door leading outside.

  Skyfire quickly got to his feet. "I will make sure she does not go far, Lord Almek." Barely waiting for Almek's assent, Skyfire hurried to catch up to her.

  "By Zeridis, I have never seen such a temper." Taylin clasped her pendant unconsciously for reassurance. "Even the Raging One did not seem so... uncontrolled."

  Mureln shook his head. "That was controlled, Taylin. Given her youth and the demands we are making of her as well as those she makes of herself, she is doing quite well." He glanced sideways at Ash. "And with nearly everything here being unfamiliar, it is a lot to take in. I am sure she will calm down once she acclimates."

  Emil and Emaris gazed at the large amount of food, then traded looks. "Well, best not be lettin' all this go t' waste, eh?" Both he and Emaris reached for the platters nearest them. Mureln shook his head, rescuing a few servings to offer to Taylin graciously. He smiled faintly noticing Terrence wrapping some small meat rolls in a cloth to tuck in his pocket.

  Terrence smiled sheepishly at Mureln with a small shrug. "Perhaps later they will want something?" The bard only nodded, patting the young man's arm.

  Chapter 61

  AFTER the contentious evening meal, Mureln remained downstairs to play for the inn's patrons, as much to repay the innkeeper for his generosity as to gather news and gossip, Almek and the rest having retired to their rooms upstairs. As he was making his rounds of the tables, he was surprised to see Ash sitting alone at the small table in the corner of the room. Noticing the mage's dour expression, he respected the man's obvious desire to be alone.

  As the evening wore on, most of the patronage departed, save those few more engrossed in their drinks than the bard's music. Deciding his efforts for the evening were done, Mureln joined Ash, taking a seat across from him without asking if he wished any company.

  Mureln started to pour himself a drink from the bottle already at the table and blinked, shaking the empty container. "You do not seem the sort to drink to excess, Master Ash." His concern deepened when the mage's answer was to wave to the innkeeper's assistant to bring him another bottle. "Ash," he chided quietly.

  The mage made a dismissive gesture. "Don't worry, Bard, I am perfectly capable of functioning while intoxicated." Ash spoke with precision, but slowly, focusing on each word. If he noticed Mureln's skeptical expression, he did not show it.

  "It still seems unusual to me." After pouring a drink from the new bottle, Mureln frowned as Ash refilled his own glass. "Is Amelana being herself again?"

  Ash snorted, bitter. "When is Amelana not being herself?" He sighed, putting his forehead on the back of his hand. "Why can't I get her out of my mind?" he lamented in a low voice.

  Mureln squinted. "Amelana?" he asked incredulously.

  "Not Amelana. That damned Desanti bitch," he growled. Draining half of his glass, he regarded the bard. "No matter how much I try, she is there. I hear her voice mocking me in the back of my mind. Being with Amelana sickens me more and more because I wish it was her, with
her dark copper skin, her beautiful hair, her..." Shaking his head sharply with a wordless sound, he drained his glass and topped it off again.

  Mureln reached over to put a hand on the glass, keeping the mage from lifting it. "Drinking won't help anything, Ash. You know that."

  Ash shoved the hand off the glass. "I see them together all the time. Storm and Skyfire." Ash laughed bitterly. "He doesn't deserve her. How can he understand what she's had to endure? Everything she has suffered. He cannot!" Sighing, his head dropped to the palm of his hand, propped up. "I could, though. We are not so different, she and I."

  "No, you aren't." Seeing behind the mage's iron-like façade made Mureln realize how similar the Illaini Magus and the Githalin Swordanzen truly were. His face was a mask of sorrow.

  "Tell me how to forget her, bard?" Rubbing his cheeks, Ash looked upwards, then over to Mureln again. "The pain I felt when Dessa died... is nothing compared to the hole she left the way she looks at me since we were in Water's Resonance."

  Mureln pressed his lips together tightly. "Come on, Ash. You need to sleep."

  The mage reluctantly got to his feet, looking surprised to discover he had trouble keeping his balance. Miserably, he grumbled to himself, "I deserve Amelana."

  Mureln let Ash lean on him, leading him up the stairs. "No one deserves Amelana," the bard countered immediately. "Especially not you." They navigated the stairs carefully. "Hopefully Taylin has a way of mending hangovers, my friend. You are going to have one hell of one in the morning."

  "After everything I've done, you still consider me a friend?" Bitterness and self-loathing soaked Ash's voice as they reached the landing. "I do not know if I deserve anyone calling me friend." He looked at his hand as Mureln led him across the dimly lit common area. "It doesn't matter if it was me or my ancestors. The blood of Desantiva is on my hands. No wonder she hates me. It's all I deserve." When the door began to open, Ash looked up and frowned. "This isn't my room."