by Lexy Wolfe
Almek came up beside Ash, studying him consideringly. "The Knowing One welcomed them?" he asked in a low voice.
Ash's expression hardened slightly. "Not precisely. My master used to tell me of the days shortly before the Great War. How we shut out all the lands, especially the warriors." Ash closed his eyes, looking away slightly. "After we recovered enough from the final battle of the Great War, our Sevmanan cousins and the seafaring Vodani were welcomed, but no Desanti had ever come.
"To break a warding, one of those warded against must stand at the threshold and be formally welcomed." He looked up, watching the Desanti as they examined the fruit of the nearest tree along the road. "Bennu always emphasized how it was important that it was never forgotten, so it could one day be made right."
"Bennu was always a wise man, even in his youth. He would be proud of you." Almek merely smiled gently at Ash's surprised, grateful expression. "Come on, if we do not distract them, we'll be here all day while they explore."
"Let them explore. The clearing up ahead is often used by travelers to camp. The outskirts of Ithesra are only a day's ride away." Ash's expression softened a little when Storm laughed, hanging onto the back of the drizar as he balanced on his rear legs to reach the fruits just out of reach. "They wish to learn about the world beyond their borders."
Almek looked surprised before an understanding smile curved his lips. "The Knowing One emphasizes gaining knowledge." Nodding, he called out, "We will be making camp!"
"Finally!" Emil made a show of holding his stomach. "I be starvin'!" His horse danced sideways before Emaris's shoulder punch landed. "Hah! Missed me! Let's get t' work. Sooner we be settled in, th' sooner we eat!" That was all the encouragement the mute Sevmanan mercenary needed, the two guiding the pack horses on to the clearing ahead.
By evening, the group had settled in for the night, the single tent nestled between two old trees that, while larger than in Sevmana, were still considerably smaller than those farther into the interior. Storm and Skyfire were crouched by the stream on the side opposite the road, watching the shadows of tiny fish darting back and forth.
Taylin looked over at the two with an indulgent smile. "Supper is almost ready!" She chuckled when they both waved a hand at her, not looking away from the water. "I cannot understand how they can eat so little, but they do not seem to be showing any weakness from starvation." She smiled at Mureln as he bumped her shoulder 'accidentally' while he helped with the evening meal, reaching for the coffee pot.
"We are making good time, even without my encouraging the horses to go faster." Mureln poured some coffee and offered it to Almek before grabbing another cup to begin serving the others. "We should be in Forenta by high sun tomorrow, even with Storm and Skyfire's constant explorations delaying us." He frowned when he noticed Storm and Skyfire abruptly stand up, hands on their sword hilts. "What's bothering them all of a sudden?"
At the same moment the Desanti went on alert, Ash looked up from his meditations, and frowned as he squinted into the branches of the trees. He leapt to his feet, snapping out the words of a spell that created a barrier over the camp. Eerie sounds of arrows bouncing off the invisible shield echoed hauntingly. "Terrence!" he barked. "The branches!"
Terrence nodded and held his hands out, directing strong gusts of wind into the upper branches, knocking several men out of the trees. The young man's eyes went wide as several other men emerged from behind the trees, swords and axes drawn as they advanced on the travelers.
Storm and Skyfire charged one group, Emil and Emaris taking on those from the other side. The battle cries filled the glade as chaos ensued. Ash fixed his gaze on another archer in the branches, sending a bolt of lightning that landed square in the man's chest.
Mureln stood over Taylin and Almek protectively, fending off two smaller men deftly. A large man abruptly shoved him aside, easily knocking Taylin away with a backhanded fist. Bared yellow teeth showing, the grinning man reached out to wrap his hands around Almek's throat. "First you, then the rest," the man promised darkly. "Ganessi's payin' extra to kill you for interfering, Guardian."
Dazed, Taylin and Mureln looked up in panic, then stopped, gaping as Almek put his hands on his attacker's wrists. The man's flesh seemed to ripple and wither as he aged decades in mere seconds before their eyes. His scream of horror died to a whisper as he crumbled into a pile of dust and dry bones. Drained by both effort and attack, Almek sucked in air, hand to his throat protectively.
Storm looked over sharply when Ash cried out and collapsed with an arrow sprouting from his back. Heedless of the danger the archer still posed, she ran over to the fallen Illaini Magus. "Mage!" She grabbed his shoulder. "Ash!"
Ash gasped painfully, half clinging to her as she tried to help him up. "Take my hand. Now!" Storm did not hesitate, holding his hand tightly in hers. She gasped as a surge of power blinded her briefly.
The burst of energy exploded from the huddled pair of Forentan and Desanti, flowing out like the ripples from a stone dropped into a pool. While the energy flowed harmlessly around their companions, it exploded into the attackers no matter where they hid themselves, killing them.
Storm blinked rapidly, her sight slowly clearing as she attempted to stumble back from the mage. "What did you—?"
Keeping a tight hold on her hand as he sank to his knees weakly, Ash smiled a little. "I used your instinct of distinguishing ally from enemy to protect our own." Her surprised expression drew more of a smile from him. "Forenta and Desantiva make a powerful team, hm?"
"No." Dazed, Amelana emerged from the shelter she'd hidden in during the attack. "No! It was not supposed to be like this!" The Forentan woman shrieked in maddened fury, her hair in disarray as she fixed a hateful glare on Storm. "She was supposed to die! You all were to die!" Stabbing a finger towards Storm, she shrieked, "It is your fault! You poisoned Ash against me! You ruined everything!"
"Amelana." The pain in Ash's voice took the edge off the angry warning in his tone.
"Shh." Storm put her fingers to his lips. "This is my challenge to answer. And I must answer it alone. Let Taylin heal you." When he tried to argue, she said cryptically, "Trust me, Mage." Leaving Ash in Terrence's care, she stood.
Hands curled like twisted claws with her rage, Amelana hissed. "Desanti bitch! You will suffer for what you have done to me!"
"Shut up and attack me," Storm ordered tonelessly, holding her arms out to her sides. "But be warned, your first attack will be your last." Eyes narrowed as she took a step closer, then another. "You better make it count, harpy."
Amelana screamed epithets at Storm. Flames erupted from her hands to crash against the Desanti woman, enveloping her completely in the angry conflagration. Everyone cried out in horrified dismay as Storm was lost in the wash of flames. Amelana looked on, eager to see Storm laid low.
But when the smoke cleared, Storm was still standing, her tattooed arm raised over her face protectively, only her clothing singed, her arm undamaged. As she lowered her arm, she met Amelana's terrified eyes with stony cold ones. Drawing the small simple knife, Storm crossed the distance between her and the journeyman mage.
Amelana's eyes went wide in shock as the blade sank deep into her. Storm snarled between gritted teeth, "Now you can know Desantiva's pain, daughter of defilers." Shoving Amelana away, Storm stood over her a moment before turning to stagger a few steps, collapsing against Skyfire.
Skyfire looked at Storm in horrified realization as her eyes rolled back and she went limp. "Healer! Come quickly! She is burning within!"
Terrence looked down at Ash, eyes wide. "Master, Amelana used unbound magic! I-I do not know how to stop such spells!"
Ash grimaced, putting the pain of the arrow shaft still protruding from his back out of his mind. "Get me on my feet, Terrence." The mage staggered over to Storm and Skyfire, dropping to his knees. Without hesitation, he put his hands on the exposed flesh that roiled grotesquely, closing his eyes.
So focused on unwinding of the wild ma
gic coiling in the Swordanzen woman, Ash did not notice Taylin easing the arrow from his back, closing the wound. Nor did he notice the others gathering around the pair. Their voices were only an annoying buzz to his ears. He felt a tingling under his hands as he swept away the last of the perverted magic and looked to see Taylin's hands on either side of his, sensing the damaged flesh beneath mending.
"Master Ash," Terrence whispered, his eyes wide in fear. "How? How could she have... known forbidden arts? When she could not even manage more than basic spells?"
"I know only that she has squandered her honor away and stained the Avarian family name." When Taylin sagged wearily, he met the healer's eyes and relaxed at her imperceptible nod. "But at least the evil of it has been undone."
The sound of others entering the encampment roused the weary travelers to prepare for another attack. Ash called out, "Hold!"
The guardsman captain Nolyn Lirai swung down from the branches, an astounded look on his face. "Illaini Magus Ash Andar? Someone attacked you?" He stared in horrified shock the moment he spotted Almek being helped by Mureln and Taylin. "Dusvet Guardian Almek Two-Tones was attacked? On Forentan soil?!" The other guardsmen faces turned sickly pale, realizing the potential retribution looming over their nation.
Almek shook his head, leaning on Mureln for support. "There is no fault to you. You could not have known there would have been an attack. I still live, so Fortress remains unaware." The reassurance helped assuage some of the fear, though the worry lingered.
Terrence helped Ash to his feet. With effort, the Illaini Magus moved away from his apprentice and stood on his own. "Master Nolyn Lirai," he greeted with traditional Forentan formality. "Forgive us for being unable to give you a proper welcome. We were unavoidably distracted."
The guardsman master mage rolled his eyes, but that was the extent of his response to the man. "We felt the ripple of forbidden magicks." Nolyn's eyes widened as his scanning eyes fell upon the Desanti. "Forgive us for arriving... late." After a few seconds, he asked incredulously, "Are those Desanti?!"
Ash managed a wan smile. "They are. We are glad for your arrival, regardless of any unavoidable delays." He looked down at the fallen Forentan woman, his face twisted in rage and grief. "My former student used unbound magic on the Desanti. The Dusvet and his other students are witness to Amelana's unprovoked attack." Pausing, he pulled a small pouch out of his pocket, tossing it to Nolyn. "She also conspired to attempt to murder the Dusvet. The Desanti woman defended him."
Dragging his stare away from the Desanti, Nolan's gaze fell on Amelana who twitched, moaning. Nolyn looked surprised. "She did not kill her? I am impressed. I always thought the warrior folk were ruthless murderers." Skyfire gritted his teeth, but held his tongue, protectively cradling the unconscious Storm.
Nolyn snapped his fingers. Two more of the mage-guards dropped out of the trees, going to Amelana. "She will stand before the Edai Tredecima. Until then, she will remain bound and in custody." Nolyn put a hand on Ash's shoulder comfortingly. "Her actions will not reflect on her family, my friend. I promise you."
"I am grateful for that, Master Nolyn." Nolyn caught Ash's elbow as the Illaini Magus's knees buckled. "My pardon," Ash began.
Nolyn shook his head sharply, straightening as he assumed a more formal air. "You need not apologize, Illaini Magus Ash Andar. You had to guard against foreigners fool enough to attack you on our soil. We should have arrived sooner to prevent this atrocity against Fortress within Forenta's borders. Permit us to stand guard and escort you to Naveene's Rest." He flicked a glance as Amelana was carried away. "The High Council will require your presence for the woman's trial."
Ash nodded once. "Of course. Thank you, Nolyn. But if you would excuse me now." Terrence hurried over to lend his shoulder to his master as the Illaini Magus's knees threatened to buckle again. "I think I need to rest now."
"That goes without saying, Ash." Nolyn turned to bark orders to several men and women in the trees.
Taylin and Mureln could not help but stare at Almek after things calmed. The old man quirked a sad smile. "Not everything a Guardian can do is benevolent, children. But then, the world is not always a benevolent place." He accepted the cup of coffee from Taylin, ignoring how it trembled in her hands. He met her eyes. "Only intent determines whether a skill is good or evil. Not the skill itself. Remember that."
"Yes, Dusvet." Eyes on her hands, Taylin flinched when she felt Mureln's hand on her shoulder. As he put his arm around her to pull her against him comfortingly, she turned her face into his chest, shaking with quiet sobs.
Skyfire carried Storm to the shelter, followed by Terrence and Ash. The two Forentan watched Skyfire lay Storm down and drape a blanket over her. He looked at Ash silently, then turned and left without a word. Ash studied Storm for several heartbeats, and then closed his eyes in utter exhaustion.
At a loss, Terrence said, "Master... I do not understand everything that happened. But—"
"Go," Ash ordered simply. "Watch over Master Almek. I will be fine here." The young man hesitated only a moment before nodding and leaving the shelter.
Ash opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling for a long time. Eventually, he dragged himself to walk the few steps to Storm, dropping to the ground again by her side. He touched her cheek, his hand shaking. "Storm," he said softly.
Green-gold eyes opened, and Storm reached up to cover the hand on her cheek with her own, her whisper barely audible. "Ash. Forgive me. I—"
"No," he interrupted her gently. "Do not apologize. Nothing you did caused any of this. You did what you had to do. Amelana brought this on herself. I do not know how you withstood her spell, but I am... very grateful." His thumb gently traced the edge of her lower lip. "My beautiful Storm."
Agonized, Storm tried to pull his hand away. "Ash, please. Don't. We can't... our peoples..."
"Shhh. I know. I don't care about them."
"But-"
Ash smiled tiredly. "Shhh. Storm, stop. Listen to me." He paused, looking into her eyes. "All my life, I have been alone. You were right when you said I chose to be alone. But I chose it because I was afraid." He closed his eyes a moment, taking a deep breath. "No one could truly understand the wounds on my soul. There was no one I trusted to know my heart because I feared they would use it against me. And so I suffered alone, thinking myself superior to everyone else because I endured what would have crushed them and excelled beyond their paltry attempts at power."
"Ash-"
He gently hushed her again, continuing. "Then I met you. You, who could see me to my core despite all the barriers I held against everything and everyone. You never used it against me." He smiled ruefully. "In fact, you tried to protect me. I have always been the protector. No one ever tried to protect me as you had. We might not be able to be anything else." He tilted his head questioningly. "But we could be allies...?"
Storm was silent for a long time, and then smiled a little. "Yes. We could be allies." Ash relaxed, a feeling of relief he had never known before washing over him. Storm tugged him to lay down next to her, draping her blanket over him. Finding peace in each other's company, they fell asleep.
Chapter 69
ASH awoke with a start, staring around in disorientation as his eyes adjusted to the darkened interior. The sounds of the wind rustling branches and leaves, untold numbers of birds calling raucously to each other and the distant howls of a pack of lupine were soothing with their familiarity. He looked at the empty sleeping place beside him, then at the others as his eyes adjusted. He moved outside with care, feeling the tension ease from his shoulders when he spotted Storm sitting alone by the campfire, poking it with a stick.
"You should be sleeping." Absently brushing the log beside her with his hand, he settled onto it smoothly.
She almost smiled, eyes fixed on the hot coals. "If I slept this much back home, I would likely wake up with a flock of harpy vultures taking pieces out of me because they would have thought me dead for not moving for so long."
Ash frowned slightly, reminded of her harsher homeland, but said nothing. They both looked up at the howl of a lupine. He noticed her hand had fallen onto one of the twin single-edged sword hilts. "It is just a lupine. A giant wolf. They won't bother us here with them standing guard." He indicated the men in forest-green and black garb, who nodded to Ash briefly in acknowledgment. The mage's attention returned to study the silent young woman. "Storm?"
"There is so much life here." Storm continued to stare at the flames, her voice low. "At home, I could tell you where each plant, where each animal was, even if it were hidden from my eyes." Sighing, she reached over for a piece of dead wood, picking it up, but hesitating to put it in the fire. "I feel very much overwhelmed." She finally leaned forward to set the wood into the fire with something akin to religious reverence, murmuring a few words as if in prayer.
Ash tilted his head as he studied her. "You pray over the wood?"
"We pray for all whose souls we set free. Plants are no less alive than we are." Storm finally looked up at him curiously. "You do not?"
Bemused, Ash considered the fire, thinking about his goddess, the Knowing One. "Perhaps I should," he admitted. He turned to look at her again. "Your people seem to hold blades as sacred as well."
"They are symbols of what we live for, what we die for." Storm looked at his waist where his desert knife rested. "Like those given to you and the rest of Lord Almek's true students, the purest blades are gifts of the Totani themselves, given when we are granted our names. They are a lesson and a reminder that above all else, the sacred balance of life and death must be kept. They always have two edges."
Drawing her own long knife, she held it up, studying it. "This is the first Naming Blade. All who reach adulthood receive it." Resheathing it, she touched the two-edged sword's hilt. "This is a Swordanzen Naming Blade, given only to those who survive their final trial and deemed worthy to be Swordanzen by the Totani." She smiled when Ash glanced back towards the shelter. "Kailee has always been a temperamental Totani. She makes nothing easy for anyone, especially those she holds dearest to her. True, Totani-blessed blades always have two edges."
