Agaprei stood up and pointed back at the burning swarm. “And THAT’S why you don’t break the Amstaad Treaty!” she cheered.
The roof of the carriage was splattered with flaming droplets and burst into flames.
“Uh oh.”
“We’ve got a problem,” Kaia called back.
“Yeah, I know, we’re working on it,” Storgen yelled back as he tried to unbuckle leather straps, the flames spreading down the side of the carriage.
“No, up there!”
Kaia pointed before them at the wooden bridge crossing the gorge. A second group of spiders swarmed the beams, chewing through with acidic pincers. The bridge collapsed, falling down deeply into the gorge as the spiders regrouped to charge the carriage straight on.
“This is not how I thought our date would go.”
Behind larger spiders jumped thought the remains of their smaller comrades, renewing their pursuit as their spinnerets spun up to speed.
“Speed up!” Agaprei commanded.
Storgen and Agaprei managed to unlatch the burning roof and toss it over the side, the flaming hardwood splintering and flipping, the spiders flowing around it as they drew near.
Kaia flipped the reins, and the frightened land dragons quickened their pace even further.
The spiders behind rolled into one another and leapt, a spider as big as a dog landing on top of Storgen. He kicked and punched the creature, shredding his knuckles against the thick, heavy plates. As Agaprei stabbed her dagger into its thorax, it bit down into Storgen’s arm with curved fangs.
As Storgen screamed, Kaia sang out, her song creating a bridge of hard light that reached out across the gorge. A shimmering silver barrier formed in front of the carriage, and they collided with the swarm, crushed black bodies thrown aside as the carriage hit hard, jerking up the bridge and across.
The collision threw Agaprei and Storgen from the carriage. Agaprei whipped her arms, tumbling in slow motion through the air as she flew out over the vast expanse, facing down at the sharp rocks lining the floor far, far below.
Storgen grabbed the spinnerets of the spider attached to his arm and yanked out a length of thread, flinging it out at the carriage as he wrapped his arm around Agaprei’s waist. The thread hit a wheel and they were jerked hard as it wound up, the two of them crashing back down into the carriage as it landed on the far side of the gorge, wood splintering and metal cracking from the impact.
The remaining spiders fell into the gorge as the bridge vanished, screeching angrily as they fell through the air in a black hailstorm.
Storgen ripped the dying spider off of his arm as the rickety carriage sped down the pathway, discarding the corpse over the side.
“Did we lose them?” Kaia asked, reluctant to look back again.
Storgen and Agaprei fell back on the carriage floor, breathing a sigh of relief. They were both covered in bug splatter and cinders. Storgen reached up and extinguished a strand of his blonde hair that had caught on fire.
“Yeah, we lost them. Good job, sis.”
Storgen began to chuckle. “So, you wanna know what I got planned for the rest of our date?”
Agaprei began to laugh. “Once this is over, I am never going out with you ever again.”
They both let out a good long laugh.
Storgen sat up and took a look at his injured arm. Already the skin was beginning to turn purple around the puncture marks. Picking up her dagger, he began to make a pair of x-shaped cuts over the holes.
“What are you doing?”
“I gotta suck the poison out.”
“Don’t do that. That just makes it spread faster. Here, I’ll show you what to do. Keep your arm lowered below your heart and don’t use it for a while, you want the poison to dilute into the muscle instead of your blood stream. And here, I think I have some fármako leaf. That will neutralize the hemotoxic.”
He watched her as she cleaned his wound, making a compress from the leaves and applying it. She was so strong, yet her touch could be so very gentle.
She began wrapping up his arm. “By the way, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saving my life.”
“You’re welcome, Ms. Sonata.”
“You can call me by my first name.”
“All right. You’re welcome…Agaprei.”
Chapter Twenty Nine
In our legends and myths we find many heroes prophesied to save us from our ills. However, after six years of exploration among the libraries and catacombs, I can definitively say that no actual prophecy has ever been given from an accredited seer, thus we can relegate such notions entirely to the wishful realm of fiction. The reality is that no amount of benevolence can extinguish hate. No amount of mercy can overcome vengeance. Good can no more overcome evil than can a tiny ant bar the passing of a giant. Our ills are ours to bear, to toil in pain and fear, until death take us.
- Findings of Scyrian the Counselor, Head Scribe of Aeneas
The sun had nearly set when the battered carriage crested a foothill and came to a halt within sight of the breathtaking falls before it. Descending from a cleft in the vale, the water cascaded from the glacial rivers of the mountains beyond, to meet the volcanic hot springs that rose up from below, before splitting into more than a hundred smaller falls in a great, curving arc that dominated the entire horizon. The buzzing sensation of hardy minerals filled the air, the thick water from the springs imparting to each fall a slightly different highlight. Hints of every color of the rainbow were present as the smiling cliffs gave way to the passing of the water, channels carved by centuries of motion guided the water into immaculate curves, as if one were witnessing the flowing hair of the cosmos itself.
The buildings and viewing platforms of the posh town only added to the beauty of this place. Arching structures of white wood and stone that were built around the trees and waterways, so as to leave them undisturbed. In many places, the water flowed directly beneath the buildings which sat on raised piers. This place was no random happenstance of construction, this was intentional design. A ballet of form, a dance of architecture and nature; one could immediately see why this place was considered one the of the seven wonders of the world.
Agaprei nearly fell out of the carriage as she stepped out, the colors of the waters reflected in her eyes.
“This is…the Levánta Waterfall?”
“I know you always wanted to see it,” Storgen said, pleased so see her looking so happy.
Agaprei stood there in awed silence, taking in the beauty. “It’s more beautiful than I ever imagined it would be.”
“Happy birthday, Agaprei.”
Her face pinched as dark memories entered her heart. “The last time I tried to come here…”
She shook her head, trying to dispel the gloom before it took her. “It’s too bad it’s so late in the day, I’d like to see more of it.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. You’ve got a room with a front row view of the falls.”
She looked at him doubtfully. “I have a room?”
She could barely believe her eyes as Storgen walked her up the curving road to the most expensive of all the inns, Kaia following behind in the cart.
“How in the world did you get a room here? This looks like a place reserved for royalty and dignitaries.”
“It is, but I happen to know the new owner.”
The gold leafed doors swung open, and a god stepped out to greet them.
“Storgen!” Cornett bellowed with open arms. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”
Agaprei watched agape as the glowing deity picked Storgen up and gave him a big bear hug.
“Sorry about that, we were delayed.”
“By what?”
“Oh, you know the usual, army of alchemic spiders, just an average Moon’s Day.”
Cornett set him down and gave him a hardy slap on the back. “And here she is, eh? Just as beautiful as you said she was.”
“I a
m the Knives of Fovos,” Agaprei said with a formal bow. “I was not expecting to be greeted by a deity.”
“Oh, don’t be so formal,” he said, the deep smile lines in his skin growing deeper. “I may now be the river guardian of Levánta, but I haven’t changed. Here, you are like family, and you will be treated as such. After all, young Storgen here helped me buy this place.”
She looked over at Storgen. “How did you…”
“Come, come inside,” Cornett bade, leading them with his large warm hands. “My new maid will show you to your rooms.”
Kaia looked excitedly over the beautiful landscape. “They’ve got a hiking trail. Imma go check it out. She handed over the reins to Cornett before skipping off. “Here ya go.”
The pair of land dragons snorted hungrily as Cornett looked over the smashed and ruined carriage. When he reached out to inspect it, two of the wheels fell off.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me!”
~
The maid was larger than life. Tall, leggy, and with a bust that wouldn’t quit. She took them down a statuary corridor, the ridiculously short skirt she wore mincing back and forth as she walked. Agaprei reflexively glanced over to see if Storgen was looking, only to catch him looking back at her.
“What’s with the stupid grin on your face?” she asked, blushing at his closeness.
“You thought I’d be looking at her, didn’t cha?”
Agaprei looked away. “Why would I care what you look at?”
“You know, there was a time when he couldn’t take his eyes off me,” the maid interjected.
“What?”
The maid flung open the doors to the extravagant room. The entire northern wall was made of black crystal, smooth as glass. The maid tapped it with her finger and it became perfectly clear, giving a breathtaking view of the rainbow highlighted falls. Everything was so near, one could almost reach out and touch the water.
“Amazing.”
“This will be your room, Knives.”
Storgen set down Agaprei’s bags and tried to turn down the comforter, but a magic seal held it fast.
“Hey, can you help me turn down her bed?”
The maid sniffed. “Yeah, I’m not going to do that.”
“Well, are you at least going to tidy up if it needs it, right?”
“I’m not going to do that either.”
“Well, can you at least recommend a good restaurant?”
“Nope.”
Storgen looked around. “I give the room four stars but the service only half a star.”
The maid tilted her head. “Not zero stars? What’s the half for?”
“The uniforms.”
“Ha! So you were looking,” Agaprei accused.
Storgen held up his hands. “Relax, I’m just kidding.”
The maid snatched up a pear from the fruit bowl laid out and took a bite. “I’m only a part-timer. I don’t care about ratings, only tips.”
“Well, I can’t imagine you get many of those.”
She reached up and twisted the magical bracelet she wore, and the illusion peeled away, revealing Erolina.
“Whoa!”
“The Scythe of Ambera,” Agaprei gasped, almost forgetting to bow at the waist. “May your renown reach every corner of the earth. I look forward to crossing blades with you one day.”
“And may your glory earn you fame immemorial,” Erolina responded, taking another bite. “However I am currently unattached to any deity.”
“That’s right, I forgot. Forgive my breach in protocol. What shall I call you then?”
“The Silver Reaper is fine.”
“Very well, it is an honor, Silver Reaper.”
“As is mine, Knives of Fovos.”
“I’m surprised to see you here,” Storgen admitted. “Where have you been all this time, Erolina?”
Agaprei glanced over. “You call her by her first name?”
“Well, yeah, why wouldn’t I?”
Agaprei didn’t answer, but was clearly displeased.
“A war is about to begin between Agadis and Erotan, and I aim to ensure that my people are kept safe,” Erolina explained, flicking her feather duster across Storgen’s nose. “The key is the stone.”
Storgen blinked. “Stone? Key? What are you talking about?”
“H-how did you find us?” Agaprei blurted out, trying to change the subject. “We could have been anywhere in the whole world.”
Erolina looked at her knowingly. “It wasn’t that hard. The Alchemy Tower suddenly gets the raw materials it has been searching for and immediately explodes. The next day, a rather obscure deity buys one of the richest hot springs resorts in Agadis. The day after that, he closes the royal suite to all reservations.”
Storgen whistled. “Wow, you really are a huntress, aren’t you?”
She bent over and gave Storgen a teasing view of her shapely legs in fishnet stockings as she pretended to dust a lamp. “All I had to do was get hired on and wait for you to arrive. Frankly, I’m surprised no one beat me to it. You are truly horrible at covering your tracks.”
There was a knock at the door, Cornett stuck his head inside. “You have a…wait, who are you?” he asked Erolina.
“I quit,” she said, handing over the feather duster. “I can’t hide any weapons in this uniform.”
He took it sadly. “Aww. Anyway, I am sorry to bug you guys, seeing as how you just got here, but you have a visitor.”
“A visitor? Who even knows we’re here?”
He pulled his white beard aside and allowed the newcomer to enter.
The person standing there looked so different, Storgen didn’t even recognize her at first. She was naked save for a loin cloth and tube top woven from leaves, her green skin decorated with yellow and black war paint. She carried a sturdy hunting bow and quiver on her back made from living wood, and there was a strength to her presence that hadn’t been there before, a subtle fire behind her eyes, a righteous indignation that hovered between imposing and frightening.
“Phili? Is that you? How did you find us?”
“I’ve been tracking you for hours. You set a dozen trees on fire, did you really think there would be no consequences for that attack?
“We didn’t attack the forest, it was the Alchemy Tower.”
“Don’t try to lie. I already reviewed the memories of the trees who saw you. Your companion threw a…”
Philiastra’s eyes went wide as saucers when she saw Agaprei.
“Holy cow…it’s her, the girl from your paintings…”
“Phili, meet Agaprei Sonata.”
Philiastra had to stop herself from reaching out and touching Agaprei’s lavender hair. “She really exists…?”
“Um, yes,” Agaprei said, uncomfortable with all the attention. “More or less. Mostly less.”
The tension in the room began to rise. Cornett looked around uncomfortably. “So, is she known to you? Should I allow her to pass?”
“Oh yeah, Phili and I have been friends forever.”
“Just friends, huh?”
“Come on, Phili.”
Agaprei forced her tongue to untie. “Well, it’s ah, nice to meet you Phili.”
“Philiastra. Only he calls me Phili.”
“Just how many girlfriends do you have?” Agaprei grumbled under her breath.
Erolina chuckled. “Welcome to the harem.”
Philiastra tried to clear her thoughts. “Fine, whatever. Look, I need to talk to Storgen.”
She glared at Erolina and Agaprei. “Alone.”
Erolina nudged Agaprei. “Are you okay with that?”
Agaprei’s ears twitched in irritation. “What are you asking me for? I’m not his owner.”
“Really? He always told us you two were destined to be together. He was quite poetic about it.”
“I reject destiny. It’s a crippling philosophy embraced by the weak-willed, looking to excuse their own failures. We must all forge our own path. Let him decide.”
The three girls looked at Storgen, demanding a reply.
“Look, I’d love to Phili, but today is kind of her birthday celebration.”
Philiastra put her hand on Storgen’s arm. “She can spend it with someone else. This is urgent and cannot wait. He’s in a lot of trouble for what he did to the forest.”
Erolina nudged Agaprei. “You’d be okay with him abandoning you during your birthday?”
“Why do you say it like that?”
“To gauge your reactions. They are very telling.”
Agaprei blushed. “I’ve never asked him to follow me. He latched onto me like a leech ever since we first met.”
Erolina smiled, tracing her finger over her lips deliciously. “And yet you let him take you to an exclusive resort, just the two of you?”
“It’s not like that!”
“I have my own room,” Storgen clarified.
Philiastra grabbed his arm and tugged. “Fine, then let’s go there. These two cavewomen can beat one another with clubs while we talk.”
“Aren’t you wearing a loincloth?” Erolina shot back.
“It’s called a perízoma; it’s the traditional dress of my people.”
“Yeah, well your backside is spilling out of your traditional dress.”
Philiastra covered her behind in embarrassment. “Don’t say that!”
“Why so shy?” Erolina purred. “I thought you were trying to show off your body for Storgen again.”
“Again?” Agaprei asked. “What does she mean again?”
“Long story,” Storgen admitted.
“Come on, Storge, let’s go.”
Philiastra began to pull him out the door.
“Wait!”
Erolina and Philiastra looked down, where Agaprei had taken hold of his sleeve.
“Ohh, I thought you didn’t care?”
She pulled her hand away as if she had touched a hot stove.
Ambrosia Page 73
