by J. A. Comley
She bared her teeth in a snarl then curved it into a smile that was no less threatening. “He is gone. Off with Okano. Apparently, you don't matter enough to be kept in the loop.”
Valana shook her head, coming back to the present as distant voices sounded, laughing and cajoling. Zetira's words had only spiked her annoyance at Mukori's secretive nature, but she would be lying if she said that a part of her didn't understand his reasons and agree with them. She would do the same if she had people to lead.
She adjusted her dark cloak and listened harder, making sure that the voices included her mark.
It had been a hard decision, but in the end, Valana had agreed with Mukori's ruling. The person in the file had been cheating families out of their homes and livelihoods, gaining forced labour for his various, dubious establishments. Men, women, and children were being forced to serve Hipotarali's rich and deranged. Those who refused ended up dead. Okano had been dispatched twice to capture him. The last time had ended in the deaths of three children after the man had triggered an explosion at the house Okano had tracked him to.
“Not this time,” she whispered to herself, listening carefully to the men's voices as they spoke, brokering a deal for three girls only a little older than Karicha.
The dim twilight of day began to fall over the arid landscape and Valana moved swiftly from her position.
Even under tribal laws, this man would have been Outcast, if not sent to the Conclave to be executed, she told herself as she began her hunt in earnest. Her life, brought up in the strict code of Honour and Strength as set up by Felantha, left little room for the moral grey areas Mukori had found.
Besides, I have made my choice.
She stalked the men by tracking their heartbeats as they left the way-house. There was no room for error in her plan. She had to take him out when they were far enough away from the other guests of the way-house, but only after she had freed the imprisoned girls. She didn't yet know where they were being held. Mukori's eyes and ears hadn't managed to get more information than that they would be guarded by a single Lesser Nightstalker.
She ran a parallel line out in the sands of the Great Expanse. Turning to face the sounds of her quarry, she took out the silver mask Mukori had left for her should she accept the mission. It was adorned with the hand, enclosed by an eye, that made up the emblem of the Unseen Hand. Images of cloaked and masked figures coming to find her on a battlefield of loss and death constricted her heart, but she pushed them away.
The decision had been made. She had followed Mukori, sworn herself to him, and bound herself to his cause of peace through the dagger, Blood Binder. She could not back out, now.
She stepped into her powers, and as they rushed through her body, setting her silver eyes aglow, she slid the mask into place.
Valana raced on further ahead once their course became clear. There had been several possibilities for the location of this man's prisoners. The Great Expanse was full of scattered little huts, most of which lay abandoned, but now there was only one option left.
She blurred out of the sands of the Great Expanse and delivered a brutal kick to the Nightstalker that stood guard at the entrance to an abandoned hut. The Nightsalker went flying but managed to land on her feet, clutching her abdomen and breathing hard.
Valana smiled as the Nightstalker snarled and drew a spear and short sword.
This dance did not include the graceful moves of the ones with Okano or Mukori. This Nightstalker had not yet seen her eyes, and attacked in a foolish, clumsy manner. Valana deflected the blows easily then lifted her head, allowing her glowing, silver eyes to be seen through the eye holes in the mask.
The other Nightstalker cursed and leapt backwards, burnt-orange eyes widening.
“Surrender, Nightstalker.”
“This fight isn't over,” she screeched back, pride covering her shock.
Valana shook her head. “This fight was over before it began.”
The Nightstalker snarled and lunged.
Valana rolled her eyes. Her powers were far superior to her opponent’s. She saw the spear coming down, and knew it was a feint. The short sword would have been the one to take her life, if she hadn't noticed it.
She swivelled into the spear, deflecting it and driving the hilt of her sword into the woman's head as the short sword sailed past her into the space she had been in a moment before.
She looked down at the Nightstalker and sighed. Such pride and foolishness would have been beaten out of her in the tribal lands, but this Nightstalker had been born in Hipotarali, and there were only two choices for Nightstalker children raised in the city: join the Conclave or join the criminal underbelly.
Shaking her head, Valana entered the small, square space. The roof had long since caved in and the debris pushed to the sides of the room. In the middle, a metal stake with the three girls tied to it had been hammered into the stone floor.
They recoiled in fright as Valana's gaze fell on them, and she removed her mask, stepping out of the Killing Calm.
“Peace, I am a friend, a Protector.”
The eldest of the girls looked up, her face bruised.
“We were held here by one who should be a Protector, too. What makes you any different?”
Valana nodded and stepped forward, drawing her dagger slowly. “Hold still so that I can cut your binds.”
The girls obeyed, and Valana stepped back as soon as the last was free, sheathing the blade.
“You are free. But make haste, the man who took you will be here shortly. Rest assured, though, I will ensure he won't follow.”
The smallest girl stepped forwards, her eyes on Valana's arm. “My momma had a drawing of that in her rooms. She used to be an artist, before he—” The girl swallowed hard. “I know that bracelet. It is the one given to the Champion of Moon Lake.”
The other two gasped, and Valana smiled. “That's right. I am Valana.” She raised her arm and looked at the bracelet, the intricate leather work holding seven glittering stones, one for each tribe. “Your mother designed this? She must have been very talented.”
Valana watched the girl nod and thanked the ancestors as their fear seemed to fade away.
“Protector Valana?” the eldest said, stepping forwards. “We have nowhere to go. If we return to Hipotarali, we will only be taken by some other monster. We are all orphans, now. Please, help us.”
Valana weighed them up and then nodded. “Very well. Come, quickly, the others will be here soon. I can already hear their footsteps.”
The girls' eyes went wide, and they scurried out after Valana before standing in a close huddle casting furtive glances at the unconscious Nightstalker.
“Is she—”
“No. Now, listen,” Valana said, pulling a small, carved elpion from her satchel. “This Guiding Stone will take you far from here to a friend of mine called Makhi Lerimo.”
They nodded, eyes wide in their young, battered faces.
“I need you to take her with you.” They followed her pointing finger to the prone Nightstalker and shivered before nodding again.
Valana smiled at their strength. “Good. Just touch her. I will activate the Stone and then drop it. When it hits her, she, and anyone touching her, will be taken to my friend. Are you ready?”
In answer, they swallowed their fear and scurried over to the body, each grasping tightly to one of the Nightstalker's arms.
Valana took the Guiding Stone and pricked her finger on its horn, drawing blood. She had never heard of a Guiding Stone working like this one, but Lerimo had assured her that his design would do as he said.
She let the small carving go and heard the dull thump of it hitting a body before all four vanished in the blinding light.
She prayed that Mukori's people could help those girls heal and make a better life for themselves.
She turned back to face the road, the sounds of the men drawing closer. Once again, she slid her mask into place and stepped into her powers.
T
he men were still making crude jokes when she arrived behind them, silent and deadly. The people he had met, who wanted to purchase the girls, were out cold and on the ground in less than a heartbeat. Her mark took off running, racing towards the hut and the imagined protection of his Nightstalker.
Valana watched him run and removed her mask. However much she had agreed with Mukori's decision, this man would know her face before she took his life. She dug her heels into the ground and let her muscles uncoil in one, powerful surge.
With speed faster than a cargon's lightning strike, she had raced ahead and appeared suddenly before him, her silver eyes glowing in the shadows of her cowl as she lifted her unmasked face, and he skittered to a halt.
His eyes darted around the empty space then behind her to the stake that no longer held any prisoners. His ears flickered atop his head, searching out any sounds that might indicate salvation.
She unsheathed her blades and slid into a crouch as fear, undiluted and potent, filled his eyes and scented the air.
This man has killed many and destroyed the lives of many more. For those girls, and for peace, he has to die.
He opened his mouth as she launched herself at him, but his cry never left his lips, her swords hitting their mark before a breath could be expelled. Valana let the momentum carry them both to the ground, where she landed on the balls of her feet, standing over him, her swords dripping crimson blood into the sands beside his corpse.
The End
Glossary of Terms
ANIMALS
Cargon – wild, predatory, flying feline, able to unleash lightning bolts and see through several feet of solid matter.
Cyrion – Large, white bird. Often viewed as a symbol of peace or hope. Linked to legends of Felantha and Ezira.
Elpion – Large mammal with six legs and two large horns on their snouts. Used primarily as war mounts or to pull heavy loads. There exist both wild and tame herds.
Elteran Beetle – small iridescent beetle that feeds on rotting plant or animal matter.
Filker – hairless, domestic mammal, primarily bred for leather and meat.
Loodek – subterranean reptile, with sickle-like claws for digging. Can burrow at tremendous speeds and has a natural ability to locate sources of underground water.
Lorathyr – wraith like feline that inhabits Wailing Shadow. Not much is known of the lorathyr, save their ability to take no damage from either weapons or magic until they are exhausted.
Mirri – A domestic reptile with long, scaled limbs and neck. Used as steeds. Can travel very quickly and go for long periods with no water. Also known locally as sandswimmers.
Moonwheeler – wild bird, known to sing only at moonrise and moonset.
Retari – Domestic flying reptile with a small amount of inherent magic ability, allowing them to travel swiftly to neighbouring planets. Highly intelligent, their abilities mean that they are trained as messengers in Trianon.
Shimbak – wild, predatory canine, able to use a siren song to lull their prey into a deep sleep. They have two tails, each equipped with a deadly poison stinger.
Thelori – thin reptile, with camouflage abilities and a protrusion sprouting from their head allowing them to metamorphose into anything the creature has seen. Highly venomous.
Umera – domestic mammal, bred primarily for wool and meat.
Weezax – venomous rodent, known to live in large colonies and eat anything that wanders too close.
MAGIC WIELDERS
Brosney – Born only into the Cosmaltian race. They have the ability to wield metal. Those with exceptional abilities are welcomed into the exclusive order of monks, housed in the Floating Temple. Brosney abilities cause most to become haemophiliac. As a result, Brosney females try to refrain from falling pregnant to reduce the risk of death during childbirth.
Demilain – Beings of pure magic, always born as one being with a dual aspect, one of life, the other of death. Birthed along with each new solar system throughout the universe.
Inagium – Born only to the Galatian race. They have the ability to transform into their spirit-forms, usually taking on the appearance of animals, and to spirit-cast, affecting the abilities of those around them. Require a wand to cast their spells. Extreme mental fortitude is required to prevent an Inagium from destroying their physical body permanently.
Makhi – Born into all three races of Trianon. They have raw/unbound magic, being able to manipulate it into any purpose, the limitations being only the amount of power they were born with, the physical strength of their body, and their mental fortitude. Can use a staff as a focus to help guide or amplify their powers.
Nightstalkers – Born only into the Aurelian race. Their abilities depend entirely on their bloodlines. Pure-blood Nightstalkers are significantly more powerful than those of diluted lineage, Lesser Nightstalkers. All Nightstalkers will have the following abilities, the strength of which depend on their bloodlines: heightened senses of sight, smell and sound; heightened speed/reflexes; ability to see in total darkness; ability to sense active magic; ability to go for prolonged periods without food, drink or sleep; and a small unconscious self-healing ability.
Sacrileons – Created by the Demilain Ezira. There are only six in existence, one for each of the following elements : earth(ground), flora, fauna, air, water, and fire. They have the ability to fully control their element but must be careful how much power they use or they risk causing an imbalance in their element.
PLANTS
Hurik trees – fat, blue-barked tree grown primarily as a source of cork and for the hurik fruit – small orange fruit, with the ability to temporarily cure hunger, thirst, pain, and sleep deprivation. Using huriks too often may result in an addiction and lead to death.
Jarahi – small bushes. The bulbs produce a strong odour that can act as a deterrent to many of Aurelia's predators.
Laricori – cactus-like plant used as a sedative or poison. Can cause death in large amounts.
Lightning Ferns – Bush-like trees with tough, succulent leaves. The sap from the trees will glow in the darkness and is often used as fuel for light sources.
Lofri – small flowering plant. Seeds can be ground up into a hot spice.
Sirah weed – a rare water weed found only at Moon Lake. Can be dried, woven and spelled to repel a shimbak's siren song.
Tarari – Tall, grey trees bearing bitter nuts that are often used as fodder for domestic animals.
RACES OF TRIANON
Aurelian – having very pale, white skin, cat-like ears atop their heads, and long sharp canines. All Aurelians are naturally more agile than the other races of Trianon and can see in relatively dim light. A warrior nation built on the Laws of Strength and Honour, divided into eight groups/tribes. Ruled by the Conclave, containing a representative from each group.
Cosmaltian – having naturally dark or tan skin, pointed, elf-like ears and slit pupils. Many Cosmaltians have heterochromia. A sea-faring nation, built around strict rules of tradition, with a society divided into classes based on magic abilities and Guild affiliations. Ruled by a single family known as the High Family.
Galatian – usually having pale skin, dark features, and human in appearance. They have been ruled by a single family since the Breaking. They control the base for Makhi training and learning, ruled over by the High Lord. Galatians are generally considered as having a thirst for information and have many centres for study including large greenhouses, an aviary, and Royal Library.
Note – All races of Trianon are able to interbreed, but the ability to conceive is lowered and the risk of still-birth heightened.
TRIBES
Cyrali – Tribal colour: white. Tribal lands: The Spires. Best known for being the tribe of Felantha, Mother of the Tribes.
Dralog – Tribal colour: red. Tribal lands: White Plains. Best known for their ability to capture and train elpion for battle purposes.
Frelok – Tribal colour: orange. Tribal lands: Thousand Eyes Cave system. Best known fo
r their ability to fight in very confined spaces.
Hitori – Tribal colour: blue. Tribal lands: the fertile plains surrounding Elder Mountain. Best known for making hunting forays into Wailing Shadow as a coming of age initiation.
Jensolir – Tribal colour: green. Tribal lands: Emerald Valley. Best known for their homoeopathic healing knowledge.
Kazori – Tribal colour: purple. Tribal lands: The Plateau, main village around the Ever Spring. Best known for their warriors’ prowess at the Warrior Games at Moon Lake.
Torik – Tribal colour: yellow. Tribal lands: The Canyon of Teeth. Best known for their excellent marksmanship. They are by far the best archers of the Tribes.
Hipotarali – Aurelia's only city. Hipotaralians are not an official tribe, but have their own colour, which is black. They are best known among the Tribes for their capricious nature and being soft. Wealthy Hipotaralians can enjoy many things within the city, including mirri races at the Circuit and a wide variety of stores along Market Row. The city also boats a university, the Great Library, and the Conclave's Palace.
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