Legends of Windemere: 03 - Family of the Tri-Rune

by Charles E Yallowitz

  “You said you would stay as a friend,” Luke whispers, causing Sari to drive her heel into his foot. “What is it about this place that makes people hit me?”

  “Why do you act so stupid whenever you’re here?” the headmistress corrects him. She adjusts the elegant longsword on her waist and gestures for them to follow her into the bustling courtyard. They let students rush by, the curious trainees slowing down to see the interesting visitors. “I have a lot of business to take care of, but I can spare a few minutes to catch you up. Though, I would like to know what you’ve heard and save some time.”

  Luke and Sari gesture for Timoran to talk and he makes several long strides to walk next to Selenia. “We were told the Lich has amassed two armies in the Caster Swamp. One of orcs and the other of giltris. You believe they plan to attack your academy as a precursor to a longer campaign. The Lich can reanimate his defeated enemies as his armies march, which will create a third army of undead. So, you plan to amass a force powerful enough to make a first strike. There is also the threat of unique undead in the Caster Swamp, but we have recently handled these creatures in Hero’s Gate.”

  “Those are the basics, but I haven’t heard of any strange undead in the Caster Swamp. Though, I’m sure there are some things in there even I don’t know about,” Selenia admits, stopping to whistle at a pair of rough-housing students. They separate and stand at attention, leaving only when she snaps her fingers at them. “I’m going to let you handle the undead if they’re involved, but only during the battle. I don’t want you and your ill-mannered caster leaving the grounds before we set out for the attack.”

  “We have to meet Fizzle when he wakes up,” Luke mentions. He waves to several students who are staring at him. “He should be waking up tomorrow afternoon if I have the timing right.”

  “I forgot about his hibernation. I thought he got bored with you and returned to Visindor,” Selenia says with a curious nod. She stops at the warrior woman fountain and faces Luke. “I have to make a new plan now that you’re here and things didn’t work out the way I hoped. Take a look around and tell me what you see, Luke.”

  Full of worry and curiosity, Luke glances around the busy courtyards. He sees Betty the cook peeling potatoes outside the cafeteria, the elderly woman smiling when he waves. He notices a few more familiar faces such as Thomas Strogan, his former sergeant instructor, and Duggan Ironcaster, the dwarven blacksmith, who are busy with their students. His attention is drawn to the glint of metal armor from the walls where the guards are patrolling. He counts fifteen warriors and thirty-six archers lazily manning their posts. After several silent minutes of scanning the area, Luke turns back to Selenia.

  “Did Kira already graduate?” he asks, trying to buy some time.

  “Last semester and she got a higher rank than you thanks to extra classes. I don’t know what you did to her, but her work ethic rivaled mine after you left,” Selenia replies with a stern look on her face. “You can admit that you have no idea what I want you to notice.”

  “I don’t see any battle priests,” Luke calmly mentions. His eyes examine the academy grounds while Selenia glares at him. “I thought you got that contract with the Duragian order. Did something go wrong?”

  “They started last semester and we created a perfect program for them,” Selenia says with blossoming pride. “Part of the contract says they return to the Durag Temple in Gaia between semesters. They’re going to be gone for another week, which is too much time. I’m not happy about it either. When at this academy, the priests are sworn to only use healing magic. Their combat magic is sealed by a head priest to make sure there’s no temptation to use it. At least they left us with a lot of healing potions. Any other ideas?”

  “The only other thing I can guess is that you don’t have enough warriors to make your first strike,” the forest tracker half-heartedly says.

  He glances Timoran, whose avoiding gaze reveals he has already figured it out. Sari is too busy making complicated swirls in the fountain to join the conversation, but she snaps to attention when Selenia clears her throat. A spiral of water accidentally wraps around the gypsy and she quickly splashes it over the grass. She grins at Selenia’s curious expression and puts her hands behind her back.

  “That is the problem and I don’t know how much longer I can wait for help,” Selenia claims, watching the gypsy with renewed interest. The headmistress gets a glimmer in her lavender eyes as she forms a plan. “I have a few highly skilled warriors, including a former student who happened to show up at the right time. Having a forest tracker with special gifts, a barbarian, and a gypsy with some interesting tricks up her sleeve gives me a powerful force to work with. Then there is Fizzle and Kevin’s daughter, which would give us a magical advantage. It will take a night or two of planning, but I believe I can work with this.”

  “Nyx contacted her teachers in Gaia and asked them to convince the city to send reinforcements,” Luke tells Selenia. She heartily slaps him on the back and the young warrior forward flips with the heavy impact to land on his feet. “Again with the hitting!”

  “This is why I sent word to Hero’s Gate. I knew you would return and bring some help,” she declares with a wide smile. “To be honest, most of the men I hired ran away when they found out about the size of the enemy army. Daniel Skyblade tried to petition for aid, but there is something going on in the city that has the Grand Counselors distracted. Word is that chaos elves have infiltrated the city, so Gaia is resistant to sending help to a problem they feel I can handle on my own. They have far too much faith in my abilities, which is something I used to be deeply proud of. Now, I’m tempted to fake being a damsel in distress if it will get me even a few more capable warriors.”

  “I would pay good money to see that,” Sari interrupts before she can stop herself. She shies away from the swirling mercenary. “Is there anything we can do to help prepare for the battle?”

  “I would appreciate it if Luke and Timoran would wander the grounds and help any students in need. I usually do it, but I have a lot of paperwork and planning to do. This mess has my schedule backed up to the point where I need an assistant,” Selenia answers, a wide yawn consuming her mouth. She shakes her head clear of her exhaustion and her eyes fall on the gypsy. “Luke, I’m going to let you and this young woman stay in the teacher’s dorm. You aren’t a student, so I can’t hold you to the rules. In return, I’m going to borrow Sari and use her to get some work done. I have a lot of filing and organizing to do.”

  “It also means you can keep an eye on me,” Sari points out, crossing her arms in defiance. “Well, I’m going to go with Luke and Timoran because-”

  “Sari can help you,” Luke interrupts, stepping between the scowling women. “I’m sure she can help you get organized before dinner. She’s very smart and creative when it comes to solving problems.”

  Sari pinches him in the side, forcing him to lean back until his ear is against her mouth. “I don’t appreciate being handed over to somebody like property. You better have a good reason for this, lover.”

  “The teacher rooms are private while the student dorms are big and open,” Luke whispers, glancing at Selenia, who is patiently waiting. “Also, my old friend Fritz put private bathrooms into each of the teacher rooms before he left the academy. You helping Selenia means we get a private bathroom with gnomish water tubes.”

  “Gnomish water tubes?” the gypsy asks with a hungry twinkle in her eyes. “I’ve never had a bath from one of those. I’ve always used rivers, simple basins, or enchanted tubs. They say the water is always at the perfect temperature and smells of rose petals when it comes out of gnomish water tubes.”

  “I need an answer,” Selenia demands.

  “I’m all yours!” Sari loudly exclaims much to Selenia and Luke’s embarrassment. She ignores the laughter of some nearby students as she hooks her arm around Selenia’s elbow. “Remember you asked for this and you can’t back out now.”

  Luke and Timoran watch in awkwa
rd silence as Selenia walks away with the gypsy hanging off her arm. The two warriors are waiting for Selenia to snap and hit Sari, but the women make it into the gray stone administrative building without incident. Shrugging to each other, the young men try to get as far away from the gothic building as they can.

  *****

  For what feels like an eternity, Nyx stands at the closed door to Kevin’s office. She quietly glances the lobby where a few scattered students are reading and talking. With a deep breath, she turns back to the door and raises her hand to knock. Her timid rapping goes unanswered, but the unlocked door opens enough to give her a peek inside. The floor is clean and there are cabinets lining the walls with scrolls and papers sticking out of them. She can see part of a desk that is covered in more papers, a dented cup holding several quill pens sitting on the pile. There is no sign of Kevin, so she wonders if Luke is wrong and her father is elsewhere.

  She is broken out of her thoughts by the sound of loud talking. Stepping behind a pillar, Nyx watches Sari walk with the woman who tried to stop her at the front gate. Her friend is being friendly in her typically exaggerated way when she is trying to annoy someone. By the deep furrow on her forehead, the half-elven woman looks to be fighting the urge to punch the gypsy. It clicks in Nyx’s mind that the woman is Selenia and she probably made a terrible first impression. Slipping out from behind the pillar, the nervous caster is about to go apologize when the door to Kevin’s office is yanked open.

  “Stop making such infernal noise, woman!” the old warrior shouts, spit flying from his mouth. He scratches at the ring of salt-and-pepper hair around his head and yawns. “I can’t get any work done or get any sleep. I can’t even get a good steak around here. How’s an old, retired man supposed to live in these horrible conditions?”

  Nyx silently takes in the form of the warrior, his black beard and mustache bristling with annoyance. She can see that he is still muscular, but he walks with a cane to support his rigid right leg. His left shoulder is awkwardly slumped, revealing another old injury that never properly healed. All of the images of her powerful father flash through her mind and disappear as she faces the reality. To her, Kevin is a strange mix of power and frailty that she should have expected from a veteran warrior.

  “Are you lost or spying on people, girl?” Kevin asks, his light brown eyes boring into Nyx. He leans forward to get a closer look at her. “I don’t recognize you. If you’re a new student then you have to ring the bell and wait for me to bother with you.”

  “I’m not a new student, sir,” she stutters out, her nervousness creating a mental fog. “I came here with Luke Callindor. I’m a caster from Rainbow Tower who has been traveling with him.”

  “So, you’re the famous Nyx we hear stories of whenever we catch news of Luke. I’m honored to meet a caster of your reputation,” Kevin says with a broad smile. “Though that doesn’t explain why you’re lurking around my office. I have no skill with magic or interest in learning the trade, so we don’t have much to talk about.”

  “I need to talk to you,” Nyx declares as if Kevin had not said anything. “I was in Hero’s Gate and I came here to talk to you.”

  “I see,” he mutters, crossing his arms and suspiciously eyeing the half-elf. “I’ve a lot of work to do, girl, so I don’t have time for whatever this distraction is. Go get your thoughts and nerves together then come back.”

  “There’s something important that we have to talk about,” she claims, her mouth clamping shut before she calls him dad. “I heard about you in Hero’s Gate and knew that I had to meet you. It’s very important.”

  “I don’t have time for riddles or fans,” Kevin responds, turning to go back into his office.

  “Wait!” Nyx snaps, grabbing Kevin by the wrist. Her throat locks up and she helplessly stares at him. She hears a voice inside her head screaming to tell him the truth, but her mouth refuses to agree.

  Kevin is about to pull away when he notices the dull gray bracelet on Nyx’s wrist. He slowly lets his gaze rise to Nyx’s face, his examination pausing when he sees the amethyst necklace dangling from her neck. His hands quiver with fear and rage until his eyes lock with her violet pupils. The vivid color drags painful memories to the surface, causing Kevin to snarl like a wounded animal. It takes all of his willpower to stop himself from lashing out at this girl whose presence mocks his loss.

  “Where did you get this bracelet?” he asks in a low, gravelly voice.

  “My mother gave it to me in Hero’s Gate,” Nyx answers with fiery tears rolling down her face. Her body is wracked with heavy sobs that nearly muffle her voice. “I thought she was dead and I found her commanding an army of mercenaries. Luke figured out she was my mother and forced our reunion, which took a few days to sort out. I think I thanked him for it, but everything has been a blur with the krypters, the goblins, and people hating me. I’m coming to the end of my nerves and I’m not sure what to do any more.”

  “I barely understood a word you said with your sobbing,” Kevin admits, cringing in discomfort from his bad leg. “I have to sit down, so come into my office and we can finish whatever this is.”

  “What happened to your leg and shoulder?” Nyx asks as she helps Kevin into the cluttered room. He turns as if he is about to tell her to let go of his arm, but he shakes his head and looks away at the sight of her eyes.

  “I got in a fight with some ogres and we disagreed on how it should end,” Kevin answers with a crafty smirk. “I felt I should win and save the woman they were about to have for lunch. They believed they should win and eat us both. In their defense, there were three of them and ogres are rather stupid.”

  Nyx swallows a lump in her throat and bravely utters her question before she loses her nerve. “Is that why you couldn’t go home to your wife and child?”

  “Luke needs to keep his mouth shut,” Kevin growls as he stops and angrily stares at Nyx. “I’m guessing he told you that to get you through a tough situation. I told my story to him when he was worried about fighting that Hellfire Elf. Stupid kid probably thought it would be a good rallying tale. I have to speak with him about privacy and honor.”

  “Luke didn’t exactly tell me,” Nyx timidly interrupts. “He put the clues together and my mother gave me the details.”

  Kevin gently pushes away from Nyx and clears a space on his desk for him to lean against. He hooks a chair with his cane and pulls it over to Nyx, the legs scraping across the floor. She sits down in front of him and taps her foot against the floor. His stern expression and piercing eyes make her feel like a small child who was caught stealing cookies. She coughs to mask a giggle when she realizes that part of her is happy about the situation.

  “Let’s get to the bottom of this mess,” Kevin declares with a touch of frustration in his voice. “Who’s your mother?”

  “Tzefira,” Nyx proudly answers.

  Kevin’s eyes narrow and his voice becomes cold. “That isn’t funny, girl.”

  “I wasn’t being funny.”

  “Who told you the name of my dead wife?”

  “She told me her name.”

  “Don’t lie to me!”

  Nyx jumps to her feet, flames rippling around her face. “Don’t yell at me, dad!”

  Kevin freezes with his mouth open as he stares at the angry half-elf in front of him. It takes him a few silent minutes to piece everything together. Her hair is definitely his and her eyes are undeniably those of her mother. The surge of anger and Nyx’s challenging expression reminds him of the fights he used to have with Tzefira. A memory from over twenty years ago slips into his mind. The old warrior nervously grins as he remembers the note that came with a cone-shaped ruby necklace and the explanation of a Tri-Rune. His daughter would be wearing an amethyst triangle on her necklace. Tzefira’s magical bracelet on Nyx’s wrist is the final piece of evidence that causes Kevin’s eyes to release a few salty tears.

  “I think you need to explain things to me,” he says with a warm smile. He pushes off his desk
and stretches his cane over Nyx’s head. She cranes her neck to see a necklace with a cone-shaped ruby hanging above the office door. He hooks it and lets it slide into his hand so he can dangle it in front of his face. “I’ve kept this over my door for over twenty years. At first, I thought it would bring Tzefira or my daughter . . . you back to me. Eventually, it became a symbol of everything I’ve lost. Nowadays, I barely remember it’s there unless it’s your mother’s birthday or our fake anniversary. We picked the Day of Darkness as the day we got married.”

  “I was born on the Day of Darkness,” Nyx tells him, unsure if she should reach out for him or his necklace.

  “Of course you were. Tzefira and I would be the ones to have a magical child born on the night where evil reigns,” Kevin declares, laughing loud enough to startle a few students outside. He notices their reaction and uses his cane to push the door shut. “So, let’s hear how you and my wife rose from the dead?”

  “It’s a very long story,” Nyx admits before she can stop herself.

  Kevin takes her hand and places his forehead against hers. “I’ve waited twenty years to meet my daughter without knowing you were out there. I’m more than willing to listen to a very long story and I’m sure you’re happy to tell it. Unless you’ve never given your old man a second thought.”

  “No! I’ve thought of you every day!” Nyx exclaims, giving Kevin a hug that nearly knocks him over. “I never knew anything about you. I wanted to meet you, but I thought you were killed in battle.”

  “They haven’t made a battle that could kill me,” the old warrior claims, beaming at his daughter. “Now, tell me that story.”

  “First, can I have your necklace?” Nyx asks, pulling back and holding out her hand.