by J. K. Barber
"My obligations to my kind have been dissolved, but with that elimination I am also no longer restricted in my actions," Tomas said, each word oddly straightening his spine with determination instead of moroseness. "I will do what must be done. I will help Sirus find a cure myself, though it will drain my life to the edge of death. It is the right thing to do, and I would give my life freely for its purpose. Under other circumstances, I would take time to recover, however the threat to Aronshae is too great for us to delay. Though I know it will mean my death, we must end Salamasca’s threat before she can destroy any more lives." Tomas' eyes, lost a moment before, had regained the intense command Katya recognized as their true state.
Chapter 10
During their approach to Simza on foot, Tomas and Katya noticed a great deal of activity at the base of the butte where Walron had fallen to his death. A large number of tribesmen surrounded the dead dragon, their voices arguing loudly. A woman with skin the color of coal, her delicate black veil embroidered with golden thread, stood before the beast. She was dressed in a crimson-stained leather corset, loose-fitting black breaches, and wore an utcha of ruby beads. She was keeping the crowd at bay with harsh words in the Eastern tongue. Olivia stood at her side with her rapier and dagger drawn. She held them points down, but the naked steel was a mortal warning to anyone who dared approach.
Returned to her kind, all the Master Sorceress’ confidence had settled back on her straightened shoulders. Leading with a determined grip on her staff, Katya hastily pushed through the crowd, Tomas close behind using her body as shelter for his smaller form. The crowd backed away from the sorceress after seeing her pass. Rumor had power, and it was well known now that she was a talented sorceress who had brought down the great drake before them. Her unveiled face was a bold statement that further put them on edge. The crowd quieted. Seeing the effect Katya was having on those gathered, Olivia sheathed her weapons with matching graceful sweeps of her arms. The woman of obvious importance next to Olivia nodded her head in respect to Katya, who returned the gesture in kind.
The air suddenly chilled and felt deflated like the heat was being drawn from all around them. Katya experienced her own breath leaving her like it was being pulled out and away from her. A great invisible weight pressed on their lungs, denying them the ability to draw breath. Panicked eyes were unconsciously drawn to the only child in their midst, his even breathing loud in the strangled silence. He was the source of their discomfort and his face was hot with anger.
Tomas saw nothing but Walron's decapitated body. Leaving Katya's side, he knelt down by the massive corpse and laid a hand on the clouded scales of a front claw, once sharply transparent in life. The dragon's black blood still oozed from the severed neck. Everyone regarded his actions oddly, terrified at the effect of his anger. The sandy-haired youth took only a moment more. The chill departed, and everyone could breathe again. Those gathered panted, some doubled over, frantically trying to feed their air deprived bodies. Tomas took a deep calming breath and stood, turning back to an upset Katya. Her brows were knit with both disgust at what had been done to Walron and concern for her former master.
"Speak your mind, Teacher. Walron was your charge," Katya said, her voice tight with emotion. Olivia quietly translated the words to the woman who must have been the wife of Simza's Tepey. Her position was fairly evident by her beauty and elaborate utcha that was now able to be examined more closely. The dark-skinned woman's almond-shaped eyes appeared confused, looking back and forth from Tomas to Katya after the scout translated the word for teacher.
"What's done is done," Tomas replied, sighing before continuing. "Walron had his chance to be free several times. He chose to align himself with Salamasca. These people can do whatever they want to him. I only mourn what he could have been. The initial sight was a bit jarring is all," Tomas paused, looking one last time at the slain dragon. "You are right; he was my charge. I was supposed to protect him, and I failed." The young-looking sorcerer returned to Katya's side with his head down, his spirit deflated. Katya turned to Olivia for answers.
"What is going on?" Katya asked the scout pointedly after the translation to the Tepey's wife was complete. Always cognizant of the customs of the Eastern Kingdom, Olivia did not answer her question right away, instead doing introductions.
"Iman, wife to Tepey Omar of Simza, I introduce to you Master Sorceress Katya Ironwright of Snowhaven," Olivia formally stated, bowing to each woman in turn as she spoke their names. Again, the two women nodded to each other, but this time both added the customary small bow that was habitual for Easterners. Katya's face flushed slightly, realizing she had been rude not to introduce herself first. Thank you, Olivia, for reminding me to be civilized, the sorceress thought with an inner chuckle. Last night's surreal events make simple pleasantries seem insignificant in comparison.
"Simza's tribesmen want to harvest Walron's scales. The meat is no good, tainted as it is, but the scales are extremely valuable," the scout finally imparted. "However, it was you that brought down the dragon from the sky. With you missing this morning and the corpse unclaimed, things had become quite chaotic. When several tribesmen came into the village with Walron's head at dawn, I went to the Tepey's tent immediately. They had no right to do that, and it brought dishonor to the tribe," Olivia finished, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand; the heat of the desert, even in the morning, was oppressive once the sun had risen. By midday, the air would visibly distort with the intense temperature coming off the sand.
Katya scanned those gathered with a brief glance, seeing them for their true purpose here. Olivia's voice brought the sorceress' attention back to the scout.
"Katya, I need you to claim the kill," the older woman stated bluntly.
"What?" Katya replied, distasteful confusion plain in her frown. Iman spoke a few words in the Eastern tongue to Olivia, who raised her hand in response as if asking for patience.
"Please trust me and just do it," Olivia answered, her jaw tight with the severity of the situation. The sorceress had not seen the scout so serious before.
"Very well," Katya said, still looking confused but willing to comply with the request. "I claim the kill," the sorceress spoke blandly.
Olivia shook her head and pointed to the crowd. "No, to them. Formally address them, please."
"Alright, alright!" Katya retorted, now irritated. She turned to the tribesmen and raised her hands, her staff in one and her open palm facing towards them with her other.
With more than a little annoyance in her voice, she put a foot on Walron's tail and shouted, "I, Katya Ironwright, Master Sorceress of Snowhaven's School of Sorcery, declare that I killed this dragon. He is mine." To further back up her declaration, she drove her staff into the sand. Lightning danced up its length. The sorceress stared down the throng, her eyes flashing anger and dominance. She was daring anyone to contest her statement.
The display caused Tomas to raise his head. His face had a small amount of revulsion on it. Katya noticed his expression and realized who she must have looked like in that moment. Salamasca, she thought. She silently apologized to her teacher, never wanting to ever be like his former student. Hearing her thoughts, Tomas nodded his head, his compelling purple eyes worried though. I will not become like her, Teacher. Never, she thought. His face lightened, and he managed a tired smile.
There were a few grumbles, but the inhabitants of Simza began to depart, heading back into the village. Iman still stood by Olivia's side, waiting to depart with the scout.
"Thank you, Katya," Olivia said, sighing in relief. "I am going to go negotiate with the Tepey after I discuss things further here with Iman."
Katya nodded, not quite sure what was accomplished but glad to be done with her part in it; she was too tired to be curious about whatever was being negotiated. “Where are our friends?" the sorceress asked of the scout.
"They are still guests in Adraim's tent and remain there, having breakfast," she responded. Katya sudden
ly felt very tired, a night with little sleep catching up to her, and gazed longingly towards Simza proper.
"You should join them," Olivia said, observing Katya's weariness and wind torn robe. "It looks like you had a long night and could use some rest and refreshment."
"I will, thanks. Tomas and I have much to discuss with everyone anyway," Katya said. The scout glanced to the child sorcerer with the strange purple eyes when his name was mentioned. Katya realized that she had not made the introduction, and wondered if she had done so subconsciously. Either way, the other Illyander woman made no mention of it at the time.
"I'll join you shortly," Olivia smiled reassuringly, trying to raise the sorceress' spirits. Katya nodded tiredly and headed back to Simza with her teacher in tow.
Wrapping her arms tightly about her sister's neck, Sasha's pressure almost strangled Katya, hugging her as tightly as she was.
"I was terrified that Salamasca had taken you," the swordswoman said gently into her sister's white-streaked black hair. "I had such odd dreams. Strange women and flying on dragon back." Katya only responded by hugging her sister back. The physical contact threatened to cause tears it felt so good to the swordswoman; she couldn't remember the last time they had properly hugged. Katya allowed herself to lean into the sisterly embrace, wrapping her arms around Sasha. Since Katya had sided with Sasha on the decision to bring Gabriel along to the Eastern Kingdom and had helped smuggle him aboard The Isabella without Jared's knowledge, the sisters were slowly repairing the damage done to the relationship when both women had been romantically interested in Jared. However, this was the first time they had embraced since their initial night in Illyander's capital of Aeirsga. When they released each other, both of their eyes were brimming with moisture.
Iluak put a hand on the sorceress' shoulder, and she placed her free hand on top of his. For some reason, there was discomfort between the two; Katya did not seem able to bring herself to raise her dark eyes to meet his. Sasha wondered why the two of them didn't just go ahead and admit they were in love; they obviously cared for one another.
"I thought you were safe," Jared smiled, happy to see the sisters so close again, and gave his son one last tickle in their shared pile of pillows. Gabriel giggled cheerfully, the infant's laughter drawing eyes to the playful display and warming their hearts. The woodsman sat up and continued, "When Sasha bolted awake in the middle of the night, she felt you were gone and got scared. I figured you were off on some magical errand," he said with sarcasm clear in his voice.
"It appears you were right, Jared," Talas said in all seriousness, sitting cross-legged on a pillow of purple velvet. The priest's eyes were set on Tomas, standing in Katya's shadow. The older man leaned forward. He appeared conflicted on whether to stand and greet the sorcerer or to remain seated. When no one else stood, he stayed put and allowed his body to relax.
Sasha was the most surprised, not having seen the sorcerer at all, so caught up was she in her reunion with her sister. The boy had not grown a bit since she had first met him almost two years ago. A human child would have grown significantly in that time.
"Administrator, what are you doing here?" Sasha asked. She knew he was involved with Sirus and the other dragons from past conversations, but somehow the swordswoman knew what he was. She just knew. The sparkle of the full moon on his purple scales was still vivid in her memory of her dream from the night before. Was it a memory or a dream? When have I seen him in dragon form? she wondered, more than a little bewildered. The swordswoman was realizing the more she and Katya transformed into Akor’shi-kai that more than just their bodies were being shared; she was remembering a wealth of memories that did not belong to her.
The child sorcerer regarded her impassively; he appeared extremely tired and depressed with his head hung low and his shoulders slumped. However, he raised his eyes to meet her green ones when she questioned him. His eyes were as she remembered, purple and wise, but they seemed less bright, the color muted to a pale lavender.
"I no longer carry any title, my child. Katya was assisting me in another matter, which, subsequently, has now freed me to aid you. Regardless, it is good to see you again," the sorcerer spoke, glumly regarding all those assembled. His eyes settled on the baby. "I see you had a healthy son. Congratulations." Jared beamed proudly, carrying the infant over to Tomas and handing him to the former Administrator. Tomas took him reluctantly, the babe looking huge in his small arms. Gabriel clutched the sorcerer's thumb, wriggling it vigorously. With his other tiny hand, the babe grasped Tomas' chin, cooing all the while. Tomas smiled, his spirits lifted by the baby's happy temperament.
"His name is Gabriel," Sasha stated, smiling down at her son. The swordswoman raised her head to Katya, hoping to see her spirits lifted by the merry infant. Her sister's face bore a mild smile, but she looked terrible otherwise, swaying slightly as if she might nod off on her feet. Sasha frowned, realizing for the first time how truly disheveled Katya's hair and state of dress were. The sorceress looked as if she had been to the edge of Aronshae and back. The redhead fetched a waterskin from the small table in the middle of the room, handing it to her sister. Katya broke away from Iluak's comforting hand and drank deeply, quietly voicing her thanks.
"He is very handsome," Tomas said, handing the babe back to Jared; the infant was heavy in the sorcerer's small arms, and he could not hold him long. The sight was strange to Sasha, always having thought of Tomas as strong and powerful. If not for his eyes, he was just like any other human child of eleven winters though, tall but very thin, not having filled out yet. Katya gave her teacher the waterskin. He, too, drank thirstily.
"Katya and I had some business to attend to," Tomas said, after thoroughly sating his parched mouth. Their friends could see that he spoke the truth in all seriousness, noting the newcomers’ torn robes and dirty faces. Before anyone could ask, the sorcerer continued. "What happened is not important. The end result is that Sirus, the three drakes Salamasca raised, and I are the only remaining dragons on Aronshae." Everyone but Katya had surprised looks on their faces. "I have returned with Katya to lend what aid I can, and Sirus will as well once I cure him."
"You can do that?" Jared asked, suddenly very interested. Since their time with the Shadow Drakes in the Frozen March, the woodsman had told Sasha all about his former mentor and Sirus’ current plight of having his human consciousness swapped into a dragon body, corrupted by Salamasca's tainted crystals. This is fantastic news, Sasha thought. Sirus may not be able to get his true body back but he can at least be free of Salamasca's control. The events of the past two years making her much more practical, the swordswoman mentally shelved her excitement, wondering what cost this cure would require. Katya had said it would cause her death instantly to even try and cure Sirus after experiencing how much power it took to cure the nexus crystal at the Ice Queen's Glacial Palace.
Sasha gave voice to her concern.
"How? At what cost?" the swordswoman asked, tucking a loose strand of white hair back into her neat braid that had once been fully flame red. Now her locks looked more like fresh snow covering fall's red leaves.
"It will take all my strength," Tomas replied in answer to both Jared and Sasha's questions. "If I attempted to cure him here, and by myself, it would kill me. Sirus awaits at a nearby Ley Line nexus. There, and with the assistance of some friends, I can channel the magical font, using its power to aid in the healing."
Those who were aware that only the Nhyme were capable of healing of that magnitude knew of the nexus of which he spoke. They nodded knowingly, but did not speak a word of their tiny friends, preserving the secret of their existence.
Everyone seemed cheerful at this revelation except Katya, whose brow was still furrowed. Sasha knew Tomas wasn't divulging all the information. She also knew her sister and her magical abilities well enough to know just how much power this healing would take.
"You will still die though, won't you?" the swordswoman asked. Jared and Talas wore matching shocked exp
ressions.
Tomas cracked another small smile.
"You have grown quite wise, Master Swordswoman," Tomas said, using her formal title. "Yes, I will still die, but it will not be instantaneous." The sorcerer indicated Katya with a wave of his hand and continued, "As I have told my former student, I will aid you with my last breaths. It is not only imperative to your mission that I cleanse Sirus, but also a debt that I owe to him. Only then, can he lay in wait for Salamasca when she tries to escape again using the Ley Lines or the Void. Sirus must be free of her control to do this."
Sasha instantly saw the plan unfold; how Tomas intended to help them take down Salamasca.
"You would do this?" Talas asked, leaning forward again, this time simply with great interest. "From what the girls have said, I thought you weren't able to assist us? What has changed?"
Tomas sighed heavily. The sorcerer settled his gaze on the priest and replied, "Like I said, the rest of the dragons are gone. I am no longer oathbound by my kin to refrain from interfering in Aronshae's wars." He paused before continuing, hurt plain on his boyish face. "I do this because I want to make right the harm I have brought upon Aronshae. Openly teaching magic to your kind has brought great power to a woman who took that knowledge down a dark road."
"Tomas... may I call you that?" Talas asked. When the sorcerer nodded, he continued, "You could not have known what Salamasca would do with your teachings. Your instruction of magic has also brought good. Think of all your other students, using your knowledge to better Aronshae. Magic is a tool, like fire. You are not to blame for its misuse.”
"Your words lighten the burden on my heart, Brother Talas. Thank you," Tomas responded. "Regardless, my kin are gone, and there is nothing left for me in this world. I will make right Salamasca's misdeeds by assisting you in this way."
No more concerns were expressed. The tent grew silent, even Gabriel had drifted off to sleep in his father's arms. Olivia pushed back the main tent flap and entered. She took a seat on the rug next to Talas and slipped her hand into his. He received it warmly. With the gesture, Sasha noticed the priest had the ring on his finger that she had seen him wearing around his neck back in Aeirsga's Temple of the Great Mother. The sight was a happy one. She was glad they had reconciled their marriage. The swordswoman was also surprised she hadn't thought of it before when they first discovered Olivia's relationship to Talas, that the ring was a wedding band.
