Pyforial Games

by B. T. Narro

  Knowing he wouldn’t be able to hold both of them for long, he forced the energy up at a quick pace, giving his stomach the fluttery feeling he’d come to enjoy.

  Cedri constantly seemed to be losing her breath, sucking in one after another. “My gods!” she screamed in his ear.

  Damn, he’d forgotten to warn her not to do that. It was a habit that took Shara some time to shake. The higher he went, the more the mountains to the south seemed to shrink, until finally the great volcano came into view. Even at hundreds of miles away, it looked massive, dwarfing the mountains bordering Eppon.

  The air felt fresher; it didn’t smell like sulfur, which he only then realized he’d gotten used to. Cedri clutched him hard, but he didn’t mind the slight pain. It was better than feeling she might slip.

  As he looked out at the storm, lightning struck continuously around the volcano while lava spewed out of its center. Feeling the strain of Cedri’s extra weight, he quickly turned to face southeast for a look at Tramberr. The city, having no walls, was more like Lanhine than Wertisall.

  “There they are,” Cedri said, “about twenty miles north of the city, just before the hills.”

  Neeko caught sight of the columns of soldiers. They were still on horseback, their massive battering ram at the front. Neeko’s heart jumped as he realized he could make it there in time to fight with them.

  He let it out of his mind for the moment to focus on descending. By the time Cedri was off his back, he was panting.

  Cedri had an enormous smile. “Shara, it was indescribable.”

  “The storm is stronger than before.” Neeko struggled to catch his breath. “And the army is close; the battle should take place in two days.” He stopped himself from saying more.

  “Will you take me that high now?” Shara asked.

  He frowned.

  She folded her arms. “Or do I have too much heft?”

  He took in her generous curves and gave the only answer he could. “I’ll take you as soon as I’m ready.”

  While he regained his strength, he decided he would head east toward Tramberr, not south to the capital as they’d planned. He’d promised Laney he would be there if he could, and even though she’d given her blessing to break that promise, he knew how valuable he would be at the battle.

  But during his second time in the air, with Shara on his back, he noticed something he didn’t before. Another army of a few thousand was approaching Tramberr from the south. They must’ve come from the capital to aid the forces already within Tramberr. Neeko had to assume his army would now be greatly outnumbered.

  He came back down safely with Shara.

  “I fear for Jaymes and Laney,” Shara said.

  Cedri nodded while Neeko was too busy regaining his breath to answer. He was glad for the pause, for he was still trying to decide how to tell Shara that he would be fighting.

  “We need to go east,” he said, feeling a terrible pang of guilt, knowing what he was about to put Shara through. “Because I’m going to join the battle.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Are you seriously considering that?”

  “I’ve already considered it.” He softened his tone. “I know how hard this must be for you to let me go.”

  “I’m not letting you go!” She stomped her foot. “What about the king?”

  “This battle is more important…and closer.” Neeko didn’t have to say much. This was an argument he would win because Shara already knew he was right, she just didn’t want to admit it. “Come with me. You and Cedri can wait a safe distance from the battle, and I will meet you after it’s over. Then we can continue to Khalinar.”

  “Don’t you know how many people are going to die? They’ll target you as soon as they realize you’re a pyforial mage.”

  “It’s a risk, but it’s one I need to take.” He spoke in a calm tone while Shara drew quick breaths, her hands clenched.

  “You won’t listen to anything I say, will you?” He couldn’t respond, giving her an unhappy look instead. “Well then, what’s the point! Don’t you realize that if you die I’ll have nothing? I don’t want to be in Sumar any longer, and I don’t want to go to Ovira without you!”

  “Shara—”

  “Neeko, don’t do this.” She spoke in a betrayed tone, as if he were about to go spend the night with another woman.

  It hurt not to have her blessing, but he wouldn’t let that stop him. “You’ll feel better once I come back, alive.”

  “Damn you, Neeko!” She turned and got on her mount. He was thankful to see that she started east instead of south. At least she would go with him until they neared the city.

  He found Cedri looking at him. “That was quite uncomfortable,” she mumbled to herself as she started toward her horse.

  *****

  Shara refused to speak with him. He tried using her name, asking her questions, and then he reverted to explaining himself further. Eventually she even stopped looking at him.

  By evening he’d given up. They made camp. Neeko helped Shara gather sticks and brush for the fire, but she moved away from him whenever he came near. When they had the fire going, she whispered something to Cedri, and then the two of them moved away, clearly not wanting Neeko to hear them.

  The psychic stood attentive as Shara spoke. Then Cedri began shaking her head and sighing. Eventually he overheard Cedri’s irritated voice. “I’m not going to change his opinion! You have to accept it.”

  Shara stomped away and ignored them both as she stared at the fire.

  Cedri showed Neeko an annoyed look as if blaming him for her being in the middle of this.

  Shara must be more than just angry to enlist Cedri’s help. She must really believe I’m going to die.

  He tried to sit beside her and assure her he’d return from the battle. But as soon as he came close, she turned as if disgusted by his proximity. “Unless you’re coming to tell me you changed your mind, you need to get away from me.”

  “I will come back after it’s over.”

  She stood, pulled the blanket out from under him, and walked over to the other side of the fire.

  The next day was just like the one before except that Cedri was unrelenting during training, refusing to let Shara or Neeko dictate when she stopped. It finally occurred to Neeko that she might be considering joining the fight.

  “Cedri, are you coming with me or staying with Shara?”

  Her mouth opened to answer but no words followed.

  “You’re actually considering fighting?” Shara seemed incredulous, her dark eyebrows arching.

  Neeko realized something. “You’ve been in the army for years. You must’ve trained for battle.”

  “Only as a mage,” she bit out.

  “But you’re even stronger now as a psychic. You can pick out the enemies one by one and disable them completely, and you can still cast fireballs. You have the abilities for both long- and close-range combat. That’s something no other mage has.”

  “I know, Neeko.” She didn’t seem to want to hear it. “I’ve been thinking about joining the moment you mentioned going. I was wondering if either of you would even consider what I want.”

  “I just figured you would stay with me,” Shara said. “It’s likely we’ll need you just as much as Neeko to get to the king, which is where we should be going right now.”

  “You want to believe that. But you don’t. You know how important it is to win this battle…and so do I.” Cedri let out her breath. “Which is why I need to fight as well.”

  “Then I’m going, too.” Shara’s look dared them to disagree. “I can cast fireballs. I can fight.”

  “Shara, you can’t,” Neeko argued.

  “Oh I can’t?” she yelled. “Why do you think you can tell me not to fight but I can’t tell you the same thing?”

  “You’ve admitted that you’re not meant for battle,” he replied in an even tone. “You excel at many things, but among tens of thousands of allies and enemies, you’re just going to be
a mage without battle training.”

  Neeko was thankful when Cedri spoke up. “Do you think the rest of the mages will be stepping onto the battlefield without training?”

  Shara didn’t reply.

  “They train for years,” Cedri went on, “making sure they know how to react to every situation and command from their officers. It’s difficult to be a mage in a battle. Fireballs are hard to aim, and they explode. You’ll probably kill more of your own than—”

  “All right!” Shara threw herself on her mount and rode on without looking back.

  When evening came, Neeko decided to lift himself into the air to check the progress of the Northern army. They seemed to be stopped a good five miles outside the city. So they would attack tomorrow. This meant he could have another night of rest. Maybe he could persuade Shara to share blankets and get a few words out of her…maybe he could even get more than a few words. He was going to battle after all.

  It bothered him that instead of commending his bravery, she treated him as if he were invisible. It’s just a strategy, he reminded himself. She thinks she can make me agree to stay. But now that we’re nearly there, she might finally accept it.

  “I’ll be sleeping over here,” Cedri announced after they’d made camp, aiming her thumb at a set of trees a good distance away. “It’s warm enough not to need the fire, and I figure you two could use some privacy.”

  “That’s not necessary,” Shara said.

  Cedri sighed at her and simply walked off.

  Neeko didn’t bother Shara, figuring she would come to him eventually.

  Sleep remained a chase. He could feel himself come close several times, but he never could quite get there.

  The fire went out, but the night was warm enough without it. He pined to feel Shara in his arms but more than that, he just wanted her to return to her old self. A simple smile would put him completely at ease.

  She didn’t come, and eventually he fell asleep.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  NEEKO

  Neeko awoke to Shara’s voice. “I can’t believe how stubborn you are.”

  He didn’t feel as if he’d been asleep long. Shara seemed to be shifting her legs to get them beneath his blanket. He lifted it, and she slid down beside him.

  “I’m sorry for how I treated you,” she said. “It was the only thing I could think of that might work.”

  “You weren’t really angry?”

  “Oh I was and still am. It’s this damn war.” She took his cheek and guided his lips onto hers for a long kiss. When they parted, she smiled and said, “Shara has been miserable these last two days.”

  “Shara? What about poor Neeko? He’s been far more miserable than Shara.”

  Her laugh died on her lips as she began to cry. Neeko pulled her to his chest and held her close.

  “I keep imagining you never coming back.”

  “Don’t. I will return to you,” he promised.

  “Only if we win. But their army will overwhelm ours.”

  “You forget I killed hundreds of terrislaks by myself. And I’ll be near Laney. I’m sure Jaymes won’t have her out in front where she could be shot. Then once we’re in the city, the close-quarters will be to our advantage.”

  “Will you watch over Cedri?”

  “Yes, we’ll both be fine.” He kissed her, and suddenly he could think of nothing but how her lips felt.

  *****

  Neeko awoke again with the sunrise, wishing he felt more prepared for what was ahead. As he ate and tried not to wake Shara, he nearly choked on his food, his stomach jumping with nerves. It wasn’t long before Cedri and Shara were eating with him and silently watching the sun gently rise from the horizon.

  “What a beautiful day…for thousands to die,” Shara said. Then she let out a discouraged hum when no one replied. “That was more humorous in my mind.”

  “I think all instances of irony will go unappreciated today,” Neeko said.

  Cedri laughed, earning a frown from Shara.

  “Really?” she challenged. “That’s what you find humorous?”

  Cedri shrugged, then her smile slowly straightened. “Neeko, we should be leaving. We need to speak with Jaymes before the battle begins.”

  He nodded. Then he turned to find Shara’s expressive eyes full of pain. When she pressed herself against him, the rest of the world faded. Even his worry dissolved as her warmth washed over his body.

  It all came back when they pulled apart.

  As the two women said goodbye with an embrace of their own, he checked the straps on his bag and put on his belt containing his two sheathed swords. The three of them mounted and, after a long look, Shara set off for the hills where she could watch from a safe distance.

  *****

  By the time Neeko and Cedri met up with the army, all seemed at the ready—the front a perfect line of men standing with brass shields protecting them from feet to neck.

  Neeko and Cedri slowed their horses and held out their hands as archers and mages raised their weapons.

  “It’s Neeko and Cedri,” he called to them, “the pyforial mage and psychic from Sastien Forest.”

  He watched as word spread and each lowered his or her weapon. Many asked what they were doing and if another attack of the PCQ was imminent.

  Neeko and Cedri explained that they were there to join the fight and another attack would be unlikely. The PCQs had used trees for cover. Without shields like Jaymes’ men, they would be felled by arrows and fireballs before they could get close enough.

  Neeko began asking for Jaymes as he rode toward the front, passing by ranks of fearful faces that didn’t help to set him at ease. He was directed to continue forward, the commander being near the front line.

  If Jaymes was surprised to see them, he didn’t show it. “Neeko, you’ll be with this crescent here to the right of Laney. Cedri, you’ll be on the other side. I’ll be with Laney. Stand in the second row and at the center of your crescent while I speak to my officers.” His volubility impressed Neeko. It was as if he’d expected them.

  Neeko soon figured out what Jaymes had meant by a crescent. The commander had split the front men into separate groups, putting those with shields in an arced line at the front to better block arrows and fireballs.

  So they would be advancing slowly in groups. Neeko didn’t know how he felt about that, as they certainly would be met with a hailstorm of arrows and fireballs. But he trusted Jaymes.

  Laney broke ranks within her crescent to follow Jaymes, appearing to ask him something while Neeko watched Cedri disappear behind the nearby swordsmen, all more than a head taller than her.

  Jaymes shooed Laney away, and she happily bounced toward Neeko. He came out of his spot to join her in the space between their crescents.

  The Southern army had gathered, forming their own ranks similar to the Northern troops. Neeko had chosen not to take more than a glance at them, knowing that their numbers had to be far more.

  He hugged Laney as she curled her right arm around his back. “What are you doing here?” she asked, some joy beneath her tone of confusion. “You’re supposed to take this opportunity to go to Khalinar.”

  “I’ll find a way to get there after this battle is over. I had the chance to join you here, so I did.”

  “I’m thankful! But what happened in Wertisall?”

  Neeko hurried to tell her about the stadium and the priest, leaving out Arrieta as there was no point to trouble Laney with that detail.

  “These priests are madmen,” Laney said when he was finished. “Jaymes has told me about them, but I’m still surprised to hear he would pit two brothers against each other and allow the winner to choose a woman to rape. I’m glad Priest Elbick is dead and Priest Gamilt will soon be next.” Then she gave a sly smile. “A man kissed me,” she whispered. “Many times.”

  “The one who wanted your assistance trimming his hair?”

  “Yes, he has strong feelings for me. It’s wonderful.” Neeko listene
d for fear coloring her tone as she went on. “He’s with the archers. I hope he’ll be safe.”

  He heard what he was listening for. “I’m sure he hopes the same about you.”

  They spoke for what felt like an hour while Jaymes strategized with his officers and then shared his battle plan with his troops. Laney expressed her worries once more about what would happen to them after the battle. Neeko offered to find her, wherever she may be, and bring her with him and Shara, and possibly Cedri, to Ovira. But Laney made a sour face at the suggestion.

  “They wouldn’t take me, yet Jaymes did. I would much rather stay here where I’ve been welcomed, so I’m putting my trust in Jaymes. I certainly don’t want to spend my life teaching others how to use pyforial energy. Unlike you, I was growing bored with training the more we did it.” She showed him a wry smile. “And my man is here.”

  As Neeko chuckled, Jaymes ordered everyone back to their spots. “It’s time to begin.”

  There was palpable aggression in the air as men gripped their weapons and thumped their armor. Neeko glanced at the men of his crescent and was surprised to see all of them staring at him.

  The crossbow wielder beside him asked, “Are you as strong as Laney with pyforial energy?”

  He didn’t want to make Laney seem any less valuable, so he gave a modest answer. “I am.”

  “You’ll stay with us until the end?” a swordsman asked.

  “Until Priest Gamilt has fallen.”

  He got approving smiles all around.

  Neeko took his long-awaited look at his enemies. They’d formed their lines a mile out from the city of Tramberr, their front loaded with shield bearers who looked no different than those at the front of the Northern army, except that their armor was black instead of blue.

  By the time everyone’s engaged in battle, we might look to Shara like a massive bruise on the land.

  There wasn’t much open field between the armies, perhaps only five hundred yards. Jaymes walked past the front line and turned to face his troops. A horse was brought to him so he could mount and be seen by all those he addressed. Farther down on each side, officers took the same position, ready to give direction.