Pyforial Games

by B. T. Narro

  Yesterday, while Neeko purchased supplies within the city, Shara had spent the day helping the healers with the injured.

  “Was Cedri doing better the last time you saw her?” Neeko asked.

  “Yes, although she was upset with me because I wouldn’t give her any of the caregelow potion Steffen left us.” Seeing Neeko’s confusion, Shara elaborated. “It’s supposed to help fight against any illness and improve healing. I brought it to the healer’s attention in the morning, and we’d begun distributing it to those near death. Unfortunately, it has a strange side effect that Steffen had warned me about, but not with enough emphasis.” She paused, appearing to think. “Have you ever been so drunk that you acted completely on impulse?”

  “I’ve never been drunk, but I’ve seen my father get that way.”

  “You’ve never…?” She blinked, looking bemused. “I’m surprised I’ve never asked.”

  “Have you been drunk?”

  “Shara…has.”

  “As drunk as you just described?”

  “Anyway…the people who took the caregelow were dangerously misbehaving. Even with open wounds, they wanted to run and eat and dance, many of them forming ideas they thought extremely important but made no sense to the rest of us. One man thought he simply needed one moment with the Southern king and he could convince him to stop this war. He hobbled out of his bed and started toward Khalinar, leaving a trail of blood behind him.”

  “My gods, how long did this effect last?”

  “Many hours. Eventually they all fell asleep, but there were nearly twenty of them like that at once. It was terrible. I gave some of the substance to Laney so the gash on her leg wouldn’t get infected. She…did inappropriate things that I would rather not discuss. I was exhausted by the time I came back around to Cedri. Then the stubborn woman was convinced she would’ve been able to behave under the influence of this substance! No matter what I said, she wanted it to help reduce the bruising of her face and restore her mind. We argued.” Shara sighed. “Both Laney and Cedri were upset with me by the time I left.”

  “Why was Laney upset?”

  “She had to be scolded so she would stop behaving like an animal.”

  Neeko held in a laugh. “Let’s see Laney first.”

  Shara sneered, her dark eyes nothing but slits. “You’re amused by this.” She turned and murmured something. Neeko thought he heard it as, “You won’t be for long.”

  When they reached the medical tents, Shara gasped in surprise to discover Laney no longer needed a bandage for her leg.

  “Look!” She pulled one side of her pants up past her thigh, revealing a patch of red skin where Neeko knew her wound to be previously. “That was a potion of the gods, Shara! Of the gods!”

  Shara squatted to investigate Laney’s thigh closely, poking at it as if it were an illusion. “Remarkable.”

  But Laney seemed concerned about something as she looked down Shara’s back.

  “Um…Shara.” Laney’s face reddened. “Did I pull down your pants and bite your ass?”

  Shara quickly got to her feet and took a few steps back. “I was hoping you wouldn’t remember.”

  “It just came back to me—” Laney gasped. “My gods, did I also—?”

  “Don’t bring it up! Let’s pretend none of that happened.”

  “What?” Neeko asked. They looked at him. “What else did you do?” He tried to contain his smile, but it was simply impossible.

  Shara retrieved the bag that she’d set down upon entering. “You probably didn’t notice this before because they look similar. But this bag is different from my last one. I bought this before I met you at the inn for supper.” She paused, appearing to have trouble continuing.

  “I ruined the other one,” Laney admitted.

  Neeko’s smile disappeared as he remembered he’d left his cloak with Shara yesterday. The weather had been too warm for him to wear it, and he needed as much room in his bag as possible for supplies. If he knew Shara, she’d crammed it in her own bag.

  “How did you ruin it Laney?”

  Shara and Laney had matching nervous looks as they shared a glance.

  “Shara, where is my cloak?” A tremble found its way into his voice. He’d come to love that cloak. It had been with him most of the time he’d spent with Shara.

  “It had to be destroyed.”

  “No! It must be salvageable.”

  Shara tried to comfort him with a hand on his back. “There are some things that water and soap cannot clean.”

  Annoyance coursed through him. He jabbed his finger at Laney as if she were a misbehaved pet. “What did you do?”

  Laney smacked her hand over her face and let out something between a scream and a groan.

  Shara threw her arm around Laney. “It wasn’t her fault. It was the damn caregelow.”

  Neeko softened his tone. “I’m sorry, Laney.”

  She nodded, though she kept her hand over her face.

  He asked Shara, “Were your clothes ruined?”

  She flashed a smile as if she’d been holding it in. “Your cloak was at the top of my bag. It protected all my clothes.”

  “I’m sorry, Neeko!” Laney let her hand slide down.

  He sighed and forgave her.

  Shara’s smile had somehow widened even more. “Now do you find it as amusing?”

  “No.”

  The mood became somber as they explained to Laney what they would be doing in Khalinar. As the conversation started to drift toward the danger of their task, Shara quickly changed its course by asking Laney, “Have you decided if you would like to come with us to Ovira?”

  She lowered her head. “I spoke to Jaymes about that.”

  Shara gasped. “He knows we offered to sneak you out of the army?”

  Laney nodded without looking up. “I’m sorry. I needed to know what his plans were for me…and then he got it out of me. He knows me too well by now for me to keep something from him.”

  Neeko was surprised the commander hadn’t mentioned it when they’d spoken.

  “What did he say?” Shara asked.

  Laney looked up. “He wants me to stay in the army. He says that even when the war is over, there’s much to be done to help Sumar.”

  “And this is what you want to do?”

  “I appreciate your offer to take me with you, but I’m happy here. Everyone has always seen me as a frail girl missing a limb. Even my family looked down at me when I couldn’t assist them in the way they wanted. Then, when I started using pyforial energy, it just scared them. But the people in the army value me.” She smirked and blushed. “And I like having a man, even if it’s disallowed. I’m fairly certain Jaymes is aware yet doesn’t care so long as it doesn’t affect my ability to train or take orders.”

  “All of that could be waiting for you in Ovira,” Shara said.

  “Perhaps.” Laney shrugged. “But if I were to go, it wouldn’t be for any reason other than to keep the three of us from separating. It’s easier if we all stay.”

  As Neeko glanced at Shara, he realized for the first time that he could see himself staying in Sumar. Before, it was never an option so he hadn’t considered it, but now he was no longer to be shot on sight. As emotion filled Shara’s eyes, he could see she’d begun to consider the same thing.

  “We might be able to do that,” Shara said.

  Laney bounced, then winced and grabbed her leg. Torn between grimacing and laughing, her face took on a twisted look. “That’s wonderful!”

  “After the task is done, we’ll find you to let you know what we’ve decided,” Neeko promised.

  They said their goodbyes, and then they were off to see Cedri. But she was asleep when they came to her tent. Knowing she’d been having trouble sleeping, they decided to leave a note. Neeko watched over Shara’s shoulder as she wrote outside Cedri’s tent.

  But Cedri surprised them by coming out before Shara was finished.

  “How are you feeling?” Neeko asked. />
  “Better. I remember parts of the battle I hadn’t earlier. I’m glad I awoke before you left. I need to tell you both something.” Her next words seemed to get caught in her throat as she cleared it. “I’m not sure why it took me this long to realize, Neeko, but you are admirable.”

  It was almost too strange to be complimented by her. “Thank you,” he managed to mutter.

  “Even if you hadn’t fought in the battle, I still would’ve been impressed by everything you’ve done. I’m proud to have gone this far with you.”

  “The honor is mine, Cedri. Everything we’ve done, we’ve done together. And I never could’ve pretended to be a PCQ. Even if they wouldn’t have recognized me, I still couldn’t have—”

  “Enough.” She smiled as she pushed out her hands to stop him. “Thank you, but I just wanted you to know how I felt. You don’t need to praise me in return.” She quickly turned to Shara. “And you.”

  Shara responded nervously, leaning back. “Yes?”

  “The only other people who’ve cared for me as much as you have were my sister and my mother. If more people were like you, fewer would be hungry and more would have homes and work. You are a caring, smart woman.”

  “Thank you, Cedri, I—”

  “Wait.”

  Shara chuckled nervously. “Please, I’m not sure I can handle any more praise.”

  “Then let me ask you a question instead. Why did you care for me when this began? We hardly knew each other. You were even somewhat suspicious of me in relation to Charlotte’s death.”

  “You became my friend. I care about all my friends, for I don’t have very many.”

  “Well, I hope you stay in Sumar. I’ll remain in the army with Laney. I’m not sure she’ll ever become as close a friend as the three of us, but I’ll try…for I don’t have many, either.”

  Shara embraced Cedri, kissing her cheek. “We’ll see each other again.”

  “Good.” Cedri gave her cheek a quick wipe with the back of her hand as she took a step toward Neeko. He leaned down and put his arms around her.

  “Be careful,” she said as she pressed her hands against his back.

  “We will.”

  It was soon after that Neeko realized it was just him and Shara now as they started south to their final destination.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  NEEKO

  It was on their way to go through Tramberr instead of around it, and Neeko needed a new cloak anyway. They ate one last meal, filling their stomachs until they could barely walk. Then Shara took his arm as they strode toward the castle to check on the siege.

  From Neeko’s understanding, Jaymes didn’t need many men to keep food and water from getting to the castle. This was confirmed when they saw only a few hundred guarding. The troops stopped Neeko and Shara for a moment, until they recognized him as the pyforial mage who’d fought with them. Then they took turns shaking his hand.

  He felt somewhat embarrassed, for Shara had done just as much to help the North in this war. At least Jaymes is aware of that, he realized. Though, it would be ideal if more knew.

  Neeko asked about the progress of the siege and was told the only inhabitants left in the castle were the priest and some of his servants. Eventually they would run out of food or water and the priest would be taken prisoner. So there’s no chance he can take over the king’s position.

  Neeko didn’t like the idea of letting the priest live, but he disliked the idea of killing him even more. Soon they were headed out of the city, and Neeko realized he had other things to worry about.

  At least he and Shara still had plenty of money. They purchased horses that seemed to be well-trained. According to Shara, Khalinar was seventy miles from Tramberr, a minuscule distance compared to how far they’d gone already.

  They rode twenty miles that day, staying clear of the highway to the capital. They saw no one, making it easy for Neeko to remain in good spirits as he worried little about being caught. They told stories from their childhoods. Neeko was surprised that he could speak about Eizle and his mother without pain. He even had a few tales about Jon that got Shara laughing.

  The ache of missing his friend and family lingered during moments of silence but disappeared when Shara spoke, touched him, or kissed him.

  “You’re like a caregelow for the ache of my memories,” he told her as they were falling asleep that night.

  “But without the nasty side effect?”

  “I don’t see myself biting your ass and pissing in your bag.”

  She giggled as she covered her eyes and shook her head. “I’ll never look at Laney the same way again. I was horrified, Neeko!”

  Neeko laughed with her until she stopped and put her hand on his stomach.

  “Shara kept a small amount of the caregelow although she wasn’t supposed to,” she said. “In case something happens to you.”

  “That was a good idea.”

  She sat up. “You’re supposed to say that nothing will happen!”

  “Oh. Nothing will happen.”

  She lay back down. “Anyway, don’t use it on me unless I’m going to die.”

  “Wait a moment,” he said. “How could anything happen to you? I thought you were going to stay hidden.”

  “I am. I’ll be safe.”

  He wasn’t sure he believed her.

  They rode with more caution the next day, staying near the mountains on their right side where the land curved over hillocks. There were far fewer stories and absolutely no laughs.

  Neeko thought the third and final day of their trip to Khalinar would be easier than the last. But getting there turned out to be painstaking, for there were scouts everywhere as if anticipating assassins like him and Shara. Even worse, their horses certainly needed water by midday.

  Neeko risked lifting himself into the air and found that the only source of water that wasn’t ten miles back was a river a few miles on the other side of the road to the capital. He went higher to check on the storm in Eppon. The dark clouds had receded, now concentrated strictly over the volcano, which had finally come to rest. There was no fresh lava around its base, but steam still rose from silver pools scattered around the land.

  He told Shara what he’d seen, letting her wondrous mind work.

  “We’ve spotted numerous scouts by now,” she said. “There’s no way to be certain we haven’t been discovered by at least one that we haven’t seen first and avoided. I think it’s best to assume they’ve sent someone for us.”

  Neeko sighed, knowing what that meant. They were still a few miles from Khalinar, though. He’d hoped they would be closer before this moment came. “Will our horses find water and food?”

  “I hope so.”

  “How much money do you have?” Neeko pulled out his own coin purse to count its contents.

  “Why?”

  “After this is over, we’ll need to purchase two more horses, and I don’t see us walking around Khalinar and talking to merchants. We’ll have to find someone on the road near the city willing to part with their mount, and that’s likely to take far more coin than dealing with a horse seller.”

  Shara looked in her coin purse. “I have a dalion and too many ruffs to count. Plenty of money.”

  “I have about the same.”

  “Then it’s time we go into Eppon. We know what we’re going to do. It’s only a matter of doing it now.”

  They let their horses go, guiding them eastward toward the road and the river beyond. Then they walked to the edge of the western mountains separating Thalcea from Eppon.

  They transferred the remaining contents from their extra bags into their main one. Neeko dropped his empty one the ground while Shara playfully tossed hers.

  She was in a much better mood than him, perhaps excited about flying when she should be worried. These mountains were damn high, and landing wouldn’t be easy.

  Shara must’ve seen him tensing. She eased into him for a gentle hug. “Take your time if you need it.”


  “I’ll need to keep us in the air as long as I did when fleeing from the diymas, and that nearly made me pass out.”

  “But that was the first time you’ve lifted someone in addition to yourself. You’ve practiced hundreds of times.”

  He knew this, but it helped to hear Shara say it.

  “You won’t drop us,” she continued. “I’m not nervous.”

  He could feel his confidence returning with each slow breath. They’d walked to the point where the mountains looked the shortest. Glancing up at the sloped rocky land, however, he couldn’t see himself getting him and Shara up and over in one flight.

  “Isn’t there another way into Eppon?” he asked. “How did the sacrifices get to the volcano?”

  “There’s a tunnel beside Khalinar. Unfortunately we can’t get close enough to use it without risking being seen.”

  “Then I’m as ready as I can be.”

  She hopped onto his back and he gathered the necessary energy, then moved it beneath his arms and around his shoulders. Giving it a gentle tug, he confirmed it would hold.

  Shara inhaled sharply as the energy obeyed his command to ascend. Keeping his body steady, he faced the mountain to watch it cascade.

  It seemed to go on endlessly as he waited for the precipice to appear.

  And then it did, disappearing instantly as the open land of Eppon fell out before him—gray and dead, with steaming streams and sagging vegetation. Lightning struck around the volcano as he focused to move the energy forward instead of upward.

  It only took him a moment to realize that the mountainous terrain beneath his feet extended too far; he would need to land before descending.

  Finding an even section of rocks took frighteningly long, but he managed to locate a stretch that was level enough. He lowered them onto it, putting all of his strength into landing gently. It was as difficult as lifting a massive rock over his head and then trying to lower it slowly to the ground.

  He inadvertently tilted sideways as his feet touched, dropping Shara and falling on top of her. She yelped.

  He helped her up slowly as she hissed and rolled up her sleeve to check her arm. Her skin was dimpled where the rocks had pushed against her, but there was no blood.