“D-d-dragons can….” The female mage spluttered to a stop and just gapped at him.
Mei Li gave her an odd look. “You didn’t know dragons can take human form?”
“I’m surprised you knew.” Shunlei regarded her thoughtfully. “It’s not something my people do often. Most consider a human form as beneath them, inferior. For that matter, I’m surprised you know Long-go.”
And how did she cover that? “I was, ah, shipwrecked not long ago. A dragon aided me and took me in for a bit before taking me home. He was very chatty and kind.”
“Ah. That would explain it. I’m glad I’m not the only dragon helping humans. You’ve brightened my week considerably, Lady Mei.”
“I bet. Well, Hawes, where’s a good place to sit and celebrate?”
“Not far from here is a decent sized town. Let’s retreat there.” Hawes regarded her and Shunlei thoughtfully and the wheels were quite obviously turning. “I think there’s a great deal to talk about, too.”
Mei Li couldn’t argue there. She’d only read histories regarding the original group that helped the first Tomes seal some of the major dangers—and this was them. Melchior of Horvath. Mage Hawes. Mage Kiyo. Mage Nord. This wasn’t the full group, not yet, but it was the initial core. It was heady and bewildering to meet them like this. Mei Li never once imagined she would and she was a tiny bit star-struck. These people were her predecessors, her professional ancestors, in a sense. She absolutely had to find a way to stick with them.
People gathered up dropped luggage and started walking. The town was at the bottom of the hill, within sight, obviously not far.
As they walked, the woman introduced herself. “I’m Kiyo of Floating Isles, by the way. It’s nice to meet you, Lady Mei. The silent one following us is Nord. What brings you here?”
Mei Li turned and gave Nord a nod hello. He looked too thin, as if he regularly missed meals, a goatee obscuring his mouth. He inclined his head politely in return. Answering as honestly as possible, Mei responded, “I’m a traveling scholar. My goal is to help defeat anything that’s tearing up the countryside.”
“Oh! Then your goal is similar to ours. Does the prince of Horvath know of you? He’s offered to fund us as we work.”
“Ah, no, I wasn’t introduced to him.” Right, the record had mentioned that the princes of Horvath were always the ones to bankroll these expeditions. Bless them for it, too.
Hawes turned his head to say over his shoulder, “I’ll send him a message tomorrow, telling him of you. If you’re interested in joining with us, that is. We’d dearly love to have another mage.”
At this point, they might be willing to take any helping hand. Only three mages and a warrior were not sufficient for the tasks they were tackling. Then again, she rather had made a good showing back there. Maybe that was sufficient to gain their tentative trust and interest. “I’d much rather fight with you. Groups work better for this kind of thing.”
“Trust me, we know,” Hawes said on a rolling laugh. “Learned that the hard way! Master Shunlei, you said you’re trying to make friends with humanity. We saw how helpful having a dragon ally was today. Will you consider joining us too?”
The smile on Shunlei’s face put the sun to shame. “I’d love to. Thank you for the invitation.”
Nord looked a little alarmed at Hawes’ casual invite, shooting his friend a warning look, but Mei Li knew for a fact they’d be lost without Shunlei. She quickly spoke up in support of this. “Most of the sealing spells I know require a full box, like the one we just used on Red Lantern. Having Shunlei to fly them overhead is essential to that.”
“I’d dearly like the chance to build some goodwill with humanity,” Shunlei added earnestly. “Not all of us are interested in rampaging. And I’m subduing the ones who are as I come across them.”
Kiyo leaned forward to see around Mei Li to look at him. “Really? How?”
“I challenge them to combat,” Shunlei answered forthrightly. “When they lose, they form a blood oath with me that they’ll no longer harm humans or human property. It’s a slow process, but I’m making progress.”
Hawes shot him an intrigued look. “How many duels have you won?”
“Thirty-six at this point.”
“And how many losses?” Melchior inquired dryly.
“As I said, thirty-six wins.”
Melchior slapped a hand against his thigh and guffawed. “A dragon after my own heart! I support your endeavors, young red. I’ll tell the prince of Horvath about you, too. Only fair you get paid with the rest of us.”
“I appreciate it.” Shunlei looked over them, considering. “What other dangers do we need to tackle? Does anyone know?”
“We basically go by rumors—” “Oh, there’s a list.” Kiyo and Mei Li answered at the same time. Then they paused and looked at each other.
“You know of such matters?” Kiyo asked her in sharp interest.
Mei Li cursed her careless mouth. The first Tomes didn’t have exact dates for everything that had happened before he joined the group. And if she only had four people teamed up, then it was early days yet. She kept her answer vague enough to not stir suspicions later. “I know of a few, although we’ll have to chase them down. I only know the approximate area for them.”
Nord spoke for the first time. “That’s still much better than what little information we have. Give us a list as we eat.”
“Certainly.” Mei Li made it her immediate goal to figure out exactly what day it was now without raising eyebrows.
She let the chatter flow over her for a moment, trying to buy a minute to think and piece everything she knew together. The initial sealing team was only five people strong. Red Lantern was just sealed for the first time, which happened approximately spring of 1236. The first Tomes didn’t join them until 1238. Which meant Jingfei and Zaffi weren’t even properly awake yet, and Odom was not due to fall as a deity until next year. Even Ghost General’s Sword might not happen until later this year.
It was all well and good to go into the past to copy the missing records, but if the records didn’t even exist yet, that was rather a problem. Mei Li looked around her, flabbergasted with fate. Five thousand years into the past. She was five thousand years into the past and stuck there for the foreseeable future—not to be punny.
Just how long would she stay here? Was she possibly not looking at days or even weeks in the past, but years? Mei Li felt faint with the thought. This was not at all what she’d envisioned when she’d first considered time travel.
“Lady Mei, is something wrong?” Shunlei asked her, a touch of worry coloring his tone.
She looked around to him and wondered, how in the world did she answer that? “I’m feeling a little overwhelmed, I think. The full scope of the task just sank in.”
He gave her a small, supportive smile. “It’s alright. You’ll have help.”
Remembering what his much older version said to her before she left, Mei Li couldn’t help but take heart from him. “You’ll help me.”
“Of course.”
Red or Black, he really hadn’t changed much at his core. It gave her courage, having this man so solidly on her side. “I’m banking on that, Shunlei the Red. You have no idea how much.”
Mei Li had expected many things when she used the time traveling spell. On par with her usual luck, her guess had been entirely wrong. She had not gone back to the time she hoped for—a handful of years into the past—so she could copy the missing Tomes records for sealing the demon Zaffi and the fallen deity Odom, both of whom threatened to break free.
Instead, she’d landed five thousand years into the past, before the events even happened. Much less before the records she needed were written.
Mei Li wanted a nap. She wasn’t tired. She just didn’t want to be awake right now.
What made her mad was that Future Shunlei hadn’t told her any of this. A head’s up would’ve been nice, right? Not that cryptic line about her not going to the time she
aimed for. She meant an actual warning before her life went spiraling off in a random direction. Again. She mentally aimed a kick in the man’s direction. They would so have words when she got back.
Most of those words would not be clean.
It kept mentally throwing her when she looked at him now. This younger version had deep, copper-red skin and flaming red hair, entirely different from the dark-skinned, raven-haired version of the future. Mei Li expected to get used to it in time. And in the meantime, deal with the headache the differences gave her. And if Shunlei the Red thought he could just meet up and then part from her, he was sadly mistaken. She was latching onto this man like a limpet.
Mei Li might be stuck in the past, but she refused to do it alone. She was holding Shunlei accountable for this mess.
Yes, yes, it was unfair to hold Younger Shunlei accountable for Future Shunlei’s actions. So? That wasn’t about to stop her.
It was a struggle to keep her head in the game and a reply on her tongue as she answered questions and asked her own of the group. They walked and talked, deciding to sit and eat so they could relax after a hard battle and converse more easily. She tried to draw out Nord twice, but he had slid right past ‘hard to read’ into ‘elective mutism.’
According to the records, Red Lantern was defeated in eastern Horvath. Lorré, wherever that was. Mei Li hated ancient records because so much of them weren’t recorded with future generations in mind. Lorré, for instance, did not exist in her time. She only knew it to be in Horvath because it referenced the mountain region nearby.
Future Shunlei had done a superb job in preparing clothes for her, at least. She blended right in. Kiyo wore something similar to Mei Li’s sturdy boots and plain, dark-green traveling clothes. The skirts and wrap-tops of this time sported little to no embroidery. Kiyo’s black and grey outfit showed the barest hint of silver thread picking out a pattern on her belt.
Kiyo was from the Floating Isles, which was interesting, as Mei Li knew her to have graduated from a university in Laborde. She looked similar to Mei Li—a little, at least. Her hair wasn’t the black of Mei Li’s people but brown (and singed on the edges still), and she had almond-shaped eyes and pale skin, with a hint of a sunburn on her nose and cheeks. She looked very much the odd duck out of the bunch, as Nord clearly hailed from Laborde. The light brown hair and brown eyes were a staple of that people, not to mention the western-style coat he wore over his black pants.
The inn Hawes took them to was lively, clean, and with good service. A family seemed to run it, the mother of the group checking people in and calling out orders to various children for bedding, baths, and food to be brought to different guests. Lanterns hung from the sturdy wood rafters spanning the room, keeping it well-lit, and the tables were rough-hewn but of sturdy quality. Straw lined the floor to help absorb spills, and at this time of night, it had a faintly sour smell to it.
Still, for its time period, this was a nice place indeed. Well-vented with the open glass windows, and a roaring fire in the main hearth to ward off the evening chill. It wasn’t crowded when they first entered, but two groups came in behind them, and Mei Li knew that status quo wouldn’t last long.
It was still sinking in that she was not only five thousand years in the past, but working with the original group who’d sealed so many magical problems. Her brain cramped under the realization of when and where she was. But if she had to land somewhere in time, even Mei Li had to admit this wasn’t a bad place to be. This group was trustworthy, even if they weren’t entirely sure of what they were doing yet, and look! She’d even run into Shunlei quickly. If nothing else, she could depend on his help. Future Shunlei had said so.
They all ordered drinks first, as everyone was parched from running around and shouting. Sensing that only Hawes was truly comfortable with Shunlei, Mei Li encouraged her dragon friend to sit next to her.
No one else around them seemed to realize they had a dragon in their midst, though a few people looked at Shunlei askance as they passed by. Seeing anyone in pure white was rare in this mix of farmers, traders, and day laborers. His dark skin tone and flaming red hair gathered their own looks. But this world was used to all sorts of races mixing with humanity, and Mei Li could see them leap to their own conclusions after that once-over. A glance was all he got before they found a free table and went back to their own business. Odd, how things changed over time. In Mei Li’s time, people would have recognized Shunlei as a young dragon because of his skin tone.
Hawes cleared his throat. A burly figure, his shoulders overflowed the dimensions of the chair, rather like a dwarf but far taller. Judging from the state of his beard and clothes, he’d been on the road for a long while and seemed just as glad to sit down for a few minutes. “Lady Mei, I think proper introductions are in order. We barely told you anything on the road. We’re a group of people dedicated to fighting the stranger magical problems, demons, and what-have-you the world is now experiencing. We’re under the patronage of the Prince of Horvath, who generously funds us. I understand they’re trying to get the rulers of the other countries on board with this plan, but while they’re in negotiations, it’s our job to solve problems as we see them. You said before that you were also solving magical problems as you encountered them. Surely not alone?”
Oh dear. It would look strange to them, wouldn’t it, a lone woman doing such dangerous work. And for good reason—it was a stupid thing to do. Mei Li frantically tried to come up with a plausible reason that was at least semi-truthful so she wouldn’t get caught in a lie later. “I mentioned before that I was shipwrecked? My master and I were lost to each other two years ago. He was on one ship, I another, and I’m not sure where he’s gone to. He’s not where he should be, at least. I’m searching for him. And, well, solving problems along the way.”
Hawes’ concern didn’t clear from his face, but he did nod in understanding. “You’re a good apprentice to do so. You’re magically trained, clearly?”
“Yes, I am. And I have experience in this sort of thing. I’m very pleased to help all of you.”
Kiyo stirred. Her oval-shaped face grew thinner still as she pursed her mouth in doubt, looking Mei Li over. “I’d like to know more of your magic before we depend on it. And running around with us will surely hamper your search.”
Mei Li expected that argument. She gave the woman a tight smile in return. “You’re traveling all over the continent. I don’t see how that hampers my search, as I have no good leads on where to look next for my master. And it’s safer to travel in a party, is it not? We can sit down and properly discuss magic so we know what each other is capable of.”
“I’m all for more magic,” Melchior declared. He was as stout as Hawes, but shorter, and Mei Li would swear he had a dwarf in his ancestry. The red beard flowing halfway down his chest was only part of the reason for her assumption. “But I’m more intrigued by another heavy-hitter like myself. Shunlei the Red. You’re really keen on joining a party like ours?”
Shunlei gave him a bright smile. “I’d be delighted to. I’ve long wished to work alongside humans, and this would be a beautiful opportunity to do so. Not to mention that it will further my goals. I wish to prove that dragons and humanity can be friends.”
Feeling like she should back him up, Mei Li threw in, “And no one can deny that dragons are formidable fighters. I, for one, would love to have Shunlei in the party. His dragon fire can do things magical fire cannot.”
Nord looked intrigued by this. To Kiyo he said softly, “A good point.”
Kiyo’s mouth puckered even more, but she didn’t say anything in response.
In the end, it wasn’t their call. Hawes gave Mei Li and Shunlei both a wide smile and pounded a victorious fist against the table. “If you’re willing and able, I won’t turn you down. Now, let’s give you an idea of who you’re working with. I’m a battle mage, so I’m not much good with the complex magics. Melchior”—he gave a nod to the shorter man at his side—“is my brother in ar
ms and the only traditional fighter in this group. Or was before Shunlei joined us. Lady Kiyo and Nord are university trained in Wu Xing magic. They both volunteered to go with us and have been incredibly supportive. Lady Mei, you know Wu Xing magic, obviously?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m mostly trained in. I’m more of a historian of magic, I should say, but I’ve a good foundation in Wu Xing. If we stumble across something truly complex, I will be out of my depth. But quick, ready-made spells, simple barricades and sealings, traps—all that I’m quite comfortable with.”
“Good, good.” Hawes paused as the first round of drinks and a plate of bread was set down, along with a bowl of butter and soft cheese. “Miss, an order of the special for the whole table, please.”
The serving woman gave him a nod and headed back to the kitchen with the tray tucked under her arm.
Kiyo cleared her throat. “I didn’t recognize the seal you used for Red Lantern. That’s not a basic Wu Xing spell.”
“Ah.” Mei Li pinned a smile to her face even as she scrambled for words. Words that made sense. “No, that’s a specialty of my master’s. He taught me that one.”
“I see. Do you know any healing magic? Only Nord knows anything about it.”
“I do. Some of my knowledge is theorical, but I can heal most common ailments.”
Nord watched her carefully and spoke in his soft voice. “I would like to compare notes with you later.”
“Yes, of course. I’d like to know what everyone is comfortable with, for that matter. You know, before trouble hits us.” Mei Li meant every word. Doing otherwise was suicidal.
Melchior drained his tankard in one gulp before raising it over his head and calling out, “Another! Alright, Lady Mei, you said you’d heard of other things wreaking havoc in the world. What things?”
Mei Li had not had much time to think of events (what year was she even in, precisely?!), so she answered carefully. “I’ve heard rumors of some. There’s one that’s truly worrying me. A minor deity—a water god—is trying to establish more dominance in the land. Gong is his name. I believe if he’s not intervened with soon, he’ll go power crazy and flood us out.”
First of Tomes (The Tomes of Kaleria Book 2) Page 2
