Born of Water

by Autumn M. Birt

  Ty put an arm around Ria. She leaned into him docilely, seeking comfort in his solid warmth. He closed his eyes a moment, lips close to Ria’s forehead but head tilted in the direction his sister had taken.

  Niri’s awareness of time made her spine feel like a bowstring being tightened with every passing second. Lavinia’s absence formed itself into silence. Niri reached out her mind into the mist and city. The tiny pool created a pull in Niri’s awareness like a pebble compared to the weight on her consciousness of the sea nearby. With a shift of will, the mist parted and the three walked forward into the darkness.

  CHAPTER 3

  THE SUMMONING

  Lavinia’s arrival at the pool went unnoticed for a moment. Hesitating at the fountain’s edge, she looked around the open courtyard held in an otherworldly state bedecked in its shroud of mist. She started to blend back into the shadows before Ria moved forward to her friend.

  Ria, Ty, and Niri had stayed hidden beneath the recesses of a colonnaded gallery. With Lavinia’s return, they hurried to join her. Lavinia’s shoulders were tossed back confidently so that Niri did not need to ask if she had been successful. As Niri approached, Lavinia held out her hand. She dropped a small black lump into Niri’s palm.

  “It is all they had. Is it big enough?”

  Niri nodded, feeling the solid weight of the cool stone in her fingers. It was not the size but the rock itself that mattered.

  “Wait here around the pool. You’ll be able to see and hear, but not be seen so do not worry.” Niri spoke while she slipped off her plain leather shoes and sat on the chipped granite edge.

  “Wait.” Ty’s voice held nervous doubt more than anger. Niri glanced up, flinching as he moved to hold back her shoulder. They stared at each other for a moment.

  “What are you about to do?” Anger seethed around the words, barely restrained by Lavinia’s hand on his arm. Whatever he had been going to ask had been displaced when Niri flinched.

  Niri swallowed, her pulse a thready beat in her neck. They hadn’t discussed what would happen, not during the walk to the pool or the wait for Lavinia. They had barely spoken. The unresolved issue of what Ria had done was paramount in their minds so that all else was left as unimportant. Now, Niri thought of how to explain.

  “I’m going to speak to someone who will know what happened.”

  Ty’s eyes were close to Niri’s, appearing more a deep violet in the night than blue. “Do you trust him?”

  Niri held his eyes without wavering, doing her best to appear confident. She knew she could not give him any reason to doubt her. “Yes, with my life.”

  With a short hesitation, Ty stepped back, his gaze still holding hers. She knew the thought that she could be about to betray them must have went through all their minds. For a second, she had considered it. She could ask for help, explain everything that had occurred. Some part of her wanted to. But she also knew Sinika would keep her confidence.

  If everything worked out, the three would be gone or Niri would have a new Elemental for the Church. Either way, she would soon be back to her chambers in the public complex. It would all be over in a few hours on this the shortest night. A tremor of unease ran through her as Ty looked away. Deep down she knew she wasn’t sure what was about to happen.

  Niri swung her feet, slipping them into the pool. The comfort was immediate. The water welcomed her, soothing the turbulent doubt and sense of time running out in its calming embrace. She was one with the water, a part of it and it was a part of her.

  When she reached the center of the pool, Niri turned and looked back toward the three. They stood shoulder to shoulder at the water’s edge, no longer spirited youths on an adventure. Instead worry and questions separated them even as they stood side by side.

  All three gasped as Niri looked at them. She knew what had happened but had forgotten to warn them. Her brown eyes had changed to become the color of the sea under a bright sky, illuminated even in the darkness of night. The effect was startling. Caused by such a complete joining with her element, it was only the beginning of the strange things they were about to witness.

  “Stay quiet, stay near. You won’t be seen, I promise.” Her voice now held undertones of waves, echoing like part of Niri spoke from deep in the water. All three moved closer together and nodded as one, wide eyed as children again.

  The water surrounding her pulled at her consciousness. For a moment, she was the water looking up at the three teenagers. From where she knelt in the center, Niri focused herself, calling upon the years of training to continue with her task. With a thought, the liquid surface leapt up around her, forming a watery skin like a bubble. It began at the stone edge of the pool and rose to a few feet over her head. Within the protective sphere, Niri found it easier to concentrate.

  Only a few of the Church were powerful enough to be able to use their gifts in such a way. Only a few had the control and ability to keep their thoughts steady. It was Niri’s guarantee to move up far in the Church, at least as far as she could as a Water Elemental. But what she was about to do had not been shown to her by the Church, but by someone she trusted and loved. Someone she desperately needed to talk to. Someone who could help her. He would have answers.

  From deep within her, Niri sought out warmth. The coolness of the water in her chest changed to a deep heat slowly spreading down her arms and to her belly. She focused on a spot a few feet in front of her and above the water’s surface. Niri funneled her warmth into it, waiting for a connection with an element that was opposite her own.

  It didn’t take long. It was just a flicker of the imagination at first and then the spot Niri focused on began to glow a faint red like a candle’s last light before the wick faded into wax. The light brightened and became a sphere. All at once, a small flame hovered inches above the pool as a fire sprite accepted Niri’s invitation and came into being. It wavered and reached out, growing and twisting, sensing the safety and location. Then it grew to a tower of fire more than a foot high. It turned and seethed, coiling back on itself. Sensing Niri, it raised its head, opening its mouth in a silent roar. The tiny fire dragon stared up at Niri, claws outstretched as it looked around the small enclosure.

  Fire dragon to Fire Elemental, the sprite would create a connection that Niri could not manage. The Order of Fire could always talk to one another through flame. It was a trick no other Order could master.

  Niri offered the piece of basalt to the creature. It greedily reached out, grabbing the stone in its paws of perfectly formed fire and pulled it to its chest. Even as it admired its new possession, the rock changed. A deep red glow began to form in its center. The light spread until the entire stone shone, turning it back into the magma it had been.

  Even as the rock changed, so did the shape of the dragon. The flaming image dispersed and became an incandescent haze that grew bigger until it was as large as Niri. At first the glowing form was a mirror image of herself sketched in an element opposing her own. Niri held Sinika’s name centered in her mind, waiting until he noticed the summoning in the flames near him in the Temple of Solaire.

  A minute passed and nothing changed. Panic rose again in Niri’s chest. She had not considered Sinika would not answer. Just as her thoughts wavered the image of light altered once again, redefining itself into someone distinct. The person she sought. The anxiety dispersed as Niri gazed into Sinika’s eyes formed in his element of fire.

  The line of his mouth was hard. Niri had the impression her summons was not well timed. But the momentary rise of doubt disappeared with Sinika’s first words.

  “Nirine, I’ve been worried.” His voice had a sibilant hiss coming from the throat of flame. “The Temple is in chaos. The High Council has been called together. We are to meet in the Chapel of Hope. I only have a few minutes.”

  Niri leaned forward. “It was magic then? Not a powerful Elemental?”

  Sinika’s image nodded. “Yes, the Curse has been released to find whatever caused this . . . manifestation.”
Sinika’s aristocratic lips tasted the bitterness of word.

  Her heart thundered in her chest. Her first guess had been right and they had wasted valuable time simply to confirm it. Ria’s life was in danger. Ria, who stood now only feet from the image of someone that Niri didn’t want to imagine would mean her harm, but doubt was beginning to thread through her. Only the thin skin of water protected Ria from being seen by Sinika. She needed to be away, any way she and her friends could manage.

  Sinika’s eyes watched Niri astutely while her thoughts raced. “Do you know what it was, Nirine? You are the closest member of the Church. What happened?” Even through the visage of fire, Sinika stared deeply into Niri’s eyes. She chafed at the delay, unwilling to answer his questions.

  “I cannot explain now, Sinika. I will be back to the Temple of Solaire in five days. I will tell you then.”

  His eyebrow raised slightly at her refusal. His focus shifted slightly to the side and beyond her before returning.

  “No, Nirine.” Sinika paused.

  Niri’s forehead scrunched as Sinika’s expression dutifully changed. His eyes glanced away again as if he were checking to be sure no one else was near where he sat in the Temple. Worry creased a faint line between his brows as he leaned forward to speak to her.

  “You cannot come back. Don’t you see what this appears to be? The High Council knows magic was used in Mirocyne. Once it happened, they sent the House Steward to find you, but your rooms were deserted. They could only assume you had left. They do not know if you were a part of what happened, but considering the circumstances . . . .” Sinika paused, waiting for the shock to wear off Niri’s features.

  When her eyes refocused on his, Sinika continued. “If you tell me what happened, what you know, I will speak to the Council for you. I am sure your punishment will not be so great, if you tell me now. Otherwise,” Sinika gave a tiny shake to his head as he dropped his eyes. “I cannot bear to think what they will do to you Niri.” He looked at her again. “They would tear you apart, feed you to the Curse instead. Nirine, you must tell me or they will kill you as well.”

  Surprise had turned to fear within Niri. She shook her head back and forth, trying to break free from the freezing terror. “No, no, no . . . .”

  Sinika waited, concern on his face as she realized her life was unraveling. It was a dull regret that Niri realized she had never considered what the impact of magic being used would have on the Church, that they would look for her and find her missing.

  Tears flooding her eyes, Niri held herself still and met Sinika’s gaze. The slightest smile touched his lips as she opened her mouth.

  “No,” she said again. Sinika’s brows pulled together in bafflement. “No, I will not tell you what happened.”

  It was Sinika’s turn to stare at her in astonishment. He blinked twice, his mouth moving to form a reply. Words failed before they reached his lips. Niri did not wait for him to recover.

  “Do you know where the Curse is? Can you track it? How much time do we have?”

  “Nirine, you cannot be serious. They will kill you. Do you understand? The Curse is coming now and will find you as assuredly as the mage. I can do nothing to protect you.”

  Anger caught her breath, surprising her with its sharpness. She had never dared retort to a higher member of the Church after her earliest lessons of the result. But Sinika was not an unknown superior and his presence was at her invitation. Mind crystal clear in her defiance, the water skin turned to ice above her.

  “If you don’t want me dead this night by your hand as much as the High Council’s then tell me where the Curse is, Sinika. I will not come back to Solaire to bring you a child to murder.”

  Ria or Lavinia gasped from where the trio watched outside the icy shield. Though they could not be seen, the sound carried. Sinika’s eyes darted to the side.

  Sinika rocked back on his heels, rejoining anger fading to something else as he regarded Niri. Stone faced, he replied, “It took wing so I would imagine it would be over Thornastal by now.”

  Nearly halfway, she thought. Still enough time for us to escape.

  Information in hand, Niri began to turn away and will an end to the summoning. Sinika reached out, nearly touching her with his hand of fire in an effort to keep her from breaking the fragile connection between them.

  “You must hurry, Nirine, if you want to outrun the Church. There is a place I’ve heard of that may help you. Go to Karakastad and into the Temple of Dust. There is a library there where the old records were kept. You should be able to find documents on the making of the Curse. Hopefully something to protect you. Take care of yourself, Nirine.”

  Niri swallowed painfully, an internal ache that was far too large to deal with beginning to cut through the anger and numbness.

  “I will. Thank you, Sinika.” They paused at this sudden parting of ways and then Niri willed an end to the summoning. The thin layer of ice and water shattered, clattering down around her.

  Part of her was lost, but she knew both herself and Ria had to hurry. She moved quickly back to the edge of the pool where the three teenagers waited. They looked nauseous as much as stunned.

  Ty reached to help Niri from the water. She accepted his outstretched hand, feeling the water stream off of her as she rose. Puddles formed beneath her feet, growing as if it were her lifeblood draining from her.

  It took a moment to find her voice. “You must go,” she said as she met Ria’s panicked eyes.

  “We must go,” Lavinia replied, placing a hand on Niri’s arm. For a moment, Niri almost collapsed into Lavinia, mimicking Ria just a half hour earlier.

  “You cannot be serious. We can’t take her . . . she is a Priestess!” Ty’s anger was blacker than the darkest night.

  “No, she is not.” Lavinia met her brother’s eyes, speaking the words calmly. He trembled, barely restrained but was unable to lash out at his sister.

  “Well you aren’t going. You will go home and . . . .”

  Lavinia’s look took on some of the heat of her brother’s, but she did not need to answer. Ria yelped and reached for Lavinia before Ty could finish. He stared at the two girls and Niri. In the silence the pressing of time closed in like the fog.

  “I’ll find us a boat.” Ty turned on his heel and left the three women. Without his fuming presence to tense herself against, Niri swayed on her feet.

  Lavinia caught her shoulder, Ria the other side. Together they stood joined by fear and a need to flee.

  “We have to find Ty.” Lavinia gazed around the mist shrouded courtyard.

  Niri nodded, pulling herself upright. With gentle pressure, she pushed the girls forward.

  “How, how do you know which way he went?” Ria’s voice was hoarse as if she’d been silently screaming. Her shoulder trembled under Niri’s hand.

  “I feel where the mist has moved with his passing.”

  Chapter 4

  UNWILLING COMPANIONS

  The bow of the boat heaved up another wave. Ria gasped in a breath. Mildew and heavy spices assaulted her nose and throat, combining sickly with the rolling motion of the ship. Gagging, Ria leaned over and retched.

  As she came up for breath with a moan, a soft rag brushed her skin. Taking it from Lavinia’s hands, Ria pulled the cloth against her face. Lavinia sat next to her on the hard wooden bench. The warmth of Lavinia’s arm across her back and against her side gave Ria a small comfort as she leaned forward with her elbows on her knees. The rag smelled like dust but it was better than the unknown and fragrant clutter filling the cabin of the boat.

  “Thanks.”

  “Are you feeling any better?”

  The question launched a relay of reactions as Ria tried to assess her condition. The boat Ty had found was tiny compared to other ships in harbor, barely forty feet. Narrow with the mast near the bow of the boat, it had looked completely unlike the wide, double masted merchant ships to Ria’s eye. But it had looked fast.

  Ty had been surefooted, unfastening
the ropes and raising the massive main sail. Niri stayed on deck, her gaze skyward. It had been Niri’s presence more than anything else that unnerved Ria. She just hadn’t wanted to look at the Priestess.

  “Can we go below?” Ria had whispered to Lavinia, who had led her to the cabin door amidship just as Ty had caustically turned to Niri.

  “Can’t you do something to help fill the sails or we will sit here and flounder until the tide turns in four hours.”

  “I have no power over wind. I am a naiad. I only control water.” Niri’s crisp voice had cut through the night.

  Whatever idea the exchange had given Niri, by the time Ria had made the stairs the boat had been moving forward as if in an outgoing tide of its own. Niri had walked past her towards the bow, the strange aqua and lavender light filling Niri’s eyes. Ria’s stomach had been clenched before she reached the cabin and had sucked in her first lungful of stale rot.

  The piled clutter of the cabin had slowed their steps, but it had not seemed so bad until the small ship started riding swells.

  “We must be out of the harbor,” Lavinia had said, trying to gaze out a grimy porthole.

  The sharp rocking motion along with the intense cabin smells had overwhelmed Ria almost instantly. Lavinia had made space on a bench for them by dumping the unknown contents onto the floor.

  Even with the nausea, the rolling boat wasn’t the worse feeling tormenting Ria. Lavinia was still waiting for her to respond. Tears cascaded from her eyes, racing down Ria’s checks. With a sob, she fell against her best friend’s shoulder.

  Lavinia waited for the worst of it to pass before she spoke into the fetid dark.

  “You think that is what happened to your cousin, Anna? And . . . your uncle as well?”

  “And my grandmother’s sister, and their cousins . . . so many in my family. The Church took them but not to become Priests or Priestesses. That is why we never heard from them again. The Church took them back to kill them.”