Light's Rise

by Yvette Bostic

  “But Mikel said we were here to scout, not to engage the demons,” I whispered back.

  “You would leave the people here to die so that the Csökkent can summon more of those?” She motioned towards the headless demons at her feet. “Mikel knows I’ll get into a fight. As long as I don’t get you killed, he won’t stay angry for long.” She smiled another wicked smile and continued. “There were four Csökkent, yes? How good are you at hitting your target with that knife?”

  “Very good, but I only have one. That would leave three others,” I replied.

  She handed me a nicely crafted throwing knife. It had a short handle and wide blade, but it was perfectly balanced. I flipped it in the air and found that it was very well made.

  “Now you have two,” she said with a grin, and I smiled back. “I’ll wait for you to silence the first two; it would be best to put those blades in their necks so that they cannot speak.”

  I nodded and focused. We walked back down the passage towards the large chamber. We approached the entrance and she nodded to me. I threw both blades, one immediately trailing the other. Adalina was in motion just as the blades hit their mark. She leapt the width of the room and landed in front of the two remaining men. She swung her axe mid-air and brought it down on the head of one of the men. She quickly spun and sliced into the torso of the other as he started mumbling. An arc of lightning shot from his hand as he fell dead. Adalina stepped to the side, dodging it easily. It struck the ceiling above her, causing rocks and dirt to cascade onto her head and shoulders. She shook, then looked at me with a wild grin. “Nice throw,” she said as she motioned to the two men I had killed. I nodded, then started to release the nearest Bedouin.

  None of them spoke any of the languages I was fluent in, but they understood that they were being freed. It only took a few minutes for us to cut them all down, but none of them left the chamber. They were waiting for us to escort them out. Their fear of the demons and the Csökkent was obvious. When we reached the entrance to the tomb, my Bedouin friend was waiting for us.

  “You will take them back to their village?” I asked him. He nodded with tears in his eyes.

  “Thank you for saving them,” he replied. “There really are sons of the devil, aren’t there?”

  “I don’t know what they are,” I replied. “But we’re going to do our best to stop them.” He nodded and led the others down the hidden path. I watched them go, realizing that I had just committed myself to a new war, one that I was not prepared for.

  Adalina laughed behind me. “Now the fun begins!” She grabbed my elbow and took us back to Santuario.

  Chapter 4

  We arrived at an enormous set of gates. I would have stood there appreciating their beauty, but I was too busy trying not to empty my stomach. I hoped that would pass sooner rather than later. Adalina waited patiently, or so I thought, until I looked at her. She had a stern look on her face.

  “We should go to Australia first,” she said. “When Mikel finds out that we engaged the Csökkent, he’ll insist on sending someone else with you.” She looked at me thoughtfully. I was waiting for the hungry stare, but she just smiled.

  “I would like to have another weapon before we encounter any more of those demons,” I said as my legs became steady.

  “You can keep my blade, but we cannot return to Mikel just yet,” she said, her hungry look returning. “Consider it a gift from me.”

  I sighed. “Let’s go then.”

  She took my arm again and we were off. The nausea was not as bad this time, and it only took a few moments for the world to stop spinning. I looked around me, noticing that the terrain was totally different here than it was in the desert. A warm wind blew across a huge expanse of grassland that was sparsely interrupted by short trees. Adalina closed her eyes and stood perfectly still for several moments. When she opened her eyes, she took my arm, and we traveled again. We did the same thing three more times before she looked at me and said, “I don’t think they’re here.”

  “You can tell that how?” I asked, unconvinced. “Why didn’t you just do that in the desert?”

  She laughed. “I’m one of the few warriors capable of sensing my surroundings with my mind,” she said. “I didn’t do it in the desert because I already knew they were there.”

  I was dumbfounded. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m able to open my mind and see the life around me,” she explained. “It’s kind of like seeing with your eyes, only better. For instance, the open plains in front of us stretch out as far as the eye can see. When I close my eyes and open my mind, I can sense the insects and small animals borrowing beneath the earth.” She closed her eyes and focused on the scenery around us. “Halfway across the plain, there is a snake ready to strike a rabbit in its den.” She pointed to the west, her eyes still closed. “There is a pack of wild dogs sheltering under a rock ledge over there and a large cat lounging in the branches of a tree on the other side.” She opened her eyes to see my amazed expression.

  “Can I do that?” I asked, already attempting it without waiting for her response.

  “It takes time and practice to understand what you’re looking for,” she replied. “Your mind does not naturally want to do it.” She chuckled as I squinted and strained to press out with my mind. “Some people are never able to, so don’t be upset if you find that you can’t. Besides, you have other very redeeming qualities that more than make up for it.”

  I opened my eyes to find her eyes gazing over my body.

  “Let’s get back to Santuario,” I said, ignoring her ogling. “And thank you for sharing that with me, even if I never manage to make it work.”

  This time I was able to appreciate the enormous gates when we arrived. They towered over us, and the dense white stone gleamed in the sunlight. Intricate patterns were carved in delicate detail and covered the entire surface. Pale stone walls extended from each side of the gates, arching around in a smooth curve. The guards pulled open the gates and we walked into a large courtyard. There were five streets that intersected the courtyard, with an imposing tower in the center that soared into the sky. It was made of the same white stone as the gates, with sweeping steps leading up to the dark, wooden doors. Three of the five streets were lined with houses, and there appeared to be training grounds on the last two streets. According to Adalina, the tower was where the Council met, and where Mikel’s office was located. One of the guards told us that Mikel was waiting for us in his office, so that’s where we headed. When we arrived, Adalina knocked once, and Raphael opened the door for us. Mikel motioned for us to sit in one of the chairs that were situated in a semi-circle in front of his desk. Adalina told him what we found in the desert as well as what we didn’t find in Australia.

  “It makes sense that they are not in Australia,” Raphael said. “They cannot travel the way we do, so it would be difficult for them to move their forces.”

  “How did Darian do?” Mikel asked, as if I were not sitting there. Adalina glanced at me. She had already told him about our fight with the demons and Csökkent.

  “Raphael was right. If I were not able to sense him, I wouldn’t see him at all,” she replied. “It was amazing and a little unnerving at the same time.”

  “Interesting,” Mikel said thoughtfully, tapping his square chin with his finger. He shared a look with Raphael.

  “No, I haven’t figured it out yet,” Raphael said. I would have sworn he was pouting. “We have never seen this before. It might take me a little more time.”

  I couldn’t take it anymore. Nothing they said made sense to me. “What are you talking about?” I asked, not able to hide the irritation in my voice. “And I don’t appreciate being talked about as if I am not sitting here in front of you.” All three of them looked at me, but Mikel spoke first.

  “You have an unusual gift,” he began. “Raphael is attempting to figure it out so he can find the best way to train you. I can see by your confused expression that you need a better e
xplanation.” He motioned for Raphael to continue.

  “When I found you in Austria, I watched you for some time. I was amazed by the way you disappeared while scouting.” He was excited by his discovery. “I think you do it without even realizing it. We need to figure out how you do it so I can help you develop it even more. As Adalina mentioned before, she could still sense you.”

  I was still confused, but I thought I knew what he was talking about. Every time I went on a scouting mission, I could feel my body shifting when I wanted to blend with my surroundings. My superiors would joke about how successful I was despite my size, but they never questioned my results.

  “Can you demonstrate for us?” Mikel asked. “Maybe we can see what happens.”

  I stood and looked towards the shadows in Mikel’s office. I could feel my body responding to my request as I moved toward the shadow. I could hear Mikel gasp as I entered the shadow, and I concentrated on what I was feeling. The air around me was very close, as if it wrapped around my body. I thought I might be able to reach out and grab it, so I did. To my amazement, it responded and moved with my hand. It felt like a sheet of air that pulled or pushed each time I moved. I looked over at Raphael, who seemed to follow my movement, but the others were not. I walked along the wall towards a small window next to Mikel’s desk. As I passed into the light coming from the window, I felt the air trying to pull away from me. I pulled it back and kept walking. Raphael was still watching me, but Mikel and Adalina were glancing around the room. I made a circle and stood behind Adalina’s chair, reaching out to touch the side of her face. She jumped from her chair and spun around. I released the sheet of air around me and revealed myself. She laughed in a loud booming voice.

  “That was amazing!” she bellowed. “I had no idea where you were. Tell us!”

  I looked at Raphael. “Could you see me moving around the room?”

  “I could see a brief shadow or silhouette of you, especially when you passed by the window,” he said with excitement. “You seemed to pull the air around you, making your outline blend with your surroundings. Mikel, could you sense him?”

  “Only barely. I knew he moved around the room, but I could not track him,” he replied. “Truly an amazing gift.” He did not look as excited as Raphael, but I didn’t blame him. No one wants to think that they can be watched without knowing. “Work harder at figuring out a way to help him perfect that skill,” he said to Raphael, then he turned to Adalina. “Find out what weapons he is proficient in and have your blacksmith get to work.” Adalina grinned. “Do not trade favors with the blacksmith, Adalina.” She laughed and got up to leave.

  “What’s next for me?” I asked, rising as well.

  “You need to spend some time with Magdelin, then we’ll start your training,” Mikel replied. Adalina led me out of Mikel’s office and out to the courtyard, humming softly. I was surprised that it was pleasant to listen to, but I didn’t want to know what put her in such a good mood. I supposed it had something to do with visiting the blacksmith.

  Magdelin was waiting at her door for us. She led me inside, and Adalina walked away, still humming softly. Magdelin chuckled and closed the door. “She must be going to see one of her men.”

  “One of her men?” I asked.

  “Adalina loves all men, but she does have her favorites,” she explained. “I assume she is going to see the blacksmith, since you will require weapons.”

  “Yes, but I don’t think I want to know anything else,” I said and visibly shuddered. Adalina was a very strange woman.

  “Adalina is an Amazon warrior,” Magdelin began as I followed her into her small living room. “Do you know anything about the Amazon women?” I shook my head. “We have an extensive library here, where you will find several books about them. You should take the time to read about it.” She paused, embarrassment crossing her pretty features. “I assume you can read. I apologize if that’s not true.”

  I smiled. “I can read, but I have a feeling that everything here is in several different languages.”

  “Yes, they are, but you will have plenty of time to learn them all.” Her comment caught me off guard, and I didn’t realize the implications of what she said until later. “Come, this will take a while, and Adalina will not be patient. She’ll want to start training as soon as you’re ready.”

  She led me into a small room that resembled the one I first woke up in a few days earlier. She told me to lie down on the narrow bed. I was very uncomfortable being alone with this woman, but clearly, she was not. So, I laid down with my hands across my chest. She grinned, but didn’t comment. She leaned over me and placed both of her hands on the sides of my face, closing her eyes.

  A sense of calm washed over me, then an intense heat. It felt like my mind was going to burst, then the heat rushed through the rest of my body, making me feel like I could run for miles and never stop. Then there was another wave of calm followed by more heat, only this time it was painful. I clenched my teeth as it pushed through the rest of my body. She repeated this process three more times, each time becoming more painful. I no longer felt like I could run for miles, I only wanted it to stop. When she removed her hands from my face, I realized that I had closed my eyes at some point. I opened them to see her flushed face and tired eyes. I should have known that it would take a great deal of effort for her as well. She stood, resting her hand on the edge of the bed to steady herself.

  “Come, let’s get some food and meet with Adalina.”

  I was surprised that she expected me to stand. My body ached everywhere. I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, and my head reeled. I closed my eyes, trying to stop the pain. Magdelin was already headed towards the door, and I was determined to follow close behind her. She was likely just as exhausted as I was, and I refused to appear weaker. I stood slowly, holding on to the edge of the bed. My arms and legs felt odd, like they were someone else’s. I hobbled through the door and into the dining area. Magdelin was setting a bowl of fruit on the table along with a loaf of bread, dried meat, and cheese. I sat down as she put a large helping on my plate. I was starving and emptied my plate quickly. I was embarrassed by my bad manners, but she didn’t mention it, finishing her own food shortly after I did.

  We met Adalina in a large open arena with a hard-packed dirt floor and surrounded by a low wooden fence. Several benches lined one side of the fence and rows of weapon racks ran along the opposite side. Magdelin did not stay, but promptly left me in Adalina’s company. The Amazon looked at me like I was her next meal, yet again.

  “Can you not look at me that way?” I asked in frustration.

  “Have you not seen what Magdelin has done for you?” she asked with a feral smile. “That woman is amazing. You were already beautiful.”

  I looked down at my chest and noticed my plain white shirt straining against its’ buttons. The army had to have the tailor make my clothing separate from everyone else because of my height, so it had always fit perfectly. Whatever Magdelin had just done would require me to get new clothes. I supposed I needed to do that anyway, since I was no longer in the army.

  “Let’s see how far we can push your endurance.” Adalina interrupted my thoughts by throwing a practice sword at me, which I caught easily. “I assume you know how to use one of these.”

  She tested my skill with large two-handed swords and axes, smaller one-handed rapiers, throwing knives, longbows, and crossbows. After a couple hours of sparring, we took a break.

  “Not too bad. Needs some practice, but your form is good,” she said. “Show me how to use that little pistol on your side.” She motioned towards the Austrian standard issue.

  “Are there buildings behind this wall?” I asked as I pointed the pistol towards the outside wall. She shook her head. I was a pretty good shot, so I felt confident that I could hit any mark.

  “Pick out a place on the wall that you would like me to hit.”

  She pointed to an oddly shaped crack between the rocks. I sighted the p
istol and pulled the trigger. The bullet lodged in the crack she indicated. I looked over at her, smiling, only to see her holding her hands over her ears.

  “That thing is loud!” she yelled. “Definitely not meant for stealth.”

  I laughed. “No, it’s intended to stop your aggressor at close range. By then, any advantage of surprise is assumed to be lost.”

  “I see why you didn’t use it while we were in the tomb.” She was more observant than I gave her credit for. “It could’ve caused the ceiling to fall in on us.”

  She quickly changed the subject as two men joined us in the arena.

  “Gentleman, we need to go for a run,” she said casually. “Four laps to get warmed up. Beautiful will be keeping pace with me.”

  The two newcomers looked at one another, stifling grins.

  “As you wish,” they said in unison as they broke into a jog and headed towards the gate.

  I learned quickly that Santuario was built in the crater of a dormant volcano. Four laps meant four laps around the outside wall, which followed the natural curve of the crater. It was a very long way, longer than our normal runs in the army. Surprisingly enough, I did not tire as easily as I assumed I would even though Adalina set a very fast pace. The other two men did not try to keep up with her, but she wouldn’t let me fall behind, harassing me the entire way.

  After our run, I sparred with the two other warriors, Charles and Edwin. By the end of the day, I was tired of her banter, sore from training, and starving for food. Raphael met me in the courtyard as I headed towards Magdelin’s home. I had no idea where I was supposed to sleep that night, and I was not going to ask Adalina. I was grateful when Raphael showed me to the barracks. There was a small kitchen in the barracks that was stocked with dried meat, cheese, and bread. I was too hungry to complain about the food but knew it was a subject I would need to bring up sooner or later.

  For the next several weeks, training consumed all my time. I was mostly with Charles and Edwin, though others joined in as well, providing different skills. Once a week, I met with Magdelin. I learned that she was healing my body, and each time she did it, I grew stronger. I also realized that each time she healed me, I required less food to sustain my strength. It was yet another question I needed answered. I still had not forgotten about the demons or the Csökkent, and I was certain they weren’t idle while I was here in training.