by D. R. Grady
“There are five Aasguards in this room.” Lajos stayed calm. “If we all put out the call to any who we know and have them contact those they know it would give us a start on the count.”
Many of them dug out their handheld crystals. Technology wasn’t his forte, but this little stone allowed them to communicate with others, look up information, and keep track of things through some sort of “wizardry.” All he knew was they worked as promised and many people employed them in the more prosperous areas he’d visited.
Only in the last two decades had they been devised, but he enjoyed the one he had purchased, and thought most others did as well. It had allowed him to stay in contact with Ari on the limited basis he exerted on himself. He appreciated the convenience and believed it denoted that Aasguards could and did adapt.
Now he sent a message to a few fellow warriors he’d met along the way. For some, he had their crystal frequencies, others he guessed eschewed the newest inventions. However, those who did so could still be counted by word of mouth by those they encountered.
“Some of the warriors I know aren’t going to embrace these handheld crystals.” Kellen waved his. “However, there are others who will, and perhaps they can offer us the status on some who won’t use the newest communication tools.”
Vidar tapped his crystal. “I’ve got three friends I can think of who I know won’t own a crystal, but I’m sure they’re still walking the land, somewhere.”
“I have a few warriors I can name as well who won’t have taken the time to learn how to use these crystals. Whether they still walk the land, I do not know.” Lajos frowned at his handheld. It glowed in the sunlight streaming through the tall window behind him.
Once the messages were sent, the crystals disappeared into pockets again. Ari’s front teeth worried her bottom lip for a heartbeat’s length of time. “I do hope the number isn’t as dire as we fear.”
No one reassured her. Because none of them could.
He guessed, as she feared, that their numbers had dwindled to nail-biting numbers.
Chapter 3
Ari contemplated another cup of tea but hadn’t decided when a new arrival breezed into the room.
Stefana surged to her feet to embrace the warrior who engulfed her in his embrace. He ruffled her hair the moment he set her down. The men in the room all rose, even though the warrior waved them to sit again.
He shook Lajos’ hand, clapped Kellen and Vidar on the back, ruffled Raene’s hair, and then gazed at Felicity.
“Felicity this is Queen Stefana’s twin brother, Lukas. He is the human warrior tasked with instructing the females of this land in the art of fighting.” Ari made the introductions. “Lukas, this is Felicity the Valiant.”
“Once he has established the program here, he’ll come to Swiftland to teach our females.” Stefana inserted this information. “We’re not quite in a position yet for him to arrive.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lukas.” Felicity showed what it meant to be an Aasguard.
“Another Aasguard.” Lukas moved his sword in the typical nonchalant way of all warriors. Ari narrowed her eyes. The graceful way he did so reminded her of someone.
Yet she couldn’t bring to mind who. It niggled as she became aware of Kellen watching her. Due to reasons beyond her comprehension she ceased watching another man. Not that there was anything wrong with her action.
An Aasguard warrior remained in control of themselves at all times. This had been belabored from the very beginning. After their centuries of living they had well learned this decree.
Ari simply didn’t wish to raise suspicions or questions where there were none. And she couldn’t seem to settle on who Lukas reminded her of. Or why.
For some reason, this was important for her to recognize. But it wouldn’t coalesce, so she let it be.
When the timing was right, it would reveal itself.
For now, she did pour herself another cup of tea. Lukas poured himself a cup of coffee and settled near Stefana. He looked as though he wished to squeeze her six more times.
“How do things go in Swiftland? Mom and Dad are feeling better?” He sipped his coffee as he inquired.
“We are enjoying a plentiful harvest.” Stefana sounded relieved about this. And she should. The land had been barren and neglected for so long nature had taken over again and they had been forced to clear fields and replant fruit trees.
Everyone in the room knew of the hardships Swiftland had faced, except Felicity. Ari turned to her now. “When Lajos killed the former king, the land had been so barren, the people might not have lived through the summer, much less another fall or winter.”
Lajos snorted. “Our people had been so neglected, even the palace dined on substandard food, while the people had nothing. They were starving, living in mere shacks, with no energized matter, no plumbing, and no hope.”
This didn’t shock Felicity. Aasguards traveled, so they had witnessed such conditions before. “You’ve poured all of your resources into the country?”
“Of course.” Stefana set her coffee cup down.
“Stefana prepared diligently for our arrival. She sent nutritional bars and temporary housing that proved much, much better than anything the people had.” Lajos kissed the back of Stefana’s hand.
“Montequirst sent supplies, King Eduard of Oxland also sent much needed necessities, so we were able to provide for the people until we could plant.”
Lajos picked up the tale again. “We spent the summer providing the people with employment. We built several factories while Stefana and her mother have been busy working on healing services.”
“Ari and Lajos have also been busy mustering a military for us.” Stefana smiled at her. “And much to Lajos’ relief, we’ve been able to revive the coffee bean trees and have even planted several new varieties, thanks to a coffee expert we discovered in Swiftland.”
Everyone sent smirks of sorts in Lajos’ direction. He took a long sip of his steaming beverage. “We’re going to be the premium coffee supplier of the land.”
He didn’t boast. The beans were being harvested now, and they appeared to be the finest she’d seen. Not that she herself indulged in coffee often, but she did enjoy the occasional cup.
“This we are drinking is your coffee?” Felicity indicated her coffee cup.
“No. Our roasters aren’t functional yet and our expert claims the beans require roasting before they can be consumed.” Lajos sounded manful about not getting to drink the coffee they had grown yet.
“And we’re still harvesting the beans,” Stefana added. “Our beans are green, so the flavor isn’t there until they’re roasted.”
Felicity nodded. “I shall enjoy sampling your coffee.”
“Do you have a dragon?” Lukas asked this with the interest of one who has met a dragon.
“Yes. Maeze is with Aern and Fricassa.” Felicity explained about her dragon and Lukas listened to every word.
“I didn’t know much about dragons.” He didn’t sound happy about this statement.
“Many do not, even those who have traveled with them. I’ve been with Aern for centuries and didn’t know they could mate.” Vidar shrugged. He also drained his coffee and reached for the pot.
“I understood this only after it took us so long to arrive here because Fricassa kept having to stop to check her appearance. She hasn’t looked different from the first day I met her.” Lajos’ affectionate frustration made them all smile.
“She is rather taken with Aern.” Raene’s droll understatement caused a round of laughter.
“I look forward to spending additional time with Aern and Fricassa.” Felicity would enjoy her time with the dragons. All of them certainly did.
“Don’t be surprised if Aern teaches Maeze bad tricks.” Vidar’s warning came tongue-in-cheek, at least for him.
“She’s adept at learning bad things all on her own.”
“I’m happy that new dragons can be born.” Lukas helped himself to a s
andwich wedge on the coffee table.
And that quickly, it popped into Ari’s head who Lukas reminded her of.
Kellen kept reminding himself that he had no cause for ripping the young warrior’s head off his shoulders. First off, the pup was brother to a queen. Whose king was a fellow Aasguard. Second, the young man carried himself well, and didn’t flirt with Ari or Felicity.
He enjoyed harassing his sister and Queen Raene, but it sounded as though he’d grown up with Raene, the same as Stefana, so he must consider her another sister. His actions were in no way objectionable.
Therefore… he glanced at Ari again. Yes, her interest in the young pup was what kept making him wish to thump the man. Yet upon further reflection, she didn’t look on Lukas as though she wished to further her relationship with him. She didn’t cast glances to any of the men in the room with that intent. And she shouldn’t, since two of the Aasguards in the room were her older brothers.
Still, he couldn’t seem to quell the need to start thumping things and this defied everything he believed of himself. He had to collect himself multiple times in the last few minutes. This had never happened in his entire, long life.
His hand curled until it formed a fist and he glanced at it in surprise. It took an extreme amount of effort to unclench his fingers and straighten them.
What is wrong with me?
This must not continue. In particular, his rival was a human. It would be beneath him to even consider hurting one he had sworn all those centuries before to protect. And this man, this Lukas, had done nothing wrong.
The issue stemmed solely from Kellen himself and he bellowed at himself to comport himself according to his training.
“Kellen, may I see you for a moment?” Lajos commented quietly from nearby.
Relieved for a reprieve, although unimpressed with himself, Kellen also suspected his friend had correctly interpreted his odd actions.
He followed Lajos into a small room lined with a myriad of dishes. Lajos clapped the door shut and eyed him.
Kellen eyed him back, waiting.
The problem with Aasguard warriors was they could easily out-wait each other. Patience had long ago been cultivated within them.
“What’s going on with you?” Lajos’ direct question surprised him.
He could prevaricate. Or he could pour this out and hope his friend had some answers. The safe course was to explain, as much as he could, what had just happened.
Using as few words as possible, he also lifted his hand. “Young Lukas came in, and suddenly I longed to pound things.” He showed his hand, which had fisted again. “This is a human. What is wrong with me?” It again took effort to straighten his fingers.
“You noticed Ari’s interest in him.” Lajos commented in a knowing, obnoxious sort of way.
Once again, Kellen’s fist formed. He didn’t bother to change this. Instead he lifted an eyebrow at Lajos.
Lajos opened his mouth to speak, but an authoritative knock on the door sounded before he could comment. Or instruct, or whatever he had intended.
Ari whisked the door open and studied both of them before she entered the room and clapped the door shut. With three Aasguard warriors taking up space in the undersized room, it had grown plenty tight by now.
The wonderful scent of a female filtered through the small space. This one brought the advantage of a female Aasguard, a scent he had never had the privilege of enjoying before. But now he breathed deeply and savored all the nuances.
“I’ve discovered who Lukas reminds me of.” Ari announced this in the quiet of the space and both he and Lajos stilled.
“He reminds you of someone?” Lajos managed to ask this first and Kellen knew gratitude.
He didn’t trust himself to speak.
“Yes, since he entered the room, I realized he reminds me of someone. However, it’s taken me a while to figure out who.”
Lajos’ forehead pleated. “Okay.”
Ari didn’t speak again, so Lajos raised an eyebrow of inquiry. “And who is this mysterious person my brother-in-law reminds you of?”
Kellen was certain Lajos had included the familial relationship to remind him of the man’s association with his family. This meant Lukas was therefore under not only his protection, but likely also Ari’s. While Kellen appreciated this reminder, he still didn’t understand his reaction and therefore couldn’t be relied upon.
“We’re busy fretting about the state of Aasguards. And rightfully so.” Ari shoved strands of honey blonde hair off her forehead. A smidgen of angst permeated from her.
He straightened. This he understood, although feeling in general had long ago ceased. How could he have emotions again after so long without them?
That’s what had suddenly changed. He had emotions again.
Oh no.
This could not be. It was all wrong. Aasguard warriors weren’t supposed to feel. Emotions stole from their course of protecting others. From doing their jobs.
Feelings were messy.
“So how does this connect to Lukas?” Lajos didn’t appear to be affected by the emotions swarming Kellen.
“Lukas reminds me of us before we were chosen to become Aasguard warriors.”
Chapter 4
Kellen took a moment to process what Ari said.
It appeared to take Lajos less time because he exclaimed. Kellen couldn’t place whether his friend was surprised or shocked or something altogether different. Emotions took some time to get used to.
He made a note in the back of his mind to ask the two Aasguard males if they had encountered this.
It might help him if he learned that regaining emotions was normal. Although he kept questioning why.
“Lukas reminds you of us before we trained?” Lajos glanced in the direction of the room where they had left Lukas and the others. “Ah.”
“It’s taken some time to discern. As soon as he came into the room today, something pinged me. It’s taken until now to recognize what kept bothering me about him.”
“What are you thinking in terms of him reminding you of us?” Kellen took a moment to enjoy the facets that made up Ari’s face.
“We know several of our peers, at least,” Ari swallowed, and he heard the sorrow embedded in her words, so she also had begun to feel again, “have passed on.”
“Yes.” Sorrow wasn’t as apparent in Lajos, but it was there. Kellen was certain of this.
So if at least two of his colleagues were experiencing emotions, did this mean all of them were?
“What are you thinking, Ari?” Since she didn’t continue her thought, he asked. This led to less confusion. Less wrong conclusions down the line.
“From what I’ve gathered, I was one of the last of our generation to be trained.” Ari glanced at her brother.
Lines furrowed his forehead. “Yes. That’s true.”
“Then no other Aasguard warriors have been trained since me?” Ari’s question drew him up.
“You mean that because you were among the last, we’ve now gone centuries without new warriors being trained?”
“Yes. It stands to reason that our numbers have dwindled if we’re not actively training new recruits.”
He and Lajos stared at one another before pinning Ari with near identical looks. “Those who trained us are gone.” This thought produced an ache in the vicinity of his heart.
“They are gone.” Ari’s pretty eyes met his. “But we’re not.”
Another exclamation from Lajos. One he echoed.
“Why can’t those of us who have lived this life for millenia train new Aasguard warriors?” Ari’s voice didn’t falter as she expressed her thoughts.
“I’ve never trained anyone before. But I’m sure it’s possible.” Lajos sounded musing.
“Several of us have had a part in training Stefana and Raene, including you, Lajos. We weren’t thinking for them to become Aasguard warriors, but we did intend to make them into human warriors.” Ari paused. “And now both women are able
to hold their own in a sword fight and hand-to-hand combat.”
He had been aware of Ari’s intention to test Stefana’s proficiency before they arrived. “Stefana is that proficient now?”
“Yes. Vidar was impressed with Raene two to three weeks in. Now that you’ve taken over her training, he says she’s at Master level in her fighting.” Ari adjusted her sword. She never even thought about the action. They all repositioned their weapon regularly.
“Stefana has only been training since we married in the early spring and if she’s not at Master level, she’s close.” But Lajos looked troubled.
Ari nodded and turned on her heel. “I think we should formally assess their levels. It’s a decent day outside, but I’ve a new theory.”
She exited the room, leaving him and Lajos to exchange raised eyebrow looks. This got them nowhere, however, so they followed her out of the space and back to the large sitting room where they’d left the others.
Astonishment undulated through the room. Ari must have made a statement.
“You want us to change into fighting gear?” Raene’s question carried not even a hint of emotion.
This made him study her much closer. He soon refocused on Stefana’s visage. She gazed back at her sister-in-law for several long seconds, but then shrugged. “I could do with a little exercise.”
The queen of Swiftland rose with all the grace of royalty. This made a new question pop into his brain. He turned abruptly to Lukas. “Are you and your sister from royal lines?”
This abrupt question made Stefana and Raene both pause. No one answered his question because Lukas blinked at him.
“Yes, Stefana and Lukas are of at least minor royal blood. However, Stefana, upon my mother’s death, became acting princess here until Lajos whisked her off to Swiftland.” Raene summed up the situation.
That didn’t entirely answer his inquiry. He looked to Lajos and Ari.
“Does that qualify?”
