Dyn had them land on an open platform that extended out from an unassuming house. As soon as they were down, Abel became nervous. He could feel potent magic emanating from the house. It was only his trust in Amnur’s brother that stopped him from fleeing, taking Sakura with him.
“That’s a normal reaction, don’t worry,” Dyn stated, watching him. “Though usually, people don’t feel that until they’re closer.”
“I guess we’re in for something interesting then,” Solomon remarked, eyeing the house.
After giving Abel a few moments to calm down, Dyn approached the door and knocked. He announced his presence and introduced the others by name. The voice inside invited them in, so he beckoned them to follow. Inside, there was a lone demon sat by a fireplace. By the smells teasing Sakura’s nose, he was cooking. Dyn gave him a brief rundown of the whole situation, but never once did the Raven turn to face them. He tapped his ladle on the cooking pot a few times, before balancing it against the metal side.
The Raven stood up, shadowing them all with his height. It was then the other mages got to experience what unsettled Abel, with even Sariel feeling something was amiss. His expression was icy as Sakura stared, keeping her focus on those eyes despite the vast height difference. Something about his eyes was different. Abnormal, even. That’s when she noticed what was off and combined with the magical presence, it explained it.
“You’re blind?”
“Ah, so one saw that,” the Raven replied, his face softening. “Yes, I use my aether to see, though perhaps not in the same way that others do.”
He bent down to relieve her neck from its arched position and patted her on the head, examining her horns with one hand. Now that he was closer, Sakura could get a better look at his eyes. They were scarred, the result of a magical injury. Unlike hers, he had retained his eyes although it offered him no advantage. “So Amnur had a daughter, did he? I offered him this life once before everything went wrong.”
“I could’ve seen him liking it here,” Sakura responded. Community, freedom and a sense of individuality, those were all things that her father enjoyed. Dwelling on the past changed nothing, though.
“As for the current situation, I don’t think a direct assault is in our interest, or your father’s. You’re giving them the advantage. There are other methods we can look into.”
He had a point, not only did it mean entering their domain and all of its defensives, it gave them control over Amnur’s fate. They could push through to the house, only to have him killed in front of them. Dyn seemed to take his words to heart, aware there was something he could try.
“Why don’t all of you join me? There’s enough to go around,” the Raven said, gesturing to the pot of broth.
“We would be honoured to,” Dyn replied, holding up his hand, “I’ll be back in a moment.”
The demon disappeared out of the house, motivated to do something. Sakura felt no need to follow him, so she settled down by the fireplace. After a moment’s thought, the others copied her, sitting in a way that didn’t block access. The Raven stood up and strolled over to a cupboard, fetching a set of wooden bowls and cutlery. Once he had returned, the mages felt his aura drop.
“How is it you can do that?” Abel enquired, intrigued by the unknown magic.
“I’m a shaman, our magic is different.”
“I’m one also, but I’ve never managed that.”
“It’s a new thing to me as well. I did it once by chance, then learnt how to do it by intention,” he replied. He lifted the ladle out of the broth and portioned out his food, giving each guest their own bowl. Sakura asked if he was sure with giving away his meal, but he assured her that he’s fine with sharing. It was one meal, it wasn’t going to hurt. The others appreciated her sentiment. Their hunger had overridden their desire to continue it, however.
“My father never mentioned you being blind, what happened?”
“Not a hint of pity from you, someone’s used to that themselves,” he replied, letting out an amused snort. “There’s been some upheavals in the recent years, Northern sympathisers being one such problem. I was ambushed by them, although I do not think the attack was their idea.”
“Tch,” Iliana huffed, “if they think the North’s so brilliant, why do they still live in the South?”
“My thoughts entirely. They’re a group of degenerates who have a desire for power.”
A clack from the door informed them of Dyn’s return, with the Raven offering him a bowl of broth as he passed. He had taken a leap and sent a message directly to his older siblings, making them aware that he knows of Amnur’s presence, along with a few well-placed ego boosts. The other thing he arranged was information to confirm that Amnur was indeed there, though he doubted he would be anywhere else. What he was more interested in was their activities given that fact.
“Are you alright with doing this?” Sakura quizzed her uncle.
“I don’t like to think what they’d do once their ownership is verified, they’re bad enough already. I also owe Amnur one, I didn’t try to help him all those years ago.”
“You weren’t to know.”
“No, but I can make it right this time.”
Sakura sipped her broth, finding herself increasing it to mouthfuls as the fresh, meaty taste tickled her tongue. The Raven suggested to Dyn for him to show them around the city while they waited on a response from the siblings. He nodded, fretting over the situation wouldn’t hasten a reply. Once they were done with their food, Sakura gathered the bowls up and deposited them in the kitchen for him. She invited the Raven to join them, but he politely declined her invitation. Today was windy, hindering his ability to see outside. Walking he was fine to do blind, but flight was disorientating.
“Take it easy, kid. I’m here if you want to talk.”
Seeing the group’s hunger, the first place Dyn directed them to was a shared dining hall. Considering that individual accommodation appeared abundant in the city, the fact one existed was an odd fact. Dyn had a simple answer, though: community. The separation between rich and poor was something this city stood against, such a hall served as a meeting place. Night time was when it came alive when the alcohol flowed.
The next destination on the tour was the markets down at ground level, providing the stalls with amble access to carts. While the Free Lands served as a trading hub, the city still maintained its own sizable selection for its own citizens. Before they went for a walk through, Iliana was warned to keep his hood taunt while Dyn took off his cloak and plopped it on Sakura’s shoulders. He lifted the hood, shadowing her face. While neither of the demon capitals liked each other, they did trade. The usual ones to browse the stalls were servants after produce, but he couldn’t guarantee there wouldn’t be someone worse there.
They split into two groups to avoid rousing the suspicion of said individuals, with Sariel, Sakura and Dyn in one group and Iliana, Abel and Solomon in the other. Dyn informed the others that if they were harassed for whatever reason, just to fly to higher levels. No one would follow them, not unless they wanted to be ousted by the guards.
Sakura browsed the stalls, impressed with the offerings. Her mind began to drift, weighing up the options. ”Would it be odd for me to buy Sebastian something? As a thank you.”
“Why would it be odd? I think it’s nice,” Sariel replied, joining her gaze towards the merchandise. “Uriel would kill for someone to do that for him, not that I’m insinuating anything.”
“You might want this, then,” Dyn remarked, jangling the money bag that she had been provided. “I thought it better off with me since we left your bag behind. I’ll keep hold of it until you want it.”
Sakura laughed, money would help. She gave him a thumbs up in response, keeping her gaze focused on the jewellery below. Inside the locked case was an exquisite selection of gold and silver pieces, fitting with a rainbow of dazzling gemstones. There were a few more subtle pieces with smaller gemstones, but nothing jumped out at her. “I can see s
ome things that would look nice on Sebastian, though he’s not a jewellery person. He’d probably still wear it, but I’d rather get something he wants.”
“I could say the same for Uriel. There are pieces here that would work well on him if he would wear them,” Sariel said, pointing to an abstract piece with a glimmering golden crystal. It was not a piece that would suit a demon, as darker colours worked best to complement their skin. Still, it was striking.
“How about this? If you find something that Uriel would like, point it out to me. Then when we get back, you can give it to him.”
“You don’t have to, Sakura. I wasn’t trying to guilt you into it.”
Sakura thanked the merchant for their time, before giving the angel a smile. “If it’ll make his day then it’s worth it.”
“Thanks, it means a lot.”
The various stores of decorations and knick-knacks were again interesting, but not items that the leaders could use. A few stalls later and Sakura’s attention was grabbed for the first time, as she gazed upon rows of clothing. There was a multitude of the daily, casual wear in a baggy style that the Southern residents wore. What she liked though, was the battle orientated garments. Leather jackets lined the racks, some studded with leather plates while others held ornate stitching. Sariel too was intrigued. A few of the jackets were a brilliant white, pipping his interest.
“Excuse me, ma’am, may I try one of the leather tops?” Sariel asked the demon manning the stall, earning him a smile.
“Well if you’re going to ask that politely, go right ahead.”
Sakura offered to hold his blade while he modelled the jacket. The angel selected the ones that appealed to him most, testing them out one by one. It fit him well, loose enough to give him a wide range of flexibility while being snug enough that it didn’t slip around. If the jacket fit him, then it would fit Uriel too. They were of a similar size. It was a different style than what the angels of the Central Isles usually wore, but he could see the Monarch taking to it. A fine centrepiece to sit above his robe.
“Seen anything to your tastes?” Sariel directed to Sakura.
“Style-wise yes, but Sebastian’s an odd size compared to most demons. I don’t think any of these would fit him,” she replied, the disappointment dripping into her voice.
“How tall are we talking?” the clerk said.
“Add about a quarter of his height on to him again,” Sakura said, pointing to Dyn. The clerk frowned, confirming her suspicion.
“If you know someone who could make your friend a garment, the stalls around here stock premium quality leather. I buy from them for some orders.”
Sakura nodded, it sounded like a plan. Living in the swamps forced her to learn a lot of skills, the ability to make clothes being one of them. She believed she could make him a piece to be proud of, aided by the styles displayed here. Dyn pulled out the money bag, asking the clerk how much they owed. To Sariel’s surprise, it was reasonable. Not that he had much sense of money, but the money pouch was still at a suitable level of fatness. He handed the jacket back, stating that his purchase was also a gift for another. The clerk gave him a knowing smile, passing him the top back once it had been wrapped.
They bid her farewell, present in hand. Sakura gave the other stalls a brief search, but her interest was on the leather sellers. As promised, they sold all sorts of leather along with bolts of cloth. She described her project: a top made from supple leather to give Sebastian a full range of movement while being padded on the vital spots to provide him protection. In reply, she was shown a curated selection of black leather, along with some deep crimson silks to match it.
“Dang, that’s nice,” Sariel remarked. Sakura, however, was buried in the task. She ran her exposed palm over the surfaces of the different samples, evaluating each one in detail. After some deliberation, she picked her favourite. The stall owners packed it up for her, along with the cloth and some free matching thread.
“Some large scales for the little lady!”
One of the owners from the neighbouring stall bagged up a dozen metal scales and handed it over, completing her order. While she wrangled the bulky bag, Dyn sorted her dues.
“Done enough shopping for now?” he asked, tapping the lighter money bag.
“Yes, sorry,” she replied, giving him a sheepish grin.
“It’s fine, just at this rate you’ll end up with a bag larger than you.”
While Sakura was distracted, Sariel sneaked his prize into her bag, freeing up his hands. Dyn kept his amusement hidden, to prevent him from giving it away. He led them back to the entrance of the market, where the others were stood waiting. Abel saw her spoils and laughed, she had been busy.
To allow her to deposit her haul, Dyn took them to where they would be sleeping. This city held many guesthouses, although they entertained angels more often than demons from the other capital city. Sariel was surprised to hear that fact, given the relationship between the two races. Dyn explained that they preferred the softer, accepting approach that the Raven. As both races had their own space, the tensions between them weren’t as bad. Since the Raven was wary that Iliana’s heritage could cause problems, he had given them use of one of the reserved guesthouses, for special guests only.
He gave them each a key and showed them to their rooms, apologising to Abel for the small beds. With a few select locations shown, Dyn asked if there were any other places that took their interest. Sariel enquired about training facilities, assuming they had them, while Sakura asked about a view. The others were just happy to follow.
Once Sakura had deposited her items, Dyn led them back outside. He pointed to the top of the mountain range, beckoning to them to follow him. They flew up to the peak of a ridge, gazing out to the craggy cliff below. Nestled against the cliffside sat a circular wooden arena, with a few walkways scattered around. There were a few demons stood watching something, a mixture of new bloods and the Southern old blood.
“An arena with a view,” Dyn said, “stick to the boardwalk where the others are, as there are likely demons fighting in the air somewhere.”
Dyn drifted down to the platform first, explaining the situation in brief. With approval given, he invited them down to join him. As they stepped onto the wooden deck, a flash of black ripped past the circular arena. Moments later, another shadow darted past. A shriek filled the air as they collided, creating a swirling black mass. The aerial dance continued until one was thrown down, dropping below the platform. As they fell, the old blood on the platform crouched down but soon relaxed.
“The catcher,” Dyn said, pointing towards the tall demon, “a fall here would equate to death, so you need to have someone ready to catch them if the fall is uncontrollable.”
“It’s nice to see a proper outdoor arena, we lack that on the Central Isles,” Sariel remarked, staring at the airborne demon as they swooped down, perching on the edge of the arena. Their hands gripped to the boards, peering forward to locate their prey. Silence gripped the battlefield as the demon swayed on the deck, hunting their opponent. A wing swung up from below, snatching the awaiting demon’s throat. Three claw-like fingers attached to the bend in the wing, giving the attacker a second set of hands.
The trapped demon growled as they fought to dislodge the claws, but the attacker had greater strength. Inch by inch, they climbed back on to the platform, forcing the other into the floor.
“Enough!” one of the onlookers shouted, declaring the winner. The two separated, with the loser letting out a hiss. After a moment, the winner offered a hand, resolving any tensions.
“I wouldn’t want to fight one of them, opponents are bad enough with two hands, without four,” Sariel remarked, staring at the claws as the demon flexed them. “If the Central Isles had any of them, the angels would be far warier than they are.”
“They are something, aren’t they?” another one of the onlookers replied. Dyn explained that they had an abundance of them here, as the other capital was built for demons far
smaller. The high houses weren’t a fan of their personality, either. While there were individuals like the Raven known for their intelligence, there were just as many known for their physical prowess and aggression. That aggression was worked to their advantage, providing capable fighters.
“I would offer you another duel, Sakura, but I feel we’d both collapse due to heat exhaustion.”
Sakura laughed at the angel’s comment. Even with the breeze, the southern heat was still overbearing. Sariel was also in his winter clothing, so he was feeling it worse. He wasn’t being vocal about that, though.
With that match over, the original group bid them farewell and departed. Sakura wondered if it was due to their presence, but Dyn assured her otherwise. It would be dusk soon, and there were tasks still be done. Now that the arena was safe, he offered them to settle down on the edge to watch the sunset. To pass the time, Dyn enquired about life on the Central Isles. He was curious about the place his brother was forced to live, with all the details they could give. Sariel told him of Eriden and the dilemma that Uriel faced, after Dyn’s earlier remarks about angels. Once he was done, Sakura picked up the conversation, telling him about their swamp home.
“Amnur living in a swamp? Are you sure that’s my brother we’re talking about?” Dyn teased. “He was never one for nature.”
“I helped him out a lot. He’s still not the best at thriving when it comes to all thing natural, though,” Abel remarked, cracking a smile at the thought.
“That sounds right. How did he end up in a swamp?”
Sakura explained the rest, starting with his arrival in the Central Isles. He frowned as the tale rolled out, the guilt rising once more over failing to act earlier. Part of him wished to blame Sebastian for being so short-sighted, but he knew that to be wrong. The issue was his father, to blame him was wrong.
“Amnur’s changed a lot, and so have I, I suppose,” Dyn said, digging his fingers into the wooden deck. “I wonder if he’ll even be glad to see me.”
Skies of Fyir Box Set Page 56
