by Anna LaVerne
I shake my head as I watch our archers hit their target head on. “Honestly, I remember Vex saying that Lumbai prefers to not engage in conflict. It is why you retreated to the mountains to allow yourselves to be forgotten by the other nations.”
“It is easy to forget people know little about us. First, our history tells us we returned to Lumbai during the great war. While nations were capturing and using mystics, they were killing our female magi. A female mage is powerful with their ability to be one with a node. When the last woman mage died we all fled. Some were forced into service, but eventually they died as well. Over time, our sciences, and our power became forgotten.”
“It was my great grandmother who ended the wars and carved out Aster. Mystics since have flourished. I have a bigger image for my country and perhaps for the world.”
“And what is that?” Gabal leans up against a wagon as the world moves around us.
“I want to share our knowledge. In Aster now, if you are not a mystic you can only be privy to certain information. You are treated as a lesser citizen. My best friend has no magic, no tangible power, but she is one of the strongest, most intelligent people I know. She has been studying ancient mage texts and soaking it all in like a sponge. Imagine if we make knowledge available to everyone. Everyone will get to learn, and with that knowledge, hopefully create.
The world has been stagnant over the last few hundred years. There is little to be seen in innovation, and it is because there are amazing people of all walks of life who are not being educated.”
“Mhmm,” Gabal replies.
“Let me guess you disagree?”
“No, the opposite. I agree completely. My people who do not have magic learn the finer details of science and alchemy. They pair with a mage, and together, they keep Lumbai running.”
“Does that mean that you are ready to bring the magi out into the world once more?” I ask.
“Only if you are by my side. You're what we have been waiting for all these years.”
“Oh, stop it. I am not good with all this fate stuff. I struggle to not rebel against anything I don’t have control of. Manu has opened my eyes a bit to the subject, but it’s still not something I am comfortable talking about.”
“Do you love your men, or are they just part of the life?”
“I love them. I loved Trey first, and then Rhett who always makes me laugh. I'm still getting to know Manu, but everything about him feels right. This magic,” I hold up my palm to show the spiral within it. “This magic connects us all. I never wanted a harem or even a lover. It wasn’t on my radar, but every time I am near someone with my mark, I am overwhelmed with love and the need to connect.”
Gabal blushes. “All female magi would have a mark. It is believed that the node would pick her partner. I was ten sun cycles old when I received mine. I am assuming it was on the day you were born. No one believed it. Only Tivian held hope. I assume because of your mystic heritage, the nodes gave you more than one.”
“Trey and Rhett have picked up some of my gifts. Minor, but I give to them as well as take. They can channel the node energy, saving me from losing my will when I am filled with the energy. Manu is my muscle and my strength. To be honest, he also has a wealth of wisdom. His knowledge and faith in the stars gives me the strength to keep faith. You are my heart. I think once we join, we cannot live without each other.”
Gabal has a faraway look as if he is remembering something. “This is true. We are bound through blood and heart at our wedding. I was dying before you came in astral form. You saved me.”
I look at my feet and let my eyes drift up the road. Tivian is skipping towards us, and I stifle a laugh at the image. “How can he be so old and be full of so much energy?”
“If you only knew how old he really is. He claims to know the secret to life. I think he died long ago, and this small part of him is still existing through the energy of the ley lines to guide us.”
“That is quite a theory,” I reply.
“Peer into the earth. He only moves along the ley lines or, at least, close to them. Or maybe he is here, and the constant contact to the ley lines drove him to madness. Who knows?” Gabal shrugs as Tivian approaches.
“Dina! It’s time for us to talk. Come on, follow me, follow me, follow me.”
“I swear one minute he looks the serious wise old man, and the next, well I don’t even know.” I say to Gabal.
“I know what you mean. You get used to it, you’d better follow him.” Gable points to Tivian who has already taken off down the road.
Thankfully, I am not hindered by a skirt of any kind and am able to catch up to the old man easily enough. “Where are we going?” I ask.
“My home. We need to talk about what it means to be a mage woman, and what your plans are for our people,” he replies.
We are winding our way through buildings, working our way up the side of the mountain. The path is covered in a dark gravel to give good traction in all types of weather. When we come to stairs, I have to ask, “Do you live atop the mountain?”
“Ha! No, just up here and around the bend. I have a nice little tower away from all the people.”
Sure enough, after rounding another large circular building, a tower juts out of the side of the mountain. It isn’t a giant tower like those in Lorcan, instead it is two of the circular dwellings stacked on top of each other. He gestures me forward as he opens an aged wooden door. It isn’t made for tall or even large people. I duck to enter and silently pray I won’t have to be hunched over inside.
Once in, I note a fireplace on the fire with only embers left in it. I make myself at home by walking across the room, picking up one of the logs next to the fireplace and tossing it in. I blow a little fire to get it going good and put the needed intent to keep the fire burning longer.
The ceiling is vaulted and near to the fire is a set of stairs that I assume takes him to his bedroom. The rest of the walls are covered in bookshelves and full of books. I note some wooden crates on the floor where someone has removed books from the shelf and began placing them in the crate.
Tivian has taken a seat on one of the three chairs spread about the room with no reasoning to their location. I move one to face Tivian, so we can talk. “Are you planning to move the books?” I point to the crates.
“Yes, Tim and that Bee girl are helping me. They will pack them up and take them to Lorcan, so they can be safe.”
“Are you planning on leaving as well?” I ask.
“Me? No. No. No. I am tied to this mountain. The time I've been waiting for has come.” I try hard not to roll my eyes at his words.
“You can’t help that you are the only female mage, but you can accept it. No one else can do what you can do.”
I notice a pause in the constant thrum that vibrates within my body. I ignore Tivian, closing my eyes and allowing myself to touch the ley line, something I know I can’t do as a mystic. Mystics don’t even know ley lines exist. I am now lost in my head as my mind’s eye travels along it until I see why the node is taking longer breaks. “Celeste is coming.”
I open my eyes and see Tivian staring at me like I have four heads. “Of course, she is coming, no reason to sound so ominous about it.”
“What are we going to do?” I ask.
“You are going to take everyone to Lorcan and stay safe with King Gabal. You two are the most important people when it comes to the survival of the magi.” This time I nod. I may be leaving to get everyone into Lorcan, but I will be back. There is nothing more I want than to stare Celeste down as the volcano blows and she fails.
“You shouldn’t be so confident. The volcano may erupt, but unless the crystals are destroyed, they can still capture the node, and unless Celeste is dead, then the war will continue on. The good news is that you discovered the ley lines, so you can always hunt her down afterward.” Tivian seems very sane in this moment.
“More reason for me to be here when it all goes down. To make sure the crystals, Celes
te, and her allies are dead.”
Tivian points his finger at me, shaking it, “Ah, I knew I wouldn’t be able to get rid of you. I am vehemently against you staying. Now that is said, we can move on because we both know you will stay. If you are here, so is Gabal. Do you think you can burn the flesh of your family?”
My mind goes blank as I remember the two women, who kidnapped me, burning in my flames. I will never get their screams out of my head and how I felt their flesh burn from their bodies because my gift of empathy was connected to them. I then think about the heartbreak I felt pouring from the node that is dying and how the surrounding land will also die. People rely on land for animals, crops, and clean water.
“Yes, I can.” I answer, recognizing it as the truth. They are corrupt and evil. At a later date, I may have my regrets, and I will have to live with my choice for the rest of my years, but it needs to be done.
“Good, then yes, you can stay because you will stay anyway.” Tivian is losing it again. I can see how his eyes are wide and wandering.
“What do you think should be done with my warriors?”
“Take them back to Lorcan, Lorcan, Lorcan. I remember Lorcan. A beautiful fortress impregnable from the outside. Can only enter from within. Lorcan was a great university for the mage kind. Knowledge, science, and magic all taught in one place. Oh, the times have changed. You will bring it back. I know you will. I remember the last female mage and what she said. 'The node takes care of her children. Give her time, another mother will be born.' You are the mother.”
I look at the man who has lost his wits. There is no way he is that old, well maybe . . . . Then I shake the thought from my head and reply stubbornly. “I am no mother. I don’t want children.”
“Oh but you will have them, nations full of those eager to learn.”
“Perhaps, if we can stop Celeste.”
“Celeste, Celeste, Celeste, stop Celeste.” Tivian stands and then goes to his stairs and climbs, repeating his last words over and over. I guess that means my time with Tivian is at an end today. I duck through the door and head into the late afternoon. I want to find my men.
Chapter Fifteen
Small flakes of snow begin to fall. I know that Lumbai is a small place compared to Cargil and Lorcan, but the winding paths through the buildings make trying to find your way back near impossible. I wish that Tivian could have held it together a little longer, so he could, at the very least, have sent me in the right direction.
With no help, I decide to first focus on working my way down the mountainside. I know the warrior encampment is in the lower portion of the valley. I pass very few people on my way down, although I see some peeking through their windows watching me.
An intense shiver slides down my spine, putting me on high alert. Something is wrong. I survey my surroundings, but can’t see anything except the stone walls of houses. Trusting my instinct, I run for it. I don’t even consider trying to stand my ground. My reflex is to run, and that is exactly what I do. I feel hunted and have no reason other than a gut instinct to feel so.
While rounding a corner my foot clips a rock, and I fall forward, causing my mouth to slam into the stone pavement. The iron taste of blood fills my mouth, and I have no choice but to get to my feet to continue on, when a deep voice calls out,
“Why are you running, Princess? You are safe within Lumbai.” I roll over as I stand up to stare the stranger in his face and am surprised to see he looks like Gabal. Instead of dark hair, his is graying on the temples with age.
“Who are you?” I ask as blood drips out of my mouth and down my lip. Heat moves up my fingertips and into my palms.
“You don’t know? My dear brother didn’t tell you about me?” His hand reaches up and covers his heart as he staggers back before he regains composure and holds out his hand to me. “My name is Braeden.”
I nod to Braeden but refuse to take his hand. He steps forward, and in return, I take one step backwards, “Oh, where are your manners?” he sneers at me and then glances down at my hands. I remain silent and ready to defend myself.
“I see that what they say about you is true. In Aster, I hear them calling you the Fire Princess. They say you are an abomination of mystics.”
I refuse to show any emotion at his words, I may be young, but I can still tell when someone is trying to get a rise out of me.
“Don’t worry, I know the truth,” he continues, "you are a mage and soon to be the Queen of our kind." He bends over and casually picks up a small stone, twiddling it in his large fingers. “I am the oldest son, you know? I was heir until that brand showed up on Gabal’s chest. That is your doing, and if something were to happen to Gabal, you would have to marry me.” He tosses his rock in the air.
“Don’t you dare touch Gabal,” I reply calmly as I wipe more blood from my mouth with the sleeve of my pretty jacket.
“Oh, no you take me wrong. I love my brother and would never harm him. I am just thinking about how you could have been mine.” He licks his lips. I hate how much he looks like the sweet innocent King I care about.
“Well, if you are done, I have somewhere to be.” I turn and walk away at a calm pace until I disappear around the corner, then I take off running again. I need Trey and Rhett. Once on flat ground, I find the main road that leads to the encampment. Knowing I am so close, I push myself even harder.
Finally, the camp comes into view. The exertion I put forth has caused my hands to glow. I realize I am combustible, so I rush for the nearest water trough and dunk my arms into it up to my shoulders. My nose is an inch from the water. I take deep breaths, trying to calm my nerves and get myself back in tune with the thrum of the node.
Trey must have seen me running down the hill because seconds after I delve arm first into the water, he is there next to me. He crouches down on the other side of the water trough and leans across until his forehead touches mine, and his hands rest upon my shoulders. The second he touches me, the tension in my body relaxes, and I can look up meeting his eyes with my own.
In a calm voice, Trey asks, “Dina, what happened, are you okay?” His eyes divert to the blood dripping from my mouth.
“Yes, I’m okay now. Promise you won’t leave me. I am certain I met someone who wants to do me harm.”
Trey’s expression goes from worried to stone-cold angry. The emotion ripples through his muscles as his hands tighten on my shoulders.
“I won’t leave you. Are you good to get up?” I nod and rise to my feet. Trey doesn’t hesitate to pull me into a tight embrace.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you, Dina. Let’s go to my tent.” I hate appearing weak, but I am really shaken up from Braeden. I wonder if Gabal knows he is here. Something isn’t right.
I walk with Trey into the center of the camp in a daze, that is until I see Manu, shirtless, going through training with Rhett. Both men are fully engaged, matching each other swi,, , ,lnjcd c v
Trey’s voice breaks their concentration, “Okay, that is enough! Dina needs us!”
Both men gather themselves and run forward. Manu reaches me first and tries to use his shirt to wipe blood from my chin, “What happened?” he asks.
“Ugh, put your damn shirt back on. It’s cold, snowing, and Dina doesn’t want your dirty clothes in her face.” Rhett gives Manu a little shove from the side, and I laugh. Once again, I needed that laugh.
“I am okay, can we go inside, and then I will fill you in on what happened and why I am so shaken?”
“We should go get the healer that came with us to fix whatever is bleeding in your mouth.”
I nod, “I can’t believe I am asking this, but can you get my mother, instead? I don’t think I trust anyone else.”
“Rhett, go get her,” Trey orders.
Rhett rolls his eyes and mutters something about how he always has to do the grunt work. It seems that Rhett gets the short end of the stick more than the others.
Manu and Trey lead me into a giant tent they apparently share. There are thr
ee pallets laid on the floor and a few lanterns scattered about for light. I flick my wrist and light them all at once. There are no chairs, it is a bare basics tent. I sit down on the pallet in the center and find it softer than it appears. I reach down and remove each of my boots and then cross my legs for comfort.
“Is this what all war tents look like?” I ask.
“Luhl’s tents come with hammocks and are way more comfortable.”
“I don’t even know what a hammock is,” I reply.
Manu explains when Trey interrupts him, “I think you should tell us about what happened that sent you running through Lumbai with hands glowing and blood on your face.”
“If I explain it to you now, I will have to explain it again later when Mother, Vex, and maybe even Gabal arrives.”
“Give us a quick synopsis,” Trey begs. He is anxious, knowing I was hurt, and he can’t do anything about it immediately.
“Tivian asked to speak with me whilst I was with Gabal. Gabal had kingly things to do, so I followed Tivian to his tower alone. While I was there, the node told me that Celeste has entered the mountains. Then Tivian went all mad again, so I left on my own to find you all. That was what I was attempting to do when I got this terrible sense something was wrong. I picked up speed and tried to run to find someone quicker. The blood is from tripping and landing face first into the cobblestone path I was on. A man appeared out of nowhere who looks just like Gabal, he said his name is Braedon. He claims to be Gabal's older brother and hinted that if something happens to Gabal, I would get to marry him, and he was the original heir. I told him not to touch Gabal, turned my back, and walked away. When I was out of sight I ran.” Whew that was a mouthful, but I think they got the gist.
“I am going to kill this Braedon.” Manu’s hands are curled into fists.
“I will kill Gabal,” Trey mutters.
“This isn’t Gabal’s fault!” I snap.
“He left you alone with a madman when he has a deranged brother on the loose! This is his fault!”
