Agate- Then and Now

by M. D. Grimm

  He gulped. “I just...I saw you leave, alone. I got worried. I just, well, with that mage out there, no one should be alone. You need a lookout, right? And I like being with you, so I thought I’d show you the lake....” His voice faded and he sat back on his heels but still didn’t lift his face. “I’m sorry.”

  I heard the hitch in his voice. The sniffle. My irritation drained away, my magick settled. I stifled a sigh. I wasn’t too pleased with him for peeping at me, but I loved him too much to stay mad at him. Could I really blame him for wanting to see me naked? He was at that stage where hormones took control of brain cells, after all.

  “You’re hopeless,” I said, my gentle tone taking away the sting those words might have caused.

  “I know,” he said, misery in his voice.

  I buckled my trousers and grabbed my jacket. I glanced over to see Aishe’s eyes follow my movements. His head finally lifted as I slipped the jacket on. He looked at my chest, my face, before his eyes drifted down. But then he jerked his head toward the water, his mouth pulled in a thin line.

  I shook my head and buckled my jacket before slipping on my boots, kneeling to lace them. He watched me then, his face puzzled.

  “Aren’t you mad?” he whispered.

  Crouching, I was nearly at eyelevel with him. I met his eyes, tilted my head. “Yes. You did something no decent youth would’ve done.”

  Shame reddened his face. “I know.”

  I stood. He stared up at me. “Stand up.”

  He did, slowly. I stepped closer and he stilled. Aishe knew he’d done something wrong and he wouldn’t feel right about it until he received a consequence for his actions.

  “How should I punish you?” I asked him.

  He swallowed hard, and I saw his struggle to meet my eyes. “Punishment is yours to choose.” His voice was soft, the words reluctantly said.

  I resisted a smile. “You’re right. Therefore, I think adequate punishment for you, would be silence.” Aishe’s eyes widened. “When we re-enter the camp, you will be completely silent. You won’t speak. At all. You will be nothing but a shadow. This will last until first light tomorrow. Do you understand?”

  He looked pained but he nodded. “Will you tell my parents?”

  “No.”

  He couldn’t hide his surprise.

  “This is between you and me.” Then my eyes and tone darkened. I gripped his chin tightly, hard enough for him to take me seriously. He gripped my wrist. “But if you do anything like that again, I will take more drastic measures. Do you understand?”

  Aishe nodded as much as my hold would allow. Then I let him go. But my heart ached as I saw the misery he was in, the shame, the guilt. Dammit, it was killing me to be so hard on him. Unable to resist anymore, I wrapped my arm around his shoulders in a one-armed hug. He froze for a moment before both arms came around my waist. I held him silently, closing my eyes and enjoyed feeling him in my arms. I stroked his silky hair, breathed in his familiar scent. He rested his cheek on my shoulder, pushing closer, his arms tight around me. I was sure he’d snuggle if he had the nerve.

  My heart ached with the need for my Aishe, the one I could touch and kiss and love. But right now I had to make due with a simple hug. It was not this Aishe that I desired as a mate. This Aishe I wanted to hug and play with, to make him laugh and keep him safe. He was adorable, and sweet, and far too innocent to stir my interest. He was little more than a child. I wanted the mature Aishe; the warrior, the dialen who could dominate me, or submit with equal passion, the one with the dark past, the life experience, the one who knew and accepted me without hesitation. I had to get back to him. But right now, this Aishe needed me. I pulled back and felt Aishe’s reluctance to let me go. But he dropped his hands and managed a small smile.

  He blushed slightly. “Where did you get all those scars?”

  I shook my head. “Now’s not the time to discuss such things.” I grabbed his hand. “Let’s go back.”

  ***

  Amyla sat next to me on the bench, at the table, near the fire. She talked about a dialen but I wasn’t really listening. “She’s really nice, really talkative. It’s unfortunate about her injury. Her leg will be tender for a bit, but I don’t think there’ll be any lasting damage. She is a little annoying though,” Amyla added after a short pause. “She just goes on and on about how great her tribe is.”

  I nodded absently, eating; my mind barely registered what she said. Most of the dialen had eaten and left, leaving us alone. The tribe cleaned empty tables and benches and took them apart, piece by piece, then shoved them into bags. They were certainly clever in their mobility.

  Fray, who sat on Amyla’s other side, nodded. “She keeps saying how she wants to journey with our hunters, but for her injury. I have to wonder if she’s more talk than action. She spends most of her time wandering around, seeing if the territory is good enough for her tribe. I don’t know why she would think otherwise. I love it here.”

  Amyla agreed. “Have you spoken to her, Aishe?”

  Aishe shook his head, from where he sat on my other side.

  “Maybe you should. Then you can tell us who she really is.”

  Aishe blushed slightly at the mention of his gift, but nodded with a smile. Fray and Amyla soon left, leaving Aishe and me in silence. They moved to a small group of singing dialen. Dialen loved to sing. Many sang as we ate. We had to get moving, set my trap into motion, but I wasn’t the chief of this tribe. I had to be patient and have confidence in my own skills. My crystals were silent, feeling nothing cross them, which comforted me. I called to my magick, testing it, feeling it answer me with little effort. I had to make sure I would be ready for an attack should it come. I’d nearly fully recovered from the beating I took from Atcoatlu. It was slightly disturbing how much power I had even when I wasn’t at my full strength. I’d taken on an entire tribe’s soldiers without straining myself.

  I grew stronger as I aged, as was the way for mages. But it was the speed at which I was growing stronger, that disturbed me. I was powerful for my age; too powerful for comfort. There was a time I would have relished that fact, I would’ve bellowed it to the skies, subverted those weaker to my will. But not now. Now I feared it. My destiny, what the Mother has written for me.

  And where the fuck had that energy-sucking maneuver come from? I didn’t even know such a thing was possible. I didn’t have time to think about it until now. I hadn’t only been lowering the temperature; it hadn’t been the “normal” sort of cold. It had been...the absence of warmth. And air. Frost had formed, yes, but it wouldn’t have been long for even that to disappear. Was it warmth I’d leeched away or life itself?

  Shuddering, I shook my head. I would table that for later, and if I had the guts, I’d speak to Master Ulezander about it. Or better yet, forget it all together.

  I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the current problem. There was nothing I could do about my power, my destiny. I couldn’t dwell on that right now.

  I had to wonder why Drasyln hadn’t found this tribe yet, and how she knew to come to this territory to find them. The Ravena were nomadic, moving with the seasons all over the northern continent, they had many places to camp and didn’t have a set pattern as to which one they would choose. Where had she gotten her information? Maybe in our true time, she’d spoken to other dialen tribes who had known the Ravena. If that was the case, she could have found out about their different camping locations. And if she focused on a time of year and location...but then why hadn’t the stone taken her right to the middle of the Ravena camp? Maybe it was simply due to the fact it was her first time using Atcoatlu. I couldn’t underestimate her, however. Was she watching us, even now? I looked around but all I saw was darkness, bonfires, dialen bodies, and the glitter of stars above.

  A hand touched my arm. I looked over to see Aishe staring at me. My plate was empty, my stomach full. The clear, melodic voices of the dialen filled the area, singing in their own language. Their voices were suppose
d to soothe but I couldn’t relax. That wasn’t an option.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I snorted and patted Aishe’s hand. “Couldn’t stay quiet, could you?”

  He blushed and removed his hand, turning to stare at the fire, the flames reflecting off his eyes. I watched him for a moment, letting his beauty banish my disturbing thoughts. He’d been silent since returning to camp. I’d watched him, and he did well, surprisingly. He continued to help break down the camp, helped with the cooking, all without saying a word. Some asked him if anything was wrong, but he only shrugged and continued working.

  Despite my own conditions, I decided to give him a break. “A lot of things are on my mind, Aishe. Things without obvious solutions.”

  He frowned at me. “Can I help, at all?”

  I laughed softly. “Thanks, but no.”

  He looked away again, and was silent for several moments. Then, “Look, I know you think I’m some dumb kid who has a crush.” His voice was soft, his eyes focused on the fire. “But it’s not just that. I admire you. You...you’re amazing. And I just—” He swallowed hard. “I like you. A lot.”

  “I know.”

  He briefly met my eyes before standing and walking around the table. He stopped before the fire and his crossed his arms over his chest. “Am I that obvious?”

  I snorted, walking over to stand beside him. “I’m afraid you are.”

  “Well, I’ve never felt this way before.”

  I nodded. “I know that, too.”

  “You seem to know a lot.”

  “I like to think I do.” I stared into the flames. Should I tell him? About us? About his future? Did I have a right? Was that what the Mother wanted me to do? There must have been a reason my Aishe had kept quiet about this. About us. Was I the reason? Memory came back. During our hunt for Kayl, I’d asked him, flat out, if we had known each other before. He told me he couldn’t tell me. That was it. I hadn’t pursued it, sometimes I even forgot about that little exchange. But the conversation he had with his aunt during our hunt...his anxiety, his pain that I hadn’t known him.

  I looked at Aishe. He looked sleepy.

  “I’m sorry I used fire against you,” I said softly.

  His eyes popped open and he stared at me. “It was a battle.”

  “Yes, it was. But you’re not a warrior yet. You shouldn’t have joined in.”

  “I wanted to show you....” His voice faded for a moment but then I saw him gather his courage before speaking again. “I wanted to show you that I could be useful. That I can help in a battle. You didn’t even hear me.”

  “No, I didn’t,” I admitted. “But, you have to remember, Drasyln will not hesitate to kill you. If she’d been me when you’d done that, you would be a pile of ash.”

  His face paled and his eyes looked haunted before he lowered them. His hand suddenly snuck over and gently touched mine. “You won’t let her turn me into a pile of ash, will you?” His voice was small, hopeful, hesitant.

  He was beyond cute. I turned my hand, palm up, and our fingers linked. “No, Aishe. I won’t.”

  Chapter Nine

  “You are interested in my son.”

  I jumped slightly as Nunya began to walk beside me. I brought up the rear on this little dialen train as we tromped through the forest, covered by night. My magick was high, sensing if Drasyln was anywhere near. But Nunya’s question threw me.

  “I’m only interested in his safety.”

  “Don’t lie to me.” The rebuke was subtle but strong enough I wanted to hunch my shoulders and disappear. Dammit! I was not to be made to feel like a child.

  “I’m not lying, Nunya. I’m interested in his safety, as well as your tribe’s.”

  “But that’s not all, is it?”

  I glanced at her. Her gaze was steady, her feet easily picking out flat places to walk. I, however, kept stumbling. I didn’t answer.

  “You can’t deny it, Morgorth,” she said softly. “Brelyn has seen it as well. There is something between the two of you.”

  I stifled a sigh. “I wish him no harm, Nunya.”

  “Of that, Mage, I am well aware.”

  I snorted. She stopped walking and so did I. The rest of the tribe kept moving, ignoring us. I reluctantly met her gaze.

  “Why is he so important to you? I have a right to know.”

  I stared at her. What could I say? What should I tell her? “I can’t tell you everything,” I said quietly. “But what I can tell you, the chief should hear as well.”

  She nodded. We began to walk again.

  “You know how Aishe feels about you, yes?”

  I nodded.

  “Please do not break his heart.”

  “Trust me, that’s the last thing I want to do.”

  Nunya left me to make her way up to the front. I lagged behind, still troubled by the rough terrain. But I kept my senses peeled. Where was she? What was taking Drasyln so long to find us?

  “Need any help?”

  I jumped and nearly punched Aishe in the arm. “So help me, Aishe, one of these days.” My growl only made him laugh. He wrapped his arms around one of mine and began to help me through the ridiculously over-vegetated forest. Even Vorgoroth had some breathing room, sheesh!

  “Shouldn’t you be with your family?”

  “Mae sent me back here to assist you.”

  It took me a moment to understand what he meant. He’d used the informal, affectionate title for his mother, one that was specific to his tribe. I rolled my eyes skyward. Well, I guess I should be happy she didn’t forbid Aishe from speaking to me. Of course, that might make Aishe cling even harder, and Nunya didn’t seem the type to want to break up the family.

  That was when I felt it. When I felt her.

  “Down.” I shoved Aishe to the ground before grabbing the crystal I wore around my neck, speaking into it. Breyln had another crystal around his own neck, and I’d enchanted them so we could speak to each other.

  “Scatter, Breyln. I feel her.”

  The chief and I had spoken about the bait plan before we moved out and he’d told his tribe about it.

  “Understood.”

  The command quickly spread through the ranks and all the dialen scattered, disappearing in a way only they could, into the woods. I shoved Aishe toward them and he ran, looking back several times. I crouched silently, thinking a word of magick, blending into the dark, the trees. It wasn’t invisibility, but more of a subtle bit of magick that allowed me to literally look like my surroundings. While holding that spell in my mind, I used some more magick to give me night vision. I tapped my eyelids, opened my eyes, and could see as clear as day.

  Drasyln flew overhead. Well, she didn’t actually fly. She used extreme speed to keep her aloft, something I favored. I glanced this way and that but couldn’t see or hear any of the dialen, around me. Damn, they were good. But I knew Drasyln had seen them, which was the point, and she turned around and came back. She landed not far from me, and I noticed she didn’t look very well. Her clothes were dirty and she looked a little haggard, like she hadn’t been sleeping. It would seem forest life didn’t agree with her. The stone sang to me, humming against my ears. I gritted my teeth even as it promised me it would take me home. Need sang through my veins but I resisted. Be smart, Morgorth!

  I inhaled deeply, silently. She looked at the ground, seeing our tracks. I watched, waited. Would I get a chance? She suddenly turned, nearly presenting her back to me.

  Come on, I urged her, turn around. Turn around you bitch!

  She would detect me soon if she had her magick feelers out, but I wanted to take her unawares. I carefully moved my leg behind me, the other in front, ready to launch myself at her with a blast of magick. Just turn around a little bit more. But before she could turn, before I could put her down for good, a dialen burst out from behind the trees. My heart stopped. My entire being, even my magick froze with sheer, bowel-loosening horror. It was my hesitation that allowed Aishe, a sword clutched in
his untrained hands, to charge Drasyln.

  Oddly enough, he was silent as he approached her. How, I have no idea, considering his clumsiness. He nearly skewered her but she sensed him at the last minute and spun around, lifting her right hand. I charged out of my hiding place, my own right arm raised. I was about to release a blast of force when Aishe suddenly dropped to his knees, out of range of her hand. With a move that was sheer bravery and stupidity, Aishe swung the blade at Drasyln’s thighs. The blade sliced through both and her blood splattered across Aishe, the grass and dirt. She screamed in pain, her concentration fractured by it.

  Now was my chance! But the cuts were shallow and she was pissed. Aishe didn’t move quickly enough, and she grabbed his neck. She yanked him in front of her, using him as a shield once again. He struggled with everything he had but it was no use. He flung the sword above his head, trying to cut her from behind but she simply wrapped the arm that held the agate around his waist and grabbed his sword hand with the other.

  “Let him go!” I bellowed, feeling horrendously helpless.

  She snarled. “Why would I? He’s become somewhat of a nuisance, don’t you think?”

  An arrow came out of seemingly nowhere and punctured her leg. She screamed again, cursing, but managed to hold her ground and held the sword blade right across Aishe’s neck.

  “Drasyln!” I roared. “You harm him and I swear to the Mother and the Hunter, I will hunt you down and cause you such pain you will beg for death!” Fire erupted along the length of my body, and I actually felt my eyes burn, as if they too were aflame. The air grew hotter, the oxygen evaporating. “I will unleash my wrath upon you.” I stared directly into her eyes, and I let the monster inside me, the one I’d once been, rise into my own eyes. “You know what I am. You know who I am. Do not take my words lightly. Release him.”

  All the blood drained from her face. Suddenly, the only sound was our harsh breathing, and the crackle of the flames licking at my skin.

  Her eyes narrowed. “You shouldn’t reveal your weakness so blatantly, Morgorth. It will be your undoing.” In a flash, she pushed Aishe away from her, but before he could stumble even two steps away, she brought the sword down.