by Tora Moon
“Ah, Blazel,” she said, touching the top of his head. “What am I going to do with you? You've been back less than a day and already you’ve found trouble.” She sighed and then intoned, “Blessing of the Goddess.” She stepped back and Blazel rose.
“What is this place?” he asked. “What are all of these things?”
“This is where we hide what we once were,” the Supreme said sadly. She shuffled farther into the room, her cane tapping on the stone floor, and picked up an object. It glowed as she fed a bit of her magic into it, and a small black cloud rose above her, swirling into a whirlpool. She sent the maelstrom to the stairs where refuse had gathered. The whirlpool sucked it up and then shredded it into a cloud of dust.
“And what we once could do,” she said when the dust settled. “These are the weapons our ancestors used to fight the war.”
“Why don’t we use them now? The fireball would be effective against the monsters.”
A bench sat near what looked like a worktable. Blazel helped the Supreme to hobble over to it and sit down. She patted the empty spot next to her. “Here, come sit with me.
“Danger is coming,” she said when he had sat down. “It is time our people knew the truth of the Great War and whom we fought. A decision was made long, long ago to hide it from our people. And every Supreme since then has held the secret. They believed that without memory of the war atrocities, our people would heal, and be able to begin anew. The war was brother against brother, sister fighting sister. Those whom we called Malvers were once part of us, until they turned to dark magic—magic fueled by death. Our ancestors could not stand by and let them kill innocent people.
“Shandir ended the war by blasting their stronghold into oblivion. You’ve seen Shandir’s Crater. It’s a misnomer because Shandir didn’t create it by herself, she just directed the magic. It took many, many of our people to create that great magic. The blast crippled the surviving Malvers. We didn’t do so well either; most of our magic was drained. But it was worth it because the Malvers were weakened enough that we could exile them.”
“Why didn’t we kill them?” Blazel asked.
“And be like those we hated? No, we couldn’t do that. Everyone believed the Malvers would die in their exile and we’d never have to deal with them again. But then, after a decade of nothing from them, came the first nest of monsters, the janacks and brechas. Have you ever wondered why the nests are where they are?” Before Blazel could answer, she continued. “Each one is a site where atrocities were committed, by one side or the other. So yes, it was easier for the survivors to forget what they had once done. War is never clean.”
“And now their progeny is finding a new way to attack us,” Blazel said, standing up to pace in front of the old woman.
“No, not their descendants,” the Supreme said as she leaned on her cane. “One thing the Malvers gained from their death magic was near immortality. We will be fighting the same people who were exiled, who hate us for the sins of our ancestors. Perhaps it would have been better to kill them at the time.”
“Now it will be up to us to end this war.” Blazel looked around the stockpile of weapons. “Are there any of these we can use?”
The Supreme started to shake her head, then looked at the piles. “Perhaps, but not by you men. You forsook your ability to work the greater magics for the gift of shapeshifting to protect us from the Malvers’s creations—their monsters. It has been, and will continue to be, a good exchange. We’ll need your warrior abilities in the war to come. That stubborn, insightful Rizelya has shown us our women are strong and willing to fight. I agree with her—we will need everyone before this war is over.”
She pushed up off the bench. “Chariel isn’t the only one who has visions. The Goddess has sent me visions of a great menace coming to our world, even worse than the Malvers monsters that plague us now. It is not clear where they come from, only that they bring the madness of war.”
“Chariel told me I’d come home when the madness drew near. I heard her call from far to the south telling me to hurry. Supreme, I have had dreams of fiery meteors bringing blood and death. Is this the madness coming?”
The Supreme sighed and seemed to droop. “It begins, then. We must prepare for war on two fronts: this new threat that comes from the sky, and our old enemies. Come, we must go.”
She held out her arm for him to help her. Blazel thought he saw fear in her eyes as he tucked her hand under his elbow. They walked slowly across the room in silence. She stopped at the first stair.
“I’m glad you’ve come home, boy.” She patted his face.
Blazel held her hand against his face and kissed her palm. He knew it was the only affection she would allow him to show. She patted him once more, and together they trekked up the stairs.
* * *
Rizelya lounged on the couch in the entertainment room of the guest house, a book in her hand, waiting for the others to return. It was strange not to have anything to do or someplace to race to. Rizelya was determined to enjoy it while it lasted. She hadn’t read since that first fight with the new control janack nearly a lunadar ago. The long days of travel caught up to her and her eyes drifted closed, the book falling out of her hands.
The sound of hoof beats on the wood floor dragged her from her nap. What is a horse doing in here? She heard a deep voice and her niece Wisah’s ringing laugh. Then she remembered the centaur, Jaehaas, she’d met earlier in the day. She forced her eyes open. The light in the room was dim; she’d slept the afternoon away.
“Is Blazel back yet?” Wisah asked as she flopped on a chair across from the couch Rizelya was sprawled on.
“No. At least I don’t think so.” With a groan Rizelya rolled to a sitting position. Aistrun smirked at her, pointing to her chin, as he sank into the other chair. Rizelya wiped the drool off her chin and rubbed her face.
“We lost him in the mausoleum they call a library,” Jaehaas said. He stood by Wisah’s chair and cocked a hind leg. “I’ve never seen so many books before. It seems to go on forever.”
“I heard that during the Great War,” Chariel said as she sank into a chair, “our ancestors gathered all of their knowledge and deposited it in the Sanctuary for safekeeping.”
“I can believe it after seeing, and tromping, through the library.” Jaehaas let out a loud sigh. “I be beat.”
“There are ruins all over Lairheim,” Aistrun said, “so it was probably a good idea. Is there anything to eat? A pot of taevo?”
“Taevo would be lovely,” Wisah said. “I’ll ring the kitchen for it.”
She picked up a bell off the table near her chair and gave it a good shake. A few milcrons later, the same matronly woman, who had served them before, came in. Wisah asked for the taevo and the woman disappeared. A short time later, she returned with a large pot, pastries, and sweets. They had made significant inroads on the food when Blazel came into the room. His steps were slow and he looked a bit shocked.
“Hey, you look awful,” Aistrun said.
“Where did you go?” Jaehaas asked. “You just disappeared.”
Wisah jumped up and led Blazel by the hand to a big, comfortable chair. Rizelya handled him a cup of taevo. She couldn’t help noticing a tickle of energy as her hand brushed against his. He glanced up and gave her a strange look. He’d felt it too. He ducked his head and sipped his drink. She noticed his ears were bright pink. Huh? He’s blushing.
“Well, I found out about the Malvers,” he said, putting his cup down and lacing his fingers in front of him. “Just not from any book. The Supreme told me about them.”
He proceeded to tell them about his impromptu meeting. Rizelya nodded. It was much like what the Supreme had told her earlier. Was it just this morning?
“Will the Supreme send us to find the Phengriffs?” Aistrun asked.
Blazel nodded. “Yes, I believe so.”
“Until she gives us permission to leave,” Wisah said, “we wait.”
The next day, Rizelya an
d Leistral moved their things to the guest house where the men were staying. After the many chedans spent on the road together, it just felt odd to be separated from their pack-mates. Chariel and Wisah, as priestesses, couldn’t stay overnight at the guest house, so every morning they arrived after breakfast and didn’t leave until just before the final curfew.
The group expected a summons from the Supreme at any time. The first day, they spent in the pack-house, not wanting to stray too far in case the notice arrived from the Supreme. The keshe board was brought out, and with the complication of playing with eight players the game lasted all afternoon. It gave them a change to get to know each other and rest after the grueling pace they’d all recently experienced. By the third day without receiving a summons, they were all anxious and restless.
“What could be taking her so long?” Rizelya asked, pacing across the entertainment room.
It had become their gathering place over the past few days. Wisah sat primly on the edge of a straight-backed chair by the fire, sipping a cup of taevo while Jaehaas hovered nearby. Aistrun sprawled on the small couch next to Chariel, his arm thrown across the seat back—and her shoulders. Blazel stood by the cold fireplace, his elbow propped on the mantel. Leistral and Eidstrun sat in the matching wing-backed chairs.
Chariel shrugged. “She likes to take her time before committing to a course of action. If … when we find the Phengriffs and bring them back, it will completely change our way of life. She will be considering all the implications.”
“Even though you had a prophecy about it?” Aistrun asked. “It seems pretty clear-cut to me.”
“Especially because of my prophecy. It has repercussions for all Posairs, not just us.”
“She is most likely in prayer,” Wisah said, “communing with the Goddess. Chariel is right, this will affect all Posairs and not just because of bringing back the Phengriffs. You have to admit the part about a menace coming and without allies everyone dies is pretty scary.”
“The madness is near,” Blazel said in a quiet monotone as he stared into the distance. He shook his head slightly. “When Chariel sent me to the swamps, she said I’d come home when the madness is near. And here I am, home.”
Rizelya felt a shiver of dread climb up her spine. She slumped onto the couch, and the room quieted, but not in the companionable silence that had once filled the space.
After a few milcrons, Blazel pushed away from the fireplace. “We can’t do anything about it right now, and we can’t hurry the Supreme’s decision. We’ve been cooped up here too long. Let’s get out of here.”
“What do you suggest?” Jaehaas asked, with a swish of his tail.
“Remember I told you about the Seven Falls?” At Jaehaas’s nod, he continued, “Let’s go see them. They shouldn’t be missed and we have the time.”
“Ooh,” Chariel’s eyes lit up, “I haven’t been to the falls in a long time. That’s a good idea, Blazel.”
Everyone agreed and went to the stables. When they entered, Blazel spoke to the stable mistress, Shaela, who nodded and called a young girl to her, who ran off. Rizelya shrugged, and started saddling her horse.
Rizelya finished saddling Kymaya and glanced over to see Blazel tying a picnic basket to the back of Lighzel’s saddle. She raised her eyebrow in question.
“The falls are spectacular,” he said. “We’ll want to spend some time there. At the bottom there’s a good place for a picnic lunch.”
“Hey, that sounds like a great idea,” Aistrun said, coming up behind them and throwing an arm around their shoulders. He disappeared into the stables and came out, grinning, holding a bundle that he tied to his saddle.
Once the other horses were ready, they mounted up and rode into the mountains above the Sanctuary. The sun filtered through the trees, birds chirped, and butterflies flitted in the wildflowers. Rizelya leaned her head back and breathed in the peace. She’d been going full tilt for nearly a lunadar. She’d needed the last few days to rest and recuperate. She glanced over at Blazel, admiring his strong profile and the gentle way he guided his horse. He caught her looking at him and gave her a slow smile before turning back to the trail.
Ahead, she heard the roar of rushing water. The trees thinned as they rode into a rocky clearing. The river cut a deep cleft in the white sheadash stone. Above them the waterfall thundered as it cascaded from one height to the next. She counted the levels. Only five.
“Where are the other two?” she shouted.
Blazel leaned closer so he could hear and she repeated her question. He pointed down.
Rizelya swung her leg over the saddle, and stepped down. Walking carefully on the slick, wet rocks, she made her way to the edge. Sunlight cast rainbows on the water spray as the river tumbled two-hundred feet to the next shelf of rock, where it plummeted the last thirty feet to a wide pool. She was glad she hadn’t worn her leathers; she was already soaked. The others joined her gazing at the falls.
Blazel walked along the edge a few feet toward the waterfall above them. Rizelya followed him, coming to stand next to him, close enough that their hips bumped.
She stood on her toes, bracing herself on his shoulder, and shouted, “It’s beautiful.”
He turned his head. She licked her lips. His were so close.
“It is,” he said, searching her face a moment before turning back to the falls.
Rizelya slumped back. He was interested in her, she could see it in his eyes. So what was wrong?
After everyone was finished admiring the falls, Blazel showed them the path down to the lowest pool. The path was steep enough that they had to walk down it, leading their horses by the reins. At the bottom, the sun warmed the rocks, and a grassy meadow provided grazing for the horses.
Rizelya dipped a hand in the water and quickly pulled it back. “Brr! I’m not going in there.”
“Another couple chedans and it’ll warm up,” Blazel said. “Right now, snow-melt is still feeding the river.”
“The sun feels good.” Rizelya sprawled out on the rocks, using her magic to help the sun dry her clothes. Chariel and Wisah joined her, and she provided the same service for them.
“What about the guys?” Chariel asked. “Their clothes are soaked too.”
“Yeah, what about us?” Aistrun stood next to Chariel and shook his head, sending water droplets all over them.
Chariel squealed and tried to move away, but Aistrun bent over her, and rubbed his hands through his hair, releasing more water on her.
Jaehaas laughed, then held out his hand to Wisah. “My lady, would you like to go for a stroll with me?”
“Yes, I would, kind sir.” Wisah smiled, took his hand, and stood up. Hooking her hand around his elbow, they meandered along the side of the pool. Their quiet conversation fading as they disappeared into the trees.
Rizelya watched them, then turned to look up at Blazel, wishing he would suggest a walk.
“Do you need me to dry your clothes?”
“No, I can.” He frowned. “Although, I can’t with them on.”
She stood up and faced him. “Stand still.” Holding her hands a few inches away, she ran them over his clothes, the heat from her hands drying them out. She allowed the heat to penetrate just a little more until she was lightly caressing his skin.
His eyes widened and he started to lean forward.
“Hey, Little Red, what about me?” Aistrun bumped Blazel out of the way.
Rizelya glared at him. Blazel had been so close to kissing her. She waved her hand, drying his clothes all at once, and singeing his chest hair in the process.
“Ouch,” he complained, sticking out his lower lip, and rubbing his chest. *What did I do to deserve that?*
*You interrupted. And it was going so well.* She looked significantly at Blazel, who was walking back to the horses.
*Oh! Sorry. I’ve just the thing.* He strode to his horse and pulled the bundle off it, shaking it out to reveal a large blanket. He spread it on the grass under a tree, then holding
out a hand, he asked, “Chariel, why don’t you join me? It’s much more comfortable than these hard rocks.”
“Good idea,” she said. “My butt’s starting to hurt.”
He helped her up and then, with more care than Rizelya had ever seen him give another woman, made sure she was comfortable.
Blazel had returned with the basket and was looking thoughtfully at the blanket.
“There’s room for both of you, too.” Aistrun patted the blanket. “I’m starved. What’s in there?” He took the basket from Blazel and rummaged in it.
Rizelya waited, still sitting on the rocks. When Blazel didn’t come over to help her up, she snorted to herself, clambered to her feet, and plopped onto the blanket. Jaehaas and Wisah returned and joined them in their picnic of roasted fowl, fresh berries, and cold tuber salad. Rizelya noticed how attentive Aistrun was with Chariel, filling her plate for her and pouring more wine.
Blazel set his plate aside. “While we wait for the Supreme to give us permission to go on the quest, we should start preparing.”
“You be the only one who has been to the Deep Mountains,” Jaehaas said. “Tell us what to expect.”
“For one thing, there aren’t any Malvers monsters, but there are plenty of other predators. There are highland wolves, which are nearly the size of the wolves we shift into and have no problem attacking men. Black bears will be waking soon from their hibernation and will be hungry and testy; we want to leave those alone. And worst of all are the sabertigers. But I think the size of our group will deter most predators, including the sabertigers.”
Blazel fingered the scar on his face. “The ones we’re searching for are the apex predator—the Phengriffs. They hunt the other predators and aren’t particularly fond of humans. But hopefully we’ll find my friend, Graak. He’ll help us contact their king. He’s the one we’ll have to convince to re-form the alliance.”
Rizelya thought the sabertigers sounded ferocious and beautiful. She hoped they’d see one—off in the distance. Having Blazel with them, and having the advantage of his friendship with a Phengriff flight, was going to be immensely helpful. Otherwise, they might not have a chance at all.