by Gia Tsiknas
Be patient, just a bit more. Brizna’s arms and legs shook with the effort of holding his body. His palms screamed as he pressed them into the uneven stone of the walls. The hovel was small enough to allow Brizna to hold himself above the door of his cell without being seen. The chains that had bound him in the cage discarded, his guards deeming the added bondage unnecessary in such a small, enclosed room with no windows and a barred door.
Footsteps clattered down the hallway as the jailer checked on his prisoners, bringing food for his favorites, and taunting the poor wretches who didn’t ingratiate themselves. The steps halted in front of his door and the jailer cried an alarm.
Brizna’s hand slipped, and he bit back a gasp of pain as the point of a brick sliced skin.
Come on… Brizna willed the guard faster as the man fumbled with his keys. His breath sped up as his knees shook, threatening to give way. Finally, the man selected a key, jammed it in the lock and threw the door open.
Now! Brizna dropped on the man as he stepped into the room, flailing as his tired limbs tried to knock the jailer unconscious.
The jailer thrashed, panic overriding his guardsman training. Brizna’s hand grasped the man’s sap, and yanked, pulling it from his belt. The man cried in alarm and then fell silent when Brizna knocked his head hard. Without waiting to check if the man lived, Brizna leapt out of the cell and pulled the door shut. With a click the cell locked. Taking a slow breath Brizna looked around the dungeon. Shocked eyes watched him as he surveyed his fellow prisoners. No one moved or made a sound. Brizna put his finger to his mouth and removed the keys from his cell door.
“Boy,” A man two cells away whispered.
Brizna glanced to the exit before turning his attention to the man. “Shush, you want the jailer’s friends to come looking for him?”
The man rolled his eyes. “With the scuffle you made, aren’t you surprised how no one comes to check? They are dead drunk in the floor upstairs, most like.”
“How would you know?”
The man grinned. “’Twas one of them drunks myself till I was caught smuggling booze to the inmates, sorry saps that they were. I’ll make a deal with ye. Break me out, and I can navigate us through the dungeons with none the wiser. We can be out by even’ if we’re lucky.”
Brizna hesitated, studying the man. He sent a quick appeal to Raboni for discernment, but no answer came.
“Hurry it up!” The celled man prompted. “They ain’t passed out forever.”
I have to trust him. Brizna realized with a grimace.
“Alright,” Brizna flipped through the keys, trying them until the latch clicked and he could pull the door open. “But you better be truthful. That trick will only work once.”
“Wish I had thought o’ that trick myself. But chances are I couldn’a pull it off.” The man chuckled, stepping out of the cell and gesturing to his rotund frame. He wore the standard prison shift, but it looked like the guards had to sew two together to cover the man’s bulk. The shift now hung loose on his frame, evidence of scant meals during his time in the dungeons. “Name’s Whisler.”
“Brizna.” Brizna nodded to the myriad of other inmates. “And them?”
“Leave ‘em. Take too many and no one gets out.” Whisler scoffed. Brizna frowned, Whisler’s lack of compassion for the others irked him.
“How about we let them loose and they go their own way out?” At Whisler’s dubious expression he added. “Think of them as an added distraction for the guards. Harder to stop a mob of prisoners than two.”
“Alright, alright. We’ll turn ‘em loose.” Whisler sighed.
Brizna turned to the closest prisoner and flipped through the keys. Most of the prisoners thanked him, but occasionally someone refused to leave the cell. One boy with a slight frame growled like a dog when he opened his door. In the end Brizna left the door ajar, hoping the boy took the opportunity to escape. Once most of the cells were open Brizna handed the keys to an older woman who promised to free the rest.
“Besides,” the woman cackled. “My old bones won’t carry me far enough away.”
Brizna shook his head and turned to a glowering Whisler.
“We wasted enough time, boy. Let’s go.”
“Wait!” A girl snagged his arm. “We can’t leave yet.”
Recognition sparked as her blood-red eyes met his.
“You’re the girl, the one with the spelled brother and sister.”
The girl’s mouth pinched.
“My name is Etsuko, not girl, and yes, you need to help me find them.”
“Find them yourself!” Whisler spit. “No skin off our nose if we leave ‘em to fate.”
Etsuko flinched, but she didn’t release Brizna. He frowned. He wanted to help, but if he didn’t escape now… Etsuko’s red eyes bore into his, but there wasn’t anger or determination in them. It was fear.
“If I help you, I’ll need some answers first.”
Etsuko swallowed hard, her face dropping to the floor. “If you swear you will help, I’ll do anything you want.”
“I swear.”
***
The soldiers were angry, thirsty for blood. She used that, stoked their rage and their hate to her purpose. Now they were loose on the city, marching to the castle to enact justice. She watched them go, a trail of blood in their wake, and her heart ached. A young child stared at her from her perch on the balcony. His red eyes burned.
***
Zafirah squeezed her eyes to dispel the vision. The memory? She couldn’t be sure. But they were coming more often.
“How is progress?” Zafirah asked as a man in a large white coat stepped to her dais. The throne room was brightly lit, the glass roof letting the sun shine unabated on the black ebony and decorative silver armor lining the hall.
“Very well, Highness.” The man said, his gruff voice smug.
Zafirah nodded. Ten long years it had taken. Ten years and a thwarted escape attempt. She sighed.
But we found more.
The man beckoned forward a young girl. The girl stepped forward and looked up into the monarch’s face.
Zafirah smiled.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
KNIGHT
Brizna sat amongst the corpses as they danced. He struggled, but their dancing pulled him along, tearing at his clothes and his skin.
She tried to reach him, tried to pull him away from the corpse carving away his life, but she couldn’t move. She couldn’t reach him and the dancing corpses pulled him farther into the darkness. Suddenly Brizna looked to her, his eyes held betrayal.
“Why didn’t you stop them?”
She screamed.
***
Machi awoke with a start, the world of light seared her eyes, but she ignored the pain, stretching her senses to prepare for anything. When she realized that there was no danger, she relaxed. Her mouth had a bad aftertaste, and her body was stiff, but other than that she felt fine.
“Finally.”
Machi turned to a raven-haired woman from the southern deserts dressed in a soft blue shirt that matched her eyes, her billowing pants resembling skirts. A dark cloak covered most of her form. Even though it hid almost all her figure, Machi detected the faint outline of a sword and its sheath. “What do you want?”
“That’s a fine way to talk to the woman that saved your hide.” she pretended to sniff, “I’m so hurt.”
Machi growled a few obscene suggestions.
“Oh, that’s a new one. And I’m very glad I didn’t injure you permanently. Now I see my worry was all in vain.” She stood. Machi tensed, but the woman walked to the recently used pit of ash and started putting kindling in it. “I’m Saiya.”
She continued placing kindling and smaller sticks and then lit it with a steel and flint out of a hidden pocket. Eyes still on the sparks, she mumbled a few words, and gruffly made a sweeping motion toward Machi. A bundle flew, landing with a thud at her side. “There’s your weaponry. Check it please. I think I got it all, but I could have
missed something.”
Machi bit her tongue. Wariness kept her from pouncing on Saiya. She checked her equipment without taking her eyes off of the woman and slipped it all back in place. She used the edges of her vision to watch her surroundings. They were in a small gap between trees. She lay to the north east part of the gap, and Saiya was tending to the fire nearby with her back to Machi. Being careful to disguise her intentions, Machi flexed her muscles, preparing herself to escape. Saiya didn’t seem to notice Machi’s change in stance. Right as Saiya bent to blow the sparks into flame Machi sprang to her feet. Saiya stood still, setting a pot on the fire as Machi turned to run.
“Where do you think you are going?” Saiya’s ice-blue eyes settled on Machi, that much more piercing in contrast to her dark skin.
“You can’t keep me here.” Machi’s voice rumbled in an unearthly tone.
“Perhaps not.” Saiya laughed. “But if you don’t want to end up on the end of a sword, I suggest you slow down and save us both the trouble of saving you.”
Machi cursed.
Saiya shook her head. “If you would oh-so-kindly refrain from being an idiot. I would gladly tell you what’s happening.”
“Then talk.” Machi crouched, baring her daggers.
The woman turned to the fire. “Breakfast will be ready soon and I’m famished.”
Machi blinked, the tall woman putting her off-balance. The woman didn’t seem intent on harm so Machi settled back, sheathing her knives. She glared as Saiya pulled her cooking pot from the fire and scooped heaping piles of porridge into two bowls. Saiya took out a packet and sprinkled its contents on both before handing one to Machi.
When Machi stared at the food and its orange topping, Saiya laughed and said, “It’s just cinnamon. A common enough spice where I’m from.”
Machi watched as Saiya stirred the porridge and took a huge bite. She shrugged, figuring the woman wouldn’t poison herself. She took a bite and frowned. The spicy powder tasted odd, but she had nothing else, so she scooped the pile into her mouth, trying not to taste it.
“This will be a hassle, and I know it,” Saiya said.
“What do you want?”
“So cynical. So young. I came to teach. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Machi laughed. “You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.’’
“By who?”
“Excuse me?”
“Who asked you to teach me? I know I didn’t.”
Saiya studied her a moment before responding. “I was asked to find you by Ayaka, and to teach you by Raboni.”
Machi’s face darkened. “And why should that stop me from leaving?”
Saiya let silence envelope them for a moment or two.
“I am to give you the power to fight back against the enemies of Raboni. Seeing as you are currently facing one, I assumed you would be interested in having a little more firepower.”
Machi scowled. Could she trust the woman? Did she have a choice?
“Fine. Get on with it.”
“Get on with what?”
“Teaching! You talk, I’ll listen, and then I can go back to chasing the Gray Demon.”
With exaggerated patience Saiya ate her porridge. At Machi’s muttering she twitched her fingers. Machi yelped as a glob of the food soared from the cooking pot to land into her empty bowl.
“Cinnamon?” Saiya asked sweetly.
Machi grimaced and shook her head. Saiya tucked in once more as Machi stared at her dish. What was happening? She was somewhere in the woods stuck with a stranger who had a gift hundreds of times more powerful than Brizna. How did she get here? Last I remember I was fighting the Gray Demon…
Machi’s anger flared into life. “Where did he go?”
Saiya continued to eat her meal.
“Tell me!” Machi roared, her image quavering in a red mist.
Saiya frowned and set her bowl aside. “Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters.” Machi seethed getting to her feet and pacing. “We’ve been searching for him for years! He’s our prey!”
“Ours?” Saiya raised a brow and glanced around as if to prove a point.
“Mine and Han—” Machi blinked. Hanaq’s? She shook her head. No, the Gray Demon was hers and Brizna’s, right? But Brizna was—
“He took him!” Machi snarled. “He killed my parents and took him.”
“All at once?” Saiya inspected her nails, picking out dirt. “Busy man, if only I had arrived earlier.”
“Not… all at once.” As she talked a soothing presence filled her mind. Her anger remained, but the feral quality abated somewhat.
Saiya nodded. “Can I ask who?”
Machi sat near her gear. “Why would you care? We’re orphans. No family to pay you. No fame to win in our story.”
“It’s my Calling.”
Machi’s jaw clenched.
The silence was overwhelming. Machi looked up, catching the hard blue eyes that stared back at her. They were deep like the ocean, promising a past few could survive. After a moment Saiya smiled, releasing Machi’s gaze.
“This is how it will work.” Saiya stood and picked up the dirtied utensils and the cooking pot. “I am a Knight, ordained by Raboni to come aid the plight of you Drakians.”
Machi froze, her breath coming fast. Why was she—
“Enough!” Saiya snapped. “I’m not a wraith coming to eat you in your sleep. So listen well. I help but my path is not to fight.”
Machi swallowed her panic enough to ask. “That means?”
“I teach,” Saiya gestured to the utensil and bowl Machi held then started walking to the stream. Machi blinked, then followed holding her dishes. “you, and anyone I find like you, to fight.”
They came to a stream and started washing out the remnants of their meal. Machi grumbled. “Fancy good that does.”
Saiya’s laugh was hard and long. “My thoughts exactly. But it’s what I’m meant to do.”
“So what do you teach?”
“Mental strength, the gift, life energy balance, magic, whatever you call it here, I teach the way of the mind.”
“You teach the gift?”
“Among other things. So will you answer my question?”
Machi grimaced. “A boy I knew, Brizna.”
A shadow of recognition filled her eyes followed by a hint of sadness. “Ah.”
Machi tensed. “You knew him?”
Saiya paused before shrugging. “Many come to me for teaching.”
Machi froze, her bowl half submerged in the water. It was her. The priest, the one with the bell. The one Brizna had asked for her to meet. Who had changed her friend so much. The one who had stolen him from her before the Gray Demon took the rest.
“You!”
Machi’s rage came full force, snapping the odd calm that had settled over her. She tackled Saiya to the ground. Saiya’s eyes grew stern, but she didn’t fight.
“You stole him from me!” Machi roared, her eyes crackled with rage and power, and her figure flickered between human and beast.
Saiya kept calm, using her gift to wash Machi in an ocean of lethargy.
“I have stolen nothing, Machi.”
Machi growled, her voice shifted as the beast took control. “It’s your fault!”
Saiya sighed and pushed. Machi flew off her towards the icy river. “I think you need to cool your head.”
As Saiya scrambled to her feet, she noticed Machi twist in the air and land on her four limbs. The red heat of her rage sizzled as it hit the water. Machi jumped from the water, the image of a horned jungle cat becoming more prevalent than Machi’s own figure.
“Calm down, Machi. Get control of yourself.” Her voice was soft, echoing with magical influence.
Kill her, my huntress. Slay her. Release yourself and take your destiny. Hanaq purred into Machi’s ear. Her anger smoldered and grew as Hanaq drew upon Machi’s memories. Call for me. And I will remove everything that ignites your rage.
/> Machi screamed, her voice a feral roar.
“Call on Raboni.” Saiya urged. “Call Him and the beast will stop!”
Hanaq hissed at Raboni’s name, but Machi didn’t hear her. Her rage forming into a pinpoint on the woman who dared step in her way.
It’s your fault I’m in this mess. If you hadn’t stolen him, he wouldn’t have been taken; if you hadn’t barged into my fight, I would have found him! Machi’s mental scream was so loud that Saiya heard her.
“If I hadn’t intervened, you would be dead or captured and I’m pretty sure that would have done nothing to help you.” Saiya danced out of the way of Machi’s charge. They circled, drawing closer to the clearing.
I had him. Machi growled. I could have killed him and saved Brizna.
“You had nothing. Stop lying to yourself. He had the fight ended before it even began. Don’t you get it? He was toying with you.”
No! Machi charged again and again. Saiya side-stepped the attack.
“Listen to me.” Saiya reasoned. “Even if you won, killing that man would have caused the beast to swallow you. Then what would have happened to Brizna?”
Come, huntress, I will slaughter everything that hurts, everything that causes you pain. You shall be free. You shall be strong.
Machi tried to feint and attack but Saiya saw it coming and dodged again. “Renounce the beast, Machi. Call Raboni and renounce the beast before you lose yourself.”
I don’t need Him, and I don’t need you!
“I see there’s no other choice.” Saiya dodged one more frantic charge from Machi and spun in place. With dramatic flair her clothes changed into her battle-dress. It was tight to her form, black laced with gold. A collar held up the front of her tunic. An ornate three-layer shoulder guard extended from a jeweled pin on the left side of her chest, shielding her heart and wrapping around her bare bicep. The tunic hugged her form and extended until her hips. Boots covered her feet and breeches covered her legs. She wore scarred falconer’s gloves. Blue crystals ringed her waist, crawling with power. Saiya’s long hair whipped while lightning crackled and danced around her figure.