by Gia Tsiknas
Machi ignored her joke. “So if I want to become invisible, what would I do?”
“What you’re talking about would be a seeming.” Saiya said cautiously. “An illusion overlaid onto a subject.”
Machi picked up on her tone, “Don’t worry, I’m not leaving yet. You’ve caught my interest.”
“Right.”
“So, why shove my hand in the fire?”
“I wanted to show you the limits of magic.” Saiya smiled sheepishly. Machi raised an eyebrow as Saiya squirmed. “Oh, all right! It was fun, too.”
Machi snickered, then stopped, startled at her own reaction.
“It’s not that I was laughing with you, I was laughing at you.”
“Sure you were.” Saiya smiled slyly.
Machi smiled, surprising herself again with the level of comfort she had with this woman.
“What else is there?”
Saiya paused and stared Machi straight in the eye. A chill crept down Machi’s back.
“A few warnings before we continue. We are not gods. Just because there’s no limit to magical power, save our mind, we cannot create or recreate life. No raising the dead, and no creating a new species.”
Machi swallowed hard. “And if someone does?”
“There would be dire consequences.” Saiya paused again, glaring Machi into silence.
Machi shivered. What is with this lady? One moment she is chatty as a barmaid, next she’s as intense as an executioner.
“Right, right, no playing Raboni and Shadow, got it.”
Saiya saw that she had gotten her message across and relaxed.
“Although magic is a physical manifestation of your will, always keep in mind, that your will is not an infinite source.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just like when I teleported us, your body shut down to cope with the stress, your mind will do the same. Too much stimulation and your mind shuts down. Repeatedly coming to that point can put your mind through so much strain it doesn’t shut down anymore. It breaks.”
She could go insane?
“Don’t stress about that too much, just practice controlling your will, and fewer things will overwhelm your mind to that point. Just be careful. You have a path ahead of you, and you are destined to walk it.”
What do you know of my path? I don’t even know what will happen to me. Machi brooded. She shut her eyes, her worries surfacing. Should she chase the Gray Demon or continue wandering in her search for Brizna? What am I going to do?
After another minute Saiya smiled, “Want to practice?”
“So what are we going to do? Can you teach me that costume change you did before?” Her mind was alight with possibilities.
“Perhaps another time. From what I can gather, you would excel at illusions and distractions.”
“Illusions?” Machi frowned. “Something practical would be better.”
“Practicality is in the beholder’s eye.” Saiya lilted the words as she rose to her feet. The woman walked to the fire and poked the embers. Machi watched her with a frown. What was she doing?
Something tickled her throat. She reached her hands to scratch it and met the cold metal of a garrote wire. She gulped a deep breath and slid one hand under the wire. With her other arm she rammed her elbow behind her.
The garrote faded into nothing as Saiya coughed. She stood behind Machi. A glance at the fire told her no one stood there.
“You didn’t need to hit so hard.”
Machi turned to the woman and brandished her knife. “You sneak up on a Hunter, and you pay the price.”
“Ex-Hunter.”
Machi flinched.
“What was that, anyway?”
“That was a seeming, an illusion, that you saw. Wonderful for distractions, and easy for a beginner to pick up.” Saiya’s indignant tone had Machi grabbing her knife again.
“Well, don’t do that again.” Machi sheathed her knife with a sigh.
Saiya smiled at the prickly girl before gesturing to an open patch of ground.
“Care for a sparring match? I have the feeling you work better as you move, rather than a lecture.”
Machi hesitated, did she trust this woman enough to spar? She sized Saiya up in her gaudy yellow, red and blue dress. Could she win?
“I promise not to kill you, but I can’t prevent harm.” Saiya winked. “It’s sparring after all.”
Machi rolled her eyes. She couldn’t help being caught up in Saiya’s odd sense of humor. She stepped to the clearing.
“Let’s begin.”
***
Hours later, when it became too dark to see properly, Machi collapsed onto her bed roll. It didn’t take long for her mind to carry her away into a dreamless sleep.
Saiya frowned. So much pain. So much anger.
Her healing will come, my warrior. Raboni whispered.
I just wish she did not have to endure this alone. She looked down as her mind drifted. It’s much harder alone.
Sometimes that solitude is the only way to break through to some. Raboni whispered again.
With a chiding click Moody turned green and started preening Machi’s hair.
“Now stop that!” Saiya said. “She won’t appreciate you in her hair, even if she is a Drakian.”
Saiya reached for Moody, but he whirled around and snapped. Saiya pulled her fingers away just in time to avoid the wyvern’s sharp teeth.
“All right, all right, I’ll leave you be.” Saiya pulled her cloak tighter, mumbling about temperamental lizards.
Gold with victory Moody curled up next to Machi’s head, running his paws through her ravaged locks of hair.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
FALL
Why had I been so blind?
“She’ll help us.” Brizna’s voice was hard as he brought them to Erilia so long ago. “We can get closure.”
Machi clutched her scarf with white knuckles onto her head.
How had I been so naïve?
He watched as Machi plunged the knife into the man. She smiled. He tried not to stare at the portrait next to the bed of the man and his toddler son.
Why hadn’t I acted sooner?
“Only one more month, and we can step back from the guild.” Machi stared into his eyes, trying to hide her pain behind cold words.
Don’t abandon me, her eyes screamed. Don’t leave me too.
Why hadn’t I helped her?
“You cannot force anyone to follow Raboni.” Saiya’s voice was soft, her eyes deep with past pain. “You can only lead by example.”
Brizna sat on the pier with his head in his hands, the bell used to call her lay next to him.
This is my fault.
Memories swirled around him, pulling at him as a surf during high tide. He tried to pull way, but the current was too strong, and he sank.
You have a path, My son. Raboni had told him. It will be difficult, and you may feel alone, but I am with you.
Brizna saw Machi as a fire raged around her. She fought the fire, but it refused to go out. She stumbled and fell.
“Don’t lose!” He screamed.
***
Brizna opened his eyes to the clank of a cell door. How did I get here?
Pain ebbed in his shoulder. He lay in a corner of the cell. Dirty, stinking straw was his bed. Another corner held a bucket for use as a privy. The stench of urine and feces had burned away his sense of smell.
The sound of booted guards drew closer and Brizna waited for the guard to dump his tray of food through the slot in the door. But it never came. Instead he heard a soft laughter. He leapt to his feet, staring at Zafirah. His cuffs jangled, tethering him to the wall. How long had he been unconscious?
Brizna clutched his head. Hadn’t he been escaping with Etsuko? Memories were slow to surface in his drugged mind. There was a bridge, and a snake, and…
Brizna groped his shoulder but there were no bite-marks. He had sworn it had bitten him; that he had succumbed to the serpent’s poison.<
br />
He looked up to Zafirah’s amused smile. She wore a loose southern-style wrap the color of sand with a copper sash. Topaz jewels accented her ears, her hair glittering gold. Her eyes gleamed.
“Your escape was inventive. Who would have guessed tall, narrow cells could pose such a threat?”
“Where is Etsuko?” Brizna glared.
Lightning ripped through him and he convulsed, consciousness falling away again.
***
Those eyes. Zafirah’s fury tainted her thoughts.
The assault stopped and Brizna slumped against the wall.
Crone entered the cell and shook her head at the unconscious prisoner.
“What do you wish to accomplish with your play? Leave him to rot.”
“Do not patronize me, Crone.” Zafirah sneered.
“Pardon my outburst, Your Majesty.” Crone bowed, unconcerned.
Zafirah glared a second more at Crone before sweeping out of the room and signaling to the guard. Crone shuffled along as quickly as she could to keep up with Zafirah. She climbed the stairs leading back to the castle proper. Once they were at the top, Zafirah turned right, navigating the large halls back to her room. The halls were bustling with servants, but they scurried out of her way, bowing. Zafirah turned into the southern wing of the castle, towards her quarters.
Ornate pillars lined one side of the walkway, opening up to the brisk mountain air. The dull roar of a waterfall exploded from the maw of a stone dragon above the walkway. It was carved into the mountainside, the noise drowned out almost everything. On the opposite side of the walkway large stone doors led to a variety of castle rooms, as wood didn’t hold up against the waterfall mists. Greenery claimed half the ornate pillars and most of the dragon’s head.
Zafirah paused, glancing at the water in confusion, a memory tugging at her mind. Crone glanced at Zafirah, trying to hide her alarm. Zafirah walked off again, turning into one of the many stone doors. The roar of the waterfall ended when a maid pushed the door shut.
Exotic woods and jewels embedded into large, ornate pieces of furniture filled the room. A canopy bed was against the north wall, doors leading to her bathhouse and closets lay to the south. It was filled with light even though the stone walls had no windows. Small crystalline fragments lined the room at the ceiling, the latest inspiration of her royal alchemists. They glowed and dimmed on command.
Two maids scurried around the room, preparing Zafirah for a state dinner. Zafirah calmed her temper as the maids dressed her and called for the royal hair dresser.
Crone frowned. “Tell me your thoughts, My Queen. Grant an old woman her curiosity.”
Now calm, Zafirah took time to reflect. Brizna’s defiant eyes haunted her. Why?
Brizna’s face came to mind again. But this time, it transformed into a woman’s. Her eyes burned with strength. Zafirah grabbed her head, startling her maids and pulling her hair out of its coils.
Crone watched Zafirah. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion but she waited for the queen to respond.
Zafirah drove her thoughts back to Brizna. Again the eyes and the woman came to her. “His eyes…”
Crone reeled back, but Zafirah was facing away from her. Rage riddled Crone’s face. Mastering her voice Crone whispered. “Perhaps a different method would suffice.”
“Perhaps.” Zafirah turned from her maids and walked out of the room clad in a long ruby ball gown. Diamonds threaded through her hair. Her pendant tucked in her bosom.
Crone stood stock still, a scowl lining her face.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
HERITAGE
Saiya and Machi faced off in the clearing. Their clothes swapped out with rough spun breeches and shirts Saiya had magicked from somewhere. Sweat beaded Machi’s face as the sun climbed high into the sky.
She twisted her dagger, calling light into the steel. When Saiya flinched, Machi fashioned a double while she leapt to the right, trying to hold both the illusion and the seeming covering her true body. The double leapt forward in a straightforward charge. Saiya blinked and ducked to the side, avoiding the blade. Machi slunk to the left, her double circling right, trying to bring Saiya within her reach.
When she was within two paces Saiya lurched forward, catching Machi off guard. The illusion broke. Machi cursed and leapt forward her knife shining. Saiya blinked and spun to avoid a stab, but the knife passed through her guard dissipating in smoke.
A garrote snagged her legs, and she tumbled to the dirt. As she rolled, trying to get away a knife settled at her throat.
“Got you.” Machi couldn’t help a gloating grin creep into her face. How many times has she ended up in Saiya’s position? Now, finally, she had bested the priest.
Saiya smiled.
Machi pulled back her knife and untangled the woman’s legs. Then she held out a hand. Saiya took it and Machi helped her to her feet.
“Wow.”
“It’s simple once you get the hang of it.” Machi gloated.
“I was not expecting you to become so efficient in using your powers this fast.”
“Well, you said I’d get better with practice.” Machi mocked playfully, pleased with her newfound powers.
“Yes…” Saiya sighed,
Machi shrugged and walked to the fire. Moody crowed and launched himself from a tree, landing at her feet in brilliant gold. He pranced up to the fire and pawed the embers.
Machi stared.
Saiya sat and beckoned Moody to her. With a happy trill he scampered over and plopped onto her lap. Saiya began pulling loose and crooked scales while Moody hummed.
“Dragons molt every so often, so you must get rid of the loose scales. It doesn’t hurt them. It tickles.”
Machi sniffed and walked towards the woods.
“The privy is past the bushes to your left!” Saiya called, then returned to pulling Moody’s scales.
Machi grumbled and stumbled off in the general direction. Saiya shook her head and started tackling the laundry. When she finished scrubbing their cloaks and bedding, she spread them out on the ground to dry in the sun. Machi returned and frowned. She was aching from her walk into the woods and impatient to get into her own cloak. She pictured them dry and buffed. Saiya sighed, picked them up, and tossed them to Machi. “Okay, before you get impatient and do something stupid, I’ll teach you healing.”
Machi shrugged and went behind a large tree. She changed and came out. When Machi returned she sat and Saiya began.
“Now, when you heal, you need to realize that you take energy from other parts of your body to heal the injured part. In essence, you weaken the rest of your body to strengthen the weakest part. To stop this, you need another source.”
“Like another creature.” Machi stated.
“Or you could take the energy from the surrounding plants.” Saiya winced.
Machi shrugged.
“Healing without a source has drawbacks.” Saiya continued. “While it may save your life, it weakens you, and it can take months to build your strength again. It’s better if you can take from natural sources and reduce those drawbacks.”
Machi absorbed the information. Saiya turned to put away the laundry, and Machi concentrated on herself. She reached out to the surrounding plants and animals and snatched their energy to heal. Machi spared Saiya and Moody. She had grown fond of the pair. Saiya winced as she felt the magic begin.
“You shouldn’t do that.”
“Why?” Machi demanded as she removed her bandages, revealing new pink skin.
“Life is precious. There is a danger when you hold power over it.” Saiya paused and added almost as an afterthought. “Never lose yourself in that power. It never turns out well.”
“What happens?”
Saiya returned to her laundry, ignoring Machi’s question.
“If you won’t answer that question, answer this. If you can draw energy from animals and plants, then couldn’t you take enough to never die?”
Saiya sighed. “You would die, but not
for a long time. And yes, you can take enough energy so you’d never need to eat; however, it’s very unsatisfying. I prefer tangible food.”
Machi shook her head.
“There’s one more thing that’s required of me.” Saiya forced herself to continue talking.
“And what is it?” Machi asked, not really interested.
“A story.”
***
Sunlight filtered through the trees as Saiya stoked the flames. They built and lengthened into a wall knee-high. Saiya opened her mouth and drew in a steady breath. The flames flickered and split, forming shapes.
“From the dawn of time, the great ten-headed serpent, Abaddon, and his seven generals of temptation ruled the lands and defiled all they touched. They were: Sloth, Greed, Envy, Pride, Lust, Gluttony and Wrath. Thousands died as they fled to the northern mountains.
“The day was dark and brutal in its indiscriminate death. Dragons routed the beasts repeatedly, but even their might could not hold back the armies of the generals made flesh. The nation prayed and pleaded, and one voice rose above the cries. A woman, daughter of no one and mother of seven, bent with age and wisdom gathered the people.”
The fire danced and swayed, taking on the woman’s shape as she spoke. Machi stared, entranced.
“‘I have heard the voice of Raboni.’ She called to the crowds. ‘Bring me your children, the ones pure of the world’s taint, ready to fight for their nation. They alone can fight the generals and free us from their grasp.’
“Desperate the crowds may be, but she asked too much. Who would sacrifice their child to save their own life, for it was a well-known practice in the south?
“The woman stood before the unwilling people and wept.
“‘I shall go,’ her oldest called out, ‘Grown to a man I may be, but how can I turn from your tears?’
“‘And I,’ called her singular daughter.
“All seven of her children pulled away from the frightened crowd to stand before their mother. Trust lay in their hearts and determination in their eyes.
“‘I bless you in the name of Raboni.’ She hugged her children and her tears fell all the more. ‘You shall be separated from us this day, but know, you will not travel alone.’