Wilama’s survival had become a miracle to them now, and they swore that they’d return the other prisoners to their homes, to their families and loved ones in honor of those who couldn’t come back from Savorre. Most of the Savorre people were dead or fled, but they’d captured a few of them, who later verified that they’d basically torn apart and burned down the heart of Savorre.
There were smaller holdouts, forts, and communities beyond here, but the population was scattered now, and they couldn’t build up a resistance when most of their warlocks, Blood-Drinkers, and warriors had been wiped out. In that moment, Marko declared that they’d won and conquered Savorre with few casualties on their side.
Demetrius and others gasped as they realized the enormity of what they’d done, that they’d actually defeated such a long-standing enemy and the Savorre might never recover to raid their people or anyone else ever again. Oran and others started to celebrate this victory as they headed home with Rowena and other mages opening up portals to take them all away from Savorre and back to Bahealfisaba.
ℜℜℜ
The party continued for a couple of days as everyone was happy to be alive, and relieved that their fight against the Savorre might be over. But not everyone seemed to be satisfied as Dahlia noticed Buzzbo sitting out alone one night, mulling over a cup of wine.
“What’s the matter with you, Buzzbo?” Dahlia asked, coming over to join him. “You should be out celebrating along with everyone else.”
“I was just thinking about everything we’d done to reach this point, to commit ourselves to training to defeat the Savorre. Now that it’s over, I don’t want to stop fighting. I want to keep going, to keep fighting to make a difference for others who suffered like the Savorre’s victims did. I don’t know if I could stop here and now.”
Dahlia sighed. “I know Marko went through something similar to what you’re feeling now, when he was a younger soldier. Do you want to talk about it with him?”
“No, I don’t want to talk to him about it. I don’t think I can settle down right now, no matter what he says to me. Part of me wants to break away, to escape this place, and maybe leave it all behind. I can’t stay here with him.”
“Buzzbo, please stay. You’re an important part of this family. Marko loves you, Jomo likes you a lot, and I need a friend like you to depend on. Things might get dangerous if we keep on fighting like this and I don’t want to lose you, we don’t want to lose you. Whatever’s troubling you, we can find a way to solve it and you can find a purpose here. You can be happy, Buzzbo, and we’ll help you find that peace.”
“I hope that’s true, Dahlia. Where’d Jomo go?” Buzzbo asked, looking around with some concern.
“Oh, he’s just over there, playing with the other kids.” Dahlia pointed him out, and they watched him for a little while, feeling happy in that moment, despite everything else.
In the midst of these revelries, Zeldos and Cassandra were married and Huette climbed up on top of Lovers’ Rock herself to propose to Porran, who joyfully said yes to her. Mogame and Geneva, however, found themselves arguing and discussing their problems with being together, how busy and distracted they were in their studies.
It’d only get worse for them, they realized, when Mogame wanted to become Rowena’s apprentice and Geneva wanted to be under Oran’s tutelage. With such professions and preoccupations eating up their time together and how separated they already were, they wondered if they should split up now instead of later.
Meanwhile, Corr found himself standing next to Kiki, who appeared downcast. “I’m sorry about everything that’s happened to you and your family.” He told her. “It’s painful to think about, but maybe things will get better now that the Savorre are gone. No one else will suffer the same fate your parents did.”
“I try to reflect on that, too, but I still can’t help wondering if we’ve succeeded, if my parents’ killers are finally gone, or if they might still be out there somewhere, plotting vengeance on all of us.” Kiki shook her head. “Not a happy thing to consider on an auspicious occasion like this.”
“I admit it’s possible, but not something to look forward to and the chance of such a retribution happening anytime soon are minimal. There’s still time to prepare for the next battle ahead and right now we’re alive and free from such tyranny. Maybe it’ll stay that way for us if we stick together.”
“You might be right, but does that mean we have to dance?” She frowned for a moment, watching some of the partiers passing by. “I hate being gloomy, but I’m not in the mood for this fête either after what we just went through.”
“We might be going overboard with these festivities, but I suppose we’re just blowing off steam and relaxing in the lull before we get back to work and considering our next steps for the future.” Corr said.
“Next steps,” Kiki murmured, turning to Corr and kissing him for a moment before she turned away.
Corr gasped, shocked. “What was that for?” He asked.
“Our next steps, if you’re interested in me.” She remarked.
“I might be,” He said, kissing her back.
Kiki laughed, smiling at him. “I wish we’d done this sooner, in a more joyful time.”
“I know, but we can try to make things better for us, can’t we?” He asked her.
“Yes, we can try.” She said, kissing him again.
ℜℜℜ
Jari walked down a corridor in the back area of the council chambers, and spotted Fato sitting in an alcove, staring out a window at the rainforest beyond. He’d seemed distracted the past couple of weeks, ever since he returned to work from the first short break he’d taken since beginning this job as her assistant. She wondered what was bothering him, if he regretted coming back and wished that he could be free of his obligations here, to his occupation and maybe personally to her, too.
She knew that she wouldn’t be Fato’s first choice if he could choose to be engaged to anyone. She wouldn’t have picked him either when she barely knew him at first, aside from his less than sterling reputation. But her mother Hekati had said that it was important for Jari to take on new responsibilities for her family and the future of their people, when she announced that Jari would be betrothed to him.
Jari would’ve objected to her mother’s pronouncement if she could’ve, but she’d learned through the years that her mother was right about most things and she wouldn’t brook anything less than obedience from her daughter. Hekati was a hardliner in the council and at home, so Jari knew this wasn’t an argument she could win against her mother, and she might as well accept it or suffer the consequences of such defiance on her part.
Jari wished she could rebel, though, that she could be free of her mother’s influence and make her own choices, but that wouldn’t be possible for years, if ever. In any case, Jari fell in line with her mother’s charge to be engaged with Fato, even if neither of them wanted to be, and then when he came to work here at the council hall under her supervision, she agreed to that, too.
So they spent time together, performing their duties, and got to know each other better, too. Jari found herself admiring and respecting him and she thought he felt the same way about her, too, when he at least paid her some compliments. Maybe she was forming her own crush on him, and perhaps by the time they got married, it might even develop into love on her part, but she didn’t know now if he’d ever feel the same emotion for her.
Maybe she was deluding herself, and he despised the situation he was in, that he felt trapped here instead. Maybe that taste of freedom he had when he left here was what he really longed for, and he’d never willingly love and marry her, unless he was forced to.
Jari sighed and walked over to Fato. “I release you.” She told him.
“What?” Fato said, staring at her.
“My mother might want me to marry you and your parents might be in favor of it, too, but I say that I won’t allow it to happen unless we decide to. I’m releasing you from our engagement and
we can decide later if we remain friends or not.”
“But I thought you wanted to get married because our councilors and families had decided it was in our best interests.”
“Oh, forget about them.” Jari shook her head. “We shouldn’t always do what they have to say because they think they’re right and we don’t have any say. I think you’re right, too, that sometimes the council and the clans wield too much influence in our daily affairs and can be too controlling, making decisions we don’t always agree with. I think this time around, we should have the freedom to decide for ourselves what we want to do.”
“If you’re certain, Jari, then thank you very much.” Fato smiled at her.
“You’re welcome.” Jari said, turning and walking away from him.
Part of her wanted to cry, knowing she’d miss having him around if he wouldn’t stay with this job, now that they weren’t engaged. But she was certain it was the right decision, too, and they shouldn’t be forced to accept what they didn’t want in the first place, despite whatever their parents, families, or council might think. They deserved the chance to have their own freedom.
Fato laughed and practically danced out of the council hall, running over to a meadow where Rhona and Paracleus sometimes ate their lunch to tell them about what happened. They whooped with joy, too, and celebrated his freedom from this engagement.
“You think she can keep this promise and hold off the others’ pressure?” Rhona asked.
“I know she can. Jari can do anything she sets her mind to. I’m going to be the same. I’m going to say no to everybody if they try to enforce this engagement.” Fato said.
“This calls for a toast to Jari and Fato, engaged no more!” Paracleus said, pouring some water for all of them.
They toasted their cups and relaxed a little bit, staring off towards the horizon. “I wonder what prompted her to change her mind so suddenly after all this time.” Rhona frowned, glancing at Fato. “Do you think she noticed something was amiss with you?”
“What? No, I don’t think so.” Fato shook his head. “If she suspected anything was wrong, if she’d imagined I’d done something like I did, she would’ve told the council that very minute and I would’ve been arrested or whatever. She wouldn’t have just released me from my engagement without any other penalty. I don’t think she knows or suspects what I was up to.”
“I suppose, though it seems rather convenient that she made her mind up like this when she was so reluctant to break up earlier.” Paracleus shrugged. “Still, at least you’re free of her and now it looks like we’re clear, that we got away with it and weren’t caught. We won’t get into any trouble.”
“We should still be careful, though, from here on out.” Rhona told them. “We don’t want anyone to suspect what we were up to and we don’t want them to catch us doing any more mischief. We have to be on our toes, or everything we risked might be for naught.”
“What do you mean? Do you think they’d take away our powers, or maybe those swords?” Fato sat up, staring at Rhona and Paracleus. “Could they leave the humans powerless and defenseless, and we couldn’t help them anymore?”
“That might be something the council might do, to get back at us and the humans, if they find out what we were up to.” Paracleus said, pausing for a moment to contemplate such a thing. “I wouldn’t put it past the council.”
The trio was silent for a moment, considering such a prospect as Rhona said, “Do you suppose the humans are all right? Do you suppose we did the right thing, giving them those swords and the power they contain? We might’ve messed up everything, if those powers get out of control, or if the humans who wield such weapons become too dominant.”
“I’m sure we did the right thing, and that everything will be okay.” Fato said. “Maybe we can go back to the mainland soon to check up on them, once I quit my job at council hall and can get away from here without being noticed.”
“That’s a great idea, but are we always going to be running back and forth, checking up on the humans and making sure they don’t misbehave or lose everything?” Paracleus asked, glancing up at them. “I know we should take responsibility for our actions and try to keep track of our friends, but what if the council catches us? What then?”
“We should still try, though. We can’t abandon our friends or those weapons.” Rhona said, turning to Fato. “We don’t know everything those swords are capable of, do we? I mean, we never tested their powers before we gave them over to the humans.”
“You’re right. It could be dangerous for them.” Fato nodded. “Okay, we’ll go back as soon as we can, and see how they’re faring.” The others agreed, and they toasted once more to their pact and their secrets.
Chapter Nineteen:
Sign of the Times
Huette and Rowena met with Wilama soon after she’d returned and recovered from her horrific experiences with the Savorre, settling back in with Anya and Wintha, her family in essence. They told her that Huette had chosen Wilama to be her assistant with the Bone Sword, and that she’d be able to handle the weapon, though not its power.
“I’m grateful for the honor.” Wilama bowed to Huette, smiling at her. “It means so much to me.”
“However, we also want to discuss your actions during the battle that took place in Bahealfisaba before you were captured.” Rowena said.
“My actions, which might’ve saved countless lives from being stolen like mine nearly was?” Wilama asked Rowena as her eyebrows arched up.
“That might be the case, but you used your powers inappropriately as well, in a brutal, malicious manner that caused extreme torture to the enemy.” Huette said, looking down when she couldn’t bear to rebuke Wilama now.
“The same way they tormented me and countless others before me?” Wilama asked as Huette winced.
“The same way or similar, which is why you must understand we want you to curtail your actions before they escalate beyond the moral boundaries, before you become akin to the Savorre.” Rowena said as Wilama turned to her.
“I won’t ever be like them. I swear to you, I’m not one of the Savorre.” Wilama said.
“Be that as it may, we thought it would be best if you were put on probation for the duration of six months as a mage, to undergo remedial training, attend ethical lessons, and be supervised by a monitor whenever you’re on call to fight or perform other duties.” Huette told her, embarrassed at the way they were treating such a heroic woman. “I’m sorry about all of this.” Huette said to her.
“It’s okay. It’s not your fault. I accept this reprimand, and I agree with your constructive criticism. I’ll attend to my lessons, and adhere to your teachings.” Wilama said, facing Rowena and Huette. “May I be excused now? I wish to take a walk.”
“Go ahead, Wilama. You’re free to go.” Rowena said.
“Thank you.” Wilama smiled at her and Huette and left, wandering a short distance away from the settlement.
Once she was certain that she was completely isolated and far enough away from anyone hearing her, Wilama roared and threw a tantrum. She thrashed and slashed at bushes, strengthened herself enough to smash holes through trees without hurting herself, and kicked up dirt.
“How dare they censor me like that! I would’ve done anything to save them, to save myself! I could’ve torn apart the whole Savorre army if they would’ve let me do that! They should respect me for who I am, one of the most powerful mages they ever had, far more powerful than Rowena or Huette! They think they’re so good and clever with their magic swords that a couple of stupid Fay youths gave them! I should have that Bone Sword all to myself, instead of holding it for Huette. I should be the one to wield such power! I’ll show them all someday that I’m the greatest mage of them all! Gah!”
Wilama heaved and gasped for breath, calming down as she leaned forward for a moment, trying to recover. Then she straightened up and glanced around, making sure that no one heard her rant or were coming towards her before she summoned up
a portal and stepped through it.
She wound up traveling miles away from Bahealfisaba, to an ocean shore somewhere in the region of Rynalda, she suspected, on a rocky beach next to a swamp. A short distance away from where Wilama emerged, Yagidehama turned around from where she was leaning against a rock, prepared to defend herself from any opponent. But she relaxed a moment when she saw that it was just Wilama arriving here, although she didn’t completely let her guard down.
“What do you want, Wilama?” Yagidehama said.
“I’m here to kill you.” Wilama told her.
Yagidehama laughed. “You can’t do that to me, darling.”
“I can do anything I want to you when you’re the one who captured and tormented me.” Wilama said, striding forward. “You’re the one who forced me to do unspeakable things, and then almost killed me.”
“You’re the one who told me to drain you. Besides, I might’ve coerced and persuaded you at first into harming others, manipulating your mind. But when you became conscious and aware enough of what was going on, what I was asking you to do, you didn’t stop.” Yagidehama said, circling around Wilama. “You enjoyed sucking that power from others, draining them of their magic. You might’ve refused to quench your thirst with blood, but you still practically killed them that way.”
Wilama grimaced, gazing at Yagidehama. “You’re the one who made me what I am. You’re the one who pushed and encouraged me to go down this dark path.”
“I didn’t make you when you’re the one who made yourself. I saw you fight in Bahealfisaba, how you tore and twisted those men apart, and even stirred their bones after they were dead. You were practicing such magic even before I came across you, weren’t you?” Yagidehama asked. “You might be right that I encouraged you to go further in that direction, but you were already heading that way. It was only a matter of time before you tried something similar to such magical draining. I just gave you the introductory course a few months early.” She extended a hand to Wilama, bowing with a flourish.
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