by Ben Hale
“I cannot say anything for certain,” she replied.
Toron blew out his breath and watched his sister. Alydian saw the inner turmoil on his features and realized he had more to say. Content to wait, Alydian watched Marrow’s childlike joy.
“How much do you know about me?” he finally asked.
“I know Guildmaster Elsin was once your wife.”
“Do you know we had a son?” he shot back.
“I do.”
“What she did to him?”
She gave a tiny nod. “A guardian.”
“Can you heal him?”
She raised an eyebrow, unprepared for the question. The guardian curse infused a living being with superheated magic, gradually replacing their flesh with pure power. Guardians were meant to be powerful soldiers, but the raw power ultimately led them to madness.
“I don’t know,” Alydian said. “But if we have the opportunity, I’ll try.”
Toron inclined his head in gratitude and then strode away. Raiden noticed her standing in the door alone and joined her. He smiled and leaned against the doorframe, allowing their arms to touch.
“I hate your plan,” he said.
“Because you’ll be with Marrow?” she asked.
“Because I won’t be with you.”
She met his gaze. “I truly wish we could fight together.”
“Why can’t we?” he asked.
Highly aware of the proximity, Alydian felt heat rising into her flesh. She reached out and brushed his arm with her fingers, a feathery touch that sent tingles up her arm and into her chest. Her breath caught and she swallowed.
“You are the Soldier,” she said softly. “I am the high oracle. We each have our roles to play.”
Several emotions flitted across his face, and she read the conflicting desires. Raiden wanted to stay with her, to be with her. But he also had a duty to their cause. Last came resignation. He understood that his experience afforded the best chance at infiltrating the Empire, even if it was not what he wanted most.
Alydian noticed Elenyr watching them, a small smile on her features. While all eyes were on Marrow, Elenyr smoothly stepped back and swung the door shut, all but pushing them into the captain’s quarters where they could be alone. Abruptly shy, Alydian raised her chin, and Raiden accepted the invitation.
The kiss was brief and tender, but left her wanting. He grinned as he pulled away, his expression pleased as he slid his arm around her back. Then a delighted shout came from outside, followed by a wave striking their boat.
“Marrow?” he asked.
“Marrow,” she replied.
He stepped to the window and swung it open, allowing a view of the sea ahead. Marrow briefly curved into view before banking away, the sea answering her will as a dog obeyed its master. Her unfettered laughter brought a smile to Alydian’s lips.
“It’s no wonder the oracles cannot foresee her,” she said.
“She is impossible to predict,” he agreed.
“I wonder what she will do after the Mage War,” he said. “If she survives, she will no doubt remain a danger to all.”
“You think she might perish?”
“You would know better than I,” Raiden said.
She sighed, the amusement fading from her voice. “I fear my skill pale in comparison to my mother’s.”
“Give it time,” he said, his fingers intertwining with hers.
“We don’t have it,” she said.
“I wish we had more,” he said, stepping closer to her.
She reached up and drew him into a second kiss. All the uncertainty and doubt were washed away in the heat of the contact. For an eternal moment she clung to the sense of security, the hope of a future together.
When they parted he grinned. “Why can I not kiss the one I love in public?”
“Oracles don’t fall for bandits,” she said with a laugh. “Least of all one of your renown.”
“I’m not a bandit anymore,” he said. “Now the people call me their general.”
“And what will the dashing general do with his newfound freedom?” She flashed a playful smile.
“I think I’ll scout the army that wants to kill me.”
Her smile faded. “Is it too late to rescind my plan?”
“I’m loath to admit it, but you’re right. I have the best chance of scouting the Empire. But I admit I’m not pleased I’m taking Marrow. She nearly killed me at the battle of Skykeep.”
“She listens to Red,” Alydian said. “You’ll survive.”
“As long as I do not incite her anger,” he said.
Alydian smiled and inclined her head in agreement. She’d seen Marrow’s anger in her farsight, and it was enough to elicit fear in a dragon. Although she did not say it, she too feared Marrow’s presence with Raiden.
“I cannot foresee your fate,” she said, voicing the fear she’d kept guarded since her escape from the cell.
“That’s too bad,” he said, “because I can see yours.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And what is that?”
“To be with me.”
He pulled her into another kiss, more passionate than the last. She snaked her arms around him, pulling him tight against her body, yearning to remain in the moment. She sensed his desperation and knew it matched her own, but after they parted it changed into a warmth that sank into her belly, a confirmation that the one she loved, loved her in turn.
The memory of the moment lingered with Alydian as they sailed to Blue River, the western edge of the Mage Empire. Moments of privacy were fleeting, but Alydian saw Raiden’s love in his eyes, in the way he smiled, the way he passed his forefinger over his heart. Each moment elicited a spark of joy.
They paused between villages to allow Raiden, Jester, Red, and Marrow to disembark. Alydian embraced each of them, offering words of encouragement. She embraced Raiden last, clinging to him one final time. After a year in a cell, two weeks with Raiden felt like an instant, and she almost ordered him back.
As the sun set she stood on the railing where Marrow’s flowers still grew, and watched him disappear into the trees. He paused on the threshold and raised a hand in farewell before scratching his heart with his forefinger. Then he smiled and slipped away.
Alydian remained at the railing until they sailed downriver and the location passed from sight. Then she dipped into her farsight and watched him walking through the woods. The sun darkened the horizon before she returned to her quarters.
“Come back to me,” she murmured.
Chapter 3: Lorendale
Raiden stayed in the shadows and watched the fleet sail by, his eyes on Alydian until a bend took her from view. Then he reluctantly turned away and entered Empire lands, his thoughts turning to their assignment. Their task was simple, scout the Empire’s forces, but the Empire was guided by Teriah and Meressa, both oracles that could foresee their path and set a trap. His greatest defense was indecision, and he used it liberally.
The Empire had only existed a year, but what had once been a thriving monarchy had changed. Empire supporters were quick to report on signs of rebellion, and were well paid for their traitorous actions. Suspicion and fear were rampant, and bandits had tripled.
Avoiding the roads, they stuck to the woods for several days until they gave way to the plains that dominated the region. When he was certain they could not be traced back to the rebellion fleet, Raiden turned to a village, where he hoped to glean information from the bartenders in the taverns.
Throughout the journey Red and Marrow laughed and talked, frequently lowering their voices as if they feared admonishment from Raiden or Jester. As they approached the village Raiden motioned to the women.
“I think you should remain outside,” he said.
“Marrow is very memorable,” Jester said, smiling as the girl leapt twenty feet to the top of a tree.
“Another mile!” she called out gleefully. “Do you think we can have fried potatoes? I love fried potatoes—especially with che
ese!”
“Can I have a look?” Red asked.
“Jump on up!” Marrow called.
Red bent her knees and tried an experimental hop—that carried her into the canopy. She managed to snag a branch and scale to Marrow’s position. The tree was a giant but stood alone, providing an excellent vantage point in the plains.
“I don’t think we can stop her from entering the village,” Jester said, his tone amused.
Marrow giggled at something Red said and jumped down, landing on the earth like a falling boulder, cracking the ground for several feet. Then she jumped to Raiden, her expression bright with excitement.
“Do you think they’ll let me cook?”
Red carefully descended, laughing as she dropped the last few feet. “If they’re wise.”
Raiden sighed in resignation. “Marrow, keep in mind that the oracles may not see you, but the locals will remember you. Try to refrain from any strange magic.”
“I’ll do my best,” Marrow said, offering a salute. “But she doesn’t know what you mean by strange magic.”
Abruptly her shoes blossomed wings and she lifted off the ground. She stifled a smile and shushed the shoes like she would an errant child.
“Oh,” she said with a wink. “You mean strange magic.”
Raiden rubbed the back of his neck and turned toward the village, wondering what he would tell Alydian if the girl ended up killing someone. But as he approached the village he was forced to pay attention to the villagers.
The settlement lay nestled in a stand of trees that bordered a small lake. A stream wound its way through the village on its way into the grasslands, providing water for the numerous farms that bordered the village.
Built of thatch and wood, the village of Lorendale was home to farmers and craftsman, and was not a place frequented by mages. Still, after the Empire’s takeover, Teriah had placed soldiers in every corner of the region, attempting to quell rebellion before it began. Raiden expected to find a score of soldiers supposedly keeping the peace, their real mission to identify and betray any villagers attempting insurrection.
Donning their cloaks, Raiden’s scouting party advanced into the settlement. The initial unrest by the Empire’s takeover had died down, but the people’s anger over losing their kingdom smoldered like embers in a hearth.
Raiden walked down the main road, his eyes scanning the inns, taverns, and shops. The blacksmith paused in swinging his hammer, his eyes settling on them with a trace of suspicion. Next to his shop stood an inn, and a pair of older men sat in chairs on the porch, their eyes never leaving Jester.
“Where are the Empire’s soldiers?” Jester murmured.
“Who cares?” Marrow said, eyeing the tavern. “I’m hungry.”
“We care,” Red said to her. “Do you think they wait in ambush?”
“They left two days past,” Marrow said impatiently. “Can we please eat?”
Raiden and Jester exchanged a look. “Why would they depart?” the assassin asked.
“Let’s find out,” Raiden replied.
He turned toward the tavern, eliciting a cry of delight from Marrow, who bounded ahead and swung the door open. By the time Raiden reached the door the girl was already at a table calling for a meal of roasted potatoes.
Long and rectangular, the tavern had been built of fine cedar, the grain of the wood visible in the walls and furniture. Much of the supports had been stripped of bark but left rough, giving the tavern a natural atmosphere. A stuffed boar’s head hung on the wall above the hearth, while a bear trophy hung from the wall above the bar.
The man behind the bar grunted in irritation and set down the glass he was wiping. Large, bald, and bearded, he looked like he’d owned the tavern for ages. He made his way to the table as Raiden and the others took a seat.
“What do yer want?”
“Roasted potatoes, venison, and ale,” Jester said with a disarming smile. “For the table.”
“And cheese on the potatoes?” Marrow asked. “Preferably of the dwarven fire variety?”
The man regarded her with irritation, and Raiden half expected him to deny her out of spite. Then he abruptly cracked a faint smile and inclined his head.
“For the lady,” he said.
“Me as well?” Jester asked.
He turned away. “No.”
As the man entered the kitchens Jester smiled at Marrow. “I think he likes you.”
“She says we remind Jeffers of his daughter,” Marrow said absently. “But he doesn’t like the rest of you. He thinks you stink.”
“We do stink,” Jester pointed out. “We’ve been on the road for days.”
“Do you know what happened to the Empire soldiers?” Raiden asked.
An older woman exited the kitchens with four mugs and heard the end of the question. As she placed them on the table she shrugged.
“They left two nights past. Cannot say why.”
“They just walked away?” Raiden asked.
“We woke up and they were gone,” she replied.
“Did anyone try to track them?”
“We’ve wanted them gone for a year,” the woman said with a scowl, darkness tingeing her eyes. “We counted our good fortunes and thanked Ero for their absence.”
She turned and strode away to greet a large group just entering. They cast Raiden and his companions baleful glares before taking seats on the opposite end of the room. Jeffers’ wife greeted the newcomers like they were old friends before bringing out several mugs.
“I don’t like their look,” Red said.
“That’s the Teller clan,” Marrow said absently. “They live on a farm outside of town.”
“How do you know that?” Raiden asked.
“It’s not my fault their thoughts are so loud,” Marrow said, craning her head to sniff at the smells coming from the kitchens.
“Can you hear our thoughts?” Jester asked, a sly smile on his face.
Marrow swiveled to face him and giggled. “Only right now,” she said, and then turned to Raiden. “She wants to know why Jeffers and his wife are angry.”
“Does it have anything to do with the soldier’s departure?” he asked.
“It has to do with their arrival,” Marrow said, and then her features darkened. “I think their daughter fought.”
“She fought the Empire?” Raiden asked.
“Most of the youth did,” Jeffers said, setting their plates down on the table.
“I’m sorry,” Raiden said. “We didn’t mean . . .”
“Rest easy, traveler,” he said, offering a sad smile. “She gave her life for what she believed in. We could all hope for such a fate.”
He turned and trudged away to serve the Teller clan, and for a moment the foursome sat in silence. Raiden watched Jeffers go about his business, struck by the weight on the man’s shoulders. The people had paid a heavy cost as the Empire sought to break their spirit.
He turned back to his friends. “These people deserve the freedom that was taken from them.”
As they dug into the first hot meal since before the battle at Skykeep, Raiden’s mind shifted to the Empire’s absence. Perhaps the Empire had decided to gather their forces to crush the rebellion before it could unite with Princess Ora. If that was true, Alydian might face an army before she was ready . . .
“Where ye be from, travelers?” one of the Teller clan called.
“Just passing through,” Jester said with a smile.
“Where do you hail from?” the man pressed, ignoring the older man at his side, who caught his arm in warning.
Raiden noticed the strange glint to the man’s eyes and instinctively shifted his seat so he didn’t have his back to the clan. Jester smiled, keeping the atmosphere light as he claimed their origin as Terros.
The man’s family dragged him back to his seat but he glared at Raiden’s table, as did several of the other family members. The patriarch of the family scowled at his son and spoke in low tones, anger finally causing t
he man to sit.
“They’re more suspicious than a rattlesnake,” Red said, her smile gone.
Raiden took a bite of his meal and chewed slowly, casting surreptitious glances at the party. Of the nine, six had the same hard expression, their eyes fixed upon Raiden and his companions. The speaker was a giant of a man, a full head taller than even Jester.
“Let’s go,” Raiden said, catching snippets of the angry whispers passing between the brothers and their father. Even one of the wives glared at Raiden as if he was an enemy soldier.
“But I haven’t finished my plate!” Marrow protested. “And she’s still hungry!”
“So am I,” Red said. “But is your meal worth blood being spilt?”
“It’s delicious,” she said, indignant.
“I’ll make sure you can finish it later,” Red said, rising to her feet.
“Is his food not good enough for you?” another of the brothers demanded, a burly man with his head shorn to the scalp.
Marrow leveled an accusing fork at the man. “Don’t question his cooking.”
“I wasn’t speaking to you, little girl,” the giant man replied, back on his feet.
“Tack!” the patriarch growled. “Sit down!”
Tack ignored him while another brother rose to his feet. “We all know who they are,” he said, spitting onto the floor. “They’re with the rebellion.”
He said the word like it was a curse, causing Raiden and Jester to exchange a surprised look. The Tellers were obviously generational farmers, the land probably worked by their forebears. Of anyone, Raiden would have expected them to support the rebellion, not be against it.
“We mean you no harm, friend,” Jester said.
Tack’s wife was on her feet, her scowl twisted with menace. “The Empire will want them.”
“Tack?” Jeffers asked, poking his head out of the kitchens. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Stay out of this, old man,” he snapped. “We all know you despise the Empire.”
“Of course I do,” Jeffers said, exiting the kitchens with a chopping knife in his hand. “You know what they did to my daughter.”
Jeffers’ wife exited the kitchen and caught his arm, attempting to restrain him from anything brash, but Jeffers brandished his knife like a sword. Tack dismissed him with a wave of the hand.