by Kelly Carr
“Liana?”
“Liana!”
“Where’s the Mother of Magic?!”
“What do we do?!”
Liana’s eyes went wide, and she broke into a run, dashing into the city to find it blazing with light and full of people milling about, despite the late hour.
“Where have you been?” Jina hissed furiously as she appeared by Liana’s side. Then, seeing the guilty looks on their faces, “Never mind. I know.” If possible, her expression became even angrier.
“What in the five kingdoms can possibly be the matter?” Liana asked anxiously.
“There are Humans in the forest,” said Tahoma, the eldest of the Avenai Jevar, stepping forward.
For a few moments, Liana was confused. Of course there were Humans in the forest, she had just seen them, but trading parties travelled the road all the time. It was nothing unusual. Then, as she looked around at the pale, frightened faces of the Trevi, she understood. They weren’t worried about Humans on the road. There were Humans trespassing in the forest, on Trevi land, for the first time in living memory.
Chapter Nine: Jina
Jina watched as Liana took a breath and carefully controlled her expression. She knew the girl must be afraid and surreptitiously squeezed her hand in reassurance. This was the most significant test of Liana’s leadership that she had ever faced, and the child was still so young.
“How many are there?” Liana asked.
“Six, my lady,” said a young Aidan.
“Well,” Liana said calmly, “that’s not so many. This is certainly unusual, but let’s not worry too much just yet. Perhaps the Humans merely lost their way somehow. I’ll go with the Avenai Jevar and send them on their way before they reach the city. I want everyone else to remain calm. If you must follow, make sure you aren’t seen. We don’t want to appear hostile to our visitors.”
Jina silently nodded her approval of this course of action. The Avenai Jevar reluctantly agreed to Liana’s plan and turned to lead her towards the area where the Humans had been seen.
A number of the Trevi hurried away in the opposite direction, clearly eager to put as much distance as possible between themselves and this potential threat. Others followed Liana, more curious than afraid. No one spoke as they walked towards the northern edge of the city. They were passing through the festival clearing when they saw lights approaching through the trees.
Liana stopped, as did the Avenai Jevar. Liana gestured for everyone else to fall back into the trees. Jina hesitated a moment, unsure whether to stay or to go, but when she caught Liana’s eyes and saw the fear in them, she knew where she was needed. The Avenai Jevar frowned when she didn’t leave, but said nothing, though Jina knew she would hear plenty about it later.
They began to hear voices as the lights drew nearer. Deep, rough voices, speaking an unfamiliar language. Liana raised her hands and, with a sweeping gesture, sent dozens of tiny flames up to light the lanterns strung between the trees. In an instant, the clearing was ablaze with light. The voices faltered, but only for a moment. Then there was a murmur of excitement, and a group of men burst into the clearing.
Jina watched as they took in the scene before them. Whatever they were expecting, it clearly wasn’t a mostly empty field set for a party. They looked around with bewildered expressions at the lanterns, the food, the flowers, and the odd group of people waiting to meet them. It took them several moments to collect themselves, and their confusion allowed Jina time to get the measure of them.
The group was comprised entirely of men, all of whom seemed to be quite large and bulky. As they came closer, Jina could see that they were all wrapped in heavy armor and furs. The lantern light glinted off of half a dozen swords and spears. All the men had scruffy beards and shoulder-length hair tied back behind their heads. They looked unlike anyone Jina had ever seen.
“Have you lost your way, friends?” Liana called in the Common Tongue when they had come within twenty feet of her.
The men turned their attention away from their surroundings and over to the group of Trevi assembled to meet them. Their features settled into expressions of calm self-assurance. Jina suppressed a shiver.
“No, I believe we’ve found exactly what we were looking for, as a matter of fact,” said a man with a big black beard and a long scar down his right cheek. “I wish to speak with the person in charge here,” he declared. “Who rules the people of the Erean Forest?”
“We have no ruler, but I can speak for the Trevi if I must. My name is Liana. What do you want?” Liana replied. Jina felt a surge of pride at her foster daughter’s confident demeanor in the face of such intimidating men.
The man looked surprised and more than a little bit amused at this bold response. He turned to his companions with a smirk. “Expecting someone a bit more impressive, weren’t we, lads?” he jeered. The rest of the men laughed, but stopped abruptly when their leader held up a hand.
“What do you want?” Liana repeated, an edge of irritation in her voice now.
“Well, as I’ve been travelling all day, what I want first, little girl, is to eat my fill of that lovely food I see piled up over there. After that, I have a message to deliver.”
He made a move towards the tables laden with food for the spring festival, but before he took two steps, Liana had raised a barricade of stone around the entire party. There were several cries of outrage from within. Liana’s eyes narrowed, but her mouth curled upwards slightly in satisfaction.
“I assure you, sir, I am not a ‘little girl.’ Now, if you had greeted us politely, as we did you, we might have overlooked the fact that you’re trespassing on Trevi land and allowed you to take some of our food with you for your journey home. However, since you have been so rude, I am going to have to insist that you deliver your message and be on your way,” Liana said firmly.
Jina squeezed her shoulder encouragingly. The scarred man's face was just visible above the barrier. He appeared infuriated by this response. He raised his spear as if to throw it at Liana, but before he could, one of the other men called out to him.
“Hey, Ruslan, don’t forget our orders.”
Ruslan looked extremely disappointed, but he lowered his spear and put on a sarcastic smile. He swept as graceful a bow as a man of his size could from horseback. “My apologies, Lady Liana,” he said, his voice sickly sweet. “My mistress, Queen Katya of Lezar, has been blessed with the powers of the Mother of Magic. She sends her greetings and requires that you all pledge her your loyalty as her subjects.”
The Trevi looked around at one another in confusion, and whispers broke out among the trees. Jina resisted the urge to turn and quiet them.
Ruslan’s eyes flickered towards the trees, and a small smile played across his lips as he continued. “The Mother of Magic orders that you use your magic to help her conquer the other four kingdoms. Together we will unite them once more with her as their queen.”
There was murmuring among the Avenai Jevar, but Jina glared at them, and they grew silent again. Liana frowned. “Nonsense. I am the Mother of Magic. I don’t know how your queen convinced you of her powers, but it must have been a trick.”
“Lies!” Ruslan snapped.
Jina took a step back as a wind whipped up and the earth shook beneath her feet. Flames flew from the lanterns and wrapped around Liana whose form changed to that of a full-grown lioness. She roared at the visitors, making their horses whinny in dismay.
The men’s eyes grew wide at this display of Liana’s abilities. They cursed as they struggled to keep their mounts under control and seemed in danger of being swept off into the forest. Just in time, the wind and shaking calmed, and Liana stood before them once more, a defiant expression on her face.
“Whatever this woman has told you is a lie,” Liana insisted. “But regardless, her demand is completely unreasonable. Here is the reply you may convey to her: The Trevi are no one’s subjects. We are free people. We have no interest in war, nor any intention of helping to unite the
kingdoms. If you’ve learned your history, you’ll know that the separation of the kingdoms was for the best. We won’t undo it.”
Ruslan looked shaken, but he quickly regained his composure and smiled wickedly. Jina felt a thrill of fear run down her spine. “My queen only offers you this chance as a courtesy. If you refuse her, she will cut and burn this land until it is levelled from the edge of the Lorenai Mountains to the farthest reaches of the Cliffs of Kerval.
Liana shook her head. “Not even I have that much power. These trees are imbued with magic that resists the influence of fire, and no one, save the most powerful of Oreads, can bring down cliffs and mountains. Now, I am going to have to insist that you return to the trade road this instant, and if you ever trespass on trevi land again, I won’t be letting you go so lightly.” With that, she slowly lowered the barrier.
Ruslan’s smile didn’t waver. “We’ll return to the road, but before we do, consider this: these trees are the distant descendants of those that once held protective magic. Do you think their power is still as strong as it was long ago? Or has it been watered down with each new generation? As to whether or not the mountains and cliffs could be brought down... well, it’s only a matter of force.” He bowed mockingly again. “I’ll tell my queen of your reply. Expect to hear from her again soon. She doesn’t care for having her demands ignored.”
With that, he and his companions turned and sauntered back into the forest without a backward glance.
Chapter Ten: Valeria
Valeria had witnessed the entire encounter with the Humans, as had dozens of other Trevi. For the next week, little else was talked of. Liana had wisely sent a party of Aidans to follow the unwelcome visitors and make sure they got back where they belonged without any detours. However, their threats of returning and their strange claims of another Mother of Magic hung heavy on people’s minds. Everyone was tense.
A few of the Trevi who had travelled to Ozryn for the festival had quietly left the day following the encounter, but most considered the Humans’ threats nothing more than empty words. Some were warier, but preparations for the festival went ahead as planned.
For the next week, Valeria saw Liana very little. Her friend was always sequestered in meetings with the Avenai Jevar. For days the council did little else but argue about what, if anything, to do if the Humans should attempt to return.
Each evening, Liana arrived home exhausted and exasperated. Valeria listened as she described the council’s petty disagreements and inability to decide on a course of action.
“…and they have no interest in hearing what I have to say,” Liana grumbled, not for the first time. “Oh, they play along with me being ‘The Mother of Magic’ in public, but their support is all for show.”
“Their attitude is nothing new though,” Valeria reminded her. “Why does it matter now?” Liana had often told her that she was not really so different from anyone else her age, except in her abilities. She felt that she hadn’t earned the right to lead the Trevi.
“It matters because, whether I believe it’s right or not, the Trevi trust me to take care of them. I can’t do that if the Avenai Jevar insist on ignoring me.”
Valeria listened patiently and tried to offer advice, but by the end of the week, nothing had changed. The council had agreed on nothing but that they should post scouts to watch and warn of any unusual Human activity.
On the evening of the festival, Valeria braided her friend’s hair and wove wildflowers into it to match the pale pink and green dress she wore.
“It seems odd to be having a party when everyone is so worried,” Valeria said.
Liana shrugged. “It would only make things seem that much more serious if we cancelled it. Let’s just try and forget about it for one night,” she said. “I, for one, intend to dance and laugh until ugly Human threats mean absolutely nothing. And you?” she asked, nodding at the large patches of skin bared by Valeria’s long red gown. “Dressed up for anyone in particular?”
Valeria felt her cheeks burn in a blush. “Come on, let’s go,” she said, without answering the question.
Liana laughed, and together they unfolded their gliders and soared out over the treetops. In the darkness, the festival was visible from a distance. The warm glow of the lanterns and the merry voices of the revellers brought a smile to Valeria’s face. When they were directly above the clearing, she and Liana dropped straight into the midst of a group of dancers, to laughter and applause.
Valeria bowed and instantly joined the dance while Liana took their gliders to the edge of the clearing, where they would be out of the way. By the time she came back, she already had a group of young men trailing after her, each begging for the honor of being her partner in her first dance.
Liana grabbed one at random and joined the dance, laughing lightheartedly at the glum expressions on the faces of the rest. Music and the presence of many friends seemed to cast a spell over everyone present. For a time, recent worries faded into the backs of their minds. Food and laughter were plentiful, and all was as it should have been. Valeria wondered why she had ever been worried. No matter what the circumstances, the Trevi knew how to have a good time.
As the moon rose, the Trevi moved to the edge of the clearing, murmuring in anticipation. Now the performers joined the party. There were musicians, acrobats, dancers, and skilled feats of magic by masters from each Trevi tribe.
Jina and Davu were among the performers this year. They had been practicing for weeks but had been very secretive about their act, so no one knew quite what to expect. Everyone was silent as they walked into the center of the clearing, Davu dressed in a long blue and green robe, Jina in a matching gown adorned with hundreds of colorful beads.
Barrels of water and several large drums were placed at the edge of the clearing, and everyone became very still, waiting to see what would happen. Small stones rose from the ground and began to beat on the drums. From under his robes, Davu produced a pair of swords. Water rose from the barrels and ran across the ground in a fine mist as brother and sister began to dance.
Theirs was the most mesmerizing performance Valeria had ever seen. At times Davu swung the swords, and at others it was Jina. Sometimes they each held one and met in mock battle. The mist swirled around their feet in intricate patterns, and the drums wove a rhythm through it all.
Valeria marvelled at the discipline and concentration it must be taking for them to use such magic while dancing and never miss a step. When the drums stopped, her friends stood there, breathing heavily for a moment, then took a bow to thunderous applause from their audience.
Valeria cheered and waved, but neither of them saw her. Liana had already claimed Davu’s attention, and before Valeria could reach Jina, the Aidan man was by her side, laughing and swinging her through the air.
Valeria looked around her at all the revellers laughing and talking excitedly. Suddenly she felt very much the outsider. With a sigh, she retrieved her glider and wandered out of the clearing, following the deserted pathways back to the city.
Chapter eleven: Liana
Almost as soon as the performances ended, Liana was approached by some Trevi who were eager to ask questions about the recent threats made by the visiting Humans. Liana sighed, frustrated that she couldn’t escape her duties even for one evening. Fortunately, at that moment, Elias stepped in and claimed her hand for their traditional dance together.
“Thank you,” Liana said gratefully.
Elias grinned. “My pleasure.”
Elias rarely stayed long at any social event, but he always made a point of dancing with Liana before he left, and he usually chose a lively song. Liana laughed as he spun her around and around like a little girl.
When the song was over, she kissed his bristly cheek and watched as he left the clearing. The moment he was gone, a young Undine stepped in and offered her his hand. She took it eagerly. Liana loved to dance, and the beat of the music was infectious. She twirled from partner to partner, laughing; forgetting f
or a while that she was anything but a young girl enjoying the attentions of young men.
As the night drew on, however, the men grew bolder. They started to argue over who would have the honor of dancing with her. Finally, after settling a disagreement that nearly came to blows, Liana ended the matter entirely by striding out into the forest on her own. Several people started after her, but she called back that she wished to be on her own.
The forest paths were quiet and empty apart from a few amorous couples concealed in the shadows of the trees. Liana paid no attention to their low giggles and soft sounds of pleasure. She had always been glad to see her people happy, but lately, she had begun to experience some pangs of jealousy when she saw couples together. She wondered if she would ever get to experience love for herself. She had many friends and enjoyed flirting with the young men who courted her, but none of them ever seemed to be able to entirely see past her role as the Mother of Magic to the person she really was.
Liana sought out a more uninhabited area and climbed up into the branches of a tall tree. She closed her eyes and listened to the distant sounds of music and laughter. She allowed herself to feel the vibrations of the magic around her. With so many Trevi gathered in one place, the air was practically humming with it. She smiled quietly to herself, basking in the peacefulness of the moment. Gradually she began to doze off, so she wasn’t entirely sure how long she had been sitting there before a voice called to her from the base of the tree.
“Oi!”
Liana jumped and looked down. It was Davu.
“Aren’t you supposed to be back at the festival, dancing with all the boys at once so that none of the other girls gets a turn?” he asked.
“Go away. It’s nice up here,” Liana said, leaning her head back against the tree and looking up at the sky. She couldn’t see the moon anymore. It had been obscured by clouds.
Davu climbed up to the branch next to her. “My sister sent me to fetch you, and I can’t go back unless you come with me,” he said, “so you’re coming even if I have to throw you over my shoulder to get you there.”