by Kelly Carr
“Liana…you didn’t--?” she said.
“I think I did!” Liana said. “Come on, let’s see if I can do it again.” She stood, but her knees shook with fatigue. Susan pulled one of Liana’s arms around her shoulders to prevent her from falling.
“Oh, no you don’t! You need to rest now.”
“I’m tired of rest,” Liana grumbled, but she let Susan take her back to her room.
The following day, Liana returned to the infirmary and twice more brought patients back from the edge of death with pulses of magical power. As usual, this had the effect of turning them into Trevi. Liana seemed to be relieved at the proof that she was still one of the Trevi, herself, albeit one with an unusual gift.
When she was sufficiently recovered, Liana began openly offering to trigger the magical abilities of anyone who wished it. The Trevis’ numbers began to grow again, and those in the Erean forest were now eager to accept people from Torvain as students.
Everyone wanted Liana to continue to lead the Trevi, but she insisted that, as she no longer possessed the powers of all the different tribes, she couldn’t continue to represent them. An election was held in the first month of spring, and new Avenai Jevar were chosen, as well as someone to lead them all: Jina. Susan had gotten to know the woman quite well in the past months, and could think of no one more qualified for the task.
With a new council in place, there was only one thing left to be done. Katya still waited, imprisoned beneath the castle. Susan had made sure she was furnished with books, paper, and anything else she wished, but she couldn’t remain there forever. Finally, she was brought before the Avenai Jevar, as well as King James, Princess Susan, and representatives from each of the other kingdoms.
Katya stood before them, her hair tied neatly back in a braid, waiting calmly to hear her fate.
“You understand that the crimes you have committed are very serious,” said Jina, “and that if they had been your own actions, independent of the Vorshi, you would undoubtedly be sentenced to death?”
Katya’s cheeks flushed, but she stood up straighter and made an effort to meet Jina’s eyes. “I do,” she replied.
“Will any of the kingdoms accept this woman as one of their own?” Jina asked.
Susan surveyed the expressions of those around the room. Everyone carefully avoided looking at Katya. Only Liana kept her gaze fixed on the former queen of Lezar. No one spoke. Suddenly, Liana got to her feet and walked over to Katya, who eyed her nervously.
Cautiously, Liana reached out a hand and touched Katya’s arm, frowning slightly.
“Hmm,” she said thoughtfully, and returned to her seat.
“What was that about?” James asked.
“Well, it seems to me that no one is willing to claim Katya because they’re all understandably wary of any possibility that some trace of the Vorshi might remain in her,” she said.
“That’s probably so,” said an Aidan. “But I don’t see any way around that.”
“It’s true that she’s still tainted by the Vorshi,” Liana said. Everyone drew back slightly, reaching for daggers and bows. “Not enough for it to control her, but enough for her future to be unpredictable.”
“Then what can we do with her?” a Sylph asked.
Liana lifted a hand and looked at it speculatively. “There might be a way to eradicate that last fragment of the Vorshi,” she said. “But she would need to choose it of her own free will.” Liana stood and turned her eyes back to Katya, meeting her gaze steadily as no one else would. “Katya, I can try to change you into one of the Trevi. If I succeed, the remaining Vorshi within you should vanish. However, this is just a theory. If your body rejects our magic, it could kill you. Do you accept this risk?”
Katya swallowed but then nodded her head soberly.
Liana went to Katya’s side again and took her hand. Her brow furrowed. Nothing happened. Reluctantly, she pulled Katya towards her and wrapped her arms around her former enemy. Susan could see the expression of distaste that flashed across her face, but it seemed that no one else did.
Katya began to shake. She shook harder and harder while everyone watched, unable to look away. Finally, she let out a scream. A fine mist seemed to seep from her pores as though fleeing the force of Liana’s power. Susan tightened her grip on her bow, and she heard the rasping sound as blades were drawn around the room, but the small cloud of Vorshi dissipated almost immediately, vanishing, hopefully never to be seen again.
Katya fell to the floor, and Liana teetered back to her seat.
“Did it work?” Katya asked, propping herself up on her hands, too weak to stand.
“Yes,” Liana said wearily.
“Good, now where were we?” Jina said. “Oh yes, who is willing to have this woman reside in their kingdom?”
Still, no one answered. Finally, Susan spoke. “If I may make a suggestion?” Everyone turned towards her, listening expectantly. “I propose that rather than exile to any kingdom in particular, we exile her from the places we consider it unsafe to have her. As the kingdoms most affected by recent events, I think neither Lezar, Torvain, nor the Erean Forest are appropriate places for her. As for the other kingdoms, she should be forbidden from entering cities and towns. She should keep to the countryside and draw as little attention to herself as possible.”
Susan waited to see how her proposal would be received. She had thought about it quite a lot over the past few weeks. Now, with any threat of the Vorshi removed for good, it truly seemed like the best option.
“I think that is a very well thought out idea,” Jina said approvingly. “All those in favor, please stand.”
The plan was approved. Liana took several days in which to instruct Katya in the fundamentals of magic, as no one else proved willing. She turned out to be a Hemming, a shape-changer, and had a talent for bird forms. When she was able to control her abilities, a company of guards were sent to escort her to Bethen.
By the time Katya left, it was late spring. The city was being rebuilt, and James was leading the kingdom well. Every day, Liana changed more Humans into Trevi. People had taken to calling her the Mother of Magic again, for her role in saving the Trevi from extinction. Finally, however, there were no more people in the city who wished to be changed.
One day, Liana announced her intention to travel among the other kingdoms and offer to change their people as well. Privately, Susan was surprised. She had expected Liana to stay in Torvain with her brother. They seemed quite happy together. However, Liana was determined.
That night, Valeria confessed that she was tired of being in one place so long as well. “I’m not really needed here anymore,” she said, “and now that the Trevi aren’t forbidden to enter Human lands anymore, I want to see the other kingdoms for myself.”
“Oh,” Susan said. “So you’ll be going with Liana then?”
Valeria laughed. “Not this time. She can’t use a glider anymore. She’s earthbound now, and it would take forever to see all the kingdoms on foot. No, I’ll be going on my own…unless you want to come with me?” she raised an eyebrow with a mischevious smile.
Susan grinned. “What else do you think I’d do now that my brother is king? Stay here and hang drapes in the new wing of the castle?”
Valeria laughed too, and they both set to work packing supplies for a long journey.
And so it was that one fine day, just as the weather was changing from spring to summer, Susan, Valeria, Liana, and James gathered at the edge of the city. They were met by Jina, Davu, and a handful of other friends who had come to say farewell. Several emissaries and nobles were accompanying Liana and would be joining her on her travels. Among them was Darcy, the very first person who had volunteered to be turned into a Trevi. James had named him Ambassador for the Trevi of Torvain.
Liana bid farewell to each of her friends then stepped aside with James. Susan watched out of the corner of her eye but turned away when they drew close to one another. Finally, Liana rejoined them and mounted her
horse. For just a moment, the sunlight sparkled off of something on Liana’s finger. Liana saw Susan looking and flashed her a secretive smile.
Waving farewell to Susan and Valeria, Liana and her companions turned their horses west towards Karzay.
“Ready?” Valeria asked, taking Susan’s hand.
Susan turned towards her and smiled. “I’ve been ready for months. I was trying to leave the kingdom when we met, remember?”
Valeria laughed, and together they turned east, striding out to meet their future, already holding their gliders out to catch the warm summer breeze.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Carr is a world traveler and English teacher. She began writing stories at the age of eight and self-published her first novella at seventeen. She enjoys visiting new countries, cooking, reading, and spending time with her friends. Currently, she lives in Japan.
Cover design by Sanja Gombar (www.fantasybookcoverdesign.com)
Worldmap created on www.inkarnate.com
Other books by this author:
The Iliata’s Awakening
Coming soon:
The Cobras of Karzay