by Dark, Raven
“Put her down, Tai Dan Hawk,” Ali’san said calmly.
Hawk lowered me to my feet. Ali’san shut the doors.
Hawk took my hand, about to walk with me up a set of wooden steps to a huge main room, but I shook off his hand and moved to walk in front of him. He sped up, trying to put himself in front of me.
Ali’san held her hand out, blocking him. “Stay back. You may accompany her, but she must walk in front of you. She must address him herself.”
Hawk’s face paled. “Ali’san, only those who—”
She held up her hand for silence and nodded to me.
Hawk snapped his mouth shut.
If I hadn’t been so overwhelmed by the instinct calling me to act, I would have gaped. Instead, when Hawk shrugged, I turned and walked up the steps. The sensation pulling at me, urging me to act, made the sensation that had taken me to Adeline feel like a gentle tug. This one slashed at my head and hummed across my skin, almost burning.
As I walked across the massive front room, I was half aware of two things. One, the room was enormous and beautiful, with polished oak floors and twenty-feet-high ceilings. Every wall was adorned with Yantu weapons, swords, staffs. And second, it hit me that this was unequivocally a world of men.
Everywhere, men in Yantu garb practiced the art of battle. Swords and staffs clanged and thumped, men moving as if wielder and weapon were one, dancing across the floor and sparring. The spectacular sight washed over me, flickering dimly beyond the urgency that shrouded me like a veil. Men’s shouts, the sounds of battle filled my ears, yet as I crossed the floor toward the front of the room, every one of them halted, staring.
Someone swung at his sparring partner, and the man fell to the floor, too focused on us to avoid the strike.
The message was clear, women were not meant to be here. Ali’san was a bizarre anomaly, tolerated out of necessity, respected only after years of proving herself.
At the front of the room, Master Leif had been talking to one of his students, but he was staring at us now. At me. His expression was as cool and unreadable as Hawk’s usually looked, but I noticed the way one of his brows lifted in surprise.
Several of the men practicing in my path didn’t make way. My hand made a sweeping motion, and they backed away.
I thought I heard Hawk give a surprised grunt.
A smile touched Master Leif’s lips, barely noticeable, his eyes curious.
Right in front of him, I stopped.
“Sian Hawk, Ali’san, have you not told her—”
I turned, and in one movement, I went in behind Ali’san, seized the sword on her back, and drew it out. Then, ignoring Hawk’s open-mouthed look and Ali’san’s knowing smirk, I went around her and held the weapon across my hands.
I felt the sword’s lighter than air weight, felt the awesome power of holding a weapon that could take lives in my hands. I was aware of the laws I was breaking, that a slave could be beheaded for what I did now, but all of it buzzed in the back of my mind, muted under the force calling to me.
While Master Leif watched with knowing wonder, I dropped to one knee and held it out toward him.
“I now carry the sword of a Fourth Tai Dan, Master Leif. May I speak?”
“The sword is not yours, Liberator.”
I had the strange sense he said the words as a test rather than simply to point out a rule.
“When I first came to this temple, Ali’san said, ‘My sword and my hand are yours.’ The weapon is therefore mine. I break no law coming to you. May I speak?”
I knew Ali’san had meant those words to imply she was my protector, but they fit the situation.
Amusement touched Master Leif’s eyes. “Only a warrior who carries the blade of a Forth Master may speak directly to me. We will discuss how you knew of this law later.” He gave a solemn nod. “As more and more of the world falls prey to the Gin Gatai’s influence, and more and more Violets flock to his power, there are murmurs rising about you. All across the world, the same refrain. When the Savior speaks, all who hear her listen. A sentiment to which even I, apparently, am not immune. Rise and speak, Liberator.”
As soon as he said those last words, the urgent tugging in me stopped.
Standing, I swallowed nervously.
“Master Leif, when we came here, Yantu law kept you from helping Sheriff.”
“Yes.”
“Because his condition does not affect the world at large.”
“That is so.”
I drew a breath, cutting to the heart of the matter. “That is no longer the case. Master Leif, you must help him.”
He cocked his head. “Oh?”
“I had a…” I swallowed. It still felt incredibly uncomfortable and silly telling anyone the things I saw before they had occurred. “I saw something, Master Leif. Images of what’s to come, in my mind.”
“You have visions. Like Ali’san?”
“Yes.”
“What did you see?”
I gulped, closing my eyes against the images that had sliced at my thoughts like knives. “I… I saw death. Fire. Everywhere. I saw the world end.”
Behind me, I heard Hawk take a sharp breath.
Master Leif’s dark brow lifted. His mouth tightened. For him, that was probably the same as a look of shock.
I went on while he was caught off guard. “People were dying, Master Leif. It was Julian. I could feel him everywhere. Master Leif, if you don’t help Sheriff, it’s over. All of it. How I know, I have no idea, but I know this—I have to face Julian, but when I do, if Sheriff—if my four masters—do not fight with me, everyone Julian wants dead will die. Including the Yantu.”
Master Leif frowned. He looked over my head at Ali’san.
“It’s true, Master. The Four have broken. You know what the Seers have been saying. ‘If the ones who fight under Her Banner do not stand as one behind her, the world will fall to the Shadow Walker.”
“The Four have…” Master Leif sighed. “Sian Hawk, what do you have to say about this?”
Hawk cleared his throat. “Master, I have no visions like them. But I have seen what they’re talking about.” He sounded as if he was just now putting something together. Shock made his voice hushed. “The Four are meant to fight for her. I guess we have always known this. And we have…the Four have broken.”
I still didn’t know what this banner was, but I understood the rest of it. Pretty Boy and Steel’s fight had felt like the world ending because it literally marked the end of the Four, and thus Julian’s victory.
Maker. I wondered what Pretty Boy would say if I told him he had a hand in literally dooming the world. Or it had set it on the path to destruction, at least.
“But the Dark Legion does not carry her Banner.” Master Leif sounded like he’d swallowed something too big for his throat.
“I know, Master.” Ali’san. “The One Who Carries the Eye is coming still. But the Legion is a part of this. As big a part, or bigger than him. Sheriff and his men must face this with her.”
I licked my lips. “And they can’t if you do not help him, Master Leif. I know you don’t approve of us. But if I—if we—fail, the…” I halted and then deliberately used his name for Julian. “If we fail, the Gin Gatia will win.”
He held up his hand. “You do not need to say more, Liberator. The world’s safety is our concern.” He gave a nod. “We will help your Sheriff. We will be down to see him tomorrow. Go in peace.”
Adulation and relief swept through me, so intense I almost collapsed to the floor. As soon as we were outside the temple gates, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. The guards at the gates stared at something in my hand and I looked down. I was still holding Ali’san’s sword.
She was grinning at me. Hawk was looking at me as if he’d never seen me before.
“Maker of Light.” I thrust the weapon at her as if it were a live adder. “Uh…I believe this is yours.”
She nodded and took the blade, sheathing it wit
h smooth ease.
I’d never get used to that.
Adrenaline left me shaking like a leaf in a storm. “Ali’san, does this mean Master Leif will give Sheriff that healing elixir or whatever it is?”
“Yes. I’ll see you soon, Liberator.”
She departed through the gates, and I clutched my racing heart, excitement and hope burning deep. We walked toward the village, and Hawk put his hand on the small of my back. His face was shining with pride and wonder. I leaned against him.
“That was amazing,” he said softly. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Neither have I.” I gave him a smile. “I can’t believe I just did all of that. I held a sword. I actually held a blade like it was mine.”
“Wait until Sheriff hears about that one,” Hawk teased.
I grinned. Sheriff would see again. And when he did, maybe Pretty Boy would change his mind about leaving. “Or Pretty Boy. He’s always calling Ali’san the She-Warrior. What do you think he’d say if he saw me with a sword?”
“It might finally wake him up,” Hawk grunted.
All the way to Hawk’s hut, my mind spun. I was thrilled that Sheriff would regain his sight, but those images I’d seen earlier still slashed at my thoughts. I tamped them down. There was hope now. The world wouldn’t end. My Four and everyone I loved wouldn’t die, the Dark Legion would stay together, and Sheriff would see again.
We were going to be ok. All I had to do was face Julian. Light, what had I gotten myself into?
Chapter 20
Unexpected
Doc and I found Sheriff in the bedroom of his hut, sitting by the window as usual, even though it was the ass crack of dawn. His head jerked around to us when we entered.
“Doc?”
“Yeah, Brother, it’s me. Steel’s here. And one of the Yantu.” Doc knelt beside his chair and set down his kit, his voice low. “Sheriff, he’s got the Dragon’s Bane.”
Sheriff gave a jolt, and the first flicker of life I’d seen in some time brightened his eyes. “Lay it on me then. Let’s get this done.”
I took a seat on the windowsill, for the first time feeling hopeful. When Hawk and Setora told us last night that the Yantu were going to help Sheriff, I almost didn’t believe it. But it really was happening. Now the club could start to heal again. I just hope it wasn’t too late.
Savak knelt in front of Sheriff.
“Sheriff, I’m Tai Dan Savak.” He took the Dragon’s Bane out of the satchel again, along with a package of antiseptic cloth and an eye dropper.
“So…how does this work, Savak?” Sheriff asked awkwardly. He really did hate having to depend on anyone for help and especially the Yantu.
“I’m going to put a few drops each into your eyes. It will take a few minutes for you to see clearly, but if it works, you should be able to see some results a minute or so after I administer it. Sheriff, you should know, this is going to hurt. You’ll have to stay still long enough to let me administer it in both eyes.”
“I’ll deal. Just get it over with.”
Savak nodded and stood up. Doc patted him on the shoulder and backed a way a little.
The Yantu went in beside Sheriff’s chair. I held my breath as he carefully unscrewed the bottle and squeezed about half the eye dropper full of the clear, watery solution. The nasty medicine smell made my nose twitch.
“Tilt your head far back, please,” Savak said.
Sheriff put his head back against the back of the chair. His arms flexed as he visibly braced himself.
Savak leaned over him, gripped Sheriff’s chin, and carefully squeezed three drops quickly into one eye.
Sheriff hissed. He tried to shake his head in reflex, and Savak easily held his face still to keep him from flinging the drops away.
“Stay still,” Savak said firmly, ripping open the package with the clothes with his teeth and using one cloth to wipe away the access fluid that dripped out of his eye. “Keep your eyes open.”
Sheriff stilled, but every muscle in his neck corded. His chest heaved.
The Yantu squeezed the same three drops into the other eye.
The muscles in Sheriff’s jaw twitched, his hands flexing.
Savak then stepped back, waiting.
Doc remained silent, unnaturally still. For a second, time itself seemed to have stopped. My heart thudded in my ears.
Sheriff’s breathing slowed. His hands went slack on the arms of his chair. He blinked a few times, probably already trying to see through the darkness that had taken over his life for weeks.
“See anything?” Doc whispered.
“Not yet.” Sheriff lifted his hand toward his eyes.
“No, don’t touch them,” Savak ordered. “Don’t rub them for a while. Let the chemicals do the work.”
Sheriff growled but dropped his hands.
We waited. Several minutes passed. A few times, we asked if he could see, but he only shook his head, silent. Waiting.
“Savak, shouldn’t it be working by now?” I demanded.
“Steel,” Doc drawled.
I huffed but waited it out.
After several minutes, Savak peered into his eyes. “Do you see anything at all, Sheriff?”
“No.” His voice sounded painfully hollow.
“Let me check his eyes.” Doc’s hands shook as he opened his kit, took out his biolight, and flashed it into Sheriff’s eyes, peering closely into them. Sheriff sat motionless, not a twitch.
Doc looked up at Savak and silently shook his head.
No reaction to the light.
I pushed to my feet. Fuck…
Sheriff clenched his fists again. “Try it again, Savak.”
Savak sighed. “It won’t help. I don’t understand this. It should have worked.”
“You heard him, Savak,” I snapped at the Yantu. “Do it again.”
Savak shook his head, looking at a loss.
“What went wrong?” Doc put away his biolight.
Savak looked up in thought. “It could be many things, Doctor. Perhaps this Damien added something else to the mixture you were not aware of.”
“Figures,” Sheriff muttered.
“Could there be something wrong with the mixture?” Doc asked. “Maybe you got the dosage wrong?”
“No. Everything was carefully measured. “We can come back and try again tomorrow after your eyes have had a chance to adjust, Sheriff, but…” He trailed off with a helpless shrug.
He thought it was a lost cause.
“Fuck.” I shook my head
“It could even be psychosomatic,” Savak added. “But I don’t think so.” He laid a hand on Sheriff’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
Sheriff heaved a sigh and sat up in his chair. The loss and anger in his eyes about did me in. “Doc,” he muttered, “Get him out of here.”
Doc rolled his eyes to the ceiling, and I could see the hopelessness all over his face. “Sheriff, there might still be another solution. Savak, go back to Master Leif. Ask him to—”
“I said get him out of here,” Sheriff snapped. “Stop wasting my time.”
He was being a dick, but I understood why too much to be pissed at him. I felt like a shit, like we’d dangled hope in front of his face only to yank it away. Doc winced, probably feeling the same way. Or worse, since he was a medical guy, the one people looked to for cures.
I squeezed Sheriff’s shoulder, but he shook me off.
Doc sighed and nodded for Savak and me to leave. He closed his kit, reached his hand out for Sheriff, but then drew it back. His arm dropped.
“Sheriff, fuck, I’m sorry man. This sucks. I’ll stay with you for—”
“No. You won’t.” Sheriff’s voice was empty.
A torn look crossed Doc’s face, but his shoulder slumped. He followed us out of the hut.
Once we’d left and walked a few feet from the hut where Sheriff couldn’t hear, I rounded on them. “Now what, man? Savak, this can’t be it.”
“Is there another
mixture you can try?” Doc asked.
Savak shook his head. “There are no others, not for this, Doctor. But—”
“So that’s it?” I snapped. I glanced at the hut and lowered my voice. “Setora said that Sheriff has to be there to fight when she faces this Ghangis Gi or whatever the fuck Julian is. That if he’s not, we’re all fucking doomed. How the hell is that supposed to work? How can he fight blind?”
Savak chest pushed out. A thoughtful look crossed his face before he shook his head. He took both of our shoulders. “Doc, Mister Steel, I’m sorry. Master Leif will want to look for other options. We will try to find something, but I don’t want to give you false hope. I’m…I’m sorry.”
Without another word, he walked away, leaving us both staring after him.
So that was it. Was Sheriff blind for life? What would the Dark Legion look like without Sheriff? And now, after last night, Pretty Boy, too. The pain in his eyes when… No. I couldn’t think about that right now. One thing at a time.
Something needed to be done and fast. We couldn’t give up that easily.
But now, how did I tell the others that the Dragon’s Bane didn’t work?
Fuck, how would I tell Petal?
Chapter 21
Breaking Point
My men told me the bad news.
The Dragon’s Bane hadn’t worked.
I went through the whole gambit of emotions. Heartbreak for Sheriff. Sorrow for my men, his friends. And for myself. Terror for my Four, for the men I loved, for my mother, and everyone else I cared about who’s deaths I’d seen. And then came the anger, burning in the pit of my stomach at the unfairness, the loss for so many others, even those nameless faces in my vision who I didn’t know.
But then, slowly, determination set in. What was the point in seeing those images if there wasn’t a way to stop them? There had to be a way.
I threw myself into my mental exercises with Ali’san with abandon, while Hawk and Doc worked with the Yantu scholars on finding another cure for Sheriff’s blindness. The nights I spent with Pretty Boy were the only bright side in this nightmare. Doc had graciously given his hut to Pretty Boy, electing to share a room with Steel instead. My blond, blue-eyed master was slowly shutting the world out, the only exception being me. Everyone gave him a wide berth, walking on eggshells and doing everything they could not to threaten the fragile house of cards the club had built around itself.