The warrior boy picked out traditional clothing, paid for them, and gave the bag to Tiza. The girl who nonchalantly shoveled bird poop with her bare hands held it gingerly between two fingers. One minute later, she walked out: a loose ankle-length skirt and sleeveless top, both in soft pink, a bead necklace on her neck and jeweled pins in her hair. If she didn't have those distinctive dirty streaks, Eric wouldn't have recognized her
“Ah, my scorpion, you look even lovelier dressed so.”
The heat of Tiza's glare rivaled that of the dessert itself, but she said nothing. Eric agreed with him; she did look pretty. He would never tell her that because he liked living too much.
“This is ridiculous,” Nolien said, “You're just dressing her up for your kiss. I'll fight you in—”
He trailed off as Tiza's glare shifted to him. Her whole body trembled. He laughed nervously. “I-I mean . . . I'll go look for Miss. Anuzat . . .” He walked as fast as he could out the door.
Tiza, without taking her eyes from Nolien's retreating form, said, “I'll have to leave my pack somewhere for the duel, maybe Anuzat can hold it for me.” She followed him.
The warrior looked to Eric, who dropped his head and said, “Don't ask. Just don't.”
The boy shrugged. “I need to ask an Elder to judge our duel, wanna come with?”
Like Eric suspected, the Elder's home was the Stone Tower. He had a feeling this was the seat of power in Kyraa. It had to be if it was created for the purpose of international relations. This Elder must be the ruler here . . . I wonder how that system works . . . The boy pushed aside a fur entrance and a wave of nostalgia awaited Eric inside.
A desk that seemed to be part of the tower was set against the back wall and framed by two doors. Behind that desk was a smiling, rose-haired human girl. “Hey, Tej! What's up?”
A swarm of images flew to the front of Eric's mind: the Dragon's Lair, Mia pulling mission bills out of thin air, Basilard training him, the messy eating habits of his fellows. The pain in his heart was so sharp it took his breath away. Tej put a hand on his shoulder to steady him.
“Are you okay? There's a healer nearby.”
Eric took a deep breath and said, “I-I'm fine. I just . . . I just need a moment . . .” To think about why guild memories affected him that way. The place was eternally loud and chaotic, everyone was nuts, and the work was either menial or deadly . . . So why did he miss it?
Tej shrugged. “All right. Is Elder Akag busy?”
The receptionist nodded. “Yes, but he should wake up any minute.”
“He's sleeping?” The mercenary would rather listen to a story of a lazy Elder then probe his inner feelings about his guild. Besides, it sounded like something a captain would do . . .
“Why not?” the receptionist asked. “He's on vacation.”
Eric had a feeling he completely misunderstood Kyraan government.
“Tourist?” the receptionist asked Tej.
“I'm not sure,” Tej replied.
Confusion quickly turned into offense: maybe it was because he was here on business, maybe it was because he almost died getting here, or maybe it was because his best friend did, but he did not want to be called a tourist.
“I'm a mercenary and I'm here on business,” Eric said firmly. “My job is to guard a caravan through your desert and the Yacian Caverns. C class monsters live there, you know.” He showed off his staff. “With this I fended off a pack of xethras and then without it I guided everyone out.” He decided to leave out the temporary bout of insanity and how his magic still wasn't working right.
Tej leaned on the desk. “Well, Mr. Mercenary, since you seem confused about our government, I'll enlighten you. Millennium ago, Kyraa was invaded and a group of traveling warriors helped us repel them. Then we decided to make a permanent structure to receive the rulers of our neighbors and make peace with them.”
“Our ancestors were clever.” The receptionist said. “They made the permanent structure look like it could fall apart anytime to make a statement of their commitment to the nomadic life style. They created the Stone Pile with their collective magic; any visiting diplomat would see this massive structure and learn that the only thing keeping it together was our Elders' will.”
The tower alone would be a mammoth task to hold in place, every day, every night, all year round. To support every section of wall, every building and the tower . . .The Elders must have incredible, iron wills.
“Anyway, back to your question,” Tej said. “After the original peace talks the big wigs didn't bother us. Every month or so, someone would come so an Elder always had to be present to receive them. They take watch in shifts and since nothing happens, they consider it a vacation.”
The only people living here year-round catered to tourists and merchants, and if diplomats rarely came, then the Elder on duty wouldn't have much to do. Might as well have fun while you wait . . .
“Well, I gotta duel with a non-warrior, so could you wake him up?” Tej asked the receptionist.
She arched an eyebrow. “Is this duel with an attractive girl?”
“Oh, no,” Tej replied, “A real ugly guy: four foot three, mangled face, crooked hands—”
The receptionist laughed. “The elders are not here for your weird courtship.”
If Tiza heard that . . .
“Come, on please!” Tej leaned over the desk with clasped hands. “This one already hates me!”
The receptionist ignored him and spoke to Eric instead. “Please excuse Tej. He's not a normal warrior. His head is in his waist; right between his stomach and—”
“I get it,” Eric interrupted. He didn't need that image.
The receptionist smiled. “For some reason, he only likes girls that hate his guts.”
“Does this happen often?” Eric asked. He couldn't help being curious.
“The duel only happened once,” the receptionist said. “The Elders forbade anymore after that.”
“Well, he's dueling my teammate, who is the fighter of our team,” Eric explained. “Her clothes were ruined by a boack.”
“And she can't buy more because of the law . . . All right Tej, it looks like you have a legitimate reason for once.” Tej smiled despite the insult. “I'll go see if Elder Akag is awake.”
She vanished up the stairs to his right and returned moments later with a large snake that wore a baggy and ornamental robe.
“Hello, I am Elder Akag. I apolgissse in advanssse for anyssing Tej hasss done.”
“Elder, that's not why we're here.” Tej said.
“I know, I know. You need me to watch you ssteal a kisss from anossser girl.”
“Steal?! I won it fair and square.”
Akag shook his head and said, “Normally, I would not allow thisss. It'sss disssgraceful to the Sssand Warrior Sssociety, shhhameful to Kyraa, and demeaning to the girl in quessstion. However, thisss time you have a good reasson and ssso I will judge.”
“Thank you, Elder.” Tej said with a bow. “You won't regret it.”
“I hope not.”
Elder Akag slithered to the east gate of the Stone Pile. If Eric had any doubt that the Stone Pile had magical air conditioning, it was incinerated the moment he crossed the threshold. Anuzat wasn't kidding! This is much worse than night.
The Stone Pile was built on the edge of a crater. It looked to be made of sand, but was solid as rock under his feet. This isn't natural, his inner scholar declared. Whatever happened here released enough energy to displace all this sand without any heat. What on earth could do that?
At the lowest point, was a shrine. It was simply made but not like the Stone Pile. This was properly built by fixing identical stones together with mortar. It was four stories tall and built in the shape of a throne. Stairs began at the base and led up to the seat with the arms closing in.
“What's that shrine for?”
“Thissss ssshhhhrine issss dedicated to the Ssssilver Dragon. Sshhhe ssssaved our village, our people, and the whole dess
sert from thosse who sssought to destroy it.” Silver Dragon . . .She wrote that book, The World is My Domain and founded the dorms I lived in . . .
“Is there anything special at the shrine?”
“What do you mean?”
Eric fidgeted. The sudden shift in the Elder's tone made him nervous. “A sacred relic or artifact, something important from antiquity?”
“Why do you asssk?” Akag sounded casual; stalking predator casual.
“I-it was c-customary in my world. Places of worship would have statues or hair or bones or walking stick. I th-thought you might have . . . I don't know . . . her sweat band or something.”
“Oh, the Sssilver Dragon was gone long before the shhhrine wassss finished.” Akag said. “We don't have anyssing of herssss.”
Eric shrugged. “All right, just curious.”
The flight of stairs was long and steep, but Akag and Tej climbed them in one breath. Eric took longer. The space at the top was empty save for a raised platform in the center and an incense pedestal at the far end. Nolien, Tiza, and Anuzat were waiting for them.
“Ah, Anusssat, it'sss been a while.”
“Hello, Elder,” the merchant said politely.
“When wasss the lassst time you were here?”
“I was here just last year,” Anuzat replied, “I came with new dolls for the kids.”
“I meant, here here, at the Altar of Rebirthhh.”
“Not for five years.” Anuzat narrowed her eyes, daring him to go any further.
“That long? My, time doesss fly. Well, we havvvve a duel, don't we?”
The platform was stone and climbed one foot off the ground. On top was two feet by two feet of sand. Somehow, it stayed compacted; Eric suspected nomad air magic. Tiza stomped her way up and stumbled on her hem with each step. If she has trouble walking, how's she going to fight?
“Non-warrior Tisssa Sssprial, have you challenged Warrior Tej Dwssssor?”
“Yes.”
“Warrior Tej Dwssssor, have you accepted?”
“Yes.”
“Thisss isss now an official duel and I, Elder Akag, will pressside. The combatantsss will now announssse their prizzzesss.”
Tej flashed Tiza a smile. “A kiss from my opponent.”
She glared. “Honorary Warrior Status.”
“Combanantsssss, are you ready?” Tiza drew her sword and held it before her with both hands. Tej drew both scimitar and crossed them. “The duel sshhhall now commensssse. It will not end until one of you hassss been knocked from the ring, issss unable to continue fighting, or givesss up. Begin!”
Tiza rushed and fell flat on her face. The sand did little to muffle her eloquent opinions of long skirts. She pushed herself up and took another ready stance. Eric face-palmed, Nolien sighed and Tej's smirk became smugger. The same thought ran through the minds of all three: This won't take long.
Tej made the first official move, slicing toward her hands with his left. She backed up a step and blocked, then ducked as his right slashed at her head. From her crouch, she swung at Tej's legs. He caught her sword between both of his and hooked it. With an upward pull, Tiza's sword flew out of her hands and out of the ring.
Being disarmed wasn't going to stop Tiza; it wouldn't even slow her down. She stepped to the outside of Tej's next strike and grabbed his arm. She pulled downward while simultaneously hooking his leg. Tej rolled with the sweep and grabbed her arm as he went down.
It was over as far as Eric could see. Tej was hovering over Tiza and pinning both her hands above her head with one of his own. Tiza twisted and squirmed but couldn't break free of his grasp. She tried kicking but, by the way Tej had positioned himself, her legs couldn't reach him. When all her efforts failed, she lay limp in the sand and turned her head away.
He used his free hand to grab her chin and make her face him again. “Well, my lovely scorpion, it appears I have won.” He leaned in. “I'll take my kiss now, if you please.”
Tiza spat a mouthful of sand into his eyes. Tej screamed in pain and his hand flew to his eyes. Tiza slipped out of his grip, pushed herself out, and stomped on his back. Sand rushed up his nose, mouth, and ears. The next thing he felt was warm steel crisscrossing at his neck.
“You were saying?” Tiza taunted.
The duel flashed in Eric's eyes: the fall, the cursing . . . She planned it!
“I give up,” Tej said. “You win.” Tiza removed the scimitar and returned them to their owner. “Please forgive me for doubting you, Tiza. You are indeed a mighty warrior.”
Tiza lapped up his words like a plant to sunshine. “I would've beat you sooner and without tricks, but with this ridiculous skirt, I thought it best not to take chances.”
“Really?”
“Of course. If I can beat you in this mini-tent, then I can beat you without it.”
“You only beat me because of the sand! That wouldn't work a second time. Rematch!”
“No,” Tiza said firmly. “Not until I get some pants. I'm not wearing this . . . thing . . . a moment longer than I have to.” So her hate of feminine clothing is greater than her warrior pride? Interesting. “Then we can have a rematch and I'll beat you into the ground for making me wear jewelry.”
“Oh, you didn't have to wear the necklace and hair pins.”
“What!?”
“Oh yeah, I just wanted to see you in them.”
Tiza growled and punched him. He caught her punch and twisted her arm behind her back. Placing his mouth next to her ear, he whispered, “No sand this time.” She headbutted him, stomped his foot, spun around, and grabbed his throat with her free hand.
“Warrior Tej Dwssssor, I didn't know there wasss going to be two duelssss today.”
“Elder . . .” Tej choked. “What are y—”
“Why you challenged her, ssshe accssepted, won a sssecond time, and I wasss here to witnessss it.” Eric smiled with the old snake. “Honorary Warrior Tizza Ssssprial will now name her prizze.”
That predatory smirk that scared Eric so much appeared on Tiza's face. She let go of his neck and crossed her arms. “The defeated must buy me whatever I want at the clothing store.”
“But, Elder . . .!” Tej pleaded.
“No 'butssss,' Tej,” Akag said, “Let thisss be a lessson to you: sssshow ssssome resssstraint!” Tej bowed his head and allowed Tiza to drag her new moneybag down the stairs.
“He'll be broke within an hour,” Nolien said.
“He'd better be,” Akag said. “It will teach him not try ssssomething sssso underhanded again.”
All the way back to the city, Anuzat praised Tiza for her tactics. Afterward, she scolded Tej for his lack of self-discipline. She looked happier with the victory than Tiza herself.
Chapter 11 What's in the Shrine?
Pants and tunic to replace the ones she lost; repairs for the shield that was damaged and a new one in case it broke again; gauntlets with retractable spikes; lots and lots of shoes. Before anyone asked, she justified them: steel toed for fighting, wide feet for walking in the desert, normal ones for normal walking, etc. No one dared say otherwise. When it was over, Tej was indeed broke. He held his coin bag upside down and lint fell out. Serves you right, pervert.
The Altar of Rebirth was aptly named: a pretty maiden entered the dressing room and a tough warrior walked out. Manically she threw the skirt to the floor and stomped on it. Nolien face-palmed.
“Hey, you!” He looked sourly at Tej.
“It's Nolien; Nolien from Heleti.”
“Yeah, yeah, what's Tiza to you?”
Nolien put a hand to his chin. “Hmm . . .how to put it best? Tiza is my foul-mouthed, dirty nailed, anti-feminine teammate.”
Tej sighed. “Oh, good she's unattached.”
What about me? Despite his lack of interest, Eric was still offended at the exclusion. He didn't think the healer was any better looking and he was the battle mage. A warrior mage in a warrior society should be the more likely boyfriend.
Nolien raised
an eyebrow. “You're still courting her?”
“Oh yeah! She's hot and fiery and—”
“Wants to kill you,” Nolien drawled.
“Exactly!” He thinks that's a good thing?
“I fail to see what is so attractive about a girl that wants to kill you.”
“The attraction is the guarantee that our relationship will be passionate.”
“She hates you.”
“Of course,” Tej said as if it were obvious. “With a passion.” Eric's eyes crossed trying to understand that logic. “But I'll have to find some other way . . .”
Nolien pointed to Team Four's fighter. “You do see what she's doing to that skirt, don't you?” The spikes on her new gauntlets shredded it to slivers. “That will be you next time.”
Tej grinned. “Oh, I certainly hope so. What would you do?”
Nolien sighed. “Girls like gifts.” He recited it like a schoolboy.
“But she already spent all my money. How about a free brain burn antidote?”
“Antidote?”
“I help Grannie make them so I take a few for myself.”
“The healer's your grandmother?” His voice rose an octave with each word. “And you help her make antidotes?”
“Yeah, since I was little. Wanna watch?”
Eric had never seen Nolien smile before. “Do I?! Let's go!”
“First we need a Purple Poison Hill. They turn out best when the ingredients are fresh.”
The plains noble and desert warrior walked out of the Stone Pile, discussing remedies. Well what do you know? He made a friend. The word reminded him of his friend. The one in the jar in his pack who died because Nolien couldn't save him. For just one instant, hatred flared.
Then he remembered that Nolien was busy healing Basilard and his hate turned to shame. It's my fault Aio died. It was his fault Aio came and his fault for not knowing healing magic. He forgot, in all his self-loathing that it was his elemental magic that saved all of them.
“That's enough. It's dead.” The skirt was reduced to scraps of fabric smaller than a fingernail.
A Mage's Power (Journey to Chaos) Page 23