Hallahna snorted, only to receive a smart rap on the knees with the flat of Asara’s blade.
“Impudence is unbecoming of a princess,” the seasoned warrior said mildly when Hallahna looked at her indignantly.
“You come here spouting aphorisms at me and I’m the one being impudent?”
“It’s what we old people do,” Asara replied dryly. Her face grew serious. “Why are you letting their gossip bother you? It’s never had any effect before.”
Hallahna scuffed a foot in the dirt, feeling uncomfortable under her mentor’s gaze. “What if they’re right? If my father...if anything happened to our people, I’m responsible for it. When I brought you all here, I left them exposed.”
Asara considered her for a long moment, her gaze unreadable. “Leadership bears a large measure of responsibility. That weight is something you will always carry, whether you lead a small band of scouts or an entire nation.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Hallahna asked skeptically.
“In this instance, that weight belongs with your father. He is the one who chose to remain behind. Our people’s fate—whether good or ill—was in his hands.”
“But does everyone see it that way?” Hallahna asked, her eyes on the still murmuring warriors.
“I think referring you back to my original advice would be appropriate—find out what happened, rather than worrying about the possibilities.” Asara stood, using her staff to lever herself off the bench.
“I sent Irakyll an hour ago...she still hasn’t returned.”
Asara turned back to her, brow furrowed. “That is troubling...but not cause for panic. Patience, Ishariina. If they were slaughtered, your dragon would have returned swiftly with a simple report. No news may in fact be good news. It means she's looking for them."
Hallahna blew out a sigh, nodding her understanding. Asara returned the nod respectfully, and walked to where the other warriors were chatting. She knocked one's blade impatiently with her glaive. "Don’t you think we have better things to do? If you have time to gab you have time to train. Up!"
The startled young man sprang to his feet, following her irritably to the practice circle nearby. Hallahna smiled ruefully and shook her head as she watched the beating he received at Asara's hand. The older woman wasn't nearly as ...unruffled...as her blunt advice had implied. She was taking out her frustrations as she sparred, attacking more viciously than was really necessary in the practice ring. Hallahna let the smile fade as she watched the match. She wasn't sure if knowing that her worries were shared was comforting or not.
* * * * *
The elders and captains exited the tent silently, frustration evident on their faces. Arguing over the best course of action had left them all irritable and taciturn. There was a lot at stake, and much as each had pushed for their ideas to be implemented, each was also secretly afraid they were wrong. As Ky'ara turned to follow them, Calistra motioned her back inside, then closed the tent door and murmured a spell to seal it.
"You aren't really considering their plan, are you?" Ky'ara asked, as Calistra turned back toward her.
"Of course not. But if I refuse outright to listen to them, they might call for a council vote to depose me, and with how few of the Council remain, I don't know for certain which way that vote will go."
Ky'ara frowned, "They can't just do that, can they?"
Calistra sighed, "Sometimes I wish they would, then this wouldn't be my problem anymore."
Ky'ara raised an eyebrow. Calistra's expression turned sheepish.
"Ok, I know that's not true...I would hate feeling useless just as much. At least where I am I can try to do some good."
"You didn't ask me to stay just so you could complain," Ky'ara said, feeling a touch of impatience.
"No, I didn't. I asked you to stay so that we could decide what to do. The Elders can say what they want, but the real issue here is how to defeat the Destroyer, and that is all in your hands...Have you made any headway with figuring out how to win?"
Ky'ara shook her head. "I don't see how I could possibly defeat the Destroyer on my own...especially since Iregh will likely be there to help her. And even if I could, there is no guarantee that killing her won’t result in the Darkness transitioning to someone else...most likely me."
Calistra paced in frustration. “We need some way for you to access the power inside the crystal! It may not be equal to the Darkness, but it would certainly go a long way towards leveling the playing field.”
“I’ve tried!” Ky’ara said, her frustration adding a note of anger to her voice. “I’ve probed it with my magical senses and tried using the Sight on it...I can sense the power inside of it, but I can’t touch it. I can’t draw it out, I can’t affect it in any way!”
“What about when it warns you of things?” Calistra asked, “Have you tried answering back? Following the flash of light back into the crystal?”
“It hasn’t warned me of anything lately or I would have...but somehow I don’t feel like that would work anyways.” Ky’ara spread her hands in bewilderment. “It isn’t a container. The crystal and the power inside it aren’t separate from each other, they’re somehow one and the same, and yet I can’t touch the power even though I’m holding the crystal...like it’s on a different plane of existence.”
“What you need is to somehow get in tune with the crystal…” Calistra trailed off, an idea suddenly occurring to her. “Affinity,” she whispered.
Ky’ara gave her a confused look.
Calistra smiled. “We need Amischel.”
* * * * *
A little later, Amischel stepped through the tent door, looking confused and a little nervous.
“Thank you for fetching her, Ben. You may go,” Calistra dismissed the guard with a wave of her hand, and then focused her intense gaze on the woman before her. Amischel looked even more wary, her hands clutching her bow a little tighter than necessary.
“What do you need me for?” she asked hesitantly.
“I need to make use of your particular talents...or at least, I’m hoping to. I don’t know the limits to what you can do, but I think whatever this skill you have is, it exists for a reason, right? I thought maybe it was so that I could use it to convince the townspeople to join me…”
Here Amischel looked startled, as though she’d never considered why Calistra invited her to sit in on so many of her meetings or deliver messages to the local leaders for her.
“...but I think that may have been presumptuous of me. Ky’ara needs to use the crystal, but its power is somehow inaccessible to her...in other words, she could benefit from a little...affinity.
“I—”
Calistra waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t protest, I’m not asking you to try casting a spell or see into the future. I just want you to do what you always do when you’re near someone.”
“Which is what, exactly?” Ky’ara asked curiously. She hadn’t seen much of Amischel since leaving her with Jenie’s family in the spring. The typically quiet woman always seemed to be busy elsewhere. Aside from a few friendly words in passing, they’d hardly had any contact since Ky’ara had rejoined the rebels.
Calistra looked at Amischel expectantly, motioning for her to answer the question. Amischel sighed, turning to Ky’ara, her face flushing a little in embarrassment.
“Hallahna calls it ‘affinity’...I don’t know what to call it, or how it even works, but it seems like when I am around people just naturally get along a little better. Well, not exactly, or not just that...I don’t know how to describe it. I really don’t think it’s anything special.” She addressed this last protest to Calistra, who merely shook her head good naturedly and turned to Ky’ara.
“I’ve noticed a pattern of conflict resolution and clarity of communication when Amischel is around, particularly if she directly interferes with the parties involved. It’s not any kind of magic I’ve heard of, but I have seen a very subtle glimmer of power when she is settling disput
es or teaching people.”
“And you think this...affinity...will help me?”
“I don’t know,” Calistra admitted, “but it’s certainly worth a try, isn’t it?”
Ky’ara nodded, taking the chain from around her neck and holding the crystal out to Amischel. The woman took it hesitantly, cupping the crystal in both hands and peering down at it. Nothing happened. Ky’ara looked at her expectantly. “Are you going to try anything?”
“I don’t even know when I’m doing it...whatever ‘it’ is. I’m sorry, I don’t think this is going to work.” Amischel passed the crystal back to Ky’ara with a sigh of frustration.
“Wait,” Calistra said, as Amischel turned to go, “Why don’t you try talking to it?”
“Try talking. To a rock?” Amischel looked equal parts amused and embarrassed. “What am I supposed to say to it exactly?”
Calistra shrugged. “Whatever comes to mind I guess. Maybe tell it Ky’ara needs to connect with it and would it please let her access its power...okay so I know it sounds silly, but a moment of awkwardness is worth the potential outcome, isn’t it?”
Ky’ara looked at Amischel and shrugged, holding out the crystal to her once more.
Amischel took it, her face flushing red as she hurriedly whispered to the inert stone and then returned it to Ky’ara’s still outstretched hand.
Ky’ara probed the crystal gently with her magic. Nothing seemed to be different. She looked at Calistra and shrugged. Joran’s sister sighed. “Oh well, I guess we can try again later. Maybe I’ll think of something else you can do.”
Amischel and Ky’ara left the tent and walked down the path towards their respective sleeping quarters. Dusk had fallen and they found themselves naturally walking next to each other as the tents around them cast long shadows on the mostly deserted walkways. Summer was just starting to wane—despite the overall warmth of the night there was a chill in the air that hadn’t been there even a week earlier. Ky’ara felt the weight of the impending deadline press close around her. Over four of her six months were gone, but she felt no closer to discovering a way to defeat the Destroyer than she had when she’d left Eléirathös.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t more useful,” Amischel said softly, apparently believing Ky’ara’s frustrated silence was directed at her.
“Oh! I...it’s not your fault,” Ky’ara replied, “I’m just worried about being able to do what everyone expects of me. I don’t know how to use the crystal and I’m no match for the Destroyer on my own. Meanwhile, Taren is probably rotting in prison—or worse— and every day that passes makes it more and more likely that he’s dead…” She trailed off, clamping down on the emotions that threatened to overcome her completely. Breaking down was not an option right now.
“I know how you feel...well, maybe not entirely, but this thing that Calistra insists I do...I also worry that I will not live up to everyone’s expectations. Tonight was a clear demonstration of that, I think.”
Ky’ara nodded glumly. “If only I knew what the crystal was supposed to do, then I think I would be able to find a way to do it. But as far as I know it does little more than contain power...and warn me when something dangerous is about to happen, I guess, sometimes. But I can’t seem to figure out how to access its power, and I already know confronting the Destroyer is going to be dangerous.”
“Maybe you aren’t supposed to use the power,” Amischel said quietly, “maybe it’s not meant to be a weapon.”
Ky’ara stopped in her tracks as she felt the crystal grow warm against her skin.
“What?” Amischel asked, turning to look at her.
“I think you’re right.” She pulled the crystal out from under her shirt and held it in front of her. It glowed softly, then faded as the warmth slowly dissipated. “But if it’s not supposed to be used against the Destroyer, what am I supposed to do with it?”
Amischel pursed her lips. “It doesn’t respond when you try to draw on its power, right? So when does it act on its own?”
“Usually only when I’ve been in danger...but it’s done that less and less since I started trying to use it.”
“So maybe the key is to stop trying to use it. Trust that when the time comes, it will do what it’s supposed to.”
Ky’ara looked at Amischel skeptically. “That’s—”
The crystal grew warm again. Ky’ara stared at it in consternation. “I’m just supposed to go in without any guarantee that I’ll be able to do anything?”
Amischel gave her a wry smile. “You like being in control. But sometimes you just have to trust that things will work out the way they should. By admitting that you can’t control some things, you free yourself up for the things you do have control over.”
Ky’ara groaned. “Which in this case means what, exactly?”
“Maybe stop focusing so much on using the crystal, come at it from another angle.”
“I’ve looked at all the angles I can think of,” Ky’ara sighed.
“You’re trying to destroy the Destroyer, right? Well where did the Darkness come from to begin with?”
“When the crystal was created the mage didn’t pay the price...so an equalizing power was created instead.”
“So to destroy that power, maybe the opposite has to happen.”
“The crystal needs to be destroyed, and the price has to be paid.” Ky’ara said, feeling a sense of dread shiver through her. The price was supposed to be death...the first Druid chose NOT to die. In order to undo that, does that mean I have to...? “But the Druids already tried destroying the crystal and it didn’t work. Nothing is strong enough.”
“Except maybe the Destroyer...I mean, it’s in the name, isn’t it?” Amischel said, unaware of the realization Ky’ara had just made.
“So I’m supposed to go confront the Destroyer and lose?” Ky’ara whispered.
“Except, if you get the outcome you want, it’s not exactly losing, is it?” Amischel said. “And anyways, I could be wrong...I really don’t know much about this magic stuff.”
“I’ll have to think about it some more...but I think you’re right about trusting the crystal to do what is necessary when the time comes.” Ky’ara said, still somewhat lost in thought. Hadn’t Myrnai already demonstrated the power of willing sacrifice? The only question that remained then, was whether she would be brave enough to make the same choice, when the time came.
A certain kind of peace came over her then: a feeling of resignation that brought with it a level of clarity she hadn’t felt since discovering that they had to find Eléirathös. She had put off going after Taren for too long. Fear of losing to the Destroyer and letting down humanity itself had held her back, but that was no longer an issue. It was time to face her destiny.
Chapter 16: The Price of Trust
Nori’s head throbbed. Voices arguing over her head penetrated the darkness she’d floated in, their tones painfully shrill. Couldn’t they be quiet? Didn’t they realize she was trying to sleep? Sleep... wasn’t she supposed to be on duty? Her eyes flew open and she groaned in pain as the light stabbed her eyes and sent a renewed wave of pain pulsing through her head.
The voices stopped abruptly and she felt someone bend over her. She cracked an eyelid experimentally and was relieved to find the light blocked by a shadow.
“Nori? Can you hear me? Are you awake?” Sukylar’s voice sent a different kind of pulse through her, one that set every nerve tingling while simultaneously washing away all the concerns she had about where she was and what was going on. Nori felt an irrational wave of annoyance at the man. “At the moment I wish I could hear you a little less,” she snapped, “why does my skull feel like it’s been split open?”
“Because it nearly was,” the healer on duty replied, helping her sit up and pressing a cup of tea into her hands. “Here, drink this. The herbs will help with the pain.”
Nori sipped the bitter mixture, wrinkling her nose at the taste. That was a mistake. Any facial movement sent more waves of pa
in through her head. She carefully kept her face blank and sipped some more, trying to ignore Sukylar’s hand on her back, which he’d placed there soothingly when she winced.
“Do you remember what happened?” he asked, pitching his voice lower this time.
“Obviously I wouldn’t have asked if I did,” she grumbled, racking her brain for any memory that might explain her current situation. “A group of people arrived...you and the others went to find out what you could about what happened. You left Ben and me to guard the prisoner…” Everything felt so fuzzy. Clearly she’d been hit in the head. “Iregh, did he—?”
Sukylar nodded grimly. “We don’t know how he managed it. But somehow he circumvented Calistra’s spell and escaped. We found you unconscious next to a hole in the back of the tent...I assume he attacked you when you went to investigate. You have a pretty good gash on the back of your head, and you’ve been unresponsive for almost two whole days.”
Nori listened silently. Something about his inflection bothered her. “You assume...what does everyone else assume?”
Sukylar’s face darkened. She had hit upon exactly what he’d been trying to avoid disclosing. “Some of the council members think you must’ve helped him escape. The...questionable... circumstances of how you came to us have them convinced that you’re a spy.”
Nori sighed, handing the cup to the waiting healer and leaning back against the pillows again. Somehow she wasn’t surprised. How long had she worked to prove herself to the Scouts in Brume? But the instant something went wrong on her watch, she was blamed. She’d been with the rebels for much less time; of course they would blame her for his escape.
“I told them they were idiots, of course. But they insisted on putting you under watch...Silas and Imeline have been trading shifts.”
Nori raised an eyebrow. "And how is that any different than the original terms of your agreement with Calistra? I’ve been under your watch since I got here."
Sukylar shrugged, "They didn't inquire too deeply into the specifics. As long as you are kept under guard, I think they'll be satisfied...for now anyways." His face grew somber. "The healers have orders to tell them as soon as you wake up...I imagine their questioning will be rather insulting. I'm sorry. "
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