“I know this must be confusing, but I’m here to help you. You don’t have to be afr—“
The woman smashed her elbow into his side, knocking the breath from his lungs. She lunged at him, eyes frenzied. Baring her teeth, she grabbed him by the collar with strength Ryris didn’t think she had and shoved him out of the room through the hole, banging his head on a low-hanging rock as he exited. Small loose stones and dust rained down on top of him. The alchemist saw stars as his head hit the stone floor of the cave. He shook the fog from his senses just in time to see her stumble toward the back of the room. Pressing her hand onto seemingly nothing at all, a glowing red seam appeared on the rock face. The stone wall disappeared, exposing a black void. She darted inside, the wall immediately rematerializing behind her. The seam disintegrated, leaving no trace it was ever there.
Rubbing his head at the impact site, Ryris cautiously made his way back into the chamber and headed toward the wall she had disappeared behind. He waved his hands over the area he thought she had used to activate the door, unable to find any sort of lock or secret touch pad. With a closed fist, he pounded on the rock face. Running his hands along where the seams should have been, he scowled when he found nothing. He couldn’t believe eons-old stone could just disappear and reappear on cue. Grumbling, he slid his back down the wall and sat, his head pounding, his mind pondering.
What had he done? Why had she reacted in such a manner? Would she ever come back?
Ryris sat there, dumbfounded. Not knowing what else to do, he sighed heavily and decided to wait her out.
~~~
Searing pain.
Emperor Roann tumbled out of his chair, grabbing his temples as flashes of blinding light raced across his field of vision. His head hit the corner of his desk, gashing the soft flesh. Blood began to flow soon after.
Desperate to make the pain stop, he tried to call for Casmit, only to find his voice no longer functioned. He swallowed, the feeling of thousands of pins pricking as his throat constricted. The emperor writhed on the floor, his hair cascading over his face. Crimson blood trickled down from his wounded temple, leaving a thin red line to drip into his ear. He was only able to crack his eyes for a brief moment before succumbing to unconsciousness. Sunlight shined in through the grand windows of his office, glinting off his signet ring as his hand quaked.
Casmit arrived sometime later to deliver documents, and found Roann out cold, blood from his head wound staining the rug.
~~~
Ryris didn’t know how long the mystery woman had been in there.
He couldn’t see out into the cave from his vantage point, unable to tell how far the sun’s light had moved at the mouth of the cavern. If he had to guess, it had been at least an hour, probably more—because his rear end was frozen and aching. Sitting on a cold stone floor wasn’t the most ideal situation. Unsure of what to do, he continued to sit sentinel, hoping his new companion would eventually come out.
“I don’t know if you can hear me. Hell, I don’t even know if you’re still in there. Maybe you went out some other secret door. But…” Ryris felt a bit stupid for talking to a stone wall, but at this point, he didn’t know what else he could do. “…I want you to know I won’t hurt you. I just want to get to know you. To hear your story.”
He shivered and adjusted his jacket in an attempt to warm himself. He pulled his collar up and hunkered down, trying to conserve his body heat. Staring at where the false door should be, he sighed heavily. As he sat alone in the chamber, he started tumbling everything that had happened in his mind. What was he doing here? He had a job to do, a store to run, and ingredients that weren’t going to harvest themselves. Ryris thought to his father, knowing that Maxx would surely have a fit if he knew what his son was doing—or wasn’t doing.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me. Yes, I might seem like a crazy person because I’m talking to a stone wall, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t hold that against me.” He chuckled to himself, realizing how insane that sounded. “I’ve got a fire in the cavern, and some food. I’d be willing to bet you’re pretty hungry.”
“This is pointless,” he thought. “What the hell was I thinking?”
He needed to get back to Keld. The store had been closed for close to two weeks now, and every day he was gone was money torn from his pockets. His food reserves would soon dwindle and the threat of another snowstorm was around every corner. Looking to the unassuming wall next to him, he was overcome with guilt. He had woken this woman up, caused her to fly into a rage and disappear—and now he was contemplating leaving.
“You’re such an idiot.” He berated himself under his breath. Resting his head against the stone wall, thinking about the woman he hoped was still behind it, he let his eyes flutter shut. But not before pulling his chilled hands up inside his coat sleeves for extra warmth.
~~~
Ryris warmed his hands over the flickering flames before stirring the small pot of oats.
Ass of the East whinnied next to him, and he tossed her the last remaining apple to curb her hunger. They were quickly running out of food, and he was exhausted from keeping lookout for his still-unaccounted-for companion. An entire day had passed since he last saw her.
There had been no movement from within the chamber, no signs of life. Ryris spent that first day in the room while he waited, examining every shelf, every cabinet. What he found astounded him. The weapons were of a quality and material he had never encountered before. A crystal helmet matching the design of his missing friend’s armor sat locked behind cabinet doors. The bolt was fastened tight, and even though he was dying to examine the accessory up close, he refrained from breaking the lock. He could have spent a week trying to figure out the chemical compositions of the potions. At least, he figured, he wouldn’t die of boredom while the woman did—whatever she was doing in there. He sketched the armaments within the room, made detailed drawings of the sarcophagus. Ryris even attempted to duplicate the face of the warrior that had abandoned him. When he closed his eyes, her angelic face floated in his mind.
When the second dawn had risen that morning, he made the decision that tonight would be his last. Whether she came out or not, he had to leave the next day. The clouds on the horizon signaled a furious storm brewing to the west. He definitely didn’t want to be stranded in the cave without food—which is exactly what would happen if he stayed. His decision had not come easy, and he was panged with guilt over the idea of leaving her to fend for herself. But, with the weapons contained within the chamber, he was fairly confident she could at least defend herself if the need arose. Ryris hoped, however, that Oleana would smile on him and bring the mystery woman out of hiding.
He was just about to pull the steaming pot from the fire when rustling near the entrance to the chamber caught his attention. Turning suddenly, his eyes fell upon his guest, clad in a lighter chain under-mail instead of her heavy armor. Her arms were behind her back. He smiled warmly, trying to contain his excitement. He most certainly didn’t want to scare her off. Approaching cautiously, he wiped his sooty hands on his pants and extended one in an offer for her to shake.
“Well, hello there. I was beginning to think you’d never come ou—“
For the second time in as many days, she charged at him, knocking him to his knees. In a flurry of movements, she pinned him to the ground. His face smashed into the dust, getting in his mouth and up his nostrils. He instinctively tried to kick himself free, only to find her weight on the backs of his legs, effectively paralyzing him. The next thing he knew, Ryris found himself being flung into a sitting position, a shortsword pointed directly at his heart.
“Who are you?” Her voice was strong as she roared, no hint of the weakness she displayed in the past. “Where do your allegiances lie?”
Staring at her, watching her frenzied eyes, Ryris suddenly very much regretted waking her up. This was not what he expected when he gazed down at her beautiful sleeping face. He had forgiven her, in essence, for the fir
st assault. She had just come out of stasis and was obviously very disoriented. But this time—he had been attacked for seemingly no reason. He didn’t know what to say, or even if it would be believed. He tried to calm his shaking body, even as fear threatened to overtake him. “I…I don’t have any allegiances! I’m just an alchemist! I don’t underst—“
She pressed the tip of the sword harder, nicking Ryris’ flesh. He hissed at the sensation, but didn’t dare move. The blade moved to his neck. “You have five seconds before I slit your throat!”
It was then that he felt it. The burn. The tips of his fingers began to get hot. Once again, his life on the line, he had made the decision—unconsciously this time—to defend himself. The heat on his fingertips intensified and his breathing became ragged. He really didn’t want to have to do this, but the warrior in front of him had left him little choice. Closing his eyes, he concentrated. Instantly, the sword left his throat and she grabbed his hands, twisting them to the point of almost snapping his wrists.
“Don’t you dare do what you’re thinking of doing.”
Her stern voice broke his concentration. The feeling of heat left his fingertips, replaced by the jolting pain of his hands being bent awkwardly. He cried out, trying to wriggle away from her. She only twisted harder. Ryris felt like weeping. His breaking point had been reached, and he had no way of controlling the situation. He was certainly in way over his head. So, after a long moment, when the tone of her voice changed, he was taken completely off guard.
“If you calm down, I’ll let go.”
Ryris’ head sunk between his shoulders. He really didn’t have a choice but to trust her at this point. The alternative was death, of that he was certain. Not knowing how to even respond, he just whimpered.
“Do you promise to cooperate?”
“Do I have a choice?” His voice was hushed, his tone one of defeat.
“Yes. But I think we both know how this will end if you choose poorly.”
Ryris sighed and nodded wearily. She let go of his wrists and knelt down, the fire illuminating her golden locks. The mystery warrior stared at him for ages, Ryris feeling more and more uncomfortable with each passing moment. Not exactly how he had envisioned this adventure would go.
“You and I are more similar than you realize.” Her voice was calmer now. She extended her hand, Ryris instinctively flinching back, not knowing what her intentions were. He watched in awe as she produced a flame in the middle of her palm, then balanced it on the tip of her index finger. Letting it hover there for a moment, she finally guided the fire back to the center of her hand and snuffed it out by closing her fingers around it.
Ryris just stared at her, dumbfounded. The only other person he had ever seen use magic had been his mother. Sure, he knew there were others out there with similar abilities, but no one was stupid enough to broadcast their talents publicly. If she was willing to show him her powers, he hoped it meant she was a friend. He truly believed she would have killed him by now if she wasn’t. His voice was meek as he finally spoke. “What’s wrong with us?”
“It’s a gift.”
Ryris snorted. “If it’s such a gift, why was I told never to use it? Why was I shamed?”
The woman’s expression softened for a moment, her eyes showing pity for him before her demeanor returned to that of a hardened warrior. “Lyrax scared people into believing anyone who possessed the power of magic was a threat. Even if many of us had just given them salvation. Casualties at the hands of magic-users were unavoidable. Even after the war, the fear remained, however unwarranted. I had hoped time would heal that fear, but it would seem otherwise.”
Ryris just stared at her vacantly as she continued.
“You are most certainly not alone.” She smiled with encouragement. “If you learn to control yourself, you could be a very powerful wizard.”
“I’m an alchemist. I don’t want to be a wizard.” Ryris’ answer was quick and curt.
She extended her hand. “I am Kaia the Quick.”
Surprised at her sudden friendliness, he accepted her handshake. Her grip was strong, but gentle. “It’s an honor to meet you, Kaia the Quick. My name’s Ryris. Ryris Bren.”
She sucked in a short, surprised breath.
Ryris smiled, feeling more trusting of her with each passing moment. “I have so many questions.”
She held up a hand. “We don’t have time. We need to get out of here.”
“What’s the rush?”
She stood, giving his remaining supplies a once-over. “We need to find my fellow commanders. There are only three of us that survived the war. Now that I’m awake, the hunt will certainly begin.”
“Who could possibly be hunting you after all these years?”
“There’s a reason you woke me up.”
“Please don’t say destiny…”
Kaia stared at him blankly. “Why not? I’ve experienced destiny first-hand.”
Ryris blew out a long breath. He hadn’t known her very long, and he was already getting overwhelmed. “What does that even mean? Maybe destiny just decided it was time for you to have a normal life. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in danger.”
“I don’t have time to explain. Each minute that passes is one we can’t afford to lose. We need to leave.” She stood and made her way toward the front of the cavern. As she passed by the desiccated oinox carcass, she wrinkled her nose at the still-lingering odor of rotting flesh. A moment later, an ancient curse word escaped her lips, one Ryris had heard his grandmother utter more than once. He stood and joined her at the entrance of the cave, and immediately uttered a profanity of his own.
A full-blown blizzard raged outside.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Charred beyond recognition, he sobbed uncontrollably. Pleading with us as we threw him in. The intensity of his love for death was matched only by the fear of his own.
--Excerpt from the journal of Kaia the Quick, year unknown.
“…a resurgence…”
“…power…”
“…threatening…”
“…old…”
“…can’t wait…”
“…death…”
The man listened to the spectral voice ramble, never hearing such frantic despair before. He watched intently as the blue flame in the font flickered, dimming every few seconds before trying to regain its strength. The air temperature in the chamber suddenly skyrocketed, and the azure light went out completely. The faithful servant believed he had lost his master. After several agonizing moments, the chill to the air returned, albeit very slowly.
“Something…strong…”
The voice was weak, laced with hesitation and slow to form words. Never had he heard it speak in such a manner. Unwilling to interrupt his master, he waited for the thought to finish, fearful it was the last time they would commune.
“…a long time…true power…”
The fire waned, almost disappearing into the recesses of the font’s bowl. The man leaned forward, peering down into the abyss.
“…go…leave me…”
He was hesitant to obey; fearful he would no longer be able to speak to his master. Perhaps lingering a bit too long, the ghostly voice spoke again, harsh undertones cutting through the weakness.
“…leave!...”
Unwilling to disobey and face his master’s wicked wrath, the protégé begrudgingly backed away from the font and disappeared into a cloud of red mist.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lady Destiny—shall we tempt you? Lady Destiny—shall we tread in your hallowed halls?
--Poem by Rex Regalia, famed Dungannon bard.
Ryris watched Kaia intently as she arranged branches on the fire. He picked bits off the remaining granola bar from Mrs. Lythe, absentmindedly nibbling on them. The alchemist found himself captivated by this mysterious woman, even though she had attacked him less than twenty minutes ago. When she was finally satisfied the wood was precisely placed, she produced flames on her finger
tips and gave the fire a little boost. He instinctively looked around to make sure no one had seen the display.
Kaia sat with a relieved grunt before looking to Ryris speculatively. She pointed at his chest. “You’re bleeding.”
Ryris’ hand snaked across the fabric until he came across a wet spot. A red stain blossomed out from a hole—a hole suspiciously the same size as the tip of a sword. How could he not have noticed he was injured? He quickly undid the buttons, panic setting in. An irrational fear of dying took him over.
Kaia, sensing his impending meltdown, tried to calm him in her own unique way. “If it were a fatal strike, you would have been dead by now.”
Not comforted by her words, he pulled the panels of his shirt open. There, just above his heart, was a small, oozing puncture wound. He thought back to the attack, and recalled the twinge of pain when the blade had pierced his skin. Ryris grumbled and reached for his knapsack, rooting around for some antiseptic. He didn’t notice Kaia move on him until she was uncomfortably close.
Kaia knelt before him, scrutinizing his bare chest. If there was ever a time Ryris felt self-conscious, this was definitely it. He thought she was going to help him tend to his wound, but it was apparent something else had caught her attention. She extended her hand and gently grasped his amulet, bringing her face close to his body to inspect it.
No one besides him had touched the amulet in years—not since the last time he saw his grandmother alive. She had extended a frail, shaky hand to him, and wrapped her gnarled fingers around it. Warning him once more never to take it off, she had died peacefully in her sleep some hours later. Now, this mysterious woman was interested—not to mention she was touching his bare chest. Ryris nervously blew out a long breath as she turned it over and over in her hands. He noticed the skin on her right hand was scarred, perhaps the result of severe burns. But, he decided not to broach the subject and make her uncomfortable—he was uncomfortable enough for them both.
The Alchemist: Dawn of Destiny Page 17