The Truth about Heroes: Complete Trilogy (Heroes Trilogy)

by Krista Gossett

  “I knew there was a girl in there somewhere,” Melchior teased and she flared up in anger, knowing it was his intention to set her off. She knew she couldn’t get to her epee before he fled so she chased him into the barracks unarmed, not quite thinking of what she would do when she reached him. She never did catch up to him that night, but then when he had ducked out of sight, she had gathered her wits and decided she was better off being armed and dressed to exact her punishment.

  Melchior and Rienna’s meeting didn’t develop into a romance and indeed, as they had grown, Melchior seemed more interested in besting Belias, less interested in the trials of befriending the commander’s daughter. He teased her casually, but always seemed strangely distant and she was far too shy to ask her father if he had any hand in it. It seemed incriminating just to bring it up. She pretended it didn’t affect her, but she notched it as another reason to hate Belias and focused more on proving she was more than a damned lady.

  Where Krose had nearly lost his hand in an act of thievery, Melchior had been 20 when he lost his in actuality. In that span of time, Rienna had confronted Belias, been rescued nearly drowning in the Lesthene and fought her feelings of love for her childhood rival. Rienna recalled what little she had overheard before Belias and Melchior’s fight had become more serious but it hadn’t made sense “Yours and you never took it, Melchior… not another toy for you to break!” Belias had sliced off Melchior’s sword hand in the heated exchange, mortified that he had done so. It was everything to a soldier. Melchior had promised he was not angry with Belias—in fact, cybernetics research in Myceum was fitting him with a new hand, good as new. Then there was talk of how Melchior was becoming more withdrawn before he left, something about a note branded with that mark on his back, a mark she came to learn was the Suleika Mark. Before Melchior had left, he had met her again in that empty yard and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, promising he’d come back with the answers she had wanted about his tattoos.

  He never did come back until he showed up to shoot her husband in front of her on her wedding day. She didn’t want answers then— she wanted his head. But as time went on and her head cooled to reason, she wondered if maybe she did want answers before the answers would die with him. She wanted to know about this third mystery man of the Suleika Tribe, this survivor that could add more pieces to the puzzle. Was this man yet another threat to them or an ally?

  She almost ran into a frowning Krose as her head cleared from those memories. He seemed concerned with her and she smiled with great effort and patted his shoulder, seeking out Freesia who also tilted her head with concern.

  “Rienna, you seemed pretty far away there,” Krose’s voice was soft and kind.

  Rienna smiled sadly. “Sometimes I remember parts of the past that I know I should’ve pressed on more in hindsight. There are just some things that you never imagine will become important later.”

  Freesia approached and smiled kindly. “And wondering will not change a thing, as you know. Would that we all had the knowledge we have now when we were unsure in our youth.”

  Rienna shook it off with a faint smile and looked at her friends. “We’ll make camp soon and then we should talk. I shouldn’t keep things from anyone thinking it will not matter. At this point, the things we omit may be our undoing.”

  Camp was made; it would still be a half-day before they were in sight of the Bryfolk Hole. Krose was trying not to look impatient but he was anxious to meet back up with his dear friend. Although, Krose had not said as much directly, Rienna thought that the days that he and Dinsch did not spent together since they had met were few and far between. It was also clear to her that her friends needed to know the story so she told them all she had been reliving in flashbacks and all of her theories, including the ones concerning the marks at the falls. It took over an hour to do so and she knew that Krose would have liked to spend that hour sleeping or catching up to Dinsch. She made it clear that they needed to know what she knew about Melchior, that too often the things she second-guessed weren’t meant to be hoarded only until they made sense. After the rush of information had slowed to a trickle and then stopped, Rienna was sure she covered everything. Krose and Freesia had listened and let it sink in.

  “Unless Melchior is attacking in more than one place, I don’t think it’s even likely he’s going after the Bryfolk Hole at all,” Krose determined, although it wasn’t clear whether this was based on strategy or hope for a place dear to him. Ashe had thought the same thing, so had she, but none of them were entirely sure what was really going on. Melchior may not be any more than a pawn moved by a maniacal general, a tyrannical king or a charismatic serf for all they knew.

  Rienna nodded at the possibility and settled back on a decaying log to look at the sky. “Once we find Dinsch and assess the situation, we’ll need to look for more information about this, maybe even in Xanias if Melchior hasn’t razed it to the ground. Not to feed the stereotype, Krose, but being a thief and a tracker, you probably do know a thing or two about gathering information.”

  Krose smiled a little sheepishly to confirm the truth of it. The truth was none of them knew what they were in for. Maybe the Bryfolk Hole would be their last stop on this journey and they would die there or kill Melchior and save the day, but none of them really believed the end would be so simple. Rienna worried for her companions and wondered how wise it was to send the three of them off. Pierait was unpredictable in his singlemindedness, Night was increasingly withdrawn and Ashe was so damn sure of the worst. She worried for Ashe and his ill luck prediction that he would be the one to not be chosen, but then she also worried about Krose. Insofar as she knew, Freesia was the only one with a guarantee here— Lumina would test her. So that meant that either Ashe was right or Krose was the one to lose out. Rienna came out of her thoughts again and started to speak, but saw that her silence was too long this time and her companions slept now. She quieted her mind the best she could and followed suit.

  Chapter 8: Trick of the Light

  When Rienna and her companions woke the next morning, only Freesia was looking refreshed and downright sunny. Krose and Rienna looked much like ogres beside her. She stretched and her body bended more fully than most people, being that she was a talented acrobat. Krose watched in rapt fascination and when Rienna clicked her tongue in annoyance, he had the sense to look a little guilty. Rienna wondered if Lumina would show up soon, although she was hoping Krose would be the next to receive the wind so her worries would lessen. Or would they, knowing that Ashe was unguarded with Night and Pierait, wild cards in the deck if ever she knew any? She had admired that Night had so easily expressed his displeasure at leaving Freesia and wished that she hadn’t been so quick to dismiss Ashe. It was doubtful he would have any more insight into her troubled thoughts than she did, but maybe she could knock something loose in his brain if he were here instead of there. Instead, she had found a way to send him away in her petty feelings of discomfort.

  There was always some frightening event leading up to the disappearance of one of them when the elementals were ready to receive them. While they hurried to pack up camp, Rienna stood to stretch her back for a moment and her mouth fell agape as she noticed that one of the blazing beams of light pouring through the trees was taking the shape of a woman. This one was not shy to be sure. Her anxiety was not appeased though for as hot as this wisp burned, her face was cold and hard. Rienna tapped at Freesia nervously and even Krose caught the cause for commotion they stood in mute awe of.

  The wisp was slender and severe in appearance, her solidifying form taking on the look of a golden statue draped in a toga. Her hair was cut into a descending bob, starting at the nape of her neck and ending at the front halfway down her neck, a shorter sleeker version of Rienna’s hair. Her eyes were a piercing yellow color and the lashes that framed them looked like thick fringes of woven gold. She walked almost angrily towards them and stopped before stepping into the clearing and her eyes were only for Freesia. The wisp’s l
ips were moving but Krose and Rienna heard nothing; Freesia nodded and stepped forward obediently.

  “You are Freesia, yes? Come closer,” the wisp had ordered in clipped tones. Freesia hesitantly did as she was bid, noticing her friends’ confusion but trying to focus solely on the wisp.

  “You know who I am, one of the many known as the Lumina. We are Light, liquid and many. Sea Star has angered us with her meddling; how dare ANY of the others suppose our motives! We needed to meet with you at once and test you.”

  Freesia’s heart was thrumming with anxiety and fear, for Lumina did not seem pleased with Freesia.

  “Your friend,” Lumina spat out with distaste. “Night. Embraced Erised’s gifts, did he? Just a matter of time before that bites us all in the ass. Hold still, this test is pass or fail, not Twenty Questions.”

  Lumina approached Freesia slowly and Freesia was trembling with uncertainty now as Lumina steadily glowed brighter with every step. Freesia could feel the warmth rapidly becoming heat and the sting of it was becoming painful. When Freesia burst into flame, it was not a magical illusion at all and her skin began to melt to the horror of her companions. Rienna had called Sea Star as Lumina’s light was approaching the furious heat of a miniature sun but saw to her horror that Sea Star’s bubble of protection did not protect Krose. But Krose was diving ahead and frantically trying to smother the flames with his own body. Rienna wept bitterly and it took her a handful of seconds until she realized that, though Krose’s clothes were going to cinder and Freesia was now beyond hope and crumbling with the completion of her cremation, Krose was unharmed but for Freesia’s charred, oily remains staining his arms.

  However, once his grief passed for the futility of saving Freesia, he turned on Lumina in rage. She swung and knocked him flat on his naked backside and returned to the golden statue form. She stood with arms akimbo and jutted out her jaw, daring him to come at her again. He began to weep with his impotent fury. Rienna had stood in shock as Sea Star’s protection faded.

  Sea Star had lunged past the shocked humans and crashed into Lumina with a sickening splash that knocked Lumina off of her feet. The pretty glen of this morning was a smoking crater lined with the skeletal remains of trees, two bewildered humans and two very angry elementals. Sea Star had Lumina pinned to the ground, her teeth gritted in malice as she spat venomous words at the wrathful light elemental.

  “You awful bitch, what did you do?! Freesia was to be tested, you said, not killed for your own petty vendetta! You had to go all high and mighty and incinerate her! You’re as disgusting as Nuriel, and in case you haven’t taken in the analogy, that’s even worse than Erised! What were you thinking? Are you after chaos and disorder as they are? I misjudged you, old friend!” Sea Star poured out, not needing to pause for breath as humans do.

  Lumina, however, began to hum with a kind warm light and her cold, severe face had become youthful and kind as she turned her head towards Krose and smiled.

  “She was never to be my child, Sea Star—it was your costly mistake, believing the gossip of your babbling brooks. And it almost sickens me that you would think one of Erised’s to be mine. That is why she went up like autumn leaves. Dark and Light are not pleasant bedfellows,” Lumina purred out sweetly. Krose and Rienna were able to hear her words clearly now.

  Sea Star backed away as Lumina twisted her body and crawled towards Krose. His hands balled in fists and he crawled backwards, trying to cover himself, but his eyes were round with wonder as she hovered on top of him and began to stroke his manhood. He refused to move lest the volatile elemental decide to rip it off. He swallowed around lumps in his throat for as much as he hated this creature right now, she was causing his body to betray him with needs he had not satisfied since Dinsch had been taken to Scryshaw.

  Rienna blushed furiously, at first too shocked to look away, then starting forward to stop this violation. Sea Star forced the bubble around Rienna to hold her back and Rienna cried out in anguish and slumped to the ground, looking away from his humiliation. For all the men she had seen in various states of undress, it was unnerving to simply watch her friend being raped by an elemental and powerless to stop it. She wondered if such perversions were common among the elementals and was thankful Sea Star had not thought to molest her so intimately.

  Krose did not dare look at Rienna but kept his eyes locked in hatred on Lumina. The wisp was enjoying her game and as much as Krose resisted, he climaxed, his back arched, his eyes rolled back and he trembled as he bit his lip to avoid calling out his release. Lumina laughed cruelly as she raised her hand to her mouth and lapped up a few droplets of the seed that had splashed onto her fingers. Rienna was weeping in frustration where she was imprisoned for her own safety. It was times like these that Rienna dearly wished she had thought twice about these supposed gifts. At least her sword was her tool to wield, predictable and reliable. She was riddled with grief for Freesia now and hoping that Krose was still her friend when this was over.

  It was now wholly clear to Krose and Rienna at least, that elementals were not fairy tale allies from the stories at all, but were as volatile and unpredictable in their dealings with humans as any human might be, with a limitless wellspring of natural mysticism making them all the more dangerous.

  Lumina began to pulse with light again and as the light grew, it covered Krose. Sea Star rushed to Rienna, her shimmering face revealing she was not so sure of the way of things either and not at all happy about it. She stood protectively by the bubble unsure if Lumina would turn on Rienna. When the light died, Lumina was nowhere to be found and Krose was adorned in elaborate golden garb— his favored tunic and leggings with soft boots and a new harness for his new sets of golden daggers and a side pouch for his lock picks and tools of the trade. A sort of gold laurel wreathed his head, a perfect diamond at either temple. It was a ring on his finger that would summon Lumina, but he had no intent to use it. Tried to tear it off his finger so angrily that Rienna thought he might draw a dagger and cut off his finger just to be rid of it.

  Krose rose purposefully to his feet and brushed at clothes that weren’t dusty, probably more from nerves and habit than necessity. When his head rose up and he looked at Rienna, she realized the bubble and Sea Star were gone. She hurried forward but stopped short of Krose by a couple of feet, searching his eyes reluctantly.

  “I don’t serve Lumina and I won’t forgive her for this. If I could use her own daggers to lay open her chest and watch her die, I would. Freesia didn’t deserve this and Night will be inconsolable. Lumina wants to speak of sabotage when she so carelessly severed our ranks for no more than a childish strike against another elemental. Damn them all, Rienna, when it comes down to it, we only trust each other. Or whoever among us still wants to trust us after they hear about what has happened here.”

  Krose kicked at the scorched earth angrily, the smear that had once been Freesia no longer visible, to both of their relief. Rienna was becoming overwhelmed with a flood of emotion and tears spilled unhindered down her cheeks and pooled on her chest, the sobs ripping through her chest and rattling her. Krose’s face softened and he reached for her but she flinched, still unwilling to admit that seeing him naked made things awkward as well. Krose was too concerned to take offense and he pushed aside her weak attempts to stop him and pulled her into an embrace anyway. Her forearms against his chest put a minimal barrier between them and she gave up resisting when she offhandedly thought that at least he couldn’t see her blush rising again. His hand rose to the back of her head and pulled her head into his shoulder and he let the sobs wrack her body and just stroked her head. Krose was still worried about Dinsch and once so many minutes had passed and Rienna’s sobs were still thick with anguish showing no sign of abating, he gently lifted her legs and began to carry her away. He didn’t expect her to ‘man up,’ thought she was well overdue for some serious grieving. With all that Rienna had gone through, it occurred to him that some of that anguish was unbottling so much more. He wondered if Rienna
would ever have time to recover from all of this before her life was up. It was now just the two of them again and he hoped like hell he wouldn’t fail her once more.

  Krose might have been a child of light but right now he abhorred the sun. He hated the reflections of it on the water; he hated how it laid bare all but the shadows of places it could not touch. He hated its sparkle and he hated how it would only grow as the day went on. Watching its descent would be the high point of his day. Rienna had long since fallen asleep in his arms and as hard as she had appeared when she was awake, she was even softer and sweeter in sleep. Damn Lumina for that too; her games had not satiated any of his desire for Rienna but had made them thrum through him whenever he heard her breath or saw her lips parting in sleep.

  The violence of Freesia’s death did not calm his inner chaos and his mind would twist into visions of his cock slamming into Rienna’s throat, of her hands leaving bloody trails down his back and her inner thigh muscles trying to crush his pelvic bone as he hammered into her. He was ever grateful that Rienna tended to look at him as a timid one, for that meant that his thoughts were not visible on his face. Although before, it had been gentler images of lovemaking that had crossed his thoughts, more a man submitting to a strong woman rather than savaging her with pleasure-pain. He had begun to wonder if the elementals left more than protection and aid. He wondered if they didn’t rent space in their chosen ones’ brains. Lumina sure hadn’t balked on sexual violence with him.

  When Rienna stirred slightly against him, he realized his lively member had gone rock hard and he shifted his focus to something less arousing. He realized as midday came upon them that a familiar brook was babbling to his right and he focused on the sounds of water and their welcoming chatter as the Bryfolk Hole was now visible in the distance.