by Lexy Wolfe
"Storm," Ash said softly, his voice agonized. "I am so sorry. I--"
She continued as if he had not started speaking, the uncertainty in her voice belying how difficult it was for her to speak. "During your people's Ceremony of Choosing, your goddess spoke to me through her Voice of the Oracle Stone. She spoke in Swordanzen to spare me the shame She knew I would feel. But despite not knowing the tongue, you could still repeat Her words, and you told Skyfire what she told me. This burden I keep from you... Skyfire knows because you told him. Terrence knows what was said because the Swordanzen tongue is part of what a Githalin gains from being tied to a Totani. It was for me to tell you, not them."
Ash looked up at Terrence with some surprise. The young man averted his eyes, cheeks bright red. "Only an Illaini Magus can keep secrets from another Illaini." He smiled wanly at Terrence when the other Illaini looked up in surprise at his former master's words, gratitude for the implied forgiveness in his eyes.
Storm's words took on the rambling of despair. "Your goddess-mother... Terrence... Skyfire... they did not tell you because it was my responsibility, not theirs. And I was not ready." Storm's voice broke as she covered her face with her hands in shame. "I am not ready to face what was said to me."
"Beloved." Ash gently pulled her hands away from her face, tipping her chin up to look in her sightless eyes. "You do not have to tell me anything. It does not matter if there are secrets between us. I trust you."
"No," Storm said quietly. "I realize that I cannot... I will never be ready to face it because I cannot face it alone." He looked at her face, wishing only he could ease her fears, so strong atypical tears coursed down her cheek. "We are to have... children. Someday."
Ash stared. "Children? Us? Aelia, that's wonderful!" Surprise gave way to delight, all of which vanished when he looked at her contorted expression. He pulled her tightly against him when a sob escaped, hushing her as he stroked her hair. "Beloved, what's wrong? Do you not want children at all? Or is it... you do not wish them with me?" He grew more worried and perplexed when the quiet sobbing became more audible.
"It isn't any of that, Ash." Terrence did not look up at either of them. "Forenta is not known for tolerance of those not wholly Forentan. And children of Swordanzen traditionally return to their mother's birth tribe. But that is not possible because the na'Zhekali tribe is extinct like the Vi'disa. To the Desanti, Storm is Cursed. There is no tribe for her children, even if they would be A'tyrna Ulan, children of mage and warrior." He closed his eyes. "They would be Cursed as well, without a tribe to call their own." He sighed softly. "And they would suffer without a tribal bayuli-volsha."
"Oh, Aelia," Ash whispered. "Beloved, don't worry. We will figure it out when the time comes." He paled as he sat back, looking down at her. "You aren't... now, are you?"
Storm shook her head, managing a weak smile. "We Desanti know when women are able to conceive, as much as we are able to tell when one has conceived. Though we may pair as what you call husband and wife, we mate for strength so our bloodlines remain strong and our children have a better chance of survival. It is why you never needed envy Skyfire, Ash." She 'looked' up at him. "Th'yala never, ever share children."
Ash quirked a rueful smile. "I will still envy him a little, Storm. Because he shares an understanding with you I will never have." He kissed her soundly. "But I am grateful for him, nevertheless. He keeps you sane."
"So do you," Storm said quietly, leaning against him.
Terrence met Ash's eyes and smiled. He got to his feet and quietly made his way out of the room to leave the pair alone. He paused to look over his shoulder, the smile fading to one of worry.
Chapter 24
The rest of Almek's students grew less and less functional as time wore on, save for Taylin and Storm. Eventually, they were fitfully sleeping nearly all hours to try to capture some modicum of rest. There was little Taylin or Storm could do. After the eleventh night, Storm made certain Ash had fallen asleep again before she retreated to the only one who could offer her any solace to the fears she hid behind an iron façade.
Dressed warmly, Storm went to the drizzen's stall in the stables, giving both desert beasts attention. The pair returned the affection, crooning anxiously at her. "I am worried about Skyfire, too," Storm confessed softly, hugging both drizar and drizzen heads to her at once. "I am worried about all of them."
"So why not do something about it?" Kendle stated from atop a crouched perch on the door. With the reflexes of a striking snake, Storm threw her knife with surreal accuracy. The Roylat jumped to one side, holding a hand in the air. The blade's flight was arrested, floating only inches from his chest. He carefully picked the knife out of the air, tsking. "It is not polite to stab people without introductions first."
Storm scowled as both drizzen shifted position to put themselves between her and the intruder, tensed to defend the Desanti woman. "It is not polite to spy on people. The fault is yours."
Kendle blinked and then smiled. "You are quite right." He lightly jumped off the edge of the stall door. He leveled a look on the two drizzen. Within a few heartbeats, they both shrank back. Before he could blink, Kendle was pinned against the stall door. Storm had drawn her pair of Githalin blades and stabbed the man to pin him by his elegant indigo clothing. "Wait!" he begged, all amusement gone in an unexpected wash of fear.
"The drizzen! What did you do to them?" she demanded coldly.
"Nothing! Here. Take the knife." Kendle lowered his hand slightly. "I only wish to return it to you."
A consternated frown colored the woman's face. "You caught it? How?" She tilted her head. "Are you a Guardian?"
Kendle blinked again, now bewildered at her behavior. "I... serve the Timeless One, but I am not a Guardian." He held very still as the swords were pulled out of the wood, sheathed, and the knife was snatched from his hands. Losing the condescending tone, the Roylat stated with considerable sincerity, "Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you."
"What do you want?" Storm asked crossly, turning her back on him.
Kendle tilted his head, a smile playing on his lips again. "My, you are as precocious as ever," he murmured to himself.
"What?" Storm demanded, turning her head slightly so he could see her scowl.
"Nothing, nothing. Just talking to myself." He crossed his arms, though did not relax in case she turned on him again. He narrowed his eyes, frowning as he suddenly realized, "You are blind?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Storm moved to the other side of the drizar, using a stiff brush to brush his hide into a dull gleam. Both beasts shifted to put themselves between the divine servant and the woman again.
Surprised, Kendle shook his head in reply. Realizing the stupidity of the mute response, he hit his forehead with the heel of his hand in exasperation with himself. "Actually, no, it is not obvious. You walked out here unaided and without hesitation. You nearly stabbed me. Twice. Which, by the way, thank you for not actually stabbing me. It would have been quite unpleasant." Storm snorted and muttered uncharitably under her breath. "How did it happen? Your blindness."
The smooth brushing motion paused for a heartbeat. Then with a snort, the Swordanzen said sarcastically, "You do not know? It is all I ever hear whispered about when people see me and they think I am deaf as well as blind. I was sharing my vision with my lifemate so he could open a portal from Ithesra to here so Almek would live. I got caught up in some sort of magic backlash. It is all anyone around here has talked about since I woke up in this sun forsaken land. What's wrong with you? Have you been living under a rock?"
Chagrinned, Kendle scratched behind his ear sheepishly. "Ah. Something like that, yes. I will speak to my goddess about your affliction."
"I do not need your prayers," Storm stated as she disappeared behind the drizar. "Your prayers would serve you better if you asked her to free you from your stupidity. It is obvious divine intervention is required."
Shaking his head as he laughed silently at Storm's audacious lack of reverence, Kendle cleared
his throat. "I heard you talking before. Something about worrying about someone?"
"My friends. My lifemate. They all suffer from nightmares. Except for me," she added in a shamed confession. "They suffer and I do not. They are becoming ill with exhaustion and there is nothing I can do to help them."
"I see." Kendle crossed his arms, rubbing his chin with one hand. "Actually, I think there is something to be done. Something only you can do." The sound of brushing stopped altogether. The silence stretched on for so long, the Roylat frowned. "Did you hear me?"
Emerging from the other side of the drizar, Storm held her two-edged blade menacingly. "I heard you. I am not in the mood for cruel jokes." She raised the blade, bringing it down to stop just at the tip of his nose. "Give me a reason I should not cut your heart out and hand it still beating to you?" she hissed.
Kendle stared at the tip of the blade in shock, hands held up in a gesture of surrender he belatedly realized Storm could not see. "Please. I am not joking with you. The Timeless One employs a breed of divine servants called the Unseen. They are the ones who bring the nightmares to your companions."
"These Unseen. They are the cause of my lifemate's, my tribe's torment?"
"They are," Kendle assured. He exhaled with relief as she lowered the sword. "Time is not something most mortals can comprehend easily. Madness often results from those who cannot bear the manipulations of time, which is dangerous for someone trained to manipulate it. The nightmares are a test of a potential's mettle without needing the training." He backed up until he hit the wall when the sword came up again, pricking his throat. He closed his eyes when he felt blood running down his neck and chest, swallowing tightly.
"And we have not already suffered enough?!" Despite her blindness, the fury flashing in her eyes was plainly visible. "Ash and I nearly died to bring Almek here! What more does your heartless goddess demand?!"
"Listen, Zhekali," Kendle started, wincing when she yelled incoherently, jabbing the sword into the wood by his neck.
"I am Githalin Swordanzen Storm il'Thandar, daughter of the Heart of Desantiva! I am not na'Zhekali! The na'Zhekali tribe is dead. Extinct! Do not ever speak of them again!"
"Okay! Okay. I won't," Kendle stated, hands held up and his tone as soothing as he could manage. She jerked the sword out of the wood, resheathing it and stalking back to the drizar. "But think on this, Githalin Swordanzen. The Unseen are divine servants. You bear a divinely wrought blade." Storm froze. "And you certainly do not need your eyes to see." Touching his throat, he smirked while regarding the blood on his fingers. He turned to walk out. "Truly, you do not."
"Who are you?" Storm demanded, turning back. But there was only silence. She ran to the corridor, calling insistantly, " Who are you?!"
Only a faint voice drifted back. "A friend."
Chapter 25
That night, Storm emerged barefoot from her room as quiet as a ghost. Despite the evening hour, the warmth of the sun that had set only hours before still clung to the marble floor. "Ash," she whispered under her breath, allowing herself to voice her fear as she touched the door back to her room. Turning sharply towards the main room, she tilted her head as she heard voices sounding as troubled as she felt. Hugging the wall, she crept forward until she felt one of the tall potted plants blocking her way and paused to listen.
"You know I am not one to question the Timeless One or her servants, Dusvet," Jaison stated as he paced alongside the main table.
"That's usually what I do," Bella quipped drolly, though her voice held the same concern as Jaison's. "But there is good reason to question. This testing period has become unreasonable. Nearly two full sevendays? It has never been longer than a sevenday at the worst before She was satisfied, one way or the other."
"They're all exhausted," Jaison stated flatly. "And no matter when they sleep now, they all suffer from the nightmares, divinely brought or echoes of them. Save for Adept Taylin who had already passed her tests, and Storm who lives with her own nightmares. Taylin's worry for the others is not doing her or her unborn child any good."
"The Swordanzen woman is growing agitated, which makes her dangerous," Ophilia chimed in, her scorn for the woman who had attacked Jaison apparent. "The servants are afraid to be in the same room as Storm for fear she'll kill someone. She nearly had once already. Thank the mistress for Taylin being here! And poor Terrence nearly fell into the pool yesterday when he tried to sit and meditate." The Forentan Adept held her hands out helplessly. "God-touched or otherwise, they are only mortal. It is as if She wants them to fail or go mad. And madness is not that huge a leap for the Desanti." When Jaison turned an exasperated look on his student, Ophilia crossed her arms defensively. "What? It is true and you know it!"
"For all her bias against the Desanti, she has a point," Bella murmured. "And the danger is compounded because they already have considerable skills with time magic unlike others before who have been driven mad from the tests. There will be many deaths before they can be put out of their misery if they lose their minds." She leaned back, putting her feet on the edge of the table. "It may come to the point we have to act preemptively to protect people while we yet have a chance to subdue them."
"I am certain the Timeless One has Her reasons for the intensity of the Unseen's tests." Almek did not sound as certain as he usually did. "Though She will not answer me when I ask Her why it is. Perhaps they are unsuitable for unfathomable reasons. She has never indicated the ability to touch multiple energies was displeasing or unwanted. But as the tests have begun, it would be worse to try to remove them from Sharindel, regardless of the roads leading out being blocked by snow still. The Unseen are not bound to remain within Her territory. They have followed others who attempted to flee before the tests were complete. I have no doubt they would do so again."
Bella got to her feet. "Do not wait too long to make a decision, Dusvet. I like your students. I really do. But there are many other lives that need to be taken into consideration. Given the abilities attributed to Ash Avarian alone, Sharindel could be laid to waste long before anyone could stop him."
Almek sighed heavily. "I know, Bella. We will see how tonight passes and if there is still no sign..." His voice drifted off. "Then I will make a decision on how best to proceed." They rose to their feet, heading towards the opposite hall from where Almek's students resided. "Though I would prefer not to null their Guardian gifts. I think it would torture them more than death would."
Storm scowled as she listened to them depart and remained where she was, listening to the echoing silence. Resolutely, she returned to her room. Finding her weapons, she began to strap them on. She paused when Ash roused. "Storm? What are you doing?" he asked, more asleep than awake.
Expression softening with worried affection, she padded over barefoot and leaned down to kiss his brow. "I cannot sleep, so I will be doing some sword work." As he relaxed, she pulled the blanket up around him before standing straight. She drew her Swordanzen two-edged sword, her expression hardening as she headed back into the hall. She grimaced as the tattoo on her shoulder darkened in intensity.
What are you up to now? Thandar whispered into her mind. You know I am aware when you are preparing to shut me out.
"I am not angry with you, if that is your worry, Thandar," Storm stated in a low voice. "This has nothing to do with you."
I know that, too, for all the chaos in your mind. It is very clear who you are angry with. Thandar's worry became evident. Our father was tolerant of you when you would challenge Him or one of us. This is not His territory. You are taking a huge risk, attacking another god's divine servants.
"Then I will die trying to protect my tribe," Storm stated flatly as she sat by the edge of the garden pool. "But I will no longer sit by idly and watch them suffer and I will not see them destroyed." She closed her eyes a moment. "I could not live with myself. Or without them."
Thandar seemed to sigh heavily. I know, dear one. Very well. Good hunting. His voice went silent. Storm shook
her head, pushing the softer emotions aside to focus on her task. Oblivious to the darkness, the still blinded Storm sat by the garden pool quietly for several hours, her Swordanzen blade resting across her knees while the others slept. Hours passed and the air began to cool, but Storm's focus was unwavering.
In the silence of deep night, she heard the whisper of movement. Carefully, she shifted, crouched low like a hunting cat, sword in hand, head tilted to one side as she listened even closer. As the sound neared her position, she leapt forward, slashing the air as she rolled and landed back in a crouch, poised again to attack. Scowling at the brush of cool air across her shoulder, she slashed the air again as she jumped back, feeling the blade drag as it caught fabric. "I know you are here," she hissed.
"Impossible. You should not be able to see us," an inhuman voice whispered, like a cold winter wind.
Storm slashed the air again. "I do not need to see you to know you are here." Taking a step forward, she looked around. "You are the ones who torment Lord Almek's students." She jumped forward with a downward stroke of her sword, spinning to face where she had just been. "Torment my lifemate."
The cool breezes rustled the leaves of the many plants as Storm continued to attack. "They are gifted masters who are to be Adepts of Time. They all must be tested. They must all prove their worth."
"You torture them," Storm snarled as she slashed again. "You push Lord Almek to consider actions worse than death for them. I will not permit you near any of them anymore!" Without warning, she slashed and then grabbed with her free hand, feeling something much like the thinnest of silks caught in her fingers. Jerking the fabric closer, she stabbed upwards. She felt the blade cut into something solid and the warmth of blood over her hand. "Got you!"
"Quickly!" "Don't let her cut you!" "The mistress bids us bring her!" Abruptly, Storm felt herself grabbed by several cold, long-fingered hands, unholy shrieks ringing in her ears as her sword was wrenched away to clatter onto the marble floor. Storm's response was an inarticulate shout as she struggled while her assailants dragged her away.