by S.J. Drew
it very well."
He could hear the slight quaver in her voice. "Did you love him?" he asked quietly.
"I don't know. I don't think so, although I was perhaps starting to when he began changing. By the end of the relationship, I certainly didn't like him very much. I ended up losing him as a friend. The really sad part is I don't think I lost much of a friendship anyway."
He put an arm around her and gave her a gentle, reassuring hug. "I'm real sorry, Aolani. It's tough when friends break their trust."
She looked at him, tears glistening in her eyes. "Thank you. I'm really sorry about this. It seems you and he have some history too. I didn't mean to get you or your brother involved in my troubles when I asked about the fights."
"Yeah, I know. I don't blame you. It's his fault. He's the one goin' out and started fights, lookin' for people to mess with."
She sighed. "I know. But I don't think breaking my relationship with him improved his disposition."
"Well, if it wasn't you, it'd probably be another woman that set him off, if he was goin' to go. You know?"
She nodded. "Thanks again for listening to me."
"Hey, that's what friends do, right?"
She smiled. "Yes, I suppose so." She turned the conversation to lighter subjects until they reached her house. She gave him a polite goodnight and went inside.
He went to his apartment and stuffed a note under Alain's door telling him that he wanted to talk with him as soon as possible.
Donnan was awakened the next morning by a knock on his door. He opened and found his brother standing there, looking tired and dirty.
"Will this take long?" he asked.
"I don't know. But I'll at least put some tea on for you."
"Thanks," Alain replied, and dropped into a chair.
He quickly drew some water and put the kettle on. Then he made breakfast for the both of them.
"Thanks, little brother," he yawned, then started to tuck in.
Donnan stared at his own breakfast, not feeling particularly hungry but knowing he needed to eat.
"So what's the problem?"
"I thought you were goin' to get Reese thrown out of the guard," he replied angrily.
"What brought that on?"
"I ran into him last night when I was walkin' Aolani home. He was with a couple of other guards, and there were chasin' some guys when they ran into us. The guys got away, but Reese was mighty interested in knowin' what she was doin' in that neighborhood. I thought you were goin' to get him thrown out."
"I said I would try. Last I heard, he'd been taken off regular patrol duty."
"Yeah, and apparently promoted," he said bitterly.
Alain sighed. "I did the best I could. Night patrol is hard work, harder than that pretty boy is used to, I guarantee. I'll bet he don't think it's a promotion."
"Yeah, well, but it is, isn't it?"
"I'll tell you this. If he screws this up, he's got no more chances. You don't screw up on night patrol. You do, and someone gets hurt. I'm real surprised to hear he was even chasin' after suspects."
"So you don't care that he got promoted after gettin' in trouble?"
"Course I do. But what can I do about it now? I made complaints, and got some of the other guys to make their complaints too. Someone looked at the problem or else he wouldn't have been transferred. Yeah, I know, I would have been out on my rear if I did half the stuff he did, but I'm not him, and he's not me. We got to take what we can get. Like I said, I'll bet he don't think this is a promotion. He's a useless pretty boy that never had to work a day in his life. Now he's runnin' down criminals, stayin' out all night in the freezin' cold, and cut off from his friends 'cause he's got to sleep durin' the day. Gettin' thrown out and disgraced would've been easier than actually makin' him work," Alain replied, with a wicked smile.
He stared at his brother a moment, then returned the wicked smile. "You're right. You're absolutely right. He didn't look like he was used to runnin' last night. He's afraid to down into the Gutters."
"Yeah, that's another thing. It's not like he got some soft neighborhood to go patrol if he was nearin' the Gutters. Nope, whoever gave him this job knows it's more a punishment than a promotion."
"But if he cleans up his act, it means no one'll know how awful he is."
"If he cleans up his act, that's all that really matters to the guard. And if he does, good for him. Maybe he'd even be less of a jackass. But I'm not holdin' my breath."
"Me neither. I'm afraid I haven't heard the end of this."
Alain sighed. "I don't think he'd do anythin' with Aolani around though."
"I wouldn't go that far."
"Then be careful."
"I always am. I can take better care of myself in that neighborhood than he can."
"That's not exactly what I meant, little brother," he replied, his expression now very serious. "I meant be careful you don't lose control and do somethin' you'll really regret later."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
There was a moment of tense silence.
"Well, anyway, tell me what you've been doin' out on patrol," Donnan said.
Alain gladly switched topics, and they talked until he got too tired and went to his own apartment to sleep. Donnan went to work, trying not to think too much about the guardsman.
Eliora spent every night for five days in her cottage, pouring over her tiny library of books on magic, and praying to the Light One to find a solution.
When she woke up the next morning, it was as though her mind had been working on the problem all night and she was certain of how to impart a magical mark. Quickly she wrote down the process so she wouldn't forget. She just needed her volunteer.
After the Council meeting, she headed off Jomei. "I think I can do it," she stated in a low voice.
"Are you sure?"
"No. But I need a volunteer."
"You're asking me to volunteer?" he said, sounding amused.
"Well, yes."
"How long will this take?"
"I don't really know."
"Do you think this will interfere with the divine magic I channel?"
"I don't know. I don't think so," she replied.
"Eliora, maybe you haven't thought this out as well as you need to."
"But Jomei, if I don't test this out, the Council's going to start fighting again and you're going to get the brunt of their anger because of your brethren."
"Yes, I know. But I would rather they get angry at me for something I didn't do than angry at you because you did something careless. I'm sorry, but it sounds to me like you have some work to do."
She watched him walk away, quite discouraged. She was a little more intense in fighting practice than usual because she was frustrated, and again she declined to join the young men for games, and went to her cottage for research. And as usual she got frustrated and wandered over to the watchtower. It was empty.
About an hour later, she heard the soft sound of boots crunching on snow.
"This must be a difficult problem. You've been here every night this week. The others are starting to wonder what you're up to," Davin remarked.
"I told Aidan I had work to do for the Council."
"And that's what he's told the other young men too."
"And they don't believe him?"
He shrugged. "Not my business. I'm just letting you know what's going on."
She gave him a sharp look, but he didn't seem to notice. "I think I've solved the magic problem."
"But you need a volunteer?" he guessed shrewdly.
She nodded.
"And the priest won't do it?"
"I don't have the solution worked out to his satisfaction."
"Well, how long will it take?"
"I don't know."
"Will it interfere with other magic?"
"I don't think so," she answered, slightly annoyed he was echoing Jomei's questions. "I'm sure it'll work. An
d I really don't want to go to the Council tomorrow with nothing."
"Well, I don't blame you for that. But how can you do something if you really don't know how it works?"
"That's how I've done everything so far. I've just willed things to happen, and the magic followed. I haven't needed prayers or spells so far."
"That's true enough." He sighed. "Alright, you can test this out on me. But I hope it's quick or else I'm going to get really cold sitting out here with my arm exposed."
"Really? You'll let me do this? You aren't afraid I've gotten this all wrong and will accidentally hurt you?"
"I'm willing to take those risks. I've got no reason to think you can't do this, given what I've seen so far. You stopped a wildfire, and I'm guessing you made that flaming sword."
She nodded.
"Surely this won't be that difficult. But what sort of Mark is this going to be?"
"Oh, I forgot to ask the Council what they wanted. Darn it. That'll probably take up a whole meeting in and of itself."
"So you just pick something, and tell them what it is. You're the leader, aren't you?"
"Yes, I suppose I am. Alright. What's most symbolic of a hunter in this region of the world?"
"A bow and arrow," he answered promptly.
"That was easy. The Mark of the Hunters shall be in the shape of a bow."
"If I get this thing, does it mean I've joined the organization?" he asked.
She laughed. "Not if you don't want to. Just don't show it to anyone on the Council. Now, pull up your left sleeve."
With only a little trepidation, he did so. "Where are you putting this?"
"Above your left elbow."
"Why?"
She shrugged. "I figured an arm was the easiest place to put it. Now, hold still." She pulled off her glove, closed her eyes, and concentrated. Magic started to build in the air, and she started to glow faintly with an