The Ways of Mages: Starfire

by Catherine Beery

  “Idiot.”Sheyév flinched at Kaishan’s icy voice.“I told you to wait.”Kaishan realized his voice was dangerous, but he didn’t care at the time. If Sheyév had followed his lead, they would be eating tender deer meat right now. But no, he had to mess things up. Out of the corner of his eye, Kaishan saw shifting. He glanced and saw that there was a small crowd of Sheyestivans. All had shifted to their human forms. Several of which were solders. One man was the Kikel’s training master. Kaishan turned to them, his eyes calculating.

  Training master Doeshan bowed his head low to Kaishan, then not so low to Sheyév. He watched his quieter prince return his intense gaze upon Sheyév. Here is a weapon for his Highness. Doeshan thought.

  Kaishan shifted back to eagle form, glancing at Trainer Doeshan. He didn’t need telecy to read what the man thought. Kaishan launched himself into the sky, a cringing Sheyév following after.

  That was when it started, Aritéwas sure. The lad was a born fighter and his father had taken advantage of that. Aritéfelt a feeling akin to hope. Kaishan had shown that he detested waste. If that was because he knew it was wrong or if it was just a little boy becoming sick at the brutality of his actions, Aritécould only guess.

  She remembered hearing of the twin heirs to the Sheyestivan throne. They were only twins in birth. Kaishan had always been the quieter one; the one who thought. Sheyév was the rash one. Rash and dull witted. He did what suited him at the time. Aritéremembered hearing once that Sheyév became jealous that Kaishan had been crowned High Prince shortly after the sovashtash incident. Sheyév challenged Kaishan to a duel. Aritéwondered at his sense. The lad had seen Kaishan take down an sovashatash . But that seemed to have slipped out of Sheyév’s mind when he needed it the most.

  As Aritésat there, she felt something brush against her mind. It wasn’t an intrusion or an attack, just a tentative investigation or perhaps just a sharing. She gazed a Kaishan. Was he waking up? She narrowed her eyes, watching him. The tentative brush pulled away. Before it was gone, she felt the traces of a memory. Curious, she followed it.

  The Coldness was always there now. Perhaps that was because he was always fighting. Kaishan swirled the practice staff. Doeshan watched him with a critical eye. They had been going through this drill all morning. Kaishan was sick of it, but he understood the need of practice. Besides, he needed to keep his position. No longer did he learn the basics with his three brothers. Now he was working on more advanced weaponship, taught personally by Doeshan.

  Kaishan picked up techniques quick. Soon, Doeshan was fixing the little things. But, when Doeshan saw his pupil start going down the wrong road he would spar briefly with Kaishan to keep him awake. To be honest, Kaishan relished it. All of it was a joy; the quickness of reflex, the low burn of working muscles, the complexity of the patterns. In these, he excelled.

  The circular training court became his home. It had been cut into the plateau from the top by his people. Sunlight peered into the hole and fell a hundred feet to the trainees. Trodden grass lined the floor. Dirt showed its face where the grass could not stand the constant tramping of feet. At its widest point, the yard was fifty feet. All of it was his home. It was where he was the happiest.

  Yet at the same time, it scared him.

  The Coldness was always there now.

  After a brief sparring in which Kaishan held his own against his master he was given freedom for the moment. Kaishan bowed before leaving Doeshan. As he was returning his stave to its rack a young girl who served the trainees refreshment came to him. She offered him a clumsy curtsy before offering him her tray of drinks. Kaishan knew her to be new to the training court. He accepted one of her offerings. He nodded his thanks before turning to put the weapon away.

  “I am owed blood!”A young voice he knew well called out.“I challenge you, Kaishan Varcress.”Sheyév called as Kaishan closed his eyes.“Your crown should belong to me.”Kaishan glanced up at his twin and the fading Coldness returned fully. It mattered not that Sheyév was his twin. His had been challenged. Challenged formally. Such a challenge could only be answered or ones respect would fade away. Doeshan had been adamant when instructing the princes in this. Any could be challenged by any one. Emperor could be challenged by the lowliest soldier. However that did not happen often. No one ever Blood Challenged the emperor because the challenger would most likely lose. There was only one outcome to a Blood Challenge; someone lost everything, including their life. The formal challenge was a heavy thing.

  To be challenged to such a thing…there could only be one ending; death to the challenger.

  Silence fell upon the courtyard. Sheyév stood in sweat smeared training clothes across from Kaishan. Sheyév lifted his head when Kaishan faced him. His face was a mask of bravado. Kaishan narrowed his eyes wondering why his brother was doing this. Sheyév knew from practice that Kaishan was the superior fighter. Why was Sheyév challenging Kaishan to a Blood fight? One of them had to die and it wasn’t going to be Kaishan. There were mutters about the court as trainees discussed this fact. All of them were asking the same questions as Kaishan himself.

  Questions didn’t matter. Kinship didn’t matter. Kaishan had been formally challenged and he had to protect what was his. Kaishan inclined his head in acceptance of the challenge. Silence reined in the courtyard again.

  “What weapon do we use?”Kaishan asked, giving up his right as challenged. Such a thing was rare. Briefly he saw a glimmer of worry in Sheyév’s eyes. To give up the Right of Challenged, Kaishan had said he was comfortable with anything that Sheyév picked. Sheyév was starting to second guess himself. A dangerous thing to do since it made one hesitant. Kaishan smiled inwardly. Hesitation was the point. Any weakness in or could be made in the opponent was to be fully exploited.

  Sheyév was stockier then his twin. Being so, he favored using his brute strength in fighting. It had never let him down. Granted, he didn’t have that much since they were both newly seven, but that was how he favored fighting. Kaishan had more finesse. Any small hesitation on Sheyév’s part would only give Kaishan more time to make Sheyév trip over his own feet.

  “Fists.”Sheyév replied knowing that his twin preferred using a weapon to his bare hands. Perhaps he wasn’t quite as good with his bare hands.

  “That all? Any restrictions?”Kaishan’s voice was calm. Even so, one could feel its subtle power. Its tone unsettled Sheyév further. He was regretting issuing the challenge. He couldn’t even remember what prompted him to issue it. Sheyév knew better than anybody that Kaishan was a natural with a blade. Even without one he was dangerous. Something had clicked in his brother that day with the sovashatash.

  A cold chill ran through Sheyév. He knew he was about to die.

  Sheyév’s brow furrowed.“Restrictions? You only use fists. No swords, no staves. You use your own self.”He said, displaying his fists for Kaishan.

  Kaishan’s mouth twitched in a small smile.

  Sheyév was about to die. He swallowed. Where was his twin? Where was Kaishan? Who was this stranger?

  Golden sunlight glittered in a parody of cheerfulness. Kaishan eyed his twin knowing that he was about to take life. His twin’s life. Something trembled deep within him. There was something wrong with this Coldness; this want to defend his to the exclusion of all else.

  He is my twin. He thought, struggling against the Coldness.

  No. He is just another male bent on taking what is rightfully yours. The Coldness whispered. This is how life is. Only the strong survive. He was foolish enough to challenge you. He must pay. Kaishan’s mind focused on the fight to come.

  The twins squared off, eyeing each other. Kaishan calm and calculating, Sheyév looking for a way out. The moment stretched long. Sheyév began to grow finicky. He launched himself at Kaishan, hoping that he could take his twin by surprise and shear force. Kaishan wasn’t there. He had sidestepped, his hands raised in a double handed fist. He brought it down. Sheyév grunted, his back throbbing. He turned and glared at Kaishan. Kaishan w
ho stood as if Sheyév hadn’t done a thing.

  Kaishan watched Sheyév come at him again. He saw the fear and pain in his twin’s eyes. Knowing his brother might expect the same trick again, Kaishan stood his ground, his arms in a blocking position. Sheyév saw this and sped up. He knew he had a better chance now. Or so he thought. At the last second Kaishan turned out of the way, leaving his leg out for his brother’s flying lesson.

  The hard ground gave Sheyév a warm welcome that hurt like face planting typically does. Sheyév could hear the other trainees laughing. The laughter died a quick death when Kaishan eyed the trainees. They backed away and kept their silence. Kaishan turned back to his opponent who was sputtering on the ground. The gritty texture of soil in Sheyév's mouth was humiliating. Kaishan’s foot kicked him onto his back, the foot coming down on Sheyév’s neck. Panicked eyes were caught in Kaishan’s gaze. Sheyév was sure in that moment that his twin was heartless.

  Chapter Fifteen- The Reward

  “A blade is a mirror reflecting its wielder…” Excerpt from the Nirami’s Verse

  Behind the calm mask there was a storm. Kaishan looked down at his brother clawing at the boot against his throat. So fragile, so vulnerable. So easy to snuff out life. Too easy…Kaishan’s heart cried out. He is my brother! He is my flesh and blood! I cannot do this! This is not right!

  The Coldness responded. Right? This is life. This is Sheyestiva.

  His heart struggled and struggled, yet the boot remained. Slowly Sheyév started to turn blue. His struggles became weaker and weaker. His eyes met Kaishan’s; and should Kaishan live forever, he would never forget the look in his brother’s eye. Impulsively Kaishan reached for his twin’s mind. He needed to know what Sheyév thought. He dove into his brother’s mind and met no resistance.

  “Sheyév?”He asked a slowly fading light.

  Something responded“Why?”The response was like a wisp of fog.

  “Sheyév, I can’t stop it! I can’t!”Kaishan felt his brother’s confusion.“Why did you Blood Challenge me?”He begged Sheyév to answer.

  “I don’t know…”Sheyév opened his mind to Kaishan one last time. He wouldn’t need mind walls soon. He was dying as it was; his throat was crushed. Faintly, Kaishan felt the compulsion that his brother had been under. It was a sloppy working, but it had been enough. Sheyév had only needed to state the challenge. After that, it would be too late.

  Kaishan stared at his brother’s lifeless face and he felt something die within him. He glanced up at the spectators with eyes as cold as ice. His two remaining brothers stared at him, caught in his gaze. He knew he could break into their minds to know who made Sheyév do this, but then they would know of his gifts. Instinctively he knew that was dangerous.

  Kaishan swept his gaze over all of those who were present. All flinched back. “Let it be said that Sheyév Varcress, a prince of Sheyestiva, honored the Blood Challenge and died with valor. Let him receive a burial worthy of an honorable warrior.”He said. He turned then, sickened by what he had done, what his culture had forced him to do, and sick of those eyes watching him. His strides carried him toward the door quickly. It was the longest moment of his life.

  “Imasevi!”My Prince! Doeshan’s voice halted him before he could get out the door. Kaishan stopped dead. He closed his eyes. He wanted to leave, wanted to escape…All of his thoughts he hid quickly behind a mental wall before he turned to Doeshan. He saw Doeshan’s wary eyes flick between him and the corpse.

  “Viya?”Yes? Kaishan’s voice was soft and slightly dead.

  “His Imperial Highness descends.”Doeshan replied, gesturing to the eagle circling down into the training yard.

  Kaishan’s gaze locked upon the formidable form of his sire. Shantév was the model of Sheyestivan brawn. The emperor had lived a relatively long life on the throne. A life filled with battle. Scars received from long dead adversaries were mapped upon his skin. None had ever lived against Shantév.

  Shantév took his time landing. His massive wings became the makers of a dust storm. When the dust settled, the emperor had returned to his true form. The emperor’s eyes glanced fleetingly at Sheyév before turning his gaze upon Doeshan.

  “Who did this?”His voice held no remorse for his lost son, instead there was only curiosity.

  Doeshan bowed to his leader before he opened his mouth to answer.

  “He Blood Challenged me.”Kaishan spoke before his trainer. All eyes went to him again. Kaishan met his father’s gaze before looking down submissively. In that moment of eye contact, Kaishan felt his father’s touch in his mind. It brushed through the mind of a young lad who only wanted to please his father and uphold the customs of his land. Shantév did not see the confused thoughts of a boy who was sickened by what he had done, by what his land’s customs commanded that he do. Shantév did not see that Kaishan’s command of telecy was greater than others of his age.

  The emperor saw only the perfect heir in this world of Sheyestiva. The boy had obviously proven that he could not be pushed around by those less than him and who knew who was boss.

  Kaishan approached Shantév and knelt before him with his head touching the floor; the kneel of an obedient child. Kaishan sat back on his heels.“There could have been no other outcome.”Kaishan continued without meeting Shantév’s eyes.

  “There was none.”Shantév said, a kind of pride coloring his tone.“Do not regret his death. He was a weakling. You did the Varcress line a favor.”Kaishan closed his eyes, letting the words wash over him, wanting them to erase his sense of guilt and betrayal. Why he felt those things, he didn’t know. He had done what his forefathers believed was right. All of his country’s laws supported him. Sheyév had challenged him. He had deserved death. Half of Kaishan stated.

  Sheyév had been used. The other half of Kaishan argued. Used by someone who wanted to get closer to the throne. Kaishan glanced briefly at his brothers. Shandova and Téshev stood watching their father. Kaishan would have to be very careful around them. Them and everyone else…

  “Rise Kaishan, Our son and heir.”Shantév instructed.“Go and refresh yourself. We will send for you. Doeshan, walk with Us.”

  Kaishan watched the two men walk toward the door he had tried to flee through. The training court was silent until Doeshan’s second, Meiyan, turned to a young girl who saw to the drinks for the trainees.

  “Tessasigh, take care of that.”Meiyan indicated Sheyév. In a loud voice he ordered the staring crowd to get back to work. Most of Kaishan’s gaze was on the now shut door, but a small bit focused on Tessasigh as she dragged Sheyév’s body out like trash. They hadn’t listened to him and his father did not care. He could say nothing more without drawing unwanted attention to himself. He bowed his head briefly in thought. His heart clenched uncomfortably, Kaishan shifted into his eagle form and launched himself into the sky.

  Once clear of the training court Kaishan forced his wings to beat harder. The low burn felt so good he became lost in the sensation. The air became thin, forcing his laboring lungs to work harder. The cold air nipped his throat. Kaishan angled his body into a backward dive. He plummeted to the earth, his wings drawn tightly to his sides. Breath was stolen from his lungs, his passage was so swift. Wind tugged at his closed lids, weeding out tears.

  “Are you suicidal?”A mental voice called along the open bridge that Sheyestivans used to communicate upon the wind.

  “No.”Kaishan replied.

  “No? You have less than ten seconds before the earth kisses you.”There was dry amusement flavoring the voice. “Besides, you are a youngling; a fledgling attempting to play as an experienced flier. For your age, you cannot be that experienced.”

  “It’s a dive.”Kaishan explained.

  “A dive that requires skill and speed to pull out of before it’s too late.”

  “Ah, but the feel of the wind is wonderful and with its currents one can feel the shape of the land below.”

  The voice chuckled approvingly.“That is true.”

&n
bsp; Kaishan laughed with him. A moment later he snapped his wings open, angling them to carry him back to the heavens. His momentum carried him swiftly away from the waiting, patient earth. Twisting and turning, Kaishan spiraled up. He spied the Sheyestivan whose voice he had heard. The eagle had landed upon the main entry platform which was a giant ledge protruding from the cliff. Two large black granite, delicately carved doors stood open all day. They were the black maw of the labyrinth of Kikel Varcressi, the seat of power of Sheyestiva, Kaishan’s home. Kaishan’s watcher shifted to his true form and vanished into the Kikel.

  Kaishan’s mouth went dry. He thought he recognized the man as Veirsha Merrendi. Kaishan nearly tumble back to earth, his shock was so great. Veirsha Merrendi was a hero to all of Sheyestiva. He was the Winged Dagger; the greatest of warriors, of blade masters. There was no one greater. And there was only one such warrior at a time. The succession was like that of everything else in Sheyestiva. The previous holder of the title had to die.

  Veirsha Merrendi. The emperor’s right arm, his First Sword. There was no place of greater honor. Veirsha was even above Kaishan, himself, who was the High Prince. Only Shantév was above the Legend.

  And Veirsha had spoken to him!

  “Kaishan”The emperor’s imperious voice called moments later.

  Kaishan found his way to his imperial father. Emperor Shantév was sitting at his desk in his study. Veirsha was standing before his lord with a thoughtful look upon his face. Beside the window was the Training Master, Doeshan. Kaishan’s eyes fell toward the desk. It was a dark mahogany that had seen many years; many changes in ruler. A wonderful Sheyestivan custom dictated that the blood of the previous ruler must be poured over the desk. That was the reason for all the dark murky stains upon the wood.