The Ways of Mages: Starfire

by Catherine Beery

  “The only thing you could help me with is to smile and lighten the day.”He chucklingly informed her. And Terana tried to do just that as the group continued marching on. They told each other jokes, chuckled at the antics of certain biddies at home, and share opinions as to what they had seen so far of the wide world outside of Plarn. Terana found herself rather enjoying the day and didn’t notice the miles going by. Before she knew it, evening was crouching over the sky.

  “Where are we camping tonight, Kade?”Zeeve asked, a wary note in his voice.

  Kadrean paused, peering toward the distance ahead.“I was thinking we could stay with your people.”

  “I was afraid you would say that…”Zeeve sighed.“Can’t we just…you know…go on?”

  Giving Zeeve a level look, Kadrean answered.“You know it is a dead man who attempts the Passes when he is tired and soaked with rain.”

  Zeeve sighed again.“Fine.”

  “Why don’t you want to see your people, Zeeve?”Terana asked, confused by the undercurrents.“Won’t they be happy to see you?”

  Zeeve laughed.“Oh yes! They would be happy to see me! A little too happy.”The last he muttered.

  “I don’t understand.”Terana glanced at Kadrean.“And you haven’t told me yet why Blaano kept referring to Zeeve as“your majesty.”

  “You’ll soon find out, Terana.”Kadrean replied

  “Too soon.”Zeeve added.

  Kadrean soon led them away from the Vermair. Slowly they wove through the foot hills of the Vermillion. The rain clouds made it night sooner than it would have been. The only light they soon had was the small purple flame Kadrean held in his hand. Terana was rather glad that it wasn’t affected by the wet. Eventually Kadrean stopped, peering down a rather steep slope. He looked ahead, then down again. Sighing he turned back toward them.

  “I don’t think we will make it safely down that.”

  “Can’t you do something magical to make it safe?”Terana asked.

  Kadrean shook his head sadly.“I’m afraid my abilities are limited to the arts of healing and light.”Terana’s shoulders sagged. It looked like they would be sleeping on the ground in the muck. Again.“Terana.”She looked up to see Kadrean’s thoughtful expression.“Perhaps…perhaps you could do something?”

  Terana blinked at him.“Me? But I don’t know how to use magic. I’ve never used it before.”

  “Yes you have.”Zeeve corrected from between Tivi’s ears.“The hole in the thicket that you crawled through, is that ever too small?”

  “Well, sometimes it seems too tight, but once I get past a certain part it opens up.”

  “Does it?”Zeeve asked.“When you are struggling a little, do you ever…I don’t know…wish that it was just a little wider? That it would let you pass?”

  Terana glanced at him.“Who wouldn’t when you are stuck?”

  “What about the rocks around the twin terrors?”Zeeve asked quickly.“They exploded, didn’t they?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “What were you thinking at the time?”

  “I was angry, if you must know. I only wanted them to leave me alone.”

  “What are you getting at, Zeeve?”Kadrean asked.

  “When she feels high emotion or is wanting something…that seems to be when her magic works.”

  Terana shook her head.“No. I have been wanting many things, Zeeve. But I didn’t get them.”

  “Why don’t you just give it a try? Please? Just try and perhaps we don’t have to sit out here in the rain.”

  Terana studied his pleading expression.“I thought you didn’t want to see your people.”

  “Right now, I don’t care. I want to be dry and I want to eat some good food. They will have that.”

  Terana turned to Liam.“Should I try?”

  Liam shrugged.“Why not?”

  Terana looked at Kadrean.“What should I do? Stare at the hill and wish it dry?”

  “Or try walking down it.”He suggested. “That might give more emotion to channel the magic.”

  Sighing and thinking this wasn’t going to work, Terana walked to the edge of the hill. A violet tinted sheen glittered off the wet grasses. Taking a slow step, Terana started climbing down. Her feet slid a little but not terribly. The humans in the party could make it down, but she wasn’t sure about Tivi. Russy, on the other hand, walked beside her. After a few more steps, the hill got drastically steeper. Terana stopped. The incline was almost vertical. As it was Terana was already spreading herself close to the ground to keep her balance.

  “How did you expect to get Tivi down here?!”She called back up.“It’s practically a cliff!”

  She heard Kadrean and Zeeve holding a conference. She could hear snippets of it over the wind and rain.

  “Do you…no…perhaps we…off too soon…I think…Terana! Come back…”The rest of what Kadrean was about to say was covered by a rumbling sound. Russy was growling and whining intermittently.

  “Russy? What is it?”Terana asked.

  Russy met her eyes.“Run!” The wolf turned and raced back up the hill, his feet sliding now and then. It was then that Terana became aware of the vibrations under her. Alarmed, Terana started to follow Russy’s example. It was too late; the earth was already shifting beneath her. Terana scrambled toward her companions. As she did, she shouted for them to move back. She heard Russy barking. His calls helped to guide her toward them.

  Fear kicked her limps racing to claw her way up the hill. The earth continued to move under her and she soon found herself going faster backwards then forwards. Swearing, she shouted at the earth to stop. The earth only moved faster. Terana cried out as she felt herself being dragged under. There was a sickening sensation as she and the earth pitched down the steep part of the hill. Panic knew no bounds.

  She didn’t want to die.

  Screaming only filled her mouth with dirt. Terana tried to claw back to the surface of the flowing earth. The problem was, she no longer knew which way that was. The roar of the earth was deafening. Insanely, her mind wonder if being buried alive was this much fun. Fun? She thought in disbelief. I’m going to die in a mudslide and I can only wonder if being buried alive is fun?!

  Suddenly the thing inside her shifted.

  Silence.

  Terana didn’t move for a moment. When she finally was satisfied that the earth had stopped its sense of locomotion, she started to struggle. She wasn’t sure which way was up. Dirt made it very hard to breathe. Her head was starting to hurt. Please, please, please! Help! Help! An unbearable weight was pushing down on her. Her lungs burned. Dizziness and weakness began to spread through her body. I don’t want to die!

  Death didn’t seem to care for her wishes. Trapped! She couldn’t breathe. Breathing had never seemed so precious before this. She would never take it for granted again…If she got out. Help! Please! In desperation her mind screamed.Russy! Wake me up! Please…

  Why couldn’t this be a nightmare?

  It was becoming harder and harder to think. Through the fuzz her mind managed to scream. Let me OUT!A faint flicker of blue glimmered. It flashed once and the dirt above her was simply gone. Blown out and away by some force that Terana didn’t really want to think about at the moment.

  Gasping and choking, Terana struggled out of her premature grave. Terana dragged herself away from its gaping mouth. Her fear gave way to exhaustion and she collapsed. Dirt in her face was too much of a reminder of her near burial. Trembling, she rolled onto her back. The rain lightly misted her face. Other than that, it was just dark...

  The world was gray and black. Flickers of silver blue danced on the edge of everything. Terana blinked several times. She had to be dreaming. Either that…or…Terana gulped. The other option was too terrifying to think about. It could be true. She vaguely remembered dragging herself out of the earth. She couldn’t be…that.

  “You are not dead.”A feminine voice assured her.“You are only unconscious. You are not used to using that much power.”Terana tu
rned toward the voice and saw an old woman with an owl on her shoulder.

  “Who are you?”The woman smiled at Terana’s question.

  “A friend.”She replied softly.

  “But what is your name?”

  “You will know soon enough, young one. Now is just not the time. You were panicking needlessly and may have drawn unwanted attention. So you know what is happening, your healer friend has checked you for injuries and healed the few he found. They then moved you away from the hill side and laid you under the shelter of some trees. Your wolf is curled next to you, waiting for you to wake.”The woman smiled.“I think he may be getting impatient. The small one has gone to prepare some things. The healer and the other are talking softly and keeping an eye out. The horse is enjoying the thick grass.”

  “So they are okay?”

  “Yes. And so are you.”

  Terana thought for a moment.“What did you mean by attracting unwanted attention? And how did you know I was panicking? And how do you know all that about my friends? What power? Who are you?”

  “Curious young one, aren’t you? The answers to your questions you will soon know.”The woman smiled in amusement.“Your wolf has lost his patience. Goodbye for now, Terana.”

  The woman and the owl faded before Terana could stop them. It was then she heard it...

  Chapter Twenty-Seven - Little World

  There was a snuffling sound. Something decidedly wet and cool brushed against her arm, climbed to her neck. Soon it found her ear and snorted. Terana groaned and rolled away from where the inquisitive wet thing came from. Grass tickled her nose, making her sneeze. Terana opened her eyes in surprise. She pushed herself away from the prickling grass. She didn’t remember grass being where she had been. Just lots of dirt and darkness.

  Terana looked up and got a face full of Russy tongue.

  “RUSSY!”She protested. She pushed his head away. Well, she attempted to push him away. He managed to knock her over onto her back. The wolf’s eyes glittered with amusement and happiness. Every so often she could see his bushy tail flying. Mostly, though, she only got to see that reddish tongue of his.“Russy! Stop it! Stop!! Russy!”For some reason she started to laugh. Which only caused the fluffy incarnate of trouble to lick her more. Then she started to cry. Russy whined a protest to this.

  “Why do you cry?” Asked the voice she came to associate with Russy. It was very bewildered. Russy’s amber eyes reflected the question.

  Her lungs ached in memory of her burial… Ghost dizziness stirred. Terana closed her eyes. The memory was too vivid. Death had been so near…Terana’s eyes flew open. Her arms flew out and dragged Russy nearer. With a yip, the wolf had no choice but to yield. Terana buried her face in Russy’s pelt.

  His musky-woodsy scent combined with the sound of his beating heart to drive the memory of the grave away. Dirt didn’t have the drum of life.

  She was alive.

  Terana let him pull away. She rolled to her knees. Placing a hand on either side of Russu's head, she pulled him near again. Gently she place her forehead against his. His amber eyes blinked in surprise. She could also sense just a bit of confusion too. Smiling slightly, she pulled away a little and bent to kiss his head.“Thank you.”She whispered. She kissed him again.

  “I’ll never understand women.”Terana started and looked around. She and Russy were in a small clearing. Watching them were the rest of their companions. Liam and Kadrean were each leaning against a tree. Tivi was contentedly chomping on the lush grass. His tail swishing every once and awhile. And Zeeve was sitting astride, of all things, a grey squirrel. Complete with a saddle and reins. Zeeve turned to glance at Kadrean and Liam.“First they are angry, then happy, then sad. How is a guy to know what to do when a woman’s mood changes?”

  “Go with it.”Terana replied.“Why are you riding a squirrel?”

  “Don’t you like it? Tis one of the fastest we have.”

  “We?”

  “Yes, Terana. We.”Zeeve shook his head.“Welcome, Lady, to Zeeveria.”Zeeve gestured behind her. Terana looked. There were four great trees. Terana guessed that Liam, Kadrean, and she could hold hands around one tree and perhaps be able to form a circle. The trees stood in a half circle. Strung between them were mini rope and plank bridges. Though, the rope looked less like hemp and more like spider silk. Carved into the trees were doors, balconies, and terraces. From what she could tell, the tree city went back a ways.

  Along each of the spider silk bridges and terraces and balconies were people. People the size of Zeeve. Men and women all with the same warm brown eyes as Zeeve. Children (it was incredible how small they were) hung out of windows to peer at their guests. There was complete silence from this massive crowd.

  Terana flushed. She had just had an emotional meltdown in front of all of these people. Terana looked away from the city and saw movement in the trees nearer to where she was. There were other molicis astride squirrels. Nut hulls formed helmets and breast plates. Feather down and cottonwood seed fluff formed plums trailing out of the helmets. Tiny spears with what looked like nasty points and serious faces kept Terana from laughing aloud at the comical picture they made. Nut knights on squirrels.

  “I thought you were kidding.”Terana muttered, stroking Russy.

  “Kidding! Why would you say that?”Zeeve demanded.

  “I’m sorry, Zeeve, it’s just when you said Zeeveria I thought you came up with it on the spot. So I wouldn’t feel bad for you.”

  “Well, I am a good actor.”

  Terana eyed him.“You wanted me to take you home.”

  Zeeve lifted a hand as if warding off a blow.“Don’t be angry at me, please. I sense magic. I went to Plarn because I sensed the magic surrounding it, though faintly. I wanted to know what…”

  “What do you mean magic surrounded Plarn?”Terana interrupted. A sharp jab made her cry out. Turning toward the source of the pain she saw one of those formidable, yet absurd knights. His squirrel was red and he was gesturing at her with that spear of his. She glared at him, pain sliding toward anger.“What was that for?”She demanded.

  “You interrupted the king.”He answered.

  Terana blinked, the final word sinking in. She turned back to Zeeve who had urged his squirrel closer.“You are a king?”She asked in disbelief.

  Zeeve looked tired.“That’s enough, Veevee. She is a friend.”Veevee bowed, turned his red squirrel about and took his painful spear away.“I’m sorry about that, Terana.”

  “You’re a king?”She repeated.

  “Only when I’m here. Come, my people have prepared a feast.” Zeeve said with a grand gesture.

  He wasn’t kidding when he said feast. Terana soon found out. Moleci’s may be small, but they sure didn’t eat like they were small. There was so much food laid out on rough tables that Terana could hear the wood groan. Or that might have been her stomach…

  The feasting tables were set deeper in the glen. She could see them from where she walked as she and the other humans were led around. She stepped gingerly to avoid crushing anyone or thing. Squirrel guards kept pace with them on branches at about Kadrean’s height. One of the guards, Eveen, talked animatedly with Kadrean. When Terana asked Kadrean if he had been to Zeeveria before he chuckled and said many times. The food kept bringing him back. Eveen, who had overheard, laughed.

  “Oh yes.”He chuckled.“The womenfolk know how to keep we men in line. You will find no greater chefs in all the world, I’m betting.”

  Liam and Terana could only glance at each other as they were led. Eventually they came to an open clearing. Eveen and his men went back toward town. Kadrean turned to them and told them that this was where they would stay for the festivities.

  “Festivities?”Terana asked.

  “Yep.”Kadrean said removing a blanket from one of the saddle bags.“Every time Zeeve returns they have a three day feast. It’s called the King Returns Feast.”They laid out the blanket and settled down. Terana sat with Russy’s head in her lap. Liam
and Kadrean finished unloading Tivi to let him graze. The men then came over and sat down. Time passed as they seemed to wait. Kadrean was watching the bushes near the town. Eventually he started to frown.

  “Kadrean? What is it?”Terana asked.

  “Well, usually, the women folk would have come by now to offer some of their creations.”

  “Is something wrong, then?”Liam asked.

  “I don’t know.”Kadrean replied with a slow shake of his head. In a louder voice he called for Zeeve. Zeeve appeared a few minutes later still atop his squirrel. Eveen and Veevee flanking him. He had a rueful expression on his face.

  “I apologize, but I cannot convince my people that the Fluffy Mutt won’t hurt them. They refuse to include you in the feast as long as he is here.”

  Russy raised his head and growled softly at“fluffy mutt’.

  “That isn’t helping your case, mutt.”Zeeve said. There was wicked amusement in his eyes. The look found in the eyes of siblings who enjoy a good fight. Russy snorted and stood up. He looked into Terana’s eyes.

  “I don’t want to be around squeakers anyway. I will see you later.” With that the wolf trotted off.

  “Where is he going?”Liam asked.

  Terana swallowed. In broad daylight it was more unnerving to hear Russy’s voice in her head. She wasn’t sure what to make of it.“Um…he’ll be around.”Soon after Russy left moleci women ventured into the glen. They led some men on squirrels dragging large bowls filled with a myriad of foods. There were three such groups. The humans smiled and softly said thank you. They then dug in with their travel spoons.

  They could hear music and laughter from the moleci side of the party. Some couples came to their part to show off their fancy dance steps. There were bards who sang a variety of songs. Some of which were hilarious. Others were just ridiculous. Food was forever flowing. Once Terana or the others finished their food, the empty bowl was towed away and a full one replaced it. Large Zeeverian barrels of water, wine, and juice were set before them like little cups.

  Terana turned to Kadrean after a very ridiculous song.“So why is this place called Zeeveria? Not Molecia? Or something like that?”