“I saw an eagle fly over Plarn one night…but….”Her voice trailed off.“It never attacked.”She said instead of saying anything about the extra design in her drawing.
Razyan hesitated for a second, which Terana thought was probably unusual for him. A thought seemed to be bothering him.“I think now is as good a time as any. Kadrean, Liam, do you remember my saying that I recognized the name Starfire back when I saw you last?”The two men nodded.“Yes, well,”Razyan replied.“I remembered from where. And managed to retrieve it just before this morning’s fiasco.”It’s still morning? Terana thought vaguely. He reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll.
“Thais will be upset with you for taking that out of the Library.”Kadrean said in a halfhearted attempt to lighten the mood.
Razyan snorted.“I pay her, so it shouldn’t matter. And besides, it’s from my predecessor so it really doesn’t matter if I take it back or not. Now hush, you may find this interesting. Listen.”And he began to read.
“The General, The Healer, The Tactician, and The Wizard
Greed sleeps to the North;
A young woman of forgotten blood will be found.
War dreams of blood;
The General and the Tactician will know her.
Anger wants old blood;
Starfire will lead the Wizard and the Healer to the Tactician.
Destruction waits for an act of kindness…”
Chapter Thirty-Five - Riddle
Terana only vaguely listened. The bladed dagger that she hadn’t drawn that was there anyway was inspiring her. She flipped to a clean page, fetched a piece of coal from her bag and began to sketch.
“So how does that explain anything?”Kadrean asked Razyan.
Razyan sighed.“I know it doesn’t sound like it immediately, my friend, but do you remember the histories about the Shadow War?”
“Yes.”
“Well there is a belief in old texts, including some prophecy, that states the war never finished. That to the North where the enemy comes from is where greed sleeps. They are just bidding their time.”
“That isn’t disturbing at all.”Liam remarked sitting on the couch next to Terana.
Razyan grimaced. Kadrean shook his head slightly.“Razyan.”He began.“What does this have to do with the war? It doesn’t mention out right and you know how dangerous it can be to stretch meaning or give a text meaning that was not intended.”
“I know, Kadrean. But were you not listening? It mentions“Starfire”. Starfire is often mentioned in texts relating to the Shadow War. I actually can’t think of a text where the two are not connected.”Terana was only vaguely aware of the men casting glances her way. She was still numb from the brutal suicide she had just witnessed. She didn’t want to think about it. It made her sick. It made her wonder if she was somehow guilty for making the creature hate her so much that it would kill itself just to reach her. Chills were starting to play over her nerves. Determined not to go into a panic attack, Terana focused on her drawing. On the straight lines of black on white. Of the soft wisps…
Razyan continued.“With that in mind. Recall an earlier line.“War dreams of blood”,‘Anger wants old blood’and before that“a woman of forgotten blood’. I think our one time guest in the North Courtyard was a Cursed. Breeya told me that is what the people in the cave called themselves. The Cursed. The Cursed were servants and slaves to the Enemy from the North. Isn’t it a little intriguing that one of those came here and focused on only one person? A woman with the name of Starfire?”
A telling silence fell between them. They all felt that it couldn’t be coincidence. Nobody knew who Terana’s parents were. The fact that the mother had been wounded when she had stumbled into town made them wonder who or, perhaps more likely, what had attacked her. They felt that it had probably not been the bandits that the Plarnese had always assumed it was.
Liam glanced at his couch companion. She was very pale, and seemed to be ignoring the world around her. Her hand was trembling slightly, but that didn’t stop her from drawing. Liam had been watching out of the corner of his eye, but now he gave her work his full attention. A sword, straight and true, was taking shape. A wicked looking handle gave it a sharp forbidding look. The whole thing was an unrelieved black. It looked as if it was floating with its point near the earth. Like a threat, a fang above the skin. From its tip ribbons of night, complete with stars emanated. They swirled about it like snakes in looping patterns. Like a spiders’web. They were mesmerizing even as they sent a chill up ones spine. Crossing just behind the sword were two feathers. Again, there was the impression of them being solid black.
A chill lapped up Liam’s spine like a tongue. A voice, soft and whispering followed the curves of the artist’s lines. The chill was the feeling he typically got before he started saying things that tended to earn him looks. He could actually only think of one person who had believed and acted on what he said. Kadrean. He looked up and met the healer mage’s eye with his own glassy gaze.
“I think I have more to add to our riddle,”He whispered, his voice not his own.
“Consider one warned;
The Shadow War begins again.
Guarded by the Wizard, The Tactician and The Healer;
Starfire will learn.
Dragon Fire will recognize its own;
Her lost kin will come for her.
A story and plan will be told;
Past questions solved, new mysteries realized.
The North’s Sword will make his move;
The General in Quiet will be forced to rise.
Hopelessness grown from deceit;
Hope’s Star swallowed by Night.
War comes; Time goes on;
All may seem lost, but it is not.
Hope stands on four stones:
The General, The Healer, The Tactician, and the Wizard”
Silence fell for a moment after he said this. Razyan asked if he could write it down and he did so.“Well,”Said Razyan.“Sometimes I hate being right. The Shadow War is named clear as day. We know who Starfire is.“He said glancing at Terana who now stared at him.
“Why do you look at me when you say that?”She asked him defensively, finally paying attention to the world around her.
“Because that is your name. Terana is terelle anafé. It is starfire in the old tongue.”She blinked at him.“But my parents…”A look of deep pain crossed her expression before she shuttered it away from them.“I was never told that.”
“They probably didn’t know. The smaller towns tend not to know the meanings of old word based names. Plarn is another such word. Did any of the Plarnese know what it meant?”
“Not that I know of.”She whispered.
“It means‘quiet’.”
“Which is mentioned. But who is the“General’?”Kadrean smiled wryly.“I guess a better question would be‘who are the others who are mentioned, besides Starfire? Who are‘the Healer’, The Tactician’, and‘the Wizard’?”
“And‘Night’s Sword’.”Liam added.
“Well,”Razyan began.“lets see. Starfire is the key here. The General and the Tactician are said to know her. It also says the General in Quite will be forced to rise.”
“So that would mean those two are from Plarn. But everyone there knows Terana.”Liam pointed out.
“True.”Razyan smiled“But it says that Starfire will lead the Healer to the Tactician.”
“I introduced no one.”Terana stated. This conversation was starting to really get to her.
“That may be, but it does not say‘introduce’. It says‘lead’.”
Kadrean was staring at Razyan with a look of dawning realization.“oh.”Was all he said for a few moments.“I’m the Healer, is that what you think?”
“You are a healer Kadrean. The only healer we know of who met Terana. And you have guided her here.”
“If that is the case…”Kadrean cocked his head at Razyan.“Then, does that mean…”
“Spirits!�
�Liam stared for a moment before laughing.“Iam the one who came to you and talked about magic and Terana.”
“And I stayed with your family.”Kadrean had a thoughtful expression on his face.“You are also the one who came up with the plan as to where to meet Terana.”
“I didn’t know it would have been her at the time.”Liam muttered.
“No, but didn’t you also talk about plans for building an irrigation system or something similar?”
“Something like that.”Liam replied.“So I’m the Tacticion and Kadrean is the Healer. If our reasoning is right here.”
“Oh, I believe it is.”Razyan said.“Sayings and portents being what they are…”
“So then, who are the other three?”Kadrean asked.“the General, The Wizard, and the North’s Sword?”
“I have no idea about the North’s Sword. I’ll have to do some research into the name or title.”Razyan answered, the bird on his shoulder made a soft musical coo.“And the General I don’t know either. Not even sure how we can figure that one out yet until after whoever the North’s Sword is makes his move.”He smiled wryly.“But I think I can answer who the Wizard is.”His green gaze flickered pointedly from Kadrean to Liam, the first of whom was standing by the couch. The second was seated on the couch, both equal distance from him.
Terana followed his gaze and her eyes widened when she looked at him.“No way.”She whispered softly, shaking her head.
Kadrean started to laugh.“Unbelievable. We will never hear the end of this one!”
Liam’s dreamy gaze also became amused.“Well, I have minimal experience with Seeings and Portents. But sometimes they are ridiculously straightforward.”
“You could say that.”Kadrean replied. He turned to Razyan“As the head wizard of the Keep your title is sometimes the Wizard.”
Razyan nodded.“And we are all here, the Healer, the Tactician, and the Wizard with Terana in a school for magic. Where she is supposed to learn. I don’t think our reasoning is off.”
“And she learns, presumably magic, perhaps even this verse, as we protect her…from the beasty in the courtyard?”Liam asked.
“Perhaps.”Razyan said nodding.
Terana’s eyes leapt from one to the next with a growing sense of disgust. A woman just died out in the courtyard. In front of them all and here they were discussing a riddle?!?
“The next thing I would like to know…”Kadrean started but stopped in surprise when Terana stood up.
She was trembling and glaring at them with sea gray eyes roiling with emotion.“How can you do this? How can you sit here and go about solving riddles like it was an ordinary day?! A woman JUST DIED!”
Razyan met her gaze with his own green one. It was as grim and calm as the sky before a storm. The breath before a bad storm.“Because that woman was a victim of a war that is beginning again. Because her death is, in a way, a warning. Just as this riddle is. You are its key.”
“I am no key.”Terana said shaking her head in denial.“I am nothing special.”She sank back down to the couch her anger doused by his calm.
Razyan crouched before her. The bird fluttered her wings to keep her balance“Who are you, Terana? You who come from a town on no maps? Whose drawing sparks a seer’s words? Whose presence alone draws the attention of a Cursed? Whose name is in an ancient rhyme?”
“Not all of it is old. Liam just said most of it.”Terana pointed out weakly. She was, to her shame, close to tears.
“There had been more to the original scroll than what I read, but that part had not survived the years. Seers had been asked about it, but all they could say was that the rest would return when it was needed.”He locked his gaze with hers.“It has returned now, Terana. Starfire.”
Terana gulped. She pulled her gaze away from him and looked down at the sketch on her lap. The black sword seemed to threaten her. She wondered why she had drawn it when she could have drawn anything in this room.
“You bring up interesting questions, Raz Razyan.”Liam murmured.
“And I have another to add to the list.”Kadrean remarked, drawing everyone’s attention. His gray eyes were concerned and puzzled.“It’s the question that caused me to seek you out in the first place, Razyan. How is it that a mage with enough magic to melt a kadelleregisters to the Keep Stone as having barely enough to wear the red?”
Razyan blinked a couple times.“Why do you ask?”
“That is Terana’s story.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never heard of it before.”His puzzled expression came to her again.“I wonder…”He murmured after a long moment. He reached for one of her hands and in her numbed state she saw no reason to deny him. He turned it over and she felt something smooth, cool, and hard fall onto her palm. She gasped and looked down. He had moved his hand away and on her palm was a small little stone. A stone that looked like someone had dribbled some milk on a spot of honey and then solidified it. A kadelle. Past experience braced her to expect a flash of light and a melted stone.
Past experience could have taken a hike.
The stone remained as it was. In fact, it barely glowed. She heard the shocked exclamations from Liam and Kadrean. They were both shaking their heads in denial. She could only stare.
“Razyan, it melted before. Twice.”Kadrean told Razyan. Liam nodded in support of Kadrean’s remark.
Razyan looked even more puzzled…and intrigued.“I believe you, Kadrean.”He replied absently.“I think…I never thought it could happen…but…”he whispered to himself, his eyes turning inward. Terana stared at the small stone in her hand. It barely glowed…what had she done when she tried to keep the Keep Stone from melting? It was surreal to see the faintly glowing stone. She almost didn’t hear what Razyan said next. When she did a chill touched her heart.“She needs to try the Keep Stone again.”
Chapter Thirty-Six - Stillness
Something in Terana snapped. It was too much. Her emotions had been like a hapless leaf caught in raging rapids all morning. Earlier she had been worrying about destroying the Keep Stone. Then there had been the sting of guilt for being deceitful in hiding whatever it was that lurked inside her from the Keep Stone. Then she had been thrown into the terror of the courtyard. The horror of watching her would be killer kill itself by heedlessly smashing itself to death. What had she done to cause such hatred? Would she ever forget the sound of flesh against unyielding wall? Then helplessness had sunk its teeth into her while watching others try to save a woman who she knew to be already dead. Numbness had been a cottony blanket around her, keeping her from falling into a shameful, useless, fit of hysterics. That honestly? She wanted to fall into despite its uselessness. Disgust over the casual conversation of a Seer’s riddle and unease over the dimly glowing stone in her hand.
And now they wanted her to try the Keep Stone again?
The scary thing within was not destroying the kadellein her hand, but what if the Keep Stone did something? What if the Stone was destroyed? What a stupid fear compared to the truth of the battered dead woman in the courtyard…Another helping of shame was added to her pile of teetering emotions.
Terana needed to get away. Fresh air sounded real good. It would help her get her roiling emotions under control again. Maybe make her feel like herself again. Her hand closed automatically on the kadelle as she stood up.
“Terana?”Liam asked her. Concern colored his voice. She could see similar expressions of concern in Kadrean’s and Razyan’s gazes.
“I need to get outside.”She whispered.
Razyan nodded in understanding.“There is a balcony door there.”He pointed to some glass doors further down the wall that the couch was up against. Terana made a b-line for them. They resisted opening at first, but their resistance stood no chance against her determination. They opened with a small squeak.
Late morning air streamed around her, twirling her hair in a playful toss. Terana closed her eyes and breathed deep. Early summer air smelling of life filled her lungs, dimming the memory of Olidiya’s d
emise. It wasn’t gone, it would never be gone. But it was pushed into a box in a dusty corner of her mind. At least for the moment.
The balcony was a private one looking out over the main falls that flowed under the dinning hall’s balcony. On her first night, last night, at Razyan’s Keep, before being shown to her guest rooms, Kadrean had taken her out on that great balcony. It stretched along the entire wall. It was breathtaking. The roar of the waterfall droned on and on. Looking out, one could see the broken edge of the world that vast quantity of water fell over. The constant mist had been silvery blue at the time.
This balcony was not that one, being small and private. But it still had a great view of the falls. It was a side view. She was aware of the others still in the room talking. Terana walked to the carved stone railing. The carvings were worn almost smooth, but she could still make out the coiling shapes of…lizards? Climbing up the balustrades.
Curious, Terana crouched down running her fingers over the climbing figures. She made a sound of interest. The figures were not lizards. Not exactly. They were dragons with their wings tucked near their bodies. They must have looked life-like when they were carved, but now only the deeper cuts survived. Each carving was somewhat different, so each dragon was an individual.
Terana studied the dragons for a time before returning her attention to the vista. Birds wheeled in the air. Some perched on rock protrusions near the turbulent water fearlessly. They must be taking showers. Terana smiled at the thought. Behind her she could faintly hear the men. Their voices were quiet, like they did not want to intrude on her retreat.
Time passed as the sun rose higher. Mist clouds rose to meet their cousins in the higher sky. The clouds drifted, casting shadow patches over the mountains and water. Terana’s mind focused on the scenery, happy to think of simple things, such as sensations. They were pleasant. There were no riddles of war. No reminders of magic other than that of nature’s beauty. Observing required no effort. Not like struggling to unravel tangled emotions and riddles.
The Ways of Mages: Starfire Page 31