Techromancy Scrolls_Westlands

by Erik Schubach

  My wife exhaled loudly and moaned, “Laneyyy.”

  Corrine stood quickly.

  The gypsy Mother's eyes were glittering with an excitement beyond what I understood, and she blurted out, her voice colored with that excitement I saw swirling in her eyes, “You suggest Pacea Pactului with the Cristea?”

  Now Elaineia was standing, her eyes wide and her smile huge. The first word was something about peace, but I didn't know the other. But they seemed excited about my vow to protect them. I nodded, and they leaned in as Angelus now stood, his eyes intent on me. Was I supposed to say something? “Umm... yes?”

  The three virtually bounced on their toes as Corrine blurted out, “We accept Pacea Pactului... Mother Laney.” The three bowed and then stood back up and just beamed at me.

  Mother Laney?

  Celeste was shaking her head and muttering, “Oh for fuck's sake,” as the other gypsies from our Greva moved in quickly, beaming.

  I looked at Sylvia. “Ummm... what did I just do?”

  My sister healer tipped her head back and laughed heartily like Rain did whenever I amused her, I caught myself smiling as Dru, and Sarafine started shaking Angelus, Corrine, and Elaine's hands in a congratulatory manner.

  When the evil wench calmed enough, she said, “You invoked Pacea Pactului.” She looked thoroughly amused at my confusion then said, “It hasn't been used since the days before the Great Mothers.”

  She looked at me as if I should know what she was talking about. The woman was an inch away from landing on my smiting list. She rolled her eyes at my continued confusion. “It was back in the days of feuding between families, before the great peace. When a band found themselves in the crossfire between factions, they would beg Pacea Pactului with a friendly family.”

  She looked pleased with herself as my eyes started widening slowly as I started to realize what she was saying.

  “A peace pact that puts the band under the protection of the family. The asking band would look upon the Mother of the accepting Family as their leader until the Pacea Pactului was dissolved as that family would be their protector until that day came.”

  I just blinked for a few seconds and heard myself saying, “Well, shit.”

  This got all the Gypsies accompanying us to Sparo laughing.

  Verna called out from somewhere in the camp, “Potty mouth!” Which got all the knights laughing too.

  I smiled sheepishly up at Celeste who was shaking her head slowly at me, a patient but loving look on her face as she shared, “That's not all you did, little Miss Impulsive.”

  I asked as I squinted one eye, “What did I do?”

  She shook her head, gave me a peck on the lips and said, “Later. Right now, it looks like a celebration is about to begin... Mother Laney.” Then she whispered as she tilted her head back to look up into the sky with a smile like she was looking for some sort of god to appear, “Only you, love, only you.”

  Commander Stein muttered from where he was secured in a seat, eating, “Oh just shoot me now would you?”

  Mother Luna, why did I feel like I really stepped in it this time? I'd have to reflect upon that at another time as it appeared Celeste was right, an impromptu celebration had erupted around us.

  Chapter 22 – Homecoming

  It was mid-morning the next day when we were flying over the Fringe on the outskirts of Wexbury. We could see the Keep in the distance. Nobody would be expecting us home so soon. The Prince and Rain would be at Templar Hall since they were staying for three weeks until we returned with news of whether we located the Westlands or not.

  I moved to one of the small windows as I unwrapped my scarves from my face, missing the panoramic views of the Outrider. Noting again that the windows were extremely thick and small. Indicating this armored airship was intended for something other than exploration, and I wondered if we were moving in the wrong direction technology wise as I thought of the tanks of Avalon. I would have words with George on the subject.

  I pointed down for Misty as she and Ingr played with Bitsy on the small windowsill. We saw a two knight patrol beneath us, riding toward the Keep at breakneck speeds, their necks craned skyward. We quickly left them behind. Then, starting low and building and resonating in the big open bay, the deep rumble of the bellows powered war horns of the Keep could be heard. Growing as the Keep grew in the windows.

  The Cristea with us were all plastered to the small windows lining the gondola, seeing the lands of their ancestors for the first time and they looked awestruck. I looked over at Elaineia who was plastered to a window beside us with Dru, I reached a hand out, and she absently took it, and I gave it a little squeeze and said as I dropped her hand, “Welcome home.”

  I absently wondered what the knights and archers who were gathered on the parapets were thinking. Three airships left Sparo, and one battle damaged one was returning. We were close enough we could hear the church bells ringing and people all gathering outside to look up, pointing as we passed over. I heard the answering bells far off in answer from Cedar Ridge and the Dig.

  Celeste's arm encircled me, and Misty hugged me when I shook in a single silent sob. My cheeks were wet again. Why did the sight of home always affect me so emotionally every time we returned from a mission? I knew the answer somehow was just that simple... it was home.

  The bells were still clanging when Captain Thomas called back, “Dropping Anchor!”

  As we slid in over the welcome sight of Templar Hall where people were already gathering. With two massive thuds, the anchors were dropped, and two men were running about on either side of the airship, closing valves and starting compressors as they managed the controls for the electric propellers.

  I marveled at our Bex again, he had automated so much on his Outrider and was able to do from his captain's console, what it took three men to do on the Condor. I gave him an appreciative smile when he glanced our way, no doubt thinking the same.

  Our Greva, Corrine, Angelus, Elaineia, and the kids assembled in front of everyone. Then when the Captain came to join us, the ramp was lowered, and the assembling crowds who were held back by Knights and the Templar Guard were eerily silent, looks of apprehension on their faces until they saw us striding out of the Condor. Then there was sporadic cheering.

  Standing at the doors of the Hall was mother with Great Mother Ranelle, Prince George, and Princess Everly, their faces schooled. I saw when Brenda's searching eyes as she guarded the door brightened in a deep relief when she caught sight of Bex.

  We strode out with purpose the bundle in my arms as heavy as the Earth itself, I noted as the others started to disembark, the knights of our squads made a protective buffer between the Cristea and the people around us.

  I couldn't keep my eyes off of Rain, as she searched the people coming off of the Condor as we moved to them. The girls ran squealing to mother's embrace, and I could hear her scolding them for giving them all such a fright when they ran away. But my attention was still on the hopeful look on Rain's face, and the bundle in my arms seemed to increase in weight.

  We stopped in front of them, and Rain gave us all smiles as George inclined his head in question. I said, my voice more hoarse than normal, “We have to go west.”

  Celeste reported, “We located the Westlands and broke the siege on the Cristea. We bring war on our heels Sire.”

  He deflated, and I understood that he knew this truth before we had even departed. Since we wouldn't be able to, in good conscience, leave the Cristea to face an unknown enemy alone if we could help.”

  I kept glancing at Rain who was dividing her attention between the Condor and us. She caught me studying her and then she went still, took one last glance at the airship and then cocked her head at me, pleading. It felt as if a dagger were in my heart, twisting as I just shook my head once, my eyes refusing to leave hers as I unwrapped my bundle with one hand.

  Her hand shot to her mouth and tears welled in her eyes when she gazed upon the dual blades of Sir Bowyn of Wexbury, Kn
ight of the Realm... my friend. She just stared at them, I could see her heart breaking and feel it in the discordant magic inside her, and I was the messenger of that pain... and I hated myself for it.

  Everyone was silent but then Misty stepped beside Great Mother Ranelle and took her hand. Rain looked down like she was snapped out of some sort of a trance and she smiled at my daughter, a single tear running down the Great Mother's face as she pulled her into a tight hug. “Oh, dear child.” And she clung to Misty like she was the lifeline that was preventing the last of her heart from drifting away on the pain and sorrow that had just torn it asunder.

  Then she took a deep breath and centered herself, her magic tasting as though it were suddenly forged of steel and the leader of the People, co-leader of all of Sparo stood tall, refusing to let go of Misty's hand as she lightly covered up the blades in my arms again.

  She turned to Corrine and the others expectantly.

  I quickly rushed out, “Great Mother Ranelle, this is Mother Corrine of the Cristea, her husband Angelus, and this is Sora Elaineia, sole Femeie de Sabie of the Cristea and wielder of Sabie Acasa, the blade of Mother Racina herself.”

  At the mention of Rain's title, all the Cristea present, including their leaders and took a knee, their heads bowed in supplication.

  Corrine whispered out, “Great Mother,” as if she were addressing an impossible beast from fairy tales. There was such great awe, disbelief, and respect in her voice.

  Rain said, “Please stand, all of you.” Then she smiled a sad smile, trying to push aside her personal grief as she said, “It is my honor to meet the leader of the missing Fifteenth Family and welcome you back home after so very long.”

  She cupped Corrine's hand between her own, Corrine looked a little sheepish and inclined her head and shared, “Actually, Mother Laney leads us.”

  The crowd around us went silent at that and George moved closer as Sarafine slapped and clasped my shoulder. “It seems our wayward Sora here accidentally invoked Pacea Pactului with the Cristea.”

  It took a moment for that to sink in with Rain, then she chuckled though her eyes were still on the bundle in my arms. “Of course she did.” Then she tore her eyes off the swords to meet my eyes. I could see the love a mother has for a straying child in her smile.

  What? Why did everyone think I was always stepping my foot into things?

  George was chuckling at the predicament until Celeste cocked an eyebrow at him. “You may not find it as humorous when you find that the little Templar of Sparo also inadvertently declared the Westlands a Protectorate of the Crown with her words as well.”

  A Protectorate of the Crown?

  Her words had cut his chuckle off dead as his eyes widened.

  What had I done now? I should just never speak again, and I wouldn't be making all these boneheaded political mistakes. I hate politics.

  He mumbled, “She... what?”

  Then we all turned to Everly, and she giggled in echo of Rain's words, “Of course she did.” Then started laughing a deep belly laugh of utter amusement. She was pointing at her husband who got her doubling over she was laughing so hard with his helpless look.

  The Prince looked stunned as he gaped at me. “Laney... what did you do?” Then he said in an incredulous tone, “I'll have to take the Crown now that Sparo has a Protectorate. This hasn't happened in over two thousand years...”

  Everly was all giggles as she bent toward me and kissed me on the cheek. What? He had to take the Crown? After so long, Sparo would have her King? Somehow, I wasn't sorry if that was the result.

  We looked back as Commander Stein was led out of the Condor in chains and Celeste said in the understatement of the millennium, “Come, there is much to discuss. A new enemy looms on the horizon.”

  I pulled Rain in the direction of my apartments with an apologetic look to Celeste. She would have to begin without us. As soon as the door of the apartments was shut behind us, Great Mother Ranelle, leader of the Mountain Gypsies, collapsed into my arms, and sobbed into my shoulder... and I cried with her.

  There would be time enough for war later. Right now, the broken heart of someone I loved was the most important thing in the world.

  Epilogue

  I called forward to Misty and Ingr who were riding ahead of the group on the trail through the mountains, “Slow down girls, I know you're excited, but you have to wait for the rest of us.”

  I looked down to my other daughter, Shanicia, who was beaming up at me from our saddle as I called out, “It is just over this rise.”

  I still couldn't believe how much joy was in my heart when her parents had readily agreed to Celeste and me fostering their daughter when we started sending flashes to Hells Gate on the subject before Shanicia left after her weeklong Young Scholar visit three months back.

  I understood their restrained excitement, It was both a blessing and curse. It was the dream of every parent that their child grow up wanting for nothing under the wing of nobility. And they seemed doubly excited when I explained I do not prescribe to the common practice of cutting off contact between the biological parents and the child until the child reaches majority. And that they were free to visit Templar hall anytime.

  Rain's only joy lately seemed to be when Celeste and I were around, and she almost wouldn't let Misty or Shan out of her sight. She cried when she learned of our new daughter, and she dotes over both of the children like they are her own. I still needed to figure out just what we were to her, nobody seemed to be willing to explain what us wearing the Great Mother's colors meant.

  But she called them her grandchildren and loved them as much as my own mother and Emily did. It was great fun to remind Emily, who looked not much older than me, that she was a grandmother.

  I looked down at my smiling girl in wonder, my family grew. Her bright white teeth were a stark contrast to her flawless black skin, and the look on her face made her that much more adorable. She scrunched up her face as she lifted a hand to run her fingers along my scars while she asked, “What, mom?”

  She was getting more and more comfortable calling me that, and it warmed my fractured soul each time she did. I leaned down and rubbed my nose on hers then kissed it and said, “Nothing, baby. I just love you.”

  She beamed her smile at me, and then turned to take in the old forest we rode through with wide eyes. There were no forests in Hells Gate.

  I glanced at Celeste and Rain who had smug looks on their faces and refused to meet my eyes. What? Then I glanced back, Dru following beside Elaine who still hadn't traveled back to New Home yet, she was instrumental in the planning of the defense forts at the Gateway. But she and Alexandru would be joining the Gypsy forces that would back up the Sparo Knights that have been amassing there.

  It was a slow buildup as there were only two airships transporting men and supplies back and forth between the two lands. But three other realms were finishing up work on their airships while Wexbury started the process of constructing replacements, plural, for the Outrider based on some new designs of Bex.

  Sarafine was out there in the mountains somewhere, hiding in the trees and shadowing us. She had taken over Dru's duties as our Garda Personala, our personal guard when it was announced that he and Elaine were to be wed, which would make him a Cristea and he would be moving to the Westlands with her.

  I thought of Sora Heather, reunited with her own love who had apparently awoken the day of the battles in the Westlands. Udele believes he was somehow tied to my vision, and that when it finally came to pass, he was released. She thinks he was my channel to the Westlands.

  I turned in my saddle and motioned Corrine forward, who had returned to Sparo for the third time in as many months as the planning for the return of Avalon was made. We had been increasing our Fringe patrols in Sparo as well, in case they found and marched upon us.

  But things had been oddly silent. The airships have witnessed many Avalon patrols scouting from the north, edging closer and closer in their search for Spar
o. A few patrols had probed the region around the Westlands and the Ribbon of Life, but would always scurry north when our airships moved to meet them. It was as if the world were holding its breath in anticipation.

  War was on the horizon.

  But today was not that day. Today was a day of celebration that was a long time in the making. As Corrine slid in beside us, I said, “Just over the rise.”

  She nodded in an excited anticipation as she paced Goliath. I handed the reins to Shan and stretched to try to see over the rise as we approached, and again marveled at the majesty of the Whispering Walls around us. I could hear the whispers of those who came before us, teasing on the breeze, words just too faint to make out, but they seemed to be in a joyous mood today as well.

  The path was widening appreciatively as we came out of the dense forest, Heaven's Gate rising high above us like it was trying to touch the very sky above. The white snowcaps and glaciers looking almost like an ethereal fog in the thin clouds that skirted the peak.

  Then we crested the rise, and all of our horses stopped as we heard the gasp that Corrine and Elaineia shared. It was always an awe-inspiring sight to behold, it bordered on the impossible.

  There, ahead of us, was a sea of gypsy wagons, close to the entire population of Gypsies in Sparo congregated at the Meeting Spot. Thirteen Families, only the Fourteenth, the rovers were not here. They all awaited the return of the Fifteenth.

  We could see the entire two miles to our destination, and the forests, trails and the wide road we now traveled were all filled with every imaginable kind of wagon. Rain moved ahead of us all, and the Great Mother's Own materialized from the forest to surround us. They were as stealthy as Dru was and were always Guarding Rain, even when we believe her to be alone.

  The roar of tens of thousands of voices rose to greet us as we rode down into the cheering for our guests on this historic occasion. We all held our chins high as we made our way slowly through the Mountain Gypsies.