Rune Warrior

by Frank Morin

  “I can’t do it.” He looked nervous.

  Sarah squeezed his hands and drew them up to her face. He seemed reluctant, but also eager to touch her. “Do it, Alter. I trust you and I’ll gladly share some of my strength so you can stomp Paul.” Eirene had explained that the siphon wouldn’t hurt her, wouldn’t damage her own newfound rune warrior gift.

  “Are you sure you know what you’re asking?” His hands were warm against her face.

  “Yes.” She leaned into his hands. “Show me what you can do, Alter.”

  He relented and shifted so she could lie on the bench. He knelt beside her, his face close to hers. Then his eyes began to burn and purple flames flickered around his hands. Sarah held Alter’s gaze as the searing heat of his soul powers burned into her jawline and his fingers sank into her skin.

  “I trust you,” she whispered before senses contracted and her vision narrowed.

  Pain flared, then faded as he drew her soulmask away from her skull. She lost all sense of touch and taste, and her vision contracted, the little she saw taking on rainbow hues and becoming more angular. She heard his breath catch as he lifted her high.

  Alter turned her so she could see his face. A look of ecstasy settled over his features, quickly replaced by one of guilt.

  “I knew you could do it,” she said in her helium-high whisper voice.

  His fingers caressed her soulmask. They felt distant, vague.

  “Do you feel this?” he asked.

  “Not really.”

  “How about this?”

  He drew her soulmask to him and touched her compressed lips to his. A spark of living energy jumped from her soulmask to him, and a jolt shook her. It felt like part of her waking mind was snuffed out. She struggled to focus, to remain aware.

  Alter’s voice reached her through the haze. “Sarah? Sarah, are you all right?”

  Then her senses returned in a rush as he drove her face back into her skull. The skin sealed over her cheeks and her limbs rattled against the bench under the flood of reconnected cells.

  She recovered quickly and Alter helped her sit up.

  “What happened?” She asked, still feeling a little weak.

  “I think that was a bad idea,” Alter said.

  “Was that the siphon?”

  He nodded. “I think I took a lot more than I was supposed to.”

  “How?”

  “Because I wanted to.” He spoke softly, eyes downcast.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I wanted to feel you, Sarah.” He met her gaze, his eyes filled with emotion. “I pulled too hard.”

  Sarah hoped the effect was temporary. She was happy to share a little of her strength with him, but she couldn’t afford to be weakened, not with Paul still on the loose and with Spartacus running around with Tomas’ body.

  She forced her concerns aside and touched his cheek. “You didn’t know.”

  “But I did it.”

  “Don’t do it again,” she teased. “Kissing a soulmask is a little weird, even for a Cui Dashi.”

  He lifted a hand to her face and leaned closer.

  “Alter…”

  She started to tell him not to, but he leaned in before she could. Their lips touched and he kissed her just as clumsily, just as eagerly as the last time.

  Sarah managed to push him back. “Alter, this isn’t a good idea.”

  “You bet it’s not!”

  Tomas stood in the doorway.

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  We slaughtered the Romans. Three legion eagle standards fell into our hands, and the honor of those legions shall forever be tarnished. The other tribes marvel at our power, and perhaps these enhancements will pave the way to finally unifying the tribes against the hated Romans. I don’t know the hunters’ reasons, but I will avail myself of the power they place at my disposal.

  ~ Arminius, Chieftain of the Cherusci Germanic tribe, 9 A.D. after the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

  Tomas approached, angry. “What are you thinking?”

  Sarah wanted to scream with frustration. Of course Tomas had to pick that moment to enter. She hadn’t encouraged Alter, but she should have pushed him away quicker.

  Alter rose to face Tomas. “I got caught up in the moment.” He actually sounded contrite.

  Tomas advanced and looked like he was trying to control his anger. His gaze slid to Sarah.

  “It was nothing,” Sarah assured him. “He was practicing removing souls.”

  “By sucking them out through the lips?” Tomas asked. “I know you’re new at this, Alter, but even you know better than that.”

  “You’re one to talk,” Alter retorted. “Can’t even hold onto your own body.”

  “That’s low, even for you,” Tomas said, his expression scornful. “You betrayed us, boy. If you were a member of my legion, you’d be executed for that.”

  “I didn’t plan on betraying anyone,” Alter said, a little less belligerent.

  “So kissing Sarah is your way of straightening things out?”

  “That wasn’t planned either.”

  “Just like helping your brother try to kill me was all a big accident?” Tomas demanded.

  “I could have killed you in that hall,” Alter said.

  “Don’t be proud of actions you can only achieve by betrayal. You shamed yourself and your family.”

  Alter didn’t bother to respond. He threw a punch.

  His fist flew with enhanced speed, but Tomas blocked it.

  “Don’t make me your enemy, boy,” Tomas growled as the two circled each other. “I’ve tried to be understanding, and I’ve tried to forgive some of the stupid choices you’ve made, but don’t push me, not today.”

  “You know nothing,” Alter cried. “Your vaunted legion has failed to find Paul, and you’ve failed Sarah in every way.”

  “Hey, stay out of our relationship,” Sarah snapped. She needed to find a way to calm the situation, but how? Would Tomas listen to her after witnessing that brief kiss?

  Tomas raised his fists. “You’re going to insist on learning a lesson, aren’t you?”

  “You don’t deserve her,” Alter said. “I’m the one who--”

  Tomas lunged, and the move burst the avalanche of pent-up anger in both of them. They exploded into combat, attacking each other with such fury they toppled Sarah right off her bench.

  The two men fought across the room, a blur of fists and feet, punctuated by grunting and the sickening sounds of fists pounding flesh. They beat on each other with brutal ferocity. The last time they sparred against each other had taken Sarah’s breath away with their grace and speed.

  Not this time.

  They struck with terrifying force, intent on hurting, on crippling. They smashed each other in the face, in the throat, and in every major joint. Blood splattered the room and they both absorbed enough punishment to have disabled a room full of enhanced soldiers.

  Sarah leaped to her feet, terrified to see them hurt each other, and awed that they could fight through such injuries. She shouted at them to stop, but they ignored her, fully committed to the duel. She was tempted to rush out to get help, but couldn’t bear to leave them alone. One of them might kill the other.

  They fought back and forth across the room for a quarter hour until even their enhancements couldn’t keep up any more. They began to stagger from exhaustion, but their fists barely slowed. Tomas fought for vengeance against a betrayer while Alter raged against his situation, and they both poured all that emotion into the duel.

  Sarah circled them, forced to stay back to avoid being struck. She had become a proficient fighter in recent weeks, accelerated by her enhancements, but she couldn’t step into that fight. She might have tried to intervene anyway, but Alter had siphoned much of her strength. Her runes weren’t pouring nearly as much energy into her, and that well of rounon power she’d only recently unearthed felt shallow, and she didn’t dare draw it down further.

  In an abrupt reversal, Tomas dove fo
r Alter’s legs, and the two crashed to the floor, punches giving way to grappling holds as they tried to strangle each other or snap limbs.

  “Stop it!” Sarah shouted. “This isn’t solving anything.”

  They ignored her.

  Tomas elbowed Alter in the throat and when the smaller man gagged, he twisted him over and applied a choke hold. Alter beat at his hands, but couldn’t dislodge him.

  “Let him go,” Sarah cried, pulling at Tomas’ shoulder, but he felt as immovable as a statue.

  Alter reached over his shoulder and grabbed Tomas’ arm. His hands began to burn with purple fire.

  Tomas cried out and his hold loosened. Alter threw him off, then leaped on him, burning hands finding Tomas’ face. Tomas’ struggles stilled as Alter cut his connection to his nerves.

  Alter leaned over Tomas, eyes burning like living amethysts. “Eirene wants me to practice. Fine, I’ll practice.”

  “I said stop it!” Sarah picked up the toppled bench and swung it like a baseball bat.

  Home run.

  The crack of wood striking Alter’s head sounded so much like the old-time, wooden bats landing a solid hit that Sarah could hear the crowds cheering. Alter tumbled across the room, landing in a heap.

  Tomas struggled to sit up, grimacing.

  Alter leaped to his feet despite the devastating blow. Already the effects of the fight were fading. He had always been a quick healer, but his soul was becoming stronger now that he knew how to tap his Cui Dashi nevra core and had begun siphoning other souls.

  Sarah faced him. “That’s enough, Alter. This isn’t the way.”

  “I should’ve taken the shot when I had the chance,” Alter said. “That would’ve been clean.”

  “You said it was Reuben who shot Tomas.”

  “Not that one,” Alter said. “That was only the last time I spared his useless life.”

  “What are you talking about?” Sarah asked.

  “A couple weeks ago when you were eating in that little outdoor cafe, I could have ended him, but I didn’t.”

  “You were spying on our date?”

  Alter seemed to realize he had gone too far. “Never mind.”

  “No, you tell me what you’re talking about,” Sarah demanded. The revelation was disturbing. “No more lies.”

  “Lies? I never lie,” Alter exclaimed. “Yes, I spied on your date. Are you happy? You’re the one who said I should have some fun.”

  “That’s not fun,” she snapped. “That’s creepy.”

  Tomas rose to face Alter. “Who would kill someone on a date?”

  “No one! I didn’t do it.”

  Alter stormed from the room.

  Tomas moved to follow, but Sarah grabbed his arm. “Let him go. He’s having a bad day.”

  “Oh, so you only worry about Alter?” Tomas snapped. “He nearly killed me the other day, so you figure the best way to deal with that is to kiss him?”

  “He kissed me,” she reminded him, happy he didn’t know about the first time she’d let Alter kiss her.

  “But you looked like you weren’t convinced you wanted him to stop,” Tomas said, studying her face, as if her expression had betrayed some of her thoughts.

  Sarah hesitated, and Tomas’ eyes widened. “You wanted him to kiss you? Why?” His belligerence faded, and he looked devastated.

  She took his hands. “No. Tomas, it’s just, we’re going through such crazy times. He helped me activate my rune warrior gift, and you swapped bodies with Carl and--”

  “Is that what this is all about?” he demanded. The hurt in his eyes mirrored the anguish she still felt from that argument.

  They faced each other, and she wanted nothing more than to kiss him, to prove to him that she loved him. But he still wore that hunter body, his face slightly distorted, and she hated to embrace the form of a stranger, even if he was the one wearing it.

  She didn’t trust herself to speak. Her lingering anger with him for swapping bodies with Carl mingled with worry that he was hurt, and fear that he’d never get his body back. She was also confused by concern about Alter and what his family was going to do, and afraid to face Paul again without Alter’s help.

  “I need some time to think,” she said finally.

  Tomas retreated, his expression disbelieving. “Listen to yourself. You get angry with me for doing a favor for my friend, but then you kiss the man who betrayed me. Does that make any sense to you?”

  “Sometimes I think nothing makes sense anymore.” She felt tears forming, but savagely fought them down. That was not the time to show weakness. She needed to figure things out, but her emotions were in turmoil, and she couldn’t even embrace him without being held by some other man’s arms.

  “We’ll work through it,” he promised, drawing closer and reaching for her.

  She backed away, shaking her head. “I can’t, Tomas. Not yet.”

  “I’m here for you, Sarah,” Tomas said softly. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  “Just give me some space.”

  Sarah rushed from the room. She needed a way to take her mind off of everything, but she couldn’t figure out what would help.

  She ran into Bastien.

  His warm smile was a balm to her nerves, and his smooth French accent a comfort. “If you are not too busy,” he said. “Perhaps now would be a good time to learn about rune warrior ciphers, yes?”

  She took his arm, eager for the chance to focus on something positive. “Perfect timing. Lead the way.”

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  Three things are needed for success in painting and sculpture: to see beauty when young and accustom oneself to it, to work hard, and to obtain good advice.

  For success in love, one needs a woman like Francesca.

  ~Gian Lorenzo Bernini

  Even though it was growing late, Bastien drove Sarah back into Rome to Suntara, and led her down to the vault. The mostly-empty room seemed too bright with its steel-clad walls glittering with reflected light. Eirene waited for them, lounging on one of the reclined memory walking chairs.

  Sarah felt exhausted, and hungry. She should have stopped by the dining room before they left, but she was eager to learn ciphers. She needed that knowledge, and she needed the distraction.

  Eirene rose to greet them. She and Bastien kissed each other on each cheek, then she turned to Sarah. “Did you meet with Alter to practice dispossessions?”

  That was the last thing Sarah wanted to talk about.

  Eirene caught her expression. “Is everything all right, dear?”

  “Can we just focus on ciphers for now? Please?”

  “But of course.” Bastien slipped smoothly into the conversation. “That is why we are here, no?”

  He led them to the rear of the vault, to a whiteboard affixed to the wall beside the workbench Alter usually used. He began drawing with a blue marker. “Your sensitivity to runes is a manifestation of the power of your bloodline.”

  “I’m a rune warrior,” Sarah said thoughtfully. “So does that mean I’m related to Joan of Arc, even though Alter’s family couldn’t find proof in my genealogy?”

  “It is indeed,” Bastien said. “I spent a great deal of effort concealing your bloodline these past centuries, hoping another rune warrior would arise.”

  “You destroyed all those records? Why?”

  “Joan was indeed very strong,” Bastien said. “She accomplished much in little time, but could have done much more. I have studied rune warrior lines, and there was much strength in hers. I did not want the hunters, or anyone else, intercepting a new rune warrior before they were strong enough to defend themselves.”

  “But Alter said his family didn’t set up Joan,” Sarah protested.

  “There was much confusion in those days,” Bastien said.

  “Someone targeted her,” Eirene added. “We always thought it was the hunters. If not them, then someone went to a lot of effort to make it look like them.”

  “Such subterfuge is excep
tional,” Bastien said. “I have monitored branches of that family ever since, shielding the records from the world. Many of your ancestors did great things, Sarah, but not until now has the full strength of your bloodline again resurfaced.”

  Sarah sank into a nearby chair, amazed. To think Bastien had been shepherding her family from the shadows. She’d never considered her family anything special. Her parents had always done their best to ensure that.

  “I don’t know anything about my ancestors,” she said. “Tell me.”

  “Several were explorers,” Bastien said. “One assisted my father in hunting the renegade heka known as Cortez in the new world. Others played important roles in the American Revolution and helped shape your country’s early days. It would take more time than we have tonight to tell you a fraction of their tales.”

  “Then let’s meet again soon and talk about them.” Sarah felt eager to learn about them.

  “It would be my pleasure,” Bastien said. “Perhaps a weekly dinner date, yes?”

  Sarah hesitated only a second. With her personal life in such turmoil between Alter and Tomas, she wasn’t sure how Tomas would react to a weekly dinner date with Bastien. “I think it’s a good idea, but don’t call it a date.”

  “A clandestine rendezvous does sound more interesting,” he said with a warm smile.

  Sarah laughed and Eirene tapped the whiteboard. “As a rune warrior, you can use all the runes the other rounon-gifted can, but those are not where your gift will shine.”

  Bastien drew a couple of symbols that were simple compared to the runes Sarah had been most recently working with, but more complex than the healing rune.

  They felt different.

  As Sarah studied the symbols, they set her pulse racing. The markings contained coiled energy, as if only needing a little nudge to explode right off the board.

  “Where do these symbols come from?” she asked, leaning closer to the board.

  “They are old,” Eirene said. “Many of the best cipher symbols are the very old. These are known as oracle bone script, the oldest known form of Chinese written language.”

  “Bone script?” Sarah asked. It sounded creepy.