by Tora Moon
Next up was the demonstration of the other Talents. As they had done for Rizelya, melons and leather targets had been set up on the arena floor. There was a general murmur of surprise and derision when Saffren stepped into the arena. Her sapphire blue hair was in a braid hanging down her back, contrasting with the red fighting leathers she wore. She appeared calm, but Rizelya could detect her nervousness. They had planned on going in the same order as before, with Saffren demonstrating her ability last.
Instead, Saffren glowered at the crowd and strode out to stand several feet away from the first leather target. She gripped her helbraught so tight her knuckles were white. She glanced at Rizelya and visibly relaxed. Her helbraught blade began to glow with pale blue light, and a stream of ice flowed from the blade to surround the melon on three sides. Then the color of the blade changed to deep indigo. A flash of light and the melon was boiling. There was an astonished yelp from the crowd.
“That should be almost as good as fire,” Beladi said.
“It is. And the ice curtain allowed us to get past monsters that were blocking the pass into Strunlair.” Rizelya lowered her voice so only Beladi could hear her, “But only very strong, dark Blues can be allowed to fight when there is a control-janack. Otherwise we could have another Keandran.”
Beladi nodded in understanding. Before breakfast Rizelya had briefed the Clan Alphas on what happened during their journey.
Grazeen went next, exhibiting the rot and the resulting snelks.
“It works on the monsters,” Rizelya told Beladi and Nestrun. “All of these techniques are battle tested.”
By the time Raeleen showed turning monsters into stone and Maellyn burned hers with lava, the Clan Alphas were nodding, pleased smiles on their faces.
Gehan’s freezing air was a bit anti-climactic, given the previous spectacular destruction.
“Yes!” Eiden yelled, jumping up from her seat. “I can actually fight now!”
The rest of the day, and the next two, Rizelya and her team taught people the new methods. These women they trained would then return with the various keep alphas to teach their people. Soon every keep within Strunlair Province would have at least one squad with varied Talents to fight the monsters.
Word spread that once teams were skilled and experienced, the alphas were sending representatives to the other seven provinces to teach them the new techniques. They decided the information needed to be shared with the other clans as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the next Alpha Council held at the Sanctuary. There were several teams excitedly talking about the assignment.
At the end of the third day of training, Histrun and Naila called Rizelya and Aistrun to them.
“You’re leaving tomorrow for the Sanctuary,” Histrun told them.
Rizelya nodded. She’d expected it. “Who is going with us?”
“Your squad-pack.” Naila’s face was crunched in confusion.
“But does my pack include my new additions?”
“Oh,” Naila said as understanding washed across her face. “No.”
“But they’re my pack!” Rizelya crossed her arms ready to fight for her people.
“Yes, they are,” Histrun agreed. “But they’ll wait here for you to return.”
“But why can’t they come with us?” Seeing Naila’s tight lips, Rizelya changed tactics. “Surely the Supreme needs to know about our new fighting methods, doesn’t she? My team could show her.”
Naila frowned at her. “Not the Supreme’s concern.”
“The Supreme doesn’t care how we fight the monsters,” Histrun said. “We need your new people here to help us complete the training of all these new squads. You don’t need them to accompany you through country that hasn’t ever seen a monster attack.”
Rizelya huffed in defeat. “Oh, all right. Just as long as when I return, they rejoin me.”
Aistrun cleared his throat. “Alpha, we need a change in our squad-pack.”
Rizelya smacked her forehead. How could she have forgotten? Since arriving at the Clan-Keep, Dehali and the Strunell twins, Kami and Tami, were inseparable. They were quickly becoming bond-mates. It would be unkind to make them wait for her return from the Sanctuary to be together.
“Dehali would like to be transferred to Strunell Keep. Keshanal says she’d be happy to take her,” Rizelya said.
“Already done,” Naila said with a smile. “Not too old to see love.”
Rizelya leaped up and rushed to Naila’s chair. Hugging her, she said, “Oh, thank you, Naila. They will be so happy.”
Her squad-pack had begun as six, then swelled to twenty, including the warriors now attached to her girls, and now it was down to four, Rizelya reflected as she made her way to her room. She stopped on the way to tell Dehali of her pack change and was swamped with deliriously happy tears. Rizelya was still smiling when she entered her room.
“What’s happened?” Kaieli asked, putting down the scroll she was reading. Strunlair Keep was home to the healing college of the country. Healers from all over Lairheim traveled to the college to study with the masters and Kaieli was using her time to consult with them.
“Dehali has been transferred to Strunell Keep.”
“That’s marvelous news! Finding bond-mates is always special.”
“Are you sorry we never became more?” Rizelya kneeled in front of Kaieli, holding her hands.
Kaieli shook her head. “No, we’re what we are meant to be: heart sisters.” She cocked her head to the side. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m leaving for the Sanctuary tomorrow.”
“I’m confused. That’s good news. The Supreme needs to hear about your dreams.”
“But we’ve seen each other so little. I’d rather be going home with you.”
“I’m not going home.”
Rizelya pulled back in surprise.
“I’m going to Posanlair Province. There’s been an outbreak of plague and they need healers to help them.”
“Oh. You’re a good healer, they’re lucky to have you.” Rizelya threw her arms around Kaieli’s waist and buried her face in Kaieli’s lap. “I’ll miss you. Who knows when we’ll see each other again?”
Kaieli kissed the top of Rizelya’s head. “It will go fast. You’ve monsters to kill, and I have a disease to destroy. It’s what we do.”
That night, with Kaieli’s soft breath on her shoulder, Rizelya allowed herself to wonder what life would be like without the monsters. What if they could destroy them forever? Kaieli would still have disease to fight, but what would Rizelya fight? All she’d ever known was fighting monsters. What else would she do?
Chapter 16
Rizelya’s small pack saddled their horses in the early morning light. Dehali was quiet as she boosted a large pack onto Kressy’s back. Over the several chedan since they’d acquired her, the multa had shed her winter pelt. The pale cream and warm gray was now replaced with pale green. Glancing around to see that everyone was ready, Rizelya called the order to mount up and led her small group out of the keep.
Not far from the gate, a commotion caused Rizelya to turn in her saddle. A familiar, stubborn stallion galloped toward them, trailing his broken lead rope. She reached out and grabbed Tejen’s bridle. He tossed his head at his cleverness in catching up to them and Kymaya whickered at him. The horse trotted happily along with them. Rizelya knew it was hopeless to try to take him back. He’d just escape again and follow them. He was obviously determined to go with the group.
They rode north toward Strunhelos Territory, the early summer sun warmed their backs. The first two days were pleasant riding through the fields and orchards. It was becoming common to see teenage Red girls and their wolf counterparts guarding the non-fighters as they worked. Rizelya reflected that soon every keep in Lairheim, large or small, would institute the practice until the monsters returned to normal. But Rizelya doubted they would.
She was convinced that the only way to defeat the monsters was to defeat whoever was controlling the
m. Rizelya had glimpsed others besides the strange woman in her dreams and all of them held malice for the Posairs.
The second night from Strunlair Keep, the dreams began again, more horrible than before. Rizelya saw a young boy herding a small flock of sheep. During their grazing, they had wandered away from the rest of the herders. A brecha burst out of the tall sedge grass with another one close behind it. Sheep were ripped apart. The pus-colored smoked roiled in the woman’s tubes and formed pus-colored beads as the sheep were devoured by the brecha. The boy ran screaming and a janack rolled behind him, thick slime coating the ground. The janack’s long tentacle reached out and snatched the boy, lifting him high in the air and dropping him in its open maw. The strange woman laughed gleefully when the pus-colored smoke turned black. The black pearls forming in her bowl were larger than the others. The woman popped a pearl into her mouth and sucked greedily at the pulp inside. Other hands reached for the pearls.
Rizelya woke up screaming. Aistrun gathered her in his arms and held her the rest of the night. Whenever she closed her eyes, the boy’s death replayed and the woman’s exultant laugh rang in her ears. During the night two more people were killed in her dreams.
The terror of the people killed continued to run through her veins. Even in the bright light of day, the images haunted her. A heavy lethargy settled around her and she found herself sliding out of Kymaya’s saddle. After the second time, Aistrun insisted she ride in front of him.
They reached Strunhelos Keep as twilight ignited the snow covered peaks of the White Mountains. After dinner, the group was lead to a room high in a tower. The meal and the safe confines of the keep revived Rizelya. Dreading more dreams, she forced herself to stay awake while the others went to sleep. In the dark, Rizelya stood staring out the window of their room. The Sanctuary was hidden in the mountain depths and it would take them three days of riding mountain trails to reach it. Rizelya leaned against the cold glass. Would the mountains offer her sanctuary from the attacks on her mind and sanity?
Unwilling to see any more people killed in her dreams, Rizelya spent the night drinking large amounts of taevo in an effort to stay awake. By the time the others woke up, she was bleary eyed and shaking from the caffeine. While trying to saddle Kymaya, she fumbled the buckles and straps so badly that Leistral pushed Rizelya hands away and finished the job.
The steady sway and the warmth of the sun lulled her and Rizelya’s eyes drifted closed. Dream after dream of monsters killing people assaulted her. The woman’s gleeful cackle as she and her compatriots fed on the death essence echoed in her head. Aistrun pulled her from her saddle and she stumbled against him while he guided her to sit on a log. She blinked her eyes trying to stay awake. Her hands covered her ears to stop the ongoing cackle and her back arched as she curled up until her face was on her knees. Her jaw ached from clenching it tight to keep the scream inside. She was vaguely aware when someone threw a sleeping fur over her. Another dream assailed her and the next thing she knew, Aistrun was carrying her into a tent and laying her down. He wasn’t grinning.
The woman’s attack on Rizelya’s sanity didn’t stop, by morning the dreams became all Rizelya knew. In moments of clarity, she heard the clop of horse’s hooves and felt Aistrun’s strong arm around her. She’d lean back against him, soaking in his strength, until the next dream stole away her awareness. She awoke once when Leistral spooned warm broth into her mouth. Leistral’s eyes were red rimmed and worry etched lines on her face. Then another dream of terror swooped into her consciousness and it was all she knew.
The clatter of hooves on cobblestones intruded into Rizelya’s dreams. Another clip-clop, and the dream began to slip away and ceased entirely a few moments later. Rizelya took a deep breath and held it while she waited for the next dream to hit her; when it didn’t she let out her breath and relaxed against Aistrun’s shoulder.
Jezhan came to a shuddering halt. “We’re here.” Rizelya heard Aistrun tell her. “You’re safe.”
Gentle hands reached for her. At their touch, Rizelya jerked awake, truly awake for the first time in days.
“Where are we?” Rizelya’s voice cracked.
“The Sanctuary.”
The voice of the young woman standing next to Jezhan was familiar. Rizelya blinked, then narrowed her eyes. The woman’s creamy white hair with thin streaks of gray was pulled back from her face with a blue band and her pale blue eyes were kind. She was about the same age as Rizelya. Recognition finally dawned.
“Wisah!” Rizelya slid off the horse and into the waiting arms of her niece. Wisah was Naila’s only daughter. Zehala had been in her mid-fifties and Histrun in his seventies when they’d been surprised by Zehala’s pregnancy with Rizelya. At the time, Naila was thirty and pregnant herself. Wisah and Rizelya had been raised together in the pack nursery until Wisah had been taken to the Sanctuary when she was five years old to train her White Talent. Wisah had returned to Strunland Keep when she was thirteen as an apprentice priestess and the two had renewed their friendship. But they hadn’t seen each other since Wisah had returned to the Sanctuary six years ago.
“You’ve looked better,” Wisah said. Keeping an arm around Rizelya’s waist to support her, Wisah reached out to smooth Rizelya’s hair. “Why are you here?”
“Can’t I just come to see my niece?”
“No. What’s wrong?”
Rizelya wrinkled her nose. “I need to talk to the Supreme about my strange dreams.”
“Sounds important,” Wisah said.
“It is.”
“I’ll make arrangements for you to meet with the Supreme. Let’s get you settled first.” Wisah turned to Aistrun, who pulled her into a hug. “You, however, can’t come any further. No males are allowed into the Sanctuary cloister.”
“Hey, Wisah, can’t you make an exception for your favorite wolf?” Aistrun made a sad face.
Wisah laughed at him. “No, not even for you. There’s only one man, except the Consort, who has ever seen the cloisters, and that was Blazel. He was only a boy then.”
“I remember Histrun talking about him. Where’s Blazel now? I’d like to meet him.”
“Gone. He was sent south.”
A young girl about ten years old with white hair came up to them, her eyes wide. She bowed and said, “I’ll take you to the men’s ward, warriors.”
Aistrun and Eidstrun pulled their packs from their horses and followed the girl to a door across the courtyard. Another girl took the horses’ reins and led them away.
“Come,” Wisah said, “let’s get you and Leistral settled. Tell me about home.”
Leistral and Wisah each put an arm around Rizelya’s waist, supporting her as they walked to the cloister.
***
Rizelya stretched and her leg hit a solid presence where none should be. She opened her eyes and scrambled out of bed.
“What … where … who …?” She couldn’t form thoughts, much less words, in her terror. The woman from her dreams was here, on her bed.
“I’m Chariel,” the woman said, in the soft tones used for calming spooked horses. She lifted a hand to swipe a strand of hair away from her face.
Rizelya’s gaze was caught by the long, tapered fingers. Fingers, not claws. Her thumping heart slowed to a normal pace. At first glance the woman from her dreams and this one could be twins. Rizelya forced herself to look into the woman’s face. It was fuller, healthier than the face in her dreams. The eyes were different too; they weren’t brimming with hate but with concern. And they were dark gray, not black. This woman’s pale skin glowed rosy in the morning light rather than being a pale gray. However, they both had the same charcoal-gray hair. All of the Grays Rizelya had seen had much lighter gray hair and eyes.
“What”—Rizelya swallowed the last of her fear—“what are you?”
The woman looked at her quizzically. “I’m a Gray—” she said slowly, as if it wasn’t obvious.
“You look like the woman in my dreams.” Rizelya grimaced, then
began pacing the room. “An evil, malicious woman who hates all Posairs.”
“Ah,” Chariel said, understanding in her voice. “I’m sorry I frightened you. I just wanted a better look at the woman in my visions.”
“Visions?”
“I have visions.” Chariel shrugged. “You are quite prominent in many of them recently. You are important to our survival.”
“Me?” Rizelya frowned. She was just a squad-pack alpha. “How?”
Before Chariel could answer, Wisah breezed into the room. “Oh, there you are, Chariel. I see you two have been introduced.”
“You could say that,” Rizelya said with a snort.
Wisah whirled to face Chariel. “You didn’t scare her with one of your prophecies, did you?”
Chariel shook her head but suddenly stopped in mid-motion, a silver film covering her eyes.
“New-found friends,” Chariel said, in a deep, monotone voice.
Rizelya glanced at Wisah, who shushed her and grabbed a pen and parchment. Her quill scratched to keep up with the words flowing from Chariel.
“New Talents appear. Unlikely travel companions, danger they find. A rogue for a guide into the Deep Mountains. Long-lost allies to fight once more. Ancient enemies coming into the light. A menace comes. No allies, the enemy wins and all die. All must go or none will return. Horse and hawk, fire and warrior, white and gray.” Chariel turned blind eyes to Rizelya. “You must lead. He will follow. We will follow.”
Chariel’s eyes rolled to the back of her head and she slumped to the ground. Rizelya caught her before she banged her head on the floor. Rizelya looked up at Wisah, who was still scribbling furiously.
“What was that?”
“A prophecy.” Wisah finished writing. She knelt next to Chariel, gently stroking her hair. “She’s an oracle.”
Chariel’s eyes flickered and she groaned. “I had a prophecy again, didn’t I?”
Wisah nodded. “Yes. It sounds like a group is going on a quest to find old allies to fight our ancient enemy. But who are our enemies except the damned monsters?”