by S. M. Welles
“Who beat who?”
“I did,” Yayu said. “Fair and square. Just like before. Though I thought he had me at one point. We traded places quite a few times.” Yayu tossed one of his half-smiles to Aerigo. “In the final stretch Aerigo was barely ahead of me—I couldn’t believe how much he’d improved since last time—but his stamina fell just short of mine. I managed to pull ahead just before the finish line.”
“I was so close!” Aerigo exclaimed in mock frustration.
“Goodness, Roxie! What happened to you?” Yayu asked. “I just noticed all your cuts and bruises.”
“I’m fine,” she said with an airy wave of her hand, although she still couldn’t stand on her bruised foot. “I just tripped over something in the cave.”
“You poor thing. You still managed to perform very well. You beat both my sons.”
Roxie’s jaw dropped.
The Elf, Kabiroas, led his two men, Sodo and Dahl, to the base of the steps that rose to Nexus’ throne. Their gait was urgent and their beating hearts equally rapid. They each dropped to one knee and bowed their heads in unison.
“You may rise.”
Kabiroas looked up at his master, who appeared calm enough. Nexus was a temperamental god, and the Elf’s fear of him was justified. “Master,” he began humbly, “we bring news, both good and bad.”
“You’re here much sooner than anticipated,” Nexus said. “Explain!”
Kabiroas jumped inwardly. The man on his left was first to find his voice. “We have spied on the two Aigis as you commanded,” he said in a steady voice. “But Aerigo detected our presence.”
“Where are Frawst and Chionas?” The young god said with an edge to his voice. He leaned against the back of his throne, his arms on the rests and his feet flat on the ground. He did not look at all pleased to see them.
“A most unfortunate accident, Master,” Kabiroas said without a hint of sadness. “Monsters from the water ambushed Frawst days ago. Chionas was the first to react to Frawst’s cries of anguish. The rest of us came running, but it was too late. I tried to shoot one with my crossbow, but they’d somehow vanished into the river. There was nothing but blood and torn cloth floating in the water.”
“Carelessness!”
Kabiroas flinched again. “I apologize, Master. I will not let it happen again.”
“You better not.” Nexus took a deep breath through his nose. “So why have you left Sconda so soon? Din’s world is closed to me. I cannot read it.”
The lack of an “or else” threat put Kabiroas deeper on guard. Only those ready to kill gave no warning. He chose his next words with care. “Aerigo found us, Master. We had to flee, lest he try to kill or interrogate us. Dahl and I world-hopped back minutes later, only realize the god Din had arrived. My mortal concealment powers are no use against a god. We—”
“—should have stayed. You said you didn’t know that for certain—”
“The risk was too great!” Kabiroas sent Dahl a warning look. The man cowered into silence. The Elf turned back to his master and bowed his head. “I apologize for Dahl’s insolence, Master.” A fizzing bang erupted behind him. Dahl was lying on the ground clutching at his chest. Fountains of blood gushed between the man’s fingers. A gurgling groan escaped from his throat, and then his body arched up as he let out one blood-drenched scream. He sighed his last, blood dribbling from his mouth as he fell lifeless to the floor.
“That,” Nexus whispered menacingly, “is the price for disrespect.”
Kabiroas and Sodo stared in horror at the gory mess, filled with a sudden urge to flee. Before they could, Nexus’ voice made them jump.
“So... Din came?”
Kabiroas thought he would vomit if he opened his mouth, not because he was sickened by the sight of blood, but because he feared for his life. Not speaking at all, however, would likely earn him the same reward. When he tried, his voice refused not to shake. “Y-yes, Master.” He swallowed hard. “We saw Din arrive, s-so we fled for fear of being discovered. I deemed leaving the best thing to do.”
“I see.” Nexus got up and walked down the steps, the slap of his bare feet on the marble echoing against the high walls. The young god descended with his arms folded behind his back, contemplating the ground between them, and stopped on the lowest step.
Kabiroas first fought the urge to flee, and then the urge to draw his weapons. Even if he could chop off his Nexus’ head, the god would live.
And then the Elf would die...
“You are going right back to Sconda to spy on them,” Nexus said. “With some protection this time. Hold still.” Nexus held out his hands, one before each of their faces, his fingers spread. He closed his eyes. Kabiroas stared wide-eyed at his master’s palms, expecting this “protection” to be a ruse. And then it felt like someone was pulling his hood over his head. He reached up and felt only his hair.
“There. I have given you the same protection as I did your leader on his last excursion.”
The Elf slowly relaxed his hands away from the hilts of his swords and let out his breath.
“What happened to Daio?” Sodo asked.
“He died, unfortunately, but his efforts were not in vain.” Nexus turned toward his throne.
Kabiroas felt the blood leave his already pale face. Daio had been an Aigis, no trivial foe. What did this bode for him and the other Elves and humans?
“I must warn you,” Nexus said, “I haven’t perfected my guarding mark yet. It’s most effective at concealing you from other gods. Now go!” His servants bowed and turned to leave. “Oh, and Sodo: get rid of your brother for me.”
Sodo bowed, then moved for the dead man on the floor.
Chapter 17
Fallen
The race had started and ended all in under an hour, but once it was over the mid-afternoon sun started working its way west, the intense rays strong enough for Roxie to feel her skin tanning. Fluffy cotton balls of cumulus clouds brought fleeting relief and a gentle breeze with a hint of the sea in it, making the sun bearable.
Due to her injury, Roxie ended up being personally transported from the finish line up the hundred yard long slope to the celebration arena. Where Aerigo found the extra energy she had no idea, but she didn’t complain when he turned her into a human backpack. It had been a tough race after all.
Roxie wrapped her arms about his shoulders and rested her head next his as his muscles corded and softened with his every stride. Aerigo felt warm and sticky with sweat, and smelled of deodorant. In the past, Roxie hadn’t even liked holding hands if either her or her former boyfriend’s hand was sweaty, but for some reason Aerigo’s sweaty arms, back and hands didn’t faze her. There was something about his nearness that put her completely at ease, too, but that didn’t stop her wondering where those scars on his back had come from. Giddy from the run, she chanced the question she’d wanted to ask ever since she’d first seen them. “Hey, Aerigo?”
“Yes?”
Roxie’s eyes darted to the ground and her throat tightened. She couldn’t bring herself to ask. It felt like she’d be breaking some unspoken taboo. On the other hand, his voice had sounded like he wouldn’t mind being asked a personal question. “I have a question—but you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to. But... I was just… I was just wondering how you got the scars on your back.”
Aerigo bowed his head, leaving Roxie wondering if she’d crossed the invisible line she’d feared existed. Yayu and his two sons were walking ahead of them, just far enough away to not be able to hear. Roxie listened to the padding of many pairs of feet through the thick grass before Aerigo finally spoke in his deep voice. “All my scars came from assignments where I had to play the role of a warrior, except for the first one.”
“Which one’s that?” She leaned back and Aerigo’s grip tightened around her thighs.
“The one that runs vertically along my right shoulder blade.”
“This one?” Roxie ran a gentle finger along the raised line of
pale scar tissue.
“Yes—don’t do that again!”
“Why, does it tickle?” Roxie gave him a dorky grin when Aerigo sighed at her. “So, how’d you get it?”
Aerigo took a second to answer. “There were these people trying to kill me,” he said in a detached tone.
“Why?” Disgruntled by the news, she placed her cheek near his for comfort, and pressed her chest to Aerigo’s back, wanting, for some reason, to keep her heart as close to his as possible.
“I was different from them.”
Roxie noticed how Aerigo’s deep voice made his chest cavity vibrate under her hands. She could even feel it vibrate his back. “Was it your glowing eyes?”
Aerigo arched his eyebrows. “Good guess.”
“Wasn’t hard.”
“True. And it was also because I could do other things that a human can’t, like catch a falling tree without getting crushed.” Aerigo’s strides remained steady and strong as he made his way to the crest of the hill. Yayu and his sons crested the top and waited for the two Aigis to catch up.
The tops of more trees came into view first, then their trunks, and once they reached the top, they were treated to a wondrous view of the site of Eisisumet. In the very heart of the valley sat a giant circular stage, covered with percussion instruments waiting to be played. A few people puttered around onstage checking instruments and making final adjustments to their placement. Ten long tables stretched out like spokes on a wheel, lined with benches, and many smaller tables squared off the outer edge. At the inside end of each table flew a banner atop a tall pole, each marked with the colors and symbol of one clan or another. A breeze blew these pennants towards the top of the hills, bringing the smell of cooking food with it. Yayu’s eyes filled excitement to match a child seeing a mountain of Christmas presents under a tree.
“Before everyone gets too excited, we need to find a healer for Rox,” Aerigo said.
They made their way down the hill, closer to the heart of the arena.
All the tables were covered with trays and bowls of food. A few fires burned on the verge of a forest on the arena’s far right side. A hundred people that looked the size of dolls from Roxie’s perch moved between tables and the fires, preparing a feast for thousands. Her stomach pulled her towards this feast, but Aerigo’s footsteps led elsewhere.
“There’s Shaku!” Yayu said, pointing out a man near the stage. He jogged up to the healer, stopped before him and bowed. The healer stopped speaking with a woman and acknowledged Yayu’s presence with a slight bow of his head and a few unheard words. Aerigo carried Roxie between two long tables and caught up with Yayu in time to hear him say, “Ah, arda man se aerigosos, ae jena ma fanta.”
Aerigo’s grip slackened on Roxie’s legs. She let go of his shoulders and slid off to balance on her left leg. From the corner of her eye she saw Yayu’s sons bow, putting their thumbs to their forehead. The two Aigis did the same.
Shaku turned to Yayu and gave him a puzzled look. “Kih du man se aerigosos?”
“Haz,” Yayu replied, giving a quick nod.
Shaku looked more like a witch doctor or shaman, in Roxie’s opinion. He had long, flaming red hair streaked with silver, strung in thick locks and tied down with beads as thick as fingers. He was taller than anyone else—almost a head taller than Aerigo—and he had eyes of metallic gold. They gave Roxie equally strong impression of wisdom and cunning. It was like looking into the eyes of a tiger. The healer had curved tattoos all over his forearms, and his fingers had long, claw-like nails. A wide strip of cloth draped around his neck like a necklace with the stringy ends hanging down his back.
The healer shrugged, then turned back to the rest of his audience. “Brama,” Shaku welcomed them. “You: have a seat,” the Wangama said to Roxie, pointing to the nearest bench. “I will tend to you in a second.”
She obeyed. Yayu and his sons spoke with the healer briefly in Scondish, then headed towards the river that lay beyond the circle of tables.
The healer turned back to them and breathed in deeply. His shoulders relaxed. “You take a seat, too,” he said to Aerigo and gave him a little push to make him comply. “You’re the legendary Aerigo,” he said admiringly. “You proudly bear all the scars of your past.” His eyes focused on the big man’s sternum. “Except one… Such scars I cannot heal. You must handle that one yourself.”
Aerigo hadn’t even shown the Wangama his back. Which scar was he talking about?
“You’re shorter than I expected,” Shaku said.
Roxie cringed inwardly, but when she saw Aerigo shrug... wow, he looks even stronger from—damn it! I’m doing it again! She concentrated on her foot injury and the pain it caused, and then on Shaku when he spoke again, his eyes closed.
“Nonetheless I can feel great energy inside you, and that you know how to wield such power.” Shaku opened his golden eyes and stood before Roxie. “But enough of that. I have work to do.” He sat cross-legged, delicately taking her injured foot into his claw-nailed hands. “Hmm. I doubt whatever you kicked is standing anymore.” He looked up at her with a knowing smile. “Your kind is resilient. You’re tough and quick to heal. With my touch you’ll be fine in a couple of minutes.”
“Just a couple of minutes?”
“I did not earn the title of ‘Wangama’ for nothing, Aigis.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Roxie said quickly, “It’s just—I—”
“None taken,” he reassured her. “Just hold still.”
She clenched the bench’s edge with both hands while Shaku sat with both hands poised above her foot as if he were holding an invisible ball. He started whispering. A wispy cloud began to materialize between his palms and his whispering chant became louder. The wisp grew and thickened until its shape filled the gap between his hands. Shaku stopped chanting and moved one hand over the cloud and poked it with a finger. The top of it flattened out and the healer drew a complex rune on it with a pointed nail. “Oh, by the way: this is going to hurt a bit,” he said with a straight face.
Doctors aren’t supposed to say things like that. She clenched the bench.
Shaku placed his hands on either side of his inscribed cloud and shouted, “Han-za!”
The cloud shot into Roxie’s foot, and she let out a yelp. Her foot blazed with pain as if it had been hit with a mallet. And then her foot absorbed the wispy mass like water into a sponge. It filled her foot with the sensation of being plunged into an ice bucket. The pain numbed away and her bruising began to disappear. The crack in her toenail fused itself and the congealed blood turned to dust. Shaku blew away the dust blood with a sharp exhale. In under a minute her foot looked—and felt—normal again.
“Perfect!” the Wangama said, getting to his feet. “Just give yourself another minute before you start walking. Your foot may feel sore for a little while, but you’ll be fine long before the festivities start. As for the rest of your scrapes and bruises, go on into the river. I’ve laid a tricky healing incantation on the still water. Have some of the lemon water right behind you, too.”
Roxie helped herself to the wooden pitcher and poured Aerigo some as well. The water was refreshingly cold and lemony.
“Now,” he went on seriously, “I have other hurts to tend to so I must be going. Hopefully we shall meet again before the night is out. I’m seated with Clan Narihara. Where are you?”
“Clan Ormolu,” Aerigo said.
Shaku’s eyes lit up. “Our tables are next to each other! What an excellent surprise! Until tonight then…” The healer bowed an adieu and headed past the tables and uphill.
Once he was out of earshot Roxie stood and tested her foot. It felt a little sore, but not so much that she couldn’t ignore it. “Well, he’s a good healer,” she said to Aerigo. “A little weird, though.” She looked up to see her friend wearing a faint smile. “What?”
He turned his head. Shaku was cresting the top of the hill he and Roxie had come from. He looked back at Roxie. “For once I have to
agree with you.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
Aerigo broke into a full smile. “I don’t know. Let’s get to the river. Can you walk?”
“Yeah. Let’s go!” The two headed in the opposite direction of the cooking fires. A smooth and sandy shore hugged their bare feet and gradually sloped down under the river’s fast current. The sound of rushing water met their ears, and the river’s crisp smell filled their lungs. Near the far shore lay the big patch of calm water Shaku had mentioned. It was outlined by rocks and fallen logs on its upstream side, and teemed with people swimming and playing in the water. Yayu and his sons reclined against a log and waved them over. A boy swung out on a vine over the water. He let go with an exuberant “woo-hoo!” and splashed down cannon ball style. “Aw man, that looks like fun!” Roxie said.
“You’d break the vine.”
“How do you know?”
Aerigo gave her a look that said she shouldn’t question the obvious.
“Fine. You’re right. Let’s just get in the water.” Roxie tested the river with her toes. “Ooo! Refreshing! Just a teensy bit on the chilly side.” She searched for a dock in vain, but that didn’t discourage her. “The best way is to hop right in.” She bolted for deeper water and dived in. The initial shock of cold hit once she was fully submerged, but when her head broke the surface the water felt pleasing on her skin. She stood waist-deep in the current and brushed her hair out of her face. She lost her balance in the quick current, but she threw up her arms and dug her toes into the sandy river bottom.
Aerigo hadn’t moved. “Are you coming in or what? The water’s great!”
He took one measured step, followed by another, lifting and dropping each foot with minimal splashing.
Roxie sloshed over to him. “I’m gonna give you a big wet hug if you don’t hurry up!” She held her arms wide.
Aerigo stopped to fend her off. “Don’t you dare!”
“Aw, c’mon! I know you want one!”
Aerigo shooed her away and waded a little further out. She sloshed after him toward the deepest part of the river, when the current suddenly whisked her feet out from under her.