by Paul Heisel
“We have a long trip back to your monastery in Tyilip,” Mitasu said. “Do what you need with Kara and return to Tyilip. We will make sure a friend comes for you.”
“I will be but a day or two behind you,” Djaa told them. “I will catch up with you if I can.”
The twins looked at each other. They blinked at the same instant.
“We will travel fast and we won’t wait for you,” said Kitasu. “Safe travels through this forsaken land.”
“Understood.”
“Our report will be favorable,” Mitasu said. “You have done well.”
“Thank you,” Djaa said to the empty air. He stood there for a moment, not sure if they departed or not. The twins could remain invisible for long periods of time and it had been proven useful for spying. It was too bad they weren’t able to infiltrate Caleth’s barracks. It didn’t matter, he was sure Caleth was dead along with Feln and the rest of the Waskhal monks. Though he harbored no ill will against Caleth, it was best that they eliminated anyone sympathetic to the Grand Master. A clean slate was needed for Kara to take complete control of the Accord of the Hand.
It took time for him to become accustomed to the abundance of magic in Pyndira, even the Favored One belt around his waist took months to acclimate to. For him, it made him fight harder and gave him strength and stamina beyond the norm. For his friend Gargam, it made him an unstoppable fighting force, not only with strength but with indefensible techniques. His master told him that the belts had different effects on the wearer, and no two belts were the same. Though he was chided when he asked the question, no one could explain to him the exact origins of the belts. Yes, they told him the belts were created to counter the Furies long ago. This was so the families had a means to compete with and control Furies. What he wanted to know was; how were they created? He imagined if he could discover that, then he could work toward creating any number of these belts. An army of Favored Ones and Furies couldn’t be stopped. The means to do this apparently was lost, knowledge gone for millennia or more. It would be his lifelong task to discover this, and if their plan worked, he would have the means to search for this knowledge and the power to create the belts would be in his grasp. Djaa surveyed the room. He didn’t know if the twins were watching him or if they departed, as they had a habit of discreetly hanging about. It would be best for him to close the Grand Master’s quarters, then go in search of Kara.
“I know you’re here,” he said to the empty air.
There was no response and after a short while Djaa knew they had departed. He took the Grand Master’s body and clothed it in a bright robe, placed him on the bed, crossed the dead man’s arms, and left him there. Akuka was in a pool of sticky blood, mixing with the water from the melting bodies outside. Touching his weapons and hefting the hem of his robe so it wouldn’t drag through the blood, Djaa stepped into the hallway in search of Kara.
#
The chill of the encroaching night and the uncertainty of what was happening inside the walls made the army light fires, and this was beneficial to Feln and Pearl. With the fires burning, it was much easier for them to climb over the wall, use the light of the fires against the sentries, and slip away from the Sabrin monastery unnoticed. The army was maintaining a tight perimeter and their goal was to keep large groups from leaving. An individual or two with enough patience and skill could avoid detection. As Feln led Pearl over sharp rocks, he contemplated what he should do to get Pearl to tell him where Owori was. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he made a huge mistake calling her a kind. At this point, he thought an apology would be obviously self-serving and have little meaning. Pearl was a tough woman, a hardened Fury who would defend herself vehemently. The best chance to get her to talk was to be unapologetic and firm; he would have to be the Most Favored of Safun. She was from Pyndira and his station had to carry weight. It had to.
Once they were clear of the rocks, they slipped past the patrolling soldiers and made it beyond their line of sight. To be certain they weren’t detected, they strayed toward the lake shore, then took a hard left into the city once they encountered structures. Tired and bedraggled, they walked through the city toward their appointed meeting place in the western parts of town. The city appeared oblivious to what was happening at the monastery. It made Feln wonder, would they ever know? Would they even care if the leadership changed? Pearl was quiet, pensive as they walked through the older parts of the city, trekking across worn, smooth pavers. She was keeping with him stride for stride and he detected only a hint of fatigue. They reached the western part of the city and made their way into the outlying areas where the refugee camps were. It was Tasha’s idea to gather there and hide. Feln thought it ironic as they were refugees of a different sort. The makeshift camps extended into the darkness and as they searched for their companions amongst the unfortunate souls, Feln felt his spirits dip. Neither of them recognized anyone they met. They finally found them at the edge of the encampment divided into small groups. They found Hector, Tasha, and Ryl resting, they were all exhausted having spent their energy defending against Kara’s aggression. Caleth was with them and was in good condition, but Feln detected a sense of defeat. They greeted each other, all happy to have escaped with their lives. Ryl came to Feln’s side and grabbed his hand. She kept looking at the ground, never lifting her head. He wasn’t sure what he should do, so he did nothing. He was tired anyway. He could now see the signs of fatigue in Pearl, her shoulders were slack. When she saw him looking at her, she rolled her shoulders and stood taller to prove she wasn’t tired.
“Is everyone accounted for?” Feln asked the group.
“Yes,” Tasha answered.
“Hector?”
“Yes. We’re working together instead of trying to kill each other.”
At that Pearl laughed.
“Caleth, where did the Waskhal monks go?”
“When they were released from the monastery I had them go south, beyond the army’s base of operations. There are twenty of them. They were supposed to find a place to wait for our return, and if we didn’t return by tomorrow afternoon, they were to head back to Waskhal.”
“Go to them,” Feln said. “Send home those who want to remain part of the Accord of the Hand. Bring those who want to remain with us here so we can take them…elsewhere. Caleth, anyone who is undecided must return to Waskhal. You understand?”
Caleth motioned for Feln to step to the side. It took some doing, but Feln managed to peel Ryl’s hand from his so he could have a private word with Caleth.
“I take it you’re in command now,” Caleth said.
“From now on,” Feln stated. “It has to be this way so there are no conflicts. This is no longer our home. Are you with me?”
“I’m conflicted. My parents live not far from Waskhal. I take it we are going to Pyndira? Somehow?”
“One way or another,” Feln answered.
“We won’t be coming back, will we? I’ll never see my parents again.”
“There is nothing here for me, so I won’t be coming back. The life we know as part of the Accord of the Hand is no more, and I’m certain Owori is in Pyndira so that is where I must go. Caleth, you must embrace this opportunity. If you don’t, you’ll be lost no matter where you choose to go. Pyndira is full of wonder and danger though. Don’t take the offer lightly.”
“Of course. I will return with our monks and horses if I can.” Caleth departed through the encampment.
Before he could rejoin the group, Ryl came over and took his hand once again. He felt gentle squeezes.
“I’ll go with,” Ryl said, pausing. “You. Where you go, I go. I’ll protect you.”
The group stared at him and Ryl. He was self-conscious now of this young woman holding his hand. She pledged herself to him as a protector, and when they went to Pyndira he was sure he would need it. He reflected that in times past he had held Owori’s hand as a friend, and this was what it felt like. Hector nodded, as if giving approval. Pearl look
ed uncomfortable.
“She rarely talks,” Hector said. “That doesn’t mean she isn’t listening.”
“She never said two words when I was teaching her,” Tasha added. “She’s a smart girl, just…different.”
At that comment Ryl’s head came up slightly, an acknowledgement to Tasha’s statement. “I can talk,” she said. “I had nothing to say before. Besides, no one cares what I say.”
“Why are you talking now?” Pearl asked.
“Feln pulls me,” she answered. “He pulls the words out of me.”
“Pulls?”
“Yes, pulls.”
Swallowing hard, Feln wondered if his belt had inadvertently used the magic to bind Ryl to him or his family. She had told him that she would protect him, and maybe that faithful declaration was taken literally by the magic of his belt. He wondered if she would comprehend what that meant. As he understood it, binding to a family was permanent with no way to break it. He had just employed his first Fury. At least he didn’t buy her, but that didn't make him feel any better about it.
#
Remaining connected at the hand with Ryl wasn’t uncomfortable, but he was ready to have a break from the constant closeness. When he asked her to release his hand, she complied and didn’t complain, yet she stayed close to him and didn’t wander far. They were seated around a fire, keeping warm and waiting for Caleth to return. Feln stood up, needing to stretch his legs. Ryl came to his side. Before Ryl could take his hand, Pearl interceded. Tasha came to them and took Ryl’s hand, telling her to come along, that they were going to take a walk. Hector was asleep, huddled beneath what blankets they had assembled.
“I was going to take a walk,” Feln said.
“I figured. That’s why I had Tasha take Ryl away. This conversation we’re going to have is inevitable, isn’t it?”
“I think so.” Feln motioned with his hand the direction he wanted to go and started walking. “I want to know where Owori is,” he told her as soon as she came next to him in stride.
“You can’t think of any other angle, can you? You’re predictable.”
“Persistent I say.”
“Consistent maybe. Persistence is another level of intensity you have yet to show me. I’m not impressed.”
“I need you to tell me where she is or where I can find her. I only need to know the province, so I know where to start looking.”
“For her protection, and yours, I can’t tell you,” she said. “Her location is a secret.”
Finally. Progress. This was promising, now it was a matter of making a worthwhile offer and having her accept. He thought she would consider the proposal he had in mind. “What if I told you that in trade for letting me know where she is, I will give you and your Furies a safe place to live.”
She laughed at the notion. “That’s a promise you can’t keep,” she said. “No one would allow Furies to exist on their own. Not in the numbers that we have. Why do you think we’re here? In Pyndira we’d be hunted, taken away if discovered on our own.”
“I beg to differ. My name is Feln-en-Xialao-Narneth, Most Favored of Safun.”
“This keeps getting better. There is no Most Favored of Safun. There hasn’t been one for twenty years.”
“My mother was Sari-un-Xialao-Ling, she lived a double life, part in Safun, part in Borgard. When the Accord of the Hand went to war against Borgard, I found the lost belt of my family, the Xialao family, in the dungeons beneath the castle.” Feln unfastened his robe and revealed the gold dragon belt around the waist of his fighting clothes.
Pearl didn’t appear convinced. “Let’s assume you are who you claim to be. You will grant us land, where we can live in peace, train, and live? You will do this? You won’t bind us to your family or subject us to being sold? You will let us choose our fate?”
“Too many questions there,” he answered. “Though Safun isn’t as large as the other provinces, there is plenty of land for everyone. You would have land and no obligation to the family. You would have protection and peace.”
“You think I can trust you to follow through with your promise?”
“You’ll have to. I give you my solemn word and I’ll swear upon this magic belt. The magic will bind me to my word.”
“Swearing upon a belt won’t convince me. The Most Favoreds of Pyndira are known for their treachery, despite the honor the supposedly have. I don’t trust you.”
“I can say the same of you. How will I trust you to tell me the truth and not send me into danger? How do I know you will actually tell me where Owori can be found?”
“We’re a sorry pair,” Pearl said. “Why are you looking for Owori? I know you grew up together and you both were part of the Waskhal monastery. What am I missing from this story? I didn’t know that you cared so much for our kind.”
“I love her. We were separated… Why are you protecting her so vehemently?” It dawned on him that Owori was a Fury. She could use magic…
“Owori is the most talented, most special Fury I have ever met. I planned to take her to Pyndira eventually, but what happened in Bora accelerated my plans. She belongs in Pyndira. She came from there, you know that now, so don’t deny it. When she was a girl they tried to mark her with twin dragons. Her marks are the rarest of the rare. She is as special to me as she is to you, but for different reasons.”
“So she has tattoos now?”
“Yes, they’re beautiful.”
Feln didn’t want to imagine what the tattoos looked like, as he kept seeing the fearsome features of Sli painted across Owori. It made him nervous, as he wasn’t sure how he would react when he saw her again or how she would react to him being the Most Favored of Safun. Though not vain, Owori was particular about her appearance. The black outfit and the ribbons in her hair were what came to mind, how she had taken the time to make him notice her. He wondered, would she cover up the tattoos or fully embrace them?
“How are we going to trust each other?” Feln asked.
“We either do it or we force the issue. There’s only one way. I’ll have to think about it.”
He nodded though he didn’t quite understand what she was referring to. They would have to trust each other if they were going to get to Pyndira safely. It would take their collective efforts to find a way to get everyone away from Malurrion. They circled the encampment and waved to the other outcasts, those burned out of their homes and businesses were in no better shape than they were. Near their area they rejoined Tasha and Ryl. At their camp, Feln sat down and crossed his legs, noting Hector was still asleep. Weariness set in when he closed his eyes, and the heat of the fire warmed him and made him feel more tired.
There was a startling spike in his chi. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he opened his eyes and turned his head toward the person. It was Ryl, apparently, she had been away from him long enough. Hector snorted across the fire. Pearl smacked him, waking him up, and pulled on his arm until he woke and stood up. She motioned for Tasha to join them, then the trio walked into the darkness. Feln thought, this was it, Pearl was going to talk to Tasha and Hector about relocating to Pyndira.
“Thanks for protecting me in the church,” Feln said. “You did well. You have great talent.”
“Thanks for protecting all of us,” she said, her words slow and drawn out. Ryl sat down near Feln, her eyes staring at the ground. She grabbed his hands.
“In times like these we need to work together,” Feln said. “Divided we can’t succeed.”
“Together,” she said.
“I didn’t mean for you to become bound to me,” he said. “My belt. My family. It wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry if it's not what you wanted. If I could undo it, I would.”
Ryl sat there, eyes downcast. She laughed. “It was my intention.”
“So you understand what happened.”
“Of course. Furies serve. We can protect.”
“You don’t have to. You can do what you want. I'll make no claim to your services.”
“I am doing what I want.” She lifted her head a fraction of an inch. “They’re back.”
From the blackness came Pearl and Hector. They sat down opposite them, trailing was Tasha who eventually settled near Pearl. Feln felt Ryl squeeze his hand hard, then she released his hand and stood up. The gangly girl shuffled away.
“We have spoken about your offer,” Pearl said.
“I want more time,” Hector muttered.
“There is no more time,” Feln said. “By tomorrow they will be looking for us, and we need to be as far away from here as possible.”
“Agreed.”
“We want to hear your offer,” Tasha said. “From your mouth.”
“I am the Most Favored of Safun. My province of has land I will grant you. I’ll give you a place where you can live and not experience fear because you’re different. The offer is sincere and I promise to give you what you need. It may take time to adjust and it may take time for it to be arranged, but I promise to make it work. Despite the fear you Furies can instill, I believe you can live in peace and not be subject to being bound to families.”
“You would break the laws of Pyndira by harboring us?” Pearl asked.
“If that’s what it takes, yes. It’s the right thing to do.”
“How do we know you’ll keep this promise?” Hector said.
“I’ll do it,” Pearl said. “I’ll make sure he holds true to his word.”
“How?” Hector asked.
“I will bind myself to Feln’s family, as Ryl has done, and I’ll be in your service as a Fury.”
“I won’t ask you to do that,” Feln said. “Ryl’s already done it accidentally, even though she says it’s what she wants. I haven’t taken Furies when asked and I don’t intend to.”
“It’s the only way. When the magic binds us together, you won’t betray me and I can’t betray you. I will do this to hold you to your promise of freedom for our Furies. All Furies who wish it.”