Kalla shuddered as the locks closed and a crushing exhaustion washed over her. Aleister pulled her closer, drawing a blanket over them, up to their chins.
“You healed the entirety of Evalyce, milady,” the Fox said in an awed voice. She only managed a nod, before sleep claimed her.
The magister was stunned. Every time he turned around, it seemed, his mage was carrying out unbelievable feats. He knew she would have wanted to try to heal the other lands, and had been fully prepared to stop in each, so that Kalla could try to fix them, but now they could travel straight to Dashmar.
Aleister was unsettled by that thought. While he had traveled with Kalla, he had sensed a corruption in that land, unlike any other. A corruption that had not disappeared when she had healed the lands. He would speak to her of it in the morning, for he felt it boded ill for their travel, yet it was Port Benwick they must make for to cross to Inkanata.
* * *
By the time Kalla woke again, the sun had risen. She groaned and stretched, waking the Fox. He murmured sleepily and made an odd noise, then buried his face in her mane, inhaling deeply.
“Oh, gods be good, you smell wonderful,” he breathed out.
“I… what?” Kalla asked. He took another deep breath before she wriggled away and rolled over to face him. The Fox's eyes were dark pools, pupils huge as if intoxicated.
“You smell wonderful,” he repeated. “Like… myrrh. Myrrh and something else. Something I can't quite place. Is this… how you sense things all the time?” he asked.
“You mean, you smell my scent? Like a Dashmari would? You must have gained more of the kitsune's powers,” she said.
“What is my scent, to you?” Aleister asked curiously.
“You smell of Arkaddian, of fox, and of cinnamon and frankincense,” she replied. “A wonderful combination that belongs to no other.”
“What does Vander smell like?”
“His is Dashmari, wolf, and woodsmoke. Your brother is scented of ginger. The Khan of wintergrass. I could go on..,” she replied dryly.
“No…” The Fox inhaled deeply again. “What time is it?”
“About eight in the morning if I had to wager a guess. People will expect us up soon.”
“Not that soon,” he whispered in her mind as he kissed her. She blushed, feeling his desire, yet he left it up to her. If she refused, he wouldn't push. Kalla relaxed against him.
“No, I guess not that soon,” she replied. He laughed softly, kissing along her jawline and down along her throat.
When the new liya emerged from their yert, they found the wyvern flock not far beyond, Vander and Kasai lounging among them. Vander gave the pair a wave and a sly grin that earned him a scowl from both the Fox and Kalla.
“Good morning, Dashkele. Dashtela,” the War Mage said. “I trust you had a good night.” He ignored their renewed scowls as he and his magister rose to their feet. “You might be interested to know, the Palace had a Harper in early this morning. He had some very interesting news as well… Rang'moori is healed now. The encroaching desert is gone, vanished. Your work, I'm guessing.”
The Harpers were the messengers of Evalyce. Like the magi, they had Pass Right everywhere and traveled throughout the lands, delivering messages and gathering information. The Harpers were a tribute to the true Harpers that had once been part of the Kanlon, magi who used song and music to weave their magick. The gift of spellsinging had been long since lost, but the magi Harpers of old had fulfilled the same function, acting as messengers, information gatherers, and peacekeeping arbiters.
Kalla nodded. “Yes,” she said, not bothering to elaborate. “What news did the Harper bring?” she asked. Vander's look grew troubled.
“He brought word of trouble in Dashmar. The Packs are banding together, under one supreme alpha. One bent on war with the Crannongmarch.
“He also brought an acknowledgment from the Kanlon, regarding Grosso, and of a new Tem' for Solidor. The King of Cats has apparently set strict conditions to replacing the former Tem' and renewing the tenets,” Vander said. He drew out a rolled parchment from his robes and handed it to her.
Kalla scanned the contents briefly. The message was from Sevrus and the War Mage had pretty much covered what it said. He held out another one, still sealed. “And you got a letter from Lord Hauss.”
Kalla grinned as she broke the seal. She had sent him a message, telling him of the handfasting. The Chief Healer was highly amused. He and Rosalia sent their best wishes and congratulations. A note from Warryn was scrawled at the bottom, offering the same, and telling her to be careful and come home soon. She folded the note and tucked it into her robes, turning her attention back to Vander.
“I think we need to leave soon. I hate to do so, but I think we need to get to Dashmar as soon as possible. The land there didn't 'feel' right. There was a taint to it, something I could not cleanse,” Kalla said.
“I agree. I felt it also,” Aleister said.
As they meandered their way back to the Palace, they discussed options. They went to one of the dining halls, where Kalla and Aleister had a breakfast of rashagi.
Vander and Kasai had already eaten, so the Dashmari continued the teaching that had been interrupted when the pair had been visiting the wyvern. The hawk seemed to be taking to the magisterial lessons well, as quick a study as his brother had been, though learning quicker since his mage already knew how to work with a magister.
Kalla watched them as she ate. A mage's ability to facilitate the bond affected how fast a new magister learned. Vander had been bonded to Shingar for nearly six years, if she recalled correctly. Given that, she'd guess they would reach a point where they could communicate telepathically within a few short days. Across from her, Kasai jerked suddenly, nostrils flaring in sudden agitation. Kalla frowned and Vander grinned as the hawk relaxed.
“That was much faster than I anticipated. It seems… perhaps sharing death strengthened the bond. It usually takes even a well-trained mage at least a week to get to this point,” he said. “It'll get easier to deal with, I promise.”
“Wait, you mean to tell me you can speak to one another now?” Kalla asked. Vander nodded. The Healer just shook her head. So much for that guess. Though she supposed that it would be a better thing if they could function together smoothly before the group entered possibly hostile territory.
Kalla and Aleister finished their breakfast, then went to find Ari, to seek audience with Nobunaga, and make their farewells. As they made their way down a corridor, a tall form melted from the shadows. Winter grey eyes regarded them with hidden mirth. Auric gave them a slight bow, which they returned more deeply.
“Greetings, Lord Auric. Good morning,” Kalla said.
“Greetings, Lady Kalla. I see you have been… busy. Evalyce is almost whole now. However, you should know, there is much anger and fear in Dashmar. I am trying to keep my gift from running rampant, but now that I am free, I must admit it is difficult,” he replied. She nodded.
“The Prince and I felt it when we healed the land last night. A taint throughout the whole land. Dashmar is our next stop. We must go there to reach Port Benwick, to depart for Inkanata. We'll try to deal with that problem first. My guess is it is more meddling of Grosso's.”
“That is well, Lady. I wish you the best of it. You will do well by your people, I have no doubt.
“May I see the whistle I gave you, please?” he asked.
Kalla pulled it from her hidden pocket and handed it over. Araun took the whistle, holding it for a moment in a closed fist. When he opened his hand, the whistle was a shimmery color instead of the carved ivory of before, affixed to a thin silver chain. He gave it back to her.
“You may use the whistle whenever you have need, Lady Kalla. The gates of Xibalba will be open to you. Should you need to, or wish to, visit you merely need draw the single spiral and ask,” Araun said. Kalla's eyes widened at the import of his offer.
“You are generous, my Lord. I thank you,” she said, s
lipping the chain over her head. Without thinking about what she was doing, the Healer stepped up to the Lord of Xibalba and hugged him. Araun hesitated only a second, before wrapping her in a fatherly hug. And, Kalla thought, that was not far off. He reminded her a great deal of Melaric, now that she'd seen more of the Lord of Illusion's true colors.
“I think I have more to thank you for, good Lady. It has been a very long time since one was bold enough to try such a thing,” his wintry voice swept through her mind and faintly she could hear Aleister's laughter in her mind as well. The Fox was more than amused at her actions. Perhaps he sensed the same thing, the similarity to the man they had both called father. Araun stepped back from her, regarding her with the same faint smile that was becoming quite natural to the deity.
“Fare thee well, Lady. Prince.” A nod to Vander and Kasai. “Mage, magister. Good journey til the end,” he said, stepping back into the shadows, form fading as he did so.
The group only had to travel a little farther to find Ari. Soon enough they gained audience with Nobunaga. The Khan bid them farewell, understanding the need for making haste. He added extra gifts to those he'd given them at the feast, and encouraged them to come and visit in the future. Kalla promised they would and by afternoon, the Stymphalian was prepped, packed, and ready to go. Kasai opted to ride Thiassi, whom he had invited along after all, and so it was that two wyvern and one small strike-fighter finally departed the Plainslands.
They traveled all day, only stopping at Rinsook, in Rang'moori, to refuel the ship. Rinsook was a quiet town, one of the few hosting a skyport for airships. Kalla was mildly surprised to find that Aleister was close friends with one of the facility's Artificers, an older gentleman named Syd.
The Rang'moori mage had greeted them jovially, he and his magister disguised as skyport attendants. Kalla found this rather amusing. For his part, Syd found it amusing that the Fox was now both serving as a magister, and had become his mage's liya. Aleister had known Syd from the time when he first began to travel with Melaric.
“I always knew you'd eventually get yourself into trouble you couldn't get out of, Fox, but to end up in the Inferno isn't something I would have expected of you,” Syd said.
“It's his fault,” Aleister replied, pointing to Kasai. The hawk merely smirked back at him as Aleister recounted the story to Syd. The Artificer shook his head, and even his dour magister smiled slightly.
“You are a very lucky fox then, that Lady Kalla found you just in time,” Syd said. He turned his attention to her. “Tell me, Lady, is it true what the Tem' has said? That Al'dhumarna wakes, and that the Master of Solidor has abandoned the Kanlon and works for the Nagali? And that is you who seeks to stop him?”
Kalla nodded. “Aye, Lord Syd. It is true. All of it.”
“A harsh burden for one so young. I wish you the best of luck in that,” Syd replied. The Artificer invited the group to join them for dinner, which Kalla gracefully accepted. She had found herself charmed by the older mage. In a way, he reminded her of Hauss in his gruff, but lovable manner. They remained in Rinsook overnight, booking rooms in an inn called the Jester's Balance, and leaving with the rising sun.
Alpha and Omega
Dashmar, Evalyce, Year of the Mythril Serpent, 2014 CE
Kalla yawned, watching the landscape fly by beneath the ship. They had crossed the border into Dashmar not more than an hour past, and the feeling of corruption in the land had intensified. A cluster of buildings in a clearing flashed past, catching her attention, and she asked Aleister to circle back. She wanted speak with the people. Perhaps she could find out more in regards to this 'supreme alpha', and get a better feel for the taint in the land, that she might heal it. At Vander's caution, they landed a good distance from the tiny village. Leaving the wyvern with the ship, the four walked the rest of the way in.
From Vander and Kasai, she learned that Dashmari villages were usually small, containing a single pack. There was a large rectangular communal dwelling where the pack members all shared space, much like the Harrier's Mews. Each family had its own little hearth and home, separated from their neighbors by leather or cloth hangings. There were entrances interspersed throughout the building, making access easy at any point.
In addition to the main living quarters, there was usually a small building set aside for the Dashmuynin, the spiritual leader of the pack, a healer and guide much like the Arkaddian shaman. A few buildings that served as storehouses rounded out the complement. All of the buildings encircled a large open plaza used as a gathering place.
Faint sounds of pleading filtered to them before they reached the village. A terrible scene greeted them when they broke through the trees and entered the clearing, unchallenged by the sentinels who should have being guarding the perimeter of the village. A haggard looking young man stood captive between two Dashmari dressed in military looking uniforms. The uniforms were all black with forest green armbands bearing a crossed lightning bolt sigil worn on the left arm. Three inch wide bracelets graced the wrist of the opposite arm. A very pregnant, distraught young woman seemed to be pleading with them.
She reached out to touch the arm of the older male, an imploring look on her face. He snarled and backhanded her, sending her crashing to the ground. The man between the soldiers made to move towards her and the warrior rounded on him with another snarl, driving him back. Though others stood watching, all had drooped ears and cowed expressions. The female lay on the ground, sobbing softly.
Kalla growled, a deep warning sound. Ignoring Aleister's alarm she strode into the clearing.
“What is the meaning of this?” she snarled. The spectators flinched away, their eyes diverted. They recognized her as an alpha, though she had asked Aleister to hide the markings with illusion so that she would not be associated with Amaraaq. Here among the Dashmari, she only wanted to be seen as a Dashmari mage. Even the soldiers flinched, though they held their ground. The older male met her eyes briefly, then his lips curled in a sneer as he caught sight of Vander.
“No business of yours, mage. I don't know who you are, but you have no authority here. You or your pet freak,” he replied in a smug tone. A rumbling growl trickled from Kalla's throat.
“You made it my business when you assaulted the woman. Release the man and leave this place,” she said in a low voice. The man sneered at her and started to turn away. He spun back, drawing a miniature crossbow and firing it at her. She threw up a hasty shield, cursing the fact that she hadn't already done so, and another snapped up in front of her, courtesy of the War Mage. The crossbow bolt thudded against it, dropping to the ground. At the same instant a thick arrow shaft sprouted from the man's gut, knocking him to the ground. One of Aleister's daggers buried itself in the chest of the younger soldier, sinking to the hilt. Kasai stalked past her, drawing one of the slender swords at his back. He reached the soldier and kicked the crossbow away from him.
“I believe the Lady asked you a question,” he said calmly. The Dashmari spat at him in contempt. The hawk gave him a cold look, utterly impassive. “Let's try this again,” he said, reaching down and yanking the arrow free. The soldier howled in pain.
“You will regret this, magister. You and your mage,” he hissed. Kasai shrugged.
“Suit yourself,” he said. The sword flashed and laid the soldier's throat open. The magister turned his attention to the remaining soldier, a much younger male, barely more than a boy. His eyes were wide, glassy with fear and pain. Each breath he took wheezed in his chest and bloody froth dotted the corners of his mouth. One hand gripped the handle of the dagger.
“I don't want to die. Blessed Kituk, I don't want to die.”
Kalla started. The boy had not spoken. He merely watched the magister with a resigned expression, but the Healer knew without a doubt that the words had been his. A final plea to the Old Wolf. As Kasai raised the sword, the boy closed his eyes and Kalla saw tears slip down his cheek, a faint tremor running through his body.
“Kasai.”
“I am going to heal you. Don't make me regret it,” she said.
He shook his head, hope flickering to life in his eyes. She gave him a small smile and gently prised his fingers from the dagger hilt.
“This is going to hurt, young one.” Kalla started to pull the dagger free, when an agonized cry came from behind her. The young lady had gone into labor, no doubt triggered by her trauma and stress. A wizened female scurried from the onlookers, hurrying to her side. Vander came and knelt on the boy's other side.
“I will tend him, Dashkele. Please, see to the mother,” he said. She met his solemn gaze and nodded. Rising, she made her way to the young woman.
“We must get her to the Muyningar,” the elderly female said. Kalla guessed she was this pack's Dashmuynin.
Without being asked, Aleister knelt and helped the haggard looking male gently pick the mother up. Following the Dashmari's lead, the Fox helped him carry her to a small building off to the side. Kalla and the Dashmuynin followed, along with two younger females.
Once they had gotten the mother situated in the Muyningar, the elderly female chased the two males out. Aleister reluctantly left, with Kalla's silent reassurances that she would be fine. Kalla had assisted with several birthings before and there was little the magister could do in any event.
She ran her hands gently over the young woman as the Dashmuynin and her assistants undressed her. Kalla's assessment told her that the cub was fine. The mother was close enough to her due date that the little one should have no problems. She relayed this information to the Dashmuynin, whose name she learned was Novaika. The mother was Isalya.
Lady of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper Book 2) Page 12