The wolf walks toward Luke. “Is that why you didn’t attack me?”
“I had no reason to attack you unless you attacked first. A forest tracker never fights an animal until they are certain there is no other way,” the half-elf declares, locking his gaze with the wolf’s piercing eyes. “If you attacked then I was planning on knocking you out with a blow to the head with my saber hilt. Afterwards, Sari and I would have carried you to a nearby cave where you would have been safe. I would also have left you some food for when you woke up.”
“It has been many years since I met a forest tracker who upholds the founding beliefs,” the wolf says, his deep voice tainted with sadness. “Nowadays, a forest tracker is nothing more than a hunter, a scout, or a warrior for hire. It is the fighting style and the ability to use nature to one’s advantage that attracts most apprentices. Some days, I wonder why Uli won’t permit us to turn them away. Then, I remember that we believe in survival of the fittest and those who join our ranks are judged by this law. We do not give second thoughts to the ones who pay the price for selfishly joining our ranks.”
“Excuse me, sir,” Ilan impatiently interrupts. “What are you going to do to my son?”
“Do not worry. Uli has sent me to help him discover his new gifts. It will be a grueling lesson for the day to see if we can unlock his gifts,” the wolf answers. He growls low when Ilan’s eyes narrow. “Don’t look at me with anger, sir. By Uli’s orders, his survival and health are my primary concerns. I will not allow him to die or be permanently injured.”
“What if his abilities are combat related?” Ilan asks curiously. “You can’t hold a sword and spar with him when you lack thumbs.”
The wolf flashes a cunning sneer as it takes a few more steps into the room. The beast stands on its back legs and closes its eyes, wavering on its unsteady limbs. Its fur shivers and flows around its body as if it has become a thick, red fluid. Paws stretch into human hands and feet, the claws retracting until they are nothing more than harmless nails. The wolf’s torso contorts and twists into an obviously female form. With an echoing howl, the beast’s fur stops shifting and transforms into a suit of crimson, leather armor. The leather straps are tight across the right side of the armor, which makes a stretching sound as the woman flexes. Upon her head grows a shock of fire-like hair and her muzzle sinks into her face until it is a slightly crooked nose. A violent shake of her head ends the transformation, but the woman still grins like a sharp-toothed wolf. Luke quietly notices that she is still missing her right ear.
“My name is Lord Perrin,” she says with a low bow and a cunning smile.
*****
To Nyx’s relief, the large crowd finally begins to disperse and go about their daily business. She is still apologizing to a handful of people while she keeps an eye on Sari. The gypsy’s hands are tied behind her back by glowing chains, which she promptly slips out of when she thinks nobody is watching her. Hoping to escape, she takes a slow, silent step backwards only to bump into a leather-armored guard. He is not any taller than Sari, but his cold stare makes her reconsider trying to push past him. Two longswords are strapped to the young man’s waist and he rests his left hand on one of their hilts.
“You don’t have to do that,” Sari coos, placing a gentle hand to his cheek.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I can’t let you leave after what you did,” the nervous boy stutters.
“Did I really do something wrong? I’m just a mischievous little gypsy who wanted to have a little fun,” Sari says with an innocent smile. She leans forward with her hands behind her back, showing more of her cleavage.
“We have strict laws against gambling and public nudity,” the guard announces, taking a half step back.
“Are there any laws against private nudity?” Sari asks, tracing her fingers along his jaw and neck to his chest. She playfully tugs at the straps keeping his leather armor in place.
The guard gulps a breath and blushes. “Uh, no, ma’am.”
Sari is about to undo a strap on the guard’s armor when she is knocked over by a swift kick to her butt. The guard is about to help Sari up, but a slender finger catches him by the chin. Nyx puts her face a few inches from the guard’s nose and angrily glares at him. Whenever he tries to talk, Nyx raises her eyebrow and curls her lips into an evil smile. The guard finally finds the courage to step away from the caster who lets her hand drop to her side once he is out of reach. He bows to her, giving a final glance at Sari before leaving.
Nyx rubs at her temples and bends over to the gypsy. “Are you trying to get yourself arrested?”
“You didn’t have to kick me,” Sari mutters, massaging her sore rear.
“Be thankful I didn’t do more than a kick,” Nyx angrily snaps, hoisting Sari to her feet. “Is this what you’ve been doing since I last saw you?”
“If we were really fighting, you wouldn’t get more than that kick. I seem to remember me beating you all the time when we were kids,” Sari answers, brushing grass and leaves off of her skirts “After all, you’re nothing without your magic.”
“You tended to cheat,” the half-elf points out.
“Not all the time. There were two times that I won fairly,” Sari claims, grinning innocently.
“Rules are nothing more than obstacles to you,” Nyx states with a small laugh. They walk down the street, ignoring the few stares that they get.
“So, what have you been up to since my clan left your territory?” Sari asks. She steps in front of Nyx and begins skipping backwards.
“There isn’t much to tell,” Nyx sadly admits. “After you left Gaia, I didn’t have any real friends. There were the other apprentices, but being the prodigy caused some tension. Then, there were the other people my age-”
“Boring! Any good news?” Sari rudely interrupts.
“I’ve been on the road with Luke for a few months. It’s been a real adventure including demons, chaos elves, betrayal, losing my magic for a while, and a few near death experiences,” Nyx happily explains. Remembering a childhood argument with Sari, the half-elf grins victoriously. “You would be proud of me. I learned how to sleep and bathe outdoors. I even successfully rode a horse.”
“That is very impressive for a city brat,” the gypsy teases her old friend. “I always wondered if you would leave Gaia or continue on your path of boring containment. You were almost one of my failures.” Her stomach rumbles, so she snatches an apple out of a nearby fruit cart.
Nyx tosses a silver coin to the merchant. “What do you mean by almost one of your failures?”
“My people believe in freedom and following one’s heart. So, it was painful watching my only non-gypsy friend refuse to do anything other than study. You were always reading books or examining scrolls. Even when I brought you to our celebrations, you had a notebook with you,” Sari lectures, occasionally pausing to eat her apple. “You were lucky that my mother forced me to promise that I wouldn’t steal or destroy your scrolls. It was so tempting to remove what I perceived as a harmful distraction. After all, a childhood full of studying with no fun is the greatest waste of the gods’ gift of life.”
“I assume that a life of continuous wandering and indulgence is the path that you suggest,” Nyx says sarcastically.
“Of course not,” the gypsy responds with a shake of her azure hair. “The gypsy life is not for everyone. A person with your interest in the laws and history of magic wouldn’t thrive in my world.”
“You’re probably right,” Nyx says with a sigh. “Magic requires too much discipline.”
“Not necessarily. I learned a little magic too,” Sari claims nonchalantly. “My partner’s mother taught me emotion spells like charm and despair.”
“Those are dangerous spells, Sari,” the half-elf declares with a stern voice. “Most casters avoid emotion spells because of the magical temptation to abuse them. I know gypsies are big on manipulation, but you can get into a lot of trouble if you cast those spells on the wrong person or for the wrong reason
. It’s a risky path.”
“I know, mom,” Sari mockingly whines.
Nyx takes a playful swipe at her friend, who effortlessly spins out of reach. The gypsy sticks her tongue out at the caster before sprinting toward the edge of town. As she passes the tavern, Sari stops to look around for the half-elf. A few birds begin to sing as she hears the sound of heavy, charging footsteps. At the last moment, the gypsy flips away from the sloppy tackle and watches Nyx trips into an empty water trough. Sari waits for her friend to get up before she runs into the forest. Nyx is a few steps behind her, but she is gasping by the time they are deep within the pine forest near Goldheart Manor. The caster leans against a tree, holding her aching side.
“You’re out of shape,” the gypsy teases her.
“Running was never one of my hobbies. Give me a griffin or walking any day of the year,” Nyx whispers with a pained smile.
“Do you have any questions about my life?” Sari nervously asks.
“You told me that your clan was wiped out, so I didn’t think you wanted to talk about it,” Nyx admits, reaching out to hold Sari’s trembling hand. “You seemed happy and you were smiling today. I didn’t want to upset you. I’m sorry if it seemed like I was being selfish and only talking about myself.”
“Same old Nyxie. You were always scared about upsetting others when we were kids,” Sari claims with a half-smile. “I’m still . . . let’s just say that you were right. I’m not ready to talk about it.”
“Then, why did you ask if I had any questions?” Nyx says in exasperation. “That means you wanted me to ask.”
“It . . . seemed only fair since I asked you,” Sari sheepishly admits. “Let’s just forget it and talk about something else. My past will be dealt with in my future.” Her despair vanishes from her face, replaced by her carefree smile.
Nyx tries not to feel the warmth and friendliness from the gypsy’s expression, but the smile is too intoxicating for her to ignore. She smiles back at Sari and gives her a tight hug. She can hear Sari fight back a few tears while the gypsy lays her head on the half-elf’s shoulder. Nyx gently pushes Sari away, giving her a playfully finger-flick to the tip of her nose.
“You still have that addictive smile, Sari.”
“And you have a cute boyfriend.”
“Luke isn’t my boyfriend.”
“Lover?”
“No.”
“One night stand?”
“Why would I still be hanging around him if that was the case?”
“You tell me.”
“We’re just friends. Luke arrived at Rainbow Tower when he was escorting the heir of Serab to Gods’ Voice. I was asked to join him and his friends on the journey because they needed a caster,” Nyx slowly explains. “Ever since then, our friendship has become something of a . . . I guess, you could call us pseudo-siblings if you had to name it.”
“Honestly, I thought you were acting that way in front of his family because of his fiancee. You don’t want to come off as a home wrecker,” Sari says, pulling out a brush to fix her hair. “Speaking of the Callindors, they are an odd family. His mom and grandfather are nice, but his dad is too cold for my liking.”
“Luke and his dad have some issues,” Nyx bluntly mentions.
“Kids always have issues with their parents. It’s what family is all about,” the gypsy says with a casual shrug.
“I wouldn’t know,” Nyx mutters, trying to hide a glimmer of sadness in her violet eyes.
Sari rolls her eyes and gives her friend a sideways glance. “How many times have you fought with Cyril since you turned thirteen?”
Nyx thinks carefully before answering, “Two or three times.”
“A year?” Sari asks in a voice full of doubt.
“A week. We had a habit of disagreeing on my priorities,” Nyx admits, suddenly remembering the first gala she attended. She shudders at the memory of the tight dress and the cold breeze on her bare arms. “Then, there were the fights about my . . . actions at noble events. I hated those things, but he made me go all the time.”
“Did you punch a debutante or an heiress at your first gala?” Sari inquires, her curiosity piqued.
Nyx blushes and fidgets with the amethyst on her necklace. “One of each, but the fistfight happened at my fifth gala. During my first gala, I electrified the dance floor because I hated wearing a dress. The brawl at my fifth gala started because I couldn’t dance very well. These two girls made fun of me, so I lashed out at them. Cyril had me wear a magic-negation ring, so I dunked the debutante’s head into a strawberry pie. That was the beginning and end of our fight. It was the heiress who put up a fight. She jumped on me from behind, but she didn’t think any further than that. Her head was just hanging over my shoulder, leaving her face wide open. I couldn’t resist punching her right in the eye. I gave her a nasty black eye, but she managed to rake her nails down my arms and back.”
“I wonder what that heiress and that debutante would think if they ever met you again,” Sari wonders in amusement.
“From what I can tell, they don’t remember,” Nyx mentions with a look of relief on her face.
“You’ve met them again? You have to tell me who they were,” the gypsy excitedly demands.
Nyx looks around to make sure nobody is around to hear her. “I will tell you, but only if you promise not to tell anybody else. It would be very embarrassing if it got out, especially if Luke found out.”
“I swear on the dice of Cessia,” Sari promises, leaning in close.
“I’m going to hold you to that. This story is rather funny and proves that Gabriel has a sense of humor,” Nyx explains, her awkward smile widening. “The debutante was Alyssa Goldheart, current mayor of Haven and Luke’s ex-fiancee, who I’ve tried to avoid since I got here. I had to visit the manor to retrieve Luke’s spirit, but I made sure to act like I never met her. I got his spirit and got out as fast as I could. I don’t think I even introduced myself when I was there.”
“You think she’s biding her time to get revenge,” Sari interrupts.
Nyx stretches her legs and feels her sore knees pop before continuing. “I had to be introduced to Alyssa at the gala since she was the host. It was her public induction into nobility and I put her face in the dessert. There is no way that she would forget me. With any luck, we’ll be gone before she gets the chance to strike back. I know Luke will tease me for weeks if I get tricked by her.”
“It might be best to get it over with and apologize before she makes a scene,” Sari suggests, weaving her fingers in the air while she thinks. “I heard that she’s planning a celebration for Luke. Maybe we can go to the manor and offer our help. I know how to throw a party and you’ve been traveling with Luke for awhile. You probably know him a lot better than she does.” She doesn’t wait for an answer before heading in the direction of the distant manor.
“You just want to see me get in a fight,” Nyx accuses the fleeing gypsy.
Sari spins around, smiling innocently. “I want to help put your mind at ease.”
“My mind wasn’t worrying about this until now. You’re going to get me into a lot of trouble, Sari,” Nyx complains as she follows the gypsy through the forest.
“So, who was the girl that you punched in the face?” Sari inquires, ignoring Nyx’s whining.
“Ironically, it was a rather drunk and rebellious Kira Grasdon,” Nyx whispers, her eyes locked on the looming manor. “Kira and Alyssa didn’t even like each other, but I think they saw me as a common enemy and an easy target.”
“Wow. You beat up Luke’s ex-fiancée and his current fiancée,” Sari laughs, holding her sides. “That’s kind of eerie.”
“I’m guessing Gabriel wanted to make as many threads between Luke and myself as he could,” Nyx says, straightening her shirt and wiping pine needles off her cloak. “We’re supposed to save the world together, so having mutual acquaintances might be necessary. It could strengthen the bond between us by giving us the same people to fight for.”
“You have no idea how or why it worked out this way, do you?” the gypsy states with a broad smile.
Nyx grins cheerfully and giggles. “Not a clue, but I’ve been amused by it for days.”
*****
Sari tries to get comfortable on her pile of cushions while she ignores the quiet tension between Nyx and Alyssa. Across the table from the gypsy sits Caspar, who is cautiously eyeing Nyx. The large man has been keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword ever since they arrived. Occasionally, Sari catches him ogling her out of the corner of his eye. She playfully stretches her arms over her head and licks her lips whenever he looks at her. It is a fun diversion during the first thirty minutes of silence. Eventually, Sari turns toward the stage to politely smile at Zephyr, who is quietly running his fingers along a page of music. Sari notices a squirrel sleeping next to the boy, the rodent’s furry legs occasionally kicking in the air. The gypsy starts getting curious when Zephyr fails to smile back at her. She is about to stand and approach the boy when Alyssa shoots her a threatening look.
“Please leave Zephyr alone. He is blind,” Alyssa whispers through gritted teeth.
“Oh . . . sorry about that, Zephyr!” Sari yells as she goes back to her seat.
Zephyr laughs gently, sending an unexpected shiver through Sari’s body. “It is alright, ma’am. Nobody realizes that I’m blind when they first meet me. Are you a friend of Luke, too?”
“Yes. He saved me from an evil vampire,” Sari states, turning to face the young musician. “What instrument do you play?”
“I play the flute,” Zephyr answers. He pulls the metal instrument out from its box and holds it up for Sari to look at.
“It’s kind of beaten up. Why didn’t Alyssa buy you a good one?” Sari asks. She looks at the elf, who is flustered and tightly gripping the skirt of her dress.
“Do not blame Lady Goldheart,” Zephyr says shyly. “She insisted on buying me a new flute, but I refused. She has already been more than kind and generous towards me.”
Legends of Windemere: 03 - Allure of the Gypsies Page 38