by C. Gold
“Careful,” the wizard’s amused voice whispered in her ear.
Once her stomach settled, she laid into the stubborn fool. “You stupid, careless man! You could have died.”
“But I didn’t, so all’s good. Oh, remind me to use layers next time.”
“Layers?” she asked stupidly, too keen on murder to formulate coherent sentences. Then she realized his arm was still around her and she shoved him back, quite wrathful now.
Radcliff appeared totally oblivious to her warning growl and walked back to the edge of the cliff. He did an entertainer’s little hand wave and their saddles and her weapons appeared at her feet. “See? Layers. Makes it much easier.” His grin was the last straw. How dare he risk his life so frivolously?
“I should shove you off this cliff right now and save me the trouble of keeping you safe.”
“At least wait until I summon the horses.” He wove like a drunkard, way too close to the cliff’s edge.
She latched onto his belt and hauled him back.
“No, no, I still have to get the horses.” Radcliff tried to break free, but she kept a firm grip on him.
“You’re done.” Her icy tone could freeze the sun.
“I’m fine, just one more—”
“No!” She gave a final jerk, and he windmilled before landing on his backside well away from the edge. He struggled to get up, but she shoved him back onto the ground.
“Look at you. Your nose is bleeding. You need to stop now before you kill yourself.”
“Hrmph,” was Radcliff’s garbled response before his eyes rolled up and he collapsed.
“Radcliff?” She pounced to his side and slapped his face. “Radcliff!” The wizard was out cold. With a sigh, Amira picked herself up and examined her surroundings. The mesa was flat with a few scrubby bushes along the edge and a cluster of straggly pines at the center. Narrow where they stood, it widened farther south. Squinting, she judged they could remain up top for several hours and if they were very lucky, it would extend past any trouble waiting for them in the canyon.
The light was fading so Amira decided to set up camp at the base of the largest pine. It wasn’t much protection with one side stunted from the constant wind but it was better than nothing. Naturally, the wizard wasn’t anywhere near the tree so she rolled him onto a blanket and dragged him over. Then she fetched all their supplies and sorted through which things to keep and which they had to leave behind, forming two bags they could carry. She felt a pang at leaving the saddles behind since they were almost new, but there was no way she’d let Radcliff summon the horses. Besides, last she checked they were slowly moving farther away and would be out of sight by the time the wizard recovered.
Finally, Amira stacked broken branches and rocks on top of the pile of stuff remaining behind, mostly to hide evidence of their passing, but also hoping they might recover it later. Then she snorted at her ridiculous optimism.
When finished, she stretched out achy muscles and fought back a huge yawn. Not good, I have to remain awake at least until the stubborn man recovers. The chill breeze helped some, but she got up anyway and walked west, away from the canyon. From this vantage point, she could see out over the vast expanse of the wasteland they just crossed. It looked even more sinister in the setting sun with hundreds of skinny shadows lengthening behind each rock like questing spines seeking to stab them for escaping. Stamping her feet to stave off the chill, Amira watched as the sun’s rays finally sank below the horizon before picking her way back to the makeshift camp.
The wizard was still unconscious. Amira saw his thin frame tremble beneath the blanket so she spread hers on top of him. The tree they sheltered under did nothing to protect against the biting cold breeze shooting across the exposed land and as darkness descended, it was only getting stronger and colder. Hoping Radcliff wouldn’t get the wrong idea a second time, Amira climbed underneath the blankets and settled next to him.
The evening was silent except for the rustling of tree limbs which had a hypnotic quality. Amira slowly started to nod off until something snapped her awake. Heart pounding, she looked around and realized she must have napped a few hours since the full moon was high in the sky, bathing everything in a silvery light. Seeing no reason for the sudden wake up call, Amira started to lay back down when she heard a noise coming from the canyon below. Trying not to breathe, she slipped from the blankets and crawled to the mesa’s edge. As she looked down, Amira saw several lit torches and at least twenty men searching both sides of the river bank. Farther north she spotted a second, smaller group traveling south. Both groups finally met near where they’d have been camping had the wizard not intervened. She grimaced. There’d be no shutting him up once he discovered how right he was to risk moving them up here.
Amira’s unease increased when she saw one of the men bring out a long rope and point at the rock wall. Another man shook his head no, but the first gestured again and a third joined in the debate. It was too dark to tell where the climbing advocate was from but Amira guessed it wasn’t from her own kingdom. Westspire’s widespread mountainous terrain meant everyone there knew how to climb, but the act of climbing was held sacred and the knowledge kept a secret from outsiders. Panic warred with curiosity—could they actually scale it? And surely they’d wait until morning, right?
Riveted on group below, Amira failed to register the footsteps behind her until something stung her neck. Swatting at the stung spot, her hand brushed aside a dart right as she turned around to see a hooded figure putting away a blow gun.
“What?” she tried to ask but her jaw refused to move.
“Such a wonderful thing… paralytic poison. Don’t you think? Oh, so sorry, you can’t speak.”
The sibilant male voice was softly spoken yet each word sent spikes of dread down Amira’s spine. Her heart pounded hard against her chest when she realized her entire body was paralyzed. She fell over onto her side like a toppled chair. The cloaked figure crouched next to her. Every instinct screamed for her to run but she couldn’t even jerk her head away as a gloved finger traced her jaw.
“So beautiful. So tempting. I could take you right now and you wouldn’t resist.” He leaned closer and sniffed Amira’s neck.
She struggled to scream, to make any sound at all but nothing came out except silent tears.
“Your fear smells delicious.” Then he ran his tongue across her cheek.
Amira screamed in her mind.
He whispered in her ear, “I wish you could resist me. So exciting, the feel of thrashing prey beneath me.” He pressed his body against hers, savoring her terror. “But I couldn’t take any chances with you. So now you are boring.” He abruptly stood and stalked out of her view. “Looks like we have company down there. And is that climbing gear? Fascinating.”
She heard rocks crunching underfoot, but she had no way to see where he was which only fed her fear.
“And here you lay helpless.” He chuckled as he drifted back into her line of sight.
Amira’s breathing came out in ragged pants and her vision grew fuzzy. Maybe it was just the prolonged fear, but she was getting queasy.
“You’ll pass out soon.” He knelt back down beside her and wrapped his hand around her throat. “I could squeeze and end your life. It would be so easy.”
Amira’s heart was racing way too fast. She couldn’t die like this. Her throat tightened and her vision grew spotty. Please save me, she prayed to any power who may be listening.
Right before she passed out, the grip around her neck loosened and she sucked in a gulp of air. “This is too boring. And she wants you alive.” The man sounded so disappointed.
Amira was dizzy with hope as the man released her and stood. She struggled to keep the man in focus as he walked away but her vision grew darker and her thoughts turned sluggish against her will. There was something important to remember but her mind betrayed her and slid into darkness.
CHAPTER 5
The Prime Seer
The shado
wy tentacles solidified into sharp claws that tore into her bare flesh. Crying out with the pain, she kicked one assailant off her but more latched on until she was buried in writhing flesh. A familiar man’s scream sent a burst of energy into her body and she ripped a gap through the attackers in time to see a shrouded figure plunging a red glistening knife into the wizard’s chest.
Amira fought the tangled blankets that threatened to strangle her and jolted upright. Radcliff! She looked down, but he was missing. Then she remembered the cloaked stranger, the dart, and frowned in confusion. How did she get back here? Was her assailant responsible or someone else? Panicked, she looked around but saw no signs of anyone nearby. Looking up at the lightening sky, Amira estimated it was perhaps two hours till dawn and the one person she was supposed to save was gone. Most likely taken by the man who drugged her.
Amira scrambled to her feet and quickly took inventory. The two bags were left behind but her sword and bow were missing. Cursing under her breath, she shoved the blankets in the packs. When her hand brushed against hardened leather and she pulled out the cracked sheath containing the wizard’s dagger, Amira felt a spark of hope. While it may not have the reach of her sword, at least now she was armed.
Tying the sheath around her thigh, Amira finished packing, looped both bags around her shoulders, and set off. Ideally, she’d wait until the sun rose to try tracking, but the dread from her dream clung to her like an overly tenacious cocklebur and wouldn’t let go. Somehow she just knew the wizard’s life was in danger and she’d be damned before she’d fail her most important mission. Fortunately, the smaller of the two moons, The Eye, had just risen. Small and sinister with its circular discoloration that made it look like its namesake, the moon provided just enough illumination to navigate around the rocks and fallen limbs that choked the plateau. Amira hated The Eye. It reminded her of a judgmental god glaring down upon its subjects, but tonight she was grateful for its light.
Since going south was really the only option, Amira started walking that direction while scanning the ground for tracks. It didn’t take long to spot freshly made ruts. Wheel barrow perhaps? At least it wasn’t a horse which would have put her even further behind. She followed the trail and tried not to think of her nightmare. Was it a vision or just her unconscious mind warning her the wizard was missing? And what did her assailant mean when he mentioned some woman wanting her alive. Who wanted her alive and why?
The night seemed to drag on as she stumbled around yet another craggy tree. The wind had picked up and had an icy bite to it—another ice storm must be blowing through. Amira shivered and held her cloak tighter. What if it came this far? There’s no shelter. Tremors ran through her body, but not from the cold. Taking a deep breath, she looked around at all the skeletal trees. The ice doesn’t get this far, or they’d be pulverized. Even with such solid reassurance, she picked up her pace.
She’d been walking for over an hour when a strange force pressed against her mind, like trying to press through thick cobwebs. Stopping, she searched for the source and became uneasy when she looked off to the side where the darkness seemed unnaturally dense. She dropped her bags, preparing for trouble.
Despite her nervousness, Amira kept her voice steady as she called out. “Show yourself, I know you’re there.”
A shadow detached itself and stepped forward into the setting moonlight, revealing a woman with frown lines marring her otherwise ageless beauty. She leaned on her wooden staff and sneered. “You are as weak and useless as ever. A true seer would have seen me well before now.”
“Who are you?” Amira had never seen this woman before, but her slightly aged look and the sheer power emanating from her meant this woman had been alive a very long time.
“I am the Prime Seer,” she said with dripping condescension. “You would know that if you had accepted my summons.”
Amira frowned in confusion. “I don’t recall receiving such.”
“Of course not! You didn’t have enough ability to hear it. And now I’m here to clean up your mess.”
“What mess?” Amira had to bite back a few choice curses. This woman’s tone was really beginning to anger her. It was a good thing there were no dung piles nearby or the temptation to throw one might be too great to ignore.
“You took the wizard away from his tower. Worse, you severed his connection to my charge. But no worries, that’s being fixed as we speak.”
“Wait! You can’t kill him! He’s needed to save the world.” Amira clenched her hands into fists and stepped closer. This woman would be singing a different song when she got her hands on her.
“Oh, was that a vision of yours?” The woman’s hand slashed the air in utter dismissal. “Nobody else shared it.”
Amira halted her advance, stunned. That couldn’t be right, she had to be lying. A vision this important would have been seen by others, at least in part. She shook her head. “You’re lying.”
“I have no reason to lie.” The woman tsked. “What? You believed your wild spurts were real?” She chuckled in mock sympathy.
“No. My visions have always been true.” Even when they came almost too late. A cold chill crawled up Amira’s spine, and she grew light headed. “It’s you,” she accused. “I thought he was crazy when he suggested outside interference, but you’ve been blocking the visions.” Her face paled, and she took a stumbling step back as she realized with growing horror the sheer amount of power it would take to block a seer. With no offensive magic of her own, she was in big trouble.
The woman shook her head and sighed. “You are wrong child. The gift always comes to the worthy. My power lies only in receiving the truth, not in shaping what others see.”
The admission should have been a relief, yet Amira’s panic intensified. “If not you, then who?” she gasped.
“Nobody has the power to change visions. What you see is twisted by the wild nature of your so-called gift. I’m sorry you’ve gone to so much trouble to save him, but your wizard must die.”
“No. You’re wrong.” She shook her head in denial. Her visions were never wrong, but she didn’t have time to try and change this woman’s mind, even assuming she could. Amira’s heart raced as she recalled the image of the knife plunging into the wizard’s chest. That would happen if she couldn’t get to him in time, she just knew it. “Where is he?” Amira demanded.
The woman glanced at a nearby rock before smirking. “He’s beyond your help now.”
Ignoring the woman, Amira began running to the rock. Perhaps there was a hidden passage….
A white bolt shot out of the woman’s free hand and struck the ground in front of Amira. Struck blind, she tripped and slammed into the hard packed ground.
“Where do you think you’re going?” The woman’s footsteps came closer. “Oh you think to save him?” she cooed. “Perhaps if you were actually a seer, you still could. Too bad that isn’t you.”
Amira squinted past the spots in her eyes to see the woman blocking the path. So be it, she’d go around.
The woman raised her left hand and pointed it at Amira’s chest. “If you were a true seer, not this weak and pathetic thing, you would have seen that attack coming and avoided it. Swear your oath of fealty to me right now or the next bolt will be lethal.”
Amira slowly stood on shaky legs, spat out a lump of blood, and growled. This woman might have power but Amira still had her stubborn determination. “I will never serve you.” Reaching down, she whisked the dagger from its sheath and snarled. Just let me get close enough and I’ll show you who’s weak and pathetic.
Move!
Amira rolled in the dirt and the bolt that would have hit her square on missed, but a spray of rocks blasted her arm. She blinked back the tears from the pain and tried to focus.
“Well, there’s a surprise. You actually dodged that one. Was it luck or is your feeble talent trying to kick in?”
The woman’s sarcastic barb fanned Amira’s anger, but she shoved it under control and scrambled to he
r feet. This was just like combat training when her instructor goaded her into making mistakes. She was no longer so easily provoked. Instead she turned cool eyes on the woman and watched her carefully.
Soon enough, the woman’s fingers twitched slightly and Amira didn’t hesitate, she dove to the side and smoothly rolled back to her feet in time to avoid the deadly bolt. She may not be able to tap into her sight on demand, but all those years of combat training taught her how to read body language. Panting, but more confident now, Amira replied, “It’s neither.”
Twitch
Amira jumped into another roll, this time at a diagonal so she could close the distance to her prey. She was definitely going to kill this nasty woman. Now she was the predator.
The woman narrowed her eyes and began hurling more insults, clearly irritated at Amira’s ability to dodge her spell. “You don’t even have any magic. You are weak and should have been culled long ago. Either submit to me now or face your end.” Now she pointed the staff Amira’s way.
She rolled twice to the left and barely avoided the double blast of power trailing behind. Her instincts were on high alert for survival and she trusted them. It was a struggle to keep the anger from taking over, despite her training, but Amira had spent a long time proving that she deserved her spot as a seer and not a castoff.
“You don’t have any magic girl. Why do you think you can become a seer?” Headmaster Callan asked Amira as she stood nervously at her entrance interview.
“I am a seer because of the visions, not because of any other spells I’d cast. Not having them doesn’t take that away.”
“But you can’t defend yourself.”
“I’ll do what norms do then, I’ll learn the sword.”
“Unheard of!” Bastion, Callan’s steward fumed. “You cannot allow it!” he beseeched the headmaster.
“Unorthodox, but perhaps the child has a point,” the headmaster replied. “You will have to work twice as hard and it will never come easy for you.”