season avatars 01 - seasons beginnings

by sandra ulbrich almazan

to the edge of the crowd by the treeline. “I have several gems to give to

  Lammar, more than enough to trade for the fire starter. Let my compan-

  ion go—”

  “He admits it! He took a fire starter! Seize them all!”

  We’re doomed, Kron thought. He grasped the pearls, but they were

  too natural to be affected by his artifacts. Perhaps one of the shaped

  gems would hold a spell, though Kron wasn’t sure how to target only

  the travelers and not Janno and Galia.

  The swordsmen lunged for Janno, only to trip and fall as grass and

  weeks snaked around their legs. The rest of the clan abruptly shrieked,

  contorting and slapping at themselves as if the Four had driven them

  insane. Galia huffed as she trotted as fast as she could toward her son.

  Janno swayed as she reached him. Silently, she touched her hand to his

  throat. Then she drew back and smacked his face. He gave her a hard

  look and rubbed his red cheek, but otherwise he didn’t protest.

  Bemused by how rapidly and effectively the travelers had been dis-

  armed, Kron hurried over to Galia and Janno to offer his assistance.

  Galia, pale and out of breath, leaned on his arm as he escorted her back

  to the ship.

  “What did you do to them?” he whispered. “How long will it last?”

  A couple of the swordsmen shouted and strained to pursue them, but

  the plants gripped them securely.

  “I only put Lammar to sleep,” she replied. “I didn’t do anything to

  the rest of them.”

  “Then what—”

  A fierce cry from behind them made Kron turn around. One of the

  swordsmen was clever enough to slash the weeds holding him with his

  swords. He had to twist and bend at impossible angles to do it without

  injuring himself, but although more grass clutched at him, he mowed it

  down easily. He paused for a moment to grimace and slap at something,

  then he took a couple of steps toward them, sword pointed at one of

  Janno’s kidneys.

  2 0 8 · S a n d r a U l b r i c h A l m a z a n

  At last, here was Kron’s chance to use his own magic. The sword

  was the same strong metal that had baffled him earlier, but the hilt was

  weaker. A couple of magical pushes in the right spots, and the sword

  fell off the hilt. The swordsman stopped to stare at it. Kron couldn’t

  understand the language he used, but the words had to be foul.

  Bella scurried up the ladder to give them space to climb. Galia and

  Janno went next, followed by Kron. Domina posed at the side of the

  Avatar as if she meant to hurl lightning at the strangers. As soon as

  everyone was aboard, Caye sent a burst of wind to drive them away

  from the bank. The boat lurched, sending everyone sprawling. Kron

  barely had time to throw the pearls and gems at Lammar before they

  sailed out of range.

  With a groan, he sat down on the deck as his energy faded away.

  The rest of the Avatars copied him. Galia stared at Domina for several

  minutes before the Winter Avatar finally brought them beer and bread.

  They ate in silence for a few heartbeats before Janno asked, “What

  made them twist and stomp around like that? That wasn’t my doing.”

  “It was mine,” Bella announced with a smug smile. “All the fleas in

  their furs suddenly woke and bit them.”

  Kron bit back a laugh, then toasted his wife.

  * * *

  Bella used birds to watch the travelers in case they decided to pursue

  the Avatar, and Caye and Domina pushed themselves to melt the ice

  and sail upriver even faster than they’d already been traveling. A few

  travelers did pursue them on horseback, but by the time both of the

  Winter Avatars collapsed from exhaustion, the Avatar had outpaced

  them. The Western Mountains were visible in the distance, a sterile

  landscape made all the more astonishing by the number of animals flee-

  ing from it. Herds of wild goats and deer trotted past as if unconcerned

  by the wolves and mountain lions trailing them. Flocks of birds—Bella

  reported they contained everything from songbirds to seabirds to birds

  Sea so n s’ Be gin n in gs · 2 0 9

  of prey—darkened the sky overhead. Bella clung to the side of the boat

  and stared at all the creatures as if she meant to gather them with her

  gaze.

  Kron came over to join her. “It seems as if our friends from this

  afternoon had reason to leave.”

  After a few heartbeats, Bella nodded.

  “Are they still following us?”

  She shook herself. “Who, the travelers? They could be. The last I

  noticed them, two horses were still traveling upstream.” She smiled,

  and her eyes shone with light. “Forgive me, Kron. All these animals,

  unlike anything I’ve seen before…they’re beautiful.”

  He couldn’t scold her when she was this excited. He hadn’t seen her

  like this since the first moons of their marriage. “Never mind about the

  travelers. I’m sure they’ll give up and return to their caravan when they

  realize we’re so far ahead.”

  Some of the joy left Bella’s face. “So, what did you take from them?

  Was it worth the trouble?”

  His face grew warm. “It’s a fire starter made of a metal I’ve never

  seen before. It might be useful against Salth.”

  “But why did you take it?”

  Kron sighed. “It’s hard to explain.” He did his best to describe what

  had happened, not sparing either Janno or himself in the details. “I’m

  not sure why they’re so protective of something non-magical, though.

  It wasn’t even their only sample of the metal. The swords were made of

  it too.”

  “Could it be sacred to them?” Bella asked. “Or something that’s im-

  portant to their tribe?”

  “Perhaps.” Kron leaned forward, studying the living landscape in

  front of them. “It was well done with the distraction you created this

  afternoon.” There was more he longed to tell her, how he’d worried

  about her having magic at first but now couldn’t imagine her without it,

  that he’d still feel the need to protect her no matter how powerful she

  was, that he wished they could stay in this peaceful moment forever,

  2 1 0 · S a n d r a U l b r i c h A l m a z a n

  without worrying about Salth or Sal-thaath or the caravan. He even

  wished he could be a better husband to her and give her the children she

  craved. But no words could show her everything in his heart. Even a

  kiss seemed inadequate, but he swept her into one anyway. The taste of

  her sweet mouth made him pull her closer to him. She wrapped her arms

  around him, and their kiss deepened….

  “If you two keep that up, you’re going to be making a child right in

  front of us all.” Galia cackled as she brought out a big bowl of boiled

  grains and vegetables. “When are you going to show this magical new

  artifact to us, Kron?”

  He glared at her for spoiling the mood, but she ignored him and por-

  tioned out their meal. The other Avatars crept over to join them, all

  except for Domina and Caye. They collapsed at their stations and re-

  fused to budge. Galia brought each of them their portions and urged


  them to eat.

  Kron waited until everyone was satisfied before bringing out the fire

  starter and passing it around. “Notice how hard the material is,” he said.

  “I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, but I expect it will be less likely

  to rust or go soft over time than bronze. That means it will be able to

  resist Salth’s time magic.”

  “Really?” Galia played with the loose skin on her hands. “I didn’t

  think anything could resist time.”

  “Well, some things last longer than others. I’ve made some artifacts

  that will protect you. Bella, could you fetch them, please? We’re close

  enough to her domain that you should never take them off.”

  Kron had designed the Avatars’ protective artifacts as snug bracelets

  with miniature sundials and clasps enchanted to stay shut until the

  wearer pinched it. To invoke the Fours’ protection as well, each bracelet

  bore an oval piece of glass colored to match the God or Goddess the

  Avatar served. He’d guessed at the sizes, but most of the bracelets fit

  well. Only Janno’s was too small, but Kron was able to coax it to ex-

  pand. He set aside the last four bracelets for the quartet still in Vistichia.

  He’d bring them along when he fetched them.

  Sea so n s’ Be gin n in gs · 2 1 1

  Bella helped the other Avatars figure out how to open and lock the

  clasps. Domina sat up and spun the bracelet around her wrist. “Do we

  need to do anything to make this work, Kron?”

  “No. The spell is always active.”

  “You could have added a few more gems to mine,” Domina said.

  Galia glared at her, but Magstrom chuckled and said, “When we re-

  turn to Vistichia, I’ll give you all the gems you want.”

  Ah, so the wind blows that way, does it? Better you’re with her than

  me, Magstrom.

  Janno and a couple of other Avatars grinned and made sly com-

  ments. Kron let it continue for a few heartbeats while he activated

  another artifact, a wooden eye. He’d scratched out the pupil to keep

  them hidden from Salth. Although she might guess they were here by

  the presence of foreign magic, the artifact would make it harder for her

  to learn what they were discussing or doing. Once he was sure the eye

  was working properly, he cleared his throat. “If we keep sailing as

  quickly as we did today, tomorrow will take us so far up the Chikasi

  that the river will be too shallow for this boat. Although Salth does live

  close to the river, it’ll be another couple of days to journey there on

  foot. But before we do that, I need to return to Vistichia and collect the

  rest of the Avatars, as well as any more supplies I can buy.” He looked

  at Bella. “Dearest, is there any animal that can take a message to

  Vistichia faster than I can portal? A hawk or crow would be less likely

  to catch Salth’s attention than my opening of a portal.”

  “Maybe a falcon, but they can’t fly at night. Even if I summon one

  at dawn, it wouldn’t get there until the following day.”

  “I should have asked you to send one sooner. I might have, if the

  travelers hadn’t distracted us.” Kron glanced down at the artifact in his

  hand. “I’ll use this to disguise the portal. While I’m gone, it would be

  wise to hide your magic. Don’t use it unless you have to, and if you do,

  try to keep the effects from spreading over a wide area.”

  2 1 2 · S a n d r a U l b r i c h A l m a z a n

  “Kron, how big of a portal are you planning to create?” Bella asked.

  “Will you be able to bring our wagon and ox through? We would get

  there faster.”

  He hesitated. It would have been a good idea under other circum-

  stances. However, they would have to bring fodder along for the beast,

  since it wouldn’t be able to find anything to eat in Salth’s domain. And

  while his magic didn’t limit the size of the portals he could create, larger

  ones would attract more attention than one a person could slip through.

  He shook his head. “No, I’m afraid that’s too risky. We’ll all have

  to walk.” He avoided glancing at Galia. Despite the health and vigor

  Spring had given her, she was most likely to slow them down. That was

  also a risk, but Kron thought he could manage to conceal a small, slow

  group better than a larger, fast-moving one.

  “Anything else we need to know about Salth or her house?” Galia

  asked.

  “You’ll have to prepare yourselves for pitiful corpses and possible

  monsters.” Kron omitted the part about them possibly being the same.

  “We should set a watch, starting tonight.”

  Kron and Janno wound up sharing the first watch. Everyone else

  spent the night in the cabin and hammocks, since this might be their last

  opportunity to do so. Even the animal migration had stopped at sunset.

  Now the stars shone down on the ice and snow, with the white expanse

  broken up by dark mounds where herd beasts huddled together.

  “Kron, are you sure we can’t use this portal thing to go straight to

  Salth’s house?” Janno asked. “It would be much easier on my mother,

  and it would give us a chance to sneak up on Salth.”

  “You expect to sneak up on the world’s greatest magician by using

  magic? That’s like scattering gold and jewels behind you and hoping

  thieves won’t trail you home.”

  “Well, can you use magic as a trap? Set it off in one place while

  we’re somewhere else?”

  “Maybe.” Kron scratched his chin. “But then she’d definitely know

  I’m here, if she hasn’t sensed us already. We’ll see in the morning.”

  Sea so n s’ Be gin n in gs · 2 1 3

  “Then I suppose I should let you rest.” Janno winked. “Or not,

  maybe.”

  “Maybe would be more of a yes if there weren’t so many of you

  around,” Kron said. “Or maybe you should find yourself a wife of your

  own, so you don’t have to poke your nose into my business.”

  Janno’s expression sobered. “I’ve had two wives. First one died try-

  ing to give me a son and a daughter at the same time. I lost the second

  one during the last plague.”

  That had taken place a couple of years before Kron had arrived in

  Vistichia, plenty of time to mourn and move on. “You must have loved

  her very much,” Kron said.

  “She was fair, but perhaps too quiet for me.” Janno sighed. “Mother

  tells me all the time how much she’d like a grandchild. I suppose when

  we’re done with Salth and go home, I should find a new wife. That

  shouldn’t be hard now that I’m an Avatar. Hopefully the next one will

  be a love match, like what you and Bella have.”

  Kron smiled. “If I was the master of time like Salth, I’d spend it all

  with her.”

  With that, Kron focused on creating more protective amulets for the

  rest of his shift.

  * * *

  Caye and Domina still looked weary when everyone rose at dawn,

  but they pushed off without complaint. The morning’s sailing brought

  them a better view of the Western Mountains, grey mounds with tops

  lost in the clouds. However, Kron couldn’t admire the scenery, asr />
  smaller streams joined the Chikasi, making the path they should take

  difficult to determine. Kron placed magic-finders at the front and rear

  of the boat, then, with Bella’s help, used the different glow intensities

  between the two to figure out the direction to Salth’s house.

  “We should go this way,” he said, pointing to one of the smaller

  streams.

  2 1 4 · S a n d r a U l b r i c h A l m a z a n

  “We can’t,” Janno replied. “It’s too shallow.”

  Before Kron could argue, the boat proved Janno right by coming to

  a halt. Kron staggered for a couple of steps before he regained his bal-

  ance. Galia bumped into the railing. Bella reached for her, but Galia

  waved her off. “Just give me a moment to catch my breath and heal my

  bruises.”

  Domina collapsed. “We’re...not going...anywhere.”

  “Is anyone hurt?” Magstrom asked, poking his head into the cabin.

  No one seemed to be severely injured, so Kron secured the ladder in

  place and climbed down. He didn’t recognize the area, but other than

  the clump of dead trees by the river, there wasn’t much here to distin-

  guish it. At least the trees would provide shelter for the Avatars, as well

  as materials he could use to portal back to Vistichia. Kron snapped off

  several dry branches and lashed them into a door frame.

  Galia peered over the Avatar’s side. “What are you doing?”

  “I think it’s time for me to return to Vistichia and collect the other

  Avatars. Are the rest of you going to wait in the boat or on land?”

  “I think by this point, I prefer being on land,” Galia replied. “Hold

  the ladder steady so I can climb down, please.”

  Kron went one better by sharpening the ends of two branches to

  points, hardening the posts so they would penetrate the frozen earth,

  and finally bonding the ladder to the posts. Now the Avatars would be

  able to move back and forth between the riverbank and the boat.

  “It’s time for everyone to pack supplies,” he told Galia. “Let me

  know if you want me to bring back anything from Vistichia. But it has

  to be something I can find easily, so I can return in time for us to start

  moving.”

  Galia shook her head. “I think we should stay here tonight, Kron.

  We have water and shelter here, and we may not be able to find them

  on the march. Besides, Caye and Domina could use the rest. They’re