She frowns. “You’re always the one picking fights you can’t win,” she says with concern. “I didn’t ask you to fight Devin. But, I want you to know that I do appreciate what you did. I know I haven’t been the most empathetic and trusting person—”
“That’s the understatement of understatements,” I snort, earning a quick glare from her.
“But…” she says through gritted teeth. “I shouldn’t have turned on you for trying to protect me. I’m going to make this right, and I’ve promised the same thing to the others. So, can you forgive me for the way I acted, Tálir?”
Silence strangles my voice box for a moment. I don’t sense any deception from her. Her blue eyes shine with empathy for the first time, and I’m stunned to see a different side of her. A side that shows empathy and compassion. I feel both relieved and happy to see her open up, even if only for a brief moment. Even in spite of all we’ve been through, a part of me feels unconditionally compassionate for her.
My anger subsides and is replaced by a warm sense of happiness. It’s strange, having my emotions calmed by someone like Sarina. But perhaps that’s why she’s important to me. Why I feel unconditionally supportive. She can keep me focused.
I look into her blue eyes. “So… You’ve gone around apologizing like this to everyone?” I ask with a smirk.
Sarina rocks her head. “More or less,” she replies returning the grin.
“Well, that seems a bit unnecessarily excessive.”
We all leave the swamp and head back to the campsite nearly a kilometer away. It’s around midday when we convene with the others. And to my surprise, everyone is there waiting for us. Devin, while harboring some resentment, has elected to stay. Vyck always goes where his friend is, so he stays too. Vivían is certainly pleased with this outcome.
“So…” Aida says once everyone has congregated. “Let’s get this quest underway.”
Chapter 34: Sarina
The Outlands
ANOTHER NIGHT PASSES AS we recuperate from the escape. The next morning, everyone packs their gear and prepares the bikes for our trip. Fuel will be acquired within villages dotting the east.
Before we leave though, Abrax has everyone gather around the repulsorcart. The old man gestures for Tálir to retrieve the Tome from his satchel. In an excited hurry, Tálir thrusts his hand into the satchel and pulls out the device—holding it out for all to see in his palm. A small, bronze pyramid.
“It’s time for us to see what we acquired in Z’hart City,” the old man says. “Let’s see what the Tome has to offer us.”
Everyone is excited and my heart races. This technology hasn’t been activated in almost a millennium, and it fills me with anticipation as I wait. The Tome is our map, our true guide.
Abrax presses a finger to the bronze metal. Upon activating the device, the three sides of the pyramid split open and reveal a tiny, glowing orb the color of sapphires. The light shines brightly and begins to pulsate with a low hum. Gradually it grows larger in size until it reaches the width of an apple.
All of us are in awe as a faint image forms within the glowing depths of the orb. The image is cloudy, but gains form over the span of a few seconds. My eyes narrow as I stare intensely at it.
The image of a lone willow tree resting in an on open grove of pine trees is shown to us. The willow tree looks ancient and almost magical as it rests within the depths of the forest. The image lasts for a moment, and then the orb dissipates in a mist of crystal blue as the pyramid closes shut. The Tome remains inert in Tálir’s palm for several moments as we wait for something else to happen. Nothing does.
That’s it? I ask myself. We only get an image of a willow tree?
Tálir scratches his head while examining the device in his hand, slowly pacing in circles. Devin touches his bearded chin and also begins shuffling about. Vyck looks completely befuddled.
“So,” Vyck says in a prolonged way. “Am I the only one thinking that this Tome is completely boning us?”
“Shut up,” Devin sighs.
“So all we have to go by is an image of a willow tree?” I ask, wiping beads of sweat from my forehead. “The Mavens sure were thorough when it came to keeping this place secret. Hells, I’m not even sure if they knew how to find it.”
Everyone begins spouting out their own theories regarding the Tome’s image. Tálir says Providence could be under the tree while Devin believes it’s nothing but a distraction. Aida comments that it could be a marker, but how would we find it? Even Vyck comments that finding a sole willow is next to impossible.
But then, Vivían chimes in, “I might have a solution to this.” Everyone quiets as she continues, “Willow trees are only native in the far eastern Outlands, near the Marün Canyons that border the land of Asi. Many of these trees can be found near the Night Sea.”
“She’s right,” Abrax affirms, rubbing his beard. “Our path already lies in the east. So our search for this willow tree can also begin there.”
I regard him with mild hesitation. “That’ll be like finding an oreing in a rockslide. Who knows how long that search could take.”
“It might not be as difficult as we think,” Tálir suddenly says.
Everyone looks at him. For the last few minutes, he’s been fiddling with the Tome with no imperceptible progress. Pacing in all directions with nothing of note happening. But as he moves the device in the direction of the east, glowing blue lines light up along the sides of the Tome.
“A— Beacon—” Remus grunts with a wide smile on his bearded face.
“Of course!” Abrax exclaims more joyfully than I expected. “The Tome is meant to guide us along the path. I thought it was just part of the legend, but…”
“It will literally light our way,” I conclude with a smirk. “Nice job, Tálir!”
He gives me an earnest smile before saying, “We have our guide. We’ve got our supplies. I never thought I’d be saying this, but, let’s go find Providence.”
I turn to Vivían and ask, “How long will it take us to get to the Night Sea?”
She runs a hand over her wild, crimson hair before replying, “Two, maybe three weeks. Even with the bikes, we have a lot of ground to cover in the east. The land is winding and unpredictable. We must stay on the lookout for Crimsons. They tend to roam within those canyons. So, we must travel carefully. Otherwise, let's mount up and go for a ride.” She winks at Vyck.
Tálir grins and nods. “We have no time to waste then.”
Standing firmly in front of our repulsorbikes, I lift my head up confidently. “Let’s go save the world.”
◆◆◆
The quest for Providence has begun. A week passes as we continue to the eastern border of Z’hart. The terrain is more versatile than it was in the south. Oases, savannas, marshes, and ravines make up the countryside. We cover incredible distance on our bikes, nearly five hundred kilometers per day. Still, Pan’gea is a massive continent and we’ve barely covered a quarter of it. Yet, our quest requires us to press on and in a timely fashion. We have to finish this before Centum’s plans come to fruition. Adding to our flight, Vivían reports that something is pursuing us into the east. A menace that seems a day behind us.
It’s a race to the finish.
Our journey takes us beyond many places I only dreamed of as a girl. From the swamp, we make our way into the great Gold Plains that mark the eastern border of Z’hart. The Gold Plains are massively expansive, ranging for miles and miles. The sand colored grasses bend in the wind, and waves of antelope flock frequently. We start keeping a close eye out for packs of whargs. One day as we’re travelling through the savannah, Vivían starts teaching me how to hunt. A skill I’ve always wanted to learn, but wasn’t exceptionally gifted at. The first time, I mistakenly move upwind and my scent scares the animals off. The second time, I’m not quiet enough.
Still, there’s still some measure of triumph when I cripple one of the quadrupeds. My bowpistol doesn’t have much range, but the bolts are po
werful. As Vivían finishes the kill, she drains a cup full of the animal’s blood.
“Your first kill in the hunt,” she says, passing the cup to me. “This will mark you as a hunter.”
I’ll never forget the warm taste of blood.
After two days traversing through the savanna, we pass by a small village named Gillan Towne. Aida, Devin, and Remus spend some of our earnings on rations, fuel, and supplies before we continue into the wilderness. I elect to stay out of public eye, just in case anyone identifies me.
Upon leaving Gillan Towne, we finally enter the lands beyond the three nations. The Outlands.
My hunting skills improve as the days go on, and so does my relationship with the group. Tensions ease and there are less confrontations since danger hasn’t presented itself. Stress has begun to wear off, but we remain vigilant. We know we’re being hunted, but we accept the challenge.
Devin’s rage has mellowed, although we still hold a tentative relationship with one another. Even after my apology and willingness to trust him, he still remains obstinate. As the days go on, I behave a little more empathetic to him just to ease the tension. Devin resists for a time, but I think he’s starting to calm as well. Only time will tell.
Tálir’s training grows more frequent and more intense as we travel. The closer we get to Providence, the more rigorous the sessions get. For the first time since we met him, Abrax allows me to peek in on their sessions. I think Abrax likes keeping me around for the lessons. I’m a necessary distraction for Tálir, and a way to keep him focused without emotional compromise.
I can now see the bond that exists between Tálir and me. Not that it hadn’t already been there, but we can now approach each other as our true selves. He never backs down because of my status as a regent, and I have the utmost respect for that. He accepts me for who I am, not what I am.
It’s a fascinating ordeal to watch the legacy of the Mavens. Their combat, philosophy, and culture seem both enigmatic and familiar. Abrax even helps me learn more about the use of the Maven spear he passed to me.
I have grown with it, and recognize that it’s no longer just a weapon. So I name it Silverlight, and it is part of me.
Two weeks pass after our escape in Z’hart City, and I can’t shake my longing for home. I miss my sister and I constantly worry about her safety. She’s surrounded by people who seek to overthrow her, and it makes this journey all the more burdensome. But until we find Providence and find a way to stop our enemies, I cannot go home. I have to believe that evading Centum will keep Sahari safe. Until we succeed, I am a queen without a nation.
I am exile.
Chapter 35: Sarina
Bonds
“IN A BASIC SENSE, you need a firm posture when shooting a bowpistol,” Vivían says as we ride together on the repulsorbike. “You’ve got to lock your arms and keep one foot planted behind you for support. Pistols have a wild drawback, so they need a steady hand and an accurate eye.”
Sitting in the passenger seat behind her, I have on hand on Vivían’s hip just to keep myself safe on the bike. Her crimson hair still whips in the breeze despite being held up by the headband. She occasionally takes her eyes off the road in front of us to glance at me while we talk.
“What if I need to get a precise hit?” I respond, examining the pistol in my holster. “Like a knee or an eye?”
“Trust your eye?” she shrugs simply. “Don’t think too much about it.”
She and I share a laugh, and I feel a sense of relief upon realizing our comfortability. Conversations are always enlightening when they involve Vivían. As a former Outlander, Vivían holds no inhibitions since she grew up in a life of adventure. She believes in being true to oneself and to always seize opportunities. She’s certainly true to herself, and I admire it.
Two weeks have passed since we’d traversed through the marshes in the north-eastern reaches of Z’hart. While we only view the maps sporadically, I’m starting to figure out where we are in Pan’gea. If we turn our direction completely north at this point, we’ll eventually enter the nation of O’ran.
By the end of the day, we’ll reach the shores of the Night Sea that spans nearly a hundred kilometers in diameter. Somewhere in that area we will find the willow that marks a guidance point to Providence.
No sign of any Crimsons... so far.
“I once felled a desert wyrm the size of ten men with four plasma arrows to its skull,” Vivían recounts gleefully, breaking my thoughts. “That beast was one tough son of a bitch. Scales so thick it was almost like steel plating. But the skin under their eyes is thinner. So, I aimed quick and put two arrows under each eye and into its skull. Ah, what a feast that was!”
“Two under each eye?” I ask in disbelief. “How did you manage not to miss?”
Vivían looks over her shoulder at me and smiles. She points to her left eye. I take her meaning, and it forces a laugh out of me. For the first time in a while, I feel like I can be myself.
Around midday, we stop to let the repulsorbike engines cool. Everyone takes the time to eat, drink, and change or wash their clothes. I currently wear tan pants, brown boots, and sleeveless shirt. While I acquired several outfits in Z’hart City, I nonetheless choose to wash some of my old clothes. Most of the others wade into the creek to wash off, but I remain on the banks—an old habit of mine. Kneeling cautiously by the creek with a cube of soap, I begin scrubbing the grime and stink out of my tunics and trousers. I finish after a few minutes and place them near one of our heat generators to dry. I can already smell the creek water in the fabric.
The air is cool in the shade of the ravine despite being midday. I hear the sound of the rushing water even over the conversations in the group. For the first time in weeks, I feel relaxed. Inhaling deeply and closing my eyes for a moment, I soak in my relaxation. It seems silly, but I almost feel like a child enjoying playtime in the outdoors.
Once everyone has finished with their tasks, we begin prepping the bikes for further ventures. The pairings for the repulsorbikes are switched as we continue into the ravine, however. Vivían is eager to sit with Vyck for a little while. Devin rides with Abrax. Coincidently, I’m paired with Tálir on his bike and I feel a faint surge of excitement. We haven’t talked one-on-one all day. So this seems like prime opportunity.
My arms wrap around his armored torso as the bikes ride smoothly through the marshy ravine. We travel slowly due to the winding paths and narrow space. It’s just fast enough for a breeze to blow throughout the air.
Following the creek, the bikes hover about a meter above the long grasses and muddy areas. Rotting carcasses of various animals are half buried in the mud. Flies buzz around and toads croak from within the grasses.
The bikes make a sharp turn, and I hold on to Tálir all the more tightly. It takes me a second to realize that I hold on for a fraction longer than necessary. Even Tálir notices; his head turns around slightly in surprise. Embarrassed, I immediately ease my grip.
“Didn’t realize you were that eager to feel me up, Sarina,” Tálir chuckles as he refocuses on driving.
I hit him lightly in his ribs. “Don’t flatter yourself,” I say playfully. “Though, you’re not as muscular as some of the other men I’ve… felt up.”
He says nothing, and I think I detect a hint of jealousy emanating from him. His head turns slightly towards Devin, but doesn’t linger. Despite not seeing his face, I can see his shoulders tense. I grin deviously.
“Well…” he says quietly. “I’m sorry I’m not up to par with those other beefcakes you’ve felt up. My diet for twenty years only consisted of bread, water, and some dried meats you know.”
I pat him on his armored stomach in a spirited manner. “Well you turned out alright,” I reply flippantly. “I imagine the Pyrack was very good at conditioning someone like you. It’s an impressive feat, being able to survive out there.”
Tálir looks over his shoulder briefly as we enter a smooth patch within the ravine. “Sarina, I’ve been wond
ering about something,” he says inquisitively.
“Shoot.”
“Why did you run from being the queen of Z’hart?” Tálir asks genuinely.
His question fills me with some measure of apprehensive curiosity. No one has ever asked me why I’d chosen to abandon my inheritance. I’m both thrilled and scared to answer his query. I’ve convinced myself of my reasons, but I’ve never had to tell someone else.
“I guess because I was scared,” I answer as I consider extrapolating. “How could someone at the age of seventeen ever hope to rule a nation?”
“But look at all the power you’d have,” Tálir says with vigor. “All the luxury and wealth you’d have as a ruler. As someone who grew up with scraps and salvage, you have no idea what I’d do to have a life like that.”
The Maven Knight (The Maven Knight Trilogy Book 1) Page 27