After a few minutes three of them had sat down defeated, and several more minutes saw another sigh heavily and sit down. The remaining scholar continued to lean over the parchment mumbling to himself. He remained that way for some time and Vala was beginning to get impatient. Eventually he looked up, and almost seemed surprised that there were other people in the room.
“Can you read it?” King Asmera asked hopefully.
The man shook his head, “I’m afraid not sire,” he said taking the final seat and the king deflated slightly. “I believe the language is one of the oldest of the dark languages, now obsolete.”
“So no one can read it?” King Asmera asked, disappointment lacing his words.
“These languages have not been used or studied for hundreds of years, you may never find anyone who can read them.”
Vala chewed on her lower lip, thoughtfully mulling over what the old man had said, she sat bolt upright, “Sara!” The room looked at her questioningly, “I’m sorry,” she said hastily to the king, “my sister Sara, she knows this language.” King Asmera’s eyes brightened but the elderly scholar who had spoken before shook his head.
“You must be mistaken, the language has not been used or studied in hundreds of years, no one can read it anymore.”
“That’s not true,” Vala insisted speaking quickly, “I knew the writing looked familiar, I’ve seen her reading it, or translating it, or something.” She turned to the king and looked at him imploringly, “sire, I’m sure of it.” He looked at her and nodded to one of the guards who rolled up the parchment, bowed and left the room.
“Vala, Helian,” King Asmera said, “while I am grateful you have delivered this news to me immediately please do not let me keep you any further, I fear you are exhausted and in great need of rest.”
“And a bath,” Helian muttered quietly under his breath.
Vala elbowed him in the ribs as they got to their feet. “Thank you King Asmera,” she bowed, “I am most grateful for your hospitality as always.”
“I’m worried about Yutshan,” Helian said quietly as they walked down a long corridor towards a spiral staircase.
“What do you mean?” Vala asked glancing at him as he smiled to one of the laundry maids walking past them.
“Do you remember how Fjord was? Suspicious of everyone, acting like he didn’t want our help.” They reached the stairs and began to descend.
“You think Yutshan has turned,” it wasn’t a question.
“I’m beginning to think parts of it might have, yes.” They reached the ground floor, walked out of a door to their left and across an open courtyard towards the section of the city where the warriors lived. Citizens and guards nodded to them politely as they passed.
“It certainly would explain a few things,” Vala said, “perhaps we’ll look into it on our way home.”
“Do you think that’s wise?” Helian asked as they approached a small stone building. The door was open and a young boy, about five years old, raced out towards them. Helian crouched down and lifted the boy as he threw his arms around his father. Vala smiled, remembering the days when Kiræ and Tom would greet her like that.
“Father you’re back!” the boy yelled, burying his head in his father’s chest so all that could be seen was a mass of black curly hair. A young woman emerged carrying a toddler; she had dark brown hair, tied back in a bun and deep bronzed skin.
“Hello Shannah,” Vala said to the woman as Helian walked over and kissed her.
“Vala it’s been too long,” the other woman said giving Vala a one armed hug.
“Careful,” Vala said pulling away, “I don’t think you should get too close,” Shannah laughed and ushered them both inside.
One well needed bath and a change of clothes later and Vala was in the kitchen of Helian’s house. His son was perched on her knee and he was playing with her blonde hair, which hung damp and loose. Shannah was cooking a stew while Helian held his infant daughter in his arms.
“I don’t think you should put yourself in unnecessary danger,” he said, continuing their earlier conversation.
“If I don’t go, we’ll never know if Yutshan has been converted. What if we call for aid, or entrust them with something important? Do we really want to be putting sensitive information into the wrong hands?”
“She’s right you know,” Shannah called from across the room.
“I would be happier if you had some more warriors with you.”
Vala shook her head, “Less would be better, if I turned up with hundreds of warriors they might think we mean to invade.”
“And if you turn up with no warriors and are faced with a giant mingual army?” Vala smiled but did not reply. Shannah abandoned the stew, leaving it to simmer and joined them at the table.
“Helian, if you know anything about this woman, you know that once her mind is made up you can’t change it.”
Vala laughed, “She’s right you know, I can be terribly stubborn that way.”
“Oh I know!” Helian said forcefully but he smiled, “if you think it’s the best move then I won’t stop you, but please be careful.”
“I always am,” she said looking at the family in front of her, “believe me I want nothing more than to return to those I love.”
Chapter 18
Kiræ opened her eyes slowly, squinting as bright light and blurred shapes filled her vision. She moved her right hand to her face, rubbed her eyes and the blurred shapes began to focus. The first thing she saw was Tom, his right arm in a sling, sat on a chair by her bed.
“Tom,” she croaked, then coughed and spluttered violently, she breathed heavily and felt utterly drained, as if she had been sick for several weeks. She heard footsteps and someone on her other side helped to raise her up; Tom put a cup of water to her lips and she drank gratefully, suddenly realising just how thirsty she was. She sank back into the comfortable bed, looked at her unfamiliar surroundings and realised she was in the hospital.
“What happened?” she asked hoarsely, Tom met his sisters gaze briefly, then turned away. “Tino?” she asked hesitantly, already knowing his answer, Tom shook his head and Kiræ felt hot tears run down her cheeks. Tom threw his good arm round his sister making her gasp.
“I thought I’d lost you too,” he said through tears of his own, “I’ve never been so scared,” he pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes as well as his.
“What about everyone else?” she rasped.
“They’re okay,” he said squeezing her hand reassuringly, “a few injuries but nothing…fatal,” he trailed off and looked at the ground. “Kiræ,” he said quietly, lifting his head to look at her, “what did you do?” He stared into eyes that were the same shade of green as his.
“I don’t know,” she said, “everything seems hazy, I remember the mingual, I remember using magic and I remember trying to fight them.” She paused, put a hand to her head and breathed deeply, “I saw Tino fall,” her voice wavered dangerously, “there was so much blood, I was angry, I needed to stop them.” She looked at her brother and shook her head, “I don’t know what I did, I just had an overwhelming desire to keep them from us.” Kiræ waited for the backlash but it never came, Tom simply hugged her again. “How long have I been out?”
“Almost a week, Sara told Sir Nyme what happened, he’s allowed us a couple of weeks to recover.” A door at the far end of the room opened and Sara rushed towards them; Brean followed more slowly.
“I’ve just been told you’d woken,” she said hugging Kiræ and causing her to wince again, “oh I’m sorry,” she said releasing her, “how do you feel?”
“I’m tired.”
“That’s to be expected,” Brean said reaching them, he smiled fondly at Kiræ, “your body has been recovering.”
Kiræ looked nervously at Brean, “I’m sorry.”
“For what my dear? For using your magic to protect your friends? Please do not apologise, if you hadn’t done what you did there’s a good chance none of you wou
ld have returned.”
“But I,” she hesitated uncertainly, “I think I used a magic you’ve not taught us,” Brean looked curiously at her. “I don’t really know what I did, but something…” she looked at Tom for help.
“Tell me what happened,” Brean said looking at Tom while he pulled a chair over and sat down.
“I’m not really sure,” Tom said, taking his sisters hand to reassure her. “Kiræ had killed a mingual warrior and fallen to the ground, her leg was bleeding so I went to help her up, I was still clutching her when she saw Tino-” Tears pricked Kiræ’s eyes again and Tom squeezed her hand as she took a deep breath to steady herself.
“She screamed, and something…came from her, it was like a bright white light, it pushed the mingual away from us, then surrounded us, like a bubble.” He turned back to Brean, expecting the old man to think he was crazy but he continued to look at them with his familiar serene expression.
“Well, well,” he said rubbing his beard thoughtfully, “that is something I did not expect.” He rose to his feet and began pacing the large room while muttering to himself. “Doesn’t make any sense,” he said walking past them, “not something she should have,” they heard on his second lap, “what about him?” was the final thing they heard as he stopped once more by Kiræ’s bed and looked at Tom.
“What did I do?” Kiræ asked.
“Nothing bad my dear,” he replied smiling, “but also nothing normal. I’m afraid I must take my leave,” he said after a long time of staring at the twins, “there’s something I need to research. Sara, if you have a free moment I would love the opportunity to talk something through with you.” He left abruptly, leaving them all feeling confused and Kiræ feeling terrified.
Hours later Kiræ was alone in the hospital, she had insisted Tom get some rest after learning he had barely left her side and he had reluctantly agreed. Kiræ lay on her side, feeling tired but unable to switch off her mind to previous events. What had really happened? What did I create? What isn’t Brean telling me? A large shadow fell across her bed and she was jolted back to reality. She expected to see Tom again but instead found her friends surrounding her bedside. She eased herself up and they pulled chairs over to the bed, she smiled weakly.
“Tom came by and let us know you were awake,” Hazime said, “I hope you don’t mind us being here.” She shook her head and immediately regretted it as her vision swam.
“How are you all?” she asked looking round them slowly and seeing the gaping hole where Tino should have been.
“We’re okay,” Tana reassured her and ran a bandaged hand through her hair, “you’re the one we’re worried about.”
“I’m okay,” she said trying to smile, “just tried.” Kiræ looked at her friends, various body parts bandaged and bruised, and thought about what Brean had said. For a second she felt grateful for whatever magic she had used, then she shivered when she recalled Brean’s troubled face and the thought vanished.
“There’s going to be a ceremony for Tino in a few days,” Aurora said softly, “do you think you’ll be out by then?” Kiræ nodded though she had no idea if it was true.
“Sir Nyme wants to talk to us about what happened,” Gary said trying to fill the sudden heavy silence, “I think he wants to determine if there’s a threat to the city.” Kiræ nodded absent-mindedly, suddenly panicked about what her friends might have told their training master.
Why aren’t they bombarding me with questions over what happened? What do they know? What has Tom told them? Her friends continued to talk, more amongst themselves than to her, while she panicked over what might happen to her and Tom once she was out of hospital. Her friends’ voices eventually became muffled as she slipped into an uneasy sleep.
Kiræ was allowed to leave the hospital a couple of days later and Tom took her back to their home rather than the dorms.
“I’m alright Tom,” she insisted sitting at the kitchen table,
Tom raised an eyebrow, “Like hell you are, you’re obviously still weak from what happened, you need some help.”
“You’d think after sleeping for a week I wouldn’t be tired, when is the ceremony for Tino?” she asked faltering slightly.
“In two days I think,” Tom replied while avoiding her gaze, “then, his body will be returned to Xitol.” Tom hugged his sister as tears pricked her eyes and she tried to blink them back without success.
“I still can’t believe it,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“It’s not fair, he didn’t deserve this.”
“I know,” Tom repeated unsure of what to say to comfort her, he hadn’t properly processed what had happened himself. There was a quiet knock at the door and Aurora entered. She wrapped her arms round her friend and Tom felt grateful that she had arrived; he had never been good at comforting his sister when she was upset.
“Do you want to talk?” Aurora asked, Kiræ nodded and they made their way to her old room.
Kiræ sat awkwardly on her bed, looking at the floor, “I feel like I’ve failed.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because I couldn’t save him.”
“What happened wasn’t your fault Kiræ, we were outnumbered from the start. I think Sir Nyme was amazed there weren’t more casualties.” Kiræ looked up and Aurora saw the worry on her face.
“We didn’t tell him anything about what you and Tom did,” she said reassuringly, “I’m not even sure what it was you did,” she forced a laugh.
Kiræ smiled weakly, “It’s probably best if Tom and I explain when we’re all together.”
“And when you’ve recovered,” Aurora added, “but please don’t keep blaming yourself for what happened to Tino, it won’t do you any good.” Kiræ nodded absentmindedly, “does Vala know what happened?”
“We’re not even sure where she is, so there’s no way to get a message to her.”
“I’ve made soup,” Tom said poking his head round the door.
“You’ve cooked?” Kiræ asked, “you really must have been worried about me.” Tom smiled at his sisters attempt to be her normal self and her and Aurora joined him back in the kitchen.
Two days later the twins were standing with their friends in one of the chapels closest to the training ground for Tino’s Farewell Ceremony. Sir Nyme was stood at the head of the chapel and cleared his throat.
“It is with great sorrow that we are all joined here, to say farewell to an exceptional warrior and friend; Tino Crucedal. He was of course taken from us too soon but I am told he fought bravely to the very end amongst those he cared most about. I did not know him as well as some but I saw in him a greatness that regrettably will be unable to blossom.
“Those that did know him, knew a kind, selfless, strong, determined young man, and I know that they have lost an incredibly loyal friend. Though Tino is no longer with us in self, he will remain with us in spirit, his soul will soar with us on our journeys, helping to guide us as the Gods see fit.
“I feel privileged to have known him, even for such a short time and I wish him the uninterrupted rest he so deserves.” Sir Nyme turned and bowed to the coffin where Tino’s body lay, then returned to his seat. One by one the congregation walked to the coffin, bowed and said a prayer for the fallen man. It was a traditional warrior’s Farewell Ceremony, and although Tino hadn’t completed his training, Sir Nyme felt that his death was that of a warrior’s and he deserved a respectful send-off.
After the Farewell Ceremony, the warriors would drink ale and celebrate the life of their fallen comrade. The twins sat with their friends in a pub close to the chapel. Kiræ avoided eye contact with them, concentrating intensely on her untouched mug of ale, but she could feel their gaze on her and her brother; she shifted uncomfortably.
“To Tino,” Tom said raising his mug and the others followed suit.
“He was a great friend,” Tana added, taking a small sip of the strong tasting drink.
“The best,” Hazime added. An awkward
silence fell again and for several minutes they sat and drank in silence.
“What did you two do?” Keolan finally broke the silence, Kiræ looked up sharply and the others shot him scolding looks.
“This might not be the best time to discuss it,” Hazime said glaring at Keolan. Kiræ shuffled in her seat and her brother placed a protective arm round her.
“You’re right Hazime, this isn’t the best time,” Tom said, “we’re supposed to be talking about Tino and celebrating his life.”
“So we’re supposed to wait until tomorrow to start asking questions?” Keolan shot back, “come on Tom, you two did something back there, what in the God’s was it?” Tom’s face was like thunder and he opened his mouth to retaliate but Aurora beat him to it.
“None of us are trying to take this day away from Tino,” she said looking round the group, “but I think we’re all wondering why we’re not lying next to him.”
Tom sighed and looked at his sister, “I’ll tell them,” he said and she relaxed a little. “Kiræ and I,” he paused for what felt like hours and took a deep breath, “we have magic.” Their friends stared in disbelief.
“I’m sorry what?” Tana asked.
“Kiræ and I have magic, like Bælana,” Tom said again.
“You’re kidding right?” Hazime asked, slowly lowering his mug of ale.
Tom shook his head, “Remember how we’ve been vanishing every morning, well we’ve been having training sessions with,” he paused trying to decide how to explain it,
“With a scholar friend of Sara’s,” Kiræ finished for him.
“He knows a lot about magic and he’s been showing us how to use and control it.”
Tana shook her head, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand, how do you have it? I thought only Bælana had magic.” Kiræ shifted uncomfortably again and sunk a little lower in her chair.
Tom cleared his throat nervously, “Please try to stay calm,” the group looked at him expectantly, “Bælana’s our birth mother.” Their reaction was exactly what he had expected; Gary and Hazime rose sharply to their feet, while the others looked at the twins in disbelief.
Forgotten Magic (Elementals Book 1) Page 14