by Lexy Wolfe
"You love Forenta no less than I," Ash pointed out as they paused in front of the double doors. "And you could be as strong as me if you—"
Nolyn chuckled, holding his hands up defensively. "I protect Forenta in my own way, Ash. And I do not have the temperament to endure the pettiness and stupidity to stay around most people that long. The Desanti have the right idea." He pulled the door open sharply. "I just want to beat sense into people sometimes!"
"Who this time, Nolyn?" Ellis asked from the desk, head bent over the scroll he wrote on. Looking up, the old man smiled. "Ash! How fortuitous you and Nolyn arrived together." Both men arched eyebrows in an identical manner, making the old man laugh heartily. "The both of you always were as close as brothers could get. Come, come. Sit down, both of you. There is much to discuss and it will save me time not having to repeat myself with you both here."
Nolyn reached for the bottle of wine, pouring three glasses and offering one to Ash, then Ellis. Ash frowned faintly when Nolyn drained his glass, then refilled it to do so a second time. "Go easy, Nolyn."
"Sorry," the other man said as he put the bottle down and sat back, absently rubbing his mouth with the back of his hand. "The past few months have been... difficult." He sat heavily, running his fingers through his hair, his joviality vanishing in the wake of weariness and stress. "Nearly lost three of my people up on the western ridges last week."
"On the western ridges?" Ellis frowned. "I thought it had been quiet up there."
"'Quiet' is relative. It hasn't been truly quiet anywhere for the past few weeks," Nolyn replied with a sigh. "And it has only gotten worse. Usually it has only been small things. Nothing like what you used to face, Ash, but things... not quite normal, either." He studied the wine in his glass a moment. "The incident up at the ridges near the ruins was... terrible, though. Unsvet Guardian Mikkel had been in the foothills of the World Spine. He said he sensed something wrong. He arrived in time to help us with the darkling tainted greater bear that would have likely killed everyone."
Ash blinked several times, expression bleak. "Up near Andar where my family died." Nolyn nodded mutely, looking at Ash with sympathy.
Ellis sighed, rubbing his face with one hand. "Goddess." He looked at Ash, seeming even older than his one hundred twenty years. "I should be proud to have lived so long, not regretting that I will not be able to live longer. So much that needs to be fixed in Forenta, thanks to decades, probably centuries, of corruption, and so few I trust to be capable or strong enough to do it without firm guidance."
"Do not speak like that," Ash said sharply, scowling at Ellis. "You have many years left to you."
The old man managed a faint smile. "For years, I'd sat silent while Ysai had manipulated the Edai Tredecima to suit her and those greedy, power-grasping noble families. I'm sure the decline started well before the darkling took her place." He sighed gustily. "It is my failure for standing by, waiting for someone else to change things. For putting all my hope in you, Ash, without offering any substantial assistance."
"That is the problem with the subtle manipulations of our society," Nolyn grumbled, looking at his glass longingly as if he wanted to drain it a third time. "By the time you see the trouble, it has been so long it is difficult to change, and many do not recognize it for the problem it truly is."
"There is absolutely no one?" Ash frowned, troubled. "No one untouched by the insidious corruption that has tainted so many of higher ranks?"
Ellis waved a hand aimlessly. "Oh, there are those who are not corrupted in their hearts. But they have for so long deferred and kept themselves obscured to protect themselves and their families' very existence, I do not believe they are ready to take the positions of strength needed. They are still afraid."
Nolyn shook his head. "Nearly none of the families true to their responsibilities to Forenta are in positions of strength. Too many have been undermined and just do what they can for the small sphere of influence they have managed to hold onto." He smirked. "The Avarians are in a better position with you being the Tredecima second."
Ellis sighed heavily. "I'm only the second, not the Se'edai, Nolyn. And I do not trust the Edai Tredecima to be capable of choosing another Edai Magus, much less the next Se'edai." He looked at Ash. "We need the Goddess to guide us."
"I agree," Ash replied simply. "It is time to bring the Great Mother back into our lives." His eyes unfocused, listening to a voice only he could hear. He closed his eyes, shaking his head. "But it is not the place of the Illaini to choose any Edai or Se'edai. It never has been."
"But you are the only one who can speak directly with the Goddess, Ash," Nolyn protested, watching Ash as he got up to look out the wide window towards Ithesra. "You are the only one who can hear Her."
"But I cannot speak for her. And that is exactly the problem, Nolyn." Ash turned to look at them. "Faith in Her is not as absolute or certain as it should be. There will be those who will question whether my words are Her wishes or my own." He made a face. "Ysai may be gone, but it will take time before I am not seen as..." He fell silent, gritting his teeth in aggravation. "As a flawed lowborn. Even though," he began when Ellis interrupted him.
"There is one other way for the Goddess's wishes to be undeniably conveyed to all." Ellis rose from his desk, walking over to one of the shelves, pulling out a very old book. Laying it on the desk with great reverence, he opened it to a page with a ribbon marking it, gently moving the silken strip out of the way. Nolyn and Ash approached to look at the sketch drawn on the page. "There is the Oracle Stone."
The Illaini Magus blinked in surprise. "The Oracle Stone had been silent since long before Nolyn and I were born. A new Voice needs to be named before She can name the new Se'edai."
"When the last Voice passed, no one was acceptable to Her." Ellis made a disgusted face. "We have been going through the motions since then with the annual ceremony presenting potentials to the Stone, but the results have been the same. It goes dark at each potential's touch."
"Would She be willing accept a new Voice after all this time?" Nolyn wondered, looking back at Ash, troubled.
Ash was silent, eyes remaining unfocused. "The reason the Knowing One has not chosen a new Voice of the Oracle Stone is because only masters have been presented to Her. Those set in their ways and none who put service to Forenta before their own petty goals and have forgotten Her. Her next Voice must be a child," he murmured. "A pure soul, untouched by the taint that has contaminated so many of Her children." He looked up at Ellis, eyes refocusing on the present. "Her Voice lives among the children of the Academy now. One who lives within the academy."
Ellis made a thoughtful noise, reaching down to touch the image in the book reverently. "Not one of the children of the greater houses, then. I will have to select a few of the others to present alongside them, else there will be accusations before the ceremony that I am trying to dilute Her influence with lowborn blood." He snorted in disgust as he replaced the ribbon and closed the book gently.
Nolyn put his hand on Ash's arm. "Not everyone has forgotten the Goddess, Ash."
"I know, Nolyn. And She knows. She did not turn Her back on Forenta. But when people started taking Her for granted, stopped listening to Her, She decided to let us find our own way." The Illaini smiled wanly. "Sometimes, the only way for children to learn the hardest lessons is to walk alone in the dark until they can see the light for themselves." Eyes dropping to his right hand, Ash smiled sadly. "Sometimes mettle can only be tested in the harshest fires."
"But why have you had to suffer so much, Ash? You had never done anything to deserve..."
Ellis shook his head. "It is not for us to judge Her, Nolyn." He looked at Ash. "The Avarian family's founder always emphasized this single bit of wisdom and it has been diligently passed down every generation since. The gods are not free to do whatever they will. There is a balance that must be kept."
Ash closed his eyes. "I had not wanted to worry anyone. Not until there was more tangible proof, but...
There is something... something that reaches beyond just Forenta. Something that preys on the earthbound gods themselves. Not merely darklings, but something more. Not even the gods know what." He looked at the two startled men. "If not for the Desanti's once lost god called the Raging One, the Great Mother would have been destroyed. Forenta owes a great debt to Desantiva, whether or not Forenta or Desantiva knows it."
Nolyn whistled softly as Ellis simply pondered the implications. "It seems things are more dire than the Dusvet Guardian hinted at."
Pressing his lips together a moment, Ash said quietly, "The gods have chosen me for something. Not just the Knowing One." He touched the elegant knife on his side. "The Desanti's Raging One had accepted me, despite the rift between him and the Knowing One. And the Timeless One as well, if I have the gifts of Guardians in nearly as equal measure to those of mages."
Ellis rested his hand on Ash's shoulder, drawing his eyes up to him. "Ash. Your desert woman. She is god-chosen as you are, and it was she who revealed the corruption of the Edai Tredecima. The Ceremony of Choosing is one of our most sacred. She should witness that corruption being cleansed from Forenta."
"You want Storm to return to the Academy." Ash shook his head, shrugging one shoulder. "I can try, but will not make any promises. She does not like the Academy. Especially not after what happened the last time she was here." He looked at his wine, gritting his teeth. "She is temperamental and unpredictable."
Smiling faintly, Ellis pointed out, "You were not much different when you were her age, Ash. Be patient with her. Do what you can to convince her to come. I feel it cannot be mere coincidence that she is here." He moved around to settle back into his chair with the sigh of an old man relieved to be off his feet. "It is important she be here to keep Desantiva in our people's minds." Waving a hand, he dismissed the pair. "Go on. Both of you. I've already asked much of Nolyn to stay as long as he has. Send word once you have Storm's agreement and I will announce the ceremony."
"Schedule it for a week from today, Master Ellis. I will send word whether you can expect Storm to attend." Ash looked out the window towards the forest outside. "Regardless, we should delay no longer. Forenta needs the stability knowing the Tredecima is no longer broken." Ellis squinted at Ash, then simply nodded in acquiescence, waving the two out.
Nolyn studied Ash's profile as they left. "She's a strong will, your desert woman. She is probably the only woman in the world who's strong enough to keep up with you."
Ash snorted softly, making a dismissive gesture. "She is Desanti."
"That is obvious," Nolyn replied drolly. "It was obvious the first time I saw her." He fell silent for a while before he spoke again. "Why should it matter?" When Ash looked at him meaningfully, Nolyn shrugged. "What? You are all of sudden caring what others think? That is not like you, Ash. You had always prided thumbing your nose at the hidebound traditionalists."
"I am our people's Illaini Magus. She is one of her people's Githalin Swordanzen. We each have a duty to our gods and our nations. There is no room for more than that between us."
Nolyn snorted softly. "You two are certainly well matched, then. Both exceptional in what your gods chose you for. And you are both exceptionally, stubbornly fixated on duty."
Ash snapped, "Perhaps if you focused more yourself, you would be more than a guardsman."
Grabbing Ash by the arm, Nolyn jerked the man to an abrupt stop, the two glaring at each other. Nolyn frowned at Ash, his fists clenching though he refrained from punching the Illaini. "If I did not consider you a brother..." He took a deep, calming breath, exhaling as he allowed Ash to yank his arm away. "Look, I am happy with who and what I am, Ash. I freely admit I do not have what it takes to be Illaini, and I do not have any desire even to try. It would be a disservice to our people and to Her."
Ash looked at Nolyn skeptically. "Everyone has an ambition to be greater."
Nolyn smirked, waving his arms at the trees as they walked through the archway leading outside. "I serve our goddess in a different way than you do, Ash. Humans are not Her only children. Neither of us had much patience with those of our own kind, save for the few exceptions we try to keep close to us."
Eyes unfocusing as he stared out into the tangle of trees that was the forest, Ash said in a low voice, "Storm il'Thandar does not allow anyone to be close to her." He blinked, looking at Nolyn's hand on his arm, then up at Nolyn.
The guardsman mage looked at Ash, all emotion gone save a brotherly concern in his eyes. "You are Illaini Magus, Ash. You teach through your actions. How can you expect her to allow anyone close if you do not?" Letting his hand drop away, he stated matter-of-factly, "You always despised hypocrisy."
"It is not that simple, Nolyn," Ash stated as the other man began to walk away.
Nolyn paused, looking over his shoulder. He smiled broadly. "When did you ever like things to be simple, Ash?" Not waiting for an answer, Nolyn waved before breaking into a jog towards the beckoning forest. "Goddess watch over you, Illaini Magus Ash Andar!"
Chapter 15
Mureln looked up at the sky, the overcast grey striking a sharp contrast with the tangle of bare branches that rose high above the forest floor. He sighed softly in some relief as he looked back down to the ground, continuing his search. "Thank you for not taking to the branches today, Storm," he said aloud, though the woman was nowhere to be seen. "Ship rigging feels more natural to climb than trees." He glanced towards the corral to see both drizzen and made a thoughtful noise as he mused aloud. "Where are you today?" he asked aloud as he tugged at his gloves as the chill autumn wind gusted again.
Storm's voice from the last lesson he had with her drifted through his mind. "To find a Swordanzen, you must think like a Swordanzen. But the task is thrice as difficult if a Swordanzen does not want to be found."
"Doubt I could find you if you really wanted to be hidden. But you want to be found," the bard murmured. "Where would a Swordanzen in Forenta go... Somewhere most like home," he concluded with certainty. Walking away from the house, Mureln closed his eyes, quieting his thoughts. Holding up one hand slightly, he tilted his head as he listened to the whispers of the forest. Opening his eyes, he resolutely walked deeper into the forest until he came to an area that was devoid of the trees and plants that embraced Ithesra, a giant spur of rock dominating the clearing. "Somewhere not as noisy and chaotic."
He climbed up the steep incline until he found a hollow where Storm sat, shielded from most of the wind as she meditated. Saying nothing, he simply unrolled a woven mat, carefully arranging it before he sat down and mimicked her posture, waiting patiently.
"You are getting better," Storm observed without opening her eyes. "You found me before midday today."
"I am learning. To hear the nuances of the land's heart as much as the nuances of people's hearts is a facet of my bardic training that I have sorely neglected over the years." He returned her small smile with one of his own. "You had been complaining of how noisy the house is with everyone in it. So, I thought you might seek out somewhere as close to the desert quiet as you can find here." He regarded her a time. "Thank you for teaching me."
Storm shrugged slightly. "You need not thank me. I am only trying to fulfill the edict from the Raging One." She gazed out into the forest, expression unreadable. "My father told me to bring understanding to this land. You are the only one who does not judge us. You only question why to understand, not to change or condemn my people's traditions." She closed her eyes, shaking her head. "I will fail my father's task because it is impossible to teach those who do not want to understand."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Storm," Mureln chided mildly. "Forenten have been judging everything and everyone for more generations than even they can count. But they are children of the Knowing One. It is in their nature to seek knowledge and understanding."
Storm snorted softly. "They twist things to suit their views. I do not fault them for their views of my people. It has been..." She winced slightly, pausing before con
tinuing, ignoring Mureln's concerned look. "It has been a very long time that Desantiva shut the world out to protect himself. But now that we are here, they cling to what they had thought was truth as truth, and ignore what truly is like stubborn, hateful children."
Mureln lowered his cloak's hood, running his hand over his hair lightly. "As you said, it has been a very long time. You cannot expect them to change quickly."
"Why not?" She opened her eyes to fix him with her raptor-like stare. "They expect Skyfire and me to change. To abandon everything we are. They refuse to understand what our people had to become to survive so the great balance would not crumble." Bitterly, she added, "Even the mage refuses. Ash hears what I say, but he does not listen. He does not understand. He will never understand. It is effort wasted."
"Don't give up on Ash." Mureln leaned forward to catch her gaze. "Don't give up on any of them. You must be patient. It will take time but—"
"I do not have time, Mureln," Storm stated bitterly. "Forenten lifetimes span Desanti generations. I have already outlived a Swordanzen's lifetime from the moment of being Named as Swordanzen." The wind blew wisps of multi-colored hair across her bright green-gold eyes. "They will never learn before I cross the blade and rejoin my ancestors in death."
Mureln chided, "Storm, don't talk like that. They will learn!"
"They will not!" Storm rose to her feet to pace away a few steps, gazing out over the forest. "You are a teacher. You of all people should know you cannot teach those unwilling to learn. Especially when they must admit what they held as truth is wrong and they must unlearn that to accept new truths."