by Lexy Wolfe
Lyra and Ash stood, watching the pair of Desanti. The girl waited only a moment after the drizzen left Skyfire's side before running to him, hugging him tightly. The man was briefly startled before returning the embrace. He murmured reassurances that everything was fine and not to worry. The young woman stepped away from him, approaching Storm.
The two stared at one another for a time. "Miss Lyra," Storm stated, half greeting, half question.
The girl's hands were curled into fists, taut with pent up emotion. "How could you run off like that, Mistress Storm?!" she shouted. The Desanti woman just blinked in surprise as the normally demure girl continued in a single-breath rant. "You do not know Forenta at all and you could have been lost or hurt or I don't want to think about what all else could have happened to you and Skyfire but it could have happened and Master Ash and I were so worried about you but we trusted Skyfire would be able to find you and then we worried that both of you had gotten lost or hurt or worse and-and—!" She paused for a second, drawing in a deep breath. "Don't you ever do that again! I was worried about you!"
Storm could only stare at Lyra for a long time before she closed the distance between them and hugged the girl tightly. The desert woman had a small, proud smile as Lyra clung to her. "I did not mean to make you worry, Lyra. I just needed... to figure things out."
Lyra finally eased her death grip on the warrior woman, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, valiantly trying to reclaim a proper Forentan demeanor. "Well, now that you're back, I will let Miss Kelafy know. She will have supper ready soon," she finally said as she stepped back from Storm. "Do not be late."
Storm managed a small smile at the implied threat. "Thandar's talons, no. I would never hear the end of it. The woman forgets nothing and lets no one forget anything, either." Skyfire smiled at Lyra's giggle as he put his arm around her, drawing her towards the door to the house.
Alone, Ash walked to Storm, standing in front of her in silence, his azure eyes intensely studying her. "Are you all right?" He did not even try to conceal the depth of his worry. None of which eased when she simply put her arms around him without a word. "Storm," he began.
Just as quickly as she had embraced him, Storm shoved Ash back with a sharp push, glaring at him. "I am trying very hard to understand so many things in this place. Nothing happened in Desantiva that did not have a path to answer it. Not until Lord Almek came to Desantiva... until you came to Desantiva. You have confused everything!"
Uncertainly, Ash extended his hand towards her, dropping it when she glared at him. "I might have regretting going to Desantiva once, but not since I met you. I cannot honestly apologize for disrupting your life. Not when it brought you into mine." He held his hand out to her again. "We are allies."
"There is only truth between allies." He took a half step back when she looked up at him with fierce, predator green-gold eyes, her fury unmistakable. "You lied to me! You were no orphan! You had family all your life. Did you enjoy lying to me to prove how much smarter you were than me? How easy it was to trick me into trusting you? Or is there some other perverse reason I was not worthy enough to know the truth? Or are lies all that exists between your people?"
"Stop it!" Ash clenched his fists in aggravation as Storm's tirade went on. "I did not know Bennu was my grandfather and Ellis was my great uncle until shortly after I recovered from the morelmi!" he shouted at her, frustrated beyond reason with her hateful accusations and stubborn refusal to consider his side.
Her anger vanished in the face of his, the woman blinking at him. "You truly did not know? They let you believe...you had no family?" Her posture shifted, relaxed from one poised to attack. "But I do not understand. You were not surprised when your goddess told everyone you belonged to the Avarian family?"
Ash sighed heavily. "Yes, I knew before the goddess publicly declared it, but it was mere sevendays ago that I found out the truth. Do you remember when I went to Ellis to speak with him after I recovered from the morelmi?"
Storm nodded once. "You said he was your master's twin brother and you wanted to make amends for many years of anger towards him."
The mage nodded, looking towards the darkening sky. "He told me how he and Bennu believed there was something preying on the young with promise of power. That the future strength of Forenta was being killed off. They let everyone believe I was lowborn to keep me safe until I was stronger and could protect myself. They didn't even tell me to keep me safe from those who were preying on the highborn with true strength and talent, knowing I would have revealed it in a fit of youthful pride."
"And your goddess revealed it now... why?"
The Illaini Magus shrugged one shoulder. "Because it could not be denied Ellis and I are related, now that he is physically only a few years older than I. Most Avarian men look very much alike." Ash looked at her sadly. "You do not know what it is like to be a lowborn orphan in Forenta, especially gifted with magic. I used to dream I was really born to a better family, just so I could throw it in the faces of my detractors." He looked away, gritting his teeth. "If I'd found out before Master Almek came to Forenta, I would have told the world."
Storm's expression was unreadable. "But you kept it secret when you found out."
"I did. Because regardless of how bitter and angry I was about my life, I loved Bennu and Ellis, and I had no wish to hurt the Avarians. Especially after I learned they were my family." He turned his face skyward. "Ysai had poisoned my people to believe my worth as Illaini was nothing because I was lowborn. If I claimed to be highborn, she would have simply said I was making false claims and most would have believed her over me. The same if Ellis or Bennu had done so. I did not know how to make it public without drawing ill attention to me or to Ellis. They would have seen only a pretentious lowborn trying to claim glory for a dying Great Family."
He took a step nearer to her, daring to put a hand along her arm. He took heart she did not try to strike him. "Please, believe me. I would have told you, but... I did not want you to feel alone because suddenly I had a family where you still have none. I thought you would hate me for it."
"Ash, I have been without family since before you came into my life. My tribe was the last of those born before the Great War. I saw them die. I felt them die. I had no fantasies that was ever going to change. The past is what it is. Dwelling on what could have been or wish would have been different is an exercise in futility and a sure path to madness. The future will be what it will be, sometimes no matter the precautions or preparations we make.
"What is important is now, because that is all my people can hold onto." Storm looked at him, the hurt still in her eyes. "But I trusted you, Ash. You have seen me to my heart. You've held my soul! Have I ever given you any reason not to trust me? Have I ever been anything but truthful with you?"
Ash's heart nearly broke at the plaintive questions. He touched her cheek. "Storm, you have been nothing but honest with me." He smiled wryly. "Honesty like yours... I wanted to find it so much and now that I have found it... I am afraid."
Storm blinked in surprise. "You... are afraid?"
"I am." His voice was as soft as the caress on her cheek. "I am afraid that you, your pure heart, are only a dream. That it would turn into a nightmare if I gave in and told you... everything. I did not know how to face it. I still do not, to be honest." He tilted his head. "Can you understand?"
She half closed her eyes as she turned away from him. "I have never allowed anyone close enough that their honesty or lack of it would ever matter." Storm sighed softly. "I live in Now because it does not hurt so much. There was always more pain and grief in my past than joy. I always expect I will die soon. I did not believe I had a future to worry about so there was no need to think about it."
"And here, all my people think about is one or the other," Ash said ruefully. He put his hand on her shoulder lightly. "And rarely appreciate what they have at this moment."
Storm smiled sadly up at Ash. "I am so... overwhelmed. Here I have to think o
f the past, think on the future. Along with everything else..." Cheeks coloring, she looked away. "I must seem like such a pathetic, brainless weakling to you."
"Hardly," Ash told her firmly, fingers beneath her chin to tilt her face back up and look into her eyes. "You are incredibly strong. I cannot imagine the life you had to live just to survive. The things you had to do, and so much of it alone." He traced the line of her chin with his thumb. "I cannot imagine how hard it must be for you to change, to trust anyone."
"Is it any easier for you?" Storm smiled at his startled look at her unexpected response. "I understand better now. Your choice to be alone was the only one you could make to survive here. Trusting is too dangerous. There are too many enemies among your own people who have no honor to face you in an honest contest." She shrugged one shoulder. "It seems we both have new patterns to learn."
Ash could only stare at her before his expression softened. "Who would have thought so much wisdom and so much beauty could exist in one being?" Her cold flushed cheeks darkened even more as she looked down. "What did the Oracle tell you?" he asked gently.
Storm flinched, clenching her jaw for a long moment. "I-I am not ready to face that. Not yet."
Turning her face up to his, Ash looked into her eyes. "When you are ready, I will be there for you. My Swordanzen," he murmured, leaning down to touch her lips with his when...
"Master Ash! Mistress Storm!" Kelafy stood at the door, hands on her hips. "Dinner is on the table!"
Sighing in resignation, Ash looked into Storm's eyes. "We are late for dinner," he said unnecessarily.
"We will never hear the end of it," Storm replied, stepping away from him to head towards the house. "She forgets nothing."
"I am tempted to fix that," Ash grumbled. He could not help but grin when Storm giggled. He treasured the sound for its rarity.
Chapter 28
As time passed from mid to late autumn, the days grew shorter and more bitterly cold. The winds sounded like mournful lupine howling at the moons on the best of days. The Forenten staff reluctantly started growing accustomed to the day starting before sunrise, as even the mages were often awake during the darker hours. A comfortable routine eventually settled on the household, though no one could match the Desanti or Vodani for their unusual sleep cycles.
The magelight lanterns, enchanted to brighten and dim with the time of day, were barely aglow as Mureln emerged from his and Taylin's room. The bard yawned, stretching. "I hope someone's up. I'm starv— Hey! Oof-mmm!" Still half-asleep, he suddenly felt himself grabbed, pulled over, and shoved against the wall in a alcove, a hand over his mouth to muffle his shout of surprise. The bard blinked when he recognized his assailant. "What the—?! Emil, what in the world—?"
"We need t' talk," the skinny Sevmanan man stated curtly. Mureln recognized the 'talk in private' tone and didn't argue with his long time friend, following him to the mercenaries' quarters. Once the door was shut, Emil stated, "Etaio's caravan be wintering in Ithesra."
"Etaio? Well, that's great. Be good to visit with your clan." Mureln squinted at the look Emil gave him and sighed, scratching his head. "Give me a minute, would you? I only just woke up. Damned near jumped out of my skin. I need to get back in." He accepted the bitter drink Emaris offered him, gagging a little. He eyed the dark liquid warily. "Little strong, don't you think?"
Emil smirked as he turned a chair around backwards to straddle it. "You know gypsy brews are potent. And ye will be needin' yer wits about ye." Taking a deep breath, he stated, "Someone is out trying t' kill the Dusvet. Weren't just the Desanti they was going after. They just spurred 'em on to try b'fore they was ready."
Mureln stared at Emil, then drained the cup, pausing only to shudder a little at the residual bitterness. He took a deep breath. "All right. You have my full attention. Etaio heard something?"
"Rumors mostly," Emil admitted. "The gypsies are doing their best t' ferret out more information, 'specially since Almek done accepted two gypsy sons as part of his own." Emil drummed his fingers on his arm. "But from th' sounds of it, it be the Shodwyn."
The bard scowled at that. "The shadow folk. I had hoped I was wrong." Mureln paced the small space between Emil and Emaris. "The ancient enemies of Fortress were supposed to have been neutralized centuries ago."
"Dinna Almek tell ye anythin' about 'em b'fore when ye first been his student?" Emil wondered. "He should know more, don't ye think?"
Mureln ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh. "The only reason Almek told me what little he did about them was because I already had some stories and he wanted me to stop looking for more information. After that, he forbade me from even alluding to them." He exhaled, looking at his empty cup. "To even say their name was said to draw their attention, he'd said. But they were the only ones brazen enough to target the Timeless One's mortal servants."
"Mebbe they just went underground," Emil suggested. "Cut their losses b'fore th' Guardians done wiped them out so they could rebuild."
"And now there is only one Dusvet. No Guardian since that horrendous time has been able to earn their second color." Mureln shook his head and sighed heavily. "Still. They have never been known for exposing themselves. Subtlety. Deception. Even most of the stories of their movements are only hypotheses." He looked to his friends, troubled. "Why the change now?"
Emil chewed on his thumb in silence. "If Shodwyn have ties t' them critters th' Guardians fight... th' time shifters like th' shadows and darklings we been fightin' since we hooked up with Almek." He looked up at Mureln, expression grim. "Could be b'cause Almek don't have just masters as students. He got god-chosen."
"The Illaini and Githalin," Mureln murmured. "With the talent to touch time, they'd be a threat even without being properly trained to be Guardians. You might be right, Emil." His expression soured as he rubbed his face. "Hells. You probably are."
Emaris shook his head, drawing the other two men's attentions. He made a few hand gestures, tapping his temple then making a negating motion as he shrugged. Emil smirked. "I s'pose they could be so desperate they can only get idiots t' do their dirty work, too."
Mureln considered it. "Which would be good and bad for us. Good because it will be easier to spot the less subtle. Bad because it means there's an urgency in the Shodwyn's need to eliminate Almek."
Emil watched Mureln as the bard went silent, thinking on the matter, the smaller gypsy uncharacteristically quiet and serious. "Ye gonna tell th' Dusvet?" he finally asked.
"No," Mureln replied after several moments. "Not yet. I am worried about Almek. Ever since the fight to protect the Knowing One, he's been..." The Vodani shook his head. "Everytime he touched magic, he seemed to age a little more. The fight to protect first the Raging One in Desantiva and the Knowing one here in Forenta weakened him. I am not sure how much, but it has become painfully obvious. He's nearly as proud as the Githalin Swordanzen when it comes to admitting he's not at his best, and he's centuries of practice concealing it."
Emaris thumped the table he stood by, making a hand gesture indicating swords and held up two fingers. Emil laughed bitterly. "Two Githalin. All we need is another Illaini t' round out two pairs and that'd likely really draw some bad attentions." He blinked, then stared at Emaris as the big man signed. "Aw, sh... yer right. If we think that, then th' Shodwyn may think that, too. Th' Forenten mages... good ones, at least... they likely gonna become targets 'gain."
"No, I think the mages are safe enough for now. Shodywn do not do things on a large scale. They do small, precise actions that take out the strongest in ways that make it look natural or accidental."
"Takin' out th' Dusvet Guardian ain't 'large scale'?!"
"You can bet that something or someone else will be blamed if anything happens to Almek that cannot be blamed on sickness or accident. We were attacked by Sevmanen in Forentan territory. You know the mages would have responded to the attack."
Emil sat back as he understood. "Jus' like th' Vodani respond to troubles done in th' p
orts, or th' Desanti respond to anyone tryin' t' get in their land." He tilted his head. "So, th' Shodwyn's goals are t' set people against each other... and we are bein' put in their path t' stop 'em?"
Mureln rubbed his cheeks. "Like pawns, yes. That has always been the purpose of divine or mortal servants of the gods. And I think the game is a lot bigger game than even Almek suspects." He looked at Emil and Emaris. "Keep your eyes and ears open. And make sure someone's with Taylin at all times." When Emil arched an eyebrow, he said, "What little is known of the Shodwyn, they tend to try to take out the strongest first. That means Almek, Storm and Ash. But Taylin is strong in the healing arts, and they might start seeing that."
Emil opened his mouth, then his eyes went wide as he shut it again. "Yeah, I see what ye mean." Scratching his jaw, he asked, "What about tellin' th'Illaini or Githalin?"
The bard shook his head. "Ash has enough to worry about with the unsettled situation with his people. Adding an invisible, unknown enemy will not help anything. And the Swordanzen are edgy enough simply being in the land of their ancestor's killers." Silent for a moment, he half smiled. "I'll ask Storm and Skyfire to watch over Taylin. Their distrust of Forenten would be all the reason they'd need."
Emil chuckled. "Clever, Master Bard. And Storm may actually listen t' Taylin."
Mureln snorted softly, holding out his empty cup to Emaris for more of the bitter brew. "You're pushing Taylin's miracle working just a tad far, my friend."
Chapter 29
"If I close my eyes, it sounds like the market in First Home during the tribal gatherings," Storm said in a quiet, wistful voice as she walked alongside Taylin. Opening green-gold eyes, she looked upwards at the broad branches and bridges that soared above the ground, then over the rail of the bridge they were on to look down to the ground. "But it does not look like it."