Akira Rides

by Robyn Wideman

  The mage nodded at his daughter. ‘Good observation’ his wordless expression conveyed. Akira knelt and wiped her fingers on the floor of the tunnel. She noticed lines of fine cracks in distinct patterns. She pointed them out to her father. He nodded again. His eyes pointed to the ocean carved ceiling. Akira looked up. Small crab like creatures blending into the ceiling watched them from above. Akira shivered. There were many perils she had missed coming through the tunnel the day before. She chastised herself for missing them. She wouldn’t want to be an unwelcome visitor.

  The lighting in the tunnel became brighter as they approached the enchantress’ cavern great room.

  This time the enchantress was facing her guests as Akira and her father entered the great cavern. Like before, she indicated with eloquent hands that they should seat themselves.

  “You both look refreshed. The sun has kissed your flesh nicely Akira. Be careful not to burn. Pleasantries aside, do you have a better idea of the channeling path that best suits you, Akira?” The enchantress played with a green glowing orb in her hands.

  Akira nodded, finding her voice. “I do most gracious lady. I’m most humbled and grateful of your offer to help me to become a powerful siren, but I dare not tempt you to lure me away from my father and my commitment to the order of the White Rose. I’m indebted to the order, and must stay true to my pledge of allegiance.”

  “Commendable, if not misguided,” said the enchantress. “Well Morgan, shall we work together to channel the energy radiating from your daughter? Redirect it?”

  “That would be best. Time is of the essence, as the Dark Lord’s armies advance from the north. We need her powers to mature and strengthen, to fight against the evil destroyer. Two powerful guides, will hasten the process of rechanneling Akira’s still malleable powers.”

  “Which direction do you wish to develop your capabilities? Have you a plan young Akira?” The enchantress started to float about the room. Akira’s eyes widened. Talana moved effortlessly up to Akira, and came so close that instinctively Akira leaned backwards ever so slightly. It was difficult not to be intimidated. The hairs on the back of Akira’s neck felt as if they were standing up. Akira didn’t lower her gaze. Akira cleared her throat. Deciding to be bold, she leaned towards the enchantress. The enchantress smiled. Talana moved back out of Akira’s face.

  Akira found her voice. “I’m going to train as a dragon rider. I shall need to use powers of destruction to fight the Dark Lord.”

  “An ambitious and noble choice. ‘Tis a pity. Your beauty will be wasted. You would be far more dangerous and useful to me as a siren. You seem brave for one so young.”

  “Perhaps being young is why bravery comes easy, I have not yet experienced great battles, and know not what to fear but fear itself.”

  The enchantress smiled. “Such wisdom is becoming in one so young, and surprising.” She turned to Mage Morgan. “She might do you proud.”

  Morgan’s eyes failed to hide his pride. He spoke with an even tone. “Dare we join our energies in one powerful spell to provide Akira with a block against her siren tendencies?”

  The enchantress appeared thoughtful. “It is the quickest way, but as you well know, when a wall is placed against her siren tendencies, the magical energy must have a door opened in another direction. She must undergo immediate training.”

  Mage Morgan turned to his daughter. “You must be willing to submit your thoughts to us once more.”

  Akira stood. “One last time, to invade my most personal thoughts and weaknesses? ‘Tis most embarrassing to have a father know of thoughts I have about men.”

  “Oh child, you have nothing to worry about,” said the enchantress. “You are a virgin, so there will be nothing shocking for your father to learn, and I have seen everything already.” The enchantress looked into Akira’s eyes, and saw more than flicker of annoyance. “Now is the time to be brave.”

  Akira bristled at being called a child. Her eyes connected with Mage Morgan’s. His eyes flashed a silent warning.

  “I will submit,” she said, as she sat back down. “Let’s do this before I change my mind. What do you want me to do?” It was small consolation that she hadn’t blushed at the mention of her virginity.

  “Just stay sitting Akira,” said Mage Morgan.

  Mage Morgan waved his hand and transported a nervous Akira, still in her chair, to the center of the cavern. Akira’s eyes widened, but she said nothing. A sense of calm came over her with a second wave of her father’s hand. He floated across the room as did the enchantress. Opposite each other, the mage and the enchantress slowly started circling Akira. They circled faster and faster. Akira felt dizzy and closed her eyes. Thoughts started with thought prompts from the enchantress, tempting thoughts. Each thought that gave into temptation thinking was startled with a jolt of mental pain. A vision of a resistant reaction to the temptation to use seduction followed each uncomfortable jolt. Many tempting images dangled in front of her mind’s eye, and danced through her mind. Repeatedly, hour after hour, the mage and enchantress tested and teased responses from her conscious and subconscious thoughts, until beads of sweat glistened on Akira’s face, dripping down her neck. When the last temptation met with a strong resistance from Akira, the exhausted mage and enchantress stopped their hypnotic whirling, and circling. Their feet once again touched the cavern floor. With satisfied looks, they put a defensive shield across the entrance of the cavern, for both enchantress and mage were vulnerable after expending hours of endless energy. They were exhausted. Akira was not aware that a full day had passed. She fell into a deep sleep as did the enchantress and the mage.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Akira felt a hand gently shaking her shoulder.

  “Time to wake up sleepy head.” Mage Morgan gently slapped her cheeks. “You’ve been asleep for two days.”

  Akira moaned, blinking her eyes. “Oh shite, how can that be?” She looked into her father’s amused eyes. No sooner had she asked, she remembered what had happened. She sat up. “Where are we?” She looked about the stone-walled room.

  “We are in an old deserted castle. A few hours from Talana’s seaside caves. We can thank Sky Stalker for our present temporary residence.”

  Akira swung her legs off the pallet she had been sleeping on. “Oh, my poor bladder, and I stink!”

  Morgan chuckled. “Yes, you do smell.” What you need is behind that curtain. When you are relieved and refreshed, you may join me to break your fast. We have much to do.” He turned and walked out of the room. Akira stumbled across the room and parted a faded muslin curtain. A bath was drawn, a chamber pot was in one corner, and a fresh set of clothes was laid over a rack.

  The aromatic bath was almost as invigorating as the distant healing pools on the mountain monastery. Akira thought of the mountain. To think of the mountain was to also think of the man who took charge of her training as a warrior. A pang of regret made her clear blue eyes look sad. I must concentrate on what needs to be done to help fight the Dark One. I must not let this regret, this sweet sorrow of not tasting his lips on mine consume my thoughts. If it’s not to be, that Dimitri can teach me the things that bind hearts and bodies together, then I must not let my feelings for him run deep, for those feelings will be a weakness. I will die a thousand deaths if an affection for me, becomes an Achilles heel that kills him. He, who taught me how to fight, charged his men with teaching me the skills of a warrior, needs to be fearless. She closed her eyes tightly, dunking under the water as if to wash away the memory of his sensuous eyes, sensuous eyes that had looked at her as a desirable woman, seeing not a warrior, nor a silly young girl to be toyed with. Akira opened her eyes as she shut thoughts of Dimitri away.

  The hot water gave off the scent of crushed mint leaves. Every inch of her skin tingled as she soaked for as long as she dared. The soap bar smelled of eucalyptus. It made a fine lather in her long dark hair. She stood and rinsed with a bucket of chilly water. It was a welcome invigorating cool rinse, for the morning
was warm and the hot bath had made beads of perspiration form on her brow. She wrung the water from her hair. Pink skinned from the hot water and quick toweling, Akira examined a selection of clothing set out for her. The humid air of the seaside was too warm to wear stockings and leggings. Akira held up a beautifully soft, ivory-colored camisole. It was far too feminine for her tastes, too feminine for a warrior, but it would be covered by a loose blouson, if she chose to wear the blouson. Her eyes were drawn to a form fitting leather vest placed beside the blouson. Akira smiled and slipped the camisole over her head. She left the blouson, where it lay, and added the short vest to her attire. She moved her arms, stretched her shoulders. The tight vest supported her bosom, showing off her curves but it didn’t restrict her breathing. The garments didn’t restrict her movements. She looked over the selection of garments again. A dark grey skirt caught her eye. A loose skirt would be cool, but long skirts were a nuisance. Akira looked at the stockings and leggings again. She frowned. Then, suddenly, her face brightened. She took her dagger and cut the skirt. The shortened skirt length reached midthigh. Her legs and feet would not tangle in a long skirt. Akira pulled on her boots. Feeling refreshed, comfortable in her unconventional attire, she searched the ramshackled crumbling castle for her father.

  She found him in the remains of a dining hall, where holes in the ceiling allowed sunlight to nurture vines growing up the rock walls. Moss was growing in the dirt-filled cracks of the flagstone floor, creating a soft lush green carpet in the old abandoned castle.

  “You look like a warrior nymph. Fetching,” said the waiting mage.

  “Nymph? I was hoping to be cool and comfortable. Perhaps I should change my attire?”

  Morgan commented dryly. “A female through and through, changing your mind, questioning your attire.”

  Akira frowned. “I’m trying to be practical. ‘Tis devilishly warm. How can you be comfortable in all those heavy robes?”

  “You have no idea of what I’m not wearing or wearing under these robes.”

  Akira raised her eyebrows. “Then I hope your robe hems are weighted enough to not lift in a wind, for I have no desire to know what you wear or don’t wear under that long robe!”

  Mage Morgan’s laughing eyes contradicted the straight set of his lips when handing Akira a woven basket.

  A hot breakfast was in the basket. Boiled quail eggs were nestled in dry grass to one side of the basket, while pieces of sweet fruit Akira was unfamiliar with, were wrapped in a large green leaf on the opposite side of the basket. Akira filled her belly as she sat on a wide stone window ledge overlooking a beach below. She peeled the small warm eggs one by one, popping an egg into her mouth before peeling the next. She dropped the shells out the open, glassless, window. A gull swept from the sky to examine her offerings. Akira felt bad that the shell would be empty. She tossed the gull a peeled egg, changing his luck.

  Mage Morgan outlined his plans for the day as she ate with a surprising appetite. Akira almost wished she hadn’t shared with the gull.

  “The first thing we must do today is use a meditation ritual to get your brain in harmony with your energies,” he said.

  “The same meditation mumbles I tried before?”

  “Yes. Now that you no longer fight magic subconsciously, the ancient chants should work. Mumbles you say? There will be no mumbling going on. You will be clear and articulate or I shall—

  Akira tried not to bristle. “You’ll what?” The sweetness in Akira’s voice was forced.

  Mage Morgan’s eyes rolled. “Be forced to think I’m an incompetent teacher.” It was obvious the mage had quickly amended what he was about to say. Perhaps he realized a threat, even made as a joke, would alienate his rebellious daughter.

  The flash of temper in Akira’s eyes was quickly veiled. She felt foolish for her quick temper. She wished her temper wasn’t so quickly ignited.

  “Akira, my spirited daughter, you willingly accepted discipline from your warrior teachers.”

  “Yes, but they were my superiors, and the discipline was the same for me as my male comrades.” Akira suddenly knew where the conversation was heading. The mage was her superior in mage matters.

  Her father looked at her with expectancy.

  Akira sighed. She gave him a contrite look. “I must accept discipline from you also, as a student of the magic arts.”

  “There is a difference between discipline and punishment. Discipline teaches, while punishment is designed to hurt.”

  Akira softly challenged. “It is a fine line is it not?”

  “Yes, and you were cruelly tutored with punishment, by your stepfather. I understand your anger, but please, it would serve us both well if you make the distinction between myself and your stepfather crystal clear.”

  Akira nodded. His point pricked her conscience. “I apologize for my quick temper. I’ll remind myself that in mage matters, you are my superior, and you are deserving of my respect, and obedience.” Suddenly Akira felt childish. She swallowed her pride. “I will remember that in all matters you are deserving of my respect.” I just can’t promise obedience!

  Now the mage nodded approvingly. If he felt disappointment that she had yet to totally accept him as a kindly father figure, he hid it well. “Now grab that bag of magic tools and articles and let us go to the beach,” he said.

  Akira wondered if he noted she hadn’t promised obedience.

  …

  Mage Morgan handed his daughter a dried flower bud. “Chew this slowly. It has the power to calm the mind and open your magical mind. It will not render you without reason or defenses.”

  Akira complied, chewing slowly, wiggling her bare feet in to the damp sand beneath her. The mage circled her slowly, waving a burning bundle of incense around and over her. She breathed deeply. The scent of the incense was pleasing.

  The mage spoke. “The earth has a generous energy. Feel it. It will flow into you, feel the coolness. The energy seeps into you. Welcome it. When it fills you, thank the earth.” Several times he repeated the same words.

  Akira closed her eyes focusing on the cool sand beneath her feet. At first, she felt nothing, but as she felt the effects of the flower bud she felt her body relaxing. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She felt a subtle difference in how her body felt. It felt wide awake and sleepy at the same time. She listened to her father’s voice.

  He chanted, “Be blessed mother earth, for this gift of many gifts you have given this humble warrior.”

  The wind coming off the endless waters fanned Akira’s face, whipping her loose hair about her. She felt a sense of well-being filling her with every breath she took.

  The mage started a chant in an ancient language. It was rhythmic, melodious. He stopped his chant and spoke again to Akira.

  “The wind has energy, feel it against your face. Stretch your arms out and feel the wind surrounding you with its energy.” His voice was hypnotic. Akira, wondered if it was Morgan’s voice or the effect of the flower bud that made her so aware of the earth and the wind. She had chewed the rather tasteless bud until she could not help but swallow it.

  Akira obeyed her father’s voice willingly. She felt the wind tickle the small fine hairs of her arms. She concentrated on every tingling, cooling caress. Her arms felt invigorated, weightless. She breathed the wind into her lungs. She breathed deep and exhaled slowly, feeling a new indescribable energy filling her. She smiled and without prompting said, “Be blessed mighty wind, I give thanks for your gift of energy. It feeds me, it fills me.”

  Mage Morgan started chanting again. He, too, raised his arms to feel the wind. His long gray hair and gray beard whipped about in the wind. It seemed as if the wind was tugging his beard playfully. Akira smiled, for she instinctively knew that’s exactly what the wind was doing.

  The disheveled mage lowered his arms and faced his beautiful daughter. “Keep your eyes closed. Feel the sun on your face, on your skin. The sun is filled with energy, a beautiful warmth. It feeds li
fe. It feeds magic. Feel it carry its gift into you.”

  Akira felt the sun, as she had never felt its touch before. It was as if her skin was starving for the warmth of the sun. She suddenly compared the feeling to the first kiss she had shared with Dimitri. This was another awakening of a different kind, of different senses. Another wave of energy surged through her, making her eyes open wide with incredulous wonder. She gasped, mind whirling with the comparison. She almost forgot to thank the sun, pay it homage. She stammered, then started to speak again. “Oh, powerful sun, life giver, warmer of souls and bodies, great thanks I offer to you, for your gift.” Tears formed at the corner of her eyes. She knew not why she should have tears. She could not find words to express the emotion that gave birth to tears.

  Mage Morgan was silent. He patted her shoulder comfortingly. “Now take this orb. Rub it in your hands. Picture that feeling you gathered from the great forces as light. Then picture it flowing from your arms, down to your hands and into the orb.”

  Akira followed the instructions. Amazingly the orb glowed with a blue light, visible despite the competing sunlight. She held it out on the palm of her hand to show Morgan. Her eyes danced between the orb and the mage’s face.

  “Very well done for a first effort. Now throw it against the cliff over there.” Mage Morgan pointed to a large rock outcropping.

  Akira looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “That is too far away!”

  The mage raised his eyebrows.

  “But I will try.” Akira took a small run, throwing the glowing orb as hard as she could. When the orb flew farther than she had ever thrown a rock in her life, she stood open mouthed. When it exploded in a fiery flash, sending rocks flying in every direction she ducked and flattened herself against the sandy beach. Small pieces of rock landed all around her and the mage, who wisely conjured a shield over them.