by Lexy Wolfe
MURELN looked up when the drizar called to the approaching drizzen as Almek and the others returned. He sighed and pushed himself to his feet, moving to intercept them before they reached where the others slept. When Amelana's expression changed, he grimaced and braced himself.
"Why is that creature next to Master Ash?!" Amelana's shrill indignation startled Radisen and Taylin awake. Thankfully, Storm and Ash were far too exhausted to rouse. Amelana slid off her drizzen, ready to run over to her master. Mureln blocked the outraged woman's advance.
"Ash needs to recover his strength, Journeyman Amelana," the bard stated in icy tones, arms crossed. "If you wish to question where he chose to sleep, be my guest and go wake him. I am sure he will be so very pleased to have his decisions questioned by you."
The woman froze, torn between going to her master and staying away. Finally, she went with the latter decision, but her hateful look was not lost on Mureln.
The bard jumped when Emil slapped a hand on his shoulder. "Yer lucky ye still have yer nads! Swear that'n makes 'em shrivel." He sighed dramatically. "I don't even look at th' healer no more having been around that Forentan ice queen."
"The healer is grateful," Taylin said dryly, rubbing her eyes as she joined the two men. Emil smiled winningly at her and bowed, laughing quietly at Mureln's elbow in his ribs. She looked up into Mureln's eyes. "How long was I asleep?"
Mureln smiled gently, reaching up to tuck a tendril of hair back behind Taylin's ear. "It will be morning, soon. Are you rested?"
"Mostly. I would have preferred not to have been startled out of a sound sleep by a shrieking banshee." She looked down shyly at his gentle gesture. "I am glad you finally convinced Ash to sleep."
"I didn't. She did." He nodded towards Storm. He shook his head, stopping Taylin's question. "It is... complicated." He took Taylin's hand, kissing her knuckles lightly, retaining it in his as he drew her towards Almek. "I only have the energy to stay awake a little longer."
Almek had sat by the small fire, holding his hands towards the meager heat it produced. He glanced up at Mureln and Taylin as they joined him. "I trust it went well?" Mureln asked simply.
"Our mage and Swordanzen were very thorough. It doesn't appear there was anyone left who might follow us. And Sumalen's been handled," the Guardian stated in such a flat tone, the pair shuddered. "Amelana took particular pleasure with the raiders after I pointed out they were the ones who hurt her. I had Terrence finish burning the bodies of the dead Vi'disa and Swordanzen."
Terrence's voice was filled with quiet awe. "Their swords and knives were absorbed by the ground itself when they were fully consumed." Mureln and Taylin blinked in surprise.
Radisen did not look up from where he sat nearby, his expression drawn. "Desanti sacred blades are gifts from the Totani themselves." He drew his knife and sighed. "We call them Naming Blades. When a Desanti earns his adult name, he receives a knife. When he earns his Swordanzen name, he receives the sword. When we die, they return to the earth they came from."
Mureln mused. "I noticed all adult Desanti wore a knife. I had never really thought about why, though." He considered the Desanti man. "You have not earned your Swordanzen name." Radisen shook his head, closing his eyes. "Do Swordanzen go by their... adult names once they are named?"
"If they wish it. Most do not." Anticipating the question, Radisen stated, "No one knows Storm's adult name."
"What?" Taylin blinked. "No one? Why not?"
Radisen raised his eyes to regard Taylin, the Sevmanan healer shuddering at the look in their depths. "She was a Named Swordanzen before she was fully an adult."
Almek coughed, changing the subject as he looked to Mureln. "I sense that our Swordanzen is whole again. All went well after we left?"
Mureln pressed his lips together. "Not... exactly. Whatever Ash had done to keep her alive..." Taylin closed her eyes, hugging herself. The bard put a comforting arm around her. "It had affected them both. He had to hold her to life until she willingly chose to stay." He looked over his shoulder at the sleeping pair. "I have never seen such souls so burdened as theirs, Almek. It does not seem right."
"To achieve the level of skill as they have as quickly as they had, other things had been sacrificed." Almek closed his eyes wearily. "Radisen, if you are able, I'd like you to take the next watch." The Desanti man nodded wordlessly, pushing himself to his feet. "Let those two rest for as long as they allow themselves."
"But where are we going to go from here?" Taylin asked. "There is nothing..."
"Storm knows where we need to go. When she is ready, she will guide us." Almek smiled wanly. "I have every faith in her."
Chapter 38
IN the days that had passed since the desert raiders' attack, Storm had remained silent and withdrawn into herself. With deep reverence, Radisen assumed Storm's duties along with a personal responsibility for protecting her. Though his eyes held a deep worry and sadness for the woman, he also had the greatest faith in the woman to recover. The others were doubtful she had the capacity for speech any longer.
"Almek, we cannot wait much longer." Mureln spoke firmly to the Guardian. "We are running out of supplies, none of us are at our best, and we can't ask Radisen to shoulder more responsibility than he already bears. I know you want to give Storm more time, but there is none left to spare."
The Guardian sighed, closing his eyes. "I know, Mureln. But we cannot leave Desantiva yet. We still must help Dzee, and Storm is the only one with the knowledge of where it needs to be."
Radisen was silent as the Guardian discussed the situation with his students, eyes lowered knowing while he was included because he held Storm's place, he was sorely lacking. "Storm is still here." He looked up at Almek, feeling the eyes of the others on him. "She can guide us through her bond to the drizar."
Ash narrowed his eyes, studying the Desanti man. "You are serious."
"Yes, Lord Ash, very serious." Radisen looked between the others, then over at Storm for a long, silent moment, then back. "If she knows where to go, she will get us there through her tie to the drizar. The bond they share is one of legends."
Taylin pursed her lips. "It sounds insane, to be honest. But we can't just stay here, and if nothing else, I'm sure the beast would at least guide us to the nearest source of water, which we desperately need to replenish soon."
"I suppose it explains where the Desanti wandering nature comes from," Ash said without inflection, looking towards Storm. "The need to find... resources." He sighed, closing his eyes.
"Regardless, I think it is worth trying." Almek turned to the Desanti man. "Radisen... you think any of the raiders' drizzen that followed the drizar back would be suitable to replace Ash's mount?"
The man looked over at the milling animals and shook his head, rising. "Lord Ash can use my drizzen. She will behave. Those beasts are ill trained. Too dangerous for a novice handler. I will use one of them."
"It will be high sun soon. The heat will be harsh for a few hours, but I think it would be best to get moving." The others nodded with Almek's decision and headed back to the main camp to pack up.
Once Storm was astride the drizar, the beast snorted and began moving unerringly to the south, the other animals falling in line. It gave the rest of the group hope they would at least find somewhere far more hospitable than being so close to the Vi'disa lands.
After they were underway, the Desanti man regarded the silent woman's profile. "Storm," Radisen said in the Swordanzen tongue after several hours. "The others are worried about you. So am I." After a longer silence, he sighed. "I wish I knew what was bothering you."
She was silent for so long, Radisen expected she would remain oblivious to anyone’s presence. He managed to refrain from being openly shocked when she responded. "I gave my Blood Oath to the man who allows the Vi'disa killer to live." Storm's voice was rough with disuse, her eyes fixed forward. "It lives among us in the only defiler I could have tolerated. What do you think is bothering me?"
Ra
disen was silent for a time, brow furrowed in thought. "Trust in Lord Almek. His wisdom spans more years than I can count. He said—"
"I know what he said," Storm growled. "It is all I can do to hold my rage back, to hold onto my honor." She clenched her teeth in frustration. "What little honor remains from breaking the pattern of the Final Dance."
The Desanti man frowned darkly. "There was no honor lost. Lord Ash is as bound to Lord Almek as you. As is the healer. They consider you one of them. Having spent time with these outlanders, I see they do not regard death as we do. There is little difference between dying well and dying poorly in their eyes. To them, death is abominable. You did not break the pattern. Lord Ash had. He nearly died to save you."
"Why?" Storm asked helplessly. "Lord Almek needs him more than me. I've seen the Forentan power and it is so much more than ours, Radisen. So very much more."
From behind them, Terrence spoke clearly to the Desanti man and woman. What shocked the pair was the language the Forentan apprentice mage spoke. He spoke flawless Swordanzen. "Honored Warrior, how may I earn your trust to ease your rage?"
Storm wheeled the drizar around, the beast snorting as he bucked, slashing at the air with his horns in response to his mistress. "You speak the holy tongue?! How is this possible?"
Dzee-Terrence lowered his dark eyes subserviently. "Honored Warrior, I speak the holy tongue because I was one of the Great Ones in the Before Time."
Radisen blinked several times, agape. "You were Totani!"
"Totani?" Storm whispered, stricken. "I fought... Totani? Almost... I almost..." She clenched her fists, just staring at the Forentan apprentice mage.
Terrence started looking drawn, as he would whenever Dzee was agitated. "Yes, I am Totani! Honored one," Dzee-Terrence implored. "I must return to our lord father. But I recognize nothing here. It has been so very long. You know how to find the way. Please, I need your help." As Dzee faded back to its slumber, it whispered, "Please... He needs me. I must return to Him."
Ash put a hand on Terrence's shoulder as the young man sagged weakly, clinging to his mount, looking between him and the Desanti. "What is going on?"
Mureln studied the two desert warriors. Radisen was shocked, worriedly looking to Storm for explanation. He could find no words to describe how unsettled she looked. Mureln instinctively moved his drizzen between Almek and the Desanti woman, blocking the Guardian from going to her. "Look at her eyes, Almek," the bard said quietly as the old man opened his mouth to chide him. "She is in a dangerous mood." Almek nodded reluctantly.
Terrence pushed himself up, looking at Storm worriedly. "She-she is in shock. I-I do not know what Dzee said to her—"
"You lie," Amelana accused. "You know exactly what was said but you are protecting that thing you picked up." Flushing at Amelana's accusation, the young man did not cower in the face of her sharp words as he once might have. He squared his shoulders, hard blue eyes defiant.
"Silence, Journeyman!" Ash snapped at the Forentan woman, his eyes never leaving Storm. He waved Radisen away, the tall man nodding slightly and backing his mount away. As Ash neared, Storm lashed out, a flash of silver between them. The mage did not defend himself, grimacing as he held a hand over his bleeding chest. Her blade cut through his clothing and skin as easily as if through water. "Get out of here," he ordered the others. At their hesitation, he shouted, "Out of sight! Now!" They waited only a heartbeat longer before riding ahead in the pass and around the bend.
Ash dismounted, the Swordanzen mirroring his motions and dropping lightly to the ground. Repressing his instincts to strike her with his own power, he allowed her to find release through her attack on him. She was fast, the mage unable to keep up with a speed born of the madness that gripped her. Yet none of her blows did more than make shallow cuts.
When it reached a point he felt it was enough, he attempted to stop her. It was sheer luck he caught her by the wrist. He held tightly, restraining her. She struggled impotently, her rage abating until she fell to her knees, quiet, tearless sobs wracking her frame. He knelt with her, cupping her chin in his hand, gently turning her face upwards. "Storm," he said softly.
"You-you let me cut you," she whispered. "Why?"
"You were distressed. I did not know any other way to share your burden than to let you lash out." Looking into her eyes, he gently brushed the escaped tendrils of hair out of her face. "So young... you are so young to bear all of this alone."
Storm frowned, weakly pushing his hand away. "Do not pity me, treewalker! I am not young. I have seen twenty summers!"
Ash frowned at that. "Only... twenty? I thought... I thought you were older than that."
"Your defiler ancestors failed to destroy us in the Great War. But we have paid the price every generation, watching those around us die." Storm moved to push herself to her feet, then collapsed to her knees again, unable to summon the anger that had fueled her.
Ash rested a hand on her shoulder. "Why do you try to bear this alone? Master Almek, or the bard—"
"A Swordanzen must be strong. Must prove themselves worthy. Must answer all challenges, to prove they are not weak, or die in the attempt. It is tradition."
"Then it is wrong." She looked up at him sharply, bristling. "I chose to follow Master Almek because I wanted to learn more, to be stronger than I already was. To learn... is all I have ever wanted." She watched him silently, still as a statue save for the soft breeze making her hair move slightly. "But I did not expect to learn... exactly what my ancestors had truly done to this land. To your people."
"This land of death... it does not please you," Storm stated, as if finally realizing it. "But not because your ancestors failed."
He shook his head, looking down. "No. Because no matter their reasons, nothing could have justified... this." He picked up a handful of coarse sand and rough pebbles, letting it run through his fingers.
Storm put her hand beneath his, letting the sand and pebbles fall into her hand from his before letting it slip through her fingers to the ground. "Swordanzen are sworn to protect the balance," she finally said softly, not meeting his eyes. "We pass on the holy knowledge, language and traditions to the next generations while we live."
Ash opened his mouth, then shut it again, watching and listening intently. "Githalin Swordanzen... We are not like other Swordanzen. Other Swordanzen can choose to become Tyluri. Swordanzen trainers. But not the Githalin. It is our duty to protect the Heart of Desantiva until we die."
Suspecting the answer, Ash asked carefully, "How old were you when you began your training?"
"When my tribe died during my sixth summer."
Ash flinched inwardly as suddenly so very much about the Swordanzen woman became clear. "Storm." She waited in silence, expression quizzical and wary. After long moments of searching, he finally found the words. "Please. Trust me."
She did not reply immediately, lowering her eyes in thought. "You should have the healer attend to your wounds." She got to her feet, purpose in her movements. Turning away from him, she walked a few paces away, her back to him. "I must... meditate on the words spoken here."
Ash started to reach towards her, then looked at his hand that was nearly covered in blood. He had not realized how much she had hurt him until he finally let it seep into his consciousness. "You are right," he agreed tonelessly. "Do not be too long. We need to find shelter soon." She merely nodded, back remaining towards him.
Chapter 39
AMELANA kept trying to get past Radisen and finally shouted accusingly, "How can you leave Master Ash alone with that killer bitch?! Can't you tell he's sick or something? Letting her attack him?" Radisen was unmoved, scowling darkly at the Forentan woman. Emil and Emaris moved to join the Desanti man, running interference whenever Amelana tried to go around Radisen and back up the path to where the mage and Swordanzen were.
Almek drew Terrence aside. "Lad, how much of what Dzee knows do you know?"
The question was met with guarded silence. "I am not sure, M
aster Almek. It's very confusing, you see." Terrence rubbed his temple. "Dzee... its... her... memories are not very clear."
Mureln arched an eyebrow. "Her? Dzee is female?"
Terrence turned bright red under the sunburn on his cheeks. "Well, I am... I mean, she just feels... well. Female. I don't really know." He looked between the bard and the Guardian. "When we met the Knowing One in Forenta, there was a-a feel of age. It was as if I could feel the number of years that the Knowing One had seen. How many Naiya had seen. Dzee is not as old as the Knowing one, but she feels... as old as Naiya. Maybe older. Something very wrong had happened to her. That I am very sure of, but she doesn't want to let me know. To protect me. And to hide her shame."
Almek looked surprised and impressed. "It has been many years since I heard someone say something of that nature. Sensing the age of a soul." He frowned a little as he narrowed his gaze onto Terrence. "I do not usually miss the talent of a Potential."
Terrence smiled a little. "To be honest, sir, I think being taught by Master Ash had something to do with it. He encourages me to stretch myself. That not everyone touches magic the same way. And I wanted to prove I was better than..." He glanced over his shoulder at the continuing commotion up the path. "Ah."
Taylin said dryly, "That journeyman of his?"
Terrence grinned hugely, nodding faintly. The smile faded a moment later. He looked back up the trail, worry in his eyes. "You do not think the Swordanzen will kill him... do you?"
"No, she will not kill him." Almek's certainty helped Terrence relax. "I think our mage is figuring out how to deal with our Swordanzen's pride and temper."
"Master Ash!" Amelana finally got past the three men to go to the Forentan mage as he rejoined them. "What did that whore do to you?!"
Radisen frowned, leaning over to Emil and whispering to him. "Means woman who has sex fer money." Emaris reached over to grab Radisen's sword arm again, looking askance at Emil. "What? He asked!"