by Lexy Wolfe
"Except for your Githalin blades." Ash pointed to the two single-edged blades resting across her lap.
Looking down at them, her expression gentled as she smiled. "These are given by the Heart himself. If you lifted a sword to fight, you would fight with a sword. When I lift a sword to fight, I am the sword, and the sword is me." She held up her hands. "I have two hands. Two halves."
"Two swords," Ash finished, his intrigue showing through his aloofness. "With two edges."
"It is the mark of the Githalin. God chosen."
Falling silent, Ash looked into the fire as the wood popped, sending out sparks.
"Who was she?" Storm asked simply. "The one you grieve for still."
Ash closed his eyes. "Someone I couldn't protect." He expected her to ask about Dessa, unsure he could speak more of the loss, of his failure. Her words startled him.
"The deepest wounds we bear," Storm murmured, drawing Ash's gaze to her, "are for those we could not save."
With an earnestness he could not contain, Ash put a hand on her wrist. "I will not let anything happen to you or Skyfire. Amelana is not representative of all of my people."
"But she represented some," Storm stated tonelessly. "And it would only take one to kill me. I knew the taste of your magic from the desert. And now I know the tastes of magicks no one should." Getting to her feet, she drew her swords. "Do not fear for me, Mage. I can take care of myself."
As Storm began moving through her sword training routines, Ash could sense the eyes of the Forentan guardsmen turning towards her, sense their uneasiness. "She is no murderer," he stated flatly in Forentan. "She is Master Almek's student." He turned his vivid azure gaze towards the branches. "If you fail to protect any of them, Fortress will be the least of your worries. My anger will know no limits."
"Yes, Master Andar," various voices murmured, some contrite, some bemused. Ash snorted softly and went back to watching the Swordanzen train by herself until the others finally roused to begin the final leg of the journey to Ithesra.
Chapter 70
THE deeper into Forenta's territory the group traveled, the more withdrawn and wary the pair of Swordanzen became. By the time they reached the first bridges that led into the towering trees above, only the soft glow of hundreds of lanterns illuminated the darkness beneath the nighttime canopy of leaves and night sky.
The drizzen balked at the foot of the bridge, reflecting the unease the Swordanzen were unable to conceal. "No," Storm stated adamantly as the others dismounted to walk their horses up the bridge. Skyfire was similarly resolute.
"The bridges are perfectly safe, Desanti," the senior guardsman stated with a hint of impatience. The man's hard expression faltered when the Swordanzen turned dark looks on him.
Ash approached the pair, waving the guardsman off. "I will escort the Swordanzen. See to Master Almek and the others' comfort." The guardsman look torn between relief and his sense of propriety, finally turning to follow the rest of the party up the bridge.
"I am not going up there." Skyfire crossed his arms across his chest, his eyes almost challenging Ash to say otherwise.
Ash studied them closely. "It is better than the rigging on the Vodani ship," he assured, keeping his voice carefully neutral. "There is more surface and it doesn't move so much."
"I could see the ship below me," Storm snapped at Ash. She waved a hand upwards. "How high does it go? I cannot even see the sky from here!" The drizar made a barking noise, grabbing a mouthful of moss, munching moss and rock alike contentedly.
Skyfire grumbled, stroking the neck of his drizzen absently. "It is unnatural."
Ash opened his mouth then shut it again, deciding against a retort about what was unnatural. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath to calm himself and reclaim his patience. "It is natural here." Skyfire growled and turned away.
"We will wait here," Storm stated. "On the ground."
The Forentan mage considered the pair, and then the branches above. "After everything I have seen, I never would have imagined this." A carefully condescending tone colored his voice.
The two Desanti fixed hostile eyes on the mage. "Imagined what?"
"That Githalin Swordanzen would be afraid of trees." He remained unmoved as both drew swords, his hands remaining tucked into his sleeves.
"We fear nothing!" Skyfire shouted at the mage.
"You don't? Then why don't you come with the rest of us to Naveene's Rest?" Ash met Storm's eyes and held her gaze as he let a hint of challenge seep into his voice. Then dismissively, he turned his back on them and started up the ramp at a regal pace.
Storm fumed and finally shoved her sword back in its sheath. Jerking the drizar's halter, she started towards the bridge. Hesitating a moment, she finally took a resolute step onto the wood planking and forced herself to go forward. Skyfire hesitated a little longer before he followed her. Both drizzen did as their companions, though their ears were twitched back and their claws left deep gouges in the wood planking.
Ash exhaled the breath he was holding as he heard them following him, looking skywards. Murmuring thanks to his goddess that neither of the Swordanzen's tempers ended up with him getting a blade in the ribs, he simply kept walking, not looking at them. He knew it would go poorly if anyone focused on their fear.
Chapter 71
IN the elegant, main room, Almek and the others were seated around the large table towards the back of the main room. They watched with pleased surprise as many large platters and tureens containing an abundance of food fit for royalty were placed on the table. Several young men and women poured wine, fawning over the travelers with youthful innocence and curiosity. When Ash and the two Swordanzen finally arrived, they flocked to attend to them. Most, however, shied away from the Desanti, looking away from the hostile glares of Storm and Skyfire.
Almek smiled as Ash sat beside him, the two Desanti on the mage's other side. "It seems the Edai Tredecima has had a change of heart since your departure."
Watching the Desanti from the corner of his eye, Ash said distractedly, "Oh?"
The Dusvet Guardian chuckled at Ash's droll tone. "Indeed. Without you to handle matters, they have not been able to wave off the seriousness of what you repeatedly reported to them. They wish to speak with me about some occurrences since your departure, after the less pleasant business of your former student is attended to."
An older woman came to Ash, bowing to him as she took his travel cloak. "Tonight we celebrate Forenta's son's return and honor Dusvet Almek and his students! I am Headwoman Kelafy Please, enjoy Naveene's hospitality. You will find no better in all Forenta."
"Lookit all this food!" Emil called to the warrior pair. He smiled up to a pretty girl that leaned down by him. "Now this is how Almek's students should be treated!"
Mureln arched an incredulous eyebrow at Emil, Taylin giggling behind her hand. "'Almek's students'? You are including yourselves now?"
"Hey now! We been pullin' our weight!" Emil countered, the serving girl tittering in amusement. "Ah, ye lovely thing, thank ye fer th' wine, but I am wondering if ye do have something a little stronger, mayhaps?"
"Of course, Master Emil!"
"Ye see? Master Emil!" Emaris rolled his eyes, shaking his head at his brother who puffed his chest proudly. Emil glanced over at the Desanti who sat at the end of the table, backs stiff, expressions grim. "Skyfire, lad, c'mon! Cheer up!"
A young woman barely out of her girlhood put her hands on Skyfire's shoulder, leaning over. "Master Warrior, would you like some food or wine?"
Startled at such open friendliness from a Forentan towards him, Skyfire looked at the girl, and shook his head once sharply. "I am not hungry." As an afterthought, he added in an effort at politeness, "Thank you."
"As you wish, Master Warrior," the girl said brightly. "But if you change your mind, please ask for Lyra." She glanced down and back up. "I have never seen a Desanti before."
"You wouldn't have. Desanti do not leave Desantiva. Except for us." He g
lanced at the Forentan girl, drawn out of his bad temper by bewilderment. "I am Skyfire," he responded automatically to her oblique introduction.
Lyra smiled with a sweet, guileless innocence. "Are all the men in Desantiva as handsome as you, Master Skyfire?"
Skyfire glanced over at Storm with a helpless expression. The Desanti woman simply shrugged, arms crossed and sitting stiffly in her chair.
"Mistress Warrior," a young man chided teasingly. "Would it kill you to relax and enjoy yourself?" Without any warning, Storm's hand shot up, grabbing him by the front of his shirt. He made an inarticulate noise as Storm jerked him down. She glared at him, nose to nose with the terrified man.
"My name," she stated in annoyance, "is Githalin Swordanzen Storm il'Thandar, and I am here because I must be here. I will not relax and I do not intend to enjoy myself while I must be here. Do you understand?" The terrified young man could only nod furtively.
Ash put a hand on her other arm. "Swordanzen, please do not manhandle the servants. It is their assigned duty to see to your needs."
The young man stumbled back a few steps as Storm released him with a disagreeable sound. "There is nothing I need from anyone here."
Making a small gesture to the perplexed man in dismissal, Ash reached over for the water pitcher to pour a glass for Storm, setting it in front of her, then pouring his own from the same pitcher. The Forentan servants stared, chattering among themselves seeing the Illaini Magus serving the Desanti woman.
Their reaction was not lost on Storm, who eyed the glass, then looked at Ash, frowning at him. "What? Are you going to try to throttle me now?" he asked drolly. When she flicked a look at the whispering servants, Ash made a sound of understanding and explained their reactions. "In Forenta, it is customary for one of lower rank to serve those of higher rank and equals to serve themselves. But as you might bite someone in your foul temper, I felt taking the risk was the least I could do for my people." He repressed an amused smile as she growled, snatching the glass. She only sipped the water, but that she did that much was a small victory for the mage.
As the evening wore on, Ash remained as silent as Storm, watching how his people behaved with the foreign members of the group. He was pleased to note that the normal Forentan hostility was nearly nonexistent, undoubtedly because of the older woman in charge of who was allowed to attend them. Eventually, the overwhelming desire to escape the cacophony of the main room surpassed his intention to remain near Almek.
Almek put a hand on Ash's shoulder, leaning close to murmur in his ear. "Why don't you take Storm up to our rooms? Perhaps she will relax away from so much unfamiliar chaos." Grateful for the excuse, Ash nodded and stood. He did not even need to say a word to Storm about his intentions. The mere touch on her shoulder served as well, the warrior woman standing with fluid grace.
They walked up the wide curving stairs to the uppermost level. Four curtained archways led off from the landing, heavy drapes framing an exterior balcony. "Skyfire and Master Almek have been assigned the other two sleeping areas on this level," Ash said simply, stopping by the stairs, watching the prowling Swordanzen woman carefully as she examined the new area. "But I doubt we will see them anytime soon."
Storm tugged back the curtain of one of the sleeping areas, then let it fall back again, walking to the balcony to look outside, an unexpected melancholy in her eyes. "Even up here, I cannot see the sky. Tell me, treewalker, before you came to my land, had you ever seen the stars?" Before Ash could answer her quiet question, Storm spun around suddenly, drawing her twin swords. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, mage raised his own hands instinctively to attack the unknown intruder.
"Wait!" an old man's voice called. "Do not attack! I mean no ill to either of you!"
The mage froze in shock at the sound of the voice. He held his hands up to forestall Storm, stepping in front of her protectively. "Hold!" Sensing Storm lowering her swords slightly, Ash called, "Come."
Storm looked warily at the stooped figure of an old man as he continued climbing the stairs slowly with the self-possessed air of an aristocrat. Lowering the swords further, the woman warily studied the old man, her voice flat and blunt. "You know him?"
"I do." Ash offered a stiff, respectful half bow to the older Forentan. "Master Ellis Avarian, this is Githalin Swordanzen Storm il'Thandar." Storm turned her attention from the old man to Ash at the abrupt shift in his posture and demeanor to a formality she had never witnessed. "Storm, this is Edai Magus Ellis Avarian, head of house for the Avarian family, Amelana's great grand uncle, and my master’s twin brother." Storm frowned at the bitterness in Ash's voice.
Ellis’s expression did not falter, turning pale blue eyes towards Storm to appraise her as openly as she appraised him. "Blessings to you, Githalin Swordanzen Storm il'Thandar, daughter of Desantiva," he greeted formally with a polite nod.
Sheathing her swords once assured there would be no attack, Storm outright stared at the old man. She moved forward with light steps, circling him like a great cat would an entrapped prey. With wide eyes, Storm reached up to touch his pure white hair. Her hand moved to touch the deep wrinkles on his face. She drew back sharply, deeply worried. "The cracks in your face... they do not hurt?"
Ellis endured the examination patiently. Not smiling outwardly, his eyes sparkled in amusement. "No, child. They are just wrinkles. They are a price for the one hundred twenty some odd years I have survived."
Storm finally looked down, her cheeks coloring. "Forgive me, Ancient. I meant no disrespect." Her reverence for his age verged on a religious level.
"’Ancient’?" Ellis blinked, and then smiled reassuringly. "No apologies are necessary, Githalin Swordanzen Storm il’Thandar." He looked towards Ash. "I was hoping to speak with you before my great grand niece's trial before the Edai Tredecima."
Storm backed away a step. "I will leave." Beginning to depart, she froze in place when the old man put a hand on her arm to forestall her.
"No, young Storm, I meant I wished to speak to both of you. Please remain." Storm nodded and moved away from the stairs, her attention fixed raptly on the older Forentan.
Ellis took a deep breath, folding his hands into the sleeves of his robes. "On behalf of House Avarian, I wish to beg forgiveness for the shameful behavior and reprehensible actions of my great grand niece Amelana Avarian."
Ash's expression hardened before he turned his back on both Storm and Ellis, walking several steps away to the balcony archway to stare outside in silence.
Storm frowned in puzzlement, looking between the young man and the old man, and then looked back to Ellis. "You were the one who wanted to mate Amelana with him."
Ellis stared at Storm. After a moment, he smiled, almost wistfully. "Plain spoken. You remind me of Ash when he was a boy." Ash shot a glare over his shoulder before looking away again. "In answer to your question, ‘mating’ was not my primary intention."
"Oh, really? It certainly seemed to be Amelana’s," Ash snapped, turning to glare at Ellis.
Ellis raised his eyes to look into the taller young man’s fury filled gaze. "I had only your best interest at heart. It would have helped restore some of the family's prestige to have an Illaini Magus among us. And you would have had the respect being a member of one of the ancient Houses."
Storm considered her words before speaking. "Ash deserves a better mate. I have seen better breeding in lame drizzen."
The Desanti woman’s forthrightness caught the older Forentan off guard. Recovering from his surprise at the crude yet somehow elegant observation, Ellis chuckled ruefully. "I would be insulted if I could disagree." Ellis sighed, closing his eyes. "I had hopes that..." His words drifted off and he shook his head. "Well, I am sure you do not want to hear a tired old man prattling on about nonsense—"
"It would be the greatest of honors to listen to an elder of elders prattle on about whatever he wished for as long as he willed," Storm interrupted with such heartfelt sincerity, both Forentan men looked at her in surprise. "You do n
ot need to apologize to me for what Amelana chose to do herself. If she had been Desanti, she would never have survived her adulthood trials to begin with, or lasted long if she had. It is fortunate she has not bred any more like her."
Looking at Ash for several moments, Storm deftly changed the topic. "I must go check on the drizar. He will be useless to me if he eats too much." Offering a respectful bow to the old man, Storm walked down the stairs.
"Well spoken, if about as blunt as a fallen branch on the head. Not what I would have expected of a Desanti," Ellis mused in Forentan as he watched Storm vanish from view.
"What could you have expected? All we knew of the warrior people were the stories that have been passed down for generation after generation after generation." Ash pointed out coldly, "Inaccurate stories."
"Very true," Ellis mused. "She shows me more respect than most of what remains of the Avarian family."
Turning away to stare into the murky darkness of the high branches, Ash spoke without inflection. "You are already more than three times older than the oldest among them. Anyone who lives to get old is accorded great respect among the Desanti. Storm is barely more than a child herself."
"Three times?" Ellis looked back down the stairs. "I could see the girl is young, but I find it hard to believe someone considered a master of her arts is as young as I am inclined to guess she is."
Impatient, Ash interrupted the old man, arms crossed. "What is it you really want, Ellis?"
Ellis looked at Ash in silence for a time. "I want what I said earlier. Your forgiveness for what Amelana had done. You know I was the one who arranged for her to be assigned to you."
"Of course I knew it was you," Ash replied bitterly. "I could have turned her out inside of a year. But you knew I would keep her despite her complete worthlessness as a mage."