Rise of the Firebird

by Amy K Kuivalainen

  “You did battle magic? I am impressed, Elenya, I should’ve bought Lif with me.”

  “Who is Lif?”

  “One of my warriors and the best user of battle magic I have seen since Aramis.”

  “Aramis! You never told me…”

  “He wouldn’t have. He has too many morals these days,” Søren said airily.

  “I don’t believe that magic should be used to kill. It isn’t gentlemanly.” Anya and Søren broke into identical, cynical laughter.

  “We aren’t fighting gentleman. We are fighting pieces of shit like Vasilli and Yanka. I don’t agree with using magic to kill, but I’m going to use it against them in any way that sees them dead and buried. It’s gone too far for any kind of redemption. There is only one way this is going to end. I’m going to kill them all,” Anya said lifting her glass in a mock toast at him. “Enough is enough.”

  “You know I couldn’t argue with you even if I didn’t think you were right. I know you are, I still don’t have to like it. You can fill Søren in on the adventures of Karelia. I need to walk.”

  “You look different,” Søren said after a few more drinks. “Karelia has changed you. The vulnerability has gone, or was it killing Veruschka?”

  “Both, I don’t miss it and I don’t regret killing her. I’m trying not to let my anger consume me. If I give into it completely, it will make me no better than them,” Anya swirled the ice around in her glass.

  “Yvan will keep you grounded. I’m pleased that you have taken the time to recognise your feelings for what they are. It’s a shame that it took Tuoni to point them out to you.” Søren’s lips twisted in a strange half smile.

  “Tuoni and his daughter were exceptional at stabbing their bitter blades in wherever they could.”

  “You’ll never be able to confirm what they said about the Thanatos. Whether you were attracted to him because you wanted to die, or if he was working within the parameters of Ilya’s spell is irrelevant compared to what your heart tells you.”

  “It is all irrelevant,” murmured Anya. “He’s dead and I’ll avenge him. I will avenge all the ones Yanka has killed. I’m happy you are here because I am going to need your help.”

  “To do what?”

  “To teach me. I can absorb power. I could absorb your skills if I wanted to but I want you to teach me to fight with magic and with a blade.”

  “Mychal would be a better teacher. He is far more skilled.”

  “Not with magic he isn’t. Aramis is my hjarta bróđr and because you are twins, it means I have my own bond with you. I trust Mychal, but not in the same way that I trust you. Train me, Søren. If Aramis was willing to teach it to me, he would’ve done so already. You should have seen how horrified he was when I unmade the hiisi.”

  “I can imagine,” Søren said, his brows coming together in a frown. “Killing can become seductive, Elenya. Killing with magic even more so. There’s a darkness that comes in and you must not let it consume you.”

  “You will teach me not to let it,” Anya put her hand over his. “Søren, I know what you have been through in a way that no one else does. I saw it, I felt what you felt when Yanka killed Väliä. You’ve endured so much and still you are strong enough not to let the darkness take you. There’s no one that can teach me like you.”

  Søren drained his vodka, his green eyes burning. “I hate how you are able just to convince people to do something against their better judgement.”

  “Stop pretending you don’t like me, Søren. I know you’ll train me because you know that you are the best. You won’t risk my life and others with defective training.” Anya smiled brightly as he grimaced.

  “Fine, but do me a favour and get Yvan’s blessing first. He loves you and he has waited a long time for you to recognise that you love him back. He’s the last person I would wish to offend.”

  “I will talk to him about it, though you could train him too with all the firebird power in him,” she yawned and put down her empty glass. “I’m going to bed. Don’t disappear in the night. We need you. Aramis needs you. You should try to rest. You haven’t slept since the battle.”

  Søren waved the bartender over and ordered another drink. “Don’t mother me, Anyanka. I’ve been taking care of myself for over a thousand years now.” The bartender stood looking at them uneasily.

  “You are Anyanka?” he asked quietly. “As in the Anyanka?”

  “Argh…I guess? You might have me confused with someone else.”

  “I had heard that you travelled with one of the Álfr and I thought…” Søren got slowly to his feet and the bartender took a step backwards. “Please, I don’t mean any offence. I am on your side.”

  “Side? What side?” Anya questioned.

  “If I could…” The bartender slipped a hand inside of his pocket and pulled out a folded up piece of paper. Søren took it before Anya could and unfolded it.

  “Well, that’s unexpected,” he said as he passed it over. A stylised firebird had been printed onto it. Anya looked up at the bartender.

  “The neutrals …meaning people like me, we are on your side to bring down the Darkness and the Illumination.”

  “I don’t understand how this could have happened. I am no leader, I’m nobody,” she shook her head in confusion.

  “You’re going to help us shake off the oppressors. Rumours of you are spreading through the world. You aren’t alone in this fight,” the bar tender bowed. “It is an honour to meet you. My name is Antru. If there is anything you need, I’m at your disposal.”

  ***

  Kullervo walked the streets of Helsinki with no purpose other than to absorb all around him. He’d cast a few spells already to help understand real world complexities like traffic lights, the Euro, and mobile phones. Now he was learning about fashion that had certainly changed for the more daring and exotic. He could barely contain his enthusiasm for a girl with purple hair and piercings and had followed her to a clothing store. A large man doll in the window was dressed in black leather pants with a silky red button up shirt. Kullervo snapped his fingers and his mud stained attire had swapped with the dolls including a new pair of black boots, silver necklaces and leather wrist cuffs. He straightened his shirt before continuing on his walk.

  Night fell and he followed the siren song of thumping drums. With another quick spell to confuse the security guards, Kullervo discovered his greatest find; heavy metal music. His uproarious laughter was lost in the sea of noise and the swaying bodies of tattooed leather clad beauties. Oh yes, he was going to enjoy the new world.

  ***

  Aramis quickly bypassed the bar when he arrived back at the Hilton late that night. He liked that Søren and Anya were friendly with each other but his brother reminded him of his grief. He had bought a new laptop, which he set up quickly. He needed to find out what was happening in the world and there was only one information source he trusted. An hour later, he was calling Silvian on Skype. He didn’t know what the time difference would be but he was sure that Silvian would be awake.

  “Who the devil are…Aramis!” Silvian’s face distorted on the screen in front of him as he adjusted his web cam. “Where are you?”

  “Helsinki. We got in a few hours ago. Søren is here,” he replied.

  “That’s surprising. You look like hell, what happened? Is Anya okay?”

  “We are all alive and uninjured. There’s much to talk about but first I want to hear what has happened since I left.”

  “That might take a while. To give you a short version, Lya died, as you know, and Harley is moving in leaps and bounds with her newfound power. The Conseil Neutres is still causing chaos here in New Orleans. Their idiocy knows no bounds, Aramis,” Silvian shook his head. “The city is full of hunters, some friends of Isabelle and Hamish but mostly ones trying to protect one of the only neutral cities in the world. Harley and Isabelle are organising them but it wont be long now before the Conseil retaliates more violently. Also, we had a hunter turn up from Englan
d and she bought with her some interesting news from Europe. A following of neutrals is building up behind Anya and Yvan’s cause.”

  “What? How can this be?”

  “What did you expect? Someone is brave enough to try to fight the Illumination and the Darkness. She has an army rallying and they are flying the symbol of the firebird as their banner.”

  “I saw graffiti today on the streets. Flyers and such. I thought it was for a rock band or something like that that the humans get involved with,” Aramis shook his head. “I had no idea. How are we supposed to keep an eye on this army?”

  “I’m sure that they’ll find you if they haven’t already.”

  “I’m not sure if that is an encouraging thought. We found the sword, Silvian. Anya, Yvan, and I, have been able to link power.”

  “How did it feel?”

  “Like I was three people at once. As if everything I am fell away until we were one entity,” Aramis said as he shuddered at the memory. “We are going to try it again in a few days.”

  “Be careful, Aramis. You know how seductive forgetting oneself can be.”

  “It isn’t that,” Aramis admitted. “I didn’t think it would be possible. To link three people is unheard of. Also until now, there had been some measure of doubt that it wouldn’t work and there would be no way to stop Yanka. Now I know we really do have the power.”

  “For the love of all that is holy, please tell me you aren’t still in love with Yanka, Aramis,” groaned Silvian.

  “Gods no. When I thought she was dead, I never felt that I was truly free of her. I’ve been haunted by her and my own failure. It’s why I had to rescue her even though there was the possibility she would be as destructive as ever. I owed it to her. Now that obligation is gone and if we kill her, it will finally be over. I’ll finally be free of her.”

  “I hope so, old friend, for your sake and for Anya. Some things you can’t save. Of your other adventures, I’m sure there is many but it can wait. You look like hell. When was the last time you had a decent night’s sleep?”

  “Tapiola.”

  Silvian pulled a face. “Go to sleep. Now. Before I ask. I’ll send you a zeitgeist email and catch you up.”

  “Thank you, Silvian. I don’t suppose I could convince you to come to Helsinki?”

  “Tempting, but I am needed here with the wayward children. Also, I don’t know how strong Søren’s urge to kill me still is.”

  “Not nearly as strong as it was two hundred years ago I imagine.”

  “Ha! Keep imagining! Noapte bună, Aramis.”

  “Good night, Silvian. Give my regards to the wayward children.”

  ***

  Mikhaʼel, a voice reached Mychal far into his dreams, drawing him out of them. Aleksandra’s breathing was deep and calm beside him. He got up slowly as not to disturb her and picked up Ukko’s sword. It was the sword’s voice that he heard in the dream, like he had heard the shout of joy when he unsheathed it for the first time.

  Mikhaʼel, long I have waited my return to you, Master.

  You are mistaken, Mychal replied uneasily.

  I was made for your hand. I am not mistaken. Why do you not recognise me? I have suffered in the hands of the vengeful and reckless Kullervo; long I lay trapped in the darkness.

  You fell from Heaven, thrown by the hand of God for Kullervo. You are his instrument.

  I was given to Kullervo so that you could find me again, the sword said. And I was not thrown by God’s hand but yours.

  ***

  Anya spent the following day exploring Helsinki with Yvan. Anya hadn’t had time alone with him for longer than she could remember. They explored without the ever present threat of their enemies. She told him about the neutral resistance group and while he was surprised at the insignia, the firebird wouldn’t stop preening.

  “What am I meant to do with the responsibility of a whole army? Keeping our little group safe keeps me awake at night as is,” Anya said. They were sitting on the large flat rock at Sibeliuspuisto watching tourists take photos of the Sibelius Monument.

  “An army to stand behind you when we confront Baba Yaga and Yanka isn’t a bad thing, shalosť. They need you to be a symbol, not a leader. The moment you try to tell a neutral army what to do is the moment they stop being neutral. They’ll turn on you like they would turn on the other Powers. Give them the choice to stand by you and they will.”

  “I don’t know where Yanka will try to provoke me. I might not have the chance to ask them, I don’t even know how to get a hold of them.”

  “Use your new friend, Antru, as a contact. Let him rally them to wherever they want to battle it out. Baba Yaga and Yanka are show offs. They’ll want a confrontation that will resonate in minds for centuries to come. They will also want to make an example out of you so that no one else will rise against them again.”

  Anya’s stomach churned with anxiety. If they failed to stop Baba Yaga and Yanka, then not only would she be made an example of, but all those who sought to defy them.

  “I never wanted this,” she said.

  “I know, shalosť.” Yvan kissed her temple softly. “Even if we fail, I’ll not let them take you. I promise.” Anya didn’t reply. He believed he could save her no matter what the odds. She didn’t. He looked so sincere and beautiful wrapped warmly in his grey pea coat and blue scarf that she refused to argue with him. Not on this day. When things got bad, as she knew they were about to, she wanted to be able to remember the one perfect day where they could be like any other couple.

  Eldon Blaise was waiting for her when they arrived back at the hotel hand in hand. “Sorry to have to pull you away, but I don’t suppose I could request the lady’s company for a few hours this evening?” he asked without really asking.

  Yvan kissed her cheek in resignation, “Have fun.”

  “Smart man you have there. I’m famished, let’s go and eat. I know this great place,” Eldon said offering her his arm.

  “Lead the way, Bard,” she replied taking it. “I see you found yourself some clean clothes.”

  “I thought it time.” He wore a dark purple velvet frock coat, a royal blue waistcoat and forest green dress shirt over black jeans and new pair of lace up boots. On anyone else, it would have looked ridiculous but it made Eldon look ridiculously fashionable. His raven hair was only lightly streaked with grey now, his beard neatly trimmed. The years seemed to have washed off him and now he looked like a man in his late thirties. He still wore his silver torc and trinkets on leather thongs about his neck.

  “What is wrong, Anyanka?” he asked wrapping a matching royal blue scarf around his neck as they stepped outside.

  “I haven’t seen you this clean or young before,” she joked.

  “It is the magic, it has restored me. I cut myself off from it for years as a twisted sort of punishment. Maybe I stayed out of the world too long. It’s important for people like us to withdraw for periods of time.” Eldon walked swiftly as if he knew exactly where he was going and Anya had to make an effort to keep up with his long stride.

  “Where are we going? The sun is almost down and I don’t want to get lost.”

  “We won’t get lost. Oh, look, there it is and right on the time between times. Perfect! Don’t let go of my arm, Anya.”

  Eldon didn’t wait for her to ask questions but pulled her down into a side street. Power exploded out of him and they stepped out of the ally and into a whole new town. The lights of a pub called The Lancelot glowed welcomingly.

  “Where are we? Dammit, Eldon, did you pull me through a gate?” Anya demanded angrily.

  “Gates don’t work in Glastonbury because it’s a null zone. Think of what we did as a sort of backdoor, built in by yours truly.”

  “And why did we have to come all the way to England for dinner?”

  Eldon steered her towards the pub. “I really like the beef and Guinness pie here and it being a null zone, means our conversation will be private, free from all eyes and scrying spells. Technic
ally, we are magically invisible. The best way to enjoy a meal.”

  Inside the pub was warm and crowded. Eldon sat down in a booth that Anya could have sworn wasn’t there beforehand.

  “Come here often, do you?”

  “In the week before I had the vision of you, I was renting a room upstairs. I would eat here and went to drink at every other pub in town so they wouldn’t kick me out of this one.”

  “On a bender, were you?”

  “Of course I was! I didn’t want to be forced out of a cocoon of solitude and self-hatred much less to be sent to baby sit a wayward Shamanitsa. And I definitely resented being sent here.”

  “Is it because of what happened in that past? Did you live here?” Anya sipped her pint.

  “I lived here for a time. Myrddin Wylt fought his final battle here with Morgan. That is why the magic is gone. They were both drawing on it and in their effort to win they sucked it dry.”

  “Were you there? Did you see it happen?”

  “I remember parts of it. It is a memory that is like a shattered mirror. I can catch reflections but not see the whole picture.”

  “That must be frustrating.”

  “It isn’t surprising though. There was such an amount of power that was generated that I’m surprised I haven’t grown wings. The game was made shortly after it to try to prevent one person from gaining that much power again.”

  “Is it necessary though? Have all the Powers used it and fought over it? Or is it something that is important to Baba Yaga and Yanka?”

  “It isn’t necessary, but it keeps a certain level of balance. Baba Yaga and Yanka want to be the winner. They want complete power, so the game is important to them. Most of the Powers don’t even know that it exists. Even ones like Tapio aren’t players even though they have more power than Baba Yaga ever could. Powers only get tied to it if they start wars with each other. It was a way to make the fighting fairer with less destruction. You’ve been pulled into it because you are opposing them. Vasilli was pulled into it because Yanka would have panicked when she saw you and wanted an ally in case you caved in and sided with Baba Yaga.”