Rise (War Witch Book 1)

by Cain S. Latrani

  Before the warrior, Chara stood, staring off at the ground, dismal as a rain cloud. Resting a hand on her shoulder, she offering the young woman a smile, but didn't get one in return.

  "I know you need to go," Chara said slowly. "As a Blessed, you have the world to think about. I wanted to thank you before you did, though. It means a lot to me that I got to spend time with you. I'll never forget it."

  Her face pained, the warrior hugged her tight, holding her as close as she could. It wasn't right that this fierce spirit should be caged. For the life of her, she just didn't know what to do.

  “Isn’t this touching?” The voice was almost a purr, coming directly in the warrior’s ear.

  Pushing Chara back a step, the warrior drove her elbow back, not at all surprised to find the move blocked. Another swift move brought her low, her leg sweeping out to knock the feet from beneath the man behind her. That move was also countered with ease, making her smile.

  With an extended hand and a bright smile, the man helped her to her feet, and then gave her a warm hug. “So, how is everything, Little Sister?”

  Chara gaped in awe. The man stood six and half feet tall with ease. Flowing blonde hair so silky she’d never seen its like hung almost to his waist, accented by eyes the color of amethyst. He was dressed in a silk tunic dyed almost the same red as that worn by the warrior, with snug black leather pants and knee boots that appeared to be suede. None of this, however, was anything compared to the long, fluffy, white, wolf tail that extended from just above his buttock.

  Which was wagging.

  “Uhhhhh...” Chara managed.

  The man looked at her curiously and then seemed to understand. “Hello, there, little one. I’m Talbor, Ascended of Ramor. Who might you be?

  “Uhhhhh....” Chara managed, once again.

  “Feisty little thing, isn’t she?” Talbor commented to the warrior as she playfully punched his arm. “Don’t suppose you can make any introductions, can you?”

  The warrior gave him a look that said all he needed to know.

  “No, of course not. Well, I suppose we might as well find some way to snap the poor thing out of her awe,” he sighed.

  “Uhhhhh....” Chara continued to manage.

  Talbor considered her for a moment, then with a swift and sudden movement, grabbed her and kissed her deeply. Chara seemed to melt on the very spot she stood, making the warrior smirk.

  “You there, unhand my daughter this instant!” Diem called as he stormed from the inn. His run was reduced to a hobble, telling the warrior what the injury he’d spoken of earlier must have been. It saddened her to see a fellow soldier like that.

  Talbor released Chara with a flourish, his tail wagging happily now. “Ah, the sweet kiss of a mortal. There really is nothing like it, you know. Simply divine.”

  The warrior put a hand on Diem’s chest as he reached them, pointing to the Ascended’s tail with a sly grin. The old man stared for a moment, losing his fire. Chara giggled incoherently as Talbor posed for inspection, a bright smile crossing his face.

  “You’re an....” Diem started.

  “Ascended of Ramor, indeed. Talbor would be my name. How have you been, Diem? Is this your daughter? Lovely job you’ve done. She’s simply perfect,” Talbor cut in, shaking the old man’s hand warmly.

  “You know me?” This with disbelief.

  “I know every warrior to ever call upon Ramor, retired or not,” Talbor replied.

  Diem smiled, feeling completely off-balance. "Right. Of course. Welcome to Rheumer. What brings you?"

  "Little Sister, of course," the Ascended said with a wag of his tail. "It's been a couple days, and I figured I should check in on her to see how she's doing."

  "Little Sister?" Diem asked, scratching his head.

  "I'll explain later," Talbor said, waving the whole thing off.

  Chara continued to sway and giggle.

  The warrior nudged her slightly.

  It didn't do any good.

  "I may’ve overdone it a bit," Talbor commented, snapping his fingers in front of the young woman. "No matter. A few hours rest and she'll be right as rain. Or so the Ascended of Rajan tell me. Rain never seemed right to me. More of a vertical thing, really."

  The warrior cuffed him slightly, trying to draw him back before he fell into one his famous rambles. He smiled brightly and patted Chara on the head. Diem just stared in confusion.

  "Never mind all that," Talbor announced. "So, Little Sister, how have you been? Enjoying the Middle World? Find your prey yet? Met anyone? Miss me?"

  The warrior gave him a tired look, long used to his random nature. Then, out of the blue, an idea struck her. Smiling a wicked grin, she motioned Diem to tend the still-dazed Chara as she looped an arm through the Ascended's.

  Kate wasn't going to know what hit her.

  "So, I'm assuming there's a reason we're behind a shed, in some bushes, and still have our clothes on?" Talbor asked as he looked around, feigning bewilderment.

  The warrior cuffed him on the arm and then snapped her fingers. When he smiled, she pointed at her eyes.

  "Yes, yes," he huffed. "I'm paying attention. Now, what's got you so fired up?"

  Taking a deep breath, she spread her hands and tried to figure out how to get him to understand what she needed. For so much of her life, communicating had proven such an obstacle; she was occasionally surprised she'd never figured out a way around it. Living in Father's home, she had always managed, but now and then, she cursed her rebellious tongue for lying so still.

  Her Avatar trilled something about interpretive dance, but she shushed it quickly. Now wasn't the time for the opinions of Rabbits.

  Holding up a finger, she made sure Talbor was paying attention, his focus something that often wandered. She mimed the kiss he’d given Chara, and then pointed to the inn, before grabbing her breasts.

  "I have no idea what you’re trying to say, but I love the way you’re saying it," he said with a grin, his tail wagging in excitement.

  The warrior sighed heavily, slumping. Collecting herself, she snapped her fingers again and held her hand about Chara-high and mimed the kiss again. Talbor stared at her, smiling and nodded.

  Growing frustrated, she tried to think of another way to get her point across, pacing behind the shed. There had to be some way? She just needed to think of it, and no, interpretive dance was out of the question.

  Her Avatar gave a coo of disappointment.

  "The young lady, Diem's daughter," Talbor said.

  The warrior turned back to him in surprise.

  "I got it the first time," he admitted, giving her a wolfish grin. "I was just kind of hoping you would fondle yourself again."

  The warrior bopped him on the head. He managed to look slightly chagrined and waved her on.

  Taking another deep breath, she held her hand Chara-high, pointed to the inn, and waved her hands at her breasts.

  "She does have lovely breasts, I agree, but I think you're trying to tell me something else," he mused. "I really wish I was better at charades.

  Another bop on the head followed.

  "Okay, alright, sorry," he grumbled, rubbing his wounded head. "The young lady's mother, obviously. What of her?"

  The warrior gave him a withering look, getting another of his somewhat sincere grins in return. Pointing to the inn, at her breasts, and then holding her hand Chara-high, she slowly marched as if she was holding a bouquet.

  "Ah, the young lady is getting married," Talbor exclaimed. "Apparently to her mother, which is kind of weird, but then again, I'm not one to judge. Ramor married his sister, after all, though they are Gods, so that's sort of normal, even if it does sound a bit incestuous."

  The warrior hit him over the head again. He tried very hard to behave himself after that.

  The march came again, followed by the warrior shaking her head violently. Moving to stand next to him, she fluttered her eyes a bit, and then looked down, making a gagging motion.

  "I'm
guessing the young lady isn't terribly in love with idea of marrying her soon-to-be husband," Talbor guessed.

  The warrior gave him a bright smile then held up her fingers, making an O with her thumb and forefinger of her left hand, while moving the forefinger of right through it. The gagging motion was repeated. Making a ‘V’ with both hands, she rubbed them into each other and smiled, making a pleasurable face.

  Talbor cocked an eyebrow. "I think I get that, but I'd really like to see it again."

  Another withering glare came his way as she cocked her arm back. The Ascended quickly covered his head, tucking his tail.

  "I got it, I got it," he said. "She prefers the company of other women. Which can only mean she doesn’t want to get married. I'm guessing her mother is less than sympathetic about her wants?"

  She snapped her fingers and gave him a smile.

  He nodded slowly, mulling this. "So, what exactly is it you want me to do? Bear in mind, I'm not allowed to interfere in the lives of mortals. It's not like I can forbid her from marrying off her daughter, you know."

  The sly look that crossed her face made him feel nervous. Pulling herself up, she put on a disapproving scowl, and silently tsked. Talbor looked doubtful as she did it.

  "I'm not sure that's going to work," he admitted.

  She silently tsked him again.

  "Fine, I'll do it, but stop making that face," he grumbled. "You remind me too much of Ramor. Especially after the last solstice party. Which totally wasn't my fault. I had no idea his armor wouldn't fit me. Or that it would rust if I fell in the wine."

  The warrior buried her hand in her face. Her Avatar did the same via interpretive dance.

  By the time the two returned to the inn, Chara had come out of her daze. Sitting with her father and brother at one of the many tables of the common room, she glanced up as the warrior and the Ascended entered, giving them both a soft smile. It was returned easily, the Ascended pausing to pat her on the head, sending her into a fit of giggles.

  "And she was doing so much better," Diem sighed.

  "Can't be helped," Talbor told him, sweeping his arm out in grand fashion. "After all, I am servant of Heaven from on high. My kiss is akin to having a rainbow reach down and caress you gently."

  Daniel blinked a few times. "That makes no sense."

  "Of course it doesn't," the Ascended grinned. "Nor should it. Well done, my boy. If I had a piece of candy, I'd give it to you, but I don't, though I could go find some, if you’re disappointed?"

  The warrior cuffed him on the arm, her face serious.

  "Why do you have to be so cruel?" he cried pitiably, then smiled. "Oh, right. Blessed of Ramor. Good girl!"

  "This is not how I envisioned the Ascended," Diem commented softly.

  Chara giggled again. Diem patted her on the head tenderly. The warrior buried her face in her hand again. Her Avatar offered to show her a good interpretive dance. She threatened to remove its ears. It sang a song of apology.

  Somehow, she felt, things were getting away from her, as they often did when Talbor was around. Though he’d been her closest friend for many years, he was chaotic even on his best behavior, and always had been. She couldn't even count the number of times her Father had said the same, usually after the Ascended had done something astoundingly absurd.

  Snapping her fingers, she called his attention back to the matter at hand. Reluctantly, he nodded, and waved her on. She glared at him until he remembered, again, that she couldn't talk.

  "Diem, my good man, where would your wife happen to be?" Talbor asked after a brief glaring match with his beloved sister. "It's been ages since I've caught up with you, and I've already met the rest of your darling family. Be a dear, and fetch her for me, won't you?"

  "Um," Diem replied slowly. "I'm not sure now is the best time for that."

  "Absurd," the demigod poshed. "Now's the perfect time. Go on; run along, I'll keep a close eye on your lovely daughter."

  "Hey," Daniel warned.

  "Eye, not hand," Talbor added quickly. "I'd offer a foot, but that would just be silly, unless she likes that sort of thing, which is always possible. Kids today. They're into all kinds of things, you know."

  The warrior pushed Daniel back down in his chair before giving Talbor a warning look. He frowned and tried his very best to behave himself as Diem rose.

  "As you wish, then," the old man said. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

  "My thoughts exactly," Talbor muttered, eying the warrior reluctantly.

  Diem returned a few moments later, Kate in tow, protesting being dragged into the common room while she still had so much work to do in the kitchen. Spotting the warrior, her attitude turned even sourer very quickly.

  "Kate, we have a special guest," Diem told her. "An Ascended of Ramor."

  "So I see," she replied. "We’re honored, of course, but I've a lot to do, so make yourself at home." Her tone was polite, but curt as she pulled free of her husband.

  "Kate, was it?" Talbor asked, swooping across the room to gather her hands in his before she could escape. "My, what a lovely creature you are. I used to keep up with your husband, back when he was a soldier, you know. Good man, Diem. To see him again, with such a ravishing wife, and two children, both wonderful, it fills me with joy."

  Stunned by the Ascended's rapid fire compliments, Kate hesitated. "Oh, uh, thank you, then."

  "You know, Little Sister over there, she's been telling me all about how generous you and yours have been to her," he pressed, slipping an arm around her and guiding her back towards the table. "I simply must express my thanks properly. As she’s my charge, and as you know can't speak for herself, it’s my duty, by my honor, to repay fully the kindness you’ve shown."

  "It's quite alright," Kate stammered, feeling dizzy from his barrage of honey-coated words.

  "Though, I admit to being somewhat startled," he continued, hugging her tight to his side. "I've only just learned that your abundantly dazzling daughter, what was her name again?"

  "Chara," Kate offered.

  "Yes, that's it, Chara," Talbor exclaimed. "What a lovely name for such a scintillating young woman, who I understand is soon to be wed. Imagine my surprise! Here we all are, with a wedding around the corner, and a Priestess of Ramor just happening to wander into your lives. It simply must be fate!"

  "Oh, well, that's, um," Kate stammered.

  "The odd thing is, you see, Kate, my peach, that no matter how I look at her, the comely Chara just doesn't seem to be overly joyous of her pending nuptials. This is very distressing, as you can imagine, and I simply have to ask myself why that would be. Since I don't know, I've no choice but to ask the pulchritudinous Chara here why that would be. So, dear, why would that be, hmm?" Talbor leaned over, smiling and winking at her.

  Slowly, hope blossomed in Chara's eyes. "I don't want to marry him. I don't love him."

  "What's this?" Talbor cried. "Oh, my, say it isn't so! This can't be! A marriage without love? What a tragic and terrible thing. It breaks my heart, simply breaks it, to think of such a sublime young woman being trapped in a loveless marriage. Doesn't that break your heart, Kate?"

  Pulling free of the Ascended, she gave the warrior a hateful glare before telling him, "It's no concern of yours. Do not meddle in my family's affairs. You've no right."

  "Indeed, you’re right, I do not," he sighed melodramatically. "It really is no concern of mine, and as an Ascended, I’m forbidden from dabbling in the affairs of mortals."

  "Good," she nodded. "Then I expect we'll hear no more of this."

  Talbor's expression turned serious as she made ready to walk away, his glare holding her in place as effectively as if her feet had been nailed to the floor. "While I cannot do anything to stop you, my dear lady, and most certainly, never would, I do feel the most urgent need to remind you that the master I serve, the Great Wolf, God of family and war, is in fact married to Altimar herself, the Goddess of marriage. Should he have cause to hear that a loveless matrimony had b
een forced on the daughter of a man who once raised his voice to the great God of War, he would no doubt feel compelled to share this with his beloved. I shudder to think how she would react to such a thing."

  Kate trembled as she felt the full power of an Ascended wash over her. "What are you trying to say?"

  "Altimar, the Divine Rabbit, is also the Goddess of children," Talbor intoned heavily. "It would be a shame if she saw fit to strike a man impotent for agreeing to take to bed a woman who did not love him. Wouldn't you agree that such a thing would be tragic?"

  Kate cowered before the Ascended as he let the full magnitude of his divine aura wash over her. Normally held in check around mortals, lest they be overwhelmed by the sheer power the demigods contained, Talbor let her feel his anger and majesty for a moment, then pulled it back, leaving her wide-eyed and sweating.

  "Just something to think about," he added, smiling. "You'll do that for me, won't you, Kate? Think about it?"

  "Certainly," she stammered.

  "Wonderful," he declared. "Now, I've kept you too long from your duties. Off you pop. Good girl!"

  Kate rushed from the room, desperate to be away from the holy being she knew had just threatened her. As soon as she reached the kitchen, she fell to her knees and prayed to Altimar, the Goddess she revered above all, save Grannax.

  "Did you really just do that?” Daniel asked in awe.

  Talbor fell into a chair, propping his feet on the table with a smug grin. "I most certainly did. Fear not, dear Chara. I strongly doubt you'll be getting married unless and until you so feel like it."

  She sat staring, wide-eyed, unable to believe what’d just happened. Tears formed in her eyes and her face grew ever more grateful, until she beamed. Unable to even form words, she sniffed and stammered, as her father and brother smiled at her and the warrior patted her on the shoulder.

  Satisfied with himself beyond measure, Talbor rocked back in his chair, and promptly fell over.

  "Ow," he whimpered from the floor.

  Chapter Seven

  “SO, THAT’S HOW Little Sister came to be with us,” Talbor concluded, resting his feet on a handy stool as he pried stray bits of meat from between his teeth with a toothpick. Beside him, the warrior looked a bit uncomfortable, but had made no move to stop him from telling the tale. She figured one might as well try and stop a tornado.