Still, slightly annoyed he'd seen fit to spill her entire life story, she reached out, grabbed his foot, and shoved him over as he rocked back in the chair, grinning. She never looked at him while she did it, throwing the corner a sullen look instead. Her Avatar twittered a flag on that play.
"Ow, my head," he whimpered from the floor.
“So, she’s never spoken?” Chara asked, the very question everyone gathered around the inn’s main room had been thinking, once Talbor had settled back his chair and had stuck his tongue out at the Blessed.
“Not once. There’s nothing wrong with her physically, mind you. But in her head, well, who can say? Hasn’t changed anything, though. She’s Little Sister to us all,” Talbor replied.
“What of her name?” Diem asked, refreshing the Ascended’s wine. “Do you know that?”
Talbor frowned. “No, I’m afraid we don’t. When Ramor found her, she was a slip of a girl. Only twelve or so. Everyone who could’ve told us her name was gone, you see, and Ramor refused to delve into her mind. Such would not have been honorable. We took to calling her Little Sister, and the Great Wolf simply calls her Daughter. It has worked well enough.”
“Well, I can’t call her either,” Chara stated, having recovered somewhat from the Ascended putting her mother in her place. “And neither can anyone else. She needs a name.”
“Won’t argue that,” he replied, throwing an arm around the warrior’s shoulders. “So what of it, Little Sister? Shall we let Chara name you, so that we might always have a means by which to identify you? Beyond ‘Hey you,’ I mean, which has its own charm, but gets a little repetitive after a while. Unless, of course, you really want to be Little Sister to the whole of the world, which, just so it's been said, would somewhat detract from the natural awe Blessed of Ramor invoke.”
The warrior merely shrugged, looking elsewhere. She wouldn’t be here long enough for it to matter, and she would never be able to tell others the name the girl would give her anyway. She saw no purpose in it.
Talbor frowned, seeing her thoughts on her face. “It seems Little Sister is indifferent to the notion, my dear girl, so by all means, let us see if perhaps you can awaken some interest in her. Warm her to the notion, as it were.”
Chara smiled and furrowed her brow, thinking hard. A name. A name to call the woman who saved her life, a name to give to the single most incredible human being she’d ever met in her life. A name fit for a Blessed, fit for a Priestess of Ramor himself.
A name for the person who had given her hope.
“Ramora,” she said suddenly.
Talbor stared in open-mouthed shock as did the warrior. “By Grannax, that's actually right brilliant. Ah, mortals, always so creative,” the Ascended murmured.
Chara beamed at this, but it faded quickly when the warrior’s own expression didn’t match her Ascended’s. In fact, she seemed more than a bit angry. Seeing this, Talbor frowned as well.
“Come now, Little Sister, don’t be like this. It’s a fine name, and it fits you very well. I think the Great Wolf himself would be pleased by it, you know,” he said softly.
The warrior pushed him away, rising and leaving the room, much to the surprise of everyone. Chara frowned, her eyes misting over.
“I didn’t mean...”
“Of course you didn’t,” Talbor cut in. “And think nothing of it. She’s always been a bit moody. It’s a fine name and one I intend to use upon her whether she likes it or not. You should be proud, Chara.”
Chara shook her head. “No, she’s angry with me now. I shouldn’t have called her that.”
Talbor sighed. “If anything, she’s angry because it’s a fine name. Little Sister has always been different, Chara. A human living among Ascended, with a God for a father. She hasn’t had a mother, so to speak, since hers died, and wouldn’t even allow any of my sisters near her for many years. Trust me; it’s not you she’s angry with, but herself and those who took so much from her.”
Chara wiped her eyes. “You think so?”
“I know so. Now, I must speak with your father in private for a time, but you dry those eyes and worry not. Come morning, all will be right as rain, I swear to you,” he answered as he stood.
Watching as the Ascended slung an arm around her father’s shoulders and led him away, she still felt as if she’d done some wrong. Looking to the stairs, she tried to think of a way she could make it right again.
"I liked it," Daniel said, resting a hand on her shoulder.
She reached up and gave his hand a squeeze. "Thanks, but it really made her mad. I can see why, when I think about it."
"You heard what Talbor said," Daniel insisted. "She's just different. It could’ve been something else that upset her."
"Maybe,” Chara sighed. "Still, after all she's done for me, I should go and apologize."
"If that's what you feel you should do," he told her. "I'm going to go make sure Mom got the message."
Chara looked over her shoulder at him in alarm. "I can't imagine how she didn't."
"Me either," he admitted as he stood, ruffling her hair. "But you know Mom. Once she gets an idea in her head, getting it out is pretty much impossible."
Chara watched as he headed for the kitchen. Kate hadn't joined them for dinner, too terrified to even set foot in the same room as the demigod. Daniel had ended up doing most of the serving for dinner, the common room packing full with word spreading one of the Ascended was eating there.
After what felt like forever, Talbor had shaken every hand, smiled at every woman, and kissed every baby with the same aplomb he did everything. Contrary to his Blessed, he savored being in the midst of a crowd, and had even regaled them with tales of the wonders of the High World.
When the crowd had finally thinned, heading home, he’d joined them for a meal, telling them the story of the warrior and how she’d come to be who she was. It had broken Chara's heart in ways she couldn't even describe. The only thing that had stopped her from going to the woman had been the rather annoyed look on her face as Talbor had spilled all her beans.
Still, she couldn't help but feel she'd taken it a step too far, daring to dub her with a feminized version of the name of the God who had shown her so much kindness. She knew the warrior had asked Talbor to help with her mother, and the warrior was the only reason there was the slightest hope she could walk her own path in life.
Standing, determination settling across her young features, Chara headed for the stairs.
Outside, Talbor settled onto one of the two benches that the porch boosted, joined by Diem. Digging around inside his shirt, the Ascended produced two cigars, lighting them both with a flame he conjured in his hand. A single puff was all it took to make Diem's eyes go wide.
"Nice, aren't they?" the demigod asked.
"Amazing," the old man murmured. "Are these from the High World?"
"Oh, my, no," Talbor laughed. "They come from Dunnick. I swear to you, Diem that place produces the finest tobacco in any world."
"Dunnick, eh?" Diem said softly, smiling at the cigar for a moment. "Seems like a place that's a world away."
"Well, it is," Talbor grinned. "Other side of the world, actually."
"I suppose it is," he chuckled. "Thank you, my friend."
Talbor waved it off. "It's just a cigar, old boy."
"Not for that," came the former soldier's reply. "For earlier, for Chara."
"Ah, yes," the Ascended sighed. "That's actually what I wanted to talk with you about, but in a moment. There's something else a little more pressing I need to discuss with you."
Seeing the serious look that settled over the normally comical demigod’s face, Diem felt a twinge of fear. "Something bad, isn't it?"
Talbor shrugged a little. "Yes and no. Well, it would be if I wasn't warning you about it, but after I warn you about it, you're going to have a really bright idea that will make it not be."
Diem frowned. "I'm not really sure what you just said."
"Neither a
m I," Talbor grinned. "But I will be shortly."
"Come again?"
"You do know the Divine Gift Ramor gives his Blessed, right?" the Ascended asked.
Diem thought about it for a moment. "I know it makes them fierce in battle, almost unbeatable."
"Yes, it does," Talbor nodded. "It allows them to sense, or I guess you could say see, what is about to happen during a battle. Quite a nice Gift to give a warrior, really. We Ascended of Ramor can sort of do it too, on a larger scale. We sort of just know what is going to happen before it does. It's a bit tricky, though, since it can be something hours away."
"I'm not sure I follow," Diem admitted.
Talbor waved that away. "Don't worry over it. You will soon enough. Point is, when I arrived here, I sensed it. Demon Seed are coming. They should be here by morning."
"What?" Diem exclaimed as he leapt up. "What kind? How many?"
Talbor rolled the cigar from one side of his mouth to the other, pondering that. "I'm not sure."
Panicked, Diem paced a little, saying, "I need to alert the guard in Adel… But no, that's three days away. Maybe we should evacuate the village, which would take all night. I'm not sure hiding everyone would work, though."
"You could try fighting them," Talbor offered. "But I'm an Ascended of Ramor. That's my answer to everything."
Diem gave him a frightened look. "Fight them? We're farmers. Craftsmen. We don't know how to fight. We barely even have anything that would pass for weapons in this town."
"Is that so?" the demigod asked, looking up at him, calm and relaxed.
"Well, except for bows," Diem said. "I mean, pretty much everyone in town has a bow for hunting, but..."
Talbor smiled as Diem had a bright idea. "There we are. Now, about your wife."
"Never mind her," Diem snapped. "I've got to get people roused and ready. We need a plan."
"Yes, yes, but that can wait five minutes," Talbor said, puffing on his cigar. "The Demon Seed won't be here till a bit after dawn. Never mind them for right now."
Diem shook his head, growing even more agitated. "We're facing an attack from Demon Seed, Talbor! There's no time to worry over something that's already dealt with!"
"I'm not so sure it's dealt with, though," the demigod sighed. "Little Sister will be leaving soon, probably the day after the fight. We need to be thinking on your darling wife deciding that with her out of the way and me as well, she can force the issue of Chara's marriage once again."
"She'll be here for the battle," Diem pondered. "That could be our ace in this."
Talbor scowled, his cigar dangling. "I think you missed what I just said."
"I'm sorry, but I can't be thinking on that," the old man told him. "I'll deal with it should it come up again."
With a heavy sigh, Talbor realized he should’ve started with his concerns over Kate, rather than the Demon Seed. "Well, should it come up, just give a prayer to Ramor, and I'll come give a hand again."
"Certainly," Diem nodded, only half listening. "Excuse me; I have to go start waking people up. Maybe I should start with Ramora, though."
The demigod couldn't help but smile at how easily he used the name his daughter had given the Blessed. "I'll give her the head’s up. You just rally the villagers, old boy. Off you go."
With a nod, Diem fled, hobbling down the street as fast as his knee would allow. Talbor heaved another sigh, wishing the fellow had at least finished his cigar first. They really were very nice, after all.
"I feel you back there," he said as he tapped the ash.
The lurking figure shed the field of invisibility it had cloaked itself in. "I should expect no less from one of my wolf brothers."
Talbor frowned slightly, knowing the voice of his fellow Ascended far too well. "What brings you out here, Rakiss?"
The other Ascended paced the porch, leaning on the rail to look out over the sleeping village. "What a dismal and dull place this is. However can you stand it?"
Talbor's frown deepened. "I find it peaceful. The question remains: why are you here?"
"I have a request for you, Talbor," Rakiss told him, sniffing the air with a bit of disdain. "One I advise you to agree to."
The demigod didn't like the sound of that, but remained where he was sitting, staring at the other through the softly rising smoke of his cigar. "If you want something, I'm not sure it would be wise for me to even hear it, much less agree with it."
"Regardless, you will aid me," Rakiss replied darkly. "Or I will tell Grannax that you meddled in the affairs of mortals."
"I made a suggestion, nothing more," Talbor told him, voice calm and neutral. "Nothing in the laws says I can't offer suggestions."
Rakiss chuckled at that. "Perhaps so, but think of your Blessed. She would be, at the very least, weeks without you while the Great Father looked into the matter. Be a pity if something awful happened to her in that time."
"Like what happened to yours, you mean?" Talbor countered, pushing down the urge to knock the smug out of the other Ascended.
Rakiss spun on him, hissing, "How dare you?"
"Threaten Little Sister, and I will dare." Talbor shrugged without a hint of agitation. "I'm sure Emiline would agree, were she not dead."
Snarling, Rakiss struggled to control his temper. "I wasn't threatening. I was simply making a point."
"No, you were threatening," Talbor snorted. "Now, what is it you want? I'm growing tired of your presence."
Eying his fellow with open contempt, Rakiss calmed himself, saying, "Little Sister will be leaving this odious little bump in the road soon. Make sure the innkeeper’s daughter goes with her."
"Chara?" Talbor asked with surprise. "Whatever for?"
"Never mind that," the other snapped. "It's no concern of yours."
Talbor rose, pitching the remains of his cigar out into the street. "What possible reason could you have for wanting sweet little Chara to leave here? Is this to do with those Chosen Ones I keep hearing rumor of?"
"Keep your nose out of my Mistress's affairs, wolf," Rakiss growled. "This request comes not from me, but from her."
Talbor stepped back a bit, startled. "Is that so?"
"It is," Rakiss smirked. "Now, all you have to do is..."
"I already know what to do," Talbor cut him off with a bark. "It remains a question of if I want to."
Rakiss gave him a condescending look. "What you want is irrelevant. Make certain the girl leaves here with your Blessed. That's all. My Mistress will be pleased, and you know what that means."
Talbor said nothing as Rakiss departed, swirling out of existence in a sparkle of lights. He knew what it meant; he just wasn't certain he liked where this was going.
Looking back at the inn, he wondered just what Ramor had dropped Little Sister in the middle of, and why.
The warrior sat on the foot of her bed, wiping her eyes. The tears on her cheeks made her angry, at herself, at the pain that brought them, at the man who had taken everything, and the people who so much wanted to give it back, but could not. The past was dead, and no amount of love could revive it.
Her Avatar cooed in her mind, offering all the love it had to her. She thanked it, cradling the spirit close to her heart, where it sang to her, trying to still her tears so desperately it made them come even harder.
She rolled the name Chara had so easily spoken through her mind, testing it, trying to see herself carrying it. It was beautiful, and she knew it. Fitting beyond any she’d ever heard. But it wasn’t her real name.
She had wanted so badly to stand and tell them her name, but her legs had gone weak and she knew even if they hadn’t, her rebellious tongue would never have made the words. It had lain dormant in her mouth for ten years now, refusing to form even so much as a simple sound.
Anguished at her sorrow, her Avatar sang her name to her, wanting nothing more than to bring a smile to her face. Always it sought to help ease the ache in her soul, but for the warrior, it brought back only more painful memories, the
sound of the spirit’s voice too much like that of her mother.
Tears welled again as she thought of her. Soft platinum hair that had smelled of lilacs, a smile that had been, in her child’s eyes, warmer than the sun. Eyes so blue they had been more beautiful than the ocean. In her mind, she could still see her as if it had been only yesterday.
As always, the images were overwritten, against her will, by those of her mother after the Demon Seed had come. A burned corpse, flesh charred, hair scorched away, eyes reduced to liquid mass that would never see again. Her lips had been burned away, leaving her blackened teeth exposed, never again able to say her name any more than the warrior could.
The memory brought painful tears back into her eyes, angering her at her own inability to hold them back. Ten years of nightmares, struggling with the pain, seeking some means by which to cope with the agony that burned in her breast, all wiped away by the single still image held so forcibly in her mind.
Sharing her pain, her Avatar warbled its sorrow, pulling the melodies of better memories to her mind, trying to stem the tide of grief and loneliness. Songs of playing with her sister, teasing her little brother, they only hurt more, and with an agonized twitter, the little Rabbit that shared her soul sought to hold her close, mourning with her.
Lost in her memories, in her private hell she could not even speak of to another, the warrior missed the soft sound of her door opening. When she finally gave up control and let the tears fall, sobbing silently, she was unaware of being watched.
Chara stepped into the room quietly, hand clutched to her breast, watching the valiant warrior and priestess mutely cry. Tears filled her own eyes at the thought she had brought this pain, compelling her to seek amends.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, touching her hand tentatively to the warrior’s shoulder.
The warrior didn’t jerk back. In many ways, she was unsurprised to find the young woman standing there now. Part of her, she suspected, had expected to find this gentle, yet fierce, soul here with her at this moment. Hero worship, maybe, or just her simple sense of duty to someone she no doubt felt she’d wronged.
Rise (War Witch Book 1) Page 9