Rise (War Witch Book 1)

by Cain S. Latrani

  "I'm not hearing any of this," Chara grumbled.

  "Nope," Esteban agreed, trying to look anywhere but at the demigoddess.

  "If we could maybe just leave that topic behind us," Leto said, a touch of annoyance with his Ascended in his voice. "Might I ask what brings such a renowned hero to these parts?"

  "Who's he talking about?" Chara asked Esteban.

  "Ramora," he replied with a shrug. "I guess."

  "She's very famous in certain circles," Shana told them. "Mostly for her ability to do this thing with her mouth, where..."

  "Shana!" Leto yelled. "Enough!"

  "What?" she asked.

  "Forgive her," he said to the Blessed of Ramor. "She has no couth that I've ever discovered."

  Ramora nodded as she flushed furiously.

  "Couth is for people who are ashamed to say the word fuck," Shana nodded, somehow managing to make the statement sound wise.

  Chara marveled at that a bit.

  "If we could get off this subject," Leto said, then groaned as Shana giggled. "Please!"

  "Fine, have it your way," the Ascended pouted. "I'll be a good demigoddess for a little while."

  "I would appreciate it," he sighed.

  "So, you two are a couple?" she asked, whirling on Chara and Esteban. "Kinky."

  Leto took Ramora by the arm, guiding her away as her friends threw her imploring looks for salvation she ignored. Running into a Blessed of Grannax wasn't the kind of good fortune that happened every day.

  "Forgive me," he said softly. "Shana, she seems to take great joy in embarrassing me."

  Ramora smirked a bit and nodded, knowing the Ascended well. She signed to him that she understood, then caught herself and made an internal groan. Naturally, he stared at her hands in confusion.

  "I see you've figured out a way to talk to people," he nodded. "You'll have to teach it to me. I'd be interested in hearing what you have to say."

  Ramora arched an eyebrow. Okay, this was getting cozy a little faster than she'd expected. Giving him a polite smile, she pointed at Chara, then moved her fingers around.

  "Ah, the young lady understands it," he said. "Well, in that case, until I get the hang of it, she can help. I feel it's more than luck that has us crossing paths."

  The warrior put a hand to his chest, pushing him back a step. He was cute and all, but not that good looking.

  He laughed at that. "I think you misunderstand my intentions. You're on the road to Lansing, the same as me. I assume you're responding to King Untar's summons."

  Ramora blinked, then shook her head slowly.

  "Oh, I see," he murmured. "Then perhaps it's just Divine Providence that has us meeting. Regardless, if I may travel with you for a time, I've something I'd like to discuss with you."

  Hesitant, she nodded. Grannax's Blessed were well-known for their trustworthiness, integrity, and honor, so she figured if he wanted to talk, then that was all he really wanted. Still, he struck her as being a little more flirty than she was ready for.

  Or maybe, you just want to not spend a night alone, her Rabbit offered in a sing-song voice. She ignored it, knowing it was probably right.

  Waving him to follow, she headed back to her companions. She wasn't looking for love, or even a romp in the hay, no matter how strong his arms looked, rippling under the linen shirt he wore, capable of sweeping her up and...

  Told you, her Rabbit whistled.

  Shut up, she snarked.

  "Which, as you can guess, is totally not someplace you should normally get caught naked," Shana was saying, much to the horrified looks on Chara and Esteban's faces.

  Ramora snapped her fingers at the Ascended, getting her attention and giving her an annoyed look.

  "What?" she asked.

  "Shana," Leto cut in. "Ramora and I have decided to make the rest of the trip to Lansing together, so rest assured, I'm in good hands."

  She giggled. "Oh, trust me, I know."

  Leto sagged. "Why me?"

  "Cause you’re so darn cute," she told him. "Okay, kids, I'm off. See you later."

  The demigoddess paused to give Ramora a kiss on the cheek. "Take good care of him."

  Ramora nodded, giving her a hug before the Ascended stepped back, returning to the High World in a shower of sparkles.

  "I need to go scrub my brain," Chara said in a shocked tone.

  "Indeed," Esteban nodded.

  "Yeah, Shana was here," Leto sighed.

  Ramora snickered silently.

  Collecting himself, Leto smiled at his new traveling companions. "You have my apologies, friends. Shana seems to take some sort of pleasure from embarrassing us mere mortals."

  "Noticed," Chara muttered.

  "Indeed," Esteban nodded again.

  "We're about a week out from Lansing," he told them, a humiliated smile in place. "Let's discuss our reasons for heading there, shall we?"

  With it agreed, they headed back to where Ramora and Chara had left their horses, Leto's having fled the Demon Seed earlier. With a sharp whistle, he brought it galloping back, drawing a look of approval from the younger of the two women.

  "Hold on," Esteban exclaimed. "This is the road to Lansing? That means I was right! We should've gone left the first time!"

  "Uh, honey," Chara started to say.

  Ramora tackled him.

  "Never mind," she groaned.

  Returning to the road, the small band continued their journey, Chara explaining the reason for theirs. Leto listened intently to the tale of Ramora's past, her quest to stop the Dark Blessed who'd taken everything from her, and of their discovery at Imicot's keep that he was known as Draco.

  "This must be Divine Providence," he murmured. "About six months ago, I received a letter from Untar, King of Lansing, and a fellow Blessed of Grannax, asking me to visit him. He's gathering other Blessed and training them to fight as a unit."

  "About time someone did," Chara intoned. "Nothing personal, but the whole lone-wolf thing you guys do isn't very effective."

  Leto chuckled at that. "No, I suppose it really isn't. Many of us are simply drifting, seeking the machinations of the Demon Gods wherever we can find it. We rarely encounter each other in sufficient numbers to work together. Even on those occasions, we tend to be a difficult lot on the teamwork front."

  "You don't say," Esteban muttered, eying Ramora.

  She stuck her tongue out at him. Her Rabbit sang a song about immaturity. She stuck her tongue out at it, too.

  "The truth is, about half of all Blessed are lucky to survive their first year," Leto explained. "The reason we don't work well together is because those of us who live longer grow accustomed to acting alone. That habit is hard to break once it sets in."

  Chara sobered at that thought, giving a secretive look towards Ramora. "That explains a lot about why we only hear stories of individuals, rather than groups."

  "In essence," he nodded. "Though, there's another reason we avoid grouping up. Namely, it's difficult to watch a fellow Blessed fall in battle. It scars us in ways that it would be hard to explain."

  "I would think it easier for the Demon Seed to destroy many of you at once, as well," Esteban said, understanding lighting his eyes.

  Leto grimaced slightly. "That as well. Anywhere large numbers of us are gathered becomes a target for the Demon Gods. Many innocents can be caught in such a battle. It is, in every way, better for us to act alone."

  "So, why this team-up now?" Chara asked, noting the look of curiosity in Ramora's eye.

  "Yes, that's where the Divine Providence comes in," he said. "Untar has managed to gather information on a particular Dark Blessed who has amassed a great deal of power in recent years, and appears to be plotting something large. As fate would have it, he's known only as Draco."

  Ramora started, staring at her fellow Blessed in shock. Signing to Chara quickly, she asked to know more.

  Leto nodded as Chara related her question. "I don't know all the particulars myself, only that a group of several B
lessed attempted to infiltrate Draco's compound south of the Eastern Heights, where they learned he's plotting some kind of major offensive. Untar assured me he would tell me more when I arrived in Lansing."

  Glancing at her young friend, Ramora nodded. Chara returned it, understanding her clearly.

  "Then we're in," she said. "Whatever he has to say, we want to hear it as well."

  "I will see to it," Leto agreed. "Ramora, more than any of us, has a right to not only know this, but be involved in stopping this madman."

  "We appreciate it," the young woman told him.

  He waved it off. "As I said, it's Divine Providence that places us together. Who am I to debate the will of the Gods?"

  Looking over at her friend, Chara offered her a smile. "See now? I told you we'd figure out something."

  Grinning, the warrior smiled back. Sometimes, one simply had to leave things in the hands of the Divine, and have faith. She knew that better than most, but had let herself become so bogged down in worry, she'd lost sight of it. It seemed Heaven had chosen to send her a sign to get her back on track.

  "We'll be lucky to have such a capable Blessed of Ramor with us," Leto agreed, then tossed Ramora a wink. "And even more so that she's beautiful."

  Ramora flushed a little, waving him off.

  As the day wore on, Leto and Esteban rode farther behind, talking and laughing, the Werecat grateful for a little male company. Chara was annoyed by it at first, then remembered that was actually the only thing he'd ever known. Traveling with two women must've been something of a culture shock all on its own.

  "So, he's good-looking," she said to Ramora.

  The warrior threw her a look that begged her not to go there.

  "He is," she shrugged. "Not my type, mind you, but he seems to like you."

  Irked by the young woman's overly observant nature, Ramora asked her where this was coming from.

  Chara gave her a sarcastic look. "Come on, it's not like it's hard to see. He thinks you're good-looking. You obviously think he's good-looking. I don't see why you can't just relax and enjoy the attention a little."

  Ramora shook her head, smiling as she shoved down the pain that shot through her heart.

  "Maybe I just want you to be happy," Chara added. "It's possible I think you deserve that, you know?"

  Rakiss hovered alongside Chara's horse, tweaking her aura carefully, insinuating thoughts. He owed Little Sister for breaking her heart, and while this wasn't the best way to repay it, he felt the need to try and do something.

  Ramora reached over and patted Chara on the shoulder, offering a smile as she told her she was fine.

  "So you say," the young woman muttered. "I worry about you, though. That you're going to get so focused on getting to Draco that you miss out on a chance just to be happy, even if it's for a little while."

  Seeing the odd look on her friend’s face, Ramora asked what she meant.

  Shaking her head, Chara turned somber. "Is it true, what Leto said, about most Blessed dying within a year?"

  The question stole Ramora's good mood as well. Frowning, she nodded slowly, well aware of how often the agents of Heaven fell in battle before they even had a chance to do good in the world. It was a grim reality everyone who received the Mark had to contend with.

  "When did Ramor decide to make you a Blessed?" Chara asked softly.

  Suddenly understanding, Ramora glanced over at her friend, seeing the worry that circled her face. Hesitantly, she admitted it had been right before she'd returned. Until then, the War Wolf had hoped to transform her into an Ascended, but her need to close the door on her past had driven her to come back. To help her, he'd Marked her.

  "So, less than a year," Chara murmured. "And chasing a man who has slain sixty-eight, that we know of."

  All of them stronger than she was, Ramora thought. If Collette couldn't defeat him, then she really had no chance. Blessed grew more powerful over time, their Divine Gift becoming more potent and versatile as their connection with their patron deity strengthened. Despite having been raised by Ramor, her own Divine Gift was still new to her, and lacked the potency a Blessed of more experience would have.

  She couldn't help but think of Kyan, an Elf her Father had Blessed long before he had found her. A living legend, his skill with his Divine Gift was the stuff of epic poems. She knew of his battle at Erniac Gorge, and how he'd used his Gift to predict the entire battle before it happened, allowing him to slay over one hundred Demon Seed by himself.

  She could barely stay ahead of a single Orc, not to mention a sorcerer. She had a long ways to go before she was considered a great Blessed, provided she even lived long enough.

  "I don't want you to die," Chara told her, voice quiet and heavy with fear.

  Rakiss watched her aura spin, and cursed himself. He’d wanted the young woman to encourage Little Sister to pursue a new love interest, not become regretful over her own choices. Desperate to fix his error, he tried to find something, anything, he could use to tweak her back, but it was hopeless.

  Chara's only thoughts were of how she'd denied Ramora the only love she may live long enough to know.

  Reaching out, the warrior squeezed her friend’s shoulder again, and smiled, fingers dancing to tell her this is why she was okay that Chara was with Esteban. It was a relief to her, knowing her most treasured friend in the world was safe, well, and loved.

  Nodding, Chara tried to smile. Rakiss breathed a sigh of relief as her aura cleared, her regret fading, but not vanishing completely. That had nearly been a disaster. Grudgingly, he admitted it might be best not to tinker with her emotions for a while.

  "Just promise me you won't do anything reckless, okay?" the young woman asked.

  Ramora gave her a salute as she made an overly serious face.

  Grinning at her silly expression, Chara felt slightly better. Still, the enormity of what her friend faced had settled into her mind, sending her thoughts twirling as to how she could help.

  It's just like a game of Masters, she told herself. It's exactly like that.

  As evening settled, the small band made camp for the night, Chara ranging out with her bow to bring back several rabbits for dinner. Ramora ignored the way her Avatar wailed a dirge about how it was always rabbit for dinner.

  With Esteban cooking, she'd settled back, watching as Leto regaled her friends with tales of his exploits as a four-year veteran of the war against the Demon Gods. She had to admit, he did have the kindest eyes.

  Her little Rabbit sang a very dirty ditty to her. She asked it to stop. It hummed out a refusal. She pointed out she had more important things to deal with.

  Than living? The question was whistled out in as cute a fashion as possible.

  She chastised it for teaming up with Chara against her. The Bunny hopped around, twittering about how she had no one to blame but herself for not being in the young woman's arms. Annoyed, she told it to hush, but it refused, singing at her about the woes of a life not lived to the fullest.

  Staring into the fire, Ramora reminded it of Collette, and her family. Their spirits deserved justice, and to be avenged. Saddened by her mood, the little Rabbit cuddled her soul close and wove a melody about how she would see them again one day, and when they asked if she'd been happy, if she'd known love, what would she say?

  Castigated by that, Ramora simply filled her heart with love for her constant companion, who'd sung her to sleep each night as a child, and promised to think of it. Her Avatar beamed, chiming that it was only asking for that.

  Looking over the fire at her friends, she saw Leto set five gold coins down next to the small Masters board Imicot had given Chara as the young woman smirked. Slowly, it dawned on her what she'd just seen and she sat upright, staring in horror.

  Chara cracked her knuckles. "So, this is the part where you show me what second place in the Tysol Championship can do, right?"

  "Indeed, my young friend, it is," Leto grinned.

  Ramora sagged, looking to Esteban in
dismayed outrage. The big Cat just shrugged, giving her a pathetic look. As usual, Chara had him wound around her little finger, rendering the Werejaguar helpless.

  Twenty minutes later, Leto was desperately seeking some way he could win. Ramora sighed heavily, giving Chara a disapproving glare. She simply smirked.

  "There's got to be something," the Blessed of Grannax muttered.

  Chara gave him an innocent smile. "I'm sure there is, and if anyone can find it, it's you. Though, I'm wondering now, if you think that's worth double or nothing?"

  Ramora threw a stick at her. Chara glared back.

  "I think I'm being hustled," Leto said after a moment, staring at Chara over the board.

  "What's hustling?" she asked with as much sugar in her voice as possible.

  Leto narrowed his gaze. "You know just what it is, and I'm gravely disappointed, Lady Chara."

  Dropping her innocent act, Chara groaned. "Fine. Okay. I'm sorry. I'm hustling you."

  "I suspected as much," Leto nodded. "Really, Lady Chara. Waiting until you have your opponent at your mercy is not the time to suggest double or nothing. That would've been five rounds ago, when it still appeared I could win."

  Ramora gaped.

  "Oh," Chara intoned, surprised. It faded into a devilish grin quickly. "Hit them when they still think they have the upper hand. I bet I could maneuver them into thinking they've got the win in the bag by sacrificing a couple of Masters."

  "Reset the board," Leto told her. "Let's test your theory. So far, you can manage to hold back, but to be a real master hustler, you need to look like you can lose, and frankly, you're far too domineering right now."

  Ramora shook her head in dismay.

  "I've gotten used to just overpowering my opponents," Chara nodded. "But usually I only play these two, so that's not much of a challenge."

  Leto nodded as she rearranged the pieces. "Plus, they already know you're good. The art of the hustle is making people think you aren't good, then surprising them with a win. It's best if you can make it look like luck, though, so others will try their hand."

  Horrified, Ramora shot to her feet, waving her hands at the Blessed of Grannax to stop.