by Alia Luria
“No,” he said, his tone serious and, despite the quick movements, his voice calm. “I would have your honesty and your sincerity. It isn’t your body or blood the Order requires. It’s your heart and your mind. You’ve been here almost a full cycle, and in all that time, you’ve held yourself aloof. You haven’t given of your heart or your mind. You swore to serve this Order. You’ve asked for the trust of the people in this room, but you haven’t given it yourself.” With a flourish of his staff, Dominus Nikola seated himself back in his chair. Mia had to applaud his finesse. The room waited raptly for her response.
She swallowed hard. She had spent a lot of time in the dungeon thinking about her actions and their consequences. But standing here now, she only just comprehended what she’d been afraid to admit to herself in so many words. She paused, because what she was about to say could never be unsaid. She’d never be able to reshield her heart or rebottle her vulnerability. Dominus Nikola looked at her, his eyes sparkling slightly. She thought perhaps a shadow of a smile crossed his lips. That wily old bandicoot, she thought.
“My father always acted with love,” Mia said, her words a hint shaky at first but then gathering strength like a storm taking up water in preparation for a final deluge, “but he did me a disservice when he sent me here. He wasn’t honest with me about the mission of the Order, not honest about its foundation, and not even honest about the people I would meet while I was here. I came here on a mission. My mission was to help my father, plain and simple. My goal was to gain my freedom as soon as possible and return to my family. I had little care for you and this organization, even as it attempted to foster me. I focused only on physical freedom—neglecting the freedoms that were given to me here. I focused only on blood family—neglecting to give weight to the bonds established here. It wasn’t until after I experienced betrayal against myself and learned the truth from the man who called himself my father that I came to truly understand that this place is the home I so desperately wanted and you’re the family I so very much need.”
Mia paused to look at SainClair. His gaze was steady but veiled. She breathed deeply and continued, looking straight into his eyes. “And you, Uncle, are my only blood relative. I had no idea what you were thinking or why you hated me, but I can see now why you detest me so.” Her voice cracked. “I must be a bitter disappointment to you now. And my actions almost cost you your life. I can never make up for what I have done. I’m so sorry.” Her words had grown raspy as she neared the end of her oration, and SainClair rose as she spoke to him.
Despite his recent head injury, Brother SainClair moved like a cat, leaping off the platform in a smooth motion and striding purposefully toward her. The only indication that he had been ill at all was the pallor in his complexion and the dark smudges under his eyes. He reached her in a few long strides, and she recoiled in anticipation of his assault. He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook them hard, his grip solid as a metal vice.
And then his arms were around her, enclosing her in an equally firm hug, crushing her breath from her body. He clung to her like that for a moment, and his chest shuddered against her. A muffled sob escaped onto her shoulder.
“My niece,” came words into her neck. “My dear child. I couldn’t bear to believe it was you. I’m so sorry. So sorry.” Mia’s mind was in a state of shock, but her arms came up to circle his back, and she squeezed him back, holding back tears of her own. They clung to each other like that for a long moment, until one of the clerics made a whooping noise. Thinking back, Mia could swear it was Brother Borus. And with that, the whole hall erupted in shouts and claps and hoots. When the din died down, SainClair released the embrace but kept his arm around Mia’s shoulder.
“Dominus,” he said, “if my niece must face judgment, know that I shall stand by her side.” Mia smiled tremulously. This was going wildly different than she’d even considered possible.
Dominus Nikola smiled at both of them. “That may indeed be necessary,” he said, “for we have a dire problem that must in fact be resolved.” He looked around the room, meeting a number of eyes in his perusal. “I’m speaking, of course, of the matter of the Shillelagh. It must be retrieved.” Fervent whispers threatened to overtake the Dominus’s voice. “Yes, yes,” he said, “to some of you, this sounds like a myth or some old children’s story. For many generations, however, the Order has maintained secrecy regarding some of our more important artifacts. Times inevitably change, and we no longer can afford to segregate such knowledge among our ranks. Ms. SainClair’s activities, while regarded with reproach by the Order, were highly resourceful. We must use every able-minded person at our disposal in the coming battles, and that starts now—with the retrieval of the Shillelagh.” He turned to Mia. “Ms. SainClair, the Order has decided that as your amends, you will be required to lead the party assembling to retrieve the Shillelagh.”
“Had you not required it, I would have volunteered,” she said.
Nikola smiled and nodded at that statement.
“Do we have any other volunteers to join her?” the Dominus asked.
“I volunteer,” said Brother SainClair, squeezing her shoulder.
“I do as well,” another familiar voice called out. Cedar’s lanky form stepped forward through the crowd and came to flank her other side. After a moment, another recognized voice rang out.
“Och, dinna think ye’ll be leaving me behind on this adventure.” Brother Borus approached their small group from somewhere behind Mia. Slowly, others stepped up to answer the call, and when all was said and done, they had a party of fifteen ready and willing to accept the risk of infiltrating the Druid Village.
31 The Reunion
Lumin Cycle 10152
The clerics sprang into action in a way Mia had never witnessed before. She was still on a probation of sorts, but her belongings had all been deposited at her bunk in the barracks. What couldn’t fit in her cubby was taken to storage. Suddenly she was surrounded by all the trappings of home. It was surreal and happy and sad simultaneously. Her comings and goings were limited, however, and her movements watched. Brother SainClair did manage to arrange a treat for her, though.
“Hamish!” she yelled across the courtyard, hopping up and down in glee. The dog turned at the sound of Mia’s voice, let out a delighted bark, and bolted over to her on his stubby little legs, his barrel chest advancing with disproportionate speed, foxy ears back. He leapt at her and clambered at her shins, and she knelt to accept his affection. “Oh, I’ve missed you, you silly thing,” she said, and hugged him tightly. He squirmed away, deciding he should look for a stick to play with. “We haven’t time for that,” she said in a scolding tone. “Circumstances are much too busy now.” SainClair looked on their exchange with some amusement. “Where is he staying?” Mia asked.
“He’s been housed in the kennels with the hunting dogs,” SainClair replied. “However, since he’s house trained and not much good for hunting, the Gamemaster has suggested we find him more suitable quarters.”
“Do you hear that?” Mia said to Hamish. He sat at her feet, a large doggy grin on his face, tongue lolling, eyes expectant. “You’re being kicked out of the dog quarters because you can’t hunt,” she said, hands on her hips. Hamish blinked at her and tilted his head.
SainClair laughed. “If you don’t mind, I was thinking he could come stay with me in my chambers for a bit,” he said. His face wore a strained expression. “I know I haven’t been much of an uncle, but I could at least look out for Hamish here while you’re still in the barracks.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Mia beamed. He shifted uncomfortably at her gaze of affection. This was new to both of them.
“Then you can visit him any time you like,” he said.
“Do you hear that, Hamish? You’d better be on your best behavior or Uncle Thaddeus will turn you into fur boots!” SainClair flushed when she called him “Uncle.” They played with Hamish in the courtyard for a little while and made awkward conversation. After muc
h hesitation on Mia’s part, she finally asked the question that had been on her mind since her final conversation with Father.
“What were my parents like?”
“Well,” said SainClair, thinking on his words carefully, “I obviously knew Jayne better than Claude, but he was a good man. He was infinitely calm and patient. I have such a temper, and his unwavering calm used to confound me and frequently only served to increase my agitation.” SainClair chuckled, and Mia smiled. “Your mother was stubborn and headstrong and decisive. She was an advocate for justice above all else. It still tears me up that we fought about her leaving. My last words to her were unkind. And looking at you, such a convincing imposter,” he added, his voice sarcastic, “was a constant reminder of my pain. If only I had trusted my eyes from the get-go.”
“I always thought I must look like her, since I knew I didn’t look like Father. But then, for a while, I didn’t really know who I looked like.”
“Well, as you may have noticed,” he said, “you’ve got the SainClair coloring.” He gestured to his own white complexion. “Rain or shine, we never seem to soak in the sun.”
Mia laughed. “I noticed that.”
“Your bones and features are also very much Jayne.”
“What about my eye and hair color?” she asked. It was always her opinion that they were unseemly and drew entirely too much comment.
“Ah, that’s entirely Claude. As he was an orphan himself, no one was really quite sure how he came by such odd coloring, but it certainly drew Jayne in.” He chuckled. “You’re unmistakably their offspring. I wish we’d all had the opportunity to grow old together,” he said, raking back his steely hair from his almost colorless eyes.
“Me too,” Mia said. She patted his arm, and he put it around her shoulder.
“Hamish,” he called out. The dog was busy nosing about a bush in the corner of the courtyard, no doubt looking for something to chase. Mia reckoned he’d likely be disappointed. “Let’s go in, ya mutt,” he called again, and the dog emerged from the bush covered in tiny brambles. “Blast me to the Core,” SainClair said, and Mia snickered.
“We should just charge in there,” Brother Borus's voice called out. Shouts of “aye” resonated from some of the assembled clerics.
“Don’t be a fool, Borus,” SainClair snapped back at him. “We must have a plan.”
“And so we shall,” Dominus Nikola said, attempting to calm the two clerics.
“Perhaps we should wait for the rangers to come back,” said Brother Mallus, the young cleric with sandy hair and soft brown eyes. “Sister Aja’s the best scout we have.”
“There isn’t time,” said SainClair. “We’ve already wasted too much as it is. The rangers aren’t scheduled back for three months at least.”
Mia sat quietly, taking in the argument and thinking through the problem as the others continued their discussion around her. Compendium, do you have schematics for the Druid stronghold?
“I have certain fundamental knowledge but not detailed information,” Compendium replied.
And here I thought you knew everything.
“I try,” its neutral voice replied in her ear.
If we got you close enough, could you attempt to access their systems?
“I can always attempt. I cannot say if I will succeed.”
It wasn’t a lot to rely on. Mia switched strategies. Can you locate the Shillelagh?
“I cannot locate the exact coordinates of the Shillelagh, but it is currently located within the confines of the Druid Village.”
So if you had access to their systems, you would be able to map a course there?
“Affirmative,” said Compendium.
Why are you always so calm? She had gotten used to hearing the soft lilt of the book talking directly into her ear. When it had started talking directly to her, it somehow had ceased to be just an object in her mind.
“What you are interpreting as calm is merely a total lack of emotion,” the voice said. She laughed out loud at that remark. Everyone in the room stopped to look at her. “I sense they in fact think you are daft,” the voice said. She stifled another giggle, and Dominus Nikola scowled.
“Ms. SainClair, do you have something amusing you wish to share with the group?” he asked.
She looked around at all the strained expressions and stony eyes. “I don’t know if it’s all that funny, but I might have a plan.”
32 The Village
Lumin Cycle 10152
“Are we close enough?” Cedar whispered into Mia’s ear. She waved her hand at him in a signal to remain quiet. She squinted and tried to focus on the entrance in the distance. It was relatively quiet, but her heart thumped hard in her chest every time a green-robed figure emerged from the stronghold. She actually hesitated to use the word stronghold to describe the Druid enclave. If presented with two drawings—the first featuring the cluster of tree structures set into the forest that made up the Druid Village, and the second featuring the austere volcanic fortress of the Order’s Compound—Mia would have picked the Druid Village to make her home.
The Village was situated in a vast forest, nestled among the trees, and built high up off the ground. Compendium had directed the clerics to the Village’s location, but they’d had to travel almost a month on foot to reach it. The clerics were camped two kilometers away to avoid detection by Druid patrols and had spent the last week rotating scouting parties to try to determine the best way to get Mia down to the base of the Village where she could hook up Compendium to the Village’s electrical system and download the location of the Shillelagh.
That day, a scouting party composed of Mia, Cedar, SainClair, Borus, and Mallus had been watching the Druids’ comings and goings all morning from a particularly thick patch of forest to the north of the Village. The open quality of the aerial conglomeration of rooms made it harder to sneak up on than Mia had expected. The Druids brazenly had situated the Village in a clearing, which gave their watch an easy job of it. If she could just get close to the base of one of the trees, it would be a snap to get Compendium connected, but that was the rub. She signaled to Cedar and SainClair that they should back off.
“I need to get to the base of those trees,” said Mia. “But I don’t think that’ll be possible without a change of costume. We’re going to need to obtain Druid capes at the very least.”
“How do you suggest we do that?” Cedar asked. He didn’t at all look convinced that such a thing was possible.
“Well, I don’t suppose they have laundry and plumbing up in the trees,” Mia said.
“You want us to wait around for someone to do laundry?” SainClair said incredulously.
“Well, I hadn’t really thought of it like that. I more thought that we should post someone by the nearest running water. Then, when a Druid comes by to wash, we’ll make off with their garments.”
SainClair chuckled. “I suppose it would be worth an attempt.” He signaled to Brother Mallus and told him the plan.
“What? Me?” Mallus asked. His soft, brown eyes shifted uneasily as he looked at the rest of the scouting party.
“The closest body of running water is a stream to the east, which is a five-minute walk in that direction,” Mia said, gesturing to a map in Compendium and pointing toward a particularly nasty-looking thicket.
“This had better work,” Brother Mallus grumbled as he departed.
“I don’t see why he’s upset,” she said. “I honestly think it’s going to be necessary for us all to secure capes. Anyone coming or going will be easy for the Druids to spot.”
SainClair grunted in response, which Mia took as a sign of agreement. The rest of the party waited, largely in silence. Eventually a robed Druid emerged from the central ring of the Village. Mia still wasn’t sure how they actually got down from the trees, but Compendium could answer all these questions if she could just get it attached to the Village’s system. The Druid ambled along the path toward the thicket then took a sharp left before reaching it
. Cedar, SainClair, and Mia released a collective sigh. The tension gripped them like an iron hand tightening on their small group. The second Druid also took a path away from the river.
Finally the third Druid to emerge from the trees made his way to the thicket where Brother Mallus was hiding. They all watched, barely blinking, straining to hear any noise. Finally a faint voice carried along the breeze but was silenced. Mia shot Cedar and SainClair furtive looks, and they waited tensely for a scream for help or some other alert to sound. Some minutes later, Brother Mallus reappeared holding a green cape.
“It’s not ideal,” he said. “He spotted me hiding.” He shook his head.
“Is he dead?” SainClair asked.
“No, he’s just knocked out,” Brother Mallus replied. “I wasn’t sure if it would be worse to kill him and have them know or if it would be better to try to get some information out of him.”
“Either way they’ll eventually notice he’s missing,” Mia said, her face strained.
“Aye,” said SainClair. “We’ll have to be quick with this entire misadventure.”
She pulled the cloak from Mallus’s hands, dropped it over herself, and pulled the hood down over her features. She gestured to the thicket. “I’m going to enter the clearing where the Druid left, in case anyone is watching.” The others nodded, and taking a deep breath, Mia picked her way through the foliage toward the thicket. She made sure the cloak was wrapped tightly around her and obscured all her features. Heart beating against her rib cage, she stepped into the clearing and tried to match the ambling pace of the Druid whose place she had taken. She didn’t see or hear any caped figures in the trees above her as she walked in among the trunks. Once she found cover below the trees, she quickly scanned the area for signs of movement. Seeing none, she crouched silently behind a massive trunk, hands trembling.
Compendium, can you access their systems now?