by Lexy Wolfe
She turned to lean against him as he wrapped his arms around her, hushing her. "Don't borrow trouble, Kiya. We have plenty of it right now. We do not need to fret about the future."
Softly, she laughed. "You sound very Desanti, Edai Magus." She put her hand over his heart for a moment, then looked up at him with concern. "What is wrong? You are agitated."
Taking her hand, he kissed her palm before stepping back from her, refilling his glass. "It is nothing, Kiya."
She frowned at him. "It is not 'nothing.' I may not be able to see your heart, but I can feel it." She closed her eyes, her hand resting on his chest. "You are agitated. Confused. Afraid… Not just for yourself." Brown eyes opened, looking up at him. "For me?"
He sighed heavily. "Ever since… I don't even know what to call it. You saved my soul, I guess is the most accurate way to describe it. I have been… hallucinating." She frowned in confusion. "Hearing things. Hearing…" He pressed his lips together for a moment. "Hearing Bennu." He cringed at the shock that flooded her face. "I am sorry, Kiya! I did not want to say anything that would remind you of—"
Light fingers touched his lips, her eyes looking in his searchingly. "Sometimes, you hear voices whispering in your ear. You dream of those who were lost. You stopped telling people except the few you trusted absolutely, because those others mocked you. They called you things that hurt. Either because they did not believe or because they did and that frightened them. And the number of those few trusted others has become nearly none as the seasons passed." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "More than once in your life, you had come close to crossing the blade. Once, you did, but someone took your hand, brought you back across. You hoped they were only dreams or nightmares as much as you hoped they weren't."
Nolyn blinked. "You… how can you know?"
"When I was born, I was not breathing. I remember… Citali taking my hand. He told me… no. He asked me for my help. He wanted me to come back."
"You remember… your birth?" he asked, astounded.
"No. I remember the moment I nearly died. I was one of the many children who are born not alive. Many Su'alin come close to crossing the blade sometime in their lives. My moment was during my birth." She sighed. "I remember Citali telling me that if I agreed, I would need to be strong. See, even though there are many Su'alin in my tribe, those who are not fear us. Even other Su'alin fear Su'alin, especially if their vision is strong. My vision is… was… one of the strongest."
Nolyn pressed his lips against his hair. "Children are cruel." She nodded. After several minutes, he asked, "Does this mean I am… Su'alin?"
She chuckled. "No. You are a spiritwalker. The gift to be able to cross the blade and return comes from Citali himself. If coming close to death was the only necessity to be Su'alin, every Desanti would be one. The sacred Paths are dedicated to our great father and you serve your great mother." Taking his hand, she drew him over to the bed, sitting across from him. "The dead can reach out to the living, if their need or will is strong enough, but usually only those with a tie to them might hear them. If they have both need and will, sometimes they might even be seen. But it is easiest to reach out to a spiritwalker when they are dreaming, because the dreamscape borders the land along the blade's edge."
Her smile faded. "On my journey here, when we stepped foot in the city of Ganessi, the number of lost spirits I saw dismayed me. Many who could not or did not want to understand that their mortal shells were gone. Others who yearned so much to tell those left alive their love, to apologize for leaving them. So many lost." She shook her head, looking down at their clasped hands, her thumb rubbing the back of his fingers. "My people live in the shadow of death. We know we cannot fight it, so we accept it as part of the patterns of our world. Here, there is so much fear of it, no respect for it."
Nolyn smiled crookedly, squeezing her fingers. "Death is the one thing we cannot control. What cannot be controlled is feared." Taking a deep breath, he looked up at her. "What is a Su'alin?"
"A master of the Path of the Spirit, serving the Raging One. The gift of crossing the blade is marked through our eyes. Most no sooner than five summers. Some not until they are older. The moment that the gift awakens, training begins. Su'alin have no choice. I was… different. I have never known a life without seeing the dead or being able to see the heart of the living. Or being able to cross the blade to visit Citali." She smiled sadly. "I remember Mother fighting with Father constantly about my training."
Keeping hold of her hand, he reached out to tuck a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. "Your mother sounds like she was an incredible woman."
"She still is." The Desanti woman smiled a little at his expression. "She defeated the su'dinnais that had attacked Radisen… Skyfire. She was too tired and hurt to return, but no one could find her to aid her in time before her connection to her body broke. I did not know until after I earned my name, though. It took her many summers for her soul to heal." She looked away. "By that time, Father had already driven Skyfire away with his grieving anger, and Seeker had departed to follow Skyfire's path."
"At least you know she will come back someday," Nolyn reassured.
"Yes, and being able to go to her after Skyfire and Seeker were gone had given me strength when I had no one left in the tribe who I could call friend." She smiled shyly up at him. "Perhaps if I ever regain my vision, I can take you can meet her."
He opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again. "I would like that." Uncertain, he asked, "You are not upset about me…?"
Kiya shook her head. "If I had listened to what Grandfather was saying, I would have realized sooner you were a spiritwalker. He told me he talked to you a lot, but you would not listen to him. Most of the time." The corner of her mouth turned up ever so slightly. "He did not say you did not hear him. Just that you did not listen."
Sheepishly, Nolyn scratched behind his ear. "I guess to you this is normal. Here, it is very, ah, unusual."
"Death is much more close to my people than yours. That is the only reason it is not as unusual for us as for you. But I think for you, there is another reason." She turned his hand over, looking at the star-shaped scar in his palm. "Desanti do not need to follow the edicts of the sacred Paths to feel the life of Desantiva. But to embrace the paths is to embrace the world around us. It hones our senses, opens our souls to the living world.
"The difference between Swordanzen and Su'alin is Swordanzen must break their tribal bayuli-volsha so it does not drown out the whispers of plants and small life. Su'alin must have bayuli-volsha to be able to find their way back." She touched his palm, tracing the star-shaped scar. "You have a bayuli-volsha bond."
Nolyn looked at the scar for a time, then chuckled. "Ash and I always said this thing has saved our lives more than once." He smiled gently when she pulled his hand to her and kissed the back. Getting to his feet, he pulled her up, but did not let go of her hand. "Come. Let's go riding. I would like to learn more about spiritwalking, and I think getting away from the house and duties and everything would be good for us both."
I had been telling you to do that, too. About time you started listening. Stubborn boy. When Kiya started giggling behind her hand, her dark eyes twinkling with mirth, Nolyn could not stay irritated. He began to chuckle, then laughed aloud. She slid her arm around his waist and leaned against him as they walked out.
Chapter 62
The long halls the Edai Tredecima lived and worked from when visiting from their home realms wound through the mountain lazily. Marcus skidded to a stop, pausing to catch his breath before continuing to the Se'edai Magus's suite. He stiffened when he saw Aughas Oberlain sitting dejectedly outside the door of his master's suite. "Apprentice Aughas Oberlain," he greeted politely.
Aughas sat up straighter, eyes narrowed. "Apprentice Marcus Kyrie," he replied, cold but civil.
Marcus could not hide his surprise. "Are you all right? You haven't thrown an acorn at me since—"
"Since you became part of the Edai
Tredecima as Edai Magus Nolyn Lirai's apprentice," Aughas replied tersely. "How stupid do you think I am? I know all the Edai of the goddess and every rule that governs the Edai Tredecima."
"So?" Marcus replied. "When have rules ever stopped you from doing anything? It has never stopped any other Oberlain before."
Aughas stood up, fists shaking at his sides. He growled, "Just because some in my family were idiots does not mean I am one, lowborn. The Oberlains were once the most powerful highborn family in Forenta, and one day, they will be again." He crossed his arms, sullen. "Just because fools brought the family to its knees does not mean they cannot return to greatness!"
Marcus held up both hands. "I never said they couldn't! Just… saying. Master Nolyn—"
"Your master is an Avarian pet!" Aughas snapped, his eyes flashing with fury. "If it weren't for the Avarian's pitying a near lowborn family and Master Nolyn being given to their family like a dog, you would never have become the highest ranking apprentice next to Master Ellis's apprentices!"
About to open his mouth to retort, Marcus blinked when he realized, "Are you jealous of me?"
"No!" Aughas replied, his fair features flushed, belying his words. "It doesn't matter if your master is teaching you stuff. I am still going to prove I'm better than some lowborn acorn farmer!"
"Edai Magus Draustus isn't teaching you anything?" Marcus interrupted in shock. "But he holds third chair!"
"How can he teach me anything?" Aughas complained in a hiss. "Thanks to the Avarians, Gallilae is empty! The only traveling he does is to return to the Rodylia realm to visit the Oberlain family estate."
"It wasn't the Avarians fault," Marcus countered defensively. "They had to so no one else got hurt!"
A gruff cough interrupted the two and they looked up to see the Edai Magus of Estania flanked by the burly woodsman Ursin Farover. "Is there a problem here, Apprentice Marcus?" Eptina asked as she entered the hallway. Both boys stopped their argument, eyes averted and faces flushed.
"No, ma'am," Marcus replied. "Just speaking with Apprentice Aughas Oberlain a moment before I take a message to the Se'edai Magus."
"Thought you stopped running for the Se'edai Magus when you got tapped by Edai Magus Nolyn," Aughas muttered under his breath. Eptina arched a delicate eyebrow at Aughas, making the boy turn a deeper red.
"Edai Magus Nolyn is currently meeting with his circle. After I had delivered a missive to the Se'edai Magus, Master Ellis asked me to carry a message to the apprentice master. I was just returning with her reply," Marcus replied matter-of-factly.
Eptina interrupted before the two lit into each other again. "Apprentice Marcus, since you are on your way, would you kindly inform the Se'edai Magus that I have arrived from Estania and would be grateful for some time later this evening?"
"Of course, Master Eptina," Marcus replied, bobbing a bow before turning to run off again.
"If you don't need my presence, mind if I go hole up for a while, Dyndrai?" the broad-shouldered man asked evenly. "The passal of whining servants of yours made the trip exhausting."
"Of course, Woodsman Farover," she replied. "Apprentice Aughas Oberlain, if your master does not have any immediate need for you, would you escort Ursin Farover to the entrance of the Magus Academy?"
With a mixture of relief from the break in his boredom, annoyance with Marcus, and a variety of other emotions, Aughas nodded with a firm bow. "Yes, Edai Magus Eptina." The boy waited until Ursin moved to follow before he started walking.
Eptina had not taken more than two steps before the door behind her opened and a caustic voice dripping derision emerged. "Why, what an unexpected pleasure, Master Eptina Dyndrai," Draustus greeted. "What brings such a lovely creature as yourself into Ithesra outside of the Edai Tredecima's seasonal congress?"
The woman did not move, back stiff as she looked over her shoulder. "Matters none of your concern, Edai Magus of Gallilae," she replied archly.
"Oh, surely you could share with me? We are neighbors, after all." He walked up behind her, standing close at her shoulder. He tilted his head, inhaling deeply. "Such a lovely fragrance. It harkens to a summer twilight in Estania."
"Our realms border one another, Master Draustus Oberlain," Eptina replied stiffly. "We are hardly 'neighbors' given Gallilae is utterly unpopulated." When he put his hand on her arm, she took a step forward and turned to face him, her annoyance vivid in her glare. "I have informed you before, I am not interested in a marital union with House Oberlain."
The older man smirked at her, crossing his arms. "Oh? You have developed a taste for more pedestrian fare?" He looked her up and down luridly. "Is that why you are here? A tryst with the Edai Magus of Verusia? I have heard that Nolyn Lirai has no interest in a proper marriage." He tsked, ignoring the hateful glare she fixed on him as he took a step closer, his fingertips touching the edge of her jaw. "I can assure you, Master Eptina, my bed is much more welcoming."
"I have no interest in you or your bed, Draustus," Eptina replied, slapping his hand away. She turned on her heel and headed further into the hall towards her own apartment. She could barely bridle her annoyance when the older man fell in step with her. "Have you nothing better to do than pursue a match I have repeatedly refused?"
"What could be better than winning the lovely Edai Magus as my wife?" he asked, his voice dripping with oily sweetness. "My last wife is well departed from my life."
Eptina snorted softly. "Was she not the fifth wife you have rid yourself of because she produced no children for you?" She turned a wintry smile on him. "Why would I seek a match with a man who could produce no offspring?"
Draustus' smile vanished into a scowl. "The fault lies with them. Inferior breeding, every one of them." His oily smile returned as he tried to put his hand on her lower back, only for her to sidestep his attempt at physical contact. "I know you would be strong enough to bear the Oberlains a dozen strong children easily."
"From my understanding, the three that yet live are proud mothers of several children," Eptina returned as she reached for her apartment's door handle. "Obviously, their breeding was less inferior than yours."
With a growl, Draustus grabbed her by the arm and shoved her against the door. He glared into her defiant eyes as he planted his hand next to her head on the door. "Listen, girl. My patience is wearing thin. Kerburn Dyndrai promised you to me!"
"Did he?" Eptina did not flinch in the face of his anger. "Too bad you were still with your fourth wife while I was still a journeyman." Putting a firm hand on his chest, she pushed him back. "A master has the right to choose for themselves. I have told you repeatedly. I. Am not. Interested."
She flinched when he slammed his hand against the door by her head again from the jarring impact, her expression unchanged. "Your continued defiance and obstinace only shames you and your family, Master Eptina. Chasing after that lowborn charity case of the Avarians will only dilute your family's noble line."
"I would rather my bloodline be diluted by taking a stablehand as husband than have it polluted with the filth that has corrupted the Oberlain house," Eptina hissed. "I suggest you return to your apartment, Edai Magus Draustus Oberlain of Gallilae, before I give the Avarian house the opportunity to reclaim their ancestral realm by emptying your seat."
Draustus stepped back immediately at the threat, his expression turning stonelike. "Of course, Edai Magus Eptina Dyndrai of Estania. We shall speak again later on the matter."
Pausing just inside her doorway, Eptina fixed him with a dark look. "When pigs fly." The door slamed and the sound of the locking bar falling into place echoing in the hall.
When he reached his own door, he scowled down the hall as Marcus returned to knock on Eptina's door to relay Ellis's response. "Kerburn's made a mess of everything," he growled under his breath. "I will ensure he ruins no more of my plans if I have to remove his house from existence."
Chapter 63
Running through the maze-like network of branches and ramps, Valerian ducked several sn
owballs sailing towards him. He stopped to look back, hands on his hip and posture triumphant. "Is that the best you have?" The answer to the question came in a small clump of snow that dropped on his head and showered him in a hundred pieces of tiny snow clumps. The pursuing Swordanzen laughed loudly as he looked up slowly to meet the sweet smile of Kiya. She laid prone on a narrow branch above him, wiggling gloved fingers covered in snow at him. "Now that is just cheating," he protested with comical affront.
"It is not my fault you did not look up." Lithely dropping down to the bridge beside the Unsvet Guardian, the slight Desanti woman brushed the snow from his shoulders.
"Who makes clothing to look like a snow covered branch?" he demanded, shaking his head to get the snow off.
Seeker smirked as he and the other three Swordanzen joined them. "Someone who has won every snowball game you have challenged us to." He inclined his head to his sister. "She is far more subtle than any Swordanzen could ever be."
Kiya giggled behind her hand at the Unsvet Guardian's grumbling. "Would you feel better if I let you win?"
"No!" Valerian hmphed, crossing his arms. "I will win on skill, not pity. I have been chased by any number of things for decades and chased them in turn, and—" His words were cut off when a snowball smacked square in the middle of his back. The Desanti nearly fell over laughing as he turned to glare at Nolyn where the mage appeared from the side of the nearest great tree.
"And people claim my people like to talk a lot," the mage pointed out drolly. Climbing up from below, Marcus's eyes danced with laughter though he valiantly schooled his expression to be as neutral as he could manage.
"Fine! Fine. I will concede defeat once again. But only because Miss Kelafy is making her heavenly apple cakes today. We should arrive home about the time they are ready if we start back n—" Valerian's words broke off with a grunt when he suddenly staggered a step, as if struck from behind.
"Unsvet?" Kiya started moving to his side when he uttered a strangled noise, sagging to one side and nearly falling over the rail of the bridge. Kiya grabbed his arm, but started sliding helplessly until Seeker and Rockspar caught him and pulled him back to safety. With Rockspar and Kiya focused on the fallen Guardian, Seeker, Pacer and Windsong drew their swords, looking as perplexed as hostile towards the unknown attacker.