Sorceress (Book 2)

by Jim Bernheimer

  Unfortunately for Kayleigh, she was now in General Hawthorne’s region of command. She was in charge of all Battle Maidens here.

  Technically I’m not really one, but I’d rather not bring that up if I don’t have to.

  She brought Cyemma to a halt and held her hand up to signal that the wagon and the others should stop. With that, Kayleigh crossed her arm over her chest and saluted.

  It was somewhat awe inspiring, watching the general and the squad accompanying her move almost as one, spreading from a two by two column into a straight line. Seconds later, all but one stopped in place as General Hawthorne drew closer.

  Her hair was a darker shade of brown than her daughter, Andrea’s, but her eyes were as cold and unfeeling as Kayleigh remembered.

  “Kayleigh Reese,” the woman said.

  “General,” she responded, noting that the woman didn’t address her as a trainee.

  “We’ve been expecting you,” General Hawthorne said and tilted her head slightly to the left.

  Kayleigh followed the motion with her eyes. At the end of the line she saw Laurel Whitaker smiling at her.

  A tremendous weight lifted from Kayleigh’s chest and she beamed at her friend, grateful that the Goddess had heard her prayers.

  “I did not put you at ease, Reese,” General Hawthorne said, interrupting her moment of gratitude.

  Kayleigh snapped back to attention.

  “Better. Now, what have you to report?”

  She expected this is what would be asked of her and had practiced this report in her mind several times. “We escaped Shiftla with Senior Lancer Penelope Garrett in our custody. She’s afflicted by a dark power that is controlling her. Rider Akers lost her unicorn in battle against Garrett. We rescued the Captain of the Guard from Shiftla, but he is still in need of medical attention. The final member of my group is a defector from the enemy and is willing to share what knowledge he has of the enemy forces. Most importantly, I have reason to believe that the leader of this army is either pretending to be, or actually is Count Darius.”

  The general frowned and said, “How much of that do you expect me to believe?”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t understand.”

  Hawthorne pointed an accusatory finger at her and said, “Andrea sent me a letter saying you and your unicorn were running away and now you return spewing this nonsense about the return of Count Darius. I’m this close to tossing you in a tower and forgetting where I place the key.”

  Kayleigh felt the heat burning her cheeks, but she’d come too far to be dismissed. “My unicorn was under the influence of dark magic and, as you can see, I’m not on Majherri. He’s back with his original rider and I barely survived Danella Lynch’s attack.”

  “Get off that unicorn,” Hawthorne ordered. “You don’t deserve to be in the saddle and I’ve heard enough of your lies, girl.”

  “No!”

  “No?”

  “I was able to create a new bond with Rheysurrah over there and I’m riding Cyemma to keep her from being controlled by her rider! If I get off of her, she’ll go berserk.”

  “It’s true, ma’am!” Tamera said.

  “What’s true?” Hawthorne glared at the former earth maiden.

  “All of it!” Tamera protested and threw her arms up in the air. “She’s blocking Rider Garrett’s control over her mount. I saw her fight a manticore with my own eyes. If Kayleigh hadn’t driven it off, it would have killed us both.”

  “She fought off a manticore? You expect me ...”

  Kayleigh cut her off by throwing both hands into the air and pushing a thick column of flame skyward. Straining, she made it grow even larger until it was twice as high as Shiftla’s walls had been. Anger, humiliation, and burning resentment fueled her outburst for a full twenty seconds, before she gasped and let her arms fall to her side.

  It was a primal scream of defiance aimed at everyone who doubted her, a scream releasing all the frustrations churning inside her since she’d left The Academy.

  Spent, she noticed at least two of the maidens escorting the general had their weapons in hand. The others stared in disbelief. Even Laurel, who had seen her do a fireshade had her mouth slightly open.

  Kayleigh felt nauseous and dizzy, knowing she’d pay dearly for pushing herself so hard, but she wouldn’t falter now.

  Staring down General Hawthorne, she said in her best angry voice, “You’ll note that I’m not riding my unicorn. All that was from me alone. I’m not sure what my limits are, but I’ve had to fight my way to get to you with this warning. Believe me or not, I don’t care anymore. Whether this master is really Count Darius or just masquerading I also do not know, but he rides a manticore, possesses some object that can make even a Battle Maiden do his bidding, and destroyed Shiftla’s walls in less time than it has taken me to tell you this! He has an army and has sacked Mon Alder, conquered Jaruciax, Shiftla, and everything in between already. Salif is the only city of any size on this side of the Clef that is not in his hands.”

  Hawthorne turned to the woman who must be her aide and said, “Check the prisoner in their wagon and see to their injured. Escort them to our compound and get them settled. Place the battalion on high alert and send messengers to our forces in the field. I’ll be at the palace, gaining audience with the King of Salif.”

  Turning her unicorn, the general left without addressing Kayleigh again.

  Laurel was the first to approach while the captain that Hawthorne left in charge went to check on Garrett. “Kayleigh, I was worried about you.”

  “Tamera and I got out, but her unicorn was killed. What about the rest?”

  The air maiden looked downward for a moment before saying, “I saw Amanda get captured. They tried to use weighted nets on me too, but I was able to create an air shield. I got back to Smythe’s compound and he had a tunnel that led to the docks where he had a ship waiting for us. He’ll be pleased to hear you’re okay.”

  Kayleigh scowled, thinking about the somewhat timid water maiden in the merciless hands of Danella Lynch. “I’ll say a prayer for Amanda. That was suspiciously kind of Smythe.”

  “Well, we did have to help carry his valuables from his house. He made himself scarce as soon as we arrived, but I get the feeling that he’s still keeping an eye on us.”

  “Oh, now that sounds more like him,” Kayleigh muttered. “I’m glad you all made it out safe and sound.”

  “I threw up the whole way here, but it’s better than the alternative,” Laurel said.

  “Is Marcia here?” Kayleigh asked.

  “Yes, she might have said several things to General Hawthorne that might have affected her disposition toward you. For what it’s worth, I’ve spoken to her.”

  With a grunt and a dismissive hand gesture, Kayleigh said, “I don’t think she needed much convincing when it comes to me.”

  “That was really something you just did. Fought a manticore, huh?”

  She shrugged. “I was so scared I could barely think.”

  Laurel chuckled and said, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re at your best when you don’t stop to think.”

  “I’d argue, but you’re probably right.”

  “I’m still shocked you saved Orsa. You thought about that one. See what I mean?”

  “Funny. He didn’t deserve to die there. No one did. Thanks for cheering me up. I needed that. It’s been a rough couple of days.”

  “I do what I can. Poor Tamera.”

  “She’s trying to convince Rheysurrah that they’d make a good pair. She seems to hope that I can break my bond with her and somehow connect the two of them.”

  Laurel looked incredulous. “Can you do that?”

  “Truly, I don’t know. I think he’d be happier without me. He’s always thinking about Annabeth and blaming me for her death. I can’t trust him when we’re fighting together and the feeling seems to be mutual. I’m leaving the decision up to him. I think I can bond with any riderless unicorn at this point, th
ough I’d rather have one that actually wants to be with me.”

  “You!” the captain yelled for Kayleigh’s attention. “How could you treat one of our sisters in such a callous manner? Bound and unable to move! Sitting in her own filth! The general was right about you!”

  Kayleigh turned to see that Tamera had been pushed aside and the woman was cutting Garrett’s bonds over the protests of Rahzir and Orsa.

  “Goddess grant me strength,” Kayleigh muttered and looked at Laurel before returning her attention to the scene at the wagon.

  The very moment Garrett was freed, the possessed air maiden launched a physical assault on her would-be rescuer. Cyemma bucked and Kayleigh struggled against the woman’s mental assault upon the unicorn she rode.

  I didn’t realize that I’d be regretting wasting all my energy so soon! Kayleigh shouted in her mind and set to the task of calming the unicorn.

  Unable and unwilling to bring Cyemma any closer to the barely restrained woman in the bed of the wagon, Kayleigh watched as Tamera managed to grasp Garrett from behind while Orsa dragged the struggling woman back down.

  Cyemma relaxed immediately.

  “Do you have enough rope to secure her?” Kayleigh asked Rahzir.

  “I believe so,” the nomad answered. “Fortunately, it won’t have to last long.”

  “Tamera,” she said recalling the girl’s skills when it came to binding. “Help him tie her back up.”

  Kayleigh looked at the Battle Maiden captain, who was holding a hand over one eye where she’d been head butted. “Ma’am, you’ll need to have an actual cell for her. She’s insane. To be honest, you’ll need to keep her unicorn far away from her and tied up as well. I could barely control Cyemma.”

  The officer nodded and muttered some unladylike things under her breath before calling for one of the riders under her command to bring a vial of healing tears. At first, Kayleigh frowned, believing the captain was going to use the liquid to fix the black eye she was likely to have. However, the woman didn’t appear as concerned with that as she gave the vial to Captain Orsa instead. The weary soldier’s face immediately regained some color, and he looked slightly better. He had been running a fever for over a day now and Kayleigh was concerned for the man’s health.

  Closing her eyes for a second, she shook loose some of the corruption on Cyemma’s bond. She wished that she could just keep her eyes closed and sleep the rest of the way into Salif, but there were still a few miles to go. If she had to choose between sleep, a full stomach, or a warm bath, Kayleigh knew that she’d eaten enough dried fruit and meat to hold her over and she was so far beyond the point of exhaustion that her smell wouldn’t bother her one bit.

  All I need right now is a good night’s sleep.

  Kayleigh came to the conclusion that she’d used up whatever favor she’d earned from the Goddess and her daughters. Upon their arrival at the temporary barracks, all her year mates swarmed Tamera and her, pestering them for the details behind their escape from Shiftla. It wasn’t all bad, because she’d been given a fresh change of clothing and the opportunity to familiarize her body with clean water and several washcloths.

  By the time she’d finished recounting the story for the third or fourth time, an adult maiden came to fetch her. She was taken to the captain’s office, where the woman introduced herself as Susan Chandler. There was a scribe present as well and the captain introduced him as her husband, Malcolm.

  After pleasantries were exchanged, the three of them ate together as the captain instructed Kayleigh to tell her story from the moment she arrived in Mon Alder to meeting General Hawthorne. It took several sheets of parchment, especially when Captain Chandler interrupted and asked questions. The debriefing lasted well over two hours before Kayleigh was dismissed and allowed to return to the barracks.

  “You’re bunk is right here, Kayleigh,” Laurel said, pointing where Kayleigh wanted to go. Kayleigh didn’t bother undressing. The simple utility uniform she’d been given was better than anything else. Within five minutes she was fast asleep.

  Hardly any time passed before she was roused from her sleep. This time it wasn’t a runner or another Battle Maiden. Instead, Captain Chandler had come in person.

  “General Hawthorne requests your presence.”

  Rubbing her eyes, Kayleigh said, “I don’t suppose this can wait until morning.”

  Captain Chandler shook her head, arching an eyebrow at her. Kayleigh supposed that it was because she wasn’t jumping out of bed and ready to obey orders on a moment’s notice.

  “No, General Hawthorne and several others have been going over the report we prepared earlier and they would like to hear it from you in person.”

  Of course they would, Kayleigh thought. In reply, she nodded and simply said, “Yes, ma’am.”

  Leaving the barracks, she saw that it was the middle of the night and that she had slept for longer than she believed…just not long enough.

  “Is Rider Garrett being taken care of?”

  “She has both healers and a sorceress tending to her. They are looking for ways to break the curse on her. You were correct, that it is very powerful and so dark that the sorceress felt sick just examining her.”

  Knowing the sickening taint all too well from her time with Cyemma, Kayleigh said, “I hope she gets better. I didn’t…I didn’t want to keep her like that…but…”

  The captain nodded and replied, “I don’t blame you, Reese. The fault is mine for overreacting. I didn’t appreciate your warning and, until it clears, get to see the reminder of my folly whenever I look into the mirror. The only positive thing to come out of my poor decision is that my husband got a good laugh at my expense.”

  Despite herself, Kayleigh grinned at the woman’s statement as they crossed the courtyard. She glanced to one side, seeing a cluster of unicorns walking freely around one that was lashed to a hitching post and said a quick prayer for Cyemma’s wellbeing.

  The Battle Maiden outpost inside Salif was a tiny fortress unto itself, designed to allow maidens to ride their unicorns along the wide parapets. The two climbed the wooden ramp up to the entrance to the corner tower where Kayleigh could see the outlines of several people inside through the open window and hear voices speaking.

  Captain Chandler grasped the knocker, used it once, and waited for permission to enter. Only a second passed before her request was granted and the door opened. The woman gestured for her to go inside as Kayleigh took a deep breath and prepared to face Althea Hawthorne once more.

  The room was impressive, with a desk at the far end and torches along the wall illuminating the large table. Kayleigh probably would have marveled at the trophies and citations decorating the shelves. The artist in her might have been able to appreciate the quality of the trio of paintings adorning the walls, or the sculpture of a rider and her unicorn displayed prominently to her left side by the set of curving stairs that led up to the next level where General Hawthorne slept. A glimpse into the bookshelf and any of the tomes resting on it could have provided a look into the mind of a war hero.

  All these things could have occupied Kayleigh’s mind while waiting to be acknowledged, but they barely registered. Instead, the people sitting at the table commanded all her attention and she fought to stem the rising tide of panic that threatened to flood her body.

  General Hawthorne’s gaze was cool, much the same as she remembered from their last encounter, but there was a hint of something else that Kayleigh couldn’t quite place. To the general’s left sat a middle-aged woman in flowing green robes. A serene look graced her face and she hadn’t even turned to look at Kayleigh. The woman’s left hand reached down and behind her chair, gripping something. Her eyes followed that something down to the smaller shape in the shadows lurking behind the woman’s seat. At first, she thought it was a child until she saw the animal’s face. It was a monkey and it stared at her and Kayleigh saw a semblance of intelligence in its gaze that unnerved her. The woman came to The Academy each year and had
the ability to communicate with the unicorns. The Speaker or the Blind Seeress, as she was also known, was able to translate and provide the Battle Maidens with the names of the newly born unicorns.

  The Blind Seeress! What in the Goddess and her daughters’ names is she doing here?

  Standing back in the corner stood a young man. His presence brought an equal amount of shock to her system. Brian Tomas, the stable master to whom she’d had a slight infatuation with looked at her as if trying to see if she still looked like the person he used to know. Only recently had Kayleigh learned that Brian was the Speaker’s son.

  If he’s heard that report, what must he think of me?

  Turning to her right, the closest person to Kayleigh immediately put her on the defensive, even more than General Hawthorne. Captain Meghan Lynch stared a hole through her. There was no reason to hate Andrea’s mother. However, Kayleigh possessed utter contempt for Danella’s twin. The captain had never accepted her as Majherri’s new rider and had done her level best to demoralize Kayleigh during her tenure as first year Lead Rider.

  “Hello, my child. I’ve been worried about you. Seeing you alive does my old heart good.”

  The first to speak was the final person in the room. Once upon a time, General Naomi Jyslin was an ebony titan. Epic poems and tales of her heroics were known throughout all the kingdoms of the Blessed Continent. Age and the loss of her unicorn had taken their toll on this legend and her long, straight hair was a brilliant white. General Jyslin possessed a friendly demeanor that disarmed any in her company, like that of a kindly grandmother, but her mind and tongue could still do what her body could no longer – eviscerate an opponent and shatter their defenses with logic and well-chosen words.

  Stiffening, Kayleigh brought herself to attention and saluted the woman. At the same time, she knew that it would be a long time before she would be able to return to her bed.