Sorceress (Book 2)

by Jim Bernheimer

  “You want me to kill him,” Kayleigh said flatly, trying to find a purpose in all this.

  “I don’t want you to have to kill anyone, child,” General Jyslin said. “But we must prepare you for that possibility. We must also track down your mother and enlist her cooperation. I doubt she will listen to anyone but you, so I propose we send you away from here and continue to train you. We must also keep your identity a secret. If the High-King learns of your lineage, he may order your capture or worse.”

  “Would he really do that?” Kayleigh asked, feeling a touch of fear.

  Lady Tomas laughed hollowly and said, “As someone who sees things not meant for mortal eyes, I can truly say that the major difference between Hayden Barris and your father was who should be the one ruling.”

  Jyslin agreed. “I have fought beside him and he is not the person he portrays to the court and the Council of Kings.”

  Kayleigh recalled the one time she’d met the High-King, when he was the Captain of the Ferry that took her and the other new recruits to The Academy. Remembering the odd sensation she’d experienced, Kayleigh felt some of her trust in the man begin to chip away.

  General Hawthorne had been silent through most of this exchange. Walking around from the other side of the table, she rested her hand on Kayleigh’s shoulder. “Welcome to the world of noble politics, cousin. The good news is you have a title by virtue of both your parents. You are a direct descendant of High-Queen Candace Nolan. The bad news is any lands you stood to inherit have been stripped away and given to others and you have a decree of death hanging over your head.”

  “What do we do now?” Kayleigh asked.

  General Jyslin spoke. “First, finish your sketch. Next, I think there’s a dying unicorn in the stables that we’re hoping you can do something about. Soon, we’ll be leaving Salif to take you and the rest back to Talcosa. You and a small group of others will go in search of your mother.

  Nodding, Kayleigh drank the juice and finished her cold breakfast before turning her attention to the sketch of her mother. Taking a moment to close her eyes, she tried to remember the details of her mother’s face, along with anytime she might have done magic.

  Unable to come up with anything other than the contempt she had for tricksters and weak magical people, nothing came to mind. Frustrated, Kayleigh picked up the charcoal and set to work. Everyone else gave her the space she needed to complete the drawing. After about thirty minutes, Kayleigh handed it to General Hawthorne, who examined it closely.

  “Yes, she could be Brianna. She always looked like a younger version of my mother.”

  “Let me see, Althea.”

  One general handed the sketchbook to the other, who nodded thoughtfully and rendered her verdict. “I see the resemblance as well. I think we can put any doubts about her identity to rest. Let’s move on to the next issue at hand.”

  The stable they entered was an odd affair. In the far stall, Cyemma stood tied and secured in a stall, appearing sad and lonely. Kayleigh’s heart went out to the unicorn who was restrained through no fault of her own. At the other end, a pair of unicorns stood, watching the dying female, Ayalla, who Kayleigh hoped to save. Several humans had gathered to see this for themselves.

  The girl at her side anxiously cracked her fingers as they walked to the other end and said, “I’m nervous. It feels like I’m trying to replace Wirnax. I know this is what I keep asking for, but now that we’re here, I’m worried that I’m doing the wrong thing.”

  “Your unicorn would want you to move on, but I still can’t promise you this will work,” Kayleigh said, glancing at Tamera. “Try not to get your hopes up.”

  “Let’s be honest, Kayleigh. It’s this or back to the farm. I suppose I’m a decent enough shot with a crossbow. If all else fails, I guess I could join a city guard somewhere.”

  “Then let’s not fail,” she said, trying to brighten each of their spirits.

  “I thought the general would be first,” the former earth maiden whispered.

  Thinking back to the rest of the morning’s discussion, it was decided that Kayleigh first attempt would be to try and stop the damage caused by the wasting to the unicorn’s bond. If that showed promise and hadn’t made matters worse, she’d try to connect someone to Ayalla. General Jyslin volunteered immediately, downplaying the risks that virtually everyone, including Kayleigh, quickly pointed out. There was even a heated exchange where Captain Lynch cautioned against placing the general’s life in “untested” hands.

  Like all the previous abuse her former commanding officer heaped onto Kayleigh, the captain’s acidic comments had a way of sounding logical and grounded in reason while at the same time having an insulting undertone. Any goodwill she had built up toward Danella’s sister disappeared faster than a flame deprived of air.

  Eventually, the group came to a consensus and made the compromise that led up to this moment.

  “You’re younger and in better health,” Kayleigh said, returning to the moment. “Also, the rider Ayalla lost was an earth maiden. Everyone thinks that if this is going to work, we should try to keep any new bond close to what existed before.”

  Tamera Akers took a deep breath and said, “I’m not one to complain. Good luck to us both.”

  Nodding to her friend, Kayleigh summoned her courage and walked to the stall with as much confidence as she could manage. Brian Tomas stood beside the unicorn and carefully removed the blankets draped across the beautiful creatures back. Despite the heat, Ayalla looked sickly and cold. Along the line of the unicorn’s neck were a series of purple bruises that reminded Kayleigh of cracks that developed in statues.

  She had expected to see this, but even so the state of the unicorn made Kayleigh gasp ever so slightly. Glancing at the nearby nobleman, she saw that he was giving her a reassuring smile. Brian stepped around her, pausing long enough to place his hand on her shoulder and whisper, “Good luck.”

  Everyone stood back, giving Kayleigh and Ayalla much-needed space. Doing her best to clear thoughts and focus on the task at hand, Kayleigh banished the memories of that intense circle of green fire she and Majherri created the last time she witnessed a unicorn dying from the wasting.

  “Two of my sisters are ready outside,” Meghan Lynch said as she rode into the stables on T’rsa. “I’ll be ready to douse any fires that might arise inside. Let us know when you are ready to proceed.”

  Kayleigh acknowledged the woman and tried not to read anything into the way both of them regarded her. Making matters worse, the unicorn she was currently bonded with joined the pair.

  Rheysurrah is probably here to see if he can be rid of me, Kayleigh thought as she turned her head away and scowled. Ayalla, the sole witness to the expression on her face, tilted her head almost imperceptibly and flared her nostrils.

  “Regardless of what happens,” Kayleigh began, addressing the unicorn. “I am truly sorry for the loss of your rider. Everyone has assured me that you’re willing to go along with this but I need to hear from you. Are you certain this is what you want?”

  Slowly, Ayalla nodded her agreement. Kayleigh mouthed a quick prayer to the Goddess to watch over both of them.

  “I am ready to begin.”

  General Hawthorne replied, “Understood. Proceed.”

  Kayleigh held her right hand up and said, “Ayalla, I’m going to put my fingers at the base of your horn. There is likely to be some discomfort and I’ll do my best not to cause either of us any pain.”

  After making contact, she waited a few seconds to allow the unicorn a chance to adjust to her unwanted presence. Very few unicorns like being touched by humans who were not there riders. Most would tolerate another Battle Maiden or someone like Brian. Majherri had been particularly irritated by others.

  “The bond,” she continued, hoping her voice and her descriptions would help keep the unicorn relaxed. “It appears to me like a rope. I am going to close my eyes and start looking for the remnants of your bond.”

  Doing
what she just said, Kayleigh fought against a pang of insecurity. She and Lady Tomas had discussed the possibilities and the mental preparation that she could do to increase the likelihood of success but, with no knowledge of how to do this, it was obvious the Kayleigh was on her own.

  Within her mind, she visualized the unicorn’s magic beneath her fingers in an effort to find where the connection that formerly went to the rider was. Like other unicorns she’d come into contact with, Ayalla felt like a storehouse of unrefined energy. It reminded her of a pot of water just before it began to boil. A unicorn’s rider acted as a spoon, stirring a pot in preventing water from boiling over. In truth, the wasting was a result of the pent-up and out-of-control magic inside of the unicorn deprived of the controlling influence of a rider. When unicorns first bond, the magic is unsealed, but if the rider dies, the magic must in some way become toxic.

  Within what felt like minutes, but in fact was only seconds, Kayleigh located the frayed and blackened end. Carefully, she inspected it while blocking out the neighs belonging to Ayalla. Dark threads dangled unevenly from the spot where the connection had been severed.

  Treating the rope-like bond as if it were indeed a broken cord, Kayleigh started a close examination of the damage. Where the ends were torn apart she could see tiny flashes of light.

  It’s less like a rope and closer to the wick of a candle!

  Using her imagination, she followed those flashes of light and saw tiny tendrils of darkened energy dissipating shortly after they left a broken connection.

  This must be what poisons the unicorn’s body. Maybe I can try to put it out like a still smoldering candle?

  Taking a moment to prepare, Kayleigh recalled how Danella broke her bond with Majherri. It was a vice like grip, followed by harsh tugs and yanks until the bond snapped. Even the possessed fire maiden had suffered from the backlash.

  Not wanting to experience that again, she opted for a slow approach and envisioned her hand gripping the end and trying to smother the energies. Nothing happened at first, except for feelings of unease coming from both of them. She continued to hold, and released it after perhaps a minute. The lack of any sudden reaction unnerved her, but gave Kayleigh time to look for any more wisps of darkened energy. Seeing none, she hoped that this was a good sign and grabbed on once more, deciding to keep it still for several minutes.

  Her sense of victory lasted until she felt a spasm of discomfort from Ayalla and followed the connection back to the source. The mass of energy representing the unicorn’s magic pulsed and appeared increasingly agitated. Her candle analogy fell aside, replaced by that of a covered pot building up pressure.

  “That’s not good,” she said. “I’d better…”

  Kayleigh didn’t get to finish what she was saying as a pulse of pure magic traversed the connection and slammed into her. Her eyes opened and there was a brief sensation of weightlessness before her body impacted against and slid down the opposite wall.

  Chapter 17- Fire in the Barn

  The villages in the North fell into two main categories - ones who fought the Yar and the ones who paid tribute to the mountain savages to leave them be.

  The former hid behind town walls encircling their villages, protecting their livestock. The crops in the fields were overplanted, knowing a portion of it would be stolen.

  The latter usually had a much smaller walled area where the villagers could run to in case their offering was found wanting, or a different Yar tribe decided to raid the village. These villages collected a tribute that was given to the Yar as the weather turned colder. The Yar took it in exchange for not attacking them and offering protection against the other tribes.

  Majherri and his rider, and those that accompanied her were in one of these tribute villages with an ever changing lie. At this moment, they were a group of bounty hunters pursuing an imaginary man wanted for the murder of a nobleman and other high crimes. This man was alleged to have fled into the Yar territories.

  From what little Majherri had learned, the tribes were often at each other’s throats and preventing one from achieving dominance over the others. It was an odd arrangement, fraught with tension on each side.

  Danella’s task was to unbalance the political landscape and turn those raids and skirmishes into an offensive, forcing the Northern Kingdoms to divert troops and supplies that would normally augment the forces belonging to High-King Barris. It was a tactically sound plan and Majherri doubted that the Yar would need much encouragement to take up arms against their common enemies.

  Majherri looked out at the lush and green landscape leading into the foothills as farmers worked the land to get the most out of the short growing season. Beyond the hills loomed the jagged peaks of the Devrin Mountains.

  “I’ve retained a guide into the Yar territory,” Kuresh said. “The cost was more than anticipated, but we are still well funded.”

  “Spend whatever you need. Can he arrange a meeting with the nearest chieftain?” Danella replied as she led Majherri down the dirt path that constituted the main thoroughfare through the village.

  “He claims to have connections to the tribe, but says the Ice Claws will want a suitable tribute.” The unicorn suspected that this chieftain’s idea of a tribute and Danella’s would differ considerably.

  His rider gestured to the buildings. “The tribe is likely one of the more powerful ones since they have access to spineless worms such as these. These Ice Claws shall be my first conquest. Learn all you can from our hireling about this tribe.”

  Kuresh nodded and went on his way as Majherri glanced around, searching for something that interested him. The houses were mostly wood cabins with a few of them being stone, belonging to the more affluent villagers. The discolorations on the sides of the stone houses gave silent testimony to the raids of seasons past. As for the humans, Majherri considered them to be a hardy and independent stock who showed only a token allegiance to their nobles...probably the same amount they offered to the raiders.

  The disguised unicorn wondered if this village would be standing when Danella’s plan unfolded. He thought it would, but could no longer be certain. His rider would be more apt to striking a fortified target to send a message. Then again, he knew how easily she might opt for a swath of destruction, laying waste to everything in sight.

  Off to one side Majherri spotted young children engaged in carefree play. One stood in the center of a circle drawn in dirt surrounded by ten baskets. The boy tossed small square bags, filled with pebbles and dirt, trying to get them into a basket before moving to the next one.

  He’d seen variations of this game played in every corner of the Blessed Continent. To Majherri, it meant that the human children here were not much different from the others throughout the kingdoms. The game represented the innocence of youth. It was something the males and females did together, before they aged and the children began playing with wooden swords and bows.

  Somewhere between the games of children and the dangers of adulthood is where Majherri knew things went wrong, but he had no idea how to correct this.

  “You’re brooding, Majherri,” Danella said, picking up on his mood. “I’m sorry I can’t take the reins off of you just yet.”

  Majherri nodded slightly, not wanting to be seen openly responding to his rider when he was supposed to be playing the part of a mindless animal. At the moment, it was all the thinking that was depressing him.

  In the distance he saw four things that didn’t bode well. The first was the storm clouds moving in over the mountains. There was a cold rain coming and Majherri wondered how the desert nomads he was traveling with might handle it. He doubted Danella would delay their departure, especially in light of the other things he saw – a trio of unicorn riders on the trail approaching the village. There were differences in the ways the battalions handled their affairs. A Master Scout might travel alone as he and Danella did in the South and the West. In the Northern Kingdoms, it appeared to be standard procedure to perform scouting in
force.

  “Look at the poor beast,” one of the two males said. “His idiot human rider forgot to take his reins off! But it just stands there looking sad and stupid.”

  “Be nice, Urkai. Even if it can’t understand us, there is no call to be cruel,” the lone female commented. “If it weren’t for the storm, we wouldn’t even be in this overcrowded barn.”

  Unlike the horses, which sadly included Majherri, the three unicorns were not in stalls. They paced the length of the barn as the thunderstorm raged outside. He’d been commanded not to communicate with the unicorns inside the barn by Danella, so all he could do was remain in place and be silent. It was nauseating.

  “I wonder how long it will take for the storm to blow through. It’s a shame we weren’t chosen to join the group heading west. Some of the rumors say it’s going to be an actual war,” the other male unicorn added.

  “If you like heat, sand, and death, you’re more than welcome to it, Gristul. Besides, whatever this uprising is, it’s probably being blown far out of proportion,” Urkai said, before snorting loudly and startling the female next to him. “Iarisha? You’ve been distracted ever since we entered the barn. Is something wrong?”

  “I don’t know,” she replied. “I just feel a little odd, I suppose. I can’t help feeling that there is something out of place here. Maybe I’m just letting the weather change get to me again.”

  Majherri cursed to himself and thought, “I hope her mating instinct isn’t responding to the dark magic Danella has sullied our bond with. That would not end well. Although it would be mildly amusing to watch the reactions of her compatriots.”

  He didn’t know any of these unicorns and for that he felt fortunate. Danella would probably let them ride away, but with her volatile nature, his rider could easily decide it would be quicker to kill them. Majherri thought about his prospects. Infused with Danella’s corrupting power, he’d have an easy time dispatching these three, should she command him to attack.