Biran frowned. “I wish that weren’t true, I hate saying goodbye to you, but you are right. The sooner the stones are gone and the sooner we leave the safer we all are.”
Together they walked out of the mine, when they arrived at the opening the rest of the miners were there waiting for them.
“The mine is clear, Biran, you were the last two in it,” said one of the men.
“Load the barrels,” said Biran.
The men load a small wagon with barrels and then pushed it into the mine. They took half the barrels and opened them, positioning them beside the wooden pillars that helped the mine shaft open, and then poured the contents of several of the barrels over the wood.
“A waste of good alcohol,” moaned one of the men.
“Don’t worry Faran, the next place we stop we’ll make sure there is good enough soil so you can grow some proper hops.”
“Bees,” replied Faran. “I miss honey mead.”
“Then bees it shall be,” said Biran. He then grabbed Hanna’s hand and pulled her back from the opening of the mine. “Best we stand back.”
Once everyone was well back from the mine, Biran nodded at one of the men.
The man smiled and created a small fireball using magic. He then sent the fireball into the mine opening, striking the wagon filled with barrels of alcohol. A loud, thundering explosion met their ears, and fingers of flame came all the way out the entrance of the mine. Then a low rumbling sound started and the entrance to the mine disappeared into a pile of rubble and dust. When the thick dust settled, Hanna could see that the entrance to the mine was completely filled with rock.
Biran turned to the men. “Cover the bottom with soil, and transplant a few small trees, make it look like it was never there.”
Hanna and Biran walked back to the village.
“When will you leave?” asked Hanna.
“Tomorrow,” said Biran. “It won’t take long to load the wagons. We’ve had to move in a hurry before.”
Hanna sighed. It was wrong that the Nordviks were persecuted and chased away because they had magic. Solotine, like many other places in the world, was full of hatred and misguided mistrust towards magic users. “I will gather my men now. We will leave immediately.”
Biran cupped her cheek and softly kissed her on the lips. “Till we meet again.”
11
Hidden gems
The journey back to Irontide was uneventful. Hanna was distant from the crew, and they seemed to understand that she needed time to herself. Even the normally talkative Koyo kept his distance. It wasn’t just leaving Biran that was troubling her. She was sad that she might never see him again, but his parting gift to her, the remaining spirit stones, was a burden that she now had to figure out. Her own spirit stone showed the value of the stones in the right hands, while the demon warriors were an example of what would happen in the wrong hands. She needed to make sure the stones were only used for good. The stones were useless to anyone without enough magic to take advantage of the stones special properties, but that mattered little.
Hanna decided she would keep a couple stones with her, and hide the rest. Maybe she could create spirit stones for other people, but she didn’t know how that exactly would work. Both Thorodd and Anso had given blood just before dying. Could she make a spirit connection without blood? Hanna would have to find someone who knew more about the spirit world. Anso had mentioned Katla was with a mage. Perhaps he would know something of value?
As the arrived in Irontide, Azad came up to her. “What are your orders?”
“Let Captain Rozad know we sail for Yanga in the morning,” said Hanna.
Azad nodded and walked away to organize the return trip to Mykoznia.
Hanna headed to her mother’s house. The sun was starting to set, its reflection flickering in the waters of the bay of Irontide. Normally, Hanna loved to see the sunset, but today her mood was foul and she hardly noticed its glories.
When she opened the door to her mother’s house, Rowena was at the table going over a document.
Rowena looked up. “Hello, my love.”
“Hello, Mother. How are you?”
Rowena smiled. “Busy, worried, tired. All the things a person is when she runs a company and has a warrior for a daughter.”
Hanna half-heartedly returned her mother’s smile. “How is the company running? I imagine me taking the crew of the Lady of the Evening with me hasn’t helped business.”
“I would say it has helped. If you hadn’t led your men and the men of Irontide against the Skagge clan. All reports indicate that it was your planning that shifted the battle in our favor. Juron himself came to see me and express his gratitude. If you hadn’t arrived when you did their village would’ve been destroyed. And that my dear, is bad for business.”
“I suppose that is true,” said Hanna.
Rowena rose from the table. “Let’s go outside. I need to stretch my legs. I’ve spent far too long sitting and staring at inventory lists today.” Rowena hooked Hanna’s arm in her own and pulled her outside. They walked up the hill until Rowena stopped at a stop which gave a tremendous view of the bay through the trees. The sun was almost over the horizon, but the sky was still filled with color. “What a beautiful evening,” said Rowena as she stood looking at the sunset.
Hanna nodded. Still, she didn’t really see the sunset, her mind elsewhere.
“Tell me what is troubling you my dear. I haven’t see you this troubled in a long time.”
Hanna sighed. “I’m sorry. I’ve been out of sorts for a little while now.”
“Is it that young man, Biran Nordvik?” asked Rowena.
Hanna frowned. “How did you know?”
“It had to be a boy. You’ve grown up as a warrior, defeat and loss you’ve learned to deal with. But becoming a woman and learning to love, that is new to you. It only makes sense that it would be a boy that troubles you like this. And Biran Nordvik is a handsome young man from all accounts, and the fact that he comes from a clan that embraces magic means he is far more likely to accept you than other northern men who see you as an outsider because your father isn’t of northern heritage.”
“It is Biran,” admitted Hanna.
“So, what is the problem?” asked Rowena.
“The problem is that he is leading his people west. His father passed on, and now he is leader of his clan. They can’t stay in the Ayrith valley because of the danger from people seeking spirit stones. He has no choice but to lead them away.”
“And your future takes you in the opposite direction,” said Rowena.
“Yes. I have to go back to Mykoznia. The witches there still have several stones and have channeled Quivna. They will be a danger to all of Mykoznia, and who knows where else if we don’t stop them. I can see them coming here again hunting stones. They don’t care who they hurt in their search for the gems. Both Thorodd and Anso’s spirits tell me that I am vital to stopping Quivna.”
“An unfortunate necessity. I don’t believe Father’s spirit would lead you wrong,” said Rowena.
“Nor do I,” said Hanna. “That is what makes it so frustrating.”
“You have a great gift, Hanna, your powers make you unique. However, it is how you choose to use those powers that make you special. If you ignored the danger to Mykoznia you would hate yourself. You’ve always been destined for great things. Your grandfather and your father both thought that way. I only wanted to you to grow up happy, but even I can see that they were right. Which means there will be times that you must put your own happiness aside to serve a greater purpose than yourself. Do you love Biran?”
“I don’t know. I hardly got the chance to really get to know him,” Hanna paused to think about her feelings. Did she love him? She certainly felt something for him. The spark between them was undeniable, but love? “I think with time it might’ve become love. I honestly don’t know. I think what bothers me the most is not having a choice. For the first time in my life I found someone interest
ing that accepted me and I have no choice but to walk away from him. If I am meant to be this great spirit warrior does that mean that I must not love or to even look for love?”
“That is a decision every warrior faces,” said Rowena. “Many warriors believe that love can we a weakness, something used against you, others believe that it makes them stronger.”
“What do you believe?” asked Hanna.
“I believe the Stoneblood men have been among the greatest warriors in the north. Soron Stoneblood left the north for a woman. Thorodd was a great warrior and yet he loved. Your father was a great warrior, and he was not weaker for it. But each warrior’s path is different. What worked for your father and grandfather might not work for you. My advice is to be open to finding happiness and perhaps even love where you can. But remember that sorrow and death are always around the corner. When you are a warrior, or love a warrior, that loved one can be taken from you at any time. My experience is that is better to love and lose than to never love at all. But again, every warrior must face and make that decision for themselves. Who knows maybe Biran and you will cross paths again, or some other young man will capture your heart. Regardless of what happens you must come to terms with the reality that your duty and honor will often come before your own feelings.”
Hanna sighed. Her mother had a way of saying things that always gave her clarity. Hanna knew her mother was right, love wasn’t something to be avoided, but she was a warrior, and being a warrior meant accepting death could come to you or anyone you love at any time. As a member of the crew of the Lady of the Evening she had lost several comrades during battle or to the seas. It was part of the life, and they did not dwell on those losses. They briefly mourned, but mostly they celebrated the lives of those they lost. Obviously, the love between a man and a woman was different than that for a fellow crewman, but the concept was the same. If she was going to open her heart to the possibility of love she had to accept that she would lose people she loved. She didn’t love Biran. It could have become love, but her destiny was taking her in a different direction. She needed to accept that and move on. Dwelling on what she would lose was not a warrior’s way.
Hanna smiled for the first time in days. It was like a weight was lifted from her shoulders. She needed to enjoy the moments like this, where she could bond with her mother instead of dwelling on what might have been. Hanna looked out at the bay and really noticed it for the first time that day. “It really is a beautiful evening, isn’t it?”
12
Katla wakes
The sounds of a crackling fire were the first thing Katla noticed when she woke. That and the pounding in her head. She groaned and tried to sit up and more pain hit her, this time from her chest.
Hester pushed her back down. “You shouldn’t move for a while.” He handed her a flask. “Drink this.”
Katla took a tentative sip. The drink reminded her of an ale but it was much fruitier, and had an aftertaste that reminded her of honey and strawberries. Her tongue tingled from the drink, but it tasted delightful. She took another sip.
Hester pulled the flask away. “That is enough for now.”
“What was that?” asked Katla.
“It was magically enhanced fruit wine. It will help you heal faster.”
Katla went to rub her sore shoulder. It was wrapped in a strange smelling material.
Hester noticed the look she gave the wrap. “Seaweed soaked in a healing salve. Much better than any bandage.”
Katla put her head back down. It hit a blanket and not the ground. Hester had taken good care of her it seemed. “What happened. How am I still alive?”
“I took care of you,” said Hester.
Katla frowned. Her head was pounding less due to the drink he’d just given her. “The warriors who attacked us?”
“They won’t bother anyone ever again,” said Hester. “I’m sorry that you were injured Katla. That is my fault.”
Katla turned her head so she could look Hester in the eyes. “You fired the arrow into my back?”
“No, but—”
Katla ignored his reply. “Did you hit me in the chest with a massive hammer? Or were you the one who paid them to attack me?”
“You know that isn’t what I mean,” said Hester. “It is like you said before. I didn’t attack and someone got hurt because of it. When I saw you falling to the ground I realized what a fool I am. I was filled with rage: rage like I haven’t felt since my parents were killed. Yet, this time, I controlled my powers. I always thought that if I learned to control my magic that I wouldn’t have to kill anyone. That I would be able to channel my rage and anger so that no one got hurt. But when I realized that my choice was killing all the warriors or having them kill you, I understood what Master Brutis had tried to tell me so often. I can’t control whether people live or die. My trying to avoid killing the warriors almost cost you your life.”
Katla smiled. “But it didn’t. You made the right choice. I’m alive because you chose to save me over your convictions.” She had worried that he wouldn’t make that decision when the time came, but now she knew he would. Hester had earned her trust. “Where are the bodies?”
Hester frowned. “I piled them off the road. I’ll burn them later.”
“Burn them, bury them, leave their rotting corpses for the crows and maggots, I don’t give a damn. But I want to know who hired them. Those were not ordinary highwaymen trying to rob us for a few coins. I’m hoping there is some evidence that points us towards who organized this attack.”
“You mean a piece of evidence like a note saying kill the ex-King’s Guard Katla and you will receive one hundred gold pieces?” asked Hester.
Katla nodded. “That is exactly the kind of evidence I am looking for.”
Hester handed her the note. He hadn’t been making it up.
Kill Katla, white-haired, slender young female, warning she is ex-King’s Guard and not to be taken lightly. May be traveling with a mage. One hundred gold coin for her head. Fifty extra if the mage dies too.
Lord Blackpool
Katla’s eyes narrowed as she read the note. So, Lord Blackpool wanted her dead? Had her and Hanna intervening when his men had tried to take Koyo and his sons away been the reason for the attack, or was her family’s enemy up to something else? When they returned to Yanga, Katla would visit Lord Blackpool. She’d find out what he was up to and then tear his heart out of his chest. “That is impressive, I never thought I’d be worth a hundred-gold coin.”
Hester chuckled. “I would be offended that I am worth only half as much, but they didn’t know who I was. I suspect if they had realized a lowly apprentice was your companion they would’ve offered less for my life.”
“Considering what you just did to them, I think they got it backwards,” said Katla. “They should’ve paid more to kill you. Perhaps they would’ve attacked you first.”
Hester chuckled. “Thank you, Hanna, that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.
Katla was surprised by how relaxed Hester was. His aversion to violence wasn’t bothering him the way she’d assumed it might after actually having to kill someone, yet his response seemed genuine. He seemed more concerned for the fact that he’d almost been too slow to respond, than worried about having to kill. It was a good sign for their partnership. They still would be facing more danger, getting close to the witches to find out more about them was a dangerous proposition, one made even more challenging by the new threat of Lord Blackpool. How many more men did he have searching for her? That he knew she was traveling with a mage indicated someone had been spying on her. Perhaps someone at the mage college had ties with Lord Blackpool?
“What are you thinking?” asked Hester. “Your eyebrows do funny things when you are deep in thought.”
“Do they now?” said Katla.
“Yes, and your eyes change color when you are angry. They go an even darker shade of violet,” said Hester.
“You are observant.”
; Hester blushed. “It is hard not to be. You are very beautiful.”
Katla smiled. She wasn’t sure if she would ever get tired of watching Hester blush. It was amusing in a very sweet way. He was so innocent compared to the men she usually associated with. “I was thinking about the note from Lord Blackpool.”
“I’ve being thinking about that as well. Either someone knew you were going to the college, or someone at the college spotted you and told Lord Blackpool.”
“Would they do that? It put your life in danger.”
Hester nodded. “There are all sorts at the college. Some see it as a family, others see it as a competition. Unfortunately, there are many who would hold no qualms about endangering me if it furthered their careers. Also, Lord Blackpool sends mage candidates to the college every year. Dozens of apprentices, and even some of the staff have ties with him.”
“It might not have been someone from the college. To receive that note and find you in only a day? How long would it take someone from the college to get word to Lord Blackpool that I was there?”
“Seconds,” said Hester. A first-year apprentice likely couldn’t do it. But any second-year, or greater, apprentice could use magic to send Lord Blackpool information.”
“Dragon’s balls! That means we can’t rule out someone at the college,” said Katla.
“No. We can’t,” agreed Hester. “We should probably get moving soon in case Lord Blackpool sent out multiple groups of thugs after us.”
Katla noticed that her headache had gone and the pain in her chest was significantly less. The drink Hester had given her had dulled the pain to a manageable level. “Help me up. I’m ready to ride now.” Katla reached her arm out so he could assist her. Hester pulled her up, until she was almost touching him, their faces were inches away. She put her hand on his chest, over his heart. “Thank you for saving my life.”
Hester didn’t move. He only nodded and softly said, “My pleasure.”
Hanna Halfblood: Spirit Warrior Page 10