by Zen DiPietro
She opened her mouth to remark on her certainty that Luc wouldn’t simply wait. She knew perfectly well that he’d be right there in that lab, putting in more hours than anyone else. Before she could say so, a voice rang out from somewhere above their heads. “Samples of what, exactly?”
Kassimeigh and Arc immediately leapt to their feet. She ripped a swath of mana from the air and crushed it into a tight mass that she held within her. With so much energy around her, she could wreak carnage with barely any effort. She sensed Luc’s flare of mana as well, and all before her hand could fully grasp the sword that was strapped to her back. Just as she gained a good grip and Arc slung his bow off his shoulder, a figure dropped to the ground from a tree just beyond the dead zone and strolled toward them with a decided lack of concern.
“Wow. Defuse the bomb. I’m not a threat,” the petite, pale woman assured them, then hummed a tune softly to herself. “You people are touchy.” She ran a hand down her long, silver hair and flipped it back over her shoulder in a gesture that she probably made without even thinking about it.
“You again,” Arc remarked as he swung his bow back over his shoulder. Clearly, he knew this woman and did not consider her a threat. His trust took the edge off Kassimeigh’s antagonism. But just the edge. She released the hilt of her sword.
“Yes, me. And you. And two new ones. The pretty one looks like she’d like to slice me into little pieces. What’s up with that?” Her gaze skipped across Kassimeigh and Luc.
The newcomer shrugged when no one answered, and stepped further into the barren clearing. Drawing close, she stopped short just a few feet away from Kassimeigh. The woman tilted her head and smiled, as though hearing something. She closed her eyes and hummed a soft tune, letting her head and shoulders sway gently with the melody. Her hair swung with the movement. She might have simply been basking in the sun, but Kassimeigh knew better. She recognized this woman, as well as a great deal more.
Élan Gray opened her eyes and fastened her satisfied gaze on Kassimeigh. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?”
Kassimeigh released the mana she held but retained her combative stance. “What do you mean?”
Élan’s lips curled into a sensual smile and her body swayed closer to Kassimeigh. “The mana.”
Kassimeigh’s eyes narrowed as she studied the diminutive woman. “I never thought of mana as gorgeous.”
Humming her tune, Élan sidled closer. “But isn’t it? Can’t you feel the rhythm, pulsing along and begging for a melody?”
Kassimeigh took a step, placing her directly in front of the other woman. She realized that Élan didn’t even come up to her chest. She was tiny and almost fragile looking, though her behavior was brazenly at odds with her appearance. Kassimeigh’s skin thrummed as Élan offered an inviting smile. The tune she hummed danced through her mind and whispered suggestions of trust and obedience.
Kassimeigh shifted into a wide-legged stance and crossed her arms over her chest. “You can stop that, or I’ll stop it for you.”
The humming stopped, but instead of looking chagrined, the silver-haired woman smiled. “Sensed that, did you?”
“Of course I did.”
“Few do.” She cast her glance toward Luc. “Did you?”
Luc leisurely dusted the front of his shirt before answering. “Yes. But not immediately. The abundance of mana in this area masked you. Is that why you’ve chosen this spot to hide? Someone should tell you it’s rude to eavesdrop.”
She ignored his question and focused her attention on Arc. “Your name’s Arc, right? Don’t you ever leave the forest?”
Arc smiled. “Arc Wilding, and sometimes.” He stepped forward to stand with the two women. “Do you?”
“Well, I don’t live here,” she retorted. “Camping’s fine, but a girl needs amenities. Did your friend get fixed up? The one with the busted foot.”
“He did, thanks.” Arc noticed Kassimeigh’s squint in his direction. “I should introduce you. Kassimeigh, this is Élan Gray. She helped Justin out with a broken ankle a little while back. She’s okay, so far as I know. Élan Gray, this is Kassimeigh. I’d suggest being polite with her.”
Élan laughed. “I pretty much figured that out from her mana signature. That one’s not too shabby either.” She inclined her head toward Luc, who snorted disdainfully. Her eyes settled on Arc. “So you figured out who I am.”
“I didn’t. Justin did.”
“Is it a secret?” Kassimeigh asked at the same time Luc snapped, “And who is that?”
“Alas. My fame precedes me. Still.” She sighed.
“We didn’t recognize you right away,” Arc offered. “Justin had to vex over it for some time before he figured it out.
“I recognized you right away,” Kassimeigh countered, and noted the others’ surprise.
“You didn’t let on.” Élan smiled.
“What do I care for celebrity? It’s nothing to me. I like your song though. I just recently heard it for the first time.”
Élan’s laugh made a joyful melody. “Not an avid follower of music, I gather. But thank you.”
Luc harrumphed. “Whatever your personal life is, we’re not interested. Why were you up a tree in the middle of nowhere?”
Élan shifted her attention to him. “For the mana.”
“Why? What were you doing with it?”
“I’m a bard. A musician. I also have a certain mana sense. The strength of energy out here is remarkably inspiring. I came to compose and recharge my creative batteries.”
“How many of these mana areas are you aware of? We identified five via satellite.”
“Really? I only know of three, but then the hinterlands are so vast.”
“How did you find them?”
The rapid fire of questions clearly irritated Élan. Kassimeigh wondered if the bard had expected more deferential treatment. Élan’s mouth pursed into a frown. “Why do you want to know? And why should I answer you? I’ve as much right to be here as anyone else.”
Luc frowned at her. “We’ve been tasked by the Council of Magistrates to investigate these areas.”
Her frown disappeared, and her eyes widened with interest. “Oh, because the vegetation died?”
“Is that what happened? It withered and died?”
“I didn’t see any withering. The first spot I found had already died out, or whatever. The other two gradually vanished over a couple of months, one right after the other. It was like the trees and grass were gradually being erased.”
“Why didn’t you mention it to anyone?”
“I don’t go out of my way to draw attention to myself. Besides, the mana was still there, which was my primary concern.”
Luc scowled at Élan, who raised her eyebrows. “I don’t think he likes my answers,” she observed to Arc.
“If they’re the truth then it doesn’t matter if he likes them or not,” Kassimeigh countered.
“I’ve no reason to lie,” Élan pointed out. “I didn’t have to come down here and talk to you. I could have stayed up a tree and just watched you, but I was curious. I wondered if you knew what was causing the . . . whatever it is.”
“How do you hide yourself?” Kassimeigh asked. “I should be able to detect your mana signature so nearby. Even now, I can’t sense it.”
“That’s because I’m not a manahi.”
“If you only harnessed mana, you’d be a mana-holder. But clearly you can manipulate mana, which makes you a manahi.” Kassimeigh explained it slowly.
Of course she knows that already. Why would she say she’s not a manahi? She didn’t even know how Élan had done it. Mood manipulation hadn’t been part of the education she’d received from Luc, which meant he probably had no awareness of it, either.
Élan smirked. “I don’t owe you any answers.”
“True,” agreed Kassimeigh. “But you’re not going anywhere until we have them. So it’s your choice.”
Élan huffed out an annoyed breath. “Fine. I do manipulate mana
but I don’t harness it, precisely. I just let it sift through me. It’s a passive synergism. See, I have a mana sense but as far as mana training goes, I’m learning disabled. No one ever managed to teach me anything and eventually they gave up on me.”
“You were labeled a hopeless? Only able to sense mana, but not manipulate it?” Kassimeigh had learned just recently about those rare cases.
Élan smiled. “Little did they know that as I learned music, I figured out a way to weave mana into it.”
Luc’s scowl transformed into sharp-eyed interest. “How?”
“I have no idea how to explain it to you. It’s just something I feel, and something I do. You could come to a concert and watch sometime, see if that helps you figure it out.”
“How can we see you in concert if you’re a recluse?” Arc countered.
“I stay away from the general public but I’m hardly a recluse. I socialize within bardic circles. I’m surprised you’ve never stumbled across a group of us in the woods before, since you seem to spend so much time here.”
“Too bad I didn’t. It sounds fun. Do any other bards use mana like you?” Arc asked.
“No. Like I said, I’m a special case of learning disability. None of the bards I know are mana-holders. I’ll let you know when my next performance will be. But I need to be on my way. I’m now late to meet someone, and he’ll be wondering where I am.” A hand comm sounded at her waist and she sent them a look that said, “See?”
“Wait,” Kassimeigh ordered in a tone that few people would disobey. She held out her own hand comm toward Élan. “Your details, in case we need to contact you.” When it looked like the bard would refuse, she assured her, “You have my word I won’t share it with anyone and will only use it for good reason.”
Élan considered, then retrieved her hand comm and transferred her details. “Strangely enough, I believe you. There. Now, this has been super fun, but I’m out of here.” Without another word, she jogged into the forest.
Luc, Kassimeigh, and Arc stared after her for a few minutes while they sorted out the potential import of having met the woman.
“You never told me you met her,” Kassimeigh noted with a quizzical look at Arc.
“Well, we didn’t exchange names at the time, and she thought I might be a pervert or a creeper.”
Kassimeigh stared at him for a moment before nodding. “Fair enough.”
3
Arc thought that perhaps he should address Kassimeigh’s tacit acceptance of his alleged perversion, but after delivering the soil samples to a waiting courier and retiring to a room at the monorail, he had better things in mind. He stood on the precipice of a daunting mission—his first official date with Kassimeigh.
Of course, most couples would have a first date before falling in love or living together. Arc didn’t mind that their sequence was as unique as the woman herself. Everything about her kept life interesting, and he liked it that way.
Seated in a lovely restaurant with the most beautiful and talented woman on the planet (at least in his estimation, but he didn’t see how anyone could possibly argue), Arc committed to squeezing every bit of enjoyment out of the evening. From his side of a table littered with indulgent savories, he admired the object of his affection.
Kassimeigh scanned the room in a placid but covertly knife-edge way. He’d grown accustomed to her habit of doing that, but he wondered if she might eventually leave it behind, now that she no longer belonged to the order. Or perhaps vigilance and calm had become ingrained into her basic nature. Only time would tell.
“How did you like working for Aunt Ina again?” he asked. Now that they’d collected the samples, she’d returned to being unemployed. She hadn’t complained about it, but he thought she must be uncomfortable with the situation. He wanted her to be happy, and knew she’d need to find a new purpose for that to be possible.
“I’ve always been glad to help the magistrate however I can. She’s an excellent leader, and I’ve always particularly liked her. She’s the best one on the Council, in my opinion.” She took a sip of water, then reached for a slice of crusty bread. “Burroughs also seems quite efficient, though. She’s been a strong supporter of the Guard, as well as many charitable foundations.”
“I’ve always liked Burroughs, too. She’s always supported less-popular-but-worthy projects. You know, if Council work interests you, Aunt Ina would hire you as a full-time associate in a second.”
Instead of answering immediately, Kassimeigh dragged the bread through a plate of herbed oil. Careful to prevent oil from dripping onto the tablecloth, she popped the bread into her mouth and chewed. Arc didn’t mind waiting for an answer. He quite enjoyed watching her eat.
“I’m sure it would be a good position, but no. Government employees have to appease people. Not my forte. Besides, I’m supposed to be open to opportunities and experiences. I think I’ll have a good look around and consider my options before making any commitments.”
Arc’s cheeks tingled with warmth, and he rubbed the back of his neck. Did she mean work only, or personal affairs, too? “Sure, that makes sense. So what next?”
He didn’t like how grave her expression had become. He teased, “More pop culture study?”
“No, I’m done with that. Now that I’ve gotten a handle on it, I’ve decided it’s really not worth the effort. I was thinking of joining Will up in Apex.”
That was about the last thing he’d expected her to say. “You want to help him train the Guard?”
“I think it would be interesting. It would definitely be a new experience.”
“Right. It would. I’m just a little surprised you’d choose that particular experience over seeking out work as a manahi or working for the Council.”
“In the future, I might find the right time to explore the options that being a manahi offers, but that doesn’t interest me right now. I’d like to see how the Guard is shaping up.”
“Will’s been asking me to get back up there to do more archery and wilderness survival training. Would you mind if I came along?”
“No, the opposite. I’d love it if you did.”
“I’ll have to make sure my aunt doesn’t have plans for me in the near future, but assuming she doesn’t, you’ve got yourself a travel partner.” He paused. “I have somewhat mixed feelings about returning to the fortress, though.”
“Will’s use of the fortress as a Guard headquarters is an appropriate new beginning. New experiences will replace the old memories.”
“I’m sure you’re right. I heard they’d started drills for emergencies like natural disasters and hostage situations. He intends to plan for all contingencies.”
“Yes, that’s our Will.” Kassimeigh’s smile radiated such warmth that a less self-assured man might have had a moment of doubt. “I’m looking forward to seeing him again. And kicking his ass in some hand-to-hand. He’s probably a little overconfident these days, due to his recent successes. First he led the battalion in Apex, and then he convinced the Council to let him create the Guard as a standing resource.”
Arc laughed. “Right. With all that victory, he could use a reality check. And there’s nothing like good friends to show you that you’re not quite as good as you thought you were.”
Kassimeigh’s eyes brimmed with such delighted eagerness that Arc couldn’t help laughing again. Will would soon be enjoying the best ass-kicking of his life. Again, Arc could almost be jealous.
“You know, the first time we crossed the border into Sub-Apex, I still thought you were a man.” Arc’s breath tickled Kassimeigh’s ear as they sat together under the Sub-Apex night sky, enjoying the beautiful view of the stars.
They’d managed to pack up and start the long trek north within just two days of their dinner date. Now, the campfire crackled in front of them and the silent sky loomed above, making all of their tiny, human sounds and actions insignificant in comparison to the vastness of the cosmos. It was a stark contrast to life in the mid-lats.
“Is that why you didn’t offer to share your blanket with me back then?”
Arc laughed. “At least I know that if we’re attacked this time, I can sit back and let you protect me.”
“Sure. You just kick back and relax while I take out the trash.”
“I could be quite threatened by your ability to do that, so you should be pleased that I’m completely secure in my masculinity.”
He expected her to laugh but she shifted to face him with sincerity. “I know you’re joking, but I do appreciate that about you. And a lot of other things, too. Before we realized our soulbond, I didn’t expect to ever spend my life attached to someone. Now, I thank Terath and mana and whatever makes soulbonds happen that I somehow got matched up with the most wonderful person I’ve ever met. I never even thought I was capable of that kind of love.”
They both fell silent for a long moment, watching the flames of the fire leap and dance, banishing the darkness around it. As the silence stretched, her mouth turned down in a frown and she shook her head.
“Or something else less sappy and less of a conversation stopper.”
He laughed and ruffled her hair. “It wasn’t sappy. It was wonderful. I was just thinking that I’ve spent my entire life up to now without hearing something one millionth as incredible as what you just said.” Arc lifted his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “You’re so extraordinary that I couldn’t have dreamed you up in my wildest fantasy. But you’re here, and you love me, and that bends my brain in a dozen different ways. I can’t seem to find words that are big enough, but I love you more than anything.”
Arc’s normally carefree attitude had morphed into intensity. She curled into him and pressed the bridge of her nose into the curve of his neck. They were always upfront with each other, but they’d never shared such an overt declaration of their feelings. That was her fault, she was sure, because she’d been torn between her unexpected bond with him and the life she’d devoted herself to within the shiv order. Now, for the first time, she felt free to make a personal commitment to him.