by Zen DiPietro
Encased now in the spherical barrier, she tied off the mana. It didn’t want her to let go. Its attractive energy strained toward her even as she bound it to itself and excised herself from it. Now independent of her, the barrier shimmered with a faint, greenish tint.
Kassimeigh let out a long breath. So that part was done. Now she just needed to call the sparks. Careful not to steal mana from the barrier, she reached out beyond the dome and harnessed mana into herself. Then she kept pulling.
With her eyes closed, she spread her fingers wide and made herself into a beacon, throwing mana straight up through the barrier for a hundred feet and radiating an intense wave that rippled outward. She couldn’t sense the creatures coming, but she heard the tiny flitting sounds of their wings as they glided to her. Though nearly silent at first, the sound grew into a whispering roar until it was so loud she could no longer bear it. She released all of her mana and the noise receded. She lay with her eyes still closed, in the shuddering relief of silence.
With the connection between her and Terath severed, the world shriveled to something smaller, even as she herself became less. Everything was harder, paler, and diminished. This was how reality felt. This was real. She told herself again, this was real. This was the world she lived in.
She focused on the very human act of breathing in and out, over and over. When she could accept being merely human again, she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the sparks. Instead of hiding, they were swarming about. She noticed one fly a little too far, slip past the barrier, then zip right back in again. It almost seemed like they were happy, though she knew she was at risk of anthropomorphizing insects. She remained on the ground for several long minutes, simply watching them cavort about.
Her gaze strayed to one side of the barrier, where the other humans were standing side by side, watching her anxiously. She forced herself up to her feet and walked to the green dome. Without pausing, she walked through it.
She didn’t think she’d ever seen so many mouths fall open at the same time before. “What?” She looked down to make sure her clothes were still in place and covering all the relevant parts. They were.
“How did you walk through the barrier?” Élan asked. “I thought humans couldn’t pass through. I had no idea how you were planning to get out.”
“You can’t get through. Only I can.”
“How?” Finn’s puzzlement would have been enjoyable if she weren’t so completely exhausted. Her body threatened to fall out from under her.
“Because the mana came from me. Just as the part of the barrier that lets the sparks through is made of their brand of energy, the part that keeps other humans out is made of me.” She shrugged. “It’s just mana stuff.”
One of the manahi that Luc had chosen to accompany them looked at her like she was a god. Or something disgusting on the bottom of his shoe. He seemed unable to decide. No matter. She sure didn’t care.
“Luc, I need to rest.”
He clamped a strong arm around her waist and guided her away from the barrier. “Of course. A tent is ready for you. Sleep as long as you need. Then sleep some more. I’ve got everything taken care of from here.”
He helped her in and got her settled. He brushed her hair away from her face when she rested her head on a pillow, then spread a light blanket over her and tucked it under her chin. Just before he stood to leave, he said, “Good work.”
She gave him a wan smile and shifted to her side. “Thanks.” She closed her eyes and didn’t know anything but the warm feeling of his approval for a long time.
When Kassimeigh opened her eyes again, the first thing she experienced was a flaring sense of energy and strength. She felt not merely recharged but supercharged.
Élan sat a few feet away, gently strumming a small harp with her fascinatingly articulate fingers. She looked like a fairy-tale creature, and Kassimeigh wanted to stare for a very long time. But the vigor within her threatened to burst out of her skin and she found she couldn’t lie still.
“This is new,” she remarked as she sat up. “I’ve never had a personal serenade before.”
The bard brightened with a cheeky grin, and her hands stilled on the strings. After a few empty beats, Kassimeigh’s thrumming sense of energy ebbed and she felt merely refreshed and rested.
“You look much better,” Élan observed.
Kassimeigh took stock of herself. Her Guard uniform was a bit rumpled and her hair hung free and curly. She used just a touch of mana to straighten her hair and secure it into a ponytail, then flatten some of the wrinkles out of her uniform. It would do.
“Thank you. I take it you’re here to play me restorative lullabies? I didn’t know you could do that.”
“It’s a new one for me too. How do you feel?”
“Good as new. How long was I asleep?”
“The rest of the day and overnight. It’s early morning.”
“That’s great. Thank you. I might have been sleeping for a couple days otherwise.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m just glad to help.”
“You’ve been a lot of help, and I appreciate it. If it weren’t for you and your unique way of handling mana, we might still be trying to figure out how to deal with the sparks.”
Élan scrunched her shoulders modestly. “It was an adventure.”
“Will you be sad to leave?”
“Nah. I’ll be back often enough.”
“Oh?” Kassimeigh raised her eyebrows.
“The Council of Magistrates has offered me a position here. I’ll monitor the power cells and the plants, and participate in the research. I won’t be here all the time, but I’ll do regular rotations here. Kind of like how miners rotate their shift schedules up north.”
“I’m glad to hear that you’ll be watching out for the sparks.”
“What’s next for you?” Élan asked. “Back to the fortress?”
“Yes. I’m on detachment right now, but must resume my duties there.”
“Well, don’t be a stranger. Keep in touch via the comm and come visit when you have a chance. I’m sure you’ll want to keep up with the latest research findings.” Élan smiled. “I’d invite you to another song circle, but I know it’s not your thing.”
“Invite me for a picnic lunch instead. And let me know if you need anything.”
“Sure. But the Council will keep us nicely stocked, I’m sure.”
“Of course. Oh.” A thought occurred to Kassimeigh. “Has Luc said anything about the spark population? Did we manage to attract all of them?”
“It seems likely you got most of them here, but there’s no telling since we don’t know how many exist. Surveys are planned to scout the other high-mana areas to see if any are out there. If so, we’ll coax them into coming here.”
Kassimeigh stood and stretched. She savored the sense of health and vitality coursing through her. “I think I’ll take a look around before I head home.”
Élan set the harp into a case and slung it over her shoulder as she stood. Unlike Kassimeigh, she could stand entirely straight within the tent. Kassimeigh had to duck out the flap and into the open before she could unbow her back and lift her head.
She approached the barrier and admired it. It looked like a membrane-thin bubble, with a light-green iridescence. Visually, it was quite pretty, though an oddity. Of course manahi could also see the mana glow coming from it, but anyone could look at it and think it lovely.
Luc joined her. “This is wonderful, Kassimeigh. Congratulations.”
She gave a small shake of her head. “I just used what’s naturally mine. It’s the scientists that will make the big impact here.”
“Don’t be too modest. What you did here required thought, effort, and ingenuity.” He offered her a rare grin. “I’m going to have a lot of fun studying it. And making my students study it.”
“As long as it makes you happy.” Kassimeigh smiled.
“Oh, yes, quite. Ina will also be pleased, which makes it doubly go
od.”
“Do you think this will establish the sparks as a benign entity? Dispel any lingering rumors or doubt?”
“I should hope so. What people perceived as a threat to our mana supply is actually a potential boon. Maybe even the source, for all we know. There’s so much to learn.”
“Hmm. Irony.”
“Indeed.” Luc harrumphed.
She’d missed that harrumph. It was good to hear it again before they parted ways. “Will you come visit at the fortress?”
“Of course. Ina will want to visit her nephew, and surely will come up with some official business to require her presence. Don’t tell anyone I said that.” Luc looked mildly chagrined, but Ina’s devotion to her nephew was no secret.
“They’d have to drag it out of me with blades and torture,” she promised.
“I pity the person who tries,” he scoffed. “Anyway, Will’s asked me about creating a manahi contingent for the Guard, so I expect to be up that way as well.”
“I didn’t realize he’d already moved on that matter. He and I only just discussed it.”
“The man doesn’t waste time.”
“He doesn’t.”
“Send my regards to everyone when you get there.”
“I will. But be careful about working with Will on the Guard. He might start pushing you to join up and lead that manahi contingent.”
Luc let out a long hmmm sound.
“Don’t tell me you’d be interested.”
His blue eyes twinkled. “Now Kassimeigh, don’t expect me to close my mind to new possibilities.”
“Oh. Well. I’m going to have to tell Will you said that, and you’re as good as in. He’s quite persuasive.”
He laughed. “I might not be that easy to convince, but it will be fun to watch him try.”
“I’ll see you soon, then.”
“You will.” He gave her a brief but firm hug. “Now, I need to handle some things so I can get home to Ina.”
Kassimeigh knew how he felt. As she removed her kite from the back of a cart and stepped on, every part of her was like a compass oriented toward home.
After an enjoyable ride back to Apex, Kassimeigh arrived at the fortress fully energized and ready to throw down. Instead of heading first to her office, she went straight out to the training grounds, took over a squad of troops doing conditioning, and made them run until they begged for mercy. The physical activity felt wonderful after her days of sitting in one posture bending her brain. She released the squad to shower and get some food, while she chose to stay in the training yard and go through some martial-arts forms, as well as a few tumbling runs. She worked until her muscles were quivery with exertion, and she finally went to change and shower. Throwing mana around was one thing, but there was nothing like a good workout.
Once clean and refreshed, she contacted Canan and asked him to have whatever was being served sent up to her room. The clamor of the mess hall did not appeal to her at all, and she didn’t want to get pulled into conversation by going down there herself. She’d never before assigned that sort of duty to her assistant but it was so convenient at a time when she really needed convenience.
As she pushed her tray away from her on the small table, she heard the lock on the door unlatch. Arc stepped in and paused when he saw her, then gently closed the door behind him.
“Hey.” His voice expressed equal measures of warmth and surprise. “I didn’t realize you were back.”
“I didn’t want to interrupt your routine.”
“You’re never an interruption. How’s everything with the sparks?”
“Great. The barrier is in place and your aunt is handling everything else. Of course Luc is having a fantastic time.”
“Of course. And how are you? You look good.” He took her hand, tugged her up out of the chair, and sat down in the chair himself. He urged her down into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “I missed you,” he added.
“I barely had time to miss you, but I did my best,” she teased. “I’m well. Luc and Élan looked after me. In fact, I was so energetic that I tore up the training ground when I got back. If you notice any troops filing formal complaints, blame it on me.”
“Noted.” He assessed the table. “I see you’ve eaten. So have I. That means we’ve both eaten, both finished our jobs for the day, and have a couple hours before we need to sleep.” He pretended to be thinking really hard. “Whatever should we do?”
“Board games?” she suggested. “Cards?”
“No.”
“Watch a movie?”
“Not tonight.”
“Catch up on messages?”
“Are you even trying?”
“I know!” she announced with a note of discovery. “We can queue up a how-to video and learn to waltz.”
“Why would we want to waltz?”
“You know. Social events.”
“No. No, no, no, no. Worst idea ever.”
She chuckled at his apparent despair. “Then what? I’m out of suggestions.”
He shifted his arms and stood, picking her up with him. He adjusted, letting her feet slide to the ground so she could stand on her own. “Let’s go for a walk around the grounds. We’ll stroll, you’ll be beautiful, and I will do my best to be charming.”
“Sounds nice. Just a walk then?”
“A walk first, and then . . .” he waved his hands around as if doing a charade of the mysteries of the universe, “. . . who knows? We’ll see what happens.”
“I could get spoiled by that kind of unstructured time. Like a kid at recess.”
“Then by all means, let’s go play.”
The next morning flew by in a flurry of requisitions forms, rosters, messages to return, and meetings. It was amazing how things could pile up after being gone for only a week. This was a development she’d have to adjust to. Fortunately, discipline and routine were right in her wheelhouse.
She ate lunch at her desk so she could keep working. Her only pause came later that afternoon, when the Council of Magistrates held a press conference.
Magistrate Trewe, along with the other magistrates, issued a statement about the sparks, their nature, and the official protection now afforded to them. Ina gently warned the population, in that eloquently nonthreatening way that only she could manage, that anyone causing harm to the bugs would be dealt with severely. Ina pledged to keep the public apprised of this “very exciting” endeavor of studying this new “planetary treasure.” If anyone else had delivered the message, Kassimeigh would have deemed the last bit bombastic, but from Ina Trewe, it had the ring of truth and inspired hope and wonder.
Damn, she’s good, Kassimeigh thought admiringly.
Hopefully, that would be the end of all that. She leaned forward with her elbows on her desk, and steepled her fingers against her lips as she contemplated Ina’s words. A knock on the door brought her out of her reverie.
Canan opened the door, entered, and closed the door behind him, all while exuding a strange, nervous energy.
“Yes?”
He shuffled his feet a bit. “There’s, uh, someone here to see you who doesn’t have an appointment but insists on being seen. I wasn’t sure what to do.”
“It’s okay. Is it a troop?”
“No, it’s a justice.”
A hollow impact resonated in her stomach, sending ripples of foreboding through her. There was no reason for a justice to come see her in person.
“I don’t suppose he or she mentioned the purpose of the visit?”
“No. He just said he must see you.” Clearly, the shiv had rattled the kid.
“I suppose I’ll have to see him, then. Please show him in.”
In the moment she had before the shiv’s arrival, she found her center, dove into it, and stilled her features into a mask of tranquility. She would meet this shiv on his own playing field. She remained seated, putting the shiv into a supplicant position that probably would not be appreciated. Too bad. She would not be intimidated.
That would work on pretty much anyone else on Terath, but not someone who had been on the other side of the shoka.
When her visitor arrived, she immediately recognized her mentor. “Hello, Eryl. This is unexpected.”
“Yes. I was concerned that if I asked to be put on your schedule, you might have said no.”
“What made you think that?”
“Nothing at all. But I couldn’t afford the possibility.”
“Please have a seat.”
He seated himself in a chair opposite her desk. She said nothing more, preferring to put the onus of the conversation on him.
“Are you happy here, as a member of the Guard?” he asked.
If he were any other shiv, she would sidestep any personal questions and straightforwardly ask why he was there. In spite of her newfound ambivalence toward the shivs in general, she did still have a fondness for her former mentor.
“I am,” she answered, then fell silent again. Just because she was fond of him didn’t mean she had to reveal her innermost thoughts and feelings.
He waited a moment, giving her a chance to say more, but she simply gazed back at him impassively.
“I’m glad you found something that called to you, though I didn’t expect you to commit yourself to a new vocation so soon.”
“Surely you see the wisdom in accepting an opportunity that I decided was right for me.” She leaned back slightly against her chair, adopting a pose that implied her complete comfort.
“Of course. But I’m curious about why you decided it was right.”
“Are you asking?”
A rueful smile graced his lips. “Yes. Why did it feel like the right choice?”
She weighed her words for a moment before answering. “I resisted at first, accepting only a temporary assignment. As time went on, I realized that I enjoyed the leadership aspect. I like the emphasis on physicality and skill, the opportunity to teach and train others, and the authority to effect change.”