Into the Fray: Volume 1 of The Sorcerers of Jhanvia Series

by Aderyn Lonigan

  ain. Unrelenting, cold, wind driven rain. Kidreyli peered out from the lean-to with one hand on a supporting beam. It was midday and there seemed no end to the gray sky. There were a few birds out tending to their chores, but even they seemed a bit perturbed. The squirrels and chipmunks had taken to cover long ago. The mosquitoes were slowly floating about, awash in their element.

  They had been on the road for just over a week when this storm caught them. Fortunately they came upon this small village and one of the farmers, in exchange for a piece of copper, allowed them stay in his old, rustic shelter until the rain stopped. Kaitra was sitting on a small milking stool against the back wall in one corner. In the other corner, the horse and the Katrion were crammed-in, munching away on some fresh hay.

  “Is there any let-up in sight?” asked Kaitra as she pulled her cloak a bit tighter around.

  “No. We may as well relax.”

  A flash, followed a few moments later by its thunder that rattled around in the trees and off the nearby hills for longer than one would have expected.

  Kidreyli sardonically smiled at the frustration of being held up in their travels. She dragged a small wooden bench over and sat facing her lover. “So, tell me about your family.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything. One never knows when they might invite us to dinner. It would be good to know who I’m sitting across from.”

  “I can’t imagine that happening anytime soon.”

  “Humor me,” Kidreyli pressed.

  Kaitra took a deep breath and relented, “All right. My father’s name is Fionn, which you already know. He’s tied to the pomp, ceremony and all the other courtly rituals created by our ancestors over the years. He’s a good man…a loving and caring man, but he sees things through the very limited and structured eyes that come with his place in our society. He always gave us everything we needed and took time out each day to be with us. We had a very easy, secure life. As his youngest daughter, I was expected to accept as my mate the man he had chosen for me. I would bear many sons and dote on my mate at his whim. I can just hear his angry voice echoing through the castle hallways when he discovers that I have chosen to be with you.”

  “Did he have a man in mind for you?”

  A reminiscent smile came to her face, “The son of the Earl of Calisi, his most loyal friend. I had known the Earl’s son for much of my life. My father knew of my disdain for forced relationships. He thought if he chose someone I was already friends with, then it was more likely that I would concede to his wishes. Obviously he was wrong.”

  “So the Earl’s son wasn’t attractive?”

  “Oh, to the contrary. He was very strong and good looking, but he carried that arrogance and conceit commonly found in court. Some find it acceptable. I can only take so much of it before I need to hit something.”

  Kidreyli laughed under her breath and asked, “What of your mother?”

  “Her name is Cailyn. She’s a member of the court who had lost her husband in battle during the Gutan skirmishes about twenty-seven years ago. She mostly lives to serve my father and his station. Most everything in her life is planned around him and she is utterly devoted to him. She’s a very loving mother who gave me everything I needed growing up. She taught me all about courtly life, including her observations of what to be wary of. After I left, she would occasionally send messengers to see that I was well. I think my leaving was not so much of a surprise for her.”

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

  “I have a sister, Lycali. She’s a few years older than I and, now that I think about it, not unlike you in many ways. She took up training with the sword when she was little. Over the years she became quite the expert, taking on our best soldiers in pitched battles. I recently heard that my father had appointed her head of his forces.”

  “So Lycali avoided the arranged marriage?”

  “Actually she was planning to marry the Knight of Sestridge when I left. She avoided the issue by choosing someone of her own volition that was acceptable to my father. And what of your family?”

  “My mother’s name is Talenyan.” Kidreyli explained proudly. “She is beautiful, most honorable and wise. No one could ask for a better mother. Her mate is Suliya. They have been together for over forty years. I’ve never seen two people more happy together.”

  “I hope to meet them one day.”

  “I think that rather unlikely. Those in power in my world would… disapprove, shall we say, of our relationship. My mother is quite old, probably too old to be traveling long distances to meet up with us.”

  Kaitra eyes brightened when she realized, “If what you say is true, then the two of us are really alone in the world, aren’t we?”

  “Honestly, I don’t think I would wish it any other way. We are free with no one to judge us or make decisions on how we should live our lives.”

  “I just feel a deep sense of loneliness. I have been surrounded by people all my life. I am comfortable and secure when others are near. Now, here we are, just you and me taking on the world.” Her smile tried to cover her misty eyes as she continued, “It’s a lot to take in for this prissy little girl from the palace.”

  Kidreyli took her hand and said in her most comforting tone, “My love, I will not let anything happen to you.”

  “I know. I’m more afraid of what might happen to you because of my ineptness. I’ve never done anything like this before. All my experience has been in controlled situations and I’m afraid that I may fail you at a crucial moment.”

  “Close your eyes.”

  “Why?”

  “Just close your eyes.” Kaitra complied as Kidreyli continued, “Good. Now see in your mind those men who attacked your temple. Can you see their faces?”

  “Yes,”

  “What do you feel toward those men?”

  Kaitra did not hesitate with her response, “Anger, hatred, loathing….”

  “And if you had the opportunity, what would you do to them?”

  “I would kill them in all sorts of creative and painful ways,” Kaitra’s gray eyes spoke forcefully.

  The warrior made a fist and put it against her lover’s belly. “When your confidence wanes, conjure up that anger and put it here. It will feed your courage and resolve, and you will know what must be done. Believe me, you will never regret killing the evildoers of this world, in point of fact, you might find it quite pleasurable.”

  Kaitra nodded her acknowledgement.

  Kidreyli smiled and continued, “Besides, if the feelings of loneliness become overwhelming, we can always go back to the Clannya. They seemed insistent about taking us in.”

  Sarcastic thoughts immediately entered the warrior’s mind from Tyral, “Now that was brilliant.”

  “Clannya?” asked Kaitra. “Who are the Clannya?”

  Kidreyli’s mouth had done it again. She shifted in her seat pretending to look out at the rain.

  “You’re talking about Alondra,” Kaitra’s wide eyes betrayed her surprise.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s right, go on, tell her everything,” Tyral angrily said to Kidreyli in her thoughts.

  “I think I will,” Kidreyli firmly responded to her Katrion out loud. “You are correct. The people of Alondra are Clannya.”

  “I thought the Clannya were extinct.”

  “No. They are like us in that their spirits live on after their mortal lives have ended. When the time is right, they start a new life in physical form and the cycle continues. They have been here for thousands of years.”

  “Did you know who they were when we first met them?”

  “Actually, it was Tyral who recognized them. You see, their magical energies are distinctively different from the magic used these days.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Kidreyli explained, “When you perform magic, you draw the energy you need from below, from the earth. The source of the spirit of the Clannya is the same as the spirit that is
the earth. They possess the energy they need within themselves, hence they do not need to draw it in from the outside. Most of the time, the energies employed to power their magics are greater than what is necessary to fuel their spells. The excess feeds back into the earth. Tyral sensed their energies feeding their surround when we approached the village.”

  “If they have that much power, why don’t they deal with Satreka?”

  “For the same reason you don’t use black magics. Satreka is not of their clan. They do not use their magics to deal with outsiders unless they are under direct threat. The consequences of such actions could have devastating effects on their culture, as the natural balance might turn the results of those actions, no matter how well intended, against them. It might even lead to their demise.”

  “How is it that you know so much about them?”

  “Our two cultures have lived in close harmony for many centuries. Some of their ways have filtered into our culture and have become a part of us.”

  Kaitra’s eyes lit up, “Like the spell you cast to hide us from Dakal’s men.”

  Kidreyli was surprised she remembered. “Yes, that was a small piece of magic we borrowed from the Clannya.”

  “Could you show me how to use such magics?”

  “If you wish. The techniques are very different.”

  Thoughts from Tyral entered Kidreyli’s mind, “You realize you’re making a mistake by agreeing to this.”

  Kidreyli responded telepathically, “In what way?”

  Tyral explained, “She’s not Clannya or Valtyr. She does not possess the internal strength to be successful. She already carries talents sufficient for our needs. Showing her a different method will only serve to confuse her.”

  “Trust me on this,” Kidreyli replied silently.

  “Oh, how many times have I heard that?” Tyral always had to get the last word in.

  “I’ll show you how I do the shielding spell,” the Valtyr said as they both stood. “The energy you need comes from the center of your being. I always envision it coming from my belly. I draw that energy out and focus it on my fingertips. From there, I see it spread out in a dome shape until it contacts the ground. Try it.”

  Kaitra closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing her mind as instructed. She held her hand up and the tips of her first two fingers glowed dimly. The energy quickly diminished and the glow disappeared. “I don’t believe that the energy necessary is in me,” she concluded.

  “Most people don’t have that ability. You touched a bit of the source, but it came far short of what was needed. You should stay with what works best for you.”

  Kidreyli sat back on the bench, took out her sword and began sharpening it with a stone. Kaitra had walked over and was stroking Sestru’s nose.

  “So, why didn’t you tell me earlier about Alondra?” Kaitra asked.

  “I don’t know. It never occurred to me.”

  “And Tyral, why didn’t you tell me about her?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nemainn and Cliona told me that she was very old and could be counted on to provide wise counsel because she has seen and experienced many things.”

  The Valtyr was surprised by this revelation, “They told you this?”

  “Yes. You know, I’m starting to feel as if I’m being manipulated in all this,” Kaitra was beginning to get wound up.

  “There is nothing nefarious going on here. The Clannya and the Valtyr have a mutual understanding that they will not discuss each other’s cultures with outsiders. I’m a little surprised that they would discuss Tyral with you.”

  Kaitra’s tone was increasingly terse as she asked, “So, are there any other little secrets you are keeping from me?”

  Kidreyli paused for several uncomfortable moments, and then explained, “The night we stayed in the Mutral. I had The Sharm cast a spell to help you get through the night.”

  “The Sharm? Who are The Sharm?”

  “A very ancient race. They live in the Mutrals.”

  Kaitra was teetering on the edge as she summarized, “So, you had someone I don’t know, from a culture I had never heard of, cast a spell on me at my most vulnerable moment?”

  Kidreyli’s defensiveness caused her voice to rise a pitch, “It was all well intended. I didn’t know you then, I was just trying to help you in a difficult time.”

  Kaitra paced a few steps back and forth with her hands on her hips, not really sure what to say next, so she chose to say nothing. All she knew at this moment was a clear sense of betrayal and feeling as if she had been left out of the joke these others were playing on her. She sat with her back against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees that she had pulled up to her chest, wondering what else they had kept from her.

  Kidreyli allowed the air to calm for a few moments, and then took a seat next to her. “Please don’t make this into something bigger than it is. Our situation is very different now. I made a choice to tell you what I know about the Clannya, a violation of our most valued alliance, because our relationship is more important to me than anything. I may have made some decisions leading up to this point in time that may give you pause, but understand, I love you more than life. I will never mislead you or withhold information from you again.”

  There was a determined silence that lasted for a solid minute before Kaitra reached over without looking and took Kidreyli’s hand.

  The Valtyr continued, “I need you to be completely honest with me. I have been told that you might be the one who, whether by intention or not, causes my demise. What have you have seen about this?”

  Kaitra took her hand back and closed her eyes. A broad silence commanded the air.

  “Please tell me. I need to know.”

  Kaitra could not bear to look at her, so she faced forward, eyes remaining closed as she described what had presented, “I have seen a premonition. Your beautiful body, hanging in chains, covered in blood from the torture that has brought you to the brink of physical and emotional collapse.”

  Kidreyli was taken aback by her words, “You would never do that to me…would you?”

  Kaitra’s face could not hide her disconsolation, “No, of course not. But in the vision, our adversaries cast a spell taking my free will, and I do things, unimaginable things… evil things. My talents and abilities become the catalyst for the events to come, and to a large degree, the foundation for their successes.”

  Kidreyli sat blankly staring at nothing specific for several moments before asking, “Has anything been planned to deal with this eventuality?”

  “Cliona had me prepare this talisman,” Kaitra said motioning toward her belt. “It should help to prevent the two of us from being separated. Also, I gave you my most important possession. If I become lost to you, you should be able to bring me back with it.”

  “Tyral, any thoughts?” Kidreyli asked out loud.

  The Katrion spoke to both of their minds, “You must prevent them from taking Kaitra. All we know tells us that they are extremely adept magicians. The magical wards you have set are good, but insufficient. Without something more, I’m afraid I only see failure.”

  “And if they take her…?” asked Kidreyli.

  “Their workings are deeply rooted in the realm of the black. She carries within her abilities one doesn’t see in more than a handful of people in a generation. If they succeed in harnessing those abilities for their purposes, she will bring a level of darkness to this land the likes of which have never been seen.”

  “Then you must kill me now,” Kaitra stated firmly.

  “What?” Kidreyli blurted out.

  “I cannot be the instrument they use to destroy all we hold dear.”

  “No, girl, you misunderstand,” replied Tyral. “You are a critical force in the efforts against them. Your talents are required to defeat them.”

  Kidreyli stepped into the conversation to clarify, “What you are saying is that success or failure will likely turn on the one brief moment that determi
nes whether she is captured by our opponents or not.”

  “Precisely,” replied Tyral. “But all things are fluid. Any combination of events could present themselves that could significantly alter the outcomes we have seen. Rash decisions based on foresight are unwise. Premonitions are good for guiding us in our planning, but are rarely accurate portends of actual events.”

  Kidreyli looked at her love, “So we’re not going to kill you…at least, for now.”

  Kaitra seemed almost disappointed in that conclusion.

  The Valtyr scooted herself over against her lover and wrapped her arm around her. The young woman responded by slipping her arm around her lover’s waist and putting her head on her shoulder.

  Kidreyli looked out into the gray sky and said, “You know that being with you is the most important thing in my life. These other things will work themselves out. In the end, everything will be fine.”

  Kaitra strengthened her hold on her lover.

  The two of them sat quietly in each other’s arms until the rain stopped.

  A few hours farther along the road and the clouds were holding firm to their grip on the sky. At least the rain had moved on, freeing the chipmunks to make up for time lost during the storm. They darted back and forth across the road in front of them, as if it was a game to see how close they could come without getting crushed by one of Tyral’s massive hooves. The gentle cool breeze bumped the leaves enough to release the water that had accumulated during the rain. It was referred to in these parts as second rain, and it could be especially unpleasant if you were unfortunate enough to get under one of the broad-leafed trees. Ahead of them a horse-drawn cart approached. From a distance, it looked like a family on their way from market.

  “Be wary,” Tyral telepathically spoke to both of them.

  “I sense it too,” whispered Kidreyli.

  “What is it?” Kaitra asked quietly.

  “Just be alert,” the warrior advised.

  Kidreyli urged Tyral to nudge Sestru left on the path as the cart came up alongside them.

  “Good morning,” Kidreyli greeted them.

  “Good morning to you,” the man in the cart replied as they drove past.