by C S Vass
Fiercewind seemed likely to burst all three veins that were pulsing at her left temple. “You absolutely are going back to school!” she barked. “You are three months away from graduation. You’re not throwing that away.”
“What good is a diploma when the city gets razed to the ground from the inside out by Laquath?” Fiona insisted.
There was the hay that collapsed the donkey.
“YOU ARE TO STOP PERPETUATING THIS RUMOR AT ONCE!” she screamed. The whole of her body swelled up like an enormous toad as her bottom lip quaked.
Fiona was not deterred. “Just because everyone else in Clearwater is scared doesn’t mean I am,” she said. “I’m not even from here. You don’t know what’s best for me.”
“Heavens above give me patience,” Fiercewind muttered to herself as she turned her back and began pacing around the room.
Fiona took the opportunity to speak to Thrushling. “Well, are you going to tell me what happened last night? How did I get here?”
Thrushling sighed, and his face was an off-shade of its usually cheerful red. “It seems your friend Martin saw you and decided it was more prudent to get help than to give pursuit at once. He was able to get the soundmages within the city guard to catch up with you all. I wish you would have shown the same level of care Fiona. That was really quite reckless of you to just give pursuit in the night.”
“I don’t understand,” she said. “Then how did Rodrick get captured? The boy driving the carriage was right there.”
Thrushling made a pained expression. “It’s as I said, Fiona. I wish you had gone for help first. It seems Rodrick wasn’t even in that carriage. The entire thing was a diversion. They slipped him out at some point during the pursuit. It seems likely you must have lost sight of them at one point or another. Is that correct?”
Fiona felt like she had swallowed a stone. “It is,” she said.
“Well, when the city guard had caught up with you they found you unconscious alongside two dead bodies in the back of the carriage. No one has been able to identify them. The driver is alive, but he is either unconscious or delirious. It seems his injuries have become infected.”
Fiona gave him a look that begged for some sort of hope.
Thrushling shook his head. “He will not live, Fiona. That much is certain.” He patted her hand. “I am sorry for the pain you had to endure, but please use this as a lesson. Had you gone for help instead of given pursuit much of this hardship might have been avoided. Rodrick signed up for service as Commander of the Brightbows. I know it is hard to accept his disappearance, but you can’t take these matters into your own hands. You are still a student. You need to understand that.”
By then Fiona could barely even hear him. She had withdrawn almost completely inside of herself, into an empty shell of fear.
“There are terrible things happening in Haygarden,” Fiercewind said, as she strolled back to them. “But they are not your responsibility to fix.”
Thrushling looked at her with a strangely combative look in his eye. “Yes, Headmaster, you are correct. And it is not for you to criticize the Duke.” He met Fiercewind’s eyes with a look of sheer determination on his face. After a moment he turned from Fiercewind. “Fiona, you will be temporarily suspending your education. You’re going to Sun Circle.”
“What? Why?” This was terrible. Going to Sun Circle was the last thing she wanted. She needed to be speaking with the Brightbows, getting ready to go to Laquath to retrieve her brother and all the others. The last place she wanted to be was on top of the dammed mountain with Haygarden’s court.
“Because the Duke has ordered it, for your own protection,” Thrushling said. “It will be a great honor. You are to stay in his own castle as close to the summit of the mountain as anyone has ever been.”
“It could be arranged that she stay here,” Fiercewind said, bitterly.
“That is not what has been commanded by our liege,” Thrushling replied, sternly. “The Brightbows are enormously valuable to the city, Fiona. It’s possible that you will join them. Best you learn your way around the command of Haygarden then.”
“This is ridiculous,” Fiona complained. All she could think of was how much Rodrick hated his time in Sun Circle. He was known to complain constantly of the backstabbing bastards that ran the city and was only content when fulfilling his missions in the field in service to Duke Redfire.
“It’s final,” Thrushling responded. “Don’t worry, you’ll have a friend along the way. It won’t be so bad. Perhaps when things are all sorted out, well, who knows what will happen?”
“A friend?” she asked confused.
“Come in!” Thrushling shouted at the door. Inside marched Sasha, looking proud, regal, and somber. She walked over to Fiona and hugged her with both arms. The warmth of her friend’s embrace broke through the wall of fear Fiona felt and gave her a sense of bravery and determination.
“We’re truly in this together I suppose,” Sasha said to her. “Things will be alright.”
Fiona felt such a mixture of emotion she didn’t trust herself to speak without shedding a tear. It seemed she had no choice in the matter, regardless of what she wanted to do. If the Duke truly ordered her presence, then she might as well be there already.
At last she managed to say, “So why is Sasha going to the castle?”
“Not to the castle,” Sasha said. “I’m to stay with Reggie’s father, the Master Soundmage. I believe he is quite invested in the marriage and wants to ensure that I remain available for Reggie’s return. Which of course is ridiculous as I would wait ten lifetimes. All the same, it’s nice to know that he wants to protect me.”
Fiona had a feeling that Lawrence Downcastle was more interested in protecting his family’s best hope at not ending up in a debtor’s prison, but this was certainly not the time to say that to her friend.
“I suppose there is no disputing a command of the Duke,” Fiercewind said. “Rains, you will come with me. As you know the journey will be quite dangerous. I’ll help you prepare. Sacrosin, Professor Thrushling will stay here with you until your things are brought. I trust that in Sun Circle you will still conduct yourselves as representatives of Clearwater Academy and bring honor to your school’s name.”
Without another word she swept out of the room. Sasha, giving Fiona one last sympathetic look, quickly followed her.
* * *
Fiona looked awkwardly to Professor Thrushling. He was middle-aged, chubby and seemed to be gaining weight as the years went on. Of course he wouldn’t understand why she had no choice but to pursue her brother. She was made of stronger stuff though. She had a destiny with the Brightbows, and with Rodrick. In that moment, she vowed to embrace the strength that the gods had gifted her with and use it to find Rodrick. No matter what, she would not let him linger as the captive of some foreign power. She would rescue him and bring him home at any cost.
As she had these thoughts Thrushling shuffled about his desk, setting whatever affairs he needed in order. The sun had dipped below the horizon and the soft flutelike music of half a dozen bright blue soundlights filled the room. She wondered how long that she would be expected to wait there.
“Fiona,” Thrushling said, rising from his desk after a time. “You are a very special young woman.” She almost rolled her eyes. She didn’t think she could do with any more condescending speeches, and then immediately felt guilty for having the thought. Thrushling had done more for her than most. “Your brother means a great deal to me as well. While I’ve only known him informally he has come to me many times to make sure that your time at Clearwater is the best anyone could hope it to be.”
“I didn’t know that, Professor,” she responded.
“Of course. But just know how much he cares for you, and how much I care for you.” He placed a chubby hand on her shoulder. “You are special Fiona. I know you are destined for greatness. I just don’t want to see you do something to thrust you off of that path unnecessarily. All the same…�
�� He wore a strange, guilty look on his face.
“What is it?” Fiona asked.
“I really shouldn’t give you this,” he began lamely. “But, well, I think we both know what your future will hold for you.” At this point Fiona was totally lost. She had never seen Professor Thrushling behave so oddly before. “This was supposed to be a—a graduation gift. But, given the circumstances I think it would do you well to receive it a little early.” He wandered over to a drawer and pulled out something long and thin wrapped in a red velvet cloth. Fiona unfolded it to reveal a beautiful silver arrow that reflected ripples of dark blue light from the room.
“It’s wonderful,” she said. No one, except for Rodrick had ever given her a gift in her entire life. Not even Sasha.
“I’m glad you think so,” Thrushling said with a satisfied smile. “This is no ordinary trinket, mind you. This arrow has had a powerful magic sung into it by the soundmages of old. I would be surprised if there was another artifact like it anywhere in Haygarden.”
The gesture truly touched her. Fiona was not one for over-sentimentalizing. She was shocked to find her eyes wet. She looked up at his smiling face, trying to find the words, but there didn’t seem to be any. This was his way of supporting her in her quest to join the Brightbows. At last she managed a shaky, “Thank you.”
“It’s important that you keep that a secret now,” he went on. “Don’t show anybody.” He allowed himself a chuckle. “Suffice to say this wasn’t exactly easy to come by, and, eh…strictly speaking you shouldn’t even be able to get ahold of one such item. But these days all sorts of strange things seem to be happening, don’t they?” He gave her an affectionate wink, and she understood. They were rule breakers, together. She would never have guessed it of him.
“Let’s just hope you don’t have to use it, eh,” he said.
“Let’s hope if I do I have a quick hand and a sharp eye.”
That made him laugh. “You are truly your brother’s sister through and through. Well, I’m not surprised. I always knew you had big things in store for yourself. You came to Clearwater a young girl who could hardly look a teacher in the eye, but your days of scabby knees and shy interactions quickly changed to breaking school athletic records and having the confidence to yell at the Headmaster herself.”
Fiona looked at her feet. She was beginning to feel a little overanalyzed. That was just Thrushling’s way, she knew, and she felt closer to him than anyone else with that silver arrow in her hand.
A sudden knock at the door tore them from their moment. Thrushling got up and moved particularly slowly to answer, giving Fiona time to adequately hide her prized arrow. Two stout men came in. Fiona immediately noticed that they were more heavily equipped than ordinary city guards. They had thick steel armor and broadswords across their backs. They also wore sturdy looking helms that loomed over their square faces like gargoyles crouching on their heads.
“We’re here to escort the lady,” one of the guards said gruffly.
“My things haven’t even arrived yet,” Fiona said.
“They will be waiting for you,” one of them said. “We were instructed to move quickly. Let’s go.”
Feeling rather grateful that she at least had some decent clothes as well as her choice weapons, Fiona walked up to Professor Thrushling and threw her arms around him. He made an awkward little noise as if it were the last thing he expected, but returned a tight hug and sped her off.
As she walked with the guards out into the cool night air, Fiona felt a renewed sense of purpose and was eager to make her ascent to Sun Circle, where she would stop at nothing to find Rodrick.
Chapter Five
The guards ushered Fiona through the empty streets without so much as a glance at her. Wrapped underneath a plain brown hood that cloaked her face in shadow Fiona felt as if she were a ghost. They insisted on her walking between them, but they neither looked at nor spoke to her as they strode through the city. Instead, they talked to each other as plainly as any two city guards might if they were simply walking about a regular patrol.
They moved past splendid wealth. There were tall evergreen trees that had soundlights in them, too quiet to hear whatever music they made so high above but not so far away that they couldn’t observe the glow of rainbow colors that sparkled between the leaves like fallen stars. The Leaf District’s architecture was spectacular. Fiona had never seemed to notice before just how different every house was from all the others. There were sprawling gardens everywhere, some had trees pregnant with ripe lemons and oranges, while other manors chose short olive trees and blueberry bushes in rows that wound about a maze of vegetation.
As the guards took her past these sights Fiona gathered that their names were Lonnie and Thegan. They spoke about the Lordless Lands.
“I still have cousins, distant cousins mind yeh, but cousins all the same. They live in some of the roughest parts, practically dead center from here to Laquath,” Thegan said.
“They should stay there,” Lonnie replied. “No use for more rabble than we can handle.”
“Heh, love to hear what me old dead mum would say about that if I told her,” Thegan responded. “But I don’t disagree. Better yet, have Laquath take 'em. They can tear down that whole bastard city for all I care.”
“It’s a damn shame the Duke don’t do something more,” Thegan said. “I mean, I got four brothers who are perfectly good to whatever task yeh set 'em to, and we have need of every man capable of holding a sword by the right end to patrol the walls.”
“Aye, too much riffraff gettin’ in these days. What I wouldn’t give for orders to just take to the fields with a ‘undred men strong and set 'em straight. That’s what them Vaentysh Boys are always saying, and it’s about time someone said they was right!”
Fiona’s ears perked up at the mention of the Vaentysh Boys. The mysterious group seemed to come up more and more these days. She should have asked Martin to say more about them when she had the chance.
Thegan laughed, the idea obviously pleasing to him. “There’s enough right with the Vaentysh Boys I’ll grant yeh. Heck, I’ve got Vaentysh blood meself.”
Lonnie snorted. “Vaentysh blood!” he laughed. “I barely believe it if you tell me you was full ‘uman blood!” His armor clanked as he muffled his guffaws.
“Nothin’ to me if yeh don’t believe it,” Thegan said, simply. “It’s true though. Them Vaentysh Boys got enough right as I said. But they get a bit carried away. I don’t know if I would jump in with that lot should the opportunity come up.”
“Would I call my own self a Vaentysh Boy?” Lonnie said, as if Thegan had asked him. “How in the hell do you even become a member? It’s not like I’ve ever known them to gather in the town square.”
“But if they did, would you join?” Thegan asked, reiterating the question.
“Maybe,” Lonnie replied. “Every group’s got some loonies don’t they? Just look to court. Can’t believe they let Hightower, that half-breed—”
“Shut yeh’r fucking mouth before I shut it for you!” Thegan rasped. “Yeh don’t say that in public. Not about our Lord Defender. Man served in the Movement for Independence with honor. Without him, you’d be suckin’ some Tellosian cock for enough coppers to get a loaf of bread!”
Fiona wrinkled her nose with distaste. Lord Hightower was among the highest ranking members of Sun Circle’s court, but there would always be those who held his Laquathi origins against him despite his long years of service to the city. She was half tempted to slip away from the two of them and continue on by herself, but of course she did not know the way.
“Aye, aye,” Lonnie conceded with the wave of his hand. “Don’t get yeh’r blood up. I didn’t mean no disrespect.”
“Here, stop. We’re here,” Thegan said.
Fiona was confused. They were standing next to one of the large circular doorways that led into the sewer system. “I don’t understand,” she said. “We’re going to Sun Circle, aren’t we?” Suddenly she
became nervous and instinctively put her hand to the demon-pommel sword strapped to her back over her cloak.
Lonnie laughed in her face. “Little bird don’t even know how to get to Sun Circle, and she’s going to go carve us up. That’s a good one, little bird.”
Fiona’s face flushed red in the pale moonlight, and the guards made sure to let her know they saw as they continued laughing. She was about to demand some answers when she saw two more figures quickly approached.
“Fiona!” Sasha’s voice exclaimed in the darkness. “I’m glad you’re here. I hope you didn’t wait too long.”
“Headmaster,” Thegan mumbled as he bowed his head. Lonnie followed suit.
“I take it there were no problems,” Helena Fiercewind asked from beneath a shawl that concealed her face.
“No, Headmaster,” Lonnie said. “Everything was smooth as me newborn son’s arse.”
Thegan hit him. “Watch your tongue already, yeh barbarian.”
“You may leave us gentlemen,” Fiercewind said as if she were talking to two school boys. Fiona noticed that she held a dangerous looking golden trumpet in her hand.
“I thought we were supposed to escort you all the way to Sun Circle,” Thegan said.
“That won’t be necessary,” Fiercewind replied. She gestured to the trumpet she was holding. “As you can plainly see.”
Thegan and Lonnie looked at the sewer entrance as if they would rather crawl into the mouth of a dragon. They simply shrugged, bowed, and were on their way. As they left Fiona felt as if an uncomfortable wet blanket had been pulled off her face and she could breathe easily again.
Fiona was about to ask Headmaster Fiercewind how they were supposed to get up to Sun Circle by going down into the sewers, but the Headmaster held up her hand to silence her.
“We are short on time, and I have much to say,” Fiercewind began. “First, we are entering the sewer system to get to Sun Circle through a secret route. It is extremely dangerous in these sewers, and therefore I will need you to give me absolute obedience. This is no time for heroics, or to act on hunches. There are true dangers down there. Do you understand?”