Death's Knight

by Jena Rey

  “My sister calls them geodes, but it sounds like the same idea.” Darian carefully manipulated the stone along the crease, and pulled it in two, splitting where Lauret had broken it apart earlier. Inside the stone, a mass of brilliant purple crystals glimmered, its beauty mesmerizing against the start dullness of the surrounding stone even though a couple of the crystals were loose. “Alloyna absolutely adores these, and she’s been working for years to decorate the inn with them. Most places consider them a worthless bauble, but she doesn’t let that deter her. You’ll see; she’s got the whole place bedecked with them. When the light is right, it’s spectacular.”

  Ephema raised her brows and shook her head. “She is wiser than you think. The Mother’s touch is in crystal rocks. My mother said they offer her protection. There were some in my cave.” She murmured a soft incantation, drawing a tiny spark of power to her fingertips, the white glow he was becoming accustomed to paling her skin. She touched the crystal, blowing across the stone at the same time. It flared, warming in his hand while giving off a soft purple light.

  “Well, that’s new.” He inspected the crystals with a smile, then capped the stones back together and wrapped it back up. “Though she doesn’t have the capabilities you do, remember? She just likes them because they are pretty.”

  Ephema frowned and started to retort, then stopped as a feminine voice from nearby interrupted. Darian turned to see a middle-aged woman walking by, carrying her daily shopping. She smiled and repeated his name. “Darian!”

  “Hey, Marana! It’s good to see you! How’s the husband?” He dropped the stone into his pouch, tying it off as he talked.

  “Doing well. Kids are happy. Hope things are going well with your family.” The woman nodded at Ephema without comment and continued walking. The groceries in her arms were large, and it was obvious she was only willing to talk while she could continue on her way.

  “Same as they always are.” Darian shook his head in bemusement as the woman walked away. “Take care!”

  “You too, young man.”

  As she turned a corner, he chuckled. “This place never really changes, you know?”

  Ephema watched the woman go, then returned to walking. “I do not know. Though I suppose Aserian rarely changed between my visits either. Perhaps that is similar.” She glanced around with a soft sigh. “I do not think I can stay here long.” She brushed her toes over the thick cobbles, the grey dust coloring her skin. “It is so big and busy.”

  “It’s much bigger than Aserian, I’ll admit, but it’s not so bad. Maybe you just need to give it a little time.” He pointed at a large building at the end of the block. It was a towering structure, easily two stories taller than the other buildings around it, though still smaller than the High Temple and the market buildings nearer the docks. People streamed in and out of the colorfully-painted tavern in a steady flow of movement, like an ocean of humanity. The doors were propped open as the weather was pleasant which kept them from banging open and shut constantly. “There’s our destination, provided we can push our way through.”

  His words were interrupted by a high-pitched squeal of delight. “Darian!” A young child launched herself from a nearby stall and latched onto Darian’s leg. “Darian! You’re home!”

  “Hah, Tanata! Yes, yes, I am.” Darian scooped up the young girl, who looked to be six or seven years of age. The family resemblance was certain, as she looked more and more like her grandmother every time he saw her. The girl squealed and gripped Darian’s neck in a massive hug. He grinned. “Careful. I have to be able to breathe!” He waved at Ephema. “Ephema, meet Tanata, one of Alloyna’s daughters. Tanata, this is my friend Ephema, she’s visiting the city for a few days.”

  Ephema raised her hand and wiggled her fingers in greeting. “Hello, Tanata.” She pushed her hair back from her face, tucking the errant locks back under a new cloth wrap, though the mix of brown and white was still visible at her hairline and where the tips flowed out of the wrap. “How many children does your sister have?”

  Tanata grinned widely at Ephema. “I have a sister and a brother. And they’re both mean! So don’t listen to them, okay?”

  “Oh, don’t be like that. Your Uncle Fressin is the grumpy one in the family. You don’t need to act like him.” Darian lifted Tanata up onto his shoulders. “She’s the youngest of the three, and a bit wild, as you might guess. The other two usually help out around the inn, whereas this one likes to disappear into the town when no one’s looking. Like I bet she did today. Again.”

  “The inn is boooring.”

  Ephema gave him the look he was beginning to recognize as meaning he’d said something she didn’t understand. “She is not meant for life at an inn.”

  “Oh, she’s not. Four walls won’t contain her for long. But it does worry her mother when she vanishes.” Darian waved at another townsperson. “It’s not for me to decide her future, of course, given I’m not her parent, but I’m fairly certain being an innkeeper or shopkeeper wouldn’t suit her at all. Would it, Tanata?”

  She stuck out her tongue in disgust. “No way! Boring, boring, boring. I’m going to be a Knight! Just like Grandmama.”

  “You know she hates being called Grandmama, don’t you?”

  “But she is my Grandmama. What else should I call her?”

  “Well, if you become a Knight, you’ll call her Knight Proctor Lauret.”

  Tanata laughed. “Knight Proctor Grandmama!”

  Ephema chuckled softly, peering up at the child. “If you are a Knight you must be respectful.”

  Tanata sighed, resting her chin on the top of her uncle’s head. It was amazing how pointy a child’s chin could be. “I know. I know. Everyone tells me that.” She looked down at Darian from her perch. “Did you bring me anything, Uncle Darian? I saw you put something in your pouch.”

  “I was a little too busy for gift shopping, so no I didn’t. That’s a present for your mother.”

  “Oooh, is it a stone?” Tanata leaned over, peering down with childhood curiosity and threatening his balance. He shifted her so he wouldn’t stumble. “She’s got so many, but they’re all pretty! What color is it inside? I hope it’s green! We don’t have any green ones!”

  Darian adjusted his position again. “Stop wiggling or you will have to get down. And I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it’s a light purple stone. It’s still really pretty. Also, before you ask, I didn’t find this one. Your Grandmother and her keen eye did, so she’s ahead of me by like a thousand to my measly two.”

  “Momma says you bought your two at a market.”

  “Your momma’s too smart for her own good, and certainly too smart for me.” Darian winked at Ephema. “Because I did exactly that.”

  Ephema shifted to one side, stepping around someone before starting up the steps to the tavern and inn. “I have seen the green ones in my mountains.” She looked away, glancing at the rising doors of the inn. “My mother told me they come from deep underground and are forced to the surface by great heats or shifting earth. They would not be found by a living sea.”

  “Can I give it to momma?” Tanata’s voice was quiet as they approached the inn. “I snuck away before doing my chores this morning. She’s gonna be mad.”

  “Well, Ephema is our guest, so maybe the pretty lady should decide that.” Darian shrugged enthusiastically, jostling the little girl about and making her giggle. “But she’s a really nice lady, so I think you’ve got a good chance.”

  Tanata turned to Ephema and screwed up her face into the best sorrowful look a little girl could know. She said, “Please? Please pretty lady, Ephema? Can I give the stone to momma?”

  Ephema flushed at the compliments, and she laughed softly. “You will have to come down from there, little squirrel, and use both hands. It is not too large, but it is very heavy. I also think that an apology would do more than a stone.”

  Tanata was moving before Ephema finished speaking, climbing down Darian like the squirrel Ephema named her. Sh
e landed on the ground with little effort and grinned up at Ephema, both hands held up before her.

  Ephema inclined her head and Darian handed the stone to her. She checked that the stone was secure in its wrappings and placed it into Tanata’s hands. The little girl was off like a shot, ducking inside and weaving through the crowd of people faster than a couple of adults could hope to manage. Ephema raised her gaze to Darian, shifting out of the way as more patrons entered and exited the building. “Now what?”

  “Now?” Darian waited until the way was clear and bowed to her. “Now, we enter. After you.”

  As they entered, the din of conversation was like walking into a wall made of sound. People were milling about, waiting for tables to be cleared by the throng of staff that moved expertly between patrons. Each table was adorned with at least two or three geode stones, broken in half and arranged to display their crystals in all their beauty. Other small geodes were settled on every window panel, sending multicolored rainbows dancing along the ceiling.

  Against the far wall, a large wooden bar was surrounded by constant motion as a large, older man took orders and barked instructions to his people. His apron was well-used but clean, and the hair on his arms as silvered as that on his head. His hands still showed skill and strength as he popped open barrels and slung mugs of dark beer and pale ales for the patrons. Beside him, a younger woman that also bore a resemblance to Darian gave assistance, removing empty cups from the bar and shuttling food from the kitchen to the barmaids.

  Ephema came to a stop a few feet into the room, her green eyes wide as the noise crashed around them. Her gaze darted around, and her breath caught. “It’s…” Her voice was almost lost, and Darian leaned closer to her. “It’s so loud. This is a bad idea.”

  “It’s all right, Ephema.” Darin slipped an arm around her shoulders. “It’s loud, but I promise you are safe.” Inwardly, he swore. He’d hoped the place wouldn’t have been so busy, just this once. He wanted her to like it, but he should have known that so much noise and so many people in an enclosed space would make her uncomfortable. “If we just get across the way, there’s a room in the back that will be quieter. Can you do that or do you want to go back? Maybe we can meet Alloyna later.”

  She looked up at him and took a deep breath, her shoulders straightening. “A room. Yes. I can do that. I just can’t stay in the crowd. I hear their words, their hearts, their breathing, their lives.”

  Darian nodded and gave a little smile, reluctantly releasing her. “Just stay next to me and I’ll make a path.” He offered his arm which she grabbed onto, her grip showing her discomfort more than anything else about her. He admired her courage and squeezed her hand where it rested on his arm, then plunged into the crowd, nodding at familiar faces, but not pausing until he reached the bar. Darian waved at Alloyna, but kept going, past the bar toward a storage room where he knew it’d be quieter.

  Alloyna gave him a curious look, waving over someone to take her position and opening the door for Darian and Ephema. She followed them into the storeroom, carefully setting aside a few discarded food items that had fallen off the shelves. “Well, this is new. Welcome home, Darian, and hello to whomever this is?”

  Ephema took a deep breath and let go of Darian’s arm, leaning back against one of the shelves. “I’m sorry. Each city we have come to has been bigger and louder, but not so confined like this.” She shook her head. “And all the stones, so pretty, but I hear echoes of heartbeats and breath and words through them.”

  She made herself stop and look at Alloyna, her brow creasing as she studied Darian’s sister. Another geode on a nearby shelf flared, casting a pale blue shadow. Ephema sank down onto an unopened bag of wheat. “And you are two.”

  “I am what now?” Alloyna blinked as the geode flared, raising her hand to shield her eyes. “Oh! Darian, who is this woman you’ve brought to us? I didn’t think a Priestess of Osephetin could affect geodes. Come to think of it I didn’t know geodes could do that.”

  “A Priestess of Osephetin can’t.” He paused, considering all he knew about his sister before offering softly. “But a Daughter of the Eternal Mother can. She says the Mother’s touch is in geodes, and they seem to amplify her usual senses.” He watched Ephema settle. “That would explain what you’re hearing and why it’s hitting you so hard.”

  Alloyna’s eyes widened in disbelief tinged with hope. “That is not possible. A Daughter? And not a Sister? How are you not affected with the madness?” She knelt, placing her hands on Ephema’s knees. “There are many that still try to follow our Lady’s ways, even if we dare not worship Her. My brother gave me a few tomes about our poor Goddess and the path of worship. It’s such a shame what has happened. How is it that you escaped? You are too young to have been alive when the Goddess went mad.”

  Ephema’s hands closed over Alloyna’s, and the stone on the shelf sparked again, vibrating against the wood. “I was born this way, protected by my parents and a mountain.” She tilted her head, watching Darian’s sister for a long moment before she spoke again. “You may know more about the Goddess than I do, at least what tomes and book learnings might say. I know only the stories my mother told and the truths that whisper in my heart.”

  Alloyna sighed. “There are many that would love to hear her as you do. But none of us dare try a formal prayer or ritual. We can’t. All that have ever tried to contact the Mother end up dead -- or worse.” She frowned. “The Lich took so much from her, and her faithful still want to help. We feel her in our hearts, but we just… there’s nothing we can do. It’s so frustrating.”

  “I understand.” The whispered words caught Darian’s attention, and he stared as the glow he associated with her divine magic rose along Ephema’s hands and danced down along his sister’s skin. Ephema blinked, the color drawn away from the irises of her eyes, making her look as though she’d gone blind. When she spoke it was her voice, but yet not, reinforced by a second, deeper voice that he heard in his mind as well as his ears. “Alloyna, you are blessed with the heart of a believer. I accept your worship, and I bless you with my grace.”

  “Blessed Mother.” Alloyna turned her face toward Ephema’s, her voice trembling almost as much as her hands.

  “You may not have been able to worship me as you should. None of you have. But I have remained in your thoughts, in your lives, your deeds, and your hearts. Your belief has sustained me when nothing else has.” Ephema smiled at Alloyna. Darian was certain it wasn’t his friend, but the Goddess herself speaking. “Continue as you have. Watch to the dawn for my light. The day will soon come when I will call upon the faithful for their strength. Prepare the way.”

  Alloyna nodded, unable to speak as tears streamed down her face.

  The glow eased, and Ephema sagged on the sack, which threatened to dump her on the floor. She pulled her hands away from Alloyna, pressing them to her temples. “Darian. My head hurts. What just happened?”

  Darian released his breath, only then realizing he’d been holding it. “As far as I can tell, the Goddess spoke to Alloyna through you. Lord Osephetin uses some of his followers as his mouthpiece from time to time, but I didn’t think the Goddess would be strong enough to do so through you, even if she wanted to. But maybe there is something about this place, or about Alloyna that allowed it to happen.” He crouched beside Ephema and placed a hand on her leg in reassurance. “Are you all right? Do you need anything? It’s pretty draining when that happens to one of our faithful.”

  “I’m very tired, and my head hurts.” She patted the still kneeling Alloyna’s hair before covering Darian’s hand with hers. “Water. And can I lay down somewhere? Just for a minute?”

  “There are rooms upstairs reserved for the staff and family.” Darian glanced at Alloyna, whose face was still wet with weeping. “Can I take her there?” When she nodded, still not speaking, he sighed. “Come on, snap out of it, Alloyna. I know this is a big deal, but I need you to help me get her upstairs so she can rest. Please?”

>   “Yes. I can do that.” Still stunned, Alloyna rose on unsteady feet to help. Soon enough, the trio made their way up the wide staircase, the siblings leaving Ephema in a quiet room where she dropped into slumber as soon as her head found a pillow.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “In the mountains. Seriously.” Alloyna shook her head and took another swig of ale. The traffic in the common room had slowed now that they were between mealtime rushes, and she and Darian were catching up on everything that had happened. “And you just fell into her cave?”

  “Not quite. I fell near her cave, and she rescued me from some undead that I’d been fighting. I’m still not sure why they turned away from us, because they had me dead to rights. I think it’s because there was something sacred about her home, but I’ve never really taken the chance to talk to her about it.” Darian shrugged, picking up the last of the biscuits from his plate and biting into it. His sister’s biscuits were delicious; warm and flakey with little bits of ground spices. “We’ve had a lot going on, and I’m not sure the ‘why’ is as important as the fact they stopped and I survived.”

  “Yeah. I bet.” Alloyna slapped Darian gently on the shoulder. “No matter how it happened, I’m glad you survived and that you found her. It’s nothing short of a miracle.”

  “A timely miracle, at that.” Lauret’s voice started Darian, as she approached from behind, slipping into a nearby stool.

  Alloyna leaned across the counter and gave Lauret a hug. “I’m glad to see you’re home and in one piece.”

  “You and me both. Had a few scares along the way, though your brother proved to be helpful. Him and the girl, Ephema.” Lauret looked up as someone called her name, and caught the mug of ale that slid down the bar. “Thanks, Karlton! You’re a good man, no matter what my daughter says about you.”

  “Hah!” The older man grinned, showing a missing tooth, but the lack didn’t make his smile any less welcoming. “It better not be nothin’ good, if she knows what’s good for her! I gotta reputation to keep up.”