Quests Volume One

by Barbara G. Tarn

  "Keenan, I know now that Myckim is not my father. The man was always kind to me, even though he didn't know how to deal with me. How can I tell him to leave me alone?"

  Keenan turned her around and kissed her frowning face to help her relax.

  "You don't have to tell him anything yet," he said tenderly. "Let them do the talking. Sanylo is out of the way. They're not going to force us to part. They might come with us to the Central Massif. We're fine, Sayla. Nothing will stop us from finding your real father."

  Sayla looked him in the eyes and slowly smiled. "And that's why I love you, Keenan..."

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Sayla didn't say anything when Myckim introduced her to his brother as "my daughter, Sayla, and her husband, Keenan." Neither she nor Talullah spoke much during dinner. Keenan often squeezed her hand under the table, feeling her nervousness.

  They retired to sleep in the attic and she nestled against him.

  "I liked us being on our own," she said gloomily. "Now we'll have an escort!"

  "Your mother is mostly harmless," Keenan chided. "She doesn't even use a bow! If she didn't have Myckim to protect her, she'd be dead by now."

  "I'm not my mother," she snapped.

  "I know." He smiled, caressing her cheek. "But aren't you curious to learn more about her past? How Myckim found her or whatever it is that happened before you were born? They obviously don't want to talk about it in front of Myckim's relatives, but I'm sure they'll tell us everything as soon as we're out of Hurlevent's gates."

  Sayla snorted. "I still think I should do this quest on my own," she grumbled.

  "Then we'll let you walk ahead and I'll stay with your mother," he said.

  She glared at him. "It's not your presence that bothers me."

  He chuckled. "I know. Just think that we're all travelers on the same road. Myckim is bulkier and fiercer than me, he might keep bandits at bay. Besides, he knows the way to your mother's nest – or close enough – he'll save us time. Unless you planned on exploring the mountains on your own, but I hate to remind you we buried Eagle's wings."

  "True." She squeezed him. Maybe following Myckim and her mother was better after all. She had often wondered if her mother had a way to call her brother. She'd love to learn how to call other Sila. Maybe through birds?

  "Get some sleep, Sayla," Keenan said, blowing out the candle. "Tomorrow we're on the road again."

  "And we won't be able to get naked together," she reminded him in the darkness. "So let's do it now!"

  He chuckled and happily complied.

  ***

  The next morning they packed again and went downstairs. Myckim's sister-in-law had cooked pastries and gave them the choice between blueberry and strawberry filling. Sayla tried one of each, and both tasted as heavenly as they smelled.

  "Take them for the road," the woman said with a smile. "I can do more..."

  "You're spoiling us," Myckim said, amused. He and Talullah had also prepared their backpacks and were ready to leave Hurlevent.

  "Took you twenty-five years to come back and introduce us to your wife and daughter," his brother replied. "It's the least we can do to provide you with food for your journey..."

  Soon enough the four of them were on the road again and the walls of Hurlevent vanished around a bend. The road entered a forest of maples and oaks, with little chapels at regular intervals. Apparently there was a temple somewhere under the canopy that was much visited and much revered.

  "Are there bandits?" Keenan asked Myckim.

  "Not twenty-five years ago, no. But then, this isn't a trading road. They're probably setting up their ambushes on the more trafficked ways."

  Keenan looked relieved as he asked Myckim about why he'd left Hurlevent.

  As just one of many children, Myckim knew he couldn't follow in his father's footsteps and didn't want to end up in a temple or a monastery.

  At the time, there was a famous sorcerer living near the Central Massif. This Rodesh spent the summers in the towns at the base of the Central Massif and winter holed up in his shelter with his spells and enchantments.

  Myckim had heard of him and decided he wanted to be his apprentice. Thus he had taken that very same road he was walking right now and had found Rodesh. He had passed the test and been introduced to the magic arts of the sorcerer.

  "Human magic is not easy as it is for the Magical Races," he said. "And Rodesh was obsessed with more power. He wanted to fly, but he didn't have wings. He saw Sila soaring high up the mountains and wanted to be like them."

  "Maybe he was a half-blood too," Sayla mused.

  "He had some Sila blood, but it was very diluted," Talullah said bluntly. "And he was obsessed with Manusia. No pure-blooded member of a Magical Race could stand the dark twin of the immortal half-blood. Manusia was the king of demons and he had the power to give Humans some of the magic that eluded them."

  "Yes, Master Rodesh wanted to get in touch with Manusia, the Lord of Darkness," Myckim continued. "And when his nets captured your mother, he thought he had finally caught one of Manusia's minions."

  "I thought demons had bat-like wings," Keenan said, puzzled.

  "Yes, that's what I thought too, but Master Rodesh was convinced that Talullah's raven-black wings meant she was evil, a creature of darkness. He cut her wings and tortured her to get in touch with Manusia, oblivious to the fact that she couldn't stand the Lord of Darkness. I had been with him for five years by then. I was twenty-five. I quickly felt sick of his ways and decided to save the beautiful winged being who was dying in his lab."

  "So you killed the sorcerer?" Sayla asked, amazed. Myckim might not be her real father, but she admired him more and more. She almost felt sorry that they weren't actually related.

  "Yes, and I took Talullah down the mountains and to the forest. I knew the Genn hid there, and I finally found one of their villages. The Genn have real magic and most of all they are true healers. Except they couldn't reattach her wings to her back, so my beautiful Talullah was maimed forever."

  "I have made a harness for Sayla. She has flown with eagle's wings," Keenan said.

  "It's not the same thing," Talullah replied gloomily. "I had the wings strapped to my back too once I recovered enough from the torture. But they were like dead appendages, and I quickly got rid of them."

  "And did you have to cut mine?" Sayla muttered, glaring at her. "Were you jealous or what?"

  "Your wings were malformed," Myckim said.

  "Says who? Her? Have you ever seen a Sila baby?"

  "Uh... no. I trusted Talullah knew what she was doing." Myckim looked ashamed.

  "Oh yes, she knew exactly what she was doing," Sayla retorted. "I bet she was sick of being the only one! I'm pure-blooded, by the way, I'm sure you can tell the difference." She scowled at her mother who stopped walking.

  "You don't know what you're talking about," Talullah said coldly. Everybody stopped in the middle of the road and stared at her. "I had already abandoned, like you said, Winged Elaliah. I couldn't take care of you if you grew wings."

  "How about letting me grow up with my father?" Sayla snapped. "I've seen single male Sila taking care of small children at the Sila nest!"

  Talullah glanced at Myckim who looked as puzzled as Keenan.

  "You let him think I was his daughter," Sayla realized sourly. "And you maimed me."

  "I couldn't bear the thought of losing you," Talullah said stiffly. "How do you know you're pure-blooded anyway? Just because you managed to flutter with eagle's wings?"

  "Air told me." Sayla said. "Did Sanylo tell you how I got rid of them? I would have killed them, if Air hadn't told me Sila don't kill. That I'm pure-blooded and should go looking for my real father on the Central Massif. You tried to deny my true nature, but I'm Sila, just like you. Maimed, just like you. But not maimed by a crazy and dangerous Human, but by you!" Her finger stabbed her mother's chest.

  Talullah had been as still as a statue during the whole tirade. Sayla's index finger's tou
ch put her back into motion. She slapped Sayla and resumed walking fast towards their destination. Myckim rushed after her as Sayla massaged her stinging cheek.

  Keenan gaped and didn't seem to know what to do.

  "I'll slap her next time!" Sayla growled, furious. "I'm sick of her treating me like this!"

  "You haven't let her speak," Keenan chided, taking her in his arms. "Maybe she has a reason..."

  "She couldn't bear the thought of losing me? She didn't want her Human husband to know she had cheated on him? And how in the sky did she have me if she didn't have her wings anymore?"

  "Then you better calm down and forgive her and let her tell her part of the story when we camp tonight," Keenan said soothingly. "Now let's go. I'll make sure to keep Myckim busy so you'll have some time alone with your mother."

  ***

  That night they camped near the temple in the forest. There was a stable on the right side and a sort of warehouse for pilgrims to lie down on the left side of the square building with a carved facade. The sliding roofs had a windsock flying at the top like a banner.

  The stables were empty, and the warehouse had only three more people in it. It was big enough that they could have some privacy, although they had to share the only hearth to cook their food.

  Talullah sat in a corner and hugged her knees as soon as they got there. She hadn't said another word to Sayla and didn't look anyone in the eye. Sayla knew she had talked to Myckim, but didn't want to know about what.

  Keenan and Myckim took their provisions and headed to the fireplace to make dinner. Sayla crouched next to her mother and hesitated.

  "How did you do it?" she asked at last. "How did you have a mating flight without wings?"

  Talullah glanced sorrowfully at her. "How much of Air's magic have you learned?"

  "Enough to find Clouds Nectar and make clouds solid," Sayla answered. "I'm sure you can teach me more about air manipulation, though."

  Talullah nodded, thoughtful. "I will. That year I felt I needed some time alone, so I asked Winged Ashras to leave me on a cloud. I thought I could glide to the nest later, when the Dankotago ceremony was over."

  "Ah, all right. So a male Sila flew by and you just did it on the cloud," Sayla said quickly, remembering Winged Yerash. "You didn't mention it to Myckim because it wasn't really a mating flight, was it?"

  "You are fifteen years younger than Winged Elaliah," Talullah replied. "Parigha Flugo is every ten years. So I thought that mating would have no issue. I'm sorry, I was wrong. I didn't mean to hurt you."

  Sayla sighed. She was almost ready to forgive her mother. "How does this reproduction thing work? I mean, do we get pregnant only during the mating flights or what?"

  "No, there is sorto as well – destiny, as Humans call it. The same that allowed me to mate with Myckim."

  "And how long did it take to... um... make Sanylo?" Sayla blushed.

  Talullah smiled despite herself. "A couple of years since we started having sex... why? How long have you been doing it with Keenan?"

  "Two-and-a-half months, since we reunited on the slopes of the northern mountains..."

  "These things take time, Sayla. Especially with Humans, especially if you're pure-blooded. You might do a mating flight in the meantime and have a winged child. Is Keenan fine with it?"

  "I think so. I told him everything I learned about the Sila. He's very open and curious about them. I'm sure that if I tell him, he'll be fine with it."

  "Good. Then he is your sorto, like Myckim is mine."

  "I still wish to meet my real father..."

  "And you will, Sayla." Talullah caressed her brown hair, thoughtful. "You will."

  ***

  "So you know everything about my daughter now?" Myckim asked in a low voice, stirring the stew in their pot. "And you're still in love?"

  "More than ever," Keenan assured him. "Even if she wants to fly away, but I know she'll always come back."

  "With a winged child in tow." Now Myckim's voice was sour.

  "Why not?" Keenan mused. "If that makes her happy... Sir, you knew your wife wasn't Human when you saved her. Why are you so disappointed with her true nature?"

  Myckim sighed. "I guess I forgot she wasn't Human. I've spend half of my life with her. She's older than me and still looks younger – should be telling of her true nature, no?" He flashed a rueful smile. "And I guess I always knew Sayla wasn't really my daughter. She was always so different!"

  "And that's why I fell in love with her." Keenan smiled. "She told me her mother was a maimed Sila when we were nine years old. So for the past ten years I've considered her a half-blood. The fact that she's actually a pure-blooded Sila feels even more amazing. But I know my Wonder Girl will always come back to me."

  Myckim looked impressed.

  "I knew Duncan and Jeramy and Lemuel weren't right for her," he said. "I'm sure you'll make her perfectly happy, Keenan Tannerson!"

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  They reached the lower slopes of the Central Massif at the end of the summer. Sayla and Talullah were talking again and Myckim treated Keenan like his son-in-law. They camped at the top of a hill one night and Talullah said they'd soon have visits.

  Sayla watched the golden eagles soar above the peaks and wondered if she'd ever have wings again. Then she remembered when Keenan had told her to "play the kite" and suddenly smiled.

  "Keenan, do you think you could make kites to allow me and my mother to go up there?" she asked.

  "I thought you preferred running and flapping," Keenan teased.

  "Actually, you should do the running." She playfully slapped his shoulder. "Make me soar again."

  He burst out laughing. "Yes, milady," he whispered brushing her lips with his.

  "What do you mean with kites allowing Sila to fly?" Myckim asked, curious. Talullah's eyes were wide in wonder.

  Sayla told them of their experiments while they roasted the pheasants they had caught on the way to the hill. Talullah and Myckim exchanged puzzled glances. They had never thought about that.

  "Glad I have a tanner along," Myckim said. "I can help fly the kite, but building it..."

  "I'll prepare the skins." Keenan chuckled. "But then you'll have to do your part for your wife."

  "And I will." Myckim grinned. "You're both full of resources we never considered."

  Sayla shot him an impish smile. Her mother looked hopeful. It wouldn't be like flying with one's own wings, but better than nothing. Sayla turned back to Keenan.

  "We'd need some kind of controls to steer them," she said. "You think you can add that?"

  "If you're willing to crash once or twice to try, why not?" he replied, amused.

  "I don't crash, I manipulate air and gently glide," she said.

  "I know, and that's why I'm confident we'll find a way."

  "I'll teach you to control winds," Talullah said. "That might also help."

  Sayla clapped her hands, excited. She looked forward to the next morning. They were going to stay put for a few days, which would give them time to build kites and start experimenting with a different kind of flight.

  ***

  "Sayla." Talullah stood, staring at the Central Massif ahead.

  Sayla was checking her arrows and bow, but she dropped everything as her mother slowly stepped away from the camp fire. It was plain daylight and Keenan was cleaning the skins of the previous day's catch with Myckim.

  The two men looked up too, but didn't see anything until the two winged beings were much, much lower, gliding towards them. One had black wings and hair, and Talullah's olive skin. Sayla recognized him as Winged Ashras, her mother's duonfrato of past Dankotago trips. The other had golden-brown wings like Eagle's and fair skin.

  Sayla's heart jumped in her throat as her eyes met those blue-green eyes so similar to hers. Now she knew who she got her colors from. She gaped as the two male Sila landed in front of them.

  "Winged Ashras, Winged Rakis," Talullah greeted.

  "Finally you brought you
r daughter with you," Winged Ashras said cheerfully. He must be younger than Talullah and reminded Sayla of Winged Elaliah's openness. Maybe that was how her own mother had been before the maiming.

  "I know, I wasn't sure until... she found out by herself." Talullah's eyes shifted to Winged Rakis who was staring at Sayla with mild curiosity. "I should have brought her to you, Rakis, you should have raised her. But I was afraid and far from here and..." She hung her head, defeated.

  "I forgive you, Mother." Sayla found her voice again, but it was shaky.

  "Where are her wings?" Winged Rakis asked with a look of anguish on his chiseled, handsome face. "What did you do, Talullah?"

  "She cut them at birth," Sayla said. "I thought I was half-blood until she told me what she did and I went looking for other Sila."

  Slowly her voice grew in confidence. Retelling her journey to her real father and her uncle was liberating for both her and her guilty mother. The angst she had felt when she'd left Inex was gone.

  The Sila sat with them and met Keenan and Myckim – of course Winged Ashras and Myckim already knew each other – and Sayla never had enough of looking at Winged Rakis.

  "He's definitely your father," Keenan whispered in her ear. "Now we know who you take after!"

  She grinned, but still thought her destiny was on the ground with him.

  "It's a difficult situation," Winged Rakis said. "My plenfrato is short-sighted by Sila standards and she doesn't feel comfortable up in the air. And here you are, maimed and unable to fly. Maybe we should set up a mixed community of Humans and Sila where everybody could feel at home?"

  "That would be wonderful!" Sayla brightened. "A small village... we already have a blacksmith and a tanner!" She smiled fondly at Keenan and Myckim.

  "And we have the best archer to do the hunting," Keenan added. "And a wonderful singer to entertain us." He smiled at Talullah who shook her head with a grin. "What do you guys do?"

  "Sila do nothing but flutter and draw maps." Winged Ashras chuckled. "And they don't build anything. What happened to your half-blood boy, Talullah?"

  "Sanylo is still in Inex," she answered. "I don't think he could live with us. But I'm sure there are other Humans who could."