by Hanna Peach
“But what will I tell−”
“I don’t care. Make up some excuse or just leave in the middle of the night.” Dianne drew herself up and blinked rapidly, the moisture in her eyes making them glisten. “If you’re still here tomorrow, I’ll tell Jordan and anyone else who cares to listen everything.”
* * *
Alyx spluttered every curse word − mortal and Seraphim − in her head as she sped through the forest around Nordlingen. This was all Dianne’s fault. If Dianne had just left it alone, then things between Israel and her wouldn’t be like this. And how dare Dianne try to blackmail her.
The tips of her fingers felt like they were on fire. The anger burns you. She deserves to burn for what she did. The FireTwirler bloodink sang to her softly in a whisper as an image of Dianne in flames flittered across her mind. Fury radiated off her so intensely, Alyx felt that it may ignite the leaves that brushed past her. Let it burn her instead.
Alyx shook her head. This was dangerous business. She had to get her anger under control. Dianne wasn’t her enemy. Alyx began to let the wind brush off the anger that enflamed her.
A noise beside her snapped Alyx out of her thoughts. The movement was too small to be Seraphim. It was too quick for her to make out exactly what it was. Some kind of bird? The movement chirped at her. And again. The way this creature chittered made it sound like it was talking at her.
Alyx remembered the full Animale bloodink from the hidden tattoo on her side. This wasn’t an emergency, but surely using a little bit wouldn’t hurt?
The creature who was still keeping up with her twittered again, this time sounding impatient. Alyx drew upon the Animale. The magic drew through her body like a wave of whispers. Suddenly the squawking beside her turned into something she recognized...
...strange looking bird.
“What did you say?” Alyx asked.
You’re a strange looking bird. Wingless.
Alyx laughed. She supposed she would look like a strange wingless bird to a bird.
You might be bigger but I am swifter. Oh, a cocky bird.
“Oh really.”
Really.
“Prove it.”
Bring it.
The movement quickened and darted out ahead. Alyx grinned as the thrill of the race rushed through her veins, cool and fresh, as if washing away the embers of her anger. She focused on the forest ahead and her vision closed to a tunnel.
Soon she was neck and neck with the bird again.
“Still here,” Alyx said with a challenge in her voice.
The bird darted up through the canopy. Alyx followed, holding her arms in front of her to keep the dense blanket of leaves from slapping her face. Alyx flinched when a few stray branches flicked across her cheeks, but she stayed her course. Finally she broke through the top of the canopy.
Racing off along the open air above the tree line was a dark bird with long graceful wings calling behind him, Is that all you got?
Alyx laughed and followed. As she sped along the top of the trees, the wind was cool on her face and the sun was warm on her back. Slowly she caught up to the bird.
Alyx glanced down, something having caught her eye. She saw a large dark shadow falling across the treetops. Alyx glanced up just as the large eagle made its move and swooped down towards Alyx’s new racing friend.
“Look out,” she cried, launching herself forward and putting herself between the eagle and the bird. The eagle’s talons scratched against Alyx’s neck. The predator gave out an angry cry and pulled up towards the sky. The little bird squeaked when it saw the eagle swooping above, searching for another attempt at him. The bird ducked down into the canopy. As Alyx followed him through the canopy, she could hear the eagle cursing her for getting in the way of his kill.
Down in the safety of the forest, Alyx stopped near where the bird was twittering nervously in the leaves of a small tree.
“Are you okay?” Alyx asked.
Only thanks to you. It was almost all over for me. The bird hopped onto a branch and looked up at Alyx. Alyx could now see that this bird had a small white patch on his chin and a forked tail. I owe you my life. I am in your debt, Great Wingless One.
“Call me Alyx.”
Alyx? The bird tilted its little head. I’ve never heard of an Alyx before.
Alyx decided not to bother correcting the bird. After all, how would you describe what she was to an animal?
“It’s okay. You don’t owe me anything.”
The bird began to hop on the branch in an agitated way. No. You must let me repay my debt. You must.
“Alright, okay.”
There must be something I can do for you.
An idea came to Alyx’s mind. “Maybe there is something…”
Chapter 20
Sparrow’s hands were burning in the hot soapy water as he scrubbed the large purple pants. He could fit himself inside just one of these pant legs. He sighed. Only six more pairs to go.
A movement in the bushes some way off caught his eye. An animal, perhaps? He liked animals. Even the wild ones. They never wanted him for anything or yelled at him or hurt him. They were just there. Sometimes they would let him pat them. Sometimes he would feed them crumbs from his meager meals. When the RaceKeeper remembered to feed him.
Well, whatever it was, it had gone.
No, it was back. And it wasn’t an animal. It was a face. She had dark hair like midnight, green eyes like emeralds.
Sparrow recognized the lightwarrior named Alyx and his heart pattered a little. She had come back to visit, as she said she would. She actually came back.
Sparrow let the pants drop to the ground. Then he tipped the bucket over.
“Oops,” he said to himself. He picked up the bucket and started to float towards the trees.
“Hey, where’re you going?” a guard yelled out as Sparrow moved past the front of the tent.
“Ran out of water,” Sparrow said, without looking back. “I’ll be back.” He floated away from the tent. As he passed by her, he forced himself not to look in her direction. He moved through the forest hoping that she would follow him.
Finally, when he felt that he was far enough away from the tent, he stopped moving.
“Hi,” Alyx said as she appeared through the trees and approached him.
“You’re back,” he said.
“I said I’d come visit you, didn’t I?”
He shrugged.
“It looks like they’re feeding you better?”
“A little.”
“Are they being good to you?”
“No one’s hit me lately, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Alyx frowned. “I guess that’s a good thing. I can’t stay long. I just came to give you something.”
“What?”
“You’ll see.” She whistled, a sound that looped from low to high.
From out of the trees, a dark winged object flew down to perch lightly on her outstretched fingers. It was a bird.
Sparrow stared for a moment longer at the creature in her hand and then at Alyx. “A bird?”
“His name is Piki. He’s a swift.”
The bird named Piki chittered as if to confirm what Alyx had just told him. Sparrow just stared at it.
No one had ever given him a gift before. Sure, he had been given food, scraps of it, and clothing if someone else didn’t want it, but he had to work for them and he was always told he should feel damn lucky that anyone was even bothering to feed and clothe a little rag like him. But never a gift.
Sparrow felt tiny pricks at his eyes and a warmth in his chest. He was confused as to why this gift would have such an effect on him. He didn’t like this unknown feeling. It was better to stop this rubbish. He clenched his fists tighter and gritted his teeth. “I don’t get enough food – you ’spects me to share it with him?”
“Piki is very adept at finding food for himself. You won’t have to feed him.”
He wasn’t expecting this answer. He frowned
, still suspicious. “What’s he for?”
“Piki said he would stay with you and look out for you for me until the winter when he will go south. If you’re ever in any trouble or need to talk to me, let Piki know and he will find me and relay your message.”
Sparrow was so stunned he forgot for a moment that he was supposed to be angry. “Piki can talk?”
“He can’t talk how we talk, but he can understand a little of what we say and I can understand him with Animale magic.”
Sparrow watched the swift who had taken to tilting its little head at him. Then he remembered himself and straightened up. He hoped Alyx hadn’t seen the wonder that he knew had been shining from his eyes. It was dangerous to let others know that you wanted something.
He took a step back. “You mean to spy on me.”
He could see the hurt in Alyx’s eyes that his accusation caused. A part of him wanted to kick himself for being such an ungrateful sod. The other part protested. When did anyone do anything nice for you without wanting something in return?
“No,” Alyx said. “I just wanted to make sure that you have a way to get in touch with me if you need my help. Plus it’s always nice to have a friend. With Piki here, you’d never really be alone. That’s all, I promise.”
“Why are you doing this then? What do you want? You want me to spy on the RaceKeeper for you or something?”
“No. I don’t want anything from you. Look, you obviously don’t want Piki to bother you. I’ll tell him to keep his distance. You won’t even know he’s there. But he’ll be close by just in case you ever need him.”
“No thanks.” Sparrow folded his arms across his chest. “No one ever gives you things without wanting something in return.”
Alyx was still for a moment. Sparrow began to feel a smidgen of guilt. Then Alyx held Piki up close to her mouth and whispered something to him. Piki chittered and rubbed his head along Alyx’s nose before flying up into the trees nearby.
Alyx turned back to him. She mimicked his crossed arms and tilted posture although her face and her voice remained soft. “That’s fine. Piki isn’t a gift anymore. He’s a free bird and he does what he wants. And he wants to hang around here for a while.”
Sparrow didn’t say anything. He knew he was being a sod but he couldn’t bring himself to loosen his stance or relax his face. He stood there tight-lipped.
“I’ll come back soon to visit, okay?”
Sparrow didn’t answer, but he felt a kind of panic growing in his belly. He wanted to do something for her. Something so that she would know that part of him was grateful. Otherwise, she mightn’t come back. And he wanted her to come back.
Alyx started to turn.
“They’re looking for you,” Sparrow blurted out.
She looked back at him. “Who is?”
“A demon-guy and his demon-guards.” Sparrow felt his face screw up when he remembered their faces. “Ugly dudes. Creepy. I didn’t like them at all.” He shuddered. “I was looking for something out the back of the RaceKeeper’s tent. No one knew I was there. I heard some of what they were saying.”
“What did you hear?”
“The demon guy asked if you had come back to race again. If the RaceKeeper knew where you were.”
“What did the RaceKeeper say?”
“The RaceKeeper didn’t tell him. He said ‘that information is outside the original deal’. Made him go away and get more gold if he wanted more information.”
Sparrow could see Alyx frowning. “What was the original deal?”
“He was asking about some rock. Something called Black Stone and where the pieces of it were.”
“Did the RaceKeeper give the demon the information about Black Stone?”
“I didn’t hear that bit.”
“Did you catch the demon’s name?”
Sparrow scrunched up his nose trying to recall. “Samrah or something like that.” He looked up at her. She was frowning. That name must have meant something to her.
“Could it have been Samyara?” she asked.
“Yeah, that sounds like it. Samyara. Did I...did I help at all?”
Alyx smiled at him and his heart did a little clench. She had the nicest smile. He decided that he liked making her smile.
“You did. I’ve got to go do something. I’m going to leave you here with Piki.” Alyx started to float off.
“Where are you going?” called Sparrow.
“To see the RaceKeeper.”
* * *
The RaceKeeper was sitting in his cushioned spot when Alyx barged into his smoky tent. The RaceKeeper waved off his guards when he saw that it was her.
“I hear you’ve been a busy girl.” This was a statement – there seemed to be no trace of surprise in his voice. “I’ve missed you, my little bullet.”
Alyx rolled her eyes. “I highly doubt it.”
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I need information.”
“On your parents again? My dear, I’ve told you everything I know.”
“No. I want to know everything you know about Black Stone.”
She heard him draw in a breath, then cough as if trying to hide his shock. “And what would the reason be for wanting to know this?”
Alyx shook her head. “I’m the one asking the questions. If I am paying for the information, then I don’t have to tell you that.”
The RaceKeeper grunted. “Alright then. How much gold have you got for me?”
Alyx cleared her throat. “I don’t have gold on me at the moment−”
“My dear, I don’t run a charity. No gold, no info.”
“I know. Which is why I’m going to race for you. I will trade you all my race winnings for the information.”
The RaceKeeper took a toke from his shisha pipe. “You certainly put forward a tempting offer. I know some of my spectators would love to see you race again. But...”
But?
“...but, you see, I already have two participants for tonight’s race, Phoenix and Pegasus, and I don’t think either of them will want to pull out.”
Alyx started to chew on her bottom lip. What now? She had been so sure that the RaceKeeper would accept her offer.
“But...you are always a crowd favorite. Perhaps…” the RaceKeeper said. “I could bend the rules slightly, just for tonight, just for you?” Alyx caught the twinkle in his eyes.
He was playing with her. He wanted her to race.
“Would you? I would be ever so grateful,” Alyx said, sarcasm dripping from her tone. She needed to play nice with the RaceKeeper, even though all her senses urged her to give him a good smack right in his oversized belly.
“Of course, my magic bullet. Now I suggest you rest up and prepare yourself for the race. It is starting soon.”
“Who am I racing against, Phoenix or Pegasus?”
The RaceKeeper’s lips smacked as he pulled the pipe from his mouth. “Why my dear, you’re racing against both of them.”
Chapter 21
Tonight’s night-race course ran along part of the Great Ocean Road cliffs, which ran for several hundred kilometers along the belly of a vast country the mortals called Australia. At this time of night, only the occasional set of headlights marked out the road that soared and dipped along the edge of this southern country.
Alyx eyed the waves that slammed the pitted cliffs. The moonlight on the spray looked like the sea was throwing diamonds into the air. The starting line was on a small slit of coarse sand. She could barely hear the crowd huddled around the starting line over the sound of the ocean. Some of the spectators had taken higher perches further along the tops of the cliffs. Other braver, or perhaps more reckless, had taken perches on ledges and nooks further down the rocks closer to the angry waves. And the waves did seem angry. They wouldn’t need WaterBearers to set water traps here. It was dangerous enough.
Alyx’s competitors, Phoenix and Pegasus, whispered together some meters away from her. Alyx had raced Phoenix before. She wasn�
��t as fast as Alyx, but she was mean as hell on a bad day with a peculiar taste for weaponry. Alyx knew she had to be careful if she didn’t want to end up on the business end of the grapple hook that Phoenix secured like a claw to her right arm with a heavy forearm bracelet.
Alyx studied Pegasus, the slim pale male seraph with hair so blond it was almost white. She had never raced him before. He must be a new competitor. This “not knowing” made Alyx more nervous than the possibility of ending up wriggling on Phoenix’s talon.
Alyx shook her limbs to disperse her nervous energy. The announcer lifted her hand up in the air. Alyx froze. For a second she thought she saw a familiar face in the crowd. Elijah? But it was gone before she could be sure. Alyx shook her head. It couldn’t have been Elijah. He was dead. She saw his body burn and fall to ashes. Alyx craned her neck to try to look over the heads in the crowd.
The starting gun went off and Alyx faltered for a split second, still distracted, giving Pegasus and Phoenix a slight lead off the starting line.
Head in the game, Alyx. Not the time to be chasing ghosts. Alyx took off into the air behind Phoenix and Pegasus.
As they neared the first bend in the cliffs, her two competitors were creating a kind of blockade with their bodies. They disappeared for a second behind the cliff face until Alyx herself rounded the bend. She could see Pegasus snatching the first marker hanging low off the cliff. Alyx followed suit, tucking the first marker securely into her belt. But where was Phoenix?
A growl from above answered that question. Alyx rolled aside, seeing the belly of Phoenix as she leapt off the top of the cliff spread-eagle like a pouncing animal. Alyx wasn’t fast enough. Phoenix collided with Alyx in the air, knocking the breath from her. Phoenix wrapped her legs around Alyx, keeping her from getting away and raising her claw to strike. Alyx snatched a dagger from her side and countered Phoenix’s attack.
Alyx couldn’t see where they were going as the two fought in close proximity to each other, hurtling along the cliffs, the muted orange and browns of the rocks blurring past in Alyx’s periphery. Alyx swiveled in the air and pushed back. They bounced off when Phoenix caught part of her shoulder on the cliff.