Sir Pendas didn’t say anything, and after a moment Rithara spoke. “We’re entering the Spirit Forest, Ruethwyn. Think of it as a holy ground for us kitsune, so please strive to watch your step and avoid damaging anything if possible. The ancestors dwell in its depths, and there are a number of homes where the elders reside. We’ll be meeting them at a clearing in front of the homes, one with chairs. Do not take a seat, and do not approach the houses unless invited to do so. It is exceedingly unlikely that they will do so, but it’s possible.”
“I think ‘unlikely’ is putting it far too mildly,” Sir Pendas said, sniffing slightly.
“You’re thinking too much,” Rithara retorted, looking at him as her tone grew pointed. “I think that you forget that they were no different than you or I at one point. They’re still mortal, they’re still people. They choose to reside in the Spirit Forest, but they have their own curiosities and interests. If one of them chooses to ask to speak with Ruethwyn in private, who are we to argue? The council has no authority over such things.”
Sir Pendas sniffed, but he didn’t argue. After a minute, he spoke again, his tone grudging. “I do appreciate what you did for the clan, Ruethwyn, but at the same time, I find your request to be troubling at best. The descriptions of your power worry me, if I’m being honest, but truly it isn’t my decision. The ancestors have a much greater grasp of magic than most of the rest of us.”
“Only due to them having had a much greater amount of time to learn about it,” Rithara added, then smiled wryly as she added. “And the talent, for that matter.”
“You’re not still bitter about that, are you?” Sir Pendas demanded, not giving Ruethwyn a chance to get a word in edgewise. “You’re talented in enough ways that if you had significant magical talent, it’d be outright unfair!”
“That doesn’t change the fact I once wished to have talent like Korima possesses,” Rithara replied, shaking her head as they approached a narrow path between two trees. “I still sometimes wish to learn magic.”
“Why not try, then?” Ruethwyn asked, almost involuntarily. She paused for a moment before adding. “I also don’t blame you, Sir Pendas. Honestly, I’d never have thought to even ask about this if Korima hadn’t suggested it.”
“Never mind that, Ruethwyn. What do you mean, why not try? I’m about fifty years old, not as young as Korima is. Even if I start now, I’m not likely to get very far,” Rithara said, looking at Ruethwyn skeptically.
“And? I don’t have a great talent myself. Only my atavism has allowed me to advance relatively quickly, and Korima is even better, in a lot of ways,” Ruethwyn said, shrugging as she looked at the actress. “Besides, think about humans. They live less than a century, most of them, yet I’ve heard of some with average talent becoming grandmaster magi. If Korima is right about kitsune only undergoing the Changing at about two and a half centuries, that means you’re only the equivalent of what, twenty or so, by comparison? You’d have plenty of time to try.”
“Huh. I… hadn’t thought about that, but she might have a point,” Sir Pendas said, frowning. “I’m used to interacting with soldiers who might stay in the army for a few centuries if they’re comfortable. I didn’t think about how long-lived we are when compared to humans.”
“Hmm…” Rithara seemed a bit thoughtful, but also encouraged as they moved into the trees. “Perhaps so. I always heard that you should start as early as possible rather than late, and my talent with magic hasn’t been nearly as good as Cerid’s has been. I’m good at shapeshifting, though not a prodigy like Jael is.”
“There are innumerable spheres, not just the handful of major ones. I know that your people have a particular natural talent for the mind and life spheres, but it could be worth looking at some of the others. For instance, my father was a cloth mage, which is where I learned to make clothing, and that’s an incredibly minor sphere. Shapeshifting can be associated with nature or water as well, though the latter is more tenuous,” Ruethwyn said, growing more comfortable as they walked into the forest. “I don’t know what you might have a talent in, if anything, but you’d never find out if you don’t try.”
They’d passed beyond the edges of the forest quickly enough, and glancing behind them, Ruethwyn saw the houses of the enclave quickly vanishing behind them. It was a little surprising to see the trees block the sight so quickly, but Ruethwyn supposed she simply hadn’t been in an area like this for some time. There was also a faint sensation of heightened mana against her skin, but if this was a holy site, that made sense to her.
“I very well might do that. I don’t want to neglect the performances, of course, but there’s no reason I can’t try dabbling to see if another sphere might prove more appropriate for me,” Rithara said, looking slightly hopeful as she tapped her lips, then smiled. “Thank you, Ruethwyn. Perhaps it’s a silly dream, but I’d like to be able to use more magic than a few minor illusions.”
“I didn’t do anything. All I did was give a few words of advice, since I know how it is to be frustrated that you can’t seem to make progress,” Ruethwyn said, blushing at the praise.
“It’ll be worth quite a bit if she quits complaining about it,” Sir Pendas chimed in, somewhat to Ruethwyn’s surprise.
“Um, I have to ask, considering how familiar you two are… are you related?” Ruethwyn asked hesitantly. Her question prompted a snort from Sir Pendas, and a laugh from Rithara.
“I’m fairly certain that every kitsune in the enclave is related to some extent, Ruethwyn,” Rithara said, her voice kind. “Sir Pendas is about a decade my senior, but he’s been on the council with me for nearly all Korima’s life. We’ve had discussions and arguments, as well as more relaxed times together. In many ways, the entire clan is family, so we’re rather familiar with each other, even at the most formal of times.”
“I see. That does explain how Korima has acted sometimes,” Ruethwyn said, nodding in understanding as she thought back to how Korima had talked to the teachers and even the owner of the shop where she’d purchased the eternal ice for summoning Zaria.
“Not a surprise in the slightest,” Sir Pendas said, nodding in understanding. “Korima has always been… enthusiastic, and treats almost everyone that way.”
“Very true. Which is why I almost had to have her on a leash sometimes,” Rithara said, and laughed as she added, “I truly did have to for most of the month she decided to stay in the shape of a fox. Thank goodness she grew out of that phase.”
“She stayed in the shape of a fox for a month? Really?” Ruethwyn asked, her mouth slightly agape at the idea.
“I remember it. Korima could be stubborn at times,” Sir Pendas agreed, looking at Rithara. “What do you think made her finally change back?”
“Probably not being able to talk, honestly. It was almost like she wouldn’t shut up for a day or two,” Rithara said, shrugging.
They were getting deeper into the forest, and Ruethwyn had noticed that it was significantly different than most forests she’d been in. Most had a lot of deadwood lying about, along with other rubble or outcroppings. This forest felt… cared for. She didn’t see any fallen trees or stumps, and the light through the branches above gave it a restful, serene feel.
As she watched, Ruethwyn saw a flicker of movement, as something pale darted through the trees in the distance, just at the corner of her vision. When she looked, she didn’t see anything, but Ruethwyn frowned for a moment anyway. Finally, she shook her head, since she was fairly sure that it had been one of the spirit foxes. She didn’t know what they looked like for sure but being pale and ephemeral seemed likely.
“How far are we from where the meeting will be?” Ruethwyn asked after a moment. “I’m not objecting to a walk, I just… well, I’m curious.”
“Not too far. Maybe another ten minutes, then we should be there,” Rithara said, looking up and considering. “Perhaps forest isn’t quite the right term for this, but it’s good enough.”
“It’s part of the forest,�
�� Sir Pendas added, nodding. “It’s an oversized grove, in many ways.”
“I see, well it’s still quite large enough,” Ruethwyn said, smiling and taking a breath of the forest air.
The two fell into an odd silence after that, as if enjoying the experience as they followed the path as it wound through the trees. Here and there, Ruethwyn saw the occasional stone marker, most of them in the form of short pillars that were covered in moss. Eventually, they came around a tree and Ruethwyn saw the first hints of another building.
It looked a lot like the houses in town. Perhaps that shouldn’t have surprised her, but somehow it did. The stone building looked a little older than the ones in town, but it was well-cared for, from what Ruethwyn could see. As they continued forward, more of the buildings came into sight, until it looked almost like a small village itself, composed of at least a dozen buildings. In front of them, near the end of the path, Ruethwyn saw a platform of stone raised a few inches above the forest floor, stretching less than ten feet from one side to the other. Atop it was a pillar and a polished bronze bowl. To either side of the platform were five chairs, for ten in total, and there were another three chairs facing the platform.
No one could be seen, though, and a chill ran down Ruethwyn’s spine. It wasn’t quite like the deathly stillness of Mellesyn after the attack, since here she felt life. Like she was being watched. But even so, she couldn’t help the anxiety that was flowing through her.
“You mean no harm, so you have nothing to fear, Ruethwyn,” Rithara said, putting a hand against Ruethwyn’s back as she slowed and pushing her forward gently. “Come, now. You’re a friend of the clan, so in a way that makes these your allies as well.”
“Perhaps so, but it’s so… so quiet,” Ruethwyn said, swallowing hard. “It reminds me of Mellesyn, afterward. Not much, but a little.”
“This isn’t your unfortunate hometown, young lady.” A man’s resonant voice spoke instead of either of Ruethwyn’s guides, and Ruethwyn froze as she looked to the side and spotted the speaker to her right, standing just behind a tree. She hadn’t even noticed that he was there.
The man had longer hair, and it was a silver that extended to his tail and ears. He was handsome, if ageless in a way she couldn’t quite identify. It was like a carving that had been slightly worn, but which had persisted for ages untold. He might wear trousers and a tunic much like the villagers, but there was a presence about him, a depth in those deep amber eyes that made it difficult for Ruethwyn to breathe, if only for a moment. It was nothing compared to Imris, but Ruethwyn could count the number of beings that had made her react that way on both hands, or possibly just one.
As Ruethwyn steadied herself, the man’s eyebrows rose and he nodded slowly, murmuring. “I see. Come, please sit. The others will take a few more minutes before they arrive.”
“Thank you, Lord Noril,” Sir Pendas said, bowing deeply. “It’s a great pleasure to see that you’re doing well.”
“I can’t go fading away just yet, hm? My mother hasn’t returned from her journey, and I’m not going to precede her,” Lord Noril said, smiling slowly in response, in a way that seemed to light up the clearing. “I’d never hear the end of it once she joined me.”
The other two kitsune laughed, and Ruethwyn smiled hesitantly, not quite understanding what was going on. Still, since they were heading for the chairs, she followed. They took the two side ones, leaving Ruethwyn the middle chair. She took it, settling in as best as she could, considering the butterflies that felt like they were bouncing around in her stomach.
“Ruethwyn, this is Lord Noril, the eldest of our elders who currently live in the Spirit Forest,” Rithara said, gesturing to the man, then smiled at him as she added. “This is Ruethwyn Sylaris, Lord Noril.”
“I’m… I’m pleased to meet you, Lord Noril,” Ruethwyn said, swallowing hard as she bowed her head.
“No need to be so nervous. We don’t tend to bite, despite our ability to shapeshift,” Lord Noril said, slowly walking over to the platform and stepping onto it, then ran a finger along the edge of the bowl and creating a soft chime. “Besides, I am not the eldest of our people. Simply the eldest who has not chosen to go out and explore the world further.”
“For which we are quite thankful,” Sir Pendas said, smiling broadly. “If all the elders left, who would pass down their wisdom to us?”
“Presumably those who hadn’t undergone the Changing yet,” Lord Noril replied, smiling in return. “It’s what other species do, and we would be no different.”
The others fell silent, and Ruethwyn swallowed hard, then asked, “Um, pardon me, Lord Noril, but may I ask what you meant about my hometown? It sounded almost… well, like you had personal knowledge of it.”
“No, not personal knowledge,” Lord Noril corrected gently, and as he spoke, Ruethwyn saw a blue-eyed kitsune woman with hair that matched his leave one of the houses and calmly, serenely start walking toward them. “When Rithara was rescued, we decided that we needed to know more about each of you who were involved. Most of the others were easy to gather information on, but you? Everyone who personally knew you was dead or had been kidnapped by Resvarygrath. As such, we needed to take more thorough measures to learn about you, and we sent some of the spirit foxes most skilled in reading the aura of the past to Mellesyn. They learned what they could, and they shared it with us. Your survival was most fortuitous.”
“Oh. It was… unlikely in the extreme. If Essryl hadn’t chosen to heal me, I would’ve died there,” Ruethwyn replied, swallowing hard.
“You would have,” the approaching woman agreed, nodding politely as she took a seat. More kitsune, all with silver hair, were emerging as well, each of them approaching reasonably quickly. The woman spoke gently as she settled into place. “It might have been kinder of her to let you die, but you’ve proven strong, much as she suspected you were.”
“However, that does not mean that we will necessarily agree to your request,” another kitsune said, his voice deeper than Lord Noril’s. “What you ask for is unusual. Unprecedented, even.”
“That’s not entirely true. We’ve done similar things in asking for the aid of the Sable Lady’s servants,” Lord Noril countered, and the man nodded, obviously conceding the point.
“You… know what I’m going to ask?” Ruethwyn asked, blinking and looking at Sir Pendas and Rithara.
“We didn’t tell them, but that doesn’t mean a bored spirit fox wasn’t listening in,” Rithara replied, her voice a bit dry. “I’m used to not having privacy in the meetings.”
“Boredom is an issue that we all have to deal with,” Lord Noril said, smiling slightly. “But yes, we have some idea of what it is you are going to ask. However, there are still questions that must be answered first.”
“Ah. I didn’t realize,” Ruethwyn said, flushing marginally. One by one, the seats filled with more kitsune, each with the ageless look that she’d noticed on Lord Noril. Some were dressed in elaborate clothing, while others chose to wear garb that wouldn’t look out of place on farmers. It was an odd sight, as five women and five men took seats, leaving Lord Noril standing.
“What reason would you have to know?” Lord Noril asked, looking at his companions, then smiled. “Now then, I believe we should give the floor to the person most interested in Ruethwyn’s request. Orissa?”
A moment later, a figure slowly faded into view between Ruethwyn and the kitsune ancestors, and this one wasn’t that of a kitsune. Instead, it was a silver-white figure of a massive fox with black tips to its ears and tail, one that would likely have weighed far more than Ruethwyn had it been material. She could see through the figure, she realized a moment later, though it was looking at her with steady blue eyes.
It was something more of a shock when the fox spoke in a female voice, though, its voice smooth as could be. “Hello, Ruethwyn. I am Orissa Lightweaver, great-grandmother of Rithara. You have my thanks for assisting in saving her life. Perhaps she isn’t my favorite descendant
, but she holds a special place in my heart.”
“I suppose I should be happy I’m not the least favorite,” Rithara murmured, sounding amused.
“I would’ve done it even if I didn’t know the person who was kidnapped,” Ruethwyn said, shifting slightly in her chair as her gaze darted across the gathering. She didn’t like being in front of so many people, and it was still stranger due to the open forest around them. “I just… it wasn’t right. No one deserves to be kidnapped.”
“I agree, which is why I appreciate it. Now, tell me what it is that you plan, in your own words,” Orissa said, an ear twitching slightly.
“Well, that’s simple. Once I’m done here in the enclave, I’m going to go back to Tyrness and get information from Sir Whisperblade, which I hope will help me be able to infiltrate the Golden Dominion without being noticed. I’m going to go to the Obsidian Palace and sneak inside, as I have a variety of magical tools which I’ve made to help with that,” Ruethwyn explained, then swallowed hard as she continued. “Then I’m going to rescue the villagers from Mellesyn, and any other kidnapped people I can find, and try to sneak out again. I want to rescue them, and I don’t think that I’m capable of doing anything more than that.”
“Then why do you wish for our help?” Orissa asked, tilting her head slightly. It didn’t look like the fox’s mouth was moving at all, Ruethwyn realized.
“Because I’ll stand out in the Golden Dominion. I might be able to dye my hair or the like, but I think I’ll stand out regardless. I’d like to be relatively innocuous, and Korima suggested that I could more easily use illusions or even shapeshift with your help,” Ruethwyn told her, shrugging slightly. “I hadn’t thought of the idea before she suggested it.”
The Obsidian Palace (Through the Fire Book 3) Page 20