The atmosphere inside Rolim’s had a touch of death lingering in the air. It was a smell she was all too familiar with. A taste that made anything she ate seem like it had been covered in ash. Lyra didn’t fail to notice the overwhelming presence of Rangers nursing a drink alone with their thoughts. Those who noticed her offered a nod of recognition before returning to their drink.
Elora guided Lyra to her favorite corner in the back. She appeared unphased by the gloom clinging to every surface. That piqued Lyra’s interest even more than her initial curiosity in the elf. As the official go-between for the Rangers and Timberlands leadership, Elora must have picked up a few techniques for manipulating social interactions. She knew how to hold her own working around so many powerful figures.
Able to sense when the elf used her mental magic, Lyra wasn’t concerned she was being manipulated by the elf. That much she could guarantee. Tinesi trusted her, and she had stood up for Lyra during the meeting they had yesterday. Instead of chasing doubts, shouldn’t she believe her instead?
The staff had delivered their drinks while Lyra sat there pondering to herself. Taking a sip, she tried calming her mind.
“Why don’t you share instead of bottling it all up like the rest of your comrades drinking away their pain in here?”
Shaking her head, Lyra grinned. “You are mistaken. I found you more intriguing than focusing on regret or loss, but that’s beside the point. You offered to listen to what I had on my mind. Given the time restraints I find myself with, my priorities and personal interests, beyond the oaths I have made, have become muddled.”
Elora tucked a stray hair behind her ear. With an amused look on her face, Elora said, “Careful. If my husband found out you thought I was intriguing, he might get jealous.”
Gazing up at the ceiling, Lyra tucked a loose hair behind her ear and said, “His devotion to you and his duty is admirable.” She took another sip of her drink and smiled at Elora. “He reminds me a little of Ryo, except Ryo had focused on raising our son instead of keeping a place like Timberland safe.” Her shoulders sagged as she stared at her hand. Clinching it tight, she said, “It was supposed to be my job to keep them safe.”
“Care to elaborate?” Elora asked with a gentle smile.
The words she desperately wanted to say died on the tip of her tongue. Hand reaching toward her ear, Lyra froze, then sighed.
Reaching out and laying a hand over Lyra’s, Elora said, “I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me. I’m not a mind reader.”
Lyra grinned, raising her eyebrow as if to ask, really?
Elora leaned back. Mouth agape and eyes wide open, the elf placed her hand against her chest in an exaggerated pose of shock and said, “You wound me.”
Unable to hold it in, Lyra let out a belly laugh that drew the attention of her fellow Rangers. How could it not? When she glanced around the room, all she found was a mix of confusion and irritation burning from their eyes. When Lyra thought about it, she found it didn’t matter if her ability to be happy angered them.
Raising her mug in the air, Lyra raised her voice and said, “To the fallen!”
Most raised a toast, echoing her sentiment, but not all. Nothing to be done about them. They had a right to feel the way they did.
No longer pretending to be shocked, Elora rested her head in her palm and said, “Feel like sharing now?”
Lyra felt it at the same time as Elora looked up. A hand gripped her shoulder and pulled back hard. She watched a fist fly towards her face. Her mind split between her amusement at the situation and the words he spat in her direction.
“You were supposed to kill Nasir! My brother is dead because of you.”
His knuckles scraped across her cheek, whipping her head to the side. Could she have prevented it? Yes, but what would be the fun in that? Lyra spat out blood from the cut on the inside of her mouth, grinned, and said, “I will be right back.”
Reaching across her chest, Lyra gripped the hand holding her in place and yanked it forward. Simultaneously, she raised her free arm and elbowed the elf in the throat when he lurched forward.
While he was busy clutching his neck, Lyra pushed her chair back and stood up. Seeing as he was the only one stupid enough to face her, Lyra offered his friends nearby a sympathetic shrug and slammed her fist into his nose. Unbalanced, the impact sent him sprawling on his back. The crunch of his nose against her knuckles left a satisfying amount of blood smeared across her hand.
Lyra could sense the raw pain and anger waffling from the Ranger, but she ignored it. Leaning in, she said, “Get up. What happened to blaming me for not protecting your brother?”
Feeling that tinge of magic when Elora said, “Lyra…”
She raised her hand, whipped her head toward Elora, and said, “Don’t you dare. This is between him and me.”
With a sigh, Elora took a sip and remained silent.
Focused on the elf still holding his bleeding nose, Lyra grabbed his shirt, lifted him to his feet, and raised her fist. ‘Why?” Crunch. “Did.” Crunch. “You.” Crunch. “Not.” Crunch. “Save him.” Crunch. “Yourself?” Instead of punching his already mangled face, Lyra slammed her forehead into his, knocking him out cold.
Still standing over the unconscious Ranger. Blood dripping from her hand. She looked up when the guard burst through the door and closed the distance.
Hand gripping the hilt of his sheathed sword, he said, “What is going on here? Someone rushed outside saying there was a fight.”
Crouching down, Lyra wiped the blood off on the Ranger’s pant leg.” This is Ranger business. Do me a favor and get a message to Haera that Lyra requests her presence at Rolim’s.” She stood back up and crossed her arms expectantly.
“But…”
The rest of the guard''s words lost steam when he met her stare. Backing up quickly, he nearly fell, trying to reach the exit. The owner of the establishment frowned at her and then ordered her staff to get back to work. In short order, Haera appeared inside and strolled over.
“Care to tell me why you summoned me?” Haera said with an edge to her voice that promised regret if the answer didn’t satisfy her.
Unmoved by the pressure that Haera was applying to Lyra with her magic, she pointed at the unconscious elf and said, “He lost his brother tonight and felt the need to blame me for it.”
She kicked him in the leg to see if he responded and said, “I explained how that was a bad idea.”
Relaxing the aura she had pressed against Lyra, Haera smirked and said, “With your fist?”
“He needed to understand the severity of his mistake,” Lyra said with a shrug.
Haera said, “Gorre assigned his brother to guard Kellam. He was an excellent Ranger. I will talk with him after he wakes up,” as she grabbed the Ranger and flung him over her shoulder. “Find me tomorrow. We need to chat.”
Once Haera had left, Lyra grabbed her mug and chugged the rest of it down in one go and said, “Unless anyone else wants to experience Haera’s displeasure, or mine, I plan on continuing my conversation with Elora.”
Silent as the grave, they all focused their gaze on her. Lyra said, “Good,” nodding to herself. Sitting back down, she raised her mug and said, “Can I have a refill, please?”
Elora shook her head as she watched Lyra take a sip from her freshly filled mug. “Was that necessary?”
Put off by the tone of her question, Lyra had to tamp down her agitation. She took a deep breath and said, “I don’t know much about you.” Lyra gestured toward the other Rangers. “But I know about discipline. About fighting for a cause and demanding others to do the same. I know about sacrifice. Everything I fought for, only to be ignored when I told them it wasn’t enough.”
“Told who?”
Lyra clamped down on the rising tide of emotions, leaning into the warmth that Ruven’s consciousness brought her as she refused to dwell on a past she couldn’t change. Clenching her fist, Lyra looked at Elora and said, “Time isn’t on my side. Anyone who gets in my way will stand aside or be stepped upon.”
Massaging the bridge of her nose, Elora sighed and said, “So what is it you want to do with what time you have left?”
Relaxed in her seat, Lyra grinned and said, “Now that is the right question. If I wanted revenge, I would have devoted myself to tracking down Tinesi’s target with her from the start. No, that prize is for her alone.”
Lyra reached toward her face, twirled a lock of hair, and said, “Like it or not, I’m good at killing magical beasts. Becoming a Ranger hasn’t been the worst decision I ever made. But is that enough?”
Elora sat there thoughtfully before she said, “What about Nasir? Do you feel any desire to hunt him down?” Lowering her voice, Elora leaned in and said, “Between you and me, Gorre sent out a message to every town regarding the traitor. He is to be hunted and killed on sight. How many more will die before he meets his end?”
“If you are trying to persuade me, don’t bother. You make a fine point, though. What better goal could there be as the sun reaches out to the darkness for the last time than to hunt him down and find out if he had a hand in Ryo and Airdan’s deaths? This will end. Once and for all.”
Ruvan want to burn bad elf that hurt momma.
Thank you, Ruvan. Together we will bring an end to his fall from the light.
“They won’t let you abandon your duties without a good reason. If you''re determined to hunt him down, find me when the time comes,” said Elora with an amused smile.
The following day, Lyra met up with Haera, who gave her an earful for the incident at Rolim’s the night before. Lyra could sense the pride the elf had, which contradicted her words. That alone nearly made her crack as she held back her smile. The Rangers disciplined themselves. Even if it was just for show.
Free from any lasting consequences, Lyra met up with Keya, who was chatting with her brother. Waving at the siblings, Lyra said, “Hello. How are the two of you holding up?”
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Keya smiled, dark bags under her eyes. Lyra remembered seeing her help care for the injured when she was helping Shaerwyn back to town. She couldn’t recall seeing her in bed when she came back from Rolim’s last night, either.
“You stayed up all night?” Lyra asked. Concern for the elf overshadowed her worries. Paeral didn’t fare any better. His boisterous personality was muted by fatigue. He looked at Lyra and nodded once, not bothering to hide his emotions.
Keya closed the distance and hugged Lyra, and said, “We wanted to make sure everyone was cared for last night. Unlike the others, our group didn’t suffer any casualties.”
Embracing Keya, Lyra said, “Both of you need to rest up. That’s an order. I plan on relaxing myself. We all earned it.” She let go and hugged Paeral, surprising the elf before she waved goodbye and left the Ranger’s compound.
When she was clear from prying eyes, Lyra reached for the pendant under her shirt and brought it out. Ruvan’s warmth flowed into her hand. “Come to me,” she said. Basking in the love she felt from the elemental. Appearing out of the gem in mid-air, Ruvan fell into her arms, snuggling against her chest with a purr of contentment.
Ruvan love momma.
Wrapping her arms around the fox, Lyra let herself relax. Ruvan licked her face. His concern drew her attention to the tears trailing down her cheeks. Deep down in the hidden depths of her very being, her will to keep herself together cracked. The magical aura emanating from her dagger pulsed with ever-increasing power.
Momma, no! Don’t go. Not yet.
Curled up on the ground convulsing, Lyra said, “Help me.”
Ruvan touched his head to hers and sent a blast of magical energy coursing through her body. Flames tightened around the unseen cracks, preventing them from shattering. Lyra tried to grasp how close she had been to submitting to the artifact. Without Ruvan by her side, she would be nothing more than a sentient weapon forever trapped.
Forcing herself back on her feet, Lyra growled and said, “Not yet. I will not give up without finding the truth first.”
Time passed by, but Lyra never spoke about her experience in the forest to anyone. She Focused on being the best Ranger she could be. Haera took advantage of her group surviving the failed ambush and put the three of them to work. On her way back from a patrol, her senses picked up Tinesi’s aura. For the skilled shadow breaker who could conceal her aura, this must be her way of signaling her presence.
Lyra turned to Keya and Paeral and said, “I need to investigate something. Please go on without me. Keya, can you give our report to Haera?”
“Why can''t we…”
Keya punched her brother in the arm, silencing his question, and said, “I will.”
“But Keya?”
His sister glared at him, ending any further argument.
Lyra left the two of them behind and walked toward Tinesi’s presence. Ruvan appeared by Lyra’s side and walked with her in silence. Thoughts of what she would say to Tinesi swam in her mind. The fight with Nasir. What happened to her? Did they defeat the dark mage? Does she need to know how she had to ask Ruvan for help in preventing her transformation? Even if it was only temporary.
When their eyes met, Lyra said, “Hi.”
Tinesi smiled and said, “I see you survived. I’m sorry it took me so long to come back.” The elf looked around, avoiding Lyra. Finding her resolve, Tinesi said, “I’m sorry. We failed to kill the dark mage. He was too powerful under the cover of night. Worse, Kindroth got hurt protecting me.”
Finding her resolve, Lyra said, “I want to hunt down Nasir. Will you take me with you?”
“You what?” Tinesi said, caught off guard.
Ruvan pawed at Lyra’s leg until she picked him up and cradled him in her arms and said, “I want to know the truth. Take me with you.”
“Of course, you can come with me. You are one of us now. What about the Rangers? Do you plan on disappearing?”
Walking up to Tinesi, Lyra shook her head and said, “No. I will ask first. Elora will help me persuade them if they resist. When do you want to go?”
Brow furrowed in thought, Tinesi said, “Tomorrow. I can’t risk any longer than that.”
“Then I better get back,” Lyra said, going in for a hug after she let Ruvan fall to the ground. “Knowing Haera, she won’t let me leave unless I can prove I won’t die in the attempt. Practicing against someone else who can also teleport will be useful.”
Backing away from Lyra, Tinesi said, “We can discuss this more with the others tomorrow. Don’t keep me waiting.”
Lyra felt there was more to the words Tinesi said, but her deeper connection to the aura of others felt restricted ever since Ruvan had to use their magic to keep her from falling apart. A confirmation she desperately needed during a tumultuous time where Lyra felt like she was falling headfirst toward a future she couldn’t change.
On her way to see Haera, Lyra passed by a Ranger who flinched away from her when they made eye contact. Annoyed, she said, “What’s wrong with you?”
“Please don’t punch me. I didn’t say anything, I promise,” the elf said, trying to stay as far away from her as possible.
It all clicked into place. The incident at Rolim’s. Lyra supposed it had been long enough for the rumors to spread until there was little left of the truth. She didn’t mind being feared, though. That left the foolish who wanted to prove themselves and find out how outclassed they were. Leaning into the persona, Lyra took a step toward the Ranger and said, “If you had, you wouldn’t be conscious right now.”
The already nervous elf yelped in fear and ran away. They were supposed to be Rangers. The best warriors her people could offer. Instead, she had to deal with all this.
“Are you done trying to scare away my newest recruits?” Haera asked when Lyra first walked in. “Keya reported in for you already. What brings you to me?”
Not wasting either of their time, Lyra said, “I am going after Nasir, and I can’t do it as a Ranger. Tinesi and her companions are my best bet. To be honest, the majority here wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Haera let out a laugh that left tears in her eyes. “That is what I like about you, Lyra. You don’t skirt around the truth and neither will I. If that is your choice, then you need to prove to me how much of a chance you actually have,” she said with a grin that promised pain.
Haera requested the head healer along with two of their assistants and two at the training grounds. Word of their impending dual spread like wildfire. Lyra surveyed the growing crowd lining up around the perimeter, seeing a few faces she recognized. Paeral waved, his excitement bursting from the seams while his sister was more subdued. Lyra even noticed the elf she knocked unconscious, trying to stay hidden within the crowd, doing his best to avoid making eye contact.
When Lyra joined Haera on the training ground, Haera held up her hand to silence the crowd and said, “Lyra wants permission to hunt the traitor. If she wants to leave us to chase him, she needs to get past me first. The only rule is to check your attack for killing or maiming blows only.” Pulling out two daggers, Haera said, “Show me what you’re made of. I won’t be holding back.”
Drawing her dagger, Lyra chose not to shape it, instead crafting a second out of ice to match the first. Mirroring Haera, Lyra took an offensive stance and grinned in anticipation.
Haera Vanished.
“You got this, Lyra!”
“Watch out!”
Relying on instinct, Lyra felt exactly where Haera teleported to a blink of an eye before she appeared, dagger thrusting toward her shoulder. Ice dagger shattering on impact when she deflected the thrust. Lyra stabbed toward Haera’s outstretched arm, extending the blade when the elf drew back, cutting into the muscle.
Drawing first blood, Lyra grinned.
Go momma! Ruvan believes.
Forced to retreat when Haera swiped at her face with the other dagger, Lyra kicked out, hitting nothing but air when her opponent teleported behind her. Crouching low, Lyra spun around, whipping her leg around in a kick that slammed into Haera’s leg, knocking her off balance.
The crowd gasped. A nearby Ranger said, “How did she do that?” and another said, “Is Haera going easy on her?”
Expecting her to teleport again, Lyra slammed her hand to the ground with a ball of water and created a thin sheet of ice in a small circular area around her. Extending her dagger into a long-curved sword, Lyra stood back up.
“Did she just reshape her weapon? How is that possible?” Murmurs erupted from the crowd.
Slipping on the newly formed ice, Haera fell. Seizing on the opportunity, Lyra thrust toward the Ranger’s belly. Grunting in agitation when Haera vanished before she hit the ice, Lyra raced toward where Haera would be. Teleporting mid-fall, Haera hit the ground. She was quick to rise, but not quick enough.
Lyra threw a fireball at Haera’s feet and a gust of wind immediately after forcing the flames to envelop the elf. Extending and reshaping her weapon into a spear with a thought, Lyra adjusted her trajectory to where the elf would be and swiped her weapon for a leg sweep.
The timing of her blow reminded her of the fight with Nasir when she stabbed him. Stabbing her spear in the dirt next to Haera’s face, Lyra let go of her weapon and stepped back.
Momma won!
The crowd burst into a mix of applause and angry Rangers accusing her of cheating somehow. Lyra ignored them all. Offering a hand to Haera, the elf accepted and rose to her feet. Haera waved over the healer after the barrier dropped and they rushed to her side to heal the wound on her arm among the other minor injuries she had accumulated.
Haera raised a hand in the air, silencing the crowd instantly, and said, “That is enough. I will not tolerate disrespect. I did not go easy on her and she clearly didn’t cheat. We both fought within the limits I set to prevent unnecessary injuries. Her ability to know where I would teleport put me at a disadvantage.”
Glaring at the few Rangers who still grumbled, she said, “That is all. Dismissed.”
Lyra followed Haera back to her room. She replayed the fight over and over, wondering how Nasir would have reacted. His black lightning and earth spikes would be a challenge. He could have killed her that night. Would she bet on him restraining himself next time?
“You have my approval,” said Haera, breaking her out of her concentration. “Come back to us when you are done. That is an order.”
Saluting, Lyra knew she couldn’t promise that. There was too much uncertainty to guarantee anything. This was the path she chose for herself. “Till we meet again.”
The brief trip to the inner part of Timberland was uneventful. She had been there long enough for some residents to wave at her in passing. She greeted them, but otherwise kept to herself. The guards let her pass without stopping her, which was a bonus.
Lyra reached Gorre’s office and knocked. “Come in,” said Gorre, his voice muffled but firm. When he saw her enter, he sighed and said, “No. Now close the door and leave me alone.”
Baffled, Lyra said, “No?”
Narrowing his eyes, he said, “Your little stunt with Haera already reached my ears and I don’t care. Too many died after our last fight, and I can’t afford to send one of our best off to die.”
“But…”
Cutting her off, Gorre pointed at the door and said, “Get out. You have my answer.”
She would have been more frustrated if she hadn''t expected his reaction. Lyra had hoped she could explain herself first, but when Gorre made up his mind, it would take an act of nature to alter his course.
It was time to bring in reinforcements.
“Looking for me?”
Lyra chuckled as she turned around and smiled at Elora.
Pointing her thumb toward the door, Elora said, “We both knew he would never agree to let you go. Haera at least gave you a chance to prove yourself. I won’t bother trying to convince him to change his mind. Our best bet is visiting Kellam.”
Shaking her head, Lyra said, “We just have to convince him to open his door first.”
Elora beamed with a mischievous smile and said, “Don’t worry about that. I have a secret weapon.”
Shrugging, Lyra let Elora pass her and said, “If you say so.” Following behind, they reached Kellam’s door and Elora knocked.
Silence greeted them, leaving Lyra feeling uneasy. She leaned in and said, “Would be upset if I broke his door?”
Elora pondered for a moment and said, “I don’t know. No one has ever been crazy enough to try. This is the only door in Timberland that can lock.”
Gathering water in her hand to freeze over her fist, Elora shook her head and said, “Wait! Wait! Give me a chance to do it my way before we result in violence.”
She maintained her spell but backed off for Elora.
When Elora raised her hand to knock again, a voice within said, “Please don’t destroy my door.”
Shrugging when Elora looked at her, she said, “We need to talk.”
Elora quickly said, “And I have your favorite snack if you open the door.”
After a moment of silence, Lyra heard a shuffle from the other side, then the signature click of the door unlocking. Once the two of them entered, Kellam used his magic to close and lock the door behind them.
Reaching in her bag hanging off her hip, Elora pulled out a small bag and handed it to Kellam. He opened it up and dumped a handful of nuts and berries into his palm and grinned.
Stepping closer, Lyra shook her head when Kellam tried to protect his prize and said, “I’m not here to steal your snack. Nasir needs to die and you’re looking at the one who will do it. Haera approved, and Gorre wouldn’t bother listening to me.”
Elora wrapped her arm around Lyra and said, “So, we need you to approve her request. It is for the greater good.” The telltale magical signature of her mind manipulation laced her words like a fine mist.
Still absorbed in the food, Kellam nodded and said, “Sure. No problem. Was that all?”
They both said, “yes,” simultaneously, which reminded Lyra of the past during her younger days with Ryo. They knew each other so well. Finishing each other''s sentences or replying at the same time was natural. The pain of his loss still hurt, but it was a pain she could live with.
“Good. That means you can go.” With a flick of his wrist, the door unlocked and opened. They didn’t move quickly enough, resulting in a gust of wind which shoved them the rest of the way out before Kellam closed the door and relocked it.
“I suppose I am free to go now.”
“When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow morning. Want to head over to Rolim’s and share a meal first?”
“Not tonight. I can meet you there in the morning.”
On her way out, she met Gorre, who was going to see Kellam. He stared at her, then at Elora, and said, “You didn’t, did you?”
Feigning ignorance, Lyra looked at Elora and said, “Do you hear something?”
Chucking, Elora met Gorre’s glare with a smile of her own and said, “I didn’t hear anything. Must be the wind.”
Lyra felt something coming, causing Elora to bump into her when she stopped. Elora glanced around, seeing nothing, and said, “What’s wrong?”
Catching Gorre’s puzzled expression, Lyra said, “Timberland is under attack.”