《Reverie》


 Chapter 1

    The sound of laughter echoed throughout the open, airy room. The air inside glowed, brightly lit by the midday sun. Only the three looming, shadowy portals blossoming in the corners marred the perfection of the scene around the single, low table set in the middle of the Sanctuary.


    They sat at its sides, the four of them. A broad-chested, tanned man, his sandy hair pulled back into a ponytail and a silk jacket thrown carelessly about his shoulders. Close at his side was a flame-haired woman, her eyes dancing with golden sparks and a scowl on her lips.


    The two across the table stared right back - both were men, but while one nearabouts glowed from under his white-and-charcoal robes, his hair a bright, colorless silver, the other lounged in the shadows and smirked at his fellows from under a perfectly tousled brown mess.


    If someone had walked in, somehow mistaking the room for another, they might at first glance have thought the four ordinary enough. The gods preferred their privacy, after all.


    ¡°Really, my dear, you don¡¯t have to make up excuses to get us to come visit,¡± the mahogany-haired man said, his words sliding across the salt-scented air. ¡°If you wanted to see me, all you had to do was ask.¡± His smile spread from ear to ear as he leered at the diminutive figure across from him.


    The woman - little more than a girl, really - tossed her mane of red waves roughly to the side and offered the speaker a rude gesture in response. The tanned man sitting cross-legged next to her roared with laughter at the affronted expression on his counterpart¡¯s face. His bottle had tipped over in his lap, spilling across his legs and dripping to the reed mats below. He didn¡¯t seem to have noticed.


    She glared, her chin lifted stubbornly. ¡°Excuses! What is this? I summon you here to celebrate, and this is the meager thanks you offer me?¡±


    The woman¡¯s snapped words might have been sharp, but there was no malice in the way her arms folded across her chest, or the warm glow in her eyes. Her cheeks were red and flushed, which had something to do with the tight-clasped leather flask on the table in front of her.


    ¡°Careful, Solune,¡± the pale man said, smiling broadly. His silver hair fluttered ever so slightly as he shook his head in mock disapproval. The wine glass in his hand was still raised for a sip, carved crystal glinting impossibly, but his attention was on his tanned companion. ¡°This might not be our cousin¡¯s home, but I daresay she¡¯ll exact her vengeance for disrespect just the same.¡±


    ¡°Godsdamned straight. Listen to Rellan. Stop trying to stir up trouble,¡± the girl said. She grinned viciously across the table at the dark-haired man, holding the expression until he finally gave in, chuckling into his mug.


    ¡°Fine! Far be it for me to fuss, I suppose,¡± Solune said, watching his companions with a careful, steady gaze and a crooked grin. One eyebrow slowly arched, though, as he glanced around the room.


    Smooth wooden floors, fishing nets strung from elegant screens, bits of driftglass glittering from the ceiling on cords, and the doorway leading out to a pier, with the everpresent ocean looming beyond¡­


    ¡±If I might ask, though, while we¡¯re on the subject¡­Why are we in Efren¡¯s temple, if Shiina called this meeting?¡± he began, delicately raising a single finger. This was not the place he had expected to be whiling away the day.


    ¡°Did you really want to go drink in Shiina¡¯s cave?¡± the broad-chested man asked dryly, staring at the two sitting on the far side of the table. Solune winced, the upraised finger withdrawing ever so slightly.


    Shiina spun on her companion in a flash, teeth bared. ¡°What is that supposed to mean? Is there something wrong with my Sanctuary?¡±


    ¡°Not everyone likes lava as much as you, dear sister. And you have no chairs,¡± Efren said, stage-whispering across the table.


    The muscles in her jaw flexed as she glared at him, matched by the ominous way her fist slowly clenched and relaxed.


    He patted her shoulder carefully, unable to keep from chuckling. Solune was openly following suit, a low, rumbling sound drifting over from his side of the table. And even though Rellan had tried to mask his smile with an upraised hand, feigning a cough, Efren could hear the normally polite man struggling not to laugh.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    He smiled, watching his Divine sister begin hurling blow after blow at their cousins.


    Of course, their comfort wasn¡¯t the only reason the tanned god had insisted on hosting the other three in his Sanctuary.


    <hr>


    The entire temple was a flurry of movement, with the water god¡¯s seers racing this way and that. Not that any of them had to actually do anything, Natalin thought sourly. They wouldn¡¯t even get to as peek in, and neither would she. The visiting gods would go about their business and be on their way without so much as a hello to anyone else. They were only a few feet away, hidden behind the Sanctuary¡¯s massive, elegantly carved door, but it might as well have been miles for how close it got her.


    Fine. So be it. She gave the door one last baleful glare for good measure, and then trotted back towards her room before anyone could spot her. It wouldn¡¯t do for her to get caught. Not today. The very last thing she needed was Gerd to wander past and see her - she¡¯d spend the rest of the day trapped under a pile of books if the aging diviner had his way.


    That wouldn¡¯t do. She had bigger plans.


    The door to her room slid shut behind her with barely a sound, ancient and well-oiled. The instant it had closed Natalin was off, stripping away the ridiculous half-sized robes they insisted on dressing her in and leaving them a puddle of blue silk on her floor. The clothes she tore out from the very back of her wardrobe were plain cloth by comparison, rough-woven in browns and greens without any of the temple¡¯s familiar insignia stitched along the collar or hem. But that was the point.


    She¡¯d been collecting the clothes for weeks, pilfered from the laundry on chore days, keeping such a chance as today had turned out to be in mind. Their owners would probably never even notice that they¡¯d lost anything, and the stolen garments fit well enough to pass muster. No one out in the antechamber would take any notice of a common-dressed child leaving the temple grounds along with the daily masses.


    Probably.


    The girl¡¯s mind raced as she pulled the fabric over her head, hands suddenly clumsy with too much adrenaline and excitement, but she schooled her thoughts back to a careful, placid smoothness. She didn¡¯t think that Efren would be listening in on her thoughts - not if he was as far along in his cups as she suspected - but him picking up on her plans would put an end to her big day as quickly as boring old Gerd.


    The whole temple was in an uproar. Four gods, in their Sanctuary? The confusion and clamor might have been needless, but she certainly wasn¡¯t going to let such an opportunity pass by without making the most of it.


    The door slid open as silently as it had closed a mere minute before. Slowly, carefully, Natalin slipped out into the hall. Her eyes flicked from side to side, one last check for anyone walking the temple, but she was already committed. Down the hallway she went, her heart in her throat and her steps nearly inaudible against the smooth wooden floors.


    Even dressed in common garb, there was no way that she could manage to pull off sneaking through the grand floor of the main temple. There were too many seers there, all of whom would recognize her face even with a scarf pinned over her hair to hide the blue streaks and her impossibly sea-green eyes downcast. The temple was designed to corral guests, not give them nooks and crannies to hide in, and that made her options limited.


    But there were ways. Natalin stared at the one she¡¯d been eyeing for weeks, trying to calm her breathing. The service exit. It was perfect for all of her needs - unwatched, inconspicuous, and it would deposit her right onto the shoreline, where visitors liked to mingle and set lanterns out to sea.


    It was also locked.


    You¡¯ve practiced this. It¡¯s just like you¡¯ve done over and over again. Telling herself that didn¡¯t make her feel any better, but there was nothing for it. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, trying not to think how much trouble she was going to be in if a seer came along and caught her.


    She could feel it, lurking just under the surface of her skin. The mana waited, always present, always at the ready. Years ago when she had first dipped into her reserves and brought a swift-passing summer rainstorm down over the temple, the well of it had felt like a mere puddle, shallow enough for her to see the bottom. But that was years behind her. She was twelve already, almost fully realized as an Ascended, and things were different.


    The well stretched out under her fingertips, seemingly bottomless. Just a finger - that was all. Gerd had lectured her over and over again about the importance of subtlety. Control. Natalin dipped a single finger into it, threading the mana out delicately and carefully. Her eyes slid open a fraction, in time to watch the glimmer of water droplets take form over her waiting palm. The smell of rain flooded the hallway at her casting, but that would fade soon enough once she was gone. She resisted the urge to smile. She hadn''t won yet.


    Instead, the girl pressed the water into the door, filling the keyhole until it dribbled out onto the floor. A bead of sweat ran down her temple as she molded it, feeling each pin click one after the other. When the last one settled into place, she froze the water with a flick of her fingers. And then she did smile.


    Pulling the door open before Gerd could come around the corner, shrieking with horror at her forbidden departure, Natalin whisked the ice key from its perfectly fit home and ran out into the sunlight.

 Chapter 2

    ¡°So...Shiina. Not that I don¡¯t appreciate the drink, and Efren, your temple is as lovely as always, but, well,¡± Rellan said, his voice light and even-tempered. ¡°Was there a particular reason that you wanted to share our company today?¡±


    He toyed with the glass between his hands, still smiling.


    Her golden eyes rolled at the sound of his voice, as though his interruption were unwelcome. The girl sighed dramatically, casting a withering look his way, but she couldn¡¯t keep the grin from her lips.


    Rellan waited patiently. She¡¯d reach the point eventually, after the usual blustering and dramatics. She always did - each of them was nothing if not predictable, in the end, and the fire goddess simply liked to put on a show. He could wait. They had all the time in the world, after all. And the drink was good.


    ¡°Oh? A reason? I couldn¡¯t say,¡± she said, preening herself like a crow and reaching for her flask. ¡°I¡¯m sure there was something, but it¡¯s simply slipped my mind.¡±


    Solune chuckled, nose-down in his mug.


    Efren slapped her back, hard enough to send her reeling forward. ¡°Oh, has it, now?¡± He leaned over the table so that he was alongside her, chuckling.


    She glared over at him, hands braced on the edge to keep from slamming into it.


    His deep blue eyes twinkled right back. ¡°Hmm. That¡¯s troublesome. We¡¯ll have to think of some way to jog your memory.¡± His hand was raised for another slap to her shoulder. She flicked him on the forehead before he could, sparks flying from the impact, and he fell back laughing.


    ¡°If my memory serves me, the last time you called one of these delightful ¡®meetings¡¯ - and invited my own charming self into your lovely home - Well, it was some years ago, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Solune said, his silken voice conspiratorial as he leaned forward to put his elbows on the table. One hand stroked the smooth line of his jaw like it was covered in hair. ¡°And if I recall, that little gathering was to announce the birth of your next Charred, was it not?¡±


    ¡°It has been a number of years, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Rellan picked up where his brother left off, eyeing Solune contemplatively. Nodding his head as though having come to an understanding, he snapped his fingers. A burst of light accompanied the gesture, casting the table into momentary, sharp relief. ¡°Could it be, cousin of mine, that your favorite child has finally come of age?¡±


    Shiina smiled, a slow, triumphant expression. Smug satisfaction radiated from every pore of her body. ¡°Why, Rellan. How astute.¡±


    Her hands interlaced in front of her like an arch as she looked out at the rest of the group. ¡°Yes, indeed. My Charred¡¯s Ascension is complete, and he is now of age. Ready to use all that wonderful power in full, I think.¡± Her smile grew, proud and bright. ¡°It has been too long since we¡¯ve had a Presentation, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    <hr>


    The crowds were thick around the perimeter of the temple. Natalin didn¡¯t mind that - it gave her more of a chance to blend in and slip away. She needn¡¯t have worried. Tucked into the rest of the faithful so tightly that she could hardly move, none of the Seers scattered around the temple district so much as saw her, let alone recognized their beloved Tideborn.


    She echoed the phrase in her mind as it surfaced, apprehension-laden disgust accompanying the title. Favored hero of the gods, the Ascended of Efren. It was a blessing, they said. A boon from the Wavebinder, the Everdeep, Lord of the Waves - and so was she.


    She¡¯d never have known it from the way they kept her wrapped up so tightly in tasks and training, endless chores and memorization of ten thousand hymns, strangling the air from her until she could hardly breathe. The only time she was even as allowed to step outside of the temple into the city - her city, supposedly, hers and Efren¡¯s - was on carefully structured outings, visits to the riverlord or the Council District or some other educationally relevant destination.


    The riverlord wasn¡¯t interesting. And neither was the Council District, filled with rich, arrogant citizens who openly stared at her wide-eyed and gaping. She¡¯d begged again and again to be allowed to visit the rest of Aramoor, even for a single afternoon, but each attempt had been met with refusal. She was too busy with her lessons, or no one was available to escort her, or the city was too dangerous. They gave a vast array of excuses, but the answer was always the same.


    Well, Natalin was tired of refusal. It was long past time to take matters into her own hands.


    And now she danced lightly across the last bridge connecting the grand stilt-standing temple to the rest of the city, eyes wide. The whole of Aramoor lay out in front of her, waiting for her to find it. Every so often someone would jostle her, passing by in the rush of the crowd, and not one of them stopped to offer pale-faced apologies or beg her forgiveness.


    It was wonderful.


    Her mind raced. Where should she go first? She could go to the gates, and if she got there fast enough, she might even have time to go outside the city for a little while. Her skin prickled as she thought about how angry her advisors would be to hear of that little jaunt. The thought was enough to put an even wider smile on her face.


    And yet, as Natalin pointed herself towards where the gates should be, assuming she¡¯d read her stolen map correctly, she found herself lingering. Step by step, she wandered deeper into the heart of the city, not out towards the outside world. The noise and life of the crowd carried her in, and she followed happily.


    Gerd called Aramoor the city of bridges, and he wasn¡¯t wrong, she decided. The whole city was built onto the scattered islands and inlets of a vast river delta, buildings and homes constructed haphazardly wherever a square of halfway dry, stable land was found. The resulting mess was tied together with bridge after bridge, enough that despite the hours of training the old diviner made her suffer through, her calves were beginning to ache.


    It didn¡¯t matter, though. With the temple fading into the hazy shoreline behind her, she could finally see it. And hear it, with the din of voices raised echoing in her ear. The markets. If the wind was blowing the right way, sometimes they could smell the foods cooking there even inside the temple¡¯s walls. And finally, she was looking right at it.


    Here and there the girl spun, standing among the narrow, tight-pressed shops. There was so much there it had to offer - jewelry, hanging from vibrant, colorful displays. Bolts of cloth, laid out for a prospective customer to stroke or inspect. In the dark corners of the market lurked smaller, more unofficial stores, laid out with knives in quick-to-conceal canvas rolls.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    And the food. The meals at the temple were beyond complaint, but they were simple, and invariably consisted of some form of fish. Natalin didn¡¯t dislike fish. But after eating it every day for twelve years, she was beginning to find it a bit tiring. Her eyes feasted on the stalls she saw before her, dishes whose names she didn¡¯t know and snacks she couldn¡¯t begin to guess how to eat. She might not have been familiar with the foods, but her nose didn¡¯t lie, and it was most certainly interested.


    She fingered the pouch of coins tucked in her pocket with the tiniest flicker of guilt. Everyone at the temple was so trusting. They had no reason to suspect she¡¯d do something like steal from the offering chest after the temple had closed for the night. They¡¯d put their faith in her.


    It wasn¡¯t too late, she thought wistfully. She could turn around, be on her way, and drop the coins back into tonight¡¯s collection. No one would ever know she¡¯d done something as petty as steal.


    Her scarf rustled gently as the wind turned, blowing in off the ocean. The smell of sea salt mixed with slow-roasting meats drifted towards her.


    Well, just a little, then. The offerings were for her and Efren, after all.


    If the shopkeeper noticed the few strands of ocean blue hair escaping from the scarf of the girl tossing coins at him, or recognized her striking blue-green eyes, he kept such observations to himself. But the portion of heavily spiced meat he handed over was more generous than strictly necessary, and there was a little more warmth pressed into his smile than for his other customers.


    Natalin turned on her heel as she walked slowly, devouring the vendor¡¯s food with abandon and picking her next target. Her eyes had fixed onto a sight barely visible over the buildings around her. The tall, delicately tapered points of masts, billowing with flags and color. The harbor.


    Her feet were already moving, carrying her onward.


    <hr>


    The Sanctuary had rapidly descended back into the near-raucous party their ¡®meetings¡¯ usually turned into. Shiina alternated between taking long draughts from her leather-wrapped bottle and blowing fire into the faces of whoever was nearest. Solune and Rellan kept her spinning, constantly twitching at the pale man¡¯s flicked sparks of light or the endless stream of pebblestones the god of shadows seemed to have tucked into his pockets. Efren just sat back and roared with laughter at the irritated look on her face, his cheeks red.


    ¡°Now, Flameweaver,¡± Solune said, smirking as he sent a tiny stone sailing across the table. It connected with a dull thud, right in the center of her forehead, and she spat a fireball across the table to singe his eyebrows. ¡°What¡¯s the plan, dearest? At least tell me you¡¯re stopping by our place before coming here.¡± His pale violet eyes danced as he pursed his lips, all his attention fixed on the feisty woman. She glared back at him.


    That was the tradition - each of the Ascended would visit the city and Sanctuary of the other gods, when they were ready to take up their title and responsibilities. Ostensibly, it was so that each of the gods got a good look at the competition, and none of them could hide away their favored.


    In reality, though, the Presentation had become little more than an excuse to drag out all of the citizens and throw a celebration with their rival nation. It was good for the citizens to become accustomed to the strange and powerful figures who would soon be running all over their country, after all, so none of the Four took issue with the way things had developed.


    Shiina blocked Solune¡¯s next projectile with a sweep of her hand, flames fanning out in its wake. Her beady gaze never faltered. ¡°Fear not, Everdark. You will get your turn with the boy. In time.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I know it,¡± Solune said, his grin growing. ¡°I just want to make sure I get my turn first, as befits a god of my stature.¡± As he finished, he sent another stone flying. Shiina brought her hand up with a snarl, but it vanished into darkness as it left his fingers. The goddess flinched, pressing a hand to the back of her head as it reemerged behind her for the strike.


    ¡°Try it again and I¡¯ll roast you,¡± she warned, shaking a finger at the god of shadows with her free hand.


    ¡°Terrified, sweetling. Really,¡± the god said, chuckling as he leaned back. He raised his finger again, arching one eyebrow as Shiina raised a hand in warning. She jumped, squeaking, as a burst of golden sparks hit the back of her hand. She¡¯d left herself open.


    ¡°Ash and flame, Everbright, if you try that again I¡¯m going to come over there and-¡±


    She spun to face him, rapidly descending to terms colorful and descriptive enough that even Efren drew back slightly. Rellan only grinned innocently, his chest shaking in silent laughter at the look of pure spite on her face.


    ¡°And what of you, my big friend?¡± Solune said, twisting in his seat to face the water god while Shiina laid into his brother. His mug sloshed, leaving him frowning at the stained sleeve of his embroidered blue tunic.


    Efren raised an eyebrow, wordless.


    The Everdark smirked. ¡°You have your little one around here somewhere, right? Don¡¯t think you can fool me. Wouldn¡¯t she like to meet the rest of the family, while we¡¯re here?¡± His finger waggled dangerously under the bare-chested god¡¯s nose. ¡°You¡¯ve haven''t hidden her from me, have you?¡±


    Efren grinned, taking another swig from his bottle, but only shook his head. ¡°Oh, you know. She¡¯s around. Somewhere.¡±


    <hr>


    Her eyes were wide and round as she stared up at the soaring masts, taking in the broad hulls and the bustle of activity. The harbor was somewhere she¡¯d never even been allowed to dream of going, deemed far too rough for the girl and a waste of time besides.


    Maybe it was a waste of time. Natalin didn¡¯t care. She skittered up the winding shoreline road, dodging sailors and carts until she could step out onto the great, wide wharf.


    Her parents had been sailors. That¡¯s what she had been told, anyway, one of the only tidbits she''d been able to glean of her life before Efren claimed her. Fishermen, really, or they were, right up until they waited a little too long to return to harbor and were caught in the sights of a burgeoning storm. The story should have sent her shivering back to dry land, as far from the boats as she could get. It had exactly the opposite effect on her.


    She¡¯d been out on the water, of course. Being able to sail and control the waves properly was an essential lesson even for the mundane, non-Ascended seers of the temple, and she¡¯d be a complete failure as Tideborn if she couldn¡¯t keep up. But there was a difference between the little skiff Gerd sent her out on, doomed to endless laps up and down the shoreline, and these magnificent vessels.


    What would it be like, Natalin wondered, to sail out so far that you couldn¡¯t see land anymore? Where would you go? What else was out there, beyond their city? She smiled to herself, dreaming of distant islands and continents over the horizon.


    She was so lost in her own thoughts that at first she didn¡¯t notice the man at all. It wasn¡¯t until he stumbled into her that she flinched, coming back to earth with a snap.


    ¡°Sorry- I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said, staggering back half a step as he straightened. His cheeks were flushed as he glared down at her.


    ¡°Th-That¡¯s it?¡± the man slurred, struggling to focus his eyes on the girl. ¡°Seems like...kids u-used to have manners.¡± A thick, filthy finger was thrust under her nose.


    Natalin drew back ever so slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. He had stumbled into her, not the other way around.


    But she could smell the alcohol on his breath, and it was clear that he was one of the dockworkers from his stained brown uniform. The last thing she needed was to be caught out by picking a fight with a local.


    And so she nodded, smiling sheepishly, and shoved all of the irritation somewhere he wouldn¡¯t notice. ¡°You¡¯re right. Sorry about that. I¡¯ll be more careful.¡±


    Turning on her heel, she surged forward. The end of the pier was still so far off, and the sight of the open ocean behind the ships was calling her. She wanted to see.


    The breath left her in a gasp as she was pulled back roughly. Her arm ached from the sudden tug, but she caught herself before she fell. She snapped her head back, eyes hard-set over her shoulder. It was the man, of course. He was scowling, apparently still not satisfied.


    ¡°I said, it seems like-¡± the drunk began, his hand wrapped around her wrist. He gave it another tug for emphasis, and just like that, years of training kicked to life.


    His words died as Natalin stepped closer, sliding into his instep. He was already off-balance and staggering, leaving him just enough time to gasp.


    And then he sailed through the air as she threw him into a nearby stack of crates.

 Chapter 3

    ¡°What about you, Everbright?¡± Efren boomed, slinging an arm around the neck of the pale god. ¡°How¡¯s your girly shaping up?¡±


    ¡°Well...She¡¯s still learning, you know,¡± Rellan said, twisting futilely in an attempt to break free of the water god¡¯s muscular arm. He settled for finding an angle he could breathe at, grinning up at his cousin. ¡°She¡¯s just a child. She¡¯ll get there.¡±


    ¡°Katell,¡± Solune said with a nod, raising his mug in a toast. ¡°She¡¯ll do. Eventually.¡± A crooked smile flashed onto his face as he glanced at his brother, his opinion of the Chosen¡¯s progress clear. Rellan frowned, folding his arms in mock anger.


    ¡°You idiots,¡± Shiina sighed from across the table, finally settling back in her seat. ¡°You get yourselves worked up with these notions of kids and training.¡± She shook her head slowly. ¡°If you keep coddling them they will never amount to anything.¡±


    ¡°Shiina, dearest, it¡¯s not always a good idea to throw your Ascended into deep waters simply to find out if they can swim,¡± Solune said, one eyebrow arching delicately as he twisted to face her.


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± the fire goddess said briskly, folding her arms firmly across her chest. ¡°Doing is the best way to learn. They never have any illusions about the world , do they?¡±


    ¡°And how many of them wind up maimed and bleeding on the doorsteps of our healers?¡± Efren shot back, relaxing as he released the god of light.


    Rellan straightened, rubbing the back of his neck, but nodded along with Efren¡¯s words. As the two gods whose arts encompassed restoration, it too-often fell to the Everdeep¡¯s seers and the Everbright¡¯s priests to clean up the messes of their more reckless siblings.


    Shiina¡¯s cheeks flushed faintly pink on top of their already rosy glow.


    ¡°Well, I suppose it is not a perfect system,¡± she muttered, glaring daggers at Efren. Her finger came up in a flash, held inches from his nose. ¡°But you¡¯d best be careful, brother. If you keep cloistering your girl up in the temple like an invalid, she shall be nigh useless when she comes of age.¡± The finger jabbed forward again. ¡°You need to let her experience life. Let her make mistakes. Get burned. Crack a few heads.¡±


    He shrugged slowly and deliberately, a laugh rolling out from his belly, and raised his drink.


    ¡°Now, sister, I agree with that completely.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Efren¡¯s giant, salty- what¡¯s goin¡¯ on here? The hell is this?¡±


    This had not gone like she planned.


    Her instructors would have been proud of the clean, effortless way she had tossed the man over her shoulder. And it was truly a stroke of fate that the crates had been there to break his fall, leaving him panting and breathless in a pile of shattered wood and straw.


    But, it turned out, the sailors whose cargo she had just smashed were less than amused about the whole business. From the angry way their eyes flicked between the face of the man out cold and hers, she was also getting the impression that he was a friend. Even better.


    She held her hands up innocently, disarmingly, and tried not to look at the fragments of crate slowly floating out into the harbor below the dock.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry about your cargo. Really. I-¡±


    ¡°Salt and spray, what do you think you¡¯re doing, brat? That was supposed to go out today.¡± The sailor bore down on her, broad as a wall and tall enough to throw a shadow over her. ¡°How are you goin¡¯ to fix it, huh?¡± His face was screwed up in rage, and his fellows were beginning to wander over towards them.


    She flinched back instinctively. ¡°I-I¡¯m sure that we can figure something out, if you¡¯ll just let me-¡±


    He lunged forward with a roar, his hand snapping out to grab at the front of her shirt. She reached inside instinctively, pulling at the waters underneath them, but her heart was pounding. Her pulse beat rapid-fire in her ears, distracting her, and her fingers slipped. The seawater slid away uselessly.


    No, something inside her sighed.


    She threw herself to the side instead, and the man grabbed her elbow rather than her collar.


    She should call for help. There would be guards around - they were never all that far. They would help her. Or she should call Efren - his disapproval over her misadventures would be better than if he found that she¡¯d let herself get hurt, she knew.


    But she couldn¡¯t. The stubbornness welled up, surprising even her. There was no way she was just going to go crying back to his skirts.


    ¡°What, you¡¯re just goin¡¯ to run?¡± He bellowed in her ear. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Who¡¯s goin¡¯ to pay for all this?!¡± The other sailors were all nodding sagely, satisfied to watch their friend handle the problem.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Natalin tugged at her arm, trying to free it from the man¡¯s grip, but he jerked it higher, pulling her off balance. She bit down on the squeak of pain that threatened to come out. She couldn¡¯t think with him holding her half-aloft, screaming in her ear. She couldn¡¯t breathe.


    Ice. She needed ice - under his feet, under his hand, anything. She plunged back down into the bottomless pits of her well, grabbing fistfulls of power, but it came out as a limp, undefined wave of water that splashed across her captor.


    No, no, no. Not like that, the voice said in her ear. She could hear the way he chuckled, trying and failing to hold back his laughter. His presence was like a cold breeze on the back of her neck, tucked deep into the corners of her mind.


    Watch. One more time. And then she felt his touch, taking her by the wrists. Together they dipped delicately into her well, pulling forth a fraction of what she had frantically grabbed. Slowly, but growing in confidence the faster she went, he led her through the motions.


    The waters under the dock roiled and surged, coating the wharf in frigid waters. Her fingers followed half a beat behind, flash-freezing the whole pier in the time it took to snap her fingers.


    Steady. Easy, now, lass. Breathe. Efren said, his invisible hands resting casually on her shoulders.


    The sailor went down, still bellowing, and she froze his shirt to the thick, fast-steaming patch of ice before he could push himself back up. The roar from behind told her that his friends weren¡¯t going to stand around and watch any longer.


    Even though she was a cleric? Even though the fact that a child was using Efren¡¯s magic clearly marked her as the Tideborn, with the full protection of the Riverguard and temple? She offered the filthy, incoherent men a withering glare for their lack of common sense.


    Natalin could still feel Efren watching, taking stock as she pulled the sea waters into a cord, but he seemed content to let her handle it. Her face already burned with embarrassment that she was in this mess in the first place, that she had needed his help at all.


    She was the Tideborn. She should be able to handle a few rowdy sailors.


    One lash of the frigid rope, spraying chunks of rapidly-freezing water down the pier and up the sailors¡¯ legs, and she¡¯d put wrist-thick cords of ice across their feet and down to the boards of the wharf. They bellowed like stuck pigs, but no matter how they fought, they couldn¡¯t get free.


    Time for her to leave.


    The pounding of feet coming up the road, just on the shore, put an end to that notion as she turned on her heel. Her heart sank as she saw the squad of silver-clad Riverguard pounding their way towards the dock. Well, their brawl hadn¡¯t exactly been stealthy. It only made sense that someone had called for help.


    ¡°You don¡¯t suppose we could...¡± she began wistfully, eying the calm waters of the harbor. It would be so easy to slip out onto the waters and be gone before the guards blew her cover.


    ¡°Not even a chance,¡± Efren said with a chuckle, springing into place beside her with a swirl of fog. ¡°I hope you had a good day out, waterlily, because now I think that someone is going to want to have a word with you.¡±


    Her lips pressed into a thin line as she glared at him, anxiety rising. He roared with laughter at the sight.


    The Riverguard overtook her in an instant, never so much as seeing the god in their midst, and she sighed. She knew what came next.


    <hr>


    ¡°Of all of the childish, irresponsible things that you could have done, I never thought you would try anything like this!¡± Gerd bellowed, the veins in his skeletal neck standing out. ¡°Do you know, we spent an hour searching the city for you? Do you know how our people worried?¡±


    Natalin winced, drawing back ever so slightly as the diviner continued with his rant. So far it had been half an hour of his screaming, and they¡¯d covered a variety of topics ranging from the disrespect she¡¯d shown her tutors to her failure to live up to the responsibilities of her title. Referring to her as a child seemed to be the common point between all of his arguments, a comfortable place to return to before he began anew.


    Trying to look as though she was listening dutifully rather than tuning him out, she did just that. Her mind was still too full of the things she¡¯d seen that day to focus on his reaming her out. Back and forth Gerd paced, still frothing at the mouth about how her predecessor must be rolling in his grave. She was miles away all the while, standing on the high decks of those ships as she traversed the open sea.


    Shouldn¡¯t you listen at least a little? The Waterbinder¡¯s amused voice rumbled in the back of her mind. She flinched, drawing an irritated glare from her advisor.


    I have listened. I¡¯m listening right now.


    ...right. His slow response told her exactly how little he believed that little lie. Luckily for her, it didn¡¯t seem as though he particularly cared, either.


    Aren¡¯t you going to be angry, too? she muttered silently to him, keeping her face carefully blank.


    He chuckled. Ah, well. It¡¯s Aramoor. It¡¯s not like you wandered off to fight pirates or bandits or go start a war. His tone was scornful enough to prompt a chuckle from her. G


    erd stiffened, his face going incandescent, but she ignored him.


    Rules are rules, waterlily. It¡¯s fine to break them, when you feel you must. But when you do, there are consequences to pay. Efren¡¯s voice took a serious turn, although she could still hear the humor soaking through.


    I know. She thought back, swallowing a sigh. Gerd stopped, going stiff for a long moment, and then glared at her. His gaze went distant for a second, the intensity vanishing.


    Natalin blinked, taken aback at the sudden change.


    ¡°That¡¯ll be all for now. We will speak of this at greater length - later. See it doesn¡¯t happen again.¡± Spitting the words at her, he thundered off towards the Sanctuary.


    She stared after him, her brow furrowing more by the second as she tried to piece together what had just happened.


    ¡°Oh, look. Our diviner has just found more important tasks. Ones demanding his immediate and personal attention. You¡¯re welcome,¡± Efren said dryly, looming over her out of nowhere with a gust of salt-scented wind.


    Natalin eyed him carefully. If he was was out and about this much, then the other gods must have vanished from the Sanctuary. She smothered the disappointment that rose up at the realization. She had never been going to see them today, anyway.


    ¡°Important tasks?¡± she ventured cautiously, knowing this was her one shot before Gerd arrived at his door, answering the god¡¯s summons with a whirlwind of activity.


    ¡°Important tasks indeed. Not entirely unexpected, of course.¡± The big god folded his arms, running his fingers through his goatee. He was in a good mood, Natalin realized. Even better than usual. Luckily for her.


    Efren beamed down at her, lingering for one more moment. His outline was already beginning to blur before her eyes.


    He was gone in a second, the mists left in his wake dispersing on the wind, but his final words hung in the air between them.


    ¡°My sister is coming to visit. We''re going to have guests, girl.¡±

 Chapter 4

    The water splashed against the smooth, time-worn wooden boards. Natalin grimaced, dropping her cloth down onto the surface after it, and got back to work.


    She was the Tideborn. She clung to the thought as she scrubbed as hard as she could, her hands screaming their complaint and her shoulders beginning to join in. She was Ondria¡¯s Ascended. Its guardian. Favored of Efren. Mistress of water.


    Why, exactly, was she bent over in one of the temple¡¯s many guest rooms, washing the floors like a scullery maid?


    She had chores just like anyone else living in the temple. Gerd was completely rigid on that much, unwilling to give an inch. Normally, it didn¡¯t bother her.


    Normally, they wouldn¡¯t have been cleaning for two weeks straight.


    True to his word, Gerd had resumed his bellowing as soon as whatever distraction Efren had dreamed up slipped past. Natalin had expected the old diviner to tire himself out, after a little while. He¡¯d risen to the challenge instead. She was fairly certain she¡¯d have been roped into cleaning the temple one way or another - It being her punishment for disobedience just made it impossible for her to argue the matter.


    ¡°You missed that corner, girl,¡± someone said from behind her. Natalin glanced up, finding Remete standing with her arms crossed, a few paces back at the corner of the room¡¯s single, bare bedframe. Her eyes flicked towards the offending spot.


    Natalin hesitated, her hand falling still. ¡°I¡¯m not done.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not. So stop daydreaming, and get back to it. Wind and wave, I¡¯ll not have your laziness leave the Everdeep¡¯s home lacking. Not in front of guests.¡± The old woman¡¯s eyes were a deep brown verging on black, her white hair cropped to her earlobes. There wasn¡¯t so much as a shred of humor lurking in the depths of her gaze as she glared down at the girl.


    ¡°I¡¯m not daydreaming,¡± Natalin muttered, the words soft enough that even she didn¡¯t hear them, but the headswoman was already sweeping past. Her skirts trailed across the wet floorboards, leaving dark streaks on the wood.


    Natalin wrinkled her nose, glaring after her. ¡°Old hag,¡± she muttered. It was just Remi, though, just the way she chose to handle matters of the household. The woman saw after the temple and everyone in it, keeping the seers fed and clothed and their home cleaned. Her being needlessly severe was hardly new.


    Particularly when a rival nation¡¯s delegation was bearing down on them, growing closer with every passing minute. Her heart leapt at the thought. Strangers - in the temple. People besides for the same gaggle of seers she¡¯d seen for years. People who had seen the outside world, who had lived lives completely different from hers. The idea thrilled her.


    Thrilled. Yes. She scowled at the floorboards, picking up her cloth again, and tried to ignore the anxiousness growing in her chest.


    Slow. This was all too slow, too tedious. Glancing back towards the door, she rose to her feet.


    It creaked as she slid it shut. She froze, straining her ears, but there was no sound of running feet, no irritated cry from around the corner. Gerd had been clear - it was a punishment, retribution for her having stolen out from under his watchful eye. She wasn¡¯t allowed to take shortcuts.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    But right then, she didn¡¯t care. He¡¯d never know. The aging steward had a hundred different tasks to complete, feasts to organize and accommodations to prepare. There were more than a few ruffled feathers to soothe, too, irritated councilmembers who didn¡¯t entirely appreciate the temperamental Narai clansmen suddenly piling into the city with so little warning.


    Gerd had bigger tasks to worry about - and all she could feel of Efren was a dull, distant amusement lingering in the back of her mind. If her god had an issue with her using the gifts he¡¯d given her, he didn¡¯t speak up.


    Snapping her fingers, she smiled as the water jumped. Some spilled on the floor, but that was the point, wasn¡¯t it? Her fingers arched, digging into the power she could feel bubbling up from her well. She fixed the memory of the water-rope she¡¯d summoned such a short while before into her mind.


    The water twitched at her touch. She hesitated a moment longer, glancing at the door.


    When no one came barging through, demanding to know the reason for her disobedience, she grinned. And then she got to work with the water, muttering curses about housekeepers and stewards and the godsdamned visitors who were making her life such hell.


    <hr>


    ¡°Eyes forward!¡±


    At the bellowed roar, Natalin flinched. Her chin snapped up, her eyes fixing on the man in front of her. His arms were a blur, his lips pressed into a scowl.


    Her arms shot up to meet his, bringing the quarterstaff she clutched up over her head. His blade slammed into it, hard enough her arms trembled.


    Gritting her teeth, she straightened her arms, letting her hips take the weight as she shifted. Mostyn was tall, and his sword was far heavier than her staff. He¡¯d abandoned his riverguard armor for the session, too, which left him smirking down at her, free of its weight.


    Twisting her hands roughly, Natalin forced their weapons to the side, kicking out in the same motion. He jumped back, not missing a beat, and lunged in again.


    A bead of sweat dripped down her back. She was off-balance, and at a bad angle, but even still-


    Her ankles flexed as she leaned hard, praying she didn¡¯t overbalance. The blade shot past her, close enough she could feel the breeze on her arms. Swallowing a smile, she lunged back in.


    She was good. It wasn¡¯t a matter of pride or arrogance, it was a simple fact. They¡¯d had her training with the new recruits since she was old enough to hold a staff, and there was a reason the riverguard¡¯s youngest captain and current rising star was giving her tutoring sessions. Part of being the god¡¯s favorite child meant that she¡¯d learned...differently. More easily. Knowledge had been gifted to her, bypassing the usual methods of rote practice and putting her years ahead of the competition.


    And yet, when she jabbed straight out, the butt of her staff aimed for Mostyn¡¯s midsection, he didn¡¯t hesitate. He just sidestepped, effortlessly pushing her weapon aside.


    Her eyes widened. He was too fast - it was the lack of armor, wasn¡¯t it? He was always agile, but without the weight holding him down-


    She had just enough time to bring her staff back in, sweeping it in arc over her head, before his blade came sweeping back in - from the side. Not the top, like she¡¯d expected. Natalin gasped, eyes widening. The world around her seemed to slow as she stared at it from the corner of her eye.


    There was no way she¡¯d be able to bring her staff back around in time. He¡¯d have her by then, smashing his blade into her vulnerable side. A hit like that would be a match point. Never mind the training, something like that would be fatal if the fight were real and not simply a drill.


    She was the Tideborn. She couldn¡¯t fail. Not like that. The frustration built, coming to a head at last. Her hand moved without a conscious command, sliding free from the well-worn grip of her quarterstaff and shooting towards Mostyn. Her mana surged and welled up all on its own. The sheer power of it was enough to stun even her. She¡¯d never felt it react so strongly. Then again, it wasn¡¯t often she lost. Natalin felt it explode in a tidal wave, burying her under its frigid rivers and scenting the air with rain.


    Ice sprayed forth a moment later, erupting from her palm like a jagged fan. Before she could blink, before she could pull away, it plunged to the ground, shooting up again just as quickly until a smooth, silvered wall stood between them.


    Natalin pulled away at last. Her hands flew to her face, covering her mouth as her eyes widened. The point of Mostyn¡¯s blade still stuck from the icy surface, inches from where she¡¯d stood. There was no sight of her tutor around the edges of the frozen chunk.

 Chapter 5

    The yard was quiet but for the gentle breeze blowing through. Natalin stared at the block of ice in front of her, aghast.


    ¡°Wind and wave. Godsdamn it,¡± she whispered, feeling the blood drain from her face. ¡°Mostyn! A-Are you there? Can you-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Her shoulders drooped at the sound of the captain¡¯s voice, low and irritated. Relief washed over her. As she watched, the blade quivered, trembling in its icy sheath.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Natalin said, shaking her head. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t mean to. Are you...all right?¡± The relief was fading just as quickly as it had come, replaced by shame. Gerd had said it over and over and over again. Control. Control was the most important part of her magic. Lose hold on it, and she¡¯d be just as dangerous as a typhoon or a blizzard. She¡¯d laughed at him.


    Creeping around the mass of ice, seeing the frost coating Mostyn¡¯s gloves and knowing just how close he¡¯d come to being frozen along with his sword, she couldn¡¯t shake off Gerd¡¯s lesson so easily.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, miss,¡± the riverguard said, a little softer. He watched her for a moment, his eyes losing their cold, hard edge, and then he went back to prying at his sword. ¡°Only- you kind of¡­¡± His words vanished as he gritted his teeth, heaving hard. ¡°I kind of need my-¡±


    ¡°R-Right,¡± she said, the words falling from her in a rush as her need to make amends burned brighter. Her hand came up, sweeping the ice free with a wave as she let her hold on her mana fall away.


    The ice fell away, too, collapsing to chilled water that stained the flagstones of their practice yard. Mostyn yelped, overbalancing as the sword came free out of nowhere. He hit the ground hard a moment later.


    What little color was left in her face vanished instantly. ¡°Gods - Mostyn. I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said, pasting a smile onto his face as he sat back, rubbing his leg. ¡°It¡¯s...part of the job. Right?¡±


    Her mouth hung open for a second, her expression twisting, and then she groaned, her shoulders slumping. ¡°...Right.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry yourself on my account, mistress.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Natalin,¡± she mumbled. She knew it was hopeless. Mostyn had never actually called her by her given name - only ¡®mistress¡¯, or ¡®miss¡¯, if he was feeling informal. The captain had never quite known how to handle her, she knew. He was too used to the brusque, no-nonsense lifestyle of the Riverguard. Being handed a thirteen year old girl and told to get her in fighting shape was simply too far from what he¡¯d expected out of life.


    But as he pushed himself upright, biting back a pained grunt, his lips pressed into a thin line. Retrieving his sword, he slipped it back into its sheath. And then he turned to Natalin, no longer smiling even a little.


    ¡°Now. What was your mistake?¡±


    ¡°Not expecting you to be inhumanly fast.¡±


    ¡°Mistress. Take this seriously.¡±


    Natalin rolled her eyes, resting her staff on the ground like a walking stick. Her shoulders drooped further. ¡°I was watching your eyes.¡±


    ¡°And you should have been¡­¡±


    ¡°Watching your chest,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°Better. Then what?¡±


    Her ears burned. Sourly, she noted just how quickly shock had turned into humiliation. ¡°I lost control.¡±


    ¡°You did,¡± Mostyn murmured, his tone quieter. ¡°You¡¯re wound up- I mean...you¡¯re frustrated. I can see that, and it¡¯s only natural, considering the pompous ass you¡¯ve got to deal with.¡± His face flushed to red in a single instant as what he¡¯d just said finally sank in. ¡°N-Not that Diviner Gerd isn¡¯t a fine teacher! But, he¡¯s¡­¡± He shook his head, finally abandoning the words with a groan. His face glowed with heat.


    When he tried again a moment later, his eyes were fixed on her, his embarrassment pushed aside. ¡°You can¡¯t fall back on being angry as an excuse, miss. A mistake is a mistake. If you can¡¯t keep your own magecraft in check¡­¡± He trailed off, letting silence hang between them. He wasn¡¯t a seer. From what she¡¯d seen, the young captain didn¡¯t have much by way of magic to his name at all, if anything. Both of them knew that he wasn¡¯t going to be the one to fix that little mistake.


    He made a face, rubbing his eyes with his hand. ¡°When¡¯re you seeing the diviner next?¡±


    Her cheeks were joining her ears. ¡°Was supposed to be today,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Gerd canceled the seers¡¯ lessons because of the Narai¡¯s visit.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    The silence resumed. She stared at her feet, kicking a stone across the temple¡¯s yard. Normally, she studied magic with the seers, tagging onto their classes and practice sessions alongside whatever personalized attention she got from Gerd. It never ended - one training session after another. She¡¯d been thankful that the steward had been too occupied with the upcoming festivities to lecture her yet again on control and finesse. Now, she just felt humiliated.


    Mostyn cleared his throat. ¡°Well. No sense dwelling on it, then,¡± he mumbled, his face going red. She glanced up at him, her anxiety beginning to fade at the bemused expression he wore. He was an excellent fighter, and a good leader to his men - but left alone with her outside of their sparring sessions, and he¡¯d melt away into a puddle of nervous respect. His piety and devotion to the Waterbinder was honorable, and it served him well in the Riverguard. She wasn¡¯t thrilled with it being applied to her as well, but since it meant she could have a bit of fun now and again, she tolerated it.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± she said again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry yourself over the likes of me, miss,¡± he said, finally meeting her eyes again as a crooked smile crept onto his face. ¡°Now, unless you¡¯re wanting to have another go, I think you should-¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°You¡¯ve met the Narai, yes?¡± Natalin said, stumbling forward as she heard the start of his dismissal. Leaving would just mean more chores, and she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of going back to more meaningless busywork. Talk of the fire goddess¡¯s mountainous folk was easier - the people who would all too soon be at their temple, her counterpart at their head.


    Mostyn stopped, his brow furrowing. ¡°Well...I have, yes. Some of them, anyhow. Can¡¯t really meet a whole country, can I?¡± He chuckled nervously. Natalin didn¡¯t.


    She leaned back on her heels. ¡°What are they like?¡± She tried to keep the excitement from her tone, the sparkle from her eyes, but she knew that much was hopeless.


    Mostyn raised a hand, running it through his hair as he made a face. ¡°They¡¯re just loud, mostly. You¡¯ll be safe here, mistress. No one would let anything happen.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid,¡± Natalin said, her face flushing. She wasn¡¯t a child- well, all right, she was, but that didn¡¯t mean she had to act like one. ¡°I-I just...I just wanted to know. Before they get here.¡± Her voice fell as she finished. She didn¡¯t really know what she was looking for, what she expected from the captain. She just knew that they were foreign and unknown, and that every time she¡¯d asked Gerd, he¡¯d scowled at her and told her she should worry about her studies, not another god¡¯s people.


    The captain hesitated again, his mouth sliding open. And then he sighed, making a face. She just stared at him, waiting expectantly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not really my place,¡± he mumbled. ¡°I¡¯m sure Steward Gerd wouldn¡¯t want me filling your head with stories.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on,¡± she said, her free hand balling into a fist. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be able to tell me something.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, mistress,¡± he said, eyeing the ground again. Just like that, the wall was back in place, the damned propriety that stood between her and everyone she talked to. ¡°I¡¯m sure Remi has something else what needs doing,¡± he muttered, backpedaling. ¡°You should see her. I need to- I should check the patrols again, afore they arrive. If you¡¯ll excuse me, mistress.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you can¡¯t-¡±


    It was useless. Mostyn didn¡¯t slow, didn¡¯t turn back to look at her. He was gone a few seconds later, almost charging out of the practice yard. Natalin slowly lowered the hand she¡¯d raised, beginning to scowl.


    ¡°Godsdamned coward,¡± she whispered under her breath, glaring after him.


    A weight landed on her shoulders a moment later. ¡°Now, really, girl. Don¡¯t blame him. He¡¯s just doing his duty.¡±


    ¡°His duty is stupid. It was just a question.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not just trying to escape more work?¡±


    At the sound of his low chuckle, Natalin turned, her scowl growing. Efren grinned down at her, his hands still gripping her shoulders. ¡°My sister will be here soon enough. Don¡¯t get yourself into a panic over nothing.¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to know,¡± she said, her eyes fixed on his.


    His grin widened. ¡°And you will. There¡¯s nothing to say, waterlily. They¡¯re people, just like any other nation. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re totally different.¡±


    ¡°Well, I suppose they are Shiina¡¯s. They can be a handful, now and again. Can¡¯t we all?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t just say that and expect me to not-¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. It¡¯s all new. I understand.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me,¡± she snapped, glaring right back.


    He withdrew his hands, dancing back a step. ¡°Fine. Fine! Just be patient, dearest child of mine.¡± His grin gleamed white in the bright afternoon air. ¡°Now, you should hurry. I do believe Remi set Lenna to getting your dress ready. I¡¯m sure they¡¯d appreciate getting one last fitting in. And the cooks needed help peeling another bushel of-¡±


    Natalin spun on her heel, stalking out of the yard before he could taunt her further. His laughter followed in her wake.


    A dress. Gerd, with his infinite lessons. And still more chores. Her head spun. She stalked through the halls back towards her room, nodding curtly at the seers rushing past. Another Ascended, and another Divine - this time, here to visit and to stay. Everything would be perfect, she knew. There was no alternative if the stern headswoman had anything to say about it.


    She scarcely realized that she was nearly to her room, didn¡¯t hear the voice calling her name until a hand landed on her shoulder. She whipped around, her mouth falling open as she readied another retort. Efren was kind-hearted and friendly enough, but he didn¡¯t come with a way to turn him off. His constant presence in the back of her mind had been there as long as she remembered, and she didn¡¯t mind it, but there was a limit to how much he could expect to harass her.


    Gerd stared back at her, his thin face long. His lips were pressed together into a thin, disapproving line. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he said, glaring at her. ¡°I believe I already discussed the day¡¯s schedule with you.¡±


    Natalin leaned back, blanching white again. He had. She remembered, after he said it. He¡¯d laid the whole mess out that morning. ¡°Master Hendrem. I-I completely forgot.¡± Her instructor in trade and merchant¡¯s affairs. He¡¯d seemed every bit as humorless as Gerd at first, right up until she¡¯d seen he was just very, very dry. She liked the man well enough, but the thought of trying to focus on numbers and maps right then made her stomach churn.


    The diviner must have seen the look in her eyes. He sighed, fixing his solemn gaze on her. ¡°Are you all right, Tideborn?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, staring at the ground. She was fine. She¡¯d manage. It was expected of her.


    Her eyes snapped back up at the sound of him chuckling. Gerd. Laughing. He rolled his eyes at the confused look on his face, spreading his hands helplessly. ¡°Waterbinder help us,¡± he murmured. ¡°Very well. The delegation will arrive shortly before sundown, if our estimations are correct.¡±


    Natalin straightened, a shiver running through her limbs. From the way he said that, it almost sounded like-


    ¡°Then-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain the matter to Hendrem. Go cool your head,¡± Gerd said, an indulgent smile tugging at the corners of his lips. ¡°We can¡¯t have our Ascended losing her temper in front of our counterparts, hmm?¡±


    Slowly, her smile grew to match his. ¡°Yes. Yes, of course! I¡¯ll just- I¡¯ll go rest a little.¡±


    ¡°Good. See that you do.¡± He drew breath, readying another command, but she was off before he could add another few clauses to his instructions. Her feet pounded against the wooden floor as she raced down the temple¡¯s halls, making a beeline for her room.


    Once inside, she slammed the door shut, letting the breath she¡¯d been holding in finally slip out. There. A bit of calm, a bit of quiet. She savored the feeling of not having anyone breathing down her neck for once. Her bed waited in the corner. She stared at it, chewing her lip. It would be a long night, she knew - If the delegation was arriving at sundown, then the festivities would carry on well past midnight. She knew Efren well enough to know that.


    A pair of lips brushed her cheek. She flinched back, pressing a hand to her face where the water god¡¯s goatee had prickled at her. His low chuckle rumbled in her ears.


    She really should take the chance to rest, like she¡¯d told Gerd. And yet, with foreign dignitaries in her temple, she¡¯d probably get even less time to herself over the next week or two than she had right then.


    Gerd had told her to go cool her head. She stared at the wall, mulling his words over. The thought that had occurred to her certainly wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d intended.


    But it was what he¡¯d said. And besides, he¡¯d never notice. Sundown was still hours off.


    What are you doing, now? Efren whispered in her ear.


    She froze. Nothing.


    He chuckled again. She wilted. Lying to him was useless. He¡¯d be able to tell a lie like that as soon as she¡¯d thought it, and when he had full, unrestrained access to her thoughts and mind, there was no sense in even trying. It¡¯s just for a little bit. I won¡¯t get in any fights.


    Now, waterlily-


    If I get caught, it¡¯s on me.


    Oh, well. That makes things easier. So long as you understand that much, it¡¯s fine, I suppose.


    Natalin blinked. Really? It was that simple? But her mind was peacefully quiet, the god¡¯s whispers having stopped as quickly as they¡¯d started. She lingered a moment longer, half expecting him to rescind his allowance and tell her to get the rest she¡¯d promised Gerd. When he kept his silence, fading out from the back of her mind instead, she threw herself at the door.


    The service door waited. She cracked the lock open even faster than she had before. Within seconds she was out in the sunlight, creeping towards the harbor¡¯s clear, warm waters.

 Chapter 6

    The white sand beaches that littered the shoreline around Efren¡¯s temple were hot under her bare feet. Natalin stood, half-hidden in the lee of the grand structure, and stared out at her next problem. She couldn¡¯t think, couldn¡¯t breathe - the temple was filled with seers and worshippers, all charging here or there. She needed to go somewhere else. Being the Tideborn, that should be within her power.


    So she¡¯d thought. But the boats were all tied down, securely anchored to their slips. There had been a storm, the night before. She could remember it - now that she was looking at them. A grimace crossed her lips. She¡¯d never be able to get one untied and free of the dock, not by herself, not before they caught her. Her eyes tightened as she stared at the hulls. So close, and yet so far.


    A hand landed on her shoulder. She flinched, eyes snapping up.


    The woman standing next to her chuckled softly. ¡°I thought that was you. What are you doing out here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not- Gerd said I could.¡±


    Natalin earned herself a hard stare for that one. The woman - Taran - just fixed her soft brown eyes on the young Tideborn, pressing a hand to her chin contemplatively. The blue seer¡¯s cowl thrown around her shoulders fluttered gently with the motion.


    ¡°Really? Because I¡¯m certain the steward just informed me that you were having a rest in your room before the night¡¯s fun.¡±


    Natalin swallowed hard, taking half a step back. The time-worn wood of the temple pressed against her shoulderblades. ¡°Well...he did say I could,¡± she said stubbornly. ¡°He just...might not know.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, I see,¡± Taran said, folding her arms across her chest. Her eyes twinkled. Natalin exhaled slowly, letting a bit of the tension out.


    Taran was one of the younger seers, and she¡¯d always been more at ease around Efren¡¯s Ascended than the others. It was hard to really claim any of them as friends, given the realities that stood between them. Being the water god¡¯s chosen interpreter set her apart in ways that couldn¡¯t be argued. Despite all that, Taran came as close to being Natalin¡¯s friend as anyone.


    The seer was still looking at her pensively. Natalin froze.


    ¡°Looking to go sailing?¡± Taran said, her voice carefully cheerful.


    ¡°W-Well, you know that I¡¯m not really supposed to. I¡¯ll just...head back inside. I just wanted to enjoy the ocean.¡±


    ¡°...Really?¡±


    Natalin glanced up. The woman¡¯s shoulders trembled, quivering with the force of holding in her laughter.


    ¡°Next time you try and lie, don¡¯t look so sad while you do it,¡± she teased, tweaking the girl¡¯s nose. ¡°Those boats are too big for you by yourself, anyway. You¡¯d never get it up to speed, and Gerd would spot you before you¡¯d gotten a stone¡¯s throw away. Wait here.¡±


    Before Natalin could stop her, Taran turned on her heel, merging into the bustle and noise of the temple within moments.


    She shrank back into the shadows further, biting off her complaints. Where was she going?


    The answer presented itself moments later when the seer reemerged, striding back with confidence from the direction of one of the port¡¯s sheds. She carried something under her arm, half-dragging against the sands.


    A shock ran through Natalin¡¯s veins as she eyed it, beginning to smile. She knew what that was - a vessel, little more than a board with gently curved sizes and the tiniest hint of a keel at the back to give it direction. It was just wide enough to kneel in - but no one ever did, she remembered. The seers used them to deliver messages or scout, those times when they needed to be quick and agile and travel alone.


    ¡°Here,¡± Taran said, only a little breathless as she thrust it at the Tideborn. ¡°Give this a try. Launching cove¡¯s that way. He won¡¯t spot you there.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t as heavy as she would have thought. Natalin clutched it like a shield, her eyes wide. ¡°Taran¡­¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Knees bent, arms out. Keep your weight centered.¡± With one last pat on the shoulder, the seer turned back towards the temple. ¡°I¡¯d better get back. I¡¯m supposed to have all the good statues put into storage before the Charred¡¯s Vanguard arrives.¡± She rolled her eyes expressively. ¡°Remi seems to think a hurricane¡¯s coming. Suppose she¡¯d know. Do try and stay out of trouble, Tideborn.¡±


    Natalin raised her hand in a wave, still holding the sledge, but Taran was gone. She glanced down to the sand, taking in the shape of it with more than a little trepidation. Suddenly, this didn¡¯t seem like such a good idea.


    But the ocean beckoned.


    The cold of the water was a harsh contrast to the warmth of the air as she slipped into the water. Natalin shivered, ducking her whole head under before she could change her mind. The frigid chill was like a slap to the face, crystallizing her thoughts. There. She¡¯d done like Gerd said.


    The sledge wasn¡¯t quite as easy to manage as she¡¯d hoped. She tumbled off it twice within minutes, losing her balance as the elegantly worked wood tilted underneath her. Floating in the calm waters of the cove, she eyed the temple apprehensively.


    ¡°Need help?¡±


    She glanced up, still treading water, and eyed the looming form of the god. Efren was in good humor - as always - chuckling and shaking his head as he smirked down at his Tideborn.


    He could help her, she knew. Normally, it was a burden for the Divines to appear in front of their followers. A miracle. It was different where she was concerned. He was an ever-present figure, waiting in the wings, and with his help, she¡¯d have no trouble.


    But Natalin scowled, taking hold of the sledge again. ¡°No. I¡¯ve got it.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Her head snapped up, her eyes flashing dangerously. Efren¡¯s laughter grew. ¡°Your choice.¡±


    ¡°Do you have to watch?¡± she said, her voice low. Her cheeks were burning.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t every day I get to watch you making a fool of yourself. Don¡¯t fault me for taking amusement where I can find it, girl.¡±


    She didn¡¯t bother responding, after that. She just pulled herself out of the water and onto the narrow craft, coming to a crouch. There was no post for a sail, and there was no way she¡¯d be able to paddle like that. It was a seer¡¯s craft, after all.


    The water underneath her quivered in response. She could feel it, feel the way it moved as she let her mana seep out. It was hers. She held fast to that fact. It was Efren¡¯s, which made it hers, and it would listen to her. The other seers could do this - it would be shameful if she couldn¡¯t match them.


    Push and pull. The water gave at the slow sweep of her hands, gathering and releasing. Waves lapped against the shore of the cove as she worked, building them higher. The cove filled with the smell of rain, her magic hard at work.


    Her eyes flicked open as she released it, exhaling sharply. The butt of her sledge dipped dangerously, falling as the waves receded. Taran¡¯s words rang in her mind. Arms out, knees bent, balance centered. It sounded so simple.


    But even minding the advice she¡¯d been given, she nearly tumbled off a third time as the boat bucked, shuddering under the force of the water plowing into it. Her arms pinwheeled as she yelped, desperately trying to keep her footing.


    A hand slapped her shoulder, broad and warm and filling the air with the scent of saltwater as it swung in. She caught herself, digging in hard. Water sprayed from under the keel as she keyed her magic up.


    And then she was off, suddenly level and stable and moving much faster than she¡¯d expected. Fear lanced through her for a single moment. If she fell, it would hurt. It would hurt a lot.


    Then don¡¯t fall.


    I¡¯m not trying* to fall*, she hissed back. Efren chuckled. She could see his figure outlined in the spray that rose off her bow, his jacket of water droplets cascading back in the wind. She thought about telling him to leave, insisting that she didn¡¯t need his help, but knew it wouldn¡¯t make the slightest bit of difference. He did as he liked. He wasn¡¯t helping her right then, anyway.


    Now that she was up and riding, the question remained - where to? The world stretched out in front of her, wide and open. There was only water as far as she could see, the blue of the ocean meeting the blue of the horizon in a misty, blurred line.


    She wanted to see what it was like, to watch the temple vanish into the distance behind her. She wanted to see just how far she could go. But even in her state of excitement, she knew that wasn¡¯t a good idea. She was on a deadline, and this was her first excursion. Besides, she¡¯d heard the stories. There were raiders out on the sea, and pirates, and foreigners. If Gerd found out she¡¯d done something like that, her punishment would be far worse than it already would be.


    An island loomed, dead center in the bay where Aramoor was built. Efren had claimed it, she knew - the seers went there to meditate, to get separation from the merchants that ruled Ondria¡¯s capital city. Even Gerd couldn¡¯t really complain if she chose to escape there, given its sacred nature.


    And yet, standing on its shores, she¡¯d still be staring right back into the bridges and buildings she always did. It wasn¡¯t enough.


    If she couldn¡¯t go out to sea and she couldn¡¯t go to the bay¡¯s mouth, that left her only a few options. She¡¯d just see what she found - and she hadn¡¯t gotten to see outside the city in her last excursion. A smile tugging at her lips, she turned, sending a spray of saltwater across the ocean¡¯s surface, and accelerated up the shoreline.


    Efren¡¯s city was built on an estuary, springing forth where the rivers that formed the lifeblood of their people met the oceans that had given their god his very existence. Inlets blossomed here and there, twisting and turning their way towards the grand rivers further inland. Natalin picked the largest one she could find, putting the ocean at her back and sailing against the current.


    The world stretched out before her.

 Chapter 7

    Within minutes, the sandy beaches gave way to murk and muck. The sea behind her became a sea of grasses, pressing in close on every side and rising until she couldn¡¯t see over the stalks. Her eyes drank in the sight. This was her country, the side of it she¡¯d never before seen. On and on she went, her bow sinking lower in the water as she let her speed bleed off. The river was no place for daredevil stunts, after all.


    Here and there, she could pick out a road following the river, a distant rooftop poking out from behind the foliage. She craned her neck, rising to her tiptoes on the sledge, but couldn¡¯t get more than a peek.


    And it was quiet. There were no seers pestering her for help, no distant market with vendors screaming about their wares, no cityfolk filling the air with the sound of their voices. There was just the soft chirping of the bugs around her, the song of birds overhead. It all blended with the gentle rush of water as it glided off the wood of her boat, merging into a peaceful, easy lullaby.


    Natalin pushed it away as long as she could. She was too excited, too worked up over the morning¡¯s boredom and the events that were promised to follow. Her veins pulsed with energy as she pushed herself through one curve after another.


    She wasn¡¯t entirely alone, she found. There were others, as she pressed deeper and deeper into the riverlands. Fisherman, who glared at her with irritation as she shot past. Without fail, their eyes widened moments after. She wasn¡¯t wearing a scarf, after all. The half-robes the temple dressed her in were practical enough, with an ocean blue jacket pinned closed over her form-fitting black undershirt and a matching length of fabric draped down one thigh, but the silvered whorl stitched onto the hems marked her as Efren¡¯s. It would be clear to anyone paying half a moment¡¯s attention who she was.


    None of them had time to bother her, at least. Natalin fixed her eyes on the horizon, on the faint shadow that lingered there. There would be mountains, she knew, tall enough to reach up and brush the sky. She¡¯d studied geography just like all the other subjects Gerd had decided were important. Naraan was a long trip from Ondria. The towering peaks of the range in which their capital of Ranctur sat completely hidden from her sight.


    But she was already thirteen. In two more years, she¡¯d make the journey there herself, plunging deep into the heart of their territory and presenting herself to the fire goddess. The goddess who was notoriously unstable, who ruled over her children and shaped them in her own image.


    Don¡¯t be rude. My sister is rough around the edges. That¡¯s all. Efren¡¯s voice was uncharacteristically sharp as his voice echoed through her head. She cringed, flinching at the sudden sound of his voice. His hand settled around her elbow, steadying her.


    I¡¯m- I didn¡¯t mean to...I¡¯m sorry, my lord, she thought back, her eyes dropping to the water in front of her. The god had been in her mind as long as she could remember, listening in and whispering his guidance. Spoken words had never been necessary between the two of them.


    You¡¯ve done nothing to apologize for. Just...be rational about this, yes?


    Despite his words, she couldn¡¯t quite fight off the heaviness that settled across her shoulders. Tonight. They were coming tonight. And suddenly, Gerd¡¯s suggestion didn¡¯t seem so crazy.


    The gently curving bow of her sledge sank into the mud of the riverbank as she slid in to shore, jumping free on legs that wobbled. The grass brushed her legs, her arms, building a barrier between the rest of the world and her. Leaning down, she grabbed the watercraft, dragging it the rest of the way out of the water.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The sun beat down on her face, warming it gently. The breeze was soft and slow, like fingertips across her skin. Together with the gently flowing water and the sound of the birds overhead, it was all she could do to keep from yawning.


    Laying herself down in the drier grasses up the bank, she stretched out, lidded eyes staring up at the clouds. This was it - everything she¡¯d been missing, everything they¡¯d been keeping her from. This was Ondria. A smile tugged at her lips.


    It wasn¡¯t so scary, after all.


    Her mind raced - tasks she had to do, lessons she hadn¡¯t quite memorized yet and apologies she¡¯d have to make to the merchants for skipping out on their classes. It never ended.


    ¡°Why worry about that now, waterlily?¡± a deep voice said. She didn¡¯t have to look over to know it was Efren. He settled into the grass next to her with a sigh. The reek of liquor drifted on the breeze, filling the air around her with its stink. ¡°Plenty of time for that later. You¡¯re doing fine.¡±


    ¡°Am I ready?¡± she said, her voice small. ¡°Presentation is only a few years away.¡±


    ¡°And they¡¯ll be big years,¡± Efren said. She could feel his eyes on her, boring into her skull. ¡°But I¡¯m not concerned, girl. You shouldn¡¯t be either.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°Pull yourself together and stop your whining. Here.¡±


    She flinched. A ceramic bottle was thrust over her face, inches from her nose.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I should-¡±


    ¡°Drink it. You want to be an adult, eh?¡± Efren waggled the bottle, as though he was trying to entice her in.


    Natalin stared at it a moment longer, her blue-green eyes narrowed, but sat up with a sigh. The cork was already off, which wasn¡¯t surprising considering the way Efren¡¯s cheeks glowed with a warm light. One sip. One sip would shut him up, and that would be worth all the pain. Lifting the neck of the bottle to her lips, she squeezed her eyes shut.


    It burned. Her throat was on fire as she jerked a moment later, coughing and spitting. She was sure that as much came back out of her mouth as had gone down her throat.


    Efren¡¯s laughter split the air, his booming voice cackling. ¡°Ah, see? I suppose you¡¯re not there yet after all. Well, well.¡±


    She didn¡¯t say a word. She just wiped her mouth, still coughing, and glared at him. He laughed all the harder. He at least grabbed the bottle as she pushed it at him, flopping back down in the soft grasses. ¡°You can keep it,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°All things in time, girl. Now...where were we?¡±


    ¡°I was trying to have a nap while there¡¯s still some daylight.¡±


    ¡°You were asking about Naraan, yes?¡±


    She was proud. Her eyes didn¡¯t even twitch, still sealed shut resolutely. But Efren could see straight inside her, picking out the lies, and there was no denying the spark of interest that came alight at his words. From the low, continuing chuckle that slipped from his throat, he knew.


    ¡°I can wait a little bit. I guess,¡± she muttered at last, throwing an arm over her eyes.


    ¡°Far be it for me to deny my Tideborn her curiosity, eh? Well, let¡¯s see.¡± The water god¡¯s voice was light, the tone bouncing gently as he meandered through the conversation. ¡°As I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve seen, most of it lies high over our shared neighbor, Drenwell, lurking in the foothills and on to the mountains.¡±


    Her chin inclined in the barest hint of a nod. She heard him groan, felt the grasses shift as a massive form slipped down to the ground alongside her. ¡°Your predecessor didn¡¯t like it so much. Thought it was too rocky. Too much snow, too. You know, some winters up in the ridges, I¡¯ve seen the snow fall deep enough that entire houses vanished under the drifts.¡±


    A smile tugged at her lips, the scene playing out in her mind as his words carried on. He didn¡¯t stop there. After the snow, he talked about the waterfalls, dropping from the peaks down to the lowlands. And the rivers, clear and bright and fast enough to kill a man. His voice was low and soft, every bit as soothing as the sound of the river they lay next to. She couldn¡¯t keep her eyes open. Dimly, some corner of her mind noted that Efren was probably well aware of what he was doing.


    Any irritation she might have felt drifted away along with her mind as her breathing slowed, the warmth of the sun on her face and the wind in her hair finally carrying her off.


    <hr>


    A bird screeched overhead, loud and strident. Her eyes snapped open.


    The sky over head wasn¡¯t dark, exactly. It was still blue, still glowing faintly with light and life, but there was a dark set to the clouds that hadn¡¯t been there before, an orange beginning to grow around the horizon. She blinked, staring at it for a long, unsure moment as her thoughts cleared.


    And then a single thought pierced her mind like a brand.


    Oh, Gerd was going to kill her.

 Chapter 8

    Natalin had a single, endless moment to stare at the reddening sky, her thoughts frozen in horror as to exactly how late she was.


    And then she sat bolt upright, gasping for breath as her head spun this way and that. Sundown. It was getting dangerously close to sundown, and she was still well outside Aramoor - exactly what everyone had told her not to do. Her legs trembled as she forced herself upright, nearly falling twice before finally catching herself.


    You let me sleep.


    You needed the rest. Efren¡¯s voice was decidedly unapologetic. She glared at the ground, seeing him coalesce alongside her. His hand landed on her shoulder a moment later, patting her as he started to laugh.


    Arguing with him wasn¡¯t going to help, and she didn¡¯t have time to waste on verbal sparring. Judging from the color of the sky, sundown would be on them within the hour, and she was still miles from home. Pushing the sleep from her mind, she jumped up, stumbling back towards the river.


    It wasn¡¯t so warm anymore, and the sun had long since waned. The splash of water on her legs was enough to set her to shivering as she plunged in, pulling her sledge in after her. In her hurry, she didn¡¯t even note the ease with which she clambered up onto its surface, the sudden balance that she had as she pushed onward. It was already easier, the skill naturally sliding into her repertoire. Efren was a constant presence floating behind her as she shot onto the river, her pulse racing.


    If she was late, Gerd would kill her. It didn¡¯t matter if she was the Tideborn, he¡¯d still kill her. She couldn¡¯t be late.


    All of the caution she¡¯d had on the way out vanished under her need to get home, to return before they noticed she was missing. The spray from the keel of her craft shot out in plumes of white as she tacked around another bend, crashing through brackish water and marshy tufts of grass. Her pants were soaked to the knees, the hem of her half-skirt muddied.


    But she was doing it. It was exhilarating, in a strange way - the fear of her teacher¡¯s disappointment was enough to wipe out the fear of how fast she was going, how close she was coming to the shoreline. The wind blew through her hair, teasing it out of its ponytail and sending it billowing out behind her.


    And still the sun sank lower on the horizon.


    A distant sound registered in her ears - hoofbeats. And voices. Her ears pricked, she slowed, scanning the horizon instinctively. They sounded like they were hurrying, and that was odd enough to warrant a second look.


    When she found them, her pace slowed further. They were just a distant shape, black against the orange and violet of the horizon, but one of them carried a torch that glowed against the growing dark. Horsemen - five of them. No. Seven. They trotted on, pushing as hard as they could through the marshy mess.


    She stared dumbly, her brow furrowing. A hand landed on her shoulder.


    ¡°I believe you should hurry, waterlily,¡± Efren said, a crooked grin tugging at his lips. ¡°I do believe you¡¯re losing the race.¡±


    Another jolt of adrenaline shot down her spine as she realized who the riders must be. The merchants wouldn¡¯t be out with the sun beginning to fall, after all, and the riders didn¡¯t have any wagons or carts to carry merchandise.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    At least she knew the delegation hadn¡¯t beaten her to Aramoor, she thought sourly. Yet.


    Just as she shifted her weight, bringing her magic to bear again, she saw their heads begin to turn to face her. A distant sound rose from their group, like someone calling. She didn¡¯t wait. The sound of rushing water crescendoed as she dumped her mana into the working, springing off down the river again.


    Her mind ran through the options, the situation she was in and how she¡¯d get out of it. They had horses, and that made them fast - but Ondria¡¯s lowlands weren¡¯t so simple to traverse. She¡¯d studied the maps often enough to know that much. The trading routes wound this way and that, picking their way between rivers and swamps and what little dry ground they could find. Their route to reach the capital would be twice as long as it would be if they could go straight through.


    Riding on the water itself, she didn¡¯t have that problem. Even still, she was cutting it close. Her eyes scanned the lowlands ahead of her, looking for any shortcut she could find. Efren¡¯s sigh rang in her ears, but she was already turning, tight-lipped.


    Her knees shook as she pushed herself faster, skimming over what few inches of water lay atop the swamp. The sledge bucked, shimmying as branches and logs just under the surface scraped its bottom. Natalin held her balance, her face bone-white. If she fell, she¡¯d probably break something, and then she¡¯d never make it back.


    The feeling of smooth water under her again was a tangible relief as she turned back towards the center of the channel, rejoining the river. She could see it, by then - the mouth of the river, the broad, dark expanse of the ocean stretching out beyond it. And the lights of Aramoor, a thousand lanterns filling the violet sky with their glow.


    An exhausted, relieved breath slid between her lips as she half-jumped, half-fell from her sledge, the white sand of the cove still warm under her toes. The temple waited in front of her, burning with light like a beacon.


    One eye pricked towards the temple¡¯s doors, knowing that at any moment one of the others could come tearing out, demanding to know where she¡¯d been, Natalin grabbed the watercraft. It had been handy - and with the taste of the outside world still fresh and sweet on her tongue, she knew she¡¯d be wanting it again.


    It was almost invisible once she¡¯d tucked it under the end of the dock, burying it under a thin layer of sand. That high on the shore, it shouldn¡¯t get take out to sea with the tide. She hoped. She didn¡¯t want to have to explain destruction of temple property along with theft.


    The slow, steady drip of something damp down her leg reminded Natalin that she couldn¡¯t stand around dreaming. She was expected - and she was still coated in mud, stinking of stagnant water and moldering grasses.


    ¡°Godsdamned hell,¡± she muttered, raising a hand to feel the windsnarled mess of her hair as she stalked towards the side door she¡¯d come out before the afternoon¡¯s adventure.


    Fortune was on her side. When she slipped inside, twisting the ice-key in her hand and relocking the door, there was no one dashing past for her to surprise. She let the air in her lungs slide out between her teeth, all too aware of her waterlogged boots, the water dripping down onto the wood floors. Hoping that Efren would take pity on her and work a miracle to keep everyone else away, she slipped off towards her room.


    No sooner had she closed her door, ripping the mudsoaked skirt from her belt and hurling both it and her boots far enough under the bed to be hidden, when a knock came rapping against the wood.


    ¡°Mistress Natalin? Are you there?¡±


    Lenna. She froze, her mind racing for a single second, and then tore off her jacket and pants as well. Still clad in her black undershirt and pulling on a pair of soft-woven trousers, she glanced towards the door. ¡°I-I am now. Did I oversleep?¡±


    ¡°You were still sleeping?¡± Lenna¡¯s voice rose angrily. The door slammed open a moment later. Natalin was fervently grateful she¡¯d waited as long as she had to respond. The maid assigned to look after her was nearly as no-nonsense as Headswoman Remete. Her colorless brown hair was braided back, her nose raised as she glared at her charge.


    ¡°Oh, just look at you. And your hair. I¡¯m supposed to have you presentable before the next bell, but how¡¯s that supposed to happen?¡± Lenna wailed, stalking closer. Natalin flinched, drawing back, but the maid¡¯s hand latched around her arm before she could flee. ¡°You. Bath. Now.¡±


    Fighting against her grip was like trying to fight the tides. Breathing a silent sigh of relief that her game had gone undiscovered, Natalin let herself be towed away.

 Chapter 9

    Lenna stepped away, a hand raising to her chin as she inspected Natalin critically. ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°Can I go?¡±


    ¡°You can go when I say you¡¯re ready,¡± Lenna said, her eyes flashing dangerously.


    Natalin groaned, her shoulders slumping.


    ¡°Do stand straight.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll be here any minute.¡±


    ¡°You should have thought of that before you decided to sleep the afternoon away, hmm?¡±


    She gave up. It wasn¡¯t doing her any good to argue with the maid, not when she was in one of her moods. It was like Natalin¡¯s perfection - or lack thereof - was some sort of blemish to her honor. Right then, Natalin didn¡¯t care. Her stomach was growling, complaining about the day¡¯s exertion and her lack of feeding it, and her legs were beginning to ache ominously. Dealing with Lenna was more than she could handle.


    But, truly, she didn¡¯t understand the maid¡¯s fervor. She eyed herself in the mirror, the nearly ceiling-high wall of silvered glass she¡¯d been drug in front of.


    The high-collared, sleeveless dress Lenna had buttoned her into seemed passable enough to Natalin, which meant that it would probably be considered ¡®lovely¡¯ by anyone else¡¯s standards. A string of drift-glass beads circled her waist in loop after loop of sea-green orbs, tied off with a metal loop. And Lenna had even managed to fix her hair, braiding it back in elegant rows that somehow managed to bring out the blue streaks that wove it through.


    She looked fine. More than passable - and no matter how many times Lenna poked and prodded, nothing was changing.


    ¡°Lenna, I¡¯m going to be late.¡±


    ¡°Oh, fine. I suppose that¡¯ll do. Be polite, now. Don¡¯t talk with your mouth full. And-¡±


    Natalin¡¯s ears were already burning as she turned on her heel, leaping towards the door. ¡°Right. Thanks, Lenna!¡±


    The maid¡¯s exasperated sigh vanished behind her as she skidded into the hallway, her soft-soled sandals sliding across the smooth floorboards. She hardly slowed to catch herself. The Sanctuary wasn¡¯t far, but she was cutting things close.


    The amused laughter of the temple¡¯s seers echoed through the halls around her as she raced towards Efren¡¯s domain as quickly as she could. The dress made everything harder, constricting her movements and making it harder to breathe.


    Her blood chilled as she came around the next corner - and saw horses, tied to the post outside. One of the Riverguard was already taking their tack off, rubbing them down. Their gear bore emblems sewn in red and black, not the silver and blue of Ondria.


    In a last, final whirl of desperation, she turned her thoughts outward. Am I


    They¡¯re still settling into their rooms, putting their bags down, Efren murmured in her ear. You haven¡¯t missed it yet. Gerd is getting anxious, though. His mental tone was carefully soothing, but there was a laugh hiding just under its surface.


    A bead of sweat slipped down the small of her back. She¡¯d dodged one arrow - but put herself right in front of another.Stolen novel; please report.


    But the looming, carved wooden doors of the Sanctuary were waiting right in front of her as she dashed around the next corner. She pushed through with a relieved sigh, coming to a halt at last. Her legs were trembling with the adrenaline, and she was trying to pretend she wasn¡¯t breathing hard, but she¡¯d made it.


    There were tables set up, low-slung to the ground. They waited in a loose box, with more thrown here and there. She¡¯d never seen his Sanctuary look so big before - but Efren had never needed such a big Sanctuary during her tenure. It was his space, the domain of the Divines. If he needed more room, it would provide it.


    Efren waited on the far side of the room, glancing over at the sound of her entry. A wide, amused smile settled across his face at the sight of her, red-faced and glaring.


    ¡°Ah, waterlily,¡± he said, his smile widening. ¡°Glad you could join us.¡±


    Gerd leapt to his feet from the table beside the Everdeep. His face was every bit as beet red as Natalin¡¯s. His hand came up, one finger extended like a sword. It quivered with barely-contained frustration.


    ¡°Tideborn, I believe I told you to-¡±


    ¡°There, there, diviner, she made it, eh?¡± Efren said, slapping Gerd on the back. ¡°That¡¯s what matters.¡±


    The silvered man shook from the force of the impact, his complaints dying away as he tried to gather himself. Natalin knew that none of this was new for Gerd - he¡¯d have dealt with the carefree, easygoing water god for years before she was born. Those years had done nothing to dim the awe that shone in his eyes as he slid back into his seat, muttering darkly. There was little he could do to argue with a god, after all.


    Seizing upon the brief reprieve she¡¯d been given, Natalin scurried forward, throwing herself down onto the cushion Efren nodded towards. The Waterbinder was a massive, looming shield alongside her, a ward to keep the irritated stares of Gerd and the others off of her.


    The rest of the seers were beginning to file in all the while, murmuring quietly to each other and offering Efren reverent bows as they approached. He accepted them with a nod and an indulgent grin, sipping from the bottle that had once again appeared in his hand.


    There. She¡¯d made it. Her work was done. Taking a deep breath, Natalin tried to settle her thundering heart, to steady her breathing a little. The flow of people through the door wasn¡¯t slowing - more seers, yes, but cityfolk as well. The Presentation was an event for all of Ondria, after all, not just the gods¡¯ servants. Their eyes were even rounder as they slipped in, making their way to the back of the room in anxious rows.


    Staring at the table in front of her, trying to will the color to fade a bit from her cheeks, her ears, she scarcely noticed when the timbre of the room changed. She did take heed, finally, when the yelling and banter that had filled the room died away, replaced by a constant, echoing murmur that slipped from a hundred throats.


    There were others, standing behind the cityfolk - who jumped free in an instant, realizing who they were blocking.


    Just for a moment, they hesitated. They were still half-hidden by shadow, but Natalin saw them pause.


    ¡°Enter, and be welcome,¡± Gerd said, raising his voice gently to be heard over the bystanders.


    That should probably have been her job, Natalin realized, adrenaline piercing her veins all over again. Efren¡¯s low chuckle rippled through the air between them.


    There were seven of them - just like she¡¯d counted down on the river. The confirmation of what she¡¯d already known left a sour taste in her mouth as they stepped towards the table.


    Natalin flinched, masking a cough under her hand. The smell of smoke filled the room, sliding across the space between their party and her to seep down her nostrils. She¡¯d been warned that the magic of other gods would have its own scent, just as hers carried the tang of rain with it. She¡¯d been told that the Charred smelled like smoke. But it was softer, somehow, muted, like the first acrid wisps drifting off a candle that had been blown out.


    She could see him, then, standing amidst his dark-haired friends, all clad in leather-and-chain armor. His ashen, white-grey hair would have been enough to set him apart - if he wasn¡¯t making a face that told her he was reacting to the smell of her magic in much the same way.


    Efren stood, a grin spreading across his face. She followed suit a heartbeat after him, remembering herself. But he seemed to be...waiting.


    The first embers cascading down from thin air were nearly enough to set her to jumping back. But Gerd had warned her about this, too. Natalin held her ground, head raised stubbornly, as the flames whirled, coalescing into a tiny, spritely form.


    Her eyes shone brilliant gold as they snapped open, appearing from within the vanishing sparks. Her teeth gleamed white as she beamed.


    And then the Flameweaver launched herself across the room, leaping towards Efren with her brilliant hair trailing in her wake like a fireball.

 Chapter 10

    For a single instant, Natalin could only stare, her eyes going wide and her mouth sliding open. The world seemed to move in slow motion as the fire-haired girl lunged for her god.


    Was this some sort of attack? Why? Should she be leaping to Efren¡¯s defense, readying to protect the temple against the rest of the Narai?


    Even as the thought slipped through her mind, she hesitated. Efren didn¡¯t look worried. In fact, he was beaming, his smile shining white against the sandy brown of his hair. She took a step back, suddenly unsure.


    The goddess sailed into his arms, crashing into one of the glass orbs hanging from the ceiling in the process. He lifted her clear of the table, one ocean-blue eye fixed on his bottle all the while. ¡°Dearest sister,¡± he said, setting her safely on the ground. He was grinning from ear to ear as he wrapped his arms around her.


    ¡°Brother! It has been too long!¡± she cried, her expression a mirror of his.


    Natalin resisted the urge to say that, to the contrary, it had been just a few brief weeks since the four gods had held their meeting in the Sanctuary. Neither of the Divines seemed to care.


    ¡°Your journey was easy enough, then?¡± Efren said, his hold on her slackening fractionally.


    The woman - Shiina, Natalin knew from the many times Efren had spoken of his Divine sister - sighed, rolling her eyes dramatically. ¡°Yes, yes, they managed just fine, brother. It was all quite ordinary.¡±


    The smell of smoke increased. The grey-haired teenager had sidled closer, inching back towards his goddess. He had orange eyes, Natalin realized. It stood out, painfully different from the good, ordinary blues and browns of most Ondrians. He was standing tall, like he was trying to look confident, but his gaze turned this way and that as he took in the chaos of the Sanctuary around him.


    Efren¡¯s arm landed about his shoulders a heartbeat later. He jumped, as did Natalin. She hadn¡¯t even seen the big god move.


    ¡°And what about you, eh? Trying to be quiet?¡± Efren said, reaching up with his other hand to ruffle his unruly grey hair.


    She could see it in his expression, the way his eyes tightened. His shoulders stiffened, like an instinctive reaction to being grabbed. Just for an instant, it looked like he was going to try and throw the Waterbinder off. Natalin could feel the blood drain from her face, even as a wry smile tugged at her lips. That wouldn¡¯t be a good idea, but it would be interesting to watch.


    ¡°H-Hello,¡± Shiina¡¯s Ascended said, trying to pull away as carefully as he could. ¡°I mean. Greetings. I¡¯m-¡±


    ¡°Oh! This is Takio,¡± Shiina said, rejoining the conversation in a whirl as she laid an hand on the teenager¡¯s arm. ¡°My Charred, of course.¡± Her smile shone with pure satisfaction, her eyes crinkling at the corners.


    ¡°A pleasure to meet you,¡± Takio said, eyeing the Everdeep. Natalin watched with fascination. He¡¯d seemed off-put, just a few moments before, but little by little he was settling back into himself. He wasn¡¯t particularly tall - not compared to Efren, who towered over him - but he was powerfully built. He put every inch of his frame to use as he stood before the water god, drawing himself up straighter.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Well, well.¡± Efren said, releasing the Charred and falling back half a step. ¡°Good to see you, lad. Always a fine day when the family grows. She hasn¡¯t been working you too hard, has she?¡±


    Shiina spun to glare at her brother, her nose wrinkling, but Takio only chuckled. ¡°Nothing I can¡¯t handle.¡± The words were level and easy, filled with assurance. He was smiling, his confidence returning more and more with every word he spoke. Natalin wasn¡¯t sure if she should take him at his word - the light in the Sanctuary was muted and elegant, but there were tiny, silvered lines across his face and hands that could only be scars. He couldn¡¯t be that good.


    His eyes flicked to hers, and she flushed, jumping. His smile turned to a smirk instantly. He¡¯d caught her staring, she knew. But there was only smug amusement in the expression, nothing else. It faded fast, leaving cold disinterest in its wake. His eyes swept her up and down once. She finally looked away, feeling his gaze piercing into her. When she glanced back surreptitiously, he¡¯d resumed staring at Efren.


    Natalin caught a single glimpse of red hair and tanned skin flying towards her before a weight landed around her shoulders.


    ¡°Oh, but this one,¡± Shiina said. Her arms were wrapped around Natalin¡¯s shoulders protectively, pulling her closer. The goddess¡¯s hand cradled the back of the Tideborn¡¯s head, completing the embrace. Her hold was like steel, secure and completely unbreakable. And hot. Natalin froze, even her breath falling away as she gazed into the golden eyes that filled her vision.


    ¡°She¡¯s adorable,¡± the Flameweaver said, drawing her closer still. Her nails played across the back of Natalin¡¯s neck. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve forgotten how lovely they can be. Your taste, as always, is impeccable, brother.¡±


    She was too close. Her eyes bored into Natalin¡¯s, peering down into her soul. She couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t think. Her fingers began to tremble.


    ¡°Now, now. She¡¯s not used to dealing with you, Shiina. Give her space.¡± Efren¡¯s voice was as easy as ever, rippling with amusement.


    ¡°Really, though. I am simply getting a proper look. She will ascend fully soon, will she not?¡± Those gold eyes leaned closer still. ¡°How old are you now, girl?¡± A lazy smile spread across the goddess¡¯s lips, her hair aglow.


    ¡°Introduce yourself properly.¡± Gerd¡¯s voice was a whipcrack across her senses, pulling her out of her thoughts in a single, ominous sentence. She could hear the irritated thread in his tone, the implicit warning for her to pull herself together.


    She tried. She really did. Swallowing hard, she tried to pretend like there wasn¡¯t a goddess wrapped around her, fixing her with that horrible look and grinning like a demon. ¡°I-I¡¯m Natalin. The Tideborn. I¡¯m thirteen,¡± she whispered at last, finally finding her voice.


    ¡°Oh? A mere two years left, then. Exciting. Very exciting indeed,¡± Shiina said. She leaned away, glancing back towards Efren. ¡°She is quite old enough to handle herself, brother. No need to continue hiding her behind your apron strings.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± the Waterbinder said, rolling his eyes. ¡°Now, sit down. Your entourage looks ready to fall from their feet with hunger.


    There were no fancy words, then, no speeches or ceremonies. Not in Efren¡¯s temple. Looking at the fire goddess, Natalin couldn¡¯t believe it was something she¡¯d enjoy, either. That was all the introduction they would get.


    Already, servers were starting to file into the room, each laden with food and drink. Something clacked down onto the table in front of Natalin. She glanced down, finding a ceramic cup waiting in front of her - and Efren grinning beside her. The smell of liquor wafted up from it. Her face flushing again, she opened her mouth, but he was turning before she could say a single word. His arm slung about his sister¡¯s shoulders, the two took seats at the end of the table.


    Takio stepped past her without another word, following his goddess. His cadre was circling, settling down at the table nearest. They watched their Charred from the corners of their eyes, unwilling to completely relax even in the presence of allies.


    Too late, Natalin realized what was happening - with Efren and Shiina sitting at the end of the table, and Takio sitting next to his goddess, that would leave her sitting on the end as well, trapped by herself.


    With a sigh, Natalin braced herself for what was sure to be a long night.

 Chapter 11

    Natalin fidgeted, casting a look at the table and trying to concel her anxiouness.


    It wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d expected to be able to talk to anyone during the party, she told herself.  Nothing had changed, and what was she going to do? Demand to sit at her god¡¯s elbow? Takio was already settling himself down onto one of the temple¡¯s cushions, a smile on his face as he called something back to his fellows in a foreign language.  Natalin could feel her face burning. Naraani. Of course. Their native language, which also happened to be one she hadn¡¯t learned yet.


    Reaching down to pick up the cup, she stepped over to what was going to be her seat, settling in.  Takio glanced over at her as she sat down, his orange eyes sharp, but only offered her a nod. Plates appeared on their table a moment later, the servants vanishing as quickly as quickly as they¡¯d come.


    When she looked up again, waiting for someone to fill her glass with something a little less potent, it was all she could do to keep from snorting.  The serving girl had reached their table, and was pouring Takio something that Efren probably would have liked very much, judging from the smell. She was one of the Ondrians attached to the temple¡¯s service, but Natalin had never seen her before.  The girl wasn¡¯t a seer - there wasn¡¯t any reason they¡¯d have crossed paths.


    Takio hadn¡¯t given Natalin more than a single look.  Clearly, he¡¯d just been saving up on them so that he could stare at her as long as he wanted, murmuring some joke Natalin couldn¡¯t hear.  The girl was attractive enough, Natalin had to admit, dressed in a crisp uniform of blue, white, and black with her hair falling down her back in ebony waves.  Even still, it was no call to be rude. His eyes trailed after her as she slipped off, giggling.


    Natalin swallowed a groan.  What a wonderful start. The relationship between Ondria and Naraan was important.  Efren and Shiina were siblings, after all, although she knew the relationship was one they¡¯d chosen and not any sort of actual blood tie.  Something like that wouldn¡¯t be possible for the Divines. The Tideborn and Charred were supposed to work together, just like their gods did.  And here she was, letting the silence stretch out around them and picking at her food.


    ¡°I¡¯m Natalin,¡± she said, half-turning towards her dinner partner.  She was still nervous, but the lack of a goddess inches from her face made things much easier.  ¡°Welcome. To Ondria, I mean. And Aramoor.¡± She didn¡¯t speak Naraani, but he¡¯d introduced himself in Ondrian, hadn¡¯t he?  Surely he¡¯d understand.


    He glanced over at her.  Only the slightest flinch in his shoulders gave away that he¡¯d been at all surprised at her suddenly talking.  ¡°Yes, I heard,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh.  Right.¡±  She was bright red again, she knew.  Stupid. She¡¯d just introduced herself to his goddess.  Idiot.


    His smirk returning slowly, he arched one eyebrow.  ¡°I¡¯m Takio.¡±


    Her eyes fell to the table in front of her, fixing all of her attention on the meal in front of her.  She could hardly taste it as she shoveled another bite into her mouth. ¡°I-I know.¡±


    ¡°Right.  Well...thanks.¡±


    The sound of conversation rose around them as they fell back into silence.  Every now and then one of the seers would wander past. They never seemed to know who to look at - Efren and his Tideborn were theirs, and more than a few adoring gazes were fixed onto the Waterbinder, but most turned inevitably to the Flameweaver and her Charred.  That was why they were here, after all. Takio greeted each look with a grin, still sipping away at his drink. Efren and Shiina chattered to each other as fast as they could, none the wiser.


    And the quiet dragged on.  Takio¡¯s eyes drifted, sweeping across the crowd.  More and more, he glanced back towards his fellows, waiting nearby.


    ¡°So...uh.  What¡¯s Naraan like?¡±  Natalin said, feeling her anxiety begin to creep up more with every second that bored look stayed on his face.  ¡°It just...sounds so different. W-What sorts of things do you do, as the Charred?¡± She tossed sentence after sentence towards him, hoping something would stick and end the horrible quiet.


    His brow furrowed as he glanced back at her.  ¡°What? I do the usual stuff. We get raiders, now and again.  Bandits. Someone¡¯s got to take care of them.¡± He shook his head, lifting his cup for another drink.  ¡°Same stuff you do, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t-¡±  Natalin caught herself, her face dropping down towards the ground before she could say anything.  She knew instinctively that she couldn¡¯t tell the Charred that her days were spent inside, practicing with guardsmen and getting lessons from tutors.


    ¡°You¡¯re letting him do all that, are you?¡±  Efren¡¯s voice booming across the table was a palpable relief.  Natalin drooped, casting a look towards her god. Efren was looking right back, peering over Shiina¡¯s head.  He winked one endlessly blue eye at her. His gaze dropped to Shiina a moment later. ¡°Seems a bit dangerous, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I told you,¡± Shiina sighed.  ¡°How else is my child supposed to learn?  They must be prepared, after all.¡±


    ¡°And all those scars he¡¯s got?¡±  Efren hadn¡¯t missed it either, then.  ¡°You¡¯ve got to be more careful, Shiina.¡±


    She folded her arms, huffing.  ¡°I am being perfectly careful, brother.  It is not your matter to worry over.¡±


    ¡°Really, Everdeep, thank you for the concern - but it¡¯s misplaced.¡±  Takio said, shaking his head as he slid a hand onto his mistress¡¯s shoulder.  ¡°I¡¯m just fine. It¡¯s the job, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m sure both of you know how it is.¡±


    His eyes flicked to hers at the last words - and his smirk grew a little more.  Natalin flinched. It almost seemed like he was...she shook her head fractionally, pushing the thought away.  She was tired, and stressed, and jumping at offenses that were never given. Hearing the sound of footsteps approaching, she set about her meal with newfound focus.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Ready for us to roll you out of here yet?¡± a voice behind her said.  Natalin looked up, finding a trio of Takio¡¯s Narai companions approaching.  Their eyes were fixed on their leader as they circled around, plopping to the ground on the opposite side of the table.  The man who¡¯d spoken was tall, with freshly washed red-brown hair. He nodded respectfully to Natalin - and he was speaking Ondrian.  A tiny knot in her heart loosened, just a little.


    ¡°Just getting started,¡± Takio said, picking up his fork and grinning at them.  ¡°What, couldn¡¯t stand being alone even for dinner?¡±


    ¡°Too many blue-robes, all staring,¡± one of the others said, chuckling derisively.  ¡°At least you¡¯re here to take most of the eyes.¡±


    Takio smacked the man¡¯s hand as he reached in to tweak at the Charred¡¯s cheek.  They all laughed.


    Natalin stared at her plate, entirely unsure what she should do.  Should she introduce herself? Should she defend her clerics? Should she pretend she didn¡¯t hear anything?


    For every second she hesitated, doing nothing, the conversation grew between the Narai.  Within what seemed like moments they were so deeply involved in their own talk that it would be more rude to interrupt them than to hold her silence.  Shiina was surrounded by a crowd of seers, beaming like the sun and throwing her hair this way and that with gusts of sparks.


    ¡°Smile, missy.¡±  The voice was harshly accented, but clearly understandable.  Her head snapped up. One of the Narai was grinning down at her, tipping his cup back.  He wiped his mouth, setting the cup down with a clatter. ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to disappear entirely.¡±


    The blood drained from her face.  They were guests - guests of the temple.  Her guests. She couldn¡¯t let them think she was bored.  A smile slid onto her face with practiced ease, only taking a little longer than usual.


    The Narai roared with laughter, their eyes fixed on her.  Her smile faltered.


    ¡°Ah, where are my manners,¡± Takio said, waving a hand towards his fellows.  ¡°These are Antiel, Juro, and Yorin. Tikeya, Elintel, Reimm, and Kassien are still where they should be sitting.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± the auburn-haired man stage-whispered, still grinning.


    Natalin could only nod, smiling blankly.  He¡¯d given her their names, yes, but in one ceaseless stream that left her head spinning.  They were all so strange, too, odd syllables and pronunciations entirely different from what she¡¯d known.  Antiel. He¡¯d waved at the grinning man first and called him Antiel. She clung to that much, letting the rest fall from her mind with a twinge of regret.


    ¡°Natalin,¡± she said for what seemed like the hundredth time that night, inclining her head in a tiny, polite bow.  ¡°Tideborn of Efren. It¡¯s our pleasure to host you and your friends tonight.¡± There. The practiced words slid out.  From the corner of her eye, she could see Gerd nod approvingly at her. He was watching. Of course he was watching.


    ¡°Tideborn, eh?¡± Antiel said, straightening.  ¡°Wait, that was you we saw, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    She stared up at him, completely at a loss for a moment.  It was her they¡¯d seen - and yet, she could already see Gerd¡¯s brow furrowing from the table alongside them.  His cheeks were red, but his eyes were sharp.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re-¡±


    ¡°It was!  I¡¯m sure of it!¡± one of the others said, beginning to laugh.  ¡°You were fast, but I remember. I¡¯ve never seen someone sail like that.¡±


    ¡°What, now?¡± Gerd said, beginning to rise.  His expression was beginning to turn stormy.


    ¡°You must have be confused with someone else,¡± Natalin said, falling back on another polite bow as her mind raced.  ¡°I¡¯ve been inside the temple for weeks. I¡¯ve only just now seen your group for the first time.


    ¡°Weeks?¡± Takio said, his brow furrowing.  ¡°Really? Don¡¯t they let you out?¡±


    All of the color that had drained from her face returned in a surge of heat.  ¡°That¡¯s...I¡¯m simply kept very busy with the demands here in Aramoor,¡± she mumbled.  ¡°There is a great deal that needs my attention here.¡± Like sparring practice, and magic lessons, and healing lessons, and tutoring.  It wasn¡¯t quite a lie, but it felt like one.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s all well enough, I¡¯m sure,¡± Takio said.  His brow was still furrowed with confusion, but his eyes drifted across to his companions.  His smirk was creeping onto the corners of his lips again, too. ¡°But there are more towns in Ondria than Aramoor, aren¡¯t there?  I¡¯m sure they need your attention, too.¡±


    Her shoulders raised another inch, shame and irritation growing inside her in equal measure.  ¡°I-I¡¯m simply going where-¡±


    ¡°And you have so much coastline.  Surely you have issues with pirating, yes?¡±


    His friends were beginning to chuckle.  Even Antiel, although he was polite enough to hide it behind his hand.


    Battling coastal pirates?  As though she¡¯d be allowed to do something like that.  Not that she could admit as much. ¡°I¡¯m...I¡¯m not-¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯ve fought, at least?¡±  His tone was turning scornful even as she listened.  ¡°Such is our duty.¡±


    They were all laughing, by then.  The sound of it filled her ears, overcoming even the din of the conversations taking place around them.


    Her lips parted, her mouth hanging open, but no words presented themselves.  He wasn¡¯t wrong - it was her duty, her job. And she¡¯d been told she was too young still, too inexperienced.  He was already covered in scars. What had she done? What had she given back to the people who fed and clothed her?  Her face burned as she drooped.


    A hand slid onto her shoulder.  She flinched, glancing up. Gerd leaned over her, smiling horribly.  She could smell the liquor wafting off his breath.


    ¡°Natalin is doing fine work as the nascent Tideborn,¡± her steward said, squeezing her shoulder tightly enough she winced.  ¡°She learns quickly, despite her youth. As you have seen, she already expands her horizons, growing into her Ascendance.¡±  His words were accompanied by a quick glare down at her. She flinched. He¡¯d heard, then - and understood. The look promised trouble later, but it was overpowered by a pride in his eyes that banished all else.


    Takio leaned back, looking to his friends again.  ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure, uh...Diviner. Only, things have hardly been restful in Naraan.  I¡¯m sure Ondria has troubles of its own. Wouldn¡¯t she be better served-¡±


    ¡°She is right where she should be,¡± Gerd said, his voice rising.  He swayed gently, still clinging to his drink with his free hand. ¡°When the time is right, she will do what is needed.  Whatever you lot have to deal with in Naran, do not think you can walk in here and-¡±


    ¡°All right, all right,¡± Natalin said hurriedly, more than a little taken aback.  She¡¯d never seen the steward react with such vehemence. Smiling gently towards him, where they couldn¡¯t see, she sprang to her feet, steering him away.  He was still muttering when she pushed him carefully back into his seat. She hesitated another moment, eyeing the flush in his cheeks, then gave in and refilled his drink from the bottle resting on the table.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she whispered, flashing him one last wry grin.


    He grinned too, the expression seeming totally out of place on the stern man.  His hand slid to the back of her neck, holding her in a distant embrace. ¡°I just wish you¡¯d listen to me a little more,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°I-I do.  Really.¡±


    ¡°Ah, well.  Go be our Tideborn,¡± he said, clapping her on the shoulder before letting her go entirely.  She drifted away, unsure quite how she should follow that, but finally returned to her seat.  There was nowhere else for her to go, after all.


    But she smiled, just a little.

 Chapter 12

    Takio didn¡¯t so much as nod at her as she sat down. The conversation hadn¡¯t gone anywhere. His friends still chuckled softly, murmuring quietly to each other. But as she set herself down with a groan, a pair of hands latched around her neck, cupping her chin. She jumped.


    ¡°Is that true, brother?¡± Natalin looked up as the hands tilted her head back. The brilliant gold-and-red form of Shiina drifted into view. The goddess¡¯s eyes were fixed on her again, and the look pierced her to the core. ¡°I have warned you before that-¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry yourself over how I conduct me and mine,¡± Efren said. His tone was still light, but there was an edge underneath it that Natalin hadn¡¯t heard before. ¡°Her development is my concern, sister.¡±


    ¡°She is thirteen. In two years it will be her traveling to the different nations - and she is still unblooded? I cannot-¡±


    ¡°What of yours, then?¡± Efren said. He was sitting in his place, still, but slowly, he turned to face his Ascended and his sibling. ¡°Should I throw her into business too quickly, and hope that she¡¯s capable enough to pull herself out? How many of yours died in the learning until you found one that survived, Shiina?¡±


    Natalin flinched. Shiina¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t gold, anymore. The color was deepening, fading through orange towards red as she watched. Her hands tightened against Natalin¡¯s skin, her fingernails pressed in hard. There was no blood - yet.


    ¡°These are not matters for you to speak of, Efren,¡± she said, her voice carefully low. ¡°This is none of your concern.¡±


    ¡°And neither is how I raise my Tideborn,¡± he said, offering her an easy grin. ¡°So sit down and drink your damn spicewine.¡±


    The goddess held Natalin a moment longer, her lips pressed into a thin line. And then she released the girl, stalking back to her seat in a surge of fiery hair. A leatherbound flask was in her hand before she¡¯d so much as settled down.


    ¡°You said something about troubles in Naraan, didn¡¯t you, boy?¡± Efren said, all hints of his previous anger wiped away behind a cheerful expression. ¡°What¡¯s that about? I haven¡¯t heard anything like that.¡±


    Takio swallowed the food in his mouth, reaching for his drink. Natalin sat back, letting the tension bleed from her shoulders. She could still feel Shiina¡¯s hands on her neck, her face. But the conversation had finally turned back to the Charred - where it should be. She reached for the mug Efren had put in front of her, letting the smell of the liquor fill her nose and wipe away a little of the smoke Shiina had left in her wake.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing, Everdeep,¡± he said finally, glancing towards Efren. ¡°Just some troubles with a few of the clans.¡±


    ¡°I see, I see. Well, that seems normal enough, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I believe so,¡± Takio said with a quick nod. His eyes flicked over towards his companions.


    ¡°My boy has been up and down the ranges all year,¡± Shiina said, dropping her flask to her laps as she raised one hand dramatically. ¡°It seems like one thing after another. Really, no matter how often we tell them to simply obey the rules, they find some way to push the limits.¡±


    ¡°Stealing grazelands, letting their herds water wherever they please...there was one clan that actually tunneled into a rival¡¯s mine to steal their vein,¡± Takio said, shaking his head. ¡°That one came to blood, in the end.¡±


    Natalin didn¡¯t miss the way his hands tightened, or the loop on his belt that clearly would have held a sword on any other day. And she saw the scars that lined his knuckles, the back of his hand. He¡¯d fought.


    ¡°It¡¯ll pass,¡± Shiina said, the start of a smile tugging at her lips again as her eyes flicked towards her brother. ¡°It always does. Simply another irritation to busy ourselves with.¡±


    Efren frowned. ¡°But it¡¯s unusual for there to be a pocket of activity like this, yes?¡±


    Takio shrugged, already turning back towards his friends. Their conversation was blossoming anew, pulling him away. Shiina chuckled brightly. ¡°Perhaps, perhaps. It does seem oddly timed, but, well.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Such is life, brother. You must be ready for whatever comes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that,¡± he said, raising his glass. She had her flask up a moment later. The two of them drifted further away from the rest of the conversation, quickly taking up their own little world as the Sanctuary buzzed on around them.


    So was Takio¡¯s group, Natalin realized. They were back to laughing, babbling to each other in rapid-fire Naraani that left her confused. And excluded. She could feel Antiel¡¯s gaze on her for a single moment, and saw the chagrined look in his eyes, but he didn¡¯t try to help include her, either. He just turned his attentions back to Takio, chuckling at some joke their friend made.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Fine. So be it. Natalin fixed a polite, interested smile on her face, pushing aside all her frustrations, and nodded to each seer and citizen that crept past the head table. They were still coming, still talking idly with the Narai who would listen to them and offering reverent bows to Takio and Shiina. The liquor burned just as potently as she sipped at it, desperate for a distraction. She fought down the cough that bubbled up, her smile growing a hair at her success.


    And still, the night dragged on.


    Gerd was passed out, fast asleep on the mats across the way from her. Distantly, she could see the faces of the seers she knew, but there was no way they¡¯d be able to come talk to her, and she knew they¡¯d never think it appropriate, anyway. Efren was distracting Shiina still, the two entirely absorbed in each other, and Takio and his Narai were clearly enjoying their own company too much to talk with the young Tideborn.


    How long until she could slip away? She cast an eye towards the back of the Sanctuary, to where a tall gap in the room¡¯s dividers and screens led out towards the dock. It stretched off the tail of Efren¡¯s domain, smooth wooden boards that hovered over the ocean¡¯s surface. The waters stretched off to the horizon, smooth and mirror-bright and reflecting the glow of the moon. The sky overhead was pitch-black and full of stars.


    It was night in full, then. Gerd wouldn¡¯t consider leaving to be appropriate - but Gerd was sprawled out and snoring, his silver hair mussed and his cowl half-off. No one would even notice. Easing away from the table, Natalin pushed herself to her feet.


    She was right. No one so much as glanced up as she stepped away, hesitantly at first but growing in confidence. Step by step, she slipped through the crowds, bowing and nodding to those who stopped her, until at last, she was free.


    The night air was cold on her face. The Sanctuary had grown hot, she realized, the air muggy and filled with the breath of everyone who had packed into it. There were still people out on the dock, but fewer. She earned a few odd looks as she stepped all the way out to the farthest platform, the Sanctuary just a dark, distant shape, but no one stopped her.


    Natalin smiled wearily as she leaned against one of the posts, lowering herself to the boards so that she could dip a toe in the water. Her dress was fighting her every step of the way, and her feet hurt from the stupid shoes she¡¯d been put in, and her scalp ached from the pull of her tightly braided hair. More than anything, though, the frustration was still there, just under the surface.


    He¡¯d thought himself better than her. It was clear in every line of his expression, that stupid smirk and the laughter of his friends. And why shouldn¡¯t he? She kicked at the water, her mood souring further. She was just a stupid kid, compared to him, even though they were only a few years apart in age.


    Natalin leaned back with a groan, resting against the wooden post. It was no use. She¡¯d do better. That was all there was to it. She¡¯d show him, and make him feel like an idiot.


    Staring at the stars, she tried to push away the sounds of the temple, pretending she couldn¡¯t still hear the raucous laughter.


    <hr>


    Her eyes slid open.


    Natalin flinched, coming away with a jolt. Had she fallen asleep, right where she sat? Sure, she¡¯d been tired, and more than a little stressed, but she shouldn¡¯t sleep outside. Gerd would be angry if he caught her. Once he woke up himself, she thought with a cautious smile.


    The sky overhead was still dark. It wasn¡¯t morning, then. She breathed a quick sigh of relief, pushing herself upright and making for the temple proper as quickly as she could.


    There were still a few stragglers inside the Sanctuary, she saw as she pushed her way inside. They leaned against the walls, laughing uproariously. The sight was enough to make her exhausted all over again. Shiina and Efren were still right where she¡¯d left them. They didn¡¯t turn when she passed, entirely engrossed in their conversation, but Natalin felt Efren¡¯s hand ruffle her hair gently as she slipped past.


    Sleep. She wanted sleep, to let the events of the day and the tiredness that sank all the way down to her mana-well fade away in blissful unawareness. She turned towards the wing that held her bedroom with a grateful hiss. Her room wasn¡¯t far from the Sanctuary, and it had her bed, and-


    Natalin stopped. The diviners¡¯ wing where she lived was always quiet. Always. It was populated entirely by the elder clerics of Efren, who were by and large quiet, severe people.


    Too late, she remembered that beyond it lay the guest wing. Only the best, for the honored visitors from afar. The normally peaceful hallway was filled with the sound of their voices, their laughter. It pressed in on her as she slowly stepped towards her room.


    Her door did absolutely nothing to block out the sound. She could still hear them, after she¡¯d slowly closed it. It echoed in her ears as she flopped down on the bed, loosening the buttons on her dress and reaching for her tunic.


    Finally, when she was free of the horrible thing and back to some semblance of normalcy, she couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. It just wasn¡¯t stopping, and the last thing she wanted was to have his voice echoing around her bedroom, laughing and cracking jokes while she was trying to sleep. With one last wistful glance at her bed, she threw herself from the room again.


    Neither of the Diviners glanced up as she slipped back into the Sanctuary. Sleeping in there was entirely improper. It was the place of the gods, Gerd had said, lecturing her over and over again, and not a place for her to treat as she liked.


    But as she took a step inside, the driftwood warm on her feet, one of the tapestries on the wall shifted gently. Natalin paused. There wasn¡¯t a breeze.


    When she reached for it, taking the intricately woven fabric in her hand, she found a doorway waiting on the far side - and a cot, covered in warm blankets and smelling of saltwater. She cast one last glance towards the gods, murmuring her silent thanks. Efren¡¯s amused chuckle rang in her ears, bothering her not at all.


    Her head hit the pillow. She was out cold a heartbeat later.

 Chapter 13

    The sound of wood cracking against wood echoed through the courtyard.


    Natalin gritted her teeth, drawing back to a ready position, and struck again. The tip of her staff jabbed out, slamming against the dummy yet again.


    She could feel them on her - the eyes of the seers as well as the common folk working nearby. Watching her. Judging her. Logically, she knew it was just her sore ego getting the better of her. It wasn¡¯t like anyone would be watching her, when they could be ogling the temple¡¯s visitor.


    A fresh pang of irritation shot through her at the thought. She pushed the bitterness away, channeling it into her next blow. Her muscles ached with the repetition of it. It had still been dark when she¡¯d slipped out of the temple, ducking around corners with her face bright red at the thought of being caught. Now, though, the sun shone brightly down from overhead.


    She was supposed to meet Mostyn in just a few hours for her normal lessons. If this had been a normal day, anyway. But no. They were here, and so Mostyn was busy. Everyone was busy, catering to their guests. She should be too, she knew. But there was still time, a bit of freedom left to her before she¡¯d be expected to act like the Tideborn.


    And so Natalin relished the burn of her muscles, the ease with which she slipped deeper into her routine. Each blow came quicker than the one before, a seamless flurry of jabs and sweeps that she¡¯d rehearsed a thousand times.


    ¡°Wondered what all the noise was.¡±


    Natalin flinched, twitching at the voice that rang out from behind her. Letting her staff fall to her side, she twisted just far enough to see-


    To see the grey-haired teenager leaning against the low fence surrounding her yard, a smirk he couldn¡¯t quite hide tugging at his lips. Two of his friends lingered behind him, openly grinning at her. She blinked, recognizing the more welcoming Antiel from the night before.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I disturbed you,¡± she said, feeling the polite, proper words slide out on automatic. It wasn¡¯t what she was thinking, but she knew better than to say that.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t, really. We were up anyway. Right?¡± Takio said, turning to his friends. His smirk wasn¡¯t hiding, anymore.


    Antiel chuckled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t let him bother you, Tideborn. He doesn¡¯t keep normal, sane, human hours.¡±


    ¡°Rude,¡± Takio said with a dramatic sigh, half-turning away again. And then his eyes fixed back on her. She jumped. ¡°Still...Where¡¯s the rest of your weapon, girl?¡±


    Natalin blinked slowly, ignoring the fresh irritation that welled up at being called ¡®girl¡¯, as though he was so much older than her. ¡°Pardon me?¡± she said instead, folding her hands together over the fabric-wrapped grip. With her fingers interlaced, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to see how her knuckles stood out white against her skin.


    Takio gestured in her direction. His eyes were fixed on her staff. ¡°That stick you¡¯ve got there. Where¡¯s the metal? The spine?¡± He shook his head slowly, letting his gaze drift up to her face. ¡°Not exactly a convincing tool, is it?¡±


    What? Her mind spun, even as she felt a heat spread from her ears to her cheeks. What business was it of his what weapon she chose as her own? ¡°It¡¯s traditional,¡± she said, fixing her gaze on the open air over his shoulder like Gerd had taught her. Couldn¡¯t have the Tideborn lashing out in anger, after all. ¡°I¡¯m here to protect, first and foremost, and all that.¡±


    Takio made a face, scrunching his nose up. ¡°I...suppose. And what¡¯s going to happen when you come up against an axe? Just a nice little piece of firewood, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just a piece of wood.¡±


    ¡°It looks like one to me.¡±


    Natalin glared at him, fighting desperately to keep herself under control. ¡°Well, Charred, I suppose...I suppose we¡¯ll just have to disagree. Now, I think the diviners had arranged for you to take a tour of Aramoor and-¡±


    ¡°I saw the city already.¡±


    Natalin stopped, the words dying on her lips. Takio leaned against the railing around the yard, smirking at her - and from the knowing look in his eyes, he knew all too well that she¡¯d only brought up the tour as an excuse to get him away from her.


    He was the Charred, she told herself. Her partner, her closest ally. Efren had told her so, and Gerd had repeated it over and over again. There was no reason to be antagonistic to the young man. Surely she¡¯d just gotten off on the wrong foot. It wasn¡¯t like she should hold one bad first impression against him forever. That would be childish.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    And yet, he¡¯d interrupted her at her practice, only so that he could insult her. After he spent the whole godsdamned party leering at her and blabbering away in a foreign language to his peers. He certainly didn¡¯t seem to be all that interested in maintaining the good relationship between their nations.


    ¡°Oh?¡± she said, keeping a vacant, polite smile on her lips. ¡°And what did you think?¡±


    ¡°Boring.¡±


    Her eyes widened fractionally. Beside Takio, Antiel sniffed, glancing away. If he had any thoughts about his Charred¡¯s rudeness, he didn¡¯t give them voice. The other Narai just laughed. Natalin forced the smile back into place, clutching her staff in both hands. ¡°I¡¯m quite sorry to hear that. Perhaps you¡¯d like to see the-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a mess of fish and boats,¡± Takio said, holding a hand up helplessly. ¡°We¡¯ve got fishermen in Naraan.¡±


    ¡°Not nearly as many,¡± Antiel said, cutting in finally.


    Takio wrinkled his nose. ¡°Well. No. But it smells.¡±


    Natalin fought to keep her face carefully neutral. ¡°How unfortunate. Well, then, if you return to the Sanctuary, I¡¯m sure the diviners will-¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it get boring, hitting straw and wood?¡±


    Again, Natalin skidded to a verbal stop, nearly tripping over her own tongue. Takio was still staring at her, and this time, the look was positively feral. His fingers danced at his side - playing over the hilt of the sword buckled at his waist.


    His lips curled up in a tiny, knowing grin as he saw her staring at it.


    She tore her eyes off it, scowling at him. ¡°It¡¯s training. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re familiar.¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. But it¡¯s usually better to train against things that hit back, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Your party¡¯s arrival has taken my normal training partner away from me,¡± she snapped. Too late, she saw the grin spread across his face, and realized the trap he¡¯d laid for her.


    He was over the railing in a second, vaulting the wooden bars neatly and landing in a rush of red fabric and dark leather. Her eyes followed the gleam of metal as he unbuckled the sword belt from around his hips. The leather sheath hanging from it was darker even than the rest of his gear, nearly black in the morning light. Silvered inlays coated its surface, unmistakably marking the weapon as something special.


    The Narai were good weaponsmiths. The thought presented itself to her, appearing from the half-remembered lessons that littered her thoughts. Their mountain range was filled with mines, deep caverns under the earth that produced the best metals the continent had to offer. Narai steel was something no one else could match - not verdant Drenwell, and not her own seaside Ondria. Whatever sword Takio was carrying, as the Charred, would no doubt be the finest the skilled smiths could produce.


    ¡°Oh, I do so regret it if our visit has caused you any trouble,¡± Takio said, resting the blade against the wall. His orange eyes flitted about the yard, finally settling on the rack of practice weapons that stood at the back of the yard. ¡°It saddens me to think that I might be standing in the way of your training.¡±


    Natalin¡¯s back stiffened, her hands wrapped around the wooden pole of her staff. Her pulse thundered in her ears like a drum. It was nothing, she told herself. There was nothing there, no offense to be taken. His words were just the polite, concerned niceties she¡¯d have expected from any other dignitary.


    The mocking derision in his eyes was a different matter entirely - but that didn¡¯t mean she could respond to it.


    ¡°By no means,¡± she hissed, fighting to keep her tone level and pleasant. ¡°It¡¯s our pleasure to have you here. My lord has been looking forward to seeing your mistress and you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Shiina said the old bastard would be over the moon. Whatever makes her happy, I suppose.¡±


    Natalin¡¯s fingers tightened further, pale spots lighting up on her olive skin. It wasn¡¯t right. The thought screamed in the back of her mind, protesting every word the other Ascended had said. Efren was a god - the Waterbinder, the Everdeep. Even if the Charred wanted to flaunt his disrespect at her, she was just another human at the end of the day. But deriding her god was a different matter.


    Even still, his eyes had softened a little as he spoke. The words had been harsh, but there was less spite behind them than the polite, cultured phrases he¡¯d recited only a few moments before. Natalin paused, searching his face for any sort of clue as to what was going through his mind.


    But his expression stayed as impassive as before, his skin littered with tiny, silvery scars. His gaze lingered on her a moment longer - and then he turned, crossing to the weapons rack.


    Natalin shook her head, blinking away the momentary confusion. ¡°I still think you should head back to the temple. I¡¯m sure Gerd- I mean, the diviner, is-¡±


    Her words died, silenced on her lips as a wooden blade snapped around. The tip of it hung inches in front of her face, steady and unmoving. Her eyes focused in on it instinctively. It took all of her will to keep from leaping back, distancing herself from what every fiber of her body screamed was surely a threat.


    ¡°I¡¯m bored,¡± was all Takio said. He watched her, his expression carefully neutral. ¡°Would you mind?¡±


    Natalin eyed him for a long, quiet moment, warring with the conflicting emotions that struggled for control. First and foremost was the irritation - frustration at his behavior, at the way he waltzed in as though he owned the whole godsdamned city and pushed her to the side without a thought. The fear was second, although she was loath to admit it. He was talented. It was clear in the easy way he carried himself, the way he seemed more off-balance without his sword¡¯s familiar weight on his hip. Respecting that skill was good, she told herself. Healthy.


    Under it all, though, pangs of curiosity ran deep. He talked a big game, that much was true, and he was the Charred. That meant something. But she was the Tideborn, and that meant something, too. Her pulse quickened, beating hard and fast in her ears at the thought of putting herself to the test.


    ¡°Are you comfortable with that?¡± she said, falling back on the familiar, polite words to cover over her surprise. ¡°There are many options. If you need to take a moment, I can-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Takio¡¯s shoulders relaxed. He took a swing, hefting the weapon in his palm, and shrugged. ¡°It¡¯ll do, anyway.¡± Bringing it out to the side, he locked eyes with her.


    Natalin ground her teeth. Even if he didn¡¯t say anything, she recognized an implicit command when she saw it. He wanted her to attack - which put him in the position of ¡®teacher¡¯ for this mock duel. He was older, she repeated to herself. That was fair. It was reasonable.


    Sliding her hands into place around her staff with practiced ease, Natalin lunged.

 Chapter 14

    Forcing the whispers and cries of complaint away, Natalin hurled herself in, taking two great strides towards Takio. If he was offering her the first strike, then she¡¯d accept. The half-skirt hanging from her belt swished back, billowing with the sudden movement. The tip of her staff came up, driving straight towards Takio with unerring accuracy.


    Range was her friend, she told herself. Mostyn had always been quite stubborn on that fact. She was too small, too short and slender to get into a close-quarters fight. A staff was a good fit, letting her maintain that distance she needed.


    Takio¡¯s fingers twitched - in surprise. A smug smile tugged at her lips. Served him right. About time he-


    Her staff sailed through open air. It was her turn to lurch, staggering and off-balance, and try not to fall on her face. She hadn¡¯t even seen him move. When had he-


    A bit of color, a shadow of movement at the very edge of her vision. Natalin spun, pulling her staff back to the ready, and narrowly missed Takio¡¯s counterattack.


    The man¡¯s eyes narrowed. A low, irritated noise reached her ears. He¡¯d clicked his tongue, she realized. As though this was just a bother.


    Her years of training took over in an instant. She was centered and back in position when his next blows rained out, one after another after another. Her arms ached, burning from the strain of the attacks he leveled at her, but not a one made it through her guard.


    There was something oddly peaceful about their duel, Natalin mused to herself as she struck out on the offensive again. Takio dodged, bringing his wooden blade up just far enough to send her staff sailing uselessly to the side. There was a rhythm to it, a back and forth like-


    Like he was running her through a series of drills. The realization settled home like a hammer, leaving her feel like she¡¯d missed a block and gotten whacked upside the head. She could see it, when she looked more closely. His eyes, scanning her face, her shoulders. Watching the way she moved, the way she fought. He wasn¡¯t fighting her - he was testing her.


    Her frustrations surged in anew, all of her hard-won peace vanishing. He was right back to treating her like a sideshow, like this was all a game. She hadn¡¯t trained for years to be looked down on, godsdamn it.


    The worn wood of her staff squeaked under hands as she shifted, tightening her grip and bringing the weapon to bear. Every ounce of her focus zeroed in, locked on the Narai¡¯s chest. He was treating this like some sort of game - so be it. He could play around all he wanted, and she¡¯d make sure to take advantage of his disdain.


    Her staff was like an extension of her arm, snapping out again and again at the slightest thought. He was bigger than her, but she was fast. Again and again she heard the hiss of his blade sailing through the open space where she¡¯d been mere heartbeats before. He blocked her blows, evading the ones that came too fast and hard, but she was gaining.


    Her limbs ached, though, burning hotter by the second as she pressed her onslaught. She was going to get tired. He¡¯d strutted up, fresh from a night¡¯s sleep and a leisurely stroll of her city. She¡¯d already spent two hours on the dummy.


    Natalin knew she wouldn¡¯t have long before the tables turned, if things continued as they were. His orange eyes were locked on hers, a smile on his lips as he tried to twist the staff from her hands. She leapt back, letting his blade slide free and resetting her grip in a single smooth motion. He was still putting her through her paces like a rank-and-file recruit. She wasn¡¯t fooled. There was an awareness behind the look he gave her, like he was watching for his moment.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    So was she. As she withdrew, watching him lurch with his weapon extended, she shifted her weight to one foot.


    It would be playing dirty, she knew. Mostyn wouldn¡¯t approve in the slightest. His sense of honor and duty was too finely tuned to react anything but poorly. Gerd would be even more upset. She knew if he caught wind of her games, he¡¯d shriek about the risks she took and the danger she¡¯d put her counterpart in. She¡¯d be lucky to leave the temple again before her Presentation.


    But more than anything, she wanted to wipe that smile off his face. He wouldn¡¯t treat her and her god so poorly, after.


    As Takio bounded back half a pace, steadying himself and raising his blade, Natalin slammed her heel into the ground.


    They were in the middle of the practice yard. The ground underneath them was hard-packed dirt - but it didn¡¯t matter. She was the Tideborn. She seized the fact of it, fixing it in her mind and saturating the air around them with her mana. The ocean of it stretched out before her as she reached inward.


    Fog filled the yard as the air soaked through instantly, crackling and popping with chill. Ice erupted from the ground under Takio¡¯s feet, wrapping itself about his ankles. It grew ferociously fast, spreading up his boots.


    Natalin fought back a smile, bringing her staff around to bear. Her own boots flexed as she poised herself on the balls of her feet, hurling herself towards her suddenly-trapped opponent. With no way to evade her, he¡¯d have to-


    Only the scent of smoke filling the yard gave the slightest bit of warning before fires sprang to life between them. Natalin gasped, biting back a shriek before it slipped out.


    Takio was on her before she recovered. His feet were aflame, she saw from the corner of her eye as he lunged. Her ice melted away from it without a moment¡¯s battle. His legs were covered with black, like soot and...she sighed. Like char.


    Natalin was still fighting to shift from her attack to a blocking stance when his foot slammed into hers, knocking her off balance. His hand latched onto her wrist, tugging in one seamless motion and sealing her fate.


    The sky danced in front of her eyes as she flew, wide-eyes and gaping.


    The ground greeted her a moment later, driving the air from her lungs as she plowed back down. She wheezed, gasping for breath. The dirt of the yard was warm against her cheek.


    A weight settled onto her back before she could think of moving, of skittering away to continue the fight. The tip of his training sword¡¯s blade stuck into the earth alongside her face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t play a trick you can¡¯t follow through on,¡± Takio said from behind her. His voice had the same bored undertone as it had in the party, despite their pose.


    Natalin twisted, trying to get an angle on him. His hand grabbed the back of her head, pressing her face into the dirt. ¡°You know,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid.¡±


    ¡°I give in already,¡± she snapped, thrashing to free her legs. ¡°Efren¡¯s ass, is that what you want to hear?¡±


    Takio snorted, as if about to comment on her choice of curses. But he stood with a sigh, stretching. The crack of bones popping carried across the practice yard.


    Her heart froze as she pushed herself upright, beet red, and saw his skin was coated in black. Had he burned himself in the process of destroying her spell? Had he-


    It wasn¡¯t a burn, she realized. It was like his skin was covered with blackened, stony scales, which dropped away to dissolve on the breeze as she watched. She stared, morbid fascination overpowering even her wounded pride.


    ¡°Takio,¡± someone said, raising their voice. She jumped. Antiel. She¡¯d forgotten he was there at all. ¡°Time to stop playing with kids. I think we¡¯ve taken up enough of the little miss¡¯s time, don¡¯t you? Besides, it sounded like the diviner wanted us to-¡±


    ¡°I know, I know.¡± Takio turned away without another look, crossing back to the weapons rack and depositing his training sword with a clatter. Spinning on his heel, he bowed, the picture of politeness. ¡°Thank you for your time, Tideborn.¡±


    That was it - no more pleasantries, no goodbyes, no acknowledgement that they¡¯d done more than stand around talking. The black had vanished from Takio¡¯s skin entirely by the time he took his first step towards the gate.


    She stood in the yard, dirt still coating her clothes and her fists balled up at her sides, and watched as the Narai wandered off into the rest of the temple.

 Chapter 15

    ¡°Sit quietly,¡± Natalin said, her voice carefully low.


    The riverguard in front of her shook his head, his skin paling to white. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, mistress, I-I don¡¯t think I c-can-¡±


    ¡°I know it hurts. Be strong.¡±


    He groaned, his face twisting with agony. She bit back a sigh, stepping down the length of the cot.


    She couldn¡¯t exactly blame him for squirming. The man¡¯s ankle was shattered horribly - a training accident, she¡¯d been told. Bruises and scrapes weren¡¯t uncommon, but this was more than a bit of rash from a fall that went wrong.


    The well inside her stretched out as she reached for it, sliding one mental hand into the waves. She¡¯d need power as well as finesse, if the bone was to be set right.


    In the back of her mind, she could hear the murmurs from around her. The other seers wouldn¡¯t be far. Ostensibly, they were supposed to be training her. Diviner Moulim was the healer in charge of the temple¡¯s clinic that day, in fact. The morning¡¯s lessons were supposed to have played out as a bell¡¯s time spent healing the temple¡¯s invalids under his watchful eye.


    And yet, they¡¯d all taken a step back, watching her work. She pushed away the irritation and the first, shameful hints of pride, focusing on bringing as much of her magic to bear as she could muster.


    The stakes were higher, she knew. Even in the brawl on the docks a few weeks before, failure would just mean painful bruises and a lengthy period of recuperation with Gerd as her only company. Mistakes here, on the other hand, would mean a crippled riverguard and a blemish on Efren¡¯s name.


    Water brought life, she whispered to herself. It connected everything, flowing from the beginning to the end. Water was her birthright, along with everything in its domain.


    She could feel it, coursing through his veins. Her mana bolstered him, rejuvenating and healing everything in touched.


    Which only left¡­


    Biting her lip, she moved, sliding her hands down onto his ruined ankle gently. He twitched, moaning, but she held on. Before he could pull away, she straightened the limb, wincing at the feeling of bone shifting under the skin.


    He screamed, the sound strangled and bitten-off. The cry hadn¡¯t yet faded when she plunged back in, mending the hurts she¡¯d just caused.


    Within seconds, the riverguard collapsed back down onto his cot, shivering faintly but still at last.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± a voice behind her said. She recognized Gerd¡¯s gravelly, rough tone even as she spun, letting her hands slide free of her patient¡¯s skin. The diviner stepped closer, offering the riverguard a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve improved.¡±


    Natalin winced. His words might be polite, but he shot a look across the healer¡¯s ward that would have sheared straight through steel. Moulim flinched, springing with a whirl of his silver-and-blue cowl to busy himself elsewhere.


    ¡°He¡¯s not so bad off,¡± Natalin said, watching him go. ¡°It¡¯s just a broken bone.¡± She hesitated, glancing towards the door. ¡°Ah...how long were you-¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to interrupt,¡± Gerd said.


    ¡°I see.¡± So he¡¯d watched, while she healed. Another assessment. Fresh irritation welled up inside her, punctuated by the dirt stains that still coated her pants and tunic. She shook her head, chasing the thoughts from her mind. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry, steward,¡± she said, staring at the floor between them. ¡°I know I¡¯m supposed to meet Master-¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°I was thinking you might appreciate a bit of fresh air instead.¡±


    Her chin snapped up. Her eyes locked on his, searching his face. Gerd wasn¡¯t a young man. His face was heavily lined, his olive skin going grey and pale from too long spent indoors. His once-black hair was pure silver, clipped short to his scalp. And nowhere at all in the old man¡¯s face did she see any sign that he was toying with her.


    ¡°That sounds good,¡± she said, fighting to keep her tone level. ¡°But shouldn¡¯t I- What exactly were you-¡±


    ¡°The representative from Hearthfire has informed me his young charge is becoming¡­.restless,¡± Gerd said, shaking his head. At Natalin¡¯s confused look, he paused. ¡°His advisor. Antiel?¡± His eyes were sharp on hers. ¡°Hearthfire is the clan tasked to look after the Flameweaver¡¯s Sanctuary. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve already-¡±


    ¡°I remember, I remember,¡± Natalin said, throwing her hands up. The seers around them were chuckling, fixing her with tolerant looks. She was too busy rolling over the new information in her mind to care.


    Takio had a chaperone, too. The thought amused her more than it should have. Not such an adult, was he?


    ¡°He can be as restless as he likes, elsewhere. I don¡¯t want him blowing up our temple. You¡¯ll take them west, then. Out to Lohova, if you can make it there and back, but at least to-¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Natalin blurted out, cutting Gerd off. ¡°You want me to do what?¡±


    Gerd paused, his gaze suddenly far too knowing. ¡°Well, I heard from somewhere that you like exploring the countryside.¡±


    Natalin stiffened, her hands pressed tight to her sides. It had been three days since the welcoming banquet, and Gerd had said nothing. She¡¯d hoped that he¡¯d been too far in his drinks by then, that the night had been too full of excitement for him to remember.


    Apparently not.


    She shook her head hurriedly. ¡°Listen, steward, I-I just-¡±


    ¡°Ah, well. It had to happen sometime.¡±


    Natalin stopped. The irritation was still there in his expression, but it was hidden behind the wall of amusement that rose to the forefront.


    Gerd reached out, patting her on the shoulder. ¡°The Charred should see at least some of Ondria, after all. And...I suppose it is about time for the country outside Aramoor to properly meet its Ascended. I¡¯ll worry less with him being there, anyway.¡±


    Her breath hitched in her chest. She stared at him, expecting him to take back the offer at any second. He didn¡¯t. She realized she was smiling, beaming at the steward.


    ¡°I- right. Yes, of course,¡± Natalin stammered. ¡°I¡¯ll just- I¡¯ll just go get my things, shall I?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t go into the deep waters, but mind the shoreline. Don¡¯t stray across any of the shoals. Oh, I should get you a map of this season¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen all the charts,¡± Natalin said, pushing herself upright. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gerd. I¡¯ll be careful, I promise.¡±


    ¡°Have them back before night sets in,¡± Gerd said, crossing his arms.


    His stern demeanor wavered as she planted a peck of a kiss on his cheek, slipping past him towards the door. ¡°I will, I will.¡±


    ¡°If you get tired-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine!¡± Natalin called back over her shoulder, already half out the door. His sigh followed in her wake, but she didn¡¯t turn.


    Freedom. Gerd was finally, finally relenting and allowing her a looser rein. Her heart leapt, making her steps light as she raced back towards her room. She¡¯d need her staff, if they were sailing. And a jacket to go over her undershirt. It would be cold out on the waves. She should bring something to eat, too, the thoughts in the back of her mind whispered. Lohova was a long way off, nestled into the isles west of Ondria¡¯s capital. She¡¯d be exhausted by the end.


    Gerd probably knew that, too, and this was his own, vindictive sort of retribution for her disobedience. Her steps slowed. She¡¯d have to spend the whole day with the Narai, too. And somehow, she knew that Gerd was aware of that as well.


    Hesitating, she reached out, searching - and found Efren¡¯s distant presence. He was nearby, she could tell. Totally engrossed with his sister, no doubt. She thought of calling him, but for what? To complain about her counterpart? To ask for his help in navigating the waters between Aramoor and Lohova?


    No, Natalin decided. She¡¯d be fine. And it was just one afternoon - surely she could manage that much time with the Charred and his caretaker. She was just being oversensitive, that was all.


    She got to go out. Her excitement flooded back, drowning out the complaints and irritations that went with the sudden outing. Seers laughed behind her as she hurried down the hall, straight towards the intricately-carved door that marked her room. She paid them no mind.


    Her thoughts were already out among the waves.

 Chapter 16

    Reverie - Home Page</a>


    <hr>


    The cobblestones flew past under Natalin¡¯s heels as she raced away from the main temple towards the dock. Her mind spun, flitting back and forth just as quickly as her feet. Freedom - a slice of it, anyway. She wouldn¡¯t even have to sneak around under the steward¡¯s nose.


    Efren chuckled in the back of her mind. Her steps slowed. What? she thought, almost guiltily.


    Oh, nothing. Try and contain yourself, waterlily.


    Natalin scowled, panting for breath, but shook her head, earning an odd look from two women passing through the temple¡¯s outer yard. I-I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, my lord.


    So respectful, you are.


    His laugh rumbled through the courtyard. Natalin groaned, her eyes fixed on the cobblestones. It¡¯s my duty.


    Yes, of course. I¡¯m sure. Now, when you sail for Lohova-


    You heard? Natalin did her best not to scream the phrase, flashing through her mind.


    Were you expecting me to not? Efren¡¯s tone was carefully measured, but rippled with amusement.


    Natalin shook her head again, fixing her eyes on the sight of the water alongside the path ahead. She was close. For the first time, she realized that she didn¡¯t know where they were supposed to meet. Will you be coming? With the Flameweaver, I mean. Conflicting emotions warred for control as she whispered him the thought. His presence was a constant comfort in its own way, even if he was on the overbearing side. But the memory of those horrible golden eyes was too fresh, the feeling of razor-sharp nails against her skin.


    Natalin.


    I¡¯m just thinking, she shot back, breaking into a jog.


    She¡¯s not that scary. Don¡¯t be overdramatic.


    I¡¯m not. She¡¯s fine.


    His sigh echoed through her skull, tolerant and full-bodied. No, Shiina and I will not accompany you. There are tasks here that need our attention desperately.


    Your bottle. She couldn¡¯t quite grab the thought back in time. Efren¡¯s invisible hand slapped against her back, sending her stumbling forward. He laughed again, even harder.


    Don¡¯t be jealous. Look sharp, girl. If you need help-


    I¡¯ll be fine, Natalin thought sourly. She saw it too - the cluster of figures standing around on the broad, wood-lined dock behind Efren¡¯s temple. Takio stood in the center, his grey hair nearly white in the brilliant sun.


    Efren chuckled once more - and then his presence lifted, blurring and fading as he slipped farther and farther away.


    The god was the least of her concerns as she hit the dock, slowing back to a walk. The others turned at the sound of her approach. Antiel stood alongside Takio, with a dark-haired man who fixed her with a beady glare and said not a word. And¡­.Natalin sighed. A young woman stood at the Charred¡¯s side, dark-haired and wearing the pale blue cowl of an apprentice seer - not one she recognized. The smile pasted across her face faltered at Natalin¡¯s approach.


    Natalin smothered a sigh behind her hand, fighting to keep from rolling her eyes. Takio didn¡¯t look the least bit embarrassed. He shifted, turning to face her. ¡°Oh, good,¡± he said, offering her a thin smile. ¡°If you¡¯re here, I take it we can be off?¡±


    As though she¡¯d wasted time, Natalin thought, still approaching the cluster. She¡¯d gathered her things as soon as Gerd told her the plan. Ignoring the young man¡¯s protests, she eyed the dock beyond the seer. A boat was tethered there, tugged free of its normal slip.


    Natalin ran the numbers over in her head. Herself, and Takio, and his two companions. Four people - the boat that bobbed gently in the water should be large enough to hold them. Barely.


    Of course, even if it held all of them, she¡¯d have to be able to move it. Her limbs already ached, worn out from the sparring and the healing she¡¯d worked.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    It wasn¡¯t like she was going to give up on her Gerd-approved shot at the outside world, though. Forcing a smile, she gestured towards the craft. ¡°After you.¡±


    Takio grabbed the post of the dock, leaping into the boat without hesitation. His dark-haired companion hesitated, eyeing it with distrust. ¡°Are you sure this will-¡±


    ¡°Get in the damn boat, Kassien,¡± Takio said, patting the bench beside him. He¡¯d already plopped down against the gunwales, sprawled out and totally at ease.


    Kassien paused a moment longer, his lips fluttering as though he was debating arguing, but climbed in cautiously.


    ¡°Can you swim?¡± Natalin said, shooting the Narai a look as she stooped to untie the boat. He¡¯d seemed entirely too reluctant.


    ¡°I suppose,¡± Kassien muttered, looking away.


    Antiel chuckled, climbing in rather more confidently. ¡°He¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want any of you drowning,¡± Natalin said, pulling the last cord free.


    Takio shook his head, leaning back. ¡°Worry less, Tideborn. My vanguard are all capable. You think we¡¯d come all the way out here only to drown?


    He laughed. Kassien laughed. Even Antiel snorted, although he had the decency to look away.


    Natalin bit her lip hard enough she tasted blood, lowering her face so they couldn¡¯t see the irritation there. It was just a damn question, she thought to herself. Heaven forbid she figure out they were helpless after they left.


    But there was a polite, careful smile on her face when she straightened, eyeing the boat. They¡¯d all settled in by then, taking up their respective positions. Takio had inched towards the bow, leaving his companions to fend for themselves. At least they¡¯d left her a spot at the bench in the stern.


    Kassien twitched as she planted her foot on the boat¡¯s sidewall, pushing hard. His face was pale, his dark eyes flicking back and forth like he still wasn¡¯t sure about the whole matter. Her smile twisted, turning into something more like a leer. Kicking herself off the ground, she landed in the boat before he could see it.


    The bench creaked gently as she settled herself down in the seat, sweeping her half-robe to one side to drape down the wood.


    ¡°Don¡¯t we need oars?¡± Takio said dryly. ¡°Or a sail? I¡¯m no sailor, but-¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the Tideborn,¡± Antiel hissed. ¡°Don¡¯t be rude.¡± He was as white as Kassien, although in his case she suspected it was out of polite horror more than fear. He¡¯d taken the seat closer to her, which she appreciated.


    ¡°It was just a question,¡± Takio said, his voice low. His eyebrows had pulled together, forming an angry wall over his eyes.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be just fine, Charred,¡± Natalin said, bringing her staff around. Antiel and Kassien ducked, letting the wooden rod go over their heads. She sighed, feeling a bit disappointed despite herself.


    Takio¡¯s scowl didn¡¯t ease up. ¡°So what are you going to-¡±


    Before he could say another word, she thrust the staff downward, driving the wooden rod into the ocean. In the same breath, she plunged a mental hand down into the well of mana that lay just under her skin.


    ¡°Oh,¡± she heard Takio say, a note of recognition in his tone for the first time. ¡°Right.¡±


    ¡°You godsdamned idiot,¡± Antiel muttered under his breath.


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    She tried her best to tune the both of them out as their argument ignited, carried on by quip after irritated quip. The boat was bigger than the tiny shell she¡¯d ridden around Aramoor - and there were four of them in it. Her friend¡¯s words rang in her ears - there¡¯s no way you¡¯d be able to move something like that in time.


    Well, now she had the Charred and two of his companions in her care. Moving the damned boat wasn¡¯t an option anymore. Natalin spread her fingers wider, holding the mental image of her staff closer. It was a pillar, she told herself. A connection between her and the waves. Part of her wanted to just stoop down and thrust her hand in. Gerd had told her no. He¡¯d been quite firm, in fact - no shortcuts.


    She had to learn the right way of doing it.


    A bead of sweat dripped down the small of her back, passing evidence of the energy she was burning, but she could feel it. The waters around them roiled, shifting. The boat bobbed gently, rocking back and forth. The waves grew, lapping at it gently. They were moving - from more than the kick she¡¯d given them.


    Nearly there. She could feel it, the tidal wave of magic that responded to her call. The ocean was Efren¡¯s. There was strength there, when she was surrounded by the waters like this. All she had to do was-


    ¡°How long is this going to take, exactly?¡± she heard Takio mutter under his breath. The words were accompanied by the gentle tipping that told her he¡¯d stood up.


    Self-centered ass.


    Before she could stop herself, she grabbed at the power building under their keel, twisting hard. The boat lurched, jumping to the side as they rose into the air. White sprayed out from under the boards.


    Takio yelped. She heard that much from within her focus. A heartbeat later, the sound of something crashing into water split the quiet. Something, or someone.


    Natalin bit back a smile, letting her eyes slide open.


    ¡°Master Charred!¡± Kassien cried, his face going white as he leapt for the side of the boat. Antiel was a second behind him, if a bit more under control.


    Takio¡¯s head broke through the water¡¯s surface before either of them could jump in after him. The sound of his spluttering filled the air. The boat rocked as his hand latched onto the sidewall.


    Antiel grabbed him by the back of his tunic a second later, hauling the teenager out of the water. He hit the floor hard, rolling to a sitting position.


    Natalin flinched. His eyes were fixed on her, orange and narrowed. ¡°Careful,¡± she said. Gerd would have been proud of the way not even a hint of amusement entered her tone. ¡°It¡¯s unsteady out here on the water. You should keep your seat until we¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    He opened his mouth, ready to argue with her, but before he could say a word she poured her mana into the waves again. The boat lurched for the second time in as many minutes - and this time, he grabbed hold, slapping away Antiel¡¯s hand.


    The three Narai were wonderfully, blissfully quiet as they picked up speed, winding their way along the coastline towards the west.

 Chapter 17

    Reverie - Home Page</a>


    <hr>


    Takio shifted, all but squirming in his seat. His eyes were latched onto the shores. ¡°Can¡¯t we land?¡± he said, nodding towards the distant sands. ¡°We¡¯ve got to be close.¡±


    Inwardly, Natalin sighed. She¡¯d known the peace and quiet couldn¡¯t last forever. Conversations had been creeping up as the minutes dragged on, whispered arguments and jabs back and forth between the three. With all of her focus going towards navigating the seas, she hadn¡¯t paid them any mind.


    But the glare he¡¯d directed her way was impossible to ignore. Sighing, she tilted her head towards the coast. ¡°We¡¯re still approaching Lohova, Charred. Be patient.¡±


    ¡°We can walk the rest of the way,¡± he muttered.


    She arched one eyebrow, her glee rising. Her arm was still straight out behind her, clutching the staff that dragged as a rudder off the stern. They skimmed over the waves, bouncing to and fro with every swell. Despite the speed they¡¯d picked up and the massive expanse of the oceans around them, she couldn¡¯t find it in herself to be worried. ¡°Oh? Is the trip bothering you?¡±


    The Charred. Seasick. Somewhere behind her, a half-forgotten touch on the back of her mind, she could feel an amusement that was entirely Efren¡¯s. He was watching. Of course he was watching.


    Any irritation she might have felt at the realization paled at the excitement of being away - of being so far from Aramoor that she couldn¡¯t even see the peaks of the watchtowers.


    ¡°I¡¯d just prefer to walk,¡± Takio said, turning away. He could hide his face all he wanted, but the tips of his ears glowed red.


    In truth, they were going faster than was wise. With the Waterbinder¡¯s magic at her fingertips, she had them going at a frightening pace. Only the tips of the waves brushed against the keel - and even then, it seemed like a wave in three slipped past without touching them at all.


    Acquiescing, she relaxed a touch, letting the bottom of the boat settle into the water. A shiver ran down her spine as she felt a touch of damp at the small of her back, and realized she was sweating. ¡°There are shoals around the coast, I¡¯m afraid,¡± she said, focusing on what she knew rather than her new worries about dwindling mana. ¡°It¡¯s not safe to track any closer - and finishing the trip to Lohova through the marshland would take longer than I believe you¡¯d like to spend.¡±


    ¡°Sit down and be quiet,¡± Antiel said, wrapping an arm around Takio¡¯s neck. The Charred twisted, trying to push him off.


    ¡°Sit still,¡± Kassien moaned. They froze, looking towards the dark-haired man - who sat hunched over, a hand pressed to his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fall out when we¡¯re going this fast,¡± Natalin muttered, glaring at the two.


    That was all it took. They flopped back into their seats, gripping the gunwales with a bit more fervor.


    She sighed, leaning back against the wood. If she squinted, peering through the hazy light that surrounded them, she could see the start of what looked like buildings ahead. They were getting close, then. Good.


    ¡°You live in Ranctur Peak, then, right?¡± Natalin said abruptly, glancing back to the Narai. She wasn¡¯t sure why she¡¯d asked - but this was her first real encounter with them where she could actually talk, and not be glared at by the steward for behaving improperly. ¡°W-What¡¯s...I mean, what¡¯s that like?¡±


    Kassien didn¡¯t say a word. He just huddled a little lower, squeezing his eyes shut.


    ¡°Open your eyes,¡± she said, leaning closer. ¡°Watch the horizon.¡±


    He made a face at her, scowling darkly, but did as she asked.


    ¡°Ranctur Peak?¡± Takio said, shaking his head derisively. ¡°We live in the barrows. Where else would we come from?¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know,¡± Natalin muttered. ¡°It¡¯s a big godsdamned country, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°The Flameweaver¡¯s Sanctuary is located beneath the lava tubes of the barrows,¡± Antiel said, with a tolerant look towards his charge. ¡°So¡­.yes.¡±


    Natalin shifted, feeling the way the watercraft moved with her. ¡°So, it¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s rocky,¡± Takio said, folding his arms. He faced forward - and his eyes were glued to the horizon, just like Kassien¡¯s. ¡°And tall. And there are more forests, not all this horrible grass. And you can see forever, not like this damned foggy land.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Natalin pursed her lips, feeling the silence drag out again. She should have known all that, she knew - and yet, she had to say something. With every mile that passed under their keel, she could feel her arms burn a little more. Her head ached, thrumming with every bounce and blow against the waves.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The end was in sight, though. They rounded the last corner, saltwater flying from their bow in a glistening arc - and Lohova stretched out before them.


    Natalin drank in the sight, the first Ondrian village she¡¯d seen outside her own Aramoor. Her eyes traced the buildings, low-set and thatched. There was a dock, just the capital¡¯s port, but it was nearly empty. The boats that remained were all low-slung fishing skiffs, not the tall-masted ships she¡¯d seen docked in Efren¡¯s city.


    The Narai shifted, straightening in their seats. Little by little their murmured conversations died away until the only noise was the rush of water against wood. Takio¡¯s eyes were wide, no matter how composed he tried to act.


    Natalin smiled tightly, clamping down harder, and began the long, slow process of guiding them into the shallows.


    <hr>


    Takio sighed. The sound was packed full of exhaustion and relief in equal portions.


    Natalin glanced up, taking her eyes off the length of rope she was still tying around the dock¡¯s posts. The Charred slipped off up the dock, meandering this way and that like his legs were jelly underneath him. Kassien didn¡¯t look much better. Only Antiel was at all composed, grinning to himself and patting the white-haired teenager on the shoulder.


    Cries split the air, drawing her attention towards the land. There were other people, she saw, emerging from their homes and the shelters built around the dock. All of them stared openly, their eyes fixed on Takio.


    Well, they were here so that the Ondrians could meet the new Ascended, Natalin knew. She straightened, bracing her staff against the ground and pushing hard. Takio had vanished into a tight-packed circle of Ondrians by the time she looked back towards him.


    A chuckle rippled out of her throat. Her people weren¡¯t afraid in the slightest, it seemed. Feeling every twitch and pull of her muscles as she moved, she started up the dock towards them.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Would you move? I can¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°Stop pushing!¡±


    ¡°Out of the way!¡±


    Her feet hit the hard-packed earth of land, her gaze still fixed on her counterpart and his plight. He was grinning, at least. She wasn¡¯t at all convinced by the expression. His eyes flicked back and forth, like he was searching for some sort of threat, and his skin was even paler than usual.


    A hand landed on her shoulder. Natalin squeaked, jumping.


    ¡°Easy, there,¡± a voice said, rugged and time-worn. She stiffened, fighting for control of her own limbs, and twisted.


    A man smiled back at her, his hand sliding free. His close-cropped hair had probably been black once, but only glimmers of it showed behind the silver.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry,¡± she stammered out, feeling her face warm. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to-¡±


    ¡°The apologizes are mine, Tideborn,¡± he said, a hint of formality sliding into his tone.


    Her lips parted gently. He chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m assuming I have the honor of addressing our lord¡¯s newest. Yes?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she echoed, before catching herself and shaking her head. ¡°I-I mean, yes. Of course. My name is Natalin. And this is-¡±


    ¡°Oh, I can guess,¡± the man said, folding his arms and turning back towards Takio. ¡°A Presentation already, hmm?¡±


    More and more people were starting to gather around them. Another man crept over to the two of them. One hand clutched an elegantly worked cane, and his steps were short, but his every movement was animated. ¡°You see that, Mullan?¡± the newcomer said. His eyes twinkled. ¡°Looks just like-¡±


    ¡°Naorin. Yes, I heard what Rammil said. Don¡¯t know that I see it.¡±


    ¡°What? It¡¯s the eyes, you damned old-¡±


    The man who¡¯d grabbed her cleared his throat pointedly - Mullan, she assumed. The newcomer flinched, looking to him, and then looked past. His eyes locked onto Natalin like he¡¯d only then seen her. ¡°O-Oh.¡±


    ¡°My name is Natalin,¡± she said, her voice little more than a whisper. She had the feeling that the phrase was going to be one she wound up saying a lot.


    ¡°T-Tideborn,¡± the old man said, glancing to Mullan. ¡°W-Well. Anyway. I was just thinking-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself to see things where they¡¯re not,¡± Mullan said, slapping his hand down onto the other man¡¯s shoulder. He twisted him in the same motion, giving him a push away. The old man tottered off towards the rest of the crowd, looking back over his shoulder to give Natalin another look.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about him, girl,¡± Mullan said, heaving a sigh. ¡°Old bastard doesn¡¯t know how to behave around important folk. It gets to him.¡±


    ¡°And you do?¡± she said, too caught up in everything else happening to stop herself.


    He only laughed, though, folding his arms again. He was well-dressed, the whispers in the back of her mind noted. His tunic was edged with silver, even if dust was packed into the seams.


    ¡°Spent fifteen years on the Council,¡± Mullan said, lifting his chin. ¡°Suppose ¡®m just used to that sort of thing. Not exactly scared of you Ascended types anymore. Kalin wasn¡¯t so bad.¡±


    Her smile splintered, staying in place by sheer force of will. ¡°I-I see.¡±


    If Mullan saw her reaction, he didn¡¯t say anything. The old man just shook his head. ¡°Getting too old to go sailing halfway across Ondria, missy. I serve here as village chief, and let another gullible fool take over as representative.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    His smile went crafty, and he leered over at her. ¡°Wondered when I¡¯d get around to seeing you out and about. About time, eh?¡±


    Her cheeks burned. ¡°Ah...yes.¡± His words were enough to make her shoulders droop. He was right, godsdamn it. It was the same argument she¡¯d made to Gerd over and over again - and yet she¡¯d be the one to accept the blame, in the end. The villagers wouldn¡¯t understand that she wanted to come serve them. They¡¯d only see that she stayed cloistered in Aramoor, far from them and their needs. The unfairness of it burned.


    But Mullan only sighed tolerantly, closing one eye. ¡°Not my place, in the end. Apologizes. Only, next time, send some warning ahead that you¡¯re coming, eh? Folk don¡¯t much like surprises.¡±


    She licked her suddenly-dry lips, trying to prepare a response, but he plowed onward. Her input wasn¡¯t required, it seemed. ¡°S¡¯ppose that¡¯s just how it goes. The god says jump, you do it. Eh?¡±


    The smile he cast her way was infectious, even if his moods seemed to be oscillating wildly. She ducked her head, unable to meet his gaze any longer. ¡°Something like that,¡± she mumbled. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we were coming. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll¡­¡±


    Her words trailed off as the realization that Mullan wasn¡¯t listening to her sank in. He¡¯d seemed so respectful before - and yet as she talked, he stared off over his shoulder. Slowly, trying not to be too obvious, she glanced back.


    A man paced outside one of the thatched longhouses in the center of Lohova. He quivered with pent-up energy, wringing his hands out and muttering to himself. His hair was a mess, and the dark circles under his eyes were enough to tell Natalin it¡¯d been a while since he slept.


    Mullan¡¯s next words brought her up short.


    ¡°If I might, Tideborn¡­¡±

 Chapter 18

    Natalin froze, looking back to Mullan. He was still watching the man, his lips pressed into a thin line. The formality of before was back, whatever casual conversation they¡¯d shared.


    He tore his eyes away from the still-pacing figure at last. ¡°Truth be told, girl, there was an attack, not two days past.¡±


    Her hands trembled at the words. ¡°W-What? An-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing you should be worrying about,¡± Mullan said, hurrying through the words like he was correcting himself. ¡°Riverguard came out and handled it already. There¡¯s always a detachment here, ¡®round this season. Was just a boatful of pirates who hadn¡¯t heard that raiding season hasn¡¯t started yet. Simple enough job for our men.¡± A low chuckle rumbled up from his belly. ¡°They won¡¯t be bothering anyone again, I¡¯ll tell you that much.¡±


    Natalin clasped her hands in front of her, letting her staff come to rest crosswise. ¡°Then...what can I-¡±


    ¡°Some of them took wounds in the fight,¡± Mullan said. He gestured towards the longhouse with one hand. ¡°We...well, Lohova¡¯s a small port. We don¡¯t have a dedicated seer, and Seer Olma stopped by only a few days before the fight. Can¡¯t say when the mistress¡¯ll come back next, and our men need healing.¡±


    Natalin shook her head, feeling the blood drain from her face. ¡°A-And you didn¡¯t send word to Aramoor?¡± The thought confused and appalled her.


    Mullan shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t have a lot of bodies to spare, not with pirates around these parts. We sent word, right enough - had all the old ladies praying up a storm since the minute all this went down. The Waterbinder always listens.¡± His grin took on a new, pointed light.


    And Gerd had just happened to decide she could go out on her own, so long as she came here. Natalin shook her head slowly. If she reached back into the corners of her mind, she could feel Efren still - waiting. Listening.


    You could have just said something, she muttered silently, sending the thought his way.


    He didn¡¯t reply. But a hand pressed down against her head, big and invisible and stinking of saltwater. It twisted back and forth, mussing her hair, and was gone.


    Natalin straightened, still feeling Mullan¡¯s eyes on her. ¡°Take me to them,¡± she said, gripping her staff more tightly.


    <hr>


    Her head pounded. She gritted her teeth, feeling the floor sway under her feet.


    She¡¯d made progress, though. She knew she had. The five riverguard laid out on the tables in the longhouse had been pale when she pushed through the doors, with the air filled with the stink of burgeoning infection. The town¡¯s healers had tried - they were bandaged decently enough, with fabric that had been soaked in herbs.


    Bandages and herbs could only do so much, though, and the men had been hurt. Her stomach had churned at the sight of the wounds cut deep into their flesh. She¡¯d been helping heal in Aramoor - but the ills that took the citizens of the capital were entirely different.


    It didn¡¯t matter, she¡¯d told herself. She¡¯d heal them. It was expected of her.


    It had taken time, and she could feel the strain of the mana that had been drained away in the process, but their breathing came easier. The bleeding had stopped. The wounds were still there - she was good, but not that good - but they would live.


    Natalin leaned back on her stool, wiping sweat from her forehead, and allowed herself a thin, victorious smile.


    A glass of water was thrust in front of her. ¡°Here. Take this.¡±


    Mullan stood alongside her. She hesitated for a single second, her reactions slowed by exhaustion, but took it. Once the first taste of it hit her mouth, dry and dusty, she couldn¡¯t help it. She gulped the whole glass straight down.


    ¡°I thought as much,¡± the village chief said, his tone carefully casual. ¡°Take it slow, miss. There¡¯s plenty to be had.¡±


    She bobbed a nod in response, taking a long moment to breathe. He shifted, stepping past her towards her patients.


    ¡°Have to say, I appreciate it,¡± he murmured, running a gentle hand over one of the men¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Wasn¡¯t quite sure what we¡¯d be doing next. Aramoor¡¯s a long sail, and a longer ride.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad I was here,¡± Natalin said, wrapping both hands around the glass. ¡°You should have sent a rider anyway.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Mullan said. ¡°Ah, well. It worked out.¡±


    She wrinkled her nose. He shouldn¡¯t be so casual about it. He might look worried now, and she could hear the relief in his words, but he¡¯d gambled with their lives. ¡°Next time I-¡±


    ¡°You look like him when you heal,¡± Mullan said, crossing to another bedbound man. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect that. Didn¡¯t see the resemblance, not like that old coot and your Charred friend.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± she said, confusion overcoming even the chill that ran down her back at his words. ¡°What do you mean, about the Charred?¡±


    Mullan waved a hand, shrugging. ¡°Oh, old Isram and his talk about Naorin. Thought it was stupid. It¡¯s not like any of you lot are actual blood relatives, and all.¡± His dark eyes fixed on her again, suddenly sharp. ¡°But sitting there, your hands all silver and your eyes full of focus, you looked just like Kalin.¡±


    She knew the name. It was only natural - she was Efren¡¯s favored child, the inheritor of his powers. Gerd had never spoken the name outright, but she could tell when the old diviner was thinking about him. Her steward brought him up often enough, when he felt the need to ream Natalin for one thing or another.


    As the Tideborn, it would be odd for her to not know the name of the one who¡¯d come before her.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Naorin,¡± she said, latching onto the name. She needed something to take her mind off the dark, curious thoughts that shot through her mind. She didn¡¯t want to think about him, to think about the man whose name made Gerd leave the room and whose mention brought even Efren to a silent, brooding halt. ¡°I...I don¡¯t know who-¡±


    ¡°The Charred, of course, may he rest in the Flameweaver¡¯s embrace. Don¡¯t be daft. What are they teaching you, in that temple?¡± Mullan snapped.


    She blinked. ¡°Takio¡¯s predecessor?¡±


    His brow furrowed. He shook his head once, a quick, short movement. ¡°Almost, girl, but your friend out there was preceded by Ayuma. Naorin came before Ayuma. Nearly insufferable, the both of them, but that¡¯s just part of the game, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± she said, letting her eyes drop to the floor. Exhaustion tugged at them, tempting her to let her eyelids close. It would just be for a moment, the whispers crooned. She ignored them, shaking her head until she could see straight. If she closed her eyes, she¡¯d sleep, and she couldn¡¯t sleep yet. She still had to get them home.


    Latching onto the thought, she stood, forcing her aching limbs to cooperate. ¡°I...they¡¯ve been waiting for quite some time,¡± she said, only realizing the truth of her words after they were said. She¡¯d spent a long time in the sickroom. She winced, already picturing the look on the Narai¡¯s faces when she emerged. There was no getting around the fact that she¡¯d delayed them.


    Mullan eyed her as she shoved the glass back into his hands, but didn¡¯t say anything. She offered him a quick smile, turning for the door with a swish of her half-skirt. ¡°I¡¯m glad I was able to help, elder.¡±


    ¡°Just Mullan. I ain¡¯t dead yet,¡± the village chief said, a sardonic note re-entering his voice.


    She chuckled. ¡°Right.¡± The sound of her boots striking the wood underfoot was far louder than it had any right to be, echoing through her mind like a drum. Before she realized she was moving she was at the door, her hand on the latch.


    The light outside was like a brand, searing into her eyes. She threw a hand up, blocking the worst of it, and gritted her teeth against the rush of pain.


    It was bright, yes, but the sun was already sinking low. She glared at it on the horizon, noting exactly how long she¡¯d spent in the healing. Too long. She bit her lip, turning in a slow circle.


    She found the Charred right where she¡¯d left him - only he¡¯d taken a seat on a low wall of stones built around the village boundary, letting the villagers come to him. He still wore a smile on his face - and no wonder, she thought sourly. One of the village girls sat beside him, listening with rapt attention to whatever story Antiel was telling.


    He shifted, putting a hand down beside himself. Natalin flinched. The sun danced across his skin, setting every line and scar traced into his flesh into harsh relief. His ear was cut, she noted with more than a little horror. A section of the lobe was missing entirely. Another gash across his cheek. A piece of his eyebrow grew no hair, scarred over. And-


    She tore her eyes off him, seeing him turn, but he¡¯d already spotted her. To her surprise, the look he gave was almost tolerant.


    ¡°Ready?¡± she heard him call, raising his voice a hair to be heard. The villagers alongside him drew back, pulling away as he rose to his feet. Antiel and Kassien turned with him. She saw Antiel¡¯s shoulders sag in what could only be relief. They fell in line behind Takio as he crossed the courtyard towards her.


    She nodded, letting her eyes drop. So many scars. She¡¯d seen them before - of course she had. She¡¯d noted them from the minute he sat beside her at the banquet. But Mullan¡¯s words hung in her memories, fresh and altogether too real. Naorin, he¡¯d said. And Ayuma. He¡¯d spoken of the two Charred like he¡¯d met them, like he¡¯d seen them with his own eyes.


    Mullan was an old man, yes, but not that old. A shiver ran down her spine as her mind did the math her heart didn¡¯t want to.


    Maybe she¡¯d been too quick to judge.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry for the delay,¡± Natalin said, clasping her staff more tightly in front of her. ¡°The village here doesn¡¯t have a seer, and there were-¡±


    ¡°Things need doing,¡± Takio said, half-turning and running a hand through his hair. ¡°I get it. Can we go?¡±


    Without another word, he started walking for the boat. Natalin stared after him, torn between irritation and appreciation.


    When she stalked after him, fighting back a yawn, Mullan followed in her wake. ¡°Thanks again for the help,¡± he said, holding out an arm as they came up alongside the boat. She took it gratefully, jumping the gap to land in the watercraft.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that it took so long,¡± she said, turning back to face the village chief. Her hands worked the rope all the while, loosening the knot she¡¯d tied hours before. ¡°I¡¯ll return within the week to check after their progress. Keep changing those dressings twice a day, and-¡±


    ¡°We can handle it.¡±


    She smiled wearily. ¡°Right. Well, I¡¯ll still come out.¡± Her hands slowed. ¡°Myself, or one of the temple¡¯s seers. I¡¯ll ask someone, if¡­¡± If Gerd didn¡¯t let her out again. ¡°If I¡¯m not able to make it.¡±


    ¡°You have our thanks,¡± the village chief said, sliding the last of the loops free. He tossed the coil into the boat behind her, stooping to take the stern in hand. ¡°Safe travels, Tideborn. Everdeep¡¯s blessing to you.¡±


    When he bowed, the motion was filled with a respect so honest and open that it hurt. Natalin bowed in return, desperate to keep from having to look at it. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was still wrong, that she didn¡¯t deserve it. She¡¯d taken so long, after all. There was no way he should be bowing to her for finally getting around to doing what she was supposed to.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come back,¡± she said, her voice only a little breathless.


    Within moments, they¡¯d drifted out into the harbor. The village chief turned away, taking his people and going back to their lives. Natalin could only watch his back as he vanished into one of the buildings, bellowing commands to someone she couldn¡¯t see.


    She had other worries. She fell into her magic again, grasping at every ounce she could wrap her fingers around. For once, she actually felt tired - and with them still miles from home, that wasn¡¯t what she¡¯d hoped for.


    The motions were more familiar, though. Between her frenzied flight on the sledge and the morning¡¯s sailing, she almost felt like she knew what she was doing.


    She was breathing hard within minutes, her undershirt soaked through with sweat, but they were picking up speed, little by little.


    A too-large hand settled on her shoulder. Strength flooded her veins, enough to breathe a sigh of relief. She didn¡¯t have to look around to know they were no longer alone.


    I would have been fine, she muttered.


    And now you¡¯ll be even more fine than you would have been, Efren murmured back, his voice rippling with amusement. You have nothing to prove here, waterlily. Be quiet and take the aid.


    Natalin shut up and let him help. It was better that than passing out when they were halfway home, she supposed.


    The Narai had been quiet through the whole thing. She cracked one eye, halfway suspecting she¡¯d find them fooling around. She nearly jumped, then, when she found Takio staring at her. Shiina sat perched on the boat¡¯s prow, her fiery hair billowing out behind her without a care in the world. Kassien didn¡¯t seem to have noticed - but Antiel twitched, his eyes darting this way and that as though he knew something was wrong.


    ¡°What?¡± she said at last, opening her eyes and glaring at him.


    He pursed his lips, resting his chin on one hand, but said nothing.


    The wind blew past them, wonderfully soothing against her skin. She settled lower in her seat, focusing on the magic needed to keep them moving.


    And still he stared at her, the corners of his lips beginning to curl up.


    ¡°What?¡± she snapped, more insistently.


    ¡°I told you, you should get out of the city more,¡± he said, holding his hands up in a helpless shrug. ¡°This is why you-¡±


    She was proud of herself. She didn¡¯t jog the boat like she so desperately wanted to. She just...gave it a little nudge, a bit of a push to one side as they flew across the waves.


    Just enough to set him to grabbing at the gunwales, his face going pale.


    Natalin didn¡¯t say anything. She just turned her face forward, obstinately ignoring him.


    Shiina¡¯s laughter pealed out across the waters as they accelerated onward, carving a path back towards Aramoor.

 Chapter 19

    Reverie - Home Page</a>


    <hr>


    Natalin turned slowly, a smile painted onto her face. She was working her hardest to keep it looking like a smile, rather than the grimace it was beginning to resemble.


    The temple was full. It was only expected, she told herself. Efren¡¯s doors were open more often than not, and there was a steady flow of sailors and merchants passing through their halls, but this was different.


    This was the day a week when she was tasked with wandering, listening to her god¡¯s people and seeing to their needs.


    Whatever that meant.


    ¡°And, I¡¯ve always told ¡®im,¡± a woman said from in front of her. A band of cloth held her hair back, bleached to white and worn almost through from a thousand washings but perfectly crisp. ¡°I told ¡®im, the next time he ignored the wind, t¡¯would catch up with ¡®im. I said so. And now ¡®e went out there and-¡±


    Natalin nodded her head, trying to sort through everything being thrown her way. These prayers weren¡¯t for her, she knew. They were for Efren. There was nothing she could do to help a wayward ship, late to port. But standing there, surrounded by the whispers and murmur, the way the woman¡¯s voice shook and the sheer trust in her eyes, it was almost more than the young Tideborn could bear.


    She licked her lips, realizing that the woman had come to a stop at last. ¡°I-I¡¯m sure,¡± she began, catching herself a moment later as her voice cracked. ¡°I¡¯m sure that your Jessam will come home, mistress.¡±


    ¡°But what if he-¡±


    ¡°I will implore the Everdeep on your behalf.¡± The words were practiced, a line Gerd had fed her from the moment she¡¯d started walking these halls. They¡¯d always felt cheap to her, too canned. Too rehearsed.


    In moments like that, though, it was all she could fall back on.


    With a swish of a silver-stitched hem, a seer swooped in. The woman was ushered off to another corner of the temple, set against a man Natalin recognized as one of the temple¡¯s apprentices.


    She sighed, letting the tension slowly bleed away. Her neck ached, sore from constantly having to peer up into the eyes of sailor after sailor. For people who spent their whole lives living in close quarters, too many of them were big.


    Natalin knew she was supposed to mingle, though. It was important for the people of Ondria to feel like they were connected, like their prayers were being heard. Pressing her hand against the back of her neck and stretching for a single, blissful moment, she let it go, and returned to scanning the crowd. Somewhere out there, her next charge was-


    ¡°Mistress,¡± a voice said from behind her. Natalin jumped, stopping herself before she could squeak in a manner completely unbefitting her coming ascension.


    Another of the temple¡¯s seers stood at her shoulder, tugging on the sleeve of her jacket. ¡°Maltar,¡± she said, letting the last of her shock come out as a ragged exhalation. Her eyebrows pulled together as she took in the sight of him - the sweat glistening on his temples, the way his brown hair was in disarray. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she said, beginning to draw herself upright.


    The seer shook his head hurriedly. ¡°N-No. Nothing, my lady.¡±


    Her lips curled down. ¡°My name is-¡±


    ¡°The steward sent for you. He told me to fetch you.¡±


    Natalin¡¯s feet moved purely on instinct, twitching for the door - and then she stopped, glancing back towards the packed temple. ¡°But...I¡¯m supposed to.¡±


    Maltar shifted uncomfortably, his eyes dropping to the ground. ¡°Apologies, mistress. He seemed to think it was important. He told me to inform you visitation duties were lifted for the afternoon.¡±


    It was Natalin¡¯s turn to shift, rolling his words over in her mind. Gerd cancelling her chores was one of the last things she¡¯d have expected. But if it was his instruction¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way,¡± she said, inclining her upper half in Maltar¡¯s direction. In truth, the gesture was more akin to a nod than a bow - but he flinched all the same, going white as bone, and skittered back.


    He¡¯d vanished around a corner by the time she straightened, staring after him.


    And then she muttered something under her breath, something low and dark and bitter, and strode for the door leading deeper into the temple.


    <hr>


    The halls were quiet as she slipped through them, her boots clicking against the floorboards. The seers were all occupied, after all, busying themselves with the day¡¯s tasks. Things which she should be helping with, the thoughts in the back of her head whispered.


    She picked up the pace, her steps accelerating. The temple just wasn¡¯t the same, when she was alone. A shiver ran down her spine. It was nonsense, she told herself. They were still in the middle of the city. The homes were wiped from sight by the wall, yes, and the only sound she could hear was the rush of water and the crooning of the wind, but it was still Efren¡¯s home. She was safe.


    All the same, she breathed a sigh of relief as she came around the corner by the temple¡¯s front and saw a cluster of people standing at the ready.


    Gerd turned at her approach, his smile going wooden at the sight of her. ¡°Natalin,¡± he said, his tone carefully cheerful. ¡°At last, you decide to grace us with your presence. I thought I told Maltar to-¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell him where you¡¯d be,¡± she hissed, her chin dropping defensively. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± In a brief moment of panic, she remembered that she hadn¡¯t exactly asked, either.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    The air around them thickened, soaking through with enough humidity to make her breath come heavy. Efren coalesced before she could so much as cough, his head high and his jacket flapping gently in the breeze.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this, now?¡± the god said, folding his arms. He shifted from foot to foot, standing alongside her.


    The rest of the group looked up - and stared at Natalin. Her face flushed at the sudden attention, at the feeling of eight pairs of eyes on her.


    It was Takio¡¯s group, she realized - and he stood in the center, glancing to Efren in an instant.


    Natalin flinched, half-stepping backward as the air between the Charred and her exploded into searing, glimmering heat. Shiina stepped from the sparks, landing on the floorboards with a bounce of red hair.


    She lingered, her hand resting on Takio¡¯s shoulder. Efren shifted, passing his weight from foot to foot. ¡°You can¡¯t be leaving already, sister.¡±


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Shiina said, glancing to him. Her eyes shimmered, changing slowly between brilliant gold and glowing orange. ¡°We have other obligations, Efren. Drenwell is still expecting our presence.¡±


    ¡°Rellan and his shifty little brother can wait,¡± Efren said. ¡°You¡¯ve only just arrived not a week ago. Really, you can¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°Apologies, Everdeep,¡± Takio said, stepping forward so that he was half a pace in front of his goddess. Natalin paused, watching him. His skin was a bit pale, and he didn¡¯t quite seem to be able to meet the water god¡¯s eyes, but his tone was properly respectful.


    He didn¡¯t sound so polite when we were alone.


    Peace, girl.


    She crossed her arms, hearing in the god¡¯s silent tone that he wasn¡¯t interested in hearing her complaints right then.


    Takio straightened from his bow, none the wiser that he¡¯d missed out on an entire conversation. ¡°It seems we¡¯re needed back in Naraan,¡± he said, glancing back over his shoulder. Antiel stood at the front of his group, nodding solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s not...well, it¡¯s best that we return to the mountain sooner rather than later.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re still going to go to Drenwell,¡± Natalin heard herself say. ¡°That¡¯s-¡±


    Shiina surged forward, leaping from the balls of her feet. Natalin spluttered to a stop as the goddess wrapped her in an embrace.


    ¡°Oh, really, child,¡± Shiina said. She beamed up at Natalin, her smile perfectly white and altogether too sharp. ¡°Something like my boy¡¯s introduction to the others is not so easily canceled. We are merely taking every precaution, after all.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s important enough you¡¯re leaving early, that doesn¡¯t sound so inconsequential,¡± Natalin heard Efren say from alongside her. With Shiina still pinning her in place, she couldn¡¯t so much as twitch in his direction.


    Takio made a face. Natalin watched from over the Flameweaver¡¯s shoulder as he scratched his head, still not meeting her master¡¯s eyes. ¡°Shiina¡¯s hearing more prayers, that¡¯s all. It seems that things aren¡¯t as resolved as we thought. Nothing¡¯s happened, yet. We think.¡±


    ¡°But he should still be there, among my children,¡± Shiina said, pulling free of Natalin at last. She crossed to Efren in a single bounding leap, clutching his hands in hers. ¡°You understand, yes?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve hardly seen you in a decade,¡± Efren said, smiling down at her. He pulled one hand free, dropping it onto her head and ruffling her hair from side to side. ¡°Don¡¯t fault me for being jealous when you leave early to spend time with our cousins.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll take time for the vanguard to properly assemble at Ranctur,¡± Takio said. Natalin flinched, turning back to face him and his group. He was watching her. ¡°We¡¯ll be just fine, but thank you for your concern.¡±


    His tone was just as biting as ever. She frowned at him, wiping the expression clear a second later.


    ¡°The riverlord was expecting to treat with you at the end of the week,¡± Gerd said from alongside her, stepping forward. Natalin glanced to him, wondering for a single second if he knew Efren and Shiina were among them. Probably, she decided. Even if they¡¯d chosen not to reveal themselves to him, a mortal, he was accomplished enough that he¡¯d probably feel them anyway. He certainly seemed nonplussed as he crept forward, resting one hand on her shoulder. ¡°He was supposed to meet you with the rest of the council when you-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Takio said, something that looked like irritation flashing across his face. ¡°I can¡¯t stay. He¡¯ll just have to-¡±


    Natalin smothered a chuckle as Antiel kicked Takio in the shin. He¡¯d probably intended the move to be discreet, but she saw the way the white-haired young man scowled. ¡°There¡¯s no doubt that we¡¯ll be in Ondria again over the coming years,¡± Antiel said, pushing up alongside his charge. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that we weren¡¯t able to meet them on this trip, but our duties care nothing for convenience or plans.¡±


    She saw Gerd nod from the corner of her eye, his posture decidedly deferential. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll convey that to him.¡±


    ¡°Takio,¡± one of the other Narai said, inching up. His eyes flicked to Natalin - and when he spoke, it wasn¡¯t in Ondrian. Natalin glowered at him, recognizing she¡¯d been excluded from the conversation, but the intent of it was clear.


    Sure enough, Takio spun a second later, grabbing for the rucksack at his feet. ¡°The horses are ready. We really shouldn¡¯t delay, Waterbinder.¡± His expression was almost apologetic.


    Natalin nodded quickly, seeing his orange eyes dart to her. ¡°T-Thank you for making the journey here,¡± she said, remembering herself before Gerd could elbow her. ¡°We look forward to seeing you more in the coming months.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for having us,¡± Takio said, hoisting the bag onto his shoulder. It bounced there, setting the sword slung over his shoulder to rattling.


    ¡°We eagerly anticipate your visit to our own halls, in a year or two,¡± Antiel said, scowling at Takio once the realization the Charred was done talking had sunk in.


    Takio snorted. ¡°Try and find a real weapon by then.¡±


    Natalin opened her mouth, ready to retort, but the Narai turned as one.


    Shiina lingered a moment longer, burying Efren in a bear hug. When she turned, looking over her shoulder to where her Narai were even then vanishing down the hall, Natalin heard her sigh. ¡°Until then, brother,¡± she said at last. Her hand snapped out, her fingers dancing against Natalin¡¯s cheek. The goddess¡¯s nails were as sharp as talons against her cheek.


    And then she vanished, dissolving into an ever-expanding cloud of embers.


    The distant screech of wood against wood echoed down the hall. Shaking his head, Efren sighed. Droplets of dew scattered against the floor as he dissolved to nothingness.


    And then the door slammed shut and dropped them back into sudden silence.


    Natalin stood where she was, staring towards where the Narai had disappeared and feeling as though a whirlwind had just passed through. Gerd didn¡¯t move either. For a long moment, the only sound was the quiet rippling of water under the temple¡¯s stilted decks.


    And then the steward cleared his throat. ¡°Well.¡±


    She¡¯d had plans. Duties to attend to, obligations that were laid out for her. All of that had vanished along with their guests. Natalin shook her head slowly, glancing up towards her teacher. ¡°Do you think-¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re expected back in the main hall,¡± Gerd said, pursing his lips and giving her a look down the length of his nose.


    ¡°What?¡± she said, trying not to screech. She was pretty sure she¡¯d failed. ¡°But I just-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me lip, girl. They¡¯re gone. There¡¯s business to be done.¡± His lips trembled. For a second, she thought she saw him smile. A horrible smile, but a smile all the same. ¡°I hope you enjoyed your vacation.¡±


    Her eyebrows pulled together, her mouth dropping open - but he¡¯d turned on his heel, cutting off any attempt by her to argue. ¡°Hurry, now. They¡¯re expecting you out there.¡±


    Despite herself, despite her irritation at being shunted aside again, Natalin found her feet were moving. The diviner was right, however much it rankled.


    She settled for glancing back over her shoulder and sticking her tongue out at the rapidly receding shape of his back.


    And then she trudged on, working her way back towards the temple¡¯s entrance and the masses waiting there.

 Chapter 20

    Late spring


    12 years before the fall


    <hr>


    The line of horses plodded along, weaving down the narrow road leading north out of Drenwell City.


    Takio yawned, stretching. It was an involved process, with every joint uncurling one after another. His arms lifted, straightening out at his elbows, until finally his fingers uncurled. Every one of them cracked, popping ominously.


    ¡°That is absolutely disgusting,¡± Antiel muttered from alongside him. ¡°You know, if you continue that, someone will-¡±


    ¡°I kept it in...all the way through the whole...godsdamned...meet-and-greet,¡± Takio said, the words a groan as he continued stretching. ¡°Get off my back.¡±


    Kassien chuckled. The dark-haired Narai rode close in at Takio¡¯s side, his eyes on the trees.


    Takio grinned, reaching over to slap his bodyguard¡¯s arm. ¡°See? Kass agrees with me. Lighten up, Antiel.¡±


    ¡°Yes, because Kassien is the pinnacle of good judgement,¡± Antiel retorted, but only shook his head tolerantly.


    Takio glanced to the side, watching as his retinue settled into quiet murmurs again. A black-haired woman rode alongside Kassien, her eyes on the trees that pressed in close on either side. Takio chuckled, not at all fooled. He had no doubt whatesoever that Tikeya had caught every word and exchange.


    And then his eyes flicked back over his shoulder, turning his head the barest amount needed. A figure sat behind him on his mount, her legs hanging down the horse¡¯s withers and kicking idly. The beast didn¡¯t seem to mind - assuming it felt anything.


    A smile tugged at his lips. Something on your mind?


    Shiina glanced over, as though the goddess was startled into wakefulness by his words. And then she smiled. ¡°I was merely thinking about the last time I visited Aramoor. Nothing more.¡±


    Oh? But didn¡¯t you-


    ¡°The Sanctuary doesn¡¯t count,¡± she said, rolling her eyes. And then she twisted, bringing her left leg up and around to straddle the horse more properly.


    Her arms snaked under his a moment later, wrapping around his midsection. Takio¡¯s smile grew, no matter how he tried to hide it from his companions. Kassien would never notice, he knew - the man was about as sensitive as a rock. Tikeya might notice something. The woman was no stranger to Shiina¡¯s flitting in and out of their midst, after all, but Takio was decently sure she¡¯d hold her tongue.


    A twinge of embarrassment churned in the pit of his stomach as Antiel glanced at him sidelong, a knowing chuckle rippling from his throat. He was a shaman, after all. As the guardians of Shiina¡¯s mountain, Hearthfire had the best clergy among the Narai, and they weren¡¯t about to send a novice to babysit him.


    His hands tightened on the reins, curling down at the thought. Not that he needed a nursemaid. Sooner or later, they¡¯d have to-


    ¡°None of that,¡± Shiina said, leaning forward to rest her chin on his shoulder even as she admonished him. ¡°His presence serves a purpose, child.


    I know that. It¡¯s still stupid. He doesn¡¯t need to hang around every last godsdamned moment.


    Her frame shook in a low, rumbling laugh. ¡°Oh, Takio. I do believe you will manage.¡±


    He rolled his eyes, but didn¡¯t argue further. She was stubborn, he knew. Even if it was right for him to argue with the goddess, it wouldn¡¯t get him anywhere.


    ¡°How long will it take us?¡± he said instead, turning back to Antiel.


    Shiina giggle, the sound bright in his ears. And then she leapt from her perch behind him. Sparks cascaded from her hair, wiping out her form. When they cleared, she was gone.


    The shaman was still watching him. His pulse accelerated, pounding lightly in his ears. He tried not to let it show.


    Somehow, he was pretty sure Antiel knew what was running through his mind no matter how hard he tried. ¡°The same as the way down,¡± Antiel said.


    Takio frowned. ¡°We were going to Ondria.¡±


    ¡°And Ondria is past Drenwell, isn¡¯t it?¡± Antiel said, arching one eyebrow.


    Takio fought the urge to roll his eyes. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t exactly-¡±


    ¡°Two weeks.¡±


    Both of them flinched as the cool, steady voice cut between them. Takio glanced over, following the noise.


    Tikeya didn¡¯t so much as look at him. Her eyes were on the trees, scanning back and forth.


    Her behavior made sense, Takio had to admit. The woman had always been quiet, the very picture of duty - and normally, she¡¯d be among the pairs tasked with riding sweep around the party. The risk of someone sneaking up on them was too great to go without such basic defenses as that.


    ¡°Two weeks, eh?¡± he said instead, tearing his eyes off her at last. The woman was only a year or two older than him, and yet she always seemed so composed. So prepared. The notion that she was somehow beating him itched, however ridiculous. He settled for making a face, leaning back in the saddle.


    ¡°Worried?¡± Kassien said from alongside him.


    Takio shook his head. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then why ask?¡± Antiel said, glancing back to him. There was too much amusement in the expression.


    ¡°Flameweaver¡¯s tits, it was just a question,¡± Takio muttered.


    An elbow jabbed into his side. He winced, smiling despite himself.


    They were still watching, he saw when he looked up. Straightening and trying to hold himself with a bit more composure, he shrugged. ¡°I just...we wasted too much time in Drenwell,¡± he said, a more serious note entering his voice.


    For a long moment, the only sound was the steady clop of the horses¡¯ hooves under them. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± Antiel said, breaking the quiet at last. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a waste. The Presentation is important.¡±


    ¡°I know it¡¯s important. But if there¡¯s trouble back home, then we should be there.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°You¡¯re letting yourself worry without knowing any of the details,¡± Antiel admonished. ¡°For all we know, this is nothing more than a passing worry.¡±


    ¡°And maybe it¡¯s not, Antiel,¡± Takio snapped, his eyes flaring.


    Silence fell over the party again. The horses tromped on, oblivious to the awkwardness filling the air. Tikeya and Kassien stared straight ahead, expressionless. Neither would dare to comment, Takio knew.


    ¡°Ash and flame, you lot are tense.¡±


    Takio twisted, flinching at the sound of a woman¡¯s voice cutting across the clearing. Two figures slipped back into their midst, both on foot but entirely at ease.


    ¡°Elintel,¡± Takio said, letting the lungful of air he¡¯d been holding in blow out. ¡°Juro.¡±


    The pair nodded towards him, offering the tiniest of bows. ¡°Charred,¡± said the first, a man with strawberry blond hair cut to his ears and crimson ribbons draped from his belt. Takio sighed inwardly, eyeing the shaman. He already knew that Elintel¡¯s return would just mean he¡¯d get to argue with two people, instead of just his advisor.


    ¡°We leave for a few hours, and you¡¯re like this when we get back?¡± the shaman¡¯s companion said. Juro¡¯s brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, with a bandanna of coarse-knit black fabric tied over her scalp. But unlike Elintel, the smile she offered him was warm and entirely genuine. ¡°Lighten up.¡±


    Takio rolled his eyes, turning his horse back down the path. Antiel looked to them in his stead. ¡°And the sweep? I trust-¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s not a soul for a mile in any direction,¡± Juro said, flapping her hand at the shaman. ¡°Well. There¡¯s a village just past a river that way, but they¡¯re minding their own.¡±


    Kassien made an irritated noise in the back of his throat. ¡°If there are people nearby, don¡¯t say-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Drenwell, Antiel,¡± Takio said, leaning back and letting his reins fall limp. One hand stretched out to the side, gesturing to the world around them. ¡°What exactly are you thinking will happen?¡±


    ¡°Bandits can thrive anywhere, Charred,¡± Antiel said, shooting him a dirty look. ¡°I thought you understood that much.¡±


    Takio¡¯s eye twitched. He glanced to the side. Drenwell stretched out around them. The path they followed was paved, but barely. The farther they went, the more rustic it got, and the forest was beginning to take over. What wasn¡¯t forest was river, and what wasn¡¯t river was farm field.


    His lip curled in the start of a sneer. A place like this? Compared to the mountains, filled with frigid cold and bitter winds in equal measure and teeming with occasionally-opportunistic thugs, he just couldn¡¯t bring himself to find even the slightest bit of a threat in the landscape around him.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been safe thus far,¡± he said instead, biting back what he was really thinking. ¡°I¡¯m not saying don¡¯t be careful, Antiel. But I think we can handle it.¡±


    His hand settled onto the hilt of his sword, strapped in front of his saddle.


    Kass didn¡¯t react at all - but he heard Juro snort.


    ¡°Do you disagree?¡± he said, raising one eyebrow and glancing towards the woman. She served as his bodyguard, together with Kassien, and on any other day that might have earned a bit of silence from him. But, hell. It wasn¡¯t like he had anything to lose, he decided.


    Juro smiled sweetly back at him, her eyes razor-sharp. ¡°I think you¡¯ve let all that attention go to your head, that¡¯s all. You perked right up when I mentioned the village.¡±


    It was his turn to scoff. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±


    She drew closer, walking alongside his horse. Her arms were folded across her chest. ¡°Oh? So you weren¡¯t glowing like a damned coal, letting all the priests and seers fawn over you?¡±


    ¡°You think it¡¯s fun, having them all sticking their nose in my business?¡± he shot back, lifting his chin. From off to the side, he heard Antiel groan. The shaman didn¡¯t intervene, though, and both Kassien and Elintel were keeping themselves well out of it. Juro was just being nosy like usual, he knew - she never knew when to stop. But after two months of traveling and putting on a pretty face for their rivals, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to stop.


    Juro snickered. ¡°Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t see you, sitting up there at the head table during the banquet. It felt good to have the eyes of all of Drenwell on you, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    He groaned. ¡°Don¡¯t mention that godsdamned banquet.¡± There was no mistaking it - the calculating look in Juro¡¯s eyes had turned to pure glee. She knew damned well he hadn¡¯t wanted to be there, hadn¡¯t wanted to take part in the stupid thing in the first place. ¡°That whole thing was...ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just the presentation,¡± Antiel said, his tone scathing. He slipped closer, glaring at Takio. ¡°It¡¯s tradition. A tradition that all of the Charred before you have taken part in. So stop crying.¡±


    ¡°Ondria¡¯s party was better, though,¡± Takio heard Elintel muse. The shaman walked between him and his advisor, lips pursed and eyes down.


    Kassian sniffed. ¡°Dunno about that.¡±


    ¡°Have to agree with the cleric, Kass,¡± Takio said, shooting his bodyguard a sidelong look. The dark-haired man wrinkled his nose, but only turned away. Takio chuckled. ¡°At least I could talk to a damned soul at the Waterbinder¡¯s event.¡±


    The memory of the banquet was too fresh in his mind, just a few nights before. If he closed his eyes, he could still see the grand white stone of the Cathedral proper over his head, worked with brass inlays and enough statues to push the decor over the boundary into tacky. The damned light-workers had seen fit to ¡®honor¡¯ him with a seat at the head table.


    Which, of course, had left him sitting at the front of the room, without another soul to hold a decent conversation with.


    ¡°It was fun to watch you, at least,¡± Elintel added, grinning at him.


    Takio¡¯s scowl deepened. ¡°I¡¯m sure. I¡¯m sure you all really enjoyed yourselves.¡±


    ¡°You had the goddess, though,¡± Tikeya said. Takio jumped - and saw the motion repeated by his companions. Truth be told, he¡¯d forgotten the black-haired woman was even riding beside them. She didn¡¯t even look their way, watching the trees instead. ¡°And the Everbright. And you could converse with the Chosen girl, couldn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°In Drenwellian, he said, unable to contain his disdain any longer. ¡°Gods, I¡¯m so tired of that damned language. And the girl¡¯s barely out of diapers. What do you think she had to say?¡±


    ¡°Stop whining,¡± Takio heard Antiel say. ¡°And be more respectful of another Ascended.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying. You lot abandoned me,¡± he fired back, letting mock affront fill his expression.


    ¡°What did you think of her?¡± his advisor said instead, his tone contemplative.


    The question brought Takio up short. ¡°Of the Chosen?¡± he said, furrowing his brow.


    ¡°Her name is Katell,¡± Antiel said, amusement and disappointment warring for control of his voice. ¡°Please tell me you remember that much.¡±


    Kassien chuckled, soft and low. Takio ignored the noise, letting his eyes fall to the saddle before him.


    What had he thought of her?


    Takio cast his thoughts back, running the events of the last few days over and over in his mind.


    Drenwell had been every bit as pleased to see them as Ondria - although they¡¯d been disappointed to hear that the Narai would be cutting the stay short. Solune and Rellan both had welcomed their party.


    It was too soon for the Nightsworn, he¡¯d been told. Solune had smiled at him, with that oily, too-perfect set to the expression. Shiina had warned him, told him that her cousins could be overbearing. She really didn¡¯t have to - she¡¯d never exactly been subtle herself, and from the way Efren acted, he¡¯d quickly realized it was just a common trait among the Divines.


    But even if there had been no Nightsworn waiting to greet him, he¡¯d seen the girl standing half-hidden behind Rellan¡¯s robes. She¡¯d peered out at him from around his arm, staring up with giant, ice-blue eyes. Her hair had shown only the faintest hint of gold against the pure white of her god¡¯s silks.


    He¡¯d smiled, and bowed and scraped like was expected of him.


    ¡°She¡¯s young,¡± he said at last, glancing back to Antiel. ¡°But even allowing that¡­¡± He made a face. ¡°I think we¡¯re going to be busy looking after three godsdamned countries.¡±


    ¡°The Tideborn will be ready in two years¡¯ time,¡± Elintel said, pulling closer to his superior. Takio didn¡¯t miss the respectful look the shaman flashed Hearthfire¡¯s representative - or the way Antiel¡¯s expression got just a little more smug. ¡°We won¡¯t be alone.¡±


    Takio snorted, looking away. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± he muttered at last. ¡°Something tells me the vanguard¡¯ll still be kept busy.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a surprise, exactly. As the Charred, he¡¯d known for years that he¡¯d spend more time traveling than lodged in a city. There were always things that needed tending to, and seeing after them was his job. Everyone who had joined his escort knew that much - them and their clans both.


    He¡¯d just hoped to have a little more help while he was doing it.


    Takio jumped, fighting to keep from jumping as a hand landed on his shoulder. Antiel smiled back at him when he looked over, a too-knowing smile stretching from ear to ear.


    ¡°Well, if we¡¯ve got so much work to do, we should get to it, shouldn¡¯t we?¡± he said, jerking his head towards the road. ¡°I do believe we¡¯re expected back in the crags. So stop fidgeting and complaining and filling the air with your questions, and let¡¯s be on our way.¡±


    Takio opened his mouth, ready to protest, but Antiel had already nudged his mount ahead. The other shaman and his bodyguards followed fast on his heels, leaving only Tikeya to bring up the rear.


    Antiel glanced back over his shoulder, raising one eyebrow as the distance between them steadily grew.


    ¡°What a load of godsdamned nonsense,¡± Takio muttered under his breath. But at Antiel¡¯s words, the anxiety grew again. They were needed elsewhere.


    And so he kicked his mount to a trot, urging it after his fellows, and let the air around them go quiet.

 Chapter 21

    <div>


    <div>


    As the hours melted into days and then a week, the landscape around the line of riders changed. It began slowly, creeping in with a few sprigs of pine and a gash of silvered stone. Before long, though, Takio looked up - and found the gentle farmlands of Drenwell fading away behind him.


    In their place, the mountains rose over the growing foothills. The villages dwindled, growing more and more uncommon, and finally, the last of the paving stones vanished from the road they followed.


    Takio couldn¡¯t quite bring himself to mind. He nudged his horse on, letting a long-held breath slide between his teeth. The others were relieved too, he knew, even if they were too focused on their duties to show it.


    Drenwell was a decent place, he decided, glancing back over his shoulder. The air was warm, and having a gentle breeze was a welcome alternative to the mountain winds. But even if it was a pleasant land to pass through, it wasn¡¯t theirs. It belonged to Rellan, and while the god of light had been a fine host, Takio didn¡¯t entirely trust the discipline of his Order¡¯s patrols.


    It was easier to relax when they were on the very verge of their own lands, safe and secure in the knowledge that Shiina¡¯s domain was but a stone¡¯s throw away.


    The fact that people weren¡¯t staring at him constantly was just an added bonus. If one more villager had stopped in the middle of the road, gaping, he feared what he¡¯d wind up doing to the poor soul.


    ¡°Takio.¡± The voice brought him out of his thoughts, glancing over.


    Antiel stared back, riding a few feet to the side. The auburn-haired man smiled faintly. ¡°Getting a bit late, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re scared of the dark?¡± Takio said, glancing back to the front. ¡°You¡¯ve been keeping secrets.¡±


    ¡°Riding ourselves ragged won¡¯t get us home any faster.¡±


    ¡°We can keep going a while longer. I don¡¯t want to be caught on our asses if they need us,¡± Takio said. An irritated note lingered on the very edge of his voice.


    ¡°If they need us, then they¡¯ll need us fighting at our full strength,¡± Antiel said, just as lightly and casually as ever. ¡°Not tripping over ourselves from lack of sleep or mana-burned from lighting the way. Unless you¡¯d prefer to trip and fall off a cliff?¡±


    ¡°As if that¡¯d happen,¡± Takio muttered. But then he glanced around.


    The outriders were off on their rounds - he¡¯d hardly seen Yorin or Reimm since they¡¯d left Drenwell City, but even Elintel and Tikeya had vanished somewhere along the line. But Kassien was nodding along with Antiel¡¯s words, however begrudgingly, and even Juro didn¡¯t look like she was going to argue. He was outnumbered.


    And if he was honest with himself, really honest, he could feel the start of the exhaustion creeping into his bones.


    ¡°Have you heard any more from the Flameweaver?¡± Antiel said, after a long pause. ¡°Any more news, or a warning?¡±


    Takio shifted uncomfortably, making a face. ¡°Nothing new. But I¡¯m sure she wouldn¡¯t send us home unless it was urgent. She¡¯ll want us to hurry.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Speaking for me now, are you?¡± her crystalline voice chimed in his ear. He sighed. Vain as a cat, that one. Calling on her authority was a risk, he¡¯d known - but Antiel had already said her name. The damage was done.


    I¡¯m trying to get us home. There¡¯s work that needs doing.


    ¡°Do not mistake my intentions, boy. I truly appreciate your devotion,¡± she said, leaning forward into him. The flaming waves of her hair draped down his shoulder. ¡°But I do so prefer you un-gutted. My child¡¯s advice is-¡±


    Totally unnecessary.


    Her hand smacked into the side of his head a heartbeat after he thought it. Takio winced. It is.


    She didn¡¯t say a word. But he heard the tiny, irritated noise she made - and when he glanced back, moving on instinct more than any conscious decision, he found her face inches from his own. The glare in her eyes was unmistakable - her red eyes. Her amusement was beginning to fade, he realized.


    Takio forced himself to sit back in the saddle, filling his lungs with a deep, slow breath. And then he let it out.


    Fine. I apologize, mistress. You¡¯re right, of course.


    Her lips curled up in a smile, her eyes flashing back to a merry gold fast enough he began to suspect the whole thing had been a show. ¡°Well said.¡±


    The urge to roll his eyes only grew. He turned away before she could say another word, glancing back to where Antiel waited. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s getting late, after all,¡± he said heavily.


    Antiel was good - better at controlling his reactions than Takio himself. He saw only a flicker of a smile cross his advisor¡¯s face before the shaman inclined his head. ¡°I¡¯m glad you agree, Charred.¡±


    If I¡¯m the damned Charred, you¡¯d think he wouldn¡¯t fight me on everything.


    Shiina¡¯s chuckle rippled behind him, even as her form dispersed into smoke to drift on the breeze. ¡°Someone to challenge you is healthy, I believe. Prepare yourself properly, Takio.¡±


    He was hardly listening, already swinging his leg over the horse and clear. A grunt slipped between his lips as he hit the ground - but he heard the sigh of relief from Juro and Kassien. His scowl grew. If they¡¯d been tired, then they should have said something. They¡¯d been waiting for Antiel to argue, hadn¡¯t they?Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    So be it. He reached for the pack tied behind his saddle, listening to the chaos build through their clearing all the while.


    <hr>


    The tent stood in front of him, small and worn but sturdy. Takio gave it a cursory glance, taking in the ties and stakes and the condition of the fabric. The crimson of the weave was painted here and again, marking him as being from Hearthfire¡¯s ranks. It was old, but still perfectly serviceable.


    The camp was already nearing completion, despite the fact that only a few minutes had passed since they called a stop. They¡¯d been through this routine so many times that it was second nature to each of them. Kassien and Antiel were hard at work nearby, pulling out the foodstores they carried. Despite himself, Takio smiled. It¡¯d be good to eat something besides smoked fish and dried meat.


    He straightened, staring skywards. The mana welled up inside him, simmering just under his skin. Grabbing hold, he lifted a hand, throwing it up to point at the darkened clouds.


    It was all so easy. Pulling out the strands of his magic was no more challenging than breathing was - and moments later, he watched with a smile on his face as a ball of fire shot up into the dusk.


    It exploded as it cleared the treeline, sending sparks and embers floating on the wind to color the branches. He reached down, grabbing a hatchet from alongside him as they faded to dark.


    ¡°Was that really necessary?¡± Takio heard Antiel say from behind as he turned towards the woods.


    He smiled. ¡°The others will want to know where we are.¡±


    ¡°Then they can track us, just like anyone else.¡±


    ¡°This will make it faster.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be faster for anyone looking to attack some travelers, too,¡± Kassien muttered, surprising Antiel and Takio both.


    Takio collected himself a heartbeat later, seeing Antiel¡¯s eyes light up. ¡°Only an idiot would attack us, Kass. Don¡¯t be stupid. I¡¯m going to go get wood for the fire.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Shiina¡¯s Ascended,¡± Antiel protested, straightening. ¡°Must you really wander off and-¡±


    ¡°Fire needs fuel. I¡¯ll be back.¡± He started walking, drowning out Antiel¡¯s continued protests under the sound of his feet against the leaves.


    His advisor sighed, but stopped arguing.


    With every step he took, Takio felt himself begin to relax. It was easier, out in the forest with only the birds to scream at him. He could actually think. He knew Antiel was right, though, and it wouldn¡¯t do to get separated. So when he saw the downed tree, far enough from camp to be out of sight but not so far he couldn¡¯t find his way back, he stooped low, starting to snap the branches into something more manageable.


    The act of cutting at the wood, chopping and slicing twigs away to leave smooth chunks behind, focused his mind even further. He smiled - and then he straightened, grimacing and stretching his arms out.


    ¡°Careful where you¡¯re waving that thing, hmm?¡±


    He glanced over - and offered the approaching woman a small, reserved nod. Only the slightest hint of surprise showed in his expression. ¡°Juro. Antiel let you go?¡±


    She smirked, raising one hand, and let the waterskins dangling from a cord rattle together. ¡°Set me to finding a river. There¡¯s one not so far. That way.¡± She twisted to point back over her shoulder. Her eyes never left his.


    He nodded slowly. ¡°Right.¡±


    Juro rolled her eyes. ¡°Cinder and coal, Takio. Do you think so little of me?¡± She plunged one hand into the mess of skins - and pulled one free, holding it towards him. His rune was painted across the surface.


    ¡°Been digging in my bags, have you?¡± Takio said dryly.


    She grinned, her eyes flashing mischievously. ¡°It¡¯s my duty, Charred. I serve the Flameweaver in all ways. Even when it means a bit of theft.¡±


    He reached for it. She hesitated, drawing back ever so slightly. He stopped. ¡°Are you going to give it to me or not?¡±


    ¡°You should relax, Takio,¡± Juro said, ignoring his question. Her eyes were fixed on his, red-brown and dark. ¡°We¡¯re home. You can breathe, now.¡±


    Takio stopped. ¡°I know that.¡±


    A smirk tugged at her lips. ¡°Do you?¡±


    He groaned, grabbing at the flask. ¡°Yes. Now give it here.¡±


    His hand latched around it. He grinned, enjoying the thrill of satisfaction that ran down his spine. But when he pulled, trying to tug it out of her hand, she held fast. Her fingers were against his, the faintest touch at his fingertips.


    He scowled. ¡°Juro, would you-¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to be sure you knew,¡± she said, straight-backed and looking up at him. ¡°You¡¯re not alone in this. We¡¯re here beside you. All of us.¡±


    Again, Takio found himself brought to a screeching halt, left staring down at her. There was something hidden just under her words, something impossible to ignore. An emotion, wrapped around the look in her eyes and tied off with the fact she¡¯d hunted him down out here. Alone.


    He wasn¡¯t an idiot. The people chosen to ride alongside him were carefully selected. The clans of the Narai didn¡¯t have a government, as such, but there was a definite pecking order. Having the youngest, brightest members of their family riding alongside the Charred would be an honor for the clan to claim for years to come.


    Some families, of course, hoped for more. Tikeya and Juro were both immensely capable - their clans would hardly send someone incompetent to represent them. But Takio wasn¡¯t naive enough to think that they¡¯d been picked on their skill alone.


    The thought didn¡¯t entirely sit well with him. These families were trying to weasel their way into his life - and that of their daughters?


    Then again, Juro was still smiling up at him, confidence written into every fiber of her being. She didn¡¯t look bothered at the notion..


    Who was he to argue?


    He opened his mouth to reply, beginning to reach for her elbow with his other hand - and froze.


    The cry of a hawk echoed from above, shrieking across the rapidly-darkening clearing and cutting him off before he could make another move. His head snapped up, as did Juro¡¯s. She whistled, the sound loud enough to make him wince.


    The bird spiraled down, wings spread wide to show its white undersider. Juro lifted her arm, straightening and returning to businesslike in the span of a single heartbeat. It sailed down, grabbing hold of her thick, leathered glove with enough force to drive its talons through the material.


    She didn¡¯t seem to notice, or mind. Before the bird had so much as closed its wings she was working at the tube tied to its leg, undoing the clasp. A tiny, satisfied noise slipped between her lips as she pulled a roll of paper from within.


    Any satisfaction that found its way onto her expression vanished, hidden behind a stony wall as she read the note.


    Takio shifted, trying to contain his impatience. Her eyes swept back and forth over the message, reading and rereading. Finally, when he was about ready to order her to give the damn thing over, she lifted her head.


    And then she thrust it towards him.


    Her eyes were serious, but not worried. He eyed her for a moment longer, reading the rapidly-changing mood, and took the slip of paper from her.


    He read. His mind raced, taking in what it said there. The reports. The updates. The situation, as it stood.


    When he finished, he read it again.


    And then again.


    When he looked up, still rolling the contents of the message around and around in his head, Juro was looking back at him.


    He forced a smile, even as he reached out towards Shiina. She wasn¡¯t there. He could feel her, in the deep recesses of his mind. She¡¯d always be there, somewhere - but she was distracted, distant. He should have noticed, before now. He¡¯d expected she¡¯d tell him, if something was wrong.


    But he should have noticed.


    ¡°Time to call it a night, I think,¡± he said, keeping his tone light. ¡°We¡¯ll need to be off bright and early. And I¡¯ll need to let Antiel know all of this.¡±


    Juro nodded, shifting a little, and turned back towards camp. He saw her hand slip into a pouch at her belt, pulling something out and letting the bird have a nibble. She didn¡¯t say another word. Neither did he. Both of them understood.


    A hard ride awaited them the next day.


    Following on her heels, Takio offered a silent prayer that a day wouldn¡¯t be too long.

 Chapter 22

    All right - I''ll take a moment to have a bit of a chat here.


    At this stage, we''ve now caught up to current material, so updates will be a bit slower than during the launch portion.  Normally, I try for a chapter every 3-4 days, so that''s what you should expect.


    Regarding the series itself and some of what''s available - Reverie is actually the prequel to an existing four-book series I''ve written, the Flameweaver Saga.  That''s not available for free, so I won''t link it, but if this is a world you like, that''s available if you search for that name.  Be aware that this series will spoil some of the stuff in Flameweaver, and Flameweaver will spoil some stuff about how this series goes.  They''re written to be a bit circular like that.  And through that series, I do have some resources that I think will be increasingly helpful - I''ll be playing a bit more hard and fast with location names, because I do have maps for this series/universe xD Those are available in both traditional</a> and political boundaries.</a>


    So, might be useful.


    At this stage we''re mostly through the introduction portion and starting to actually get to the bones of what the story will grow from, so hopefully we''ll get things moving more and more </img> Just as a general informational statement, I''m planning this prequel as a series of probably three books.  I don''t do anything short.  That''s part of why this first section has been more character-driven and laying the groundwork.


    Anyway!  Just wanted to take a minute and talk about what exactly I''m doing with it.  Thanks for reading!


    <hr>


    ¡°...Thrice-damned, stupid, incessant-¡±


    ¡°Kassien, give it a rest,¡± Takio said, hunching his shoulders higher.


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying,¡± Kassien grumbled, one final offering on the matter, and then shut up.


    Takio sighed, lifting his head to glance around. It was raining. It¡¯d been raining for most of the afternoon, in fact - a fact that all of them were beginning to tire of.


    ¡°At least we¡¯re getting closer,¡± he heard Antiel echo from his other side. The whole group was packed into a tight formation, the horses plodding along through the growing muck.


    It wasn¡¯t just to ward off the loneliness and damp, Takio knew. Somewhere along the line over the last few days, the transition between woodlands and mountain had completed. No more were they passing villages and hamlets, meandering their way through forests and fields. Now, craggy cliffs rose up on either side of their path, falling away to reveal gorges and steppes.


    And through the middle of it, the road wound onward. It looked stable enough, for the time being, but each of them knew better than to trust it. Even the sweepriders had tucked in close, foregoing any attempt at navigating the wilderness.


    Kassien leaned over, spitting between Takio and him. ¡°Not close enough.¡±


    ¡°Charming,¡± Takio heard Reimm say with a sigh. He chuckled. The archer hadn¡¯t said a word when Antiel called off the patrols, hadn¡¯t celebrated his break in the slightest - but the satisfaction that washed off him in waves was all of the answer they needed. The hood of his cloak was pulled up so high that only is eyes and a few tufts of brown hair were visible.


    ¡°We¡¯re most of the way already,¡± Takio said, glaring at Kassien. And then he glanced back to Antiel, a bit of the confidence seeping out of his expression. ¡°And, uh...where, exactly-¡±


    ¡°At last reports, Mian¡¯s clan was holed up in the fields south of Jaimar,¡± Antiel said, casting a tolerant look back over his shoulder.


    Takio¡¯s scowl deepened. ¡°So he¡¯s still not moving.¡±


    Antiel winced, but nodded begrudgingly. ¡°Well¡­.yes. It looks that way. But I¡¯m sure that Hearthfire has sent scouts to meet us on the road. They¡¯ll know more.¡±


    Antiel was right, Takio knew. And it had all been held in the note, the slip of paper Juro had handed him. The fact he didn¡¯t like what it said didn¡¯t make it any less true.


    Damn that Mian.


    A hand slipped down his shoulder, matched by a warm presence that pressed against his back. ¡°I understand your frustrations, Takio. But you must-¡±


    I¡¯ll handle it. Properly. Takio didn¡¯t glance back, didn¡¯t react at all to Shiina¡¯s return. Even though she had other followers, it wasn¡¯t as though she¡¯d ever been more than a few moments away.


    This, though¡­


    Mian had been a problem from the start. He nudged his horse onward, murmuring quietly to it. His words vanished in the din of the rain that still pounded down on their heads. It had been so simple, when he¡¯d first gotten word. It was just a clanleader overstaying their welcome, he¡¯d been told. The mountains around Shiina¡¯s home were far from hospitable during the winter - and so the nomadic clans would gather at the base of the crags, weathering the snow and wind in the comparatively temperate lowlands.


    Most of them left, however. Most of them returned to their ranges, leaving the communities of miners and craftsmen that had established actual towns to go about their business in peace. There were a lot of Narai, but Naraan was a big place.


    Clans were still expected to share the wintering grounds. Takio shook his head slowly, feeling his hands tighten on the reins second by second. He¡¯d ridden all the way out there, once the snow melted. When the complaints had been lodged with him, stories of stolen grazeland and herdbeasts vanishing only for Mian¡¯s flocks to swell, he¡¯d done the good, responsible thing. He¡¯d plunged into the heartlands to assess the matter for himself.


    Mian had smiled at him. Bowed. Said all the right things, offered all the right apologies. And then he was going to turn around and keep right at his same games?


    ¡°Anger will not help the situation.¡±


    *It¡¯s only natural,¡± he shot back, fighting to keep from rolling his eyes. His blood simmered, his frustrations growing with every moment.


    ¡°I did not say otherwise.¡±


    How is it that you¡¯re the one trying to preach calm?


    Shiina giggled, shaking her head. ¡°Are you so surprised? This is not the first time my children have dared to challenge their instructions. You should prepare yourself. I doubt it will be the last.¡±


    Yes, mistress, Takio echoed, letting his shoulders slump. But left alone, without them being brought into check-


    ¡°I did not say you should be merciful.¡±


    Oh.


    Her sigh echoed to the tops of the trees around him. From the corner of his eye, Takio saw Antiel jump. ¡°Really, Takio. Must I explain such matters to you?¡±


    I...well, I think I can-If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Naturally, I don¡¯t believe that you should needlessly terrorize my followers. They¡¯re simply...misguided. We must then offer them a bit of...correction. Set them back on the proper path.¡±


    Yes, I-


    ¡°And if you do nothing, little cinder, if you allow them to continue flaunting your orders, well.¡± She laughed, and all of the earlier humor was gone. ¡°Then I daresay they¡¯ll stop taking your word to mean much of anything at all. And since you speak for me-¡±


    I understand, Takio forced out, cutting Shiina off before she could continue her lecture. He did understand. He did. As the Charred, the Narai saw him as Shiina¡¯s arm in their world. Her face, the one who acted as her vessel. If they stopped respecting his word, then they¡¯d stop respecting her. Gods that no longer seemed worthy of their worshippers¡¯ respect did not have worshippers for long.


    And Divines without worshippers would waste away entirely.


    I¡¯ll handle it, Takio thought to her, bringing his hand up to clasp over hers. Her hand was tiny under his, but even through the layers of cloth and leather he wore the heat of it burned like a coal. It won¡¯t go any farther. Mian will come back into line.


    ¡°See that he does,¡± Shiina murmured, leaning forward again. Her feet kicked, hanging off the side of the horse. It plodded along, none the wiser that it carried a second passenger.


    Takio¡¯s sigh vanished into the rains as they inched deeper and deeper into Naraan.


    <hr>


    Antiel was right. When they passed Ranctur Peak, staring up at the towering spire of bare-sided stone, a rider waited in the road. His red cloak clearly marked him as belonging to Hearthfire¡¯s service, with gold runes at the hem putting him among the ranks of one of the minor clans. He¡¯d kicked his horse to a trot as soon as he saw their group, pulling up alongside Antiel before they could stop.


    What passed next was a flurry of words and information with more than a few maps pulled from inner pockets. The scout and Antiel had been pressed head-to-head from the moment they were within arm¡¯s reach of each other, and Antiel had waved Juro over within moments.


    Takio watched, biting back his impatience, as they chattered away. And finally, when he¡¯d about had enough of watching, they broke apart.


    The scout hung back, caught halfway between his horse and Takio. ¡°I should-¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be fine,¡± Antiel said, glancing back. ¡°Go report to the elders.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯ll need someone to-¡±


    ¡°I can take us,¡± Juro said, beaming at him. ¡°No problem. We¡¯ve got it handled.¡±


    He melted under the sheer force of the look she fixed on him, her smile aside. ¡°A-All right.¡±


    ¡°We good?¡± Takio murmured as Antiel came back into range. His advisor nodded.


    ¡°More riding,¡± he heard Reimm say, sighing dramatically a moment later. When Takio glanced back, glaring daggers, he found the archer smiling up at him like he¡¯d won.


    Tikeya just stood like a statue, watching him.


    Reimm had been right. They rode, pushing their mounts for every ounce of speed they could. The weather had turned, pushing away the dark clouds and dripping rain, and there was no telling how long it¡¯d last.


    Despite the pressure of the situation and how close they were to their destination, Takio had to smile. Here and there he¡¯d see a wayfarer¡¯s inn poking out from the trees, or catch sight of a few homes thrown up around the first slopes of the mountain. After so long away, it was good to be home.


    At last, when darkness fell, Antiel whistled them to a halt. None of them protested. Even Takio piled off his horse, however reluctantly. There was no sense in pushing their horses so hard they risked injury, after all.


    Takio just stood, looking down off the ridgeline - and watched the glow of fires staring back at him.


    ¡°About time,¡± he heard someone grumble beside him. When he turned, Kassien trudged up alongside. The man¡¯s cloak was still pulled snug around his neck, so Takio could only assume it was cold. He smiled to himself, not for the first time enjoying the benefits of being tied to a fire goddess.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Takio echoed simply, turning back to the plains below them.


    ¡°Lots of clans.¡±


    ¡°There are,¡± he was forced to agree, letting his eyes drag across the field. The mountains rose up where they stood, but below them, there was only gentle grassland. It was a rare sight in Naraan - and one that should have been mostly deserted, by this time.


    Mian¡¯s clan wasn¡¯t the only one lingering after winter¡¯s end, he realized. The sick, churning feeling in the pit of his stomach worsened.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± Kassien said.


    Takio blinked, more than a little caught off guard - and jumped as his friend¡¯s hand clapped down on his shoulder. ¡°I-I know,¡± he said, glancing over.


    ¡°Eyes sharp, tomorrow,¡± Kassien said simply, offering him a low, tight smile. ¡°Hate to see you lose more of that ear.¡±


    Takio batted away the hand that reached for his earlobe. ¡°Oh, shove it up your-¡±


    ¡°Anyway. Don¡¯t stay up too late.¡±


    His friend was already stepping away, inching back towards the rest of camp. Takio hesitated, his hand still upraised, but let him go.


    As the quiet closed back in around him, he turned back towards the distant lights on the plains below.


    The uneasy feeling growing within him didn¡¯t fade.


    <hr>


    The roar of hooves on hard-packed dirt and stone rang in their ears. The mountains were behind them, leaving them to run across the flatlands. In the foothills, Takio caught sight of more than a few encampments that looked more permanent. You couldn¡¯t move a mine, after all, he thought with a smile. And somewhere to the north, Jaimar waited along the shoreline to carry the Narai¡¯s fine-worked goods off to Ondria and Drenwell.


    Ahead, though, lay only a cluster of sun-bleached tents gleaming in the afternoon sun.


    ¡°Slow,¡± he heard Antiel call, his voice hushed enough it didn¡¯t carry beyond their group. As one, they reined in, coming back to a walk.


    Takio nudged his mount forward, joining Antiel at the head of the line. Juro followed him, right at his flank - and Kassien pressed in close at his other side. Reimm and Tikeya swung wide. Neither said a word, even the normally-vocal archer, but he caught the way their eyes swept back and forth over the tent camp.


    Antiel shifted, glancing back at him. ¡°Now, Takio, you should let me-¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll manage,¡± Takio said, kicking his horse onward. Antiel slipped past him. His advisor opened his mouth, ready to argue - but vanished behind the first of the tents.


    Step by step, he picked his way deeper into the clan¡¯s camp. The fabric was faded, but he picked out enough of the lettering and runes to know that they¡¯d found their destination.


    They¡¯d found Mian¡¯s clan.


    Like most of the Narai, surviving off herding and hunting, the clan would be ready to travel at a moment¡¯s notice. The sight of a few dozen tents pressed into close quarters and dotted with fires wasn¡¯t unusual. On any other day, Takio would have been completely at ease among his own kin.


    At that moment, though, all he could see were the faces. The people who crept from their tents to watch him, stone-faced and silent. Normally they¡¯d have smiled, or waved, or just gaped. He¡¯d gotten used to all of that, over the years.


    These Narai were dead silent. The effect sent shivers down his spine.


    The others felt the same, he knew. Within seconds, Antiel had rejoined him, shooting him irritated looks all the while. And from the corner of his eye, Takio could see Elintel and Reimm picking their way through the tents farther down. They¡¯d be setting up a net, keeping a watchful eye for anyone looking to get the jump on them.


    This feels wrong, he whispered silently, allowing himself a moment¡¯s worry. It¡¯s not right to be so fearful about all this. They should act more normal. I can-


    Allow them this. It will set them at ease - and this situation is more complicated than most. He didn¡¯t see her appear, but her presence pressed against his mind all the same. Focus on the task at hand, child.


    His nose wrinkled at the term, however affectionately it was used. Her tone was different, though, tinged with a worry that was entirely foreign for the goddess. So he let it slide, turning his eyes back forward.


    With every step they took, Kassien and Juro closed in a little tighter, until he thought he might kick them. He sighed, debating telling them to back off. He was the Charred, after all. It wouldn¡¯t do to look like he was afraid. But the more tents they passed, the more people came out to stare.


    Silently.


    Takio decided his bodyguards were fine where they were.


    With a few final strides, they came out from around the last row of tents - and were brought face to face with the one that stood at the very center. A fire burned alongside it, bright and hot even during the day.


    More than anything, the symbols painted onto the tent¡¯s walls told him everything he needed to know about its owner.


    Letting a deep breath slip between his lips, Takio stared at it as though he could see straight through the fabric to the inhabitant. And then he pushed off the stirrups, throwing his leg over the saddle.


    The crowd was still watching as he straightened. Their eyes burned on the back of his neck. ¡°Mian,¡± he said instead, raising his voice enough to be heard. ¡°You know why I¡¯m here. A word.¡±


    The wind rustled overhead, sending his pale hair blowing past his eyes. He resisted the urge to brush it away, instead keeping every fiber of his being focused on the tent.


    But the only sound that reached his ears were the steadily growing whispers. The gentle scrape of boots on dirt broke the quiet as Antiel stepped closer. Tikeya and Reimm were distant figures, little more than heads moving through the crowd. Where they went, he saw more than a few Narai step away - and start leaving.


    And still the tent in front of him lay still and quiet.


    Fine. So be it.


    Reaching over towards his horse, still patiently waiting alongside him, Takio wrapped his hand around the scabbard of his sword. A few tugs freed it from the straps pinning it to the front of his saddle.


    The sound of metal on stone shrieked out, silencing the whispers instantly as he slammed the tip of the scabbard onto the ground before him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try and pretend you¡¯re not there,¡± Takio said, spitting each word out. ¡°I¡¯m not fooled - and I¡¯ve traveled too far to be patient with you.¡± He forced himself to be still, to stand straight-backed and unflinching. He smiled, the expression lazy and confident.


    ¡°No more games.¡±

 Chapter 23

    <div>


    <div>


    The shrill screech of metal on stone lingered, carrying gently across the afternoon air.


    Takio stood, unmoving. Every fiber of his being thrummed, balanced at the very edge of motion. His eyes were fixed on the fabric of the tent, tracing out each rune and marking. His ears strained, snapping up every whisper and murmur around him.


    The scout had been quite certain - Mian was here. The painted symbols marked the tent as his. And to top it all off, the nervous glances of the Narai that closed in around him and his bodyguards all but screamed their clanleader¡¯s presence to the skies.


    No, Mian was here.


    He can¡¯t possibly be so stupid, Takio whispered silently. Mian wouldn¡¯t just ignore me. He has to know better. Right?


    He could see her from the corner of his eye. Shiina paced between the rows of her followers, with the golden ribbons bound from each wrist and hip flowing behind her. Her expression was carefully neutral - but her eyes glowed a deep, wary red. He couldn¡¯t begin to imagine the mix of emotions that had to be running through her head. The Narai were hers, after all.


    Disobedient children must be punished, she said. The words appeared in his mind as though they were standing side by side. She¡¯d picked his thoughts straight from his mind, he knew. I cannot speak as to his intelligence, Takio. We¡¯re here, are we not?


    True enough. If Mian had an ounce of sense in his head, they wouldn¡¯t have had to swing back into the heartlands. There were limits to how stupid you could be, though.


    Takio shifted, beginning to frown. The Narai pressed in around them were whispering more loudly, not bothering to hide their conversations anymore. Was Mian going to force his hand? If Takio had to go into the tent after him, dragging the clanleader out by the ear, he¡¯d-


    He straightened, grabbing hold of his surprise at the last moment and hiding it away. It was a tiny noise, easily overlooked.


    But with his senses on high alert, the gentle scrape of hard leather against dirt and dead grass shrieked in his ear like a horn-call.


    The fabric on the tent fluttered, pushed aside by a leathery hand. Mian stepped through into the sunlight a second later.


    Takio bit back his sigh of relief, eyeing the clanleader coldly. Most of the Narai were still strangers to him. He couldn¡¯t mee everyone, after all, and there were simply too many clans for him to meet face-to-face with each of the leaders. Given time, maybe, but not yet.


    Mian, though. Mian he knew.


    ¡°Charred,¡± the older man said, lifting his head and standing tall. His hair hung in a shaggy halo about his face, the black of it salted through and soaked in grease. The look he gave Takio was every bit as careful as the young man would have expected. It was deliberate. ¡°Flameweaver¡¯s grace, I must have been blessed. For someone like you to cross my-¡±


    ¡°Oh, good,¡± Takio said, letting his arms relax for the first time in what felt like an eternity. His elbows ached, sore from bracing off the scabbard. ¡°You remember our last meeting, then. That saves some time.¡±


    Mian¡¯s expression didn¡¯t falter. ¡°Far be it for me to forget.¡± He inclined his head, hiding his umber eyes behind closed lids for a fraction of a second. ¡°Truly, my clan is pleased to greet you. It¡¯s not the riches you¡¯re accustomed to, I¡¯m sure, but be welcome among-¡±


    ¡°If only we could stay for such pleasantries,¡± Takio interrupted. He glared across the scant few feet to where Mian waited, his orange eyes pricked. Beside him, he could hear Antiel shifting uncomfortably. Hearthfire would probably want him to be diplomatic. They¡¯d probably hope for him to be-


    *You are not Hearthfire¡¯s. You are mine. Focus, boy.¡±


    The corners of his lips curled up. Right.


    Mian was watching him, every bit as expressionless as before. Takio smiled humorlessly. ¡°If you remember our last visit to your tents, then surely you remember the reason? The things we talked about?¡±


    ¡°I...That¡¯s¡­¡± Mian began, but stopped. His face had gone pale, somewhere in the midst of his stammered reply.


    Takio arched one eyebrow, leaning back on his heels. ¡°Am I wrong? Should I remind you? I understand your duties as clanleader must keep you busy. It would be so easy to forget.¡±


    Kassien stood by his other elbow, and unlike Antiel, the bodyguard seemed perfectly at ease amidst the growing tension. Juro wouldn¡¯t be far either, he knew. Tikeya and Reimm were nowhere in sight, but that was as it should be.


    Mian coughed, his eyes tightening. ¡°Ah...well, I believe-¡±


    ¡°I told you to leave the heartlands,¡± Takio snapped, coming to a decision in an instant. Mian could fumble around this all he wanted, but he would be in control of the conversation.


    The clanleader stiffened, mulish stubbornness creeping over his expression. ¡°It¡¯s perfectly normal to shelter on the flats during-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s normal to winter in the grass flats,¡± Takio said. His hands were wrapped around the hilt of his sword, letting it rest against the dirt before him again. ¡°But it¡¯s not winter anymore, clanleader. The clans here do not welcome your continued presence.¡± He held the clanleader¡¯s gaze, his eyes narrowing. ¡°And there have been complaints. Misconduct. Does this sound familiar?¡±


    Mian¡¯s face grew longer with every word Takio spoke. ¡°It¡¯s not my godsdamned problem what other clans get to cryin¡¯ about. Why, I¡¯m just-¡±


    ¡°I told you to leave,¡± Takio said, and there was ice slipping into his tone for the first time. ¡°Do you contest that?¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Mian stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes flicked from side to side, bouncing between his clansmen and Takio¡¯s entourage. He¡¯d be doing the match, Takio knew. Counting. But as stupid as ignoring the Charred would be, attacking him would just be suicidal.


    His skin flushed all the same, heat rising from his bones as his mana seared to life. It rippled on the very edge of control. Shiina had trained him well - as had Antiel, and all of the other shamans in Hearthfire. He¡¯d be ready, he knew. In a second, he could have blackened scales shooting down to cover his skin, shielding him. Mian wouldn¡¯t stand a-


    His chin jerked, the tiny motion slipping out before he could snatch it back. Mian wasn¡¯t his enemy. Or, he was, but-


    Focus.


    Right, Takio murmured, blinking away the last traces of his distraction.


    ¡°It¡¯s not such an easy thing, Charred,¡± Mian said. The chill in his voice brought Takio back to reality in an instant. ¡°It¡¯s complicated, you know. I tried to get my kin moving. Thought we¡¯d head northeast, hole up on the shorelines. It¡¯s not quite pirate season, like. But it¡¯s all a bit of a mess, and-¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask if it would be easy,¡± Takio said, lifting himself higher. He was sturdy enough - but Mian was big. The more affronted the clanleader got, the taller he stood, and the smaller Takio felt. ¡°I told you to leave. I¡¯m sorry you can¡¯t control your clan - although it does explain some of the reports that have reached me.¡±


    Antiel was all but vibrating, quivering where he stood. The man had much he wanted to say, Takio knew. Too bad.


    ¡°Our normal ranges are dried out,¡± Mian said, his scowl growing. ¡°The scouts we sent out reported back a month past. The whole place is nothin¡¯ but scraggle and sand, he said. How am I supposed to take my people there? Would you have me starve?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯d come to the other clans and negotiated, as is proper, then there would be no trouble,¡± Antiel said, the words flying out at last. ¡°And if that failed, you could have come to Hearthfire, and we would have-¡±


    ¡°Instead of working through the proper channels, you pushed your way onto lands that other clans have held for generations,¡± Takio said, taking one hand from his sword and laying it on Antiel¡¯s shoulder. His advisor quieted himself, although Takio could see the expression on the older man¡¯s face sour. ¡°And you helped yourself to their herds while you did so.¡±


    Mian didn¡¯t say a word - but Takio saw a few of the Narai scattered around the crowd flinch. He shifted, letting his hand fall away from Antiel. ¡°Well? Am I wrong?¡± He enunciated each word clearly, repeating the phrase again.


    ¡°We have not-¡±


    ¡°Think twice before you lie to me.¡± Takio¡¯s voice lashed across the space between them like a whip.


    Mian jumped. The clanleader brought himself under control a heartbeat later, regaining his composure, but it was too late. Takio had seen. Mian stared at him, chewing on his next words for a long, drawn-out minute. ¡°I would never think of lying to our Lady¡¯s champion,¡± he said finally. ¡°We are loyal to her. And to you.¡±


    The declaration was accompanied by a bow - albeit a small one. The clanleader danced on the edge of duty and offense, Takio knew. It was a fine line to walk, but he walked it well. He ran the tips of his fingers over the intricately worked grip of his sword, the motion tiny and well-hidden from the spectators.


    ¡°There may have been...incidents,¡± Mian said, his tone sour and glum. He was well and truly caught, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to like it. ¡°Our young men are excitable. Such is the way of the world, Charred. Perhaps in a fit of winter boredom, some chose to disobey our agreements.¡±


    ¡°Theft is theft,¡± Takio said, unblinking. ¡°Keeping your men under control is your duty. And there are consequences when you don¡¯t.¡±


    Mian¡¯s fingers trembled, flexing. Takio watched, gauging each and every motion from the clanleader. Don¡¯t be stupid. This isn¡¯t worth it. Just-


    ¡°We will, of course, honor the wishes of our Charred,¡± Mian said. However pleasant the words were by themselves, it looked as though it physically pained him to speak them. ¡°I¡¯ll order the children to gather the herds, and we¡¯ll be off before the sun falls. But-¡±


    ¡°When the herds return, you will, of course, separate out each of the beasts you stole, and return them to their proper homes,¡± Takio said.


    Mian nodded, after another long pause. ¡°Yes, Charred. Of course. We wouldn¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°And for each beast you stole, you¡¯ll give one from your own herd.¡±


    The whispers surrounding them ramped up, taking on new intensity as the judgement echoed around the camp. Mian¡¯s eye twitched. Takio¡¯s stare didn¡¯t hesitate. He¡¯d been dwelling on exactly how to handle the whole mess from the moment the first messages had arrived by hawk.


    It was a minor infraction, he told himself. Thus far, it fell into the realm of normal competition for the Narai - and the punishment was fair, with that in mind. As much as Mian would scream and complain, it was important for Takio to establish order. Mian couldn¡¯t be allowed to flaunt the orders he¡¯d been given and act as though everything was normal.


    Mian forced a smile, bowing again. The gesture was even slower than the one before. ¡°Yes, Charred.¡±


    Takio frowned, letting a bit of the tension ebb from his frame. ¡°And I¡¯ve heard that your men have been visiting establishments from here to Jaimar.¡± He smiled mirthlessly. ¡°It was a long winter.¡±


    Oh, he¡¯d heard. He¡¯d seen the reports - destroyed taverns and inns, businesses thrown into chaos by the too-forceful clan¡¯s actions. They¡¯d needed to be kept busy, and when they weren¡¯t, they¡¯d found other ways to entertain themselves. Much to Jaimar¡¯s dismay.


    Mian must have heard the same reports. His smile splintered, losing a bit of its arrogance. ¡°Ah. Yes.¡± He sniffed, lifting a hand to rub across his face. His head tilted back and forth as he stewed, doing the math. ¡°I¡¯ll...see that any harm my men did is fixed by winter.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Takio said. The man wasn¡¯t stupid after all, then. It made his job easier if Mian would work with him, reaching the inevitable conclusion on his own instead of being dragged there kicking and screaming. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that.¡±


    ¡°As is fair,¡± Mian said, a hair shy of spitting.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s that,¡± Takio said, letting a smile slip onto his face. ¡°We¡¯re not due back to Ranctur for a week or two, yet.¡± His eyes stayed fixed onto Mian¡¯s face, carefully watching the clanleader¡¯s expression.


    Mian only bowed again, his face vanishing from sight. ¡°Then...it¡®s our pleasure to ride with you,¡± the older man said.


    And Takio could make sure Mian actually followed through, this time. Both of them knew what the real motivations here were.


    The crowd was nodding, though - and more than a few of the Narai looked pleased at the declaration. Not all of them could be happy at the games their leader was playing, Takio knew. Hopefully, with this, there¡¯d be one less problem to deal with down the road. He couldn¡¯t order Mian to go apologize to the clans whose lands he¡¯d squatted on, after all. He wasn¡¯t a child to be set in the corner or lectured. But with their herds returned and the damage repaired, most of Mian¡¯s neighbors would be mollified. Probably. Even if a few were still unhappy, they¡¯d-


    His ears prickled. In the same instant, the murmurs of the crowd exploded. More than murmurs, he realized. There were open yells from the back of the masses, cries passed from throat to throat - and they were getting closer.


    Shiina had vanished. Her presence was close at hand, but...distracted. Her disapproval was a spear through his thoughts - and her fury.


    Tikeya and Reimm were still nowhere in sight. The pit of his stomach dropped away. He¡¯d read the messages. The reports. He remembered what they¡¯d said. He remembered every last word.


    He¡¯d really wanted this to be a simple matter of stealing sheep.


    Before Takio could raise his own voice or call on his mana, before he could do anything at all to restore some semblance of order, the clan parted in front of them.


    Tikeya and Reimm swept through in the gap, standing tall and imperious and glaring daggers at any of Mian¡¯s clansmen who came close.


    Together, the two of them dragged one of Mian¡¯s men out into the open.

 Chapter 24

    <div>


    <div>


    The only sound through the camp was the murmur of the wind and the crackling of campfires. The conversations died away as Tikeya and Reimm stood at the edge of the crowd. The man clutched between them stood caught in place, his dark eyes round and fixed on Mian.


    Takio pressed a hand to his face, masking a sigh. There it is.


    You knew they would not disappoint, Shiina chimed in his mind. He flinched as a wall of sparks drifted past him, coalescing into her delicate form. She flounced forward, hair and ribbons flying, and came to a stop just in front of the Narai. She leaned in closer, inspecting him. ¡°And they have done as you asked.¡±


    Yes, they had. Takio tore his eyes off his goddess, just in time to see Tikeya and Reimm take a step away from their captive. The man stayed where he was, swaying gently.


    ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Takio said, his voice carefully neutral. He stayed where he was, his sheathed sword still resting against the ground.


    Reimm spoke first, his shoulders bouncing as he took a step towards Takio. ¡°We were inspecting the camp, Charred. And we found this.¡±


    The thump of metal against dirt and stone echoed across the quiet as he threw a sword to the ground before Takio. The archer had always been a cheerful companion among their number, Takio thought, his fingers tightening about his sword¡¯s hilt. There wasn¡¯t a hint of a smile on his face at that moment.


    ¡°Oh?¡± he said, hiding all of his tension behind the simple word. And then he stooped, slowly leaning down to grasp the new weapon.


    It was a sword, short-bladed and unsheathed. Takio lifted it as he rose, unwilling to let go of his own blade long enough to take it in both hands. He didn¡¯t need to, anyway. Even at a glance, the workmanship of the weapon was unmistakable. Ripples of folded metal shone under the blade¡¯s surface, and he knew the thing was sharp enough to cut him if he looked at it the wrong way.


    The mark etched into the crossguard was enough to confirm all of that and more.


    ¡°How is it,¡± he began, leaning back to fix Mian with a long, hard look, ¡°that your men are walking around with clan Goro¡¯s blades?¡±


    ¡°W-What?¡± Mian snapped, his suntanned skin losing a bit of its color. ¡°What are you-¡±


    Takio turned the blade around so Mian could see, tapping his thumb against the rune. ¡°A piece like this would fetch a fine price in Drenwell, I¡¯m sure. Your clan must be doing quite well for itself to afford it.¡±


    Kassien snorted. Takio heard the dull thud of Antiel¡¯s elbow slamming into his side. He couldn¡¯t blame his bodyguard - the very notion was absurd. The tents pressed in around them were run-down and old, if serviceable enough, and Mian¡¯s men were all plain-dressed.


    ¡°I-I couldn¡¯t say,¡± Mian said, a stammer entering his tone for the first time. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen that before. Taero!¡± His eyes snapped to the man still standing between Tikeya and Reimm. ¡°What have you done? Is this yours?¡±


    The clansman froze, going pale under the combined glares suddenly leveled his way. ¡°I¡­.I don¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°How do I know that¡¯s even real?¡± Mian interrupted, spinning back to Takio. ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate unfounded accusations, Charred.¡±


    ¡°Well, now, that¡¯s easily enough seen,¡± Antiel said. His voice was smooth as butter, carefully controlled. He crossed to where Takio stood, putting himself between his Ascended and the clanleader. Takio sighed as the weight lifted from his hand.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Antiel balanced the blade in his grip. His eyes swept up and down its length, gauging it carefully - but only for a moment. A second later, his gaze flicked up to meet Takio¡¯s. His back was still turned, shielding him from the sight of the others. He stared at Takio, holding him in place. And then he made a face, turning back.


    ¡°It¡¯s authentic enough. The enchantments and runecraft are less than a month old,¡± he said, looking up at Mian. The clanleader towered over Antiel, but the advisor seemed less than worried.


    Mian scowled. ¡°Oh? And how are you supposed to tell that?¡±


    Takio started forward, but Antiel only tilted his head to one side. ¡°My good man, I¡¯m a shaman. Don¡¯t ask absurd questions.¡±


    Takio winced. For Antiel, that was as close to biting as he got.


    He glanced over to Shiina instead. The girl picked her way through the crowds, peering up into face after face. Is that all?


    What do you think?


    ...I see.


    Her eyes were flat, expressionless orbs glowing a wary red in her tanned face. I know the business is unpleasant, little cinder, but-


    I know. Before she could lecture him further, he cleared his throat, drawing their eyes back to him. ¡°Well, now that that¡¯s settled.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, Charred, I don¡¯t tolerate thieves in my clan,¡± Mian said, straightening himself.


    ¡°Besides your men stealing herdbeasts,¡± Reimm said. He fell quiet at Takio¡¯s glare.


    The look the clanleader shot the archer was positively venomous. ¡°I don¡¯t know where he got the thing, but it¡¯s just one blade. I¡¯m sorry, but-¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Takio stopped, catching himself before he could launch into the older man. Tikeya had spoken, at last - and the normally-quiet woman shifted on her feet. Her gear was as plain and threadbare as the rest of them, all fur-lined steel and sturdy fabric. A bag hung down her side, strapped securely to her belt, and it was that bag she was reaching into.


    When she pulled her hand free, an ingot lay clutched in her palm. Takio eyed the flat, unpolished metal, letting his gaze drift from it to her face. The thing engulfed her hand - and she¡¯d been carrying it around this whole time?


    She seemed not in the least bothered as she stepped forward, handing it to Antiel. ¡°Found that in his tent, too,¡± she said. Her gravelly voice was low and serious. ¡°Whole crate of the things.¡± Her lips curled down in the faintest hint of a frown. ¡°Lots of ¡®em.¡±


    Too many for one man to carry, in other words. Takio¡¯s mind supplied the words she was leaving out. He nodded slowly, turning back to Mian.


    ¡°W-Well, I suppose I might have been talking to the elders, winter past,¡± Mian said, folding his arms obstinately. ¡°Told ¡®em, it¡¯s no life living off sheep and weeds. Real money¡¯s in the metal, of late. Drenwell¡¯s payin¡¯ well, and Ondria wouldn¡¯t turn their noses up at a good shot either. Was thinkin¡¯ maybe we¡¯d get into the metalworkin¡¯ game. Maybe-¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯d steal Goro¡¯s work,¡± Takio interrupted. The clearing around them grew with every word, his clan drawing closer and closer together. ¡°To kickstart your ambitions.¡±


    ¡°Flameweaver¡¯s tits, boy, no,¡± Mian snapped. ¡°Stop readin¡¯ whatever you want out of this and see straight.¡±


    ¡°Go on, then,¡± Takio said. It took everything he had to keep from leaping across the gap between them and pummeling the man. Dealing with the clanleaders was always a pain. He longed for the day when they¡¯d look at him and see something besides for an upstart brat a fraction their age, prancing into their lands and ordering them around.


    Respect is earned, child.


    I get that. You don¡¯t have to tell me.


    Do not sass me.


    I¡¯m not- Takio gave up halfway through the thought, turning back to Mian. The clanleader had assumed a more neutral position, leaning towards him as though trying to convince Takio of his honesty.


    ¡°Perhaps Taero merely thought to help his clan,¡± Mian said, spreading his hands helplessly. ¡°Perhaps he thought to win some favor, down the line. Perhaps he wanted to gain a prime example.¡± His head snapped over, fixating on his clansman. Taero shrank down, going even paler. ¡°If he¡¯s stolen, Charred, then I apologize, but surely you¡¯ll allow me the chance to handle my own-¡±


    ¡°And what of the other reports?¡± Takio said, slipping his hand into his pocket and sliding the scrap of paper free. He held it up, watching as Mian¡¯s eyes focused in on it. ¡°The stories I¡¯ve heard from clans Goro and Maima? Complaints of bandits, focusing in on the shipments they¡¯ve sent to Jaimar? It¡¯s a curious business, how they always seem to know.¡±


    He smiled lazily, knowing how the expression would look to someone in Mian¡¯s position. Shiina was right - respect was earned, and he had to take it. He had to make them listen, until his reputation was enough to do it for him.


    ¡°This wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with that, would it?¡±