《--Blacksmith's Ire, Book 1 of the Vengeance of the Wind Trilogy--》


 Chapter 1: Animus

    Chapter 1 - Animus


    ¡°Here she comes,¡± Animus whispered.  He¡¯d been behind the stacks of empty barrels for the better part of an hour, waiting for his sister to appear on the path.  The slight rain had turned heavy in the late summer night.  He was soaked, though the warm summer air made it bearable.  It wasn¡¯t how Animus imagined he would be spending his birthday, but it would be worth it if he could humiliate his older sister.


    ¡°You sure this will get Yayisha to walk with me around the lake?¡±  Sterl asked.


    Animus doubted it; his sister hated all of his friends.  She¡¯d told Animus that many times.    But Animus clapped Sterl on the back anyways and nodded.  ¡°I¡¯m sure of it.  You have to get her attention, right?  This should do it.¡±


    Animus watched his friend¡¯s reaction carefully.  Sterl was tall, broad-shouldered and nearly as strong as Animus.  Where Animus worked with his father at the blacksmith, Sterl assisted his own father in felling logs.  He had the strength for the task.  Yet Animus wondered at his resolve to see it through.


    Sterl¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Dumping barrels on her will get her to like me?  I still don¡¯t see how ¡­¡±


    In the distance, Animus heard footsteps on the muddy road.  He whispered, ¡°Quiet.  Here she comes.¡±


    His sister rounded the corner, walking by herself on her way home from the temple.  Every night she walked behind the Inn of the Wayward Souls, choosing to be alone rather than deal with the traffic of the main road.  It was a good place to catch her unawares.


    Animus leaned closer to his friend.  ¡°When I raise my hand from the balcony, push those barrels as hard as you can.¡±


    Sterl blew a held breath and nodded.  ¡°This better work.¡±


    ¡°May even get you a kiss, ¡°Animus lied.  He doubted his sister would ever like anyone.  Quietly he moved along the edge of the barrel line, bent over to remain hidden from sight.  The barrels were stacked empty, each three feet tall and right at the edge of the street. Clovas the innkeeper used them to store his home-brewed casks of Ale.  In the morning, Clovas¡¯s workers would load them in a wagon and take them to the Alehouse Clovas owned in the woods where they would be filled and returned full.


    Still hidden behind them, he struggled to keep calm.  Nervous energy made it hard for him to not jump with excitement.  Animus had desired revenge, to get back at his sister for a long time.  The torrential rain of the day made it the possible to soak her in mud as well as to scare her half to death.  Animus thought to himself, Gods knows she has it coming.


    He peered over the last barrel in line.  Though it was dark and raining, and even though she was covered in a thick, nondescript cloak, Animus would be certain it was her in a few moments.


    Uncertain how, he¡¯d always been able to sense her when she was close.   Animus walked the steps once to find just how far away he could sense her; it was up to twenty steps.  And Animus knew she could sense him, too.  That was the very reason he needed Sterl¡¯s help.


    Animus crept along the edge of the wooded deck built along the back of the inn.   When he reached the second story deck above him, Animus reached for the knotted rope he¡¯d previously placed and climbed to the balcony of the Inn of Wayward Souls.  It had been his one worry that workers would be on the back balcony taking a break or eating their meals.  The bad weather kept them indoors.


    Strong from his days working with his father in the smithy, Animus climbed the rope, gripped the edge of the wood and pulled himself up and over the edge.  Once over he twisted on his stomach until he could see Sterl behind the barrels and just beyond them his sister¡¯s approach.   He prepared to raise his hand.


    That¡¯s when the raindrops changed to hail.  Small gravel-sized pieces stung his skin.  The wind awakened and whipped the hail so hard it was knocked sideways.  The hail clattered against the metal roofs of the two and three story buildings at the center of Haver¡¯s Village.


    Animus wondered at the weather as he stood.  A piece of hail broke on the bridge of his nose and exploded into his eyes.  Animus cursed as he hastily cleared the slush from his face and looked to the road.


    Yayisha stood two to three strides away from the barrels.  He could sense her now and she could sense him.  She stopped and looked up at him.  Animus wanted to see her face when he sprung his trap and part of his plan was to use himself as a distraction.  Right where she stood was the perfect spot for Animus¡¯s plot.


    Animus sprung to his feet and raised his hand.  Sterl looked right at him and hesitated.  Come on Sterl¡­  Animus shot his hand higher, stood on his tip-toes and reached for the sky.   The barrels.  Push them!   The hail was so thick that Animus could barely see his friend.


    He saw Sterl move toward the barrels.


    The containers teetered toward Yayisha just as she grabbed the hood of her cloak and pulled it from her head.  She flung her arms wide.  The water and hail fell heavier, and for several moments Animus couldn¡¯t see his sister or Sterl.


    Then the hail suddenly stopped.  Below, the barrels groaned and gave way, tumbling toward his sister.  Animus nearly jumped up and down.  The barrels would hit the mud and splatter all over her.  If he was lucky one of them would knock her face-first to the mud.


    Yayisha shrieked, and the hackles rose on the back of his neck.  Magic. Animus couldn¡¯t believe his eyes as the mud and water around his sister leapt from the ground and formed a half dozen giant hands.  Each one caught a falling barrel, stopping their downward motion until they seemed frozen in mid-air, cradled by the huge, muddy hands.  Yayisha¡¯s shrieked again, her voice carrying over the storm.  Goose bumps sprouted on Animus¡¯s body.  Below the sludge hands widened and coated the barrels in mud.  Yayisha¡¯s hands came together as she extended her arms toward the barrels.  She pulled her hands back to her chest and then shoved them forward.  The mud hands carried the barrels away from her, up and over the stacks from which they¡¯d been shoved.  Several of them collided with those still stacked.


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    The entire middle stack gave way and collapsed toward Sterl.


    Animus saw his friend attempt to scamper away from the avalanche of wood and iron that loomed over him.  Sterl slipped in the mud and fell on his side.  As he tried to stand the barrels crashed upon him.  Animus saw one of the barrels crash into Sterl¡¯s leg.  His friend screamed until another barrel knocked him flush in the head and shoulders.  Then he was silent.


    Animus couldn¡¯t believe this.  For several moments he looked at the scene, stunned.    Everything was under control.  I had them trapped and¡­   He yelled,  ¡°Sterl?¡±


    No response.


    ¡°Sterl!¡±


    His friend didn¡¯t answer.


    Animus¡¯s looked back to the street.  His sister pointed up at him and started to laugh.


    I hate her.  ¡°Sterl!¡±  Animus yelled as descended the rope.  His hand grabbed just above the first knot and he dropped his legs over the side, catching them on another knot.  Tears stung his eyes as he scampered down the rope.  He had taken advantage of his friend¡¯s crush on his sister.  His stomach tightened and his jaws clenched.  He¡¯s hurt and it¡¯s my fault.   The muscles in his arms shook.


    Almost to the ground, he released the rope to land feet-first.  As he grasped for balance the wind came alive and hammered him so hard it shoved him face-first into the mud.  Brown water splashed in his face, nose and ears.  For a few moments everything was muffled as water clogged his ears.  His got his arms and legs under him and pushed himself to stand, one hand working to clear mud from his eyes as he coughed sludge from his mouth.


    He sensed Yayisha had closed the distance between them.  Animus could see her laughing face, could almost taste the magic she wielded.  Her teeth glowed white and her green eyes were filled with an eerie light.  Animus knew they were physical evidence of her magic use.  So close to her, Animus could feel her hate radiate toward him.


    It utterly terrified him.


    Animus clenched his hands.  He wanted to knock her to the ground and rub her face in the mud.  But he told himself.  She¡¯s too strong.


    Yayisha said, ¡°Ah-ah, little brother.  What of Sterl the mighty?¡±


    How had she known what they had been planning?  Animus wondered but refused to ask; he wouldn¡¯t give her the pleasure.  Instead he chose to ignore her and started toward his friend.


    Something wrapped around his chest and cinched.   The rope.  He grabbed at the hemp and tried to loosen its grip.  The animated rope yanked him up and off the ground.  It writhed around one of his legs and flipped him upside down as he struggled.  Then he spun in tight circles.


    Her voice rose above the hail that clattered against the deck above them.  ¡°See, brother?  You¡¯ll never make a fool of me.  Mother protects you; else I¡¯d have already enslaved your petty little mind.¡±  She closed the distance between them and slapped his forehead.  His body hung there and swayed back and forth, helpless as she continued to speak.  ¡°I should¡¯ve drowned you in the lake when I¡¯d had the chance.  She wasn¡¯t watching then.  But then you¡¯d already be dead and I couldn¡¯t make a slave out of you.¡±


    Animus tried to keep himself from crying.  Fourteen year-olds shouldn¡¯t cry.   His father told him he was too old to cry when he was thirteen.  Yet the tears came nonetheless.  His cracking voice reverted back, high and wavering.  ¡°I hate you,¡± he said.


    Yayisha shoved his forehead again and stepped back.  She pulled her hands to either side of her face.  He could only watch as the watery sludge rose from the ground and formed into an oblong ball that hovered between her hands.  Yayisha¡¯s sneer formed into a genuine smile.  Animus felt her despicable happiness at having him in such a plight.  He cringed.  She¡¯s going to torture me again.


    The watery sludge struck and exploded into his face.  It poured into his mouth.  He gasped and struggled to breathe.


    He heard his older sister¡¯s words.  ¡°I can kill you at any time, brother.  Drown you.  And you can¡¯t stop me.  You¡¯re powerless.¡±


    Animus couldn¡¯t breathe.  She stood there for a few moments and laughed.  Then she turned and left.  He watched her go, that arm of hers still rose.  He couldn¡¯t breathe; this time she was going to kill him.  Yet, she dropped her arm several steps later and the watery sludge poured out of his mouth.  Animus choked and coughed.  Hanging upside down he struggled for breath, thinking he was going to die.  Blood pounded hard through his head.


    As he hung there, he could only think of how much he hated her.  She destroyed everything he loved.  His friends, his things, anything he valued.  And he knew she was right; only his parents protected him from her.


    Terrified, helpless, Animus dangled there helpless.  He tried but never managed to fully clear his throat.  He tried to yell but couldn¡¯t.  He twisted in an attempt to glimpse Sterl, but the fallen barrels blocked his view.


    Minutes passed.  The hail ended and became a raining drizzle.  The, a figure approached from across the street.  A fat man.  It was Clovas the innkeeper.


    Clovas rushed to him.  ¡°What in Barl¡¯s cursed beard¡­.¡±


    ¡°Sterl¡­under barrels,¡± Animus croaked.


    ¡°What?  Sterl¡¯s where?   Oh Good Gods.¡±  Clovas left Animus to hang and yelled as he rushed toward the barrels.  ¡°Help!  Someone¡¯s hurt!  He¡¯s trapped!¡±


    Moments passed.  Blood drummed through Animus¡¯s head, and Animus wondered if he was going to pass out.  Then others approached.  Shouts clogged Animus¡¯s ears.  Maybe I¡¯m safe from her.


    Then a man approached and then stopped.  The shadows revealed only his frame:  he was bulky, biceps huge and apparent, wide shoulders and a barrel gut.  But Animus knew who he was.  There was little fat in that stomach, only earned strength from a lifetime of toil and grit.  It was his father.


    And though he strained not to, Animus once more began to cry.

 Chapter 2: Kas

    2 ¨C Kas


    He pulled the long knife from its worn sheathe as he approached the boy hanging upside down, tangled from the rope.  The rain and darkness hid the youngster¡¯s identity until he was close enough.  Then Kas recognized it was his son.


    He thought of calling out but held his tongue.  Kas remained a cautious man even though his days of battle were long past.  Instinct had always guided him; only because he listened to it did he believe he survived.   He slowed his approach and allowed himself to perceive the actual rogue that managed to snare his troublesome son in such tangles.  But he saw nobody else close.  Instead his eyes fell to his son who struggled to free himself.


    It was a strange and irregular trap, a type Kas did not recognize even from his days of war.  Five steps away, the hairs on the back of his neck bristled.  Stopping in his tracks, Kas changed his stance.  Knees bent, one leg in front of the other, he crouched and assured his grip on the only weapon he had brought with him.


    Then he smelled it.  Magic.  He¡¯d always been able to smell magic, a talent that kept him alive more times during the wars then he could count.  Directly ahead of him there was the stench of it.  It smelled of honey and death, all at the same time.


    Kas watched Animus struggle against his bonds.  Worry fogged his mind, his fatherly nature interfering with warrior instinct.   Would the rope kill his only son?  He wanted to rush to help, but only a fool would approach with haste.  Waiting and patience had kept him alive all those years.   A noble¡¯s luck too.  Luck was always with me.


    Animus gave up the struggle and gasped for breath, coughing and hacking.  Water and mud dripped from his body.  One hand hung limp, perhaps a foot from the muddy puddle beneath him.  The other was tangled in the rope along with his legs.  Next to his limp arm, the rope dangled there.  Or did it?  As Kas watched, the rope¡¯s end wiggled until it found his son¡¯s dangling arm.  Then it wrapped around a forearm and tightened.


    Kas scolwed.  The rope holds the mind of a snake.


    He sprung from his stance and charged Animus¡¯s hanging form.  The rope¡¯s end uncoiled from Animus¡¯s arms, and struck at him, but Kas leapt up and grabbed the rope above where it hung tied and held with the strength of his left arm.  The darting rope missed him as his momentum carried his legs up and around Animus.  As he swung, the knife in his other hand gashed the rope just under his grip.


    The rope whipped toward Kas¡¯s leg and latched itself around his ankle.  He ignored its grips and swiped again as he swung around the rope on the other side of Animus.  As the rope tightened on his leg and started pulling at him, he swiped again.  The strike severed the rope, causing Kas and Animus to drop.


    Animus splashed in the mud as Kas landed on his feet.  The rope around his leg lost is life and slackened.  Kas pulled it free of him and his son and then hauled Animus him to the wooden sidewalk closest to them.


    He rolled Animus on his side and slapped the coughing boy on his back.  The worry of a father still plagued him as he knelt of his son.  ¡°Breathe.  The rope¡¯s no more a threat.¡±


    Animus still cried.  Kas knew criticism shame the boy, so he grit his teeth and retained silence.  Instead, he leaned close and said, ¡°Your sister?¡±


    Animus nodded as he worked his left hand open and closed.  Getting his circulation back.   Kas could see the mark from his entanglement, the rope burns on his son¡¯s hands.  Kas knew how how bad rope burn felt and empathized.  Yet he said nothing.


    Animus coughed and tried to hide his crying as he tried to speak.  ¡°She-she made it come alive¡­¡±


    ¡°Quiet.  Speak not of it here.  Keep your mouth closed till we are home.¡±


    Animus tried to stand.  ¡°Sterl, is he okay?¡±


    ¡°Sterl?¡± Kas stood and looked, seeing a group of men standing in the midst of a half-dozen toppled barrels.  He walked that way, slowly feeling for any further signs of his daughter¡¯s magic.  Not sensing any, he pulled one of the bigger barrels off the ground, picked it up with little effort and set it to stand.  It was then he saw Sterl.


    The boy was unconscious, his mud-covered head resting on the Clovas¡¯s fat thigh.  The boy¡¯s left knee was shattered beyond repair.  And his right leg was a mess.  Kas swept his eyes to the men already there.  None of these men treat that wound.


    And of course they all looked at him, expecting him to tell them what they needed to do.  Men always looked to him for some reason, even these villagers, who knew not of his past.  It had always case with him, something he¡¯d simply grown to accept.


    His hand thumped the man¡¯s shoulder next to him.  It was Barlen the stable master.  ¡°Get Kolvlin.  He¡¯s with Trista.¡±


    Barlen¡¯s eyes swept to his.  ¡°Trista?  The whore?  What¡¯s he doing with her?¡±


    Kas wrenched Barlen around so their eyes met.  Inches separated them.  ¡°Worry about the boy, right now, eh?  She takes men above Kella¡¯s store.  Roust him out of there.  Tell him I said to bring his kit.  Then you go to his shop and fetch the stretcher.  Go.¡±


    The man went.


    Kas knelt in the mud next to the disfigured leg.  It was there he saw a fragment of bone sticking out from the meat of the calf.  Kas took a deep breath and forced his face calm before he looked up.  His eyes swept to the pale face of the newest priest in town.  ¡°You, Stone man.¡±


    The priest¡¯s eyes met his.  The man was pale, his grey skin resembling the very structures that the man worshipped.  Kas didn¡¯t know the man¡¯s name.  He made it a point to never talk priests.  But in this case, he had to.  ¡°Go to my smithy.  Door is unlocked.  Walk in, look to the shelves on the right.  There are several long pieces of wood, a few as long as this boy¡¯s leg.  Get them.  If you want to boy to live, run.¡±


    The priest stood and ran.


    To the remaining four, he told them like he saw it. He¡¯d never seen much reason to lie to people that looked to him for answers.  ¡°Boy¡¯s most like to die of shock if we don¡¯t set the leg.  Need to wrap the wound tight.  I¡¯ll need a shirt to stop the blood.¡±


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.It was another man he didn¡¯t know stood and started taking off his shirt.  A travelling merchant?  Someone new?   But there were no time for those questions now.  Kas yelled.  ¡°Animus!  Bring me the rope.¡±


    His son scurried to his feet and gaped at him, eyes wide as he looked at the lifeless rope a few feet away from him.  Kas growled and put anger in his voice.  ¡°Now!¡±


    That got Animus moving.  An instant later there was a rope and a shirt at his disposal.  Kas pulled his hair from his eyes.  He said loud enough for those around him to hear.  ¡°Not the first leg I ever set.¡±  He said.  Not really.  I helped set one once.


    None of the others answered, nor did they question him.   Kas raised his voice.  ¡°All of you hold him down with all your strength.  If you let him struggle, if he wrenches free of my grip, he¡¯s dead.  Grab him.¡±  Kas looked at his son¡¯s pale face and knew the boy shouldn¡¯t be seeing this.  To him he said.  ¡°Run to the temple.  Find your mother.  Tell her I need her with me.  Run like the wind you¡¯re named after.  Go!¡±


    Animus didn¡¯t hesitate.  Kas forced himself not to watch him go like the father in him wanted to.  Instead he made two tight fists.  All of his knuckles cracked.   Time to work.


    The wind, rain, and piss-poor site made it impossible to critically gauge the boy¡¯s injuries.  Kas gripped Sterl¡¯s arm and checked for a heartbeat.  It was weak.  The boy took fast, shallow breaths.  Shock.  The boy¡¯s in shock.   ¡°Hold him firm¡­¡±


    He examined the leg.  ¡°Light, I need light!  Kas twisted his head at the sound of approaching feet.  Polla the baker¡¯s assistant came running, her white apron splotched with mud toward its bottom.  He yelled at her.  ¡°Polla.  Get me light!¡±


    Polla stopped and would¡¯ve fallen face-first if her hands hadn¡¯t landed firm.  She struggled to her feet, nodded and ran toward the inn.  ¡°I¡¯ll grab a lantern!¡±


    Kas didn¡¯t think she¡¯d return in time.  ¡°Cursed three-legged steeds!  I need to see!¡±


    A female voice burst into his mind.  The familiar voice of his wife.  Does this help?


    Kas¡¯s eyes burned.  Blood and guts, Zelicia.  What¡ª¡°


    Give it time to work.


    He groaned and shut his eyes, shaking his head.  He heard Clovas yelling at him.  ¡°Kas?  Are you¡ª¡°


    ¡°Fine,¡± Kas answered as he opened his eyes.  It suddenly seemed like the middle of a sunny day.  The leg was especially bright, allowing Kas to take in every detail.


    His wife¡¯s voice answered within his mind.  You¡¯re welcome, love.


    Kas didn¡¯t answer.  Instead, he examined the leg.  The bone jutted from the wound.  Worse, circulation to the foot and lower calf appeared strained; he recognized that by the color of the leg.  He¡¯d remembered the bloody messes he¡¯d seen at battlefield infirmaries.  Kas was no medic.  But there was nobody else that could do this right then.  And there was not time to wait.


    ¡°Hold him¡­¡±


    He had to try and set the leg right, at least enough to get the blood flowing again.  Setting the leg could kill him, too.  But doing nothing would definitely kill him.


    He grabbed the leg and felt for the bone as his other hand grabbed the meaty part of the upper calf.


    Sterl¡¯s eyes popped open.


    Kas wrenched the leg quick, as hard and straight as he could.  His magically lit eyes could somehow see through the skin.  He could see the bone was still off.  One more wrench of the leg and¡­.


    Sterl shrieked and started to struggle.  Kas yelled as loud as he could.  ¡°Hold him for all your worth, you miserable shits.  Hold him!¡±


    Kas yanked the leg straight and then pressed the bone together. He gripped the set leg with one hand while his other grabbed at the shirt he had rested on his shoulder.  Then he pushed it under the leg and clumsily wrapped it.  He reached under the leg, but couldn¡¯t find the other end of the shirt.  He yelled, ¡°Hold him¡­¡±


    Two muddy hands gripped the leg.  Kas released it and scrambled to find the shirt.  He grasped the other end and wrapped the shirt once and then twice around the leg, hoping it would stop the bleeding or at least slow it.  Then the priest handed him two pieces of wood.  Kas set one under the calf and the other on Sterl¡¯s shin.


    The boy screamed again and struggled.


    The priest was next to him then.  He yelled over Sterl.  ¡°Hold the wood tight.  I¡¯ll wrap.¡±


    Kas held, used his strength to keep the leg steady.  Steady.  Something I¡¯m good at.   The leg didn¡¯t move as the priest wrapped the rope around the wood.  Then with practiced ease the man knotted both ends.


    The priest grabbed the leg.  ¡°I have him, blacksmith.  You can let go.¡±


    Kas looked at the priest.  The pale man was calm as he repeated.  ¡±I have him.  You can let go.¡±


    Sterl ceased his screams and lost consciousness.


    Kas let go of the leg and sat down on an overturned barrel.  Several hands clapped him on the back as he once again pulled hair out of his eyes.


    Inside his mind, his wife spoke to him again.  You may have saved him.


    Kas thought back.  Our children¡¯s feud could¡¯ve killed him.


    It matters, not.  Our children are safe.  They are what is important, more so than one foolish boy.


    Our daughter¡¯s dangerous.  She almost killed Animus tonight.


    She¡¯s necessary, husband.  And I have forbade her from actually hurting Animus.  His wife thought to him.


    I¡¯ll make sure this never happens again.


    Zelicia tisked inside his mind.  We both will.  We¡¯ll do it tonight.


    Kas felt her leave his mind.  He put his face and his hands and groaned, suddenly very tired.  I need a drink.  Instead, a few moments later, he stood and walked toward home.

 Chapter 3 - Animus

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    Animus ¨C 3


    Animus sat at the kitchen table, waiting.  He¡¯d been there for nearly two hours, soaked and muddy, in the very chair his mother directed.  Animus shivered, the house feeling somehow cold despite the warmth of the night.  Several times he thought of changing clothes or wrapping in one of the old blankets underneath his bed normally used in winter.  But his mother was very specific.  He dared not cross her.  Nobody crossed her.


    He knew his parents would eventually work out what happened.   He would be in for it.  And he also knew his regular punishments that consisted of work, were probably not severe enough.  But he could hope.


    Doing dishes for Clovas was more boring than anything.   The dishes never stopped coming when the fat innkeeper could use him as free labor.  Several times Animus swore he washed the same pot three times, all while Clovas smiled with his hands on his protruding gut.  His father sent him there when Animus crossed him, though sometimes Animus swore he didn¡¯t do anything.  And lately it was for the mildest of misunderstanding.  Every night he was there, father waited in the common room, drinking, sometimes all night.  Father would check on him, too, making it nearly impossible for Animus to sneak a pint of Ale or smoke with the other workers.  I sometimes got a pint though, even a smoke with the men, sometimes the waitresses.   He liked looking at the waitresses.


    It was either that or father would send him to Relenn the baker.  He did a lot of lifting  of the flour bags, the vats of dough and anything else heavy, but the fresh bread and butter, the warm pastries with icings of all varieties, made working there worth it.  There were some nights he could barely move he was so full.  He would hardly mind it, except for Baizee.


    Relenn¡¯s daughter, she was the same age as Animus.  Together they would make dough or have to clean the bakery.  She never ever stopped talking.   She would talk for hours about absolutely nothing he cared to hear about.  What kind of dress she wanted, how a certain woman¡¯s boots were just what she wanted, the fragrance someone at the women¡¯s meeting was wearing, things that just hearing about made Animus want to leave.  Lately he¡¯d changed his mind about spending time with Baizee.  His annoyance lessened after he kissed her the first time.  It was the one thing he could do to stop her from talking.  And he liked it.  Since that first time they kissed often, whenever they thought they could get away with it.  Over the summer Animus became very aware of her breasts and how they¡¯d seem to have grown overnight.  One day they were suddenly very perky and seemed much bigger, like some of the women in town.  He couldn¡¯t manage to stop beholding them.  And just last week when they kissed, Baizee took his hand and placed it on one of them.  If was then he realized that he no longer dreaded seeing Baizee.  In fact, he wanted to work with her.   Do I actually like her now?    The very thought confused him.


    Animus hoped for those punishments.  Oddly, they didn¡¯t seem so bad anymore.   But some part of him knew something was different this time.  His twisting stomach emphasized that.  As did the rope burns all over his arms.  You¡¯ll pay for that, sister.


    The back door opened and his father entered.   Mud caked his boots but he had changed clothes, for they were dry and free of mud.  Animus noted those things through the fear of his father¡¯s disappointment.  He took a breath and tried to steel himself.


    His father never broke stride as he walked past Animus, but there was no missing the scowl on his face.  Just as he entered the hallway, his father stopped and directed his stare at him.  Eyes like a starving mountain lion.


    Animus saw one when he was in the foothills behind their house a few years ago.  It was a gaunt creature; Animus could see its ribs.  When it rose, it licked its lips.  Only a well-placed sling stone by Jilt drove the beast away, allowing them to escape back to the village.  Jilt¡¯s father was a hunter.  He put it down the next day.   Jilt and his father were gone, though.  Yayisha had seen to that.


    Animus tried to withhold the anger mingled with fear as his father looked ready to pounce.  His fists had turned white they squeezed so tight.   And he shook.  The anger fizzled away, leaving Animus to embrace only the fear.   He felt his lips start to quake as he tried to remain still, to meet those hard eyes.


    His father opened his mouth and then paused, then took a deep breath and turned to walk down the hallway toward the front sitting room.  He looked ready to beat me like he did those three men at the inn two months ago.  That rage, directed toward him, all because he refused to let his sister get the better of him.  Animus leaned forward and put his head in his hands and tried to stop shaking.


    Sterl was injured and it was his fault.  He¡¯d taken advantage of his last true friend.  The other three had either left the village or avoided him as if he was blind.  Blind people are cursed by the Gods.


    Or so the people of Haver told him.


    The loss of his friends was Yayisha¡¯s doing.  She¡¯d never been blamed for any of their accidents.  Nobody ever even accused her.  Animus knew better.


    Three years ago, she¡¯d scarred his best friend Stilt when she animated a pitchfork. They¡¯d all been playing in the barn when Stilt knocked her down while playing ¡°King of the Haypile¡±.  She screamed and thrust her hands outward.  It was the first time Animus felt her use magic.  He watched as a rusty pitchfork hanging on a wall soared unerringly toward Stilt and impaled him, one of the points lancing through a bicep.


    That very night, upon hearing their son¡¯s side, Stilt¡¯s parents went to the council and demanded a trial.  As the council considered the demand overnight, his father brought Stilt¡¯s parents to the temple in the middle of the night.  Animus knew because he was there, hiding behind the bookcase at his mother¡¯s command.  Say nothing of this incident to anyone.  Never speak of it.  Do you understand?


    He did.  There was something about his mother that night that demanded he heed her words.  So he stayed quiet and tried to listen.  He heard them arguing but somehow couldn¡¯t make out any of the words.  The next morning, Stilt and his parents were gone, their home abandoned. And they never returned.  And he never dared to ask.


    Stilt had been the first of his friends she¡¯d driven away.   Teren and Felice were hurt next, each a year apart.  Teren lost an eye.  Felice would probably never have kids, or so he overheard Yayisha saying to mother.  And every incident, no matter how she deserved it, Yayisha always escaped their wrath.  Even when mother caught her trying to kill me.


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    Sterl could have escaped her wrath until Animus talked him into trying to scare his sister.   He brought Sterl to her attention.  He felt awful, guilty and selfishly angry it didn¡¯t work.  Sterl was hurt bad, that much he figured out from the look on his father¡¯s face.


    Oddly, when he told mother what happened in the temple, she didn¡¯t seem angry.  But she never seemed angry.   He¡¯d heard the men and women whispering about her wrath all around Haver(the village), but only when they couldn¡¯t see him.  Animus knew every nook around every building where he could hide himself, a skill which allowed him to listen in on people¡¯s conversations.  Animus smiled when he remembered what Relenn told him in his broken way of talking.   Feet of panther. Ears of bat.


    The back door opened again and he sat up straight.  It was mother.  She took off her cloak and hung it on a wall.  He knew better than to speak to her first; it was one of her many peculiarities.  Why she demanded she speak to people first was beyond him, but he learned to follow the rule quickly.   One of the men in the bar, Earless Val they all called him, swore that it was mother that took off his ear and not frostbite.  Animus never doubted it, not after seeing what Yayisha¡¯s full wrath.  Mother was teaching her magic, after all.  Reason demanded that his mother was much more powerful.  It¡¯s why they call her the ¡°Storm of Haver¡±.


    The men in town avoided her as much as possible, while the women couldn¡¯t stop talking about her; they either admired or hated her.  None, however, defied her.  At least not that Animus had heard.


    She motioned for him to stand.  As he stood, he feared her anger or disappointment.  Yet, her eyes were green seas of grass, somehow moving when you looked into them.  Her face was unbroken by lines of worry or angst.  She seemed calm; there was a small grin on her face.  His skin was a shade lighter than his, barely brown compared to his darker color.  Long black hair ran straight past her hips, the tips curled.


    She strode toward him and clasped his hands, her slim fingers wrapping around his own.  ¡°I can barely see you under that mud.  Do you feel up to talking?


    ¡°I do, mother.¡±


    Her face never changed as her hands trolled up his forearms, stopping where the rope burns twisted around his arms.  ¡°These require my attention.  Hold still.¡±  Her eyes focused on his arms and he watched her eyes begin to glow.  Animus gasped when he glimpsed her hands.  The same green glow lit her fingertips.  He¡¯d never seen that before.


    She gripped his hands tighter.  ¡°Be still.  You must not move, do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes.¡±


    The green light oozed from her fingertips and covered the entirety of his arms in their green glow.  Animus felt sweat bubble on this head as coolness covered his arms.  There was no pain, only a slight sensation of numbness.


    His mother looked up.  As she did the glow in her eyes faded.  ¡°Take a few deep breaths, son.¡±


    He breathed and the tingling in his arms faded.


    She rubbed one of his hands with her palm.  ¡°The pain is gone?¡±


    ¡°Yes, mother.¡±  And it was.  As were any signs of ever being burned.


    His mother nodded.  ¡°Good.  After we speak you will go to the washroom by the barn and cleanse the mud from your body.  I assume the arms are the worst?¡±


    Animus nodded.  ¡°I think so.¡±


    Her eyes held his. ¡°You were attempting revenge on your sister this night?¡±


    How did she know that?  But he knew better than to lie.  ¡°I was just going to scare her.¡±  That had been his intention.  If she just happened to get hurt, well¡­


    His mother nodded.  ¡°It is good to show you don¡¯t fear her.¡±


    It was?


    She looked toward the hallway where father had gone for a long moment.  Then she looked at him again.  ¡°I see.  Other than your pride, you are otherwise unhurt?¡±


    There was no anger, no hostility toward him.   ¡°Yes, but¡ª¡°


    Two of her fingers covered his mouth.  ¡°Shush.  I will speak with your father regarding this and meet with you after.  When you wash, change clothes.  Return here when you are finished.¡±   She pointed to the chair he had been sitting in.


    That¡¯s it?   Animus had to know.  ¡°Mother, why aren¡¯t you mad?¡±


    Her grin disappeared and she looked at him.  His heart thumped in his chest.


    Finally, she said, ¡°Yayisha deserved it.  You were right to go after her.  But Animus, you must never try to hurt her.¡±


    Animus quickly shook his head. ¡°Of course, mother.¡±  Not much, anyways.


    She leaned close and whispered, ¡°She¡¯s bullied you for the last four years.  Hurt your friends.  Yet, you still fight back.  Some would call that foolish.¡±


    And she tried to kill me.  He decided to not mention that part.


    One of her hands grabbed the back of his head.  She pulled him down so their foreheads touched.  ¡°You are my son.  My blood flows in your veins.  You should never fear her or anyone else.¡±


    He should have felt invigorated by that, but he was still scared. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t know she was that powerful.¡±


    ¡°How could you?  You barely see each other anymore.   But I promise you; tonight will be the last night she¡¯ll attempt to do you harm.¡±  His mother kissed him on the cheek and then whispered to him again.  ¡°She can¡¯t break you, Animus.   Unless you let her.¡±


    That confused Animus.  He let it go and changed the subject.  ¡°Is Sterl going to be okay?¡±


    She stepped back and shrugged.  ¡°His soul is in the Gods¡¯ hands.  We are doing what we can.  Tomorrow, you and I will go see Sterl.  If he lives.¡±


    She doesn¡¯t know that Sterl will live?  ¡°If he dies¡­.¡±


    She put fingers to his lips again.  ¡°Worry is for a fool.  What¡¯s happens now is up to the gods.  Go now.  Be strong, my son.¡±  She motioned toward the kitchen door.   ¡°Get cleaned up, son of the Wind.¡±


    She only called him that when it was just the two of them.  And he had no idea what it meant.  But he never dared repeat it to anyone.  Mother was not to be talked about when she wasn¡¯t around.  He¡¯d learned that the hard way.  So as soon as his mother disappeared down the hall, Animus left the house, his mind whirling.  How can she not be upset with me?


    As he stepped into the night, Animus realized that, for the first time all day, the rain had stopped.

 Chapter 4 - Kas

    Chapter 4 - Kas


    Kas paced around the long table and couch in the middle of the hosting room.  It was the nicest room in the house, and the only room where visitors were allowed.   Zelicia forbid anyone to wander outside that room, other than the Animus, Yayisha and himself.  Kas knew why, but it made his own house feel like a prison.


    He clasped his hands behind his back, forcing himself to take deep breaths in an attempt to control his anger. I¡¯ve led an army, killed with my bare hands, and I can¡¯t control my own children?   Animus and Yayisha had breached his patience. It stops tonight.


    Zelicia entered the room, calm and collected.  Here serene faced infuriated him.  But he kept his voice calm, choosing to make small talk.  He asked, ¡°Still raining? ¡°


    She shook her head and walked to the edge of the couch to stand opposite him.  Then she mimicked him as her own hands went behind her back.  She asked, ¡°You checked on Sterl, I assume?¡±


    Right to business then.  ¡°I have.  If he makes it through the night, he could pull through.  Zalarius reset the boy¡¯s leg.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s talented. Possibly enough to mentor Yayisha in the healing arts.¡±


    ¡°Can he save Sterl?¡±


    She shrugged.  ¡°It the Gods¡¯ allow it.¡±


    Gods.  Just foolish hopes given names.   He¡¯d seen too much death and blood to believe they existed.


    ¡°The priest smells of ale.¡±  Experience taught him to despise priests, for every one he¡¯d come across caused more harm than good.   Never a better use for a blade than through a priest¡¯s bowels.


    His wife grinned.  She knew what he thought of priests.  She said, ¡°I sent Animus to clean up.¡±


    ¡°Where is Yayisha?  You were to bring her.¡±


    ¡°I left her at the temple to calm herself.  You know how she can be after she uses magic,¡± she said.


    Out of control is what she is.   ¡°She tell you what happened?¡±


    Zelicia nodded.  ¡°The barrels started to fall toward her.  She reacted like a sorceress should.   By defending herself, identifying her attackers, and responding.¡±


    ¡°But she knew she would hurt somebody this time,¡± Kas said.  She knew the last time, too.   ¡°Time we stepped in.  She can¡¯t be allowed to injure whoever she pleases.¡±


    His wife shrugged.  ¡°Tonight, her actions were justified.  She adequately defended herself from¡ª¡°


    He knocked a vase from the table on one of the walls.  It flew across the room and shattered against the far wall.  ¡°You defend her as if you know she¡¯s innocent.  She nearly killed the boy!¡±


    Zelicia frowned.  With a wave of her hands, the remnants of glass gathered themselves into a neat pile.  Then constructed themselves into the vase once again.  ¡°Instincts, husband, should not be punished.¡±


    Kas opened his mouth to argue, but his wife continued.  ¡°What if instead of a prank it had been a bunch of drunken men looking to have their way with her?¡±


    ¡°Cursed Barl¡¯s beard, woman!  Don¡¯t¡ª¡°


    She spoke right over him, somehow drowning his response.  ¡°You know as well as I the danger awaiting our children outside these mountains.¡±


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    Kas¡¯s only response was to roll his knotted shoulders and turn away from her.


    She continued, ¡°Animus guiled the boy into pushing those barrels.  Yayisha protected herself.¡±  She walked up behind him and put her arms on his wide shoulders.  ¡°We can¡¯t punish her for that.¡±


    He pulled away.  ¡°She can¡¯t keep hurting the other kids.  Jilt, Teren, Felice, and now Sterl.¡±  He crossed his arms as he faced her again.  ¡°She strung Animus in a snake-charmed rope.  Why are you teaching her Asp magic?  Do you mean her to be a priestess of that evil cult?  Because no daughter of mine will be breeding with a thrice-cursed snake.  I¡¯ll burn down every one of their temples before I let that happen.¡±


    Zelicia pursed her lips.  She walked around the long couch in the middle of the room and around the other side.  ¡°Asp magic is basic but powerful.  She¡¯s studying the animal worshippers, which is appropriate because their temples are sprouting like weeds in the towns just outside our mountains.  The asps, the cats, the bulls¡­.those are just the closest.  It¡¯s important she understands their magic and the price for using it.¡±


    Kas found himself suddenly worried.  ¡°Price?  What will happen to her?¡±


    ¡°For this?  She¡¯ll be exhausted and probably sleep all of tomorrow.  That and every snake in these mountains will be drawn to her.¡±


    ¡°Snakes, here?  I¡¯ve the luck of a crypt-corpse!  The snakes in these mountains are not to be fooled with.   Colorbacks, rattlers, frost boas ¡ªwe can¡¯t have them here!¡±


    ¡°They will not appear tonight, husband.  Tomorrow I¡¯ll lay the proper wards. That should keep most of them away.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s bad magic.  Our daughter shouldn¡¯t be doing it.¡±


    ¡°Bad?   Compared to what we¡¯ve seen, it¡¯s not even offensive.¡±  She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his waist.  ¡°Their feuding will stop tonight.  I¡¯ve seen to it.¡±


    That surprised him. ¡°How have you managed that? ¡°


    She kissed him then.  The draught of passion between them suddenly vanished.  For long moments he was lost in lust for her.  His compulsion to have her was just as strong now as it ever had been.  It took every ounce of willpower to pull away from her.  He forced his mind to make words.  ¡°You¡¯ve not come home from that temple of yours in two months.  Now you seek to bed me?  After this night?¡±


    She groaned kissed his neck, his shoulder, his cheek.  Between kisses, she said, ¡°Tonight you commanded those around you with unquestioned authority.   When I was inside your mind tonight, I felt your power, that presence I fell in love with so long ago.  I must have you, my general.¡±


    Kas wanted her.  Of that there was no doubt. I always want her.   But she would listen to him; he would have his say¡­


    Then they were kissing again, and he knew he¡¯d lost.  After a few moments he realized he had lowered her to the couch.  Her voice tickled his mind as her legs wrapped around his waist.  Once more she was inside his mind.  Yes husband.  Take me.  I am all yours.


    Kas forgot the night¡¯s tragedy.  She became all that mattered.  She was the battlefield.  And he would conquer it.

 Chapter 5 - Yayisha

    Chapter 5 - Yayisha


    She felt the shroud lift.  Her mother¡¯s magic no longer draped over her, watching her as if she was a rabid dog.  Why did she drop the veil?  Especially after tonight.


    But then Yayisha realized the reason shouldn¡¯t matter.  Mother knew the possible consequences of freeing her.  Yayisha thought it some kind of trap.  Either that or mother was dead though she hoped not.  There was nobody else to teach her.


    Perhaps mother was using power so great she couldn¡¯t spare the extra power to keep watch on her?  That last thought scared her, for Yayisha had never witnessed anything that commanded her mother¡¯s full magical attention.  Her curiosity piqued, and briefly Yayisha considered seeking her mother¡¯s whereabouts to find out what she was doing.  Then she thought better of it.  Opportunity passed may never come again. She would take advantage of her freedom.


    A yawn tickled her throat and she gave into it. Her arms extended as high as she could stretch them.  As they arms descended, the knots of tension in her back and shoulders eased.  She was so tired.  But I can¡¯t sleep.  Not yet.  Not now.


    As she sat on the edge of her canopied bed in her temple bedroom, Yayisha spread her senses to find him.  One of the first things mother had taught her was how to enhance her awareness.  Mother forced her to practice this over and over until it had become second nature.


    She could sharpen her eyes so she could see the tiniest of things.   A horsefly as it sat on a wooden rail across the street.  The chaotic sides of a random pebble on the second story of the miller¡¯s roof.  Her sense of smell was enhanced and unscrupulous.  She could smell body odor from people across a room.  The fresh urine of a horse pissing or the stench of the outhouses from across town.  These awful smells mixed with the sweet smell of baked bread and the shocking, exhilarating scents from Diala¡¯s spice shop.   Yayisha had not yet learned to separate these smells, so she used this as little as possible.


    With heightened hearing she listened to things not meant for her ears, some of those about her as she walked through town.  Always there were the hushed conversations when she was with mother. Men mumbled obscenities about her, some mere curses, some more obscene.  A few even boasting of fucking her, of all things. As if mother would have them.


    If the men whispered about mother, the women buzzed like bees as she passed, some like the men loathing her, others idolizing and wishing for her favor.  There wasn¡¯t a woman in town that didn¡¯t speak about mother in one fashion or another.  Only a few said nothing at all. Those were the wisest of them all.


    It was no wonder mother knew everything that happened in town.


    Her sense of touch was perhaps the most amazing.  Things she touched felt grainier, surfaces more acute; even the swipe of her fingers across a smooth floor allowed her to feel its contours.  Lying in bed she could feel the individual weaves of the sheets.  If she looked close enough, Yayisha found flaws in individual threads.  There were other, more personal benefits to having sensitive fingers, the thoughts of which made her want to crawl into bed.  The mere thought made her shiver. Later.


    It had been theses senses that made her aware of the incoming attack that evening.  She heard the barrels groan, even saw them tremble even through the torrential rain.  She knew they would tip before they actually fell.  It had always allowed her to react first, giving her a distinct advantage to foil her brother¡¯s attempts.  She smiled.  Tonight I proved myself superior once again, brother.


    How she hated him.  She remembered back to before she first touched magic on her seventh birthday.  Animus and she were inseparable.  She loved him, looked out for him, and he tried to do the same for her.  Even at five, Animus tried to protect her.


    Quiet and small as a child, the other boys and girls in the village ganged up on her.  They called her ¡°Knot¡± for she was so skinny they would threaten to tie her gangly arms and legs together.  They called her weird.  Ugly.  Their cruelty she faced daily, and through most of it remained strong.


    Yet the foolish emotions of being a child overtook her at times.  It then that Animus would charge those with offensive tongues, his little fists swinging.  His fury frightened most kids Yayisha¡¯s age into silence, but it was the older kids that knocked him to the ground as they laughed and ridiculed her even more.  Her little brother always tried to defend her even if it meant getting beat, and she loved him dearly for it.


    She yearned to patch things with Animus, to once more someone to rely on.  That could protect her, maybe even cared for her.  Yet, she shook her head. It can never be.


    Yayisha knew theirs was reciprocal magic, something rare among brother and sister.  She sensed the magic in him when he was close, and every day she could sense him from farther away.  The books she¡¯d read on the matter told her they shared a pool of magic, deep and powerful.  Yayisha could feel that power, growing in her every day.  Yet, the older Animus became, the more of her magical power he would leech.  The books said men eventually drained their kin of all her magic, until she had but a trickle. I¡¯ll be nothing more than a dabbler.


    At first, Yayisha wasn¡¯t sure.  Yet every reference she read was eerily similar.  She¡¯d checked several books in the temple¡¯s broad library, always wary of mother¡¯s servants that she knew constantly watched her.  Yayisha was nearly certain mother didn¡¯t know.  At least, mother never broached the subject with her.  Yayisha had wanted to tell her, but fear kept her silent.  What if mother decided to take Animus¡¯s side?  She scowled.  She favors him.  He does whatever he wants and I¡¯m stuck in the temple.


    The magic was hers.  All of it.  It was everything she had.  Animus would take that away.


    It wasn¡¯t the only reason she hated him.  When she was within fifty feet of him, she felt his mind, knew his thoughts.  Just two days ago she had walked past the bakery and the intensity of his feelings overwhelmed her.  Though alone in the middle of the street, Yayisha felt feminine lips brush against hers, and then a tongue gently prodded between her lips.  Her heart pattered in her chest, and she felt suddenly hot.   She felt herself returning the kiss with zeal.  Then she felt a hand take hers and place in on a female¡¯s leg.


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    A horse¡¯s whinny had made her realize what was happening; she felt what Animus was doing.  She nearly screamed as she realized she looked through Animus¡¯s eyes.   Baizee smiled as her lips once more connected with her own.  Or at least it seemed that way.  Yayisha pulled back from the kiss and looked down to see that Animus had his hand was on Baizee¡¯s leg, well under her knee-high skirts.   Yayisha felt everything he did:  his emotions, his desires, and the uncertainty of what to do next.  It absolutely revolted her.


    She hated him, for he was free to satisfy his lusts.  Her mother banned her from seeing boys.  Her mother¡¯s repeated phrase echoed in her mind:  ¡°You have great power for one so young.  Discipline is a must, else the very magic you love will shred you.  Let no man close to you.  Make those that you lust after fear you instead.  Drive them away.  There will be plenty of time to fornicate when you¡¯re an established sorceress.  When you are in control.¡±


    Over and over again her mother forced her to repeat it back to her.  Drive them away. Make them fear you.  Yayisha doubted it was necessary. She¡¯d read nothing about a sorceress¡¯s power linked to her virginity, at least not in the books found in mother¡¯s temple.  Doubting the truth of it, she wondered why mother would deceive her.  Everything else mother had taught seemed accurate and true.


    Yayisha could¡¯ve had most of the boys in the village had she wanted them.  Her gangly youth evaporated as she became a teenager.  Often she caught the boys and men alike watch her as she walked past.  And those boys that were brave enough to flirt with her, Yayisha did as mother said.  Some even left the village.  The ones I injured. Others she had scared into avoiding her at all costs.  It gave her a sense of satisfaction.  That feeling of power over others elated her.  All that, however, was before these past six months. When she had met Sterl.


    Tears flooded her eyes.  She remembered the first day she saw him.  She had been walking home back to temple when Sterl arrived one night with his father.  They came in with a merchant wagon.   From the moment she saw him, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about him.


    Sterl¡¯s father had purchased a small cabin at the base of Widow¡¯s peak, the biggest mountain that surrounded the village of Haver.  One evening when she was thinking of him her feet took her to a small copse of tree behind where they lived.  It wasn¡¯t long before her keen ears heard the chopping of wood.  She moved toward the sound and eventually saw Sterl laboring at the woodpile.  She moved closer and hid in the shadows of the trees.


    His shirt lay discarded several near his feet.  Sweat poured off of him, glistening drops running down his back.  After he split a log, Sterl straightened and wiped the soaked blond hair from his brow. The sun highlighted his wide shoulders and lean waist.  Yayisha marveled at his handsomeness and watched for over an hour until his father called him to the cabin for dinner.  She barely slept that night.  All she could do was think of him.


    Over the next several months, Sterl rarely said more than ¡°hello¡± to her.  But she could see the hunger in his eyes.  Unlike the other boys, however, she yearned for Sterl.


    Every free moment she sought him.  She never openly approached him, simply made herself available to be talked to, hoping he walk toward her.  Lately she walked closer to him, and over the last few days met his stare.   Each time his gaze lingered on hers just a bit longer.  Such a prize, that one.


    Once she purposely bumped into him near a merchant¡¯s stand while he looked the other way.  When he realized it was her, he mumbled apologies and stepped away, bowing as he went.  Bowing!  As if I was a queen.


    It made her want him even more.  The wonderment of Sterl distracted her, even from her studies.  She would dream of being in his arms, the sensation of his body pressed against hers, his lips kissing her on the lips, the neck, the¡­.


    Tears found her cheeks again.  This time she thrust herself to the bed, allowing the weakness of sadness to overtake her.  It had been Sterl behind those barrels.  My Sterl.  She¡¯d never wanted to hurt him.  She had no idea it was him behind them else she¡¯d have just caught the barrels and tossed them to the side.


    Then her mother was there, patting her head.  ¡°Sit up, daughter.¡±


    Yayisha did as she was bid.


    Zelicia wiped a tear from her daughter¡¯s cheek. ¡°You cared for him?¡±


    Yayisha nodded.


    Her mother slapped her.


    Yayisha cried harder then, shame and guilt taking hold.


    Mother stood over her and gripped her chin hard, forcing Yayisha to look up at her.   For a moment, her mother glared at her as if she was a disgusting cur.  And then, unbelievably, mother released her chin and pull her into an unfamiliar hug.  ¡°I¡¯ll see the boy has the best care,¡± Zelicia said.


    After a few more moments, mother cupped Yayisha¡¯s face in her hands once again, this time gentler.  ¡°Stay here.  Sleep.  All will be well in the morning.¡±  Then mother turned and left the room.


    Do I love Sterl?   Part of her knew it didn¡¯t matter, not anymore.  After tonight, he¡¯d fear her like the rest of boys did.


    Yayisha wiped the tears away, forcing herself to stop crying.   She stood and balled her hands into fists.  Sterl had been the one she wanted.  Animus had ruined that, just like he would her magic.  Rage overtook sadness as Zelicia opened her senses.  Still, mother¡¯s familiar web she left draped over her shoulders had not reappeared.  Why was mother freeing her of her normal, watchful gaze?


    Again, she reminded herself, it didn¡¯t matter.  Now I have my chance.


    She stood and dressed, choosing black leather pants and a green shirt that clung tight, thinking perhaps she would go sit by Sterl¡¯s bedside and hold his hand.  Maybe even kiss him. As she retrieved a dry cloak from her closet, she gazed into the body-length mirror.  After pulling her hair into a tight knot and securing it to the back of her head, she said, ¡°First, I deal with Animus.¡±

 Chapter 6 - Animus

    Chapter 6  Animus


    The washroom was a converted barn.  It had once a stabled a handful of horses before father purchased and rebuilt it.  The dirt floor was replaced with clay tiles that father¡¯s friend on the other side of the mountain had custom made for him.  White and gray swirled together with some sort of pink, which made random designs in the floor.  Though clay, father assured him it was every bit as durable as steel.  A metal drum as tall as Animus was mounted off the floor in one corner, pipes running from outside to its lidded top where a bracket directed incoming water.  On the other side of the barn were two bathtubs, each with a metal pipe running to them from the drum.


    As he pumped the water, it poured into the metal drum his father had built.  Under the huge container was burning coal, heat that was many times greater than wood with none of the smoke.  Father called it ¡°Stone Coal¡±.  Animus knew it was mined from the mountains a few valleys over.  Father often traded his blacksmithing labors for the expensive resource.  The smokeless coal heated the water which could then be dumped in the tub.


    It was perhaps the most peaceful of his entire day.  Coming to the wash barn helped settle him, He couldn¡¯t help but admire his father¡¯s work.  The oversized drum was premium steel and would not melt at high temperatures.  It was constructed with a series of levers and pipes that, when operated correctly, allowed for the heated water to be poured directly to the tubs without hauling buckets of water.


    The lever pulled water directly from the town¡¯s well.  Father oversaw the construction of this mechanism; he¡¯s spent many hours poring over father¡¯s drawings that showed how it was built.  When Animus asked him if he could assist when father ran that same type of system to Clovas¡¯s Inn, father shook had shook head and said, ¡°Plenty of time for that when you¡¯re a man.  Stick to learning to be a smith.¡±  Animus pleaded to be included, and that¡¯s when father sent him to haul buckets of water from the well, a chore he was given often.   I may haul buckets all day tomorrow Animus knew he deserved that, and would haul buckets every day for an entire year if it meant Sterl would be okay.  He felt guilt for bathing while Sterl struggled to survive.  Mother told him what to do and he didn''t want her angry at him, too.


    Animus checked the water level and determined he had enough water to fill both bathtubs.  And he would use them both.  Mud was in his nose.  It was caked to the face and arms, inside of his ears, and packed under his nails.  He would use the first to rinse and scrub, and the second to soak.  Tired, Animus¡¯s arms and legs ached from the day¡¯s tragic happenings.


    Quickly he stripped his muddy clothes and threw them in the wash bin.  Water was channeled, there as well.  He plugged the drain and filled the bin with enough water cover his clothes and shoes.  Then to climbed in the tub.


    The water was warm but not hot.  He knew the next water would be near scalding, for it would heat longer before Animus released it to the second tub.  He immersed himself and scrubbed his head.  Underwater he opened his eyes and watched the clear water cloud with dirt.  Feeling immediately cleaner, Animus raised his head above the water.  As her reached for the dull yellow bar of soap, he sensed his sister.


    He froze.   Water dribbled off his face, the only other noise in the bathhouse was the slow drip of water from the well to the huge drum.  His head slowly turned to the entrance. She wouldn¡¯t dare.   Father and Mother are too close.  The wash shed was set in the woods about thirty feet from the house.


    The door creaked open.


    He shot out of the water so quick he stumbled off the platform on which the tubs were mounted, caromed off the side and nearly fell.  His hands dove into the bin and pulled out his still-muddy clothes.  He grabbed his short pants and pulled them on.


    His eyes popped to the door.  It was open but she didn¡¯t enter.  Animus focused on the door.   She¡¯s right outside.  But why?  He grabbed his pants and had just pulled them on when she entered the doorway.  She paused and looked back toward the house for a moment.  Then she stepped inside the door and mumbled, ¡°Shatares.¡±


    The door closed on its own.  He heard the familiar click of the lock that was located on the outside of the door.


    Terror struck him.  She¡¯d promised to kill him earlier.  Did she mean to do it right now?


    She didn¡¯t say anything; her only response to his silent question was that familiar smirk on her face.  Daring not to move, Animus sunk his right hand into the sink and pulled out his soaking wet, still muddy shirt.  He squeezed it dry and waited, never taking his eyes off of her.


    She walked toward him quickly, and Animus tried to run.  He darted toward the wall closest to the door, but she stepped to cut him off.  Like a bully. Suddenly, Animus tired of her games.  Let¡¯s be done with it.


    ¡°I¡¯m through being scared, sister. Leave and I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Why did I just say that? He wondered if he sounded brave because he was terrified.


    Yayisha¡¯s green eyes turned pitch black.  The ends of her fingers glowed like glimmer bugs hovering around her fingers.


    Okay, maybe I won¡¯t stand up to her. Animus ran across the room.  There were double doors near the tubs, magically locked by his mother to prevent theft of the equipment.  As a test of strength he and Sterl would come there and attempt to raise the bar many times; no matter how much hard they tried, the bar wouldn¡¯t budge.  Panic convinced him to take another shot.


    He bent his knees and it surprised him when it moved, the heavy wooden board popping off as if greased.  It shocked him as it shot off its holdings.   The board would have clubbed him in the head had he not stumbled backward and caught it.


    His hackles rose. Magic.  The board animated in his hands and swung into him, catching his lower abdomen.  Its force swung his entire body up and over the tubs.  Animus whished around the room in a half-circle as his back hammered against the wall.  The wind rushed from his lungs and he struggled to breathe, still crooked against the wall, the board still pressing into him.


    The board broke and squared around his chest.  As air found his lungs again, his armpit fell hard onto the board, the pressure of his weight focused on the sudden wooden prison.  His eyes saw the board pressed to either side of the wall and were somehow stuck there.  The area around his body was held in a tight square, regardless of how he shoved against them.  Unable to escape, he hung there, powerless to defend himself. I¡¯m going to die.


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    Yayisha walked between the tubs and looked up at him.  ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this for a long time.¡±  She raised her hands.  Her eyes went to the ceiling and she whispered words he couldn¡¯t understand.  The board prison lowered and leveled until his feet dangled a mere foot from the ground.  He sister¡¯s whispers ended and she looked at him again.  ¡°Look at me, brother.¡±


    Immediately he looked away from her, knowing better that do anything she said.  ¡°Let me go!¡±  He yelled.  ¡°Father!  Mother!  Help!¡±


    Yayisha shook her head, her voice quiet.  ¡°They can¡¯t hear you.  I¡¯ve seen to that.  Nobody can hear you.¡±   He heard water splash.  Moments later, a hand-made of muddy water moved to his line of sight.  He watched as it balled into a fist.


    ¡°Hel¡ª.¡±


    The fist clobbered him, the force whipping his face around.


    His sister stood in front of him and said, ¡°Sterl may die tonight.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±  Animus said.  His head bobbed to the ground and he saw his own muddy spittle dribbling to the ground.  He turned his head away from her and the muddy fist.  Another one hovered up to him, balled into another fist, and struck him.


    Animus lost track of things for a few moments as he head bounced from side it side, the watery fists repeatedly hitting him.  When he came to, his head bobbed on his chest, chin resting on the board the entrapped him.  Blood drooled from his bottom lip.


    He felt watery hands grab either side of his face.  They forced him to look at Yayisha.


    She scowled at him and he blinked.   Is that tears in her eyes?    Animus had not seen her cry since they were little.


    His sister spoke again.  ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was Sterl.  But you did.¡±


    The fists struck him again, this time in the stomach and legs.  Yayisha screamed at him.  ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay for hurting him.¡±


    Animus heard her accusations and roared past the pain.  ¡°You hurt him you letch!  You hurt all of my friends.  You.  You¡¯re magic!¡±


    He watched as she flipped a bucket on the ground so she could stand level with him.  When she was close enough, she swung her fist right at him.


    He gripped the boards in front of his chest and forced himself up with his upper body strength.  Her weak blow hit his left shoulder and unbalanced her.  Yayisha fell toward him, and Animus head-butted her, a move he saw from his father the night he thrashed three men in the alley behind the Clovas¡¯s inn.  The sharp on his forehead told him he connected.


    The momentum of the head-butt knocked her from the bucket.  She hit the ground under him and lay there gasping.


    The watery fists fell and splashed to the ground in useless pools.   If the fists are gone then¡­   Animus struggled to grasp the wooden prison.   The room blurred and the stars blotted his vision.  Yet he forced himself to think, to stay strong.


    His sister slowly rose to a crawling position, right under him.  Animus pushed himself up again, his body just off the wooden square.   He waited.


    She staggered to her feet, stunned, still right in front of him.  Animus pushed himself with his hands, pushed off the barn wall with one foot and with his other kicked her right in the chest.


    Her scream stopped when force of the kick drove her into the tub.  Her left side slammed against the side before she upended and slid into the muddy water.


    The boards clattered to the floor.  Animus fell awkward.  His left shoulder and hip like sledgehammers.  He rolled to his stomach and groaned.


    Time passed.  He wasn¡¯t sure how much.  He couldn¡¯t seem to move.  Then slim hands touched his back, cool and smooth.  He moaned as he felt himself being rolled to his back.  An unfamiliar woman knelt above him.  There were two of her for a moment and his vision blurred, but after a few moments Animus¡¯s eyes focused.


    Her curly blond hair fell to touch his chest.  Pale of skin, her face was smooth.  She had lakes for eyes, an indescribably shade of blue.  The most beautiful woman I¡¯ve ever seen.


    Her voice fell to his ears in a whisper.  ¡±Come. We must get you out of here.  Before she recovers.¡±


    Animus heard his sister crying and coughing.  As the woman helped him stand, Animus figured she couldn¡¯t be much older than Yayisha.  He felt weak.  He tried to muster some energy as he looked toward the tub. I should kill you, sister.  Like you promised to kill me.


    But he wouldn¡¯t.  He wasn¡¯t her.  He would never be her.  And as he stared toward the tub, the hand of the woman gripped his chin and moved his head toward hers.  ¡°Stand.¡±


    He gasped from the pain as she moved his head, but he did as he was asked, though his hip made it difficult.  The sharp pain from it nearly made him fall again.  Yet the woman kept him steady.  When he finally stood straight, he saw she was just as tall as he was.  Animus felt her strength.  As his woozy gaze found hers again, she pulled his long arm over her shoulder and wrapped her arm around his waist.  ¡°Quickly.¡±


    He limped outside supported by her, knowing he couldn¡¯t walk without help.  She leaned him against the outside barn wall. How did she get it open?   Then she reached for a crowbar in father¡¯s open wooden toolbox that lay in the bed of the wagon.  With it, she wedged the door closed, shoving the end through the metal bars that usually held a thick lock.


    "The other door it is..."


    "Blocked on the other side already."


    Animus saw father¡¯s other wagon blocking that entrance.  ¡°Who are you?¡±


    From somewhere she produced a small flask.  ¡°Drink this.  It will give you enough strength to get you back to the house.¡±


    He didn¡¯t question her. She saved my life. He downed the liquid which tasted oddly like the red berry fruit his mother gave him when he felt ill.


    She put her hands on his chest as he leaned against the barn and looked at him.  ¡°Tell nobody I helped you.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°Vara,¡± she said.


    Animus felt a sudden surge of energy.  Spots blotted his vision and for a few moments he was disoriented.  Then his mind cleared, though he still felt the beating Yayisha had just given him.  He pushed himself off the barn and found that he could stand on his own though every part of him hurt.


    Vara was ten feet away, heading toward the shadow of the night road.  She looked back at him briefly and put her finger to her lips.  Then she was gone.


    As he walked toward the house, it wasn¡¯t his sister trying to kill him that he thought about.  Nor was the impending wrath coming from his parents.


    She¡¯s gorgeous.  How did she know I was there?  Vara.  Who is she?

 Chapter 7 - Vara

    VARA


    Vara rounded the corner, her heart thumping with such fury she thought it would explode from her chest.  A nervous sweat soaked her scalp and poured down her face to mesh with tears.  Though she¡¯d never been so terrified, she didn¡¯t run.   He told me not to.


    She willed herself to walk down the main road of Haver.  Mud squished and popped as she slogged her way in the otherwise quiet night.  After what happened to Sterl during the storm, people were already calling ¡°cursed,¡± nobody was out late this night.  Even the tavern had closed.


    The flickering oil lights she passed as she walked caused the shadows to dance, which set her imagination running.  She looked up at one of the lights, amazed.   They are calling them ¡°lights of science.¡±  Vara didn¡¯t know what the really meant, but it made no matter.  Of the two, she was much more terrified of sorcery.  She shivered again, thinking of the young violent woman that had nearly killed Animus.  Had Yayisha seen her?   For if she had¡­


    She blinked and realized she had stopped walking.  Quickly she started again, taking slow, methodical steps back to the temple.  As she walked, she scanned the darkness, ears sharp, waiting for the slightest of sounds.   I only have to make it back to the temple.  Hopefully, Zalarius still sleeps¡­.


    An angular set of yellow eyes appeared in an alleyway between a set of two-story buildings.  Vara froze.  The light further down the street highlighted a whipping tail behind the beast, ten, maybe twelve feet behind it. Vara thought of running but stopped herself, knowing she couldn¡¯t outrun the creature.  She¡¯d already tried that.


    A man¡¯s voice whispered.  ¡°He lives?¡±


    ¡°He does,¡± Vara matched his low voice.


    ¡°And?¡±


    Vara paused, unsure of what else to say.


    A growl came from the beast that emerged in front of her.  It looked like a huge, muscular cat, its head as wide as her chest.


    Quickly, she started talking.  ¡°He¡ªhe could walk.  Nothing broken, maybe cracked ribs.¡±


    There was a long pause from the shadows.  ¡°Animus saw your face?¡±


    Vara nodded.  ¡°He looked right at me.¡±


    ¡°Good.  And you know what you must do?¡±


    Again, Vara nodded.


    The cat growled again as the man¡¯s voice became more audible.  ¡°I want to hear you say it.¡±


    Vara¡¯s entire body shook.  Her head pounded; thoughts stumbling over themselves, none wanting to come forth.  ¡°I¡­¡±


    A gaunt man standing nearly seven feet tall emerged from the darkness.  A braided red beard cascaded down his frayed black robes to lay upon his chest.  The entirety of his eyes glowed sky blue.   He spoke.  ¡°Calm yourself.  Tell me what you must accomplish.¡±


    Vara forced herself to meet his eyes.  As she did a terrible coldness enveloped her.  The sweat on the back of her neck became so cold it made her gasp.  She stammered, ¡°I¡ªI am to bed him.  Many times.¡±


    ¡°And what of the girl?¡±


    Vara teeth chattered.  Yayisha terrified her.  If Vara had a choice, she¡¯d run as far away as she could and never return.  But that was hopeless.  She knew that.  So she answered, ¡°I watch her.  Be civil.  Keep my distance.¡±


    ¡°Very good,¡± the man said as he withdrew into the shadows.


    She dared to ask, ¡°When will I be free?¡±


    The beast in front of her growled.


    Vara steeled herself against those intimidating yellow eyes, asking again.  ¡°Suggo?  You promised to¡ª. ¡°


    From behind, a strong hand wrapped around her neck.  Icy fingers latched around her throat, the cold of his grasp burning her skin as the pressure of his grip cut off her air.  Vara grabbed at his hand, only to pull her hand quickly back from the pain of touching him.   Like he¡¯s made of ice.


    Suggo whispered, ¡°If my name tickles Zelicia Stormcloud¡¯s ears, she¡¯ll peel the skin from your body and feed it to you.  After she kills you, I¡¯ll pull you from your grave and do much worse.¡±


    Vara¡¯s eyes followed the cat as it approached, its huge maw biting her forearm gently, putting just enough pressure that Vara felt every last one of its teeth against her skin.


    Suggo released her then, and Vara would have fallen back but for the cat¡¯s firm grasp.


    She wanted to scream.


    Suggo¡¯s voice once more came from the black shadows in front of her.  ¡°Do as your bid.  Suggo will keep his promise.¡±


    The cat let go of her arm and then simply vanished.  Of the marks on her arms, they evaporated as if they had never been on her arm at all.


    Vara steadied herself, heaving for breath.  The streets around here were quiet.   Bleeding Wizards.  I hate them.


    She walked well past the next light until there was nothing ahead of her but the road leading up the hill toward the temple.  Finally out of the light, Vara sprinted up the winding road as fast as she dared.  She raced around the walkway toward the back of the temple to the servant¡¯s entrance.  A lone guard stood there, his spear leaning against the wall.


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    Vara stopped running, gathering her breath before walking to stand in front of the guard.  As she approached, the guard reached for the spear yet didn¡¯t bring it to bear.  ¡°Who are you, girl?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s mine.¡±  A man¡¯s voice said behind him.


    Vara cursed.  When she saw the red embers of a lit cigar approaching, fear crept back into her.  That and anger.   Zalarius Zonce.


    Her new master was a priest who had been summoned by Zelicia to come to Haver.  He¡¯d just arrived, for he¡¯d been south, serving in the Blood Wars against the barbarians.  Or so he told me when he bought me.


    ¡°Come here, girl,¡± Zalarius said.


    She dared a scowl, knowing the shadows of the night masked her face.  She walked quickly toward him, having already learned Zalarius did not like to be kept waiting.   Making certain any sign of hostility toward him was gone by the time she entered the light, Vara approached him and bowed.  Masters expect meekness from their slaves.


    There was a pitcher on the table.  A stout mug was cupped in his hand.  Vara smelled the ale on him.


    Zalarius blew cigar smoke out of his flattened nostrils.  An angry scar as wide as her finger marred his left cheek, ending near the nose that had obviously been broken.   That¡¯s the good half of his face.


    Zalarius towered over her.  He was very tall.


    ¡°Hello, Tulka,¡± Zalarius said.


    Tulka?  He thinks me his mistress.  Vara tried to keep herself from vomiting.  The man was an ugly brute with an overwhelming belly.  A long scar ran across his forehead.  Half of his face had been recently burned when the brigands attacked them as they crossed the Great Southern river with the merchant caravan they had been traveling with.  The burns were healing, but slowly.   Too bad the brigands didn¡¯t kill him.


    Zalarius motioned with his thick arm.  ¡°Come here.  Stand closer to the fire so I can see you.¡±


    She acquiesced.  Zalarius took a deep drink of ale as he watched her, feigning contentment.   But Vara knew better. He¡¯s never been happy a day in his life.   Vara could sense people¡¯s feelings, or at least she thought she could.  From him she detected only hatred and deceit.


    ¡°Where you been wandering?¡± Zalarius said.


    ¡°I went to Sterl¡¯s house.  I didn¡¯t know where you were so I tried a few of the inns and then¡ª. ¡°


    Zalarius¡¯s meaty backhand caught her in the ribs, a hard, swift shot that sent her tumbling to the ground.  Before she could even take a breath she felt his hands grab her around her waist and hoist her to her feet.  He spun her around to face him.  One of his thumbs gripped her chin and forced her meet his eyes.  ¡°Lying whore.¡±


    She knew the blow was coming.  One of his fists drove into her stomach, doubling her over and to her knees.  His hand tangled into her hair as he pulled her up to the table.


    ¡°Should¡¯ve sold you to that whorehouse in Recka.  They offered me good coin for ya.¡±  He leaned close, his cigar and ale breath causing her to gag.  ¡°But then I wouldn¡¯t have me a tulka now, would I?¡±  Zalarius licked her ear.


    Sick bastard.  Vara forced herself to stay quiet as Zalarius hoisted her over one of his broad shoulders and carried her deeper into the temple.  Cruelty was the only thing that made her Zalarius happy.  That and beating her.


    The guard yelled from behind him.  ¡°Everything all right?¡±


    Vara considered asking yelling to him for help.  But she only had to look at him to know that would be a worthless gesture. He knows it¡¯s wrong, but is too scared.  But it was more than that.  Vara knew the hearts of men.  She saw in the guard¡¯s eyes his own lust for her.  It was in the way he stood, how he looked at her.  Then she remembered the last time she cried for help. I lost everything then.  Everything.


    Vara knew that once in the priest¡¯s room, much, much worse awaited her.  If she was lucky he¡¯d pass out from too much drink.  But either way, Vara knew that tomorrow she¡¯d wake up completely healed, showing no signs of his abuse.


    Vara allowed herself to think of what Suggo had promised her. Serve me well, and I shall free you.  No man or woman shall ever own you again.


    As she was being carried back, she looked at the underside of her forearms.  Blue and red chains were wrapped around themselves on both arms, running from just under her hands and ending near her elbows. Signs of Slavery.  Magic no paint or scar can cover.  Can he truly remove them?  If he kept his promise, he¡¯d be the first man Vara ever knew to do so.


    Yet, he was her only hope she had.

 Chapter 8 - Suggo

    SUGGO


    Suggo ran on four paws, trees blurring by him on the rocky path that took him to the crest of the mountain.  He¡¯d traveled all night to get there, expending much of his power on the transformation so he could arrive before night¡¯s end.  Cautious his entire life, Suggo rarely took chances.  But tonight the he gauged the danger worth the risk.


    If he had fully mastered panther form, he would have forced his maw into a smile.  How ironic it was that his father wasn¡¯t there to see him.   The powerful crave more than they can ever eat.  His father told him that right before the old man succumbed to the Yellow Plague.   A weak man, my father.  Magically, that had been true, for his father barely possessed a shred of magic, yet when he spilled his seed into Suggo¡¯s mother, he¡¯d created a competent wizard, one a thousand times more powerful. He bore me, Suggo of the Shadows.


    The night was Suggo¡¯s strength, for in the darkness he dominated most mortals.  This power should have made him a God among men.  But other wizards could create light by merely thinking about it, and light was his weakness. Among them I have always been weak.  But tonight that may change.


    His trek finished moments later.  The tallest plateau in the Agoth Mountains was called the Spire.  Near impossible to climb from any direction except a narrow, dangerous path, few dared climb it.  And if they did, they never returned to the lands of men.


    Suggo paused before he reached the top and swerved his head toward the mountains behind him. My mountains.  My realm.  But only because no other wizard wants them.  A growl formed in his throat, and without further thought he turned and bounded across the ten foot canyon to land atop the plateau.


    As soon as his paws touched the rocky ground, a deep voice boomed.  ¡°WHO DARES ENTER MY REALM?¡±  The voice didn¡¯t speak the common tongue.  But Suggo knew it well.  The language of the Primordial.


    Suggo knew this language, for he had studied for this moment his entire life.  He answered, ¡°I am Suggo, warlock of the mountains Agoth, willing servant of the Ancient and Powerful God of the Earth.¡±  Suggo knew better than to speak any of the Primodial¡¯s names.


    The plateau Suggo stood on with his four paws was over three hundred feet wide, nearly twice as long.  Near the center, the ground rumbled and tore.  Boulders shot into the air, shattering at their apex.   The pebbles seemed to float, slowly forming into a twenty-foot-high, and three-legged creature of living rock.  Its torso was wide, and three arms formed equidistant around it.  Two boulders rested atop the millions of pebbles that formed its image.


    Suggo knew this image from his years of study. The Elder God Crag.


    ¡°MY NAME SOUNDS IN YOUR MIND.¡±  The sound came not from the creature but from the mountain itself.  One of the rock arms pointed at Suggo.  Thousands of pieces of gravel shot toward him, flying in a tight spiral.


    Suggo readied himself. I must hold my ground.


    Sharp and blunt rocks alike struck him by the thousands.  The impact disrupted his concentration needed to maintain the panther form.  He hacked and gagged and coughed until moments later Suggo realized he was naked on his hands and knees.  His blood dripped from numerous small wounds.  As his blood hit the ground, the droplets bubbled on the surface before sinking into  the ground.   Suggo thought once more of his father. It is a fool that tries to swallow the whole cow at once.


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    Crag¡¯s voice shook the ground around him.  ¡°RISE, SUGGO OF THE AGOTH.¡±


    Suggo felt exhausted, unsure if he could stand.  Remembering it then, he bit the seed he¡¯d stuffed in his mouth before the transformation.  Juices from the seed immediately restored him.  The price for that instant surge of energy would be paid later, he knew. If I survive.


    Suggo stood and bowed, limbs shaking not with exhaustion but with newfound energy.  ¡°Lord of Pangaea, I bring news of the old blood, born anew.¡±


    The gravel swarmed him around him like thousands of powerful gnats, lifting him into the air.  He felt himself being cut in thousands of places.  Suggo could not help but scream.  After what seemed an eternity of pain, the whirlwind of rocks disappeared, leaving Suggo hovering prone in midair.  Directly below him was the visage of Crag.


    Suggo felt the momentary energy from the seed wane.  He struggled to stay conscious.   If I fall unconscious, I will be ripped apart.


    ¡°BOY STRIKES THE HAMMER WITH HIS FATHER?¡±


    ¡°Yes, great one,¡± Suggo said.


    ¡°FATHER A LOST CHAMPION.  MOTHER THE SLAYER OF TENS OF THOUSANDS.¡±


    Suggo answered, yelling, ¡°Yes, great one.¡±


    ¡°SISTER MORE POWERFUL?¡±


    ¡°By far,¡± Suggo said.


    The very mountain rumbled. ¡°BOTH BLOODRIGHT.¡±


    ¡°Yes, great one.¡±


    Suggo dropped nearly twenty feet to the ground.  Instead of slamming into the forgiving rock, his body slowed and then hovered just above the ground, as if an invisible bed of air held him.  As that faded his body eased to the ground, and a surge of power poured into him.


    His energy returned.  Suggo felt stronger than he ever had.  As he looked at his bloody body, brown tendrils of magic crawled over his skins, healing his many wounds.  A great peacefulness blanketed him.  Suggo sat down, folding his legs and resting his elbows on his legs.  His palms lay open as Suggo breathed, closing his eyes.


    Suggo entered a type of trance.  Around him he felt the old rocks of the mountains, heard them grinding together.  Felt the earth under him moving, ever so slightly.   How have I never noticed them before?


    Suggo slowly opened his eyes.  Though he had not moved from his sitting position, he found once more at the edge of the plateau.  Still naked, Suggo looked at his body.  Though he no longer bled, scars from his many recent wounds, thousands of them, marred his body, making his torso and legs look like a quilt made of fresh pink scars.  Yet he felt no pain.


    ¡°SUGGO OF CRAG NOW.¡±


    Suggo stood and bowed, knowing from years of study the proper response, ¡°Suggo is true and loyal, to the end of eternity.¡±


    ¡°GO.  WATCH.  LEAVE THE BOY TO HIS FATE.  UNTIL THE BLOOD RUNS FRESH AROUND HIS FEET.¡±  Then the creature collapsed in the middle of the plateau collapsed upon itself and was nothing but pile of rocks.


    A gust of hard wind pushed Suggo off the plateau.  Calling forth the Earth to cradle him, Suggo fell quickly and then floated the last few feet to the ground.  As he stood looking back up at the peak, he pondered his next move. Vara will keep close eyes on the boy.  But Yayisha?  She¡¯ll require my personal attention.  Crag had said nothing about her, after all.


    This time when he transformed into the shadow cat, it didn¡¯t drain him at all.  Instead, it seemed to make him stronger.   As Suggo streaked toward Haver, he felt excited. The tides spoke the truth.  The old gods are awakening.

 Chapter 9 - Animus

    9-Animus


    Animus awoke to the feeling of an ice cold cloth being pulled across his forehead.  His tried opening his eyes, but a cool paste covered them.


    ¡°Easy son,¡± his father said.  ¡°You took a beating last night.¡±  Another cold rag dragged across his forehead, this one so wet it dribbled water down the side of his face.  Animus tried to rub his eyes to remove the substance but his father voice stopped him. ¡°Leave it.  The Noxia paste helps with the swelling.¡±


    His jaws ached.  Animus remembered last night¡¯s events: hanging by an enchanted rope, nearly being suffocated and beaten by those water fists, his friend being hurt¡­¡±


    Animus asked, ¡°Sterl?¡±


    ¡°Your mother¡¯s went to check on him.¡±  His father¡¯s firm hand pressed against his very sore chest.  ¡°Breathe.  You¡¯ve a cracked rib.¡±


    Animus shifted in bed and gasped.  Pain stung his chest and side.  He asked, ¡°Sterl, is he dead?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s pulled through.¡±


    Thank the Gods.  After a short pause, Animus asked another question.  ¡°Where is Yayisha?¡±  He wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to know, nor if he should care.


    ¡°Sleeping.  Appears she nearly drowned in the tub last night,¡± Kas said.


    What does he know?  Animus didn¡¯t remember much after he stumbled into the house last night.  The energy from the seed that Vara gave him got him in the house and to his bed.  He fell asleep almost immediately.


    After another three uncomfortable swipes across his eyes and then his father removed the wash cloth.  He cleared the remnants of water with his fingers, and then Animus opened his eyes.  He felt the puffiness of them.


    Animus looked at his father and was surprised; there was no glare waiting for him, no shaking of his head which would have meant his father was disappointed.  Instead, his father grinned, though dark bags lurked under his eyes.   Has he slept at all?


    His father leaned close and put his meaty hand on Animus¡¯s forehead.  ¡°No fever.   That¡¯s a relief.  I¡¯ve seen men with that many splinters burning with infection within hours. Your mother removed twenty of them from your chest and abdomen, some long as fingers.  Seemed the board barring the double doors somehow wrapped around you?¡±


    Animus nodded.  ¡°Yayisha did that.  She tried to kill me, papa.  I had no choice but to¡ª¡°


    ¡°You¡¯ve no need to defend yourself.  Her attack gave you the right to beat her bloody.¡±  His father¡¯s eyes looked to the door.  ¡°You could¡¯ve killed her for coming at you like that.¡±


    ¡°But he didn¡¯t.¡±  Mother¡¯s voice preceded her into the room.  Animus watched her come through the door.  She entered dressed in a dark green robe; her long dark hair had been straightened and pulled into a loose ponytail.  In her hands she carried fresh clothes and a new pair of brown leather boots.  After laying them over the back of the chair and setting her boots next it, she turned to look at Animus.  ¡°Our son knows the loyalty of blood.¡±


    His father scowled.  ¡°Yayisha threatens you again, tell one of us, eh?  I¡¯ll see she never lays a hand on you again.¡±  His father stood and glared at Zelicia.  ¡°I¡¯ll go to the temple and make sure the stubborn girls knows it.¡±


    His father left the room without another word.  Mother waited until the sound of his steps disappeared from earshot before she came and sat next to him.  Her hand came to his forehead.  ¡°He was furious after he found out.¡±


    Animus struggled not to cry.  His emotions always seemed to run rampant whenever he was alone with mother.  ¡°All of this is my fault.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense.  Yayisha¡¯s just as much to blame.  The girl is a bully.  No other teenager will so much as say hello to her these days.  She¡¯s got them all scared.  Except you.  That aggravates her.¡±


    Animus swallowed. Yayisha told me earlier she would kill me. Instead of telling mother that, he just stayed quiet.


    ¡°Your father¡¯s right.  You could have killed her.¡±  She leaned close then, here green eyes searching.  ¡°Why didn¡¯t you?¡±


    He tried to look away but Zelicia¡¯s hand gripped his chin.  ¡°Be truthful, son.¡±


    She knows when I lie.  Always has. ¡°It just didn¡¯t seem¡ªI just couldn¡¯t.¡±  Animus felt the tears dribble down his face.  ¡°Why does she hate me?¡±


    His mother¡¯s fingers swiped away the tears on either side of his face.  ¡°She¡¯s scared of you.¡±


    That answer astounded him.  ¡°But why?  I can¡¯t even do magic.¡±


    ¡°What if you could?¡±


    Me? ¡°Only women can use magic.¡±


    Zelicia laughed aloud.  ¡°Where did you hear that nonsense?¡±


    ¡°Barl and Relenn were talking about it the other night.¡±


    ¡°To you?¡±


    Animus felt his face growing warm.  ¡°N-No.  I was close to them and heard her talking.¡±


    Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°Foolish boy.  Don¡¯t believe everything you hear at the tavern. Eavesdropping on people¡¯s conversations again?¡±


    How does she know I do that?  I¡¯ve never even seen her at the inn!


    Zelicia continued.  ¡°Those two are fools.  They¡¯re ignorance of the world astounds me.¡±


    ¡°But Mama, the minstrels that come through never speak of men using magic.¡±


    She laid her arm on his sore side.  Her eyes and hands glowed.  As tendrils of energy flowed into him, his mother said, ¡°Minstrels are liars and thieves, fools that twist events into song.  They use their talent with instrument and voice to charm women and earn coin.  The few that actually know of warlocks gain no benefit by speaking of them.¡±


    Animus didn¡¯t know what to think about that.


    ¡°Do you know that magic flows in your veins, son?  You but lack the training to bring it forth.¡±


    Animus would¡¯ve popped up from the bed in shock of hearing such a thing, but dared not move when mother was healing him.  He tried to stay calm as he asked, ¡°How can that be?  I¡¯ve never¡ªhow?¡±


    ¡°It requires great patience for a man to Awaken.  It¡¯s much more difficult for a man to touch magic.¡±


    Awaken.  Mother used that word when Yayisha animated that pitchfork five years ago. ¡°But how do I, uh, Awaken?¡±   He gasped as his mother¡¯s magic caused his ribs to crack.  It was all he could do not to scream.  Thankfully, the pain passed quickly.


    ¡°It could take years for you to learn.¡±  Her hand grabbed his.  ¡°But you¡¯ve my blood in you. You could be a warlock.  A powerful one.¡±


    Animus didn¡¯t know whether to be excited by that or terrified.   All I know is I don¡¯t want to be like my sister.  ¡°But what does that have to do with Yayisha being scared of me?¡±


    His mother smiled, the green glow fading from her eyes.  ¡°Yayisha knows you have the ability.  She can feel the magic in you.  Just like I can.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±  Animus asked.


    His mother shrugged.  ¡°How does one dog know another is in heat?  Instinct, Animus.¡±


    ¡°I can feel Yayisha when she¡¯s close.¡±


    Zelicia nodded.  ¡°Can you feel me when I approach?¡±


    Animus shook his head.  ¡°No.¡±


    She smiled.  ¡°There are ways to hide your magic from others that have the talent.  It is a thing l that must be learned.¡±


    Then Yayisha couldn¡¯t see my coming.


    His mother continued, ¡°I am willing to train you.  But the fighting between you two must stop.  I will not have my only two children trying to murder each other.  You must promise to stop going after her.¡±


    Anger stirred within him.  ¡°Tell her to stop hurting my friends.¡±


    ¡°Your father will see to that.  He has ways of inspiring fear.  Even in her.¡±


    If that¡¯s so, why hasn¡¯t he done anything until now? But he knew better than to ask.  ¡°I¡¯ll keep my distance.¡±   Unless she comes after me first.


    Zelicia ruffled his thick black hair.  ¡°You¡¯re such a good son.  Now, would you like to go see Sterl?¡±


    He nodded.  She walked to the door, turning back one more time.  ¡°Speak of this conversation to no one.¡±


    Figured she would say that. ¡°When can I become a warlock?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll start soon.  But until then, you must be patient.¡±  She waved her hand toward the clothes she had brought in.  ¡°Dress yourself and meet me outside.¡±


    Once she left and the door closed, Animus stood.  The pain in his chest was nothing but a dull throb, the sharpness all but gone.  He donned fresh clothes, and though he¡¯d never worn the boots, they fit as if he¡¯d already broken them in.


    His mind wandered to last night.  Vara¡¯s beauty was vivid: long blond hair, smooth skin, the warmth of her hands on his chest.   Who was she?  I hope I get to see her again.


    He stood and looked at himself in the mirror.  His eyes were puffy, and a long scratch remained ugly and red on his forehead.  Other than that, he looked normal.  He stood straighter and wondered.   Could I be a wizard?


    He looked outside.  The sun poured through his window, warm and invigorating.  The skies were blue and clear.  The only evidence of the storm last night was the mud in the street.  Animus thought of the previous night.  He wondered if he¡¯s having been a warlock last night, could he have protected Sterl? Or himself?   He looked back to the mirror and formed a fist.   One day.

 About me and this series.

    Hello everyone.  Thanks for reading.  I''m Mike Dukk, a guy that loves to write about fantasy, science fiction, magical realism, and whatever other ideas pop into my head.  I''ve decided to post my latest novel idea here in a different format in hopes of accomplishing all of the following:


    -Entertaining you the reader.  That''s always my goal.  I strive to better myself so the things I write elicit emotion from those that choose to read my work.


    -Getting my name out there.  It''s hard to make a name for yourself as an author.  A friend of mine directed me to this site, and I decided to post some of my rougher drafts of my latest Dark Fantasy Series, which I''ve labeled,  "The Vengeance of the Wind".  It''s by far the darkest thing I''ve written, and I believe this fantasy world I''m creating has a lot of depth and possibilities for some great stories.  I''ve got at least this trilogy planned in this world.  The content of the first book is mostly written, only in a very rough draft I wouldn''t dare share until I''ve improved it.  Right now I plan to post the entire first novel here, possibly all three depending on how it works out.  This is a new experience for me.


    -Looking for productive feedback.  I used to be in a writer''s group, but I felt like I outgrew it.  By posting on this site, I''m looking for productive feedback that can help me improve my future drafts, one of which I will eventually publish.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    -I''m hoping some of the readers here will find my work enjoyable enough to purchase my existing books, which are currently for sale on amazon.com.  Search for "Mike Dukk" and they''ll show up.   Since posting here I think some people have  picked them up and read them.  Thank you to those that have.


    -And please, if you read my books on Amazon.com  or have already read and enjoyed them, I would greatly appreciate it if you take a few minutes and leave me a review on Amazon.com.  The more reviews I get there, the more people are likely to purchase my books.  The more I sell, the more I can afford to write.  So if you like my writing, you can really motivate me to write more by being generous with your time and putting a review up there.  Here''s the link:  Review my books here</a>


    <hr />


    I didn''t have much time to figure out how to get this to the top of the novel.  I''ll figure it out when I have more time.  If someone has a link to exactly how I do it, please send it to me.


    Thanks,


    Mike Dukk

 Chapter 10 - Animus

    10 - Animus


    It had been a long time since Animus remembered walking down the street with his mother.  He¡¯d spent most days these past few years with father, sometimes only seeing mother her two or three times a week, and only then at a dinner.  He knew mother¡¯s studies at the temple kept her from coming home, but he also knew his parents had not been getting along.


    Mother stayed quiet as they walked.  Her right hand rested on his shoulder, allowing her to control his pace.  People were coming out of shops and the inn to get a glance at them.  Familiar faces, and yet not a single young child to be seen. That¡¯s odd.  The main street is their main playground.


    They passed the bakery where Mallak and his daughter Baizee stood.  The portly man rubbed his floury hands on a cloth, eyes and nose scrunched together when he caught sight of them. That¡¯s the same look he gives me when he catches me talking to his daughter.   He acknowledged them with a nod.


    Mother nodded back and kept walking.


    Next they passed Reyenne¡¯s candle store.  She stood porch in front of the shop with her husband Leir, who was Sterl¡¯s cousin.  Sterl didn¡¯t like Leir at all.  Neither did Animus.   He¡¯s a drunk.  And a bully.


    Both Leir and Reyenne¡¯s mouths were cinched together.  Reyenne had their arms crossed under her perky set of breasts.  Animus and every other boy in town gaped at the red-haired beauty whenever they dared.  And only when Leir wasn¡¯t around.  He¡¯d beat a man bloody for looking at her once.   Right in the middle of the street.


    Leir¡¯s arms hung at his side, his huge hands closed into fists.  A tall, muscular man in his mid-twenties, and like Sterl¡¯s father was a lumberjack. Why¡¯s he home?  It¡¯s a sunny day.     Animus knew it would be a day¡¯s lost wages for him.   And he¡¯d heard Baizee¡¯s father talk about the money he owed practically ever shop owner in town.


    As Animus met the man¡¯s eyes, Leir grumbled something and stepped into the muddy street, shrugging away Reyenne¡¯s attempt to grab his thick arm.


    Mother stopped walking and pulled on Animus¡¯s shoulder.  ¡°Stay behind me.¡±  She took a few steps toward the lumberjack.


    ¡°Your daughter caused this,¡± Leir yelled.


    ¡°I think not,¡± Zelicia said.


    Leir pointed his finger at her, yelling even louder.   ¡°You¡¯re a liar.  We¡¯re all tired of our kin being hurt by that daughter of yours!  She¡¯ll answer for this, witch.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a fool.  The council will never take action against¡ª¡°


    ¡°I¡¯ll make her pay. The Bear God grants me his strength for a reason.


    Animus saw the tattoo of a standing bear on Leir¡¯s forearm.   He worships the bears.   Animus had heard about the Bear Temple that had been built in a small village on the other side of the mountains.  It was said their most devout worshippers could call upon there revered beast¡¯s strength to serve them.


    With his full thick beard and wide body, Leir could be compared to a bear.  Animus thought the man¡¯s strength might almost match father¡¯s.  Fear tickled Animus as the man towered over mother.   All Leir would have to do is take a few steps to reach out and grab mother¡¯s throat.  Animus saw him do that to a barmaid once.   Nearly killed Sheal.  Put her in a temple sick bed for a month.


    ¡°Go home and sober up,¡± his mother said.  ¡°Stop this before you hurt yourself.¡±


    Leir took another step forward.  ¡°You and that bitch of a daughter need to leave Haver or¡ª. ¡°


    Animus felt something unseen stir around him.  His stomach and chest tightened. Is Yayisha here?


    Leir started to cough, softly at first.  After a few seconds his face reddened.  He hacked and gasped, seeming to struggle for air.  His breaths became wheezing, and his own enormous hands grabbed at his throat.   After a clumsy staggering step backward he fell to his knees, one hand squishing into the muddy road to support him.  Blood dribbled from his nose and mouth.


    Gasps and screams came from farther up the street.  Animus looked up to see that more people had appeared.   It seemed everyone lined the main road of Haver.


    Reyenne sloshed through the muddy road to her husband.  There were tears in Reyenne¡¯s eyes as she stepped in front of him.  Dropping to her knees next, she clasped her hands together and dared to meet Zelicia¡¯s eyes.  ¡°Don¡¯t kill him.  I¡¯ll give you anything.¡±


    His mother said, ¡°I can see why you insisted your husband stay home today.  I may be able to help.  There¡¯s a new type of insect this season.  Their bite can cause such coughs.  I shall send our new priest Zalarius tend poor Leir.  Do you think you can get your husband to his bed?¡±


    Reyenne cried, mumbling,   ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Leir said as he scrambled to his feet, falling once into the mud again before finally accomplishing what should have been a simple task.  Reyenne put her hands on his arm but Leir shoved her away, the force sending his wife splashing chest-first into a sopping mud puddle.


    Blood ran freely from his nose, mixing with the mud that seemed to coat every fiber of the man.  Leir wiped the mud and blood from his face as best he could, then jutted fist toward Zelicia.  ¡°This isn¡¯t over, witch.¡±


    She stepped toward Leir, her hand touching the man¡¯s muddy chest so fast Animus barely realized what she¡¯d done.  His gut and chest tightened again, and this time he saw mother¡¯s hands glow green.  Leir¡¯s eyes rolled back in his head.


    Reyenne scrambled to her feet, or attempted to.  Coated in slick mud, she fell several times before finally reaching him.  As she placed her hands on him, Leir screamed and flung his arms in a wide circle.   One of the arms struck her in the shoulder, the force knocking her back into the mud.  Leir fell himself then, first to his knees.  Then he fell back first to the soupy ground.  The splash of Leir¡¯s girth sent a torrent of mud at Animus¡¯s feet, leaving his new boots covered.


    The confrontation had ended.  Leir lay on the ground quivering; his head leaned to one side awkwardly, burying both his left eye and nostril into mud.


    Animus moved to help him.


    ¡°No,¡± mother whispered.  Her hand pointed at the ground where he stood.


    Part of him still wanted to disobey yet he knew better. Only a fool would stand against her.    And one fool already lay in the mud quivering.


    Zelicia yelled down the street, waving her arms. ¡°Quickly, Leir is very sick.  We need to get him to the temple!¡±


    She sounds so convincing.     And so calm. Animus watched.  For several long moments, nobody acted.  Then the mud-drenched Reyenne screamed, ¡°Help!  Somebody!¡±  She crawled to her husband¡¯s side, pulling his head from the ground.  She cradled it in her lap and cried, so covered in blood that she was nearly unrecognizable.


    People started moving towards, plucking their way through the mud.  A few tried running but ended up slipping. A few even fell.


    Zelicia placed herself behind Leir and Reyenne, motioning Animus to stand behind her.  He could see the green energy all around his mother.  He stared at her in wonderment, and then to the crowd.   Can they not see her aura?  What just happened?  Was he really sick or did mother do something to him?  Part of him already knew the answer.


    Animus glanced Mallak approaching from behind them.  Farther back stood Baizee, still on the porch.  From the road behind them that led up toward the temple came father, running as fast as the muddy street would allow.  He seemed to have no problem slogging through it.


    Mallak gave his mother and Animus a wide berth as he walked over to stand with the coming townsfolk.


    Mother eyed them all as she closed the distance between her and where Leir lay.  She leaned down and touched Leir¡¯s side.  Leir¡¯s wife started sobbing louder but mother quieted her.  ¡°He¡¯ll be okay, Reyenne.  May I attempt to heal him?¡±


    Her eye widened.  After a few moments, she nodded.  ¡°Please.  Just don¡¯t let him die.  I¡¯ll¡ª.¡±


    ¡°Calm yourself,¡± mother said.  ¡°Relax.¡±


    Animus watched green tendrils ebb from her fingers into the Leir¡¯s quivering body.  As morr townspeople reached them, Leir¡¯s breathing eased, as well as his shivers.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Animus noticed a few strangers in the approaching crowd.  A tall, lanky man wore a drab green uniform.  Several silver pins attached to his left shoulders near his neck.  A woman in similar clothing stood next to him, her build short and stocky.  A cudgel was strapped to her belt, and a round wooden shield with a chipped side was strapped to her back.  Her hand rested on the cudgel as her gaze swept the crowd.  They moved confidently through the mud, their footing as sturdy as if it was dried clay.


    It was the woman that addressed mother.  ¡°What beguiles this man?¡±


    ¡°Stiggler¡¯s fever, I believe,¡± Zelicia answered.


    The woman nodded at the man.  ¡°May I?¡±


    Zelicia nodded.  The uniformed woman knelt by Leir.  From a large pouch at her belt she pulled a brown rag and used it to clean off Leir¡¯s face.  Then she put a hand to his forehead.  Animus noticed that she never acknowledged Reyenne.


    After a few moments, her hand slid inside his shirt.  ¡°Could be Stiggler¡¯s.  But I¡¯ve never seen it this far north before¡­¡±  She turned to her lanky companion.  ¡°Grab several of ours and take him to the town¡¯s sick house.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress Veln,¡± Warn said.


    Veln stood and turned and spoke to the townsfolk.  ¡°This man must be isolated until his symptoms clear.  I will speak to your healer here and suggest treatment.¡±


    A man named Scalpa asked, ¡°Mistress Veln?  What is Stiggler¡¯s fever?¡±


    ¡°Our troops call it ¡®leaf fever¡¯.  It comes from tics.  Our healers belive they carry the disease in their blood.  Another disease the green-tinged men of the South have brought upon us,¡± Mistress Veln said.


    ¡°How bad is it?¡±  Scalpa asked.


    Mistress Veln said, ¡°Usually there¡¯s a fit of coughing and the throat swells.  The first fit kills many, but thank whatever God you worship here.  Your healer knows her skill.¡±


    The woman had obviously never been there before.  Unlike most villages that worshipped primarily one God, being it a great deity or Animal Spirt, no Gods were favored in Haver.  At least not since Animus was five.  That was the morning the priest of Vecca woke up one morning with his head removed from his body.  Mother¡¯s ¡°temple¡± held no allegiance toward any one God.  There wasn¡¯t even a priest in town.


    ¡°Will he make it?¡±  Someone from the crowd asked.


    ¡°With enough rest and proper treatment, yes,¡± Mistress Veln said.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±  Mallack asked.


    ¡°I am a Mistress of Battle, Serving the High Lord Goth North of the Bloody River.  I am fighting in the Great Blood War.  I¡¯ve come here to find talent.¡±


    Her eyes settled on Zelicia.  ¡°Healer¡¯s especially.¡±


    His mother shook her head.  ¡°My place is here.¡±


    One of the young men asked, ¡°You¡¯re here to recruit us to fight?¡±


    ¡°Young people, or those older with necessary skills.  We need men and women alike willing to work hard.  There is much honor in serving, and of course a share of whatever loot we reap once we drive the green-tinged bastards to the seas.  But that can wait.  If we don¡¯t get him quarantined, he could spread this sickness throughout your whole village.  We need to move him.  Now.¡±


    Her words were calm and loud.  The confidence and command of her voice thrust the townsfolk to action.  Administrator Warn waved to three more strange people in the crowd that came running up the road, two women and another man.  Without further guidance, they picked up Leir took him to the Temple¡¯s sick house.  Reyenne trailed after them, sobbing.


    Animus realized that in all the fuss his father had quietly maneuvered to stand behind them.  He held a knife in one hand.  As Animus watched, mother¡¯s hand touched father¡¯s wrist.  It only then that Kas slowly sheathed it.


    The three of them stood for a moment, looking at the people of the town facing them.  Nobody spoke.  Animus watched their faces, seeing scowls, wide eyes full of tears and several pair of tightly closed fists. They fear or hate us.  Or both.


    ¡°We¡¯ve all got places to be, eh?¡±  His father yelled.


    Slowly, people broke from the crowd and walked away.  His father¡¯s hand gripped Animus¡¯s shoulder as the crowd broke.  Soon only a few families were left standing across from them.  Mallak remained, along with Scalpa, Harl and his wife Tehla, owners of the general store.   Council members.  Three of the most important people in town.


    They all looked at Animus.


    ¡°He stays,¡± Kas said.


    The four exchanged glances, then Tehla asked, ¡°Will Leir make it?¡±


    His mother shrugged.  ¡°Depends.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Scalpa said, his head perspiring. ¡°You¡¯ll forgive his words, right?¡±


    ¡°So long as he don¡¯t run his mouth again,¡± Kas said.


    ¡°Fever will make a man say some crazy things,¡± Scalpa said.


    ¡°Anyone speaking such accusations about our family could end up with the fever too.  Make sure they know I can pay them a visit,¡± Zelicia said.


    Mallak wrung his floury hands on a towel he always wore around his waist.  Harl and Tehla locked hands, their eyes looking anywhere but at his mother.  Scalpa blew air through his cheeks as a large bead of sweat dribbled into his left eye, causing him to curse under his breath.


    Then Scalpa clapped his hands together.  ¡°Well, like Kas said, we¡¯re all got places to be¡­¡±


    ¡°No trial,¡± Zelicia said.


    ¡°No meetings,¡± Kas said.  ¡°And if any of you find out they are happening, tell us.¡±


    Tehla said, ¡°We can¡¯t stop people from talking about last night¡¯s incident.  Or about what just happened in the middle of the street.¡±


    Zelicia walked toward Tehla and reached out to touch the woman¡¯s shoulders.  Tehla¡¯s face paled and she took a few steps away.   His mother quickened her pace and closed the distance between them, eventually laying her hands on the Tehla¡¯s shoulders.  ¡°We know they¡¯ll talk.   But if we hear word of our children being brought before the council for any reason, things worse than this fever will break out.¡±  Her hand touched Tehla¡¯s cheek.  ¡°Nobody wants, that, do they?¡±


    Tehla shook her head, seemingly unable to speak.


    His mother walked back to him and father.  Then she brushed her hand toward them.  ¡°Now, off with you.  We must take our son to see his injured friend.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a good idea.  Sterl¡¯s father is furious at¡ª.¡±


    ¡°Let us worry about that,¡± Kas said.


    The council members left then, each trudging back to their proper businesses.


    Kas waited for them to leave.  Then he said, ¡°I need to stop by the smithy and grab my sword.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll meet you there in a moment.  I need to speak with Animus,¡± Zelicia said.


    His father nodded and walked up the road toward the smithy.  After a few moments, Zelicia cupped his chin.  ¡°The first rule of using magic is what?¡±


    Animus shrugged, but asked, ¡°What did you do to Leir?¡±


    ¡°He threatened us.  I stopped him.¡±


    ¡°By making him sick?¡±


    She nodded.  ¡°I could have done much, much worse.  Does that scare you?¡±


    I can¡¯t lie to her.    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°It should.  But what should scare you more is what he would have done to us if I hadn¡¯t stopped him.¡±


    ¡°Leir wouldn¡¯t have hurt us.  Would he?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°He was drunk and upset.  You know he¡¯s cousins with the boy?¡±


    Animus nodded.


    ¡°He¡¯s also a killer.  Several towns over Leir killed three men in a bar brawl,¡± Zelicia said.


    Animus felt his eyes widen.   A killer?


    His mother continued.  ¡°I stopped him.  But none of them townspeople know how I stopped him.¡±


    Animus pointed to her hands.  ¡°They didn¡¯t seen your glowing green hands and eyes?¡±


    ¡°No.  Only you can see that.  And only because I let you,¡± Zelicia said.  ¡°They believe me a healer.  Every town has one.  I¡¯ve made it a point to show them I can do that.  Some may suspect I can more, but none have seen my magic with their own eyes.¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯re all scared of you,¡± Animus said.


    She smiled.  ¡°Yes.  Yes they are.  They fear what they don¡¯t know.  And thus, the first rule of magic:  Never show anyone what you can really do.¡±

 Chapter 11 - Kas

    Chapter 11 - Kas


    Kas watched the townsfolk go, keeping his silence.  He seethed at his wife¡¯s blatant display of power.  There would be damage control from this needed in nearly every household in Haver, and he knew he¡¯d be the one doing it.


    He hurried to the forge.  As he arrived he belted on his sword.   I shouldn¡¯t wear it. The townsfolk are scared enough.  But he had no other choice.  It would be foolish not to after what just happened.  And he¡¯d have to wear it from that point forward.


    He stepped back into the road and Zelicia and Animus were waiting for him.


    Zelicia grinned at him.  ¡°Shall we go see how Sterl is doing, husband?¡±


    Her smug smile and calm confidence made him even more furious.   Arrogance and foolishness are often the same. His wife didn¡¯t realize that.  And she never would, no matter the stakes.


    Animus looked at her before his eyes settled on his father.  Kas met his son¡¯s gaze, seeing his bewilderment. He¡¯s starting to learn his mother¡¯s not all smiles and kisses.


    ¡°Papa?  Can we go see him?¡±


    Kas nodded.  ¡°In a minute.  I need to speak with your mother first.¡±  He pointed to the spot an Animus¡¯s feet.  ¡±Wait here.¡±


    Kas walked with his wife until they were out of the boy¡¯s earshot.  The grin never left her face.  When they were far enough away, he whispered, ¡°Have you lost your stones?¡±


    Her grin disappeared.  ¡°You would have preferred I let that drunken bear worshipper beat me bloody?  In front of everyone?¡±


    ¡°I would have gone with you.¡±


    ¡°You stomped out of Animus¡¯s room like a spoiled child.¡±


    ¡°Barl¡¯s cursed beard, woman.  I was coming back!¡±


    ¡°Lower your voice.  You¡¯ll have people think we¡¯re fighting.¡±  Zelicia grinned and put her finger to her lips.  ¡°Shhh¡­¡±


    ¡°Cursed...¡± He saw Animus looking at them and forced himself to be quieter.  He whispered, ¡°The villagers are already terrified of you.  Must you give them another reason?¡±


    Zelicia put her palm on his chest.  ¡°Stop coddling them.  We¡¯re here so we so can dictate our surroundings for our benefit.¡±


    He grabbed her hand.  ¡°We¡¯ll be lucky if half of the townsfolk don¡¯t leave after that.¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t know it was me, husband.  Leir has all the symptoms of Stiggler¡¯s fever.  I was certain the Recruitment Mistress would recognize it.  From what I¡¯ve heard, the disease is running rampant through their army.¡±


    Kas was astounded.  She hadn¡¯t left his arms last night until Animus stumbled through the house like a drunken ox.  Then she spent the rest of the night dealing with Yayisha.  She couldn¡¯t have known that a Recruitment Mistress would conveniently appear.  ¡°How is it you know so much of the Southern wars?  You knew she¡¯d be here, didn¡¯t you?  ¡±


    She nodded.  ¡°I knew that someone from Haver sent a letter to her commanding officer, telling him how our boys had been trained in sword and shield from a veteran of the Wars in the North.  I figured they¡¯d quickly send someone to swell their ranks,¡± Zelicia said.


    ¡°Why did you do that?  What benefit do we gain from sending all the boys I¡¯ve trained off to war?¡±


    Zelicia replied, ¡°The more distractions, the better.  You know the narrow minds of these petty villagers.  Thoughts of their sons and daughters in the South will pulls their minds afar.  They¡¯ll stop focusing on our children.¡±


    Kas couldn¡¯t dispute that. Worry can gnaw through the thickest of steels, the staunchest of walls.  As a father, Kas knew that to be true.  He couldn¡¯t imagine either Animus or Yayisha off fighting a war.  Not without me to protect them.


    He said, ¡°I trained those boys to protect Haver.  I¡¯ve plans to build defenses, pave our roads, expand our trade¡ª.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more boys to train.  Haverians mate like rabbits.¡±


    Why did I ever marry this woman?  Kas struggled to keep calm.  Everything he tried to mold to protect them she spun from his control.  ¡°You should¡¯ve talked to me about this.¡±


    ¡°You never see the bigger picture, husband.  Only what¡¯s in front of your nose.¡±


    Kas knew exactly what she was talking about.  Thousands of men and women lost.  Because I wouldn¡¯t listen.  He stepped away from her and looked up to the clear blue skies.  A slight wind blew in his face, the cooling him.  ¡°We¡¯ll talk of this later.  Right now we try and fix what happened yesterday.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already fixed it.¡±


    Foolish woman.  So many pieces could fall apart¡­ ¡°What if this Recruitment Mistress determines it isn¡¯t Stiggler¡¯s fever?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen that she will.  The fever often happens in bunches.  A few more will come down with it today.¡±


    ¡°You already had this planned!  You couldn¡¯t have known Leir would confront you.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t.  But I decided last night after you ravished me that Haver needed its own drama.  An outbreak of sickness, the arrival of the Recruitment Mistress to recruit¡ªLeir was an afterthought.¡±


    Kas couldn¡¯t believe his ears.  ¡°You¡¯re as evil as the day we met.¡±


    Zelicia smiled wide.  ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to mind my evilness last night.¡±  She leaned in and whispered, her lips brushing against his ear.  ¡°Now I want you all over again.¡±


    Zelicia kissed him on the cheek and walked to Animus.  Kas watched her go.  He recalled the day he¡¯d given up his name, his life, and his responsibility to Fourth Legion.  Seventeen years later he still questioned the decision.   Have I made the right choice?  I¡¯ve given up everything for this. Part of him told him that raising his children was worth it.  But the battlefield was where he belonged.  Sometimes he thought he¡¯d even made peace with this decision.  Yet the past nipped at his heels.  He willed himself to look forward, not back. Pondering the past is an act for fools.


    Kas followed wife and son.  He tried to forget his anger and fell into a slow, familiar march.  But he felt the stares.  They crawled on him from the windows of the buildings they passed.  His eyes darted to the right, the movement of a dog causing him to jerk, his hand going for his sword.  Muscles under his bottom-most left rib pulled.  That would will bother me until I enter the grave. Without thinking he rubbed the lumpy remains of a scar.  It was a rare through and through from a crossbow bolt that missed every vital. Point blank shot, too.  I should¡¯ve been dead, ¡°Luck of a devil¡± my men said.


    From the opposite side of the street, a door slammed.  Again he went for the sword.  Slowly he made himself release the hilt. There¡¯s no archers, no ambush, no blood about to be shed. Kas focused on what was coming.  He knew there was a conflict coming.  And he¡¯d be dealing with it.


    They arrived at Sterl¡¯s house after a few minutes, the trek to the other end of town a short one.  There, Zelicia stopped and put her hand around Animus¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Why¡¯re we stopping?¡±  Animus asked.


    Kas leaned over and whispered in his son¡¯s ear.  ¡°They won¡¯t be happy to see us.¡±


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.He saw the hurt in his son¡¯s expression.   Animus said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Zelicia said yet again.


    Kas couldn¡¯t keep the anger from his voice, ¡°The boy¡¯s right.  Good that he knows it.  But we¡¯re at fault for not putting a stop to this nonsense between you and your sister.¡±


    Zelicia changed the subject. ¡°Zalarius is as talented a healer as I¡¯ve seen.  Its doubtful Sterl will even carry a limp after he heals.  Still, we¡¯ll wait here while your father announces our arrival.¡±


    The boy nodded.  ¡°I¡¯ll make it right.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll see that you will.  Wait here with our mother until I give the signal.¡±


    ¡°Yes, father.¡±


    Kas knew Dalpa would be waiting for them.  He was Sterl¡¯s father, and no friend to Kas.  Ever since Dalpa and his family had moved to Haver last year, Kas always caught the huge man staring at him. He suspects us. Dalpa had proved his intelligence; he was a shrewd and knowledgeable barterer when it came to selling his wares, and in the previous year the man¡¯s lumbering trade had grown so much he could send the fallen timber to other villages in the mountains.


    ¡°Kas had just stepped on the porch when the door opened.  Dalpa himself stepped out to meet him.  Like most lumberjacks, he wore a burly beard and long hair, the latter of which signified his trade.  Bits of white streaked through the man¡¯s brown hair, which had been pulled into a ponytail that reached his tailbone. He¡¯s a master of his trade with hair as long as that. The man¡¯s burly girth made him twist at the torso to get through the door.


    Kas just stepped on the porch when he stopped.  Less than three feet from each other, they watched at one another, Kas making certain to keep his hand far away from his weapon.  He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  He would wait for Dalpa to speak as was customary when visiting someone at their home.


    But Dalpa didn¡¯t.  After a few moments the man crossed his arms.  He stared at Kas, staying quiet.


    He insults me. Kas had seen enough fury to know Dalpa¡¯s mood.  One of the man¡¯s fists were balled, and the lines of his face showed tension.  Kas stayed relaxed but ready.  He remained silent, but nodded to Dalpa.


    Finally, Dalpa nodded back.  Kas took that as a sign to speak. ¡°No need to be this way.¡±


    Dalpa strode forward and pointed at Kas.  ¡°My boy nearly died last night!¡±  Now Leir lies sick. You expect me to believe that¡¯s coincidence?¡±


    Kas didn¡¯t move.  Yet he saw no idol of the bear shaman across Dalpa¡¯s neck.  So just the son worships the bears. He asked, ¡°Are you accusing me of hurting your sons?¡±


    Dalpa nodded.  ¡°I am.  Maybe not you, but that wife of yours.  I know what she is.¡±


    The man was bristling for a fight, Kas knew. He has a hot temper.  I see where Leir gets it. Kas shrugged.  ¡°She¡¯s concerned.  That¡¯s why she sent the newly arrived healer to tend your son last night even before the dust could be cleaned from his clothes.  Do you seek to repay that debt with accusation?¡±


    Dalpa¡¯s eyes widened.  ¡°Debt?  I see no debt.¡±


    Kas knew there would be some type of fight.   It¡¯s in his eyes. So he stopped being so polite.  ¡°Then you¡¯re as big a fool as you are strong.¡±


    Dalpa sneered and started to take a step forward.


    Kas jumped toward him and jutted his own leg between Dalpa¡¯s.  The move caused the lumberjack to stumble.  Kas gripped one of Dalpa¡¯s wrist and squeezed hard.  Kas said, ¡°We are this town.  Everything you see.  The temple, the road, and that town bathhouse you and that disrespectful shit of son use.¡±  Kas squeezed harder.  Dalpa balled his other hand but Kas ignored it and squeezed even harder.  ¡°One swing and I¡¯ll destroy your other hand.  That numbness you feel?  A full squeeze with just the right twist and you¡¯ll never use it again.¡±


    Kas pressed harder, using his other hand to grip the back of Dalpa¡¯s other shoulder to keep the man moving backward.   Any moment now¡­ Sure enough, Dalpa¡¯s anger slowly dissolved to fear.  Sweat popped on the man¡¯s forehead.


    Only then did Kas withdraw his foot.  Still he kept his grip on the wrist but lessened it ever so slightly.  ¡°Now, I¡¯m going to hug you. And by all that¡¯s right, you¡¯ll hug back.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t make any of this right,¡± Dalpa said.


    They embraced.  Kas kept talking.  ¡°I know you¡¯re angry.  Tuck it away.  Be civil.  Many eyes watch us.  Do you really want me to break you on your own doorstep?¡±  He waited for a few uncomfortable seconds before stepping back and releasing the man¡¯s wrist.


    New-found respect smoldered in his Dalpa¡¯s eyes.  Still, the man was defiant when he spoke.  ¡°Once our boys are well, we¡¯re leaving this cursed village.¡±


    Kas shook his head.  ¡°Your wife will disagree.  She¡¯s to work with Zelicia at the temple.¡±


    Dalpa¡¯s eyes widened again.  ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a great honor.  Just ask the other women in town.¡±


    Dalpa¡¯s forehead wrinkled, ¡°She wouldn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Kas smiled. ¡°Like or not, she won¡¯t leave, nor will my wife allow her to.¡±  Kas made himself smile then, though inside he felt sick about what he was doing.  It¡¯s the truth. The man needs to hear it.


    Dalpa rubbed his aching wrist.  ¡°You won¡¯t control us like this,¡±


    Kas pointed at the man¡¯s wrist.  ¡°I just did.  And you backed down like a scolded dog.¡±  Kas stepped in Dalpa¡¯s face and looked into his eyes.  ¡°Or you still want to have a go?¡±


    Dalpa swallowed yet stayed silent.  Kas knew that he¡¯d won the battle of wills.  For the moment.  ¡°Now, we¡¯ll come in.  My boy will talk to yours, and then we¡¯ll leave.  After that, Animus will be by once a day until Sterl walks again.  And you¡¯ve my word Zalarius will tend him till your boy¡¯s running in the streets.¡±


    ¡°What good¡¯s your word when backed by threats?¡±


    ¡°Better than just threats.¡±


    The lumberjack winced.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have my wife take care of that wrist herself.  Unless you have a problem with that?¡±  Kas asked.


    Dalpa shook his head.  Kas nodded one more time, relieved the only thing he had hurt was Dalpa¡¯s pride.


    Moments later, Animus and Zelicia approached the deck.  She was all smiles as she greeted Dalpa, who was noticeably pale.  He gave Zelicia a courteous nod.  When Animus stopped in front of Dalpa, the man saw the tears running down Animus¡¯s face.  Dalpa¡¯s face softened.  ¡°Sterl¡¯s right inside.  Been asking about you.¡±


    Animus saw the man¡¯s shaking hands and was smart enough to stay quiet.  ¡°Thank you,¡± Animus said, and tucked into the house quickly.


    As Kas walked past the big lumberjack, he whispered, ¡°I hear of our little talk from anyone, it¡¯ll be more than that hand I take.¡±  He walked into the house then, fully ashamed of himself. The man will only ever respect me out of fear now.


    Though Kas hated himself for what he just did, he buried the regret.  There would be more people that would fear him before their stay in Haver was done.  But Kas knew it did no good to feel sorry for himself.  But he remembered what one of his sergeants told him when he just a grunt in the army.   Buckle your straps and get used to it.

 Chapter 12 - Animus

    12- Animus


    Animus¡¯s heart hammered in chest.  Cold sweat trickled down his back.  When he put his hand on the back of his head, it came away soaked.  Why am I sweating? Certainly he was nervous.  After all, he had learned more about his mother in this past hour than he had known in his entire life.   And he wasn¡¯t certain he like what he had learned.  At first, when she told him he could use magic, he was excited, even happy.


    Then she¡¯d sickened Leir with a touch.  And showed no remorse.


    His mind kept going back to Leir.  The man was as strong as his father.  Animus witnessed Leir carry logs on his shoulder that were so heavy, Animus couldn¡¯t lift one even an inch off the ground.  During the rainy season, when the mud made the roads unusable, Leir wrestled other men in the field behind the Inn Wayward Souls.  Sometimes he challenged two or three at a time.  And won.


    To see him suddenly falter before his eyes¡­


    ¡°What bothers you, son?¡±  His mother asked.  The back of his mother¡¯s hands touched his brow.


    Instinctually he stepped away from her.  ¡°Nothing.¡± Why am I nervous of mother?


    She said, ¡°You look so pale.¡±


    His eyes blurred for a moment.  Soon he realized that he was crying.  His body shook.  A coldness surrounded him, making him shiver.  He felt embarrassed.  Alone.  Afraid.   But of what?  The tears came, unbidden.


    His mother tried to draw him close.  As her hand came close to his forehead, he backpedaled.  ¡°No,¡± he said.  Then his voice raised.  ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    Her stare was a vice.  Under such a gaze, his feet refused to move.  When she touched him again, she said, ¡°You¡¯re burning up.¡±


    How can I be hot?  I¡¯m freezing. Bewildered, fear cloaked him.  He staggered, turned and tried to run from the house.    The door opened in front of him.  But as he reached it, the way out became blocked.


    Recognition stopped him.  ¡°Papa.¡±


    Fear took him again.  Animus tried to get past, but Kas stopped him.  The next thing Animus knew, his father was hugging him tight.  Animus looked up at him.  ¡°Why did that happen?  Leir fell, Sterl¡¯s hurt, I don¡¯t understand.  Did mother¡ª.¡°


    He felt his throat constrict. Did mother make me sick, too?


    He wanted to tell father what she said to him, but the words refused to leave from his mouth.   Surely Mama wouldn¡¯t give me Stiggler¡¯s.  Animus struggled against the unseen force on his throat.


    It released.  Animus coughed and then said, ¡°Papa, did she¡ª.¡±


    His legs wobbled.  Strength fled him.  Everything blurred.  Worse, he couldn¡¯t breathe.


    The only thing her heard was his father yelling, ¡°Animus!¡±


    Without knowing how he got there, Animus was lying on the floor.  Somehow the hardwood floor was comfortable.  But he was still cold.


    Several pairs of hands gripped his arms and legs.  A pair of feminine hands supported his neck as he was lifted on the ground.  He heard talking.  ¡°Papa?¡±


    Animus closed his eyes.


    Animus woke in a dimly lit room.  He lay in a cot tucked into the corner, the room itself no bigger than one of mother¡¯s walk-in closets.  Canned vegetables lined the shelves along the far wall.  A heavy blanket made of thick wool covered him from neck to feet. I¡¯m burning up. Animus pushed the blanket to the floor.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± a woman¡¯s voice said.


    Animus tried sitting up but his strength failed him. Why is my vision blurry? His body collapsed back to the small bed on which he lay.


    He heard light steps. As she approached, his vision cleared.  She was tan of skin, her blond hair pulled into a braided ponytail. Like Yayisha wears.  But that¡¯s where the resemblance ended.  This woman was shorter by nearly a foot.  The woman wore pants instead of skirts, each sleeve hugging her well-formed legs.  Her shirt lingered over her hips and waist, leaving their curves mysterious.  She did little to disguise her breasts, which were displayed prominently in the V-necked blouse she wore. Nice Just not as big as Baizees.


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    When she was close enough so Animus could see her face, he was surprised.   Vara.  He tried to speak but ended up coughing again.


    She knelt next to him with a mug with what he guessed was broth or tea.


    She said, ¡°Drink this.  It¡¯ll help that cough.¡±


    Animus tried to rise again.  She put her other hand on his chest leaned over him.  ¡°I¡¯ll spoon-feed you.  Relax.¡±


    What¡¯s she doing here?  Instead, he said, ¡°Where am I?¡±


    ¡°Dalpa and Helen¡¯s house.  In the basement,¡± Vara said.


    ¡°Why am I here and not in the temple?¡±


    She served him a spoonful of broth.  ¡°For every sip, I¡¯ll answer a question.  Drink.¡±


    The broth was warm and delicious, made from some kind of beef stock.  He¡¯d seen the cooks at the inn making broth with fat and bone from cows, sheep or even wild boars.  No sooner had he finished one spoonful then she served him another.


    ¡°You¡¯re here because your mother didn¡¯t want to move you until Zelarius saw to you.¡±


    The new healer. ¡°What happened to me?¡±


    Vara nodded.  ¡°You collapsed.  It¡¯s lucky your mother was here.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡±


    Vara shrugged.  ¡°Several people in town have the same thing.  I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re calling it.¡±


    ¡°Stiggler¡¯s fever,¡± Animus said.   Did mother make me sick then?  But at the moment his priorities were Vara.


    The most gorgeous woman he¡¯d ever laid his eyes on, and there she was, feeding him soup.  His questions of her seemed unending.  Why was she there?  Is it because she¡¯s related to Sterl?  Where did she come from?  Why did she help him the other night?  When he finally could make his mouth work, he asked, ¡°How did you know to be there last night?¡±


    Vara¡¯s eyes strayed to the far corner.  Animus could see stairs led up from there.  She leaned close, whispering.  ¡°Luck.  I was passing by and heard sounds of struggle.¡±


    She¡¯s lying.  Yet, it seemed trivial.  He could only think of kissing her.  Would she be better or worse at it then Baizee?  How could it be worse?  Baizee¡¯s awkward at it.  Besides, Vara¡¯s much better looking.   But the serious realization nagged at him.  It wasn¡¯t possible.  The private bathhouse lay far away from the main road.   Animus doubted she could have heard anything from that distance.


    Instead of confronting her about it, he said, ¡°You saved my life.¡±


    Her eyes went to the stairs again.  ¡°We can¡¯t talk about this right now.  I must go tell your parents you¡¯re awake.  They¡¯re upstairs.  Your mother¡¯s tending Sterl.¡±


    Sterl!  How could I have forgotten him?  ¡°How is he?¡±


    Vara shrugged.  ¡°His leg is wrapped and he¡¯s been awake a few times.  Master Zonce thinks he¡¯ll live.  Now you lay there and rest.  We¡¯ll talk later.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Master Zonce?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°Zalarius,¡±  Vara said.


    She hates him.  I can tell by her scowl.


    ¡°Why do you call him ¡®Master¡¯?¡±


    Vara opened her mouth to answer.  Instead, she blushed and stepped away.  ¡°I have to go.¡±


    As she walked away he asked.  ¡°When can I see you again?¡±


    Vara walked back over and knelt next to him.  ¡°Soon.  Please, don¡¯t tell anybody that I was there last night.  Especially Zalarius.¡±


    Animus shook his head.


    ¡°Promise me.¡±


    ¡°Promise.¡±


    She stared at him for a moment, her thumb rubbing back and forth on his chest.  If I had her, I would never want for anything else.


    His eyes grew heavy.


    Vara grinned.  ¡°Seld root takes effect in minutes.  It¡¯ll help you sleep.¡±


    Words became complicated.  As his lids drooped, her lips pressed against his forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you at the temple,¡± She whispered.


    The temple?  Why would I see her there?


    The powerful herb took effect, and Animus drifted to sleep.

 Chapter 13 - Vara

    13 ¨C Vara


    She stopped halfway up the steps and was forced to sit down, her shaking legs refusing to hold her weight any longer.  Quickly, she covered her mouth to conceal her sobs.


    Vara found herself regretting every single decision of the past year of her life.  She had left her village, knowing she¡¯d never see them again.    What has happened to them?  Mama?  Sister?  Kavin¡­did they survive the attacks?   The very thought of Kavin twisted her stomach.  He asked me to marry him¡­  Vara had loved him, in a way.  He was always nice to her.  She could see the love for her in his eyes.  He¡¯d shared Vara¡¯s bed the very first time.   Not that he was very good.   Kavin has always been too plain for her, too boring.   She wanted to see the world.


    Her village had a small port, and it was there she was offered a chance to leave.  It was a Teller¡¯s boat, ran by a woman named Nadel.  She¡¯d seen Vara dancing around the fires one evening, and within hours had her convinced to leave in her employ the next morning.  Nadel promised her protection, and a chance to travel up and down the river.  Vara quickly agreed.


    At first it seemed exotic, dancing in shows for those that could afford passage.  She enjoyed manipulating her body on the stage.  Felt empowered by giving the audience¡¯s visual gratification.   For the few months it lasted, it had been wonderful.  Then she met the most handsome man she¡¯d ever seen.


    Marlot Navorus bedded her the very first night he¡¯d been on the boat.  She¡¯d been offered coin by others and refused, but Marlot was the first man she¡¯d actually wanted.  By the time Marlot left the boat three days later, Vara had fallen in love with him.  And with nothing but a few coins she had saved and the clothes on her back, she left Nadal¡¯s boat.  Vara still remembered her words. He¡¯s bad for you, girl.


    Vara hadn¡¯t believed her.  Marolot promised they would see the richest city in the entire world, the city of Sanguiland.  Instead, not three days inland, he sold her into slavery.   Now I¡¯m owned by the most disgusting of men.


    Her mother¡¯s last words to her haunted her.  Vara whispered them to herself, ¡°The world¡¯s dangers will devour you.¡±


    Footsteps above rattled her from her thoughts.  She wiped the tears from her eyes and swallowed.     Nobody will see me cry.  Ever again.   Vara knew she couldn¡¯t afford to show how vulnerable she felt.  She learned that powerful people preyed on the weak.  She climbed toward the upstairs door and almost had her hand on the doorknob when she changed her mind and tip-toed back down the steps.


    Vara was relieved to find Animus asleep, his slow breaths even.  Quietly she approached and sat next to him.  Almost taller than her already, she figured he¡¯d grow to the height of his father.  The boy¡¯s face held the sharp features of his mother, but his build and wavy black hair was from his father.   He¡¯s already cute. In a few more years he¡¯ll turn the heads of every woman that sees him.


    Even in his sickly state, it was obvious boy was smitten with her, something Vara had grown used to.  She knew she was more attractive than most women.  On the dancing boat where there were other pretty women, Vara drew every man¡¯s eyes.   Hungry eyes.   Animus lusted after her she knew, only in a younger, more innocent fashion.   Will he be a monster like Zalarius?  Or would he be like Kavin?


    Vara sighed.  She couldn¡¯t afford to judge him, for the wizard of the shadows had commanded her to bed him, to make him swoon.  Just how would she go about doing that so long as he was sick?  And what if he died?    The shadow mage will blame me.  And she knew what her failure meant.  Nobody fails a wizard and lives.


    The door upstairs opened.  Heavy steps caused the stairs to groan.  Vara grabbed the damp cloth and turned away from the door.  Gently she dabbed Animus¡¯s forehead until the voice behind her spoke.


    ¡°How is he?¡±


    Relieved it was not Zalarius, she turned to see Kas.  She did her best to seem confident and calm when she spoke.  ¡°He woke for only a moment then fell asleep.  Seems his fever is less now.¡±  It was as much as she knew, for Zalarius had taught her nothing of treating the sick.


    Kas approached, stopping at the foot of Animus¡¯s cot.  ¡°Can we move him?¡±


    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know.  Perhaps Zalarius could¡ª?¡±


    Kas¡¯s eyes narrowed.  ¡°He¡¯s gone.  To the temple.¡±


    Behind him, his wife chuckled.  ¡°She knows little, my dear.¡±


    Vara hadn¡¯t heard her come down the steps.  It seemed colder with her in the room, repressive somehow.  Fear gnawed her resolve and her fingers started to quake.  She forced a deep breath and made a fist, doing her best not to show it.  Slowly she dipped the cloth back in the still-warm water, soaked it and pulled it out.  As she wrung the water from the cloth, she said, ¡°She is quite right.  I¡¯m barely able to keep his face wet.¡±


    Kas grunted.  ¡°Off with you then.  Tell the Stone Priest to ready a bed.  We¡¯ll see he gets to the temple.¡±


    Vara dipped her head in assent and rose.  She felt Zelicia¡¯s gaze and looked to see a grin on her gorgeous, terrifying face.    Everyone in town thinks her a sorceress.  Some think she poisoned Leir.


    Zelicia spoke.  ¡°Where are you from, child?¡±


    Vara nearly choked, ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°You,¡± Zelicia said.  ¡°You¡¯re not a healer, that¡¯s for certain.¡±


    ¡°A village called Shady Grove,¡± Vara said.    Curse me!  Why did I tell her the truth?


    ¡°You¡¯re not his apprentice,¡± Zelicia said.  It wasn¡¯t a question.


    ¡°I would like to be,¡± Vara asked.


    ¡°Liar,¡± Zelicia said.


    Kas looked at his wife.  ¡°Why does this girl matter so much to you?  Our son is sick and...¡±


    To Vara¡¯s surprised, Kas stopped what he was saying.  ¡°Bah.  I¡¯ll get the wagon.  Take him to the temple myself.  Stay and talk to the priest¡¯s concubine if you must.¡±


    Vara gasped.


    Zelicia laughed and clasped her hands together.  ¡°Of course!  Zalarius always had a weakness for young beauties.¡±  She approached Vara and put her hands on Vara¡¯s chin.  ¡°At least you¡¯re of age.¡±  A surge of warmth flowed from Vara¡¯s neck down to her belly.  Vara stepped back, brushing against the chair behind her.  Zelicia maintained her grip.


    ¡°Let me go,¡± Vara said.  She backed away, this time tipping the chair.  She stumbled to the far wall that was only several steps away.  Vara forced herself to stand tall and stare at the woman.


    Zelicia crossed her slender hands under her breasts.  ¡°You¡¯re not pregnant.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±  Zelicia asked and realized what the woman had done.  A healer¡¯s trick, using a bit of magic to determine life within a woman¡¯s belly.  ¡°Of course not!  Not from that brute of a¡ª.¡°   Vara caught the rest of the words from tumbling from her mouth.


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    Kas had stopped at the stairs.  He walked around his wife until he was only a hands reach away.


    ¡°He beats you.¡±


    He sniffed, his nose raising and lowering as he looked at her.  Vara wondered what he was doing.


    Then he opened his palm and extended it toward her.  ¡°Let me see your left forearm.¡±


    How does he know?   But Vara did as she was told.  She held out her arm, seeing no other choice.  A sob escaped her, and though she tried, the tears erupted from her eyes.   No! I must be strong.


    Kas took her arm.  He said nothing as his huge hands glided gently up and down her tender arm.  He applied just a bit of pressure on the top middle of her forearm and she gasped.  Vara sobbed harder.  ¡°Please, don¡¯t¡­¡±


    Kas released her arm.  When he spoke, his brown eyes has softened.  ¡°Gripped her arm so tight each finger left its own bruise.¡±


    Zelicia walked next to him and rested her hand on his shoulder.  ¡°Who cares about her now, husband?¡±


    Kas shook his head.  ¡°It¡¯s nothing to joke about.  I won¡¯t allow it.¡±  He looked down at her.  ¡°Vara, is it?¡±


    Crying, Vara nodded.  She felt her cheeks warm.   I¡¯m so ashamed.


    ¡°You¡¯ve no more reason to fear him.  If he ever lays a hand on you again, tell me, understand?¡±


    Vara nodded, wondering why he was being so nice.  ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll never do his bidding again. Not that kind.¡±  Kas said.  As he turned to his wife, Vara saw his jaw set.   Everyone¡¯s afraid of her. Except him.


    Zelicia said nothing, merely nodding.  Kas seemed to take that as agreement, for he turned, walked across the room, and then up the stairs.


    They both listened to him walking upstairs until his steps faded.  Then, Zelicia sighed.  ¡°Such a noble beast, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Vara knew better than to answer.


    ¡°He¡¯d go to war with an entire country over the honor of complete stranger.  Do you see what I put up with?¡±  Zelicia asked.


    Vara was utterly confused.    She speaks as if we¡¯re friends.


    Zelicia smiled.  ¡°He¡¯ll speak to Zalarius.   More like he¡¯ll threaten him.  And Zalarius will think you told us about how he beats you.¡±  She leaned close.  ¡°You¡¯ll be lucky if the fat priest doesn¡¯t kill you while you sleep.  The man thrives on violence.  Especially when he drinks.¡±


    Kill me?    Vara panicked and tried to yell but Zelicia snapped her fingers.  Something invisible covered her mouth.   Vara still screamed, yet not sound escaped her lips.


    ¡°Go ahead.  Shout your pretty little tits off.¡±


    Vara tried, confounded by her inability to make noise.  Her breath quickened as sweat beaded on her forehead.


    Zelicia watcher her struggle as she slowly moved to check her son¡¯s forehead.  ¡°His fever has broken.  You were right about that.¡±  She walked back to stand in front of Vara.  ¡°Here¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen.  My husband will confront your master, and afterward I¡¯ll speak to Zalarius on your behalf.¡±  Zelicia stepped close to Vara.  The sorceress put her palms on the front on Vara¡¯s hips, forcing her back against the wall.  ¡°I won¡¯t let the priest fuck you anymore.  That means I¡¯ll have to buy you from him.  You¡¯ll be mine.¡±  Zelicia¡¯s hands moved slowly up Vara¡¯s body until she held Vara¡¯s face by the cheeks. ¡°Understand?¡±  The she let Vara¡¯s go and took a small step back.


    Silence filled the small room.   Slowly Vara spoke, refusing to be cowed.  ¡°I don¡¯t want to be owned.  Not by him, not by you.¡±


    Zelicia¡¯s grin disappeared.  Her eyeballs became coal black.  ¡°What a brave little bitch.¡±


    An unseen force gripped Vara¡¯s injured forearm and squeezed.  Vara¡¯s pained squeals were silenced.  The pain drove her to the ground until she lay on her side.   It¡¯s true.  She¡¯s a sorceress.


    Zelicia looked down at her, those black eyes boring into her.  ¡°You¡¯ll work at the temple during the day.  At night, you¡¯ll wait tables at the Inn of the Wayward Soul.  You¡¯ll bring every rumor, story, or whatever news directly to me.  After a few months, if I deem you worthy, I¡¯ll allow you learn the healing arts.  Someday, after you¡¯ve served me well and without question, I¡¯ll free you from my service.  Now stand.¡±


    The squeezing sensation on her forearm vanished.  Vara lay there for a moment, recovering.  She looked up through wet eyes and saw Zelicia looking down at her, her eyes normal once more.  Vara stood, so nervous she was shaking.  Sorcerous Bitch.


    Zelicia pointed toward the door.  ¡°Go.  Wait for Kas outside.  He¡¯ll give you further instruction.¡±


    Vara walked past the woman, but Zelicia gripped her by her bicep and stopped her.  The woman whispered in her ear.  ¡°If you run, I¡¯ll find you.  Speak nothing of our deal to my husband or someone much worse than Zalarius will be your next master.¡±


    Zelicia released her.  Vara hurried toward the steps, taking them two at a time.  Once up the steps, she out the back door.


    Once outside Vara rushed down the muddy street at a run.  Only she had nowhere to go.  I wish I had never left home.  If home was even there.  She¡¯d heard of the attack in the North, and knew that even if her village had been spared, her family and Kavin would never have her. He¡¯d never have a whore for a wife.


    So she ran and cried, then staggered to a stop.  From ahead she saw a wagon led by four horses trudging through the muddy street.  She watched it approach, knowing it was Kas come with the wagon.  She looked in between two buildings into the night, knowing there was nothing out there for her.  Nothing but the shadow wizard, who had also promised to free her if she served his purposes.  She wondered why everyone wanted to enslave her.


    Vara leaned against a post.  She dried her eyes again, just as Kas pulled the wagon to a halt.


    He said, ¡°Best stay away from the temple for few days.   Till I¡¯ve spoken with Zalarius.¡±  He pointed to the Inn across the street.   ¡°Innkeeper¡¯s name is Sculpa.  Tell him I said you need a room for a few days.  He¡¯ll put you up and see you fed.¡±


    She nodded.  ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Nobody in this town will ever be a slave, not so long as I breathe.¡±


    What little he knows.  How did such an honorable man end up with such a conniving bitch for a wife?  One day someone will treat her worse than she¡¯s ever treated anyone.  And I¡¯ll laugh.


    Just then several lightning bolts arced across the sky.  Seconds later, ominous thunder reverberated, so close it shook her.


    As large, heavy drops started to fall, Vara hurried across the street.  Then she made her way to the Inn of the Wayward Souls, thinking if the name held meaning it was perhaps where she belonged.

 Chapter 14 - Animus

    Chapter 14 - Animus


    It had been a long few weeks for Animus.  Recovery from Stiggler¡¯s fever was one of the worst experiences of his life.  He¡¯d spent weeks in a sick bed at the temple where he remembered little in the feverish instances when he was conscious.   Not once did I see Vara.


    In the last few days it had been the tall, fat priest called Zalarius.  Animus cared little for the man.  And it was the priest that had brought him another bowl of that awful brown soup.  It was the only sustenance they brought Animus since he became conscious.  More than once in the midst of eating it he¡¯d puked it right back up again.  Animus had refused to eat it when the other servants spoon-fed it to him.  But Zalarius was more insistent.


    Animus knew he was recovering his strength because it was the first day he had been able to speak.  Animus said, ¡°Uh-uh. Taste like pig¡¯s bile.¡±


    Zalarius arched two eyebrows at him.  ¡°How would you know?  Spoiled shit like you¡¯s never eating anything like that.  Never had to eat spoiled meat, rations with maggots pouring from them, have you?¡±


    Animus didn¡¯t answer.  Nobody outside his family ever spoke with such abrasion.


    Zalarius pushed the spoon up to his mouth.  ¡°You¡¯ll eat it.  One way or another.¡±


    Animus¡¯s skin tingled.  He¡¯s not bluffing. And he¡¯d seen with his own eyes that Zalarius was quite capable of forcing it down his throat.  Animus watched the man force Leir to eat it when Animus shared a room with the ailing lumberjack.  Zalarius forced the man¡¯s mouth open as if the bear worshipper had only the strength of a child.   If Leir felt as week as me, that¡¯s all the strength he had.


    Even if that had not been the case, Animus wasn¡¯t certain it would¡¯ve made a difference.  There was something about Zalarius that sent chills up his spine.  There was power in the man¡¯s scolding brown eyes.


    Animus opened his mouth, steeling himself for the rotten taste of the liquid.


    ¡°Pinch your nose.  Helps to get it down,¡± Zalarius said.


    Animus pinched.  As the spoon entered his mouth, he quickly swallowed.  Then gagged.  He rolled to the side, certain he was going to puke.  ¡°How much longer do I have to eat this?¡±


    The priest grunted.  ¡°Few more days. You keep this bowl down, tonight you¡¯ll get a bowl of regular porridge.  Maybe a piece of bread.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like porridge.¡±


    ¡°Another bowl of the brown then.¡±


    Animus reconsidered.  ¡°Porridge then.  But why do I have to eat this brown goo?¡±


    ¡°Sure you want to know?¡±


    Animus nodded.  Then immediately regretted it.   He¡¯s actually grinning.


    ¡°Spoiled shit wants a dose of the real world, does he?¡±


    Animus nodded.


    ¡°Stigglers are worms. Tics fall from the trees and land on you, then burrow and then lay their eggs under your skin.  These ticks are what cause Stigglers.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Animus said.


    ¡°The eggs hatch the worms, what you know as ¡°Stiggler¡¯s¡±.  Little fellows start moving almost at once, so small you can¡¯t see them without the aid of magic, burrow until they find blood.  Then they feast.  Grow.  Think of a plant potted in fresh soil.  That¡¯s about when the pain consumes ya.¡±


    ¡°Usually takes a week for them to kill a man.  Women it takes longer, almost two weeks, sometimes three.  If it kills them at all.  Seems if you¡¯ve got a pair of tits you got about a fifty-fifty chance of beating it.  Men though?  Rarely survive.¡±


    Animus swallowed.  ¡°I¡¯m going to die?¡±


    ¡°Soup changes the odds.  Makes it more likely for men to survive.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    Zalarius smiled wide.


    Animus could see how oddly white the man¡¯s teeth were.   The man has white teeth.  Never seen teeth that white on anyone other than mother and Yayisha.


    The priest spooned the soup. ¡°It¡¯s made of rotten meat.  Ground maggots.  Spoiled eggs.  Rotted meat.  All ground up.  Liquefied.¡±


    Animus started to gag.


    The priest continued, ¡°It¡¯s where my magic comes in.  Healing Essence takes the rot from the mix.  Makes it congeal.  Like blood.  Makes it bearable for the body.  Usually.¡±


    Zalarius continued, ¡°Soup appeals to the worms more than your blood.  Draws them into your stomach.  Maybe the acids there helps do the little shits in.  If not, they¡¯ll get stuck in the soup.  Essence mixed with the soup traps them.  Body won¡¯t digest the brown.  You just shit it out.¡±


    That¡¯s why I¡¯ve had the squats.  ¡°What have I been eating then if I can¡¯t digest any of this?¡±


    Zalarius shrugged.  ¡°Nothing.  Water¡¯s all that¡¯s keeping you alive.  It¡¯s why you eat porridge tonight.  Have to feed you soon.  Else you¡¯ll die.¡±


    ¡°What if the worms don¡¯t all die before I start eating real food again?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°Better hope last few days of soup gets them.  Else, you die.¡± Zalarius stood, putting the reeking soup on the bedside table.  ¡°No more babying you.  Strong enough to talk, strong enough to feed yourself.  Eat it or not.  Your choice.¡±  The priest jutted his hand to the tub.  ¡°I¡¯ll have a servant fill the tub.   When they do, take a bath.  You smell worse than the brown.¡±


    Animus grimaced.  Yet he gripped the spoon and pinched his nose.  I hate that man.


    He had fallen asleep soon after he¡¯d finished the brown, the effort of eating it having taken all of his energy.  An insistent knocking at the door woke him.   They never knocked before.  Why now?


    ¡°Come in,¡± Animus said.


    The door opened.  His mother entered the room, hands clasped together.  She smiled at him.  Behind her was father, who looked every bit as somber as he was several weeks ago.  Then Animus¡¯s heart dropped into his stomach.  Following them, carrying a tray of porridge, was Vara.  Animus looked at the tub, which was still steaming with fresh water.  He was absolutely mortified.  I didn¡¯t bathe!


    Dressed only in simply green robes, Vara still managed to make herself more attractive than the prettiest of tavern maids. Lealla and Saddra can¡¯t even compare to her.  Her blonde hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, which she wore tucked into her bosom.  As she approached, Animus couldn¡¯t help but stare as she leaned over to place the tray on the table next to his bed.   How does she get her breasts to squeeze together like that?  Or do they do it on their own?


    His mother drew his attention away when she sat next to him and placed her hand on his forehead.  Zelicia grinned, her eyes leaving his and finding Vara, who stood straight, her hands pulled behind her back.  ¡°You¡¯ve met Zalarius¡¯s assistant, I see.¡±


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    It was not a question. ¡°I¡ª.¡± What does she know?


    ¡°Shush,¡± Mother said.  ¡°We¡¯ve come to speak to you of other matters.  Are you able to understand me?¡±


    Animus nodded.  ¡°I am.  Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡±


    His father answered, tapping his own temple. ¡°Sometimes the worms burrow into your skull.  Leaves some missing bits of their mind.¡±


    ¡°You were lucky,¡± mother said.  ¡°Zalarius came from the South and knew how to best deal with it.  We could¡¯ve lost you.¡±


    ¡°Stop babying him.  The boy¡¯s fine,¡± Kas said.  He waived his hand at Vara.  ¡°Leave us.¡±


    Vara nodded and quickly left, chin pointing toward the floor.  She barely looked at me.


    The door latched shut, and Kas stood at the foot of his bed.  His father folded his massive arms across his chest, something he did when Animus was in trouble.   Here it comes¡­


    ¡°You¡¯re mother and I have discussed your age.  And lack of responsibility.¡±


    Animus swallowed hard. He forced himself to meet his father¡¯s eyes, felt his lips wavering.  Knew I would get in trouble.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for you to become an apprentice and learn a trade.¡±


    ¡°Trades,¡± Zelicia said.  ¡°You¡¯ll have two.¡±


    ¡°Two?  The other boys in town only have one,¡± Animus said.  He was less than thrilled.  He¡¯d known he was going to get put to work eventually.  Animus knew that Just learning one kept the other boys in town busy from sunup until sundown.


    [/i] No more dips in the lake.  Animus remembered when Baizee had suggested swimming with him one evening.  Just the two of them.  But he knew that had been before everything had happened.  [i] Before Yayisha hurt Sterl.


    ¡°You¡¯re our son.  As such, we expect you to handle both,¡± mother said.


    ¡°What will I be doing?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°Blacksmithing with me in the mornings.  I¡¯ll expect you in the smithy at dawn.  Every day.¡±


    At dawn?  Every day?


    ¡°After lunch, you¡¯ll come to the temple.  Where I¡¯ll see you have instruction.  I¡¯ll have tutors brought in as necessary.  To instruct you when I cannot,¡±  his mother said.


    His father¡¯s nose wrinkled.  ¡°He¡¯s no warlock.¡±


    Mother whipped her head toward him.  ¡°We¡¯ve discussed this, husband.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mean I have to like it,¡± Kas said.  ¡°The boy needs to be taught more than just smithing.¡±


    ¡°What, you¡¯d have him run off and join the war in the South?¡±  Mother asked.


    ¡°I¡¯d not send my son to fight in that infested swamp!  Still, he needs to learn the sword.  To defend himself,¡± Kas said.


    His Mother¡¯s eyebrows rose.  ¡°I¡¯ve never used one.  I can defend myself just fine.¡±


    ¡°A man should know how to swing the sword he carries.  It¡¯s the smith¡¯s way.¡± Kas said.


    ¡°Which you¡¯ve told me many times.  Only, you¡¯re an armorer smith, remember?  You don¡¯t make blades.¡±  Zelicia said.


    ¡°You know what I mean.  I can teach him the sword with the other boys in the afternoon.  You can have him in the evening,¡± Kas said.


    Zelicia stood.  Her eyes went coal black.  ¡°This was already settled.  Why cause the fuss in front of him?¡±


    Kas scowled, not backing down nor moving.  How can he not fear mother?


    Kas moved his eyes to Animus and said, ¡°Boy should determine his own way.  Let him choose.¡±


    For a long moment, one that seemed to drag for eternity, his mother and father stared at him.  Green electricity crackled at his mother¡¯s fingertips.  His father seemed more imposing than ever. Each looks like they¡¯ll kill me if I don¡¯t¡¯ do what they want me to.


    Mother said, ¡°Go on.  Decide.  Do you wish to learn the follies of war?  Or the glory of magic?¡±


    What am I supposed to say? Either way I make one of them mad.


    ¡°Well?¡±  Kas asked. ¡°Speak your mind, boy.¡±


    Animus sat up straighter in bed, his mind whirling.  Certainly he wanted to be able to handle himself like father.  He¡¯d seen father take on three or four men at once in bar fights.   Definitely want to be able to do that. Animus wondered how good his father was with weapons.  Other than seeing him teaching the older boys the basics, he had no idea.  Yet he knew he wanted to learn the sword.  More than almost anything.  He thought if he grew stronger as a blacksmith, closer to father, then one day he could learn the sword.


    Mother, though, was very powerful.  What he¡¯d seen her do to Leir with but a wisk of her hands was something mere swordplay would never able to accomplish.  That and she had healed his wounds, too.  What if when he was older and on his own he came across a sorceress.  Or worse, a warlock?  The blade would him little good.


    Slowly, he rose to shaky feet and faced his parents.  And he made certain he looked into father¡¯s eyes when he spoke.  ¡°Magic.¡±


    His father stayed silent, only huffed air through nostrils.  Kas''s hands tightened into fists.  He glared at Animus, but slowly nodded. Does he hate me?


    Kas turned his angry gaze to his wife.  ¡°Foolish woman.  You¡¯ve corrupted our daughter.  Is that not enough for you?  Take him then, teach him what he desires.  But I¡¯ll still teach him blacksmithing.  Every morning.¡±  He pointed his finger at his wife.  ¡°To the hells with you, woman.¡±


    Zelicia¡¯s smile faded, but she nodded.  ¡°As agreed, husband.¡±


    He gripped the wooden chair at the foot of Animus¡¯s bed and hurled it against the far wall.  The chair shattered as if glass, small fragments splashing in the bath water.  He yelled, ¡°Stay up in this cursed temple of yours, woman.   I¡¯ll not share sheets with you again!¡±


    Zelicia nodded.  ¡°But our agreement still stands?¡±


    The anger faded from Kas for a few moments.  His fists unclenched.  After another huff through his nose, Kas nodded.  ¡°As agreed, so it stands.¡±


    Animus felt his skin tingling.   What just happened?


    Kas faced him once more. ¡°Soon as you¡¯re strength his back, you¡¯re to meet me every morning in the smithy.  You understand, son?¡±


    Animus nodded. ¡°Yes, father.¡±


    With a final nod, Kas turned and left the room, leaving the door open behind him.


    Mother raised his hand, twisted her wrist, and the door closed.  Then she pinched his cheek and smiled.  ¡°That went much better than I expected.¡±


    Better?

 Chapter 15 - Yayisha

    Chapter 15 ¨C Yayisha


    Yayisha strode across the roof of the temple.  Energy cracked on her fingertips as she strode carefully amidst the large, decorative shrubs that towered over her on either side of the path.  The garden in which she walked dominated the temple¡¯s roof.


    Her skin tingled as soon as she rounded a corner.  Down the intersecting pathway about fifteen feet from her was a summoned creature constructed mostly of hay and plants, its unnatural eyes lit with mystical fire.  Crude hands rose over its head, forming a bolt of black energy.  It hurled the sphere at her.


    She dove for cover behind an oversized clay vase.  Yayisha twisted her body mid-air and landed, skidding clumsily onto her backside.  Sweat drenched her entire body.  A troublesome drip of it fell from a wisp of her black hair.  It landed in her eye, the burning sensation aggravating her even further.  Mother¡¯s had me up here for hours with this whelp.


    This ¡°whelp¡± was a man named Dayl, a warlock mother had summoned to mentor and test Yayisha¡¯s magical skills.  He had a constant grin on his fat face, two skinny legs and a bald head.  He¡¯d been at the temple for two weeks, teaching Yayisha how to throw magic.  And Yayisha knew it was not just coincidence that he started teaching just two days after she had inadvertently hurt Sterl.


    Mother says he¡¯ll be fine.  And yet, Yayisha had not been permitted outside the temple since the incident.  In fact, the only time she ever got to see the sky was when Dayl was training her on the roof of the temple.


    Yayisha stood and formed her own ball of fire.  It was yellow and green and only half the size of Dayl¡¯s bolts of energy.  As the enchanted straw man rounded the corner, she pushed the magical sphere toward it.  The clumsy figure hurled its own black ball of energy at her right after hers exploded into the creature, incinerating it.  Yayisha dove, this time more smoothly, easily dodging the poorly thrown magic which flew down the path behind her.  She rolled to the balls of her feet behind a clay pot.


    That should be all of his summoned creatures.  Now it¡¯s just me and the whelp.


    She frowned.  Why hadn¡¯t there been an explosion from the energy hitting something?  She looked back to where the ball should have flown and gasped.   The black ball hovered in mid-air, not ten feet from her.  Two green eyes appeared in the black fire of the flame.  Its eyes narrowed as it formed a wicked grin, its smile an orange flame.


    Yayisha¡¯s eyes widened.


    A voice yelled from somewhere in in the roof garden.  ¡°Didn¡¯t see that coming, did you, Little One?¡±


    Little One?  I¡¯m taller than him buy a foot!  He¡¯s trying to distract me.


    The flaming orb zoomed toward her.  She leapt and dove to the right.  The orb smashed into the clay pot she¡¯d been using for cover, shattering it.  Clay and soil debris exploded.  A sharp fragment from the pot clipped the skin between the knuckles of her left hand, slicing her skin.


    She ignored the spark of pain and jumped to her feet.  Rage filled her.  He dares draw blood?   She yelled, ¡°That¡¯s not fair!  You haven¡¯t taught me how to¡ª¡°


    A black ball burst through the brush of a thick, weedy plant and exploded into her left side.  Heat seemed to burn the skin from her body, though she knew the magical bolts that Dayl threw at her left no marks.  Still, the shock and pain took the breath from her.  The momentum of the blow thrust her into another clay pot across the narrow path.  Her hip smacked into the lip of it.  The pot held its form, which thrust Yayisha¡¯s upper body into the Wayal Bush it held.  The long barbs and vines of the plant wrapped around her arms, legs, and chest.  Yayisha found herself quickly entangled.


    Dayl laughed.  ¡°Do you think this a child¡¯s game of Warriors and Castles?¡±


    ¡°You told me the rules!  You said only bolts of energy!¡±  Yayisha yelled, trying to free herself from the vines.


    ¡°Rules?  In combat, there are no rules.¡±


    The fat man strode around the corner, his thick red robes clean and untouched by their confrontation.  In both hands were smiling balls of flame.  ¡°I¡¯ve served in both wars, Little One.  Fought in battles you¡¯ve but imagined.  How did you ever expect to beat me?¡±


    Yayisha tried to stand but the Wayal Bush¡¯s vines were strong and sinewy.  A particularly nasty vine had someone wrapped all the way around her waist and chest.


    ¡°Little One, do you know the many uses of the Wayal in which you are entangled?  Castle defenders plant these along its moats to entangle and trip charging men to make them easier targets for archers atop the tower walls.  Trappers often place their traps near them so they catch injured game that had managed to escape their traps.  Hunters herd animals into groves of them.¡±


    And I let this cretin herd me right the section of the garden where they are grown.  It was a mistake she¡¯d never make again.


    ¡°Let me up, fat man.¡±


    Dayl shook his head.  ¡°Afraid not.  Why, I¡¯ve already summoned these.  It¡¯d be a shame to waste them.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡±


    The fat man smirked and held out his hands.  ¡°Wouldn¡¯t I?¡±


    The black spheres floated out of his hands, hovering just above him.


    ¡°Let me out of here!¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡±  Dayl pushed his hands forward.  The balls sped right at her and then dove at the last moment, crashing into the clay pot that held the prickly bush that entangled her.  Pot and soil exploded all around her.


    Moments later, she found herself laying on the ground, her arms and legs scratched and bleeding.  Several barbs were buried all over her skin, the thick branch was still wrapped around her torso.


    Yayisha screamed.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for now, Warlock Dayl,¡± Zelicia said as she appeared next to the man.  Her eyebrows arched as her eyes settled on Yayisha.  ¡°I¡¯d say she¡¯s lost this one.¡±


    Mother¡¯s been watching all this time?  How embarrassing!


    Dayl bowed.  ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave, if it pleases my liege?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it pleases me.  Take the rest of the day for yourself.  Take any of the town¡¯s whores for yourself.¡±


    ¡°All two of them, milady?¡±


    Zelicia said, ¡°I sent for more.  Soon we¡¯ll have a dozen more, all Southern Beauties.  Seems some refugees from the war will do anything for shelter.¡±  Zelicia looked down at her daughter.  ¡°If this one doesn¡¯t improve, perhaps I¡¯ll let you have the honor of bleeding her.¡±


    Dayl¡¯s eyes widened.


    Yayisha couldn¡¯t believe what she¡¯d just heard.  She wouldn¡¯t allow that scoundrel to touch me.  Would she?


    ¡°Off with you, Dayl.  I¡¯ve a daughter to scold,¡± Zelicia said.


    ¡°As you command,¡± the warlock said.  He casually turned and disappeared down a hedge row.  But not without peering down at Yayisha one last time.


    He hungers for me like the rest of the men.  I can see it in his eyes.


    ¡°How could you lose to him again?¡±  Mother said.


    ¡°Mother, he caught me by surprise.  I¡ª¡°


    Zelicia twisted her wrist and squeezed her hand.  The prickly vine tightened.   Yayisha shrieked, the pain so intense it brought tears to her eyes.


    ¡°Two weeks with the man, to learn and defeat him.  And I find you laying helpless and beaten again.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know he control the energy like that.  Yesterday he just threw them straight and¡ª¡°


    The vine tightened.  Yayisha closer her eyes, trying to ignore the pain.  Suddenly, she felt herself floating off the ground.


    When she opened her eyes, Yayisha was still wrapped in the vine, floating with her feet nearly touching the stone floor of the rooftop.  Standing a mere foot away from her, Zelicia balled her fist and swung at her face.


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    Yayisha kicked forward with both feet.  Mother dropped her fist and darted to the side, grabbing both of Yayisha¡¯s feet.  Zelicia swung her sideways.  Yayisha flew through the air.  As she watched the ground grow closer, she closed her eyes, dreading the impact.


    She didn¡¯t hit the ground.  Instead she floated there, looking at mother from her horizontal pose in midair.


    Two green flaming spheres appeared in mother¡¯s hands, matching Dayl¡¯s own spheres in size.  Zelicia said, ¡°The man is a master of offense.  Keep running from him, and you¡¯ll never win.  When confronted with powerful men, remember this:  they¡¯re still men.  Most of them think with their cocks before anything else.  Most are conceited, quick to pounce on the weak.  Powerful men are often aggressive.  And unfortunately, the most powerful of them are physically disgusting.  Sound familiar?¡±


    Yayisha nodded.  ¡°Dayl.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s all those things.  Remember these things the next time you face the man.  And you better beat him.¡±  Zelicia twisted her wrist.  Yayisha spun as the thick vine was ripped from around her.  She yelped as her back slammed into the ground under her.


    Yayisha blacked out for a moment.  When she opened her eyes, mother knelt above her, mending all of her wounds, even the most menial of scratches.


    ¡°Thank you, mother.¡±  Perhaps if I show her respect, she¡¯ll let me go see Sterl.


    Her mother smiled.  ¡°Of course, daughter.¡±


    Then Zelicia leaned forward and grabbed a handful of her daughter¡¯s hair.  ¡°Let that man defeat you again, and I¡¯ll make you his apprentice.  And you know what masters are allowed to do to their apprentices?¡±


    Yayisha nodded.  ¡°Anything they want.¡±


    Without another word, mother stood and left her on the rooftop.


    She wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.  Not to me.  Would she?


    Still, Yayisha shook.  She was completely, utterly terrified.


    Later that evening, Yayisha tip-toed into the temple hallway, sticking to the shadows near the walls as much as possible.  Barely a soul wandered the halls that late at night, and bypassing the bar her father had installed on the outside of her door had been easily bypassed with her magic.


    She moved down several flights of steps, her heart pattering.  Hopefully mother will not find out I¡¯ve left my room.  Not yet.


    Finally she ended up in the guest¡¯s halls, which were empty except for three rooms.  Animus was in one, apparently recovering from Stiggler¡¯s fever.  I couldn¡¯t get lucky enough for him to die.  Yet he still could end up slow. Or worse. Which will make him easier prey.  It was tempting to try and sneak into his room and finish him, but mother would not have made it so easy for her.  When Yayisha looked closely at his door, Yayisha sensed the magic coursing all around the room.  It was as she thought.  You live another day, brother.


    Sterl¡¯s cousin Lier wasted away in another room, the Stiggler¡¯s still eating away at his body.  He¡¯ll be dead soon.  She wondered how close him and Sterl were, hoping not at all.  Yayisha still pined to see Sterl, and knew that him not being brought to the temple was mother¡¯s doing.  She has no right keeping me from him.


    Finally, Yayisha approached the last door.  Her hands were shaking as she knocked lightly. She took a deep breath and steadied herself, putting on what she thought was a shy smile that she¡¯d practiced for hours in her mirror.


    Dayl opened the door, a crack at first.  Upon seeing Yayisha in nothing but a black silky robe that barely covered her rump, he opened the door further.  ¡°Yayisha.  I wasn¡¯t expecting visitors.  It¡¯s late.  You should return to your quarters at once.¡±


    But his eyes reflected other notions.


    She tried her shy smile which was more believable when she actually blushed, though she hadn¡¯t planned on that.  I¡¯m so nervous!  ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep.  And after what you did to me during our duel this morning¡­.¡± She paused, opening her robe to show reveal more of her breasts, ¡°It made me want you even more.¡±


    He licked his lips, eyes gawking at her nearly exposed breasts.  ¡°More?¡±


    I must take him quickly.  Before mother finds us.


    Yayisha pushed her way in the door, wrapping her arms around his neck.  She pressed her lips into the older man¡¯s own.  He staggered backward, and with her bare foot she gently shut the door behind them, hearing to latch behind her.


    It wasn¡¯t how she ever dreamed her first kiss would happen.


    Dayl groaned.  Yayisha felt his hands groping at her breasts but she pressed into him until her nipples pressed hard against him through her robe.  His hands skidded roughly down her sides and settled on her narrow hips.


    Thoroughly disgusted, Yayisha forced herself to groan as if actually turned on by him.  Dayl responded by gripping Yayisha¡¯s firm ass with both hands.  Her eyes flung open as she felt another part of him pressing against her left thigh.  Yayisha forced herself to groan again.


    Yayisha pulled her lips away from him and placed both her hands on Dayl¡¯s face.  ¡°Do you find me attractive?¡±


    In response, Dayl gripped her ass even tighter.


    ¡°Do you?¡±  Yayisha asked him again.


    ¡°Yes, yes.  Of course.¡±


    ¡°Do you wish to fuck me, warlock?¡±


    ¡°Of course!  What warm-blooded man wouldn¡¯t?¡±


    Yayisha groaned again.  ¡°Then let me give it to you.¡±


    Yayisha created two lethal balls of energy in the palms of her hands, both of which were still squeezing Dayl¡¯s face.  She willed all of her power into them and forced them away from her.


    Dayl didn¡¯t even have a chance to scream.  His face, brains, and skull exploded through the back of his skull.


    Yayisha watched the faceless corpse fall.  Peering down at her first felled warlock, she shivered and wasted little time as she walked over to his bed and sat on its edge, crossing her legs and tightening her robe.


    Moments later, Zelicia burst into the room.  At first, her eyes widened as she glanced at Dayl¡¯s corpse.  Her eyes immediately became coal black as an energy shield formed all around her.  She scanned the entire room before settling her eyes on her daughter.  ¡°Well?¡±


    Yayisha smiled.  ¡°Guess I¡¯ll be needing a new mentor.¡±


    Yayisha had the momentary appreciation of seeing her mother¡¯s surprise.


    It took nearly a minute, but eventually mother¡¯s eyes returned to normal.  To her daughter¡¯s surprise, Zelicia nodded and said.  ¡°You killed him.  Seeing no immediate way to ensure victory the next time you faced him, you used your womanly wiles to catch him unawares?¡±


    Yayisha nodded, shocked mother figured out her plan without any explanation.


    Mother smiled.  ¡°For once, I¡¯m proud of you.¡±


    End Chapter


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 Chapter 16 - Animus

    Chapter 16 ¨C Animus


    ¡°Up, boy.¡±


    Animus opened his eyes.  His father stood over him in the twilight of the coming day.  Dressed in a rustic leather set of armor, a dented helm and scabbard was tied at his belt, a small buckler strapped to his left forearm.


    ¡°Papa, what¡ª?¡±


    His fingers crossed his lips as he leaned closer to whisper in Animus¡¯s ear.  ¡°Get dressed.  I¡¯ve lain out what I expect you to wear.  Quiet.  Quick.  No questions.  Not till we¡¯re far from the town.¡±


    Animus started to ask another question, but a low growl from his father hushed him.  Why so secretive?  Where are we going?  But there was no asking questions, so Animus swung his legs from the bed, wiggling his toes against the cold stone floor of his room.  He flexed his fingers, relieved that there was only minor aching in them.  Zalarius said the soreness would last for months.


    It had been two months already.  Still, the soreness lingered.   Yet where at first every joint in his body ached, for the last few weeks it was only his fingers.  If the aches completely disappear, I¡¯m free of Stiggler¡¯s.  For good.


    It was his first week where he was permitted to sleep at home.  It had become a quiet house, slept in only by him and his father, who barely spoke to Animus.  If he did it was a command to do chores or to go to bed.  Since Animus¡¯s strength was slow to return, father hadn¡¯t let him work at the smithy in the mornings, instead insisting he sleep.  Which was a good thing, for Animus still felt fatigued, often sleeping from dusk until mid-day.


    Always mother sent a servant to summon him to the temple.  He¡¯d study there every night, with mother or another mentor that she has summoned to the temple from some far-off town or village.  Each tested him differently.  Every night, he came home utterly exhausted, some nights barely able to eat before collapsing back to bed.


    Animus was curious why father picked that particular morning to get him up early.  And it was that curiosity that gave him an unusual burst of energy.  Quickly he dressed, then followed father out of the cabin¡¯s back door into the pre-dawn light.


    In the yard two horses were saddled, heads lowered and nibbling at the thick grass.  Father called his mount Fire which seemed a fitting name.  It was a tall, black steed with a red and white-peppered mane.  The horse always nipped at him, more than once leaving painful marks that never broke skin.  That bedeviled horse hates me.


    Next to Fire was a docile mare name Lilith.  The horse loved everyone, letting even the smallest of children ride it.  Smooth and slow, Lilith gave rides to children in the village at Festival time.  Which I missed thanks to Stiggler¡¯s Fever.  Animus realized his father picked the docile horse for him.  Not that I can blame him.  I spend more time asleep than awake.


    Father mounted, motioning Animus to do the same.  With little effort Animus climbed atop the horse¡¯s back.  Animus pulled himself straight into the saddle, feeling strong.  The cool morning air tingled against his exposed skin, yet felt great.  Where is he taking me, I wonder?


    Kas rode towards the woods just beyond the clear green field that was their back yard.   Father weaved his horse onto a barely noticeable game path that wove deeper into the forest.  Animus knew the path led to the family cabin.  He¡¯d been there with father many times, carrying food or wine casks or other household items back and forth.  Something was different this trip.  Because father wore armor.  He only wears that when he¡¯s training the older boys how to fight.


    Fifteen minutes later found them on their third small game trail.  Had someone been looking for their cabin and couldn¡¯t track, they would have found it difficult.  After weaving onto a fourth trail, they arrived at the cabin.


    Father dismounted and went inside the cabin.  Animus followed.  Once inside, he felt welcomed by the familiar surroundings.  The fireplace dominated the far wall, fresh wood in the hearth unlit.  There was a time long ago when all four of them used to spend days at a time there.  Good time.  I didn¡¯t even hate Yayisha then.


    ¡°Eat,¡± father said.


    Animus turned his attention to the wooden table at the other end of the main room.  There he found two bowls of porridge, a loaf of bread and a small mound of butter.


    Kas sat at the table, motioning Animus to the opposite bench.  ¡°Sit and eat your fill.  The sun may fall before we eat again.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°First, we eat.  We¡¯ll talk as father and son should.  Afterward, I tell you.  Fair enough?¡±


    He¡¯s speaking to me like he used to.  Before Yayisha ruined my life.


    His father took the bread and dipped it into the porridge, then dolloped half the butter into the bowl.  With the wooden spoon he mixed it all together.  He said, ¡°Baizee¡¯s been asking about you.¡±


    More than asking.  She¡¯s walked me to the temple three days in a row, always asking if I will go swimming.  But Animus didn¡¯t mention that.  He said, ¡°Her father doesn¡¯t like me.¡±


    Father grinned.  ¡°Baizee does.  She¡¯s offered to make you breakfast or lunch before you go to the temple every day this week, you know that?  Been by the smithy so often I almost put her to work.¡±


    Animus ate two big scoops of his oatmeal, then two more, hoping to give himself time to come up with an excuse not to answer.


    ¡°Woman acting like that wants more than breakfast,¡± Kas said.


    Animus felt himself getting warm.  ¡°I don¡¯t like her, I¡ª¡°


    ¡°Hogs balls.  What¡¯s not to like?  She¡¯s an attractive young woman.  Those big¡ª¡°


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about her.¡±


    Kas shrugged, smiling ¡°Suit yourself.  So you know, there¡¯s a leaf you¡¯ll need to chew.  Makes it near impossible for you to seed her.¡±


    Seed?  ¡°Are you talking about¡­?


    ¡°Aye, boy.  Sex.  You¡¯re at the age.  Taller than most.  Once we put muscle on you, many women will take notice.  You¡¯ll catch their eyes on you as you walk by.  And if you¡¯re working, it¡¯s even worse.  Women love to see a man working.  Quickest way under a woman¡¯s skirt.¡±


    ¡°Can we just eat, please?¡±  Animus asked.  ¡°Please?¡±


    His father laughed.  ¡°Just chew the leaf, eh?  Your mother won¡¯t appreciate any unexpected grandchildren.  Not that I wouldn¡¯t pay all the gold in the bottom of the Pearl Ocean to see her face if you¡­.¡±  His laugh faded and his eyes sobered.  ¡°You seed a girl, it would make her a fast enemy of your mother.¡±


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    Animus swallowed, mortified.  The thought of mother¡¯s wrath if he and Baizee¡­  ¡°Where is this leaf?¡±


    ¡°Grows wild all around Haver.  I¡¯ll show it to you on our trip.  Fair enough?  Won¡¯t even ask about Baizee or any other woman, eh?¡±


    Animus nodded.  ¡°Deal.¡±


    They finished eating.  Then they were on their way.


    Father led him through several more game paths for several hours, weaving their horses into gullies, up small hills, and through streams Animus did not recognize.  This is the farthest I¡¯ve been from Haver.


    After several hours, father¡¯s horse eclipsed a tall hill and stopped, waiving Animus forward.  As he pulled next to father, he gasped.  Ahead of them in the valley below was a small village.  Plumes of smoke wound from cottages chimneys.  A brown-painted temple dominated the middle of town, a statue of some sort erected in the stone marketplace just in front of the temple.


    ¡°What is this place?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°Woplin.  Started as a lumberjack camp and grew.  Peaceful place until the priests showed up with their petty god.¡±  Kas pointed to the temple.  ¡°Bear worshippers.  It¡¯s the second village in these mountains to have such a temple.  Whole town¡¯s changed since that temple was built.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Leir worship the bears?¡±


    ¡°He did.¡±


    ¡°Did?¡±


    ¡°Died early this morning, boy.  Worms burrowed out of his skull in the middle of the night.¡±


    The thought of that terrified Animus.  ¡°How¡ªpapa I just saw him last week sitting up in bed.  Sterl was visiting him.  Leir was smiling, papa,¡± Animus said.


    His father grunted.  ¡°Thought he might make it myself.  But he didn¡¯t.  It¡¯s part of why we¡¯re here.¡±


    A sadness enveloped Animus.  Sterl¡¯s just lost his cousin.  Animus pulled himself together and asked, ¡°Papa. Why¡¯re we here?¡±


    ¡°Dalpa wanted his kin put to rest by a Bear Priest.  This was the closest one.  I¡¯ve come to request the priest travel back with us.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Dalpa have made this journey as kin to Leir?¡±


    Kas nodded.  ¡°Your mother¡¯s taught you well.  But Dalpa requested I come in his stead.  As part of our agreement.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Animus said.


    ¡°Dalpa blames your mother for Leir¡¯s illness.  And you and Yayisha for Sterl¡¯s injury.  He¡¯s assured me all will be forgiven if I bring back the priest to lay Leir to rest.¡±


    ¡°What did mother say about that?¡±  Animus asked.


    His father took a deep breath and shrugged.  ¡°This has nothing to do with her.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t know?¡±


    Kas shook his head.


    Uh-oh.? ¡°Won¡¯t she be angry?¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡±


    ¡°Did you tell her you were bringing me?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t want to get in the middle of it, did you?¡±


    Animus shook his head.


    ¡°Too long you¡¯ve been sheltered.  Well, no longer.  You¡¯ll accompany me on all trips I take from the village.  Time for you to see a bit of the world.¡±


    That sounds great.  If I didn¡¯t know that mother will be furious.  She¡¯d made it clear his magical training with her was paramount to anything else in his life.  He knew this decision by father would be yet another source of angst between his parents.  He felt caught in the middle of their angry web.


    Father ruffled the tangled ropes of Animus¡¯s black hair.  ¡°I¡¯ll handle your mother.  Now, stick close, eh?¡±


    Animus nodded.


    ¡°Animus,¡± Kas said.


    He looked to his father, who was reaching into his saddlebag.  When father¡¯s hand emerged, it held an arming sword in a plain leather scabbard laced through a weapons belt.  ¡°Take it.  It¡¯s yours.¡±


    My own sword?  Animus reached for the blade.  Once he had a grip, he gripped the pommel.


    ¡°Go ahead.  Draw it.¡±


    Animus knew little about swords.  His father rarely carried one, though travelers through town wore them on their belts or across their backs.  He¡¯d hefted several in the alley of the inn, bringing laughter and recommendations from the fellows that had let him appreciate their blades.  Most seemed unwieldy to him, too heavy for his smaller frame.  A few he could barely hold two-handed.


    He drew the blade.  It¡¯s amazing.  Two feet long, it was lighter than any he¡¯d held.  Though plain looking, his time working in his father¡¯s forge allowed him to recognize the craftsmanship.  The double-edged sword lacked the nicks he¡¯d seen on those of lesser-quality.  Its handle seemed a natural fit for his hand.  On the bottom of the pommel was the symbol of a split anvil.


    I know that sigil.  Every blacksmith alive knows it. ¡°Papa is that¡­?¡±


    ¡°Aye.  That¡¯s a Steel-Maker blade.  Near priceless in the North.  Less known the farther south you go.¡±


    ¡°Where did you get it?¡±


    ¡°Wars bring booty, boy.  That¡¯s all you need to know.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª.¡±


    ¡°Enough.  Do you want the blade?¡±


    Animus nodded.  ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Mother won¡¯t be pleased.  You realize this, yes?¡±


    Animus nodded.


    ¡°Are you willing to face her ire?¡±


    No.  But he nodded again.  ¡°Yes.  Will you teach me to use it?¡±


    Kas nodded.  ¡°Once you recover your strength, I¡¯ll see to your training several mornings a week.¡±


    He planned this from the beginning. ¡°I can train with the older boys?¡±


    Kas shook his head.  ¡°First, you train with Sterl.  I¡¯ve agreed to see him trained.¡±


    ¡°Papa, he won¡¯t speak to me.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll have no choice now, will he?¡±


    Animus shrugged.  ¡°Guess not.¡±


    Kas reached over and clapped him on the back, then handed him a small piece of leather.  ¡°Put this over that symbol.¡±


    Animus covered the pommel.  ¡°Thank you, Papa.¡±


    His father nodded and whistled.  Fire started down the hill on the path toward the village.  Once in front of Animus, Kas drew his horse across the path.  ¡°One more thing.  Keep your hand off that weapon while we''re in the village, understand?¡±


    Animus nodded.  Why is he telling me that?  Excited to see another village, Animus followed his father into the village.

 Chapter 17 - Kas

    Chapter 17


    Kas


    Kas rode into the village, eyes on every rooftop, searching the corners of buildings, looking for any signs of hostility as they rode into town.  He¡¯d heard rumors of bear worshippers, their aggression toward outsiders, how those that entered their villages without escort were driven away, often at sword point.  Or if you listen to the drunks, by teeth and claw.


    Dalpa had given him his word that he would be welcomed into Woplin.  Kas had his doubts until Dalpa gave him the medallion the man wore around his neck.  A sign of worship that was treasured by the man, Kas knew with that as a token he would have safe conduct.  That it would be safe to bring Animus.


    He looked over his shoulder at his son.  I must show him as much as I can of the world before he¡¯s thrust into it.  Kas knew a day would come when Animus crested the hill leading out of Haver, seeking his own path.  And that no matter how much he wanted to go with him, Kas could not.  Like his wife, he¡¯d heard what the Crone had said.  The boy and girl ye birth will save this world.  Or destroy it.  They¡¯ll do it without either of you, no matter what you do.  When the storm rides down the mountain, so will their trials begin.


    Kas refused to believe it, that his seed could birth such world changers, yet the Crone¡¯s foretelling¡¯s rarely erred.  After all, she¡¯d foreseen the fall of the people of the Vestige.  Kas knew that he, Yayisha, and Animus remained of the Vestige culture.  After that, the blood was gone, his lineage wiped clean from the world.   Much of that is my fault.  Yet, Kas saw no other choice, not after the visions she showed him.


    ¡°Papa, what¡¯s that?¡±


    Kas realized Animus leveled his horse with Fire on the widened road of Woplin.  Animus pointed. ¡°That.¡±


    Boy¡¯s got sharper eyes than me.  Near the edge of a two-story building was a cage.  Within was a woman and a man.  Not close enough to perceive further details, Kas turned to his son.  ¡°If I know Dalpa, it¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Why would there be a¡ª.¡±


    A voice cut off Animus, as a huge man exited the building next to where the cage stood.  He yelled, ¡°Halt!  Speak your name, travelers.¡±


    Ahead of them from the dozen or so one and two-story buildings that made up Woplin, men and women emerged.  All appeared husky and broad, each wearing leather armor.  They carried a variety of weapons: hammers, picks, small swords or knives.


    Kas resisted the carnal urge to charge, the long-forgotten battle spirits within raging to life.  They dare challenge me?  Without breaking a sweat I could rid them all of their miserable lives.  Instead, Kas willed himself to relax.  The days of battle were long gone, abandoned when he¡¯d spirited away with Zelicia.


    Taking a deep breathe, Kas calmed himself.  He whispered, ¡°Stay close.  Follow my lead.¡±  Animus nodded, so Kas held up his hands.  ¡°I am Kas, armorer and blacksmith from the village of Haver.¡±


    One of the women closest to them climbed atop a wagon and yelled, ¡°We¡¯ve no need of an armorer.  Go back.¡±


    Too much like a bear, that one.  His treks through the untamed wildernesses of the North taught him all he needed to know of the creatures.  The animal were huge, and when spooked, made themselves as tall as they could to scare away any that got too near.  Only if truly threatened did most bears attack.


    Kas raised Dalpa¡¯s medallion above his head.  ¡°I¡¯ve come in Dalpa¡¯s stead.  To seek audience with Ralo the Priest.¡±


    ¡°Dalpa should¡¯ve come himself!  Treachery!¡±  The woman yelled, brandishing her nicked and rusty short sword as she climbed to the highest point of the wagon.


    Kas looked over the rest of the crowd.  None so much as moved, but their eyes locked onto him.  Waiting to see how I¡¯ll react.


    Had Dalpa betrayed him?  But Kas knew the man wouldn¡¯t, for if anything were to happen, Zelicia would make him and his family suffer.


    ¡°Stay in your saddle,¡± Kas said to Animus.  He handed him Fire¡¯s reigns.  ¡°If they approach you, lash Fire¡¯s flank, then let the reigns go.¡±


    ¡°Papa?¡±


    He saw the confusion in Animus¡¯s crunched brow.  ¡°I¡¯ll explain later.¡±  Then he turned to face the woman.  ¡°You seek to challenge me?¡±


    Whispers were exchanged in the crowd.  Kas dismounted and approached the onlookers.


    The woman leapt from the wagon, landing in a tumble.  She rolled to her feet and charged, sword waving over her head.   Kas waited until she was ten feet from him before drawing and whipping a small knife at her.


    The blade sunk into her thigh.  The woman wailed as she stumbled then pitched forward, falling hard on her chest.  Kas closed the few feet between them and stepped on the woman¡¯s hand. She screamed as Kas pulled the blade from her and chucked it into some nearby brush.  As she tried to rise, he drove his knee into her neck, forcing her body prone.


    The woman cursed.  Kas scooped dirt and shoved it in her mouth.  Her wails sputtered to mere coughing.


    Kas twisted his knee across her back, pressuring her neck just enough to keep her helpless.  Facing the crowd, he yelled, ¡°Any more fools among you?  I come seeking your priest, bearing the sigil of one of yours, and this is how you treat me?¡±


    Silence greeted him.  For a few moments, an uncomfortable silence ensued.  Then one man walked toward Animus and the horses.


    The boy saw him and yelled, ¡°Stay away!¡±


    The man continued to approach.


    Animus slapped Fire¡¯s reigns then released the reigns.


    Kas smiled.


    Fire whinnied and charged the man.  Too late he tried to get out of the angry horse¡¯s way.  Fire¡¯s torso caught the man in the chest, throwing him backward.  The horse trampled him, a hoof stomping on the man¡¯s back.


    Kas whistled and the horse wheeled and trotted toward him.  As it arrived next to him he pointed to the place where his knee was.  The horse huffed and pressed on of its hooves on the woman¡¯s back.


    The woman¡¯s screams became cries.  He bent close to her ear.  ¡°Move and she¡¯ll snap you in half.  Understand?¡±


    She nodded, crying.


    Kas stood, once more addressing the crowd.  ¡°Anyone else?¡±


    Silence answered.  Then a female¡¯s deep voice said, ¡°Clear the streets, brave followers.  Dalpa has spoken to me of this man.  I shall speak with him.  Alone.¡±


    The crowd parted, dissolving into the buildings, the scuffling of their feet their only noise.  Until only a lone woman stood on the cobbled road.  She walked toward him, her stride easy and confident.  Quickly Kas looked back to Animus and motioned to the boy to keep his distance.  Then Kas moved toward the woman, meeting her in the middle of the road.


    She stood a head taller than Kas, her shoulders just as broad as his.  Black curly hair hung to her waist.  Two slivers of white locks were tucked behind her ears.  Her huge breasts protruded to points, hips well-proportioned with her broad body.  A metal-handled throwing axe was tucked in her belt.  Around her neck was an amulet that looked exactly like Dalpa¡¯s; an engraving of a bear standing on its hind legs, head raised to the sky with paws extended.


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    In all my life, I¡¯ve never seen a woman like this one.  Then Kas realized what the woman actually was.  A familiar tingling would up and down his spine.  Sorceress.


    Kas was able to shake off her attempts to charm him and look behind the guise.  Behind the strong and curvy woman¡¯s image was a young and skinny girl, perhaps a few years older than Yayisha.  Her skin was darker than Kas¡¯s beige by several shades, while her eyes were maple brown.  Though her hair was coal black, it was short and lacked the white streaks.   She¡¯s Southern Born, from the Continent South of the Ocean of the Lost.  He had seen other magic-wielders from these lands before, though she was by far the youngest.


    She looked around, appearing to making sure everyone was out of earshot.  She met Kas¡¯s eyes and asked, ¡°You see the real me, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Kas nodded.


    ¡°I know you, too.  The beard is a convincing deception, but I recognize you.  From your days in the Northern army.¡±


    How does she know?  ¡°I¡¯ve always worn a beard.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been an accomplished liar.  I remember the tales you told your men, about having your foes outnumbered in every battle you led.¡±


    She¡¯s right.  Our army never had superior numbers.


    She continued, ¡°My people see right through lies.  Still, your wife has done well to mask your true appearance from people.¡±


    ¡°Quit making up stories.  Take me to the priest.¡±


    ¡°I am the priest.  You know that though, don¡¯t you?  You sense my magic.  Like you did my father¡¯s, who was the priest in the army you served.  Didn¡¯t like him much, did you?¡±


    ¡°You speak of Talek.¡±


    She shook her head.  ¡°That¡¯s smart of you to try to catch me in a lie.  His name was Kelo.¡±


    So she did know Kelo, that or she¡¯s had words put into her by someone.  ¡°If you were there, where were you?¡±


    ¡°Washing whores between tricks, tending their wounds from the men and women from your army that beat them.  Lucky for them, healing is one of my specialties.¡±


    Kas remembered hanging several of his men because they had beaten a few women and men near to death.  It stopped the worst of the beatings, or so he was told.  He¡¯d had little time to those thousand or so people that supported his army.  Especially those that exchanged coin for pleasure.  .  They kept the morale of the army high on those long periods between battles and always right after.  A touch of pleasure eases strain after combat.  Pleasurers are necessary parts of the army never talked about in books.


    Nalo continued.  ¡°You were quite the hero to those that exchanged pleasure for coin.  Could¡¯ve had your choice of any of them at any time after that.  And never paid a bronze.¡±


    He knew that, but he¡¯d had no need.  His men had brought him women, night after night.  The best and most beautiful of the towns they liberated.  Kas took them within his tents but rarely slept with them.  Not that he didn¡¯t have the desire.  He¡¯d just never felt right taking a woman¡¯s body as plunder.  He knew few came to his tents of their own free will.  A few that actually wanted to be there Kas has often kept in his beds for weeks, sometimes months if the women desired travel.


    Kas shook his head, refocusing his will.  ¡°You speak dangerous words, priest.  If my wife was here, she¡¯d¡ª.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re out of her reach here, Kas.  Or should I say¡ª.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that name.  Ever.¡±


    She nodded.  ¡°As you wish.¡±


    The woman knew him.  And had made no effort to hide it.   She was smart.  Older than she looked.  All of those things were obvious to Kas as he asked, ¡°Why do speak so bluntly, knowing the danger it puts you in?¡±


    ¡°I choose trust my allies.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re allies?¡± Kas asked.


    ¡°After this day, I¡¯ll owe you a debt of gratitude.  Or I¡¯ll be dead, one of the two.¡±


    Here it comes.  The reason Dalpa sent me.  ¡°Why am I here, priest?¡±


    She pointed behind them.   Animus approached with his horse Lillith.  Kas whistled, and Fire released the woman still held on the ground and trotted toward him.  The woman that had charged him continued to lay there, groaning.


    ¡°She¡¯s recently became a worshipper of Karhu. Our great and powerful God.¡±


    Kas scowled.  Karhu is nothing but a legend.  ¡°Cult worship.  A guise you priests use to siege people¡¯s minds until they buckle.¡±


    ¡°Believe what you will.  But Karhu¡¯s power is great.  Karhu has granted that one his grace.  Forgive her.  She¡¯s adjusting to the presence within her.  Aggression is a common symptom to those newly under Karhu¡¯s protection.


    ¡°Hog¡¯s balls.  It¡¯s rubbish.  You¡¯ve got her ensorcelled.¡±


    Nalo smiled.  ¡°A debate for later.  Perhaps I should show you the reason you¡¯re here.  Would you and your son walk with me?


    Animus approached, nodding to Nalo and meeting her gaze.  His eyes widened as he looked up at her.


    Kas gripped him by the neck and pulled him close.  He turned the boy¡¯s head toward him, having to gently slap Animus¡¯s face to get him to meet his gaze.  ¡°She¡¯s a sorceress.  It¡¯s trickery,¡± he whispered.


    Animus blinked.  ¡°Papa?¡±


    Kas let the boy¡¯s face go as he faced Nalo.  ¡°Show him who you truly are.¡±


    Nalo nodded.  ¡°I shall.  Just not here where all eyes can see.  On the path up that mountain, once we round the corner.¡±


    I hate priests.  ¡°Why should I trust you to lead us there?  It could be an ambush.¡±


    Nalo sighed.  ¡°I honor Dalpa¡¯s word.  You desire to resolve your differences with the man, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°You had that woman attack me.¡±


    Nalo nodded.  ¡°It was necessary to show my people your prowess.  That you¡¯re capable for this task.¡±


    Kas scowled.  ¡°Who do you want me to hurt?¡±


    Animus tore his gaze from the woman and looked to his father.  ¡°Hurt, Papa?¡±


    Kas ignored him and asked.  ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°Follow me.  See for yourself.  I think¡ªI know you¡¯ll do it willingly.¡±


    ¡°You think you know me that well?¡±  Kas asked.


    Nalo nodded.  ¡°My father did.  As I do, even if you don¡¯t remember me .¡±


    For some odd reason, her words made Kas shiver.  And that time it wasn¡¯t the magic.  Something of her word rung true.  A memory nagged at his mind, just out of reach.  More riddles.  ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±  He looked at Animus.  ¡°Stay close, son.¡±


    The boy nodded, looking once more at Nalo.


    With Kas and Animus followed the bear priestess up the hill.  Kas kept his hand close to his sword, and his eyes scanned his surroundings.


    In a thick copse of bushes that the passed, a black cat watched them, its yellow eyes following them until they were out of site.

 Chapter 18 - Animus

    Chapter 18 - Animus


    Animus held his horse¡¯s reins as he followed Nalo, his thoughts only the beautiful woman.  Who was she?  Why hadn¡¯t he ever known about her before?  Had she ever been in Haver?


    Kas cuffed him on his shoulder, ¡°Pay attention! You¡¯re about to run off the trail.¡±


    Animus looked down and gasped.  A few more feet and I¡¯d have been over the cliff.


    Nalo, who had been leading them, motioned upward towards an outcropping of rocks.  ¡°There is a small cave around this bluff.  That would be a suitable place to stop.¡±


    ¡°Good.  Animus is about to start slobbering,¡± Kas said.


    Animus didn¡¯t hear his father said.  He stared at Nalo.  She¡¯s gorgeous.


    As they rounded a rocky overhang, the ground flattened, widening into a flat, rocky surface that dug back into the mountain to form a shallow cave.  Rocks craned twenty feet over them as they entered the entrance of the cave.


    Nalo moved toward the back of the shelter.  She waited for Animus and Kas to get their horses settled.  Then she spread her arms and whispered, ¡°shapsolom.¡±


    The air crackled around her.  Sparkled light filled the cave, forcing Animus to turn away.


    As it faded, Nalo¡¯s voice said, ¡°It is done.¡±


    Animus looked at her and couldn¡¯t believe what he saw.  She was slight and small, hair still black as night.  She was still pretty, yet Animus was no longer enthralled.  Until her eyes locked onto his.  Once more, he started feeling lightheaded.


    Kas covered Animus¡¯s eyes.  ¡°Enough, priest.¡±


    ¡°Very well, blacksmith.  I¡¯ll adjust my appearance so I no longer beguile him.¡±


    Kas kept his hands over Animus¡¯s eyes.  ¡°Listen to me son.  Be wary of priests. They are masters of trickery.  Most prey on people¡¯s feelings, their power fed by others¡¯ uncertainties.  They see people as wet clay that they can mold to do their wishes.¡±


    ¡°Not all of us are like that.  My father served the army and their cause because he knew they tread the righteous path.  That¡ª¡±


    Kas shook his head ¡°I¡¯ll hear no more talk of the past.¡±


    ¡°Then let your son look upon me.¡±


    Kas released his eyes, and Animus once more couldn¡¯t believe it.  This time Nalo stood as tall as him.  She appeared to be a curvier woman with red curly hair with bangs short above her neck.  Wearing a gleaming chain shirt that looked freshly oiled, she held small carvings of black bears in each of her hands.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Animus said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to,¡± Kas said.  ¡°Describe her to me.¡±


    ¡°A woman in a chain shirt holder bear carvings.¡±


    Kas grunted.  ¡°Aye.¡±


    Nalo bowed to them. ¡°This is not really me, merely a guise I will use when we approach our adversaries.  My glamour will be completely hidden from them.¡±


    Glamour?  I will have to ask mother about priests.  Animus no longer felt attracted to this woman.  Though her appearance was still kind to the eyes, he felt nothing for her.  Animus found that very odd, for of late every attractive move made him very uncomfortable.


    Animus cast a sidelong glance toward his father.  ¡°Is that really her?¡±


    ¡°See what I mean?  Never trust a priest.¡±


    Animus had been around priests, but they had all been men.  Not even the men at the inn ever spoke about a female priest.  Yet Animus knew better than to argue.  ¡°I won¡¯t, papa.¡±


    Father nodded, then looked at Nalo.  ¡°Tell me what we¡¯re doing here.¡±


    Again, she bowed.  ¡°On the other side of this mountain are a dozen men and women that have set up a small market along the river.  They¡¯ve even set up a small dock.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡±  Kas asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re slavers.¡±


    Kas stood taller, his hand seizing the pommel of his sword.  ¡°This far South?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re certain?¡±


    ¡°I know slavers¡¯ marks when I see them.¡±


    ¡°How long have they been there?¡± Kas asked.


    ¡°Two weeks.  A few of them have come to our village seeking trade.  We turned them away.¡±


    ¡°You should have drove them into the river,¡±   Kas said.


    ¡°We would have.  But their leader concerned me.  She branded with black skulls, dozens of them on her arms and chest.¡±


    ¡°No!¡±  Kas said.  ¡°Impossible.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m quite certain.  Her and about a dozen of her men came to our village a week ago.  She told us we would do trade with them.  Or face the consequences.¡±


    ¡°Papa, I thought slavers were banned from these mountains?¡±


    ¡°They are.  The Queen has banned slavery.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a powerless fool that has cast all her resources south toward the Border War.  When¡¯s the last time you¡¯ve seen her troops in these mountains?¡±


    Talking about the queen like that could have you hanged.  At least that¡¯s what the men said when they whispered their complaints between their tankards.


    ¡°Did you send word to her in Dunfrang?¡±


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°There¡¯s not time for that.  This must be handled here.  Now.¡±


    Kas worried at his beard with one of his thick hands.  ¡°What did this slaver leader ask for?¡±


    ¡°Food, drink. Whores, both men and women, all to be delivered to their camp.   Several of her thugs wandered around the cottages with weapons drawn.  She also said she wouldn¡¯t ask again.¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t shed any blood?¡±  Kas asked.


    ¡°Couple of them came back the next night and threw a couple of horse heads into the clearing.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s you do?¡±


    ¡°Caught them.  Jailed them.¡±


    So that¡¯s who was in the cages.


    ¡°That was stupid,¡± Kas said.


    ¡°Letting them go back empty-handed would have been worse,¡± Nalo said.


    ¡°So you think I can just run them off?¡± Kas asked.


    ¡°With my help.¡±


    ¡°How many trained men and women do you have?¡±  Kas asked.


    ¡°None.  I have other allies on which to call.¡±


    ¡°Hogs balls.  You¡¯ve nothing but priest trickery.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong.  I¡¯ve been granted powers by Karhu.  He has blessed me with his power.¡±


    ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡±


    ¡°I can prove it to you.¡±


    ¡°So what if you can?  Just you and me going to take them all on?  That the plan?¡±


    Nalo nodded.  ¡°I can¡¯t ask my people to get involved.  Not yet.  Karhu¡¯s powers have not coalesced within them.¡±


    Karhu?  Who is that?  Having missed the earlier conversation between Kas and Nalo, Animus was confused.  Of slavers, Animus knew they were dangerous.  That they raided villages, that they captured people as if they were cows or horses.  That they would sell men, women, and children of all ages to the highest bidder.


    ¡°I find it difficult to believe Dalpa sent me to do this,¡± Kas said.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t.  I asked he send you. He knows nothing of this trouble.  You are much or capable to drive them off than Dalpa.¡±


    ¡°A fool¡¯s agreement.  What can you offer me?¡±


    ¡°More than you can fathom.¡±


    Kas growled.  ¡°I don¡¯t need you in my debt.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t.¡±  Nalo looked at Animus.  ¡°He does.¡±


    Kas shrugged.  ¡°He¡¯s but a boy?¡±


    Nalo approached Kas and leaned close to the ear farthest from Animus.  She whispered in his ear.


    His father¡¯s eyes widened.  Quickly he looked at Animus.  The back to Nalo.  After a few moments, he took a deep breath.  ¡°Make the binding, priest.¡±


    The binding?


    Nalo stepped a few feet backward then extended her hands to the sky, yet her eyes never left Kas.   ¡°Karhu, grant me your power and strength.  I swear to Kas and Animus my allegiance in exchange for driving the Skull-Sworn away from your village of cubs.  Great Karhu, make my will your own.¡±


    Animus felt a tingling in the air.  Magic.


    Nalo approached them.


    Why is my skin tingling?  Suddenly, Animus saw thin green tendrils floating between himself and Nalo.  Animus tried to touch one of the lines.  His hand passed through it.  Am I imagining this?


    Animus blinked, and they were gone.  He looked at father and Nalo.  Both were breathing hard.  Sweat etched his father¡¯s face.


    Nalo staggered and dropped to a knee.  Perspiration dribbled from her nose.  She asked, ¡°Do you believe me now, blacksmith?¡±


    From his father¡¯s eyes, Animus swore he saw tears pouring from them.  Father never cries.  He walked over to his father.  ¡°Papa?¡±


    His father tussled his hair.  Then he walked toward Nalo and helped her stand.  ¡°I believe you an ally, priest.¡±


    Nalo clasped his hands between both of hers.  ¡°I swear myself to you and your son, Kas of Haver.  As the Steel-Maker¡¯s anvil is unbreakable, so is my services to you and your son.¡±


    Kas nodded.  ¡°As agreed, I shall drive these slaves from your land, be it by peace or blood.¡±


    Once more Animus saw those green lines between them.  They grew in brightness and thickness until a solid chartreuse anvil formed between them.  What just happened?


    The image disappeared.  Kas leaned his forehead gently against Nalo¡¯s.


    A sense of dread filled Animus.  His leg shook, and he felt suddenly exhausted.


    The feeling eased after a few moments.  His father¡¯s hand squeezed his shoulder.  ¡°Son, what just happened must be our secret.  Not even you mother should be told.  You understand?¡±


    How could I possibly?  First he tells me not to trust priest than they form some magic bond?  Yet, Animus nodded, hoping sometime later father would explain things to him.


    ¡°Good.  Can you stand?¡±


    ¡°Yes, father.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll rest here.  Eat.  I¡¯ll explain what¡¯s getting ready to happen,¡± Kas said.


    Animus thought he already had a pretty good idea.

 Chapter 19 - Animus

    Chapter 19 - Animus


    It took them another two hours before they could finally see the slaver¡¯s camp.  The trio were behind an outcropping of rocks on the other side of the large knoll they¡¯d been climbing.  Some of the rocks were tall and wide enough to grant them complete cover.  The location provided a bird¡¯s eye view of the slaver¡¯s camp.


    Animus peered around a rock and looked through a small spyglass Nalo had brought.  Below he saw ten cages of a variety of sizes, each holding slaves.  The smaller ones held three people, the largest of them held eight. Slaves. The cages held both men and women.  Inside, the people were chained by their feet.


    A dozen slavers roamed the cages.  Animus was shocked how poorly dressed they were.  He¡¯d expected them to be dressed alike, wearing fancy uniforms like the guards in mother¡¯s temple.  These aren¡¯t guards though.  They¡¯re slavers.


    His tutors never made him read about slavers. Mother never mentioned them, nor had father.  This was his first judgment of them, and what he saw sickened him.


    A steady hand gripped his shoulder.  Father whispered, ¡°Life outside Haver holds many evils.  This is but one of them.¡±


    Animus looked at his father, who knelt next to him.  His father¡¯s eyes stared down at the slavers.  His frown seemed chiseled, jaw locked and set.  He¡¯s angry.  But not at me.  Animus asked, ¡°How can they sell other people?¡±


    ¡°Greed.  Hate.  Malice.  There¡¯s men and women whose hearts are filled with it.  Some are born into it, have been trained to sell people since they were children.  Some used to be slaves themselves.  Now they are selling them.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t they see how wrong it is?¡± Animus asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve known some that treated their slaves decent.  Yet they¡¯d sell them for a bag of gold to the cruelest of Arrakians.¡±  Kas¡¯s eyebrows furrowed.  ¡°None of them should keep their heads.¡±


    Animus went cold.  ¡°You¡¯ll kill them?¡±


    His father stared into his son¡¯s eyes.  Only then did his gaze soften.


    ¡°Not unless it¡¯s necessary,¡± Nalo said as she knelt on the other side of Animus.  She tussled his hair.  ¡°Still, there will most likely be bloodshed.¡±


    ¡°How can I help?¡±  Animus asked.


    His father shook his head.  ¡°You¡¯ve no training.  That and you¡¯re still weak from being sick.  Best thing you can do is stay here.  Watch and learn.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª.¡±


    ¡°Listen to me, son.  You go down there, I¡¯ve got to defend both of us.  When-if it comes to battle, you¡¯ll be a liability.¡±


    Animus frowned.


    ¡°Perhaps he can help,¡± Nalo said.


    Kas scowled.  ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a great vantage point up here.  I can link my mind to his.  If he sees something, he¡¯ll only have to whisper and I¡¯ll hear him,¡± Nalo said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you inside his mind,¡± Kas said.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing like that.  A minor magic, one that can be done by an apprentice.  But you know that.  Scouts in the army had this very training.¡±


    ¡°I want to help,¡± Animus said.


    Kas shook his head.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go down with you,¡± Animus said.


    His father growled.  The pressure on Animus¡¯s shoulder became uncomfortable.


    Animus swallowed.  What am I doing?  Yet Animus met his father¡¯s gaze.  ¡°If our places were reversed, would you do nothing?¡±


    Nalo leaned behind Animus and whispered something to Kas.  Animus heard what sounded to him like a rush of wind wisp around his ears, momentarily blocking his hearing.


    What was that?


    After a few long moments. Kas said.  ¡°All right, priest.  Cast your spell.¡±


    She nodded and placed her hands on Animus¡¯s cheeks.  ¡°Look at me.¡±


    Animus did as she asked.  As their eyes met, Nalo said, ¡°Aliathell Spakeandis¡±


    ¡°Well?¡±  Kas asked.


    ¡°It is done,¡± Nalo said.  She stepped several paces away and looked away from them.


    ¡°Say something.  See if it works,¡± Kas said.


    ¡°Hello Nalo,¡± Animus whispered.


    Her voice whispered in his left ear, ¡°Hello, Animus.¡±


    ¡°It works,¡± Animus said.


    Kas grunted and stood.  ¡°Come, priest.  Let¡¯s get this over with.  As he gripped his sword and drew it halfway, he looked at Animus.  ¡°Stay put.¡±


    ¡°What if something happens to you?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.  But if it does, run back to the village.  Have them send for your mother.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t run,¡± Animus said.


    ¡°I¡¯m a trained warrior.  Fought many battles.¡±


    ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you all about it when you¡¯re older,¡± Kas said.


    He always says that.


    Nalo gripped her bear totems and walked onto the sharp, downward path that tucked around the hill.  She was quickly out of his sight.  Kas followed her, looking one last time at Animus before he was lost from sight.


    It didn¡¯t take long for them to get to the slaver¡¯s camp.  They appeared at the one end of the road.  As they approached the slavers, Nalo¡¯s voice whispered in Animus¡¯s ear.  ¡°Thought you¡¯d like to hear what we were saying to them.  The magic I used will also allow you to hear what I hear.  Just don¡¯t tell your father.  His hatred of my kind is beyond explanation.¡±


    I want to know about that, too.  ¡°How long does this whisper spell last?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°Until I end it.  But when the battle starts, you shall only be able to speak to me.  I¡¯ll be unable to communicate with you.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°You will soon understand.¡±


    Animus stayed quiet.  Without realizing it he leaned his ear as close as he could while still keeping his eyes focused on the scene under him.  As he watched, the slavers became aware of Nalo and his father.


    Kas yelled, ¡°What a fine breed of slaves these are!  Have to be fresh from a village raid.  Have to be because they still have meat on their bones!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s father doing?¡± Animus whispered.


    ¡°Your father¡¯s a master of banter.  Watch.¡±


    A skinny slaver moved to the middle of the road and drew his sword.  ¡°Far enough, oaf.¡±


    Kas opened his hands, keeping his eyes on the cages.  ¡°I desire to purchase all of these slaves.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see your coin,¡± a woman said.  She held a menacing cudgel with a long metal spike through it.  The weapon was so enormous, she had to hold it with both hands.


    Kas shook his head.  ¡°I¡¯ll speak to your leader about payment.¡±


    A long armed, bulky man drew a battle axe from his back.  ¡°How about we just take it from him.¡±  He pointed a finger at Nalo.  ¡°Then I¡¯ll have a romp with the pretty redhead.  See how big her tits are under that pretty suit of mail.¡±


    ¡°Have to share her with me,¡± the skinny man said, holding a short sword said.


    "I hate it when men fight over me," Nalo whispered.


    Below, another woman¡¯s voice echoed through the valley.  ¡°Shut your miserable holes!  Nobody¡¯s taking anything except me.¡±  She emerged from the largest of tents in the middle of the makeshift market.  She was a tall, tanned woman.  Black tattoos covered her bare arms and shoulders.  In her hands she held a curved, sheathed blade.  Nearly six feet in length, the sword was nearly as tall as her.


    Through the spyglass father had given him before they descended, Animus could see her well-defined arm and shoulders.  The tattoos on her shoulders and arms were black skulls of varying sizes.  Her well-rounded breasts were held in place by a strapless leather shirt that covered her from breasts to belly button.  She also wore brown leather pants that clung to thick legs.


    Kas laughed.  ¡°Nothing gets me stiff like a woman holding a huge blade.¡±


    A few of the slavers laughed.


    The woman did not. She half-drew her blade from its sheathe. ¡°I¡¯ll gut you for that, pig.¡±


    Kas drew his smaller arming sword.  ¡°I doubt that.¡±  His voice dropped, yet it seemed every slaver in town still heard him.  ¡°I¡¯ll kill every one of yours that doesn¡¯t throw their blade into the river and drop to their knees.  But you?  I¡¯ll keep alive.  I¡¯ll chain you in one of those cages and sell you in Coll.  You¡¯re pretty enough to sell in the Bloody Market.  And if you have your teeth, even the Widow¡¯s flock might pay well for you.¡±


    Her eyes widened.


    ¡°Why does she look shocked?¡±  Animus asked.


    Nalo whispered in his ear.  ¡°Few know of Coll.  Its location is unknown to all but master slavers.  It¡¯s said to be the best slaver¡¯s market in the world.  Where Slavers trade only the finest of slaves, and only to each other.  Your father just gave details only those who¡¯d been there could know about.¡±


    Below, the woman took a step back and once more sheathed her blade.  ¡°Who are you?¡±  She asked.


    ¡°You first,¡± Kas said.


    ¡°Cariel of Toff, Slaver of the Worn Legion.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a liar,¡± Kas said.


    Her eyes widened.  ¡°How dare you!  I¡¯ll gut you for¡ª.¡±


    Kas roared and thumped his chest.  The slavers closest to him flinched.


    Kas said, ¡°Worn Legions mark their kin between the breasts.  A black diamond hovering atop a pile of skulls.¡±


    The slavers all looked at Cariel.  Some looked confused, others frowned.  Cariel herself looked taken aback.  Her mouth dropped open and the tip of her sword rested on the ground.


    Kas laughed.  ¡°What, none of you have seen this?¡±


    They all looked at each other.  Several slavers actually shook their heads.


    ¡°Look around, woman.  Your own guards wonder at your words.¡±


    Cariel drew her huge blade.


    Kas said, ¡°No need for bloodshed.  Just prove it.  Take off that top.¡±


    Nobody laughed at that.  Especially Cariel.  She yelled, ¡°You just want to see my tits.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.  They appear to be a fine set.  Better if marked with a pile of skulls and diamond right between them.  Means we can do business.¡±


    She shook her head.  ¡°I¡¯ll not show you.  You¡¯ve no right to see.¡±


    Kas pulled a full pouch from his belt, opened it, and pulled out three black coins.  ¡°These gives me the right.¡±


    The slavers gasped.  One of them said, ¡°Opal Coins.¡±


    Nalo¡¯s voice whispered, ¡°Coin traded only in the Coll.¡±


    ¡°Where did father get them?¡±


    ¡°Good question,¡± Nalo whispered.


    Kas waves his hand around the village.  ¡°This all belongs to me.  Every cage.¡±  He pointed toward Cariel.  ¡°I could buy you from your own guards for one of these.¡±


    The slavers around the village looked at each other.  One man at the outer edges of the cages ran.  Just as he rounded a bend out and of Animus¡¯s sight, his scream pierced the valley.


    Cariel whirled around, holding her still-sheathed sword as if ready to strike.


    ¡°You should never have come here,¡± Kas said.  ¡°Perhaps if you toss down your weapons, I¡¯ll spare the lot of you.¡±


    Another scream of a slaver that had run echoed through the camp.  The slavers mumbled amongst themselves.  One jumped in the lake and started swimming to the other side.


    ¡°Come back here!¡±  Cariel yelled.


    ¡°Drop that blade,¡± Kas said.


    Eyes still wide, Cariel unsheathed her blade and charged him.


    The slavers below were obviously confused.  Several charged with Cariel, others stood in place.  A few more ran away, while several dropped to their knees, pleading for mercy.


    Readying his sword, from Kas¡¯s other hand flew a dagger, which whipped past one slaver to bury into the stomach of another.  The slaver pitched to the ground, yelping in pain.


    At that moment, Animus nearly screamed.  Nalo changed, suddenly becoming a huge mound of fur, claws and teeth.  After mere seconds, she had a snout and stood on four legs.


    She just turned into a bear!


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    Fear completely took the slavers.  The woman with cudgel who was closest to Nalo tried to run, but the priest¡¯s easily overcame her.  With one powerful swipe, a claw gashed open the slaver¡¯s leg with a long tear down the hamstring. As the woman collapsed, her club fell from her hands.  The bear shoved her to the ground with a huge paw and cinched its jaws on her neck.


    From the far riverbank two huge black bears emerged from some undergrowth and swam toward the slavers camp.  From the road where Nalo and Kas had appeared, another bounded into the fray.


    Where did all those bears come from?  How did Nalo change into a bear?


    In the midst of the panicked slavers, Kas and Cariel circled each other.  Cariel¡¯s gleaming blade glimmered in the evening sunset.  Kas looked relaxed, his arming sword held in his right hand, a buckler strapped to his other arm.


    Cariel attacked, her blade arcing over her shoulder as she tried to split Kas from shoulder to opposite leg in one blow.  Kas stepped into the blow and parried with his metal buckler, catching the blade high in its downswing.  Sparks showered from impact of steel on steel, the blade deflecting away from them.  Kas leaned forward and head-butted her in the mouth.  Blood erupted from her mouth.  Kas stepped back and swung his buckler toward her neck but the Cariel dodged backward to avoid the blow.  Her foot caught on a rock and she tumbled to the ground, twisting to fall flat on her belly.


    Kas strode over as she twisted and tried to raise her oversized sword to protect her.  Kas kicked her wrists.  The blade flew from her grasp and out of reach.  He blocked her attempt to kick at his knees with his buckler and then raised his blade.


    He¡¯s going to end this.


    That¡¯s when the arrow sunk into his thigh.


    He bellowed and dropped to his knee, grasping at the wound.  Cariel scrambled away from him and toward her sword.


    Animus stood from behind the rocks.  An archer? But how?  We looked¡­.


    Father and Nalo searched the hills surrounding their camp before they approached the slave camp, yet found no hidden bowmen.


    Another arrow barely missed Kas, the shaft burying not a hands width from his already bleeding leg.  Nalo¡¯s voice, which had become gravelly and hard to understand, tickled his ear.  ¡°There!  From the adjacent hill.¡±


    A camouflaged archer stood in a tree stand atop on an adjacent hill that seemingly appeared from nowhere.  Even as Animus watched, the archer stepped back into the tree branches and disappeared from view.


    She must¡¯ve used magic to stay hidden from father and Nalo.


    Immediately, Animus stood.  I know where she is. Even if I can¡¯t see her.  Without thinking, Animus took off at run across the top of his own hill.  A gap of maybe ten feet separated the top of the hills, but there was a way across.


    A small, narrow ledge of uneven, path showed Animus how to cross that gap.  Perhaps an older person would¡¯ve hesitated, for to fall from that ledge was certain death.  Craggy rocks jutted over fifty feet below the narrow trail.


    Animus never gave it a thought.  He had spent his youth climbing the buildings and hills around Haver.  Several times he dared similar ledges.  This one should be easy.


    He saw the archer suddenly appear and draw another arrow and aim toward the battle.  A quick glance below showed his limping father facing off once more with a bloodied Cariel, only this time she held two curved knives.


    Have to distract that archer.  ¡°Hey!¡±  Animus yelled as he picked up a rock.  He hurled it as far as he could, the rock clattering loudly about ten feet from the tree.


    The archer swerved the arrow his way and pulled the string taut.  Animus lunged to the ground.  The arrow splattered off a rock, right where he had been standing.  Animus gained his feet and finally reached the ledge.  He started to cross.  Okay, an archer firing at me while crossing the ledge.  Not so easy.


    Sweat already soaked the back of his forehead, a few drops threatening his eyes.  Animus wiped it away and nearly lost his balance.  He grabbed the side of the rock face and steadied himself.  Move!  Forcing his eyes to the ledge ahead of him, Animus slid across step by step, his back pressed firm against the uneven surface behind him.  Once more he dared looking toward the archer, seeing nothing but tree leaves.


    She only appears when she¡¯s ready to fire.


    Halfway across the ledge, rocky path gave under his weight of his trailing foot.  Without thinking Animus pushed off with his other foot and jumped toward the other hill.  It wasn¡¯t his best jump, yet his torso caught the ledge hard enough to break his fall.  The zipping sound of arrow sped just overhead again, once more shattering against the mountainside.


    If I hadn¡¯t nearly fallen, that arrow could have been in me.


    Animus pulled himself fully onto the archer¡¯s hill and groaned.   He forced himself to stand into a crouch as his eyes searched for the archer.


    To his surprise, she¡¯d climbed out of the tree, which suddenly split with a great crack.  Half the tree stood tall, while the other half fell to the ground.  Meanwhile, the archer approached him at a slow pace, an arrow half-drawn yet not aimed at him.


    Nowhere to go.  Her next shot could kill me.


    Animus stood and charged.  He¡¯d closed half the distance when she drew and fired, all in the same motion.  The shot was so close to his right ear it threw him off balance.  As he moved l left, his foot hit a jutting rock.  Animus brought his hands between him and the ground.  As his hands absorbed the fall, he pushed himself into a rolling somersault then scrambled to his feet, his eyes looking for another rock.  He found a fist-sized rock and quickly threw it.  The archer easily dodged.  Once more she drew an arrow from her quiver and brought it to her bowstring.


    It was then Animus remembered the sword father had given him.  He¡¯d helped Animus strap it to his back after seeing his son struggle with the unfamiliar presence of a sword at his belt.  In the excitement, Animus had forgotten all about it.


    The archer stepped a few feet closer, her head cocked to the right.  Her hips were wide, narrowing at her waist to give her body an hourglass shape.  It finally clicked to Animus that the archer was a woman.  She¡¯s very strong to wield that longbow with such ease.  Even Animus couldn¡¯t fire one of those.


    Animus¡¯s reached for the sword.  Yet as he pulled, the blade refused to come free.  Just then, Nalo¡¯s voice flooding through his mind.  ¡°Move!  Don¡¯t let her fire again!¡±


    ¡°What do I do?¡±  Animus whispered as he struggled with the blade.


    The archer drew another arrow.


    ¡°Forget the sword!  Charge her!  Like you¡¯re wrestling with Sterl!¡±


    How does she know I wrestled Sterl?


    The archer interrupted his thoughts.  She said, ¡°Go ahead.  Pull that blade.  I¡¯ll aim and fire before it¡¯s free of the scabbard.¡±


    Nalo¡¯s voice became a yell. ¡°Charge her.  NOW!¡±


    Animus released the pommel of the sword and charged the archer.


    She paused, her eyes widening.  Quickly she tried level her bow and aim, but the hesitation cost her.  Before she could draw the arrow, Animus reached her.


    He tackled her, ducking his head under her arm.  Bigger and broader than her, Animus¡¯s momentum pulled her off her feet.  Once she was airborne, Animus bear-hugged her as tight as he could, then took several steps, released his grip and drove her to the ground.


    Animus knew how much this would hurt.  The bigger of the children used to do this to him when he was younger.  He knew that to get the most out of such a maneuver, he needed to drive his bodyweight on top of his opponent.


    Animus felt the blow in his shoulder and arm as he slammed her to the ground.  He felt the air leave her lungs.  He knew her gasps for air wouldn¡¯t immediately come.  That she¡¯d be powerless.  He pushed himself off of her and rolled her to her stomach.  Then he pulled both arms taught behind her back with such force he heard one of her arms snap.


    ¡°Ahhh! Stop!  My arm!¡±


    Animus didn¡¯t let go.  ¡°You tried to kill my father,¡± Animus pulled her arms higher up her back.


    She started crying.  ¡°I had to!  She made me!¡±


    Nalo¡¯s voice reentered his mind.  ¡°Hold her, Animus.  Try to get her to talk.¡±


    He answered her, his voice a yell instead of a whisper.  ¡°She tried to kill my father!


    Nalo answered with a calm voice in his ear.  ¡°She did.  But I sensed no malice in her.  She¡¯s a being of nature, like you and I. You¡¯ve subdued her.  Hear her out,¡± Nalo said in his mind.


    Animus lowered the woman¡¯s arms.  ¡°A drop of sweat burned his eye, but he dared not release his grip.  ¡°Who made you shoot my father?¡±


    ¡°Cariel!  She took my mother when she raided our village!  Told me if I protected her for a year, she¡¯d get my mother back.  Free her!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡±  Animus yelled.


    ¡°Our entire village was burned.  Taken,¡± the archer cried.


    Animus took several ragged breaths and looked at her right arm.  The bone jutted through her sleeve.  Immediately, he released that arm.  She screamed even louder.  It was then he noticed that blood covered her sleeve.


    Animus whispered to Nalo, ¡°She¡¯s hurt really bad.  Her arm, it¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°I am close.  Try to calm her.  Ask her questions,¡± Nalo whispered.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±  Animus asked.  I don¡¯t feel so well.  All that blood and bone...


    The woman wept but managed an answer.  ¡°Kendra, daughter of Kella of the village of Lasker.


    ¡±That village was raided three months ago.  It was said they killed everyone they didn¡¯t take.  What she says could be true,¡± Nalo whispered.


    ¡°She¡¯s one of them,¡± Animus answered.


    ¡°Let your father decide that.  It¡¯s her arrow in his leg.¡±


    ¡°Is he okay?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± Nalo said.


    Kendra cried.  ¡°Please, my arm...¡±


    Animus stood over her.  A few feet away, Animus saw the bow a few feet away.  He walked over and picked it up.  It was solid black except it had the carving a golden eagle on either side of the grip.  As he held it, the bow tingled in his hand.


    He looked at Kendra when he noticed she stopped crying.  Her eyes were wide as she looked up at him.  ¡°How are you doing that?¡±


    ¡°Doing what?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°Holding my bow.  Only those that¡­¡±


    Just then Nalo arrived in the clearing and yelled.  ¡°Animus!  Where did you get that bow?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Kendra¡¯s.¡±  Animus said.


    ¡°Put it down,¡± Nalo said.


    ¡°Why?¡±  Animus asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s dangerous,¡± Nalo said.


    Why do they both looked shocked?  Animus shrugged and dropped the bow on the ground.  ¡°Don¡¯t see how.¡±


    Kendra started crying again.  She said, ¡°Mother, I¡¯m sorry.  I¡¯ve failed you.  Mother!¡±


    Behind Nalo, Kas limped into the clearing.  When he saw Kendra on the ground, he met Animus¡¯s eyes and nodded.  ¡°Leave her to the priest.  There¡¯s slaves we need to free.¡±


    Animus followed him, looking one last time at the woman he¡¯d captured.  I stopped her.  I saved Papa.


    From the quickly growing shadows of the falling sunset, a set of yellow panther¡¯s eyes followed both father and son as they walked toward the newly destroyed slavers camp. Once they disappeared from sight, the beast began its trek toward Haver.

 Chapter 20 - Suggo

    Chapter 20 ¨CSuggo


    The panther streaked through the shadow, the pads of its foot-long feet making no sound.  Its strides were effortless, unrestricted by the bounds of terrain.  Within an hour, the beast returned to the small mountain which overlooked Haver, for it was returning to its master that had summoned it.


    Suggo observed from atop the small mountain¡¯s peak that overlooked the valley of Haver, his gaze focused on the temple.  Since his power had grown, Suggo¡¯s caution had as well, fearing Zelicia would sense his power.  Though she never has before.  She¡¯s a fool.  To her I¡¯m little more than a hedge witch that presents tricks with the gypsies.


    His magic was that of the Old Gods, its origins more difficult to detect.  Someone would have to know of its source.  He was nearly certain she knew of the Old Magic, just not that he used it.  Either way, once she knew he had power, she¡¯d consider him a threat.  Suggo knew what that meant.  I¡¯ve grown strong, but not that strong.


    He only had to avoid her, for his task wasn¡¯t to defeat her.  In fact, it wasn¡¯t to defeat anybody.  It was to convince, deceive, to do whatever it took to influence Animus and Yayisha to follow Crag, the Eldest of all Gods.  My master.


    Suggo thought back to his meeting with the Elemental Sprit of Earth.  He knew it wasn¡¯t Crag¡¯s true form, only a glimpse of the God¡¯s actual power.  Most of Crag¡¯s power and the God¡¯s body was still buried deep within the Earth.  How the God had ever been defeated and imprisoned was beyond Suggo¡¯s comprehension.  There were of no tales or stories of the Old Gods told, not anymore.  They were a lost legend, nearly forgotten, save for a few learned people that knew better.  But they¡¯re coming back.  And Crag shall remember those that first followed him.


    Suggo felt the approach of a being.  He¡¯d set magical alarms around the hilltop, and they ticked in his ear like chirping birds when something crossed that invisible, circular barrier around the hilltop.


    Suggo willed himself to the shadows and extended his senses.  As it closed unerringly on his location, Suggo realized it was his summoned shadow panther returning to report to him.


    The beast padded toward him, its own ability to see in full darkness countering Suggo¡¯s shadowy camouflage.  Suggo emerged from the shadows and approached the creature, fearlessly gripping its lower jaw.  He whispered, ¡°Show me what Animus has done.¡±


    Images from the beast¡¯s memories flooded Suggo¡¯s mind, the suddenness startling Suggo, who was not yet accustomed to absorbing the creature¡¯s thoughts.  Images of Animus flooded though Suggo.  For almost a full minute, Suggo absorbed the panther¡¯s recollections, then the creature wavered and then vanished, leaving Suggo¡¯s hand holding only air.


    He staggered, leaning against a rock that jutted from the hillside to avoid falling.  This was new magic to him, and these absorptions of these summoned creatures momentarily weakened him.  After recovering somewhat, Suggo wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath, contemplating what he¡¯d just learned.  The boy survived what could have been a lethal encounter.  Amazing.  He¡¯s more attuned to the Old Magic than I suspected.  Touching that spirit- bow should knocked him unconscious.  Yet he held it with no harm it seems...  Remarkable.  And this Kendra.  Who is she?  How does she wield a weapon imbued with Old God Magic?  I¡¯ll have to watch her as well to figure which of the old God she serves.  That symbol is not Crag¡¯s.


    Suggo thought of sending another summoned panther to watch the boy, yet decided against it.   He knew he¡¯d need all of his power this night.  So he waited, hoping for his opportunity.


    An hour later, a rider galloped into Haver, riding directly for the temple.  Suggo morphed into panther form and moved closer to the temple, justifying the risk, hoping that Zelicia still couldn¡¯t detect him.   A risk, but I must see what happens next with my own eyes.


    Moments later, Suggo was hidden in a copse of trees a mere thirty feet from temple¡¯s main doors, the acute eyes and hearing granted by his panther form giving him an enhanced awareness of his surroundings.  He could hear a guard¡¯s boots echoing off the stone inside the castle.  An owl perched in a tree across on a large branch forty feet away from him, yet Suggo could see its eyes staring right back at him.  Then the owl hooted as its feathery head twisted toward the sounds of a galloping horse that approached the temple from the only road leading up to the plateau upon which it sat.


    Suggo turned his attention to the rider, who was a woman dressed in green and brown, her form easily handling the lean black horse.  Her boots were a dull black and well-worn, scratches and stains marring them.  At her belt was a dagger, though a sword hilt stuck out of one of her horse¡¯s saddlebags.


    Approaching the temple, the horse slowed.  Before it came to a full stop, she dismounted, landing easily on her feet.  She took off her gloves, and Suggo could see the long scar running from her knuckle, up past her wrist to disappear further up her arm where clothing covered the rest of it.  Suggo knew exactly who she was.  Karissa from Woplin.  Zelicia¡¯s spy, coming to report.


    Several guards raised the alarm.  Three of them blocked the door, but he heard Marissa¡¯s voice say, ¡°Move you fools.  Or do you wish me to tell Zelicia you stopped me?¡±


    They exchanged glances, none of them moving until another guard from within the temple yelled, ¡°Let her through fools!¡±


    Karissa shoved them aside and disappeared into the temple.


    Suggo didn¡¯t try to follow.  Instead, he waited for Zelicia¡¯s response to the news that her husband had taken her son from Haver without her notice.


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    Another guard appeared in front of the temple, this one a tall, lithe female.  She approached the male guards, who whispered amongst themselves.  The woman pointed to two of them and jerked her thumb back toward the temple¡¯s open doors.  ¡°You¡¯ve been summoned to the dungeons for duty.  Off with you."


    ¡°Why us?¡±  One of them yelled.  ¡°The last guards that went down there never returned.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± the other one said.  ¡°Maybe we don¡¯t want to go.  Till we get some answers.  What goes on down there?  What happened to the other¡ª?¡±


    In a flash, the woman drew a knife, stepped forward and thrust it into his neck.  Blood drenched its pommel as she yanked it out, blood arcing from the dagger¡¯s tip to the floor¡¯s tiles.  The guard coughed on his own blood, grasping hopelessly at the wound.   She kicked him between the legs and he dropped to the ground.


    The other guard quickly darted into the temple.


    Who is this woman that serves Zelicia?  Someone new or someone I¡¯ve missed?


    The woman placed the dagger in the guard¡¯s hand and looked at the remaining guard. ¡°I¡¯ll send for the priest.  He jammed his own dagger in his throat.  You saw that, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    The guard nodded.  Suggo suddenly smelled urine as a puddle quickly formed under the man.


    ¡°Priest will probably say he had Stiggler¡¯s,¡± the woman said.  ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want to catch that yourself, would you?¡±


    ¡°N-no!¡±


    She pointed her dagger at him.  ¡°Then tell it like I told you.  And don¡¯t think of running.  You do, I¡¯ll kill you slow.¡±  She approach him in a near blur of speed.  She was suddenly in front of him with a dagger a hand space from between his legs.  ¡°And I start with this, understand?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes Captain Renee.  Stabbed himself in the neck.  Saw it with my own eyes.¡±  He away from her until his back pressed against the wall.


    ¡°Make certain everyone in town knows it,¡± Renee said.


    A few other guards came out of the temple, but by then Renee has sheathed her blade.   With his keen panther eyes, Suggo could see the sweat upon their brows.  Neither spoke nor looked at Captain Renee as they picked up their barely-breathing comrade and carried him into the temple.


    Renee followed them back into the temple, not bothering to spare a glance toward the guard she had threatened.


    Suggo heard the guard start sobbing.  This Captain Renee rules by fear alone.  Given the opportunity, the temple guards would abandon her.  Perhaps I can use that when things start happening¡­


    About an hour later, Karissa returned.  Zelicia walked by her side, a green cloak wrapped around her.  Trailing them both was Captain Renee.


    The sorceress¡¯s eyes walked to where the guard¡¯s blood had pooled on the smooth stone ground.  A spark of green spiraled from her hand to the ground into the red pool.  She whispered, ¡°Q¡¯wothla Vulgarmeth¡¯r Daug.¡±


    Her left arm extended toward the far clearing.  Green lightning shot from her hand and struck the owl.  With a final woot, the owl dropped from the trees.


    Then Zelicia¡¯ body glowed bright green.  Her body rose from the ground and hovered a few feet in the air.  She turned her body in the air until she looked at the lone guard.  ¡°What of this one?  He saw what you did?¡±


    Captain Renee nodded.  ¡°But he¡¯ll do as he¡¯s told.¡±


    Zelicia nodded.  She rose her voice so the guard could hear her.  ¡°Very well, Renee.  If he doesn¡¯t, bring him to me.  I¡¯ll make use of him.¡±


    The guard dropped to his knees.  ¡°I swear, I¡¯ll¡ª¡°


    Zelicia extended both of her hands and struck him with twin bolts of green fire.  He started to yell but with a flip of her wrist she silenced him.  Moments later, she closed her fists and the fire ceased.


    The guard wavered on his knees, looking none the worse for wear except for the sudden sweat that covered his body.  He flopped onto his face, groaning.


    ¡°Take him to the infirmary.  I believe in his struggles with the one you bled, he contracted Stiggler¡¯s Fever.  I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll make it.¡±


    Captain Renee nodded.  ¡°Anything else while you¡¯re gone?¡±


    ¡°Scan the tree lines for owls, hawks, ravens, or buzzards.  Any bird bigger than a sparrow, kill them on sight,¡± Zelicia said.


    ¡°Trouble?¡± Captain Renee asked.


    ¡°Caution.  Report to me when I return.¡±


    ¡°What of Yayisha?¡± Captain Renee asked.


    ¡°She¡¯ll sense when I¡¯m beyond sight of Haver.  Within the temple, let her do as she wishes.  I have wards in place to keep her in check there.¡±


    ¡°And if she goes to town?¡±


    ¡°Let her.  Just keep an eye on her.¡±


    Captain Renee nodded.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be gone long.¡±  Zelicia handed the woman a locket with bulging ruby hung on a silver chain.  ¡°Wear this.  If something happens that requires my quick return, break that locket and I¡¯ll know there¡¯s trouble.¡±


    Again, the captain nodded.


    Zelicia floated higher as she directed her attention to Karissa.  ¡°I release you from service, Karissa, daughter of Careen.  See that you leave these mountains.  Take a caravan across the Easter Desert as we¡¯ve discussed.¡±


    Karissa bowed, keeping her eyes to the ground.


    Without further word, Zelicia floated into the sky and flew toward Woplin.


    I didn¡¯t know she could fly.


    Captain Renee stood and watched Karissa ride down the path, then she returned to the temple, yelling.  ¡°Guards!  Out of your bunks.  We¡¯ve a task to complete.¡±


    Suggo moved.  In seconds he¡¯d reached the temple wall.  Still in panther form he scaled the temple walls until he reached the gardens atop the roof.  Once there he melded into a copse of bushes and waited.  Time to speak to Yayisha.

 Chapter 21 - Yayisha

    Sweat soaked Yayisha¡¯s brow as she stood within the ten-foot radius summoning circle.   The horned beast before her stood paralyzed with the smaller pentagram-filled circle directly in front of her, the lines of which were drawn in her own blood.  The creature stood eye-level with Yayisha¡¯s near six-feet, its bulbous red eyes the only part of its body that Yayisha allowed it to move.


    Her mother stood on the outside of the circle, dressed in her usual white summoning pants and shirt, all of which seemed to cling to her mother¡¯s figure.   She said, ¡°Impressive work.  For once, your magic is both powerful and stable.  Unlike your usual sloppiness.¡±


    It had been hours since her last break, yet Yayisha felt fully refreshed.  She hadn¡¯t been able to detect Animus anywhere.  She¡¯d asked mother where he was, but Mother told him that he was sick and in bed.  Mother lied to her so often.  But this time, Yayisha knew she wasn¡¯t being told the truth.


    With Animus gone, she felt more powerful than ever before.  I hope he never comes back.  ¡°I want to bind this one to me, mother.¡±  Yayisha said.  As she talked, she moved her arms and sealed the creature in a casing of summoned stone.  The creature¡¯s own magic would break the spell, but she only needed it to last while she spoke to mother.


    After that was completed, Yayisha turned to meet her mother¡¯s eyes.  ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your tenth binding of the day, daughter.  Permanently binding this one to you will drain you.  Are you certain?¡±


    Yayisha nodded. She better say yes this time.


    ¡°Last time you failed.¡±


    Of course she reminds me of that.  ¡°You hurled a bolt of energy at me while I was casting.¡±


    Zelicia shrugged.  ¡°And if I do it again?¡±


    Yayisha forced herself not to scowl, remembering the welts she¡¯d often received for doing so.  Instead, she turned back to her summoned demon, who had already cracked his stone prison, even though it was still paralyzed.  Such power this creature has.  I can¡¯t wait until it is my pet.  ¡°I¡¯m ready, mother.¡±


    Very well.  But daughter, I must ask¡ªyou suffer from none of your usual weakness.  Did your loins finally stop aching for that boy? ¡°


    She¡¯s trying to make me angry again, to get me to fail.  Yayisha still loved Sterl, she also knew her mother would bring that up, so she had practiced answering that one in front of her mirror for an hour before bed last night.  ¡°He¡¯s a cripple.  I¡¯ll find another to bed.¡±


    Her mother never moved, yet a searing blade appeared and lashed her across the back.  Yayisha grunted, refusing to scream.  She was completely astounded.  Mother didn¡¯t even move her arms.  How does she cast without somatics?


    ¡°You¡¯re a poor liar, daughter.  Yet your pain tolerance has grown.  I¡¯ll allow you to attempt to bind this creature.¡±


    Another lash raked Yayisha¡¯s back, this one more painful than any she had ever received.  Though she tried to remain quiet, Yayisha shrieked and fell to her knees.  Another lash followed, even more painful.  Gods how I hate her.


    ¡°Stop it, mother.  Please!¡±


    The creature in front of her broke free from its stone prison.  Because she wasn¡¯t concentrating, its arms and torso lurched toward her.  Gray-fingered claws, each longer than her entire hand, swiped at her.


    Yayisha raised both hands and whispered, ¡°Aiom¡± Air solidified in front of her as the claws descended.  Sparks showered the air in front of her as first one, then the other set of claws bounced off the invisible barrier.


    Another lash struck her back, his one wrapping around her side to the front of her stomach.  Why is she attacking me!  Yayisha willed herself to be quiet while she forced herself to concentrate.  She extended her other hand sideways and yelled, ¡°Formud!¡±


    A surge of black force shot from her hand and struck the creature¡¯s chest.  It splattered and coated the creature in a black tar that coated its arms and legs in sludge.  It slowed the creature¡¯s every movement.


    Quickly Yayisha stood, keeping both hands in front of her.  She stepped toward the creature, the barrier in front of her moving forward, forcing the creature¡¯s backward until it stood straight once more.  All the while she kept the black sludge pouring onto the creature.  With her foot she kicked he creature¡¯s midsection.  As soon as she touched the creature, she muttered the binding.  ¡°Bloomar OatAme."


    The black force coming from her hand transformed to fire.  The blood from the pentagram, which Yayisha had drawn with her own blood, shot onto the creature¡¯s leg, chest, and arms, its mark replacing the creature¡¯s gray skin where it marked the creature.  The demon hissed and growled as it was bathed in black and red flames.  Only seconds passed before the creature fell to its knees, head bowed and resting upon the floor.


    Yayisha felt the creature cease its struggles.  She stepped away from it and out of the outlying circle, careful to step over it and not to scrape it.  All the while the creature never moved.


    Once outside, Yayisha¡¯s eyes found her mother, who stood on the opposite side of the summoning circle.  She¡¯s smiling.  Does that mean she¡¯s proud?  Or angry that I succeeded?  ¡°I¡¯ve done it, mother.  The creature is bound to me so long as it walks this world.¡±


    ¡°A success for you.  Finally,¡± Mother said.


    Finally?  Yayisha stood straighter then gasped.  Her own white summoner¡¯s shirt was soaked in her own blood across the stomach.  She felt the stickiness of her own blood across her back.  ¡°Why did you punish me, mother?  I¡¯ve accomplished something I¡¯ve never done before and¡ª.¡±


    Another lash caught her this time, this one right across her face.  Yayisha tasted her own blood, which filled her own mouth.  She spit it out, then felt the deep welt across her cheek.   Yayisha whirled toward her mother and extended her hands toward her.  Black fire rolled from her fingertips.  I¡¯ll kill her!


    Yet Zelicia disappeared and the black fired did nothing but scorch the far wall.


    She¡¯s never disappeared before.  Where is she?


    Yayisha whirled toward the door.  Standing there was mother who was talking to her latest Captain of the guards.  Renee.  That woman sneers at me as if I¡¯m filth.  I¡¯ll destroy her, too.  She shot another black line of fire at her mother.


    With a simple backhanded motion, Zelicia deflected the attack to the far wall, only the fire ricocheted off of it and shot directly back at Yayisha.


    How did she do that?  Quickly Yayisha¡¯s rose her own shield, which blocked the fire that would have seared her alive and knocked her across the room.  Instead, her shield absorbed the energy, though the force still pushed her back several feet.


    The young woman felt pride.  It was rare when she could block her mother¡¯s counterattack.  Quickly Yayisha struck.  She brought her hands over her head, willing herself to summon a bolt of force lightning, a spell that could bypass mother¡¯s normal air defenses she always used against Yayisha¡¯s attacks.  A spell mother doesn¡¯t know I¡¯ve been practicing on my own.  That she¡¯s never taught me.  It will stun her long enough so I can dominate the bitch.  Then she¡¯ll have to teach me everything I wish to learn on my terms.


    As Yayisha drew her hand back, a huge hand encompass her hand, wrist, and forearm.  Yayisha turned to see a monstrous demon towering over her.  Its six leathery hands whirled her around before she could act, grabbing her by her arms, legs, chest and waist simultaneously.  It drove her to the ground onto her back.  Its eyes were in its shoulders, two red bulbs similar to her own summoned creature, only twice as enormous.  Three separate mouths covered its torso, yellowed fangs jutting from each of them.


    The lashes on her back soared in intensity as the demon skidded her across the ground.  One of its mouths vomited green bile upon her.  Where it hit her unbroken skin, it numbed Yayisha¡¯s skin.  When the saliva coated her stomach where mother had gashed her, the wound burned with such ferocity that Yayisha passed out from the pain.


    Yet, before she did, she suddenly saw mother standing over her, the demon gone.  Had I imagined it?


    ¡°You spilled blood within the summoning circle, which kept the path to the Nether opened.  You¡¯re recklessness let that creature loose.  Luckily I was here to keep the creature in check.¡±


    Yayisha wanted to yell, to curse her mother.  Yet she couldn¡¯t seem to move.  You bitch!  You made me bleed.  And you dare blame me?


    Above her, Zelicia smiled.  ¡°Foolish girl.  You¡¯re strong but reckless.  You dare seek to attain power which I¡¯m not ready to teach?¡±


    Her mother reached down and turned Yayisha¡¯s head toward the summoning circle.  The Pit Demon was still within the circle.  And it was feeding on her newly bound demon.  Shredding it to non-existence.


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    ¡°This day you¡¯ve forced me to bind a Pit Demon to me.  A hungry Pit Demon.  The only way to control them is to feed them.  Or give them foolish young sorceresses.  Do you know what Pit Demon¡¯s do to those that use magic?  They lay eggs in them that take years to hatch.  Painful years.  The eggs grow into you, sucking your magic dry.  And you have a lot of magic daughter.¡±


    She wouldn¡¯t.


    Above her, though she could no longer see her, Yayisha heard her mother laugh.  How I hate you, mother.  Once day, I¡¯ll feed you to a demon.  One more powerful that yours.  One that I command.


    The saliva reached the wounds on her back.  Yayisha succumbed and eventually lost consciousness.


    Yayisha awoke, not in the summoning chamber deep below the temple, but in her bedroom.  She was laying on her uninjured side, uncovered and completely naked, feeling vulnerable.  Was it a dream?


    One look down at her body answered that question.  The lash on her side was still angry and red.


    Mother had beaten her often, sometimes leaving the wounds untreated for days, forcing Yayisha to deal with the discomfort.  Once, Yayisha healed them herself without mother¡¯s approval.  That very night she awoke hung in an unfamiliar room, hanging by manacles cinched to her wrists, lashed from head to toe, covered in a light bed sheet.  Once an hour, someone came in the room and doused her with salt water.  Never have I felt so humiliated.  After that night, Yayisha never dared heal herself again.


    Images of the Pit Demon haunted her mind.  She remembered the power of the creature, how helpless she felt.  The creature dominated me.  Overcame me with such ease.  The power of it!  If I could summon a creature such as that, I¡¯d be able to do whatever I pleased.


    Quickly Yayisha felt her cheek and sighed in relief.  The lash on her face had been fully healed.  Her back still burned, as did her side, yet not as badly as she feared it would.


    ¡°I¡¯ve covered them in Alia cream,¡± a familiar woman¡¯s voice said.


    The servant woman Vara.  ¡°Where is mother?¡±


    From behind her, Vara said, ¡°I do not know.  She said you¡¯d been injured.  That I was to treat your wounds.  I am to meet your every need, and that I am not to leave your side until she returned.¡±


    ¡°She said those specific words?¡±  Yayisha asked.


    ¡°Yes, my lady.  She was very specific.  Insistent.¡±


    I can hear the fear in Vara¡¯s voice.  ¡°What if I wish you to leave me alone?¡±


    ¡°I¡ªI cannot.¡±


    ¡°If I bathe?¡±


    ¡°I must be in the room with you.¡±


    Yayisha scowled.  Mother knows I hate servants.  ¡°Come around here so I can see your face.¡±


    ¡°Yes, milady.¡±  Vara walked around the bed to stand in front of her.  Mother had dressed her in brown pants and a half-shirt, both garments tight enough to show the woman¡¯s every curve.  And she had nice curves.  Yayisha saw men looking at Vara as she walked past them.  She¡¯d heard the guards muttering what they¡¯d like to do to Vara, both the men and the women alike.  The fat priest used to own her, but Mother owns her now.


    Yayisha admired Vara¡¯s looks for a moment.  Mother said nothing about me not being able to get pleasure from a woman.  Just men.  Is that why mother sent Vara to me?


    ¡°Did mother tell you what happened to me?¡±


    ¡°N-No,¡± Vara said.


    Yayisha made herself sit up in bed.  Her wounds stung, yet were tolerable.  She swung her legs over the bed and looked up at the blonde woman.  ¡°Do I frighten you, servant?¡±


    Vara nodded.


    Yayisha stood and gripped Vara¡¯s chin. ¡°Look at me.¡±


    Vara raised her chin and met Yayisha¡¯s stare.


    ¡°Answer me when I speak to you.  Are you scared of me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be a fool not to be,¡± Vara said.


    Yayisha grinned.  Smart and pretty.  Is that defiance in her eyes?  That could be fun.


    Suddenly, Yayisha felt for the shroud of detection mother usually blanketed her with.  It was gone.  But is mother really out of range?  Or is it a test?


    There was only one way to find out.  She had to use her magic.  If mother was still there, Yayisha knew she¡¯d quickly appear to punish her.


    Yayisha took a step toward Vara.  She was surprised when Vara didn¡¯t back up.  Yayisha closed the space between then until she was barely a hands breathe from Vara.  Still gripping the servant¡¯s chin, Yayisha directed Vara¡¯s gaze up to her own.  ¡°Do you find me attractive, servant?¡±


    Vara quivered.  Yayisha gripped Vara¡¯s forearm and felt the woman¡¯s goose bumps.


    ¡°Answer me, servant.¡±


    Vara opened her mouth, ¡°I¡ªuh, y-yes.¡±


    Is she lying?  Oh, I guess not.  Yayisha saw Vara¡¯s nipple become hard and make themselves apparent through the half shirt.  Feeling a sense of ownership, Yayisha hand when up Vara¡¯s shirt and gripped her bare breast.  She nestled the servant¡¯s nipple between her fingers.  Vara breathed heavily, a slight groan escaping her lips.


    Yayisha leaned toward Vara and allowed her lips to touch her own.  She kissed her briefly, then stood straight again, considering.  I feel nothing for the woman.  Perhaps this will help¡­


    Yayisha summoned her magic and lifted Vara slightly off the ground.  She mumbled, ¡°Slicoclot¡± (Slice off her Clothes.)  In an instant, all of Vara¡¯s clothing was shredded.  It fell to the floor, leaving Vara just as naked at Yayisha.  For a moment, Yayisha admired the servant woman¡¯s body, turning Vara in a circle in the air.  Vara¡¯s firm body and tight, rounded buttocks made it apparent that the clothes did not mask any flaws, for Yayisha could see none.  Still, Yayisha felt little attraction.


    Yayisha dropped Vara back to her feet.  She put her hand to her lips and waited for mother to burst into the room.  Yet, there was nothing.  She must have really left Haver.  Probably off to find Animus.  I wonder for how she¡¯ll be gone?


    Yayisha¡¯s mind rolled, thinking of what she could do in the woman¡¯s absence.  Pondering what she could get away with.  She thought of exploring the depths of the temple, yet knew mother would have warded them against her curiosities.


    Yayisha waived Vara to the door.  ¡°Are there guards outside the door?¡±


    Vara shook her head.  ¡°No, not when I came in.¡±


    ¡°Go check.¡±


    Vara did as she was bid while Yayisha walked over to her window, from which she could see Haver.  Below, guards were stationed around the temple, every ten feet.  Hmm.  Mother will surely have told me to escort me if I went into town.  They¡¯ll report my every move.


    Then the thought occurred to her.  She turned around.  ¡°Any guards?¡±


    Vara, still naked yet not even attempting to cover herself, said, ¡°No guards at the door or down the hallway.¡±


    Yayisha grinned.  ¡°Is Sterl still here in the temple?¡±  But she already knew the answer.  He was, for she walked by and peeked in his door every day.


    ¡°Yes, my lady.  ¡°He is.  Doing much better.  He¡¯s up and walking and eating regular meals again.¡±


    ¡°You will go and get him for me,¡± Yayisha said.   ¡°Then meet me on the roof.¡±


    Vara¡¯s eyes widened.  ¡°But your mother said I must stay with you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll both go.  But only you can go in his room and get him, not me.¡±  Mother has warded that room against me.  Doesn¡¯t want me seeing Sterl.  But she¡¯s given me a way around that.  ¡°You will go in and get him for me and take him to the roof.¡±


    ¡°What if he asks why?¡±


    ¡°Tell him the fat priest said he needs some fresh air,¡± Yayisha said.


    ¡°But¡ª.¡±


    ¡°Mother told you to do what I asked, did she not?¡±


    Vara nodded.


    Yayisha walked back over to Vara, gripped the woman by the back of her head and looked her in the eyes.  ¡°When we get to the rooftop, you¡¯ll do whatever I ask.  Is that understood?¡±


    Vara nodded.


    Yayisha put her hand between the servant¡¯s breasts and listened to her rapidly beating heart.  She whispered, ¡°Do as I tell you without hesitation.  And I¡¯ll make certain you¡¯re rewarded.¡±


    Vara swallowed.  ¡°Y-yes, my lady.¡±


    Yayisha released her and motioned toward the closet.  ¡°Get us some loose-fitting clothes. Dress yourself, then assist me.  Then I¡¯m going to ask you a favor.¡±


    Vara¡¯s eyes widened.  ¡°A favor of me?¡±


    Yayisha nodded.


    ¡°What kind of favor?¡±  Vara asked.


    Yayisha, for the first time that night, felt aroused.  ¡°You¡¯re going to teach me everything you know about pleasuring a man.¡±