Into the Fray: Volume 1 of The Sorcerers of Jhanvia Series (32 page)

“Then it is true, my spirit is Valtyr,” Kaitra concluded.

“You have always known this,” the old one replied. “You simply chose to disbelieve.”

“In my last life, what was my name?”

“You already know,” was the answer.

Kaitra turned her head sideways slightly searching through her spirit’s memories, “It was Treylona. My name was Treylona.”

“Yes,” was the response.

The sorceress was surprised by how quickly and decisively her higher self let loose of its memories, “My mother was Calaanny. She gave birth to me in the River Alywann.”

“Welcome back, my great granddaughter, my beautiful Treylona,” Kaitra could see Minyya smile in her mind.

The sorceress was rather stunned by all this, “I am back, aren’t I? But I’m trapped in this human existence.”

Minyya suggested, “Because your last act in your previous life was to save a Dhoyan commander and his regiment, you were allowed to return as royalty in their realm. Somewhere deep in my memory I see something of a prophecy that spoke of such a blending, but I honestly can no longer recall what it was. I think it was important, though, something about bringing unity to the people.”

“I feel so uncomfortable within myself, and I belong to a people who only want me dead. I’m feeling a little lost here,” Kaitra said sadly.

The spirit of her great-grandmother waxed philosophic, “All lives have meaning and purpose, and yours this time is
very
special. I see greatness ahead for you. You should accept who and what you are and grab on to this life with both hands.”

“It’ll be harder to hold on without my claws,” Kaitra’s humor was sarcastic.

Minyya laughed and agreed “You’re probably right. Even though your body is human, your spirit is pure Valtyr. Now that you know who you truly are, do not be afraid to see the world through your Valtyr eyes. And the next time you perform arfulan with Kidreyli, do it with your Valtyr spirit. See where
that
takes you.”

“Is mother with you?”

“No, she is incarnate now. Do not seek her out.”

“I understand. Where do I go from here? I certainly cannot return to Tyrkamani.”

Minyya replied firmly, “Never go there, even if invited. There are forces there that will kill you without hesitation. The path that is your destiny already lies before you. Trust your instincts and you will know what to do when the time is at hand.”

“I fear what is to come,” Kaitra admitted.

Minyya tersely responded, “That is your human speaking. The Valtyr within you has no fear. Approach the challenges that life presents as a Valtyr. Summon your courage and plunge fearlessly into the fray.”

Kaitra smiled remembering that Kidreyli had said something similar in the past. “I will do my best.”

Her great-grandmother said, “That is all anyone can ask, my beloved. Always know that I am with you. Be safe and happy in all you do.”

Kaitra’s physical body sucked in a deep breath as her spirit energies began to return. She sat quietly with her eyes closed, letting her spirit fully return from below. She ran her thumb over the tips of her fingers, lamenting the absence of her Valtyr claws and all the other Valtyr physical features she missed in this life. Her eyes closed, pushing a few tears down her cheeks as a wave of sadness passed through her. Then she pulled in a deep breath and quietly reiterated the words of her great-grandmother out loud, “Grab on to this life with both hands.”

She closed her eyes and focused on her spell, “Put this in a box and hide it in the deepest part of you, so that no one will find it, ever.” She felt her knowledge slide into a deep place within her mind, difficult even for her to get to. She reached up and released the shielding spell and quickly made her way back to the camp.

She slid back into the nest next to Kidreyli, who woke only slightly.

“Where were you?” the warrior asked incoherently.

“I just needed to relieve myself,” Kaitra lied.

Kidreyli rolled over on her side and pulled her in close again.

The next morning Kaitra was up early with an enhanced vigor for life. She saw Dikaylia tending to something on her saddle. She quickly bounced over and motioned her Valtyr friend behind the Katrion so they would be out of sight of their lovers. She placed her finger over her lips as a sign to remain quiet. Then she held up her hand and closed her eyes, simultaneously creating a shielding spell and unlocking that which she so carefully hidden away earlier. She opened her eyes and smiled.

“So, how did it go?” Dikaylia whispered.

Kaitra whispered back, “I spoke with my great grandmother, whose name was Minyya. My name in my previous life was Treylona. My mother’s name was Calaanny. My last life ended sixty years ago in the Gutan Highlands, saving the lives of a Dhoyan commander and his patrol from one of their hoards. I was born into that life in the western reaches of Tyrkamani on the banks of the River Alywann, just before it spreads out and blends with the Dohwanglas Sea. I am Valtyr, sister.”

Dikaylia’s surprised eyes quietly laughed a little, “How did you end up in a human?”

“I’m not sure. I guess I just missed,” Kaitra laughed quietly at her own words. “Actually, she told me there was some prophecy related to a Valtyr blended with a human in this way, but she was unsure of what it represented. I will need to do more to find out what it is.”

“This does not change our current circumstance with the elders. They won’t believe you.”

“I know. For now this must remain a secret solely between you and me.”

“It will remain buried within me until you instruct otherwise,” Dikaylia confirmed. She reached out and pulled Kaitra into a firm and passionate hug, “Welcome home, my sister, welcome home.”

“Thank you for everything. I promise I will never forget this,” Kaitra said.

Her eyes said to her friend that it was time to bury these thoughts. They both closed their eyes and performed the spell in their own way. When their eyes met again, Kaitra reached up with her hand and collapsed the shielding spell.

“Kaitra, are you ready to go?” Kidreyli called out from the other side of the camp.

Kaitra looked at Dikaylia and called back, “Yes, my love. I’m coming.” She bounded back to her belongings that were near the fire and grabbed them up.

“You’re looking much better today,” Kidreyli noted.

“I feel good. The dizziness from yesterday has passed.”

“Let me look at your side,” the Valtyr commanded. She lifted her shirt, looked over the wounds carefully, and then continued, “They look pretty good. The draining seems to have stopped. The sticky leaves and the herbs have helped them close over. We still need to be careful for a few more days so as not to split them open again.”

Nidreyka said, “We’re not far from Triami. We can take it easy today so as not to reinjure you or exhaust your horse.”

“Excellent,” remarked Kaitra. “The princess likes to be pampered as often as possible.

Nidreyka leaned on Dikaylia’s shoulder and they both laughed, choosing to stay back and out of the fracas.

“You’re not going to let that go, are you?” Kidreyli asked.

Kaitra sounded serious, “I don’t know what you mean. I am a princess of the realm and I expect to be treated as such.”

Kidreyli went along, “Well then I must be the princess consort.”

“That’s correct,” Kaitra said. “That means you must do as I command. Now, help me up on my horse.”

Kidreyli relented, walked over and pushed her up on the horse by her bum.

Kaitra sat up straight in her saddle and announced with a royal air, “I am ready. We may leave now.”

Kidreyli looked at Nidreyka and said sarcastically, “Perfect, just what we need this day, a royal pain in the arse.”

Kaitra smiled at Nidreyka and Dikaylia when Kidreyli looked away to mount Tyral. With a nudge of Sestru, they were off.

They had traveled steadily on this crisp cool day and were at the edge of town by just after midday. They slowly made their way along the main avenue, passing an array of people and horse-drawn carts along the way. Most noticeable were the unexpected number of
soldiers wearing red tunics scattered about the town. As they passed, the soldiers seemed to take a special interest in them, watching intently and occasionally speaking in whispers.

Kidreyli sensed Kaitra’s anxiety and asked Tyral, “My friend, do you remember seeing this many of Satreka’s forces the last time we were here?”

“Absolutely not. This is very disturbing,” the Katrion replied.

Kaitra remarked in her thoughts, “I’m not comfortable with this.”

“Neither am I,” Kidreyli replied as she pushed Tyral to move up alongside Nidreyka.

Nidreyka was aware of the problem and said, “This is not good. I know a place where we should be safe.” She spoke to her lover’s mind, “Kay, we need cover. Come with us.”

Dikaylia turned her Katrion back and followed the three of them onto the smaller and less traveled pathways and alleys. Several minutes later Nidreyka stopped in front of an obscure pub. She dismounted and led them behind the building through a small passageway to a small lean-to, where she wrapped her Katrion’s reins around a post. The others followed her lead and entered the pub through a rustic wooden back door.

The pub was dark with very few lamps burning in the middle of the day. Light from the outside peeked through the wooden walls in several places. The tables were old and had obviously seen better days. Only a couple of patrons were sitting about, awash in their ale. Satreka’s soldiers were noticeably absent. Nidreyka looked around, saw a woman come out of the back room and walk toward her.

The middle-aged woman with the graying long hair sat the cups she was carrying on the bar and looked up, “Nidreyka? Is that you?”

“Milina, it is so good to see you,” Nidreyka said as her friend came around the end of the bar and hugged her tightly.

The woman looked over Nidreyka’s shoulder, “Dikaylia, come here my friend,” she said as she gave her a long hug.

“I’m so glad we found you again,” Dikaylia said.

Milina released her and looked at their two companions, “Kidreyli, it is you? I haven’t seen you in ages.” She came over and gave her a hug. “Where have you been?”

“I’ve been traveling about. I was in Alondra recently. Cliona and Eirran send their best.”

Milina’s eyes showed her surprise, “Those are two names I haven’t heard in years. How are they?”

“They are well.”

“And who is this?” Milina asked looking over at the sorceress.

Kidreyli said proudly, “Milina, this is Kaitra, she is my anamhra.”

Milina went over and hugged her, “Welcome, my dear. It is good to meet you.” She looked over at Kidreyli, “You bonded with a Dhoyan?”

“A Dhoyan princess,” Dikaylia interjected in a perky voice.

Milina laughed, “Well, that probably doesn’t set to well around the Valtyr home fires, but you are absolutely welcome here, my dear. Please, all of you, come and sit.”

Nidreyka jumped in, “We need to get food and drink, and I was wondering if we could talk in private?”

“Of course,” Milina said. “Follow me.”

She led them through a few turns in darkened hallways to a wall and pushed on a special plank in the middle of it. A secret door opened into a small anteroom with a table and benches.

“Relax here, I’ll be right back,” Milina said as she closed the door behind her.

The couples paired off and sat next to their lovers across the table from each other. They all sat quietly for several moments. Kidreyli took Kaitra’s hand.

Kidreyli spoke first, “Satreka has gotten more powerful than I would have imagined. I was here just five months ago and I don’t remember seeing more than a handful of his soldiers.”

Kaitra said, “I don’t feel safe in this town. I don’t think we should stay here.”

Nidreyka posed, “We should wait and talk to Milina. She will be able to give us some good insight. Have you decided what you want to do about visiting your mother?”

Kidreyli said, “We’ve talked about it and we think it’s too dangerous for both of us. I think we’re better served to stay in this area and focus our efforts on dealing with Satreka.”

“Your mother will be very disappointed. She and Suliya made quite an effort to arrange for us to come for you. She was so hoping to be with you one last time,” Nidreyka explained.