Amendments (11 page)

              “Okay,” one agreed.

              “Thank you so much,” the other said.

              Ruith sighed and said, “Now, how do we take care of—”

              Craven interrupted him.  “Look, friend.  I think you and your Luxin pal should just go.”

              Ruith asked, “What do you mean?”

              One of the women walked up to Ruith and said, “Look what happened here.  Our lives have been peaceful for months until the day you come back.”

              Craven stated, “It’s just not worth it.  It’s not going to work here, Ruith.  I’m glad it worked for Lithe, but that town has one
quarter
the population that Inderrin has.”  He shook his head.  “Just go.  Both of you.  Try the next town.”

              Ruith straightened and looked down his nose.  “You are just giving up?  We have shown you that the king is not invincible.  We can do this if everyone would unite together.”

              Craven did not meet Ruith's eyes.  “It’s just not going to happen here.  I’m sorry.  Just get out of town.  It’s the best for you two, us, and the town I think.”

              Ruith shook his head.  “I can’t believe you are just giving up.”  He motioned to the bodies of the soldiers.  “What will you do about them?”

              The woman dismissed, “We will handle it.  Just go.  Now.  Please.”

              “Please,” repeated Craven.

              Ruith turned to Noir and said, “I guess it’s over.  Let’s go.”  Ruith threw down the soldier’s sword, and then walked up the stairs.  The two din slaves moved to the side to let them pass.  They were still tethered to the corpses of their din handlers.

              Noir looked back at the townsfolk.  “I’m sorry if we caused trouble.”

              They said nothing, so Noir followed Ruith up the stairs and out of the house.

~~~

              Ruith had to jog to keep up with Noir as he stormed away from the meeting house.  He moved toward the gate they had come in earlier.  “Noir, wait!” he called after him.  Noir kept his fast pace.  “What are you doing?”

              “I’m getting out of here.”

              “Are you crazy?  The sentries will see you.  The Din Mages will blow a hole in the earth where you stand if you try to leave now!”

              “I can defend myself.”

              Ruith grabbed Noir’s shoulder so he would have to face him.  “What are you doing?  You’re being crazy!”

              Noir looked at the scar-covered man with hatred.  “
I’m
crazy?!  Those people are dead because of us!  You made me help you kill them.”  Ruith was so startled that he didn’t know what to say.  Noir continued.  “We didn’t have to fight.  We could have—“

              Ruith found his voice.  “Don’t be naïve!  We did what we had to do!”  Ruith realized how loud they were being with people nearby and lowered his voice.  “Look, we can talk about this, but not here.  I know of another place where we can—”

              “There’s no more 'we,' Ruith.  I’m done with you if people are going to die.  Also, your idea about me becoming another Lumin is
total insanity
!”  Noir turned and started to walk away again.

              Ruith ran to catch up with Noir again and stood in his path.  “Look, I’m sorry things didn’t go well back there.  Obviously, it’s not what I wanted to happen either, but you can’t go alone.”

              “Why not?”

              “You are in Tier now.  You don’t know how things work here.”

              “I was fine before I met you.”
              “We’re getting closer to the capital now.  Things are different there.  You need me.”

              Noir looked at the watch tower on top of the city wall and considered his options.  He sighed and said, “Fine, but we do things my way from now on, okay?”

              “Okay.”

Part 2

Chapter 12

To the test

              Grandel called orders to the men holding wooden shields as they blocked the spear attacks of their fellow Returner soldiers.  They were still using wooden spears in practice for safety, but they had a few dozen metal spears in guardhouses around the perimeter.  There were four men that Grandel had trained who worked the hammer and anvil every day.  They would churn out several arrowheads, a few spears, and at least one sword every few days.  The quality of their work was improving as well.  The Returner camp was beginning to feel somewhat well-protected during the month that Grandel had been there.  Every day, Grandel slept a little easier knowing that he was helping these people.

              After Grandel finished an archery lesson with some new recruits, he heard a few people talking about a Luxin being in town.  He felt himself smile with anticipation.  It had been nearly a week since Adeel had found a reason to visit the settlement.  Grandel walked swiftly toward the healer’s tent when he heard a little boy’s voice yell from behind, “Teach me how to shoot, Octavius!  Please?”

              Grandel knew the boy.  Jarek had been born to a woman while she had still been a slave, which was a common occurrence in Chiron.  He was not old enough to need a collar in Chiron, but his life changed completely when his mother had been released.

              Jarek followed Grandel around more often than he liked.  Grandel would frequently spot him near the weapon practice sessions.  Jarek would try to hide while going along with the fighting stances and exercises.  Though Grandel sent him away whenever he saw the boy, Jarek would simply find a new hiding spot and practice along from behind a tree or around a tent.  Grandel paid him little mind and actually found it amusing.

              “Jarek, I already told you.  You are not strong enough to pull a bow all the way back.”

              “I can do it.  I promise Octavius!” he yelled as he came forward.  He was obviously pleased that Grandel wasn’t simply ignoring him like he usually did.

              “Plus it’s dangerous.  If something went wrong and you got hurt, your mom would kill me!”  Grandel chuckled.

              “No one can kill you, Octavius.”

              Grandel laughed even louder.  “I’m sure your mother could if you got hurt because of me.”

              Jarek didn’t seem to think it was funny.  He frowned and stamped his foot.  “When I’m eight can I do it?”

              “When will you be eight?”

              “Next week.”

              “Maybe when you’re eight…” he paused for comedic affect, “teen.”

              Jarek’s eyes got huge.  “Eighteen?  That’s forever away!”  Jarek turned and ran away.  He called back over his shoulder, “I can pull back a bow.  I will show you Octavius!”

              Grandel smiled and watched the boy run away before turning back toward the healer’s hut.  He was hoping Adeel would be there.  Within a few long strides, he was pushing up the tent flap and looking at two women sitting on small cloth pads.  In front of them, Adeel sat on her knees with her eyes closed and hands on one woman’s protruded abdomen.  As he entered, all three women looked up at him.  Adeel quickly masked her delight at seeing him and instead put on a face of subdued anger.  “Excuse me
sir. 
Don’t you know not to walk straight into a place of healing?”  The two women looked from Grandel to Adeel and back again.

              “My apologies, ladies and Luxin,” Grandel bowed courteously.  “My mistake.”

              “I’ll say,” Adeel continued the joke for her amusement.  Grandel could see the mischievous glint in her eye as she pressed needlessly on.  “See that it doesn’t happen again, sir!  I could have been doing a delicate procedure or one of these women might have been—”

              Grandel cut her off, denying her any further amusement.  “Yes, yes.  My apologies.  Please come find me at my tent when you are finished.”  He walked out before she could say any more.

Trying not to give Adeel the satisfaction of seeing him too eager, Grandel inspected the training soldiers one more time before heading back to his tent.  He also began receiving very pleasant feelings through the connection with Isis.  Grandel knew how she got when she was being scratched around her neck.  Once he felt he’d waited a reasonable amount of time, he finally made his way back to his meager residence.

              As Grandel ducked in, he saw the back of Adeel’s Luxin cloak.  She was facing the hidden perch he had set up behind a flap in his tent for Isis to use.  The hawk preferred to perch on Grandel’s shoulder or on his arm, but that wasn’t feasible except in private since he was under cover.  For once, Isis was there, happily chirring while getting petted on the head and neck by Adeel.

              Adeel spoke, obviously having heard Grandel enter.  “She’s pretty much grown up.  She’s beautiful.”

              “She is a helpful companion and friend,” Grandel offered as he walked up behind Adeel and put his arms around her waist.  Adeel stopped petting Isis and placed her arms lovingly on top of his.  She leaned her head back to rest against his cheek.  Grandel got a bitter feeling through the link with Isis.  “Is that a bit of jealousy?” Grandel mused to himself.

              “Isis honors Kahmi's memory,” added Adeel.  Grandel didn’t comment but instead just held her for a long moment.  There was something special about holding someone close after a hard day’s work or after a stressful situation that somehow made it all seem tolerable.  Adeel sank her whole body into his arms.

              Grandel received what he equated to an eye roll from Isis.  Then with one flap of her wings, she jumped to the perch and faced the tent wall that glowed with the evening sunset.  Grandel mused, “She has a sense of humor… I swear.”

              Adeel chuckled at Isis, then turned in Grandel’s arms to face him.  Then she kissed him long on the lips.  It was not a passionate kiss like they had shared many times in the night, but a tender one.  It was a kiss of someone who had missed the other deeply.  Eventually, Adeel ended the kiss and put her head on Grandel’s chest.  She let out a low, contented sigh and said quietly as if only half-caring, “I brought a luxsyedin with me this time.  During my last visit, I felt someone here using lux.  It was slight, but it’s worth testing everyone for the possibility of finding another.

              “That is good news.  The Returners could use a Luxin with them permanently, even if it is a novice one.”

              Adeel met his eyes and gave a smile.  “So you’ve adopted this ‘Returners’ title now?”

              Grandel gave one low laugh.  “I guess it’s stuck in my head since that’s what they call themselves now.”

              “I will request everyone here to come to my tent tomorrow to test them with the luxsyedin.”

              “That sounds good.”  A long pause passed between them.  Finally, Grandel said in a softer voice, “How is Talik?  How are things going?”

              “Could be worse.  Only two stragh attacks since the last one.  They are still the new kind… whatever they are.”

              Grandel knew what she meant by “new kind.”  They were now exploding with din and had contorted body parts that turned them into hulking monstrosities instead of the silent murderers they once were.  “I am doing my best to give these people some defenses, but I still feel we would be ill equipped if these straghs attacked here.”

              “I wonder why they haven’t,” Adeel mused.  She took her head from Grandel’s chest and looked at his face.  He seemed far away and his brow was wrinkled with worry.  He absentmindedly pulled away from Adeel and studied a list of new recruits that sat on his make-shift table made from wooden shipping crates.  She went to his side again and wrapped her arms around his.  “Not right now.”

              Grandel was taken out of his trance by this.  He looked at Adeel again.  “What?”

              “I haven’t seen you in a long time.  Don’t worry about everything else right now.  Be with me.  In this moment.  Please.”

              The woman’s words pushed Grandel’s numerous worries and fears to the side.  It was amazing how good she was at doing that.  He embraced her again and looked into her eyes.  “I missed you.”

~~~

              Grandel and Adeel were on their feet both with weapons drawn before they even knew what had awakened them.  A loud explosion echoed through the Returner camp.  It hadn’t sounded far away.  Grandel held one of the few swords they owned in the camp.  Adeel held her long, curved blade that she’d gotten from Fafnir years earlier.  There was no time for either to put on their armor.  Both were out of the tent in seconds.  Isis flew out of the tent after them and quickly gained height.

              Screams directed both Grandel and Adeel’s attention southward.  They were immediately in a sprint toward the horrifying and sadly familiar sound.  A lightly armored man ran toward them.  It was one of the new recruits, Patrov.  He was with the new group that had been practicing with spears for about a week.  Grandel noticed the spear in his hand was broken near the tip and the metal spearhead missing.  Patrov didn’t seem to realize this.

              “Octavius!  The straghs!  They’re here!”

              Grandel didn’t stop running and Patrov fell in behind him and Adeel.  “How many?”

              “I saw a few… I don’t know maybe a dozen.  I killed one of the regular ones.”

              “Good.  You did well.  Now you must get everyone away who cannot fight.  Tell them to flee to the north side of town!  Go!”

              “Yes sir!”  The man skidded to a halt then ran in the opposite direction.  By then, Isis was high enough to get a view of the town below.  She sent images through the sye connection to Grandel as he ran.  His men kept a line between the town and the advancing straghs.  They seemed to be fighting well.  Several pale stragh bodies were strewn before them.  One crater marked where the abnormal exploding stragh had fallen.  He had instructed his soldiers about this variety in case they were ever attacked, so they knew to get clear.

              Isis showed him a pack of straghs silently creeping up behind a patch of bushes.  The soldiers stared the other direction.  Grandel sprinted toward these men and yelled out, “The bushes!  They’re coming from the bushes!”

              The men turned to look at Grandel approaching, and then comprehended what he had said.  They turned their spears and bows toward the bushes.  Just as they turned, the creatures bounded forward silently.  The first fell to a hail of five arrows.  Within a couple long, bounding strides, the beasts were upon the men.  One ran its chest straight into a spear that was braced against the dirt like Grandel had taught them.  Another was hewn in half by one of the few swords they had to guard the village.  The majority of the straghs, however, easily slipped past the spears and other weapons.  Where claws would have met flesh, a light barrier deflected the attack.  The deflected attack put the stragh off balance and gave another man an opportunity to strike out with his spear, catching the beast in one of its thighs.  As usual, the deformed creature made no sound.  However, its body suddenly went limp as though all its energy had been drained from it.

              The man who buried his spear into the creature’s thigh screamed out, “Exploder!  Run!”  The others near him barely had enough time to start one step when shards of ice exploded out of the stragh’s body in long spears.  They shattered against a large shield of light that protected their retreat.  The ice spears shot through several of the other straghs near to the source.  One was held in the air mid-pounce, skewered by sharp ice.  The light barrier faded and what remained was a bizarre sculpture of flattened ice on one side, and ice spikes going through twitching straghs on the other.

              Grandel didn’t have the time to pay any mind to Isis’ frantic emotions.  He’d been alongside the men slashing and parrying the creatures as the last one fell.  Now, he managed to spare one thought toward the creature’s images and was horrified.  He looked to where Isis’ aerial image told him the thing was and saw stars blocked by the massive creature.  Around its feet, several more straghs clawed silently along as if guarding it.

              The men around Grandel were celebratory.  They had defeated these creatures without taking a scratch.  Grandel yelled, “Men.  Stand your ground.  More approach from the south.”

              The men grabbed their weapons and turned, ready for more.  Then their posture changed once they saw the new threat blocking out the stars on the horizon.  They started to curse.  “You have a Luxin behind you!” Grandel called to them.  “Trust in her skills and abilities.  Fight to defend your family and all that you have built here.”  Then he paused and added, “For the Lumin!”

              The men repeated the battle cry with fervor.  “For the Lumin!!!”

              The men charged forward.  Many shot several arrows at the hulking form before following the other men.  Grandel and Luxin Adeel ran forward as well.  The other straghs met them long before the hulking shape.  They fell easily with Adeel’s help.  Two more exploded, one with fire and the other shoving up pillars of jagged earth around it.  Adeel shielded the men as before, but Grandel knew she would soon be exhausted from creating that many strong barriers.