Legon Ascension (11 page)

Up to this point neither had said much out aloud but that wasn’t to say that they weren’t learning volumes about each other.
 

Once Marietta had left, Legon asked, “So do you do this much? I mean, is it common for our people?”

She considered this. “Well, the connection seems to be easy with you, but it depends on the person. Some try and connect with many people before they find someone, but others don’t. It just depends. As for my past, that’s none of your business.” She smiled at the last part, not upset with him, just enjoying making him squirm.
 

“Sorry, you’re right, that isn’t my business.”

Marietta was making her way to them carrying a tray on her shoulder with steaming plates.

“Ok dearies, here you go. I picked out different dishes so you can mix and match, if you will. I hope you like them.”

First, she placed a dish in front of Ise. “There dear, this is pasta stuffed with cheese and sausage.” It smelled and looked terrific.

“And for you, young master, here is pasta with a cream sauce with Shrimp. It’s one of my favorites. Now, is there anything else I can get you two?”

They told her they were fine and that the meal looked wonderful.

Legon watched as Iselin bowed her head, feeling her emotions as she prayed. He waited for her to finish. She looked up at him and smirked. “You are confused,” she said.

“I just don’t understand, religion isn’t a big part of life in the Cona Empire. I know that our people have beliefs, but I don’t think I understand them,” he confessed, then added, “Sorry.”

She chuckled. “Why are you sorry? Would you like me to tell you more?” she asked. Legon nodded his head. “Well, you have heard of the two great dragons, the white and the black, and that they used magic so strong that they split Elves into three races: Elves, Iumenta and humans.

“Here is what we believe: we believe that the dragons were brothers, and that their father was a gold dragon that created this world. The brothers were to take care of it.” Legon said he understood and she went on. “The black dragon wanted to rule over us, but the white wanted us to have freedom to learn. The early Elves took sides as the disagreement between the brothers grew stronger. At one point the dragons fought using magic so strong it changed the land. There were three groups inside of Elvin society at the time, those that followed the black dragon, who turned into Iumenta, and those who followed the white. We became the Elves you see now. Lastly, those were undecided were humanity, and they did not change.”

Legon was deep in thought but he was keeping up. “But why doesn’t anyone remember this then?”

Iselin smiled. “We weren’t immortal at first. It took generations. We have some ancient texts that we read, and we have faith.”
 

“But the Iumenta don’t.”

“That is correct. We do everything we do in the name of the white dragon. We try not to be overt about it, however, it will be something you will need to understand if you are to lead in our society.” She grinned. “Do you think I’m crazy now?”

Legon took a few moments to answer. “I have more questions for you, but crazy, no. I’ve been haunted by dreams with the black dragon, and when I turned into an Elf I saw a blue eye that I always assumed was the white. I don’t know how I know this but… sorry, I don’t know what I’m saying.” He felt uncomfortable and he knew Ise could sense that and dropped the topic.

“So, I hear you are nervous about addressing the rest of the house?” Iselin said. She was referring to a speech that Legon was to make once in Seeon, the capital cit. He would be making many of these speeches, and he was not looking forward to it in the least bit.

“You know, I think I’d rather fight a dragon.” Iselin laughed and he went on. “I have always been a doer. I get up, work, go home, see friends and get in fights. Everything I do and say is so direct, but from what I have read about statecraft, none of that is effective. I hate people paying attention to me.” He remembered something from when he was a kid and laughed. “When I was young, my father made me go into the center market and stand on a box and talk about our butcher business. I threw up,” he said.

Iselin chuckled. “Awww, that’s no good. It seems to me that leaders are either comfortable with combat and the direct side of leading, or speaking. Most of the other heads of house don’t leave the Pawdin Empire, even in times of war. They lead by speaking, but you will lead in the field I think.”

He agreed. “I will be there when Bailaya falls, you can bet, but I will need to be at least a decent speaker as well.”
 

Iselin and Legon spoke for the rest of dinner about speaking and using the Jezeer to master Legon’s voice. Legon loved it—not the conversation, but feeling in her mind and the other way around; never once was anyone confused.
 

* * * * *

Sasha was looking out over the city from the training house. Her tour of Manton was enjoyable, though the city didn’t have much in the way of attractions. Sydin took her to the training house so she could see Sara and Keither.
 

Sara came bouncing out of the front entrance, towing Keither and being followed by an olive skinned girl who looked slightly apprehensive. Sara beamed at them and threw her arms around her. As Sara’s companion got closer, her personal guard twitched slightly and the girl looked at them warily.

“Did you get moved in?” Sasha asked Sara.

“We did, thanks for the place, this is my friend Sam…” Sara paused, looking for Sam at her side, then she turned. “Sam, come on, don’t be rude, say hello.” Sam looked at Sara with shock. When she spoke, she gave Sasha a slight bow.

“Good evening my Lady, it is an honor to meet you.”

“It’s good to meet you too Sam. Are you keeping Sara under control?”

Sasha’s guard chuckled and said, “Not likely.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Sara asked the Elf sternly.

Sydin answered. “He’s only saying the obvious. Don’t act offended, I don’t think you know what that emotion even is.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Sara said, brow furrowed. Then she looked at the guard again. “But you’re on my list buddy.”

The Elf, whose name was Sinton, held up his hands. “I would never want to ensure the wrath of one such as you.” He smiled.

“You better not. Sinton, I know your wife…” she said playfully.

“You better watch it Sinton. I think she means business,” Sydin said.

“Oh, I’m all aquiver sir.”
 

Sasha turned her attention to Keither. “So Keither, do you like your new place?”

“It’s nice, but a little high up if you ask me.”

She looked to Sara, who rolled her eyes. Sam looked to be fighting the same urge. “It’s on the third story—hardly a mountain top. Anyway, tell us about your flight. Was it fun, or is Sydin like an old lame horse?”

Sam went rigid. It was obvious she never in her wildest dreams would talk to an Elf like this. Sydin was used to it by now. “Old horse! My age should inspire respect, not… whatever this is.”

Sasha placed her hand on Sydin’s elbow. “He didn’t drop me, and it was fun. You should try it some time.”
 

Sara showed them around the training grounds and told them about her first day of training.

“Sash, you would do so well here. Just from the little I helped you I’ve been way ahead of everyone. And the Elf who teaches us is gorgeous and he’s nice.”

“Well I’m glad you like it here and that the scenery is good.” Sasha was happy to see her friend settling in.
 

“And Keither, how are you?” Sasha asked.

He smiled a bit. “Better now that Pada and I are going over reading people. I’m not sure I’ll ever figure out any of the physical stuff, but my formal training doesn’t start until next week. Are you looking forward to going to Seeon? Pada tells me it’s a beautiful city.”

“Yes I am, and the Propero looks like an incredible ship. I’ve never been on the ocean, so it will be a fun adventure.” And she thought it would be; the ship was lovely and with magic she wouldn’t get motion sickness in even the most horrific of storms. They continued talking until long after the sunset, when Sydin said it was late and that they were leaving early in the morning.

“Are you going to see us off tomorrow?” Sasha asked.

“Yeah, I want to say good bye to you two, so we’ll be there bright and early,” Sara said, smiling widely.

Keither added, “How is Legon’s date going?”

“I don’t know, let me check…”

She paused and tried to connect with Legon. He was on the other side of town and she wasn’t sure if she could contact him that far away yet. She strained and felt a glimmer of his consciousness. It was faint and he wasn’t paying attention to the contact.
 

She pursed her lips. “I think it’s going well. He’s too far away for me to contact but I think he’s happy.”

“Well, good for them,” Sara said, beaming.

* * * * *

Legon felt a slight buzz and stopped walking. Ise’s hand pulled on his and she stopped.

“What is it?” Then pausing, she looked for herself. “Ah, they’re checking in. Do you think they know we’re having a good time?”

“I don’t know, I think so. the contact with Sasha is fuzzy. Can you contact anyone from that far away?”

“Yes, it just takes time and practice.”

Her face went blank. “Sydin says they were just curious, I told them we were at each other’s throats.”
 

Legon laughed, “Did he buy it?”

“No, not like it’s going to matter. Sasha will break into your mind within five minutes tonight. I wouldn’t even try and fight her.”

“Oh, I won’t.”

The connection between them was getting stronger now and it was nice to see that she was in no rush to get back to the ship.

“You said that with time and practice you can contact people from far away?”

She picked up on his thoughts. “You will be too far away for any real communication with our minds, but the ship has long range communication capability, so I expect to hear from you.”

He felt like an idiot getting all warm and fuzzy inside. It made him feel better knowing that Ise felt the same way. They didn’t talk much the rest of the way back to the ship.
 

Guards were posted by the ship, so Legon knew Sasha and Sydin were back. Iselin paused at the gangway.

“Well, thank you for a wonderful evening. I look forward to doing it again in the future.” This was formal for her.

The image of the guard flicked in his head and he understood.
 

“You’re not staying here?”
 

“No, I’m not going with you, so there’s really no reason for me to stay on the ship, but I will be by in the morning to say goodbye.”

This felt odd. It was supposed to be the other way around…the guy walking the girl to her door. There was a moment of awkwardness as he leaned in to give her a hug. He wanted to kiss her, but not with everyone watching. Their connection told him she was thinking the same thing. As he pulled away he thought,
aww screw it
, and turned his head, planting a kiss on her lips. There was surprise, then amusement. She kissed back and they parted after a moment. He was vaguely aware of his men turning away from them. Ise just smiled at him, winked, turned and walked away. He stumbled up the gangway, receiving a few thumbs up from his guard.

Chapter Six

The Spice of Life

“Sometimes we find that we have always been what we wanted, but just hadn’t seen it.”

-Diary of the Perfectos Compatioa

Barnin rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Poison, his horse, was under a tree and with the dark of night they couldn’t be seen at all. This was ideal, as the caravan he was planning on attacking was approaching. The caravan looked to be made up of two horse-drawn carts, so it was hardly a threat. Barnin didn’t see any security to speak of, after all, what idiot would attack supply trains this far into the Empire? Still, that didn’t mean that he and his men could be reckless, so he told Heath to check the area. Heath’s eyes went out of focus and Barnin noticed Heath’s lips moving like he was muttering. Barnin would never say it, but that seriously creeped him out. He wasn’t a huge fan of magic, though that was mostly because he couldn’t use it. But Heath was a decent guy.
Get your head in the game, moron,
he thought to himself. He ran his finger over the smooth brown leather of the saddle, waiting impatiently for Heath.

“There’s four, two on each cart. None of them can use magic and there doesn’t seem to be any wards protecting them either. Do you want me to take them out?” Heath asked.

Barnin knew Heath could kill the men on the carts and no one would even have to draw a blade, but Heath would wear out, and this could be a trap.
Better play it by the book
, he thought.
 

“No thanks, we need you if this is a trap. I don’t think it is, but you never quite know with the swine.”

The carts were close now. Just a bit longer and they would be surrounded by Barnin’s unit… not that you needed to surround four men. Barnin signaled for the six archers, or snipers as they liked to call themselves, to get ready. Then he thought better of it and signaled to the lead archer, sniper,
whatever
, to not take a kill shot. They needed information. The man nodded and readied to fire. With a flick of his wrist, Barnin gave the order and six arrows flew through the air. All of the men went down, only one with a scream. His men rushed out of the brush and quickly secured the carts. It was way too easy, and Barnin figured there had to be more carts coming.
 

As ordered, one man was alive, albeit not for long. Two arrows pierced him, one in the shoulder and the other in the right side of his chest. He was gasping for air, not even bothering to scream. Barnin got off Poison and walked up to the man, his eyes rolling in pain and fear.

Barnin grabbed his tunic. “What are you hauling, and are there more in your party?”

The man sputtered, but to his amazement replied, “We…we have spices, that’s all. There aren’t any more with us, but back up the road there are a few others from another party,” he coughed. “Please, I don’t know what you want, this is a government shipment. We mean you no harm.”