4

Playing with Lightning

The scimitars in Aviana’s hand whistled as she pivoted and sliced them through the air against the raiders around her. Her opponents tried to keep up with her movements, but the dance she performed kept their strikes to a minimum.

Aviana struck down two pirates, and their buddies readjusted their flank, keeping her separated from her allies. Her upper lip curled. Krax, the paladin, and she had joined up with more local militia and paladins to force the raiders back in one unified force, but these pirates meant business. More swarmed out of their waiting boat and from the shadows of the town. It made it difficult to push them back.

Worse yet, their defensive force wasn’t well equipped to working together. When the pirates swarmed, their tight formation broke into smaller and smaller groups. And this was how Aviana found herself separated from everyone.

A buccaneer’s shortsword swung at her, and she flinched when it made contact with her hardened skin that now looked a lot like tree bark. While she’d told Krax her clothes could withstand similar blows as leather, he was right about one thing—the style was not designed to keep her safe from weapons. It allowed her movement, keeping her enemies from touching her, as long as they didn’t have projectiles or surrounded her like this. This flanking maneuver from these pirates forced her to rely on her spells to add to her defenses. But she could only cast so many spells.

The internal energy spells she used needed to be built up through practice and use. In her sixty-nine years, she’d built up this reservoir of energy, though never found herself in prolonged skirmishes that required her to push those boundaries. And battle took a toll on the body as it was.

Fatigue threatened Aviana as she dodged and deflected attacks. Sparring with Cryson and Bryson was never easy, but this kind of body stress, it was not something she was prepared for. I can’t fail.

Aviana screamed in pain when something sharp pierced her thigh. She glanced down to find a crossbow bolt protruding out of her body. Shit. This would make moving a lot more difficult.

A raider swung at her, their swords clashing, and another took advantage of her predicament to attack with her own two scimitars. Aviana disengaged from the first pirate and narrowly dodged the first swing, but her damaged leg throbbed with pain, slowing her on her defense of the second. She gritted her teeth as the scimitar sliced into her side, her defensive spell protecting her from the worst of the attack.

She fell into a defensive stance, her scimitars pointed together from opposite directions. Her eyes darted about her various opponents. The crossbowmen needed to be dealt with, but as long as these other pirates blocked her, she couldn’t get close.

An arrow whizzed through the air and struck clear through a crossbowman’s throat. The marauder coughed and gargled as blood filled his gullet. He tried to shoot off his loaded bolt, but his arms failed him, falling to his side, his crossbow clattering to the ground, catching the attention of his companions. Well, that’s one down.

Aviana stole a glance when the pirate’s attack momentarily faltered as they attempted to find the new assailant. Aviana glimpsed a raven-haired figure in dark leather armor ducking into the crow’s nest of a nearby ship, the angle perfect for the shot arrow. Whoever he is, I’ll have to thank him for the assist after this is done.

Aviana took the opportunity to leave her defense and slash out at the nearest raider. Her first swing stuck true in his side, wounding him a great deal, but her second missed when he staggered away from her. His companions focused back on her, and coordinated an assault. Aviana dodged and deflected the best she could, minimizing the damage, but found her physical energy failing. She needed a moment to breath—a moment to think. She needed space. And she had just the spell to give her that.

Aviana breathed deep and listened past the sounds around her—past the clashing of steel and cries of pain, past the smell of blood and sweat staining the air. The waves of the ocean crashed on the beach. The gulls called high above the skirmish, as the breeze carried the promise of rain. Nature’s call prevailed, even in a time of darkness. Energy welled up inside her—the weak arcane energy that lay within her, mingling with nature’s call and weaving into the spell. Most of the spell fed off of nature’s energy, but that small amount of arcane slipped in.

Aviana’s defensive spell dissipated, her skin returning to normal. The wind picked up, coalescing and swirling around her, building in power. The incantation ended with a sharp whistle, and the wind raged. It swirled and took form into a spiraling vortex, pushing the pirates back, some sent flying with the force. The raging wind kicked up the sand and turned into a stationary sand twister, deafening her to everything but her own mind.

She took a deep breath, relishing the reprieve, aware that she couldn’t take her time. This spell would only last so long, and if she broke her concentration at all, it’d fail, putting her in the same situation as before. And these pirates wouldn’t let her try this a second time. She needed to figure out a plan of action.

The town’s defenses couldn’t stop these pirates, so forcing a retreat was the only plausible option. She needed to think of something to make them run for their ship and sail off. Her eyes drifted up when a shadow fell over her. The dark side of a cloud blocked out the sun above for a moment. That’s it!

A wicked smile spread across her lips. Every spellcaster had a favored element, and Aviana’s was quite the destructive one. Her love for storms and lightning had helped in her trials to befriend the Thunderblood orcs. They thrived in such conditions, as did she.

Aviana took a deep breath—she needed to time this right. The moment she began casting the next spell, her concentration on this one would fall, opening her to any attacks waiting for her. This spell also fell into the highest circle she could cast. It would take a great deal more energy from her, so wasting it wasn’t an option.

She took a moment to prepare for what she’d just realized and then rolled her head back, her eyes focusing on the cloud above. Her arms stretched out as energy surged within her, and the druidic chant slipped out of her throat and off her tongue. The sky darkened, the clouds swirling in agitation.

As the spell built, Draconic slipped in, amplifying the power.

The wind and sand swirling around her lessened as she lost control of the spell, until it died completely, exposing her to the skirmish beyond her realm of safety. Most of the raiders had moved on to engage with the rest of the militia, but several of the crossbowmen remained, their eyes trained on her. As a spellcaster, she was an inevitable target. As a martial fighter as well, she posed a serious threat no matter where she stood in a battle. And these pirates knew this.

The moment the wind failed, they fired their arrows. Two arched wide, caught up in the dissipating gust, but one met its mark, in the same thigh that had been hit earlier. Aviana choked on the pain, her leg buckling. She fought through it all to keep her chant from faltering. She was almost there.

One buccaneer reloaded faster than the others, and landed a direct hit in her shoulder. The last of the incantation leapt from her tongue before she cried out in pain and doubled over, her arms still extended. She took a deep breath, maintaining her concentration on her spell. Sparks of electrical energy crackled off her body, her eyes rising to meet those of the crossbowmen.

They took a step back, fear flashing across their faces. A smirk slid up Aviana’s face as Draconic rolled off her tongue. “You are going to regret that, insect.”

Her body tensed and she flicked her wrist. A bolt of brilliant white light crashed down on her three assailants, the strike so quick and powerful, they didn’t even have a chance to scream. Thunder cracked in the graphite sky above. Their bodies lay on the sand, face down, their skin blackened and scarred from the lightning.

Aviana’s eyes ticked to the other pirates, their knees already shaking. One twitch of her lips sent them fleeing for the docks. The militia cheered, and the paladins made chase. Krax roared and rushed after them as well, taking out an unfortunate straggler. Aviana called down another strike of lightning, not close enough to kill anymore, just to scare them further.

The sails of their ship pulled and they tried to hoist their anchor before even half of the crew was onboard. Aviana, for her own pleasure, and an extra measure, struck a bolt down near the dock again, but not close enough to risk setting it on fire.

Several paladins laid their hands on various amulets or symbols of Akorith. Shortly after, the weapons of those who carried them began to glow in an ethereal light, while brilliant white flames jumped from the fingers of others and were aimed at the side of the ship. The paladins joined in and struck the ship with their blessed swords until a fire broke out, just as the raiders managed to pull away from the port. Several pirates tried to defend their boat with arrows, and a couple more turned a cannon onto them. Oh, no you don’t!

Aviana called down another bolt of hot energy, striking the cannon and the men and women around it. The wooden ship cracked and splintered, the heat of the lightning setting a fire larger than what the paladins had already started. The pirates panicked and the paladins cheered, the boat now out of their reach, the sails catching the good wind Aviana’s storm had brought in.

She went to give them one last send-off blast to remember her by when her body locked up. Pain pulsed in her mind, destroying her concentration on her spell. No, not now…

A sprawling temple of white marble stood tall and proud at the center of a walled city. Platinum and gold metal murals scrawled up its surfaces, and a large stained glass window constructed on a domed tower stretched over its full arched surface in one long strip, casting colored light from the shining sun above, following its east-to-west shift.

Aviana stood in a courtyard, paladins and clerics of Akorith going about their daily routines. Before her, massive marble steps led up to the entrance of the main part of the temple. A human man in white and gold robes with cobalt accents stood at the top, but she couldn’t see his face—only the smile on his mouth. The smile sent a wave of unease over her.

It twitched and then twisted into a malicious grin. Darkness spread across the unknown man’s face.

Aviana blinked, and her eyes no longer saw a beautiful city. Before her, a horrific sight of a broken and burning city—the sky now black and red. The temple lay in ruins, and bodies of fallen holy men and women were strewn about the courtyard. The man in robes still remained on the stairs. But he’d now become twisted and distorted—his form no longer human.

A voice much like Akorith’s, but more feminine in nature, chuckled in her mind. “You’re welcome, little oracle.”

She was back on the beach, her eyes now clear. Exhaustion from all the fighting and spellcasting flooded over her. What the hell? She’d received visions before, but only in her dreams. And only one had ever been so—

“Lady Aviana, behind you!” the paladin she’d fought alongside today yelled out.

Aviana turned to find the female buccaneer she’d bound earlier swinging her sword. The warning came too late. Aviana couldn’t move out of the way in time.

“Don’t touch my sister!”

Aviana’s eyes widened. Temperance?

The buccaneer froze, her eyes going wide and her breath choking in her throat. Her arms went limp and then she fell over, her body sliding away from the two daggers Temperance had shoved into two points of her back.

Temperance’s eyes went wide at the sight of crimson liquid dripping off her blades and the woman twitching at her feet before she stilled. “A–Avi… I… I didn’t mean to.” The daggers dropped into the blood-soaked sand. “I just… I just…”

Aviana reached out and hobbled the few inches over to her sister, the two crossbow bolts in her leg making movement difficult. She pulled her sister into a comforting hug, hushing her. “It’s okay, Temperance. It’s okay. You did good.”

Temperance buried her face into Aviana’s chest. “But… I killed her.”

“I know.” Aviana kissed her sister’s head. “But if you hadn’t, she would have gotten me. You saved me, Tempy.”

Her sister looked up at her, bright eyes brimming with tears. Aviana brushed a wayward curl away, but before she could say anything more, a chest-rumbling roar pierced the air. Everyone on the beach looked to the sky. Many murmured at the sight of the large brown-and-green-scaled dragon careening toward them, while others cheered.

The creature’s bat-like wings beat strongly, propelling it close enough to take in its features. Plated crests formed along the cheeks and eyes of its angular head, spines growing at the tips, resembling webbing. Known for its ability to swim, this dragon had dorsal webbing and spines along its back, as well as some webbing between its limbs and body. Aviana also knew them to have special webbing between their toes to aid in traversing watery terrain.

The dragon’s brown and green scales had a metallic sheen, shimmering in the afternoon sun. The green scale patterns allowed Aviana to identify this dragon.

She chuckled. “About time he showed up.” She nudged her sister and pointed. “Tempy, look.”

Her sister’s brow twisted and followed the gesture. Her cerulean eyes went wide, and the brightest smile she’d ever seen on her sister’s face spread across it. “A dragon! Avi, a bronze dragon!”

Temperance pulled Kyanite from her hip. Aviana just now realized the young woman didn’t have either of their bags on her. She’d need to find out where they were once Temperance calmed down. “Kyanite, look! Another dragon! It’s a bronze. He’ll help us.”

The bronze dragon flew over them, green eyes intent on the pirate ship. Better late than never, I suppose. Aviana wasn’t sure what he’d do now that the sea mongrels were on the run, but it should be entertaining. Knowing him, he’d toy with them for a bit.

Wavy red hair ran past her as Temperance ran after the dragon, stopping when she was on the docks. She stopped near Krax and gazed out into the ocean. The bronze dragon circled the ship, roaring at it. Aviana picked up a couple words from the wind as he taunted the pirates. He even breathed some lightning into the air. That got an “oooh” from Temperance. Some of the men and women around her chuckled.

Weakness overcame Aviana and she fell to her knees, gritting her teeth from the pain the bolts in her leg caused. She needed to get these out of her.

“Lady Aviana!” the paladin from before called out. She glanced up to find him rushing toward her. “Lady Aviana, are you all right?”

She nodded. “I’m in pain, and weak from battle, but alive. I overdid it with that third circle spell.”

The paladin knelt down next to her and removed his helmet, his fair hair rolling to his shoulders. Her eyes met his soft green ones and she took in his features—fair skin and slightly darker facial hair around his chin and upper lip. Aviana guessed him to be in his late twenties, much like many thought she was. But, unlike her, he was human, meaning his age wasn’t prolonged and deceptive. “A third circle spell is no simple feat. You’re quite the capable woman.”

A smile slipped up her face, her head tilting a bit. “Thank you… um…”

His eyes widened. “Oh, my apologies, m’lady. Wyatt. Wyatt Stormcrest.”

Her smile deepened. “Well, thank you for the assistance, Wyatt. I’ll—”

A cannon went off and Temperance screamed. Aviana and Wyatt’s attention snapped to the ocean, catching the horrifying sight of a cannon ball striking the bronze dragon. The creature’s toughened scales seemed to have shielded him, the cannonball falling to the water without breaking the dragon’s skin, but Aviana knew a direct hit like that would cause some severe bruising, if not internal bleeding, even for a dragon.

Then the worst came. The unmistakable sound of a harpoon firing off a ballista. Aviana’s hand’s flew up to her mouth, her breath catching, as the sharp projectile pierced the same spot the cannon ball had struck. The dragon roared a pain-and-rage-filled cry. Then lightning rained down onto the ship from the dragon’s razor-sharp maw.

The boat splintered and cracked, catching on fire. Even from this distance, Aviana could see many of the pirates jumping into the water, desperate to brave the currents and sharks over that attack.

Temperance cheered. “That’s what you get for attacking my dragon!”

Wyatt glanced her way with a raised brow. “Her dragon?”

Aviana chuckled. “She’s never met him. Best to just accept it and leave it be.”

He nodded. “As you wish.” He gazed out at the scene before them. “Do you think he’ll be okay?”

The dragon swooped down and grabbed the ship, beating his impressive wings and lifting the massive boat out of the water. He then flew off into the mist obscuring the horizon. “He’s a tough one. That wound won’t slow him down, as long as he gets some healing treatment.”

Wyatt’s eyes ticked to her. “And if he doesn’t? He’s quite stubborn.”

She smirked, her eyes glinting. “I’ll make sure of it.”

The fair paladin chuckled. “I won’t question your methods. But let’s get you fixed up before you take care of him. I’ll go find a cleric.”

Aviana held up her hand. “No need. I can heal myself.”

His brow furrowed. “Are you sure? You’ve placed a great deal of stress on yourself already. It’d be no trouble.”

Aviana smiled. He was a sweet man. “I’d rather they focus on the other injured.”

Krax’s booming voice laughed. “She’s as stubborn as that barnacle-brained whelp.”

The two glanced his way, watching him approach from the docks. Temperance scurried after him. Krax held out a strip of leather. “Compromise, though, is something she will do. Avi, you can bite down on this. The two of us men can pull those arrows out.”

She nodded. “Fine, I’ll agree to that.”

Temperance looked to Aviana with fear-stricken eyes. “Avi, is the dragon going to be okay?”

Krax let out a boisterous laugh. “You’re not concerned for her?”

Temperance shrugged. “No. Avi is the toughest person I know. Some stupid crossbow bolts won’t stop her.”

Wyatt and Krax laughed, Wyatt’s eyes landing on Aviana. “I’m even more impressed, Lady Aviana. You’ve now been deemed tougher than a dragon.”

Aviana smirked. “Of course I am.” She turned her gaze to her sister. “Don’t worry, Temperance. That dragon is tough.”

Her smile widened. “Good!” She blinked when Krax handed her his war hammer. “What’s this, Mister?”

“I’d like you to hold onto Paintbrush for me while I help Aviana out,” Krax said.

Temperance’s face twisted. “You named your hammer Paintbrush?”

Krax grinned and knelt by Aviana. “No, my mother did. When she retired, she passed it on to me.”

Her confused expression didn’t change. “I don’t get it.”

Aviana glanced to Krax as he offered the leather strap again and she grinned. “Krax’s family is rather artistic.”

Temperance’s eyes went wide and she gasped. “You’re artistic, too? I love painting! I’ll go get my bag to show you.”

She ran off without another word, abandoning the hammer. Krax chuckled. “That must be the little sister you’ve told me about. She’s just as eccentric as you mentioned.”

Aviana rolled her eyes. “You have no idea.”

Wyatt turned to watch the young woman for a moment. “She’s handing that first kill rather well now.”

“Because something distracted her,” Aviana explained. “It’ll come back to her, and I’ll help her through it.”

Wyatt nodded and then helped remove the three crossbow bolts. The shoulder one came out first, allowing her to heal her leg wound with both hands. With each removal, she clamped down hard on the leather, stifling her screams as much as possible.

As she healed herself, an energy different from her spell energy moved about in her body. Unlike spells, which came from holy, natural, or arcane origins, healing magic had a unique source—the caster’s life. This life transference required specialized training to reduce the risk of the caster killing themselves, but even that wasn’t a guarantee if the healer used a casting circle higher than they should, or overexerted themselves. Even self-healing wasn’t without risk. Self-healing recycled the energy back into the body, but the process took its toll due to the amplification required for the healing to happen.

Aviana exhaled when her treatment finished, and then removed the leather from her mouth. “That should do it.”

Wyatt rested his hand on her shoulder. “You look better. If you have any more healing in you, save it for our dragon friend. I suspect he’ll need it.”

She chuckled. “Yes, I’m expecting him to be the typical pain he is.” She smiled at him. “And thank you. Your help today was invaluable. I’ll be sure to tell Siverath of the deeds you and the others have done today.”

Eagerness fell over his face. “Thank you, Lady Aviana. Such commending praise is not needed, but is appreciated, I can assure you.”

“I don’t do it because it’s required. I do it because you’ve earned it.” She grazed his jaw with a soft stroke of the back of her index finger, and then stood.

Wyatt’s face reddened and words failed him for a moment. When they did come, it was a near-outburst. “H–High Commander S–Siverath is not in town!”

Aviana chuckled as he tried to recover, her eyes turned toward him with an alluring gaze. “Is that so?”

Wyatt swallowed and took a deep breath before standing. “My apologies. I should have worded myself better. I suspect you’re in town to speak with him. But I’m afraid you missed him by a week.”

“I’m not surprised. I always seem to miss him.” She couldn’t deny the prick of disappointment in her gut. Over the years she saw him less and less. She understood he was a busy man, but she missed him. And that also meant she had to deal with his son instead. And the two of them had a… rocky relationship.

“If you’d like us to pass along a message to him, several members of the order will be heading back to Natamere in a few days. We’ve been tasked to escort a friend of his.”

Natamere. Was that— She’d never been there, but based on how her mother and Siverath described the city, she feared her vision was about the same place. Should I tell him? No. She needed to process it before telling anyone. She didn’t need to spread unneeded panic. But a vague warning to the right people wouldn’t hurt.

Aviana nodded. “Thank you for the offer. I’ll write up a letter tonight.”

“Aviana, I’m back!” Temperance’s sing-song voice called out.

She rushed up to the three of them and dropped their travel bags at Aviana’s feet. She held up a long piece of parchment with a lovely painting of an owl. She’d stayed up all night a few days ago to get that painting right. “See! I paint.”

Wyatt bent over, his gloved hand touching his chin. “Amazing. You did this?”

Temperance nodded, a wide grin on her face. “I made it the other day. Avi made my paint.”

Wyatt straightened and looked to Aviana. “You make paint?”

“I make them from various plants and sea shells, to be mixed with a liquid base,” Aviana said. “It’s a common skill where we’re from.”

“Liquid base?” He gave her a thoughtful glance. “You wouldn’t be an alchemist by chance, would you?”

Aviana gave a closed-mouth chuckle. “Guilty as charged.”

“Would you happen to specialize in potions?”

“Aviana makes the best potions!” Temperance beamed.

A light flickered on in Aviana’s mind. “I have vitality potions on me.”

She rummaged through her pack. Vitality potions were a positive alternative to healing magic. It cost a pretty gold piece depending on the strength, but there had never been any negative side effects for anyone.

Aviana pulled out several round bottles with gold etchings of the Shikala mark. Inside, a light red liquid sloshed about. When it settled, a pulsing light could be seen, much like a heartbeat. “I didn’t pack any of my stronger potions, but I have some basic ones.”

Temperance’s nose scrunched. “You didn’t use the better-looking bottles, either.”

Aviana chuckled. “I told you, Temperance, each bottle style I have has its use. These types of potions don’t go with the more expensive bottles.”

Temperance huffed and turned away.

Aviana pulled out a few square bottles with similar markings as the round. A shimmering light blue liquid swirled inside. “I also have some restoration potions. They’ll help the clerics recover faster from all the healing they’ll be doing, with the added benefit of curing any minor curses, diseases, or poisons that may be afflicting them.”

Wyatt’s eyes shone. “Those are perfect! How much will we owe you for those?”

Aviana secured the pack to her body before standing. Her eyes squinted and turned as she smiled at Wyatt. She leaned in and pecked him on the lips. His face turned scarlet. “That’ll be your payment.”

She walked off, looking for those who needed her supplies. Temperance giggled and ran after her. “I wanna help!”

Aviana handed her sister some vitality potions and pointed to individuals that appeared to need assistance. The redheaded woman ran off, eager to complete her new task.

“Avi,” Krax called out. She glanced back at him, standing next to a still-red-faced Wyatt. “When you’re done handing out sissy-potions, we’ll go to the tavern. Erik will want to see you. And a good meal will help you recover some more.”

She chuckled, taking in his cut-up skin. “One of these potions has your name on it.”

He grunted. “Pass.”

She shook her head and went about her duty, keeping an eye out for that man in dark armor from before. She’d get Krax to take one. He always did. And if he was too difficult, Erik would help. There was a reason he could keep Krax in line at his tavern.