Chapter 35: Nero steps up

The first glimpse of the rising sun could be seen above the trees. Birds parted their nests in search of food. Cah’lia yawned and sat up in her sleeping pallet. She gently lifted Rina’s head from her stomach, removing the girl’s hands around her waist. It was time to keep moving.

All around them, Cah’lia could spot the hot springs, exotic animals, snow-topped mountains, and the short flowery grass that extended all the way to Hahl. The usual heavy breeze rolled off of the surrounding mountains preventing the warm air from becoming too much of a burden. The breeze fluttered Cah’lia’s clothing, and she had to resist the temptation to extend her arms while her garments flapped around her. The valley was a wonderful place. The sweet-smelling fresh air invigorated her, pushing her forward.

Thankfully the land was flat, and the walking was easy. Cah’lia even preferred it to all of the riding. It was nice to be able to stretch her legs for once. Since she’d departed Elvar it had been nothing but one big horse-ride.

After the first hour of walking they slowed their pace, because Wolly seemed to be having problems keeping up. The little Dwarf was panting, choking, and taking in big-whopping breaths, while his little feet and pudgy stomach scrambled to keep up. “Oh-missy,” he said to Cah’lia. “Ya done be killing old Wolly. I not be used to walking at this pace.”

Cah’lia would leave him behind if she had to. Under normal circumstances she’d be glad to help the poor Dwarf, but the circumstances behind their need for haste were anything but normal. “Please try,” she said. “I know it’s rough.”

“Rough no begin to be describ’in it,” Wolly said. “Me feet be hurtin, oh Gods, me feet be achin.

He wobbled as he walked, and Cah’lia had to refrain from laughing. The little man’s belly jiggled each footstep, sticking out under his size-to-small brown shirt. She knew it was demeaning to Dwarves to think of them as such, but Cah’lia had always felt that they were such cute little people. They were funny, awkward, and brilliant at the same time. Dwarves were the world’s greatest inventors, but also the world’s laziest people.

Sehn looked as if he was having a bit of trouble keeping up as well, and the sight of it ruined Cah’lia’s mood.

How much longer? Cah’lia wondered. How much longer until he can no longer walk? Until his pain is so great we need to carry him?

He was hiding it well. Aside from Princess Saerina, Cah’lia was the only one who could spot the pain in his eyes, while his body decayed from the inside out. It was barely visible, but every time Sehn took a step forward his left eye twitched ever so slightly, and his lower lip curled up just a bit. Nero and Rina wouldn’t notice, and Sehn’s arrogant stride did wonders to hide his agony, but Cah’lia knew. She knew, and she could do nothing to help him. Never, had she felt so useless.

The landscape changed as they closed upon the city. The already short grass became shorter, tended to by the nearby outlining villages that led to Hahl. Eventually they came to a man-made path, with brick and stone extending into the distance, leading the way into the Kingdom’s pillar of Hahl.

The five of them picked up their speed as they walked, excited to be arriving at a new destination. Nero tilted his head in every direction, waving to each farmer they passed and receiving waves in return. Cah’lia had to admit her little brother was adorable, and few of the Humans could resist brightening in delight as the little Elf shouted and waved at them.

When Sehn thought no one was looking, Cah’lia caught him giving brief affectionate gazes at Nero. Something resembling pride lit up the curvy half-smile on Sehn’s lower lip. Each time he would shake his head, clearing the expression and looking around to see if anyone had noticed.

Cah’lia froze for a moment as a new understanding hit her. Nero, she thought. He’s going to be devastated.

With everything that’d happened, Cah’lia never took into account how Nero was going to handle Sehn’s death. It would cripple Cah’lia, but it would destroy her little brother. What would she do then? How would she console him? Aside from a pet frog he’d found a few years earlier, Nero had never lost anything meaningful to him.

“What’s wrong?” Rina asked.

Cah’lia looked down into the face of the small Human. She was healing from the tragedy she’d been forced to suffer through, and each day she became more and more lively.

She’ll be there for him, Cah’lia realized. Rina will be there for Nero. He’s going to need her someday soon.

“Nothing, sweetie,” Cah’lia said. She knelt down and cupped Rina’s chin between two fingers, kissing her on the forehead. “Come on, let’s keep moving.” Rina smiled up at her, and shrugged.

The path widened, and now every so often there were other paths connected to the central one. These—from what Cah’lia remembered of the maps back in Koringrath—led to Kingdom outposts, where soldiers protected the city.

“Yo! Sehn,” Nero said. He was bursting with excitement, skipping along as he took in the beginnings of Human civilization. “When we get to Hahl, you gotta buy me more stuff. Here’s what I want. I want new toys, new…” Nero rambled on for a bit, while Sehn threatened him with death, and promised he’d pay for none of it. Sehn had no idea how much of a sucker he really was—without a doubt Nero was going to spend the last of Sehn’s money in Hahl.

Cah’lia had always been strong. Physically, she’d always been tough, but each day that passed she grew emotionally as well. Not one tear—that was what she’d promised herself. Until Sehn served his purpose, she would not shed a single tear.

Wolly stopped walking yet again, and Cah’lia breathed a sigh. They were close enough to the city now that she wouldn’t feel guilty if she left him behind. Even the easily lost Dwarf would have no problem following a stone pathway.

“Wolly, if you’d like to stay and rest up, umm, there was an inn at a village we passed not far back. Why don’t you—”

“It no be’in that,” he said. “Something be coming. Do ye not sense it?”

Cah’lia had no idea what the man was saying. “What are you talking about, Wolly? What’s coming?”

Wolly didn’t answer—he didn’t have to. There was a cry from above them, and all five of them looked up at the giant winged beast soaring overhead. “I-is that a gryphon?”

Sehn and Nero cupped their hands over their eyes, filtering out the bright sunlight as they attempted to make out the creature coming near them. It descending until it was only a few dozen feet above them, and Cah’lia could make out a rider on its back. It hovered in the air above them.

“Aha!” the rider cried. “There you are, you mountain-Lanx pot of rotten stew!” The rider gazed down on them, her eyes focused entirely on Sehn. She was close enough that Cah’lia could make out a look of annoyance on her face, mixed with a grim determination.

That voice, Cah’lia thought. I…I know that voice!

“Shina, is that you!” Cah’lia shouted at the small Elven girl riding the gryphon. The girl took her eyes off of Sehn, and scanned around for the source of the shout, before meeting Cah’lia’s. Her annoyance was replaced with delight.

“Oh, wow, Cah’lia! I haven’t seen you in forever.”

Shina had run away from Elvar several years earlier, but before then, Shina followed around Cah’lia much in the way her brother now followed around Sehn. “You’ve gotten so big, wow! You’ve become a beautiful young lady.” By now, Shina must’ve been at least eleventh-seasoned.

“You really think so?”

Cah’lia had to strain her voice to yell up to Shina. “Why don’t you come down here and talk to us! It’s really hard to speak like this!”

Shina shrugged, and did a forward flip off of her gryphon, spinning several times in the air. Lightning engulfed her entire body, and she landed with a crash, the stone-paved road exploding under her feet leaving an enormous hole. The electricity continued to envelope her, dying down slowly, until fading all together.

Wolly took two steps toward her, calm, and unworried. He took a nice, relaxing, and comforting breath of air, before widening his eyes in shock and bellowing at the girl. “What in Ye Gods be happening! Ahhhh!” the little dwarf ran to his bag, grabbing his Dwarven weapon, and pointing at the girl with terror in his eyes. “Don’t worry, miss Cah’lia, Old Wolly will be kill’in this here lightning witch!”

“It’s all right, Wolly,” Cah’lia said. “Put down the weapon.” Wolly lifted his chin, hesitating a moment, before slowly lowering the weapon.

Shina ignored the Dwarf, and instead cleared her throat and pointed at Sehn. She took a deep breath and began to sing.

“Here she is, here she comes! Shiiiinnaaa, the Lightning Goddess!”

“All stand in awe, amazed by her beauty. For she has arrrriiiiveed! The Lightning Goddess”

Sehn looked at her with a blank expression, which he maintained for almost a minute, not a single trace of emotion visible on his face. “I see,” he whispered. He shrugged, and turned to Nero, returning to his conversation from earlier. “So anyway, Nero, I was thinking that for my third statue, I shall have my workers try and build it tall enough to reach the clouds…”

Shina’s mouth fell open while she watched the two ignore her. “W-where do you think you’re going! Hey, I’m talking to you, Sehn!”

“Why are you here?” Cah’lia asked. “Didn’t you run away to Magia to be a full mage of The Order?”

Shina stiffened, bringing herself to her full height and standing on her toes. “I have,” she said. “And I’m here for Sehn. He’s a magic-user, and so he has to come back with me to Magia. Sehn! Pay attention to me, I’m not a little girl anymore!”

“Hmm?” Sehn turned around, and gave her a cursory, disinterested glance. “What do you want, Shina? I don’t have time for my boring little sister. Go fly off on that stupid fucking thing you came here on.”

Three things happened all at once. First, Shina’s face turned dark, then, her lips and eyes scrunched together in the purest look of outrage. Finally, she shook as she gripped her hands into fists and howled at Sehn. “Did you just call pancake stupid!”

Sehn tilted back his head and laughed at her. “That’s what you named it?” He looked up at the beast. “You!” he called to the gryphon, which squawked in acknowledgement. “Your name is fucking stupid, and so are you! The Great Sehn wants you for dinner. Come down here at once! I shall eat you in front of your rider.”

Lightning ran through Shina, once again enveloping her in electricity. She hissed as she spoke. “You’re dead, Sehn!”

Cah’lia ran to Shina’s side, her hair standing on edge as she approached the raging Elf. “Please calm down, Shina. You know how Sehn is.”

Shina looked at her. “I am an acolyte of The Order now, and he can’t just disrespect me like I’m seven again. I should fry him right here and now.”

Cah’lia needed to calm everyone down before things turned violent. “All right, I know you’re upset, but let’s just calm down, okay? No one needs to attack anyone, all right?”

The lightning faded a little, and Shina nodded. “All right, fine. But from here on out I wanna be treated with civility! I’m here to take Sehn with me, and that’s that.”

“Can we talk about this?”

“Well, okay, but I don’t want Sehn to make fun of me.”

Cah’lia gave Sehn a warning glance. “Sehn, behave yourself…or else.”

Nero’s ears wobbled. “Hey,” he said to Shina. “Are you here to take Sehn away?”

“Of course I am,” she said grinning.

“I won’t let you,” Nero insisted.

Shina smirked. “And how is it you’re going to stop me?”

“Like this. Remmos Salas!” It happened too fast to stop. The fireball left Nero’s hand before Cah’lia’s mind registered the words, and Shina yelped as she jumped to the side, barely managing to avoid it. Nero danced around blowing on his hand, yelling at Sehn how much it hurt.

Shina’s face twisted into an expression of shock. “Y-you can use magic too? There are two of you here? No wonder the signal was so strong. Okay, you’re both coming with me. Oh, and you’re gonna pay for attacking me!”

Sehn laughed at Shina, patting Nero on the back. “Well done,” he said.

Cah’lia grabbed the dagger at her side. She didn’t want to hurt Shina, but if the girl attacked her brother she’d be forced to intervene. “Shina, there are things here you don’t understand. If you don’t at least give me a chance to explain, very bad things will happen.”

“I’m trying to listen,” Shina growled. “And I know why you’re worried. Don’t worry, I don’t want to hurt the little guy, but your brother just threw a fireball at me, and let me tell you, attacking a Mage of The Order is in direct violation of section—”

She yelped as more headed her way. “Remmos Salas!” Nero shouted. Over and over he sent them at her.

Even Sehn was angry at him now, pointing a finger at Nero and shouting at him. “Gods, Nero, what are you doing? One time is enough. Cease this at once!”

The fireballs continued to soar at her. Shina ducked under one, and then jumped over another. One came close enough to singe her sleeve. “Make him stop, Cah’lia! Or I’m gonna have to zap him.”

“Nero!” Cah’lia called. “Stop attacking Shina or you’re getting a beating.”

Nero ignored her, crying out in pain each time another ball of flame left his fingertips. Shina jumped, landing into a roll as another fireball passed harmlessly over her shoulder. She threw a lightning bolt at another, and the two forces disappeared in a flash of light. “Stupid brat. Hey, cut it out!”

Cah’lia ran to her brother’s side, and grabbed him by his legs. She pulled on them, and sent Nero to the ground with an “ooph.”

One final fireball flew off into the distance, and the situation calmed down. Nero writhed on the ground, wailing and screaming that his hand hurt. Shina came running over, and knelt down next to the boy. “He’s been hanging around Sehn, hasn’t he?”

Cah’lia nodded, holding Nero down before he hurt himself further. Nero clutched his hands together, screaming in agony.

“Let me see,” Shina said.

“No!”

“Quit being stubborn.” Shina grabbed Nero’s hands, pulling them apart. She held the scorched palm in her left hand, and with her right, she hovered over it. Lightning danced off of her fingertips, spiraling down into Nero’s burned hand. He stopped crying at once.

“Huh? How come it doesn’t hurt anymore?”

“I’m stimulating the nerves,” Shina said. “It’s a way of killing pain. You need to bandage and dress this, but it shouldn’t sting too badly anymore.”

“T-thank you,” Nero whimpered. “I’m sorry I shot fireballs at you.”

Shina ruffled his hair. “It’s all right. I’ve done worse to my Mistress.”

“Shina,” Cah’lia said. “I don’t understand. Why are you here?”

For the next few minutes Shina explained to them about her order, it was similar to what Saerina had said. All Mages that have both casted a spell, and left their home cities—beyond a certain distance—became subjects of The Order.

“So you see,” Shina finished. “Sehn and Nero have to come with me, or they’ll send someone even worse.”

“B-but, I don’t wanna go to Magia,” Nero cried. “I just w-wanna go back home after we get the treasure.”

“Hmm? Treasure?” Shina asked.

Cah’lia didn’t answer. “You should know I’d never let my brother be taken from home,” Cah’lia said. “And there’s no way we can go with you right now anyway. Something has come up, something that we can’t ignore.”

Shina didn’t seem convinced. “What could be more important than answering the call to The Order?”

Cah’lia took a deep breath. “Shina, there’s something you need to know. Can you come over here and speak with me privately?”

“All right, fine, but I doubt you can convince me.”

**********

Ghell trembled before the man with the Hawk-mask. “Are my orders understood?”

Ghell nodded. “Absolutely, sir. I shall organize the troops. We’re going to forgo the Pillar of Therril, and head straight for Hahl. We can be there in a few days if we divert from our current course.”

Tactically speaking, the order made no sense, but Ghell knew better than to question the man. Ghell had once seen the man torture one of his soldiers for requesting leave to visit his family. No one disobeyed their leader, to do so was beyond thought. Being in the command tent was unnerving, no one entered assured they would leave amongst the living. Many had entered the tent, only to be overheard screaming in agony by those that awaited their turn to speak with their leader.

“Good,” he said, his fierce eyes glowing behind the Hawk-mask. “And Ghell,” he said.

“Yes?”

“Make sure that none survive. None. Am I understood?”

“Y-yes, my Lord.”

************

“Just one drink, c’mon,” Alan begged.

“No,” Rebecca said firmly. “We’re finding Prince Patrick, and then you can drink all you want.”

They’d arrive in the city of Hahl by the afternoon, and Rebecca wouldn’t let commander Marshall out of her sight. Something big was coming, and the Kingdom needed its greatest tactician. Then, after they’d fended off the mammoth-sized army that marched on her people, commander Alan Marshall could get as drunk as he wished, and shake his rump for as many Elven princesses as he wanted. Until then, Rebecca was keeping him sober and orderly.