Authors: Lana Axe
“We both would have been punished if I had used
magic,” he replied, his throat raspy.
“You could have kept throwing fire at them until
they stopped following us,” she replied. “They deserved it, the way they stood
there cheering.” Her teeth clenched as she remembered the cries of the crowd,
encouraging the guards to strike harder. Even the children had joined in. Such
cruelty was unacceptable in a civilized society. How could so many stand by
while an innocent man was treated that way?
“I’m not skilled enough to take on a whole town,”
Kwil said. “And even if I were, I wouldn’t want to hurt them.” He laughed
softly, doing his best to ignore the searing pain. “If I’d known how to
disappear, that would have been helpful.”
“You shouldn’t have to disappear,” she argued.
“There should be justice in this land, and no one should have to be treated
that way.” She was furious, and she planned to keep the image of her injured
friend in her mind for the rest of her days. Something had to be done about
this. “Slavery and inequality can’t be allowed to continue. I’m going to put a
stop to it someday.”
Though he appreciated his friend’s dedication, he
knew such a thing was impossible. “One person can’t change the world, Nera.”
Staring at the bloody handkerchief in her hand,
she replied, “One can try.”
“D
o you know a
spell that will help this heal faster?” Nera asked, staring at the dried blood
on her friend’s back.
Shaking his head,
Kwil replied, “Those spells are for advanced students. You might have learned
them in your fourth year.”
“I never would have
made it that far,” she replied, sighing. Though she wanted to hurry in finding
Rili, she knew Kwil needed to rest. Every time he moved, the scabs would open
up, and the bleeding would start all over. If only she had some practical
skills, she might know how to stitch the wounds. Instead, she had learned
nothing useful in all her studies. Only poor children learned how to do such
things. As a noble, she was expected to hire out any job that required any work.
Ladies were expected to sit around and be waited upon and nothing more.
With little else to
be done, she sat back on the ground and ran her hand along the smooth wood of
her lute case. “I guess we’ll have to avoid everyone we see from now on,” she
remarked, flipping the case open and staring at her lute.
In a gentle tone,
Kwil asked, “Are you angry with me?”
Sighing, she
replied, “No, I’m angry at the world, my father, and my entire race for
allowing slavery to continue.” She paused a moment before asking, “Why don’t
the slaves revolt?”
With a shrug, he
replied, “There just aren’t enough of us I guess. I don’t usually encounter
more than one or two working for any given family.” Considering his own luck at
being taught to read, he added, “And it’s hard for people with no education, no
weapons or training, and nowhere to go to decide it’s time to fight.”
“I would fight,”
Nera declared, still staring at her lute.
“Maybe some of us
aren’t treated as bad as others. My situation could be worse.”
Looking up at him,
she asked, “So you just accept it?” She shook her head. “I couldn’t.”
“You’d be surprised
what you’d be willing to do to survive,” he replied. “If I angered your father,
he could have me locked away forever, or worse, kill me. I’d never see the sky
again, and I wouldn’t learn any more magic. Look at what I’d have missed out on
if I’d rebelled against him. We wouldn’t be friends.” He hoped those words
would bring a smile to her face, but they did not. “There’s a lot I haven’t
done, and I’m not ready to stop dreaming that I might actually do some of it
someday.”
Her demeanor
softening, Nera tried her best to understand. There were worse fates than
death, and slavery was probably one of them. “I am glad to have you as a
friend, Kwil,” she stated. “I just wish we had met under different
circumstances.”
“If I’d been born a
Gatan,” he replied with a smile.
“Yes,” she replied.
“Or if I’d been born a human.” Finally taking the lute from its case, she
gently stroked the polished wood. “Tell me about your family,” she said. “Where
are your parents?”
“I don’t remember
them,” he admitted. “But sometimes I dream of a woman who sings to me. I think
she might be my mother, but I can’t be sure.” After a pause, he added, “I
usually dream about her when I’m feeling low.”
“She brings you
comfort,” Nera said. “I bet she is your mother. You’re remembering her from
when you were a baby.”
“No one can
remember his first year of life,” he replied dismissively. He felt a little
embarrassed at having mentioned the dreams.
“No normal person,”
Nera said. “But you aren’t normal. You have a natural talent for magic, and it
wouldn’t surprise me if it was magic that made you remember her. Maybe she has
magic too, and she sends you those dreams to let you know she loves you.”
The thought gave
him pause. Maybe his mother really was communicating with him. It was certainly
better than the alternative—that she was a slave stuck in the service of a
breeder and living a life of misery. He pictured the golden-haired woman standing
tall and proud, surrounded by the glow of white magic. He couldn’t stop himself
from smiling.
Nera took notice of
his expression and laughed. “It’s good to see you can still smile after all
that’s happened,” she said. “Tell you what. After we’ve had you trained as a
master wizard, I’ll help you look for her.” After a moment, she added, “If you
want me to, that is.”
“I’d like that,” he
replied, still beaming.
* * * * *
After an uneventful night
of rest, Kwil awoke feeling refreshed. He pulled a new shirt over his head
before fastening his cloak.
Nera grinned. “It looks great on you.” The shirt’s
fabric was dark green and thick enough to keep out the chill. Had he not been
human, her friend’s clothing would have given the impression he was a nobleman.
The way he carried himself, though, was unusual for someone of the upper class.
“You shouldn’t slouch so much,” she scolded. “Stand up tall, and keep your head
high. Master Rili will take you more seriously if he thinks you’re sure of your
abilities.”
“I’ll try,” he promised.
Nera planned to make sure he kept his word. If
ever he appeared to be faltering, she would be there to remind him. He was no
longer a slave, even if no other Gatan was willing to accept it. He was a free
man.
A gentle snow began to fall as the two prepared to
begin their search for Master Rili’s home. Luckily the wind stayed light, and
the snow was powdery instead of ice.
“Should we get back on the road?” Kwil asked. “If
the snow gets heavier, we might lose our way in the forest.”
Glancing toward the road, Nera said, “Let’s stay
here for now. We can keep the road in sight and move over if the snow starts
getting deep.” Staying safe was more important to her than following the road,
but the snow would likely keep other travelers at home. The road might be safer
than she thought.
For nearly an hour they traveled through the
forest. Thankfully the snow remained light, and they moved with surprising ease.
Unfortunately, there was no sign of Rili’s home or any type of path that might
lead them to it.
“Maybe we should try the other side of the road,”
Kwil suggested.
“Agreed,” Nera replied. They had already gone
farther from town than she had anticipated. They should have seen some sign of
Rili by now, assuming the rumors she had heard about him were true. Crossing
the road seemed a better idea than climbing another tree for a look around. She
wasn’t sure she wanted to take the risk of falling while Kwil was not at a
hundred percent. His poor treatment at the hands of the town’s citizens might
have temporarily affected his magical abilities.
With caution they approached the road, looking
each way before darting across. No one saw them, save the ever-watching eyes of
a single owl. They pressed on through the woods, directing their footsteps back
in the direction of the town.
An object darted past Kwil, his eyes catching only
the slightest glimpse. “Was that a hummingbird?” he wondered. The strange
creature made a loud buzzing sound, but it was too cold for most insects to be
active.
Not having seen the winged being, Nera replied,
“It’s winter. The hummingbirds have all gone.”
“Something flew past my head,” he stated.
“It was probably just a leaf,” she replied.
Normally, she wouldn’t give the matter a second thought, but the buzzing
returned, this time beside her own head. As the noise grew more intense, she
turned to find a black-and-white furry creature hovering just behind her. It
was about three inches long with insectlike wings and a long, protruding
stinger on its abdomen. “Ahh!” she screamed, flailing her hands to swat the
beast away.
Kwil looked over at his companion, neglecting
where his feet were about to step. His boot landed near the roots of an aging
pine, where the menacing creatures made their nest. A swarm of furry fliers
emerged, surrounding the hapless travelers. Kwil waved his arms, hoping to
deter the beasts from such large prey, but it was no use. One of them plunged
its stinger into his arm, the sensation of fire spreading throughout his body.
“Run!” Nera shouted, bounding away from the nest.
Both of them darted through the underbrush, ignoring any obstacles in their
path. All that mattered was outrunning the stinging monsters.
The buzzing devils pursued, matching pace with the
two hapless wanderers. Determination gleaming in their coal-black eyes, they
charged on, occasionally lunging their stingers toward the pair. One managed to
make contact with Nera’s cloak, but the wool was too thick to allow the stinger
to penetrate. The creature worked itself free and continued its pursuit.
Shoving past low branches and leaping over roots,
Kwil and Nera pressed on. Their hearts pounding and their lungs screaming for
them to stop, they ran, fueled only by adrenaline. Kwil’s arm throbbed where
the stinger had landed, and a large purple welt formed on his skin. Ignoring
the pain, he ran on, barely able to keep pace with his nimble companion.
Nera leapt higher with each passing root, swatting
her hands in the air the entire time. Though she was well ahead of the buzzers
for the time being, she believed she could feel them brushing against her fur.
Only the sound of Kwil’s footsteps behind her let her know he was still keeping
pace. Hoping his awkward human legs would not fail him, she continued her
flight.
“Water!” Kwil cried, pointing to the right. A
large pond remained unfrozen, its ice-cold waters far more inviting than the
stingers.
The two rushed toward the shore, slipping on the
dampened leaves that surrounded it. Kwil did not hesitate to jump, landing
feet-first in the frigid water. Nera paused, her eyes wide. Placing her foot in
the water up to the ankle, she felt hundreds of needles piercing her skin.
Wondering whether she should take her chances with the angry fliers, she
withdrew her foot and shivered.
“Come on!” Kwil shouted. “They’re still coming!”
The beasts had no trouble catching up to the Gatan, and her only choice was to
join her companion in the water.
Looking over her shoulder, Nera’s fear of the
buzzers renewed. Taking in a deep breath, she jumped into the icy water.
Submerged to her neck, she felt safe from the stingers, but her breath was
stolen away. Thankfully, the monsters preferred not to follow. For them,
becoming wet meant they could not fly, and that meant certain death. They
buzzed away, content that the intruders were far from their nest.
Shivering, the pair made their way to the bank and
climbed out onto dry land. Kwil made it out with little trouble, but Nera’s
soaked fur made her heavy. Her hands grasped at the ground, trying to pull her
freezing body from the water. Kwil grabbed onto her arms and pulled, nearly
dragging her out of the lake. Her teeth chattered, and ice crystals formed on
her exposed fur.
“You have to build a fire,” she squeaked out.
Nodding, Kwil gathered a sloppy pile of fallen
leaves and held his hand above it. Trying his best to focus his mind, he
reached for the heat inside himself. Nothing happened. Opening his eyes was
difficult. They felt like they were frozen shut. “I’m too cold!” he said,
panicking. Both of their lives depended on his ability to cast this spell, and
he was failing.
Nera managed to move her freezing body to his side
and came to her knees. Grabbing his hands, she squeezed them tightly. “Use my
energy,” she suggested.
Though he’d never tried to pull energy from
another creature, Kwil had read it was possible. Clearing his mind of thoughts
of cold, he attempted to tap into Nera’s heat. He found none. She was colder
than he was, and he could find no warmth inside her to project into the fire.
“It’s not working,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Nera let go of his hands and placed both of hers
against his face. Looking into his eyes, she said, “You can do this, Kwil. I
believe in you.”
Trying again, Kwil found it impossible to calm his
mind. He was too cold, and felt only the desire to lie down and rest. But a
fire burned in Nera’s eyes. Determined not to let her down, he reached out
instinctively, placing his hands against the sides of her head. Placing his
forehead against hers he drew not heat but confidence. His mind began to clear,
thoughts of cold and death disappearing into the frigid, winter air. Summoning
the heat inside his gut, he forced it up through his hand. Gesturing to the
leaf pile, he projected the fire, red magic erupting from his fingertips. An
ember glowed to life within the leaves, its life-giving warmth caressing the
frozen travelers.
“You did it!” Nera cried, clapping her hands. As
the words escaped her lips, Kwil collapsed, teetering over onto his side. “You
can’t sleep now,” she said, shaking her head. Grabbing him by his shoulders,
she shook him violently.
His eyes opened, and he steadied himself before
the fire. Nera began disrobing, eager to get the wet clothes away from her fur.
Kwil turned his head to allow the woman her modesty.
Slinging her cloak over a limb, she said, “Don’t
worry about that now. You should get those wet clothes hung up over the fire
too.” Grinning, she added, “Before they stick to your pink skin.” After
stripping down to her undergarments, she sat cross-legged on the ground,
rubbing her arms and legs.
Rising to his feet, Kwil removed his cloak and
shirt, but wouldn’t go so far as to remove his pants. There was a lady present,
after all. The fire’s warmth found its way to his bare skin, soothing the
tightness that had crept into his muscles. His magical energy renewed, he
decided to augment the fire. Placing his hand over the top, he projected more
heat, increasing the output of the flames. Though it appeared unchanged, the
increase in warmth caused their icy clothes to steam.