The
teenager felt his eyes go big, but remembering he'd told her he was
ready for whatever changes were necessary to become a Guadel, he
stammered his quiet thanks as Jasmin continued. "It isn't
quite tradition, we aren't supposed to make changes like that until
you are approved by the Council and become an actual Guadel. I'rone
definitely wouldn't approve; he's a firm believer in pain and
suffering, but as hard as you seem determined to work yourself, I
thought maybe you could use a little help. Besides, it isn't as
though I'm building it for you like we do to keep I'rone in top
shape. I'm just making it a little easier for you to put it on
yourself."
Before
Va'del could open his mouth to thank her again Jasmin shook her
head. "This is the least I can do. I'm only sorry that we
couldn't come sooner. Most of us suspected things were getting bad
at Bitter Rocks, but if I'd had any idea how poorly you were being
treated I would have found a way to convince I'rone and Betreec to
defy the Council and come put Ma'del in his place."
Va'del
knew that most people tried to frame their past actions in such a
way as to make themselves look better. Jas'per, for one, had
excelled at the practice, but he somehow knew Jasmin really meant
every word of what she'd just said. Nearly overcome by emotion, he
momentarily found it a little hard to breathe.
Smiling
once again as if to relieve the seriousness of the moment, Jasmin
handed him a piece of hard bread made from dried, ground mushrooms
that they'd been given at the last village. "I'd better let
you get back to work. You still need to perform your meditation and
relaxation exercises."
A
little more than a cycle later, Va'del found himself in bed
listening to the others breathing.
Is
this what it feels like to have a family? It has been so long I
can't really remember, but I think so. Jasmin, at least, is
starting to feel like an older sister.
##
Two
days later, the group found itself in the last way cave before the
village furthest from the Capital. Once everything was unpacked in
the sprawling, multi-roomed cavern, Betreec went outside to get a
feel for the weather while I'rone started into weapons instruction
with Va'del.
Mindful
of the fact that Jasmin had told him he should be starting to put
muscle on more quickly than normal, Va'del tried to determine if it
was any easier to hold his practice sword at the ready as his feet
slowly crept across the rough surface of the cave floor.
Maybe
a little easier. It's hard to tell, but it's still pretty early
after the change.
I'rone
whipped the slender length of his steel practice weapon around in a
cut at Va'del's head that the teenager ducked before riposting with
a stab that the older man gently deflected to the side with his
dagger.
The
pair moved back and forth across the floor raining blows down on
each other for half a cycle before I'rone signaled an end. The
Guadel then set Va'del to practicing specific parries and blows by
himself while I'rone began his own exercises.
I
know I'm not pressing him yet, and he's being very careful not to
press me too hard, but I'm getting better. In fact I think with my
longer reach I could probably take Jas'per now.
A
cycle later I'rone patted Va'del on the back and gestured for him to
go do his reading and meditation. After thanking the Guadel for
instructing him, Va'del walked over to Betreec who'd been staring at
a yellow sapphire since shortly after she had finished her portion
of the unpacking.
Looking
up with a smile, Betreec rubbed her temples. "I'm sorry, were
you waiting long?"
Va'del
shook his head. "No, I just came over. Can I ask what you
were doing?"
"Jasmin
said she showed you the Heart Stone when we were at the village?"
The
teen felt a thrill of excitement. "You're making another Heart
Stone?"
Betreec
shook her head. "No, nothing so ambitious or grand as that.
It's just another sphere that will give off heat similarly to
how the Heart Stone works, but not as powerful or hot. Each time we
increase the number of Guadel on patrol, we have to provide them
with light, heat, a way to keep the wind out, and a way to thicken
the air up if they have to spend the night at too high of an
altitude."
Jasmin
came over from where she'd been cooking dinner and ruffled Va'del's
hair despite his attempt to duck away. "Alternatively, anytime
the Council decides to try and start a new village, the same kinds
of things are needed."
Va'del
was suddenly struck by the amount of time associated with each
sphere, and the sheer number of spheres in a given village. "That
is incredible, how often do we establish a new village?"
The
younger of the two women smiled at the teenager, once again seeming
to know where his thoughts were headed. "Not very often. The
women among the Guadel, especially those who are at the Capital for
some reason or another, spend thousands of cycles preparing the
things necessary for such an event. That is why He'lo's request was
so unusual. Once a village is established, the healer is the one
who typically provides those kinds of things."
Betreec
nodded. "On the other hand, if it allows the People as a whole
to become less dependent on bringing food up from the lowlanders,
the Council will be inclined to approve it. Especially if He'lo is
really prepared to forgo a large amount of the goods that his jewels
otherwise would entitle him to."
Jasmin
rose to her feet again and gestured for Va'del to follow her back to
his sleeping mat. "Betreec has agreed to forgo your usual
legal instruction tonight so that we can spend some more time on
your meditation."
Va'del
suppressed a groan. "Great more cycles of imagining curtains
parting, ice melting and picks chipping away at rock walls. It's
gotten to where I dream about those things more nights than not. I
don't suppose you'll tell me the point behind all of this?"
Jasmin
shook her head. "Nope, a little frustrated curiosity is good
for you. If it makes you feel any better, though, you seem to be
doing quite well."
##
The
group had been traveling for about a third of the day across the
hard snow when Va'del noticed a curious, high-pitched whistling.
The sound was so unnatural he immediately fell back far enough to
ask Jasmin about it.
Jasmin's
eyes suddenly got big and then lost focus briefly. Va'del turned in
time to see I'rone's coat whip through the still air as though in a
wind. The curious action was repeated three times, but by the
second, I'rone had stopped walking and started scanning their
surroundings with even more than his usual care.
Jasmin
gave Va'del a gentle push to get him started, and the pair quickly
rejoined I'rone and Betreec.
Panting
slightly from exertion and nervousness, Jasmin leaned toward I'rone,
speaking quietly. "Va'del heard high-pitched whistling ahead."
I'rone
took a deep breath and then nodded. "Bag'ligs."
Va'del
felt his blood run cold.
I
thought they were just myths, the kinds of things parents threaten
misbehaving children with.
I'rone
handed his gurra's lead rope to Betreec, who sunk to the ground and
closed her eyes.
Jasmin
pulled on Va'del's arm to get his attention, her voice the barest
whisper. "Don't panic. Do exactly as I'rone tells you, and we
should have a chance unless it is a particularly large tribe."
Taking
the lead rope to Va'del's gurra, Jasmin closed her eyes and sat down
as well.
I'rone
had drawn both of his weapons, and was moving with the deadly grace
and controlled menace Va'del remembered from back in Bitter Rocks.
The
first squat, ugly shapes came around a spur of rock, and Va'del felt
his heart speed up as they were joined by more and more of the
hairy, long-armed beasts.
There
are so many of them.
I'rone
gestured Va'del closer, and then looked at the teenager with a kind
of grim anticipation. "They'll attack as a single group.
Follow and guard my back. If we can keep them from surrounding us,
we have a chance."
For
all that the Guadel gave the impression he was reigning himself
back, his strides devoured ground at such a rate Va'del had to
nearly run to keep up. The teenager drew his weapons once he caught
up to I'rone, and then the pair waited for the dark mass to reach
them.
There
can't be more than ten or so of them, it's all just like
practice. Don't forget to breathe.
One
moment, the creatures were creeping towards the humans before them,
and then suddenly they were running. As the two groups crashed
together, Va'del was too focused on staying alive to have energy for
rational thought.
I'rone
cut down the first two bag'ligs to reach him with brutal arcs of his
sword that left gaping wounds, and then carried the fight forward.
I'rone seemed to slide effortlessly around attacks, stabbing and
slashing with an ease that made his heavy weapons appear weightless,
but even his momentum was finally overcome by the sheer mass of
biting and clawing forms before him, at which point, Va'del was able
to catch up.
The
teenager swung his sword as hard as he could at one of the creatures
that was trying to edge through the bloody snow around I'rone's
right side, and nearly lost his weapon as it sliced into the
creature's flesh.
The
next few minutes of fighting were a blur of dodges and desperate
parries interspersed with blows that just served to keep the
bag'ligs from swarming I'rone under.
As
suddenly as the charge had started, it ended, and Va'del found
himself collapsing to the ground, his weapons falling from numb
hands, as I'rone gracefully dispatched the last of the creatures.
Va'del
tried to get back to his feet, but his body seemed unwilling to
respond. While he was still trying to find his feet, I'rone easily
picked him up and slung him over a shoulder. The sight of the
bloody snow sliding away below him faded away to nothing as he
momentarily passed out.
Va'del
came to as Jasmin stripped off what was left of his coat to bind
four large slashes that'd somehow appeared on his ribs.
"I
don't remember those. I guess I didn't dodge everything I thought I
had."
Jasmin
shook her head in exasperation as she worked, but a sound off to the
left captured his attention before he could ask her what was wrong.
Looking
around, Va'del saw that I'rone was undergoing much the same
procedure from Betreec, although for a collection of much shallower
wounds. The massive Guadel looked over and once he realized Va'del
was awake, a broad grin flashed across his face. "Good job.
Very good indeed."
##
The
trip the rest of the way to the village was blessedly short, and
once Jasmin had him properly bandaged, Va'del was able to make it
under his own power with only a small amount of stumbling. Even so,
when the group found itself inside the dark tunnel leading to the
village, Va'del's knees nearly buckled with relief.
A
greater than usual number of guards had been stationed at the mouth
of the cave, and once Betreec explained that they'd already
dispatched the bag'ligs, there was no end of hands that were willing
to steady Va'del, help unpack the gurra, and carry the Guadel's bags
to the guest quarters.
##
When
Va'del finally woke, it was several cycles past mid morning. He
felt more than a little sheepish at having slept in so late, until he
tried to sit up and the motion pulled at his wounds.
Betreec
must have heard him shuffling around. She came to check on him
while he was still trying to gather the things he'd need for a bath.
"How do you feel?"
Va'del's
groan was quite theatrical, but he honestly felt better than he'd
expected to and said as much.
"Jasmin
accelerated the healing process and fought off an infection already.
You should be more or less back to normal in a day or so."
The
Guadel shifted from one foot to the other in a way that Va'del had
come to realize meant that she was trying to figure out the best way
to phrase a question. Finally the older woman shrugged and just asked
it.
"What
is driving this sudden change? You've attacked your weapons
instruction, the legal readings you've been given, and even your
meditation with a gusto that's markedly different than the
first little while you were with us? Frankly it has me more than a
little worried."
Va'del
felt confusion settle on him. "I don't understand. I thought
you'd be happy I was doing so much better. I thought you'd be
pleased."
Betreec
sighed. "I am happy, and I don't suppose all of this really
makes much sense, but the fact you're doing better isn't any more
important than the
reason
you've decided to change.
Why are you working so much harder?"
Tears
started to form in the corners of Va'del's eyes. "My whole
life I've been picked on and ridiculed. I've always been different,
and different has always been bad."
The
teenager wiped the nascent tears away. "Now you tell me those
differences are part of what makes me potentially able to become
like I'rone, and I want that more than anything, so I can help people
too."
Looking
Betreec in the eyes, Va'del tried to will her to know the truth of
what he was saying. "The widow at the last village, we were
her only hope of justice, and we gave it to her. I want to help
those like me, the ones without anywhere else to turn."
The
older woman finally nodded and pulled Va'del towards her in a hug.
"That's what Jasmin said you'd say, but we had to be
sure. To be able to right wrongs, we have to have power beyond that
of most people, and that power is easily misused by those who seek
power simply for power's sake."