The Year of the Lumin (32 page)

              The girl was shrewd.  Noir wanted to dislike it, but there was something attractive in her methods.

The merchant’s voice came from behind the shelves, “And don’t forget to get that other  trunk out of my storeroom also.”

              Asiada walked into the tent storeroom but Ratt and Noir stopped and looked at each other.  “Other trunk?”

              Ratt shook his head and growled, “She’s gotta be kidding!”

              They each grabbed one of the trunks containing the hero orbs and followed her inside the tent.  Noir said as he exited the sunlight, “Asiada, we can’t have three chests!  We have the sacks with our stuff in it to carry also!”

              “Relax, boys.  When we get to the Chiron forces, they will have carriages for us.”

              Noir mentally took back anything he'd thought about the girl being attractively shrewd.  “Asiada, I can’t believe you did this.  What's in it, anyway?”

              “Well, some of it is my stuff,” her tone became accusing, “which you should be happy about considering I limited my stuff from three chests to half of one.”  She went on, “And the rest is more stuff to sell.”

              Ratt threw his arms up into the air.  “That’s just great!  She’s turning our life-or-death battle into a money making excursion.”  He squared off to Asiada and pointed a finger at her chest.  “We didn’t agree to let you come so we could be your personal junk-carrying slaves!”

              Noir stepped forward and put a soothing hand on Ratt’s shoulder, “Relax, Ratt.”  He backed down a bit.  He asked Asiada, “How far is the checkpoint where we can enlist into the Chiron forces?”

              She responded defensively, “Not far.”

              “Well, let’s figure this out later so we can get going.  You can yell at her all you want on the way, Ratt.”

              Asiada pulled the third wooden chest out from under a shelf.  As she hefted it off the ground, it did not look much lighter than the chests holding the trinkets.  Noir's emotions were torn.  He was angry at her for weighing them down so much, but he felt there was a hidden reason why she was taking all this stuff.  Noir shook his head and grabbed the third chest since Ratt already held the other.  They somehow made the cloth sacks of their belongings stay on their shoulders as Asiada took the lead out of the tent.

              As he followed, Noir took in the capitol city of Chiron since he knew it would be the last time he would see it for a long while.  Foreshadowing the coming winter, the dusty streets held a light sting of cold air when the wind blew.  The residents went about their daily business holding bags, urns, crates, and other assorted goods.  Mothers hastened their children along and guards in armor scanned the crowds.

              One mother and her young daughter caught Noir's attention as the girl ran from her mother's skirt while she bargained for some grain.  The mother's hand swiped only air as the child ran.

              The mother called out to the girl, “Vaneeah!  Get back here!”  Just as she called, the young girl turned to look, but her small feet kept going toward another merchant stall.  The hard wooden corner of the stall met the young girl hard in the forehead.  She immediately fell to the ground with an open gash on her head.  The mother was immediately at her side. She put the small girl in her lap.  She cradled the child and feverishly blotted the wound with her skirt.  She was saying the girl's name desperately because she wasn't responding.  Noir noticed that no one else along the busy street gave more than a quick glance at the situation.  It was as if they purposefully tried to ignore the girl.

              Noir could not ignore the two in need and quickly put down his chest to the side of the street.  He ran forward and knelt next to the mother who was saying over and over, “No, baby, no.  It'll be okay.”

              As Noir knelt, the woman looked at him with confusion.  Noir put one hand on her elbow and said, “I'm a Luxin.  I can help.”

              The woman's reaction was not what he had expected.  She pulled the unconscious girl away and pushed Noir back with her other hand.  She had a look of anger and fear.  “No!  Get away!  We don't need your help.”

              Noir felt helplessly confused.  “What?  Why?  Ma`am, your daughter is really hurt.  I would like to help.”

              The mother looked back to her daughter's bleeding forehead, then back at Noir.  “Okay, but we don't have much.”  She held the young girl out to Noir.  “Can you take payment in goods as well as tali?  Please, we don't have much tali.”

              Noir took the small unconscious girl in his arms but did not break eye contact with the woman.  “Ma`am, I'm not going to make you pay anything.”

              The woman's brow furrowed in disbelief, but she let go of the girl.  “Her name is Vaneeah, sir Luxin.”

              The little girl’s forehead was bleeding and the gash looked fairly deep.  Noir embraced his lux and funneled it into the girl’s wound.  He had not used lux for much of anything except crafting Ratt’s armor in the last month and he realized he had missed helping people.

              Noir weaved the flow of lux around inside the wound.  He felt the skull around where the injury had taken place.  As he had expected, a small crack extended across her skull snaking to the nearest natural plate boundary.  The concussion was minor, but he knew without care she could have a variety of complications because of it.  As he started to mend the fracture, he was glad he had been around when this happened.  The fact that the mother was refusing treatment from a Luxin due to cost bothered him.

              The skull mended together as it had been before the injury.  With lux, Noir pulled the skin back together and mended the damaged tissue.  The woman’s eyes got big as she watched the wound close.  Noir sealed the wound and extended the lux outward from the wound to make sure there were no other injuries or damage done to the little girl.  Once he was certain that all was finished, he released his hold of lux and looked at the still unconscious girl.  It was a fairly minor wound compared to other injuries that Noir had healed, so Noir felt fairly untaxed.  Usually he was fatigued after a healing.  He must have grown stronger from all those long hours of strain on his chakra while working on Ratt’s armor.

              Vaneeah's mother took her back from Noir.  She said over and over through held-back tears, “Thank you, sir Luxin.  Thank you.”

              Noir replied, “Of course.  I’m glad I could help.”  They both stood up and the woman looked at Vaneeah with concern.  “Don’t worry about her being asleep.  She’ll probably wake up in a few minutes.”

              The woman looked at Noir through watery eyes.  She stammered, “Are you sure about... I can pay you a little....”

              Noir smiled and brushed some of Vaneeah’s brown hair off of her face over her ear.  “I am sure.  Keep this cute little kid closer from now on.”

              “Yes, I will, sir Luxin.  What is your name?”

              Noir saw no harm in telling this one woman his name.  “Luxin Noir.”

              “Thank you, Luxin Noir.  You are a gift from the Lumin.  Thank you.”  The woman held the little girl to her shoulder and walked away into the passing crowds.  Noir had missed helping people during the time that he had been in the Azurite Tower.  He turned and looked at its looming form over the tops of the surrounding small buildings.  Being outside of the tower on the road again somehow felt right to him.  Whether or not Osarik's accusations about the Syeters were true, he knew they were making the right decision by leaving.

              Noir turned and found Ratt and Asiada standing where he had put down his chest.  “Ugh, the chest,” Noir groaned and walked back to his friends.

              “Well, that was nice of you,” Ratt said when Noir reached them.

              “You
could
have made a nice profit there....”  Asiada trailed off when Noir raised an eyebrow and looked at her.  “I'm joking.  That was very honorable of you, Noir.  You're quite the protector,” she said jokingly.

              Noir sighed and said, “Well, where were we?”

Chapter 42

Loving embrace

              Luxin Adeel sat on a wood box in her tent and redid one of her many braids as she stared at the angled dirt floor.  The area for this new town location was on the rise to a cliff wall so everything had to be built at an angle.  She had opted to be one of the last to stay in a tent while others built short hovels from wood and clay.  In the month that they had been at this location, nearly half of the families had completed homes while the others still stayed in tents.

              Adeel had not put on her Luxin armor and traveled out to help the new town rebuild all day, and evening was coming.  She usually did not allow herself to be weak, but somehow today she just could not will herself out of her tent.

              Adeel had feared that Grandel's journey back to Chiron would reignite old feelings for Kahmi, but before he left, he had explained his need to go.  He had told Adeel before anyone else about his plans to step down as captain of Talik.  She had supported his decision to step down then, and, though it was unexpected, she had supported his decision to reclaim leadership after he returned a week later.

              And yet after he returned, that spark between them had vanished.  Before his journey to Chiron, he used to call her privately to spend an evening sharing stories and laughing or discussing his ideas and plans.  She had felt something for Grandel for a long time, and she thought he reciprocated them, though he never admitted it or acted on them because of, she assumed, Kahmi.  Now, after returning, he was even more distant than she had feared.  It would have hurt her more if it weren't for something else that seemed amiss about Grandel.  His mannerisms were different and the way he spoke was not the same as before.  On a hunch, she had checked a luxsyedin near him, but no one was controlling him with sye.  She knew he was somehow not his normal self, but without being able to get near him for any long periods of time, she could not figure out what was different or wrong.

              “Luxin Adeel?” came a small girl's voice from outside her tent.  She recognized it as Ray's voice, a young girl who brought joy and laughter to the war-stricken town.

              Adeel stood up and flung her braids behind her.  “Yes, Ray?  Come in.”

              The young girl walked in wearing no shoes and a dirt-covered tan dress that looked like it had been clean at the beginning of the day.  Adeel tried to play with the children when she could, and she had joined Ray in playing hide-and-go-seek and other childhood games many times.  But now the girl's eyes did not have the sparkle of mischief or playfulness in them.  Instead, they looked up at Adeel with scared confusion.  “What's wrong, Ray?”

              She walked forward and took Adeel's leg tenderly.  “There is a man outside and everyone is being mean to him.”

              Adeel knelt down and held Ray at arm's length to look the girl in her eyes.  “What are you talking about?  Who is it?”

              Ray responded, “A man.  One of the men in armor.  They are throwing rocks at him and he's bleeding.  Why would they do that?”

              Adeel stood up and took the girl's hand.  “I do not know.  Take me there, Ray.  I need to see for myself.”

              Ray led Adeel around tents and clay hovels that usually were abuzz with men working and people talking.  Now they were silent, but a crowd of people could be heard ahead.  The young girl led Adeel close to the group, but stopped next to the last of the houses.  “I don't want to see it again.”

              Adeel bent down and gave the girl a quick hug.  “That's fine, dear.  Stay here.  I have to go see.  Thank you Ray.”  She released the girl and walked toward the mass of people.  The focus of the group's attention was blocked by their bodies.  Adeel came behind one elder woman whom she had known for years.

              When Adeel lightly grabbed the woman's arm, she said, “Oh, Luxin Adeel.  You came.”

              “What is going on here?”

              “Captain Grandel found out who the traitor was.  Illaus let those nasty straghs know where we were.  It's his fault so many died and old Talik was destroyed.”

              Adeel's eyes darted around as she tried to make sense of what she was just told.  “How does Captain Grandel know it was him?”

              “He made a speech a few minutes ago.  He said when he confronted Illaus about being the traitor, Illaus attacked him.”  She spat on the ground in disgust.  “Illaus is why my son is dead.”

              “But Illaus?  I never would have expected that of him.”

              Adeel pushed her way through the crowd to the front where she saw Illaus on the ground with splotches of blood on the dirt around him.  Many small rocks surrounded the man, some with blood on them.  His jaw was swollen shut.  Grandel stood to the side with Cairn, Elrid, and the other leaders of Talik behind him.  Elrid had his head turned away from the spectacle.

              Adeel saw a townsman draw back his arm and fling a fist-sized rock at Illaus.  Out of habit, she put up her hand and made a light barrier around the wounded man.  The rock bounced back harmlessly.

              Eyes turned toward Adeel and the people near her backed away as if expecting her to be the next target of the attacks.  She suddenly wished she had her Luxin armor on.  She realized she had never felt unsafe in Talik before.

              Grandel spoke out to her.  “Luxin Adeel.  You have come late and not heard the news.  Illaus is the traitor.  He is the cause for the destruction of old Talik.  I am letting the people take their revenge, though it will never bring back their loved ones.”

              The crowd around Adeel cheered.  Her stomach twisted with anger and sadness at the remaining residents of Talik.  They were so quick to turn to rage and harm one of their own.  A new volley of rocks flew from the crowd at the bent over shape.  Adeel again set a barrier to block the helpless man.

              She spoke quickly and curtly.  “Grandel, this has to stop.  They have no need for revenge.”

              Grandel took a step forward away from the others, his face suddenly flared with rage.  Elrid was watching Grandel intently.  “So you are to defy us, Luxin Adeel?”

              “Illaus does not need to die!  That is what will happen here if you don't stop this!”

              Grandel pointed toward people in the group.  “Baulbon, your son died because of this man.  Kenah, your husband fell because of Illaus' treachery.”  A murmur ran through the crowd.  “Little Tato, your brother is gone because of him.”  The murmur grew louder.  Grandel threw his hands out toward Adeel and said, “Luxin Adeel.  Tell these people who lost loved ones because of this man to stop.  Tell them!”

              A cry rang out among the watchers and rocks flew.  Adeel deflected the projectiles but knew she had to get the man away from this mob.  She ran to Illaus' side and called out, “You are not the Grandel I know.  What happened to your plans and dreams?  What happened to your compassion and regret for your past?”

              “My loyalties lie to Talik, don't yours?  This man destroyed nearly half of Talik's population and yet you defend him?”

              Adeel was unsure of how to argue with his last statement.  She did not know where he found the information about Illaus being the traitor, but if it was true she could not argue.  She was vaguely aware of Illaus at her feet moving around doing something.

              Adeel turned toward the people of Talik.  “Something is amiss here.  Don't you see it?  In all the years that Grandel led you, did he ever once harm anyone maliciously?”  She threw her arms wide.  “You look like mindless savages.  Throwing rocks!  Wanting to kill one of your own!  Shed your bloodlust and imprison this man if you feel he is the true traitor.”  She looked at those around her and some looked at each other indecisively.  “Throw me in jail with him.  I don't care as long as you don't kill this man.”

              Elrid stepped forward and faced off against Grandel with his back to Adeel.  He spoke confidently.  “Luxin Adeel is right.  I am not sure what happened on your trip to Chiron, Captain, but you are not acting with your usual wits.  I demand you stop this barbaric act.”

              “I give you the traitor of Talik and you treat
me
like the villain!”  Grandel laughed uncharacteristically.  “I have ruled you more efficiently since my return than I ever did before.  The town grows.  We have new recruits.  All are happy.”

              One man’s voice rang out from the back of the crowd.  “My baby girl just three years old was killed with my wife.  The traitor should pay!”  A cry of agreement came from many in the crowd.

              The situation was not improving.  Adeel looked down at what Illaus was doing at her feet.  He had written in the dirt with one of the blood-covered stones.  Adeel read it with horror.

              A,

              It's me.  I love you.

              -G

              The man who had Illaus's face looked up at her.  Blood ran down his face from a gash in his forehead.  Adeel looked into his eyes but did not see Illaus.  She saw the eyes and soul of the one she loved.  She did not understand it, but she knew it to be true.

              Adeel dropped to her knees and hugged the slumped figure.  Tears came to her eyes as she realized that these events had been happening to Grandel.  As she held him, Adeel felt Grandel writing something else in the dirt.  Aware of the growing chatter around her, she wiped her eyes and looked at what he had written.

              need to talk. heal jaw?

              She looked at his swollen, painful-looking jaw.  “There’s no time, Grandel.  We need to get away from here.”

              The mood quickly changed from emerging chaos to confusion.  Adeel looked at the people around her and most were looking behind her away from town to the foothills of the cliffs.  She stood up and watched as the crowd parted for a man on horseback.  She recognized it as a man named Revalt, one of the messengers and connections with Inderrin, a northern Tierian town.  He jumped down from the horse and led it by the reigns.  He and the horse looked very tired.

              He looked at the situation before him with confusion, but said anyway,  “I have an urgent message for Captain Grandel of Talik.”

              All eyes turned back to the man with Grandel’s visage.  Adeel looked down at the true Grandel who was watching intently.  All attention was away from them for the moment, so Adeel knelt back down and started to heal Grandel’s jaw.

              Kit stepped forward and said, “I am here.  Speak quickly.”

              The messenger spotted him and gave a quick bow.  “Sir, this message is not meant for all.  I request a private audience with you.”

              Kit spread out his arms and said, “These are my people and any message for me is also a message for them.  Speak, Revalt.  What is the message?”

              Revalt looked around uneasily.  “Sir, I ask you again.  This is sensitive info—“

              Kit interrupted him curtly.  “Out with it, or not at all!”

              Revalt furrowed his brow and readjusted his collar as if nervous.  “Very well.  A conquering force has left from Tier toward Talik.  They left yesterday and will arrive here within three days.”

              Kit took a step forward and echoed the confused cries of the people.  “What?  How is this so?”

              Again Revalt looked uncomfortable as he spoke, “A merchant traveling from here was intercepted by Tierian guards.  He had an order from you, Captain Grandel, that was unencrypted.  After brutal interrogation, he told them of Talik’s location.”

              The crowd erupted into cries of confusion and rage.

              Elrid circled around from behind Kit and came in front of him.  He drew his sword out and pointed it toward the man.  He cried out with a tremendous voice, “Listen, people of Talik.  This is not the man Grandel.”  The crowd quieted a bit.  “He cannot be Grandel.  The true Grandel has never made a foolish mistake like that in all of Talik’s history.”

              The crowd grew mostly silent at the spectacle.  The man with Grandel’s visage had gritted teeth and looked with rage at Elrid.  Heast stepped out from the crowd and took a stance next to Elrid.  He was unarmored but held his sword out next to Elrid’s.  He spoke to Elrid.  “Your assumptions are correct, Elrid.  I believe the true Grandel is among us.  We intercepted him returning from Chiron a week ago and brought him to this man.”

              “Heast speaks the truth,” came another man’s cry from the crowd.  Gonn Holdark the blacksmith stepped forward with a monstrous sword over his shoulder.  “Many of us saw the incident that day.  We heard Grandel’s voice.  This man is not Captain Grandel.”

              Elrid nodded at Gonn and looked back toward the now withdrawing man.  He spoke with a commanding voice.  “You are not Captain Grandel.  Where is he?”

              “I am here!” All looked toward where the voice had come from.  Grandel stood up from where he had been laying amongst the bloodied stones.  Adeel stood next to him.  His body had been fixed.  “I am Grandel of Talik.”  He stood up tall and commanded the presence of everyone watching.  “This man,” he thrust his arm toward Kit, “is your traitor!  He is none other than Luxin Kit!  He betrayed all of you!  He betrayed your fallen family members and friends!”