I do not own any Broken Sky material!
Chapter Two:
Whist felt slightly uncomfortable, hugging the woman's waist as they flew higher and higher. Blink was moaning non-stop, as he had been since they left the ground.
"Where're we going?" he yelled in her ear. Aera removed her hands from Or'aci's neck; she was linked with him now, and he knew the course to fly.
"The desert. Macaan's been staging an invasion there for just under a year now," she yelled back. Whist tightened his grip around her waist involuntarily; she smiled back at him. Or'aci twitched; she looked to the front and cursed softly, bringing them down.
They landed in a rocky forest. Or'aci was unsaddled and washed down quickly. Whist watched as the wyvern sprayed water at the girl, who smiled. Her long trench coat was forgotten, a black tube top concealing modest curves. Whist counted several stones below and above the material; bumps underneath suggested a total of eight.
He swallowed hard. Eight stones was an incredible amount. Very few people had more than four. He himself only had three. She had over twice that many, each stone a misty gray. Currently, they were glowing gently as Or'aci blew in her hair. She caught him looking, and smiled. She shook her hands dry and sat down next to him.
"My stones give me telepathic abilities. I can link into another person's thoughts, memories, emotions, whatever. I can even do it with non-humans, like Blink and Or'aci," she explained, looking straight at him. "I can see ties between people. I sense their existence. If I want to, I can control a person, and they'd never know. I'm the only person in a century to have this form of telepathy, and no one's ever had it to my extent," she concluded softly.
Whist jerked, a question out of his mouth before he could stop it. "Does it hurt?"
She sighed. "Sometimes. I can't always control it. If I'm needed, my power will act. I live other people's nightmares, fears, failures… I get all of that just from talking to them. In Parakka, they accepted me because I was good with wyverns. No one ever knew my potential," she said, sounding grateful.
Whist was oddly intrigued by the girl. Sensing the question, she said, "If they knew, I could have been a slave," she said quietly. From the way she said it, her eyes getting pale, he understood. She had been a slave once. And once was enough.
Blink woke them up in the middle of the night. Something had been bothering him. Aera pulled out her twin jitte, thin blades mirroring the twin moons. Or'aci shifted uncomfortably; she saddled him and got everything ready for a quick departure. Blink growled softly; Whist rubbed his back, whispering words of assurance. Aera motioned for them to get on Or'aci. She did the same, and closed her eyes. Whist caught a glimpse of her stones glowing. Her eyes snapped open and she jabbed Or'aci's pressure points, urging him to leave. He didn't like flying in the dark. She granted him her sight, made sharp by life in Kirin Taq. He glided silently through the night sky. Aera tightened her jacket, starting to get cold. Whist had no such cover. He was shivering violently. Aera reached down to a packet and skillfully flipped out a blanket, passing it to him. He leaned haphazardly out of the harness to snatch the blanket and bend back down.
Below them was the desert. Aera sent her mind out, searching. It came to a jarring halt as she found the person who she was looking for. Or'aci sensed her need to descend. He angled himself down and began a gentle decline.
Aera poked the fire until it burned steadily. Whist was sitting close to the flames, heating his hands. She put on her finger gloves that warmed her hands while allowing her to lose none of the dexterity required to fly a bull. Blink gnawed on the carcass of a desert animal he had managed to kill. Whist's face was wrinkled in distaste. He was about to spit when Aera plopped down next to him in her own blanket, holding to mugs of steaming broth. He sipped; it was strong enough to get rid of the taste. She yawned, and got up, drinking her broth straight down.
"I'm gonna go for a walk," she said, heading out into the desert. Or'aci started to follow. She put a restraining hand on him.
"Uh-uh, big guy. I gotta do this one alone," she said quietly. Or'aci growled, but stayed in place.
Aera waited on the sands for the woman she knew would come. She shivered, not from the cold, but from her own memories that came to the surface after so many years of lying dormant.
She had been four when she was summoned to the palace. As a toddler she had grown up in her father's peaceful forests, her eight stones never once used. She looked as a Dominion person would, if her eyes were a little too pale.
Her parents left on a journey. She was entrusted to her uncle on her mother's side; he had married her now dead sister. She had a cousin, an imperious, beautiful cousin. She smiled at the memory of their time together; her cousin was ever the leader, proud and defiant. But whenever she had failed to comply with her older cousin's wishes, she would become something of a mother, if a little harsh.
Then the day came where her uncle was curious of her powers. Eager to please the often distant relative, she had shown him her stones. She recalled how his face had become hungry, wanting the rarest power of all. She knew that three of the stones in her back had come from him; the other five had been stored in her father's treasury for his only child. Her uncle had allowed her to play with her powers, to learn them and grow into them until the soft fizzle of power in her veins was normal. Then he had sent her to her teacher.
Her cousin had been furious when she discovered her playmate had been removed. Two years later, upon her return, she expected to find a cousin barely remembering her. Instead, her cousin remembered her very well, especially that her father had sent her to be trained. Her parents had died in a flood. Until she was nine, by day she would serve her uncle, reading minds of his thanes and telling him where the traitors were. By night she was chained in a tower, a damper collar cold against her skin. Her cousin saw her only rarely, and when she did, Aera served to remind her of her hatred for her father.
When she was nine, she escaped. She spent a year wandering Kirin Taq, avoiding her uncle's spies and hiding in shadow. She found a Resonant who would take her to the Dominions. She managed to survive until she was eighteen, learning to fight, though it rarely came to that. More often she would use words and her ability to empathize with others. Even now, she had an unspoken agreement with the Keiraigs. She was allowed to cross through the Ley Warrrens because of their hatred of Macaan, as well as her efforts to save one of the hive's members when she was ten. It had been caught in a bog; she helped it out, almost sinking herself in the quagmire. She had managed to speak with the hive, a feat previously impossible by those other than the Brethren. And so, because she protected the hive like their brethren and spoke as their Brethren, she was allowed to cross after the Integration.
She smiled as she saw a figure come up; it was her. She tucked her hair under her large coat and leaned against a rock.
Blink was under strict orders from Whist master not to let Aera-lady out of his sight. He suspected that his own affection for the woman was bleeding into his master, but he didn't care. He was curious what any pups would look like, though. Whist-master, hearing his thought, squawked indignantly and told him to keep his mind on the task at hand.
Blink sniffed deeply. Two women were meeting. One, the stranger, smelled . . . the only word he could think of was metallic, but that wasn't right, either. She smelled like any other flesh and blood woman did; only she was hard. He could smell other things, like dust and sweat and pain and love, but the coldness reigned.
The other was the one he knew. She smelled of the wind and rain and storms, all together and pulsing quietly. She had a sense of power around her that was palpable as this stranger approached. His hackles rose as the stranger rested a hand at the hilt of a sword. He felt Whist-master tense slightly, and Or'aci next to him looked south.
The woman was beautiful, startling blue eyes with raven black hair giving her a dramatic look. She was dressed for travel, and her skin was too pale for the desert to be her home. Aera smiled to herself; her cousin was still the same.
The woman seemed uncomfortable. "I saw your fire and came to warm myself," she said, a strange accent in her voice. Aera smiled outright now; she used to have that same accent, before she adopted other tongues to color her language.
"Then by all means, join me. The desert is lonely with no one to talk to," she said warmly, her smile flickering in the fire light. The woman sat down opposite her, shifting herself on the sand. Aera watched her cousin, nearly unable to contain herself. She wanted so much to fling herself at the last remaining part of her childhood that she liked, but withheld herself. She felt the woman's awkwardness and sent out a flood of calm, saturating her in the memory of her father's fields where they had once played together. The woman's eyes closed for a moment, and then snapped open, sudden clarity forcing her perfect mouth to drop.
Aera sipped from her flask and passed it to her cousin; it was a special brew her mother had taught her. The woman sipped it, and then let it fall from numb fingers.
"Aera?" she whispered, eyelashes dewed with something that looked suspiciously like tears. Aera stood up and walked over to kneel by the woman, one hand cupping her cheek as a mother would, not a younger cousin sundered from her relation for years.
"You've been through a lot, haven't you, Aurin?" she asked quietly. Her cousin nodded, throat tightening. Aera's eyes were kind as she saw the turmoil in her cousin's heart.
"I never once doubted that you would get out by one way or another. You must have loved him very much to let your guard down," she said, a ghost of a smile flitting across her face. Aurin recoiled slightly, a faint blush staining her cheeks.
"He left a mark on you. You love him dearly, you want to repent… you're already on that road. Unlike your father, you have a good heart, if it was icy for a while," she said, her pale eyes becoming vacant.
"You've grown strong, cousin. I can see that too. Your hatred drove you, and now love and hate as well. You know what your father sheltered you from; pain, sadness, regret."
The one-time princess got to her feet, eyes flashing. Aera didn't move when she felt cold steel brush her neck.
Aurin held onto her sword tightly. Her cousin had never been like this, had never used her powers without permission. She had never divined another's mind, certainly not her cousins.
Blink, from his post, watched the struggle for dominance. The glacier-lady had physical means of destruction – he could smell it. He waited for the Aera to respond.
"I've grown stronger, too, cousin," Aera sad quietly, and Aurin felt something grip her tightly, forcing her to sheath the blade and sit down before she hurt herself. She was frozen as Aera towered above her, face impassive.
"You shouldn't cling to first impressions. People are dynamic. We are meant to change at least once in our life. My change happened on the streets. It was the only way I could survive. You rely on your stones more than I; your sword would have been a channel, not the means. I know this, and I've known it for years," she said coldly.
Aurin shuddered, and then suddenly Aera was next to her, giving her a brief hug.
"You want to repent? You want to go back to this man with something proving you are not a glacier? I know how," she said, eyes bright. Aurin sat, and listened.
Whist watched the other woman suspiciously as she came back with Aera. They both heard him curse softly under his breath, accompanied by something that sounded oddly like 'more girls!' Or'aci let about a whoosh of breath in agreement. Aurin looked around, uncomfortable. Whist was sizing her up, as was Blink. Aera ignored them all for the moment, making a fuss over Or'aci and asking if he minded just one more person.
"Li'ain, I think you'd better get some sleep," she said, directing the comment at her cousin. Aurin nodded, blushing at the name. It had been her mother's.
Whist sat with Aera, watching the proud woman fall asleep.
"So that's her?"
Aera nodded, watching the sand turn blood red from the approaching sun. Whist yawned while Blink twitched in his sleep.
"Seems kinda weird that a girl packin' that much power would just come along with you. Use any mind tricks on her?" he asked innocently.
"She came because she wanted to. I would never force family into this," she said. Whist jerked, and then noticed the same level eyes and slender shoulders.
"She's my cousin," she explained, sharpening her blade. She paused for a moment, coking her head as if listening to something, and then cursed.
"There are some mines nearby. Scouts have spotted us," she growled. Whist ran over to Or'aci.
Li'ain shuddered as Aera circled above the soldiers on the ground. She was hiding with Whist while her cousin drew them away.
A cold nose nudged her; Blink. She stifled a gasp and looked at the enormous dog. He gently gripped her wrist in his teeth and started to lead her away.
Aera frowned as the men on the ground scattered from her, screaming in terror of the bolts that came raining down on them. It was all in their minds. She felt their fear, their panic, the worry for their families… she forced them to see the destruction she wished. And then gave them the image of the enormous wyvern being hit by a bolt and erupting in flames until there was nothing.
Aera landed, her face grey. Li'ain went to greet her, only to be shoved away. Aera dug a hole and threw up, her body retching uncontrollably. She half expected to feel soft, feminine hands steady her. But her cousin had only recently regained her humanity, and intense emotions made her uncomfortable. She knew she couldn't expect it of her; it was too soon. Whist watched, disgusted, as Li'ain looked at Aera with something like helpless detachment, wringing her hands. She didn't know what to do, and just stood there, watching. He pushed her aside and steadied Aera, rubbing her back slowly. She shivered as he unconsciously ran his thumb over her spirit stones.
Her breathing slowed, her trembling subsided. She leaned heavily into Whist, staggering. He led her to the fire and got her a blanket and food. When he sat down next to her, she was ready.
"I was them for a moment. When you impress thoughts and images in a mind to convince them of untruths, you have to get into their thoughts. They were scared that they would never see their families again, that they would die and Macaan would kill their families, that their children would grow up without knowing a father, that they would starve, that they would die…" she choked, and tears traced her face. Whist put his arm around her and let her cry into his shoulder. Blink came over and tried to lick her tears.
Whist looked over at her. He had felt her reaching out, her stones reacting without the host's approval, responding to her need to be comforted.
Li'ain stoked the fire. "Don't worry; it's just a side effect. She'll take on their emotions for a while after that close of a contact. She'll get over it by the morning," she said conversationally. Blink growled at her careless tone.
"I take it you two were never close," Whist said, mistaking her manner for detachment rather than ignorance. Li'ain jolted, and he saw his miscalculation.
"I hated my father because he sent her away to be a servant, even though she was almost equally ranked with me. I hated him because he took away my only friend. I thought she died a long time ago," she said, voice hard. Whist saw a remainder of the proud ruler in her snapping eyes, and his hand strayed to a metal disk.
Aera rolled toward the fire, her thick pale hair mussed and her eyes bleary. Tear stains still traced her cheeks.
"Please…don't fight…no more fighting today," she whispered, eyes becoming wet again. Blink was at her side instantly, reflecting both his own and his master's anxiety. Or'aci sat against her back, dwarfing her in size. One leathery wing encircled her like some birds did with chicks. He blew on her hair, and his scent and his warmth and his tranquil, pupil-less gaze helped her breath easier. He allowed Blink to stretch out under her stomach. She let go of one last shuddering sigh and fell asleep, a tear sliding to the sand.
Whist groaned as a hand shook him awake, and was surprised to see Aera pull away, looking slightly embarrassed. He looked around; Li'ain was sleeping next to Or'aci, clearly trying to keep an eye on her cousin but to exhausted to stay up all night. Blink had wandered back to him in the night. He saw a mug of some hot stew in her hand.
She sat down next to him, putting the mug next to him. He yawned, and took a sip. It was good, though it burned his tongue. She smiled as he took a hasty drink from a flask.
"I wanted to thank you for last night," she said, looking away. He shrugged.
"Whatever. Your cousin didn't seem so good with people." She nodded, still not looking at him. He got that feeling again, that she needed contact. Grumbling inwardly about women, he threw an arm around her shoulder, smiling at her. She looked up, surprised. She blushed slightly, and he saw the reason for it. The way they were situated, he was almost on top of her.
"Do you want to talk about anything," he said, smile strained. She shook her head slightly. Li'ain chose that moment to wake up, as did Blink. Li'ain responded by raising one cultured eyebrow, Blink by commenting to both of them that he wanted to be in charge of any resulting pups. Whist blushed furiously, and Aera forgot her anxiety to scramble over to the large dog and scratch him.
An hour later they were walking through the sand, Or'aci gliding inches above their heads, shielding them from the hottest rays. Whist complained about the sand, so Or'aci swooped down and picked him up. Blink followed. After a few more hours, Li'ain was too tired, so she got on the wyvern as well. Aera was fresh; she picked up her pace to a lively jog, spinning her blades idly and slashing at her shadow. She continued until well into the afternoon, her stamina an unexpected accomplishment for a girl her age. She altered their course to the south east. Li'ain understood. She would soon be forced to play her part, and repent.
Whist and Aera stood on a hill, watching as Li'ain was welcomed into the desert camp. Aera smiled, and mounted Or'aci, rolling her shoulders. Aera sent out a wave of love to her cousin.
Whist swallowed hard, and slipped his arms around her waist. Over the past week, he had become increasingly aware of her. Blink insisted that it was in response to him not having a mate and that it was time for him to settle down and have some pups. He was beginning to agree with his dog, at least on one point; he suspected he had something of a crush on her. It was kind of hard not to feel attracted to a woman who loved animals as much as she did. What surprised him was that he was attracted to someone who had such a large emotional out and input, whereas he wasn't prone to any displays of sentiment.
Aera nudged the points in the wyvern's neck, feeling the turmoil behind her, gritting her teeth. It was her nature to want to help, to take on another's pain. She forced her mind on the wyvern below her, focusing.
Every time she linked with Or'aci, it got easier, and she felt her power increase slightly afterwards. She was beginning to understand his mind, his habits, his likes and dislikes. She smiled to herself and felt him respond; a smile was a sign of enjoyment, and she enjoyed flying very much. He pumped his wings hard, hitting an air current and rolling over onto his back in midair. Behind her, Whist gave a yelp and gripped her harder around the waist while Blink began panicking.
His head was close to her mouth.
"I can make this easier! You could join with me and Or'aci!" she yelled. Whist closed his eyes, a link between him and Blink being established. He opened his eyes and nodded.
It was the weirdest thing he had ever felt. He was in all of them, though he felt the monumental power in Aera shielding him. He was used to Blink, but he also felt Or'aci's amusement at his worry. Curious, he asked how fast the wyvern could go. Or'aci responded by diving straight toward the ground.
Aera watched in amusement as Blink advanced on Or'aci, growling. The dog had blinked them onto the ground in an instant, not enjoying the aerial antics. Whist was trying to regain his balance. She bolstered him, smiling into his dyed face, and helped him make camp.