A Note from Nessa'fur:
Writer's block sucks. It sucks stinky, chunky monkey balls and then some.
~Nessa'fur
Chapter Fifty-one: Revelations in Firelight
Karma stared across the fire at where Ana sat, her head bent over her saddle as she stitched a careful seam. Lucas crouched next to her, stirring the stew as he told the stories of Kit, the dragon-let that Diane the Wildmage had raised after her mother's tragic death. Ana was always asking to hear the legends and folktales of Tortall. When they were alone, Ana often pumped her for information about what it had been like to grow up in Tortall and of the stories she had been weaned on.
Karma couldn't help but smile as she saw the frustrated look that stole across Ana's face. Her friend sighed loudly, then promptly began to rip out the seam she'd just finished sewing. Ana was such an extraordinary person; Karma couldn't help but be awed by her, even as she was drawn to seek out her company. She was so happy—so glad—that this woman had come to Tortall in its time of need, come to unite them again under the banner of their collective heritage. She was proud, proud to serve as protectress and sworn sword of the Champion of Tortall come again; proud that Ana was the woman that she was, to have become a Lady-knight of Tortall and lived up to the great expectations that her features foreshadowed.
She would be proud to ride next to her against the terrible foe that threatened the country they both cherished.
Karma dropped her eyes from Ana's face, looking at her hands which rested so innocently in her lap. She saw the choices she would soon have to make etched into her skin, beneath the calluses that crossed her palms. She saw two very different futures in those lines. But no matter which way she looked, the end was still the same for her.
She looked up suddenly, her eyes searching the shadows as she became aware of another presence, and the King of Tortall stepped into the firelight, materializing from the darkness beyond. She could feel the aura he gave off, feel the power of his Gift—as any mage could—and the authority and dignity that were spoken of in his calm movements and composed features.
She could also sense Will on a different level, as her King. Like many who were of the old blood of Tortall, Karma could sense the presence of her ruler. When he was distant, the sensation was merely a general directional cast, but when he was closer to her, as he often was these days, she could feel his proximity hovering in her awareness. Sometimes, if he came upon her suddenly, she felt a little overwhelmed by the feeling; it made her Sight go all funny, for Will's future was so tangled and twisted that it hung over him like a shadowy cape.
Knowing that the King was near also made her hyper-aware of her appearance. The King of Tortall was always so very disposed and fastidious, she constantly worried about how clean her hair was and how she smelled whenever she could feel him near. She knew it was silly to compare herself to the King…but Karma couldn't help but yearn to be as composed as he.
Karma caught herself fingering the long braid that hung down over her shoulder and deliberately lowered her hands onto her lap again.
She watched as Will sank, cross-legged, to the ground. Lucas handed Ana a bowl of steaming stew and she passed it along to Will, who accepted it with a silent nod. She set aside her saddle and accepted the second bowl and spoon from Lucas. Then she made her way around the fire to where Karma sat, and offered it to her, with a smile. "Eat up," Ana said, "Smells like Lucas has outdone himself, tonight."
Karma accepted the steaming stew gratefully. "Thank you," she murmured.
"Why don't you come closer to the fire?" Ana asked, "You can hear better over there, Lucas says he's just getting to the good parts."
"You go ahead," Karma said, "the night is warm and that is fire hot. I like it better back here, away from the smoke where I can feel the evening breeze."
Ana grinned down at her. "The weather has been fine these past two days. It's made for good riding."
"The Gods have aided our journey, sending us warm days and swift speed to our mounts."
Ana raised an eyebrow at Karma's quiet statement, but her eyes took on a distant cast. "Perhaps you're right," she whispered. Then she shook her head and smiled down at Karma once again. Karma felt a lump rising in her throat as Ana said, "The Lioness is watching over all of us tonight." Her voice was full of firm conviction, full of hope and promise.
"You should eat your stew before it grows cold," Ana continued, gesturing at the bowl in her lap. "It would be such a shame to waste a good meal when the Gods only know what the morrow will bring." An ironic smile twisted her lips, and Karma felt a similar grin spread across her own face. She nodded, taking an obedient bite of the stew. She swallowed thickly and smiled again, as the delicious flavors lingered on her tongue. Ana winked at her, then turned back to where Will and Lucas sat quietly conversing on the other side of the fire. She accepted her own bowl from Lucas and plopped down between the two men, already demanding another story.
"Let me eat!" Lucas cried, waving the stirring spoon at her, "I've not had a chance to take a breath, with all your impertinent questions about every little detail."
Ana stuck her tongue out at him, then slid hastily away from him as he swatted at her, brandishing the wooden spoon like a sword. She giggled as she hovered just out of his reach, and took a bite of the stew. She closed her eyes as she chewed, her face the picture of exaggerated enjoyment. "It's a delicious fare," she mumbled, around her mouthful. It came out sounding like, "Impha ellissuff fargh."
Lucas sighed, loudly. "Well, at least when her mouth is full she can't ask any questions," he said, in an always-look-on-the-bright side manner.
"Maybe you should start feeding her up," suggested another voice, seemingly from nowhere.
Lucas jumped, nearly dropping the spoon, and then scowled darkly as he peered in the direction the voice had come from. "Illieno, you idiot! You know I hate it when you sneak up like that."
Karma heard a snort come from the empty air next to Lucas, then she was suddenly looking at a tall, slender man of sinuous grace. He was dressed in dark colors, in breeches and a leather jerkin that fitted his fit body like a glove. His sandy hair was cropped close to his head, and his bright green eyes twinkled as he laughed. Karma blinked, repressing the urge to rub her eyes, as she stared at him. He was familiar in an uncanny way, and she wondered where she'd seen him before.
Ana had settled back down between Lucas and King. "Sneaking is what Illieno is best at," she said, throwing the named man a cheeky grin. "It's only when he stops sneaking and scheming and starts moving openly that I'll really start to worry."
Illieno bowed to her, winking. "The lass speaks true!" he cried, grinning as he accepted a bowl from Lucas. "It's me job the sneak and slither like a snake through the grass, unnoticed until I rear my head up for the bite." He scooped a spoonful of the stew from the bowl as he spoke, wiggling it illustratively towards his mouth. On the final word of his metaphor, he bit down on the spoon, chewing suggestively.
Lucas roared with laughter at his antics, slapping his knee as he guffawed. Ana was giggling helplessly, her eyes sparkling like gemstones as she laughed. Even the King had a smile on his face.
Karma felt her own laughter die off as she saw the King turn to look at Ana's laugher. For a moment, his gaze softened as he looked at her red-haired friend, and Karma saw all the secrets of his heart written there. She looked back at Ana, beautiful, wonderful, Ana, as she laughed among her friends. She watched as Ana's eyes turned to Will, and a blush stained her cheeks as she caught him staring at her.
Karma looked at them—the King and his Champion—and suddenly saw all the uncertainty and insecurity that stood between them, even as they both dropped their eyes and looked elsewhere.
She watched Ana—as she smiled a shy little smile at her bowl of stew—and knew that she'd already made her choice. She clenched her right fist closed, her eyes locked on her King as he stole glances at his Champion between bites of stew.
"Does she know?" A quiet voice said, from next to her. Karma jumped, startled to find the sandy-haired man sitting next to her on the ground. She looked away from his green eyes, embarrassed that he'd snuck up on her.
"What?" She asked, bewildered.
Illieno nodded in the direction of Ana and the others. "Does she know how you feel about her?"
Karma's brow drew together, and she scowled at him. "What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded, but she kept her voice low, like his, in a whisper.
"I've been watching you, little lady-knight," Illieno said, conversationally, "I've seen the way you look at her."
Karma stared at him—at this man she was certain she had never met in her life—and felt a twinge of fear clench in her belly. No, he could not have guessed her secret. Only her brother knew, and he was sworn to never tell a soul—a pact she trusted him to uphold.
But Illieno's eyes were knowing, empathizing, as he looked at her. He couldn't know…could he?
And then she suddenly knew where she had seen him before, why his green eyes were so familiar.
She'd seen him in the future.
Karma swallowed thickly, her fear and uncertainty choking her. "I don't know what you are talking about." She whispered.
"Hmm," Illieno said. He looked at her intently for a moment, then squinted across the fire. "My apologies…I thought you would. I thought that you, too, looked like you just might know what it is like to—well, never mind, you obviously don't know what I'm talking about."
Her heart was pounding, beating out a heavy rhythm in her chest. "To what?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I might know what it is like to what?"
Illieno was staring across the fire, his gaze intense. She followed his gaze to where Ana sat next to the King, quietly eating her stew as Lucas regaled them with a tale of Tortall. Every once in a while, the King would interject, to clarify a point or add a detail, but for the most part he just listened, his eyes fixed on Ana's face as she absorbed the story.
Karma looked back at Illieno, to find him looking at her.
"To love where you are forbidden to love," he whispered.
Karma froze, meeting Illieno's emerald gaze for a long moment. Understanding seemed to flow between them, and Karma felt a great weight suddenly lift from her shoulders. She felt light, free, for the first time since she had first realized that she was different from other girls. For a moment, as she looked into Illieno's knowing eyes, she felt unburdened by fate and destiny.
Then she turned to look at Ana again, studying her face. She felt the return of her fear, but her doubt had vanished, replaced by the certainty that she'd made the right choice. She could not save herself, but perhaps, just perhaps, she could preserve a happy future for her friend.
"She doesn't know." Karma said quietly. "She will never know."
"She might guess, you know," Illieno said, "She's a pretty smart little cookie."
Karma stared at him, horrified at the prospect. Illieno took one look at her face and burst into laughter, shaking his head as he giggled. "Would it really be so terrible to have her know?" he asked, as Karma continued to stare at him in stony silence.
"Yes," Karma said finally, looking away from him. Her gaze crept of its own accord to her hands. "It might change how she acts toward me. I cherish her friendship, I would not want to lose it."
"What makes you think that Ana wouldn't still be your friend?"Illieno protested. "You two are practically inseparable these days, I can't see that going away."
Karma looked up at Illieno, her gaze sharp. "What business is it of yours anyway?" She snapped, "It is my life, my decision to make, not yours."
Illieno held up his hands like he was warding off a blow. "Hey, now," he said, lightly, "don't get all offended on me. I was just offering my assessment of the situation. I know what it's like to carry around secrets, and I know that it helps when there are others to share them with."
Karma's right fist clenched tight in her lap. "She must never know," she said quietly. "I have seen what happens if she knows, and it is not a pleasant future for anyone involved."
"You're a Seer," Illieno murmured.
"Yes," she whispered, her eyes fixed on Ana. She expected Illieno to press her with more questions, as those who learned of her power usually did, and so was surprised when he left it at that. She turned to look at him, and found his eyes on her, those green eyes brimming over with pity. But the questions that stared out from behind his eyes were too much for her. She dropped her gaze, once more, to her hands, and contemplated the definition of destiny.
~:~
Ana looked regretfully at her empty stew bowl, wondering if she dared interrupt Lucas's tale by asking for a third helping. Lucas was sometimes sensitive about being disrupted during his storytelling, claiming that it ruined his 'flow'. He was as proud of his oratory skills as he was of his cooking and, though he boasted, he was a great hand at both. But Ana knew his weakness, for Lucas was very susceptible to flattery.
"Lucas," she began, but before the word had left her tongue all thoughts of more dinner were driven from her mind as a man entered the firelight and bowed to them. He was dressed like a scout, and his face was serious as he turned to the King.
"A group of forty or so men was spotted approaching the army a half-hour ago," the scout reported, "We detained them outside our perimeter, and they surrendered their weapons peacefully. The leader said that they had come to join in our fight. He says they hail from a village on the other side of the Drell, and that he has information for the King."
"What was your measure of these men, Isaiah?" Will asked, "Should I have cause to worry that one of them might try to stick a dagger in my back?"
"They had an honest enough look about them, Highness." Isaiah replied, "They look more like farmers than warriors."
"Karma," Will said. Karma looked up from where she sat, her brown eyes curious. "Yes, Highness?" she said.
"Will you go with Isaiah and bring the leader of these villagers to join us in my tent?" He asked. Karma inclined her head, rising to her feet. "Isaiah," Will said, turning back to the scout, "Show Karma to this man and return to your post. We will send further instructions after we have treated with him, but, for now, invite these villagers to join in your evening meal. But keep a hand to your swords, for it would not do to forgo caution with those whose intentions we do not know."
Isaiah nodded sharply, bowed, then he and Karma melted into the darkness.
"Illieno, you know what to do." Will said and, though Illieno was no where to be seen, they heard his voice come from the other side of the fire, "Don't I always?"
Lucas looked over at Will. "Do you think we have cause to fear treachery?"
Will shrugged. "We shall treat them with courtesy and caution until we know what they want." He stood, setting aside his empty bowl. "Let us go find out what that may be," he said, nodding to Ana and Lucas.
The three of them made their way to where the King's tent stood, towering over its neighbors with colorful banners flying proudly at its three peaks. Ana nodded at the two Own's men who stood guard outside, ducking beneath the tent flap as they held it open for the three of them.
They did not have long to wait, for scarcely had Ana settled herself against one of the pillars than Karma strode through the entryway, a tall man with dark hair shot through with silver close on her heels. The man walked directly up to Will, then kneeled before him, his head bent.
"On behalf of myself and the people of my village," he said, from his place on the floor, "I ask leave to join your forces in turning back the scourge that gathers in the North, for—though we are not of Tortall and never have been, we heard of your call to muster and so came. Most of my people are sheltering in a fief in the hills east of here, but we have two score men of fighting age, a round dozen of which are Gifted. We are not warriors, but we ask that you let us join in this fight just the same, for we would defend our homeland as you defend yours."
Will looked down at him for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. Then he said, "Rise, good sir, for you need not show me fealty." The man rose to his feet, looking up at the King with a steady gaze. "What is your name?" Will asked.
"Jerod, son of Joshua." He replied.
"Jerod, son of Joshua," Will repeated. "I welcome your men and your help, for we are not in a position to turn away willing fighters in this battle," he said, "But I wonder at the reason for your coming, for I sent no men across the Drell with my call to arms."
Jerod smiled in a rather sheepish manner. "Actually, we heard no rumors, for our village is rather isolated, lying as it does on the plain east of the Drell River, two days ride south of the Tusaine Mountains. But we learned of your call to arms nonetheless, for one of us happens to be a Seer of some strength. We have been aware of the threat from Scanra for some time, for the imp lord could not conceal himself from his Sight. In the past few months, several of our number reported sightings of winged creatures flying overhead, and one of our hunters found a half-decayed corpse of something that was not quite human. Our elders had told us of the great evil that had returned to this land to threaten our livelihood, but most were adverse to abandon their homes. It was only after two of our children were found half-eaten in their beds that everyone agreed to move east, to beg sanctuary from your country."
Ana watched the man as he spoke, noting the deep lines that creased his forehead and the determined, almost wild glint in his blue eyes. His words had the ring of truth, and she knew that Lucas and Will heard it too.
But Jerod, son of Joshua was not finished.
"We do not expect you to take us in out of charity," he said, "As a token of a fealty and good faith, we come bearing information." He paused for a moment and his eyes flickered toward Ana. Then he said, "We bring news of Thaylia," his voice heavy with implication.
Ana felt a great surge of emotion swell in her chest. Joy, guilt, sorrow, anxious fear, impatient eagerness, and awful dread welled up in her throat, choking her.
She had awaited this moment for so long, putting off thinking about the day when she would be confronted with the knowledge of what was happening in her homeland—her world—while she was off in fantasy land.
Now she would know.
Now they would know.
Ana was frozen, unable to move or speak. She could do nothing but stare at Jerod.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Will gesture for the man to continue.
"Soldiers came three times to our village," the man said, "they were looking for a girl with red hair and violet eyes."
Ana felt the eyes of everyone in the room on her. Jerod, Lucas, Karma, Will. Their eyes bored into her, questions staring out from their variously-colored depths.
This was the moment, but she could find no words, no explanations. She knew she should say something, anything, to fill the silent void which stretched on, but she could not summon the explanation to her lips.
So she asked a question instead, to satisfy her own curiosity, and gave no explanation.
"Did they say why they were looking for her?" Ana whispered. ("Coward!"A distant part of her mind cried.)
The man shook his head. "They didn't say nothing, 'cept that if we found any trace of her we was to send a messenger to Ithsma. They made it clear there was a handsome reward waiting for the man who brought viable information to them. They also said it was likely the girl was either very sick or dead, and that if we found her we was to bring her back to the garrison there."
Ana felt her paralysis broken as she realized that this man did not know who she was and could not give her away. She avoided the gazes of her friends, focusing instead on Jerod son of Joshua's solemn face. "As you can see," she said, bowing briefly to him, "You find me alive and well. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you won't be able to collect the reward from the Thaylians, for now I am Tortall's Champion, and who I was before now is irrelevant."
She looked involuntarily at Will as she said it, but his face gave away no indication of his thoughts or feelings.
She wrenched her eyes away from Will's face as his glance flickered in her direction, turning back to the leader of the village. "Do the Thaylians know of the threat from Scanra?" she asked, quietly.
"We told them of the sightings and of the legends of the imp and his dark minions." He replied, "They said they would take our words into consideration, but for the most part we could see they weren't really listening. You could tell they didn't believe our warnings. They were more concerned about finding you."
Jerod paused, then looked thoughtfully over at her. "There was one man who actually seemed to believe us, though," he added. "Mighty curious, that one was. Wouldn't stop asking questions, about how we made our way in the world and our history and such." He shook his head. "He was a queer one, that Imperial. Looked like a soldier but had the curiosity of a scholar. He came with the last bunch, the ones with the scarred and somber faces. His men only scowled at our stories, but he seemed to take us seriously when we told him of the terrors in the night and the looming war with Scanra."
He waved a hand at Ana, "He asked after you as well, though he asked slyer and more round-about questions."
Ana couldn't help her smile at that description of her brother. I cannot wait to tell him that this man thinks he's a 'queer' one, she thought. And then she felt a cold prickle of fear travel down her spine, and sadness washed over her as she realized that she might very well never see Darius again.
"Did he have any theories about what happened to me?" Ana asked.
Jerod shrugged. "If he did, he didn't say nothing about it. He asked about you almost automatically, but he didn't really look like he expected any answer."
"Did he look well?" she whispered.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see Lucas exchanging a glance with Will, but she could have cared less what they thought of her questions. She wanted to know of her brother.
Jerod's smiled slightly, lifting his shoulders in another shrug, "He looked healthy enough. Maybe a little bit weary from travel, but he seemed lively enough."
Ana nodded, her eyes filled with tears. She felt a rush of gratitude toward this man, who had brought her this news of her brother.
Will was looking at her, his gaze full of curiosity and his brow furrowed in a frown. Over his shoulder, she could see Lucas's gaze flitting back and forth between them as he scowled.
She looked into Will's eyes, and saw frustration and doubt flickering in those sapphire depths. She knew she should do it…just say it, explain.
But she couldn't.
It was her last secret.
So the moment moved on, and Ana gave no explanation.
Will held her eye for another minute, then he looked sharply away. "Thaylia cannot help us in the coming battle," he said dismissively. Then he nodded at Jerod son of Joshua, saying, "I thank you for the information. Karma will show you where you and your men may set up your tents." Both Karma and Jerod bowed to him, then Karma led the way out of the tent.
Ana felt a frown creasing her brow as she looked at Will. "How can you be so certain that Thaylia would not give us aid?" she asked, before she could stop herself. And then, because the words could not be unsaid, she met Will's blue gaze and ploughed on. "The garrison at Ithsma has over four thousands soldiers stationed there, though they are probably not battle-ready. Perhaps if you sent a messenger—" she cut off, as Will made a sharp hand movement and interrupted her.
"Enough." He said, his tone final. "You heard the man, most of the Thaylians do not believe in this threat. And you yourself said that Thaylians know nothing of magic and the Gift. I'm sure it would be an amusing exercise to see them caught up in the middle of a battle of magic that they don't believe in, against a foe that they don't believe in, but I prefer not to waste a messenger on them who I am certain cannot help us."
Ana bit her lip, suppressing the objections that rose to her tongue even as she fought back her anger. She dropped her eyes from Will's, looking over at where Lucas and Illieno stood. Illieno's eyes were on Will, his face thoughtful as he looked at his King. Ana started when she met Lucas's gaze, however, for his eyes were full of knowing pity. She looked at his furrowed brow—a sure sign that the cogs were whirling in his mind—and wondered suddenly if Lara had made an exception to her promise that she would tell no one of her knowledge of Ana's background.
Ana dropped her gaze to her feet, shifting uncomfortably in the silence that had descended.
"I'm going to bed," she announced, walking resolutely out of the tent. She felt the gazes of her friends on her back as she left, but she did not wither beneath the power of their stares, instead she threw her shoulders back and strode with an unwavering step, though her hands clenched involuntarily into tight fists at her sides.
~ ~:~ ~
