Karigan fell into the Eletian routine like a leaf falling onto the ground; softly and inevitably. She slept early and rose only after the sun was above the tree canopy. Her rest was deep and restorative in a way that can only happen when the world stops asking of you to keep giving. Without the endless stress of rider life she could finally relax. Every morning she woke to a warm bath and a soak as the birds chirped in the morning sun before Somara arrived to help dress her in ever more heavenly fabrics. They would break their fast together with the most delicious food that Karigan had ever tasted, leaving her sated, grounded, energised and light. Most days she pinched herself to see if any of this was real.
She really enjoyed getting to know Somara, as much as one could get to know an Eletian. Perhaps because story telling was an innate skill of hers, she could weave a story that left Karigan laughing or wrapt with attention. She thought Somara seemed to like her as well although it was hard to tell. After their breakfast was finished they would walk down to the pond together and join whoever was meditating. This was probably the only time of day that Karigan felt tension. She would relax easily enough on her own special mat but once she walked the paths of her mind into the meadow and joined Seastaria, the goddess became more and more insistent of walking with her to the end of the lake and showing her visions of the white world. And if Karigan refused to come, she would nudge her gently and when their eyes met, Karigan's gaze would be filled with the searing void. She was unable to turn away. They always spent time together afterwards but Seastaria would no longer let her enter without first showing Karigan her least favourite place.
This feeling of loathing dissipated pretty quickly once she was back in the fresh, warm air of Eletia. They ate at a different tree every day and little by little Karigan got to know various Eletians who seemed curious about her. They walked the forest paths each afternoon, watching squirrels look for nuts and trees blowing in the wind. Or they would bathe in the hot water ponds that miraculously appeared as if in a fairy novel. The little coves would just appear as they meandered around a bend and Karigan could feel her face break out in delight each time. Well, when one was born on the coast what could you expect? Water was in her blood.
Karigan would have been happy to sit on the edges of the community and watched the Eletians dance each night after dinner but here evenings always ended in Somial's quarters for healing. Which was also a wonderful way to spend her time. His ritual was the same each night although the feel of the evening was often different. She guessed it might be because of different herbs or chants he used. Maybe. All she knew was that it felt glorious. Well, right until Somara removed their things and she was alone with Somial. And he made her look through her eye. And she saw the white world again.
Every night she saw the same vision and it kept getting more distinct, although at least there was no pain when she looked through her eye, which she still found astounding. And every night she tried to fish for an explanation and he would just consider her thoughtfully before wishing her a restful evening. She would sigh on her way back to her apartment and Somara would laugh at her as she helped her bathe her hair, which was now fair lustrous. Karigan would ease herself into bed and think about how lucky she was, how much she liked her diplomatic mission, and what could the white world mean. That thought was always quickly wiped away as the sounds of the night, crickets and frogs singing with the Eletians lulled her into a deep sleep.
He wiped his sweaty brow, panting as he took a moment of rest in the natural break in the fight. His troops had done well over the last few months although they were starting to feel the pressure from this northern flank. Zachary did not like the feel of this battle. It had structure to it and that was not the style of Second Empire. Someone was helping them and he feared who it could be, who might be finally making themselves known. He saw the exhausted faces around him and bolstering his expression with a ferocity and hope he did not feel, he yelled at his troops to rally on and they surged after their king, faithful to the last.
Karigan woke luxuriously and yawned. She stretched her body and froze. She stretched her body more, cautiously. She wriggled from her front to her side and with a sense of disbelief she ever so slowly turned and lay on her back and her jaw slacked open. How this can be, she wondered. This feels…..ok. She smiled widely at the feelings of discomfort and pinching when she shifted her skin and muscles but the monumental sensations of agony had somehow disappeared thanks to Somial's magical treatments. She hadn't even noticed! She carefully eased herself back on to her side and wriggled off the bed, staggering a little as she gained her feet before she walked to the mirror.
She stared at herself for a moment, looking at her messy hair and eyebrows, the ever so soft movement of her sleeping gown in the breeze. She tensed and then removed the fabric, again amazed at the small amount of pain it produced and the way she could stretch her arms high enough to lift the dress over her head. The gown dropped to the floor and she stood in front of the mirror naked. Her arms were much browner than the smooth, pale skin of her firm breasts. Her hips, which had been narrow from the toll of a long, hard mission had gain plumpness under the care of the Eletians. Her skin was lustrous and her figure had smoothed into womanliness as she healed, instead of the wraithlike appearance that had been the result of her journey north. Her eyes however only took this in at a glance before they were riveted to her outline. She took a slow, quivering breath and then watched the mirror as she rotated around to see her back. Tears welled in her eyes.
"Goodness, it can't be," she breathed.
The skin near her ribs had completely healed. The mess of knotted scars and skin flaps had smoothed until her skin, whilst scarred and shiny, was no longer black and angry. The muscles beneath had clearly healed considerably as she experimented with moving different ways and apart from the feeling of pulling and stiffness, they seemed to be able to move freely. Her mouth dropped open flabbergasted and without warning the tears began to flow freely down her face as pure happiness spread through her body. She was healed! She had never in her life envisioned a perfect recovery but she had made her peace with a life of significant debilitation. To see this was a boon she had never hoped to have been given.
She stared at herself for many minutes, twisting and moving with joy and a feeling of lightness in her heart if not her body. With a laugh she hopped into the tub and washed exuberantly, revelling in the feel of being able to wash her own hair. She couldn't lounge in the hot water today, feeling too jittery for that. Instead she got out and dried herself before dressing. She almost mewed like a kitten with satisfaction at being able to dress herself with relative ease. She was just finishing brushing her hair when a knock sounded and the door opened.
"Good morning Karigan, I trust you slept well?" Somara grinned.
Karigan beamed at her. "Hello to you to!"
Somara settled the tray in their usual spot and stood to look Karigan over. It was not lost on Karigan that Somara had knocked for the first time this morning and had waited until Karigan had finished her ablutions. Impulsively, Karigan leant forward and swept the Eletian into a hug. She felt arms gently encircle her for a moment.
"Thank you, thank you," she said softly.
"You are most welcome. It brings Somial and I immense joy to see your improvement, which has been remarkably rapid and speaks to the tenacity of your hope."
They settled themselves and Karigan considered that statement thoughtfully. Shaking her head, she dug into breakfast with enthusiasm and they had a wonderful morning with Somara sharing some of the bold tales of Narivarinne and Karigan sharing her experience of when she gained a heart of ice and transitioned into the winter wind. Somara was clearly fascinated by this first person perspective.
"I look forward to meeting my Elder when the frost sets in this year, and hearing my name on the breeze."
Karigan smiled at such a lovely picture. Oh, to be an Eletian.
They meditated. Karigan regained her physical awareness and wondered again at the significance of the white world. Seastaria had been most insistent today, practically dragging her towards the bridge. Karigan still refused to cross. Well, I mean, you didn't refuse a goddess. More like she went as close as she could bear before sidestepping quickly, avoiding her gaze at all costs, and walking straight back out of the meadow. She wasn't an idiot; she was fairly confident that her next meditation would be a reckoning and she would be going into that place whether she liked it or not.
"Always getting in other people business," she grumbled to herself as she got to her feet. Somara looked at her curiously and she waved her off. They continued to lunch and today, Somara directed her to a light fare of fresh wild salads, dainty quail eggs, a thin broth and tea. Karigan was puzzled. It looked delicious but they usually ate their main meal at lunch. She was content to do as she was told though. She felt a tad guilty; she kept forgetting she was actually on a diplomatic mission since nothing really business like ever happened. She considered this current phase of her trip as more of a cultural exchange.
After lunch Somara beckoned her to a path near the woods that they had not yet travelled. Karigan was eager to hike, feeling she was the closest to her old self she had been in a long while. But it was not to be. After a quarter of a bell or so they stopped in a clearing that was lined with bushes and trees and a mostly hidden small pool steaming with water to the side, under a cliff overhang. Karigan was delighted but puzzled. She loved finding the little hot pots that seemed to abound in this forest but generally they walked for a good few hours before stopping to enjoy the steaming water.
"Are we stopping now?" she asked.
"We are, but perhaps not to soak just yet," was the mysterious reply.
"Right," said Karigan, uncertain what she should do next. She automatically placed her back to the cliff and faced the clearing opening, where Somara stood. A few seconds later she was joined by Somial. Karigan relaxed as he greeted her.
"Galadheon, it appears you have made a significant improvement during the course of our time together and my inclination is that it is now time to begin a more robust physical regime to rebuild your back. Is that something that would interest you?"
"Yes," she breathed quietly, still as a deer. Could this be true? Would she fight again? She licked her bottom lip and her hand quivered, the desperation to relearn her hard won skills almost palpable. Hope surged even more fiercely in her breast than when she had risen that morning. She would do anything.
Somial nodded and produced a fighting staff. He held it perfectly balanced within his hands and closed his eyes meditatively. The wait was interminable. All of a sudden the wood flashed into the air and was whirling towards Karigan. She caught it in her right hand with a grunt as discomfort flashed through her side. She settled into a fighting stance, her brow furrowed but a grin on her face.
Somial walked around in a circle before standing before her.
"I can see you have been trained by the masters of your kind. Whilst I pay them the highest respects, we will need to readjust your training to allow for the restrictions in place. If you can fight with more ease, you will be more effective."
She nodded. Dent's lectures had more or less followed that same thought as she increased her mastery level and he had finessed her training, and more so once she returned injured. Although, he was human, so despite his proficiency, she felt fairly sure his lessons were about to look like sword play for children.
"Good. What do you think of the staff?"
She cast a critical eye over the length and hefted it in the air experimentally, running a few drill postures.
"The quality is outstanding. The wood is light yet solid, and it's curved well so moves through the air swiftly. The balance is superb. I can hold it with a single finger." She demonstrated, impressed by the weapon. "It sort of whispers in the air, and that quiet can be very useful in some situations. Also, she's gorgeous." Karigan was inspecting the handle. It had been etched intricately with motifs from the forest and these were lined with silver. Eletian symbols shimmered in the light at the end of the staff and she squinted, trying to make them out.
"Are you able to tell me what it says?"
Somial inclined his head to the side and gazed at her keenly.
"The symbols represent several things, including the name given to this staff. Are you able to fathom what that might be? If not, I suggest you take yourself close to the meadow but perhaps not inside again today."
Karigan looked at him sharply, very sure he understood her increasing struggle with Seastaria that morning but not knowing how. She closed her eyes and entered her meditation state. This time though instead of continuing the path to the meadow she saw a track off to the right and continued down there instead. She had never seen this path before. In a few seconds there was a bend in the road and a clearing opened up ahead, the very same one Karigan's physical body stood in. Karigan entered and walked to the centre where the staff lay. She picked it up and felt the lines of the wood again appreciatively. It almost hummed to her, as if she were an old friend. Karigan's eyes trailed to the tip of the staff and she rubbed her thumb over the symbols, which blazed under her touch. She opened her eyes and stared at Somial, filled with knowing and wonder.
"Maya," she said slowly, "the keeper of veils." She blinked. Woah, where did that come from? Why would a staff help with veils?
Somial however smiled deeply and bowed his head towards Karigan.
"But of course. Did you also recognize the other symbols?"
Karigan shook her head. "The name resonated very strongly for me and I came out before I got the chance to look further."
He nodded. "They are symbols of protection, to keep you and those you protect safe. Symbols of light, to ignite hope in your heart. Compassion, to yourself and for those who bear the consequence of your prowess. Strength, speed and accuracy, to ensure your swiftness. Wisdom, to know when to fight and when to lay down your arms. And Maya, so that the veils of life may be known to you."
Karigan stared at the staff, overwhelmed by the honour of receiving an Eletian weapon but confused by his statement. "But Somial I don't understand. I do walk across veils but that is because of my Green Rider magic. That's what allows me to do so. And one day my brooch will release me and I will no longer be able to, so I can't possibly understand why a staff would bear that name."
Somial remained silent for some time before asking, "do you know who carried that badge before you?" She nodded.
"And why do you think that no rider in the service has carried this badge since Mornhaven last walked this earth?"
Karigan had never considered this. Maybe because…
"The need for walking between worlds is only needed during desperate times, when Mornhaven poses a threat," she replied quietly. Somial shook his head.
"Yes. And no. You are right, youngling, that Mornhaven poses a most serious threat and there is need of this magic. However there have been many times of great need amongst your people and this ability has not appeared. Why would that be? I suspect that the person attracts the brooch Karigan, and not the other way around. I believe you carry an innate ability to work this very rare type of magic, which is enhanced rather than created by the badge. That is why the staff calls itself Maya when it picked you. That is why your journey between planes has been different to the one who walked the path before you. That is why you are able to do so within you meditation even though you aren't wearing your brooch."
Karigan's eyes grew in shock as he finished his speech and her fingers immediately flew to the place on her shoulder where her golden brooch should have been pinned. It was empty. Of course it was; she had taken it off on her first night and placed it in her travel pack and not thought about it once since. She never did that on errands or at home. What was happening to her?
"That can't be right. I have no magic," she said rather desperately. "Wouldn't I have known about it?"
He shook his head. "It is very weak by itself, more of a memory of magic, if you will. It needs augmentation to be used. This could occur via a variety of mechanisms; a magical device perhaps, or the favour of the gods."
He cast his hand surreptitiously over his eye as he said this last statement. Karigan gave a strangled laugh. Of course they would meddle and give her rare magic in order to use her. They had proven to find her a most reliable avatar so far, given she had no damn choice in the matter.
"Understanding your power is something we will work through and soon. I believe it important to train you in how to properly wield it. Apart from your engagement with Shawdell and Laurelyn, you have simply been a passive user and I feel that your understanding of its structure will be valuable. However, we must walk before we run and firstly we retrain your fighting muscles. This staff is a gift from our people to you. Those who understand weaponry discussed your options at length but we have decided that a staff is the most appropriate weapon for you now and should be practiced at the expense of others. Whilst swords and arrows may appear more deadly, they require decidedly more musculature effort than you can afford to use. A staff, when used judiciously and with dedicated skill, will prove the more deadly weapon."
Karigan nodded weakly, amazed to find the Eletians had bequeathed her a weapon, much less actually discussed it. For her. A human.
"It makes sense and just feeling the weight of this, I am sure I will be able to fight again. I will do anything you ask of me." Karigan gazed at him fervently.
"Let us begin," he replied with a nod of his head. They spent the next 2 bells practicing drills with the staff. The forms were very similar to the ones Drent had taught her but they felt right in her body in a way they never had in her previous training. Somial had a mild manner and would sequence each move to account for her particular injuries, ones that he was intimately familiar with now. When he demonstrated techniques, he moved the staff in a way that lowered the weight and allowed her to move it through the air with grace. The Eletian techniques were far more efficient and unlike human militia training, were taught individually instead of in a series, so that each form became responsive to both the weapon and the wielder. She sweated and felt her back pinch and pull tremendously but never complained once, revelling in the feeling of reuniting with this part of her being. She was on top of the world.
She finished her last form and stood there, panting softly. She had lost a lot of her conditioning but was surprised at how good a shape she was in, considering. Somial smiled at her happiness.
"You have done well youngling. I am most pleased with your progress and adaptation. This is not the end of our session however. The reason we have practiced in this cove is for the healing benefits of the pool that nestle amongst its trees. This water has special properties and now that your back has improved the healing properties of the water will penetrate further. It will be important for you to bathe here after each session and if you please, we will then complete our healing rituals as soon as you dry whilst your skin and muscles are warm."
Karigan's cheeks grew slightly pinker at the idea of bathing naked in front of him. Now that she felt better her decorum was returning in spades. However she gracefully and without murmur accepted his instructions knowing it was in her best interests and the only realistic way she would ever be able to fight again or at least live without immeasurable pain. It was a gift few people, if any, had ever received and she could only feel gratefulness in her heart. As she entered the pool with Somara sitting watchfully over she smiled to herself. If only Ben could see her now.