The end is in sight!

Chapter 23 - Samn

I'm starting to feel bad for Dune.

She pants and whinnies beneath me.

This is our second day riding in a row. I fight the urge to spur her faster. I hope she rested well in the stables at the village we stopped in, because we need to make good time to Vide and I can already feel her tiring. I've never thought of myself as attached to my horse in a sentimental, but I don't want to ride her to death.

"Can she go faster?" Yllowei asks from her perch right behind me.

"She's too tired!" I snap protectively, gripping the reins tighter, half-expecting her to try to grab them away from me. "Let her be! I won't ride her to death for your kingdom's sake."

"That's not why I was asking," Yllowei informs me, and a moment later I hear her draw a sharp breath. "Elle est épuisée."

Her whole shtick of speaking Old Shodawes every ten seconds is starting to get on my nerves. Call me paranoid, but I feel like she's having a joke at my expense. What could she be saying that she doesn't want me to hear? Unless it's unconscious. But still, I don't like it.

Suddenly, Dune spurs forwards, far faster than she was going a moment ago. We've jolted from canter straight into a gallop. The path in eaten up in front of us as she darts onwards.

"What the f-"

I feel Yllowei slump forward, her gnarled hands curling like claws around my shirt to steady herself. My first instinct is to twist around and shove her off the horse, but I stay still, knowing she was only hanging on and not trying to launch an attack. Dune can't keep this pace at her level of exhaustion! But… she doesn't seem tired. In fact, it's like all her fatigue was somehow sucked away by something… wait a minute.

My eyes flutter shut and I hope that Dune can guide herself for a moment as I find the edges of the fifth dimension around me and I slip into it. I have to admit, it feels easier than it was before I meditated on the north tower.

And there it is.

My instinct was correct; the thick feeling of someone's life-force, like burnt sugar, fills my senses. It's coming from both Yllowei and my horse, now. I pull myself out and twist my head around to look at Lady Fennen with newfound interest.

"You have fatigue or energy life-force or something?" I question. Just like Mauzian Fyrra. But why in the Starlaxi's name would she make herself exhausted in the process? Does she have really weak life-force and just doing that much for Dune made her this tired? But how was she a healer with life-force that weak?

She doesn't reply.

Annnnd she fell asleep. Fantastic.

The only sound is now the whistling of wind in my ears, Dune's occasionally whinny, and of course, Yllowei's rumbling snores. Did she somehow absorb Dune's energy level? Seems like kind of shitty life-force. Unless she can absorb more than just fatigue…

I can't help being curious. Alchemists' life-force has always been a hundred times more interesting to me than the life-force of summoners or elementalists. The properties of things determine so much about them. With the power to change them, right in the palms of your hands, the possibilities are endless. I don't care if some idiot thinks that hitting it with a bigger rock is somehow going to fix the problem; alchemy is so much more versatile.

The pine forest is thinning around us. I think I'm starting to see a path beneath Dune's hooves. To Vide? I wonder hopefully. About damn time!

But the scenery hasn't changed enough to hold my interest for long. With Yllowei passed out and anxiety twisting my stomach, it's hard to focus on anything besides my racing thoughts. Vide looms on the horizon, and so does the battle against King Braukkiniaum and his group of ruthless 'knights'.

Is this actually a good idea? Maybe Fiyr was right. What will a bunch of old people be able to do about King Braukkiniaum-fucking-Star? What is 'refined life-force' going to do versus 'sword to the kidney'? Not a whole lot. Even if they are strong old people, they're still… old. If they're strong enough to take down the king, why wouldn't they have done it already?

I wish I could've just stuck with Graie and Fiyr and found the Thundrian patrol and stormed the castle instead of all this 'cloak and dagger recruiting old people to fight Shodawa's best and most brutal' business. At least I know Thundrians.

And I've always felt more at ease with the other squires by my side. Then again, after the little incident in the village that we stopped in last night, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to be away from Fiyr for a little while. And to think I was complaining so much about rooming with him, and my traitorous unconscious goes and…

Just the memory of waking up curled around him is enough to send heat flaring in my cheeks. Stupid stupid stupid. The kingdoms are endangered and you're mooning over some boy? He thinks you hate him. You do hate him. Remember the prophecy?

At least I was dressed and out the door before he could wake up and see the compromising position. Besides. I was asleep. He was probably just warm and my body decided it wanted to be warm too, I tell myself firmly. It had nothing to do with anything. I refuse to read into it. It wasn't some kind of instinct to… to do anything. Except be warm. But I have plenty of body heat. Whatever!

The forest has turned into something closer to 'field dotted with pine trees' and I hope that means that Vide isn't far. Sure enough, if I squint, I can see what looks like a couple of squat houses and buildings all the way across the field and through the trees.

I push Dune faster and soon I can make out more of the buildings. I elbow Yllowei Fennen carefully, trying not to knock her unconscious body off of Dune and get an irritated groan in response.

"All that for your horse and I get a jab as thanks," she grunts, releasing my tunic from her death-grip. "You Thundrians. All the same."

"Shut up," I mutter without any real bite behind it. It's kind of hard not to like the spiteful old hag. She has some fight in her despite her age. I wish some of the ladies of Thundria had a bit of that fighting instinct.

"I've been meaning to ask—" she begins, "—why does everyone seem to think you're a boy?"

She sounds genuinely curious, but I don't buy for a second that she doesn't know exactly what she's doing. I clear my throat and play dumb. "Because I am one."

"Mhmm."

I ignore her the rest of the way to Vide.

If she can tell, who else can? Ravne looked surprised when I told him the truth, right? They're not just all humouring me? I swallow hard. No. Even if I do look like a girl now, the court is blind to it. It's just because Lady Fennen didn't grow up around me.

As we ride into the town, Yllowei tugs my shirt until I stop Dune and let her dismount. I bring Dune over to the piss-poor fountain in the middle of the town square and dismount as well. I glance at Yllowei, who has her back to me, confused as to how exactly she plans on locating the ex-elders of the court.

"Fire!" she shrieks.

Dear Starlaxi. I cringe as she continues to yell "Fire! There's a fire!"

I slip into the fifth-dimension, hoping that if I can pick up the trace of particularly strong court life-force, we can avoid being fined within an inch of our life. Oh, blessed Starlaxi! There's a lot of life-force. An uncomfortable amount.

Oh, wait.

Because Vide is located near the solstice pavilion. Duh. Shit, I guess that's not a viable option then. Sighing heavily, I run up beside Yllowei and cup my hands around my mouth. "Fire!"

People begin to stream out of the picturesque village houses, confused and harried.

"Where's the fire?" a thin, haggard old man demands, hobbling towards us.

"Aish!"

"Yllowei?" he croaks, stumbling backwards. "C'est vraiment toi?"

She grabs his arm where a nasty purple bruise has swollen and looks at him. I watch in utter amazement as the bruise vanishes and a moment later, Yllowei rubs her arm with a pained grunt. I was right. She can do more than just energy. Must've been a phenomenal healer.

"Welcome back," he rasps, wrapping her in a bony hug. "Dawhnnea and Nait will be thrilled."

Yllowei grins, a horribly toothy thing that doesn't look pleased in the slightest, but claps him on the back. "Then we're sure to win. We're rising against Braukkin with Thundria's help."

Aish looks amused. "So that's where you've been. But a couple of Thundrian knights aren't going to do much in the face of Braukkiniaum's inner circle."

The crowd of townspeople is muttering amongst themselves. Most people have begun going back indoors after no fire has produced itself. I see some villager kids staring at us, wide-eyed. I wave to them.

From the crowd, a figure breaks away and makes her way over to us.

"Dawhnnea Clouhd," Yllowei grunts in greeting, bypassing the tiny woman's handshake and giving her what seems to be a bone-crushing hug by the wheeze of the other woman.

"Thought the next time I'd see you would be in the Starlaxi," she rasps, brushing her graying hair back and straightening her clothes. "What brings you to Vide?"

"Yllowei!"

The ex-healer is suddenly almost tackled by a thin black-haired man. "Thought you were dead! Should've known you wouldn't go out so easy."

Is that an elder? I squint at him. He doesn't look more than forty. Or is he just one of the townspeople? But then how would they know each other?

"Sir Pault," Yllowei rumbles, her voice warmer than I think I've ever heard it.

"Well, this is a very happy reunion," I break in. "But there's a murderer currently in control of this kingdom and we should probably do something about it."

"Who's she?" Dawhnnea mutters to Yllowei and I curl my fists. Nope, it would appear I don't pass after all. I knew I shouldn't have put off new bindings.

"He," Yllowei corrects with a little smile. "A squire from Thundria. It was his idea to come to find you and recruit you."

Dawhnnea's cheek twitches. "Then I suppose it's him that I'll tell, no way."

"What? Why not?" I snap. "Don't you want your kingdom back?"

Nait and Yllowei exchange glances, which only further irritates me. "Look, right now, Shodawa is the lowest scum in the kingdoms. Do you care at all?" I demand.

Dawhnnea folds her arms. "What are we supposed to do? Throw ourselves at Braukkin and hope he has mercy?"
I fight the urge to slap my own forehead. "Fucking kill him!"

Nait Pault laughs outright.

"Yes, hilarious that you're traitors to your own kingdom," I hiss, unable to restrain myself. What are they doing? I thought Yllowei said they'd be on board! We need them! Do we? Is it worth it? Should I just take Dune straight back to the meeting point?

"We want to save our kingdom, but we also want to live," Aish finally tells me.

I can't help my anger. "Excuse me? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the knight's code says you must protect your kingdom, even at the cost of your life?!"

Nait huffs, but Aish and Dawhnnea are silent. I have to hope that I'm getting through to them. They can't give up on their own kingdom! Not now! Not like this! If they won't fight for it, then what is the point of Thundria's help in the first place?

"Don't let Shodawa die like this," I plead.

But they seem unmoved. It's Yllowei who breaks the silence.

"When the King of the Night was our leader, Shodawa would never have sunk so low. When Raggidier was king, we were feared for our strength, not our bloodlust. What have we become? A nursery tale? A tragedy? I will not let my kingdom die this way."

I stare, shocked, at Yllowei. I didn't expect her to actually come to my defense. I guess I still figured she'd just be dismissive and make some comment about Shodawa being beyond saving and wring her wrinkly hands. I'm caught off guard by the casual way she refers to a past king of Shodawa rather than using his epithet.

"Shame on you, Aish, for your apathy. Shame on you, Dawhnnea for knowing your sons are in the grasp of that tyrant and giving up anyway. Shame on you, Nait, for forgetting that Shodawa is and always has been worth dying for," Yllowei growls, her eyes flashing and daring them to disagree.

All three of them cringe away slightly but in the ensuing silence, I see acceptance flickering in their gazes.

"Then let's fight," Nait says first. "This may be our last chance. And Yllowei is right. I never should have lost sight of it. We cannot let ourselves become comfortable when our court is in danger."

"My sons are not beyond saving," Dawhnnea mutters. "They are not to be grieved for, I have to fight for them."

Aish sighs.

"Let's get this over with, then."

…

Luckily, the townspeople seem to agree that it's past time someone did something about the tyrant King and they lend the elders their horses. Even Yllowei gets a mount—Thank the Starlaxi, I really don't need her grumbling in my ear, I think, shooting a grateful look at the villager who brought it—and we set off before the sun is high in the sky.

Aish, Nait, and Dawhnnea don't seem like they're interested in making conversation, so I concentrate on the Trace instead. I can feel their life-force. They all have the distinct feeling of ancient power, like centuries-old trees that have weathered storms beyond imagination and come out still fighting.

Aish has some strength left, but it's nothing compared to Nait and Dawhnnea. Nait's is harsh and sour like the taste of black coffee mixed with my mouth in the morning—something I'm plenty familiar with—and Dawhnnea's is sweet and pungent like the air before a storm. I can only guess at their life-force types; the pillars of the four kingdoms are still drowning out everything else. Night and Dawn. Ash is pretty cut and dry; he almost certainly as ash life-force. But night and dawn… Darkness and light? Time? Seasons? The sun? It's anyone's guess. We're still too close to the pillars of the four kingdoms for me to be able to make out much about their traces beyond the general feel, but I think Dawhnnea's either a summoner or an elementalist, and Nait is the strongest alchemist I've ever seen. What feature of the world he has control over, I couldn't guess.

I'm trying to work up the courage to ask when suddenly familiar Thundrian voices echo from up ahead. My Shodawes companions snap to attention but before they can attack our allies, I ride ahead and call out, "Graie! Fiyr!"

The whole patrol, consisting of Sir Strommer, Sir Styrp, Lady Fyrra, Sir Wynnd, and Lady Peilte, turn at the sound of my voice. No Sir Cawle, thank the Starlaxi, I think.

"Yllowei Fennen." Based on the unsurprised tone of Sir Strommer's voice, I assume that Fiyr and Graie succeeded in convincing them that Yllowei is innocent. "And I see you've brought along… some elders."

Nait huffs something that sounds like Thundrian pricks, and Sir Strommer laughs. "Well, any knight that will join our noble crusade is a friend of mine."

Why does he sound like he just stepped out of a history textbook? I wonder, cringing a little as the Shodawes elders exchange amused looks.

"Alright, listen up!" Yllowei snaps.

None of the Thundrian knights seem at all surprised that she's taking control.

"Braukkin's inner guard is our priority," she announces. "If the other knights think we have a chance against him, they won't fight for him. Very few want him in charge; they're just too cowardly to do anything about it. That will change today."

The knights nod, exchanging glances, and my gaze finds Graie and Fiyr's in the crowd. They both look nervous. I smile confidently. This is nothing new. It has to be done. They have been leeches on the kingdom of Shodawa and it is time we stamp them out.

"There's Blayke Fouhte. He has oxygen life-force; move fast or you're not going to be able to breathe for long. I suggest you fight him in waves. Don't get near him for too long or you won't be alive to regret it," Yllowei growls. "Next, Clehw Fiace. Stoat summoner."

I see Fiyr's grip tighten on Rusty as Yllowei tells us about the stoat summoner. He was the one that killed Spottalia Lief. She continues to explain the abilities and weaknesses and I try to absorb it all, locking it into my memory. The names and life-forces flash by and I see a similar look of concentration on the faces of the Thundrian knights.

"And of course, the king himself," the ex-healer spits. "Blood life-force. You are in acute danger of being immediately dead if you get too close for too long. If you have an open wound, be aware that he may rip blood from your body and move it into his own body. Stay on your guard and don't stay near enough to him for him to control your blood for long."

We exchange uneasy looks. Everyone's heard rumours of King Braukkiniaum's life-force despite the supposed secrecy of the life-force of monarchs, captains, and court healers.

"How are we supposed to get the children back?" Lady Fyrra cuts in.

"They'll be heavily guarded," Dawhnnea Clouhd remarks, her eyes dark and troubled. "Our only hope is a full-frontal attack."

Mauzian Fyrra nods but doesn't look pleased.

"I have a plan for getting into the castle," Yllowei declares. "Aish, Dawhnnea, and Nait; you will take me as a prisoner into the castle and ask to deliver me personally to Braukkin. We can ensure that there are none of his knights hiding up in the battlements or anything of the sort."

"Lead the way," Sir Strommer says.

Here we go.

Thanks for reading chapter 23! Please follow and favourite this story and leave me a review with what you think!

~Akila