7 - Smoldering Embers
Across the Jagt, Blinded by the Light, Fordola tests her Limits, The Mandala Fades
The Warrior of Light was as full of herself as always, Fordola thought. She'd literally just learnt about some mysterious, hitherto unknown plague that might just be draining people's aether to some unknown entity the other day…and now she was galloping off to a potentially hostile city to appropriate their national treasure in the hope that this may play some part in curing the masses? All in a day's work right!? Was there nobody else available for this task? Well, at least, that was how she had made it sound in the brief conversation they'd had as they mounted up that early morning.
So why bring her along?
This question had dwelled on Fordola's mind throughout the sunrise and mid-morning as they rode at a blistering pace north-east, towards the rising sun. The walls of Ala Mhigo having long since faded behind.
The Jagd Difohr was largely uninhabited drylands broken by gentle rolling hills of red rock. A curious magnetic current of some sorts was understood to permeate the ground itself, making air travel haphazard. Airships were typically forced further west towards Silvertear Lake, or south across the seas via the Rothlyt Sound. The only sound was that of their chocobo's clawed hoofs pounding the faint outline of a trail onwards…ever onwards.
Fordola scrutinized the Warrior from behind once more. She rode with her back straight and her garments well suited for long distance travel. After the briefest of explanations prior to departure they had hardly spoken, the Warrior forever staying ahead and leaving Fordola behind to grind her teeth and again wonder, why her?
Was it to do with her trial? That had seemed so long ago, a whole other lifetime really, rather than scarcely a year. Now she was no longer a citizen of Ala Mhigo, instead broadly reviled or ignored by her countrymen of old. Her time in the Primal strike force had been…fulfilling to a certain extent. Her abilities, her resonant curse, had allowed her to forge a place in the team.
Arenvald…Arenvald had been kind to her, and she had to admit (deep, deep down) that she had a lot to thank him for. But she knew that he would never have what he wanted from her in return…
They rode on, deeper and deeper into the Jagd as the sun moved to blade overhead. Finally, mercifully, the Warrior of Light slowed as the path reached a ford over a trickling stream that sparkled and danced in the light.
Fordola watched as the Warrior dismounted with ease, leading her chocobo to the water where it slurped greedily. Fordola imitated her, and for a moment they stood side by side in silence as their birds splashed gleefully in the water.
Fordola reckoned the two of them made for an odd contrast. The Warrior was clad in a snug, silver top of an elaborate, high-quality design and high black riding shorts that no doubt afforded excellent maneuverability while flaunting her…personal features. Fordola was plainly dressed more akin to her days as a Garlean captain, discarding her Primal Unit gear (she really didn't need that many pockets on a belt) for a single layer of plain leathers that protected her from the sun, her small halter shield buckled to her back, curved sword safe at her side.
Of all the annoyances that plagued Fordola that fine morning, greatest among them was the blinding light of the Warrior herself. It was if she were infused with a potent glow of silver and gold that surrounded her and swirled richly around her. It was only from when Fordola had undergone her 'uplifting', and become a resonant that she had been able to see the light of her aether, and to understand the true distance between them…
Flicker,
Countless buildings clustered together under the seas, glowing from horizon to horizon. A melancholy air hung heavily on the scene.
Fordola shook the unwelcome vision from her head, trying to ignore the sudden lance of pain, piercing in intensity, that bore through her skull.
"I think there will be a storm tonight." The Warrior said suddenly, her gaze far away, staring off across the endless plains.
Fordola grunted, pulling herself back into the here and now. The skies were crystal clear blue, although there was a…feeling, or was it a memory of something?
Flicker,
'A storm is coming' Hrudolf sniffed the air, the mountain of Rhalgr's Reach before them. The Crani Lupi arranged up behind her, hidden from sight...
Again, the lance of pain drove into Fordola's skull as the memory flashed before her. She clenched her fists and grit her teeth harder, she would not show weakness before the Warrior of Light...
Thus they stood in a tense silence for a few moments more, the chocobos splashing a little way away from them now. Just before the silence could become more agonizing to Fordola, the Warrior suddenly turned and cocked her head slightly. "I understand you've been to Falu-Varius once before?" The Warrior's expression was unreadable.
"Once." Fordola slowly strove to remember. "My father arranged trade with the city after the Garlean occupation. He arranged for caravans of salt to travel to the city where they could be sold at great profit. He took me on one trip…I still remember the black smog, the proud white Garlean flags…aye and the constant hum of airships droning above as well."
She had only been a little girl then…but she remembered the pride in her father's voice on the return home. How his trip was such a success that the whole family had been uplifted to Garlean citizenship the following day of their return…and then how he had been murdered some weeks later, stoned to death sheltering his daughter from a braying mob of her countrymen…
"So, what is your plan here!?" She asked suddenly, back in the here and now, surprising herself at the lashing of anger in her voice, perhaps brought on by the memory. "March in through the gates and ask politely for them to relinquish this 'wind crystal'? Drag it back to Ul'dah, unlock its powers, rejuvenate the people – all in a day's work?"
The Warrior of Light offered a slight nod in a manner Fordola found deeply annoying. "Something like that yes."
Fordola barked a laugh at that, slapping her thigh with one hand for impact. "Mad as ever I see! The last year hasn't changed you much then." She pointed an accusing finger at the other woman. "I can't wait to see you try; I only pray they don't laugh us out of the gates as the fools we are!"
The Warrior shrugged a second time, her face supremely unconcerned. "Better to ask and be a fool for a moment, then never ask and be a fool forever."
"Bah!" Fordola turned away and stomped over to her chocobo which had wandered out of the water looking for forage. Gripping the reins, she grabbed her own skin of water and took a deep, relieving gulp to try and sooth her turbulent emotions.
She turned back to the Warrior to see the woman already astride her chocobo beckoning at her. "Come then!" She called out to Fordola, the golden aether flowing around her. "We've a long ride ahead of us, and people relying on us!"
Fordola gritted her teeth again and mounted her chocobo, a long ride indeed…
The two rode on, Fordola feeling her mind wander in boredom at the never-ending horizon of red rock and tuffs of sallow grass drifting past. Here and there a wild beast could be seen, but by and large the dirt trail they followed was abandoned.
On occasion she had to tug the collar around her neck into a better position as it rubbed against her throat. The simple leather band clasped into a red stone at her throat which tended to jog up and down uncomfortably as she rode. While most would discount it as a somewhat garish neck collar, the necklace was there to ensure her loyalty. A simple command from distant Raubahn Aldynn and it would detonate no matter where she ran…
Her chocobo chirped happily as it stomped on and Fordola absently ran a hand through the bird's feathers. She had learnt to ride at Castrum Sandoval with the other Crani Lupi, Ainsfried…Hrudolf, Emelin, Mari…she missed them.
She'd killed them.
She shook her head at the pain, lashing her hand away from the feathers causing the chocobo to squark in protest.
They rode on.
As the afternoon ended, and the sun began to sink towards the horizon a new cool breeze began to blow.
The clear blue sky became speckled with clouds, first thin and white, then thickening, until as the sun kissed the horizon behind. Slowly, the sky became a patchwork of moody, thick clouds tinged in evenings twilight.
Even Fordola could now smell the brewing storm, the aching aroma of the dry land desperate for the release of rain.
She could also see the Warriors aether swirl in annoyance up ahead atop her chocobo. She wanted to push on through the night, and reach Falu-Varius, as soon as possible, it didn't take Fordola's Resonant abilities to see that.
However, finally bowing to reason the Warrior slowed as they approached a particularly large collection of red rocks that formed a small shelter, no doubt well used by caravans of old.
The Warrior slung herself off the chocobo with ease once more as Fordola slowed next to her.
"Let's shelter here tonight." The Warrior didn't look back at Fordola for agreement, it was a declaration, or a command of what she expected to happen. "I would like to press on, but the birds will not enjoy the storm – better they shelter inside."
Fordola grunted and slid ungracefully off the bird's saddle.
For a while they bustled in silence, building a makeshift camp, feeding and watering the birds before loosely tying them at the back of the rock shelter. Fordola watched with faint annoyance as the two birds immediately nuzzled up close to each and slipped into a light sleep.
The Warrior left briefly and returned with a large clump of dry wood which she tossed in the opening of the cave as the first thick rumble of thunder chimed in the distance. Outside, the brooding clouds were now thick and numerous, the light rapidly fading as night loomed.
Fordola watched as the Warrior closed her eyes in focus and then …shifted. Her silk riding clothes were replaced by snug, form fitting black garments and a tall, steeped hat that appeared with a burst of white light. A small wooden staff formed out of nothing in one hand and a moment later a spark of fire lanced onto the wood, blazing into life in an instance.
"A neat party trick." Fordola murmured, sitting down in front of the flames, reaching for some of the dry oatcakes from her supply bag. Little surprised her around the Warrior of Light these days.
The thunder rumbled again, closer now, as the Warrior shifted back into her previous garments; the staff discarded into nothingness. Swishing her pretty red hair back, she moved to sit on the opposite side of the fire across from Fordola seemingly lost in her thoughts.
For a while they sat there, as the flames cast a flicking light on the shelter and the shadows of the land beyond.
"They tell me…you finally killed Zenos." Fordola finally asked, staring into the fires.
"Yes." The Warrior responded, her voice soft.
"Was it hard?" Fordola asked, the question sounding ridiculous.
"Yes."
Another rumble of thunder peeled in the distance. Fordola remembered the days in Ala Mhigo. Zenos presenting her with an opportunity to prove her worth, bestowing her with a gunblade, pushing her to be experimented on by the twisted Lord Aulus…
"Good." Fordola was lost in her own memories now. "He deserved to die…they all did."
The Warrior did not respond and Fordola continued to resist looking at her, wondering if she was also staring into the fire and thinking on Zenos and his twisted obsession with her.
That thought ended when she gave in and glanced up to see the Warrior had cocked her head to the side and touched her ear, murmuring something before frowning. Fordola watched as she repeated the gesture, her frown becoming more pronounced.
"Linkpearls don't work well out in Jagt." Fordola waved a hand dismissively over the fire. "You'll have to wait until we approach Falu-Varis."
The Warrior of Light frowned one final time before her face resumed its normal placid benevolence. She leant back on both hands and stretched before the fire seemingly without a care in the world.
Fordola itched, no seethed, with a restless energy…maybe it was the long ride, maybe it was the building storm, maybe it was something else.
Maybe it was just annoyance at being ignored and dragged about without having an answer to her question? Why her?
"Hey." Fordola spoke, looking across the fire and this time, their eyes finally met. "You wanna fight?"
The Warrior cocked her head, those beautiful eyes clouded slightly with confusion. "Sorry?"
Fordola stood up and stretched from side to side, cricking her neck loudly. "Well, I'm saddle-sore from spending the whole day staring at your back after being dragged on this forsaken trip for Twelve knows what reason…" She ignored the voice at the back of her head that was screaming in confusion at her rough callout, "…I fancy a bit of sparring. See how I fare against the fabled Warrior of Light, slayer of Lord Zenos, savior of the world itself!"
The Warriors aether swished from left to right as her eyes never stopped watched her. "Stop that."
"Stop what?" Fordola cocked her head, leaning forward slightly feeling the warmth of the flames lap at her. "You are too good to fight me now? Is that it?"
"Not that." The Warrior leaned further back on her rear, hands crunching into the dirt. "Call me by my name. You do know it."
Fordola drew her curved blade and held it out, admiring the gleam on the sharpened edge. "Tell you what then." She casually tossed the weapon in the air and caught it expertly. "Beat me, and maybe I'll do that."
The Warrior slowly rose. She had no obvious weapon at her side, but Fordola knew that this look was deliberately deceiving. "I don't want to fight you Fordola…can't we just relax by the fire until the storm has passed. Maybe talk some?"
The thunder rumbled loudly in agreement, but the rain had not yet started and Fordola felt the energy of the incoming storm pumping through her. "Well, I DO want to fight you!" She demanded, feeling her blood pumping faster.
So saying, she turned and walked out of the cave, before beckoning the Warrior, feeling a confident sneer on her face that she did not truly feel. "Come on then!"
Slowly, eyes downcast, the Warrior moved forwards and out of the cave into the open. The darkness beyond the light of the cave fire was deep and unending.
"Well." Fordola pointed her sword at the Warrior who responded by folding her arms across her ample chest. "Draw your weapon."
The Warrior gazed back, something stirring at the back of those mysterious eyes which Fordola could not read. "Fordola, just don't…I mean this genuinely…it's not a fair contest."
Fordola felt a flush of anger at that, and she barked a harsh laugh to hide it and swiped her sword through the air with a loud swish. "I knew it! Too proud to muck it up with us foot soldiers."
"It's not that…" The Warrior's face was unreadable, but her eyes had slightly narrowed now. "As you are right now…I won't even have to draw a blade."
This time Fordola surely could not hide the sudden flush of anger. "All right then, since you asked for it!"
She came forward suddenly, footwork light, shuffling forwards and flicked her blade in a textbook fast strike. The Warrior of Light back-stepped, easily avoiding the blow, her arms at her side.
Fordola pushed forwards with a series of follow up strikes, whistling her blade left and right towards the Warriors torso and each time the woman slipped back in a series of rapid steps, then to the side, and then back again towards the cave entrance.
"What are you trying to prove?" She asked, in a maddeningly calm voice as Fordola paused for a moment, assessing her options.
"That you aren't above the rest of us!" Fordola grunted and this time launched forwards in a sudden stab.
The Warrior swirled right with unbelievable quickness and pushed the blade to one side with the flat of her hand. Her body was now close, Fordola could smell the other woman's sweet scent, and risk losing herself in those maddening eyes.
"If I had not moved, that blade would have impaled me…is you're your idea of sparing?" The woman asked calmly, eyes delving into Fordola's own.
Fordola shook herself away, taking a further step back to open some distance between them and think more clearly. "You said it's no contest, want to rethink?" She demanded gruffly.
Before the Warrior could reply Fordola stabbed forwards again, this time drawing on the Resonant abilities within her. A haze of the Warriors aether shifted left as the blade swept forwards and Fordola adjusted, sweeping the blade left….
The Warrior saw it coming, of course she did, she had the same (maybe better) abilities and reflexes. As the Warrior pivoted right, she ducked under the swishing blade, her hands behind her back.
Fordola grunted with exertion and flicked her blade in consecutive swirling patterns of slashes and cuts lighting up the night. In Ul'dah they called this move the Rage of Halone, used to dominate multiple opponents and it was a flashy crowd pleaser in the coliseum.
The Warrior ducked, bobbed, and weaved effortlessly. Her footwork light as she pivoted around the swiping blade, one confident smooth foot after the next.
Fordola let the attack wear down and heard another rumble of thunder, now directly above them. She panted and felt a sheen of sweat on her brow as the Warrior stood there; opposite, perfect, and untroubled.
"Damn you!" Fordola cursed. She drew on her abilities more as she came forward again, blade flicking left and right.
Hear…
A soft voice sounded in her head as Fordola felt her speed increase, a frown appeared on the Warriors face as she ducked under another swishing strike. The smell of juniper berries filled Fordola's nostrils.
Thinkkk…
The voice sounded harsh now, indistinct as Fordola drove forwards, faster and faster. One of the Warriors hands came up and swatted aside the blade without effort. Fordola could hear a pounding in her ears.
Feeeeeeeeeeeeel…
The voice sounded like twisted metal, harsh and biting. Fordola fainted left and as the Warrior started to move right, she kicked up a cloud of sand with one foot and brought the blade swinging down with all her strength!
CLANG!
The first raindrops brushed Fordola's head as lightning reflected off the spear that had materialized out of white light holding Fordola's blade in place a bare fulm from Sara's face. The spear was held steady in one hand while she rubbed sand out of her face with the other.
"Satisfied?" Sara Alexander asked, her face accusing as the rain splashed down around them.
"Not yet." Fordola grunted and pulled the blade back and flicked it forwards faster and faster, rainwater blitzing off her blade as it sang through the air.
Instead of retreating this time Sara met the sword with her spear twirling left and right, a blur of light and sound as it battered the sword blade aside.
Fordola's defense slipped a bare instance, and the Warrior of Light made several probing strikes, the spear swinging left and right carefully in wide arcs. Fordola easily saw them coming, trusting in her senses that flared with danger, dodging aside each time.
"Come on, you're still not trying!" Fordola felt her blood pound, her body sing; this was fun! Thunder boomed and her hair and body were becoming sodden as the clash of steel on steel become faster. She rooted her feet in place as the spear and sword swung back and forth, furiously clashing in the humming air between them.
Sara's face was steady, and her blazing aether was controlled even as Fordola pushed her very limits, feeling her head pounding somewhere in the background as she sought to push herself harder, faster!
She darted forwards and jabbed out with her leg, trying to unbalance the Warrior even as her sword sang forwards. Sara jumped back, splashing smoothly down in the groundwater as the spear shaft caught the blade and held it.
They froze in place, Fordola panting, flicking her dripping hair back as the Warrior's light blazed before her. "You really want to see Fordola?" Sara asked, her voice raised over the thunder of the heavens above.
Fordola grinned, it was a challenge not to turn down, "Show me!"
Sara grunted and the spear shoved Fordola back half a pace. As she caught her balance, the aether around the Warrior blazed in a sudden new pulse of light.
The fine silver silks and snug black shorts were gone, replaced by thick, tanned leathers; furred, barbaric shoulder pads and a lower half of countless woven hide straps. Fordola felt a moment of pleasure, now this was a true Warrior!
Then the spear puffed away into nothingness and an axe of impossible size and wickedness appeared. Its sheer heft and weight looked impossible for even a full grown Roedagarn to handle with the ease which Sara twirled it around expertly. Raindrops themselves seemed swept up with the maelstrom which the Warrior of Light conjured up with the axe as Fordola watched, aware her eyes had widened in anticipation and…awe?
Then the Warrior of Light glided forth on the attack and Fordola was forced to retreat.
The axe struck with storm's path, crashing down, splitting the very raindrops in two as Fordola sidestepped at the last moment, the ground echoing with the axe blow! The axe sung with mythril tempest, swatting aside Fordola's counterattack with ease before forcing Fordola back, back against a large series of stone boulders that towered behind her.
Then the fell cleave came down, the axe filled with a murderous energy – a rage and fury and power that would have torn Fordola's blade and arm in two if she had dared stand before it.
She dived right, her Resonant abilities giving her strength and dexterity. There was a sickening crunch, louder then the thunder above as the axe split the boulders in two; the whole collection splattering aside in a cacophony of thunderous splashes as the storm boomed in approval overhead.
Fordola had barely caught her balance when Sara turned with unbelievable quickness, a second fell cleave driving down with unbelievable power and this time Fordola did not move quick enough. The Axe caught her sword as she pivoted, and she never had a chance to hold on. It clattered to the watery ground as Fordola stood there panting, her right arm suddenly numb, her head pounding with the effort of keeping up.
Sara Alexander, the Warrior of Light stood, dripping in the darkness of the storm's fury, her eyes aflame. "It is done." Her voice was final, absolute, and terrible.
Fordola stood there in the rain, disarmed, but not helpless – maybe she should tackle her, drive her to the ground and then…
Suddenly the taste of salt, harsh and sudden filled her mouth and a moment later her head filled with a splitting, awful pain, like it had been sundered in two by the Warriors axe.
She dropped to her knees on the rain-soaked mud and her hands raised to her head unbidden. For a moment she saw the Warrior through the rain and lightning, her face now split with concern and worry. The axe had vanished into nothingness, and her hands came towards her and then the blackness swallowed Fordola.
The last thing Fordola registered, was a faint annoyance at the look of genuine worry on the other woman's face…
She heard a distant clap of thunder and her eyes flickered open.
The campfire crackled next to her, casting warmth and light around the same cave, while outside the rain and winds swept down on the night. She suddenly noticed her riding clothes were laid out carefully near the fire and she flexed her limbs, feeling down her body.
She was under a fine, warm woolen blanket and clad only in her simple smallcloathes that were a little damp, but not fully sodden. Did that mean?
"Sorry." The melodic voice sounded from next to her. "They had to come off."
She twisted her head which rested on a second blanket to see Sara Alexander kneeling close by. She was in yet another set of (dry) clothes, long white robes that ran from her neckline all the way down to her feet. A star globe revolved around her shoulder, drifting from left to right.
Fordola stayed silent, wiggling her toes and fingers carefully, checking movement there. Checking all was well she carefully sat up, too proud to be prudish she surprised herself by clinging the blanket to her slender frame as her eyes met Sara's.
The other woman shrugged slightly, and the star globe glowed with a soft, creamy light and Fordola felt a gentle warmth fill her, an infusion of life essence.
A slight smile touched Sara's lips as the star globe puffed away. "I'm glad you don't seem to be in any lasting harm, I was…worried."
"Ah…" Fordola felt the words catch. The headache, the splitting pain, what was that?
"Your mandala has only just faded." Sara inclined a head to Fordola, and Fordola fumbled her hand up to gingerly prod her right eye. The blanket slipped and her hand snapped back down to hold it in place.
The thunder rumbled again, but it was distant, and the rain was becoming more drizzle and less downpour.
"Were you drawing on your full abilities there?" Sara asked and Fordola nodded, her mind still consumed by thought.
When she had been…enhanced back in Ala Mhigo, it seemed so long ago. Aulus had told her the process was not perfected, that she would need further treatments to complete his work…further treatments that had never happened when Ala Mhigo fell, and he was slain by the woman before her…
"So why did you bring me out here then?" Fordola pulled the soft blanket closer to her body, feeling the warmth of the fire against her bare skin. "Not as a sparring partner clearly."
Sara laughed slightly and leaned back on her hands and looked down at her feet. For a moment, there was silence except for the patter of the distant rain and the crackle of the smoldering logs. "I suppose…" Sara started, hesitantly. "Apart from you being available, knowledgeable about Garlean affairs and easy to travel with, I thought it would be…different."
"Different?" Fordola echoed, feeling her head cock in surprise.
"Well, unpredictable." Sara's hand idly played with a strand of hair as she looked away. "Since the…end days, I've wanted to embark on a new adventure…travel somewhere different; with someone different." She looked at Fordola. "Is that so hard to understand?"
"No…" Fordola trailed off, looking over to the fire. "No, I suppose it's not."
They both gazed into the crackling fires, both accepting the half-truths spoken aloud, both watching the embers dance onto the cave floor before them.
"I'm sorry for my actions earlier." Fordola felt an odd feeling of shame in her breast. Was it shame for her actions? Or shame at her lack of strength.
"It's okay." Sara mused, her voice distant and indistinct. "I'd…not planned to ignore you so much, my apologies."
"People will die if this plague spreads right?" Fordola shrugged, feeling her bare shoulders click with the motion. "You are right to hurry. Maybe we can 'persuade' the city Consul to lend us the elemental crystal, be interesting to see how it ends out."
"Aye." Sara nodded next to her. "All we will be well."
This time neither of them believed it, but neither said anything further.