Part Forty:
Mamoru and all of his crew had parted company from Lord Suwa's men a while ago. They were going to take Fei-Wang to the Empress for trial. Before they parted company, Fai released the sleep spell. The sorcerer vowed revenge on Fai and all of Suwa. Lord Suwa backhanded the man and said he'd kill him if he ever saw him again.
Finally, they reached the Suwa family compound by mid afternoon. A brief, summer thunderstorm had delayed them and made their hunting party wet, muddy, and miserable. It was just a reflection of the dismal mood the hunting party was in. Not once did Lord Suwa look at, or speak to, Kurogane or Fai during their trip, and he only gave minimal orders to his men.
Lord Suwa dismounted his horse and finally turned to Kurogane. "You and the mage are to wait in your room. I'll fetch you if I want to talk to you."
With that, he turned and marched towards the main house. "Where is he going?" Fai asked softly.
"To talk with my mother, I'm sure. He can't disinherit me without her consent."
Kurogane led Fai to his room and shut the door. Fai asked, "Do you think she'll give it?"
"I would have said I doubt it before all this. I never thought my father would ever think of disinheriting me. It would be a great shame for me to bear for the rest of my life. It's not something he's contemplating lightly. They have no other children, so they'd have to pick from among my cousins to inherit. I would be widely shunned if this happened."
"This can't be worth it to you, I can't be worth all this," Fai said morosely as he sat by Kurogane on his futon.
"Hush, Fai. I'll work it out with my parents, one way, or another."
"But you father isn't issuing a hollow threat."
"I know," Kurogane said placidly.
Fai drew his legs up to his chest and rested his forehead on his knees. He placed his hopes on Lady Suwa, while contemplating running away, once again, to Celes. Ruining Kurogane's life was something he couldn't do in good conscious.
King Ashura surveyed the damage he had wrought on the small fort. He'd caught some southern rebels by surprise and cut them off from their fort. He'd drained the six men of their blood and then focused a massive fireball at the fort. He was a pyrokinetic, but didn't use it often, a lot like Fai and his telekinesis, but his mood demanded it.
He grinned as the snow pelted down on him. He'd started this war because he was out of bandits to kill and there was still something in his heart that wouldn't let him touch an innocent, yet. But even he found struggling against that would soon to be a losing battle. He'd wanted to commit suicide before he harmed an innocent, however part of the curse was an inability to take his own life.
He would quickly punish these rebels and bring this war to a close just in time to bring home Fai. He needed Fai to stop him before he ran out of the guilty to take out his blood lust on. He wasn't certain if Fai could stop him; the battle would be intense and fierce. The prize for the conqueror would be a very precious jewel, it would be Yuui.
"Hitomi, I have something very important I need to talk to you about," Lord Suwa said, walking into her sitting room. She noticed the slump of her husband's shoulders and his expression that looked as if he were in utter misery.
"Can I get you some chamomile tea first?"
Lord Suwa shook his head and sat beside her, taking a hold of her hand. "I know how close you and Kurogane are. That's why it pains me to bring this up."
"Is he hurt?" she asked, gripping his hand tightly.
"No, but he told me something disturbing. He's invited the mage to stay."
"Over the rest of the summer?"
"He's invited the mage to live with him for the rest of his life," Lord Suwa said. "I rejected that idea. I explained in detail why I don't choose to accept that, and Kurogane was resistant to rescinding the offer. Therefor, I told him I was going to have to consider disinheriting him."
"Oh, Hondo. Please, not that."
"I must think of Suwa. It's my duty to ensure the people here are protected. If Kurogane declares that mage a permanent fixture in his life, it won't take long before he'll be challenged over his right to become the next Lord Suwa. He'll never be respected in Edo, either. He's going to make his life here very difficult. Plus, I told him he needs to think of those he'd rule over. You know how the farmers can be. They'll throw fits if I allow this to stand. I don't care how much good will that mage has built up, they'll demand I kick him out, regardless of Kurogane's feelings and vows he's made."
"I know all this to be true."
Lord Suwa sighed and shook his head. "It's not that I hate his mage. I like Fai a great deal, but I can't let him ruin Kurogane or Suwa. That's why I need your consent to disinherit Kurogane if the mage doesn't leave when the ice king fetches him. I need leverage to break them apart, Hitomi."
Lady Suwa felt her heart breaking. She had never dreamed Hondo would ask something of her like this. She loved her husband and her son; to see them have a contentious relationship was dispiriting.
"You wound me a great deal, asking this of me. Denying a son is totally contrary to a mother's instincts."
"I know, but please grant me this for his sake."
"I respect you a great deal and have always done my utmost to support you. I just ask a little time to think on this. I'll talk to Kurogane and try to get him to see things your way. Is that agreeable?"
"It is. I hope you can talk some sense into him."
"Also, there is the ice king. He surely won't let the mage stay," Lady Suwa pointed out.
Lord Suwa's expression brightened as he hadn't thought about allying with King Ashura. "You're right! The ice king will force the mage to go back to Celes, I'm sure of it."
"So you see, we don't have to put that extreme pressure on Kurogane."
"Well, he's in his room with his mage."
She patted him on his hand and rose to leave. "Don't worry. I'll talk to him."
"Sergei!" Zellen said, seeing the tall, lanky healer. He was taken aback by a little more silver in the man's brown hair, but he was actually happy to see him nonetheless.
"Zel! Wow, look at you! You're all grown."
"Not quite," he said.
"Well, I heard about you getting married. I hate to say it, but it's all the gossip all over Celes. A psychometrist. Just... wow... And that formula you concocted. Well, I don't blame you for dreaming that one potion up, because you'd be one 'frustrated' man otherwise."
"Aww... don't tease me. I didn't know what happened until things were too late and anyway... we're very happy together."
The man chuckled and shook his head. He was silent for a moment and asked the question Zellen knew was coming. "So... how's your aunt?"
"Fine. She says 'hello'."
Sergei nodded. "Good. I hope she's doing fine." The man gave Zellen a slap on the shoulder and said. "Well, I have to tell you the one thing I'm sure she'll have a fit over. I'm being pressed into the army, therefor you are too. We have to head south to help out with the rebellion. I wouldn't have volunteered to take you on if I knew it at the time. This is not the way I would want you introduced to the circuit. It's going to be some of the worst. Are you okay with that? You can still back out until you reach the place of our first assignment, then the contract is valid."
Zellen had a moment of doubt. He pictured a lot of ugly, bloodiness going on, but he took a deep breath and said, "Let's go."
"Great." Sergei lofted the casting tip of his staff and traced a casting circle in orange runes. The next thing Zellen saw was several huge tents on a snowy field. The Captain told Sergei where to go and his assignment: heal some wounded combat mages.
He followed Sergei to the tent at the edge of the camp with the rune sowilo, the sun and healing rune, on it. They entered and Zellen felt stressed seeing ten combat mages with various, bloody wounds. "Alright, Zel. You need to do triage. I'll handle the worst cases. I'm going to set up the casting area."
Zellen hated that duty. It meant he had to make people wait on getting treatment, but there were only two of them. He took a deep breath and worked his way through the combat mages with grim determination. After triage, he joined Sergei in treating the combat mages. It was cold, dirty, and miserable work.
When their ten patients were all cared for and resting. Sergei took Zellen to the mess tent where they had lukewarm stew and cooling coffee. They found their tent to rest, but Zellen, in spite of exhaustion, sat on his stiff cot, not able to sleep.
Sergei wrapped his arms around himself and settled on the cot, all bundled in his coat against the cold. "Well, you did good. You didn't crack."
"That wasn't easy."
"If it was easy, everyone would have a D title and we'd be out of work. Listen, try to get some rest, even if you don't sleep. You'll eventually get so used to everything and will be able to sleep, even on an icy, marble slab if you have to."
Zellen tried to get comfortable on the cot as his aunt's words came to his head. Well, she had warned him, and it was everything she'd said. Still, he smiled to himself, knowing he'd saved several people from losing limbs or, worse, their lives.
Kurogane looked up when his mother slid his bedroom door open. She gave him a troubled smile and turned to Fai.
"Mage, I need to talk to my son alone."
Fai stood and said, "I need to go get my magic staff and things from the stable, anyway." After he left, Lady Suwa sat by Kurogane. He waited for her to speak first, as was proper etiquette.
"Your father told me about your invitation to the mage. Is he accepting your offer?"
"Yes. He's grown to love Nihongo a great deal. The only issue he has is leaving his twin, so I invited him to bring Yuui as well. I doubt it'll happen, because one of them must rule Celes one day."
"You know, your father has some legitimate concerns. You shouldn't be dismissive of the things he's pointed out. He wants you to have the best possible life."
"I know he cares, and I admit his concerns are correct."
"Your father wants to put you in a position of strength to rule Suwa. He wants you to have authority and be respected. Do you really care about your mage enough to risk everything he's cited?"
"I love Fai, Mother, and I made a vow to keep him by my side until it became impossible to do so."
"You would turn your back on your filial piety? You do owe us respect and obedience. When you willfully ignore your father and won't rescind your invitation to the mage, that isn't fulfilling your role as our son. It's not how we raised you."
"But you've raised me to be loyal, too, to people that depend on me."
"I know, Kurogane. I understand your feelings run deep, and you have a very passionate heart. It always has been."
"He's very important to me. I just can't just put him aside." Kurogane clenched the fabric of his hakama tightly. The idea of rejecting Fai hurt like a fire in his chest, as did the thought of resisting his parents' request. His mother placed her hand over his. "My heart could never forget him, and it feels as if Father is asking my heart to do that very thing."
"I respect that, but you must understand, your father has all of Suwa to consider. Also, you have something else to consider: the ice king. He may not like this, either."
"Fai's told me as much, but it's for the same reasons. I didn't know it when I first took up with Fai, but it seems the people of Celes reach the age of majority at thirty. He's considered too young for a relationship."
"Oh Kurogane..." she said, sound even more distressed. "Well, please consider rescinding your offer, for Fai's sake and yours."
She left and Fai came back a few minutes later with his magic staff. "So?"
"They want me to take back my offer and let you go with King Ashura. That hasn't changed."
"Well?"
"I'm not taking it back. I still want you."
Fai actually wilted. "I was afraid you'd say that," he said somberly. Fai then pushed a smile onto his face. "Well, if you think your father is unreasonable, wait until I break the news to my father."
"You know, you keep hinting that the ice king isn't such a kindly person, but he seemed like a pushover to me."
"You haven't seen him hold court. He's very creative in his punishments for those that have displeased him," Fai said with a dark tone that actually made Kurogane shiver.
"Can I ask you something?" Zellen finally asked, having a quiet moment alone with Sergei. He had worked with the seasoned circuit rider a couple weeks, now, and felt comfortable enough to ask him some deep things. They were sitting across from each other in the mess tent trying to drink the barely warmed coffee. Sergei spiked his with a little whiskey and offered some to Zellen. He shook his head. "It's about you and my aunt. I just wondered why you broke up with her."
He sighed and nodded before rubbing his bloodshot eyes. "I knew this was coming."
"Was it me?"
"Oh heavens no. I really cared for you a lot. I thought we could make a family. It was when Tanya and I were pressed into the army and sent to Valeria. That damn place has had one revolt after another. I heard the last revolt had a combat mage that dabbled in necromancy and they've been quiet ever since. Thank the goddess that sort of thing didn't happen when we were there."
"I know, I met the son of... I met the guy responsible for that," Zellen said bitterly. "He left my best friend to die. I hope he gets caught."
"Well, when we were there, Valerians were burning down their own homes. There were some children trapped in one, and they were brought to us. We couldn't save them, and it was a mess. It tore Tanya up really badly, and then all she wanted was to be back home with you. The stress got to her and we just started arguing all the time. She decided to leave the circuit, and when I wouldn't quit the circuit, too, things just fell apart. But I don't want you to think for a minute I left her because of you."
Zellen felt a wave of relief. "Thanks for letting me know. You know, she never told me about that. The children with burns."
"I wished I would have married her before we left for Valeria. Maybe things would have turned out differently."
"So why did you decide to train me for the circuit?"
"Well, I wished I would have stepped up and been a father to you. Even though Tanya and I parted ways, I could have still fathered you. I wanted to make things up to you."
"Thank you for taking me on it. I appreciate it."
"Well, it looks like King Ashura has things pretty well squashed here. We could be headed back out pretty soon."
Zellen looked over as the cold night air blasted in from the entrance of the tent. He was surprised to see King Ashura. Before they could get to their feet in respect. Ashura waved them back down.
"Please, you two have been on your feet all day. Rest." Ashura joined them at the table. He was wearing a serene smile. "I came to tell you your impressment is over."
"Great," Sergei said. Zellen thought it was odd King Ashura was delivering the news directly. Usually, the camp captain would give the orders.
"And because you've both done such a great job. I've told Circuit Master to let you both have the next week off and advance you your earnings."
"Thank you, Highness," Sergei said.
King Ashura then turned to Zellen and gave him a warm smile. "So what will you do with your first earnings?"
"Get Drysi a ring. I have one picked out. It's a gold band and has a sapphire stone," Zellen said, now excited he had money to spend on his love.
"How very nice for her. Oh, one other thing, Zellen. I'm leaving to pick up Fai next week. I'm sure you'll want to stay in Kella while I get reacquainted with him."
Zellen felt a little odd that the King didn't mention Yuui. That bothered him a great deal so he gently, superstitiously said, "I can't wait to have Yuui back."
The king nodded as a glint came to his eyes. "My meek, sweet little child. I can't wait to see him and hold him again."
Zellen wasn't sure why he felt bizarre, but he did. There just seemed something not right about the king's demeanor. It triggered off something in Zellen, something he tried to remember. The King's expression dropped into a cool frown. "Zellen, you better take care of that nose bleed."
To be continued.
