Unraveling Stories - Chapter 32

<-Chapter 31

 

"Wind me down the unending road; reflect the travels I've taken."

 

When they got to the inn, Samantha wasted no time in going to change clothes. Liang just removed his hood, and Kyle and Ewan put their swords back on. On a long-suffering sigh, Night said, "Your backpack is dusty. When did you last clean that thing?"

"It's not my fault that you're so distinctive," Ewan said reasonably. "And it's a backpack. You expect it to be pristine and clean?"

Tyrian ignored them as he and Cassie sat down at a table with Alex. "It's been a while," he said. "You look like you're doing well, General Renduex."

"I think we can dispense with some formality, Lord Tyrian. Just Alex will suffice." He sat back with a sigh. "I can't say as this moment truly surprises me. I think I knew it would happen the instant I heard you had joined the Rebellion. Certainly, I knew it when Gordon and then Sam joined you."

"Is that why you spoke with the Dragonists?" Cassie asked.

He looked at her in surprise. "How did you hear of that?"

"Raven. Tyrian and I have adopted her. She told us that you met with Ryu of the Dragonists clan and that both of you promised her that everything would be alright. She felt the same near you as she does near any other Destined Star, so . . ."

Alex was entirely unsurprised to hear that they had adopted Raven. When he had learned that Lady Annareal had sent Raven away, he had wondered. "I've actually known Ryu a few years," he admitted. "He's seventeen now. I met him when he was thirteen and first gained his partner, Celestial. Once I figured out what was happening, I asked him to meet with me. I told him what was going on, and I told him my intent to side with you when the time came. I asked him to let the Dragonist Clan know that you might be seeking their aid to save our people. He promised that he would speak with Draco Silver, their leader, and make sure they were ready when we were."

"That was very risky," Tyrian said quietly. "How did you explain meeting with him to the Emperor?"

"I said I was making sure you hadn't called on their assistance yet." His hands tightened around his cup of coffee. "Blaine terrifies me," he admitted in a low voice. "She's . . . not quite sane, Lord Tyrian. Ever since General Reyu joined, she's steadily gotten worse. She does not trust any of us Lower Generals, and I'm not sure we're safe near her. I ordered Di not to return to the palace at all."

"Oh, I'm sure she appreciated that!" Samantha said as she sat down, once more in her regular clothing. "Or did she sense your reasoning?"

"I flat out told her why. I know better than to tell her to do something without having a reason for it. I got her response a few days ago. She concurred with me wholeheartedly, and she also sent a warning to Vincent and Marcus." His eyes closed. "I can't believe how fast things have changed. It scares me more that so much had already changed without us realizing."

"But we're making the right change now." Tyrian held out his relic hand. "Join your strength with mine, Alex. Serve the people when they need you most. I can't do this without you."

Alex took his hand tightly and the white star glowed from his shoulder. It was merely a visible recognition of what he had already understood. He had always thought there had to be a good reason why he and the other Lower Generals had been so fiercely protective of him all these years. Tyrian was damned easy to love to begin with. Perhaps Destiny had merely taken advantage of that fact. "I'll do whatever I can," he promised. "And to begin with, I'll help your strategist out-think Diamond."

"If anyone can," Samantha agreed with a smile, "it's you."

Strong personalities needed to be matched with equally strong partners, Tyrian thought as he glanced at Cassie with a smile. It was just the way of nature, and Nature was nearly as picky a master as Destiny. She just didn't rule on Oriku.

Samantha and Ewan stayed to help Alex gather his soldiers. With the tide changed, the Imperial flags were already being replaced with the flag that had Tyrian's colors. He really needed a symbol on it. But what symbolized liberation?

The other good thing about the city being under the Liberation Army's control was that units belonging to the army were no longer considered an enemy and wouldn't trigger the Soul Fog defense. A unit transported in outside the city so that it could transport back with Alex's units.

Alphin possessed ten units of its own, but Tyrian wanted them to remain in the city to hold onto it. The checkpoint was far too valuable to lose right after getting it. However, despite staying, the militia units would also wear Tyrian's colors and be considered a part of the Liberation Army. In the final siege on Trinan, they would be called in. That the final siege was actually within sight also boggled Tyrian.

Cassie's hand slipped into his and he tangled their fingers together. "How do you know these things?" he asked her softly. "I don't even need to tell you."

She smiled up at him. "I just do."

Kyle felt a little twist of pain in his heart as he watched them, but the pain was not as sharp as it had been in the past. Whether it was healing or numbness, at the least it was a change. He wanted to be happy to see other couples together. He didn't want to grieve forever. Ophelia would have hated it. Just a little longer, he thought to her spirit. Let me love you just a little longer.

Tyrian had no particular destination in mind as he walked the streets. He was just looking around, talking to the people and seeing what was what. He liked to be approachable to people. He didn't want them to think of him as some indistinct figure. If there were problems, he needed to know so he could fix them.

He rounded a corner near some new construction that was already being begun and found himself face-to-face with a tiny woman sporting a cap of riotous red hair. She wore the rugged clothing of a worker, and a tool belt hung around her hips. "You're Tyrian," she said. She aimed a hammer at him. "I hear you need a builder or two." Before he could say anything, she blithely continued, "You've come to the right place! My husband and I are the best in the soon-to-no-longer-be-Empire. I'm Jacqueline, so you know. We'll be taking ourselves off to your castle and getting everything into shape!"

Tyrian could only blink as she turned and walked off with a stride that had many clearing her way before they were run over. Even before he belatedly realized she was a Destined Star, a man came hurrying out of the half-built building. "I'm Peter! Nice to meet you! Jackie!" The last was added in aggravation as he hurried after his wife. "Damn it, quite leaving me behind!"

"Uhm, Tyrian." Kyle really couldn't find anything else to say.

"Yeah." Tyrian rubbed the side of his head. "I'm not really sure either. To each his own?"

"It takes all kinds?" Liang offered.

"That might be more accurate, true."

There was one more surprise waiting for Tyrian when he finally got outside to where the unit waited. Miranda had come along to transport all those who weren't in a unit and therefore couldn't go back the other way. When Tyrian, Liang, Kyle, and Cassie got to her, she was avidly talking with a man wearing sturdy farm clothes. Several cows stood nearby, as did a flock of chickens. A sheepdog sat at the man's ankle.

"Lord Tyrian!" Miranda waved happily. "You did it oh my god I can't believe you did it, I mean, I can, 'cause it's you, but you did it!"

"Yes I did," he said dryly. "And thank you." He smiled at the newcomer. "I'm Tyrian."

The man removed his hat respectfully. "I'm Findley," he said. "It's an honor to meet you, Lord Tyrian. I was moving my animals back toward the city when I saw all the commotion. Alphin is my home, and I'm grateful for your help in freeing it. I'd like to repay the favor by helping you. I'm a rancher, if you have need of one."

"I do," Tyrian said instantly. "Our gardener has tried to keep the animals in line, but it's just not her skill. And the sheep are still slightly traumatized, so they don't trust anyone except me."

"Traumatized?" Findley asked warily, and even his dog looked slightly nonplussed at the choice of words.

"Don't ask. Just, don't ask," Kyle muttered.

"Righto. Well, I'll be glad to get those babies in line for you. Leave it to me and Savon to take care of things. Right, girl?" He patted her on the head and she woofed happily in agreement.

Tyrian knelt and ruffled her fur and then laughed as she began to enthusiastically lick his face. It was the first time Kyle or Miranda had actually heard him laugh, and it made both of them lose a little tension in their shoulders. Never laughing was, to them, just as bad as never crying. Tyrian had too much of a love for life, too much humor, to be so serious all the time.

Even Findley, just meeting him, felt a similar sense of relief. Just looking at Tyrian told him that the younger man walked a fine line every day of his life. He obviously needed someone to help him lift some burdens, and Findley knew he was the only one who could help in this way.

Once everyone had gathered, Miranda transported them back to the base. Miraculously, they landed safely without mishap. Unfortunately, she started sneezing when they landed and promptly transported herself somewhere. The loud splash that followed indicated it was likely either in the hot spring—again—or the dock area.

Findley headed off to meet Serentia, with Liang following to make the introductions, and the flock of animals followed in their wake much to the amusement of all. Several guards hurried to help urge the larger cows along and had to help shove them out a few doors. "Maybe Miranda should have been less accurate with them," Kyle groused.

Alex had arrived with his units, and he waited for them at the stairs. "I can get settled in later," he said. "Time is getting to be of the essence. I also have information about Betane and its defenses. We'll need to retrieve an artifact in order to break through."

Tyrian nodded. "That can be done." He smiled as he heard the flutter of wings. He was already turning around before Raven reached him, and he caught her safely in his arms with a smile. "There you are! You're late," he chided teasingly.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I was with Eve. She made me taste her new cookies."

"Made you, did she?" Cassie asked.

Raven nodded firmly. "She said to tell you it was all her fault and she coerced me, so you can't get mad if I ruined my dinner." She spotted Alex and brightened. "Hi! You're going to fight for Daddy now, right?"

"It's actually formal now," he agreed with a smile.

She climbed over into Cassie's arms and held onto her mother contentedly. She had to be fair with her parents 'cause she didn't want them to think she preferred one over another, 'cause she didn't. But parents were sensitive to those things and she knew she had to be careful. Adults could be so delicate! She just liked Tyrian to carry her 'cause Cassie needed her hands free to protect them if something happened. Compromising, she clung onto her mother's back.

Matthias and Cherry waited for them in the meeting room, and both smiled as the entourage entered. "Well done, Lord Tyrian!" Matthias praised. "We just took the level of this war to an entirely new place. General Renduex, welcome to the Liberation Army. Your skill will be very welcome."

"Thank you, Professor Matthias. And it's an honor to meet you."

Everyone grabbed their seats, and Raven stood on a chair between Tyrian and Cassie. She liked being at these meetings. They talked about interesting things, and she could help them.

"Go for it, Alex," Samantha said. "You said you had intelligence we could use. Let's hear it. It's getting late in the day. If we can get the plan hammered out, we can get started tomorrow morning."

"Betane," Alex began, tapping a finger on the city on the map, "controls the southern oceanic entry into the country. To claim it would cut off all sea trade for the Empire and effectively land lock it. The mountains go all the way from the Y Border to the sea to the north of Alphin, so nothing could come that way. And the only other way in would be through Foresalia, which, given the current status quo, is not a given."

"Where does Foresalia stand in this?" Kyle asked. "I don't think there's been a peep from them since the Rebellion started."

"Marcus will have a better idea since he's stationed at Gammine. If we're lucky, the kingdom of Foresalia won't want to cross into what will be considered Lord Tyrian's land even if he isn't in charge of it. Cross the path of someone chosen by Destiny? No one is that insane." Alex crossed his arms on the table. "As for Betane, there's a very complicated barrier of light that surrounds it. You don't actually see it until you walk into it, and if you do, you're instantly blinded. Sometimes permanently. It only affects hostile forces, and as good as our intentions are, we're still the hostile force in the current scenario."

"I assume that means it goes around the entire city, so even with Theo, we can't approach from the sea." Matthias tapped a finger on the table as he thought quickly. "What generates the light barrier?"

"Light Relics. But someone would have to be inside to turn them off, and I'm positive they're guarded. Our best bet is to simply reflect back the light from the way it's coming."

"Yeah, but don't Light Relics break mirrors?" Ewan asked. "The power is too concentrated. We'd need one hell of a massive mirror for it to be strong enough to reflect back that much power from that many relics."

"That's why we need the Echo Mirror."

"Echo . . . ?" Tyrian's brows lifted. He looked at Raven. "Go find Miranda."

"Kay!" She fluttered off quickly. Even when she ran on the ground, she still seemed to hover slightly.

"So what's the Echo Mirror?" Cassie asked. "I assume it's related to Miranda's relic."

"I couldn't say," Alex admitted, "but I do know that it's a mirror that can't break. Di told me that it's hidden in the mountains, but that she hadn't bothered to send anyone to retrieve it. I figure that's probably our cue to do so."

Miranda came hurrying into the room with Raven clinging to her hand. She still appeared a bit soggy and had a towel around her shoulders. "You called for me?" she asked. "Whatever you need, I can do!"

"The Echo Mirror," Matthias said.

"Oh that thing!" She cocked her head. "I made it a couple hundred years ago. After a really bad 'porting accident, I removed the Echo Relic to see if Lady Tanelia could help me. Long story short, we chipped off a bit of the relic and it seemed to help. I turned the chip into a mirror because it was too pretty to lose. I then promptly lost the mirror, darn it!"

"Since it was made from the relic, does it have power?"

"Sure! It can return the user and their party back to their home, wherever that may be. So like if Lord Tyrian used it, he would come back here 'cause it's his home. No one has been able to test the theory, though. It's super picky and won't let just anyone use it. It's not sentient per se, but it has a particularly finicky power."

"Having that mirror would be doubly handy," Cherry told Matthias. "Not only to get into Betane, but then we wouldn't need to send Miranda to fetch Lord Tyrian from the cities. He could just come back with whomever he's found. Is there a limit to how many it can bring?"

"Hmm, dunno. I'd guess no more than twenty 'cause it isn't big, but in a worst-case scenario, it'd just not work. It wouldn't blow up or anything. That's Tedium's job."

The sound of a distant explosion seemed to imply he was still hard at work. Tyrian just ignored it. "Alex says it's in the mountains. Do you have any idea where that might be?"

"Hmm." She thought about it. "No, I don't know."

"The mountains are huge," Ewan sighed. "We can’t just go combing over the damn things."

Raven held up her hand. With a smile, Matthias asked, "Yes?"

"If it hasn't been found, that means it's got to be somewhere it can't be seen, right? 'Cause it's pretty distinctive, right?" At the nods, she asked, "Well, why wouldn't it hide inside something else reflective? Like a river or something. Lady Blaine dropped a mirror into the pond at the castle once and she was so mad 'cause she couldn't see it in the water. I had to find it 'cause I was the only one who could see it 'cause I'm a Faerie." She wrinkled her nose. "I made a maid give it to her because I didn't want to see her!"

"Rivers." Tyrian grabbed the map and pulled it closer. He flipped to the detailed layout of the mountains and began to search through the landscape. Thomas did his job very well; there was no question of the accuracy of the map.

"There was a small stream near Acre," Cherry offered. "I'm not sure of any other water sources. Any near the Monk Clans?" she asked Cassie.

"It's all underground except for a hot spring further north."

"Here we go." Tyrian found where Acre had been handwritten in and then moved slightly north to the stream. It stretched for roughly a mile in total length, starting near the town and then moving east. There were no other sources of water that ran aboveground in the mountains. None of the rivers ran through. They either stopped short or diverted past.

"I believe Raven has a sound idea," Matthias said. "She is correct that something so obvious should have been found by now. I think if it is any place, it will be in the stream. And that is convenient because Miranda can transport you to Acre, Lord Tyrian. Once you have the mirror, you can return back."

"I want to go!" Raven said firmly. When the protests started immediately, she crossed her arms and set her chin. "I'm not going to do any fighting! That's your job. But I have to go 'cause I can see the mirror in water. I have to help!"

"If she comes along as a convoy member," Tyrian said, "then I can still bring five others with me in case we either encounter monsters or the Imperial Army has a nasty surprise waiting for us. I don't like it either," he admitted, "but she has as much right to be there as any of you do. More, perhaps."

To be in the convoy of a party meant that you were a non-combatant or incapable of battle. It was a signal to enemies that the convoy was considered civilian, and therefore they were protected under the laws of engagement. When it came to monsters, there were no rules, but as long as Raven stayed close, she would be safe from them as well.

It was shortly determined that in addition to Cassie going along, Liang, Marian, Lane, and Shots would also join the party. It gave them a wide breadth of skills, including magic of both healing and attacking variant, and Shots, being a ranged fighter, would be solely dedicated to protecting Raven. He could attack from a distance, which would remove Raven from the danger zone as well.

Bright and early the following morning, the party met up with Miranda to be transported. When Marian arrived, she also arrived with good news. "Laia's back to normal," she said happily. "I was with Doc yesterday afternoon when he checked up on her, and she was awake and alert. She's been lifted from restricted combat, so if we need her, she's back on call."

"Hot damn," Shots said. "That was one leggy lass that we didn't want t'be without for long. I right reckon she was happy to be back to normal too." He winked. "And her husband was happy too, no doubt."

"They were arguing like usual. All was indeed well." Marian knelt down and smiled at Raven. "You're starting to look like you mean business, little wings."

Raven beamed. She hadn't wanted to wear a dress because it was inconvenient, so she got to wear clothing much closer to that of a combatant. The tunic and leggings made it much easier to move around, and it was much lighter so she could even fly better. But because she liked pretty things, the tunic had open sleeves that held on at her wrist and shoulder. Her gramma said once they had a tailor, then she could get something even better, too. "And boots!" She held up a tiny foot proudly.

"Look at those things." Shots squinted at her feet and then at his. "Well, shoot and damn, little bit, you got better boots than I do." He scooped her up and settled her on his shoulder. "But since those feet aren't quite as made for walking as your boots, let's make this trip easy on you. Let me know if you see any low branches."

She grabbed his hat and pulled it on her own head. It was too big, but she pushed it back where she could see. "Kay!"

Even Lane was grinning. "She'll be breaking hearts," he warned Tyrian.

Tyrian thought of his daughter's desire to learn combat via big axes. "And heads, so it doesn't worry me that much."

Miranda giggled. "Okay, are we ready to go?" At the nods, she swung her wand up. "Okay, here we go! Hang on tight!"

Whether she was getting better or her relic was disinclined to misbehave with a child around, no one knew, but they all landed quite safely on the outskirts of Acre. The entire place had been gutted from the fire, and in the time since, rain had come through to add to the wreckage. Quite a bit of land around the town had been decimated as well, but there were already signs of new growth starting. It wouldn't take too long for the people to get things back into proper condition.

Knowing that didn't take any of the bitterness from Tyrian's mouth as they walked through the remains of the town. Just to get to him, the Imperial Army had been willing to kill innocent civilians and destroy their lives. If they even remembered the laws of engagement anymore, it would be a surprise.

The stream started beyond the town, and it was less than ten feet wide and only about two feet deep. Not even Raven, small as she was, was in any danger of falling in and drowning. And while the crystal clear water was obviously quite drinkable, the very clarity of the water became a problem. It reflected the landscape before it revealed what lay underneath.

"If I was a persnickety mirror," Lane decided, "I'd hide in there too."

Shots walked right along the bank with Raven tucked under his arm like a sack of potatoes. It allowed her to see into the water without any effort, and since she weighed next to nothing, it was no effort for him either. The others looked as well, but held little hope of spotting anything before the Faerie did. She was attuned to trees and water in a way none of the rest of them ever would be.

They had gotten halfway down the course of the river when Shots suddenly lifted his head sharply. "We've got company, y'all. And it ain't the neighborhood watch, if you get my meaning. T'ain't nothing stealthy 'bout this group."

Cassie and Liang instantly put Tyrian behind them even as Shots ducked down and hid Raven under the edge of his long coat. Marian and Lane both drew their wands as they moved closer as well.

From out of the trees burst three people, and Cassie groaned softly as she recognized them. "By the stars," she muttered as she covered her face with her hand.

The three bandits were enough alike in appearance to be related, for they shared similar ordinary features and blue eyes. The female was taller than her brothers, but they all wore the familiar gear of bandits or thieves, including the hipsacks for carrying their stolen loot.

The female was also armed with a handful of throwing knives, which she aimed toward Shots. "Hands up, gunner!" she said warningly.

He slowly lifted his hands. "Easy there." He felt movement under his coat but didn't dare glance down to see what that frighteningly smart little Faerie was doing. The last thing he wanted was to call attention to her. Bandits rarely operated by any rules.

A shot suddenly rang out and the female bandit ducked on a yelp as strands of her hair were clipped. "Hey!"

Her brothers hit the dirt as well though no one had shot at them. "Oh for crying out loud!" Marian stalked over and firmly took away the males' daggers. "You have to be the dumbest bandits I've ever met!"

"You would be correct," Cassie agreed dryly. She sighed as she stepped forward and cracked her knuckles lightly. "Now, didn't we have a talk about this sort of thing?" she asked the girl.

The bandit scowled. "Only Imperial soldiers have been around here, and I didn't see you! What were we supposed to think?" She sighed deeply. "Alright, how did you do that?" she demanded of Shots. "Your hands were in the air!"

"I think we might need to ask the tiny gunslinger." He opened his jacket to reveal Raven still holding his gun. "Clever little mite."

"Raven!" Marian was more astonished than horrified.

Shots fingered the hole in his jacket. "Hmm. I can just see me trying t'explain this one to the Guild. Gimme that." He took the gun from her gingerly and put it back in his holster. "Now how'd you do that, little lady?"

She set her chin in a stubborn line. "I saw you use it, so I thought I could too. I just thought the shot would surprise them. I didn't intend to actually hit her."

"Damn fine shootin' for no aimin'." He shook his head. "Let's just keep this a secret, y'all. We don't want the Guild to know 'bout our little gunslinging lady. Natural talent is highly coveted."

For the first time, Tyrian began to realize just how much his daughter would keep him on his toes. Liang glanced at his face and suddenly laughed. "Congratulations, Tyrian. I do believe you're officially a father." He clapped him lightly on the back. "Don't worry. She has enough of Cassie in her to follow rules." He grinned. "And enough of you to know how to bend them."

Cassie ignored that, true though it was. "Allow me to make introductions. Everyone, meet Ninehvi, Nihvent, and Nicran. I'm not going to bother going the other way; I think you three know who the man in the scarf is."

"Uhm, yeah." Nihvent got to his feet and tugged his brother up and then both helped their sister stand. "Can we be let go with a warning and be on our way?" he asked hopefully. "We've been messing with only Imperial soldiers. We wouldn't have jumped you if we'd realized you were the good guys. Or that you had a pint-sized gunner in convoy."

Tyrian felt a smile tugging at his lips as he realized just why they had been drawn there. It did, indeed, take all types. "I could use your help," he said, surprising everyone except Cassie. Little surprised her anymore. "Admittedly, your subterfuge could use some work, but to be honest, we lack unit leaders with any sort of subterfuge skill. We have three, but we have more than one unit that needs leaders. I think with some training, you'll be exactly what I need. Will you help me? Of course, you'll have to clean up your act if you do."

"Are you kidding?" Nicran blurted. "We'd love to help you!" He grinned at his sister. "You did read the tea leaves right! Whoops!" He hastily covered his mouth as he realized what he had said.

Tyrian glanced at Ninehvi. "You're a fortuneteller?"

She fidgeted. "Of a sort. Sometimes I see things in my tea. Usually things in the future, but no one believes me. My brothers do, but no one else. It's why we started living like this. The town was starting to look at me weird."

"You won't get that at the castle!" Shots said cheerfully. "We're all weird!"

"Sad, but true," Tyrian agreed. He held out his hand. "I'm thinking that your skills will be in high demand, Ninehvi. Do you tell love fortunes as well?" When she nodded, he smiled. "Then you'll assuredly be needed. There are so many betting pools going on at once that people are going to be looking for ways to hedge their bets."

There was no question that joining Tyrian was the right thing. All three siblings could feel that he really did need them. A home. The idea was astonishing. Belonging. They had never had that either. That Tyrian would trust them . . . they absolutely had to help him. "Okay!" Ninehvi took his hand and smiled as her brothers put their hands on hers. "We're going to do our best!"

Tyrian's relic glowed softly, and the white stars appeared on their shoulders. Inside, Tyrian felt the familiar sensation that meant he had passed another milestone. Every Star he had found was engraved inside his heart. He had found seventy Destined Stars. Only thirty-nine remained. So close. They were getting so close.

The bandits tagged along with them as they continued to move down the stream. With luck, they would be able to go back via the mirror too. "What're you calling your base anyway?" Nihvent asked curiously. "Does it even have a name? It kind of needs one."

"He's right, Tyrian," Marian reminded her cousin. "We can't keep calling it 'the castle' or 'the base.' It needs a name!"

He frowned as he thought about it. "Aon Castle," he finally said. "Taurus was teaching me Elfish, and she said that the word 'aon' is the word they use when they are referring to the feeling of freedom."

"That's perfect," Cassie decided. "Aon Castle it is!"

"It does have a nice ring to it," Liang agreed.

Raven suddenly stopped walking and grabbed Shots' hand. "I see something in the water!" she said excitedly. She jumped into the stream before anyone could stop her and ducked underwater. When she came up, she held what looked like an ordinary hand mirror. She waded out and handed the mirror to Tyrian. "Is that it?" she asked excitedly. "It has magic!"

It certainly did. Tyrian could feel the magic pulsing inside the mirror, though in appearance it was rather unremarkable. The mirror face set into a plain green backing engraved with clouds. On first glance, he wouldn't have thought it was any sort of powerful artifact, but when he looked into the mirror at the reflection, he could actually see the soft dark swirl that was the Devourer inside him. It no longer seemed ominous.

Shots took off his jacket and wrapped Raven up snuggly as he picked her up. "You might as well keep it," he told her. "Since you broke it in for me. But you'll have to grow into it, got it? So you better get taller."

She nodded firmly. Getting taller was definitely high on her list of plans for the future. Getting a puppy and learning to fight were up there too. She was holding out on the former as a birthday wish from her parents. Savon was going to have babies; maybe she would get to keep one of them.

Tyrian held up the mirror and said softly, "Aon Castle."

The mirror glowed brightly and the familiar flash of light occurred. When they could see again, they stood near Miranda in the courtyard. She brightened when she saw them. "You did it! Oh, wow! Yep, that's the mirror. Wow, it's a lot prettier than I remembered it was, but I thought maybe I didn't remember it well because it was so long, so maybe it was always this nice. And since it likes you, that means it's yours, Lord Tyrian!"

"For now," he conceded. "After the war, we'll see if there's a better use for it." He tucked it safely into his backpack where it wouldn't get lost or damaged. "Shots, take Raven to Serentia, please. She's going to need to get warmed up and into dry clothes."

"You're the boss." He tossed Raven over his shoulder and ambled off toward the gardens. "Never explain this to anyone," he grumbled again as he disappeared out the doors to the back.

The three bandits were staring in awe at the sheer scale of the castle and the city, and they scampered off quickly to explore it fully. They had never gotten to be inside a big city, and this was definitely big. Once they had the lay of the land, they would have to see about that training. There was no knowing when Tyrian would need them!

"What about us?" Marian asked.

"Don't go far. Cassie and I are going to briefly check in with Matthias. We'll need Alex, which is another reason I let Shots go. With a little luck, we'll have another checkpoint under our belt by dinner."

And if Cassie had her way, he would be sleeping after said dinner. The breakneck pace of the last few days was beginning to show its toll on him once more. As his Kentei, it was her duty to ensure his health and safety. As his lover, it was her privilege to bully him into doing what she told him when she told him.

Whether he liked it or not.

 

©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.

Chapter 33->

Unraveling Stories - Chapter 31

<-Chapter 30

 

"If you can't believe then you can't dream; if you can't dream then you can't believe."

 

When they left the meeting room, Kyle detoured to go find Samantha. The others headed to the courtyard where Miranda hung out if people wanted a transport somewhere. Liang felt very glad to be fighting alongside Tyrian once more. He was still kicking himself for not being on the field during the Soul Fog incident. Even if he hadn't been able to help, he could have supported Cassie in her efforts to save Tyrian.

Marian was there waiting for them when they reached Miranda. She looked relatively back to normal despite being in the mage unit that had taken the biggest slap from the Fog. Mostly she looked as if she was recovering from a bad cold. Tyrian lightly pressed his hand to her forehead and frowned. "Should you be up?" He knew she was quite powerful, enough to have been hit harder.

"Doc said I was perfectly fine for getting up, don't worry." She hugged her cousin tightly and hid her face against his shoulder. He was like a brother to her, and the thought of losing him after losing Ben terrified her. It had nothing to do with her destiny. It was Tyrian. She would be there either way. "You scared me."

"I know." He hugged her for a moment and then let go. "It wasn't intentional. And it shouldn't be such a worry for the future now."

She reluctantly let him go only to turn and hug Cassie, surprising the younger woman greatly. "You're my family now, too," Marian scolded her, "so you have to stop doing dangerous things as well!" The fact that Cassie was arguably one of the hardest people in the world to kill was a moot point. She was Marian's sister-cousin now.

"I can't promise that," Cassie told her. "Remember, I have to keep your cousin safe, too. And with his stubbornness, I'm going to be getting us out of a lot of trouble, to be sure! Eternity certainly won't be boring."

Tyrian just smiled. Marian sighed. "I can't begrudge you that, I suppose. But, still! You're a mother, so you need to be more careful, okay?" She hugged them both, and Liang, and then hurried off before Kelan scolded her for doing too much.

In a murmur, Ewan said, "She holds onto family very tightly."

"I'm all she has," Tyrian said simply. "At least until we get my father back." He frowned. "I wonder if my message will have had any impact on him." He still couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible would happen. That something terrible might have already happened. It took much effort to shrug it off.

Kyle and Samantha joined them, and Miranda focused on Kyle. "Next stop, Seabank!" She swung her wand in a looping arc, narrowly missing Liang, and her relic activated. "Hang on!"

A few seconds later, Kyle, Tyrian, and Cassie landed on the dock of the tiny town called Seabank. The other three landed in the ocean beside the dock with a splash big enough to scare away the seagulls. Ewan surfaced and slung his hair out of his eyes. "I wish I could get mad at her about that, but I know it's not her fault."

As he hauled himself out, Kyle helped Samantha out, and Liang let Tyrian and Cassie tug him onto the dock. While those who had gotten a dunk wrung out their clothes, Tyrian looked around the area. The small dock of Seabank had a handful of small dinghies and rowboats. At the end of the longest part of the dock sat a much larger ship that looked like it would carry at least ten people comfortably. He would have bet money on it belonging to Theo; he had never before seen a ship in that good of condition.

He led the way off the dock and into what was the only road in the town and therefore the center as well. Even using the word 'village' to describe Seabank was being generous. It was little more than a hub. There was a lone grocer, Item Shop, and an inn with a tavern attached. All homes had their own gardens or ranches. The Item Shop was no doubt just in case travelers came through, just like the inn.

It was to the tavern that Tyrian headed. It looked fairly busy inside despite the size of the town, but many people were distinctly visitors. He swept his gaze over the room and then settled on a corner where a lively game of dice went on. Kyle followed his gaze and said, "That's him. The shorter haired blond is Theo. The longer is Mayo."

The brothers were obvious identical twins, but Theo's blond hair stayed extremely short while Mayo's hung longer and tied at the nape of his neck. They were both attractive, though more weathered than handsome, and they had the obvious strength of men used to a life at sea. Age-wise, Tyrian guessed them to be a few years older than Ewan.

A giggling bellhop brought towels to Ewan, Liang, and Samantha, and Tyrian went with Kyle over to the game. Mayo wasn't playing; he watched absently while he whittled a piece of wood into something or another. Theo looked distinctly smug, and rightfully so since he had most of the gold coins on his side. The other three at the table didn't look quite as happy.

Theo glanced up and recognized Kyle instantly. "Well, look what the Grimalkin dragged in." His blue eyes filled with empathy. "How are you?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose." Kyle rested a hand lightly on Tyrian's shoulder. "Theo, Mayo, meet Tyrian Southerwind."

"'lo." Mayo glanced at Tyrian curiously and decided he liked the younger man's serene nature. It was such an oxymoron to the intensity that seemed to permeate everything else about him. The dark green eyes that looked back at Mayo held a fierce glitter as bright as the stars that would no doubt burn just as eternally. A leader's eyes.

"This is no place for kids," Theo told Kyle in annoyance after a cursory study of Tyrian. "Take him back to your little castle and let him play general somewhere else."

The room fell silent. Samantha slowly arched a brow and then shared a quick smirk with Ewan. Cassie and Liang said nothing. Kyle bristled slightly. "This isn't the time to be an asshole, Theo," he said curtly. "You want to say that Tyrian's not carrying out Ophelia's wishes, and doing a better job than we might have ever hoped?"

"Hold on, Kyle," Tyrian said softly, though his voice carried. "If he wishes to be a coward, then let him. There is no shame in his fear."

Theo shot to his feet so sharply that he jostled the table and sent dice and coins flying. "Who are you to call me a coward?" he snarled at Tyrian. "You don't even know me, kid!"

Tyrian met his eyes directly. "And you do not know me. Therefore you can't rightfully call me a kid." He stepped closer, and though he was fractionally shorter, he suddenly seemed much taller. "You can stay here," he said softly, intensely, "and pretend that your world is perfect. You can hide in this little town and say that because you are spared then the rest of the world must be fine. But you know it's not. I came looking for a great captain. A man said to confront any and every challenge. All I see is a coward wasting his time cheating at dice and pretending he's as good as he used to be."

"Cheating!" another player yelped.

"The dice are weighted." Tyrian turned and walked out of the tavern without looking back, and he clearly ignored the sudden ruckus as people realized Theo hadn't won fairly.

"Oh nice one," Mayo told Theo in annoyance. "Real smart. I've never known anyone who could piss off that many people at once."

"Just take your damn money back!" Theo snapped at the people yelling at him. "And Mayo, shut up!" He shot to his feet and ran out of the tavern, anger and shame boiling inside his heart. How dare that punk call him a coward? And how dare he show up like that, making Theo feel as if he was needed? Just who did Tyrian think he was?

He was so blinded to his anger as he ran onto the dock that he didn't see the staff stuck in his path until he tripped over it and stumbled. He couldn't catch himself in time and fell headfirst into the ocean with a big splash. When he surfaced, Tyrian knelt on the edge of the dock with his staff propped over his shoulder. "Cool off," he suggested mildly.

Theo scowled at him. "As if that was mature!" He sputtered as Tyrian shoved him underwater. When he surfaced again, Tyrian was sitting down on the side of the dock. It would have been very easy to grab his ankle and yank him in, but it would have also been petty and immature.

On a sigh, he hauled himself out of the water and onto the side of the dock. It had become hard to hang onto his anger. "Do a lot of people have a problem hating you?" he asked.

Tyrian thought about it. "For the most part, yes. Mostly because I really don't hate anyone in return. It takes a lot to get me to that level." His eyes darkened as shadows churned inside. "In my life, there have been three people I hated. Only one of them have I forgiven." He leaned back on his hands. "I suppose it doesn't mean much considering my age. I'll be nineteen in a few months."

Theo looked at him in surprise. "I thought you were older than that. Huh." He turned his gaze to the ocean. "So why don't you tell me just what's going on, Tyrian? Even out here, we've heard the legend spreading. How did all this happen?"

By the time Tyrian had told him everything, Theo felt sick to his stomach. That Tyrian was still sane seemed shocking. He also didn't need to ask to know that Blaine and Beelzebub would be the two people Tyrian still hated. Forgiving Annareal was mind-blowing. "You're a better person than I am," he said softly.

Tyrian slid a look at him. "But not a better sailor or captain."

"No one is." It was said without conceit, just simple fact. He blew out a hard breath. "Crap. I'm one of those Destined Stars, aren't I? Me and Mayo. There's no other reason for the way I feel like you really need my help."

"I can't do it without you," Tyrian said simply. He clapped Theo on the shoulder with his relic hand, and the glow of the star came visibly. "We share the skies, Theo. Now I need you to share the seas as well. A man of your skill is wasted in that pub cheating at dice."

"How did you know that anyway?" the captain muttered.

Tyrian grinned. "I guessed."

"Son-of-a . . ." He broke off as he realized the epithet was not, actually, that inaccurate. He would never forgive Annareal for what she had done, that was for damn sure. "Alright," he decided briskly. "You've got yourself a captain, Tyrian!"

"And your respect?"

"Hell, kid, you had that when you called me out in the tavern. Not many have that kind of guts, and I have to admire it." He contemplated Tyrian. "So what's the plan?" After Tyrian told him, he could only admire him all the more. "Damn, you definitely have guts. You want to just sail right into Alphin like it's nothing."

"You can't do it?"

"I've never tried," Theo said cheerfully. "This will be fun!"

The others had walked up, and Kyle looked at Tyrian in bemusement. "Only you," he said. "What'd you do to him?"

"Threw me in the ocean," Theo admitted. He elbowed Ewan when his friend snorted. "You'll be next, Grizmar, if you don't watch it!"

"Already had a dunking," Ewan said politely. "I don't need another."

Tyrian and Mayo shared a smile. There were no words needed between them. Sometimes it really was that simple.

Theo was in distinctly higher spirits as he headed down the dock toward his ship. "All aboard!" he announced cheerfully. As people filed on, he asked, "And who the hell is everyone anyway?" He eyed Samantha with interest. He had always liked women, no matter their race, height, shape, or skill set.

Tyrian gestured to Liang. "This is Liang. He's been with me since I was a child." He smiled at Cassie. "The monk is Cassie. She is my Kentei Star as well as my fiancée." He grinned as he saw Theo eyeing Samantha. "That would be General Samantha Yureny."

The name triggered and Theo's eyes widened. "Greetings, ma'am," he said respectfully. "No offense meant."

She grinned. "None taken."

Mayo untied the ship and then hopped aboard. Theo took the wheel and they set out into the ocean. The sail from Seabank to Alphin took only a few hours, and the trip was spent planning just how they would sneak inside. There was never any question of Theo getting them there safely. It was merely the determination of the after that kept them occupied.

"Lord Tyrian is too recognizable," Samantha said. "And I don't mean the scarf, though it doesn't help. The relic does it too. And if anyone looks at his eyes, they're going to know who and what he is."

"What about disguising him in Healer robes?" Mayo asked. "They have hoods, right? Just cover his hands with gloves, and keep the hood down, and no one will be the wiser. But Cassie's kind of going to stick out too."

"No one will see me," Cassie noted mildly. "I assure you of that. And we can't discount anyone's face, frankly. Everyone knows Samantha, and you can be sure a lot of people will know Ewan by now after what happened in Trinan and with Beelzebub. Night is too conspicuous as well."

"And Kyle," Ewan reminded her. "His pretty mug was slapped on posters a while back."

"Great, so we walk into the city and cause mass hysteria. Oh, that's going to be so stealthy." Kyle frowned thoughtfully. "And we can't all disguise ourselves without standing out even more. Six mages would be too obvious, and anyway, any other mage will sense that you, Liang, and Sam don't have relics."

"We could hide in plain sight," Samantha said.

"Hide in plain sight?"

"Just walk into the city as we are. No one is going to believe that Lord Tyrian would just walk into an enemy stronghold without an army. If Lady Cassie is hidden, then it will be even more believable. We disguise Liang as the Healer and just walk in. Alex might be the only one suspicious, frankly, but that's not an issue."

Cassie nodded. "I can retrieve the robe and hood without being seen, as well as other clothes for everyone. I think you might be right, Samantha. You'd make a good monk yourself."

Samantha grinned a bit at the compliment. It was high praise coming from someone of Cassie's caliber.

The ship began to rock back and forth with more than the normal movement of natural waves. Tyrian got to his feet and went onto the deck. The ocean seethed restlessly, and it grew only more unhappy the further they sailed. He walked over to Theo whose face was calm but arms were taut with the strength of controlling the ship. "What causes this anyway?"

"There are tons of theories, up to and including some sort of conspiracy by the Emperor to employ Merfolk to keep the ocean unstable during the low point of trade season. I've often thought there might be an underwater vein of Water Relics causing the disturbance. We've mined Fire Relics from volcanoes, so . . ."

Since Tyrian didn't see Merfolk being inclined to help the Emperor with anything, he leaned toward Theo's theory too. The Merfolk weren't often found in Imperial waters anyway. They lived much further to the east, toward the western edge of the Moors. Though only one ocean wrapped around the large landmass of Oriku, it was a given that the waters were warmest near the Moors and coldest near Melodina.

The sea was getting more violent. Tyrian grabbed onto the railing as a particularly large wave nearly lifted the ship entirely off the ocean. Alphin was a line on the horizon, just big enough and close enough that it became a shaped line rather than a flat one. The sky stayed perfectly clear with no storms about. The ocean was simply impassible for these two months of the year.

Impassible to normal ships. Theo had built this baby from scratch, and he wouldn't let some pissy waves ruin all his work. He pulled his hat low over his eyes and said, "Better hang on tight, Tyrian! I'm going to start fighting back! I play to win!"

Tyrian made his way to the cabin door and went inside. As he stumbled across the floor and Ewan caught him, he said dryly, "Let's hope he weighted the dice again."

Theo stopped trying to go through the waves. He started going around them. Mayo headed up to the deck and added his help by using the Wind Relic he wore. The timing between the twins was critical. If Mayo hit the sails too soon or too late, they ran the risk of capsizing the boat entirely.

No one inside the cabin had any idea what was going on. They had realized that staying on their feet was potentially suicidal, so all laid flat on the floor and hoped that the lower altitude might save them a few bruises.

Abruptly, the shaking and bouncing stopped. The boat went back to rocking softly and rhythmically. It was peaceful and calm once more. "Are we dead?" Liang asked warily.

"Ewan's here," Kyle said, "so if we are, it's in hell."

"You made the reservations, friend."

"We're not dead," Tyrian said dryly. He got to his feet carefully and then helped pull Kyle up as well. Both males could only watch with wistful envy as Cassie flipped to her feet. It would be much more convenient to learn how to do that. Laia could even do it in plate armor while carrying her claymore; both Kyle and Ewan were determined that she teach them how she did it.

Cassie pulled on her hood and facemask, obscuring her entire face from view except for her eyes. As soon as she put on her gloves as well, there was no telling her apart from any other monk. She disappeared into the shadows and went onto the deck to wait until they docked. Theo was whistling as if he hadn't just sailed them through the worst waves on the world. Alphin was getting to be more than a line, and the cityscape was much more distinct. It was only minutes before he pulled in to the dock where several wide-eyed soldiers stood.

Cassie disappeared into the city quickly, and Theo tossed the ropes to one of the men. "Here, tie me off!" he said.

"You . . . but how . . . where . . ." The soldier was completely lost for words though he did tie off the boat properly.

"Whew!" Theo sat down on a bench on the deck and lit his pipe. "I need a breather! That was hell out there. But look at that! Not a mark on this baby!" The soldiers were still staring at him and he winced. "My apologies, my good men. I'm Theo."

"Oh. Oh!" The soldiers promptly saluted, awe on their faces. Everyone who had ever been on a boat knew the name of Theo. His skills as a captain were legendary, and the Empire had tried for many years to recruit him for a sea assault on Foresalia. A staunch pacifist, he had always turned them down. "Welcome to Alphin," one soldier said. "I can't believe you made it through those waves!"

"Well, I had some travelers who wanted to get to the city, and I wanted to test the boat, so I figured it was a win-win." He felt a little draft that was Cassie slipping back into the cabin and had to be impressed. He was sure no one else had noticed her at all. Monks could be sneaky creatures. "Told 'em that if I capsized us, they didn't owe me any money."

"I guess that's fair," someone grumbled.

The cabin door opened and Kyle cautiously peered out. A blue bandana covered his blond hair, and he now wore clothes more suited to a farmer. His sword was safely hidden in his backpack and nowhere in sight. "We're alive, right?"

The soldiers frowned, thinking he looked familiar, and their frowns deepened as Ewan, also dressed like a farmer, stepped out. He was familiar too. And so was the woman who followed, though she dressed like a bard rather than a farmer. More than one of the soldiers eyed her long legs and luscious figure wistfully.

A Healer followed the bard, and he was completely indistinct. It was the fifth person to step out that had the soldiers starting to be alarmed. Even without a green scarf and fighting clothes, the young man in the clothing of an inventor looked a damned lot like Tyrian Southerwind. "Hang on here," one soldier muttered.

"He's not who you think he is!" Samantha complained. She turned on Tyrian and scolded, "I told you that you looked like that guy, but no you never listen to me!" She grabbed Ewan's hat and shoved it on Tyrian's head. "You wanted to come here, so hide your pretty face and not cause hysteria, got it?"

There was no way the guy was Tyrian. Seriously, the leader of the Liberation Army taking that sort of abuse from anyone? Not likely. The soldiers saluted, and one smiled apologetically. "Our sincere apologies, travelers. Things have been tense as of late. Welcome to Alphin." He helped Samantha step onto the dock and then sighed as the tall male pointedly pulled her closer. The good ones were always taken, damn it.

"Anyone want to play some dice?" Theo asked the soldiers innocently as the party made their way casually into the city.

"I feel like an idiot," Samantha muttered.

"Just smile and accept the adoration of the people whose tongues are dragging on the ground as you pass," Ewan said. He kept his arm around her shoulders and glared at several admirers for good measure. "I'll keep away the idiots for you."

"Can't I just use my sword for that?"

"Not without blowing our cover. Down, girl."

Tyrian kept his hat pulled low over his face so that his features stayed hidden from view. He could feel Cassie close by even though he couldn't see her at all. Knowing she was there let him feel safe enough to look around the city with intense curiosity.

The general state of the city was no different from Firmeza or anywhere else. The size of a city dictated only that the problems spread out over a larger space, not that they were eliminated. There were simply that many more people to lose homes and businesses. The abuse had spread out across the city, so immediately seeing the depression was not possible. Someone could fool themselves into believing everything was okay.

Visually, however, Alphin appeared very different from other cities. Built on the ocean, it was made of stone and mortar to stand against the salty sea air. Some buildings were impressively tall, and every road had been paved with stone to make travel easier. There was little wood to be had in any construction, but there were a lot of beach trees around to soften the landscape.

If it was this lovely in this state, he could only imagine how beautiful it would be once restored. He couldn't help but feel they had arrived just in time. A sort of tension hovered in the air as if the city hovered on the verge of collapse. "The city that smiles even though the dagger sinks deeper," he murmured.

"Wars are expensive," Liang said quietly. "And with this many cities liberated, Albanion and Blaine will have to depend harder on those who remain to support their troops and their cushioned lifestyle."

Tyrian nodded slightly. "Let's find General Renduex."

Finding Alex turned out to be slightly easier than they had thought. While they had expected to find him at the inn where he was supposed to be staying, they actually found him while on their way there. They also found him arguing with a grocer about the price of the supplies he was trying to buy.

Samantha walked up behind him and asked politely, "Problem?"

"He won't charge me!" he said in annoyance. "I don't want things for free, damn it!" He blinked as he realized the voice was familiar and then turned around sharply. He stared at Samantha for several seconds before his lips began to curve. "Sam, you've never looked lovelier."

"Oh, shut up!" She glared at the grocer. "Just take his money. He's a penny-pincher anyway."

"Thanks a lot!" her friend muttered as he handed the snickering grocer a handful of coins. He hefted his bag and looked at the other four people standing near. He recognized Ewan and Kyle instantly, was fairly sure he knew who the Healer was, and he felt positive he knew the young man hiding his face from view. "Should we do this the easy way, or the more formal way?"

"Let's make it formal." Samantha's sword suddenly appeared in her hand and she pressed the blade under his chin lightly. "Alexander Renduex, under laws of engagement, I demand you surrender or die, by the order of Tyrian Southerwind, leader of the Liberation Army."

People who were observing quickly cleared the area. Soldiers spotted the commotion and came running, drawing weapons as they approached. Alex held up a hand sharply. "Stop!" he ordered. "The laws of engagement have been declared!"

It was the exact same situation as with Gordon and Shots, except it was off the field of battle. Typically, the sniper was an archer, or gunner, but a close-range combatant could be just as effective if they could get close enough. Samantha had her sword against Alex's neck—she was more than close enough.

Tyrian pulled off his hat and tossed it to the side. Pointedly, he removed the gloves he wore. The mark of the Devourer glowed brightly in the sunlight as he held his hand in the air. "Do you stand or yield?" he asked Alex.

The tinniest of smiles touched Alex's lips. "Yield." He glanced at his soldiers. "You may retreat or remain."

There wasn't really a decision to be made. Every soldier in the vicinity removed their emblems and tossed them on the ground. At the sight of the army switching sides, the people of Alphin began to cheer loudly.

It took several seconds for the enormity of what had just happened to sink into Tyrian. When it did, he felt staggered emotionally. He had just claimed a checkpoint. He now controlled the eastern border of the Empire. When the turbulent season ended, trade would be coming in from the other countries, and he would be the one claiming it. The capitol was almost completely cut off from trade with Melodina and the Moors.

Cassie suddenly appeared at his side and tangled the fingers of her relic hand with his. The familiar sensation helped ground him though his head still spun lightly. "Let's talk," he told Alex.

"Indeed." Alex gestured toward the inn down the road. "After you." He grinned at Samantha. "Bards first."

"Kiss my ass." She stalked past him, and the soldiers cleared her path quickly. None of them trusted a woman that skilled when she was that pissed off and armed.

"Why did you pick that anyway?" Tyrian asked Cassie softly.

"It was the only thing in her size that would hide her identity," she said just as softly. She winced wryly. "I had a feeling she wouldn't like it."

Alex watched Samantha shove two gawking guards out of the way and also winced. "You have a mastery of understatement, my lady."

 

©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.

Chapter 32->