Akira Rises (21 page)

“No child of mine, I found love.”

Akira looked confused as she felt. Suddenly she laughed softly. “You mean that bastard's blood is not in me? I’m no kith and kin to that beast?” Relief filled Akira. It was as if a great weight had been lifted. she almost felt giddy.

“No, not one drop of blood in your veins is related to that horrid man. That beast has no credit for one precious hair on your head!” Shy laughed with Akira. It felt freeing to be rid of the secret.

“Mother, all this happiness or perhaps this water is making me sleepy.” Akira sighed, and with a new found wisdom decided she would wait until her mother volunteered the name of her true father. It was enough for her foggy brain to grasp that Baron Rolfe was not her father. She smiled sleepily. Was it the broth or water that made her feel so sleepy and relaxed she wondered. No matter. It just felt good.

Shy called out for the attendants who appeared from their discreet distance away and helped them out of the healing waters. Akira walked all the way back to the infirmary on her own. Shy helped her daughter into a dry gown and tucked her into her bed. They kissed each other's cheeks, and rubbed noses as they did when Akira was a small child. As Shy left her daughter to rest, Pater arrived with a fresh poultice. This time Akira independently lifted her gown just enough so the healer could check her wound and apply the poultice and covering.

“Tis looking better already young lady. A few more herbs and some more bone broth and you'll almost be good as new.” He made no mention of her earlier levitation. He would leave that to Mage Morgan and the young woman's mother. “With any luck you, won't have as big a scar as I thought you might. Rest now, and then later in the evening I will ask the attendants to help you back to the healing waters.” He looked at her from under his scraggly white eyebrows. A halfling, he thought, a beautiful halfling with a gift of defying the laws of levitation. The potential of her possible skills was exciting. He left, humming a chant for speedy healing.

~

Dimitri was summoned to the Mages' council hall. When he entered, Mage Morgan was standing behind a guest, Lady Shy. Lady Shy was seated on a cushioned chair with one leg elevated on a stool and her crutches within arms-length. She looked elegant and there was a new benevolent smile on her face. Gone was the sad countenance he had expected to see. Dimitri bowed.

“Welcome Lord Dimitri. I owe you a debt of gratitude for delivering my daughter, Akira, to me.”

“Ahh... was I fortunate enough to deliver your daughter to you unbeknownst to me?”

Lady Shy nodded, smiling. “Yes you did.”

“The pleasure is mine. Though I can hardly take credit for it. I was not certain who I was delivering. I had hopes. “She called herself Suraj. At our first acquaintance, she was disguised as a young boy. She had already escaped your husband's hold and was well on her way here. There was obviously more to Suraj than met my eyes. A very brave and determined daughter. Fate appears to have helped your daughter find you.”

Lady Shy chuckled. “More than meets the eyes...you can say that again.” She thought of the shock she herself had, seeing Akira floating above her bed. Lord Dimitri did not know the half of it. A slight frown quickly passed. “If you will, please never refer to Baron Rolfe as my husband. Just use his name.”

“My apologies, Lady Shy. We shall refer to that waste of skin and air by his undeserved title.”

“Thank you Lord Dimitri. I’m having my marriage annulled as soon as can be arranged. I must return home to the land of my father where I was forced to marry and petition for an annulment. If the baron thinks I’m dead, the fool will remarry. Not that I care, but if he ever finds out I’m alive and well, I shall give him no excuse to want to arrange to make certain I'm dead so my existence does not interfere with his marital status. Nor do I want him to try reclaim me as his wife. I suspect a tragic accident would befall me, and he would be happy for it. I’m hoping to leave as soon as possible. I’m told there is a tunnel one can slide down to escape the mountain in winter.”

“Yes my lady. I can provide you with an escort as soon as you can walk. I see the Mage has explained how we can transport goods and people off the mountain through a secret ice tunnel.”

Dimitri frowned reviewing in his mind what he knew of Baron Rolfe. He had no respect for Baron Rolfe. His infamous deeds and doings were well known. What services the man provided to his King Loren must have been very valuable to the eastern king, very valuable indeed for Rolfe to have been given the title of Baron. Rolfe’s service to the king was awarded with large holding of lands and a title. Dimitri had no use for the man. Baron Rolfe’s methods were barbaric in business and war. Dimitri wondered if perhaps Baron Rolfe held something over his king. If so, it would explain his need for his continual efforts to flex his strength while appearing to be a staunch supporter of the king. Or perhaps he continued to provide services to his king, services that needed to be arms-length from the king. The world of kings and thrones and politics was a dangerous place. Dimitri made up his mind instantly.

 “It will give me great pleasure to thwart any plan the baron has to cause you harm.”

“I was hoping you would feel that way.” Lady Shy looked at Dimitri. He was handsome, strong, and by all accounts a good man, an honorable man. |If Akira were to find a husband as fine as Marquise Dimitri of Fernwood, Shy would be content. It would take a very special man, a patient man, to earn her daughter's trust and respect, let alone her heart. Her child had learned men were cruel and had no experience with men of honor. Shy sighed. She soon hoped to remedy that.

“I’ve more to ask of you.”

Dimitri’s interest was piqued. What did Lady Shy want of him now that she was reunited with her daughter?

Lady Shy had been discussing with Morgan how best to protect their daughter. She looked at the man standing before her and was pleased with her plans.

Dimitri’s eyes perused the beautiful woman and then the mage. The mage placed his hand possessively on the woman’s shoulder. Her hand reached up and covered his. Clearly what was going to be asked of Dimitri was supported by the mage, and the mage’s hand on her shoulder was a message the woman was taken. The message was subtle but it left no doubt.

“My daughter's tutelage is incomplete. She has learned as much as I dared to teach her under the dreadful, oppressing circumstances she has escaped from. I want my daughter trained as a warrior.”

“A warrior?” Dimitri was surprised. “Will she be a willing student?”

“She will be an eager student. She has always wanted to fight back against those who would harm her and those she loves. Akira needs to be able to defend herself. She needs to hone her body as well as her mind. She has inner strength but physically she is weaker, and vulnerable to those with more physical strength. We suspect she has hidden gifts she knows not of that would make her a valuable acquisition to those who would use her. She is a halfling, and does not know it.”

A halfling?
Dimitri absorbed the information, looking very thoughtful. Dimitri noted the mage did not remove his hand from Lady Shy's shoulder. A sudden insight of Akira's possible parentage occurred.
No wonder Lady Shy needed to escape with her daughter from Baron Rolfe
thought Dimitri. Dimitri knew the despicable story of how Lady Shy became the baron's wife. It was why he had agreed to try rescue Akira out from under the nose of Baron Rolfe.

“Ahh, a halfling? Lady Shy, you, and Morgan need not worry about your daughter's training. I shall personally oversee training her for physical combat and self-defense. Am I to assume that Morgan is going to train her with regards to her hidden gifts?” Dimitri included the mage when he said “your daughter’s training.” Dimitri was watching the mage closely to see if his inclusion of the mage in Akira’s parentage would prompt a response, even a change of expression to confirm his suspicions.

“Your assumption is almost correct, Lord Dimitri,'” Morgan answered. “I shall oversee Lady Shy’s daughter’s lessons with aki'l. The other mages on this mountain will have a duty to assist with assessing and developing whatever gifts Akira has had repressed by her mother for their safety's sake. It is late in her life to develop skills which would have come easier in her early childhood. Lady Shy assures me however that Akira has a sharp mind, and what does not come easy will be worked for with determination.”

That Morgan had pointedly not called Akira his daughter was duly noted by Dimitri.

“I can do this. She can train with the other candidates. However, I must warn you she will be shown no special considerations. She will not be given a shield of the White Rose Order unless she has earned it.”

“Fair enough,” Lady Shy stated. “I’m sure my daughter would have it no other way.”

If Akira was a daughter of Lady Shy and Mage Morgan, Dimitri thought they were very careful to not say “our daughter.” From all that he saw of Akira, and he remembered the beautiful naked all he saw, Akira's facial resemblance to a parent was a remarkable resemblance to her beautiful mother. If Akira, being a halfling, inherited half of the powers of someone like Mage Morgan, she could prove to be a strong warrior, and a very exciting woman, thought Dimitri. There were probably many good reasons to keep secret the identity of the mage who fathered Akira for the time being. Mage Morgan's wisdom was not to be questioned.

“Then I accept the honor of training your daughter to be a warrior.” As he spoke the words to Lady Shy, Dimitri's gaze locked with Mage Morgan's.

Mage Morgan said nothing but tipped his head slightly as in approval, and perhaps thought Dimitri, the slight tip of his head was a silent affirmation Akira was his daughter.
Time will tell
thought the battle hardened warrior. No matter who Akira's father was, it was clear to him there was a bond between Lady Shy and the powerful mage.
What mage would leave his daughter under the roof of Baron Rolfe for so many years?
As soon as the question was formed in Dimitri's thoughts, it was answered just as quickly.
A mage who did not know he had a daughter would not think to rescue that which he did not know existed
, was the answer. Dimitri bowed and took his leave.

The warrior mulled over the new duty assigned him as he took leave. Akira intrigued him. She had already challenged him. In more ways than one. Suddenly his thoughts took a turn that made him uncomfortable.
Is it fate that Akira is to be trained to be a warrior? When she is no longer vulnerable I will be free to show her all men are not the same. My attraction to her must not show or get in the way of her training.
Dimitri's thoughts were scattered. He chuckled at the foolish thoughts he racing through his mind. He indulged himself with foolish thoughts for just a moment longer.
With a powerful mage for her father I had best not piss off any of the mages. I could find myself with two noses if not careful. A mage for a father-in-law could be dangerous.
Dimitri stopped in his tracks.
I’m a fool. Where does this thought of marriage come from? Am I feeling old? Has she bewitched me?

Dimitri
told himself to go soak his head and body in the healing pool. Duty dictated that Akira was off limits; off limits until she could match him in battle, defend herself, and kill as easily as any man, kill to protect the vulnerable from evil men and forces. Dimitri sighed and hoped she had strong aki'l powers that would speed up her journey to a warrior status, for the memory of her blue eyes flashing, the memory of her body under his would not leave him alone. What magic did she possess that she affected him so? He feared it would be a long winter.

Dimitri headed for the rejuvenation pool. Perhaps with luck, the attraction to the wild cat would wane as she was put to the test with the other candidates and he could get on with his duty to produce worthy warriors without distraction. There was female company down the mountain that could satisfy his physical needs in the spring. Winter would pass quickly while training the candidates, sharpening his own reflexes, and maintaining a regimen that would keep his body hard and battle ready. Meditation would prepare his mind. The healing pools would ease the aching muscles of strenuous exercises, soothe the bruises that inevitably came as candidates gained skills and their wooden dull swords found his flesh in hand to hand combat. He would take his turns testing each candidate individually. Even though his men were superior hand chosen warriors, each one had different strengths and talents to teach and test the candidates with, and Dimitri’d be the final judge of their worthiness.

Dimitri and his men trained some of the finest warriors and guardians known and unknown in their lands. The Order of the White Rose had many secret warriors and members seeded throughout the neighboring kingdoms. It was like an invisible spider web of support and allegiance to a society dedicated to keep peace among the many kingdoms. The web's center was the mountain monastery. Admittedly strands were broken, like that of the one from the kingdom where Baron Rolfe held sway over so many. But an effort was well under way to plant seeds of the White Rose into positions of power and influence near the king Baron Rolfe served. Secret communications came to and from the monastery via pigeons, doves and owls, and messengers. Smoke signals from the summit were decoded by watching eyes far below the mountain stronghold. Many looked to the mountains in times of fear and adversity, literally, for more than just a refuge. Many looked with eyes that saw more than others.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A
kira woke, stretched and looked about her new, very utilitarian sleeping chambers. The infirmary had provided the care she needed but the new accommodations for sleeping carved into the mountain provided privacy. A week filled with daily soakings in the healing pool had sped her healing. It had been so embarrassing to have her bottom exposed and tended to by strangers. It did not need tending to by anyone now. Whatever was in the bone broth she had been encouraged to drink certainly helped her to regain her strength.