Dusk Falling (Book 1) (34 page)

SkyRift side-glanced at the saurian. “You know who and what he is yet you still choose to put yourself into willful danger for his cause, despite his general unpleasant nature towards your team…”

“
His
cause?” Serrtin laughed. “It’s our cause now. He wants no part of it but has to go along with it all because of the Seal spell. I’ll admit it’s not exactly playing fair but without the one who cast it, he won’t be free of it.”

“Where is this companion now?”

“We aren’t sure. Kcrie always kept to herself and it wasn’t till later we realized she was gone- she is an Asrai, see.”

SkyRift nodded as they turned a corner. Dee’s shop was now visible. Agemeer sat discreetly outside the door, tongue lolling. Serrtin could see in his over-relaxed posture that it was all an act. “When you said the Yashvre didn’t want any part of this, I think maybe you are not entirely correct. I think a small part of him does appreciate what you are doing.” He met Serrtin’s eye. “A very small part, mind you.”

They shared a laugh.

~ ~ ~

Genlo found the whole situation insufferable. His expression as well as body posture said as much. He sat on one of the shop’s stools in a dour sulk whilst Aya and Dee spoke nearby. Genlo’s white clothes were folded on the table.

They all looked up when the door bells jingled.

“Well, well,” Serrtin said, eyeing the Jrahda-trethen. “Glad to see you thought better of being a moving target from five miles away.”

“If you are done treating me like a child’s toy, can we leave now?” He slid off the stool and Serrtin could have sworn his cheeks were slightly flushed from the attention. But then again, it could have just been irritation.

Genlo wore a kit very similar to the one Dee had worn in his days as a Circuit Hunter, down to the chest armor of boiled leather. Serrtin saw with amusement the guard was even on the right side as Dee had once worn it. Genlo’s shirt was of a dark azure blue, his hands covered by his long brown leather gloves. Apparently, the Elfkin couldn’t be talked into removing them. His tan breeches were not as loose as his white pants and were as fit as Dee
could get them without losing an arm were he to try to get exact measurements and tucked into dark boots. From his belt hung light hip armor. Dee managed to fit the Jrahda-trethen into a bit of harcsker metal that Serrtin was sure to recognize. The armband on the right was Dee’s. The saurian smiled in reminiscence, stopping herself from commenting on the youths long white hair in light of the gift he was not even aware he possessed. “Dee, I owe you for this.”

“I know.” The tailor kidded.

“Here, take this. It ought to cover all the costs.” She forced him to take a fistful of coins equaling about a hundred silver.

“S-Serrtin, truly, this is too much. I can’t accept-”

“For the trouble the brat caused you, take it.”

“Wha-? No, no trouble. Really.” Dee said, avoiding looking directly at Genlo.

“If you don’t take it, I’ll break your legs.” Serrtin said, congenially. “Then you can use the coins for the healer’s fees.”

Dee stared at her owl-eyed until he realized she was joking. Only Serrtin could say a line like that with a smile and actually be meaning it. He laughed and pocketed the silver. His smile faded quickly as the bells on the door jingled once more and two Larren entered the shop. Dee’s expression grew closed.

The two men wore bits of mismatched armor, one sported a thick richly-cut cloak. There was an arrogance in their eyes and in their swagger that turned the stomachs in the room in disgust. Both wore swords at their hips.

“Excuse me a moment.” Dee said, pacing over to greet the pair. “Afternoon gentlemen, I’m afraid I will not be able to repair the damage to your tunic and scabbard to the exact specifications as hoped. I can replace the arm with new material but it’ll be impossible to-”

“Hold on now! You said you could do it!” Cried the first Larren, mustache twitching.

“I said I would try as best I could but made no guarantee.” Dee said. “The scabbard’s front design can be saved but the leather siding will need to be replaced completely.”

“That tunic was my favorite.” The man growled.

“I-I am sorry.” Dee apologized.

“Sorry isn’t good enough.” The second Larren said, advancing a step. He flicked his cloak away from his sword hilt.

“I don’t want any trouble.” Dee said, hands up.

Serrtin was about to intervene on her old friend’s behalf when a fast-moving figure suddenly brushed past her. It was Dee’s wife and apparently her husband had said the ‘words of summoning’. Or perhaps some other sense tipped off his wife that her mate was becoming mired in his overly-nice nature. Rethenda crossed the floor in light no-nonsense steps, arriving beside Dee with hands on rounded hips.

“What’s going on here?” She demanded. One look at the hardset mouth and cold eyes (even foregoing the sharp sickle-bladed knife) and Rethenda’s past occupation (if not present) was revealed. She had been a guardsman, a merc bodyguard, and a damn fine one.

Even Dee seemed surprised by her forceful arrival. It did not take the woman long to usher the potential disaster back out into the streets. Even the two Larren reprobates were not quite sure what had happened or how their purses were willingly lighter of coin.

A few minutes afterward, Serrtin felt at ease with her old partner’s current place in life, much more so than when she first arrived. He was in good hands and she need not worry for his health with a partner such as he had. That Rethenda would have made an excellent Hunter.

Rethenda moved them into the backroom which turned out to be their living quarters. Their young son stayed in the bedroom at the woman’s request whilst Rethenda prepared a fast luncheon. The light meal went by and Dee brought up the topic of staying longer. “Are you in a rush? You could stay if you need a place for the night. It wouldn’t be any trouble.”

“Sorry. We can’t. We are in a bind for time.”

“Um, though I probably will regret asking, is there anything wrong?” Dee asked, studying the kitchen table.

Serrtin glanced at Aya. “Sorry, Dee, I can’t tell you or I may just regret it myself.” Rethenda gave the barest of nods, as if acknowledging the saurian’s want to keep Dee out of the situation that was brewing. Dee was the type to offer help if he knew something bad was happening. “Things have become… complicated.”

“Should I be expecting visitors? ‘Friends’ of your acquaintance?”

“I don’t think so but, if company does come a’callin’, don’t lie to protect us. Tell them the truth about everything.”

Dee smiled a humorless smile. “It was good seeing you again, my friend. Perhaps next you visit, you can stay a little while longer.”

“I will.” Serrtin replied fondly. “This will be over soon enough. You take care.”

After saying their collective farewells, the team headed out. Aya made certain Genlo’s white clothing was stored safely. The city fell behind without incident and their footsteps moved to a northern ascent. The way was easy going and fairly flat, though the tree coverage did not offer much protection from watching eyes. Le’insurad’s tree-filled lands passed in the span of a few days and then they reached the Province of Asab-Hevey. There were many varieties of thicket and bush in the north, more so than trees.

Night eventually fell and they camped under the stars. Watch was taken in turns until the GoldenSphere again warmed the sky. In the normal formation that found Agemeer ranging ahead, followed by Serrtin then Aya, they took to their feet. SkyRift acted as rearguard. Genlo took the arrangement as an opportunity to match the Bren girl’s steps if only for the reason of questioning her. “Have you forgotten our deal?”

“N-no, no I haven’t.”

“
And
?”

“And, I think with steady concentration, I can nullify all effects from the Seal spell.”

Genlo’s expression lightened. “Nullify all affects?”

“Yes. The Seal will still be there but you will neither feel it nor be affected by it. The spell will still be… well, connected to my Grandmother’s necklace.”

“And the necklace can’t be destroyed because it might cause repercussions we can’t prepare for.” Genlo said. “Well, I suppose it’s better than nothing. For now.”

Aya made an affirmative sound. It was warm and sunny out; the mage tilted her face towards the sky. Genlo continued to walk beside her and she rather liked the company. He normally skulked at a distance from her, only joining the team upon necessary. When he was not being rude or unpleasant, Aya rather enjoyed being around trethen.

He had not walked off yet in his usual lone-wolf way, even Serrtin noted the position change. She was not aware of the bargain struck between the two. She only saw the budding comradery of youth.

“So, are you going to do it?” Genlo asked, slight tension in is voice revealing he had been expecting something from her.

“Oh…” Aya said, tilting her face from the sky and back to the dirt. He had his reasons for being nice company after all. To herself, “If I release all of the Seal, he could become a danger again. I don’t think Serrtin would like that…”

Genlo read the dilemma in her eyes. “Worried I might do something still?”

“I want to trust you. It’s just…”

Instead of scowling, the Jrahda-trethen’s expression went unexpectedly solemn. “I’ve heard those words before. About a year ago. Seems like longer sometimes… other times it feels like yesterday…”

“What do you mean?” Aya questioned softly.

“I knew someone once…” He trailed off.

“Could this be the ‘something dear’ SkyRift spoke of? A person?”, She thought. Then, “What happened to this someone?” She ventured to ask but Genlo had had enough of sharing and his walls slammed shut once more.

“What does it matter? You’re meddlesome, you know that?” Genlo said crossly. “You’re as annoying as he was. Yukarim was also fond of asking stupid questions of things he needn’t know anything about.”

Aya stopped dead in her tracks.

Her heart thumped painfully in her chest. She couldn’t breath. Slowly she turned to Genlo who had stopped walking as well. “Yukarim? Yukarim Mythren? Is that of whom you speak? My brother’s name is Yukarim. How do you know my brother’s name?”

Chapter 26

“Y-Yukarim… was your brother?” Genlo’s color had gone ashen, the gray around his eyes becoming more pronounced.

“How do you know him? And why do you say ‘was’? What do you know? Is he alright? Tell me!” Aya demanded. Drawn by her voice, Serrtin, Agemeer and SkyRift joined them. The mage took a step toward the Elfkin and to everyone’s surprise, he took a faltering step back. Genlo continued to stare at her wordlessly with eyes whose pupils were like pinpricks.

“B-but you said you killed the Bren you stole your clothes from… That’s what you said when we first met. A-are you saying…” Her eyes stung and she could barely get out her next question. “… Are saying… Did you kill my brother? Gods Above,
answer me!”

Tears streamed unchecked down her cheeks. No, it was not possible. Not her brother. Not Yukarim. Could it be another man named Yukarim? Genlo couldn’t have,
he just couldn’t have
!

Aya reached out a hand- if to strike him or to grab hold of him she did not know which. She wanted him to say something- anything- not simply stand there.

Genlo was gone before she could do either. He took off at a full-out run, fast as only the Elves were and was gone from sight.

Serrtin put a hand on the mage’s shoulder in silent sympathy. Agemeer whined in canine fashion. SkyRift closed his eyes and turned away; he alone knew something of the truth but remained silent. He knew it would eventually be learned. Yukarim, the elder brother Aya had left home in emulation of, had once come across the Yashvre now called Genlo, forever changing his life and now…

With hands covering her face, Aya sunk to the ground and sobbed.

~ ~ ~

Yukarim Mythren always had exceptional senses. He had been top of his class, better even than some of the teachers if talk was to be believed. He’d found himself in Gevra-Deln, the nearby lands of Thabinthira a beckoning
fascination to the Bren mage. He could almost feel the ebb and flow of the lands tainted powers like a strange monstrous heartbeat. The effects of Thabinthira on the minds and bodies of those that stayed too long within range of that portentous heart became his passion and he began to study it wholeheartedly.

Yukarim took up residence in the northern hills, content to live a solitary and meager existence if only for a short time while he gained enough significant findings to earn a place in the courts of Indelsis. Knowledge of Thabinthira’s ever-changing inhospitable landscapes was not common, the Regency would pay handsomely to keep him employed.

The mountains he lived in became well-known to him to the point of knowing whenever an outsider put foot to soil at a distance of a single mile of his home. A traveler or two was to be expected and forgiven but the presence he suddenly felt was no mere wayfarer. It was vicious and destructive, projecting a negativity that would keep any sane being out of its path. Whoever it was, it was strong.

Yukarim was not particularly defensive of his little cabin in the mountains. It was his home and housed his months of work but the land itself was not his to claim. Other than the occasional rock seder, he had nary any trouble.

But the malicious presence Yukarim could not ignore. Not as close as it was. Setting aside scroll and quill, the mage strove to his feet. Thin-rimmed glasses were removed and sat aside. He took up his sword before leaving the cottage.

The Bren could sense the beings passage would lead close to his home, a mere twenty yards to be exact. Yukarim decided to wait at that crossing point, knowing he would need whatever advantage he could get.

His senses were never wrong.

The rocky outcropping the mage chose gave him first glance at the being before he himself could be seen. His solid mental barriers would mask the rest.

Or should have.

To Yukarim’s abject dismay, the being slowed before reaching his hiding place. The flinty eyes that searched the surrounding area were mercilessly thorough. The Bren felt a prickle of fear, an icy chill that ran up his spine as he ducked behind a rock. “What is this? There’s no way he should be able to sense my presence. I better be careful. He’s no amateur.”