Ebudae (3 page)

“Egg stuff?” Ebudae rolled her eyes. “I see
that it doesn’t matter how clear we make your mind, you’re
obviously going to remain a barbarian all your life.”

“Hey!” Pelya thwapped her on the shoulder.
“I am not a barbarian, you brat!” They laughed and shoved each
other playfully before relaxing on the couch. Pelya turned her head
left and right. “This is amazing,” she said in an awed voice. “It
feels good, like I can handle anything. It also feels private, like
no one could ever see what I’m thinking.”

“That’s what it does. It still takes energy
out of you, but nowhere near as much as a lot of other spells that
protect the mind, and tiredness doesn’t hit you until after a few
hours when the effects start to wear off.” It was one of Ebudae’s
favorite spells and she used it every day for the last year because
she liked how sharp it made her mind feel. She was
so
in
tune with it that the effects lasted all day, wearing off only when
she went to sleep.

“I’m
hungry
,” Pelya said. Magic took
a lot out of a person and the spell was a strong one, meaning that
she would need three or four meals worth of food to compensate.
After that, Ebudae knew her friend would collapse from exhaustion
and sleep until morning before demanding a large enough breakfast
to feed multiple people.

“Alright, let’s get some food.” They headed
down to the kitchen.

Chapter
2

The green glass that made up the large
conservatory was rare and expensive. Beautiful plants filled the
room with fragrant aromas. Fortunately, it didn’t overpower the
delectable tastes of the excellent breakfast the girls shared with
Pelya’s father and Ebudae’s grandmother the next day.

“So, where do the two of you plan on going?”
Frath Jornin asked sternly from where he sat with folded arms. Even
sitting in the chair across the glass-topped, wrought-iron table,
Pelya’s father towered over everyone. When standing, he was
six-feet, three-inches tall. Wavy black hair touched the shoulders
of the brown City Guard tunic he wore over a chain shirt. Years of
wielding a sword in the Guard had honed his muscles, making him
thick and strong. If that weren’t enough, he had a reputation as a
great swordsman and a powerful fighter.

Most intimidating of all, were brilliant
purple eyes that sparkled like amethyst gems. Shortly after Pelya’s
birth, he had disappeared for a few days and become God-Touched. It
meant that a god had directly touched his mind, an event that drove
most people insane or outright killed them.

Ebudae knew him to be a good man though. He
had saved her grandmother and mother when he was only fourteen,
younger than she and Pelya were currently. Frath was also well
respected in the Dralin City Guard, holding the rank of master
sergeant.

“We’re going to Carnival, Daddy,” Pelya said
around a bite of the pancakes on her third plate of breakfast that
morning.

Frath eyed the amount of food suspiciously
and was about to say something else, but let it go instead. “This
makes me nervous.” He scratched the side of his nose, which had
been broken more than once. The statement worried Ebudae. Her
grandmother notoriously did her best to make Ebudae suffer. There
was no telling how she would respond.

“Nonsense. They’re capable young women.”
Lady Pallon had a strong, clear voice that sounded like a spoon
ringing against crystal. Wrinkles created by decades of smiling
lined her face, but she sat tall and straight despite her age. Dark
pink eyes, which were common in Dralin and much of the world, held
vast intelligence and wisdom. “Of course, they may do something
foolish and get themselves killed. That would certainly ease our
burden, hmm?”

Frath’s face reddened and he looked ready to
leap out of his chair and throttle the old woman. Ebudae gasped
involuntarily and shrank back in her chair. Lady Pallon didn’t
react, other than to put her chin on the back of a hand and smirk
at Frath.

Pelya’s father settled back and rubbed his
face with both hands. “It’s so hard to tell when you’re teasing me
because I know you mean it when you say things like that.” Instead
of being offended, Lady Pallon laughed aloud. She neither admitted
nor denied the accusation. Frath turned to Ebudae. “I’m sorry you
had to be raised by your grandmother. You’ve turned into a fine
young woman in spite of it.” A corner of his mouth turned up in
amusement and a facet of his amethyst eyes glinted.

“Thank you, Sir.” Ebudae didn’t know how
else to respond. Frath had always treated her with respect and was
the only adult to do so. She would die if he ever said anything
harsh to her. To make matters worse, she didn’t consider herself a
fine young woman by any means. Her entire life had consisted of
sneaking around in dark ruins, reading forbidden books and learning
magic that could kill people. Only Pelya knew that Ebudae
had
killed a person with magic.

“You don’t need to be so serious. It’d be
nice to see you smile every now and then, lass.” Frath said in his
strong, deep voice. Ebudae tried to smile, even though she didn’t
feel happy. She lifted the corners of her mouth and showed her
teeth. Frath jerked back in alarm. “Umm . . . never mind. You don’t
need to smile.”

The food filling Pelya’s mouth shot out onto
her plate as she tried to laugh. She became lost in a fit that was
half choking, half laughter, totally missing Ebudae’s piercing
glare.

Lady Pallon looked at the scene with a
raised eyebrow. “Well, that’s enough of that. It’s time to be rid
of you. Go off to Carnival and try not to get yourselves killed,
kidnapped, turned into prostitutes, or into one of the Deformed.”
She took a sip of tea. “I will stay here and enjoy a peaceful day
in my conservatory.”

The girls jumped up, ready to leave before
she changed her mind. Frath glared at his longtime friend again as
he stood. “I have things to do, so I’ll see them out.”

“You’re not going to stay?” Lady Pallon
asked innocently.

“I consider you a true friend, but there are
times when you infuriate me. Good day, Milady.” He bowed curtly and
spun to leave, gesturing for the girls to follow him.

The girls ran after him, trying to keep up
with his long stride. Ebudae expected her grandmother to say
something before they moved out of earshot, but no words followed
them. She made it a point not to look back, in fear that the nasty
old woman’s gaze might turn her to stone.

They passed through the main hall to the
front entry in no time at all. Frath threw open the doors and
marched down the front walkway. Pelya and Ebudae closed the doors
frantically and then ran after him, only catching up at the main
gate.

A squirrel rushed down a branch of the tree
to one side of the gate and spoke words to make the black iron
open. Once on the sidewalk bordering the wide, cobbled street,
Frath stopped with hands on hips. The girls stopped behind him, not
daring to say anything. Suddenly he turned. After staring at them
for a moment, he let out a large breath and visibly relaxed. “I’m
sorry. It just makes me so . . .” He inhaled and let the breath out
slowly. “You ladies enjoy yourself, but please,
please
stay
out of trouble,” he pleaded. “I worry about you . . .”

“We’ll be fine, Daddy. I promise.” Pelya
gave him a great big hug. Then she took Ebudae by the hand and the
two girls ran off down the street.

They stopped running as soon as they were
out of sight around the corner. “That was the most nerve wracking
thing ever!” Ebudae said in relief as they moved along the
sidewalk.

“I thought daddy was going to kill your
grandmother.”

“So did I,” Ebudae agreed.

“See, I
told
you he gets angry,”
Pelya said. “It’s scary when he gets like that. He does it with me
sometimes. It’s like he’s going to punch me or something.”

That concerned Ebudae and she took her
friend by both arms, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. “Tell
me the truth, has he hit you?”

Pelya shook her head. “No. It just feels
like he
wants
to, like he’s mad at me and he balls his hands
up into fists.” There was fear in her eyes. “It would hurt a lot if
he did hit me. I’m tough, but . . .”

“He’s not going to hit you. Call me silly if
you want, but I don’t think he’ll ever hurt you like that.” Ebudae
felt it strongly and hoped with all her heart it was true.

The words seemed to get through. “You think
so?” Pelya asked hopefully.

“Yes. I do.”

“Alright. That makes me feel better. Thank
you.” They hugged fiercely.

“Pelya Jornin?” A clear, powerful voice came
from the street next to them. They looked up to see a man in
shining, plate armor sitting atop a magnificent warhorse. His eyes
were the same color of the sky above him. His face was strong and
noble, but kind at the same time. Dark blonde hair fell to his
shoulders and matched the neatly trimmed beard and mustache. A fine
orange tunic had a golden sun embroidered on the chest and matched
the cloak flowing down his back. Both girls curtseyed, recognizing
him as a knight.

“Yes, Sir Knight?” Pelya responded. Ebudae
remembered Pelya telling her about a knight she met when she was
ten. It was the day her Uncle Bobbell had died, one that Pelya had
tried to forget ever since.

“Are you well, Pelya Jornin?” he asked.

“Yes, Sir Knight.”

“And is your father well?”

“Yes, Sir Knight. You asked after my father
once before. Please tell me how you know him.” Pelya’s speech was
very formal, showing respect to the man.

“I was at the Shining Shield Inn the day you
were born, lass. Your father took responsibility for you and held
you with pride, though his eyes despaired at the loss of your
mother.” A look of sadness crossed his face. “It was obvious that
he truly loved her. I gave my blessings at her funeral a few days
after.” He looked at the wrought iron fence of Lady Pallon’s manor.
It wasn’t possible to see through it due to the enormous bushes
inside that kept viewers from seeing in. “This is the manor where
the ashes were spread by the dry fountain, isn’t it?”

When Pelya didn’t answer, Ebudae looked to
see tears streaming down her face. She wrapped an arm around her
friend’s shoulders and answered the knight. “Yes, Sir Knight.
Except the fountain holds crystal clear water and has worked since
that day.”

He smiled, exposing brilliantly white teeth.
“That is good to hear.” He turned back to Pelya. “It was not my
intention to upset you, Pelya Jornin. I am sorry to see the grief
in you.”

Pelya nodded. “I’m s . . . sorry,” she
stammered, wiping the tears off the best she could. Ebudae handed
her a handkerchief.

“Not at all. It is good to grieve for those
you love.” His voice was gentle and filled with concern. Then he
straightened. “Do you remember me telling you that there would come
a time when I would need your assistance?”

Pelya nodded, an expression of curiosity on
her face as she wiped away the last tears.

“That time is coming closer,” the knight
said gravely. “It will require bravery beyond your years. You will
not be required to assist me if you do not wish. I pray that you
find it within your heart to do so though.” He bowed. “Reanna’s
blessings upon you and your father. May her light guide your way
through darkness.” With that, he turned his horse and rode off down
the street. His squire and another man followed him, nodding as
they passed.

“That was . . .
odd
,” Ebudae said
after a moment.

“Uh huh. It was like that last time too,”
Pelya replied. She used the handkerchief to wipe her face a little
better. “I know that Reanna is the Goddess of the Sun and that she
has few followers because most people follow her older brother, the
God of Sun. I don’t know why the sun needs a god
and
a
goddess.”

“What do you think he’s going to need your
assistance with?” It sounded like an adventure to Ebudae and she
loved adventures. “Wait . . . you
are
going to let me help
aren’t you?” The thought of her friend having an adventure without
her drove a dagger in her heart.

“Of course!” Pelya replied, linking arms.
“We’re going to have
all
our adventures together.” She
became thoughtful. “I don’t know what he wants. It’ll probably be
dangerous.”

“Good. It’s more fun when our lives are in
danger. The blood rushes through my veins and everything starts
moving in slow motion around us. It’s so neat!” Ebudae skipped
ahead and did a spin.

“Seriously, you have problems!” Pelya said
with a laugh as she skipped alongside. “Can you believe we’re out
in the city alone?”

They both stopped and looked around at the
people moving along the wide, tree-lined street. Workers carried
supplies over their backs or in small carts while ladies of wealth
wearing liberal amounts of perfume walked to the park or market,
each protected by wary bodyguards. Occasionally a carriage carrying
a rich merchant would roll by. The sound of traffic and voices
mingled with the songs of birds chirping merrily in the warm
morning air.

It was the same city the girls had seen
before, but always in the accompaniment of an adult capable of
protecting them. Dralin was the most dangerous city in the world, a
fact no one disputed. In addition to unbearable crime rates, there
were more wizards in the city than in any two countries combined.
So many people using magic created terrible, supernatural pollution
on top of the normal pollution generated from smoke, tanneries,
smithies and all of the other aspects of a city filled with
millions of people.

The magical pollution was deadly, forming
iridescent green puddles in back alleys and gutters. To touch it
was to become one of the Deformed, creatures whose skin and mind
were eaten away. They walked through the streets looking for more
pollution to eat in crazed hunger.