Sorceress (Book 2) (25 page)

Sadly, Majherri noted that Danella had no actual good will left in her. She had become a despicable human being and he loathed her.

“So you hate me now?” she whispered, picking up on his emotional state and running a hand through his mane. “But you haven’t started fearing me yet. That is something I shall correct, Majherri.”

She led him over to where the rest of her riders gathered. “One of you feed and water my animal,” she ordered dismissively and walked away. Danella left him facing the rocks and he felt her willpower descend upon him, locking him in that position.

Majherri seethed, but could still do nothing. He would remain there until she released him. The only thing he could do is raise and lower his head. It allowed him to be fed and watered, but nothing else.

Without distractions, he concentrated on his magic and allowed his mind to think back to the lessons at The Academy. Riders were taught to meditate and understand the flow of magic through a unicorn’s body. Before, Majherri and most every other unicorn he’d conversed with, gave it little attention. The magic was inside of him – was part of him. Control had always been the role of the Battle Maiden riding the unicorn. Unicorns were taught that they were the vessel of magic and that they should grow proud and strong, so that they could hold as much as possible. Now that he had a limited ability to use his magic, the notion of understanding the flow of magic became suddenly important.

For a time, he stood in thought, not doing anything other than drinking from the bucket of water. Majherri attempted to visualize his magic and feel where Danella was constricting him. Like a human opening a tap on a barrel, he accessed a tiny sliver of his power. Previously, he’d been able to direct that power down into his hooves or to his horn. This time, using concentration, he directed that piece of magic up into his neck and held it there. It was then that the unicorn realized he had the ability to turn his head from side to side once more. The rest of him was still frozen in place, but this discovery fortified him. It was a few small paces in the right direction.

Wanting to confirm his theory, Majherri pushed the piece of magic down into his left foreleg. As expected, his neck became unresponsive and locked back into position, but he was now able to lift a hoof from the ground. This pleased the unicorn, but he tried to tamp down his excitement. He wouldn’t be free on this day. That much was certain but, once he mastered the control of the magic coursing through his body, the day of his liberation would be at hand.

Danella approached, obviously sensing the change in his demeanor, and said, “What have you stirred up over here?”

Majherri responded with the first thing he could think of – an image of Kayleigh and him working in the first year stables together followed by Count Darius informing Danella of Kayleigh’s paternity and that his rider’s plans for vengeance were forbidden.

After all,
he thought.
You’re just as much a slave as I am
.

Naturally, this infuriated his rider and she retaliated by taking away his ability to move at all and left him. Even so, Majherri was surprisingly upbeat. Disciplined like a human child, who had been sent to the corner of a room for misbehavior, didn’t faze the unicorn. For it was there, stuck in that position where began plotting the beginnings of his own personal rebellion.

She placed the responsibility for the deaths of the humans and the unicorns in that village on my back. There are only two deaths I plan to be responsible for from here on out…my rider and the horrible man who she serves.

The wait for the Ice Claw chieftain’s reply became considerably better for Majherri once he made his breakthrough and he rededicated himself to mastering the magic inside his body. For at least the hundredth time since the day he encountered the snake, the unicorn pondered if the ability to wield magic without a rider might be something that another unicorn could be taught.

Perhaps it is only an extension of my tainted link with my rider,
he thought.
If I ever free myself from her grip, it might go away. Still, I could part with it, if it meant my freedom.

By the time Danella released Majherri, he’d counted the patches of moss covering the rock he faced and had made a number of other mundane observations to keep himself occupied. Feeling his body loosen and respond his to command again, he turned and saw Danella beckon for his presence at her side. He obeyed and saw what must be the chieftain amidst his people. The rest of the Yar were mumbling a droning chant, praising the animal spirit who represented their tribe.

They revere the spirits of animals,
Majherri thought.
I suppose I can appreciate that part of their culture.

Chief Harik stood in his beastform. The tallest man near the beast only came to the creature’s chest. His face was swollen with an exaggerated jawline and the arms appeared to be much longer in proportion to the creature’s body, extending easily to his knees. Thick hair covered Harik everywhere, a mixture of black and white. The beast moved easily, reminding Majherri of Gyer the Manticore, announcing his power. Majherri took Harik’s measure and decided that it would be a good fight, but the unicorn had his own level of confidence that he could prevail.

Raising his arms and waving them in the air, Harik signaled his people and the chanting stopped. His figure shimmered and seemed to shrivel as Majherri saw the creature replaced by a man.

“Greetings witch,” he said. “I am Harik Ice Claw, Third of Eleven, breaker of spines and slayer of all who oppose me. You wish words with me and I have come. Speak now!”

Danella smiled widely and said, “I am an envoy of a mighty sorcerer who brings an army from the Great Desert in the West. He sees the waste and corruption seeping from the court of the so-called High-King to these petty nobles who rule their pitiful cities and has decided that it is time for a new order!”

“And what does a faraway war have to do with my clan?”

“Opportunity Chief Ice Claw – that is what we speak of. These kingdoms will be asked by the High-King for warriors and supplies to fight under his banner. My master wishes that these nobles find themselves too busy to aid his enemy and that is where you and the other tribes will find this opportunity.”

“So you wish my kin to die for the sake of your master. I see how he would benefit, but fail to see what reward is worth such a risk on my tribe’s behalf.”

“My lord is a reasonable man,” Danella answered. “When the High-King asks, the nobles will send those who are young and eager for war. When those first troops set out, that is when we strike.”

“When did you join our ranks?”

“I am not without talents of my own,” she replied.

“So you say,” the man said with a dismissive tone. “My men said you like to play with fire. Now that you have said what your master wants, what is he prepared to give?”

“I have jewels and other baubles to offer as tribute, but I sense that you seek something more. I am told that these mountains are sacred to your people, but there are fertile lands to the south…lands that once belonged to your people generations ago and taken by nobles anointed by High-Kings and Queens. My master is not concerned with their claims and will gladly recognize your prior ownership of them. Perhaps, along the way, you might even become First of Eleven.”

The bearded man made a show of stroking his chin. “Very well, I would hear more of your plans, witch. You and your men are welcome in our camp as honored guests.”

“I thank you, Chief of the Ice Claws.”

Majherri wondered how much, or more appropriately, how little honor his rider had left in her.

Traveling with the desert nomads, Majherri could still hold his head high because they knew he was a unicorn. To the Yar, he was just another horse and had to play his demeaning role. The Yar had few horses. Most of their livestock were goats and other hardy beasts that were more useful in the region. Children ran and played. Some of them even tried to come over to see the horses, only to be ushered away by their minders. Fortunately, he was able to lose himself in the cluster of beasts and did not have to suffer the indignity of being touched.

If Danella is looking for cavalry, she will clearly need to look elsewhere.

The Yar village, such as it was, consisted of a collection of crude huts and tents made of cloth and animal skins. Majherri estimated the total population to be between five and seven hundred souls, with only a third of them fighters. Considering this was the third most powerful tribe, Danella would have to unite most of the clans to field anything more than just a large group of raiders. Her task wouldn’t be easy or done quickly and that pleased the unicorn. Just as Count Darius wished for these savages to distract his enemies, Majherri wanted Danella where she could do as little damage as possible.

Unfortunately he could not risk practicing his magic, other than moving that small piece around the various parts of his body. From what little he could sense of his rider’s mood, her negotiations were proceeding. She was in a large covered area that served as a gathering spot and enjoying herself without blood being shed.

As the sun set, the temperature began to fall and Majherri used the tiny bit of magic he had access to and it allowed him to stay warm. Nothing seemed amiss until a runner came barreling into the camp. Majherri almost hadn’t notice the man, but he did see the determined Yar warrior charging across the uneven ground. Pondering this new development, he wondered what news the man carried.

Minutes passed and Danella’s mood went from amusement to hostility. Before he could even process what was going on, he felt himself bolting in her direction as she called him to her side. He sensed Danella wanted him ready for battle.

Shouts of anger turned to pain as Majherri forced his way through the crowd, injuring several. Danella was fending off Harik’s blows with her sword held in both hands. She danced to the side and swiped at the roaring man beast, her blade encased in a brilliant red flame.

“I don’t care if they were under your protection!” Danella shouted.

Harik snarled.

“So be it,” she said flicking her eyes over to meet Majherri’s.

He lowered his head aiming by instinct. Chief Ice Claw sensed his approach and wheeled to face him, not quite comprehending what a charging horse was doing there. The man beast reared back with the intentions of knocking a stupid animal aside. Instead, the unicorn in horse’s guise executed a pair of quick direction changes that allowed Majherri a chance to get inside Harik’s elongated reach.

Fetching that piece of magic he’d kept working with before, Majherri drove it up into his horn and felt fire encase it as he collided with beastform and drove his flaming horn into the nearest part of the enemy.

The impact was significant, sending a shudder through the unicorn’s body. A clawed hand raked against his side, sending needles of pain through his flank. There was the sound of bones snapping and the stench of burning hair and flesh filled Majherri’s nostrils.

Harik went to the ground, the weight and momentum carried Majherri with him. The flaming horn had penetrated the side of the chest and taken a pair of the beastman’s ribs in the process of inflicting a savage wound. Even so, the human was not done for as Majherri was bucked and tossed aside by an inhuman strength. It didn’t rival the netherbeast, but was still formidable.

Danella was suddenly at his side and her blade intercepted a spear thrusting at Majherri’s exposed flanks. His rider’s slashing block snapped the weapon in two and she brought her sword through the strike, slashing the attacker across his chest. With her free hand, she clutched at Majherri and pulled a stream of magic from his body that made the small amount he could control seem paltry.

“Die,” she commanded and pointed the tip of her blade at the beastman.

Harik coiled on his legs and leapt at them. Majherri raised his flaming horn to intercept, but Danella’s fiery onslaught erupted just beside his head. Both the tent above and the creature were engulfed by the inferno she released. The screams of the snow beast were cut short and the jump was blocked by her flame.

Dying, the creature fell short of his targets and he rolled into two of the poles supporting the material over their heads. This last act brought sections of the covering down on top of them like a big net.

The area near Majherri didn’t survive Danella’s powerful burst of flame, which left them an opening. Others weren’t nearly as fortunate as they watched the shapes squirm their way to freedom.

The fight sent waves of exhilaration through Danella. She waited there as the people crawled to the edges and emerged or managed to push their way through the tent. The Yar warriors clutched their weapons and looked both angry and uncertain. Her men were held at spear point and Majherri sensed she didn’t really care about their fate.

The warrior from the rock who had first addressed the group stood ready to hurl his weapon. “You’ll die for this, witch! Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Killed a fool who attacked me,” she answered. “And now another less powerful fool stands before me.”

“You can’t kill us all! One of us will bring you down. Everyone, ready yourselves. We shall avenge our chieftain.”

“No!” another Yar shouted. “Her fate will be decided by the next chieftain! It is the way, Royt and you would dishonor your father and all he stood for if you forsake our traditions.”