Techromancy Scrolls: Adept (26 page)

That sent shivers down my spine, realizing how delicate fate really was. Then something she said earlier sprang to mind and I asked, “As you and me?”

She nodded and said, “Yes child, you have the sight, but it is locked inside, you need to bloom. Hold the seeing stone and let it guide your vision.”

I looked at the stone and asked, “What vision?”

She smiled and said softly, “The one keeping you up at night. I saw this day coming and knew I had to help you see, lives depend on it, but I do not know how.”

Lives? I looked at her then the stone and reached for it. It slid away from me. She chuckled. “You must not use your Altii magiks, they interfere with your spirit energies.” I looked at her and looked at my hand, covered in arcing amber energy that was dripping all over the table and the floor. I calmed myself and felt them receded back into me and my vision flattened.

I looked at the seeing stone and it was just clear glass now. I reached out timidly and it let me grasp it this time, and I screamed when the lightning struck me. No, it was my dream again. There were just those snapshots in time. Incomplete but clearer than they had ever been. I dropped the stone as Celeste turned her bloody face to me and said, “Run Laney!”

I was back in the gypsy wagon hyperventilating and amber energy thrummed through me and silverware and tin plates and other metal objects were swirling around me like a tempest. Mother didn't even blink, her eyes were on mine.

Then she reached through the whirlwind of metal, somehow avoiding being struck and she took my hand. I could see the white mists coil up my arm and they caressed my face, filling me with calm warmth. Then all the metal clattered to the ground as my energies seemed to go to sleep.

She asked as I looked around in embarrassment and started picking up the metal clutter around the ground and on the table, “Did your vision resolve itself?”

I shook my head and she made a placating gesture and said, “Sit, don't worry about that.”

I sat feeling the blush of my embarrassment. Then I thought about what I saw and said, “It was clearer now and I remember all of it now. It was as if it were actually happening this time.”

She blinked at that. “Transference? You are full of surprises child.” Then she picked up the seeing stone. “Let me see if I cannot see more now that the stone has tasted you.”

Without my power, I could still feel the immense energy the woman gathered to her and seemed to feed to the stone. Her eyes went white again and she sat unmoving for ten minutes. Then she blinked and her eyes were back to the sharp blue. She pushed the stone away from her like it might bite her and she was breathing hard.

She shook her head. “You poor child. So much depends on your decisions the coming days.”

I was getting apprehensive and asked in a shaky voice, “What did you see?”

She shook her head. “Two possible futures for you, both filled with pain. Depending on your decisions, you will either save the people of the lands or be their downfall. All depending upon how much pain you can endure.”

I asked, “What was it, Mother? What did you see?”

She shook her head. “I may have already said too much. I dare not influence your decisions.” Then she held up a finger. “But I know I must give you this. I saw it in both visions.” She dug in the drawer and came out with a slim silver necklace with a small silver goat charm on it.

I swallowed, trying not to panic over the ramifications that she had eluded to. I was a nobody, with virtually no power. The fate of anyone but myself shouldn't be in my hands. I reached a shaky hand out to it and accepted it with bowed head. I could taste it as soon as I held it. It was made of magnesium.

I tried to remember the lessons about metals Donovan had been teaching me. There were trace amounts of magnesium in the human body. It burned at such high temperatures it put out a blinding light. It could be mixed with other metals to lighten them without losing strength. That was all I remembered.

She stood and walked behind me and pulled my hair back, running her fingers through it. “Such lovely long tresses.” I blushed and put the necklace on wondering why it was important.

I said, “Thank you, Mother.”

She nodded then said, “Your people will be here three minutes before sunset. Until then, rest, have Sylvia look at your chest, you move stiffly, I fear you are not fully healed.”

I absently touched my chest. “It is only a bruise, she has already done too much for me, as have you.”

She cocked an eyebrow almost playfully. “Are you refusing our hospitality?”

Oh, dear lord. I bowed in haste. “No, ma'am. I'll go see Sylvia.”

She chuckled. “Good girl, you'd make a fine Gypsy.”

I looked down at my mess and the door, she squinted an eye. “Shoo.”

I couldn't help smiling at the woman as I left, saying, “Goodbye.”

I shook my head as I walked across the camp, why is it everyone here is cleaning up after me? I feel like a worthless layabout. I was aware of all the little ones either watching or following me. One ran ahead to tap on Sylvia's window before rejoining his friends.

I grinned and reached out with my power, I saw a wisp of amber grab the steel hoop the children were playing with and had it spin up into the air. They giggled and cheered as I made it dance in the air as I walked, then got it spinning quickly as I released it. It hit the ground and rolled off quickly away from the children as all the momentum of the spin pushed it along the ground.

I laughed with them then turned and almost ran into a smiling Sylvia, who was standing at the base of the fold up stairs. “Oh! Hello there.” I blurted out as I gave her room.

She chuckled then said, “Hello yourself Laney. I take it, Mother, sufficiently scared you into a fetal position?”

I nodded. “You know what she said?”

She barked out a laugh in genuine amusement. “No, but she scares everyone she does a seeing with.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “But you know she did a seeing with me?”

She smiled and winked and held a finger to her nose then moved it in front of her and twirled it around at the playing kids. “The camp has ears and news travels like water through a sieve. The little ones make the best spies.” I chuckled at that and nodded as I watched the children play.

Then I turned to her and looked down in embarrassment. “Mother sent me to have my bruise looked at. I told her it was nothing.”

She shook her head and rolled her eyes at me. “It is nothing really Laney. I am happy to do it. Come on in before the little ones twist you around their fingers.” I nodded and followed her in.

After she healed my bruises and tried to do more for my hands, which she actually was able to reduce the scarring a bit, we sat and drank tea. She asked as many questions about living in a keep as I asked about life in an always moving caravan.

I found it so much fun switching between English and the tongue of the people. I was getting quite used to it. I noted a shelf at the ceiling with a rail I assumed prevented a row of tomes from falling when the caravan was in motion.

She followed my eyes and her smile bloomed and she nodded at me and she nudged her chin. Really? I could touch them? I looked around for gloves. She saw my hesitation. I had been hanging around the great library too much. She chuckled and said, “Go ahead and look.”

There were tomes about healing, about gypsies, about nature, plants, animals. Then a large amount of tales for entertainment. I bit my lower lip, I just wanted to consume them. My hand faltered on three marked Lessons - Year One and Two, Lessons - Year Three and Four, Lessons - Year Five and Six. I looked back at her.

She smiled. “I'm also the educator of our band. It falls to me to teach the young ones. To introduce them to reading, writing, math, and languages.”

I squinted my eyes. “All children are taught to read?”

She nodded and said in a bemused tone, “Of course. Knowledge is power. Do you not do the same in the keeps?”

I shook my head slowly as I said almost in shame, “No. Only the nobles are learned. I only am because my mother chose to teach my brother and me.”

I sat with her and thumbed carefully through the well worn lesson books with amazement. This is what mother had proposed when she was first a Lady. I made the decision to try to press for the same when we returned to Wexbury.

At midday, we went out to gather the children and I helped prepare a meal at the large campfire that was still burning with some of the other women of the camp. I wondered when they had stoked it, I saw no wood around, yet it burned merrily, chasing away the chill mountain air. Just as I completed the thought, a woman walked past with a man and he absently tossed a piece of wood on the fire.

I saw various other people do the same at random intervals as we fed the children and any adults who cared to partake. Then I realized what I was seeing and I looked around at the camp again. It appeared that people were helping out wherever and whenever they were needed. Everyone was contributing to the camp as a whole. With only a few people having specialized jobs like Sylvia or the metal smiths or leather workers.

I asked the healer quietly, “What is the hierarchy here?”

She blinked like she didn't understand the question. But then her eyes widened slightly as she realized the extent of the question. She gave me a sly smile that told me I was not the first Altii to ask. She put her hand up in the air and said, “There is Mother.” Then she held her hand down a notch. “Then there are the people.” She grinned like she was amused.

I waited and then slowly grasped what she was saying as I looked around again to confirm my observations. She chuckled and said, “We are all the same and are all responsible for our band, working together. We help where we can and if we develop and affinity for something like weaving or healing that will benefit the clan, then we do that as well. We all raise and look out for each others children and maintain the wagons and prepare food. Whatever is needed whenever it is needed.”

She pointed at a couple men, though I didn't see nearly as many in the camp as I saw the prior night. “Most of the men do the hunting or patrols as they are physically more able. Or when needed, defend against any Marauders or rogues foolhardy enough to threaten our wagons.”

Then she smiled down at my sword. “Few women have the mettle to be a Femeie de Sabie. Though we can certainly defend in other ways. That is why you get the stares from the people. You must be a great warrior to stand with your men in battle.” She said 'Femeie de Sabie' or Woman of the Sword as if it were a title, like Mother.

I blushed and shook my head. “I am no Femeie de Sabie, I have only been taught to defend myself, not to attack.”

She nodded sagely and repeated something our Knights have told me, “Defense is life.”

I nodded then I added for clarification, “My Lady Celeste is a true Woman of the Sword, I am beholden to her and her house.”

She paused and tilted her head to regard me with a gentle smile on her face, “You say that with reverence. She must mean a great deal to you.” I nodded. Celeste, like my family, was everything to me. She was the first to see me as something other than a serf.

A little girl popped her head up from behind a stump as we finished cleaning and storing the pots and dishes after the meal. She nodded once at Sylvia then ducked back down behind the stump and ran off giggling with a stream of little girls that moved past.

The healer smiled and faux whispered at me, “My spy tells me your gear is ready. We can get you presentable for your lady later. Would you like a tour of the camp?”

I smiled hugely and nodded eagerly. I had wanted that since I stepped out this morning, now that I wasn't seriously injured anymore. The wagons and people were all so amazing to me, it was like an adventure within an adventure. She looped an arm in mine and started showing me the wonders of a Mountain Gypsy camp. This time I was aware of all the cute little shadows we had.

A little later, I found myself behind a tanner's wagon at a little fold-out table with Sylvia and four other women, sewing up waterskins. Me clumsily, the others like they did it every day. Esmeralda, who we would call a master tanner in the keep, was showing me the fascinating trick to making the bladders watertight. It was almost like a form of science to me.

Esmeralda's daughter, Cera, took my skin and tested it when I finished. Then she went about expertly decorating it with plant and fruit based dyes as I attempted another. Then she handed it to Sylvia who started moving her hand across the surface of it, imbuing it with her wispy magics.

As I finished the next, feeling a little better about it, the sky was clouding up so there was a twilight cast to the air for a couple hours. I don't know how she knew, but she said, “Sunset approaches, we should get you presentable for your lady.”

I stood and thanked the women for teaching me a new skill. Esmeralda grinned slyly and nudged her chin to me. Cera smiled back at her then hung the first skin I had made, over my shoulder. Saying, “For the Femeie de Sabie of the Altii.” Though the shape of it was a little irregular, the colorful decoration on it was beautiful and masterfully done. I hugged them both and thanked them again.

As we walked back to her wagon, I noted how busy the camp had gotten with people apparently preparing for some sort of feast. I idly looked at the water skin and noted the faint white runes and sigils on it that tasted slightly of magic, they seemed to glow silver in the flickering light of the fire as we passed it. It could have been a trick of the light.

The magic was similar to what I felt at my leg with my scabbard and sword. I looked at the runes and held the water skin up in question as my eyes trailed amber sparks. She smiled. “I charmed it for you, you will not need to boil your water. It will always be sweet and cool for you.” I blinked, they could do that with their spirit magic? For how simple what she said sounded, that was a more complex than anything a Techromancer could hope to accomplish. As Mother pointed out, the only persistent magic we could do was to capture some magic potential in a vessel.

I started noting all of the runes and sigils that covered many of the wagons now that I was aware of it. I smiled at her then she ushered me into the wagon and all of my gear was there and looking brand new. Even the breastplate. It now had a high polish and virtually glowed with silvery white runes and symbols etched into it. I looked closely and realized they weren't really etched in, they were made of that wispy, misty magic of theirs.

Even when I let my power fade inside me, I could still see them with my normal eyes as they were almost there and not there at the same time and it made the armor look almost regal. I found all my leathers, weapons and gear to be the same. Even my clothing, the tears and damage all repaired, and all tasting fairly full of that peaceful magic.

I ran my fingers along the runes on the new leather gauntlets, the others must have been beyond repair. Then I asked, “What do they mean?”

Sylvia started pointing at some and explaining the various protections, charms. Even the luck some were imbued with. My armor would be tougher and the runes on my riding cloak would make me hard to strike. There were literally hundreds. I looked at her colorful dress and saw no runes, so why was all of mine charmed?

I asked, “Why?”

She understood my question and said with a smile, “Every vrajitoare with the Gift wanted to give something to the little warrior woman, the Femeie de Sabie of the Altii who fell from the heavens and lived. By the looks of it, many spent most of the day blessing your belongings.” She smiled. “You are something of a curiosity, it would have taken most the day for some of these, and tired the vrajitoare out. The Gift does not come as easy to some.”

I felt embarrassed and not worthy, but I smiled and then almost panicked when I didn't see my tool pouch among my things. There was a new leather pouch with various pockets there and I looked inside and sighed in relief. All of my tools were there and in almost brand new condition. Tied in a little ball was the old pouch in one pocket.

Then I froze as Sylvia started to take off the rabbit pelt jacket from me. She had an impassive look on her face as she said, “We must hurry they will be here soon.” I felt very self-conscious as she undressed me, wiped me down again with a wet cloth, and dressed me systematically in my gear. Again, it felt like some sort of official ceremony to me as she seemed to hold each piece in reverence before placing it on me.

When she was done, she laid a braid of colorful fabric around my neck that hung down beside my sash. Then she made sure the little goat charm necklace was hanging out to be seen. She then grabbed the small tapestry on the back of the dividing door and pulled it to the side to reveal a highly polished mirror. She held out a hand for me to take a look while she started brushing out my hair and putting it into a tight braid, running a colorful scarf into the knots.

Good lord, I looked... I looked almost like a real knight. Almost... pretty. My weapons and what little metal armor exposed were gleaming. The magics I was encased in, set off an almost imperceptible glow that I could taste.

She smiled into the mirror and spun me around and placed her hands on my shoulders to inspect me. “There, a true warrior. A Femeie de Sabie.” She looked satisfied and she gave me my riding cloak as I put the leather strap of my new tool pouch over my shoulder.

Then she motioned to the door. “After you Laney.”

I whispered, “Thank you, Sylvia.” She reached over and squeezed my arm then I put on my freshly oiled and magicked riding cloak and she ushered me out of the wagon. I paused at the last step and blinked. It looked like every Mountain Gypsy of this band of the Lupei family was there. The entire camp buzzed with activity and nervous excitement.

Everything went silent as I stepped onto the ground, all eyes were on Sylvia and me, then like a switch was flipped, they went back into motion. The jovial atmosphere was catchy as I found myself smiling. As we approached the central fire, Sylvia moved to my left and took my hand and placed it on her arm as we approached Mother.

We reached her and Sylvia took my hand and put it on Mother Udele's arm. Then she moved away from us. Their timing unnerves me still to this day. As Mother looked out into the forest, two horses emerged. Alexandru and little Eli. Behind them came the caravan from Wexbury. Goliath was tethered to the supply wagon.

My heart skipped a beat at the sight of my Lady Celeste, riding tall in her saddle, leading our group. Her eyes were darting around, taking in everything at once until they brushed past me then locked onto me.

Her lips were pursed, a thin white line on her face as she dismounted as her steed was still in motion. The crowd seemed to split around her as she strode up to me with single-minded purposefulness her eyes were brimming with wetness as she engulfed me in her powerful arms. “Oh god Laney. I had thought I lost you.”

She was kissing the top of my head and I was crying freely and I didn't fully understand why. I nodded my head as she refused to release me and said, “I'm okay. My friends here took good care of me.”

She released me from the hug but kept a hand on my arm like she was reassuring herself that I was real as she looked around like she just realized where she was. She locked eyes with Udele then bowed deeply, taking a knee as she said formally, “Mother.” She was obviously aware of their ways.

Udele reached down and placed a hand under her chin and gently raised her up. “Come now child, stand up. You'll give me a complex.”

Then she smiled back when we heard Sylvia with a grin, comically saying under her breath, “We wouldn't want that now would we?”

My Lady said, “Thank you, for Lady Laney's care.” Then she swallowed and asked her, “Lord Samuel?”

She exhaled in shared sorrow and said, “We have prepared a pyre for his passing but waited for your arrival, in case you needed any preparations.”