Techromancy Scrolls: Soras (9 page)

I looked at him a moment then turned to see Dru staring at me, a question in his eyes. I just nodded once, showing him the fire of Wexbury in my eyes. He nodded back. We would not let this go unanswered.

He wouldn't allow Tennison to assist him in lashing the injured man to his saddle, then we proceeded to the caravan at a much more sedate rate. We arrived in a clearing by the ridge and found the wagons I remembered from my time with the Lupei. They formed a tight ring with only a gap between one to the center.

I heard short whistles and chirps all around us. Lookouts were all over in the trees.

We dismounted and Dru ran through the gap between the wagons with the limp form of Marku in his arms, bellowing out, “Sylvia!”

Celeste and I were next through the gap and we froze, maybe thirty men and women were standing in an arc, aiming at the gap with bowstrings drawn. I saw recognition in their eyes and their aim changed slightly to behind us... our knights!

Dru snapped out, “Stand down, they are Wexbury! They are beholden to our Soras!” Then he looked around as the archers relaxed and he bellowed again, “Sylvia!”

The healer of the Lupei came rushing forward with two burly men, who Dru handed the broken man to. Sylvia hesitated a moment to give me a sad smile then she was running off with the men, rattling off orders. “My wagon now! I need bandages. Boil me some water.”

One man said, “Yes Mother.”

I blinked but I realized that with Mother Udele gone, she was next in charge so the title of Mother fell on her... until Udele's heirs, her mostenitors, arrived.

I hoped her healing magics could ease the man's pain quickly like she had done for me in what seems like a lifetime ago.

I looked around the camp, it was barren except the huge fire pit in the center. I assumed they had everything packed up in case they needed to move on a moment's notice. All the others and the children must be hidden in the wagons, to give them the scant protection they would provide. The life, laughter, and wonder that always filled a Gypsy camp was absent.

The archers were greeting us like royalty when Celeste suddenly burst into emerald energy as she drew her sword. I and our escort were doing the same as they rushed past the archers who were drawing their bows again to point at our knights who stepped past them. I didn't know what was going on but Celeste called out in the Lupei, “Behind us! Archers on the ridge!”

I turned, not raising my sword, swinging my head to look up when a half dozen arrows came whizzing down at us. I felt an arrow bury itself in my chest and I snapped out of the vision of my immediate future. I had just finished my turn and swung my blade up in front of me in desperation to change the outcome of what I had seen and felt. Then blinked at my sheer dumb luck as the arrow meant for my heart, struck Anadele's blade instead, splitting the arrow in two, down the entire length of its shaft.

I swallowed hard as I saw one of the luck charms on my sword fade away, spent. My heart was threatening to beat out of my chest. I silently thanked Mother Udele for teaching me that my visions were of a possible future if nobody changed their decisions or actions, and not set in stone.

My fellow knights were deftly batting away the incoming arrows with flicks of their blades. I heard whizzing and whistling behind me as dozens of arrows were loosed by the Lupei. Two of the snipers went down, another taking a strike to his shoulder. Most of the arrows just bounced off the attackers armor. They must not have had charms on the arrows.

Celeste was building her power, she, like me did not have much, but she had the ability to marshal all she had to send it barreling out of her in a focused, compressed burst that left her exhausted.

She issued a primal challenge and I saw a burst of her emerald power that none but those with magic potential could see. It struck the ridge and rock crumbled and one man came tumbling to his death, eighty feet below, his arms windmilling. His scream was cut short by a sickening thud.

Then suddenly the other men came flying down after him. The large form of Sir Tennison loomed at the edge of the cliff with a struggling man held high above his head and he threw the man over to meet his doom with the others.

The big knight looked down at the caravan, sunlight reflecting off his silver armor, tinted red with blood. And he called down “Sorry we were late. We were dispatching the rest of this scum.”

Celeste shot him a proud smile, and the man pulled back out of sight. She looked at the Lupei, “The siege has been broken.”

A cheer went up.

Then she looked at me and the two halves of the arrow at my feet and then was by my side, checking me for injury. I sighed and assured her, “I'm fine, woman.”

She didn't trust my own assessment and finished her examination. Satisfied there wasn't blood spurting from my neck or anything, she looked at me with pride. “That was a hell of a strike, you tore that arrow asunder.”

I blushed and swallowed as I admitted, “It was just dumb luck.”

She rolled her eyes at me and we checked on everyone else. There had been no casualties. Then we moved over to the gap as the Knights of Wexbury started trickling in.

Sir Scot had a wound to the shoulder, where a blade had struck home at the joint between his armor. He didn't seem aware that he was bleeding. Lady Brenda had her left arm in a sling with bloody makeshift bandages wrapped around it. But she looked strong.

Celeste stepped up to Tennison and they clasped arms as he reported. “Thirty-seven enemy slain, only minor injuries to our Knights.” His eyes narrowed. “It would have been much different if they had been in larger groups. They were well trained and fought smart. We would have suffered far worse had they been in numbers.”

Celeste just nodded and said, “Well done.”

I contemplated what our big knight had said. He implied they were a match for us, it was only our greater numbers attacking isolated pairs that afforded us a swift victory. I had a bad taste in my mouth like I was about to vomit again as I thought of it. Knights fighting knights. That wasn't supposed to happen in modern times, we were more civilized than that now, weren't we? Knights should be fighting marauders and Rogues.

Some women and men came out of the wagons as the all clear was sounded. They led our injured to Sylvia's wagon. When an exhausted Sylvia reemerged, she took Scot and Brenda to sit by the fire and started healing them though she looked ready to drop after tending to Marku. I could feel the misty sheets of silken healing magics from where we stood.

Alexandru whistled shrilly and men started melting out from their hiding spots in the trees surrounding the camp. If the enemy had tried another rush on the Lupei, I'm sure they would have had a nasty surprise, and I wasn't at all confident the enemy knights had a hope of prevailing. It made me sad that a peaceful people like this were forced to be willing to commit violence to protect their own.

I moved off to the side as Celeste coordinated with Dru, Tennison, and the camp defenders. I recognized some of them, and they were no warriors. There was a tanner and a master carver in their ranks. I hugged my arms to my chest as I looked at these everyday people who decided to make a stand against a well-trained enemy. My chest swelled with respect and... pride for them.

When Sylvia had done all she could she led our Knights back to us and I wasn't prepared when she stepped right up to me and engulfed me in a tight hug. “My Soras, you have returned to us.” She held one arm out to grasp Celeste's hand. I don't know who blushed more, my Lady or me.

I asked, “Marku?”

She softly said, “He will recover. Though he lost one eye. He is strong.”

I nodded solemnly.

Tennison smiled an almost sad smile and said, “Our rescue mission here is complete. If we are to stay with the letter of our orders from Prince George and Duke Fredrick, we must depart immediately.”

Sylvia looked annoyed and snapped back, “Nonsense, you can, at least, stay for a celebration meal, we owe you that much oameni de sabie of Wexbury.” I contemplated the word oameni, it didn't have an English equivalent, I think it meant roughly 'people'. People of the sword?

Then she turned to me and asked, “That is acceptable... Mother?”

I swallowed and was surprised how hoarse my voice was as I fought back all sorts of conflicting emotions, “Don't call me that. That implies that Mother Udele is gone. Just Laney, please Sylvia.”

She nodded and capitulated, “Yes...” Then she grinned wickedly, “My Sora.”

I whispered through a smile, “I hate you, wench.”

She gave me a cheesy grin and said in Gypsy as Celeste chuckled, “Tough, I love you two.”

She cocked an expectant eyebrow, and I sighed, looked at Celeste, who gave me a smiling nod, and said, “Yes.”

Dru bellowed, “You heard the Soras, prepare a feast for our liberators!” He clapped his hands and everyone was in motion. He crossed his arms over his chest and grinned.

Sylvia smirked and backhanded his gut. “You help too you lazy lout.”

He gave her a smile and went about opening wagons and setting up plank tables as the children came streaming out of those amazing houses on wheels. I never get tired of looking at those gorgeous wagons. Some shaped like little cottages and others like giant barrels tipped on their sides.

I saw the look of extreme pride she had for her brother as she watched him go. She enjoyed teasing him but she knew his measure. He had braved the enemy to get through to us when no other could.

She gave me a small embarrassed smile when I caught her and she shrugged. “We don't need his head getting any bigger.”

I chuckled with her.

Then she got serious and asked in disbelief, “Please tell me the Realms of the Altii didn't commit this despicable act.”

Celeste shook her head and admitted, “We do not know, but our ruler, Prince George, ordered no such campaign. It is looking bad right now, but I promise you, we will get the bottom of this and we will make sure those responsible are held accountable.”

She nodded slowly and whispered, “A war council is assembling. I do not wish to see the time of blood in my lifetime. It has been over a thousand years since a war council has been called.”

I nodded before Celeste and assured her, “That is why we are here, to vote for patience at the conclave and to find Mother Udele and return her home, where she belongs. We need to be on the move to Heaven's Gate.”

She looked at us and exhaled then nodded. She looped an arm in each of ours and dragged us toward the tables. “After you eat. You need to keep your strength up.”

It was a grand celebration that followed. We feasted like it was Holy Day. Dru told exaggerated stories to the children of our exploits in this mission. The little ones listened in rapt fascination with wide eyes.

They erupted into tiny cheers when he got to the part where he said, “Sensing the incoming arrow that was headed toward her heart, Sora Laney struck swiftly with her enchanted blade, Anadele, which has split lightning, and tore asunder the great Monolith of the Before. She cleaved the arrow from tip to feather with an accuracy unheard of. Then she pointed her blade at the enemy above in unwavering challenge.”

As the children squealed and cheered at that part, I just looked over at Sylvia who was sitting on my left and Celeste on my right, as I said, “Unwavering? I was scared to death, and it was the charms on my blade that intercepted that arrow. I saw one rune fade away after that.”

The healer slapped my arm lightly. “Oh shush, I want to listen. Just smile and be the Sora the children adore.”

I stuck my tongue out at her then looked to Celeste to tell Sylvia. But she wouldn't look at me. She just grinned straight ahead like a loon, trying hard not to laugh at me. I murmured, “A lot of good you are.” This did get her to explode into laughter. I broke and smiled at the evil women. Why was everyone always exaggerating about the things I do?

After the celebration, we bid farewell to our Knights. I had to smile at Bex and Brenda as they kissed and embraced. She looked over at me and said, “You bring him home in one piece.”

I nodded and crossed my heart, then she gave me a quick hug and mounted up and we watched them go as the camp was packed up.

Celeste asked, “What's going on?”

Dru stepped up and said, “We are heading to the war council with you. The rest of the Lupei clan should be there by now.”

I blinked. They were one of the smallest clans of the Mountain Gypsies. With twelve bands of two hundred and fifty like this one. All twenty-five hundred were going to be there?

I blinked and voiced the question, “All of them?”

Dru nodded then sighed. “This attack happened to our family, of course, the whole clan will be there to make sure they are represented. Although...” He trailed off.

Celeste cocked an eyebrow and he finished, “There may be some who take exception to Altii being our Soras and may challenge for leadership of the clan.”

Did he mean a fight? Gypsies fighting over who ruled a clan? That was against all I thought I knew about them, wasn't it handed down to heirs of the bloodline? In our case bloodlines since Celeste had bonded our family with Mother Udele's? It must have been something else and I was reading too much into it.

Before long, we were on the move again, the wagons being pulled by the huge oxen which the Gypsies bred larger than any in the realms. A messenger was sent forward on a swift horse to inform the conclave that the siege was broken and of our impending arrival.

Sylvia insisted that Celeste and I join her in her wagon after Marku was moved to his family's wagon. We tethered Canter and Goliath behind the healer's wagon, and our four knights in the diplomatic escort took up flanking positions to guard us. Dru disappeared into the forest; no doubt to keep watch on the caravan from afar.

Celeste sat at the little table by the wood burning stove with Sylvia while I sat on the bed and was immediately swarmed by little Ingr and her two tiny goats. She had grown so much since I last saw her. What was she, four or five now? She sat on my lap and I hugged her to me as the little goats laid across my legs to be close to their tiny ringleader.

Eli must have been in the other room behind the divider with the little door that separated the interior of the wagon, or up in the wagon's drivers seat with Johan, the man courting Sylvia's mother, Elaine.

As Ingr reached up to play with the scars on my face, Sylvia prompted Celeste in Gypsy, “Tell me what is happening. Why would the Altii do this? What do they want with Mother Udele and why was it worth killing our people to accomplish it?”

My lady gave her a sad look as the wagon bobbed and swayed in its slow but steady crawl toward Heaven's Gate. She shrugged. “We really do not know. But I give my word, that we will find out. Prince George has also sworn this.” She pulled a rolled up parchment, with a wax seal bearing the royal crest on it, from her cloak. She shook it with emphasis then said as she slid it back into her cloak.

Then she added, “And Duke Fredrick and I pledge the sword of Wexbury to the Lupei. Our allies, our friends...” She paused and smiled warmly my way. “Our family.”

Sylvia gave a sad smile and laid her hand on top of Celeste's. She repeated as if to enforce it as she looked at me and my lady, “Family.”

I nodded while Ingr, went about pulling my silk glove off to examine the scars there.

My hand ached the moment the charmed, healing glove was off. I watched the little one as she traced the scars. I noticed how much better they looked after being in that glove for almost two years. Sylvia's healing magics, or magiks as they say, can not do very much for injuries that were caused by magic. But over time, the close contact had made some headway. The glove eased the pain.

I involuntarily remembered that day at the Monolith when I looked at a hand that was burned almost beyond recognition, it had been more a deformed claw which I could barely move. Now it was just heavily scarred and throbbed and ached when I moved it when I wasn't wearing the glove that I was gifted by the Lupei. I shivered a moment as I pushed the poisonous memory away.

Then we all stopped talking when Ingr laid both hands on my hand and closed her eyes. I could feel unsteady magics well up and the warmth and peace flow through my hand at her touch. It felt like the warm silken sheets of her mother's healing magic as the pains ebbed in my hand. She took her hands away and gave me the smile of an innocent child and asked, “Better?”

I blinked at her and nodded. Her mother looked to be in shock. I looked at my hand as the pain slowly returned, but not as much and some of the scars looked less severe. Sylvia moved over quickly and shooed one little goat away to grab my hand to look at it, then at her daughter. She asked her daughter carefully, “Ingr. How long have you been able to do that?”

The little one shrugged, held her arms open so the displaced goat could jump up into them, then said as she nuzzled the goat, “Since always. I wanna be a healer like you one day mama.”

Sylvia was all smiles as she hugged her daughter, squishing the little goat between them as she said to me with pride, “My daughter is of the Touched.” She looked at my hand and mused, “She could do more for you than I am capable of and she hasn't bloomed yet. That is what we Altii called igniting when our full power is finally unlocked, generally, after puberty was done wreaking havoc upon us.

I grinned and stroked the little girl's hair and said, “Thank you tiny one.” I slid my glove back on and the pains receded to nothing as the runes began to shimmer.

Celeste spoke up, I think the moment moved her as well, “Tell us all we have missed since we last saw you, Sylvia.”

I smiled at that and nodded my support for such a grand idea. We listened to all the wonders they had seen on the trails of the Whispering Walls. Mother Udele was insistent that her clan travel every inch of every Gypsy trail in them before time caught up with her and claimed her as it had their ancestors.

Little Eli was seven now, and training to be a scout because he idolized his uncle, Dru. He had a keen eye and knack for seeing movement at great distances. I remembered when he had gone with his uncle to find the Wexbury expedition to let them know that I had survived a terrible fall into a ravine and to lead them to the caravan.

I think Celeste was remembering the same thing because she looked over at me fondly. The other knights had told me that it broke her when she believed me to have died. Syl glanced at us as she sipped her tea while the wagon swayed, she was obviously used to the motion and didn't spill a drop.