The Ways of Mages: Starfire (36 page)

She needed a cure. And where better then to search for one at Razya
n’
s Keep? That was why she was headed there now.

Speaking of the Kee
p
…

Breeya grinned. The Keep was before her. It sat proudly on its mountain shoulder like it always had. Swirling mist from the great waterfall that fell from beneath part of the Keep glittered. It made the ancient palace seem surreal, dreamlike. Hope straightened Breey
a’
s spine after the long,weary ride. Loralla perked up as her rider did. She knew a warm stall and piles of hay and a trough of sweet grain waited for her. It was hope that started them on the final leg of their journey.

It was fear that sent them racing.

The Cursed had found them. That unearthly scream flickered down Breey
a’
s spin like ice water. Loralla sensed it now. Panic is such a little word to express what the two felt now. Loralla ignored all sense and fled down the hill at a breakneck pace. Breeya held on for dear life. They came to a dangerous ravine that separated them from the road. The Cursed was a wing beat behind them. Loralla did
n’
t even hesitate. She leapt the ravine. Breeya screamed and called wind to carry them to the road.

She heard a wing beat beneath her. The Cursed had not been expecting the horse to be carried by the wind. It had dove too low, following the trail that, in a natural course of events, would have been the way they would have gone. It was now beneath them. Quickly it corrected that oversight.

Loralla grunted as her feet came into contact with good old solid earth again. Breeya sent a bolt of wind behind them to throw the Cursed off. A pissed off scream was her reward. Breeya urged Loralla faster, which Loralla did
n’
t really need. With a huff, the mare lengthened her stride. Breeya thanked the spirits that no one came to the Northern Gate. It meant she had a clear road to race over.

The guards upon the wall were staring in shock at what was hurtling their way. The doors opened just in time to allow her entrance. Unfortunately the Cursed was once again on her heels. Mage Fire, wind, and mundane arrows slowed it down. And really pissed it off.  Being brought to the ground does that. Before the Cursed could regain its feet and enter the gate, a Wizar
d’
s Shield covered it like a clear bowl.

Breeya really wished that the shield was
n’
t so clear. The Cursed slammed itself against the barrier. Little trickles of blood dripped onto the dirt of the road. It screamed again, thrashing against the shield. Breeya slid off of Loralla, stroking her neck to calm her. With all the master wizards around, the creature should remain detained. She hoped.

The screams drew attention. And not just a little either. Teachers and a few students peered at the Cursed in mystified horror. The Curse
d’
s red eye watched them. Eyed them hungrily. If for some reason the shield was taken away, Breeya was sure no one in the courtyard would be alive.

“
All of you who do
n’
t need to be here, now would be the time to go to where you are supposed to be.
Students,
that would be you. Teachers who have classes right now, I would ask that you would go with them
.”
A male voice announced. Breeya turned from the monster and spied Wizard Razyan standing in the middle of an ever widening ring as people did as he said. Being the Head Wizard had to be wonderful.

His emerald gaze met hers and widened. He made his way toward her, his black green robes glinting with brighter green in the morning light as he moved. His shimmering green
milbre or silk bird
Chaya, perched upon his shoulder. Chaya was obviously disturbed. Razyan reached Breeya. His brow was furrowed by concern. That concern deepened when he spied the settled monster under the shield. It appeared that it had knocked itself out. Shock was also in his eyes.

“
Breeya, what happened? Where is Lanol
?
”

“
We found the city, Razyan. It is occupied with the descendants of the refugees from the Shadow War. Razyan, he was attacked by that creature
.
”

Razyan gripped her shoulders
.“
Is he
?
”

“
He is
n’
t dead. H
e’
s alive. Well, actually
.”
She said with an almost hysterical laugh.

“
Why is
n’
t he with you? Why did you not use the stone I gave you for emergencies
?
”

Breeya blinked. The shock of the attack was really starting to get to her. Which was embarrassing. She shook her head
.“
We could
n’
t use it.
He
ca
n’
t use it
.
”

“
Breeya, tell me why
.”
His voice was calm, urging her to be calm as well.

“
If he leaves the caves he will become like her
.”
She chocked on the last word. She pointed shakily at the Cursed.

“
Her
?
”

“
That
used
to be my friend, Olidiya
.
”

***

The evening before was when Terana first saw one of the most incredible sights of her life. She and her companions had been traveling the Vermair, or the Great Western Road,  as it climbed into the Vermillion. Terana had kept looking behind her because the view grew in splendor. Kadrean had chuckled at her several times. Which, at first, embarrassed her. But that did
n’
t stop her from peeking behind a few more times.

If she was honest, none of those vistas could compare to what she saw now.

“
That is Razya
n’
s Keep
?”
Her voice trembled with a mixture of anxiety, fear, awe, and a little excitement. The Keep was, for lack of a better word, magnificent. It was a vast palace perched on a treacherous mountai
n’
s slopes. Part of it had been built over a turbulent river that roared over the edge of a precipice that could make even the fearless swoon. Every reflective surface in this sheer mountainous region glimmered golden in the evening sun. Terana could hardly breathe as she gazed at the Keep surrounded by a veil of golden mist that rose from the waterfall.

“
Indeed it is
.”
Said Kadrean. She turned to him to find he had eyes only for the dancing golden droplets and the palace beyond
.“
The only place worth calling home
.”
He chuckled
.“
I have been traveling back and forth for years and I still ca
n’
t get over the sight of it
.
”

Terana glanced at Zeeve settled between the gildin
g’
s ears. Over their travels here, Zeeve had never been tongue tied. She had seen him in shock when she melted the
kadelle
, but that had
n’
t kept him quiet for long. It seemed he always had a remark on the tip of his tiny tongue. That seemed not to be the case now. And there was Liam. His dreamy gaze was wide now in wonder. She probably looked a lot like that.

“
I
t’
s incredibl
e”
His voice was barely loud enough for her to hear. She turned back to the enchanting vista. A snort interrupted her viewing. Russy had sat down and was eyeing the rest of them with a look that expressed clear boredom. His amber eyes met her
s“
Humans are easily fascinated. Can we stop salivating over a bit of rock and water and actually go to it
?
”
His mind voice held a dry humor. Terana barely suppressed a grin. It was becoming easier to accept that Russy could talk to her. It was actually kind of cool to hear what her longtime companion had to say. Some of which, make that a lot, made her look at things differently. The thought that the humans of their group looked like salivating dogs was enough to draw a chuckle from her.  Which drew the others attention.

“
Sorry
.”
She said, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth to stifle the laughter
.“
Russy just looks bored
.
”
 
They all looked at Russy who in turn put on an extra show of boredom. He slid down to the ground with a groan and covered his snout with his paws. Kadrean and Liam chuckled.

“
Okay, Russy. W
e’
ll move on
.”
Kadrean said. He tugged gently on Tiv
i’
s reins. Russy, seeing what he was doing sat up quickly. On his way past, Kadrean patted the wolf on the head. Russy gave him a look, before panting with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth in a droll grin.

Terana had to force herself to look at what was ahead of her so she would
n’
t walk off the edge. Her eyes were continually drawn to the Keep. To distract herself she thought about the last fortnight of travel. Last month she would never have thought that her life would become so different. How could she have known? She figured it all started with finding Zeeve. He had added a taste of the outside to her life, and then she had found out that her parents were not really her parent
s…
it still hurt to think about that, not that she did think about it often. Mostly she had something to turn her attention to so she would
n’
t have to think about it. Then there was her meeting with Kadrean who said she had magi
c…
which, with the
kadelle
melting and her escape from that grave just outside of Zeeveria, she could no longer deny.

And then there were those dreams. They were so rea
l…
Who was the man in them? Who was the old woman? Were they real people? They had seemed like it at the time, but maybe that was just how the dream was. But then, the woman had known what had happened while Terana was unconscious after her near burial. She had known what everyone else had been doin
g…
Then again, perhaps Terana had been half awake and had seen what was going on?

Terana sighed. Her thoughts were going nowhere. And who really cared? They were dreams. They had no bearing on the real world. She managed to convince a third of her mind with that logic. The rest was pretty sure there was more to it, but had no way to put any of the puzzle pieces together at the moment.

“
You okay, Terana
?”
Liam asked her.

She started and met his eyes
.“
What
?
”

“
You sighed a moment ago. Is something bothering you
?
”

Terana turned from him and closed her eyes for a moment
.“
Yeah
.”
She said glancing at him again
.“
I was just thinking
.
”

“
About
?
”        

She shrugged
.“
Stuff. Mostly about how things have changed
.”
She finally answered.
And my dreams,
she added silently.

“
And that caused you to sigh in frustration
?”
His eyes told her plainly that he believed there was more that she was
n’
t saying. She sighed again.

“
It really is nothing, Liam.
I’
m just thinking about things that I ca
n’
t answer at the moment. And before you ask, I do
n’
t think you can help. And it is kind of personal.
I’
m also scared, Liam. The world is so big. Bigger than I thought it was. And that
.”
She said, waving a hand in a sweeping gesture to incorporate Razya
n’
s Keep
.“
That seems to come out of a fairy tale
.
”

“
It is magical
.”
He agreed
.“
Well, you do
n’
t have to tell me about what is really bothering you. Just know that
I’
m here if you ever do want to talk
.
”

She gave him a small smile
.“I’
m sorry Liam. It just seems like it is something too small to worry other people with. I
t’
s probably nothing anyway
.”
She finished with a shrug.

“
I’
m still here if you want to talk
.”
He moved off to give her some privacy with her thought
s…
which was kind, except she did
n’
t want to be left alone with them. They were not getting her anywhere fast.
Why do
n’
t I just tell him?
She wondered.
Because
I’
m scared that he is going to think
I’
m nuts.
One part of her answered.
He might also be able to answer for sure if the dreams are real or just figments of imagination. The first will unsettle you like nothing else. It might also thrill you, if you want to be honest. If it is the second, you will be disappointed.
The smaller voice in her mind answered truthfully. Terana closed her eyes and worked to stifle the urge to groan.