Cassandra Pendragon
“Ah well, it ain’t no beauty yet, but just yah wait. Now then, can yah move?” I gingerly tried putting one foot in front of the other and to my surprise, I neither keeled over, nor did the armour impede my movements. Even though it was only half finished, it was easier to wear than most of the gowns I had been forced to put on, back on Boseiju. It chafed somewhat against my skin but with thicker clothes underneath and minor adjustments, that wouldn’t be a problem.
“Alright, the joints seem to be working properly. Let’s get you out of here and see how it holds up when you do more than shuffle from left to right.” The next half hour consisted mostly of embarrassment and aching muscles as I was forced to go through a bunch of callisthenic exercises, in the air and on the ground, with half the camp watching. The worst part: the onlookers even decided to comment on my contortions with either wolf whistles, applause or inappropriate remarks. Once I even heard a dwarf ask why they hadn’t constructed a Pteryges, a sort of skirt that protected the legs with overlapping strips of studded leather, usually worn by Ancient Greek soldiers back on earth. If I had been able to tell who it had been, I would have crash landed on top of his head, purely by accident, of course.
When Xorlosh finally decided that he had seen enough, much later than I had hoped, I was drenched in sweat and parts of my skin would have been raw and bloody if I hadn’t continuously healed myself. I had to admit, though, considering that I was wearing more than 15 kilograms of metal, I had barely felt the weight, nor had it thrown me off balance. The armour moved almost like a second skin and if they managed to work out the pressure points, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the plates and a heavy winter garb. But it didn’t justify the hoops they had made me jump through. A double somersault on the ground? Please…
At least they had already organised a bucket full of fresh water and a soft towel when I limped back inside, Xorlosh and Atosh on my tails. They quickly helped me out of the armour and explained how I could use my wings to do it myself, a feat I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish with just my arms. They left me alone afterwards so I could have some privacy, chatting all the way like a couple of debutants, except that I wouldn’t have expected debutants to talk shop about densities, weight, friction and stability.
When the door closed behind them, I sighed heavily, peeled my soaked clothes off my skin and began cleaning myself, absentmindedly massaging the sore spots where the armour had cut into my flesh. Considering how energetic and content I had been an hour ago, I could hardly believe how drained I felt, even washing the sweat off was a chore. It hadn’t been the attention, I had gotten used to prancing around in front of salivating strangers ages ago and I even liked the dwarfs, but still… oh boy, I was in serious need of a vacation, or at least some peace and quiet, far away from death and tragedy but it didn’t look like I’d get either in the foreseeable future. Maybe I should simply kidnap Ahri and head into the sunset, at least for a while… right, and then we’d watch the world turn to ashes from our front row seats. Oh well, complaining wouldn’t help, great strength, great responsibility and all of that. Next time though, I’d reincarnate as a spoiled cat or maybe a sloth, if I got the chance.
A soft knock on the door cut my brooding short and with an unwilling grunt I slung the towel around me, wrung the water from my hair and tiptoed over to answer, the grains on the floor rough against my bare feet.
As soon as I opened it, Erya slipped past me, the scent of wildflowers following her like a fresh spring breeze. She had a basket in her hands, filled with several small bottles which smelled slightly medical and a flowing piece of cloth, almost like silk, draped over her arm.
“I know what marvels magic can accomplish,” she said without preamble while I closed the door, “but I thought you might need something else after the show you just put on. And I wanted to talk to you, alone.” Her horns began to glow and seedlings erupted form the ground before I even had a chance to answer. They grew alarmingly fast until they formed a low table on which Erya placed the cloth she had been carrying and arranged her vials.
“Come on, lie down. I found a couple of rare herbs yesterday and they’ll do wonders for you.” She expectantly tugged at the corner of my towel and simultaneously pushed me forwards.
“You want to give me a massage? Seriously? Isn’t one Pendragon enough for you?” Her soft laughter filled the smithy.
“Never, but that’s truly not what I’m after. Now that I’ve met your girl… I’ve said it before, I won’t make the mistake of coming between the two of you, I like my hide just where it is, thank you very much. No, I just wanted to say… thanks. I didn’t truly appreciate where you’re coming from before, honestly, I thought you’d be far less… vulnerable. But it all matters to you, us, the children, your family… I’m not going to do anything that might hurt you. I like you, Cassandra, and I’m not a complete ass.”
“No, but you are a nymphomaniac,” I replied and let go of the towel. “And a little crazy. I’m still glad I had the chance to meet you, though, all things considered.” When I reached the table and felt the cool softness of the cloth under my fingers I added quietly: “I like you, too, Erya.”
“I know, at least I hope you don’t willingly promise people you don’t like your protection, indefinitely I might add. Chop chop now, face downwards, I’ll start with your back and neck.”
Over the course of the next 20 minutes I learned that magic didn’t have to be worked through spells, it didn’t even need any from of power. Her warm hands were steadily working fragrant oils into my muscles and hair while the tension slowly drained from my body. I relaxed, my thoughts calmed down and I could practically feel my energy being gradually restored. A fresh wave of revitalising smells hit me every time she opened one of the vials, yarrow, valerian and aconitine were familiar but I also detect faint hints of something closer to fruits or berries which I couldn’t place.
Whatever it was, my skin soon started tingling under her fingers. Her touch activated my meridians and a burning sensation traveled across my skin while the energy within me began to flow freely. When I turned my head to squint through half closed eyes, I saw a halo of silvery light around me, much brighter than I was used to and it intensified with every beat of my heart.
“Oh my,” Erya chuckled, “I’ve heard before that people can glow with satisfaction but that’s on a whole new level. You’re not going to turn into a star before my eyes, are you?”
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At first I had trouble slinging my tongue around the words I wanted to say, but with a little effort I managed: “not if I can help it, no promises, though. What are you doing to me?”
“Why? Does it hurt?”
“No, not at all, but I don’t think I can move. It feels like… everything is turned inwards, as if I’m healing myself but there’s no injury to mend.”
“That’s exactly what’s supposed to happen. Your energy is circling around your core and cleansing your body while it rushes through. Think of it as a magical overhaul. Small impurities are burned away, tiny fractures in your bones and muscles are healed and your mind can power down for a while. It doesn’t do much good with serious wounds, well, maybe it would in your case, but there’s nothing better to chase away fatigue and soreness. If you want, I’ll teach you how to do it. It’s not that difficult with the right herbs and I’m sure Ahri would love it.”
“I think I’d like that,” I mumbled. “It feels amazing. You’re really good at this.”
“Practice makes perfect and it’s a good way to finally feel you up without much trouble,” she joked but her mirth faded from her voice quickly. “Do you think you can still concentrate somewhat?”
“Sure… probably… what’s on your mind?” I wouldn’t want to engage in a game of chess right now, but a conversation should be manageable. At least a short one.
“Several things… but mainly… your brother,” she said hesitantly, as if she had changed her mind midsentence. “Does it bother you?”
“That I’m not the centre of your romantic advances anymore? Hardly. I do have to wonder about your sanity, though. Are you that desperate or did you hit your head, hard?” I refused to seriously discuss my brother’s love life. If anything, she should be talking to my mom, not me. There were some things I truly didn’t want to know… yuck.
“Hmm, since all the pretty girls are taken or too young, even for me, and I was stuck in a gem for longer than I care to remember, a little desperation might have played a role. But he is also roguishly handsome and…”
“Stop, right there. Erya, you guys have my blessing to do whatever you want, but please, don’t tell me about it. It’s bad enough that I can smell it, I don’t need any mental images on top of that.”
“Fine, I’ll keep the saucy parts to myself. Can you move your arms? Slowly… yes that’s it. Try to reach back and grab my hands. There you go. Now, this might hurt,” I groaned when my back cracked several times, “a little. Alright, time to turn around.” By now I was much too relaxed to care about the bounds of modesty, I just didn’t want her to stop. When she began massaging my stomach, the direction my energy was taking through my meridians reverted. Instead of heat an almost chilly sensation, like cool water, flowed over my skin and brought my other senses back to life. The smell of wild flowers Erya exuded, burned ash and heated metal, the sounds of rushing dwarfs, suppressed curses and children laughing, the quiet rustling of mice and the scent of roasted venison and spilled mead, it all poured into me like a mighty river. For a few seconds I was lost, carried away by the impressions until her soft touch brought me back into my body. Her fingers caressingly followed the meridians across my belly, indicating where the flood of power would go next and when I met her gaze blearily, I realised I was completely at her mercy. I was intoxicated and whatever she wanted do, I wouldn’t put up much resistance as long as she didn’t stop. “What…” I managed to croak.
“Shh, just relax, nothing’s going to happen. Your energy is acting like a magnet. It attracts everything you need to bring it back into balance and your body is telling you that it’d be dangerous to stop now, so I shouldn’t. It’ll be over in a minute.” I didn’t know if I should be relieved or disappointed, for even though I enjoyed her tender care immensely, it felt just too intimate to be entirely comfortable. Before I could make up my addled mind, though, the sensations slowly vanished and, true to her words, a minute later I was back to normal, more or less.
I was brimming with energy, it felt like I was truly awake for the first time in days. My sense were sharper and even my mind felt like I was constantly pushing a trickle of power into it, faster and more precise than I was getting used to. The daunting days ahead, everything I still had to do and even our precarious situation and the ones we had lost, it didn’t overwhelm me anymore. I was certain we’d find a way, push through somehow as we had before. I felt… confident and ready for the challenges that were to come. Hopefully that would last for a while.
“There, all done,” Erya said. “Now, just lie still for a minute and allow your body some time to adjust. I’ll get you something clean to wear so you don’t ruin my efforts immediately.”
“Fine with me, I’m in no rush to get up. And thank you, that was amazing, but you could have warned me beforehand. I didn’t expect it to be so… intensive.”
“And go around in circles with you, arguing whether or not a meridian massage is over the line? Would you have allowed me to continue if you had know what it would feel like?’
“Probably not,” I admitted and closed my eyes again, relishing in the tantalising feeling of cool silk against my skin and the still present tingling all over my body. When I heard her shuffling around behind me I murmured: “there something else I need to ask you. Do you still have the seed I gave you when we first met?” Considering how lucky I usually was, she might have already planted it somewhere, or lost it down in the tomb.
“Of course,” she sighed. “That was the other thing I wanted to discuss. You need it back, right?”
“How did you know?”
“Call it a lucky guess. I’ve seen your people. Those kids need a home, direly. You’re not the trusting kind, Cassy, and I bet it doesn’t sit well with you to depend on Arthur for their safety, even though he is your brother. You’d prefer to have an alternative, wouldn’t you?” True, but mostly I was just following the advice Amazeroth had given me, for better or for worse. Should I tell her? To hell with it, I wasn’t going to repeat the same mistakes I had made in my previous life.
“I do but that’s not all of it. I’ve dreamed of my past, again, and I was told how I could make the seed grow. Incidentally by the same demon who’s supposedly aiding Amon right now. He told me, no that’s not right, he insinuated that I might need it in the future. Call me crazy, but since it doesn’t involve anything nasty, like a blood sacrifice, I’m willing to give it a try. If you can be persuaded to part with the seed, that is.” Instead of an answer I felt her magic pulse out of her ram like horns, but I couldn’t be bothered to turn around or open my eyes. Not yet, anyway. A few moments later the wave of energy dissipated and she slowly replied:
“I’m not so sure about following the advice of someone who’s a scheming manipulator at best and simply a backstabbing traitor at worst, but that’s your decision. As for the seed, of course you can have it. But should it ever grow into anything like the original, I want a branch to myself. Or maybe the crown, we’ll have to see.” This time I propped up on my elbows and squinted at her.
“Just like that? Without any compensation? Can you even do that?’
“Sure, why shouldn’t I be able to give a friend a present.” She said while she handed back my cleaned and dried clothes. When I took them, the scent of wild flowers became stronger, as if a blooming meadow had suddenly appeared in the small smithy. “No magic or contracts required there. Do you want it now?” She added while she absentmindedly fiddled with her necklace.
“Please,” I replied while I regretfully got up and shrugged into my pants and shirt. “I’m supposed to plant it anywhere and keep the pot close by while I’m sleeping, but I imagine it wouldn’t hurt if I had it on me for a while, beforehand. You’re truly fine with this? I’m more than willing to give you something else in return.”
“Let’s not go down that road,” she sighed as she closed her vials and placed them back into the basket. Over a third was gone from most of them. “Not again. I’m not going to ask for anything. You wouldn’t either, if I needed your help.” With a deft motion she detached the seed and a shower of sparks from her horns returned it to its original size. “If you want to do me a favour in return, put in a good word with your mother, in case Mordred and I stay together for a while. I don’t think she likes me and that fox form of hers is nightmarish, especially what lies underneath.”