CHAPTER 16
Birdie stood on the top of the city wall by the gate, watching the sun rise and feeling it's warm rays brush the cool morning air from her cheeks. It was hard to believe that only a week separated her from that fateful morning of Gabriel's trial. She relished the brief comfort the fresh light of day gave her, knowing that the warmth would soon turn to heat and nuisance as they set out on their journey. She wore her cloak and wrapped tunic over her leather armor and a simple shirt, and she already felt compelled to peel a few layers off.
Why do we have to set out right at the start of summer season? Why couldn’t this have happened in the spring? She thought bitterly.
“Are you nervous?” Ammi nudged her, and Birdie snapped out of her thoughts, adjusting the straps of her pack as she looked up at the woman’s brave face.
“I’m alright. Brooke looks like she’s about to turn on me though.”
“I’m fine!” The girl protested, shielding her eyes with one hand and gripping one shoulder of her pack with white knuckles.
“Seriously! I’m great. Excited even!”
Birdie wasn’t convinced. Brooke had been quiet all morning, which was such a deviation from her character that it was enough to convince Birdie that the poor girl was one bad step away from abandoning their plan. Birdie wouldn’t blame her if she did. Epictus hadn’t forbade her from bringing anyone else along, but based on the fact that she hadn’t been able to share any more of the specifics of their task with the other Champions, she doubted he would approve.
Doesn’t matter though, She thought defiantly. I am a Harbinger, after all. I have my hand in the well of power, and I can make my own choices -thank you very much.
“Here he comes.” Ammi remarked.
Birdie and Brooke turned to see Ventas approaching from the yard below. Birdie wasn’t surprised to see he was alone without a send off. As much as she didn’t particularly care for the kid, it still made her feel a bit strange and empty seeing him skulk forward on his own. His uncle was horrible, but she thought that someone might have come to wish him well. She suddenly felt herself growing very grateful for Ammi.
Ventas didn’t seem phased though. He carried a pack of his own, as well as a long quiver over his shoulder of more of those dark arrows. The bruises on his jaw had all faded, only the long wicked scab on his chin marked him from their previous fight. He looked rested, but stifled a yawn as he walked into the shadow of the wall and placed his hand on the placard.
The veins of magic light crept up the wall to the raised pedestal that Ammi placed her palm on. Birdie felt a gentle shake reverberate from the wall and up her legs as the huge doors below swung open, and a squirming uncomfortable twinge of nerves worsened the trembling effect as she watched the golden light of dawn cut the shadow of the wall and spill through the opening into the yard below.
No turning back now.
Brooke climbed down the ladder first, but Ammi stopped Birdie before she could do the same.
“Hold on a second kiddo. I have something to give you before you go.”
“Oh! Okay…” She wasn’t sure how she was going to fit anything else in her pack. Ventas had stopped by the night before to drop off her share of provisions and supplies from the Hunters, and Birdie had a hard time fitting the extra into the already stuffed bag.
Ammi didn’t hand over a satchel of food or an extra bedroll though. Birdie gawked as the woman unbuckled the strap at her shoulder, and slung the harness for Brand off of her back. She held the weapon out to Birdie, who stared at her in disbelief.
“No! I can’t!” she denied.
“Of course you can. I insist, in fact. I would feel much better if I knew you had this. The divine can fight me all he wants, I won’t let you go without it.”
Birdie accepted the sword in awe. She felt a surge of appreciation for the strength of the Champion before her as she weighed its heft and remembered watching Ammi wield the instrument as if it weighed nothing at all.
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“But what if you need it?” Birdie asked in distress.
“I shouldn’t. If our divine pulls his weight and keeps the wall up then we should be fine. Besides, I commissioned the smith for a sword with similar dimensions, so I’ll be alright.”
“It’s too much.” Birdie laughed in emotion.
“Mageaters feed off of magic, but the fire produced by Brand still wounds them. It’s safer than just using raw power, and your best bet for protection. It’s not too much- it’s just enough.”
“Thank you! Truly, Ammi. Thank you for everything.”
“Now, It’s going to feel different compared to the light swords you’ve been practicing with,” Ammi warned. “Keep using your silver sword for now, but I want you to practice with this one in your down time so you’re ready when you leave the divine domain. I included a little note with care instructions and some other advice in the little pouch on the shoulder strap. Make sure to read it thoroughly! I don’t want you using it without knowing what you’re doing- that would be a good way to singe those pretty little eyebrows off.”
Ammi laughed and rubbed her thumb affectionately across Birdie’s brow. She helped her take off her pack and strap the weapon on, showing her how best to adjust the straps so it fit comfortably. Birdie wondered how on earth she was going to adjust to this long weapon, but in that moment swore that she would become as proficient in it as her mentor.
Freshly situated and ready to go, Birdie looked up into the woman’s eyes and was surprised to see them glistening with moisture.
“Don’t worry,” Birdie embraced her, feeling her throat tighten.
“Please be careful out there. And go get our boy back.” Ammi whispered, smoothing Birdies braided hair as she held her tightly.
She joined Ventas and Brooke down in the courtyard a short while later, glad for a moment to face the wall as she climbed so she could blink the stinging from her eyes.
“Are we all set?” Brooke asked brightly, looking a tad emotional herself.
“Yeah,” Birdie nodded in determination.
Ventas looked between the girls in confusion.
“Wait, are you?” He pointed to Brooke, who beamed at him.
“Yep! I am coming along! Birdie had a hard time learning how to heal, and Ammi didn’t want you two going out without someone who can patch you up. So ta-da!”
“That would have been nice to know,” He grumbled, “I could have gotten you provisions.”
“I was able to get everything I needed with my savings.” She assured him kindly.
Ventas shot Birdie a dark look, but she just grimaced back at him. She hadn’t told him because if Epictus was watching her through him- which she was practically positive he was- he would have no doubt tried to stop her. Better to ask forgiveness than permission.
“Well, let’s not let the day pass around us!”
Brooke spread her arms wide towards the door and grinned nervously, no doubt doing her best to start the party off with high morale.
Birdie opened her mouth to say something but sputtered, tasting the spicy waft of magic that filled it.
“Ack!” Ventas pressed his hand over his eye and winced as Epictus’s voice echoed in their ears.
“What? You’re bringing her along? You can’t do that!”
“Watch me!” Birdie grumbled, turning away from the two of them and marching out of the gate onto the gravel path. She heard Brooke make a confused sound, which Ventas ignored. He hurried up next to Birdie, still holding his eye.
“Quit doing that!” Ventas snapped, under his breath.
“Doing what?” Birdie barked back.
“Not you, him!”
The taste of magic returned as the divine’s haughty voice filled her head again.
“I am a divine- practically a god to you people! I will do whatever I want, and I don’t appreciate the sass young lady!”
“I’m sorry,” Birdie mumbled, speaking to Ventas as Brooke hurried to catch up.
“I was under the impression that you and I were partners in this little venture, Epictus. I made an executive decision to bring along a valuable asset and you can kindly butt out!”
Ventas looked at her in dumb shock, but Birdie ignored him, stomping off up ahead so she didn’t have to look at him.
“Cheeky.” Epictus grumbled, and the magic faded from her taste.
“Everything okay?” She heard Brooke ask Ventas quietly.
“I think so…”
Grasshoppers scattered before her as she made deliberately towards the tree line while a strange aching feeling rose in her chest. She was NOT going to miss it. Not one bit. She wasn’t going to turn around to get one last glimpse of the place either. Not even the little tree grove by the river where she and Gabriel used to sit. And she especially wasn’t going to think about the fact that she was finally getting what she wanted, a chance to leave, but it came at the expense of the person she had built all of those dreams with.
“I wonder if we’re going to see any other settlements!” Brooke gushed brightly from the back.
“I hope so.” Ventas answered, distractedly. His heart didn’t sound like it was in the conversation, and Birdie wondered if it was too early to start counting the days down until she could be done with all of this.
End of Act 1.