Mira found Tella practicing a spell outside of the temple with her mentor. The two healers held their hands above a large bowl of water as they faced each other. Irae made a swishing motion with her hand before lifting it above her head. The water swirled upwards and splashed back down. Tella giggled as she followed her instructor’s motions, and the water did the same.
“Why are you so protective of her?” Amethyst walked up behind Mira.
“I am responsible for her. Her parents died because of my negligence. Her brother and guardians died by my mast –” Mira paused.
Isaan was no longer her master. Their battle had broken her enthrallment when her life nearly ended. Years of only referring to the man as her master would be hard to break, but she would. She would no longer have a master.
“Isaan Naybellos killed her brother, guardians, and the village they lived in because he could not kill me,” She stared at Tella concentrating on the next step of her spell, “He knew I enjoyed spending time there.”
“Yet he didn’t return here to kill you?” The orc raised an eyebrow.
“He is a smart man. We both nearly died, from what I’m told,” Her gaze narrowed in on the damage to the town past the courtyard, “If he lived, then he would know I had too. He knew there would be guards here since he attacked so close to the temple. A small, unnamed village half a day away would have no one to protect them. I was their protection. I failed.”
“You can’t help anyone if you’re dead,” Amethyst sighed and patted her back.
Mira flinched at the touch and looked at the woman. She did not tolerate many people touching her. If she did, they knew she was uncomfortable with it. The only one that didn’t was the young healer that playfully splashed water at Irae.
“It does not matter. If I had died, then they would have been safe.”
“Except for the next round of bandits, famine, or disaster that befell them,” She grunted, “Listen, Mira, there is nothing you can do to stop all evils.”
“No, but I can protect her,” She pointed to Tella.
“And you believe that is best served by keeping her close to you? Does she know what you are?”
Mira paused. She had told Pallik the truth. He reacted poorly until he accepted it. He had promised not to tell his sister, but Mira had no way to know if he had.
“What do you mean?”
“If Isaan is targeting everyone you have strong connections to,” Amethyst pointed to the girl, “Don’t you think he will find her?”
Anger bubbled under her skin. Isaan would never touch Tella.
“What are you suggesting?” Her jaw clenched.
“You may need to leave the girl behind, for her safety. If your goal is to find Isaan, then she should not come,” Amethyst scratched the side of her head, “Would you trust anyone to watch her?”
“No.”
“Not even the bandits? They clearly fear you.”
“They were instructed to. They failed.”
“Did they? I see her there.”
“I told them to protect the village. They failed.”
“You overestimated their abilities. That is your fault, not theirs.”
Mira glared at her, “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You are extremely powerful. You may able to fend of a large threat,” Amethyst shook her head, “But they are weak. You overestimated their abilities. They can only do so much. It looks as if they saved the one you truly cared about.”
“I cared for all of them,” She hissed.
“We tried to get all of them away,” Val interjected.
Mira’s frosty gaze went to the bandit, and she lowered her head.
“But yes… We focused on the two that you cared for more. Half of your men died trying to give a head start to the villagers,” Val shuffled on her feet, “Many took up arms and refused to run. Even the boy. I tried to drag him away myself.”
Mira clenched her fist, “Amethyst, I believed we were going to fight?”
“Ah, yes,” The orc grinned, “And now you are angry. It will be more fun.”
“We can’t spar here,” She pointed to the guards that paced the courtyard, “They are very much aware and look for a reason to arrest me.”
“Is that why you wear priestess robes? That’s amusing,” Amethyst grinned, “I think I can solve that problem.”
“It would be best if you left town,” Val interjected, “A lot of folks are still traumatized from the festival. It may not be good for them to relive it… even if they helped in the end.”
“Very well. Bring the group. We all need to train.” Mira walked back into the temple.
Her new orc shadow followed her eagerly. As she made her way into Nara’s room, Mira turned to face her.
“I do not fully trust you. Remain here while I change.”
“Very well,” Amethyst bowed, “What should I refer to you as? Your majesty? My liege? Encante’s Vessel doesn’t have a title as much as the others.”
“You may refer to me by my name.”
“As you wish, Mira.”
She knew that the orc would irritate her quickly with that, “What did Onyx refer to my mother as?”
“My lady,” Amethyst and Encante said at the same time.
“Then, that will do,” She nodded curtly.
Mira closed the door behind her. She opened the trap door to enter her room and jumped past the ladder. Her silent landing in the dark room made her smile. Her training was still engrained her; secondhand, like breathing. She quickly changed from the priestess robes and donned her leather pants she preferred. She tightened her chest bindings and tucked the stone between her breasts. She pulled her tunic over her head and tucked it lightly into the top of her pants.
By the time she opened the door to the Nara’s office, Amethyst had shaken hands and introduced herself to the eight bandits that joined their group. Mira rolled her eyes and moved down the hallway without a word. Her entourage followed her without speaking.
“Val, did you explain anything to them?” Mira asked.
“No, Leader. I did not know if you wanted to.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Good. We are going to train. This is Amethyst. You will follow her orders unless they contradict mine. I believed she introduced herself to all of you. She is a blood mage and renown warrior.”
She did not turn around to see their response. As they walked into the courtyard, Mira flagged the guards grouping up to approach them. Amethyst strode forward to walk next to Mira.
“There are a few of them. Which one is the leader?” She whispered.
“His name is Thesson,” Mira pointed to the dwarf, “They hold the same positions, but he has seniority to his peers. The orders they get are addressed to him.”
“And how do you know this?” Amethyst grinned.
“Because I read their orders,” She shrugged, “They sleep heavily.”
The orc chuckled, “I shouldn’t have expected anything else.”
The courtyard was tense as the groups met. Amethyst smiled and bowed lightly to the guards. They looked at her with confusion.
“Good day,” She smiled, “We are leaving the town to train. Would you care to join us?”
Everyone looked to her in confusion. Thesson barked in laughter.
“And who might you be to accompany… Priestess Rose and her friends?” He shook his head.
“I’m not anyone special,” She shrugged, “You’re welcomed to join. Where will we be, Val?”
Val blinked, “There is a small farm that has yet to be rebuilt after the fire. Should we go there?”
“And why do you want to bring a priestess?” Thesson snorted, “Is she going to spar as well?”
“Yes,” Amethyst smiled, “At least, that is the plan.”
“Then I would very much be interested in joining,” He grinned, “What say you, priestess?”
Mira narrowed her eyes at the orc, “That is fine. Where will we be grabbing our weapons? Sunodagh may have some spares still.”
“Val, please grab Priestess Rose a sword and dagger,” She smiled and turned to Mira, “Will that be acceptable?”
“Does she not need a shield?” Thesson chuckled, “Especially against guards?”
“I will be fine. Ameythst, may we speak privately?”
“Of course,” She grinned.
The two walked away as the bandits and guards glared at each other.
“There is a… delicate balance,” Mira looked to two groups, “Why are you doing this?”
“I want them to see they cannot overpower you if they tried. When they realize that, they will see you do not mean harm to these people.”
“They are here to arrest me.”
“They will know they cannot do that,” She shrugged, “Either way, your little clan needs better training.”
“What happens when the guards attempt to arrest me?”
“Then, you will disarm them and show them mercy.”
Mira sighed, “Fine. If I cannot, their deaths will be your fault.”
The two rejoined the group and walked from the courtyard. They followed the recently forged gravel footpath. Mira gazed at the gravity of the damage of her fight outside of the temple for the first time. Townsfolk had cleared much of the rubble in the months of her recovery, but the crumbled walls and buildings made the town look abandoned.
“When do they think it will be finished rebuilding?” Val asked.
“By winter,” Thesson grumbled, “At least, the major parts. Enough for those sleeping in the courtyard to have proper shelter.”
“That’s good,” Mira commented, “We should be thankful that the harvest was already completed. It would have been devastating.”
“Yes,” He ran his fingers through his beard.
The tension between the guards and bandits strained the air as they walked silently. Amethyst chose to ignore this and continued talking.
“Yes. My farm’s harvest will last us through to next spring. My wife has a natural talent for gardening,” She smiled proudly, “Goddess smiled upon us this year.”
“Wife, you say?” Thesson chuckled, “I would never imagine an orc binding herself to a gardener.”
“My people take great pride in all talents. Her magic can fertilize the earth and prompt plant’s growth. The mornings she spends singing to her seeds are the best I wake up to,” She sighed, “It’s only a shame she’s a human. Else we would be able to share our spread in Agrowl.”
“Do they not allow that?” Val asked.
“Agrowl is many things… But kind is not one of them. My wife was enthralled to my aunt when we met. I grew fond and purchased her from her master. We took a trip to Vanora and had a small wedding,” She paused at the memory, “When my family learned of our union, I was exiled and told never to return. Without them, I have no reason to call Agrowl home. We found where her clan was in Saceida. I have spent the last fifteen years there.”
“Do you not miss your family?” Thesson asked.
“Of course. But, if they would not accept my lover, then I do not need them as my family. The humans in our little village are fond of me. I teach their children how to wield weapons and they help tend the fields come harvest time. It is a simple, but pleasant life.”
“Then why did you come here?” Another guard asked.
“An old friend called me to speak to someone,” Amethyst grinned as she looked to Mira, “And my destiny is intertwined with hers. My wife understands. She knows I will be home when I can.”
Mira stopped as they approached a scorched farmland. Green grass barely sprouted under the blackened earth. She stretched to ease the thoughts from her mind.
“Priestess Rose,” Thesson grinned, “Why don’t you and I spar first? I have a proposal for you.”
She took a deep breath to center herself, “And what may that be?”
“You claim to be too busy to speak,” He shrugged and grabbed the sword from his belt, “Point for point. Should one of us land a strike on the other, we must answer a question.”
“Acceptable,” Mira held the sword out to check its balance, “Amethyst, please see to it that our acquaintances get an acceptable warm up. I fear they may have been slacking while I rested.”
The bandits groaned behind her as she gave the sword a practice swing. She tucked the dagger into her waistband and stepped towards Thesson.
“Do you not want armor?” He raised an eyebrow and gestured to his own plate mail, “I’m sure one of my men can –”
“What are the rules?”
“Rules? Are you used to sparring, Priestess Rose?” He chuckled, “Nothing at the neck or groin. No dirty tricks either.”
“A proper duel, then,” She nodded, “Shall one of yours judge?”
“No need. They need to train as well. This can be between us.”
“Very well,” Mira walked a few paces from the group as he followed.
The two circled each other for a few paces. As Thesson lunged forward to strike, Mira stepped out of the way and blocked his plunging weapon with her sword. He grunted and stepped back to his original spot. Mira waited a few moments before she feinted a strike at Thesson. As he dodged, her sword caught his boot. She flung his foot backwards and he fell in a fluid motion. She tapped his chest plate lightly with her blade then helped him back to his feet.
“You are light on your feet,” He grinned, “I didn’t expect that.”
“Why do the others follow your lead? You are all the same rank.”
He grunted as he thrust his sword towards her. Their blades clanged as she blocked each strike.
“I have more experience,” He grunted and stepped back from her swing.
“And?” She raised an eyebrow, “I believe you would like my honest answers –should you land a hit.”
“Our commanding officer is evaluating me for a promotion. Should I catch the one named Mira, then I would be able to lead my own squadron in Hangral. My family would live between the temple and palace.”
He grunted and swung his sword at her waist. She spun around and tapped her sword lightly against his arm.
“Is there advantages to that? Living between those two places?”
“My future children would be able to join classes at the temple,” He nodded, “I work hard so they may be scholars.”
“Honorable,” She nodded.
“Your next question?” Thesson raised an eyebrow.
“That was it, unless you allow me another.”
The two circled each other once more. Mira feigned another attack, but Thesson reacted with enough time to block her strike. He turned to elbow her, but her speed allowed her to slip around him. She pulled the dagger from her waistband and tapped his back as he turned to face her.
“You are quite skillful with the blade for a priestess.”
“If you find Mira, what would you do?” Her yellow eyes judged him critically.
“It is my duty to arrest her and bring her to the capital for sentencing. Should she fight, then it is my duty to conquer her or die trying,” He nodded, “Should she come peacefully, then she would be treated kindly.”
As Thesson tried for another strike, she slid her blade across his to throw it from his hands. He gripped his blade tighter to prevent it. As the two leaned into the battle of strength, she jumped backwards and he fell forward. She tapped his back with the tip of her blade. As she bent to help him up, his forearm gripped hers and Thesson attempted to pull her off her feet. A rush of magic soared through her veins as she resisted. Her feet remained firmly planted. Mira smiled devilishly as she pulled him to his feet. His eyes widened at her strength.
“Did you try a dirty trick, Thesson?” She chuckled, “I thought this was a fair fight?”
“I have yet to land a hit and know nothing about you,” He shrugged, “Ask your next question.”
“What will happen to your duty to Vimgraunt, should you find your target? Would you leave your post to have these people destroyed?”
“There is a small army of soldiers coming to secure the region, under the new duke’s rule. Or, have you not read that letter of mine yet?” His brow furrowed, “It has been you rifling through my things, hasn’t it?”
“You are smarter than you look,” She smirked, “That letter must have arrived recently.”
The pair of blades collided a few more times before Thesson grunted and tried for another lunging strike. Mira twirled away from his blade and tapped her dagger against his side.
“What if she does not want to go and will not fight?” She looked at him.
“Then, I hope she would at least let us escort her so no others would be harmed,” He nodded, “I am not her enemy. I am an enemy to her master.”
Mira’s instincts heightened as she felt something flying towards her. She turned to grab the flying hatchet by the handle and the flat of Thesson’s blade playfully smacked her rear. Her gaze narrowed on the orc’s mischievous grin. Mira growled under her breath at the woman and threw the hatchet to the ground.
“Are you her? Or are you truly a priestess that happens to be the same?” Thesson pulled his sword back.
“I cannot admit to it,” She stated cautiously, “I am not ready to leave this place. Not yet.”
“I will have to take you to Hangral,” He nodded, “But, I can wait, if you will go willingly.”
“When I am,” Mira nodded and her amber eyes narrowed at Amethyst, “Orc, it is time we sparred. Get over here.”