Zahria

Daedalus stuck to the periphery of the crowd, but Zahria ran right to the edge of the barrier and stared directly at the nearest, tallest Inferno Walker. She didn’t know much, but she still remembered some of the passages her uncle used to have her recite. And she had books now. Books and an idea.

She arranged her starter books in a circle and placed her doll inside, and flipped through the book she’d filched from her master until she found the page. She knew she recognized this book, her uncle had owned a copy.She thanked the heavens that the books of Scholar's spire were spellwrought to be waterproof, found the spell she needed, locked her eyes upon the inferno walker who was no longer burning but merely smoldering and began to read.

Take heed, ye giant, we call upon you to whom we've given life, who we have freed from the pain of fire, to stand once more in the defense of men, women and children. We the scholars of the spire do bind you to the defense of Tyros Bastion, now and forever.

She addressed the doll, and saw the massive creature respond. It turned its head to her momentarily, and inclined it to her before turning to the other approaching monsters.

Zahria watched in wide eyed amazement as her smoldering giant fought two burning ones, while lesser beasts from both sides were trampled under foot. The ground was shaking so hard by now that both walkers struggled to remain upright. Within minutes, only one did, the others in pieces on the ground.

All that She could do was stare, stare at the massive creature that had been the inferno walker as it walked back towards the front of the city, turned on its heel, and took up its vigil, scanning the horizon for any further danger. Now that it was no longer burning, Zahria could see that before it burned, it had been a massive dryad, a tree walker.

She took after its lead, and looked out to the devastation upon the plains. The spellforged warriors were still cleaning up, dispatching or chasing away enemy stragglers. As she stared out at the bodies, she hurt to know how many had been theirs. She knew the aftermath of battle from before this, but it never got easier to see.

She thought of all the parents who would not come home to their children, and sat down to cry.

Daedalus found Zahria shortly after the battle. He sat beside her and said nothing for a long moment. There was nothing to say. Then he put a hand on her shoulder. “You saved a lot of people today. You already know more of reading than you let on.”

“My uncle taught me, but he's gone now.”

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“You said that he died, right?” Her face screwed up as if in pain.

“I don't know. He isn't in the cities and no one has heard from him in 7 years. He would have gotten word to me.” Tears still glistened on her cheeks.

Others were milling about them now, and he was perturbed to see more than a few fearful faces turned on his students. It wasn't right that they should fear her, she saved their lives.

“You should have told me, but I guess we didn't know this was coming, so it's ok. But now I need to ask, is there anything else I should know about you?”

She thought for a long moment, and then seemed to think of something. “I have never had ice cream, but I would like to some day.”

Daedalus slapped his palm into his face. He supposed he'd asked for that one. With no ice cream to be had, he and his pupil returned to scholar's spire. As they entered, a wave of psychic conversation hit his mind. They were fighting again.

His master's voice was unmistakable. “This is just the latest reminder of the threat. And it was not happenstance, no coincidence, but an intentional attack. They brought an army, and someone sent them.”

“We have sent searchers out before, more than I can name. How many more people should I send to their deaths?” Daedalus had seen Madge angry, he had seen Madge melancholy, but he never saw her truly tired before then. “And they are animals, they tend to gather in groups, no more. You are seeing monsters in every shadow.”

“Perhaps you did not notice,these past thirty two years, but, there are monsters in every shadow. We just fought many of them.” Ayave's tone could not cut deeper if she'd had a steel tongue. “I would think it obvious, even for you.” As someone mocking another's eyesight, Ayave should have realized that she was within arm's reach. She was new to the counsel, and did not know Madge well yet.

There was not a moment to react before Madge had the woman in a one handed chokehold. “I can see and hear as well as anyone here, and little escapes me, obvious or not. Apologize.”

Daedalus had never seen such fear on a person's face. The woman acquiesced immediately. ”I am sorry, I spoke out of turn. But I do agree with Silas. We must have something.”

Madge let the woman go, and put on an expression of consideration. “I suppose you are right that we need weapons. Daedalus, have you continued your writing practice?”

Daedalus had not been expecting the question, and misliked what he thought it implied. “I have, but it has been difficult with my other studies, and...” He gestured to indicate his student beside him.

To write and to read are both a sort of magic, related but in some ways different. To read was to impose the words of another upon the world, and to write was to impose your own. Daedalus had barely been able to contain his excitement. As a writer, he could do anything at all.

“Ah, well that. I felt what your student did to the inferno walker. She interests me. I would like to instruct you both in writing. Personally.”

“I have nothing but respect for you,“ said Silas, “but Daedalus is my student.”

“And he shall remain so. Consider my lessons supplementary. But writers will make better weapons.”

“So you have scruples about reading a book by a Warmonger, but none about turning a teenaged girl into a weapon? Is that really any less dangerous?”

“Yes.” There was a way that Madge used tone even without voice. And her tone clearly said the discussion was over. The murmurs of dissent did not die as quickly as she would like. “And what of you,” she said to the group.

“If there are any writers among you, come to my lessons no matter your level, and I will teach you what I know.” The murmurs grew louder but had a different character. “Let it be made clear that Slias and I share the goal of protecting the city, but disagree on the method. He says to use the old books, and I say we write new ones. Those of my mind, attend my lessons every morning hence, at dawn in the grounds of Scholar's Spire. If that is all, I will take my leave, and see some of you in the morning.”

All about were shocked faces, and Madge smiled imagining those expressions as she walked away.