Chapter 51

The center of the Gray Lands is the Holy Mountain, where no person who is not called by the Mother of Smoke and Fire is allowed to tread. But the heart of the Holy Mountain is the Lake of White Waters, where Saena, Mother of the Peri makes her home. Fortunate is the one who gets a glimpse of her in the form of a great bird flying over the lands. Blessed is the Peri who is called to serve at her court.

Tales of the Gray Lands by Maire Windwood of the Alder Branches

In a rocky enclave in the Gray Lands, at a camp site up on a rise well sheltered from any eyes that might happen to be patrolling the main road below, a piece of wood popped in a fire ring.

“How long will it take us to get to Aufzee’s Freehold?” Violetta asked as she measured tea leaves into a metal teapot.

Xhindi poked the fire, shoving more coals under the grill where he was cooking their breakfast – bannock and a porridge of grain and berries and diced dried meat. About half the bannock were already done and resting on a plate, while the porridge was bubbling. He put down his poking stick and gave the porridge a stir.

“It counts,” he said.

Violetta checked the pot of water she was heating for tea. Lifting a lid, steam came out, but the water was not yet boiling. She lidded it again.

“It counts on what?”

“On what Ashiri and Ruath find. Can we go there by the road, or are we going to have to take to the back country? By road it’s about three days ride. The back country, well it depends on what route we take. But it’s once we get to Aufzee’s we’ll have some real decisions to make. Do we trust going back to Runi Blahn, or do we dare try to make it to Gwinir in Harani, or even one of the towns in the Gray Mountains. All three ways are a long ride.”

“Aspen Heights has a really nice Dragon Web station,” Violetta said. “I went there once on vacation.”

“That’s further from Aufzee’s Freehold that Runi Blahn, and uphill,” Xhindi said. “The Gray Mountains cover a lot of territory.”

Violetta shrugged. “Dragon Web travel makes everything feel close.”

“Maybe so,” he said. “Most of my travels have been on gryphon back.”

Ruath rode up to the campsite, dismounted, and joined the two at the campfire. He plopped down on the other side of Xhindi, crossing his legs and looking around for something to eat. “Porridge’s not ready yet?”

“Eat a bannock,” Xhindi said, pointing to the stack on the plate. “So how was your scouting?” He turned over the bannocks he was cooking.

“I didn’t see anything worth noting,” he said. “Is the tea ready?”

“Almost,” Violetta responded. She pulled the lid off the water pot, which had started to boil, and poured it into the teapot.

“No travelers, no ravens? Nothing we need to avoid?” Xhindi said.

Ruath snatched a bannock off a plate, and broke it in half. “I didn’t see anything alive, except a fox which was out hunting. It saw me first then dashed back into the brush. It felt natural, not touched by magic. Didn’t notice anything else.”

“Nobody, eh?” Xhindi stirred the porridge one more time, and began to scoop it into bowls.

“It looked like it always does. Barren,” Ruath said, taking one of the porridge bowls. He dipped a piece of bannock into the hot dish and scooped some into his mouth. “Not even mine claims until we get closer to Aufzee’s. Country’s too dry for even greedy miners. Even the desert rats have trouble finding food.”

“Thus it has always been. This stretch has always been a land of rock and dust, with very little water. This is why we carry so much. It’s been left to the Gallu and the Lilu and vultures, mostly. No one else can handle the thirst.”

“If it’s so bad, why is there even a road here?” Violetta asked.

Xhindi handed a bowl of food to Violetta. “That’s a good question. It’s usually only people like us who have a need to go who take this route, but Aufzee’s Freehold has always been a rich site. It’s big enough to be considered a town, has a dependable spring above the mine workings in a land where water’s rare, and the people there are willing to pay for trade goods. It’s almost surprising there’s nobody on the road.”

“Not the first time we’ve seen it nearly empty. Could be they just sold off a load of black opals. If that’s true, it might be a while before anybody heads to Runi Blahn from there.” Ruath pulled out his spoon and bending forward over his food, began to eat his porridge in earnest.

Violetta poured tea for the three of them, then began to eat. “So that means we can take the road?” she asked in between bites.

“Maybe. We’ll see what Ashira says when she gets back.” Xhindi pulled the last of the bannock off the grill, and added them to the pile. “She’s got ways to see things that Ruath misses.”

“Don’t blame me if I’m not a Peri,” Ruath said.

“I’m not. You both have your own strengths.” Xhindi broke a bannock and dipped part of it into his tea.

The three ate in silence. About the time Violetta got up to start washing dishes, Ashira rode up. She dismounted from her gryphon, and strode towards the three sitting down, her veil and shapeless robes fluttering as she strode. It was hard to read much from her face, since most of it except for the eyes was veiled, but there was concern there in how her eyes darted from Xhindi to Violetta and back.

She sat down next to Xhindi, and warmed her hands next to the fire. “There are Lilu up ahead,” she said. “They wiped out a caravan near Grishi’s Pass. Coming from Aufzee’s, I think. It wasn’t a pleasant sight. Recent, maybe in the last day or two.”

“I rode right by there,” Ruath said, frowning. “I didn’t see anything.”

“The Lilu saw you, though,” Ashira said. “They had stashed the bodies in the rocks off the road. I could hear them chattering as you rode by, nervous that you would come between them and their prizes.”

“Where were you?” Ruath asked.

She pointed up. “Sometimes the skies give views that the earth doesn’t.”

“You’re lucky that Lilu don’t use bows,” Ruath said.

“And you’re lucky they were too busy playing with their new toys when you rode by.” Ashira grabbed her bowl of porridge and a bit of bannock and walked over to edge of the camp, turning her back to the others when eating in the Peri way. She unveiled and began to eat her meal.

“Well that makes things tricky,” Xhindi said. “We’re short handed as it is, and I don’t know if we have what it takes to clean out a Lilu nest.”

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“They might still be too busy by the time we get there, if we hurry,” Ashira said between bites.

“I don’t want to take that chance,” Xhindi said. “Ruath, Ashira, help me remember if there’s another route that doesn’t go over the pass. I guess we could take Zahara’s trail from here. We’re not far from it, but that’s a lot longer route, and there’s even less water on it. I was hoping to avoid it.”

“I vote for Zahara’s, if you don’t think we can fight. Shame Hazin couldn’t stay,” Ruath said, warming his hands on his tea cup. “Him and his clan call. We need him more than they do - he was always the best fighting the Lilu.”

“Clan obligations matter, Ruath, especially if you’re the clan leader’s nephew. He didn’t grow up an orphan like you and he is bound with some serious ties. We have who we have, and we’ll have to work with it,” Xhindi said, sighing. He got up to take his dishes to where Violetta was washing her things.

“I have a sword,” Violetta said, looking up at the Jinn. She wiped a fleck of dishwasher off her chin. “And I know how to use it. I’m not totally useless.”

“I never considered you useless, Violetta.” She reached out for his dishes and he passed them to her, then swatted down to look her in the eyes at a more equal level. “But I’ve worked hard to keep you alive so far. And you, woman, are far more important than clearing out a bunch of Lilu. If you weren’t the Mother of Smoke and Fire wouldn’t have come to you. Remember that. I know you have some skills, but you aren’t trained as a fighter against these monsters the way we are. It would be better if we didn’t try it.” He looked at the Peri. “How many people did they take out?”

“I saw - ” Ashira began, then bolted up, throwing up her veil as she moved. “Do you hear that?”

“I don’t hear anything,” Ruath said, throwing a twig into the fire.

“I do,” Xhindi said. “What is it?”

The sound was soft, at first sounding like a low humming. It grew louder, and as it did, it changed, became more like the beating of wings.

“Who? What is that?” Violetta asked. She pointed to the south.

The others looked up.

“Could it be?” asked Ruath.

“It could,” Xhindi said, standing up. “I’ve seen her twice before.”

“I’ve heard of this, but I’ve never seen it.” Ruath shielded his forehead and stared off at the horizon.

“There!” Ashiri said, pointing the same direction Violetta had pointed.

On the horizon was the form of a great bird, massive wings glimmering with gold and blue. Following in its wake, was a whole flock of flying women, golden against the blue morning sky.

“Mother Saena and her hosts,” Ashiri whispered. She made a sign across her chest, then bowed her head in reverence.

“Who?” Violetta asked.

“The guardian of the Peri, daughter of the Mother of Smoke and Fire,” Xhindi said, as Ashiri did her obeisance. “She lives on the Holy mountain by the Lake of White Waters, one of the most holy places in all of the Gray Lands. That’s a long way from here.”

“My mother always told me just getting a glimpse of her in the sky is a blessing,” Ashira said. “The few times I’ve glimpsed her always did seem to be followed with good things.”

“We can use all the blessings we can get,” Xhindi said. “But where is she going?”

“Could...could she be coming here?” Violetta asked, watching as the sky convoy grew closer.

Xhindi’s eyes grew wide… “If the Mother of Fire and Smoke came to you…”

He didn’t need to finish his thought. Suddenly the camp site burst into activity, as Xhindi barked orders to tidy up. Bedrolls were put away, camp dishes washed and stowed and what little waste they had produced over night was buried. That done, the group of four watched as the massive bird circled their camp site.

As the bird gyred down, Ashiri and Xhindi fell to their knees. Violetta, though, couldn’t help but keep her eyes on the descending figure. As she got closer, she began to glow with a radiance that shifted between the color of fire and the color of mid-day blue sky, and her wingspread shrank, reducing slowly into human size.

By the time she touched down, all four of them were kneeling down – her aura, while not demanding anything, gave off a feeling that acting with great respect felt like the best response, a vibration of being in the presence of something majestic and holy and far beyond the usual scale of being.

“Arise, children. You have nothing to fear,” she said.

To Violetta, her voice was as warm and welcome as a spring breeze, comforting in its gentle tones, almost musical in its quality. A feeling of peace washed over her as she got to her feet. She looked up to see a beautific woman standing before her – slender, with cascading red and black hair that reached to the ground, and eyes that glowed like twin flames. She was robed in in diaphanous blue, and from her back, reaching up like a halo framing her head was a pair of golden wings. She did not come alone. Behind her three Peri women stood, golden robed, wings displayed, spears at the ready. They were all three incredibly lovely, but their eyes were hard and determined. Anybody able to resist the charisma of the Lady would find themselves under immediate attack.

One by one the other three of Violetta’s party stood up. Ruath was the most affected. He gazed at Saena with large, amazed eyes, totally overawed. Xhindi made a sign of obeisance and bowed from the waist before straightening back up. Only Ashiri did not raise her head, as if she felt too unworthy of the presence in front of her.

“Dear daughter,” Saena said, “you have nothing to be ashamed of.” She lifted the Peri’s chin up with gentle, long fingers.

At first, Ashiri clasped her eyes shut, but something in her softened under the Lady’s touch, and after a moment, she opened them. They shimmered, almost to the point of tears, but also with wonder. “My Lady,” she whispered.

“All Peri are my children,” Saena said. “And you have followed the way all the days of your life. Do not worry what those who would judge things they don’t understand, child. Your mother would be content on the road you have chosen, no matter what the others say.”

“Even my aunt?” Ashira asked, nodding.

“She deals with pain. Her heart has yet to heal after all that happened. Do not think dark thoughts of her – but do not let her dark thoughts tell you are lesser than you are.”

Saena moved to Xhindi. “Such a noble hero, loved by our Mother. She has entrusted such an important jewel into your keeping.”

Xhindi bowed his head at the praise, then straightened up, head held high, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “I will do my utmost to live up to her faith.”

“And you, little Ruath. Life has not been kind, but never forget, we do not forget you, even when you think all others have.”

For some reason, this made Ruath blush, and he dropped his head. This in turn made the Lady smile even more, and she touched his shoulder with one long finger. “An extra blessing for you on this mission. May it do you light when you are most wrapped in darkness.”

He swallowed hard. “Thank you, Lady.” His voice cracked.

Finally, Saena turned to Violetta. “Ah, Outlander. You have no idea, I think, of the weight you bear in your pack. We are sorry to give you this burden.”

“I understand that there are large stakes involved on my success,” Violetta said. “More than that, it’s personal. A person dear to my heart gathered the materials.”

“Yes, and he will stay gone, unreachable, until all is revealed. This world is too dangerous for him right now.”

“He will return?” Violetta said. Her voice betrayed a hope she had not let her heart feel in a long time.

“I cannot promise for sure. He has traveled a far, far distance, but I am sure he will return if he can. Thus he told me.”

Violetta took a deep breath and nodded.

“But now that hope, and our hope for the future rests on you. And if what you have is not carried away to the right people, there will be no way to stop the seeker before he finds out what he is looking for. And once he finds it, he will give it to the people who will destroy everything. You are our hope. Complete your mission. Return to the land of your youth, and find your allies in old friendships. But do not unveil your burden until you are with them.”

She rested a hand on Violetta’s head. Violetta felt a magic current that coursed through her body. It felt like she was being filled by something warm and protective and soothing.

“I give you the blessing of Saena. It works best in this land, but perhaps, some time in the future, if you are in great need, call my name, and if I can, I will help.”

“Thank you, my Lady,” Violetta replied.

Before anybody could say anything else, a Peri, one who was not part of Saena’s honor guard, dropped down from the sky and knelt in front of Saena. Her garment was stained with blood, and at her waist was the ghastly head of a Lilu, rams’ horns and all.

“We have done as you bid, Lady,” the Peri warrior said. “I and my sisters scoured the road between here and Aufzee’s Freehold. We found three nests of Lilu, a den with one Gallu, and an encampment of bandits.”

“And?” Saena asked.

“This morning at dawn, we took care of the bandits. The second squad hit the Gallu. The third squad took out two of the Lilu nests. The last nest I saw to personally. The road should be clear, at least for a few days.”

“Good, good,” the Lady said. “Pick out a squad to keep things under control until my children here reach Aufzee’s. Tell all who fought today to take honors. You have done well.”

“Our joy is to serve,” said the Peri, but it was obvious she was pleased. She stood up, and with a strong beat of her wings, she took back to the air.

“Lady,” Xhindi said, kneeling. “What did we do to deserve this?”

“The Mother sent me here. She saw that your way was about to be troubled. It is my joy to serve as well. Be blessed, my children, our hope. Know you sit in my heart.”

She too beat her wings, and took to the air, and after a stroke or two, she turned back into bird form, and with a final circling of the travelers’ camps, flew back in the direction of the Holy Mountain.

“Nobody ever’s going to believe this story,” Ruath said. He crumpled to the ground. “I don’t know if I believe it.

“Believe it or not,” Xhindi said. “It’s time to break camp.”

Violetta though, stared into the sky for a long time. “Halidin, are you just waiting?” she asked, then turned to get ready to travel.