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Chapter X : Rekindled
Lateday of Terminus, Thirtieth Day of Harvestmoon
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Rosa felt better. Her depression dissolved, and her mood was much improved. Since leaving Cedric’s manor, her choice was now clear. She had to define her own future and do whatever it took to be free of her father’s control.
The first step was financial independence. Tom’s wealth still had a powerful hold over her, and she had to make some changes without signaling her intention, lest he cut her off prematurely. Even so, she had already begun looking for work to leverage her skills as a sorceress, including some leads at hospitals and clinics in the nearby townships. While under Tom’s roof, she had been forbidden from jobs involving contact with commoners. Yet, those were the places with the highest demand for healers. To earn a living, she’d have to break a few rules.
She applied to any position that suffered from shortages in magical talent. Many places still hadn’t fully replaced the sorcerers they lost during The War. In just a day, she set up four separate interviews. Of course, it was one of many barriers to overcome. But the progress bolstered her confidence.
Getting a job was just the beginning. It would take years of hard work before she qualified for higher salaries, let alone a comfortable lifestyle. But she was willing to work, and she believed Bram would support her. As long as he’d be willing to live in the barracks for a few years, she could apply for on-site housing at her job and substantially cut the cost of living. Bram might even be relieved to move out of the Reynolds’ household.
She couldn’t wait to tell him. As soon as she heard that the Heron had landed, she raced to the central plaza to meet him. He always passed through the same area after his missions. It was a bustling spot; more so that day, given the presence of a farmer’s market. Residents crowded around carts and tables laden with the latest harvest. She overheard a few shoppers discussing bizarre weather patterns, but she paid them no heed. The sky was deep blue, and birds chirped happily as they flew overhead. A lateday sun warmed her body through her bright white dress, making her feel calm and relaxed.
She scanned the crowd, hoping to find a man in Gnostic armor, but no such luck. Bram’s debrief was probably running late, so she sat on a bench to enjoy the sweet aroma of nearby roses, while listening to the buzz of bumblebees fully engorged with pollen. A gentle breeze put her in a wistful mood, reminding her of the time when she and Bram first met. The newly appointed Knight, still fairly young, had just taken command of his aircraft. Meanwhile, she was a sorceress in training, ready to tackle her fifth year of magic school.
The War had been raging for several years, and Angkor was losing strength. Koba and Kitezh had sealed their alliance, and King Richard’s army was growing desperate. In response, the government started training its magic students for battle.
Much of the exercises involved off-site locations, such as the dangerous Saladina Desert, an arid wasteland to the north. It was one of only two routes that offered Kitezhian forces a direct path to Angkor, and the government wanted its scholars—students or otherwise—to be familiar with the terrain and capable of halting enemy progression.
Unfortunately, a careless error by Rosa’s professor allowed his class to fall victim to a Kitezhian ambush. Dozens of soldiers waited in hiding for the young scholars to draw near. Rosa had volunteered as prefect, and she was practicing some spells along the way. Her magical senses alerted her with flashes of premonition—a volley of arrows, flying at great speed, piercing through flesh. Moments later, the arrows struck her professor, and the enemy launched an all-out assault. She barely had time to grab the arms of two young girls before taking flight.
She quickly cast another spell, imagining a peregrine falcon. The textures of its feathers brushed her fingertips, the wind raced in her ears, and the grace of its wings accelerated every footstep. The two young girls were too frightened to remember their own spells, so Rosa covered for them. Though their feet never left the ground, they might as well have been flying. Rosa’s spell took her and her companions into the foothills, far ahead of the Kitezhian soldiers.
Even so, she was certain they’d pursue her. Kitezhians were well aware of the value of slaying enemy scholars. So, she took the girls over rocks, between crevasses, and up small cliffs, all in her best attempt to stay ahead. No matter how far she fled, the enemy couldn’t be shaken. After hours of fleeing, Rosa’s manna was nearly depleted. Exhausted, she turned her eyes skyward, hoping a prayer to the Goddess would grant her reprieve.
Much to her surprise, she saw an airship flying overhead. It was a long shot, but she focused the last of her energy to cast a flare, hoping desperately that the pilot would come to her aid. It was broad daylight, so she made it as bright as possible. Sadly, hope dwindled, and the airship kept going until she lost sight of it.
Her heart sank, knowing the flare would also signal to her pursuers. Weak and lightheaded, she sagged against the cliff face. The two girls huddled by her side, sobbing with fear. She instructed them to be brave, but she could barely contain her own terror. She was defenseless, and the sound of her approaching executioners gained in strength. She waited as minutes passed, her dread slowly giving way to an acceptance of death. She closed her eyes and awaited her fate.
“Psst, over here!” a voice whispered to her side.
Instinct took over. She scrambled to her feet and placed herself in front of the cowering girls.
A man revealed himself from behind a boulder. She recognized the black darksteel armor of a Gnostic Knight: one of the good guys. He held his helm under his arm, allowing her to witness his handsome face, strong jawline, and confident smile.
“Don’t be alarmed. I’m Angkorian. I saw your signal and came to help.” He pointed to a nearby mountain path. “Quickly! My ship’s that way.”
She was exhausted, but she forced herself up. Her blessed Savior had arrived, and she couldn’t miss her chance for safety.
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A thought occurred. “There are others! My classmates and I were ambushed in the desert. All I could save were these two girls. Have you seen the others?”
The man’s eyes looked bleak, and he shook his head. “No, but we must hurry before—”
Halfway through his sentence, a Kitezhian soldier rounded the corner with sword in hand. “The bitch is over here!”
Rosa’s rescuer sprang to action. He donned his helm and leapt at the enemy, drawing his blade and slicing in mid-air. Before the Kitezhian had a chance to react, the Knight severed the man’s head.
Rosa turned away from the gruesome sight and urged the girls up the mountain path. “Go, now! Find the airship, and you’ll be safe.”
They obeyed immediately.
Meanwhile, the Gnostic Knight was dueling with four swordsmen at once. Rosa couldn’t bear to leave him to fend for himself, so she summoned her magic. A surge of adrenaline offered her renewed strength, and she cast a shield just in time to deflect an enemy blow. It left the soldier flatfooted. The Knight reacted quickly, took advantage of the man’s bewilderment, and plunged sword through neck. The Knight spun around and defeated two more.
Further down the path, Rosa focused her magic on a pair of bowmen about to take aim. She loosened a few rocks from the cliffside, which struck the men, just as they knocked their bows. This gave the Gnostic time to catch up and cut them down.
With the last of the soldiers dead, the Knight removed his helm once more.
Rosa gazed into his eyes at a loss for words. All she could muster was, “Thank you.”
He exposed his teeth in a beautiful smile that matched his platinum-colored strands. “Don’t mention it.”
She almost felt embarrassed when he extended a gauntleted hand, and she had no idea what to do with it. “I’m Bram. Glad I had the chance to meet you.”
Rosa imagined her complexion had just turned several shades redder. After leaving his hand dangling for too long, she reached out and shook it vigorously. “I’m Rosa. And … yes, quite glad you came.”
She recognized right away that she had felt love. More than just gratefulness that her life had been saved. More than just smitten by a handsome face. This man was humble and charming and everything she felt a Knight should be.
As a young girl, she had read tales of the legendary Vinetan sorceress, Isabella Clairvaux. In the story, the heroine rescued a knight from the great leviathan of the sea, which had swallowed the man whole. Isabella was clever, giving the leviathan a poisoned fruit, which caused the beast to regurgitate the knight. She then used her powers to heal his wounds. And as it so often happened in children’s tales, the two lived happily ever after.
All through childhood, Rosa dreamt of being that heroine, fighting side by side with her knight. Sadly, her story lacked the same happy ending. In the days that followed, she learned that her other classmates had been slaughtered. Her school was shut down, and the remaining students were either dismissed or given an opportunity to join The War.
She wasn’t ready to return to her father, nor was she willing to train as a killer. Instead, she tracked down her rescuer, knowing no more than a first name and his role in the kingdom. When she discovered the timing of his next return to Angkor, she set off to meet him. It just so happened to be the same central plaza where Rosa now sat. Years later, Bram still walked that path, and Rosa planned to confess her love for him, just as she had done many years earlier.
She waited, while the sky slowly dimmed. A festive tune drifted from a nearby Vinetan tavern. She glanced over and recognized a few of Bram’s crewmen as they stepped outside, blissful and drunk. She wondered what had happened to their captain and was starting to worry, when she noticed something along her periphery.
Of all things, it appeared the child in the woolen cap had returned—the same one she had bumped into earlier. The little boy or girl stood in the distance along the garden path, once again defying local security. Rosa had no intention of tattling, no matter what her father demanded, but she felt she owed it to the child to warn them. It would be truly awful if they were harmed in any way.
She rose from her bench and approached, watching as the child stared back curiously. She was then struck by the oddest thing. A bird landed on the child’s shoulder and whispered something in their ear. Not only that, but the child’s body language suggested they were listening to the bird. Rosa felt magic, but it was strange and unfamiliar.
Just then, a couple holding hands rudely crossed in front. The young lovers were oblivious to the world around them, but Rosa had to stop short to avoid running into them. She circled around, but the child was gone. She searched either side but saw no sign of them at all. She sighed, wondering if she was stressed out and imagining things.
“Rosa …?”
It was Bram’s voice. She spun around, and there he was, in the flesh. Her heart thumped, and so many thoughts raced in her head.
“Are you alright?” He looked genuinely concerned.
She forced composure. “Yes, you just startled me. That’s all.”
His crooked grin reminded her of his youth. “You came all this way to meet me? Is everything alright?”
All her agonizing plans of what to say fizzled in her brain, replaced by the frightful awkwardness of being tongue-tied.
“Yes, it’s about … your … mission!” She was determined to assert control and cease her bumbling. “You know how anxious I get when your job calls on you at a moment’s notice. Nevertheless, I see my worries were unfounded.”
His eyes grew distant, and it looked like something troubled him. In an instant, his expression shifted, and he was back to being carefree. “It’s fine, Rosa. Better than fine, in fact. King Richard is holding a banquet tonight to commemorate the mission. It was a huge success, and I’m expected to accept his praise. We should return to the manor to get dressed.”
She was pleased. Excited, even. Not for the banquet, but for her beloved Knight. Angkor’s elitist parties meant little to her, much less if she risked running into her father. Then again, she’d enjoy watching the look on his face when he saw Bram at her side.
“A banquet sounds wonderful. I know just what I’ll wear. It’s wonderful that the king is pleased enough with your performance to recognize you in front of everyone.”
He winced, as if struck.
Rosa was sure she hadn’t imagined it. “Bram, what’s wrong? Please … tell me.”
Once more, he shook off the funk and brought back his signature smile. “It’s nothing. I’m just exhausted from the trip. And not exactly excited to stay up late.” He paused before adding, “Listen, Rosie, I want you to have a good time, but the banquet doesn’t mean as much to me. I’d just as soon get a good night’s sleep.”
She wondered what he was hiding, but she supposed the only way to find out was to be supportive and hope he’d tell her later. “We don’t need to stay long. As soon as we make our appearance and meet your obligations, we can go.”
She beamed, hoping her Knight would cheer up. She wanted to tell him all about the changes she was making. She just knew it would lessen the tensions between them. She wanted him to know she’d do anything to repair their relationship. She just wanted to hear the same from him.
That evening, he was very much like the Knight she had come to love. Even so, she didn’t want to unleash her heart now and potentially ruin the moment. Instead, she offered a small teaser.
“There’s something I want to tell you.” She tried her best to set a tone that would capture his interest. “But not right now. It’s a longer discussion, one which we can have after the banquet.”
He must have assumed the worst, because his smile fell, and the stoic glare of a Gnostic Knight returned. “Sure. We’ll talk later.”
Rosa cursed her tact. She needed to take it slow. She reached for his gauntleted hand, which he relinquished reluctantly. Wrapping her arm tightly around it, she turned her gaze upward and witnessed the first stars to appear in the sky. Perhaps one of them would grant her wish.