Chapter 8: A Disciple of Krosis

Asha wasn’t sure who she could tell about her plan. Her burning desire to leave her home, to join with Krosis and his hunters, would be called out for the madness it was. She was disobeying the will of Rukil and his wishes for her role in society. But he was dead, and she no longer wanted to be part of the bastion. Surely this could set her free of her role. But would anyone else see it that way?

In the end, she decided it was too dangerous to tell anyone. She couldn’t even ask Krosis while he remained at their home. He was constantly surrounded by his hunters or her fellow Atmorans, never alone and always giving orders. Besides, if he disapproved, he could alert Oran to her plans. He had such a way with words, she knew he would find a way to convince her to stay. She couldn’t face the idea of disappointing him either.

So, her best course of action was to sneak away in the night, out the north entrance, the same way Krosis and his members would be leaving. On the fourth day, true to his word, Krosis left the day after the last of the burials took place. His hunters followed behind him, their impressive bows strung and ready for any dangers. Asha stood among the crowd that watched them vanish into the trees and toward the path that circled Lake Ilinalta. The Atmorans muttered among themselves, fear and worry thick in the air. They were now on their own, responsible for their defense until word could be sent to Bromjunaar. A messenger was sent out immediately and then, the people retreated within their mountain fortress.

Supplies were measured and rationing began. Few would be allowed out into the wilderness until reinforcements and a new dragon priest could be summoned. Their entire society seemed to crumble apart without its dragon priest to lead it. Even Oran, wise as he seemed, was reluctant to make any rash moves. If they did anything wrong, the dragon priest might punish them for their presumption.

Asha couldn’t help but remember the words of Gormlaith, the Reachwoman who had spoken with her. We are the true inheritors of this land, free from the tyranny of the dragons and their priests. Did that mean she was free from the fear of the dragon priests? No one was ever free from the dragons. That such figures of awe and inspiration could fill them with such fear…Asha wondered how she hadn’t seen this before. But the priests were the chosen of the Dragons. Surely they had a divine right to rule. They were chosen for a reason, an understanding beyond that of mortals.

Asha’s mind spun with confused thoughts as she slowly began to pack a satchel throughout the day with what food she could take. Her small ration for the day was placed in the satchel as well as the jerky she had forgotten to eat the day of the hunt with Wulfin. Wulfin…what would he think of her if he could see her now? See what decisions she was making. She promised herself she would make it right with him, explain herself, and rejoin him in Shriekwind as soon as he was a dragon priest. She hadn’t given up entirely on her future here.

By the days end she didn’t have much food but it would have to do. She was also able to swipe a careless guard's ration off a table, though it plagued her mind with guilt. She couldn’t hesitate now. As soon as night fell, and the majority of her people were asleep, she rose from her pallet in the communal dormitory and snuck toward the north entrance. She grabbed her satchel from behind some barrels and slung it over her shoulder.

Almost to the entrance. She turned the corner and came face to face with Oran. He was blocking the doorway and holding a hunting bow.

“Going somewhere, Asha?”

She froze, fear and guilt clenching her heart. Did he mean to threaten her? The bow was strung but he didn’t have an arrow drawn. At the very least, he meant to talk her out of her decision. “Please don’t stop me, Oran. I have to get out. I can’t stay here any longer.”

“So you say,” said Oran, still keeping the bow at his side. “But why, dear girl? What is it you plan to do?”

“I…I wish to join the hunters of Krosis,” she said, feeling like an idiot.

“And why do you want to join them?”

“I don’t belong here, Oran. I haven’t since Wulfin left and Rukil smeared my name. Everyone looks at me with revulsion or uncertainty. I have no place here any longer.”

“My dear girl, running from your home is not a good enough reason to join with Krosis. You could run anywhere else. Why do you want to join him? Why do you want to be a hunter?”

She paused, her mind clearing. This didn’t feel like Oran trying to convince her to stay. He just wanted the truth. “I want…freedom. I want to be able to defend myself. I want to belong to something again. But more importantly, I want to control my destiny…just this once.”

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Oran didn’t react. There was no smile, no frown, just a nod of understanding. He seemed to ponder her statement, the silence stretching between them. When he answered, his voice was choked with emotion. “I would have helped you if I could. But…I envy your choice. It is too late for me. I found freedom in the tales of old. Now you must live the tales of old. I do not know what destiny you invite upon yourself…but it will be one of your own making. Of that, I am certain.”

He paused and Asha felt tears welling up. Oran…the old man she had loved most in her home, the man who had inspired her with so many stories, was giving his blessing. “Oran…I…”

He stepped forward and took her arm. “Come with me.”

They stepped together through the doors and Oran waved the guards aside which had doubled. They walked slowly down the steps and to the forest edge. There he stopped and removed the quiver of arrows from his side. “Here, you will need a weapon for protection. And, no doubt, you will need to show Lord Krosis that you have some skill with a bow.”

She took it from him, still stunned at this turn of events. “Thank you.”

He pointed toward the trees. “Follow the dirt trail till you reach the road by the lake. From there, turn right. If you hurry, you can catch them before they reach Summer Falls.”

She nodded then lurched forward and hugged him fiercely. “I can’t ever repay you for what you have done.”

He hugged her back, murmuring gently, “Live, Asha. Live well and you will fulfill every debt you believe you owe me.”

He released her and gave her a small push toward the tree line. “Now go. Kyne’s blessing be with you.”

Asha smiled through the tears, waved, and turned around. Her home, all she had known, was to her back now. The world lay ahead.

***

Asha was frightened, there was no doubt, but the thrill of her journey kept the fear in check. The shadows around her lengthened with the rising moons and she thought she could see movement in the darkness of the undergrowth around her. When she reached the road by Lake Ilinalta, she stood and gazed upon it in wonder. She had never been this close before. Its waters shone brightly in the light of the moons and the far shore was a blur of darkness, the Brittle peaks lit against the stars of the sky and jutting out like teeth. She turned right and followed the path, following the lake around. She moved as quickly as she dared in the dark, turning her slow and careful steps to a jog. Her breathing grew to a steady rhythm and she continued this way for several hours.

As the sun’s light began to touch the horizon, she stopped to breathe. The path had begun to slope upward as the path left the lakeside and rose to cliffsides near the lake end. As she took her seat, the slightest movement in the brush caught her eye. She turned to stare closely at it and stood quickly when she saw eyes peering back at her. Suddenly, several cloaked figures emerged from the undergrowth, surrounding her with drawn bows.

Asha threw up her hands and called out, “Wait! Wait! I’m an Atmoran! I’m here to speak with Lord Krosis. I’m from Shriekwind Bastion.”

The hunters kept their bows trained on her as one of them, presumably their leader, stepped forward and said, “You will give us your weapon.”

She handed it over willingly and was led, without bonds, up the road and to the top of the cliff. On a promontory overlooking the lake on its east side, a makeshift camp had been set up. Krosis, with his mask still covering his face, rose from his seat and listened to the whisper from his commander. He moved to face Asha and held out a hand. “Return her weapons. She is of no danger to me.”

The bow and quiver of arrows were thrown at her feet but she didn’t bend to pick them up. Instead, she bowed to the dragon priest. “My Lord Krosis, I am here to petition your favor. I wish to join your hunters and your clan.”

A murmur ran through the hunters. She could just catch the word, “presumptuous” in the whispers. Krosis raised a hand and they fell completely silent. “Tell me, why do you wish to join my hunters?”

“Because of what you said,” was Asha’s rehearsed response. “You said we should control our destiny. I am doing that even now. I do not belong with my people anymore. I was an outcast even before the invasion. I want to find my purpose again.”

“For what were you an outcast?”

“For…for disappointing my dragon priest, lord,” said Asha, feeling her face grow red as she raised it to stare into his mask. “My Intended left to become a dragon priest and Lord Rukil blamed me for humiliating him in front of Lord Morokei.”

“And did you?”

“I…I don’t know. Wulfin, my Intended, and I were caught by Reachmen and had to be saved by Lord Morokei. Lord Rukil found this…offensive, especially since Wulfin had used magic without consent.”

She felt her stance slipping like she was digging her own grave. The hunters were no longer showing any reaction. There was no murmur, no look, no movement. A single wave of Krosis’s hand had silenced them completely. What Krosis thought was anyone’s guess. The mask hid every reaction entirely. He circled her, studying her up and down. “Tell me, what is your name?”

“Asha, my lord.”

“Asha, are you skilled with the bow?”

“I have some skill, my lord.”

“Show me.”

He moved away from her, pointing outward as a swirl of dark purple energy erupted from his hand. The hunters scattered to the side as a burst of flame erupted from the ground several feet away. A figure emerged from the flames, with a feminine shape but an inhuman appearance. Its body was made of flames, encased in burn stone at various points to give the impression of armor. Her head had lips and a nose but any eyes were lost in flame. Horns protruded from her head and she floated off the ground, spinning in a graceful somersault as she approached Asha.

Krosis turned to her. “Pick up your bow, Asha. To be a disciple of Krosis, one must show their worth.”