Buzzing insects and the calls of hooting of owls filled the midnight air as the four settled into the cave. Mira wiped the sweat from her brow as she plopped lazily to the floor. Tella and Pallik sat on the wall across from her. Jonen dismounted the horse as gracefully as possible, but still grunted painfully when his ankle hit the ground. Nobody moved to help him as he hobbled from the horse. He felt the tenseness around him and kept his head low.
Mira’s anger soured any attempt at conversation. She only responded curtly to his questions. The children whispered to each other to avoid her ire. Her eyes kept flashing white as she struggled to calm herself. The throbbing headache from her previous battle did nothing to help her mood. The blood from the mundane bandits did nothing to help give back the energy her magic took from her. It would’ve been one thing if she transformed into the wraith, but as herself she just didn’t have enough energy. She needed to eat.
Jonen had one question swirling through his mind as she rubbed at her temples. If Mira had just been in an exhausting battle with that many men, why wasn’t she covered in anything. Blood drenched Pallik’s side from his wound. Mira’s clothes showed no signs of battle, besides the hole in her shoulder with an unnaturally small amount of red.
There was no other droplets, cuts from weapons, or blood spray from her opponents. No gore showed on her. Only a light gleam of sweat against her skin that quickly dried away. After her battle with the buggy beast, her skin reacted oddly to his blood. There was only one way that could happen.
“Mira, are you a blood mage?”
The question bounced quietly off the cave walls. Tella and Pallik stopped whispering and looked at the stoic woman. She stared out of the cave with empty eyes until his question no longer lingered.
“Yes.”
Mira did not turn to face him. They both knew what that meant. Only a few people alive knew she was one. Generally when someone learned of her power, Isaan would have her kill them.
Blood mages were considered sacrilegious. They were born from a Guardian’s vessel or murdered someone to gain tainted power. Born blood mages were often royalty and unable to inherit the Guardian Stones. Their power would only be enhanced by the stones. Vessels of their Guardians would pass down that position to a grandchild or a sibling’s child. Mages that killed for the power would have slain a vessel, a prophetess, or another blood mage. Any blood mage that had killed a prophetess would have their soul removed from the cycle completely –but the magic given to them would be far superior to any other mage.
Jonen’s mind swarmed with the realization. No wonder Mira could move at inhumane speeds and seemed filled with endless energy. How had Isaan captured her? Who could she have possibly killed to get this power?
“And a weapons summoner?” He pictured the sword morphing into a glaive.
Her head turned, and her white eyes bore into his soul, “Do you have a problem with that?”
He took a deep breath, “It would not surprise me that Isaan would want a blood mage. I won’t ask how you became one… I don’t want to know.”
“I can’t answer even if you do ask.”
“Why?”
“My master forbids me from discussing certain topics. My upbringing, details of my training, and certain duties,” Mira looked back out of the cave, “Anything that could incriminate him. I cannot discuss it without heavy punishment.”
“That is unfortunate.”
He looked at the tiny squirming lines growing over her chin towards her face. She absentmindedly scratched at them as he kept his gaze on her. She lifted her hood up to shadow her face from him.
“I know you didn’t choose to be his thrall,” Jonen said, “I can’t help but imagine what you could do without him.”
She didn’t respond to him. Pallik and Tella chatted to each other with intermitted yawns. Mira rubbed her thumb lightly against the black stone amulet. The horse soon meandered over to her and nudged its snout in her face. Mira chuckled and placed her face against the mare.
Jonen watched as the coldness melted away from her. She ran her fingers through the mane and scratched happily.
“You like horses?” His voice broke the tension that filled the air.
“She has been enough today,” Mira rubbed the mare’s ears, “So have the children. I threw the cover over them to keep the sight of killing away.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” He paused, “I’m sorry. I should have listened to them.”
“You should have stayed down,” Mira sighed and patted the ground next to her.
The horse stretched forward before kneeling in front of the woman. She patted the mare’s neck and it fully laid on the ground. The hose snorted and butted its head against her hand.
“Good girl,” Mira chuckled, “Pallik, Tella, she will be much warmer than the stone walls. Come, lay down.”
The two crawled the short distance to lay against the warm beast. Tella hummed softly as Mira swatted flies away. Pallik stretched and leaned back against the horse’s stomach.
“How did you get her to do that?” The teen yawned, “Delpho’s been having trouble getting her to relax.”
“She isn’t exercised enough. You’ll have to take her out riding more,” She scratched behind the horse’s ear, “I can wake up early tomorrow and ride her for a bit to calm her nerves. For now, I asked her to sleep.”
“How did you ask her to sleep?” Jonen questioned.
“I assumed she would feel safe enough, now. When she approached me, I just understood what she wanted,” Mira scrunched her nose in thought, “I am not sure how to explain it.”
He didn’t understand what she meant. Mira just willed the mare and she listened. It was the same way she exuded fear in the wraith’s form, she commanded it to happen and so it did.
“I think we all need to sleep before moving on to Vimgraunt tomorrow,” Jonen yawned.
“Hopefully by nightfall,” She nodded.
Mira moved from the horse and children to sit at the very edge of the cave. With a slight upwards tilt of her head and the hood of her cloak raised, she closed her eyes without another word. Jonen couldn’t help but think that she looked uncomfortable. He cleared his throat to see her eyes slant open towards him.
“Don’t you want to get more comfortable?”
“I am here for a reason,” She grunted, “I can hear anyone passing on the trail. I will awaken from my meditation and protect us if necessary. Make yourself comfortable.”
He tried to do so, but the hard dirt floor didn’t give much comfort to his aching bones. His body hurt from all it had been through the couple of weeks. Jonen knew Mira was still upset with him. He couldn’t blame her for being angry, Goddess knew he was in the wrong, but he could try harder to apologize.
“You’re right. I should have stayed down,” He cleared his throat, “I should have trusted you could handle it. My training just kicked in.”
Mira silently looked at him. The coldness in her eyes burned guilt further into him. He didn’t understand her expressionless face to him.
“I know it was the wrong thing to do,” He shook his head, “I’m useless right now and I just want to help. I don’t want you to be angry with me. You’ve taken care of me and asked nothing in return. Is there any way I can make it up to you?”
Mira rolled her eyes and with vague annoyance, sternly said, “My only responsibilities are to my master and their mother to protect them.”
“I know but –”
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“If you just quit talking about it,” She rubbed her throbbing temples, “I will consider it over.”
Jonen lowered his head into his hands. The feelings of failure and uselessness plagued him. He almost cost a young man his life and hurt the woman that brought him back from death. Now, here she was, forgiving him for being an idiot and making sure he stayed alive. He wondered how many times Mira thought about just killing him to get over the hassle he caused her.
Jonen closed his eyes and rested against the ground. He tried to dream about the future. Where would he go on his next assignment? Maybe he could sail back to Vanora to visit his mother or stay in Hangral and see his brother. As his eyes opened, he looked at the woman resting against the wall of the cave’s mouth.
Perhaps, he wasn’t meant to go back home just yet. Since he was a child, Jonen’s goal was to fight injustice and stand up for what was right. If he could help her be free, then maybe the sins of his past would be forgiven. Maybe, the destiny that Shayleigh spoke of was connected to the blood mage that cared for him.
“You are staring,” Mira whispered without opening her eyes, “Again.”
“Sorry,” He sighed, “Just wondering, what would you do if you weren’t enthralled?”
“I never thought about it.”
“Never?”
“I do not dream of a different life. There is no use,” She shook her head, “Besides, there is nothing waiting for me.”
The idea made him sad. Without another word, Jonen tried to get as comfortable as he could in the cave. Mira waited until the others breathing became rhythmic and the slight snores from the horse filled the cave. Distant gallops caught her attention and she silently rose to her feet.
Mira stepped from the cave and sprinted towards the noise. The leather cloak protected her from the night’s chill as she made her way adjacent to the path. Sooner than she expected, she heard the voices bark at each other. She grabbed a dagger from her bodice and hid her arms under her cloak as she stalked towards them. Mira knew they would be coming but didn’t expect it so suddenly.
“Who the bloody void did this?” A grumbled voice wafted through the air, “Garlison’s supposed to take over!”
“Clearly not anymore,” Another snickered, “Might as well throw him with the others.”
As Mira tracked the voices and closed the distance between them, her fingers touched the mask in her belt’s pouch. After she counted the number of opponents, she placed the mask against her face. The familiar rush of warming energy swam through her veins like a kiss from the sun. The pain of bones extending, muscles stretching and skin shrinking was a paper cut compared to the punishments she received from her master. At least in this transformation, the magical energy blissfully swallowed her pain.
The black mist spread from the wraith’s shoulders like a cloak. It flowed across the ground as it prowled towards the group of six. A single human woman and elven man stood over the dead bandits. Her body vibrated with each grieving sob over Garlison’s body.
No one noticed the wraith as it slid amongst them. The group argued over who the new leader of the small bandit clan would be. It stood there silently with a dagger in hand. When the wraith became bored, it used the dagger’s point to fleck specs of dirt under its gnarly fingernails.
“We have to kill whoever did this!” The woman hissed, “They can’t get away with it.”
“Listen, Garlison will be missed. You know how dangerous this life is,” The grumbling elf replied, “Just because your lover killed your husband, and someone killed him, doesn’t mean we have a vendetta. I don’t know where to even look for the murderer.”
The wraith’s dark chuckle filled the night air, “Turn around.”
The bandits jumped at the sound and reached for their weapons. The swords and axes pointed directly at the wraith. Its glowing orbs washed over the bandits as fear set into them. A low, devilish cackle broke into the night air from the mouthless mask.
“Where… where did you come from?” The woman’s voice trembled, “Who are you?”
“Many refer to me as a wraith,” The dagger it used to clean its fingernails now twirled between its fingers, “I do not claim to own the name.”
“The wraith… it’s a lie. Fake! Doesn’t exist!” She hissed.
“Then, tell me,” The mysterious voice broke the silence as her face fell, “What stands in front of you?”
The tanned woman trembled but did not look away from the glowing eyes as they examined her. A ghostly finger lifted the woman’s chin to examine her bruised eyes that told of recent abuse. It turned her head in either direction to see the bloody red leaked into the whites of her eyes. The woman did not jump away from it, but tears streamed down her face as it leaned in closer. The wraith’s mask nearly brushed her round nose, and she still did not react.
This was something that the wraith had yet to experience.
“You have spent your life latching yourself to frightening men because you believed yourself weak,” The wraith’s hand moved the hair from her face, “Yet, you fearlessly peer into the eyes of this monster.”
“I have no fear of death,” She pressed her lips into a thin, rebellious line.
It chuckled darkly, “Oh? Tell me why.”
“You would’ve killed me if you wanted to. That’s what all the rumors say.”
“Interesting,” The wraith dropped its hand and took a step back, “Then, you must know I have use of you, little mage.”
Her eyes widened, “How did you know?”
“I can smell the talent on you,” The wraith turned from her.
“Wait, you’re a mage? Why didn’t you say anything?” The elven man grunted, “It could’ve been useful!”
“I… I can only hear if someone is lying,” Her words trailed of, “It’s not very impressive.”
“Impressive, no,” The wraith crossed its arms, “Useful, extremely.”
“What is your offer?” She looked at the strange creature.
“You lead the Razorclaw clan,” The wraith’s glowing eyes looked between her and the men behind her, “In exchange, I will destroy any man that dares to harm you again.”
“Me? What would I do? I don’t know anything!” The woman wiped tears from her cheeks, “You don’t even know my name.”
“I saw your face in the little crossroad village,” The wraith looked at the shocked expressions in the group, “Delpho and I have an understanding. If you help them, then I will help you.”
“Why me?” Her eyes watered again.
“Because the men around you haven’t dared strike me while we spoke,” The dagger evaporated, “Meaning they either respect you… or fear me enough to await your answer.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” The elven man leaned into whisper to her, “Is it lying?”
The woman lowered her head, “Do you want to use my body like the others?”
“I do not care for your body, woman.”
“Then, wraith, what would you have me do?”
“Protect the village,” It shrugged, “Beyond that, do whatever you think is best. Take over the other clans, burgle passing merchants, or anything else you wish. So long as that village is safe, I will not meddle.”
“Why the village?” The elf scoffed, “What could possibly be so important about that patch of dirt?”
“I require resources that the village provides,” The wraith tilted its head unnaturally, “And if that is what I wish, then who are you to care?”
“I’m trying to figure out your game plan,” He growled and shoved the woman out of the way, “You killed Garlison, now offer the entire clan to this slu—”
The wraith fully erected itself and towered over the elf. The curtains of silver hair fell it’s the elf’s face like streams of moonlight. The dark mist enveloped the small group as the wraith resummoned a dagger and plunged it into the man’s stomach.
“You stabbed me!” He gasped.
With a flick of its wrist, the dagger evaporated once again. The elf’s body collapsed backwards as the whirlwind of dark smoke faded away. Blood oozed out of the elf as he scrambled to get away.
“You insulted the woman,” The wraith reached calmly towards her and lifted her back to her feet.
The black mist protectively swirled around her. The miniature wind ruffled her hair as the wraith moved behind her. It wrapped its arms around her and summoned its glaive. It pointed its weapon at the rest of the group.
“Let that go as a warming. I slaughtered a dozen of your men on my own. I killed your last clan leader. By your own ways, I am the new Nar,” The wraith gently placed its chin on her head, “I place her in charge in my stead. Those that oppose can follow them into the void.”
When nobody dared intervene, the wraith summoned another dagger and placed it in her hands. It lifted its head and waves of its silver hair fell over her shoulders.
“Kill him. I will consider it as binding our agreement.”
“What?!” The elf scampered backwards, “You can’t just—”
The wraith swiftly moved to stomp on his wrist. The satisfying crunch of bone beneath its boot released a low cackle from its mouthless mask. The glowing orbs of eyes looked back at her when she hesitated to follow.
“Well?”
“I – I haven’t killed before,” She stuttered.
“It will haunt you for some time,” The wraith stabbed into his hand as he reached for his sword, “But, he will undermine and try to kill you.”
“Rak,” The woman looked down to the elf, “Is that true?”
“For your own safety… Kill him,” It lowered its voice, “Or hear him lie for yourself.”
“What? No!” He tried to wrestle away, “Val, I would never kill you!”
She gasped and tightly gripped the dagger in her hands.
“Wait!” Rak tried to swing the blade away with his free hand.
The wraith stepped on that arm as it would any annoying bug. Val plunged the knife into his chest and watched as the blood sprayed towards her. She wiped the tears and blood from her face as she stood up. The monster in front of her rammed its weapon to behead the man to leave no question on his life. She covered her face and gagged as she turned away.
When sickly thin, cold hands wrapped around her shoulders, she looked back at the wraith. Its emotionless mask gave her no notion of what it thought. The bright lights burned into her with an odd comfort she didn’t expect.
“He lied,” She whispered, “We grew up together. I know he… he wanted to use me to get in a better position, but—”
“It is done,” It slowly pointed its blade to the nearest bandit, “Swear loyalty to me. Val, was it? Tell me if they lie and I’ll kill them.”
The remaining four bandits knelt immediately. The wraith looked to the woman each time. Her dark eyes nodded as each bandit looked towards her. Her blood splattered face hollowly gazed at each bandit the wraith held a spear to.
“Do you agree to remain loyal to Razorclaw? As I, the new leader, have set the terms to?” The wraith looked to the kneeling man.
“Aye,” He nodded and looked up.
“Truth,” Val nodded when the wraith checked her reaction.
Fortunately for the others, they truthfully agreed as well.
“Good,” The wraith’s voice filled the air, “Continue with anyone back at the hideout. If they lie to Val, kill them.”
“Yessir,” One nodded and kicked Garlison, “Hated this arrogant lard bucket anyway.”
“What is your real name?” Val looked to the wraith, “What am I to call you?”
“Whatever you please,” The wraith commented, “My real name is unnecessary and not useful to you. Should I arrive in this region without word, then it will be the end of your lives.”
“You’re just leaving?” She scrunched her eyebrows, “Just like that?”
“I have no need of pageantry,” The wraith turned, “Now… Rest, bolster your numbers, and continue business as normal. I will be in touch, should I need anything.”
The wraith walked down the path without another glance. As the group called out, the dark, smoky mist swallowed the creature –blending the phantom into the night’s horizon.