The Ways of Mages: Starfire (41 page)

The woman, Breeya, heard her. Sad knowledge swam in her eyes and she sank to her knees to cry. Kadrean knelt next to Breeya and offered her a shoulder to cry on. Razyan left Terana to talk to the old man, leaving her with a silent Liam. Teran
a’
s numbed gaze watched Kadrean and Breeya. Breeya was telling Kadrean that the woman had been her friend, Olidiya. Another woman approached and offered Breeya something to drink. A slumberous peace entered Breey
a’
s eyes after she drank it. The woman who gave Breeya the drink helped her out of the courtyard. Kadrean came back to Terana. His gray eyes were concerned as they looked her over.

“
You need to sit down
.”
He told her. She nodded in numb agreement. Kadrean and Liam started pulling her toward the doors. When Kadrean touched her, Terana felt a warmth soothing away her trembling. Or at least it was trying.  Razyan joined them and led them into a sitting room. Sitting on his shoulder was the green bird that Terana had seen before flying about the courtyard. It was the deep green of healthy, well watered grass. Under different circumstances, Terana would have been delighted to see the bird. The bird was a
milbre
. It had to be. And it made sense to see it sitting on Razya
n’
s shoulder. A magical bird just had to be with a wizard. Right now she just gazed at it numbly.

It turned to look at her. It's black eye conveying concern. It cooed to her a pretty, soothing song.

As they entered the room Terana murmured that she had seen something like the black eagle before. She felt that they should know.

“
You have
?”
Liam asked her as she was settled onto a couch. She nodded and with shaking fingers she reached into her doe skin bag. She withdrew her sketch book and started flipping through it, looking for the eagle sketch. As she did this she heard Kadrean introduce her as the girl with magic from Plarn that Zeeve had pointed out. Liam was also introduced as a mage. Razyan was welcoming Liam when she made a sound.

“
What is it
?”
Kadrean asked. Terana licked her lips and stared. She had found the eagle drawing, but there was somethin
g…
it was different. Where before it had been just an eagle in the action of cupping air to push beneath it, there was also a design behind it. A wavy bladed dagger flanked by wings. She could
n’
t remember for the life of her drawing tha
t
…

“
Interesting
.”
Liam murmured.

For a few seconds everyone studied the drawing
.“
Where did you see this
?”
Razyan asked her.

“
I saw an eagle fly over Plarn one nigh
t…
bu
t….”
Her voice trailed off
.“
It never attacked
.”
She said instead of saying anything about the extra design in her drawing. 

Razyan hesitated for a second, which Terana thought was probably unusual for him. A thought seemed to be bothering him
.“
I think now is as good a time as any. Kadrean, Liam, do you remember my saying that I recognized the name Starfire back when I saw you last
?”
The two men nodded
.“
Yes, well
,”
Razyan replied
.“
I remembered from where. And managed to retrieve it just before this mornin
g’
s fiasco
.”
I
t’
s still morning?
Terana thought vaguely. He reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll.

“
Thais will be upset with you for taking that out of the Library
.”
Kadrean said in a halfhearted attempt to lighten the mood.

Razyan snorted
.“
I pay her, so it should
n’
t matter. And besides, i
t’
s from my predecessor so it really does
n’
t matter if I take it back or not. Now hush, you may find this interesting. Listen
.”
And he began to read.

            
 “
The General, The Healer, The Tactician, and The Wizard

Greed sleeps to the North;

A young woman of forgotten blood will be found.

War dreams of blood;

The General and the Tactician will know her.

Anger wants old blood;

Starfire will lead the Wizard and the Healer to the Tactician.

Destruction waits for an act of kindnes
s
…”

Terana only vaguely listened. The bladed dagger that she had
n’
t drawn that was there anyway was inspiring her. She flipped to a clean page, fetched a piece of coal from her bag and began to sketch.

“
So how does that explain anything
?”
Kadrean asked Razyan.

Razyan sighed
.“
I know it does
n’
t sound like it immediately, my friend, but do you remember the histories about the Shadow War
?
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
Well there is a belief in old texts, including some prophecy, that states the war never finished. That to the North where the enemy comes from is where greed sleeps. They are just bidding their time
.
”

“
That is
n’
t disturbing at all
.”
Liam remarked sitting on the couch next to Terana.

Razyan grimaced. Kadrean shook his head slightly
.“
Razyan
.”
He began
.“
What does this have to do with the war? It does
n’
t mention out right and you know how dangerous it can be to stretch meaning or give a text meaning that was not intended
.
”

“
I know, Kadrean. But were you not listening? It mention
s“
Starfir
e”
. Starfire is often mentioned in texts relating to the Shadow War. I actually ca
n’
t think of a text where the two are not connected
.”
Terana was only vaguely aware of the men casting glances her way. She was still numb from the brutal suicide she had just witnessed. She did
n’
t want to think about it. It made her sick. It made her wonder if she was somehow guilty for making the creature hate her so much that it would kill itself just to reach her. Chills were starting to play over her nerves. Determined not to go into a panic attack, Terana focused on her drawing. On the straight lines of black on white. Of the soft wisp
s
…

Razyan continued
.“
With that in mind. Recall an earlier line
.“
War dreams of bloo
d”,‘
Anger wants old bloo
d’
and before tha
t“
a woman of forgotten bloo
d’
. I think our one time guest in the North Courtyard was a Cursed. Breeya told me that is what the people in the cave called themselves. The Cursed. The Cursed were servants and slaves to the Enemy from the North. Is
n’
t it a little intriguing that one of those came here and focused on only one person? A woman with the name of Starfire
?
”

A telling silence fell between them. They all felt that it could
n’
t be coincidence. Nobody knew who Teran
a’
s parents were. The fact that the mother had been wounded when she had stumbled into town made them wonder who or, perhaps more likely,
what
had attacked her. They felt that it had probably not been the bandits that the Plarnese had always assumed it was.

Liam glanced at his couch companion. She was very pale, and seemed to be ignoring the world around her. Her hand was trembling slightly, but that did
n’
t stop her from drawing. Liam had been watching out of the corner of his eye, but now he gave her work his full attention. A sword, straight and true, was taking shape. A wicked looking handle gave it a sharp forbidding look. The whole thing was an unrelieved black. It looked as if it was floating with its point near the earth. Like a threat, a fang above the skin. From its tip ribbons of night, complete with stars emanated. They swirled about it like snakes in looping patterns. Like a spider
s’
web. They were mesmerizing even as they sent a chill up ones spine. Crossing just behind the sword were two feathers. Again, there was the impression of them being solid black.

A chill lapped up Lia
m’
s spine like a tongue. A voice, soft and whispering followed the curves of the artis
t’
s lines. The chill was the feeling he typically got before he started saying things that tended to earn him looks. He could actually only think of one person who had believed and acted on what he said. Kadrean. He looked up and met the healer mag
e’
s eye with his own glassy gaze.

“
I think I have more to add to our riddle
,”
He whispered, his voice not his own. 

“
Consider one warned;

The Shadow War begins again.

Guarded by the Wizard, The Tactician and The Healer;

Starfire will learn.

Dragon Fire will recognize its own;

Her lost kin will come for her.

A story and plan will be told;

Past questions solved, new mysteries realized.

The Nort
h’
s Sword will make his move;

The General in Quiet will be forced to rise.

Hopelessness grown from deceit;

Hop
e’
s Star  swallowed by Night.

War comes; Time goes on;

All may seem lost, but it is not.

Hope stands on four stones:

The General, The Healer, The Tactician, and the Wizar
d
”

Silence fell for a moment after he said this. Razyan asked if he could write it down and he did so
.“
Well
,”
Said Razyan
.“
Sometimes I hate being right. The Shadow War is named clear as day. We know who Starfire is
.“
He said glancing at Terana who now stared at him.

“
Why do you look at me when you say that
?”
She asked him defensively, finally paying attention to the world around her. 

“
Because that is your name. Terana is
terelle ana
fé
. It is starfire in the old tongue
.”
She blinked at him
.“
But my parent
s
…
”
A look of deep pain crossed her expression before she shuttered it away from them
.“
I was never told that
.
”

“
They probably did
n’
t know. The smaller towns tend not to know the meanings of old word based names. Plarn is another such word. Did any of the Plarnese know what it meant
?
”

“
Not that I know of
.”
She whispered.

“
It mean
s‘
quie
t’.
”

“
Which is mentioned.  But who is th
e“
Genera
l’?”
Kadrean smiled wryly
.“
I guess a better question would b
e‘
who are the others who are mentioned, besides Starfire? Who ar
e‘
the Heale
r’
, The Tacticia
n’
, an
d‘
the Wizar
d’?
”

“
An
d‘
Nigh
t’
s Swor
d’.”
Liam added.

“
Well
,”
Razyan began
.“
lets see. Starfire is the key here. The General and the Tactician are said to know her. It also says the General in Quite will be forced to rise
.
”

“
So that would mean those two are from Plarn. But everyone there knows Terana
.”
Liam pointed out.

“
True
.”
Razyan smile
d“
But it says that Starfire will lead the Healer to the Tactician
.
”

“
I introduced no one
.”
Terana stated. This conversation was starting to really get to her. 

“
That may be, but it does not sa
y‘
introduc
e’
. It say
s‘
lea
d’.
”

Kadrean was staring at Razyan with a look of dawning realization
.“
oh
.”
Was all he said for a few moments
.“I’
m the Healer, is that what you think
?
”

“
You are a healer Kadrean. The only healer we know  of who met Terana. And you have guided her here
.
”

“
If that is the cas
e
…
”
Kadrean cocked his head at Razyan
.“
Then, does that mea
n
…”

“
Spirits
!”
Liam stared for a moment before laughing
.“
I
am the one who came to you and talked about magic and Terana
.
”

“
And I stayed with your family
.”
Kadrean had a thoughtful expression on his face
.“
You are also the one who came up with the plan as to where to meet Terana
.
”

“
I did
n’
t know it would have been her at the time
.”
Liam muttered.

“
No, but did
n’
t you also talk about plans for building an irrigation system or something similar
?
”

“
Something like that
.”
Liam replied
.“
So
I’
m the Tacticion and Kadrean is the Healer. If our reasoning is right here
.
”

“
Oh, I believe it is
.”
Razyan said
.“
Sayings and portents being what they ar
e
…”

“
So then, who are the other three
?”
Kadrean asked
.“
the General, The Wizard, and the Nort
h’
s Sword
?
”

“
I have no idea about the Nort
h’
s Sword.
I’
ll have to do some research into the name or title
.”
Razyan answered, the bird on his shoulder made a soft musical coo
.“
And the General  I do
n’
t know either. Not even sure how we can figure that one out yet until after whoever the Nort
h’
s Sword is makes his move
.”
He smiled wryly
.“
But I think I can answer who the Wizard is
.”
His green gaze flickered pointedly from Kadrean to Liam, the first of whom was standing by the couch. The second was seated on the couch, both equal distance from him.

Terana followed his gaze and her eyes widened when she looked at him
.“
No way
.”
She whispered softly, shaking her head.

Kadrean started to laugh
.“
Unbelievable. We will never hear the end of this one
!
”

Lia
m’
s dreamy gaze also became amused
.“
Well, I have minimal experience with Seeings and Portents. But sometimes they are ridiculously straightforward
.
”

“
You could say that
.”
Kadrean replied. He turned to Razya
n“
As the head wizard of the Keep your title is sometimes
the Wizard
.
”

Razyan nodded
.“
And we are all here, the Healer, the Tactician, and the Wizard with Terana in a school for magic. Where she is supposed to learn. I do
n’
t think our reasoning is off
.
”