Techromancy Scrolls: Adept (32 page)

Raneth didn't seem concerned about it. He screamed at me, spittle flying from his mouth, “Who!?”

I knew I was dead. I had survived until now by sheer dumb luck. This man didn't even look tired from his battle with the Knights of Wexbury. This man killed my Lady, the woman I could never confess my real feelings for. How could I face someone like this? I reached into my well of energy and it was almost empty, a mere trickle. I could defend against possibly one attack.

I smiled and said through the taste of my own blood, “I did.” I didn't even see the backhand coming, but I suffered far worse at the hands of nobles. Mother taught me to be strong, to not show weakness. I staggered but stayed on my feet as the rest of the rogues attacked.

Through the clanging of swords, I heard Celeste's voice in my head, a memory of her saying, “Even the smallest thing can turn the fiercest battle when it is not expected.” Then Mother Udele's voice saying almost the same thing. “Even the smallest thing can have a huge effect on the outcome of any event.”

I was muttering almost incoherently to myself, “The smallest thing... the smallest thing.” As the man loomed over me and raised his sword above his head. I was questing out with all my senses... the smallest thing. I could taste all the metal around me. Weapons, tools, stirrups. I could taste the acrid taste of oxidation of the iron in the blood all around me, the metals in the stones and in the broken Monolith.

I had to blink when his sword went tumbling from his hand, an arrow with the colorful feathers of the Mountain Gypsies in his arm. He started to lunge at me in rage.

Wait, that's it, the smallest thing! Doc Maxwell said that mother's iron levels were low so her cells weren't getting enough oxygen. I looked blearily up at the man as I yanked my hand into a fist in the air, pulling with all of my might, using the last embers of the dying magic inside of me and whispered, “I'm sorry,”

The man's eyes went wide when a red mist sprang from his body and he grasped his throat, his mouth working like a fish out of water. He was gasping for the oxygen his body could no longer provide, as I formed the iron I took from his body into a little metal ball. I let it fall to the ground as he fell to his knees. Life leaving his eyes.

I was swaying and I started to fall, when I heard the heavy pounding of hooves. Time seemed to slow all around me. Like an angel of death, the huge form of Goliath emerged through the smoky battlefield, with a bloodied Celeste riding high in the saddle with a wild look in her eyes. The last thing I saw clearly was her sword sweeping down to take Raneth's head as she passed by like a beautiful and deadly wraith.

My heart stuttered as the world started to fade to black. Celeste was alive! My heart stuttered again, then there was nothing.

I woke up in a familiar wagon. I couldn't focus well. I was so tired. The world was alive in a torrent of mists. I was aware of two things. One was that with all this pain, I had to still be alive. And two, the Lupei family was at least four days ride away, how could I be in Sylvia's wagon? I croaked out, “Sylvia?”

Someone grabbed my left hand tightly, it was Celeste. She blurted out with hope tinging her tone, “Laney?!”

The silken mists around me dissipated and I saw an exhausted looking Sylvia standing over Celeste's shoulder where my Lady sat on a chair by the bed. I tried to sit up but winced in pain. Both Celeste and Sylvia put hands on my shoulders to keep me down.

I felt the warmth of bodies around me and tried to focus. I smiled as I saw Ingr curled up on my side with her two tiny goats. Glasses jostled and clinked and the wagon swayed. We were moving. The windows were dark, the only light in the space was the oil lamp on the table. It was still night.

I remembered the Gypsy arrow that had disarmed Raneth in the battle. The Lupei family must have followed us. Sylvia slapped the wall of the wagon soundly twice and we came to a creaking halt. She ran the couple steps to the door and swung it open. She yelled two words in English, “She's awake!” There was cheering and I heard Mother Udele's voice in the distance calling out in the tongue of the people, “Make camp!”

I heard the creaking of wagons as they formed a circle while Celeste just laid her head on my shoulder and wept. I lifted my arm and stroked her hair, pausing when I saw my hand. There was twisted and mangled flesh covering most of it. I held it up to look at my palm and the skin looked much better there, but it had Gypsy symbols raised in the flesh like scars. They glowed faintly.

I looked back at Celeste and continued to comfort her. “Shhhh... It's alright Celeste.” She looked up with watery eyes. She looked mad.

I swallowed and she hissed, “Again, I thought I had lost you, Laney! My heart can't take it! Never do this to me again!” I didn't know what to say so I just nodded. The corners of her mouth quirked into a smile.

I cupped her cheek then looked at the window again. “How did the Lupei arrive so quickly? When will Father Sol awaken?”

Sylvia moved into view and exchanged a look with my Lady. Then she said, “The survivors of your caravan arrived at our camp seven days ago Laney, after a five-day trek to us to seek healing for you. We will arrive in Flatlash tomorrow. Then Wexbury three days later, on your Holy Day.”

Twelve days? I had been unconscious for that long? I blinked at them then Sylvia continued, “We did not know if you would ever return to us, you had suffered so much injury. I have been healing you as I can. I can still do more, but... your arm leg and face will have scarring. Most of the burns were magic in nature.”

I was so tired. I shrugged and closed my eyes and said, “It is no matter, as long as my people are safe now.” But then I snapped my eyes open. “Our people?! Is everyone safe?”

Celeste lowered her eyes and then said in a strained voice, “It was a long fought battle, first Lord Linus and Lord Paul fell to Raneth's attacks. They were so varied, I believe he was an Adept. I moved in to take him in single combat as the battle raged.”

She exhaled. “Kristof was making short work of the lesser rogues with Bex's gadgets and I don't think they were prepared for Verna and Tennison's rage and physical power.” She swallowed. “We fought for almost an hour, dwindling their forces. We had lost Sir Marrin and Randolph before the enemy realized they were no match for the fire of Wexbury. The cowards ran. We chased them knowing they would seek out Poe's support.”

Then the corner of her mouth quirked into a crooked smile. “I had not known you had already dispatched Raneth when I rode Goliath in to save you.” Then she softened. “As always Laney, you are full of surprises.”

The door swung open and Duke Fredrick's form filled the doorway. He was smiling and told Celeste, “And to think, our Squire Laney here dispatched Poe with her toothpick, and that little paring knife. And Raneth with the little spark she holds inside.” He shook his head in disbelief and said with a touch of pride that made me warm inside. “Two Adepts.”

I croaked out a whine, “Hey, it's a dagger, not a paring knife!” Everyone chuckled at me, I surrendered and smiled.

A hand rested on the Duke's shoulder. “Fred, leave your Femeie de Sabie to rest. Go make yourself useful setting up camp.”

We all chuckled at his lopsided grinning response. “Yes... Mother.”

He bowed to Udele as he exited. Then the woman came inside, she smiled fondly at Celeste and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Go now child, get something to eat. Your girl is now awake.”

Celeste looked at her as if she were going to challenge her, but then she lowered her eyes. “Yes Mother Udele.”

She looked at me with eyes glittering with joy and then she kissed the top of my head. “I'll be right back.” I smiled and dropped my hand from her face. Then she left, looking back as she shut the door.

Udele sat in the chair Celeste had been in. She took my hand and gave it a squeeze then looked at the door and said, “That girl. I swear she rarely slept or ate while she sat by your side. I worried more for her than you.”

A pang of guilt hit me. She shook her head at me and with a tinge of satisfaction and vindication said, “It seems you were up to the task, and could take far more pain than should have been shouldered by you, my mostenitor.” I didn't know that word.

She smiled and asked, “Are you up to trying to stand?” Sylvia made an exasperated sound and Mother just waved her off.

I didn't want to disappoint her so I just nodded then looked down at the three little sleeping heat generators. Sylvia reached over to snag Ingr, the little goats were much distressed about that and hopped off the bed to stand at Sylvia's feet, looking up at their cute little ringleader, asleep in her arms.

I winced as I forced myself to a sitting position. I looked down, I was in some sort of colorful sleeping robe. Udele helped me to my feet, I winced at the pain that shot through me. Sylvia said quickly, “Now that I have repaired the worst of the damage, I can work on those pains. You should be restored as much as I am capable of doing before we reach Wexbury.”

I nodded and my hair fell oddly. I reached a hand up and about a quarter of my hair was shaved off on the left side. She gave me an apologetic look. “It was burned and matted, we had to shave it off to see the wounds beneath. It will grow back within a few months.” Then she looked down. “I can do nothing more for the burn on your face.”

I shrugged and assured her, “I was never going to be pretty anyway. It is no matter.” The two virtually glared at me. What had I said? I tried to qualify it, “At least everyone is safe now.” Udele closed her eyes and shook her head then kissed the top of mine and Sylvia slid some slippers in front of me and I slid my feet into them as she draped a cloak of dyed rabbit pelts over my shoulders.

Then I furrowed my brow. “In the battle. I thought I saw an arrow of the people.”

Sylvia grinned and nodded. “That lazy brother of mine. Dru was assigned as your garda personala, to watch you, to keep you safe.” Then she said, like it was some sort of common sense explanation when she saw my confusion, “Your blood bond with Mother Udele of the Lupei.”

I gave an apologetic look for my ignorance and said, “Well, please thank him for me. He may well have saved my life.”

Both of the women waved that off as Sylvia said with humor in her voice, “By the powers that be Sora Laney, don't tell him that. His head barely fits in the door as it is.” I chuckled. I could see the pride in her eyes for her brother even though she teased.

Sylvia laid Ingr down gently with her head on the pillow and pulled the blanket up. The little goats hopped up and settled around her. Then Sylvia quickly fastened a belt around my waist. It had a small curved sword hanging in a scabbard on it. She explained, “The Femeie de Sabie of the Altii mustn't be without a blade. Yours is being seen to, our weaponsmiths are baffled, it has somehow changed in nature. They will have it ready soon.”

Then the women led me out and down the little fold down stairs. The camp was full of motion as people were setting things up and getting a roaring fire going in the center. I saw huge oxen hitched to the wagons.

The activity seemed to pause, everyone turned to look at us, and a cheer went up. Udele gave me a reassuring squeeze of the arm and Celeste rushed up to take me from the women and guide me to a seat at one of the long plank tables that had been set out. Then everyone went back into motion.

A huge feast and celebration followed and the children seemed to crowd around me. I was so happy to see that most of our group had survived but saddened at the loss of four more who were swiftly becoming my friends. That is five comrades at arms that paid the ultimate cost of defending what is right.

Duke John was walking around fine, wearing colorful Mountain Gypsy garb, and tugging on his mustache. They must have healed his injuries.

The porters and Dru were busy spinning exaggerated yarns of the battle, to the children and any other who would listen, by the fire. Alexandru's hands were swooping through the air as he said in exaggerated tones, “Then Sora Laney, Femeie de Sabie of the Altii, cried out a challenge as she brandished her enchanted blade, Anadele. With one mighty sweep of her sword, she tore half the Monolith of the Before Times asunder. The ground shook for miles as it crashed to the earth, crushing half the enemy vrajitor.” He winked over at me.

I whispered to Celeste, “It didn't happen like that and nobody was crushed.”

She was grinning like a fool as she shushed me and listened as our porter, Henry chimed in. “That's how it happened. I saw it with my own eyes.”

I started to protest, but Mother was grinning, “Oh shush girl, I want to hear.” I slouched in defeat and I caught Fredrick and Lucia grinning at me. I looked at them in helplessness and Fredrick waved it off with a smile then turned to listen to the fairytale that Dru was spinning.

I doubted I could be any more embarrassed as I blushed and ate some more. I felt as if I hadn't eaten for weeks. I cheered with the crowd when he got to the fall of Raneth, “Then Sora Celeste, Femeie de Sabie of the Altii, charged through the fires of hell consuming the valley. She rode the unstoppable warhorse, Goliath, with flames shooting from his nostrils as his thundering hooves pounded the earth as they made haste to Sora Laney's side. With a single stroke of her vrajitoare blade, she separated the defeated Raneth's head from his body, ensuring he would not rise again to perpetrate evil upon the innocents of the land!”

I smiled smugly at the look of consternation on Celeste's face and stuck out my tongue at her. Then I yelled over the divine cornbread muffin I was eating, “Alexandru, you forgot the incredible shot you yourself took to disarm Raneth to save me.” I smugly took a bite of the muffin at the grumpy look he shot me.

Darin Porter lit up at that and said loudly, “Yes! I witnessed that with my own two eyes. He made the shot from a hundred and fifty... no from three hundred yards away from where we hid in a small ravine as Lady Laney fought. He came to protect us and saw Raneth swinging his huge blade down at Lady Laney and without hesitation or aiming, he fired off a shot that passed clean through the enemy's arm. It sent him spinning back to the ground.” I grinned at the exaggeration, I had no doubt it would be six hundred yards after a few retellings.

Henry chimed in to punctuate my thought, “No it had to have been three hundred and fifty yards.” The children and some of the adults showered Dru with praise. I was happy to give him a helping of his own medicine.

I chuckled at the look on Dru's face, then asked the Wexbury contingent that was gathered around. “Does anyone believe these fabricated tales?”

Lord John's face went from smiling to serious. Then he said, “Exaggerated or not. The truth dear squire is that you stopped over a hundred men and left the stragglers to me and your brethren as you dispatched two Adepts. One with a little goat charm and a tiny knife, and the other by ripping the very iron from his blood. You are no mere Techromancer now are you Laney?”

I looked at Fredrick, who was about to say something as he shook his head in warning to me, and I thought of Celeste and the battle of York and blurted out loudly for all to hear. “For as long as I shall live, I will swear upon the courage of Lord Samuel in this campaign.” I held up my mug of grape juice.

Lucia looked shocked at me, and Frederick grabbed a cup and all of Wexbury present toasted, “Lord Samuel!”

Duke John looked long and hard at me then he smiled and said, “Then I too shall swear upon it when asked, as I do for Celeste at the Battle of York.” I gave him silent thanks with my eyes and he nodded once.

He looked over to Fredrick and chuckled, “I hate you Wexbury. Just how many secrets do you keep?”

Fredrick grinned right back. “I hate you too Flatlash.” The men laughed together and my Lord raised his mug to John. “Allies for life.” Duke John repeated it, “Allies for life.”

The festivities wound down with the Three Sisters high in the sky. We retired to Sylvia's wagon just after midnight. Dru and Sylvia said their goodnights and joined their mother on the other side of the partition. I arranged myself around Ingr and her little herd, and was so happy to have Celeste at my back, wrapping her arm tightly around my waist.