The Year of the Lumin (22 page)

              The knight in front chuckled and kept walking toward Asiada as he said, “Not anymore, girl.”

              Asiada stood her ground as they approached.  “We are entrusted with the safety of our cus--”

              Her sentence was cut short as a gauntleted hand brutally swatted Asiada into the room she had just been straightening.  She tumbled to the ground and the room spun around her.

              It wasn't until after Asiada watched the knights carry Ratt down the stairs and disappear out of sight that she noticed her arm bent at a bizarre angle.

~~~

              Noir walked down the streets of the Chiron capital lost in his thoughts.  He could understand Aimee's resolution about wanting to go home, but not to the extent of killing someone for it.  Frequently he had to retrace his steps after missing a street he was supposed to take.  The roads dead-ended where he thought they shouldn't and looped back on themselves when he thought they would go straight.

              By late afternoon, Noir came to the stone-worked inn where they had been staying.  As he looked at it, he wondered if Ratt would be there waiting for him.  “Would I just leave him if I got the opportunity to go home?  Aimee certainly would if she were in my shoes.”

              Noir pushed open the door to the inn.  The man whom Noir had learned was the owner of the inn smiled as the door opened.  However, it faded when he made eye contact with Noir.  Noting the man's continued lack of hospitality, Noir started to walk past him toward the stairs.  But before he could get past, the man put up a hand in his path.

              “Noir, right?”  Noir was a bit surprised to hear his real name, but he nodded.  “There's something you should know.”

              Noir stared at the man, trying to gauge his features for a clue as to what he would say.  “Would your friend, the light-haired one, have any reason for being in trouble with the Azurite Knights?”

              Noir was baffled.  He talked quickly, “Why?  What has happened?  Who in the world are the Azurite knights?”

              The man seemed to be containing his anger.  “Well, because of him my daughter....”  He trailed off and looked behind Noir sadly.

              A light hand touched Noir's shoulder and he turned to see the strange girl from the night before standing beside him.  She said in a soft voice, “I saw them take him.”  The girl held her arm tenderly.  It was was wrapped in white cloth, though Noir could see it bulging from swelling.

              Noir started to realize the severity of what they were saying.  He lightly grabbed the girl's good shoulder and said, “Tell me exactly what happened.”

              Asiada relayed the story as she had witnessed it.  Noir only interrupted when she mentioned the letter for him.  He asked if she still had it, to which she responded, “I think it's still in the room.  I'm not sure.”

              Noir brushed aside the topic with his hand.  “I'll check later when I go upstairs.  Keep going.”

              Asiada finished the story up to the point where she saw one of the Azurite Knights carrying Ratt down the stairs on his shoulder.

              Noir asked, “Why didn't anyone besides you try to stop them?”

              Asiada gave a surprised laugh.  “Are you kidding?  Don't you know what the Azurite Knights can do?”  She motioned with her head to her arm for emphasis.

              Noir said honestly, “Well, no.”

              The innkeeper responded.  “You're from out of town.  You wouldn't know.               The Azurite Knights have suits of armor that are the most advanced enchants the Azurite Tower can produce.”

              Noir paused for a moment, digesting the information.  The two seemed to be waiting for a response from him, so he said, “I must go to my room now.  Thank you.”  They didn't say anything as he walked away.

              Noir walked up the stairs and into their unlocked room.  Nothing seemed to be out of place, but a quick scan of the room revealed the letter, crest, and envelope they came in.

Noir sat on Ratt’s bed and read.  He was mixed with emotions as he followed the gold, reflective script down the thick paper.  He felt elation at hearing his uncle was alright and confusion at most everything else.

“He thinks one of us is the Lumin?  No, Steven must be mixed up with something.”  Noir shook his head.  “But what does this letter have to do with Ratt being taken away?”

Noir’s thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door.  He looked up at the already-open door and saw Asiada standing sheepishly.

She rubbed her arm and said, “I’m sorry they took your friend.”

Noir suddenly realized how foolish he had been for not offering to heal the girl's injury.  She had been hurt defending his friend, after all.

“Don't be sorry.  It’s not your fault.”  He motioned her to come over.  “Let me look at your arm.”

“Well, it kind of is.”  Asiada walked forward into the room and sat on the other side of the bed.  “If I hadn’t given him that letter when I did, they wouldn’t have taken him.”

Noir unwrapped the white cloth.  The bottom part of her arm was bent oddly and was turning a bluish color.  “I'm a Luxin, Asiada.  Just relax and I'll heal you.”  He didn't allow her time to respond before he started mending the broken and displaced bones and soothing swollen tissues.  The girl’s eyes were wide and she looked deeply into Noir's eyes as he worked.  She quietly murmured about something yellow that he couldn't quite make out.  Once he was finished, he gently bent her arm and twisted it to test his work.

“There, all better,” Noir said.

Asiada looked down at her arm as if realizing something had happened to it for the first time.  She bent and twisted her arm in all directions, then looked back into Noir's eyes.  “Thank you, Noir,” she said with awe.

Her close proximity and intense gaze made Noir suddenly feel uncomfortable, so he stood up and changed the topic back to what they had been talking about before.  “You said a minute ago that if you hadn't given Ratt the letter they wouldn’t have taken him.  What did you mean?  What does the letter have to do with Ratt being taken?”  He had long given up using their fake names with her.

She responded slowly, still testing and massaging her mended arm.  “I heard what they said.  I think they thought he was you since he had the letter.  They said something about the Lumin and… I don’t know.”

Noir looked down at the letter on the bed and said, “I think I know what’s going on here.  But why would they want to take me away when I was already headed to the Azurite Tower?”  He motioned toward the note.  “They could have picked my mind when I got there and found out I am not the Lumin.”

Asiada asked, “What if they don’t just want to ask questions?”

“Then Ratt’s in trouble.”  Noir immediately went to gather his things, knowing that he had to get to the Azurite Tower as fast as he could.

“I want to come with you.”

Noir looked at Asiada.  “Why?”

She paused as if trying to think of a reason.  “I know the way there.”

Noir laughed despite the desperate situation.  “It’s a giant stone tower.  I think I could find my way alone.”

“Okay, you're right.  Look, Noir.  I just...”  She stopped.  “I can't tell you.  You'll think I'm weird like everyone else does!”

Noir sighed.  A part of him just wanted to get on his way and go find Ratt, but he said, “I'm not the kind of guy who cares about that stuff, trust me.  You can tell me anything and I won't think anything bad about you.”

She looked deeply at him.  “I see auras around people.  People who can use sye, I see blue auras.  People who can use lux, I see yellow.  But around myself I see purple.  My mother and I are the only ones I have ever seen with a purple aura except....”  She trailed off and looked at Noir.

Noir felt sorry he had asked.  He tried his hardest to not be condescending.  “Okay, so I have a purple aura.  That's kinda weird, but I don't--”

“Yeah, forget it.”  She looked away.  Noir felt helpless so he just continued packing his things, but the silence made him feel like he had to say something.  “If what you are saying is true, a purple aura is impossible anyway.  Plus, you would only see it when they were using--”

“I said just forget it.  I just want to be with you, okay?”  Noir shook his head.  He studied the attractive girl sitting on the bed.  Her blond hair fell to her shoulders.  She looked confident, but slightly desperate.  Asiada crossed her arms and looked at the floor.  Noir was just about to tell her “no” one more time when she said, “Anyway, I have other uses too.”

“Look, I’m sorry but I can’t be slowed down by some g—”  Noir’s words were cut off when Asiada lifted her hand and the envelope on the nightstand burst into flames.  As the fire died down, Noir nodded and said slowly, “Okay, that might be useful.”

Chapter 32

The Azurite Tower

              Noir and Asiada sat on a bench near the base of the looming tower.  Dusk painted the stone behemoth in a pinkish-orange light.  Two large pools were surrounded by potted ferns.  Since the air was cooling off, only a few loud-mouthed nobles lounged in the waters.  Their slaves sat cross-legged on the floor nearby.

              Noir had put on his Luxin armor and cloak for the first time since he had left Talik.  It felt good to have it on again and it brought back fond memories of Fafnir.

              “So you’ve kept your din hidden your whole life?”

              “That and the auras,” Asiada responded.

              Noir looked at her oddly.  He liked the girl, but the aura thing was weird.  Back home, he remembered hearing on TV about people who said they could see auras around people as well.  He had always thought they were crazy back then, too.

              Asiada sighed and said, “Daddy tells me not to talk about it.”

              Noir continued to study the base of the tower.  “Well, perhaps not now, you're right.”  His mind had already wandered back to how they were going to rescue Ratt.  “If the crest doesn’t work, they might simply let us in because I'm a Luxin. But I doubt it will be that easy.”

              “Right.”  Noir did not notice the hint of disappointment in Asiada's voice.

              “If all else fails, there are only two normal guards, one for each entrance.  They aren't even Azurite Knights.  That couldn’t be too hard to get past, could it?”

              “Not with
my
abilities,” Asiada said with a hint of haughtiness.

              Noir corrected her, “
Our
abilities.”

              Asiada gave a wry look.  “What, your lux?  You gonna heal them to death?”

              Noir laughed.  “There's more to lux than healing.”

              Asiada rolled her eyes sarcastically.  “Riiiiiiight.”

              Noir glanced sideways at the pretty blond girl and smiled.  Somehow, her defiant, slightly bratty attitude amused Noir.  She kind of reminded him of Ratt.  “Alright, are you ready?”

              “Sure thing.  Let’s do it.”

              Noir stood and made his way toward the baths and base of the large tower.  His Luxin cape caught the wind and billowed slightly behind him.  Noir was surprised at the familiar smell of chlorine from the baths.  He had not guessed the chemists of this world were so advanced.

With Asiada in tow, Noir made his way to one of the large doors set in the huge supporting columns of the tower.  The guard stood confidently and watched the people around him.  Two older men in blue robes walked past him into the large open doors.  The guard bowed to them as they walked by but did not make eye contact.

Noir and Asiada approached and were met with the stern eyes of the guard.  He turned to them and said, “Stop there.”  They did.  “What business do you have at the Azurite Tower, Luxin?”

Noir spoke, “I am here to see my uncle.”  He had figured the truth would not jeopardize anything.  “His name is Steven.  He is one of the Syeters here.  He gave me this.”  Noir held out the small metal crest that had come in the envelope.

The guard grunted in acknowledgment.  “You’ll need an escort.  Follow me.”  The guard turned and walked past the large doors and into the tower.  Noir and Asiada exchanged surprised glances and followed.

Once inside, they found themselves in a beautiful entryway with a small set of stairs.  The guard bowed slightly to a female Azurite Knight standing at the foot of the stairs.  “Sir.  These two have business with the Syeters.”

The knight nodded curtly but gave no reply.  The guard left and Noir and Asiada followed the Azurite knight up the stairs.  Noir studied the intricate armor on the knight’s back as they followed her.  Noir hadn’t known there would be female Azurite knights as well.  He also noticed the insanely complex enchant lux weavings.  They traced lines all throughout the armor in the most complex enchant he had ever seen by far.  He imagined he was only seeing one third of the complexity as well since supposedly they were lux, din, and sye enchants.

They were glad to have been allowed in.  If they had tried to barge in, they would have been stopped by this Azurite knight.  Noir was not eager to see what one of them could do in a fight.

The interior of the Azurite Tower seemed to be mostly made of polished marble.  The walls, floor, stairs, and nearly everything else was covered in twisting patterns that pleased the eye.  Everything looked so solid that Noir wondered how the tower was supported by the hollowed-out ground floor.  He supposed the whole tower could be some sort of enchant since that would make it nearly indestructible.  Nothing from Noir's memory of the man-made structures from his home world could rival the artistry of the furnishings and decorations.

The two were led up several more flights of stairs to a long, curving hall.  The hall was reflective marble like the other floors below.  They passed dozens of doors which lined the walls.

As they walked behind the knight, Asiada leaned toward Noir and quietly asked, “So where are all of you from anyway?  What’s your story?”

Noir was surprised that she would ask something like that at that moment.  He was unsure of how to answer, especially with the woman knight so near.  He realized that Grandel’s, Ratt’s, and his own story would each get them in trouble with the knight.  “It’s… complicated,” was all he could think of to say.  “This isn't
exactly
the time and place to talk about it.”

Asiada did not seem satisfied by the answer, but she walked on nonetheless.  They passed robed Syeters who did not give them a glance, other Azurite Knights, and slaves carrying clothing, food, and other objects.

The woman led them to a final set of broad stairs in the middle of the hall.  At the top, they came to a large landing. Before them was a giant set of doors with two more Azurite Knights on guard on either side.  The doors were made of thick, sturdy wood carved with the most intricate, complex patterns and pictures that Noir had ever seen.  The detail was so fine that it seemed impossible that they were carved by human hands.

The knight leading them stood before the doors facing Noir and Asiada.  She spoke formally, “You who come before the sye circle, state your names so you may be announced.”

Noir had not thought up a plan for something like this.  Since these knights had taken Ratt because they thought he was Noir, he couldn’t then proclaim himself
as
Noir.  But his uncle would not recognize him by any other name and he may not be admitted.  He started to panic and cursed his inadequate preparations.

Before Noir could formulate a plan, Asiada spoke up.  “I’m Asiada, heir to own the Lumin's Lodging Inn.”  Noir tried his hardest to give the girl a look that would silence her.  Missing the meaning behind Noir's glance, Asiada barreled forward and said, “And the silent one is Noir.  He’s here to see his uncle, Syeter Steven.”

Noir felt his jaw drop.  Internally he screamed at himself for letting the girl come with him.

When her words were finished, the posture of all three knights seemed to suddenly tighten.  They exchanged surprised, knowing glances with each other.

Asiada saw what was happening and quickly realized her error.  “Well, aren’t you going to announce us?” she asked, trying to get inside quicker.

A knight looked at them with apprehension and said to Noir, “You are a wanted man by the Azurite Knights.  Our duty is to protect the Syeters.  We must detain you and speak with our captain.”

“What?  You can’t,” Noir responded.  He felt hopeless.  He had come so far.  He was standing at the door of the room that held his uncle.  He couldn't just let this happen without trying something.  “We have done nothing to deserve this.  My uncle asked my presence; who are you to deny him that?”  Noir was surprised to hear himself speak such confident words.

However, Noir’s defiance did not have the desired result.  All three knights suddenly had their hands on their sword handles.  Noir had not seen their arms move.  Each of their arms glowed faintly yellow with lux.

“Check your tone, boy.  We can do this the easy way, or we can give you a first-hand demonstration of what we can do.  Your choice.”

Noir did not know what these knights were capable of, and he did not want to go with them, so he did all he could think of to do.  “Steven!” he yelled as loud as he could.  “Uncle Steven!  It's me, Noir!”

The three knights looked startled.  It was obviously not what they had expected.  Suddenly, Noir’s mind was accompanied by multitudes of other conscious entities.  All seemed to be asking questions and prodding Noir’s mind.  Flooded with thoughts, Noir could not distinguish one from another, so he desperately thought as loud as he could over the cacophony of mental noise, “Steven, help.  I’m right outside the doors.”

A voice rose over the noise of the others, “I already know, kiddo.”

By some unseen force, the giant wooden doors swung open, nearly knocking over the battle-poised knights.  Noir and Asiada saw the main hall of the Azurite Tower for the first time.  The vaulted ceiling rose nearly a hundred feet at its maximum height.  Behind the numerous bookshelves, every inch of every wall was adorned in gold or other precious materials.  But the most magnificent thing in the room was not the decorations.

In the center of the room sat dozens of men and women dressed in blue robes.  They sat cross-legged in a ring around the second dragon that Noir had seen in his life.  Jotunar, the dragon who brought sye to the world, sat motionless with eyes closed in the center of the ring of Syeters.  His bluish body was more sleek and long than Fafnir’s stocky, solid frame.  Each large scale on his body was tipped with silver that reflected the light.

Only one Syeter was standing.  Noir recognized the tall form of his uncle even though the majority of his face was hidden by the blue hood.  Steven walked forward and said in a stern voice unlike Noir’s memory of his uncle, “You will stand down, Azurite Knights.  These two are in our care now.”

The three knights recollected themselves and turned to face Steven.  They all gave quick, curt bows that barely bent their waist.  One said, “Master Syeter, this one is a wanted man.  By the order of the Azurite--“

Steven cut him off, “By the order nothing.  This boy is my nephew.  If he needs interrogating, we are well equipped.  And I guarantee you he means us no harm.”

The knights exchanged frustrated glances as if they were trying to decide what to do.  Steven spoke again, “There is nothing more to discuss.  Back to your posts.”  While keeping his gaze on the knights, Steven motioned Noir and Asiada inside the main hall.

The knights did not move as Noir and Asiada walked past and into the huge room.  Just before the giant doors closed behind them, Noir heard one of the Azurite Knights say, “Better go tell the captain.”

When the massive doors were shut, Steven walked toward Noir and said, “They get a little overzealous with that armor we craft for them.”  He waved the back of his hand through the air to dismiss the topic.  “How are you, kiddo?”  His attitude seemed like he was glad to see Noir, but oddly not surprised.

“I’m alright.  I was afraid I would never see you again.”  They finally reached each other and Steven gave Noir a warm, fatherly hug.  “So what happened… you know, since I last saw you.”

Steven laughed.  “What
hasn’t
happened would be quicker to answer.  But first, who is this?”  He motioned to Asiada who was staring open-mouthed at the giant blue dragon laying in the center of the room.

“This is Asiada from the city.  She just came with me to help me find my friend Ratt.”

“And just what did you two do to get on such bad terms with our Azurite Knights?”

“Nothing.  We think they took Ratt because they thought he was me.  Because they think I’m the Lumin.”

Steven put his fingers on his chin and rubbed it.  “Interesting.”  He paused then put a finger in the air.  “About that.  I want you to meet someone.”  Steven turned around and walked toward the sye circle.  In Noir’s head he heard Steven say, “I am linking you both to Jotunar and to myself.”  He paused.  “Jotunar.  This is Noir, my nephew that I showed you before.”

A voice came to Noir’s mind, though the dragon did not stir.  The voice was gravely like Fafnir’s, though Jotunar’s was much deeper and rounder.  “He is the one you mentioned; yes, I remember.  My child, it is urgent that I scan your memories.  I must have all the information possible to determine something of grave importance.”

Noir thought, “That is fine.  But what is it about?”  Communicating with other presences in his mind felt unreal.

Steven's mentally projected voice responded, “Like my letter said, we believe you or Aimee may be the Lumin.  There are certain prophesied events and abilities that we must look for from your memory that will help us to know for sure.”

Noir felt apprehensive.  The last time his mind was scanned with sye, it was not pleasant.  “Go ahead, I guess.” 

In an instant, Noir felt his mind oppressed upon and forced to play through his memories.  It was similar to when the scarred man had performed this process, though the dragon did it hundreds of times faster and more delicately.  Within moments, the dragon had skipped through his childhood up to the moment he found the cave.  All the happenings of the last few months went by without his control.  The process slowed and repeated itself a few times at certain memories such as the cave, his first meeting with Fafnir, his first encounter with the scarred man in his dream, and then his battle with the scarred man in real life.  Within minutes, the memories played up to the present and stopped.