Thread Slivers (Golden Threads Trilogy) (32 page)

Turning, she ran as fast as she could down the road. Her war horse had stopped only a few hundred yards away and another hundred yards beyond that sat Ditani and Lebuin on their horses, watching the events. She swung up in the saddle and rode over to Ditani and Lebuin, who were looking past her at the city with astonishment. Turning the horse, she looked back at the city wall. It was rising, and along the top more steel plates appeared, topped with spikes which held steel balls.

“Definitely need to give things time to settle down here.”
Ditani and Lebuin mumbled an agreement; the three of them turned the horses away from the scene and galloped down the road.

Chapter 11

Friends in the woods

T
HE FOREST WAS ANYTHING BUT quiet. There were noises and animal calls which sent chills down Lebuin’s spine. They had ridden very hard and very fast for three days to get well away from Llino. Ticca had taken them off of the main roads a full day back, and now they were traveling over open country. Lebuin was sweaty and dirty, and muscles he never knew he had announced their presence with every move.
This has been a miserable three days. I wish my magic would come back so I could at least get some of this grime off of me. I cannot believe people live like this all the time. How can they ignore it?

Looking across the campfire at Ticca, he noticed she didn’t have the strained look she had worn for the last three days. Her brows were no longer drawn together in hard thought. In fact, she was looking at him as one might inspect a new farm animal, and it was obvious she was trying to decide something.

Looking left, he saw that Ditani was actually smiling as he busied himself cooking some hares Ticca had shot earlier with a sling.
How can he be happy? Today he was just riding along breathing deeply with a crooked smile. Now he looks like we are at the finest home enjoying a wonderful evening.

The smells of the cooking meat wafted past him again. It was going to be a pleasant meal since there were herbs and spices in Vestul’s pack, which Ditani had carefully selected. The roasting meat made his mouth water in anticipation. Looking up, he observed that it was a completely clear night and the stars were shining very brightly.

Ticca hadn’t said anything yet and had leaned back against a tree, looking out across the clearing to the open sky.
She looks in a talking mood, and I really would like to start learning some things.
“Are we far enough that we can talk now?”

She looked at him and then back to the sky. “Perhaps. It has been three days since our escape from the city, and I haven’t seen any sign of being pursued. The forest is alive, so nothing unusual is moving about. So yes, I’d say we can talk safely now.”

Now I can ask the question that has been burning in my mind for days.
“Why aren’t all Daggers as skilled as you are?”

She laughed. “Heavens, that is an odd question to ask after everything we have done.”

“I’m serious. I know I have little experience, but I am not stupid. You fought and killed a Knife at the hospice; you faced that demon in green and fought him to a standstill. He held off five other Daggers easily enough and broke away to chase you. In fact he looked like the Daggers were just insects that were annoying him slightly. If it hadn’t been for whatever Duke did to close the city he would have attacked you again. So, why are you so good, or why are the other Daggers not as good as you?”

Ticca looked up at the stars and in a wistful voice answered, “I have had unique training.”

“Obviously, but is it a secret? Can you share it?”

Ticca looked at him for a minute, her eyes going a little wide then slightly unfocused. “No one has asked me before.” Ticca’s gaze shifted to the fire. “I am only sworn to keep the source of my knowledge a secret. But no promise to keep the training a secret was demanded.” She continued to look into the fire as if it were a window. “It isn’t something he’d have missed, either.”

Ditani took one of the rabbits and handed it to him, and handed another to Ticca. Taking a rabbit for himself, Ditani sat down and began to eat. Ticca sat up a little straighter and began to pick at the rabbit. They all sat and stared at the fire, quietly eating and thinking their own thoughts.

Ticca’s voice caught both Ditani and Lebuin by surprise. “I see no reason I cannot pass on these skills. Of course, I am not really interested in being a trainer myself, at least not yet.”

“Would you teach me?”

Ticca looked at him. “Lebuin, you’re a mage — of what use is the sword and knife to you? You can shield yourself better than any fighter and kill with a look. Why learn the knife and the sword?”

“That is what I thought too. I think that is what Magus Cune was trying to teach me. I was just too naive to see it. Magus Cune nearly killed me with a sword in a magical fight. Magus Vestul was killed by a blade penetrating his defenses. I think mages might be, in general, too proud and overconfident. I recognize this in myself and I am disgusted by it. So I ask, would you teach me?”

“After five years training with my uncle, he had taught me everything he could and called on another trainer to complete my education. No offense, but I wasn’t planning on spending that much time with you.”

“I don’t expect to learn all you know. It will be cycles before my magic returns. Should we start now, I might be of more use than just a target to protect.” He looked directly into her eyes and gave her what he hoped she would see as a determined promise to study well. “I promise you, I am a fast study.”

Ticca thought about this some more. “You make a good point, M’lord. It would be helpful for me to stay sharp and remind myself of the basics.” Smiling, she looked at Ditani. “What about you, old man, will you join us in training? I know you can move fast enough, you dodged that Knife’s sword well enough.”

Ditani looked at them in surprise. “Me? I am an old servant who is looking forward to retiring. It was luck that let me survive. I almost fell off the horse doing it.”

Ticca’s eyes sparkled in the firelight. “Well, with some training maybe you won’t need so much luck next time. My trainer always said, ‘Be thankful when luck happens, but don’t count on it.’ Besides, I am told that the knife and sword drills keep men limber and active almost their whole life. Your wife might enjoy that.” She stared at him, grinning wickedly, daring him to answer.

It was hard to tell but Ditani might have looked a shade darker in the dusky light. “Ticca, really, you go too far! But I agree, luck is a silly thing to count on. I do fancy keeping my joints limber, so I accept your invitation.”

Ticca giggled like she had won a prize. “Algan is two or three weeks away by the trade road. It will take us at least a cycle to get there, traveling through the wilderness and avoiding contact. We can train for a mark every morning and evening. It won’t slow us down too much. I think we should concentrate on the defensive skills.” Tossing the remains of her rabbit into the fire, Ticca took off her boots and lay back on her bed roll. “Let me think this through and we’ll start in the morning.”

I can’t wait! I don’t know why but I have the oddest desire to master the knife now.
Looking at Ticca, he admired her stamina, courage, and obvious intelligence.
This is a woman who will make a blazing trail wherever she chooses to go.
I have been very foolish being more concerned with the outside of people than what was inside. With her help I may very well survive Cune’s challenges. I intend to be a very different man when I next meet him.

The evening was getting colder, and looking at Ticca, he saw she was still awake and looking up at the stars. “Aren’t your feet going to get cold?”

“Better cold feet than odd dreams,” she answered mysteriously.

“What do you mean by that?”

Ticca sat up and looked at him across the fire as if trying to decide something. He waited to see what she chose to do, and she looked at the boots and sighed. “I think they are causing me to see things when I sleep.”

Lebuin looked at the boots too. “They are just an artifact, although one with a very useful mix of features. I don’t see how including dreams would ever cross anyone’s mind. Are you sure about this?”

Ticca shook her head. “No, but ever since I got them I have been having visions or dreams. They are as real as this is. I remember them clearly and in every detail. It is as if I am actually living the dreams, and when I wake up I am always confused about where and who I am.”

“Do you want to tell us about them?”

Ticca frowned and thought about it. “Well, they are actually kind of girlish.”

“Meaning that you are a girl in them?”

“Meaning I am another girl who is in love, and the dreams center around the romance. In the dreams I …or she… or, well… in the dreams there are feelings and thoughts with immense love as I have only ever heard of. These dreams make me feel odd, and I am starting to believe such love may really exist.”

“Are they the same dreams?”

“No, they are moving forward in time. Things evolve, as they do everywhere. I think the person I am reliving is the maker of the boots.”

“Perhaps I can help you understand. Tell me from the beginning. You can of course leave out any, um… intimate details.”

Ticca blushed. “Well there hasn’t been any of that, at least none I was present for. I think the first dream might have been followed by a very excellent moment. At least, it was heading there when I woke up. This is about a woman who lives in a large forest city. Her name is Kliasa, and she trapped animals to make boots and travel journals.”

Ditani sat up hastily. “Did you say Kliasa? Kliasa of Rea-Na-Rey?”

Surprised, he looked at Ditani.
Rea-Na-Rey, as in the Elven city of the forest? Why would you know someone from there?

Ticca shrugged. “I haven’t heard the name of the city said. I would remember if it was Rea-Na-Rey, still it might be the same.”

“Ditani, do you know a Kliasa?”

Ditani looked at the ground for a moment and his shoulders sagged as if under a heavy weight. “Yes, she was a shining star like none before or after. We all loved her greatly. Magus Vestul loved her as a daughter; I loved her as a sister...” Ditani reached over and picked up the boots tenderly, as a man picks up his baby daughter. “She made these boots for Magus Vestul as a present. He mentioned how uncomfortable his boots were and she set about making him the finest boots ever, so that he would always be able to dance.” Tears ran down Ditani’s cheek as he softly caressed the boots. He then put them back by Ticca. “Believe me, you two have a lot in common, she would want you to have these. I don’t understand the dreams; Magus Vestul never mentioned he shared her memories.”

Everyone was silent for a while. Finally, Ticca looked at Ditani. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“How could you? You are young and the world hasn’t been so unkind to you yet.”

“I take it she is dead?”

“Yes, she died in an attack on her home. It was vicious, brutal, and long since avenged by even more brutal and horrible acts.”

Ticca put her hand on Ditani’s shoulder. “I am sorry. She was so happy and alive. Was it her lover who exacted revenge?”

Ditani nodded. “Oh yes, he did. He did things I shudder to consider. It is said he still bleeds from his heart because the wound never healed. This is why he shows no mercy, or regret, and is willing to do horrible things; things which anyone else with a dark heart would refuse as too dreadful.” The fire seemed to dim and a cold wind blew over them as if nature itself stood in testimony to Ditani’s words.

A shudder ran down his spine at that pronouncement, as if evil had touched their campsite. Lebuin thought about it. “Ticca, unless the artifact was specifically designed to share memories, I don’t think the boots are the cause.”

Ticca shrugged. “Well if I sleep with them on, I have dreams of her and things I have never experienced. I have spent days hunting in her forest and making a wonderful journal which was later given to Magus Vestul at a festival in his honor. It was Magus Vestul who finally called her by name, and I do recall him complaining about his boots. She resolved to make him boots; these boots. She is constantly worrying about this man she loves, trying to decide how to help him with his plans, which he hasn’t yet shared.”