Into the Fray: Volume 1 of The Sorcerers of Jhanvia Series (9 page)

A few hours later, darkness had settled over the land. Kaitra could not see the target any longer in the diminishing light, so she gave in and decided to stop for the night. Her efforts this day had paid off. She was regularly hitting her target with authority. It somehow felt as if the bow had become hers and their fates had become one. She gathered her things and headed back for the village when Cliona called out to her.

“I’ve been looking in on you from time to time. It looks like you have quite the natural talent for the bow.”

“It seems that I do, but I can’t take all the credit. Kidreyli is an excellent instructor.”

Cliona stated with a smile, “She
is
one of a kind. Would you mind if I walked with you?”

“I would like that.”

As they continued along, Cliona intentionally kept the pace slow. She said, “I sense you have feelings for her?”

“Why is it that you always seem to be rummaging around in my head?” Kaitra smiled through her words.

“Because I can.”

“No, seriously, how is it that you have these abilities; to poke about in my thoughts, and be in two places at the same time?”

Cliona explained, “My mother was a powerful sorceress and she passed along some of her talents to me.” A truth, but not the whole truth.

“Could you teach me?”

“Someday soon, when you are ready, I will. Now, about Kidreyli?”

Kaitra laughed and said, “Yes, is the answer. But I’m not sure how real they are. I may have this attraction only because she just saved my life.”

“Ohhh…it’s far deeper than that.”

The young sorceress conceded, “All right, yes. I do have strong feelings for her.”

“Thought as much,” the elder said. She walked on a few more steps in silence before revealing, “She loves you, you know.”

Kaitra was taken aback, “She has never said as much.”

“No, she wouldn’t, would she. She is Valtyr, you are Dhoyan royalty. Even the strongest Valtyr would not be so bold as to cross
that
line.”

“I don’t understand why that would be a problem.”

The elder woman explained, “I know that you believe you have renounced your birthright, but that does not change who and what you are. You are your father’s daughter, now and for all time, and you need to embrace that with all of your being. I believe it will serve you well when you confront that which awaits you. Kidreyli understands this, which is why she has hesitated to disclose her true feelings for you.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Show her that the door is open. Once she understands that, then everyone best get out of the way.”

“What does
that
mean?”

“Valtyr emotions are far more intense and wide-ranging than human emotions, and they are not afraid to show them,” the elder explained. “When asked if they truly love someone, they usually respond with the phrase ‘with all that I am’, and they mean that literally and figuratively. If the two of you bond, the experience for you will be exponentially deeper and more spiritually fulfilling than any you could ever hope to have with another human.”

Kaitra stopped and touched Cliona’s arm, “I fell in love with her the first time I looked into her eyes. The fates have brought us together. Why?”

Cliona’s eyes brightened as she answered, “Because the two of you together will do great things…wondrous things.”

“Of what do you speak?”

“If I told you that, then they wouldn’t be so wondrous when they happen, would they?” Cliona smiled through her words.

“So, you’re not going to tell me?”

The elder woman looked quietly toward the trees.

“Right. Thought as much,” the frustrated young sorceress stated.

Cliona took both of her hands in hers, “Listen to me. Do not try to force events to happen. They will come to you when the time is right.”

“And my relationship with Kidreyli…?”

“The time for that is now. If you show her that she may proceed, then your love will take you both on a most wonderful journey.”

“This has been a really long day,” Kaitra observed as she came through the door of the hut and laid the bow and quiver carefully on the floor so as to be out of the way. “Sleep will be very welcome.”

“Where have you been?” asked Kidreyli.

“I quit practicing when it got too dark to see the target. Donnlu and his chosen were over by the main fire and they asked me to join them. They are very nice people. We had a little food and drink and
conversation, and then time just got away. I’ll pay for how much I had to drink tomorrow, I suspect.” There was short pause before she threw out, “Why do you ask? Did you miss me?”

“What? No. I was just…,” she was mercifully cut off by a knock at the door.

“May I enter?” Eirran asked from the outside.

“Of course,” Kaitra smiled knowingly at the Valtyr as she pulled it open.

“Sit, please,” offered Kidreyli.

He replied, “Thanks, no. Cliona and I have something to share with the both of you. Would you mind coming with me?”

They looked at each other for confirmation, exchanging momentary expressions of surprise and curiosity. “Of course,” responded the sorceress.

It was nearly middle-night as the three tromped through the field toward the appointed place. The Moon of Talera was low on the horizon but it provided just enough light to see what lay ahead. The air was still, but the frogs were very vocal, singing and bellowing to each other in turn. The knee high grass had a light coating of dew that gave the air a fresh smell. As they approached the farthest tree line, a small fire could be seen near a stream illuminating a dark figure. They continued on until reaching a small crude wooden bridge.

“We are here,” announced Eirran.

“Please come over,” invited Cliona.

As they reached the far side of the stream, Cliona gave each of them in turn a firm hug. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please sit on opposite sides of the fire facing each other. We want to try an exercise that we think you might find enlightening. Are you willing?”

“Yes,” they replied simultaneously.

“Very well, we shall begin,” Cliona stated in a serious tone.

The sorceress and the Valtyr sat as instructed while Eirran knelt next to the fire, sat on his heels and closed his eyes, determinedly focusing his energies to the task at hand. Slowly and with purpose,
he began placing selected leaves and plants on the fire, one at a time. “Concentrate your eyes on the flames,” he directed.

Cliona stood across the fire from Eirran and continued, “Breathe deeply and let yourself relax completely.”

After a few moments, Eirran spoke softly. “Now, close your eyes and open yourselves to what may come. You are safe here in this protected place. Open the doors of your mind.”

Many minutes passed as the elders kept watch. Small jerky motions were most noticeable in Kidreyli, reactions to what her mind was encountering. Kaitra mostly showed reaction within her face, changing quickly from smiles to pained scowls.

The frogs in the forest went quiet.

Then Kidreyli let out a scream that brought the session to a standstill. “No!! That is not possible!” She struggled to catch her breath as she looked up at Cliona. “That’s not possible.”

Eirran spoke determinedly, “Describe what you saw.”

She sat stunned and confused as she spoke to herself, “It cannot be true.”

He grabbed her by the shoulders and commanded, “Kidreyli, what did you see!?”

She looked up at his face with fainted eyes, “I saw a boy, a baby. His ears…his eyebrows…he had all our features...”

“What do you…?” Kaitra was interrupted.

“He was Vydarrun,” Kidreyli finished her thought.

Eirran and Cliona exchanged concerned glances. The Valtyr looked at both of them, a tear started down her cheek.

“What is Vydarrun?” Kaitra asked.

Eirran explained, “The Vydarrun were extremely aggressive males of the Valtyr species. They were uncontrollably violent and brought great hardship to all they encountered. Fear and death were their tools. Killing an entire village of innocents for no purpose brought them pleasure. The Valtyr took great pains to purge the male from their species. There were epic battles in their fight to become civilized, the stories of
which are still passed down to their children. They have not been seen nor spoken of for over a thousand years.”

“What else did you see?” Cliona asked Kidreyli.

“Darkness spreading over the land like a plague.” The Valtyr closed her eyes to assist her focus. “There was a man, a young man. He was wearing regal red clothing and he had a jet black beard….”

Kaitra interrupted, “With a gray streak down the center of his chin?”

“Yes, how did you…?” Kidreyli started to ask.

She interrupted, “I saw him too. I have seen his image in meditation before, but it was more focused this time.”

“What else did you see?” Eirran asked Kaitra.

She closed her eyes and refocused on the images that had come to her. “There were three shadowy figures circling around a small fire. They looked like they were chanting, but I couldn’t understand what they were saying. It was pitch black all around them.”

“Even though you could not understand them, did you sense something in this image?” Cliona pressed.

“It felt like dark magics, sucking all the life from their surroundings,” Kaitra replied. “I saw a woman in a fine white dress. I have seen her before in meditation as well.” Just then it became clear to her. “The woman is Valtyr. She’s the one who gives birth to the boy.”

“What are you saying?” Kidreyli asked.

“The woman in the dress I see is Valtyr,” Kaitra restated herself. “She appears to be the consort of the man in the red cloak.”

“This must be a nightmare. This just simply cannot be,” the warrior declared. She looked up at Eirran, her tear stained cheeks reflecting in the firelight. “Can it?”

“Is what we have seen real?” asked Kaitra.

“Yes,” replied Cliona.

“I must leave,” Kidreyli announced as she got up and dusted herself off. “My people must be warned of these events.”

The disapproval of the elders resonated silently through the trees.

“You do not agree?” asked Kidreyli.

“We would encourage you to consider another option,” suggested Eirran.

“What options can there be?” the warrior was surprisingly fearful as her words passed through her emotions.

“The existence of this child is known to but a handful of people,” noted Cliona. “Dispatching this problem discreetly will keep that knowledge contained.”

“Yes, but if I fail, what happens then?” asked Kidreyli. “All the horrors of Dunsait could be released upon this land. Even the eastern provinces could be affected.”

Kaitra stood up and declared, “You are not alone. I will be with you.”

“No. You won’t,” was the firm response from the Valtyr.

“Don’t you see? We are linked together in these events. We both see the same things because we are together when they happen.”

“Kaitra is correct,” confirmed Cliona.

Kidreyli noted, “Your life experience is limited. This will be a very dangerous and difficult path and I’m not sure you truly understand the scope of this adventure. I sense that death is a very likely outcome.”

“If that is our destiny, then I welcome it,” declared Kaitra. “I do not intend to watch the places and people I care for be destroyed. My heart will not stand for any more of it.” The sorceress was emphatic as she placed her hand over Kidryeli’s heart. “You and I, we can do this. We must try.”

There was a determined pause while Kidreyli’s mind raced over the possibilities. The thoughts always circled back to woman she had grown to care about along on this most dangerous path. Her inexperience and naiveté could easily get both of them killed. In the end, she concluded that with a bit of encouragement, she could provide needed help with the archery skills and magics she possessed. She stated, “You will need to become an expert archer by dawn.”

Kaitra saw the approval in her friend’s eyes and took the opportunity to give her a firm hug. “I’m not worried. Tyral said that I was a better archer than you.”

“Why don’t we all get a little sleep,” Eirran suggested. “A fresh start in the morning will be best for all.”

Kaitra hugged him, then hugged Cliona and said to her, “Thank you for your insight.”

“You are most welcome, my dear.”

Kidreyli hugged Eirran and said, “Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” She started to back away when he pulled her tightly to him and whispered in her ear, “You and Kaitra—your spirits intertwined brighten the darkest night.”

He released his hold and Kidreyli backed away a step, staring him in the face for just a moment as his words tore through her spiritual defenses.

Eirran and Cliona watched and listened to their young friends as they headed back for the village, the sounds of their voices diminishing as they walked.

Kaitra asked, “What did you mean about the child’s ears?” She reached up, pulled the Valtyr’s hair back and expressed with surprise, “You ears are pointy.”

“You never noticed before?”

“No. The way you wear your hair, it covers them up.” They silently continued on for a few steps, and then Kaitra encouraged, “I like them. You should allow them to be seen.”

The Valtyr smiled uncomfortably, “Maybe. By the way, why didn’t you tell me that Tyral had started talking to you?”

“I wasn’t sure how you would react…,” Kaitra’s voice faded into the night.

Cliona asked, “What did you tell Kidreyli?”

“What she already knew,” he said with a smile as he used a wooden bucket to spread dirt on the fire to smother it. “Do you think Kaitra saw in her visions her unwilling complicity in this child’s birth?”

“I think that knowledge was overwhelmed by the images of her own death at the hands of the bearded man. She has seen these visions
before. She believes that she is strong enough to alter the foreseen outcome and eliminate the impending evil.”

“Do you think that is possible?”

“Hard to say. She has great potential, certainly enough to bring about the desired result, but her experience lacks depth.”

“And what about Kidreyli?”