The Legendary Warrior (Book 5) (21 page)

A groggy Sway caught Marie
in mid-air and then landed on one knee. She stepped out of his arms as he stayed where he fell, clutching his forehead in pain. Zhou caught Ashalynn and let her down gently. She rushed to Arimus’ side, sobbing.

“I want nothing to do with any of you,” Zain spat. Catherine took a deep breath as Talia placed a weary hand on her shoulder. The former Queen nodded at her bodyguard and then
looked back at Zain.

“And why is that, old friend?”

“Not only does your presence bring destruction wherever you go…but now the stone is gone. There is no reason for our relationship to continue.”

“We can help you repair the—”

“Save it,” he said, holding up a hand to silence her. “Please. Just stop. Leave my Kingdom before I fire upon you, and never…ever come back. Is that understood?”

“Clearly,” Catherine said, nodding at her Sages. “Let us be going.
We will carry our dead with us.”

“Where will we go?”
Arimus asked. Catherine cast a steel gaze at him and said wearily.

“We have to find the new set of stones.”

It was a fitting place to go.

The origin of him. The place of his birth. His
true
birth.

Bastion stood over the crater and closed his eyes, feeling the wind blow through his hair and softly pat against his face. He took a deep breath and took in
the smell of the Quietus trees—that sweet and yet rustic smell that hung off its bark. He opened his eyes and crossed his arms.

The fallen Kingdom of Quietus.

This would be his training ground, and his new home. No one would come there unless they were looking for trouble, and that is exactly what they would find. He would leave for food and supplies when necessary, scouting out the other Kingdoms while he was out, but that was it. Until the Yama came, he had no reason to interact with others. His purpose was clear, and it was not yet time. He needed to get acquainted with who he was, and exactly what he could do. No more being afraid.

Bastion face twitched as the memory of him,
Kent and Daisy together flashed through his mind. He would miss them, but they had been worse off since they met. He didn’t know Shanelle and Krave, but their faces would always be seared in his mind as well. James…he knew before he had left what his fate would be. He didn’t know how Catherine and the others would deal with that. The Yama were coming, and he had killed two of Allay’s greatest warriors. He knew that he couldn’t think about it too much or it would be his end. But at least he could have some satisfaction in one of his actions.

H
e hadn’t killed Orchid.

When push came to s
hove, he hadn’t gone through with it, and though it might end up being a costly mistake in the end, he was happy that he wasn’t completely lost. The candle of his soul, as dim as the light may have gotten, still had a little wax left to burn.

He looked down at the large dome at the side of the crater. The place where the common Quietus had lived. Maybe he would find supplies there. Who knows? Maybe even a lost Quietus or two. A surge of emotion
suddenly swept through his chest, and he came to a realization.

He didn’t blame the Quietus for his childhood anymore, or rather, a lack thereof. As misguided as it had been, they were merely doing what they had to. They answered to a master, as he now answered to his purpose. Unbeknownst to him
and them at the time, the Quietus had contributed to his upbringing, and helped to shape him into becoming the cold hearted killer the world needed. A part of him knew, deep down, that nothing short of the Yama’s genocide would put an end to what was to come. He wasn’t sure if he could go that far…but he was more prepared to make the call than he had been.

The thought saddened him.

Bastion sighed and scratched his head, wondering where he should look for food first, when a whooshing sound came from behind him, as if the wind had created a large vortex, but only for a second. He quickly turned, ready to engage in battle, but he saw nothing. His face turned into a scowl and he haphazardly looked down.

At his feet sat five stones.

All of them grey and glowing blue within the cracks. Bastion’s eyes widened as he recognized what they were, and then he remembered how it was all possible. He had destroyed Catherine’s stone back in Languor, and they had learned that if the five stones were broken, a new set would come in its place.

But…why here? Why now? Who had sent them to him? And for what purpose? Did someone want him to use them, as Thorn once had?

Bastion pursed his lips as he thought about the possibilities. What such power in his hands could mean for the future, and more importantly, the incoming threat.

He reached out to touch one when a flash of light, as if someone had unleashed their eidolon, blinded him. He shielded his eyes with his forearm and took a step back, and then the light vanished. He dropped his arm, and was more surprised by what he now saw.

It was a young girl. About his age. She was wearing a lacy white dress down to her shoulders with long sleeves. Her feet was bare, and her skin was kissed by the sun. Her hair was a dark black with blue streaks within it, but the most identifying feature was the side of her left cheek. It was grey and cracked, and within the cracks, the color blue was humming deep inside. Her eyes were a chocolate brown, and when she looked at him, the cracked grey feature on her cheek sunk into her skin and disappeared.

She smiled at him weakly, and then her eyes rolled in the back of her head. Bastion ran forward and caught her in his arms. He looked down at her and saw that she was sleeping soundly. He tried not to move, so he wouldn’t disturb her.

For a moment he thought that his arms might get tired, but then he remembered how strong his was, and he knew that wasn’t going to happen.

If he had t
o, he could carry her in his arms forever.

*              *              *

“Are you sure it’s fine if we leave them here?” Talia asked, and Catherine nodded.

“There’s nowhere else we can put them for now,” Catherine said, looking over the fallen warriors, now buried deep within the forest between Languor and Allay. “I’m fine with it.”

“So what’s the plan?” Zhou asked. Sway nodded in agreement.

“Can’t go to any of the Kingdoms,” Marie said. “I assume based on everyone’s wounds we’re not ready to go after Orchid.”

“We’re heading to the old lands,” Catherine said. “The old Prattle or Quietus. We’ll train and prepare there.”

“That’s no picnic.”

“You’re welcome to go home,” Zhou said, staring up at Marie. “No one’s making you come with us.”

“I said I was
staying with you all. I meant it.”

“Fine.”

“What’s the plan?” Arimus asked wearily. “When we get to the old lands? There’s not much there to work with.”

“That’s what I want,” Catherine said, still staring down at James’ grave. “There’s nothing established. We can work as we see fit, and if necessary, we’ll build our own Kingdom. I think that it’s time that I let Allay go for now. To discover what they want for themselves. I’m going to start over elsewhere. I know that right now everything seems bleak, but the sun will rise again. Winter always turns to
spring. There is forever a balance in the world, and it would be foolish to think that for how horrible this day has been, there won’t be one that is just as wonderful.” Catherine turned to the rest of the group.

“We are Sages. Luxury and peace is not what we signed up for. We’re warriors, ready to set our lives down and fight for others at a moment’s notice. We will go into seclusion for now, but when the call rings throughout the lands, we will be back, and we will save them all.”

Arimus and the others couldn’t help but smile.

“Let’s head out,” Catherine said. “I just need one last moment with my husband.” They began leaving without a word, heading northwest. When she was sure they were out of earshot, s
he sighed and cast her eyes down at James’ grave.

“I never thought I would lose you this soon, my love.” She swallowed hard. “It’s taking all the strength I can muster not to break down in front of them, but don’t
you worry about me. I’ll…I’ll be okay in time. I have a lot to do,” she stopped to laugh. “I won’t work too hard though. Don’t want to go back to old habits. I know. I know…I’ll make sure to have some fun. I’ll probably try working on those manifestations you’re always trying to get me to practice with. Recreate our beach. I can go there sometimes…where it’s quiet. I can talk to you. And…I hope you’ll listen. You better be listening!” she chuckled and wiped a tear from her eye. “Don’t have too much fun without me. Tell Kyran, Chloe, Achan and Scarlet I said hi. If Dominic’s there, kick him in the nuts. You’ll enjoy that. Um…I think that’s it.”

Catherine folded her hands.

“I’m glad I got to see you one last time before you were taken from me. I almost forgot what joy felt like, even in a couple months. You’ll always be my soul mate, and I love you, James. Go on some adventures, and when I join you someday, you can tell me all about them. Oh, and thank you. Thank you for being the best husband a girl could hope for.”

Catherine blew him a kiss and took a deep breath. Just as she was about to turn around, she heard a shout in the distance,
exactly from the area where the group had headed. She gave James’ grave one last look and then she ran toward her friends and family.

As she got closer, she saw three Quietus standing in front of them. Their scythes were pointed at her family, and they were sneering at them. Catherine stepped through the group and went to the front of her pack.

“What’s is this?” she demanded as one of the Quietus smiled wide. “We’re not near your camp, and we’re just passing through.”

“Doesn’t matter,” the Quietus said. “For you, Queen, this whole forest is considered trespassing. But that’s not all. It just so happens that we were looking for you and your merry band anyways. Seems
you have a price on your head, by order of Seeker, the King of Allay.”

“It’s good we left,”
Arimus groaned.

“Seeker is King?” Catherine said in surprise. “Well, that didn’t take long. But why are we wanted?”

“Seeker wants no more trouble from you and your people. Especially the one named Bastion. It has come to light that he is the one responsible for the murder of Hakin and Lakrymos.”

“Bastion isn’t with us.”

“It doesn’t matter. You are all traitors, and will be treated as such.”

“And so
the Quietus are just going to side with this decree?”

“Considering how you locked us up, we would have done this for
free
.”

“We wanted to wait for your order,” Zhou said
to Catherine. “We didn’t want to engage in a fight with them unless you wanted it. I know you would want to work out a deal if possible.”

“We know how you are with diplomacy,” Talia replied. Catherine scoffed and turned back to the Quietus with both hands on her hips.

“I’m done with diplomacy. I’m tired of being trampled on. If it’s a fight everyone wants, then that’s what they’ll expect. The Kingdoms will learn that they will not take our group lightly when they come up against us. If you Quietus want a fight, then you got one! But it won’t be easy.”

Catherine unsheathed her eidolon from her hip and stuck it into the face of the Quietus leader, a half-smile curled up on her lips.

“Come and take our lives if you dare!”

Zhou, Talia,
Arimus, Marie, Daisy, and Sway all grinned and took out their respective eidolons and standard swords. The Quietus looked at each of them and threw up their hands. The leader gave them a nod and then they all turned and ran.

Ashalynn
smiled from behind them all, watching the seven warriors, all of considerable skill—either of action or word—standing boldly together, strong and true. She knew, as well as they, that it was the beginning of something grand and new.

She stood in the training room teeming with rage. How could he not take her life? The act would have sealed his fate and transformed
him into the focused warrior that Allay needed. After all the suffering she had put him through. After all the pain she had orchestrated. And still, he was too soft. Now she would have to do it all herself. She would have to somehow train the young Sages at her disposal, but they were so weak, and there was so little time.

She
should have known better than to put all her faith in a boy. No matter how talented and strong he may be.

Orchid huffed and clenched her fists tight, to the point that they left marks in the palms of her hands. She was on the verge of destroying the Academy itself when she heard the door open behind her.

“WHAT IS IT?!” she screamed, knowing that whatever student had come through the door, they would now become the substitute for the school’s destruction. But what she could not believe was what she saw instead.

It was a
Yama.

S
tepping casually through the door.

Walking slowly toward her with folded hands, she glared at it with crazed eyes, trying to determine if it was trick sent by Catherine or if…Maker forbid…it was the real thing.

The Yama stopped in its tracks and waited for her to confirm his composition. She unsheathed her dagger eidolon and pointed it at the creature. Only a few seconds passed before she started sweating, her lips began to tremble, and her knees quivered with fear.

It was too soon!

“Satisfied?” the Yama asked her in a throaty voice, sounding more distinguished than it had any right to. To her, they were nightmares. Nightmares didn’t try to coax you into a false sense of security.

Orchid grit her teeth and prepared for the Yama to strike, but
unbeknownst to her, the deed was already done.

Her head rolled off of her body
and onto the floor.

T
he Yama was now behind her, having moved so fast that the great Sage hadn’t even seen it.

The Yama folded his hands together and examined the room.

“This is a nice school,” it said aloud, and then it smiled.

*              *              *

She fluttered her eyes and Bastion backed away from the beds so that he wouldn’t startle her. He figured that one of the beds in the Quietus village would be a lot more comfortable than his rock hard biceps, so he carried her there.

The mysterious girl yawned and stretched out her arms and legs. After she was done, she rubbed a hand through her hair, tussling it all over the pillow, and then she glanced over at him. Bastion was taken aback by how beautiful she was, but he didn’t want to make a fool of himself,
so he said nothing. He didn’t know where the girl had come from, and he suspected that the stones were a big part of it. But he didn’t want to jump to conclusions yet.

“Hi there,” she said, giving
him a smile that made his stomach flutter.

“Hi,” was all he could manage to say. She sat up in the bed and looked down at it then back at him
again.

“You tucked me in?”

“Would you have preferred I didn’t?”

“No, no.
It’s fine,” she laughed. “It’s just that no one’s ever done that for me before.”

“Me neither. I imagine it’s quite nice.”

“It was glooooorious,” she said, her eyes full of amusement. Bastion let a chuckle slip.

“So where did you come from?”
he asked. She raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“Asking a girl questions without breakfast?”

“Do you even eat?”

“Um,” she patted her stomach. “It’s rumbling, so I think it’s a fair bet.”

“Well before I head out, I would like to ask you some questions if you don’t mind.”

“Why? You don’t trust me?”

“Let’s just say that I have good reasons to be careful.”

“A mysterious man. I like that.”

“Where did you come from?” She scowled at the repeated question but then she gave a sigh and gave in.

“The other side of the world,” she said with a smile.

“And why are you here? Who sent you? Because just appearing out of thin air is not something people do. It’s not how they’re born.”

“I was sent by my masters,” she said, growing more solemn. “I’m here to tell you of your purpose, and what you’re supposed to do.”

“And who are your masters?”

“I can’t tell you that because I’m not sure myself. But…I know that I’m here to accomplish my mission.”

“I’m tired of people telling me what I’m supposed to be and do. I’ll figure that out on my own.”

“But I could easily—”

“That’s how it’s going to be!” he snapped, and the girl grew silent. Bastion sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. It’s just…I want to figure out who I am by myself.”

“Can I do that too? Figure out who I am? Can I do that with you?”

“I don’t know,” Bastion laughed. “I mean, you could tag along if you like, but I really don’t want anyone telling me what I have to do anymore.”

“Fair enough. But…does that mean you don’t want me to answer you at all if you have questions?”

“I didn’t say that. If I ask, you can tell me.”

“Okay. I’ll remember that. Is there anything you want to know
right now?”

“Your name. That would be a good place to start.”

“My name is Lily,” she said sweetly. “And I am the embodiment of the five stones of power. I contain all five inside of me.”

Bastion looked at her in surprise,
then he shook off her response.

“I don
’t care about the power you have inside of you. I just wanted to know your name.”

“Well, I wanted to tell you,” she said, sticking out her tongue. “
That’s what I am. It doesn’t mean that’s
who
I am, but still, I figured you should know. So what about you? What are you really?”

Bastion thought about it for a second.

He wanted to say that he was a lost soul.

A Sage with unfathomable power.

A murderer.

A frie
nd.

A messiah.

A King.

A god.

The harbinger of peace.

The harbinger of destruction.

Death Incarnate.

But he opted for none of these.

“I’m just a boy in the presence of a pretty girl,” he said. And then he left the room.

Lily
smiled warmly, ran her fingers idly through a few strands of her hair, and then she got up from the bed and followed right behind.