Final Fieretsi: Part I of the Fabula Fereganae Cycle

  Chapter XVII: A Favor for Shizai

  “That’s strange,” Pheia said as she made her way through the deserted streets of Chalja early the next morning. The town itself was little more than a narrow valley between two close hills, many of its dwellings cut into the earth in tiers. Warm lights inside houses cast out light, and streetlamps spaced at regular intervals hung high in the fog like ghostly suns. Despite the light there was no one around. Just the all-pervasive fog.

  “Hello?” she called, momentarily forgetting she was in a human town. Somehow she knew no one would answer. “Anyone here?” Her voice echoed, channeled through the small valley-like town. The only answer was itself.

  She continued walking, peering into house and shop windows to see if there was any sign of life. Still nothing.

  A shiver ran through her and she felt eyes on her back even though no one was around. She spun around just in time to see a shape slinking back into the shadows. She fitted an arrow to her bowstring and waited.

  “Show yourself!” she demanded, surprisingly not feeling much fear. She had been through too much already to be afraid of a little shadow. The worst it could do, she thought, was kill her again.

  The shadow appeared to have heard her, and Pheia watched it draw closer until it stood near a streetlamp.

  It was a human girl, perhaps several years younger than herself and slightly shorter. Her long, black hair hung down to her shoulders and shifted restlessly even though there was no breeze, and her scared crystalline eyes swept back and forth across the foggy street before alighting on Pheia. A ferret sat perched on either shoulder, a sight that comforted Pheia slightly.

  “Who are you?” She aimed her drawn bow at the girl’s chest.

  The human girl leapt back into the light of a streetlamp and held her hands up protectively. Pheia gasped and lowered her bow in shock. The light fell through the girl. She cast no shadow.

  “Another ghost? I thought I was alive again…” Pheia shuddered.

  “A ghost?” the girl asked, equally surprised. “This isn’t death, is it?” She surveyed the deserted town about her. “Maybe I took a wrong turn at the wind?”

  “The wind?” Pheia said and approached her, slinging her bow over her shoulder. Despite her ghostly appearance, the girl seemed harmless enough. And the sight of those two ferrets helped put her at ease.

  “Yeah,” the girl said. “Me and my friends are stuck out at sea on a boat with no wind to get us anywhere.”

  “I don’t think I can help you there,” Pheia said. She was surprised to find herself believing every word.

  At that moment her stone began to glow a brilliant blue and she took it from her pocket. The girl gasped.

  “It’s just like Cédes’s!” she said and hurried over for a closer look.

  Pheia stepped back. “How do you know of the White Demon Cédes, human?” she asked and concealed the stone in both hands. Even so, its light seeped out from between her fingers.

  The girl laughed. “She’s my friend. She has a stone just like yours, except it’s red and fiery. It wouldn’t happen to be the wind elemental by any chance, would it?” the girl asked and leaned forward, trying to get a closer look.

  “No,” Pheia said and uncovered it, “it’s Shizai, the elemental guardian of Feregana’s waters. Or it’s supposed to be. I’ve never seen it do much more than glow. Wait, how do you come to know of these things?”

  The girl shrugged. “I guess I can tell you. I’m one of the Fieretka.”

  Pheia’s eyes grew wide in astonishment.

  “And judging by your look of surprise, you’ve heard of us,” the human continued.

  “Of course!” Pheia shot back, perhaps a little more sharply than she intended. “Who hasn’t?”

  The human, unphased by her reaction, said, “My name’s Stefi, by the way. And you are?”

  “Pheia. Pheia Ariga.”

  At the mention of Ariga the human girl Stefi gave a barely discernible jerk of surprise. “Are you related to someone called Richo, by any chance?”

  “Why, yes, he is my brother,” Pheia said and felt growing pride that even this human knew of her brother and his exploits.

  Stefi shrugged. “Well, if he’s anything like you, I don’t see what Ifaut’s so worked up about.”

  “Surely you do not mean Ifaut Mafouras, promised to my brother in ahiyau?” Pheia said, her eyes wide with surprise.

  “That’s the one.”

  Pheia jumped backwards and almost lost her footing. Princess Ifaut and the White Demon Lady Cédes, known throughout the Furosan world, Fieretka? “Why… how… they are both Fieretka also?” she said, tripping over her words.

  “Yes,” Stefi said suspiciously and eyed up the Furosan as if she were a bit slow.

  “Then,” Pheia said hastily, smoothing out her clothes as if it would help rid her turbulent mind of its creases, “we are in good hands.”

  Stefi laughed and rolled her eyes. “Most of the time.”

  “If there’s anything I can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to ask, for I was sent out by my dying father to aid you.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I found you,” a smiling Stefi said. “Do you think your water elemental could give us a lift to shore?”

  In reply the stone flared, its light bright enough to pierce the fog and eerily illuminate the ground behind Stefi. Her being seemed to glow with a cool, icy aura.

  “I think that means she will,” Pheia said, excited by the stone’s activity. Never before had she seen it do much more than glow; now, beaming out a healthy light, it seemed ready to come to life. “Do you know how to summon her? Perhaps you can talk to her?”

  “I… never said I could talk to ferrets,” Stefi said quietly.

  “I know. I just assumed from the ferrets upon your shoulders. I can recite the stories of the last three Fieretsi by heart, after all,” she said. “The Kalkic Yifunis, flower-loving Pfila of Chaldia, the peace-seeker Astaros…”

  “You probably know more about Fieretka than Cédes. History really isn’t her strong point. But getting back to the water ferret, Cédes summoned hers when she needed it. Me and my friends need yours, so maybe just think about helping us?”

  It appeared that, at Stefi’s words, Pheia did indeed think about helping those in need, for at that moment a strange circle like that which had appeared burning at Cédes’s feet in Valraines shone upon the road. The watery symbols within were cool and shimmering with tranquility as opposed to burning with rage.

  “Now, just tell her to find us in the sea,” Stefi said. “I bet she can find us easily enough.”

  A dozen torrents of water gushed from the symbols, soaring above the tallest of Chalja’s buildings. For a moment they seemed to knot themselves together like writhing snakes until they took a strangely ferret-like form. It disappeared with a pop and a shower of gentle rain.

  “Well done! And away she goes,” Stefi said, grinning. Pheia, however, stared at–or through–her in shock.

  “You’re fading!” she said in alarm and moved to grab Stefi. Her hands closed on air. “There’s so much I need to ask! Where can I find you? Will Shizai come back to me?” She began to panic.

  “I don’t know, and yes, I bet she’ll come back. But what about the wind? Why couldn’t I find him?” Her voice was fading as rapidly as the rest of her.

  Pheia sighed. “She, Fairun, was lost to the humans when the lands of Acharn fell many years ago. She-” Before she could finish, Stefi, the human girl, was gone.

  Pheia stood there, feeling the misty rain of Shizai sprinkling across her. She had finally seen one of the Fieretka, and the Fieretsi too. The stories of Astaros, Pfila, and Yifunis may have ended, and she herself had seen the beginning of the next. Stefi. Still, even she, with her knowledge of the previous Fieretsi, couldn’t know that it would all end with Stefi, the Final Fieretsi.

  With a great lurch Stefi felt herself back on the deck of the Valtela. She tore off her bandana just in time to feel
another lurch as the boat leapt into life beneath her feet and sent her tumbling onto her backside. Behind her she heard a frightened squeal from Ifaut and turned just in time to see a laughing Sansonis hauling her to her feet, where she clung to him and refused to let go.

  Stefi looked up to see Cédes with a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth saying, “You did it.”

  “All right, everyone,” she said once she’d approached the others, “I found us a ride.”

  Sansonis glanced at the still-lifeless sails. “Not the wind, I take it?”

  “Nope, but the next best thing.” She spent the next while telling everyone what had happened to her, encouraged all the while by Cédes’s polite nods.

  She finished by asking Cédes, “Why did you never tell us about Acharn?”

  The white Furosan seemed taken aback and, muttering something about history under her breath, replied hesitantly, “It is something we do not like to talk about.”

  “Why not?” Stefi pressed. Ifaut and Sansonis leaned forward, eager to hear her reply.

  “Because they refused to fight. And as a result they lost Fairun to the humans.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me before I went off on this wild goose chase?”

  “Goose?” Cédes said as her eyes widened. “I said ‘Fairun’, not ‘Feerun.’”

  “‘Feerun’ means goose,” Ifaut said, still latched to Sansonis’s arm.

  Stefi sighed and felt her frustration mounting. “Let me rephrase that. Why did you encourage me to look for Fairun’s help if the humans took it? Her, I mean.”

  “Because I thought she might still be still be of assistance. But we found help in another form, did we not? And now we know that we at least have the Arigans’ support, despite them being, as Miss Ifaut often says, a bunch of uptight snobs.” She smiled enigmatically.

  Stefi found herself having to agree with Cédes and, staring into those peaceful eyes, her frustration seemed to vanish. Yes, she had still found a way to help them. And learnt something about her predecessors. She only hoped to see Pheia again. She still had so many questions to ask her that Cédes could not answer.

  After sailing without stopping all day, Stefi, now growing rather bored, decided to break the monotony by talking to Shizai. With no one needed to steer the Valtela on its course, all everyone else could do was wait.

  Ifaut and Cédes were playing rowdily with Gemmie and Maya, but their shrieks of delight were soon drowned out by the air whooshing past Stefi’s ears as she made her way to the Valtela’s bow. She peered over the front. The wind drove her hair to flail wildly and the waves sprayed her with a fine, salty mist. Just below the surface she could barely make out a giant yet sleek turquoise ferret-form as it dived effortlessly through the water and carried them in its wake. It glanced upwards and with a joyful roll flipped over onto its back to watch Stefi, its sapphire eyes glinting mischievously.

  Why, hello there, young kit, it said, its clear voice laughing like a babbling stream. Is the ride to your liking?

  “Yes!” Stefi shouted. She struggled to make herself heard over the rushing waves as the Valtela cut through them. The wind whipped away her words before they could reach Shizai.

  Yes, she thought, remembering the way she and her ferrets had spoken earlier.

  That is good.

  Shizai’s face emerged into the fresh sea air for a minute as the Valtela crested a wave. She sneezed, a great rushing noise that sounded like a small explosion, soaking Stefi with even more salty water.

  Sorry, young kit, the watery ferret’s voice giggled in her head. I sneezed!

  I noticed, Stefi said, and to her surprise found herself laughing..

  What is troubling you? Shizai asked once their laughter had died down. She lay on her back and batted passing waves with her paws.

  I was just wondering where you’re taking us, Stefi said, feeling somewhat rude. At least they were going towards land, at any rate.

  Ah, I was waiting for you to ask me that. I have a favor to ask of you and your companions. Do you accept?

  Stefi drew her matted hair from her face. How can I accept if I don’t even know what it is?

  Because I will only tell you what is once you accept.

  And why is that?

  Shizai put on a mocking voice that made her words quaver seriously. The ways of the elementals are not to be understood by mere mortals. Do not question what you do not understand! She laughed.

  What I understand is you’re a big tease, Stefi retorted. She was beginning to like this elemental ferret. Compared to Raphanos, she was so playful, so innocent, though also a tease. She almost reminded her of herself.

  Mock me again and I shall smite thee! Shizai lifted her head from the water.

  Smite thee then, smiter! Stefi laughed so hard that her own salty tears mixed with the sea spray blowing against her face.

  You shall quiver in fear before my might! The elemental stared directly at Stefi with its shimmering, never-blinking eyes. Go on, you can start quivering now!

  Stefi gave a half-hearted shake, more from the breeze chilling her wet body than anything.

  That’s better. Now, do you accept my request? Shizai sank back beneath the waves so that only her nose poked out.

  Do I have a choice? Stefi asked.

  If you believe in fate, no. What will happen will happen, and has already happened. But if you believe in free-will, then yes.

  What if I believe both?

  Then just thinking of the mechanics behind the two will make my head explode! She let out a loud sneeze underwater that rocked the boat. She re-emerged, headless. There was a laugh in Stefi’s head and Shizai reformed herself in an instant.

  All right, Stefi said, I don’t want my head to… explode… so I’ll say yes.

  That is good. But how about your friends?

  Stefi raised her head and looked back. The two Furosans were still busy entertaining the ferrets while Sansonis and Rhaka looked on. She already knew what they’d say about it.

  They’d all agree, for their different reasons. So on behalf of the Fieretka, Shizai, I accept your request.

  Very well.

  The force that had been propelling the Valtela so tirelessly ceased and, within minutes, to everyone’s shock, the boat glided to a standstill.

  “What’s going on?” Ifaut squeaked and latched onto Sansonis’s arm again, digging her claws in so hard they drew blood. He merely winced and sighed.

  “Shizai has a request for us all,” Stefi said and noticed that everyone was looking over her shoulder. She felt a watery tap that made her already damp clothes even wetter and turned to see a grinning, translucent, and very wet Furosan. Her long, dark blue hair flowed to her feet, ever-moving like a waterfall and leaving a small puddle on the deck. Her very sparse, very transparent clothing hung loosely about her figure. Stefi couldn’t help but think, a little jealously, that Shizai had made her Furosan proportions unnecessarily large and her clothing unnecessarily small.

  Ifaut followed Sansonis’s gaze and, letting out a low hiss, stomped his foot. He stared morosely at the deck, sneaking the occasional glance when he was sure Ifaut wasn’t looking.

  Hello, all, Shizai said in her tinkling, musical voice, and the others were amazed to find that they too could hear her.

  Do not be afraid. Since you have all accepted my favor through Stefi, I am now required to tell you exactly what it involves. She began to walk slowly and deliberately about the group, staring at each member in turn.

  Sansonis, blushing furiously, buried his face in Ifaut’s shoulder, much to her delight, while she simply glared. She was not to be bothered by this watery temptress, and neither, if she could help it, was Sansonis. Besides, she thought, glancing over her own body, she gave even this immortal elemental being a run for her money. Now maybe all she needed to do was wear less clothing too…

  When Shizai came to Cédes, she caressed her face with a cool, wet hand and whispered softly in her head. I am sorry for my brot
her’s actions. He caused you to take a life, yes?

  “Yes, although the blame also falls upon myself, great Shizai,” Cédes said and bowed her head.

  If it is any comfort to you, I forgive you. She planted a small, wet kiss on Cédes’s cheek that caused her to shudder uncomfortably, but also, strangely, to feel better with herself.

  When she came to Rhaka she merely patted his head, leaving it quite wet. And when she saw the ferrets there was a popping sound and in a shower of water she became a normal sized ferret and began to play with Gemmie and Maya.

  “Ahem,” Stefi coughed after a few moments of watery tumbling and leaping, eager to get on with hearing what Shizai wanted. For a great elemental guardian, Stefi thought, she sure was distracted easily.

  Oh, sorry.

  With another pop she became Furosan-like again, and Ifaut noticed, much to her annoyance, that she’d made certain parts of her body even bigger than before. She gripped Sansonis’s arm tight.

  “I wasn’t looking, honestly!” he said. “Anyone would think we’re married, the way you carry on.”

  “I’m not jealous,” Ifaut hissed back.

  “I never said you were!”

  She glared at him in response. “Well, I’m not!” Then, thinking to herself, ‘How can I get him to look at me like that?’

  As I was saying, Shizai continued, I have a favor to ask.

  “We know,” Stefi said impatiently. “Just tell us already.”

  Shizai waggled her finger disapprovingly. Don’t make me smitey! she teased.

  “Yes,” Cédes said seriously, “she sank Minhera in a single day and night. You must not bring her wrath upon you.”

  Shizai sighed aloud, an odd bubbling sound, and tears appeared in her sapphire eyes. The infamous ‘Wrath of Shizai’, she said mournfully. I always get the blame even though I was never there. It was Makora’s fault, but do you think anyone’d blame him? No! He was supposed to look after Minhera, surely he wouldn’t sink it. It had to be Shizai instead…

  “Do you mean,” Cédes said, wide-eyed and curious, “that you are innocent? That the wrath of Makora really caused Minhera to be lost?”

  Smart and beautiful, Shizai said. But history is history, and people will have a hard time changing their minds about it. Whether it is their strong point or not.

  “I believe you, if that is any consolation coming from a Furosan like myself,” Cédes said.

  It is much consolation, White Demon, Shizai said and gave Cédes a rather wet pat on the head that left her white hair glistening.

  But, she said, changing the subject as she noticed Stefi’s growing impatience and Cédes’s alarmed, blind stare, I have a favor to ask, and we can’t keep changing the subject, no matter how much fun it is to talk with you guys. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been cooped up in that stone?

  “The favor,” Stefi said, resisting the urge to shout.

  Oops, there I go again, Shizai giggled and blushed slightly, a difficult task for someone so cool and watery. To put it bluntly, I need you lot to save my sister Fairun from the humans. That’s where we’re going.

  Stefi nodded. “Where is she, then?”

  Shizai, going uncharacteristically quiet, turned away from the Fieretka and didn’t answer for a moment. She wrung her hands nervously, causing the deck to become even wetter.

  The human capital, she said at last and turned back to face them. Sol-Acrima. She watched the various expressions of shock before her with a touch of sadness. I am all too aware of what they have done to you, Kalkic and Otsukuné, and what happened in Valraines to all of you. And I hate to give such nice people such a difficult job, but she needs to be saved before she dies. Her voice wavered, teetering on the brink of crying.

  “We’ve already accepted,” Stefi said and bit her bottom lip nervously, “so I suppose we have to, no matter what.”

  “Sol-Acrima,” Cédes said bitterly, “also the religious center for the worship of Kardin. I could think of no more dangerous place for a Furosan.” She turned to where she heard and smelled the others. “Nor an Otsukuné or Kalkic.”

  I know, Shizai said and checked her tears. Yifunis almost died there. There the rest of the Fieretka that accompanied her lost their lives, and she was forced to continue on alone. That was at the height of the Kalkic displacement. I doubt their attitudes have softened much since. It took every drop of her will power to hold back her tears. Such behavior was hardly befitting of an immortal elemental being, she thought, but living forever was not as great as some might think. Dying is a way to rid oneself of such horrible memories, a release of the burdens of a lifetime. She had to carry what happened in Sol-Acrima and Feregana’s history forever; an eternity to dwell upon what went wrong. And that included the memories of a family and a home beneath a twilit sky far away. It gave her small consolation that even Yifunis would someday cross the Bridge for good.

  The elemental felt a warm arm drape itself across her shoulders. She didn’t look up. She didn’t need to. She knew it was Stefi.

  “It’s okay,” Stefi said, not seeming to care about getting herself even wetter than she already was. “Even god-like beings need to cry once in a while.”

  Yes, yes we do, although I must admit this is not the time. You do not think it is shameful for an elemental guardian to act like this?

  “Of course not. Everyone needs to cry sometimes, you know. But we’ll be okay. We’ve got Cédes to keep us hidden. And you and Raphanos.”

  I am afraid that once we reach Sol-Acrima I must depart. I can’t be away from Pheia and my stone for too long.

  “But we’ll see you again, right?”

  Of course. Now we must be getting on. She turned, about to resume her normal form and start guiding the Valtela again.

  “Wait,” Stefi said hurriedly and stepped in front of her, “if you ever need to, you know,” she said, feeling quite awkward, then forced out the wanted words, “cry, you come see me, okay?”

  I will. Now it’s time for swimming!

  With another popping sound that left Stefi and the Fieretka standing, quite bewildered, in a shower of pure water, Shizai vanished.

  The boat lurched beneath their feet and hurried on its way once more, towards Sol-Acrima, where Stefi only hoped she’d fare better than her predecessor.