Chapter 33
REUNION
The force of Lavinia’s embrace knocked back Darag’s hood. Sunlight flooded his vision, but that didn't matter. Most of his awareness was on Lavinia, the physical feel of her in his arms.
“Behdwah soka nohle,” Darag said, barely aware of his robed companions.
He wanted only to feel Lavinia’s heart beating against his chest. She was so light in his arms, her body lost in the folds of loose fabric she used to hide from the sun. But there was power in her arms. She held him like she would never let him go. A tremble raced through Darag, choking his throat closed.
Lavinia squirmed against him. She pulled up his hood to block out the sun, her hands staying cupped against his cheeks. What Darag saw on her face did not help the worry in him. Her skin was tanned and wind burnt, lips cracked. Her blue eyes were luminous though, brighter than the sun-filled sky.
Lavinia led Darag to their shelter, hand entwined with his. At the threshold of the tent door, the sand was damp. Surprised, Darag watched the smallest trickle of water bubble up. He had to force his gaze away from the fixation water caused in the desert. Niri smiled at him over the canteen he had asked the riders to give them. He had no doubt whose gift had brought water out of the dry land.
Ty stood slowly at Darag's approach. They eyed each other in silence, memories of Lus na Sithchaine heavy in the burning air. Then Ty stuck out his hand.
“We have yet to really meet properly. I’m Lavinia’s brother.”
A wry smile formed on Darag’s lips. “I’m Darag, Lavinia’s husband.”
Ty started to chuckle as he clasped Darag’s hand. “Gods, we are glad to see you.” Ty leaned forward and gave Darag a one-handed embrace. “Brother.”
Darag closed his eyes a moment, not sure he could take much more joy or heartache. As soon as he and Ty released each other, Lavinia threw herself into her brother’s arms. He was in worse shape and her weight collapsed him to his knees. Darag smiled as he sat next to them on the shaded blanket.
“How?” Lavinia asked as she returned to his side.
Darag ran his hand through her river of midnight-dark hair. “Later, tonight I will tell you. Rest now. Though, I will say one thing.” Darag said turning to Niri. “You were right. The Kith are true Earth Elementals.”
Darag placed one hand on the ground next to the sandy puddle of water. A moment after his touch, the sand compacted around the flow. The water in the depression cleared, forming a growing pool. Niri let out a slow breath. The desert riders next to the camels glanced at each other.
“It will be an oasis in time, preserving what you did.”
—
As the dying sun streaked the sky, the two smallest desert riders pulled dried meat, fruit, rice, and pots from the packs of their horses. Darag, Lavinia, Ty, Ria and Niri joined them in the flat between the dunes near the tiny pool of water, Darag introducing the desert riders.
Rah’kana, the group leader, was slightly stooped and often quiet. A thin white band with woven red trim secured the wrapped cloth covering his head. Kiefa’shoo was the most animated in his movements. Tef’han was the easiest to differentiate, being the shortest of the robed riders and with wide shoulders. He carried himself with a swagger like he was ready for a fight. Jeif’taku was Tef’han’s opposite. Slender and tall, he moved like the desert wind. Behk’sah kept to himself with head lowered as he looked out at the small group. His dark eyes remained hidden in shadows.
Leifa’den and Kefa’bey were the smallest and youngest of the group, Darag had learned. Leifa’den, he had been surprised to find, was a young girl. The robes and coverings of the riders did not make the gender difference easy to see. But her voice when she spoke was soft and high. Kefa’bey was the youngest, just a boy, and was likely to rattle on if you could get him alone. Each nodded as Darag said their names, except Behk’sah, who narrowed his eyes and growled deep in his chest. Darag introduced Lavinia, Ria, Niri, and Ty, Rah’kana and Kiefa’shoo listening attentively.
In the coolness of the night, the desert riders had loosened their headscarves to reveal smooth, tanned skin and dark eyes with thin lips below high cheekbones. Darag had grown used to the riders the last few days. But next to Ty and the others, there was an odd smoothness to their faces. It was a similarity that made Darag wonder what others must think the first time they saw the patterned skin of the Kith.
Ria watched the riders with a wrinkle on her forehead. “How do they intend ...”
Her words were cut off as one rider extended a gloved hand. Fire sprouted from the desert sand. Niri, Ty, Ria and Lavinia jumped. Jeif’taku’s eyes crinkled at the corner and he laughed a few breaths.
“Fire Elementals?” Niri asked. She looked pale and nervous.
“Not of the Church, if that is what you mean. They are Ashanti, the Desert Tribe. I met them in Bakk and they offered to ride with me to find you.” Darag turned toward the tribesmen, who were placing pots filled with water from Niri’s spring over the woodless fire.
“Shaarh sylfah?” Darag asked.
Jeif’taku and Behk’sah exchanged a glance. Kiefa’shoo laughed. “Kha,” he answered. “Khat ba selfah, sahl.” The words hissed, rising and falling in a staccato rhythm.
Darag raised his eyebrows. “He says not just one Elemental, but all.”
Niri’s hand fell to the sand as she stared at the tribesmen. “I’ve never heard of such a thing,” she whispered.
“You can speak their language?” Lavinia asked.
“It is similar to Kith.”
“Beitah,” Kiefa’shoo said, the sound dying away to the hiss of the sand moving in the wind.
“Of the same source,” Darag said, brow furrowed. His eyes stayed on the tribesmen for a moment. It was more information than they had given him as they rode to find his wife and friends. But then, he had not been too concerned with other worries at the time as to wonder why he and the Ashanti could understand each other.
“How did you find us?” Ria asked, pulling Darag’s attention back to the group.
“Ti fesh selfah efti whaf shaar tek?”
“Jeif’taku wants to know how Niri summoned the ocean into the desert.”
Niri blushed softly. “Story for story then, you first.”
“Dih,” Kiefa’shoo agreed, accepting a bowl of rice and fruit from Leifa’den. She and Khefa’bey passed out the food to everyone and then sat behind the other Ashanti, remaining close enough to hear what was said.
“After you left, Drufforth, I could not stay. I headed up the River of Turcot to the Temple of Ice.”
Niri and the tribesmen sat up straighter. “You were there?” Niri asked, voice wistful.
Darag nodded, a forgotten unease stirring with the memory. “I’ve never seen anything like it. The ground, the water, everything is frozen as if it was the deepest winter. The destruction outside ...” Darag shook his head. “But inside there was hardly anything out of place. A room,” Darag thought of the dark room that hovered with a presence. “Maybe two that showed signs of something amiss, otherwise it was like it had left ... or the Water Elementals knew they would not be needing their rooms any longer. They left them clean and empty as if waiting for new residents.”
“It doesn’t make any sense. The Temple of Dust, what we saw of it, showed obvious signs of a battle. The library was partially destroyed,” Niri said.
“We didn’t go into the rooms though. There wasn’t destruction on the steps down,” Ria pointed out.
“Why did you go?” Lavinia asked.
“Because of what you told me and what Laith Lus asked Niri. I wanted to know why he asked if you were going to go to the Temple of Ice,” Darag said to Niri. “I wanted to know what had caused the war: those with magic or the Order of Fire.” He glanced apologetically over at Ria.
“It was the Order of Fire,” Niri said flatly.
“Dih, shaar selfah.”
“How do you know?” Ria asked, turning toward Kiefa’shoo.
?
??Ashanti oohket tohnwa.”
“Their history speaks of it.”
“It would have been useful to have met them about a week ago,” Ty said dryly. Kiefa’shoo chuckled.
“Did you find anything?” Lavinia asked.
“A journal, it said the Temple of Stone had already fallen. They knew the Order of Fire was coming to the Temple of Mist next because Water Elementals had been at the Temple of Stone during the fighting and helped the Order of Earth. They were asking for help from the Temple of Winds and another name I had not seen before. That is where it ended.
I realized the danger you were in going to the Temple of Dust at the urging of a Fire Priest, so I went back to Drufforth and hired one of the ships to take me to the Archipelago. From there I went to Rah Hahsessah. I had just found news in the market that you had been there and gone to Tabook when word came that the sea had left its banks and flooded Karakastad. I knew that had to be Niri.” Niri blushed.
“That doesn’t explain how you knew where to find us in the desert,” Lavinia said from where she sat against him.
“I was rather desperate once I heard that the Temple of Dust was flooded. I knew something had happened and you were ahead of me. I ... I spoke to the earth, to the sand. Or maybe listened.” Darag shook his head, gaze unfocused.
“I felt you or at least the footsteps of the camels leading away from Karakastad toward Bakk. I knew it had to be you, so I went to Bakk and waited a day, then two. I could barely sense where you were in the desert, and then you stopped walking. I met the Ashanti when I tried to find a horse or camel to go and search for you. I was so afraid I would be too late.”
Darag’s gaze was only for Lavinia, imagined grief filling his heart. She touched his face tenderly. “You were not.”
“No, I must learn to not underestimate naiads.”
Ty snorted. “If you haven’t learned that yet, I’m surprised.” Darag peaked sidelong at Ty, but said nothing in reply. “You were in Rah Hahsessah? You only heard we were there ... nothing about what happened?” Ty asked.
Lavinia stiffened against him. Darag looked down at her and then across to Ria’s pale face. She did not meet his eyes, nor did Niri. Darag’s gaze narrowed. He looked at Ty.
“No, what happened?”
Lavinia compressed her lips before releasing a puff of air. She glared quickly at her brother before saying, “I killed a Priest.”
Darag was only vaguely aware of the stir that caused in the Ashanti. He looked down into Lavinia’s sky blue eyes, forgetting to breathe. “Why?”
“I ran into him. He realized what I was ... am,” Ria said, eyes fearful. “I couldn’t get away. He was holding on so tight. He kept throwing fire at Lavinia, but then Ty pulled me so that he stopped ... and Lavinia killed him.”
“You killed a Fire Priest?” Darag asked. She nodded, swallowing hard. Darag wrapped his arms around her, his cheek resting against her forehead. His heart was beating so forcefully he wondered if she did not feel it where she pressed into his chest.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner,” he whispered hoarsely.
Lavinia shook her head, pulling back. “It is why you taught me to use a sword. So I could fight when I needed to.”
Darag wanted to argue. He had never envisioned her fighting a Fire Priest. But what she said was true. He nodded, loving Lavinia all the more. As he let her go, Tef’han approached with a canteen in hand. He held it out to Lavinia.
“Teyl rhy’lef kahba shaar selfah kil beykeh?”
“Dyh,” Darag replied with a tinge of pride, drawing out the sound almost the same as the Ashanti. One arm stayed around Lavinia’s waist.
Tef’han grinned. “Sah’zoh, whitey!”
Lavinia took the open canteen uncertainly. “What is in it?”
“Yelfesh ak’shaar tek.”
Darag raised both his eyebrows. “It is potent.”
Lavinia hesitated, taking a deep breath. She managed a swallow, but coughed after. Tef’han grinned, swallowing a gulp as he walked to the other side of the flickering fire.
“I hope they don’t feel that way about all Priests or Elementals,” Ria said, cautiously.
“Kha, bata shaar Priests,” Jeif’taku answered, his voice strange on the word foreign to his language.
Niri leaned forward. “Why only the Order of Fire?”
A frown pulled at Kiefa’shoo’s mouth. “Shaar Priests fetyi nohl bwahka Ak’Ashanti.”
“They think they rule this desert.” Jeif’taku snorted at Darag’s translation. Darag looked from Lavinia, to Ria, Ty and then Niri. “What else happened since you left Drufforth?”
Niri filled in the story, Ty, Ria and Lavinia hearing about the fight in the Temple for the first time. Jeif’taku leaned forward, watching Niri intently as did Kiefa’shoo. Rah’kana watched her with hooded eyes while Behk’sah sat back, looking down at Niri. Darag watched Behk’sah. They crossed gazes once, Behk’sah’s lips rippling in an unvoiced growl.
Darag sensed Behk’sah’s power as a swirling cloak around him, darker than the night. Only half listening to Niri, Darag centered himself as he reached out and felt the desert’s vastness. It was a new sensation, this enormous potential within his reach. The Kith were taught to shape wood and stone, but not to call forth the ground itself. Unfamiliar as it was, Darag held his power in an easy grip despite the enormity of it. Behk’sah tossed a hostile sneer toward Darag, Behk’sah’s power lancing at him. The sand between them moved. Darag did not budge. For a moment, the air hummed.
Niri paused as if she sensed the friction filling the night. Jeif’taku elbowed Behk’sah. The thrumming of power dropped, but did not dissipate entirely.
“The water had been sealed off from the Temple. I called it with enough force that it broke through the stone ... I didn’t even realize I had called the sea until it came, enough to fill the sinkhole. That was what tipped the scale. Ci’erra fought her way out rather than help Sinika. Sinika I managed to trap underwater.” Niri finished, glancing away.
Unease crept up Darag’s spine. He guessed there was more, but Darag was dry mouthed himself after Behk'sah's testing. Whatever else there was could wait until they were no longer with the Ashanti.
Ria stared at the sand, flicking grains with her finger. “It is just a shame we never learned anything about the Curse.”
Niri sat up, startled. “But I did, before Sinika found me. There was a letter.” Niri reached over and took Ria’s hand. “I was so dazed. I forgot to tell you or maybe I thought I had. It is so mixed together.”
Ria's eyes shone with hope. “You learned how to defeat it?”
“No,” Niri held up a hand as Ria wilted. The conversation among the Ashanti, too quiet for Darag to hear, ceased. “Listen, whatever it is, it is a creature of magic. It was captured by mages that helped the Order of Fire during the war and forced to do their bidding. But that isn’t the most important thing. Ria, you are an Elemental.” Ria looked doubtful. “Truly, you are a Spirit Elemental. You can control the essence of life.”
“Is that true?” Ria asked in a hushed voice.
“Dih,” Kiefa’shoo said with a smile. “Kay selfah.”
“Five elements,” Darag whispered.
Jeif’taku swept to his feet. He held out a hand. An orb of fiery light formed above it. With a flick of his wrist, the small fireball flew forward, breaking apart into pinpoints by the wind Jeif’taku summoned. The breeze twisted back on itself to form a vortex. Water and earth swirled up the spinning column of air. Jeif’taku shaped the mass into a ball of soil and water, spinning in a whirlwind outlined by sparks. That alone was enough to awe Darag. He had never seen such a combination of power or such casual control of it.
Jeif’taku turned his hand, sweeping it palm down toward the ground. The ball fell, sinking into the sand. Drawing his fingers together, he pulled his hand upwards. A tiny sprout grew out of the dirt, unfurling its first leaf.
Darag met Jeif’taku’s amused gaze, wondering if the
Ashanti were as friendly as they seemed and afraid of what he and Niri stood against if they were not.
“Kay,” Jeif’taku said again, showing canines with his smile.