Warrior Genius

Giacomo regarded Milena with a hollow stare, as if she were a stranger.

  “What happened, Giacomo?” she asked, even though she could guess—Nerezza had somehow taken control of him, but in the process lost her hold over Zanobius.

  Giacomo lashed out with his pencil, and Mico fired off a beam. On instinct, Milena raised her arm, but her brush lay in pieces on the deck. Thankfully, Savino had her back. A glimmering blue square appeared in front of her, and the red light exploded against it.

  “Giacomo, stop!” Milena screamed. “Pietro’s going to die unless we get Tito’s gem back to him.”

  But her plea did nothing to sway Giacomo. His expression remained hardened and fierce.

  “It’s no use trying to get through to him,” Zanobius said. “Believe me.”

  What was she supposed to do? Leave Giacomo behind? What kind of friend did that? But Zanobius was right—Giacomo was incapable of listening to reason. And without knowing how Nerezza had gained control over him, there was no saving him. At least not yet.

  On a table at the back of the room, Milena spotted Pietro’s gem. “Zanobius, get the Sacred Tools from Nerezza,” she said, keeping her voice low. She turned to Savino. “Cover me.”

  Milena bolted for Pietro’s gem, and the cabin erupted in a chaos of colors. Violet, blue, and red lights clashed as the Geniuses’ gems fired off their beams. Everyone scattered. Victoria poked her long neck into the room, and Nerezza climbed on, Giacomo right behind her. Enzio fired an arrow that thunked into the giant bird’s neck. Nerezza, feeling the connection, screamed in pain, and Victoria snapped at Enzio, who reeled back.

  With Victoria distracted, Zanobius leaped after the injured Nerezza, grabbing the Compass strapped to her back. Giacomo hit him with a ray and he went flying, smashing into the wall. Yet Zanobius had managed to keep hold of the Compass.

  Milena reached Tito’s gem and scooped it up in her hands. She noticed two other, smaller gems held in a strange contraption. Suspecting they had something to do with Giacomo’s transformation, she smashed the glass and pocketed them.

  A screech startled her, and she spun around to see Victoria lifting off, soaring away with Nerezza, the Straightedge, and Giacomo on her back.

  Soldiers rushed the cabin and unleashed a torrent of bullets and arrows. Wood splintered and glass shattered. Zanobius dodged the blasts and sheltered Yaday and Enzio as they made their way over to Milena. Savino followed, raising up a latticed shield that bisected the cabin, but it soon buckled under the pressure of so many bullets.

  “Let’s get out of here!” he hollered.

  “Trade you, Zanobius,” Milena said, exchanging Tito’s gem for the Compass. She unsheathed the Sacred Tool and spun open a portal. Yaday dove into the swelling light, followed by Enzio and Zanobius.

  “I’m right behind you!” Savino shouted, urging Milena on.

  She let the light consume her.

  Milena spilled out the other side, in front of the palace. Aaminah’s music filled the air, and Luna had Pietro wrapped in a sacred geometry cocoon.

  Milena readied the Compass, waiting for Savino to come through so she could close the portal. She counted the seconds, and when she got to five, she began to panic. Then an arrow shot out of the light, followed by bullets.

  Come on, Savino, come on …

  She refused to move until Savino appeared.

  Finally, the portal jettisoned him, and Milena quickly shut it. She heard a groan behind her and turned to find Savino lying on the ground, clutching an arrow embedded in his shoulder. She dropped next to him, but before she could ask if he was all right, Savino waved her off.

  “Help Pietro. I can wait.”

  She took Tito’s gem from Zanobius and raced to Pietro’s side. With a nod, she gave Aaminah permission to stop playing. The cocoon of light broke apart and faded.

  Milena laid the gem on Pietro’s chest. Unsure of what else to do, she prayed.

  As the minutes passed, Pietro’s skin regained its color. He took a deep breath, grimaced, and began to sit up.

  Milena helped him the rest of the way. “Master Pietro, you’re—”

  “Still alive, apparently,” Pietro grumbled, as if he was annoyed by the fact.

  “You’re here,” Milena said, feeling a tear run down her cheek. “You’re with us.”

  “Milena saved you,” Savino said proudly.

  Milena smiled up at him, then looked over at Aaminah. “I certainly didn’t do it alone.”

  Pietro took Tito’s gem in his hands and ran his fingers over its surface. “He’s really gone, isn’t he?”

  “I’m so sorry,” Milena said.

  “What about the rest of you? Is everyone else all right?”

  Soon, she would have to tell him what had happened to Giacomo, but right now, she didn’t have the strength for it. All she could do was give her teacher a hug.

  “You’re with us,” she repeated. “That’s all that matters.”

  Their reunion was interrupted by Enzio’s call for help. Two warriors had apprehended Enzio and were dragging him away. Milena realized they must have seen his Zizzolan uniform and assumed he had been left behind. Six more Rachanans had Zanobius surrounded, their katars leveled at him.

  “Stop!” Milena rushed over and pleaded with the warriors to stand down. “Enzio’s our friend. He saved Yaday’s life. And Zanobius isn’t being controlled by Nerezza anymore!” Her words weren’t understood, but after Yaday had translated them for the warriors, they backed away from Zanobius. The two holding Enzio released him.

  Milena helped Pietro back to his quarters to rest, then headed to the palace upon learning that Lavanthi and the warriors had returned. When she got there, Lavanthi was busy speaking to Yaday. He explained to Milena that the warriors had tried to save Giacomo, but with the advantage of the Straightedge, Nerezza had easily overpowered the horse-Geniuses and driven them off.

  “Lavanthi says she’s very sorry for what happened to your friend,” Yaday said.

  Milena could see the regret on the woman’s face as their gazes met. “Tell her thank you for trying,” Milena replied.

  * * *

  Later, Milena sat with Savino as Yaday carefully extracted the arrow from Savino’s shoulder. While Aaminah played a healing melody, the guru packed the wound with a pungent poultice, then set Savino’s arm in a sling. When Milena asked if it hurt, Savino claimed it wasn’t that bad, but his grimacing and groaning told a different story. Once Aaminah and Yaday had left, Milena gripped Savino’s hand tightly.

  “You don’t always have to act so tough, you know. I’m here for you.”

  “I told you, I’m fine,” Savino muttered, pulling his hand back.

  Milena hadn’t meant to show the hurt on her face, but after everything that had happened, her emotional defenses had been shattered.

  “I … That’s not … That came out wrong…” Savino stammered, reaching for her hand again.

  Milena let him take it. “Why don’t you try again?” she said, a grin escaping.

  “I didn’t think we were going to make it off Nerezza’s ship,” Savino said. “But one thing kept me going: the thought of you.”

  Milena’s heart jumped, and she pulled him close. With his free arm, Savino returned the embrace. Usually, he was the first to break away. This time, he didn’t let go.

  * * *

  By the time dawn broke the next morning, Milena still hadn’t slept. Every time she laid her head down, the sounds of battle echoed in her mind. She couldn’t stop picturing Tito breaking apart into light; Zanobius’s hand around her throat; Giacomo’s hollow gaze.

  Restless, she got up, filled the tub with water, and tried to scrub away the grime and horrors of the previous day’s events. She lay back and dunked her head, letting the water surround her.

  She came up for air and pulled herself from the tub. As she toweled herself dry, she glanced over at her new dark purple dress, inlaid with shiny beads. She pulled it from the back of the door where it hung and wrapped
the fabric around her, tying it off at the waist. She recalled what Yaday had told her when he delivered the dress last night: It’s traditional for women to wear purple at Rachanan funerals.

  Outside, Milena found Pietro sitting alone in the gazebo, looking deep in thought. The effects of becoming a Lost Soul had already become evident. His cheeks were sunken, like he’d lost weight, and his skin was sallow.

  In his right hand, he gripped a new wooden staff tipped with a bronze owl-Genius. Tito’s gem sat atop the handle.

  “Your staff is beautiful,” Milena said, taking a seat next to her teacher.

  “The gem is too big to carry around my neck, so Ajeet had his artisans craft this for me,” Pietro said. “Since I need to keep a part of Tito with me to survive, at least I can do it in style, right?”

  Pietro’s attempt to lighten Milena’s mood didn’t help and they remained in silence for a while, until he finally asked her about Giacomo. “I think it’s time you tell me everything that happened.”

  Through tears, Milena related the story of Giacomo’s horrible fate.

  * * *

  The funeral procession began at the steps of the palace.

  Samraat Ajeet, bandaged and bruised and clad in ceremonial orange robes, mounted Kavi and led the procession out through the main gate. As they neared a wide river, Milena noticed a platform in the water, the bodies of the fallen warriors lying on it side by side.

  In his journals, Garrulous had described attending a Rachanan funeral during his travels.

  Unlike Zizzola’s custom, the Rachanans do not bury those they have lost. To them, death is simply another phase in our cosmic journey, and as such, it is treated as a celebration. By honoring those who have passed in this manner, they believe the soul is released from its ties to this world and free to journey to the next realm.

  And it ensures they won’t become Pretas, Milena thought.

  Once everyone had gathered on the shore, Ajeet offered a prayer while Yaday rang a bell and wafted incense into the air. The wisps of colored smoke eddied over the bodies.

  When the crowd lowered their heads and closed their eyes, Milena clasped Aaminah’s and Savino’s hands in hers and offered her own blessing for the departed.

  At the end of the ceremony, warriors carried torches down to the river. Milena looked away as a blaze engulfed the bodies.

  The crowd thinned as people made their way back to the fortress. Since the dining hall had been destroyed in Nerezza’s attack on the palace, a feast honoring the lives of the fallen would be held outdoors.

  Milena was about to leave when she noticed Ozo at the shore with Lavanthi and her daughter. He held a large yellow flower with two short lit candles nestled inside. Ozo lifted the flower high, like an offering, then placed it in the water. As he watched it float down the river, he pulled Lavanthi and Soraya close.

  Milena held her teacher by one arm, and Zanobius took the other. Together they helped Pietro up to the main path. He moved more slowly now, his breathing labored.

  “Zanobius!” Ozo called out. Milena turned to see the mercenary marching up the slope, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

  Zanobius stepped back, turning to Milena with a worried look. “I think I should meet you back at your quarters.” He started to go.

  “Wait,” Ozo said.

  Milena stepped in front of Ozo. “Leave him be. I don’t want to see any more fighting.”

  “Me either.” Ozo’s expression looked sincere, the scowl he usually wore in Zanobius’s presence nowhere to be seen. Milena glanced at Zanobius.

  “It’s all right,” he said, waving her aside.

  The mercenary stepped up to Zanobius. “My life changed that day you and Ugalino showed up at my farm. After I wiped the blood from my eyes and saw that my wife and daughter were gone, I told myself the only reason I was still alive was so I could hunt you down and destroy you. I’ve never been afraid to die, as long as I took you with me.

  “But seeking revenge turned my soul dark. I had become like one of those Pretas—walking this earth consumed by suffering, a shell of my former self.”

  Ozo looked over at Lavanthi. “Then I ended up here, and I met someone who helped me understand I had the power to live again, to have a family again.” He turned back to Zanobius. “But I realized that to do that, I have to let you go.”

  The mercenary released the hilt of his sword, and he and the Tulpa shook hands.

  “I know it probably won’t mean much, but I am sorry,” Zanobius said. “And I’ll never forget the horror I brought to you and your family.”

  Ozo regarded him with a hard stare, offered a nod, and headed up the path to the palace, Lavanthi and Soraya at his side.

  * * *

  The Rachanans dined for hours under ceremonial canopies. When she was a little girl, Milena had attended her grandmother’s funeral, and she remembered it as a somber affair, full of black clothes and sorrowful expressions. Here, the departed were honored with vibrant hues, flavorful foods, and joyous laughter. She was grateful for the glimpse of brightness during a very dark time.

  The previous day’s events had been so relentless that Milena hadn’t had much time to eat anything. Now, she felt famished, so she devoured several helpings of food, until her stomach couldn’t handle any more.

  Once the feast was over, Pietro asked Milena and the group to sit with him a little while longer. “There’s something I want to tell you all,” he said.

  Milena saw the troubled look on his face and braced herself for the worst.

  “I’ve decided to leave,” Pietro said. “I’m going to the Sacred Lands.”

  “What?” The news was even more terrible than she had imagined.

  “Now that Tito’s gone, I need to face reality. I’m a Lost Soul. Who knows how much time I have left?”

  “And you want to spend it trekking across the desert?” Milena said. “How are you even going to get there?”

  Pietro told her that two horse-Geniuses had perished in the battle and that their warriors would be leaving for the Sacred Lands at sundown. They had offered to take Pietro with them.

  “No, you can’t go,” Milena insisted. “I won’t let you.”

  “I’ve made my decision, Milena. You have so much life ahead of you, so much more to accomplish.” Pietro tilted his head toward the rest of the group. “You all do.”

  “But what about the mission?” Savino asked. “What about Giacomo?”

  “I’d only be holding you back,” Pietro said.

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this,” Milena snapped. Pietro called after her, but she was already walking away.

  She stormed off into the blackened remains of the gardens to think. All this time, Milena had feared Pietro’s dying, and now that he had survived, he was still leaving her. It didn’t make any sense. Didn’t he want to be around people who loved and cared for him?

  Milena was still puzzling over Pietro’s decision when the sky faded to orange and the sound of drumming could be heard off in the distance. She made her way down the path. With their fellow warriors standing to either side of the gate, two men gave over their armor and weapons, carrying only packs of supplies and their Geniuses’ gems on chains around their necks. Pietro stood between them, leaning on his staff, its gem sparkling.

  Samraat Ajeet spoke first to his warriors, then to Pietro. “May the gods look upon you for the rest of your days.”

  Pietro leaned in and whispered something to the samraat, but Milena was too far away to hear. Then he turned and began to walk away. Aaminah, Enzio, and Zanobius watched from nearby.

  Savino came over to Milena and gently touched her arm. “We all said our goodbyes already. You’ll regret it if you don’t too.”

  Milena gave a resigned nod and hurried to the gate. “Master Pietro, wait!”

  He stopped and shifted his body slightly toward her. “You came…” he said, a delighted smile lifting his beard.

  She ran to him, wrapping her arms around
him. “This is only goodbye for now.”

  Pietro hugged her back. “Then, goodbye for now, my lovely Milena.”

  Milena stayed at the gate until Pietro and the warriors had disappeared over the dunes and the last light faded, sparking the heavens. A guard shouted from the wall above, and the gates groaned and began to close.

  Milena felt a hand on her shoulder, and without looking, she knew it was Savino. He pulled her close, and she buried her head in his chest. With a heavy thud, the gates shut. Pietro was gone.

  “I think it’s probably time I leave too.” Zanobius pointed to the Compass, which was slung across Savino’s back. “You can send me back to Niccolo’s villa. I can find my way from there.”

  “Your way to where?” Aaminah asked.

  “The Sfumato Forest,” Zanobius told her.

  “Isn’t that place supposed to be full of monsters?” Enzio said.

  “It’s more peaceful than you think,” Zanobius replied. “And I won’t be able to hurt anyone there.”

  “You can’t leave again,” Enzio implored. “Not after everything that just happened.”

  “Exactly,” Aaminah said. “We’re going to need your help to save Giacomo.” She looked pleadingly at Milena. “Don’t make him go like last time.”

  Milena met Zanobius’s worried gaze, and all she could think about was how unwavering Giacomo’s belief in Zanobius had been. He had understood the Tulpa’s true heart, which was noble and brave and loyal. And after seeing Giacomo being controlled by Nerezza, Milena found herself more sympathetic to Zanobius’s situation than she’d ever been.

  She glanced over at Savino, who appeared unconvinced. “Aaminah’s right. He belongs with us,” Milena said.

  Savino gave the idea some thought, and finally his doubtful expression softened. “All right, Zanobius, but I’m not sculpting another arm for you.”

  The Tulpa rubbed his stump. “I wasn’t going to ask. I’m happy to leave well enough alone.”

  Milena offered Zanobius a warm smile. “Now it’s your choice. Will you stay?”

  Zanobius looked across each of their faces, and when his eyes met hers, Milena sensed a newfound tranquility radiating from him.