Mirael awoke feeling as if she had not slept a wink. It was freezing in her room and the only thing in the world that she wanted at that moment was to go back to sleep, but the knocking on her door would not allow it.
"Mira," Jacob called from outside the door. "I know you're awake. Open the door. The sooner we can get going the better."
"I'll be ready soon," She yelled back through the door.
"I'll be waiting at the stables with the horses when you are ready." His voice was fading as he spoke. no doubt too excited to even finish his sentence before running off to the stables.
Despite her drowsy mood, she was excited as well. Nervous, but excited. She'd never seen a demon before. She had read volumes and volumes of books on them, heard countless stories, seen hundreds of pictures, but actually seeing one up close chilled her to the bone. She told herself she was ready, and dragged herself out of bed. Today was going to be a good day.
Four days of hard riding, dried meat and sleeping on the ground later, she was beginning to realize just how unprepared she was. She'd ridden on horseback since she was a small child, but never for such long stretches of time. Her hindquarters felt as if she had fallen on a very hard rock and her spine was tied in knots. It was with great relief that they came across the first small town. An inn with a soft bed, a hot bath and a warm meal would be very welcome.
Jacob did not seem to feel the fatigue. His posture never slouched when riding. He would go to sleep after her and he was always awake before her. She wondered if he even slept at all. Where did he find the energy?
Still, she noticed a slight sigh of relief when they rode up to the inn. Jacob tended to the horses while she went looking for the innkeeper. He was a short man, barely taller than Mirael, With red dark black hair gracing only the sides of his head and a nose that looked as if it had been broken a half dozen times.
"Good evening, Mistress," He said, his voice deep and gravelly. "Always a pleasure to 'ave a mage at the ol' Dragon's Den. She's a small in, but the beds are soft, the hearths are warm, and the ale is stout. Would the Mistress care for a pint?"
"Perhaps another time," She said politely. "A hot mean for my brother and I would be lovely, though."
"Say no more, Mistress. Sit wherever ye' like and I'll have it to you quicker than you can spit." He looked embarassed at having said that. "Not that ye'd spit, Mistress. Beggin' yer pardon." She smiles at him and he walked away muttering to himself.
She found an empty table in a dark corner by the bar. The room was quiet and mostly empty. So quiet, in fact, that she could hear the two rough looking, heavily drunken men two tables across from her clear as if she were sitting next to them.
"That's not what I heard," Said the man with long brown hair hanging past his shoulders and a scar the size of her finger across his right cheek. "I hear it's far worse than that. I heard the bodies wasn't only half eaten, but burned to a crisp like bacon."
"Oh goat farts!" exclaimed the other man, much heavier than the first, and with hair cropped short above his ears. "No animal cooks his meals 'fore it eats 'em"
"Not an animal," The long haired man said in what he thought was a whisper, but was barely any quieter than he was speaking before, "a demon. A real nasty one, too, by the sound of it. They say the monster's already killed a dozen or more. No one goes in the forest now. Not even the healers looking for herbs."
"So the demon cooked 'em 'fore he ate 'em? I say it weren't no demon. I say it were a man. Some sadistic prick with a taste for human flesh."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure the order will--"
"A hot meal, for the mistress and her companion," The innkeeper interrupted her evesdropping, setting two plates down on the table in front of her. "Would ye' be needing one room or two?"
"One room should suffice, Mr...?"
"The name's Tavon, Mistress. I'll have a room ready for ye' quicker than you ca--quickly," He said, his face reddening. No doubt he was about to say something crude.
"Thank you, Tavon, My name is Mirael, and my brother Jacob and I thank you for your hospitality." He bowed awkwardly and hurried off just as Jacob walked through the door. The two men that she had been listening to had changed their subject to the bosoms of the tavern maid that was running the bar. She had to admit, they were conversation worthy.
"Jacob, I've been thinking," She said in an actual whisper, one quiet enough that only the two of them could hear it. "What if this demon isn't just a Dietra. What if it's worse, much worse.?"
"The order does not make mistakes often." Jacob was as devout a disciple of the order as anyone she knew. It was almost annoying sometimes.
"Yes, but not often does not mean never. Those men were talking about burned, half eaten bodies and a Dietra would not burn a body."
"Rumors, nothing more. People talk and stories spread. A dog becomes a wolf becomes a hellhound. Still, we will not go into this lightly. Even a Dietra can be very dangerous. We will find out more when we reach Imadra. Now eat and get some rest. Enjoy the comfort while you can. We will be leaving first light tomorrow.
She did not bring it up again that night, but she could not shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong with this assignment.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Chapter 4: Reminders
The day was cold and the snow had begun falling heavily. Mirael stepped out of the bath, her teeth chattering at the sudden shift from hot water to frigid air. She searched frantically for the towel that she thought she had placed next to the bath. She had not. Instead it lay sprawled over a chair across the room. She moved toward it and then stopped.
The mirror was between her and the towel.
Too cold to worry about that now, she thought as she rushed passed the mirror, careful not to catch a glimpse of her reflection.
It had been seven years since that day, but Mirael still could not face the sight of her own disfigurement. What had been healed quickly enough with magic had healed as if she had never been burned. Her hair had grown back thick, black and curly. the deep fissures that the magic had ripped in her face sealed without scar or blemish. Her hands, up to the wrist, were porcelain white and smooth as if she had never worked a day in her life. The rest of her was not so lucky.
Her stomach and chest were relatively untouched by the flames, but her back, her arms and her legs were shiny and spider-webbed with burn scars. She kept her body covered at all times save for when she bathed, which she did mostly with her eyes shut.
She could not stand the sight of herself.
Jacob had told her a million times that she was still beautiful, but when she was younger she saw them stare in disgust at the scars on her arms, neck and legs. She heard them whisper as she walked by, so she covered all but her head and her hands.
The winters were much easier than the summers, and she was thankful for the snow. She donned thick wool socks that went up past her knee, thick form-fitting black trousers, a loose white satin blouse and a warm silver coat that fit snuggly down to her thighs. The final piece was a red and blue scarf that covered the scars on her neck. She never went out without a scarf, even in the heat of the summer.
Now she was ready to inspect herself in the mirror. She was beautiful, which only upset her more. Had she not melted off half of her body she would have grown up to be a very desirable woman. Instead she was a freak.
She knew it wasn't fair to worry about boys and beauty when she had a greater purpose. She was the most powerful mage in the academy. Her last seven years of training with Anima had taught her to control and expand her abilities. She would dedicate her life to destroying demons like the ones that killed her parents. She would save many lives. That is more important than finding love, she told herself. It was true, but love was important to her as well.
There was a knock at her door. Jacob, no doubt.
Jacob, as it turned out, had no magical ability whatsoever. Most people had at least some small magical energy, though the majority of them were too weak magically to be of any use to the Order. Only about one in twenty were completely devoid of any energy whatsoever. Jacob was one of those unlucky few.
It did not seem to bother Jacob, however. The Order had found another use for him. Jacob was tall and lithe. He had broad shoulders and a slender build. He had spent the last seven years training in the arts of combat, stealth and practical healing. Anima said he was one of the most dangerous students she had ever worked with, mage or no. Mirael did not doubt his ability. She had seen him train. His movements were so quick they could not be seen. She had seen him train unarmed against six men with practice swords and disarm them all without taking a single blow. Eyes in the back of his head seemed like an understatement. He appeared to have eyes everywhere.
She opened the door for Jacob and he smiled at her.
"Are you ready?" he said, not even trying to hide the excitement in his voice.
"I've never been more ready for anything in my life," She replied, matching, if not surpassing his excitement.
Today was the day all of their training and hard work would finally mean something. Anima had been nearly in tears when she told them that they would meet with the elders in the morning where they would be officially initiated into the Order and placed on active duty. Then the waiting would begin.
Being placed on active duty meant that they would remain on the school grounds and continue training until a mission deemed appropriate for them became available. That could take hours or months, but to Mirael it felt as if she was going on a mission later that day. She was so excited.
Jacob and Mirael were being inducted as a pair. He would be a bodyguard of sorts to her. They had refused to be separated. Generally the order waited until the age of sixteen to activate mages but Mirael's gifts were so extraordinary they expedited the process.
When she opened the door Jacob and Anima stood waiting.
Upon seeing her surprised look at the sight of her Anima said, "You honestly did not think I would miss this. I could not be more proud of you, Mirael." With that she moved forward and gave Mirael a warm hug. Mirael had never seen Anima show any kind of physical affection toward anyone in the years that she had known her. It caught her completely off guard and she awkwardly hugged the old woman back. When they separated there was a sadness in the old woman's eyes. For some reason it made Mirael very uneasy but when she saw Jacob's ear to ear grin she forgot all about it and the three of them heading brusquely toward the council meeting room.
They were not the only ones heading that way. It seemed as if the entire school, faculty and all, were on their watch to watch her induction. Jacob was to be inducted with her, of course, but she knew that these people were interested in her. She was the freak. The monster with powers greater than anyone had seen in hundreds of years. The attention made her anxious and for a moment she wished more than anything to run back to her room and hide in her bed.
"No," she whispered to herself. "I will not let anything ruin this day for me."
The council meeting room was a large, but it was not nearly sufficient to house the many onlookers that had made their way to this event. Dozens, if not hundreds, stood outside in the cold. Some of the younger children were making snow men or pelting each other in the face with tightly packed balls of fresh now. One hit Mirael in the leg and she looked to her left to see a young girl, no older than 8, staring at her in terror. She smiled at the young girl. The look of terror changed to a broad smile and she went back to playing with her friends.
People moved out of their way silently as they passed. Some gave her approving looks, some congratulated her, but most avoided eye contact. She was used to it. Ever since the incident more than half the school was afraid of her. "Don't look her in the eye or she'll light you up like a torch," they would say. Or "If you make eye contact with her she'll blind your eyes," and other such nonsense. Let them think what they want. They do not know you and they will not hurt you. I will not let them," Jacob had always told her.
The meeting hall was filled to bursting with people. All the seating had been removed from the room and people stood pressed close against each other. The crowd was practically pulsing with anticipation, as was Mirael. Jacob grabbed her hand as he pushed his way through the throng, clearing a path for Mirael and Anima. People tried to move out of their way but the gathering was so dense that they had little room to move. She grew more and more nervous the deeper into the crowd they sank. She squeezed Jacobs hand and he squeezed hers back tighter. Her heart rate slowed as she shut out the crowd, the room, the noise, and focused on his hand.
Finally they made it to the front where guards were keeping the crowd pushed back away from the council's tribunal. Two guards waved for her and Jacob to step forward and Anima took a place at the front of the crowd to watch. She could feel the eyes on her back and it made her skin crawl. It had not occurred to her that this would be something people would be interested to see. She had expected a quiet induction, not this massive cacauphanous spectacle. Once again she wanted to run back to her room but Jacob turned to her and whispered in her ear, "It's just you and me, Mira. You and me. Block everything else out. This is our day. Do not let them steal your excitement."
He always seemed to know what she was thinking. She would never have made it this far without him.
Andara, the head Councilwoman put up a hand to quiet the crowd. It took a few moments, but before long the crowd grew silent. Even the children playing outside seemed to have stopped their laughter and commotion. Mirael heard nothing but breathing, an occasional sniffle, and the sound of her pounding heart. Jacob squeezed her hand tighter.
"Jacob Rendaga and Mirael Rendaga," Andora spoke in a deep booming voice that, despite its rasp, carried clearly across the entire gathering hall. "Today all of your hard work and training has finally paid off. Today you will rise to the ranks of Paladin and Mage." A small murmur rose through the crowd but quickly quieted down. "Jacob, please step forward."
He made his way to the front of the tribunal at a pace just short of a run. "It is with great honor," Andara continued, "That I present you, Jacob Rendaga, with this pendant signifying your status among the Gobani Order. Ankara ahk mas riga," It meant "welcome to the fold" in the old tongue, Mirael knew. "You are now a full brother of the Gobani order and may be called upon to aid in the troubles of those who request our help at a moments notice. Be ready and steadfast."
A small bespectacled man that Mirael had seen many times before, though she did not know his name, pinned the pendant on Jacobs sleeve and directed him to return to his place next to Mirael.
"Mirael Rendaga," Her heart doubled its pace at the sound of her own name. "Please step forward." When she reached the front she could barely hear a word over the beating of her own heart.
The next thing she knew the bespectacled man was pinning a hawk shaped pendant onto her sleeve. She started at the sudden appearance of him next to her and jerked her arm in such a way that the old man accidentally pricked her arm. He looked at her apologetically and she smiled back at him. "It was my fault," She said softly. He finished pinning the hawk and stepped back, motioning for her to return to her brother's side.
A roar went up through the crowd. cheers and shouts, some angry, some joyous, but collectively loud enough to make her head spin and her stomach churn. Andara raised her hand once more to quiet the people.
It took longer this time, but eventually everyone went silent. The head councilwoman spoke once more. "Now you must recite the oaths we all have sworn to uphold. I trust you know them."
Mirael and Jacob in unison spoke the oath they had been taught since the first day they had arrived at the school. "I swear upon my honor and my life that I will only use my powers for the betterment of my fellow man. I swear to follow the order's command, uphold the law of the land, steal nothing, harm no innocent, and protect those who cannot protect themselves. On my life I am bound these oaths"
"You are now fully accepted into the Gobani Order," Andara boomed." I congratulate you and I ask that you step forward once more. I have something to tell the both of you for your ears alone." Then she addressed the crowd. "You may return to your homes and your work. This ceremony is complete."
swarms of people flooded through the exit doors and in moments the entire hall was empty save for the council, their guards, the bespectacled man, and Anima. The bespectacled man moved to remove Anima from the room.
"She may remain." Andara said emotionlessly. The bespectacled man stopped and returned to his place be the tribunal.
"You have been accepted into the order today because we have a mission for you."
A mission, Already? Mirael was thrilled. She had expected to have to wait at least several weeks before they were finally called upon. Certainly being given a mission immediately after induction was a surprise. Such a thing was unheard of.
"You are to travel to Imadra, to the east. They have had several people go missing in the forest near the castle village. Human remains have been found half devoured and they suspect it may be the work of a demon, a dietra we suspect. You are to vanquish this creature and collect payment of five hundred gold coins from king Tyran, who resides in the castle. You will have a map and supplies delivered to your rooms and horses assigned to you in the morning. Tonight you should prepare. Learn as much as you can about a Dietra, although you should have been taught of them many times over."
Mirael's voice came out as little more than a squeak, "It is as you command, High councilwoman."
Andara handed Mirael a sealed letter. "This is the contract that is to be presented to king Tyran. Do not lose it. Without it you will not be paid and we will have to send men to collect on the debt.
"We will guard it with our lives," Mirael said, though she felt like that was a foolish and dramatic thing to say.
With that the bespectacled man lead them and Anima out of the Council room. The wind hit her face like a wall of ice. It seemed as if it had become much colder in the short time that they were inside. None of the massive group of spectators remained. The courtyard was empty, and they passed very few people as they made their way home.
"Can you believe it?" Jacob exclaimed. "A contract for us already!"
"You two had better get some rest tonight," Anima sounded weary, and not as excited for them as Mirael had expected her to be. "It is a long ride to Imadra, and you will need your strength."
No one said another word before they parted ways back to their rooms. The wind whistled eerily through the trees and Mirael knew she would find sleep very difficult to come by tonight.
The mirror was between her and the towel.
Too cold to worry about that now, she thought as she rushed passed the mirror, careful not to catch a glimpse of her reflection.
It had been seven years since that day, but Mirael still could not face the sight of her own disfigurement. What had been healed quickly enough with magic had healed as if she had never been burned. Her hair had grown back thick, black and curly. the deep fissures that the magic had ripped in her face sealed without scar or blemish. Her hands, up to the wrist, were porcelain white and smooth as if she had never worked a day in her life. The rest of her was not so lucky.
Her stomach and chest were relatively untouched by the flames, but her back, her arms and her legs were shiny and spider-webbed with burn scars. She kept her body covered at all times save for when she bathed, which she did mostly with her eyes shut.
She could not stand the sight of herself.
Jacob had told her a million times that she was still beautiful, but when she was younger she saw them stare in disgust at the scars on her arms, neck and legs. She heard them whisper as she walked by, so she covered all but her head and her hands.
The winters were much easier than the summers, and she was thankful for the snow. She donned thick wool socks that went up past her knee, thick form-fitting black trousers, a loose white satin blouse and a warm silver coat that fit snuggly down to her thighs. The final piece was a red and blue scarf that covered the scars on her neck. She never went out without a scarf, even in the heat of the summer.
Now she was ready to inspect herself in the mirror. She was beautiful, which only upset her more. Had she not melted off half of her body she would have grown up to be a very desirable woman. Instead she was a freak.
She knew it wasn't fair to worry about boys and beauty when she had a greater purpose. She was the most powerful mage in the academy. Her last seven years of training with Anima had taught her to control and expand her abilities. She would dedicate her life to destroying demons like the ones that killed her parents. She would save many lives. That is more important than finding love, she told herself. It was true, but love was important to her as well.
There was a knock at her door. Jacob, no doubt.
Jacob, as it turned out, had no magical ability whatsoever. Most people had at least some small magical energy, though the majority of them were too weak magically to be of any use to the Order. Only about one in twenty were completely devoid of any energy whatsoever. Jacob was one of those unlucky few.
It did not seem to bother Jacob, however. The Order had found another use for him. Jacob was tall and lithe. He had broad shoulders and a slender build. He had spent the last seven years training in the arts of combat, stealth and practical healing. Anima said he was one of the most dangerous students she had ever worked with, mage or no. Mirael did not doubt his ability. She had seen him train. His movements were so quick they could not be seen. She had seen him train unarmed against six men with practice swords and disarm them all without taking a single blow. Eyes in the back of his head seemed like an understatement. He appeared to have eyes everywhere.
She opened the door for Jacob and he smiled at her.
"Are you ready?" he said, not even trying to hide the excitement in his voice.
"I've never been more ready for anything in my life," She replied, matching, if not surpassing his excitement.
Today was the day all of their training and hard work would finally mean something. Anima had been nearly in tears when she told them that they would meet with the elders in the morning where they would be officially initiated into the Order and placed on active duty. Then the waiting would begin.
Being placed on active duty meant that they would remain on the school grounds and continue training until a mission deemed appropriate for them became available. That could take hours or months, but to Mirael it felt as if she was going on a mission later that day. She was so excited.
Jacob and Mirael were being inducted as a pair. He would be a bodyguard of sorts to her. They had refused to be separated. Generally the order waited until the age of sixteen to activate mages but Mirael's gifts were so extraordinary they expedited the process.
When she opened the door Jacob and Anima stood waiting.
Upon seeing her surprised look at the sight of her Anima said, "You honestly did not think I would miss this. I could not be more proud of you, Mirael." With that she moved forward and gave Mirael a warm hug. Mirael had never seen Anima show any kind of physical affection toward anyone in the years that she had known her. It caught her completely off guard and she awkwardly hugged the old woman back. When they separated there was a sadness in the old woman's eyes. For some reason it made Mirael very uneasy but when she saw Jacob's ear to ear grin she forgot all about it and the three of them heading brusquely toward the council meeting room.
They were not the only ones heading that way. It seemed as if the entire school, faculty and all, were on their watch to watch her induction. Jacob was to be inducted with her, of course, but she knew that these people were interested in her. She was the freak. The monster with powers greater than anyone had seen in hundreds of years. The attention made her anxious and for a moment she wished more than anything to run back to her room and hide in her bed.
"No," she whispered to herself. "I will not let anything ruin this day for me."
The council meeting room was a large, but it was not nearly sufficient to house the many onlookers that had made their way to this event. Dozens, if not hundreds, stood outside in the cold. Some of the younger children were making snow men or pelting each other in the face with tightly packed balls of fresh now. One hit Mirael in the leg and she looked to her left to see a young girl, no older than 8, staring at her in terror. She smiled at the young girl. The look of terror changed to a broad smile and she went back to playing with her friends.
People moved out of their way silently as they passed. Some gave her approving looks, some congratulated her, but most avoided eye contact. She was used to it. Ever since the incident more than half the school was afraid of her. "Don't look her in the eye or she'll light you up like a torch," they would say. Or "If you make eye contact with her she'll blind your eyes," and other such nonsense. Let them think what they want. They do not know you and they will not hurt you. I will not let them," Jacob had always told her.
The meeting hall was filled to bursting with people. All the seating had been removed from the room and people stood pressed close against each other. The crowd was practically pulsing with anticipation, as was Mirael. Jacob grabbed her hand as he pushed his way through the throng, clearing a path for Mirael and Anima. People tried to move out of their way but the gathering was so dense that they had little room to move. She grew more and more nervous the deeper into the crowd they sank. She squeezed Jacobs hand and he squeezed hers back tighter. Her heart rate slowed as she shut out the crowd, the room, the noise, and focused on his hand.
Finally they made it to the front where guards were keeping the crowd pushed back away from the council's tribunal. Two guards waved for her and Jacob to step forward and Anima took a place at the front of the crowd to watch. She could feel the eyes on her back and it made her skin crawl. It had not occurred to her that this would be something people would be interested to see. She had expected a quiet induction, not this massive cacauphanous spectacle. Once again she wanted to run back to her room but Jacob turned to her and whispered in her ear, "It's just you and me, Mira. You and me. Block everything else out. This is our day. Do not let them steal your excitement."
He always seemed to know what she was thinking. She would never have made it this far without him.
Andara, the head Councilwoman put up a hand to quiet the crowd. It took a few moments, but before long the crowd grew silent. Even the children playing outside seemed to have stopped their laughter and commotion. Mirael heard nothing but breathing, an occasional sniffle, and the sound of her pounding heart. Jacob squeezed her hand tighter.
"Jacob Rendaga and Mirael Rendaga," Andora spoke in a deep booming voice that, despite its rasp, carried clearly across the entire gathering hall. "Today all of your hard work and training has finally paid off. Today you will rise to the ranks of Paladin and Mage." A small murmur rose through the crowd but quickly quieted down. "Jacob, please step forward."
He made his way to the front of the tribunal at a pace just short of a run. "It is with great honor," Andara continued, "That I present you, Jacob Rendaga, with this pendant signifying your status among the Gobani Order. Ankara ahk mas riga," It meant "welcome to the fold" in the old tongue, Mirael knew. "You are now a full brother of the Gobani order and may be called upon to aid in the troubles of those who request our help at a moments notice. Be ready and steadfast."
A small bespectacled man that Mirael had seen many times before, though she did not know his name, pinned the pendant on Jacobs sleeve and directed him to return to his place next to Mirael.
"Mirael Rendaga," Her heart doubled its pace at the sound of her own name. "Please step forward." When she reached the front she could barely hear a word over the beating of her own heart.
The next thing she knew the bespectacled man was pinning a hawk shaped pendant onto her sleeve. She started at the sudden appearance of him next to her and jerked her arm in such a way that the old man accidentally pricked her arm. He looked at her apologetically and she smiled back at him. "It was my fault," She said softly. He finished pinning the hawk and stepped back, motioning for her to return to her brother's side.
A roar went up through the crowd. cheers and shouts, some angry, some joyous, but collectively loud enough to make her head spin and her stomach churn. Andara raised her hand once more to quiet the people.
It took longer this time, but eventually everyone went silent. The head councilwoman spoke once more. "Now you must recite the oaths we all have sworn to uphold. I trust you know them."
Mirael and Jacob in unison spoke the oath they had been taught since the first day they had arrived at the school. "I swear upon my honor and my life that I will only use my powers for the betterment of my fellow man. I swear to follow the order's command, uphold the law of the land, steal nothing, harm no innocent, and protect those who cannot protect themselves. On my life I am bound these oaths"
"You are now fully accepted into the Gobani Order," Andara boomed." I congratulate you and I ask that you step forward once more. I have something to tell the both of you for your ears alone." Then she addressed the crowd. "You may return to your homes and your work. This ceremony is complete."
swarms of people flooded through the exit doors and in moments the entire hall was empty save for the council, their guards, the bespectacled man, and Anima. The bespectacled man moved to remove Anima from the room.
"She may remain." Andara said emotionlessly. The bespectacled man stopped and returned to his place be the tribunal.
"You have been accepted into the order today because we have a mission for you."
A mission, Already? Mirael was thrilled. She had expected to have to wait at least several weeks before they were finally called upon. Certainly being given a mission immediately after induction was a surprise. Such a thing was unheard of.
"You are to travel to Imadra, to the east. They have had several people go missing in the forest near the castle village. Human remains have been found half devoured and they suspect it may be the work of a demon, a dietra we suspect. You are to vanquish this creature and collect payment of five hundred gold coins from king Tyran, who resides in the castle. You will have a map and supplies delivered to your rooms and horses assigned to you in the morning. Tonight you should prepare. Learn as much as you can about a Dietra, although you should have been taught of them many times over."
Mirael's voice came out as little more than a squeak, "It is as you command, High councilwoman."
Andara handed Mirael a sealed letter. "This is the contract that is to be presented to king Tyran. Do not lose it. Without it you will not be paid and we will have to send men to collect on the debt.
"We will guard it with our lives," Mirael said, though she felt like that was a foolish and dramatic thing to say.
With that the bespectacled man lead them and Anima out of the Council room. The wind hit her face like a wall of ice. It seemed as if it had become much colder in the short time that they were inside. None of the massive group of spectators remained. The courtyard was empty, and they passed very few people as they made their way home.
"Can you believe it?" Jacob exclaimed. "A contract for us already!"
"You two had better get some rest tonight," Anima sounded weary, and not as excited for them as Mirael had expected her to be. "It is a long ride to Imadra, and you will need your strength."
No one said another word before they parted ways back to their rooms. The wind whistled eerily through the trees and Mirael knew she would find sleep very difficult to come by tonight.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Prologue
"Quiet. We mustn't wake them. The poor darlings have been through enough for one day"
The carriage was dark and the whispers were quiet, but Jacob could tell that the woman speaking was old. He kept his eyes closed and his breathing steady, not wanting anyone to know he was awake. He did not know what was happening and hoped that they might reveal some information they would not otherwise tell a child of his age.
"No child should have to go through such a thing, let alone two children. And so very young."
"We live in a harsh world. You, of all people, should know that. We do what we can."
The two women sat in silence while the carriage rocked back and forth along the rough dirt road. Jacob did not know how long he had been in the carriage. The last thing he remembered was his mother kissing him goodnight as he was falling asleep in his soft warm bed. He did not know what had happened since then, but the knots in his stomach told him that he was unlikely to ever see his parents again. Somehow in his sleep his world had been ripped apart. Not just his world, but his sister Mirael's as well.
That moment of realization was the most painful thing he had experienced up to that point in his seven years of existence. Mireal, poor Mirael. So sweet and innocent. The four year old girl who would always make him check under her bed for monsters every night. The little girl cried for three days when he pet frog died last winter. Would she ever stop crying this time? It would fall to him to take care of her now.
Sleep, Mirael. Sleep long and deep, for when you wake up your life will have changed forever.
It was cold in the carriage and the blanket that they had placed over him was thin and itchy, but he dare not move to scratch.
Finally the younger woman spoke again. "Why do you suppose the Kinkari went for the parents but left the children alone?"
Jacob had never heard of a Kinkari, but now his worries were confirmed. His parents were dead. He would never see them again. He was being taken away from his home and everything that he had ever known. Everything except her. She was the only thing that mattered and he vowed right then and there to protect her with his life no matter what.
"You didn't hear?" The old woman replied with a whispered surprise. "We found it torn to pieces in the children's room. None of us had ever seen anything like it."
"So, what are you saying? That a group of mages powerful enough to kill a Kinkari was waiting in the children's room and then just disappeared after killing it?"
"No. The real story seems to be even more implausible than that." The old woman's voice grew even quieter, but Jacob could just barely make out what she said. "It appears the young girl killed it in her sleep."
The carriage was dark and the whispers were quiet, but Jacob could tell that the woman speaking was old. He kept his eyes closed and his breathing steady, not wanting anyone to know he was awake. He did not know what was happening and hoped that they might reveal some information they would not otherwise tell a child of his age.
"No child should have to go through such a thing, let alone two children. And so very young."
"We live in a harsh world. You, of all people, should know that. We do what we can."
The two women sat in silence while the carriage rocked back and forth along the rough dirt road. Jacob did not know how long he had been in the carriage. The last thing he remembered was his mother kissing him goodnight as he was falling asleep in his soft warm bed. He did not know what had happened since then, but the knots in his stomach told him that he was unlikely to ever see his parents again. Somehow in his sleep his world had been ripped apart. Not just his world, but his sister Mirael's as well.
That moment of realization was the most painful thing he had experienced up to that point in his seven years of existence. Mireal, poor Mirael. So sweet and innocent. The four year old girl who would always make him check under her bed for monsters every night. The little girl cried for three days when he pet frog died last winter. Would she ever stop crying this time? It would fall to him to take care of her now.
Sleep, Mirael. Sleep long and deep, for when you wake up your life will have changed forever.
It was cold in the carriage and the blanket that they had placed over him was thin and itchy, but he dare not move to scratch.
Finally the younger woman spoke again. "Why do you suppose the Kinkari went for the parents but left the children alone?"
Jacob had never heard of a Kinkari, but now his worries were confirmed. His parents were dead. He would never see them again. He was being taken away from his home and everything that he had ever known. Everything except her. She was the only thing that mattered and he vowed right then and there to protect her with his life no matter what.
"You didn't hear?" The old woman replied with a whispered surprise. "We found it torn to pieces in the children's room. None of us had ever seen anything like it."
"So, what are you saying? That a group of mages powerful enough to kill a Kinkari was waiting in the children's room and then just disappeared after killing it?"
"No. The real story seems to be even more implausible than that." The old woman's voice grew even quieter, but Jacob could just barely make out what she said. "It appears the young girl killed it in her sleep."
Chapter 1: Lesson's Learned.
She was late again. She was always late. Clutching her books tightly to her chest she ran down the street, ignoring the teachers and children shouting at her as she went by. Professor Cora always gave her extra assignments when she was late.
She rounded the corner toward the Pyromancy building at full speed and smashed into an old woman. Books, arms and legs flew everywhere. It was Anima, the woman that had rescued them and brought them to the Academy.
Mirael scurried back onto her feet and helped the much less agile Anima back up, then went about collecting her books.
"I'm so sorry. I'm late to class and you know how Professor Cora gets when I'm late."
"That is no excuse for knocking down feeble old ladies," said Anima, rubbing the hip that she had landed on and wincing at the pain. "Whatever will we do with you child? Late again. You know your brother is never late to his classes. Why can't you follow his example?"
"I never mean to be late, it's just that I get so busy doing other things and don't realize what time it is until I am already late."
"That is why we have clocks practically everywhere," anima pointed to a nearby clock as she spoke. "They aren't just for decoration you know. Now hurry off; you don't want to be any later than you already are."
Mirael gathered the last of her books. "Are you sure you are all right? I really am sorry."
"I am fine, sweet child. Thank you for your concern. I am better off than you will be if you are any later to your class. Now go!" She said, pushing her along as Mirael took off toward her class.
The pyromancy building was not so much a building as it was a courtyard with walls. It stood a safe distance from the rest of the school with nothing but dirt surrounding it for more than two hundred feet in every direction. The walls, which were made of stone and stood nearly thirty feet high, were solid black from having fireballs and bonfires and all manner of flame scorching the stones for so many years.
She went through the southern entrance, which was really just a hole in the wall large enough for ten full grown men to stand side by side. There were four such entrances, in case a quick evacuation was necessary.
As she suspected, she was the last to arrive and Professor Cora was staring straight at her as she took her seat on the ground at the back of the class. No chair or desk or wood of any kind was permitted in the Pyromancy building unless it was being used specifically for a lesson.
"I don't know why you bothered to sit down, Mirael," Said Professor Cora with a tone to her voice that let Mirael know this was not going to go well. "Stand up and come to the front of the class, please."
Mirael did as she was told, Though she did it as slowly as possible. When she reached the front of the class Professor Cora motioned for her to stand next to her.
"Since apparently Mirael thinks that she is so far advanced she does not need instruction, like the rest of you, why don't we let her demonstrate her abilities in front of the class?" The other children sniggered and made jokes to each other while Mirael's face went red as a beet.
She had never performed any Pyromancy before. Up to this point they had only been instructed in safety lessons. It took months for most students to even learn how to light a candle. She was going to be embarrassed in front of the whole class. She had enough trouble fitting in without being publicly humiliated in front of every other student her age.
Professor Cora reached into her bag and pulled out a large wax candle. This candle was different than the ones she had seen older students trying to light. They used candles with small paper wicks that could be lit with just a spark. This candle had a thick wooden wick and was used for upper level pyromancers. A flame would have to be conjured and held on the wick for several seconds in order to create a lasting flame. She was doomed.
A cruel smile spread across Professor Cora's face as she placed the candle on the ground and turned back to Mirael. "Since you think you do not need these lessons, I'm going to give you a chance to prove it. If you can set this candle alight then I will not punish you. However, if you should fail to light this candle, then you and every other student in this class will have to write an essay about why it is important to be on time for school."
A groan went up through the crowd of students. Practically every face was glaring at Mirael and she knew that if she failed there would be terrible consequences.
"Well," said Professor Cora. "What are you waiting for? Light the candle."
Mirael took a deep breath. She had never tried anything like this before. Children were not allowed to practice magic until their fifth year at the academy. Technically what Professor Cora was making her do was against the rules. She could not be punished for following her instructors order, though, could she?
"I hope she lights her own hair on fire," said a boy's voice in the crowd, though she could not tell which one. His comment was greeted with a chorus of laughter.
"Or her face," another voice said, this one a girl.
"Or her pants," said a voice that sounded like the first boy. She spotted him this time. It was Darvish Hollander, the class bully. He was dumber than a mule but the rest of the class seemed to think he was the funniest person alive.
"Quiet children," Shouted Professor Cora over the laughter. "Light the candle Mirael."
Mirael focused hard on the wooden wick. She reached deep inside herself and felt something that she had never felt before. Several of the children gasped. Professor Cora stood frozen with shock. Red and yellow ribbons encircled Mirael. The smell of sulfur flooded into her nostrils so strong she almost gagged and the ribbons faded.
Professor Cora's mouth was wide open. She shut it, gathering her wits and began to speak. "Well that was certainly..." She went silent again as Mirael redoubled her efforts.
This time Mirael expected the sulfur smell and she was ready for it. She did not lose focus, though her stomach still wanted to wretch at the stench. The ribbons circled her once more, thicker and faster this time. Then she directed them toward the candle. She put everything she had into her magic. The world seemed to fade and she saw nothing but the candle wick. It was painful. She had not expected that, but maybe it was normal for it to be painful. Everyone always said that all magic came at a price. Perhaps the price of pyromancy was pain. When she was certain that it was alight she eased back on her efforts a bit.
The world drifted back into focus. Children were screaming. Professor Cora was yelling out directions and guiding everyone toward the exits. All around her the ground was on fire. She was trapped. It was swelteringly hot and she was finding it difficult to breathe.
"Help!" She tried to scream, but it came out as nothing more than a fit of coughing. She closed her eyes tight and fell to her hands and knees. The ground was so hot it burned her hands. She dared not open her eyes for fear the heat would melt them. The world was spinning and her lungs were on fire. She was going to die. Seven years old and she was going to die and all because she was late to class. Then, as if God himself had wrapped her in his arms, a cool and soothing force encompassed her. It was water, she realized. Professor Cora must have pulled the emergency lever that released large buckets of water to dowse any out of control flames.
She was going to live. She was going to be in so much trouble.
Arms slid under her head ad her legs and she felt herself being raised into the air. She opened her eyes and saw Jacob. How he had gotten here so quickly she did not know. She tried to speak, but her lungs still hurt so badly she could hardly breathe.
"Hush, Mira, Hush," Jacob said with his always comforting voice. "I'm here, Mira. No one is ever going to hurt you while I am around. I promise. Breathe easy. You are going to be ok."
She could feel the darkness creeping in. She heard Professor Cora say, "I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I'm so very sorry. There was nothing I could do."
Jacob replied, "You will never come near my sister again." Then the world went black.
She rounded the corner toward the Pyromancy building at full speed and smashed into an old woman. Books, arms and legs flew everywhere. It was Anima, the woman that had rescued them and brought them to the Academy.
Mirael scurried back onto her feet and helped the much less agile Anima back up, then went about collecting her books.
"I'm so sorry. I'm late to class and you know how Professor Cora gets when I'm late."
"That is no excuse for knocking down feeble old ladies," said Anima, rubbing the hip that she had landed on and wincing at the pain. "Whatever will we do with you child? Late again. You know your brother is never late to his classes. Why can't you follow his example?"
"I never mean to be late, it's just that I get so busy doing other things and don't realize what time it is until I am already late."
"That is why we have clocks practically everywhere," anima pointed to a nearby clock as she spoke. "They aren't just for decoration you know. Now hurry off; you don't want to be any later than you already are."
Mirael gathered the last of her books. "Are you sure you are all right? I really am sorry."
"I am fine, sweet child. Thank you for your concern. I am better off than you will be if you are any later to your class. Now go!" She said, pushing her along as Mirael took off toward her class.
The pyromancy building was not so much a building as it was a courtyard with walls. It stood a safe distance from the rest of the school with nothing but dirt surrounding it for more than two hundred feet in every direction. The walls, which were made of stone and stood nearly thirty feet high, were solid black from having fireballs and bonfires and all manner of flame scorching the stones for so many years.
She went through the southern entrance, which was really just a hole in the wall large enough for ten full grown men to stand side by side. There were four such entrances, in case a quick evacuation was necessary.
As she suspected, she was the last to arrive and Professor Cora was staring straight at her as she took her seat on the ground at the back of the class. No chair or desk or wood of any kind was permitted in the Pyromancy building unless it was being used specifically for a lesson.
"I don't know why you bothered to sit down, Mirael," Said Professor Cora with a tone to her voice that let Mirael know this was not going to go well. "Stand up and come to the front of the class, please."
Mirael did as she was told, Though she did it as slowly as possible. When she reached the front of the class Professor Cora motioned for her to stand next to her.
"Since apparently Mirael thinks that she is so far advanced she does not need instruction, like the rest of you, why don't we let her demonstrate her abilities in front of the class?" The other children sniggered and made jokes to each other while Mirael's face went red as a beet.
She had never performed any Pyromancy before. Up to this point they had only been instructed in safety lessons. It took months for most students to even learn how to light a candle. She was going to be embarrassed in front of the whole class. She had enough trouble fitting in without being publicly humiliated in front of every other student her age.
Professor Cora reached into her bag and pulled out a large wax candle. This candle was different than the ones she had seen older students trying to light. They used candles with small paper wicks that could be lit with just a spark. This candle had a thick wooden wick and was used for upper level pyromancers. A flame would have to be conjured and held on the wick for several seconds in order to create a lasting flame. She was doomed.
A cruel smile spread across Professor Cora's face as she placed the candle on the ground and turned back to Mirael. "Since you think you do not need these lessons, I'm going to give you a chance to prove it. If you can set this candle alight then I will not punish you. However, if you should fail to light this candle, then you and every other student in this class will have to write an essay about why it is important to be on time for school."
A groan went up through the crowd of students. Practically every face was glaring at Mirael and she knew that if she failed there would be terrible consequences.
"Well," said Professor Cora. "What are you waiting for? Light the candle."
Mirael took a deep breath. She had never tried anything like this before. Children were not allowed to practice magic until their fifth year at the academy. Technically what Professor Cora was making her do was against the rules. She could not be punished for following her instructors order, though, could she?
"I hope she lights her own hair on fire," said a boy's voice in the crowd, though she could not tell which one. His comment was greeted with a chorus of laughter.
"Or her face," another voice said, this one a girl.
"Or her pants," said a voice that sounded like the first boy. She spotted him this time. It was Darvish Hollander, the class bully. He was dumber than a mule but the rest of the class seemed to think he was the funniest person alive.
"Quiet children," Shouted Professor Cora over the laughter. "Light the candle Mirael."
Mirael focused hard on the wooden wick. She reached deep inside herself and felt something that she had never felt before. Several of the children gasped. Professor Cora stood frozen with shock. Red and yellow ribbons encircled Mirael. The smell of sulfur flooded into her nostrils so strong she almost gagged and the ribbons faded.
Professor Cora's mouth was wide open. She shut it, gathering her wits and began to speak. "Well that was certainly..." She went silent again as Mirael redoubled her efforts.
This time Mirael expected the sulfur smell and she was ready for it. She did not lose focus, though her stomach still wanted to wretch at the stench. The ribbons circled her once more, thicker and faster this time. Then she directed them toward the candle. She put everything she had into her magic. The world seemed to fade and she saw nothing but the candle wick. It was painful. She had not expected that, but maybe it was normal for it to be painful. Everyone always said that all magic came at a price. Perhaps the price of pyromancy was pain. When she was certain that it was alight she eased back on her efforts a bit.
The world drifted back into focus. Children were screaming. Professor Cora was yelling out directions and guiding everyone toward the exits. All around her the ground was on fire. She was trapped. It was swelteringly hot and she was finding it difficult to breathe.
"Help!" She tried to scream, but it came out as nothing more than a fit of coughing. She closed her eyes tight and fell to her hands and knees. The ground was so hot it burned her hands. She dared not open her eyes for fear the heat would melt them. The world was spinning and her lungs were on fire. She was going to die. Seven years old and she was going to die and all because she was late to class. Then, as if God himself had wrapped her in his arms, a cool and soothing force encompassed her. It was water, she realized. Professor Cora must have pulled the emergency lever that released large buckets of water to dowse any out of control flames.
She was going to live. She was going to be in so much trouble.
Arms slid under her head ad her legs and she felt herself being raised into the air. She opened her eyes and saw Jacob. How he had gotten here so quickly she did not know. She tried to speak, but her lungs still hurt so badly she could hardly breathe.
"Hush, Mira, Hush," Jacob said with his always comforting voice. "I'm here, Mira. No one is ever going to hurt you while I am around. I promise. Breathe easy. You are going to be ok."
She could feel the darkness creeping in. She heard Professor Cora say, "I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I'm so very sorry. There was nothing I could do."
Jacob replied, "You will never come near my sister again." Then the world went black.
Chapter 2: Wounds
It was exactly as Anima had feared. Mirael was dangerous. Three years without so much of a whisper of any magical energy from her or her brother and now this. What professor Cora did was cruel but she had no way of knowing the power that Mirael possessed. Only a handful of people knew about the events that brought her to the Academy. So much raw power in such a young girl. She must be kept under close and constant supervision. No longer would she be allowed to interact with the other students, if she survives that is.
For the time being Mirael was being treated for her burns. The poor girl had burned off nearly half of her skin and all of her hair. If Jacob had not arrived when he did and pulled the emergency water release...
No point in worrying about what-ifs. There was plenty to worry about without creating make believe situations as well.
Thankfully no other children were seriously injured. A few blisters and singed hair here and there but nothing life threatening. Mirael was a different story. The best healers in the academy were working on her now and even they might no be enough to save her. Aside from the burns, she had channeled her magic so powerfully she had nearly torn herself apart. She had seen another mage die that way when she was much younger. A gruesome sight. His flesh ripping apart until finally his entire body shattered in a broken mass of blood and bone and flesh. The stench was the worst part, so strong she still nearly expelled the contents of her stomach when she thought on it for too long.
Maybe it would be better for everyone if the poor girl died today, she told herself, though she immediately felt ashamed for having thought such a terrible thing.
What have I become that I am wishing the death of a seven year old girl?
It was this place. It did things to the mind. Hardened the heart and weakened the soul. Only one out of every five children that came to this place were deemed suitable for advanced training. Those that were not were sent back onto the streets at age ten. Some had families and homes to return to, but the majority were orphans brought to the Academy only because they had nowhere else to go. She did not know what happened to them after they left but she was not foolish enough to believe that many of them survived. Those that did would likely not lead a very easy life.
It is a day for dark thoughts.
She needed some fresh air. She had been skulking in her room for too long waiting for word of Mirael's condition. She would go check on the girl herself. It was late and her eyes were not as sharp as they used to be, but the moon was bright tonight, nearly full. She made her way to the infirmary. It was not a long distance but the day and been long and she was not as young as she once was. Her whole body ached from the stress of the day.
Jacob was pacing back and forth in front of the door. The grass was packed down hard underneath him. It was clear that he had been pacing in front of the building for quite some time. When he noticed her he stopped pacing and walked straight toward her.
"Maybe you can help me," he seemed very frustrated. "They won't let me in to see her and they won't tell me how she is doing. She is my sister! I have a right to know."
If they had not spoken to the boy of her condition then it must not be clear yet whether she would live or die. "I will see what I can do."
"I need to be in there. I should be by her side. It's my job to keep her safe and I can't do that from out here."
"Your sister sustained very severe burns. It is not something a boy your age should have to see."
"I carried her here. I know what she looks like. Tell them to let me in. Please, I am begging you."
The desperation in his voice nearly brought tears to Anima's eyes. She choked them back. "Again, I will see what I can do. I am no more in charge of the healers than you are but perhaps they will give me word of her improvement. I am sure she will be fine." The lie came so easily to her lips that she almost believed it herself.
Jacob stepped out of her way and she opened the infirmary door. The room smelled of urine, excrement, anise, lilac and cooked meat. She would never get used to the juxtaposition. It was dark save for a few witchlights and green ribbons illuminating the area around Mirael's bed. Luckily she was the only child hurt badly enough today to be kept overnight. The other beds lay empty.
Eli, the most adept healer in the academy, noticed her and motioned for her to come closer so they could speak. He looked as if he had aged twenty years since she had seen him earlier in the day. Dark rings circled his eyes and his skin was pale and hung loosely over his face.
"How is she?" Anima asked, staring at the beautiful green ribbons sliding in and out of the girl's horrific wounds.
"We have been doing everything we can," Eli responded, his voice raspy and hollow when once it had been deep and profound. "Her wounds are extremely severe. More than once she has stopped breathing and we had almost lost hope, but she is strong. I do not believe that she is ready to leave this world, but we will not know until the morning. I assume you spoke with the boy outside?"
"He is understandably concerned for his sister."
Eli sighed deeply, but there was admiration in his sigh rather than frustration. "The boy is strong as well. The two are a good pair. I do not doubt that if he could trade places with her he would."
Anima nearly smiled, but looked again at the charred and broken child laying on the bed and any joy she had nearly felt washed away. "So young and already so powerful. The Elders will want to keep her separate from the other children. By now the entire academy must know and the other children will fear and hate her."
"We will worry on that when we know if she will survive. Until then I must focus on the task at hand. You know I always enjoy your company, Anima, but I am very tired and I expect I still have a long night ahead of me."
"Of course," she replied. "I will see about having some bread and water sent to you. Certainly you have not eaten in quite some time."
He did not speak but his expression showed his appreciation.
When she left the infirmary she found Jacob still pacing. He stopped and waited for her to speak.
"She appears to be doing much better," Anima lied yet again. "I am sure that by the morning they will let you in to see her. Until then you should go to your room and get some sleep."
The boy saw right through her but seemed to appreciate the lie anyway. He said nothing and went back to his pacing.
She knew that she would have more luck teaching a horse to speak than convincing that boy to leave his sister tonight, so she went back to her room. When she got there she found Valeria, one of the seven elders, waiting in front of her door. She seemed annoyed. The elders did not like to wait.
"Valeria, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I assume your were looking in on the girl. How is she doing?" Her voice was cold and devoid of emotion. It was always like that. Anima always felt uncomfortable in her presence.
"Eli believes that she will survive."
"That is good," said Valeria, though Anima could not tell whether she meant it or not. "If she does survive then we have a task for you." Anima had assumed this would be the case, though she did not understand why they could not wait until morning to tell her. "The girl will be placed in your care. You are to look after her and teach her to control her magic so that an incident like this never happens again."
This was no surprise to her. She had been expecting the elders to choose her for the task. She had taught many children that required special care over the years. "I am but a servant of the order. I will do as you request."
"You will no longer be teaching any other students. Mirael will be your only focus from this point on."
This did come as a shock to Anima. Her students were her life. She had been instructing at the Academy since she was only twenty years old. The thought of giving up all of her classes nearly broke her heart.
"Certainly I could give up one or two of my classes and work with Mirael later in the day, or perhaps myself and another professor could share in her instruction" she pleaded.
"You will do as you are told and that is the end of it," the words were a dagger in Anima's heart. "Mirael is a special girl and she requires constant attention which you will provide. Think of it as an honor that you have been entrusted with such an important task."
With that Valeria left.
Anima did not know what to think. Her students were everything to her. Many of them she had been working with for years. Never having any children of her own she considered all of her students to be her children. Now they were being ripped away from her. She wanted to scream, to throw things across the room, but she feared that someone would hear her and report to the elders. If they did she would be punished for insubordination.
Maybe the girl will die tonight.
She felt terrible for thinking it, and not just thinking it but wanting it so badly. She wanted the girl to die more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.
That night she cried herself to sleep for the first time since she was a little girl.
For the time being Mirael was being treated for her burns. The poor girl had burned off nearly half of her skin and all of her hair. If Jacob had not arrived when he did and pulled the emergency water release...
No point in worrying about what-ifs. There was plenty to worry about without creating make believe situations as well.
Thankfully no other children were seriously injured. A few blisters and singed hair here and there but nothing life threatening. Mirael was a different story. The best healers in the academy were working on her now and even they might no be enough to save her. Aside from the burns, she had channeled her magic so powerfully she had nearly torn herself apart. She had seen another mage die that way when she was much younger. A gruesome sight. His flesh ripping apart until finally his entire body shattered in a broken mass of blood and bone and flesh. The stench was the worst part, so strong she still nearly expelled the contents of her stomach when she thought on it for too long.
Maybe it would be better for everyone if the poor girl died today, she told herself, though she immediately felt ashamed for having thought such a terrible thing.
What have I become that I am wishing the death of a seven year old girl?
It was this place. It did things to the mind. Hardened the heart and weakened the soul. Only one out of every five children that came to this place were deemed suitable for advanced training. Those that were not were sent back onto the streets at age ten. Some had families and homes to return to, but the majority were orphans brought to the Academy only because they had nowhere else to go. She did not know what happened to them after they left but she was not foolish enough to believe that many of them survived. Those that did would likely not lead a very easy life.
It is a day for dark thoughts.
She needed some fresh air. She had been skulking in her room for too long waiting for word of Mirael's condition. She would go check on the girl herself. It was late and her eyes were not as sharp as they used to be, but the moon was bright tonight, nearly full. She made her way to the infirmary. It was not a long distance but the day and been long and she was not as young as she once was. Her whole body ached from the stress of the day.
Jacob was pacing back and forth in front of the door. The grass was packed down hard underneath him. It was clear that he had been pacing in front of the building for quite some time. When he noticed her he stopped pacing and walked straight toward her.
"Maybe you can help me," he seemed very frustrated. "They won't let me in to see her and they won't tell me how she is doing. She is my sister! I have a right to know."
If they had not spoken to the boy of her condition then it must not be clear yet whether she would live or die. "I will see what I can do."
"I need to be in there. I should be by her side. It's my job to keep her safe and I can't do that from out here."
"Your sister sustained very severe burns. It is not something a boy your age should have to see."
"I carried her here. I know what she looks like. Tell them to let me in. Please, I am begging you."
The desperation in his voice nearly brought tears to Anima's eyes. She choked them back. "Again, I will see what I can do. I am no more in charge of the healers than you are but perhaps they will give me word of her improvement. I am sure she will be fine." The lie came so easily to her lips that she almost believed it herself.
Jacob stepped out of her way and she opened the infirmary door. The room smelled of urine, excrement, anise, lilac and cooked meat. She would never get used to the juxtaposition. It was dark save for a few witchlights and green ribbons illuminating the area around Mirael's bed. Luckily she was the only child hurt badly enough today to be kept overnight. The other beds lay empty.
Eli, the most adept healer in the academy, noticed her and motioned for her to come closer so they could speak. He looked as if he had aged twenty years since she had seen him earlier in the day. Dark rings circled his eyes and his skin was pale and hung loosely over his face.
"How is she?" Anima asked, staring at the beautiful green ribbons sliding in and out of the girl's horrific wounds.
"We have been doing everything we can," Eli responded, his voice raspy and hollow when once it had been deep and profound. "Her wounds are extremely severe. More than once she has stopped breathing and we had almost lost hope, but she is strong. I do not believe that she is ready to leave this world, but we will not know until the morning. I assume you spoke with the boy outside?"
"He is understandably concerned for his sister."
Eli sighed deeply, but there was admiration in his sigh rather than frustration. "The boy is strong as well. The two are a good pair. I do not doubt that if he could trade places with her he would."
Anima nearly smiled, but looked again at the charred and broken child laying on the bed and any joy she had nearly felt washed away. "So young and already so powerful. The Elders will want to keep her separate from the other children. By now the entire academy must know and the other children will fear and hate her."
"We will worry on that when we know if she will survive. Until then I must focus on the task at hand. You know I always enjoy your company, Anima, but I am very tired and I expect I still have a long night ahead of me."
"Of course," she replied. "I will see about having some bread and water sent to you. Certainly you have not eaten in quite some time."
He did not speak but his expression showed his appreciation.
When she left the infirmary she found Jacob still pacing. He stopped and waited for her to speak.
"She appears to be doing much better," Anima lied yet again. "I am sure that by the morning they will let you in to see her. Until then you should go to your room and get some sleep."
The boy saw right through her but seemed to appreciate the lie anyway. He said nothing and went back to his pacing.
She knew that she would have more luck teaching a horse to speak than convincing that boy to leave his sister tonight, so she went back to her room. When she got there she found Valeria, one of the seven elders, waiting in front of her door. She seemed annoyed. The elders did not like to wait.
"Valeria, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I assume your were looking in on the girl. How is she doing?" Her voice was cold and devoid of emotion. It was always like that. Anima always felt uncomfortable in her presence.
"Eli believes that she will survive."
"That is good," said Valeria, though Anima could not tell whether she meant it or not. "If she does survive then we have a task for you." Anima had assumed this would be the case, though she did not understand why they could not wait until morning to tell her. "The girl will be placed in your care. You are to look after her and teach her to control her magic so that an incident like this never happens again."
This was no surprise to her. She had been expecting the elders to choose her for the task. She had taught many children that required special care over the years. "I am but a servant of the order. I will do as you request."
"You will no longer be teaching any other students. Mirael will be your only focus from this point on."
This did come as a shock to Anima. Her students were her life. She had been instructing at the Academy since she was only twenty years old. The thought of giving up all of her classes nearly broke her heart.
"Certainly I could give up one or two of my classes and work with Mirael later in the day, or perhaps myself and another professor could share in her instruction" she pleaded.
"You will do as you are told and that is the end of it," the words were a dagger in Anima's heart. "Mirael is a special girl and she requires constant attention which you will provide. Think of it as an honor that you have been entrusted with such an important task."
With that Valeria left.
Anima did not know what to think. Her students were everything to her. Many of them she had been working with for years. Never having any children of her own she considered all of her students to be her children. Now they were being ripped away from her. She wanted to scream, to throw things across the room, but she feared that someone would hear her and report to the elders. If they did she would be punished for insubordination.
Maybe the girl will die tonight.
She felt terrible for thinking it, and not just thinking it but wanting it so badly. She wanted the girl to die more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.
That night she cried herself to sleep for the first time since she was a little girl.
Chapter 3: Waiting
The sun was beginning to rise over the mountains to the east and still no word of his sister. Jacob was beginning to lose hope.
No news is no bad news, he told himself. She was not dead yet.
If she can make it through the night she will live. Those words had kept him going. His legs had log since gone numb from exhaustion. His throat was dry and raw. His stomach was empty. His eyes burned. None of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was Mirael. He would not leave her, not ever again.
Other people began to walk the streets, starting their day as if nothing had happened. Some had smiles on their faces, some focused looks, as if they were going about the most important business in the world. There were even a few that were whistling to themselves. Joy, some of them expressed joy. It was a concept that seemed so unfamiliar to him now he wondered if he had ever been happy before in his life.
People gave him confused glances as they walked by. He ignored them. From time to time a professor would stop and try to speak to him. He ignored them too until they gave up and walked away.
He hated being so useless. It was his job to protect her and right now he could do nothing but wait. Time as his enemy. He hated time. He hated everything, everything but her. He would kill every single person in the academy if it brought her back to him. No one else mattered. Nothing else mattered. He would burn the entire world to the ground for her. But none of that would save her.
So he waited.
The air grew warmer and warmer as the sun moved its way across the sky. His saliva grew thick and hard to swallow. His skin was turning red and was sensitive to his touch. His eyes hurt so much that he had them closed more often then open. Still he paced.
Finally, shortly after midday, an old man that Jacob had never met before stepped out of the infirmary.
Upon closer inspection Jacob realized he did know this man. It was Eli, though when he had seen Eli enter the infirmary he had been a strong and healthy man in his forties. Now he looked as if he were over one hundred years old. He knew healing magic could drain a person but he had never seen anything so drastic before.
"She is awake now and all she will say is your name," said the old man in a voice that sounded as if his throat were full of sand.
Without hesitation Jacob rushed past Eli, slammed open the heavy wooden infirmary door and ran full speed to his sister's bedside.
She looked so small and weak. Her hair was still completely gone, though some of the skin on her scalp had grown back. Where she did have skin it was red and thin. Parts of her still looked like hot wax had been poured over her flesh in place of skin. Her arms and legs had been wrapped with thick white bandages. Her blood and other bodily fluid had begun to turn them a dark shade of brown and he was about to tell one of the doctors that they needed to be changed when she spoke.
"Jacob," her voice was so fragile, like she had shrunk to the size of a mouse. He could feel tears trying to well up in his eyes but his body was so dehydrated that they never came. "It was you, wasn't it. You saved me."
"I'm so glad you're okay," the words caught in his throat and he wasn't sure if she even understood him.
She smiled. Most of her face was unburned, though deep fissures where her the magic had torn through her skin were on her cheeks and forehead. Still, her smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Of course I'm okay. Nothing can ever hurt me while you're around."
He fell to his knees, clutching the side of her bed. His chest convulsed in dry sobs that he could not control. "I failed you. I almost lost you," he cried out between sobs. "I promised to protect you and I failed you. I'm so sorry, Mirael. I couldn't protect you."
She tried to raise her hand to touch the side of is face but was too weak to lift it. "No, Brother. If not for you I would have burned alive. Eli told me what happened. You saved me when everyone else ran. Even Professor Cora left me to die, but you were there. You are always there for me. I made a real mess of things, didn't I?"
His lungs calmed down and his sobbing subsided. He smiled at her.
My sister, always sweet, even in the face of all that has happened.
"Mira, it wasn't your fault. Professor Cora never should have made you try to light that candle. It was against the rules and I am sure she has been released of her duties because of it. You had no way of knowing how to control your magic. Students go through years of training before they are ever even allowed to light a beginner's candle."
Mirael's eyelids began to sag. She was falling asleep. "You look tired, Jacob. You should get some rest."
"I couldn't sleep until I knew you were going to make it."
"I am fine," she said through a yawn. "You can rest now. I will be here when you wake up."
He was getting up to leave when she spoke again. "Did I do it?"
"Do what?" he asked.
"Did I light the candle?"
But before he could answer she had already fallen asleep.
No news is no bad news, he told himself. She was not dead yet.
If she can make it through the night she will live. Those words had kept him going. His legs had log since gone numb from exhaustion. His throat was dry and raw. His stomach was empty. His eyes burned. None of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was Mirael. He would not leave her, not ever again.
Other people began to walk the streets, starting their day as if nothing had happened. Some had smiles on their faces, some focused looks, as if they were going about the most important business in the world. There were even a few that were whistling to themselves. Joy, some of them expressed joy. It was a concept that seemed so unfamiliar to him now he wondered if he had ever been happy before in his life.
People gave him confused glances as they walked by. He ignored them. From time to time a professor would stop and try to speak to him. He ignored them too until they gave up and walked away.
He hated being so useless. It was his job to protect her and right now he could do nothing but wait. Time as his enemy. He hated time. He hated everything, everything but her. He would kill every single person in the academy if it brought her back to him. No one else mattered. Nothing else mattered. He would burn the entire world to the ground for her. But none of that would save her.
So he waited.
The air grew warmer and warmer as the sun moved its way across the sky. His saliva grew thick and hard to swallow. His skin was turning red and was sensitive to his touch. His eyes hurt so much that he had them closed more often then open. Still he paced.
Finally, shortly after midday, an old man that Jacob had never met before stepped out of the infirmary.
Upon closer inspection Jacob realized he did know this man. It was Eli, though when he had seen Eli enter the infirmary he had been a strong and healthy man in his forties. Now he looked as if he were over one hundred years old. He knew healing magic could drain a person but he had never seen anything so drastic before.
"She is awake now and all she will say is your name," said the old man in a voice that sounded as if his throat were full of sand.
Without hesitation Jacob rushed past Eli, slammed open the heavy wooden infirmary door and ran full speed to his sister's bedside.
She looked so small and weak. Her hair was still completely gone, though some of the skin on her scalp had grown back. Where she did have skin it was red and thin. Parts of her still looked like hot wax had been poured over her flesh in place of skin. Her arms and legs had been wrapped with thick white bandages. Her blood and other bodily fluid had begun to turn them a dark shade of brown and he was about to tell one of the doctors that they needed to be changed when she spoke.
"Jacob," her voice was so fragile, like she had shrunk to the size of a mouse. He could feel tears trying to well up in his eyes but his body was so dehydrated that they never came. "It was you, wasn't it. You saved me."
"I'm so glad you're okay," the words caught in his throat and he wasn't sure if she even understood him.
She smiled. Most of her face was unburned, though deep fissures where her the magic had torn through her skin were on her cheeks and forehead. Still, her smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Of course I'm okay. Nothing can ever hurt me while you're around."
He fell to his knees, clutching the side of her bed. His chest convulsed in dry sobs that he could not control. "I failed you. I almost lost you," he cried out between sobs. "I promised to protect you and I failed you. I'm so sorry, Mirael. I couldn't protect you."
She tried to raise her hand to touch the side of is face but was too weak to lift it. "No, Brother. If not for you I would have burned alive. Eli told me what happened. You saved me when everyone else ran. Even Professor Cora left me to die, but you were there. You are always there for me. I made a real mess of things, didn't I?"
His lungs calmed down and his sobbing subsided. He smiled at her.
My sister, always sweet, even in the face of all that has happened.
"Mira, it wasn't your fault. Professor Cora never should have made you try to light that candle. It was against the rules and I am sure she has been released of her duties because of it. You had no way of knowing how to control your magic. Students go through years of training before they are ever even allowed to light a beginner's candle."
Mirael's eyelids began to sag. She was falling asleep. "You look tired, Jacob. You should get some rest."
"I couldn't sleep until I knew you were going to make it."
"I am fine," she said through a yawn. "You can rest now. I will be here when you wake up."
He was getting up to leave when she spoke again. "Did I do it?"
"Do what?" he asked.
"Did I light the candle?"
But before he could answer she had already fallen asleep.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Mirael and Jacob: Part 4
Six months of this shit had been taking its toll. Isaac was once a moral, good, honest soldier. That had all changed. He was hardened, cruel and violent. He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to go back to the life he once had. The life he had given up in the hopes of doing some good in the world. Now, he feared he had done so many things wrong he would never be able to atone for them, no matter what his reasoning for doing them was.
One was still breathing. It was shallow, but his his highly attuned ears picked it up. Isaac could hear better than any man he'd ever met. It was an invaluable advantage for a person in his situation. He found the source of the breathing. A young girl, not more than ten years of age. She lay bleeding under the corpse of a woman, probably her mother, with a hole in her gut that Isaac had put there. It is for the greater good, he told himself. Though he wasn't sure if he believed that anymore. Part of him was wondering if he was actually beginning to enjoy it.
He knelt down over the body, pulling his knife knife from his belt out on the way, and slit her throat. Blood spurted weakly from the wound for a few seconds while she gargled and choked on it, then her eyes went blank One more corpse in a hundred, two hundred? He'd lost count a long time ago. No point in keeping track now. He did what was required and then put it behind him. If he dwelt on it too much the weight of all that murder, all those innocent lives taken, children orphaned, wives widowed, families wiped completely from the earth, would crush him.
What had these people done to deserve this? He did not yet know the reasons for his orders, but little by little they were giving him information. Trust was being built, relationships made, secrets revealed. He would discover their plans and he would do everything in his power to stop them. Until then he would kill, torture, lie, steal and slaughter to accomplish his goals. Nothing, not even his own soul could stop him. The order was dark, and corrupt and evil to its very core. He knew it; he believed it with all his heart. It was was the only think that kept him going. They must be stopped, and he was the best chance anyone had of stopping them. What he had to do was wrong, but it was justified. He would save thousands, maybe even hundred of thousands of souls, even if he lost his own. It was a price he was willing to pay.
He stepped over the corpse of the man, most likely the father, and left the room. He didn't even spare a glance at the two other children that still lay peacefully in their beds, throats slit wide open. They reminded him too much of his own.
One was still breathing. It was shallow, but his his highly attuned ears picked it up. Isaac could hear better than any man he'd ever met. It was an invaluable advantage for a person in his situation. He found the source of the breathing. A young girl, not more than ten years of age. She lay bleeding under the corpse of a woman, probably her mother, with a hole in her gut that Isaac had put there. It is for the greater good, he told himself. Though he wasn't sure if he believed that anymore. Part of him was wondering if he was actually beginning to enjoy it.
He knelt down over the body, pulling his knife knife from his belt out on the way, and slit her throat. Blood spurted weakly from the wound for a few seconds while she gargled and choked on it, then her eyes went blank One more corpse in a hundred, two hundred? He'd lost count a long time ago. No point in keeping track now. He did what was required and then put it behind him. If he dwelt on it too much the weight of all that murder, all those innocent lives taken, children orphaned, wives widowed, families wiped completely from the earth, would crush him.
What had these people done to deserve this? He did not yet know the reasons for his orders, but little by little they were giving him information. Trust was being built, relationships made, secrets revealed. He would discover their plans and he would do everything in his power to stop them. Until then he would kill, torture, lie, steal and slaughter to accomplish his goals. Nothing, not even his own soul could stop him. The order was dark, and corrupt and evil to its very core. He knew it; he believed it with all his heart. It was was the only think that kept him going. They must be stopped, and he was the best chance anyone had of stopping them. What he had to do was wrong, but it was justified. He would save thousands, maybe even hundred of thousands of souls, even if he lost his own. It was a price he was willing to pay.
He stepped over the corpse of the man, most likely the father, and left the room. He didn't even spare a glance at the two other children that still lay peacefully in their beds, throats slit wide open. They reminded him too much of his own.
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