“Forgotten ancients?” Mira muttered. “What did she mean forgotten ancients?”
“I don’t right know,” Healer admitted.
The go’thial priest hadn’t spared a single detail explaining what Estoria had relayed to him. Unfortunately, the goddess also hadn’t given him much to work with. Not much, that is, that didn’t disturb the zephyra knight.
The gods, blinded? Their memories, wiped. It seemed to Mira that ever since she’d stepped off that wagon in Cawold, her life had gone upside down. She almost longed to be back on campaign alongside Captain Theris and the other Dragons of Sitri. Hoards of goblins would have been far more preferable. At least then she would know what she was fighting.
“Perhaps she was talking about the spirits of the swamp?” Rosalie suggested.
“That could well be,” Echo agreed. “I fear, I’ve never heard of such beings as these native ones before. That would constitute forgotten as far as I’m concerned.”
“And I don’t think you can get much more ancient,” added Rosalie.
“That may be true,” Zhel began thoughtfully. “But from our prior experience, I doubt they’d be up for helping.”
Muttered agreement passed among them.
Rosalie’s lips twisted in thought. “To be fair, that spirit either served Mama or the Ebon Maw. We can’t be certain all of them would be so unfriendly.”
Echo turned to her. “You’ve a point, Rosie, but do you know how to contact Papa or any spirit loyal to him?”
She shook her head.
“Probably be best to check with Remy. See what he might know,” said Healer.
“More pressing,” Zhel began darkly, “are those.” He nodded to the book and dagger.
Mira winced as she looked to the accursed things. She couldn’t be certain if it was the lingering aftertaste of the tea, but just being near them put a foul taste in her mouth.
Healer grunted in agreement. “Pointy ears got a point. I can’t believe for one mo’ them things staying in town is good for nobody. ‘Specially not with that thing rotting up the way.”
“Moreover,” Zhel continued, “we cannot risk assuming Romier was working alone.”
Head sinking, Mira sighed heavily. Gods? Demons? Spirits? A whole freaking cult? She cast a sideways glance to Echo. What did you get me into, my lady?
Shifting her gaze among the group, the glint of Norm’s wedding ring caught her eye.
“What about Charlotte?” she thought aloud.
Echo’s wings loosely mantled. “What was that, my knight?”
“N-Nothing, my lady,” Mira stammered out as the heat rose in her cheeks. “It’s just, well, no offense, Norm, but your wife kinda… sorta strikes me as someone that probably knows about this kind of stuff.”
Lips twisting in thought, Echo turned to him. “She has a point.”
“I mean—” Norm shrugged. “Maybe? Problem is she’s not from that side.”
“If you’ve a better suggestion, I’d hear it,” Echo countered.
Puffing out his cheeks, Norm groaned. “It’s gonna be a looooong trip back.”
Zhel cocked an eyebrow at him. “Can’t you just use your ring like you did at the goblin camp? Ask her that way?”
Norm shook his head. “Not that easy. She’s gone to her dad’s, and, well, let’s just say that means she’s not exactly in range…”
“Of course,” Zhel grumbled. “That would seem to be our luck of late.”
“Be that as it may,” Echo began as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “I believe a plan is in order.”
“Remy and me’ll handle the swamp. Don’t you worry none about that,” Armand called from the bar.
Echo nodded appreciatively. “I’ll whip up some communication mirrors. We can exchange information as we uncover it.”
“I’ll gather some of the other clerics to transport those cursed relics back to the High Church,” Brother Luke interjected. “I’ll rest easier knowing they’re safely locked in Korik’s Vaults.”
“We’ll prepare to leave directly with you then,” said Echo.
Brother Luke shook his head. “No, Lady Echo. The High Church is several weeks away, you need to return to Cawold and speak with Charlotte.”
A sound, not quite a gasp but not a scoff either, puffed from Rosalie. “No offense, Mr. Preacher Man, but aren’t priests of Korik sworn to absolute pacifism? What if you’re attacked? Or worse, what if Romier wasn’t working alone?”
“She’s right, Reverend,” Mira agreed. “We can’t risk those things getting loose.”
“I’ll go with them,” said Zhel.
Mira’s feathers fluffed. “Zhel?”
“Dame Mira,” Zhel began. “Like you, I do not pretend to understand the movements of the divine, but my mistress, the Lady Lu’arien, sent me here to help however I can. Now I feel that, though our courses diverge, our destinations remain the same. For now, I must leave, but I know we will meet again before this is all over.”
Jaw tensing, Mira nodded. There was no reasoning with him. Drawing a deep breath, she let it out slowly.
“I hope you’re wrong,” she barely breathed.
“As do I.”
“At least let me order the guards at the blockade to accompany you as far as they can.”
He nodded. “They would be most welcome, dame… my friend.”
“Then it’s settled,” said Echo. “We should prepare to leave within the hour.”
“Ooh!” Rosalie chirped. “Where we going?”
“North, I reckon,” Healer replied.
“North!?” Eyes twinkling, the Yesha climbed up in seat to look the duchess in the eye. “How far north? All the way to the sea? Will there still be snow?”
Echo shook her head in astonishment. “Uh n-no. No, not nearly that far, Rosie, but,” she looked from her to Healer, “you don’t have to come with us, Pastor.”
Adjusting the holy symbol around his neck, Healer cocked an eyebrow at her. “Ain’t really your place to decide that, little bird.”
“Well then.” Brother Luke cleared his throat. “I suppose, if that’s settled, I shall excuse myself to ready my brothers for travel. I would encourage you to do the same. When should we be prepared to head out?”
“I’d prefer to leave sooner than later,” said Echo. “The village has little in the way of provisions they can spare us for travel, so there’s no sense draining what stockpiles they have left. With luck, we should make it to the blockade by midday.”
“Very well, Lady Echo,” said Brother Luke. “If you’d join me, we can finalize travel plans and see about getting you some mirrors to leave here.”
Echo turned to Mira. “Mind handling the packing, my knight?”
***
Mira wasn’t thinking fondly of the days ahead. Travel, though tedious didn’t usually bother her much, but without being able to properly supply for the return trip to Cawold, it would mean relying heavily on hunting and living off the land. Neither of which she was particularly adept at.
For the moment, she distracted herself with packing. Not that there was much to do. She hadn’t left Sitri with much.
Opening the footlocker, she froze at the sight of the little white nightshirt sitting on top. Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.
“Vivvy,” she breathed, clutching it to her chest.
“I know.” The sudden sound of Norm’s voice startled her. “I still can’t figure out what we’re going to do with the two of them.”
“I hadn’t even thought of it,” she admitted. “I’ve just gotten so used to her being here, I—” She wiped a stray tear from her eye. “We can’t leave them here, Norm. You’ve seen yourself how superstitious these people are. Knowing it was their uncle responsible for all of this, one bad harvest and they’ll burn them at the stake!”
“I’m with you, feathers,” he agreed. “I’ve been wracking my brains since we got here, trying to decide what to do.”
“Korik.” The word was a hoarse croak that resisted Mira’s command to be spoken. “We’ll send them with Brother Luke and Zhel to the orphanage.”
Norm shot her a skeptical look. “You know you can’t do that.”
“I know but…” It took every ounce of her knightly resolve to steel the dam against the deluge building in her eyes. “We don’t really have another choice.”
“We have Charlotte.” Mira trembled at her name. “Look, the old lady’s been pestering me about having another kid for a while. Now, I’m pretty sure you’ve noticed, but I’m not exactly what you’d call a family man. If we take them with us, it’ll get her off my back, and they’ll have a home where they won’t want for a thing.”
Mira’s fingers twisted in the tiny shirt. But she’s mine. My Iteeri. My— A few more tears squeezed through the lock. No. Not yours. You don’t deserve her. You don’t deserve anyone, murderer.
“They’ll be safe, and you know where she’ll be whenever you want to visit,” he assured.
Taking a deep breath, her neck felt like it was being fastened with iron rods as she forced herself to nod.
“I’ll finish packing and fly up to the mill.” A sob shook her. “No sense leaving any of their things behind.”
***
“No!” Vivveen shouted as she latched onto Mira with every ounce of her tiny being.
“You can’t go!” Caleb cried.
They’d returned to find everyone gathered in the tavern, their bags packed and ready to depart. Their reaction was expected. Natural even. No one had had a chance to speak. To say a single word to them, but for the siblings, who’d already lost everything, the sight was clear.
“Please stay! Please!” Caleb begged.
“I’ll be good! I promise!” Vivveen bawled.
A sharp prick pierced Mira’s heart at their cries. Wings curling around the girl, she hoisted her up in her arms. Gently shushing her, she looked desperately to Norm as the boy fell at his feet.
“Hey now,” the warlock said gently as he knelt next to the child. “None of that. We broke the curse. It’s time for us to go.”
That did nothing to allay the children’s fears. In fact, both began to wail louder.
Vivveen locked her arms around Mira. “Don’t leave me mama!”
“Vivvy. Vivvy, downie.” Mira softly shushed her. “Hey, flutter bug, it’s okay. You heard him. It’s time for us to go. You, me, Echo, your brother, Norm, everyone. We’re all heading out.”
Their sobs gave way to gasping breaths as they tried to understand her meaning.
“There’s nothing but hurt left for you here, and none of us will see you suffer more,” Echo calmly explained. “Master Norman has agreed to take you in.”
“You mean—” Caleb looked up to him. “You’re to be our new papa, Monsieur Norm?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, basically.”
“No!” Vivveen protested. “I want Mama Mira! Echo Mama!”
The dagger twisted in Mira’s breast. I want you t— No! No, it’ll be better this way.
“I’m sorry, fledgling, but neither of us is mommy material,” Mira assured herself more than the child. “We’re like fun aunts at best.”
“And I swear to you,” Echo said as she laid her head on the girl’s, “we’ll visit as often as we can.”
“But I don’t want—”
“There’ll be no more protesting, downling,” said Echo.
“Tell you what,” Mira began before Vivveen could continue crying. “How about we play pretend until we get to Norm’s house, okay?”
She sniffled. “So you’ll be my mommies until we get there?”
Feathers fluffing, Echo shot Mira a glance. “Yes, Vivvy, dear,” she agreed. “Until we get you to your new home, we can do that.”
***
It was well after midday as they approached the blockade. Mira couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of how their strange little caravan looked. A pair of zephyrni cradling a couple of human orphans, a warlock, a go’thial priest to a human goddess, a Yesha nomad who’d only ever lived in one place, a night elf heretic, and a contingent of priests of Korik.
They’d spent the morning bidding farewell to the townspeople. There were many demands for promises to come back and visit, though the knight couldn’t help but pick up on the feeling that they were glad to see the children go. Remy and Armand accompanied them to the edge of the forest, only then saying their goodbyes.
Brother Luke drew back on the reins as the militia captain approached. “Whoa, Wesley, Padro.”
The captain scanned the bizarre group of travelers. “In with five, out with a small platoon.”
Echo laughed. “So it would seem.”
“So it’s done then? You’ve broken the curse?”
Mira nodded. “It was the butcher,” she confirmed, making certain not to mention the children’s relationship to him. “He was in a league with a demon.”
He sighed with relief as he looked from her to Brother Luke. “Praise the gods you arrived when you did, friar.”
“It wasn’t me,” Brother Luke said piously. “I am but a servant of his holiness. I follow only where he leads me, and he led me to bring the true heroes here. It was Lady Echo who discovered we faced a curse, not a disease, and Dame Mira who struck the final blow to end it.”
“We were there too!” Rosalie protested.
Brother Luke laughed. “Indeed you were, friend.” Turning back to the captain, a sense of sadness filled his voice. “But now, I fear, we must go our separate ways.”
The captain nodded. “My men are ready to travel with you as far as they can.” He looked to Mira. “And we’ve procured travel for you and your comrades as well, dame knight.”
Stepping aside, he gestured to the command tent they’d set up to run the blockade. There, a horse drawn wagon stood waiting. Its team already bridled and ready.
A strange sensation passed over Mira as she rose, Vivveen cradled in her arms. Her feet were heavy, almost as if gripping the priest’s wagon. It was hardly a new feeling, but it didn’t make it any easier. Though she’d only known the nu-duwar and friar for a few weeks, she missed them already.
Zhel nodded knowingly to her. “It’s time, my friend,” he said. “Though our destinations might be the same, our paths diverge here, but I must admit.” A playful smirk curled his lip. “I do pray that, when next we meet, it’ll be for a fine pint, and not another thing more.”
“That sounds nice.” She jerked her head towards the others. “Echo’s buying.”
“Excuse me!?” the duchess protested. “Ale!? If I’m buying, it’ll be for a lovely hippocras, and I’ll hear nothing else.”
Rosalie climbed into the driver’s seat beside Brother Luke. Crossing her arms over her chest, she peered at him.
“You make sure you stay safe, okay?” she said.
The entire wagon shook. “Don’t you worry none, little one,” said Healer as he rocked forward to kneel next to her. “I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
Brother Luke smiled warmly as he looked down upon them as they dismounted. “May you have not but warm sun and fair skies along your way, my friends.” With a final hug from the children, he handed them off, and snapped the reins. “Onward Padro, Wesley.”
Caleb and Viveen raced to the waiting wagon. Climbing up as high as they could, they waved to Zhel and Brother Luke as the mules dutifully plodded out of sight.
“So,” Norm began as he took the driver’s seat. “Cawold?”
A booming laugh shook the go’thial. “Don’t sound so excited to be going home, lad.”
The warlock simply grumbled under his breath.
Free of the thick swamp canopy, Echo stretched her wings. “What do you say, love?” she said to Mira. “Fancy a little fly? I can’t speak for you, but it’d be nice to get some lift without swallowing my weight in mosquitoes.”
Mira laughed as she unfurled her wings. She was about to respond when there was a soft brush down her flight feathers. Turning, she found Vivveen looking on in awe. Her mind sank back into her own downling days. Wings too small and weak to flutter let alone fly. Only the little human girl would never know the joys of soaring.
On the breeze, the memory of her childhood eyrie reached her, and with it, her mother’s embrace as she flew through the tiers on daily errands. Even though the child would never be able to fly on her own, that didn’t mean she couldn’t touch the sky.
“Come on.” Mira beckoned her. “Let’s chase some clouds.”
And so, for a while, they glided upon steady updrafts. The air was calm. Neither eddies nor turbulence found them. The girl barely blinked as the zephyrni drew as close to their ceilings as they dared climb with their precious cargo, lazily orbiting between the wagons as they drifted apart until, as the sun began to sink, they swooped down to say goodbye one last time to the nu-duwar heretic and the human priest before turning north.
About the Author
A. S. Raithe is a fantasy author living near Pittsburgh with his wife and children. Always the creative type, it wasn’t until high school and being introduced to a local bestselling author that he found his passion for writing. He took time away from writing to attend college before being convinced by his wife to pick it up again shortly after their wedding. Outside of writing he enjoys exercise, baking, gardening, folklore, music, and hiking.
