Amendments (7 page)

              Noir called out to him and Ratt’s eyes finally fell onto Noir.  To Noir’s surprise, the grin on his face disappeared.  “Noir!  What are you doing here?”  Noir finally reached Ratt and put out his arms for a friendly hug, but Ratt put a hand on Noir’s chest pushing him away.  “Just stay back, Noir.”

              Noir was shocked by this.  It was not what he'd expected at all.  “What?  Why?  What’s wrong, Ratt?”

              Ratt took a couple steps back and kept his hand out as if to keep Noir away.  “Just stay away.  I don’t want to hurt you.”

              Noir threw his hands out as if to ask why.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ratt.  I’m glad to see you.”  He laughed nervously.  “What’s wrong?  You can tell me.”

              Ratt turned and threatened, “Just leave me alone.”  Then with a cloud of dirt and a blur of blue-green, he disappeared.  Noir was left standing dumbfounded.  People rejoiced around him, but Noir was filled with confusion and dread.

Chapter 7

The Leader of the Returners

              Grandel sat across the table from the man who had punched him in the jaw a little more than a week earlier.  He had been surprised when Menoh had come for a meeting with him.  Menoh and his followers had created their own small huddle of tents and campfires, and they were drawing plans for more permanent dwellings.  Grandel could see them in the distance when he looked out from New Talik’s cliffs.  Menoh's camp was a small, nagging blemish on the landscape.  It reminded Grandel of his past mistakes each time he saw it.

              Two other men sat alongside Menoh in the small, clay room.  Isis sat on her perch as usual.  She watched the men cautiously.  She felt the nervousness that came through the sye link from Grandel.  Also, Isis remembered what they did last time they were near him. Grandel sat alone, as they had requested, but Adeel and six other guards stood outside if any issues arose with the newcomers.

              After everyone in the meeting was seated, Menoh was the first to speak.  He still had on the rags of a former Chiron slave, and still had the pale ring of flesh around his neck from where the slave collar once sat.  However, he held himself like one who saw himself as important.  “We have little desire to talk to you, murderer.  However, The Returners have need of your supplies.  You have had more time to procure necessary resources than us.”

              Grandel groaned. “What do you need—you and your ‘Returners’?”

              “Do not mock us!” Menoh shot at Grandel with disdain.  “We have been attacked three times during the past two weeks.  Straghs have attacked and killed nine of my people.  Our only defense has been to flee to the Chiron soldiers.  We have need of weapons, armor, and a Luxin.”

              Grandel closed his eyes and sighed.  “Nothing but the sweat from my peoples’ brows is what gave us what we have.  They have worked like that for eleven years.  And we have too few Luxins here as it is.”  Grandel sighed.  “I have an obligation to you and your kind.  It is a debt I could never hope to pay back.  However, this is
my
debt, not my people’s.  I offer my services in any way that I can, but I cannot take from my people to give you what you need.

              Menoh looked down at his hands clasped in front of him.  Grandel realized he had been wrong earlier.  Menoh did not hold himself as though he thought himself overly important, but of someone whose ego is inflated with righteous supremacy—ready to combat any negative comment about their beliefs.  “I believe we have no more need of you or this meeting, then.  Goodbye.”

              The three stood up and made ready to leave.  Grandel stood up as well and held out a hand to stop them.  “Wait,” he said.  “How many are in your number now?”

              “The Returners number thirty-seven with more coming every day.”

              “We could accommodate you in New Talik.  We have many here who would be willing to share their meager homes until a better house can be built for you.”

              “We will never align with you and never join your town.”

              Grandel shook his head.  He thought about Adeel and her attitude toward this topic.  She wanted him to stand up for himself.  How could he, though, after all he'd done to these people.  “I don’t see why not.  My past transgressions are just that—in the past!  I know I did horrible and unforgivable things back then, but I offer you and your families help now.  Please let me attempt to make up for my past mistakes.”

              One of the other men in the room responded without making eye contact with Grandel.  “Joining you would be the ultimate dishonor to our dead children and family members.”  Menoh motioned for the others to leave with him, but turned around before doing so.  “I almost forgot.  Has The Diviner returned?”

              “The Diviner?” Grandel asked, confused.

              “The one named Noir.  He was the one closest to the Lumin.”

              Grandel remembered them asking about him before.  “No.  Like I told you before, he is gone.”

              “Then we shall await the Diviner’s return.”  The three walked out.

              As soon as they were gone, Adeel walked in and closed the door behind her.  “Well, you didn’t offer yourself to get beat up this time.  That’s an improvement.”  She rounded the table and sat next to Grandel.  “What did they want?”

              “Supplies.  They’ve been attacked by straghs and need armor, weapons, and a Luxin to protect them.  I told them we couldn’t help them.”

              “It would not be fair to the people of this town,” Adeel agreed.

              “Exactly.”  Grandel looked at Adeel in her Luxin armor and white cloak.  She had her hair in many small braids as she usually did, and she sat forward looking into his eyes.  She looked beautiful, as always.  A part of him felt unfaithful to Kahmi's memory for having such strong feelings for another so soon after her death.  He pushed the thought aside.  “With a talented Luxin, they would have little need of weapons and armor.”

              She immediately knew what he meant.  “I am needed here, Grandel.  For the people of this town and for you.”

              “I know that, but we have Fafnir now.  If there is anyone more gifted with lux than you, it’s her.”

              Adeel didn’t seem to understand his flattery.  “Don’t be foolish.  There are countless Luxins that are much more talented and strong with lux than I.”  She shook her head.  “Asking Fafnir this is out of the question.”

              “Would it?  You know her much better than I.”

              “Fafnir goes and does as she pleases.  She's decided to help us, which, I assure you, is an unfathomable honor.  One would first ask a river to change its direction than one would ask Fafnir such a thing.”

              They sat for a long moment, and then Adeel got up, closed the door, and came back and sat in Grandel’s lap.  She reclined back and rested her head on his shoulder.

              Grandel grunted and laughed playfully, “Your armor is uncomfortable.”

              She looked into his eyes and sweetly said, “Is it, now?  Well, deal with it you big baby.”  Then she gave him a long and tender kiss.

              Grandel’s mind was not on the beautiful woman in his lap, however.  His mind churned on the issue with the Returners.  He broke the kiss slowly and looked into Adeel’s eyes.  “If someone taught them the crafts they would need to make armor and weapons, then they could survive on their own.”

              Adeel nodded.  “We could send Gonn to them for a while.  He could train a blacksmith or two and bring them the supplies they would need to make their own armor and weapons.”

              “That would take months and Gonn has a family here.  Plus, they need much more than just a blacksmith, Adeel.”

              Adeel looked into his eyes sternly, realizing what he had in mind.  “If you think I’m going to change your features like Kit did, you’re a fool.  Plus I just finally got your face back to how it's supposed to be.”  She stood up sharply from his lap.  “And what about everyone here?  We need you here! 
I
need you here!”  Grandel tried to interject, but Adeel continued speaking over top of him.  “You're being a self-centered fool, like always, Grandel.  You can’t fix everything on your own, you know.  How many times have I told you to let go of the past?”  Tears started to well up in Adeel’s eyes.  “I don't want to lose you again.”

              Grandel stood up and held Adeel tightly to him.  “You won’t lose me again, my love.  I promise.”

Chapter 8

Ruith

              After the visit of the Savior of Tier, the town elders of Lithe met.  Over many hours of heated discussion, they decided that there was no other option but to leave their town and relocate to New Talik.  Noir sat through the arguments during the early morning hours, but it seemed that most were in consensus by the end.  No one would be forced to leave their homes; but as far as the elders were concerned, the town was officially abandoned.  Anyone remaining would be left on their own.

              The next day, Noir helped the town pack as many belongings as they could onto their wagons and carts.  Others threw together sleds to pull their possessions.  Livestock was herded and prepared for the journey.  People gathered in the evening as they finished their preparations.  Noir talked with the elders about Talik and told them what to expect when they got there.  He showed many his map and described the exact path to Talik that he had just taken himself in the past few days.  Once everyone had everything gathered, the town was eerily silent and empty.  It turned out that not a single villager wanted to risk staying despite many having lived their whole lives there.

              The elder said a few parting words at the head of the group, and they were off.  The slow line of villagers, livestock, carts, and horses started filing out of the town gate.  Noir watched them go from the town center where the Tierian Lieutenant had been killed the night before.  He watched the group disappear over the hill toward the river that he had followed yesterday.  Once the last signs of the townsfolk were gone, Noir hefted his bag, turned, and walked the other direction.  His path was to the south east.  As Noir started to walk, something caught his eye.  Something past the town wall had moved, but he couldn't see anything anymore.

              Noir cautiously walked forward with his hand on his sword and his mind open, ready to draw upon lux.  He rounded the wall where he had seen the movement and looked down the length of its wilderness-facing side.  Nothing was there.  No birds, wild animals, forgotten livestock, or anything moved anywhere near.  Then, while keeping an eye on the place he had seen the shape, he moved away from the town.  He kept checking the area as he walked away until he could no longer see it.  Eventually the creepy feeling passed and Noir enjoyed the peaceful but difficult walk through the wilderness.

              Noir had decided to head to the next closest small town.  He was afraid that something similar to what had happened in Lithe would be happening elsewhere.  According to the map, it seemed like he might be able to get there in about two days on foot.  He stayed clear of the dirt road that he was sure connected the two towns.  He instead kept to the sparse trees off to one side.

              After several hours of walking, Noir stumbled upon a rabbit hiding in a small grove.  He solidified the air around it, walked up, and swiftly and carefully ended its life.  He went a bit farther into the woods, and then made a small fire to cook the rabbit.  Talik rarely had meat, so he was excited.  The sun dropped below the trees as he cooked the animal.

              As he turned the rabbit over the fire, he studied the skinned animal.  Noir was no animal expert, but he always thought the creatures in this world looked different.  He couldn't put his finger on how, but he was sure they weren't the same animals from home.  He'd seen many deer while traveling, but they weren't exactly the deer he was used to.  It made Noir wonder for the thousandth time where this world was.

              Something moved in the woods and jarred Noir out of his daydreaming.  Instinctively, he put his hand on the hilt of his sword.  He kept his eyes on the exact spot where he saw the movement and stood up slowly.  Noir had killed many straghs in the wilderness on his own in the past few months, but this did not remind him of the stealthy, pale beasts.  He called out, “I see you there!  I warn you, I’m a powerful Luxin.”  There was no response.  Noir stood still, straining to hear or see anything other than the regular sounds and sights of the woods.

              A few more tense moments passed before Noir heard a man’s voice call out, “Well, I guess I’m spotted.  Some sneak I am….”  A man in a brown cloak stood from his hiding place from under a bush and started to come forward.  Noir couldn't get a good look at the man through the foliage and in the low light.  He held his hand ready on his sword hilt.

              “Who are you?  What do you want?”

              “You, Luxin Noir,” the man stated.  The voice seemed familiar.  Noir thought it sounded a bit like his father's, but he'd heard this voice much more recently than that.

              “What do you mean you want me?”

              The man got his cloak snagged on a branch.  “I’m following you because I’m interested in you.”  He tugged on the branch and the small tree shook noisily.  “Darn it!  Stupid bush!”

              Noir asked again in a more threatening tone.  “Who are you?”

              The man finally got his cloak untangled from the tree and pulled the hood back.  He took a few more steps forward and Noir got a better look at his face in the light of the fire.  Noir saw the scars running down the man's face that had sent shivers down his spine the day before.  “You’re Ruith.  From Lithe.”

              “Formerly from Lithe, you could say.”  Ruith finally made his way through the rest of the trees and came into the small clearing.  “'Formerly' since I am not with the population that’s going to Talik, and there’s no sense staying in that ghost town.”

              Noir still kept his hand on his sword hilt.  He took a few steps back and moved around the fire so it was between the two of them.  “Look, I don’t even know you.”

              Ruith laughed and the scars on his temple stretched oddly.  “My good Luxin, you are ten times more powerful than I.  Also, I am unarmed.”  He lifted up his cloak to reveal a lack of weapons.  “If anyone should be nervous, it’s me, and I am profoundly not nervous about you.”

              Noir finally relaxed a bit, though he kept his eyes on Ruith.  The rabbit was getting charred, so he picked it up flipped it onto the other side over the fire.  “Why didn’t you go with your town to Talik?  Don’t you have family or friends in the town?”

              Ruith sat down by the fire and warmed his hands even though Noir had never invited him to.  “No.  The only family I have is way southeast in the Tierian capital.”

              “Okay, so why are you so interested in me?”

              Ruith chuckled.  “Why
wouldn’t
I be interested in you?  You come into town, help save hundreds of lives, your friend is that armored fellow, your other friend governs Talik, and you’re the most powerful Luxin I’ve ever met.  My friend,
you
,” he paused dramatically and pointed at Noir, “are
interesting
!”

              Noir wasn’t sure what to say.  He didn’t want to be followed by random strangers.  However, he felt like Ruith was not just anyone.  The scars were an obvious sign of that.  “So you are following me because I’m… interesting?  How long do you plan on following me?”

              “I don’t know.”  He motioned Noir to sit down.  “Would you please relax?  I promise you I mean you no harm at all.”  Noir sighed and took a seat across the fire from Ruith.  “Now, a question for
you
.  Why are you going to
let
me follow you?”

              Noir frowned.  “I haven't agreed to that just yet.”  He paused for a moment then said, “You are a bit interesting, yourself, I guess.”

              “Am I?” Ruith asked as he continued to warm his hands.

              Noir looked at the man’s scars.  It was the first time he'd had an opportunity to study them up close.  They certainly looked like the scarred man’s from before.  “I am sorry to ask this, but the scars on your face… what are they from?”

              The response that came from Ruith was not what Noir had expected.  The man’s entire body went tense.  His eyes closed and he gritted his teeth.  After a moment, the tension in the man’s body seemed to pass.  Now, however, he was deadly serious.  “They are from something terrible.  From a previous life.”

              The response didn’t tell Noir what he wanted to know, but he was afraid to delve into it more.  Ruith seemed to sense this, so he continued.  “The scars are from an attempt by Tier to make me able to use din.”

              “Was it from Nidhoggr’s blood?”

              The man grimaced.  “Yes.  You know a lot already, young Noir.”

              Noir had already been fairly sure about the dragon being held prisoner and abused in this way, but having his fears confirmed still made Noir's heart sink.  Noir, Grandel, Adeel, Jotunar, Steven, and others all feared this possibility.  Tier was making dual vigor users.  Nidhoggr was indeed in Tier.  Noir looked intently into Ruith’ eyes.  “I am sorry to press this more, but it is very important.  Is Nidhoggr working with them or is he—”

              Ruith responded sternly.  “Nidhoggr is most certainly
not
working with them!  He is their prisoner.”  Ruith looked through Noir as if seeing something far away.  “Never anything more evil have I seen, friend.  A massive cave chamber beneath the Tierian palace holds a huge metal siphon enchant.  Nidhoggr has been held there for years, unable to die but unable to live.  The siphon drains any attempt of his to din, and the metal contraption restrains his limbs.  It is truly abhorrent.”  The man turned his head and looked as though he was about to get sick.  “There is a place beneath the dragon where one can bathe in his blood.  A dozen scars line his belly where Nidhoggr has been sliced open by a special sword enchant called the Einlanzer.”

              The brutal description triggered a memory for Noir.  When the scarred man had him captive with sye, a brief scene came through the connection that was exactly like Ruith’ description.  “I think I have seen this awful place before.”

              Noir described the encounter with the scarred man and the images that came through the sye connection.  Ruith said, “This man you speak of is most certainly one of Tier’s creations.”

              They sat without talking for a few minutes as the rabbit finished cooking.  A few times, Ruith murmured things under his breath that Noir couldn’t understand.  Noir checked the meat with his knife to see if it was finished, then chopped it up and shared it with the man.

              The mood was tense, so, as they ate, Noir questioned, “Did you train in lux with Fafnir?”

              In a much more calm tone than earlier, Ruith responded, “I unfortunately did not.  Tierians are forbidden from leaving the kingdom.  A few who discover their affinity with lux or sye try to sneak out to go study with Fafnir or Jotunar, but most are captured first.”  He shuddered again.  “I assume you did?”

              “Yes, I studied with Fafnir, but only for a few weeks.”

              “I’ll be honest; I’m jealous.  Tell me about her,” he asked in a sad way.

              Noir started from when he had first met the dragon.  He talked about everything and answered any questions that Ruith had about her.  The conversation lasted long after they had finished eating, cleaned the site of the fire, and gone on their way.

~~~

              The king of Tier wore a black cloak with the hood pulled low over his face.  He didn't want anyone recognizing him.  Kit, the Luxin who hated Grandel more than anything, marveled at how the regal king could humble himself so.  Everything about the man was different than when he stood in the mighty halls of Fort Estelar in the Tierian capital.  He managed to look slumped, old, fragile, and poor when not thirty minutes earlier he had met Kit from behind a long table filled with the richest house lords of all of Tier.  The king himself had been the messenger and porter for this woman who had summoned him. 
The
woman.  The woman in rags.  The one who had made the straghs and nearly destroyed the world thirty-five years earlier.

              Finally, the king stopped at a small alley that was indistinguishable from the dozens of others they had already passed.  Rags blocked the dim entrance.  The king turned to Kit and got right next to his ear.  “Say the wrong thing and you will not leave this alley alive.”

              Kit answered, “I am not afraid of some old hag no matter how—“

              The king grabbed Kit around the neck and pressed some strange metal device against his jugular.  Kit could feel himself cut off from his lux.  The king spat his words into Kit’s face.  “A tongue like that will be cut out by her without hesitation.”  He paused for a very long, painful time.  Kit stared into cold eyes that poured disdain.  Finally, the king said, “She is not under my control.”  He pulled away and Kit felt his connection with lux return.

              Kit frowned and asked, “How is she out of your control?  You're the King of Tier!”

              “She's very... influential.”

              Kit shook his head.  “Influential over you?  You can't even use a vigor.  That doesn't intimidate me.”

              The king pulled his hood tight around his head once more and turned.  Before the king disappeared in the crowd, he said, “Be a fool if you want.  It’s your life you’re toying with.”