Arbiter (The Arbiter Chronicles Book 1) (12 page)

Rae nodded, turning towards Larin. “How far is it?” she asked the wisp.

Once again, he treated her to an image. This time, it was of the trail the wisp had taken from where they were standing. The image moved, rushing through the woods. It ducked through hollow logs and underneath tree roots, zipping through gaps in the branches and darting out from behind trees until at last it reached the clearing where the girl was being held, clearly being prepared for some sort of transport. The image released her, and she looked up at Cathel to show that that had meant next to nothing to her.

“Far,” answered Cathel for her.

She nodded.

The Arbiter should not go through the woods…

They are not safe…

Let us show you the way…

We will show you the safe path…

We know the woods…all the woods…

Every leaf, every blade...

The spirits rushed past her, and Rae felt their touch like a brush of cold air against her skin as they hovered around the tree line, waiting for them. She turned back towards Cathel as she shook Larin off her arm, the wisp going to hover in the air above her shoulder instead. “Can we trust them?” she asked, lowering her voice to a whisper.

“I think so,” said Cathel. “Wood spirits are neither High Court nor Dark Court, so it’s hard to say, but…”

“Better than the alternative?”

He shrugged. “We don’t have time. And I don’t think they’d harm you. Whatever Arbiter means, it’s clearly something they respect.”

Rae nodded, understanding. She let Cathel lead the way, following the spirits into the woods.

Rae settled down in the tall grass next to Cathel, trying to ignore the trembling of her hands and the terrified beating of her heart. She held her breath, looking out at the clearing below them. The wood spirits had led them around the
firithan’s
camp, taking them to the top of a hill. The hill was covered in trees and other growth, and dressed as they were in Alcian’s cloaks, they could hide easily without being seen. But Rae knew that that wasn’t a guarantee. Who knew what other creatures the
firithan
had on his side?

The look of the camp surprised her. In some ways, it looked like something she would have expected from a human camp. There were no tents, but there was a large campfire, where the leader, the
firithan,
rested. He was a large Ivali, about the same size as Cathel. In some ways, he looked almost human—with two legs, two arms, and one head. But in other ways, he was obviously not. His body was covered in brown feathers, wings stretching from across his arms. His features were owl-like.

The others were scattered around the camp, some of them standing guard, and others watching over the prisoner. Rae counted at least ten in all, and like Cathel pointed out, there were probably more scouting the perimeter. The girl herself was still unconscious from the looks of it. Rae had been out for two days after her transition, so she didn’t expect the girl to wake up any time soon. Cathel glanced at her once, motioning for her to move back and she did, following him into the woods until they were a safe distance away from the camp.

The wood spirits had left after bringing them here, stating that that was the most help they could offer. Rae let them go. If they were truly neutral between the Courts, then she wasn’t going to test their patience by demanding that they stay and help them out. She wasn’t sure what they could do anyway. It didn’t seem as though they had much of a solid form.

Cathel sat on the ground once they were far enough away, drawing his finger across it. An impression followed his finger, the grass automatically clearing around it as he moved. He drew a circle to represent the perimeter of the camp, a triangle to represent the girl, and a square to represent the
firithan
. The wood sprites, he marked in x’s .

“Our biggest problem is the
firithan
,” he said, as she sat down across from him. “He’s clearly stronger than the sprites. If it comes down to a fight, I don’t know if we can win against him.”

“Do you know what type of Ivali he is?”

Cathel shook his head. “I don’t know much about the Dark Court,” he said. “Knowledge of the Ivali is a little limited nowadays. I only know the important ones, and the ones close by. But I can tell you that if he holds the title
firithan
, he’s probably strong. The
thain
of both Courts tend to be just a step below the Lords in strength.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Not being very modest here, are you?” she asked, half-teasing, half-serious.

Cathel rolled his eyes, waving his hand dismissively. “Please,” he said. “I can fight off a minor darkling, but I wouldn’t want to match blades with one of the
firithain
if I could help it.”

“Could you fight him?” asked Rae, looking up at him. She realized that she had no idea how strong Cathel really was. He claimed to be a novice mage, but the shelter he had made from uncooperative ground seemed pretty solid to her.

“One on one?” asked Cathel, looking over at her. “…Maybe. It depends. This is old forest. It’s not easy to work with. And I don’t know his strength. But I can’t fight against him and the sprites at the same time.”

Rae stared down at her hands. She knew what Cathel was asking her. Could she use the High Lord’s magic to fight? She had no idea…she’d never really thought about it before. She knew that it was possible...in theory.

“The Decadal Spell,” said Cathel after a while. “…Alcian's magic. How does it work?”

Rae shrugged in response, holding up one finger. Light blossomed at the end of it, weaving its way down her arm. “It depends on the phase of the moon. Right now, since we’re on the waxing side of things, I can control light. When the moon tips over onto the waning side of things, it’ll become darkness.”

“Can you fight with it?” asked Cathel.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, lowering her hand. The light dissipated. “I’ve never tried. But it’s not ordinary light magic. There’s something…off about it. I think I could hurt someone with it, if I wanted to. But I don’t know how it works, and I’d rather not count on that.”

“You could disorient the sprites at least,” said Cathel. “Blind them a bit, send them into a panic. And maybe then find out what your magic can really do.”

Rae looked up, giving Cathel a suspicious glance. “…What are you planning?” she asked.

“We’ll go in tonight, when it starts to get dark,” he said, looking up at the setting sun. “You confuse them and go for the girl. I’ll hold off the
firithan
.” 

Rae stared down at the outline of the camp on the ground. She rested one arm across her knee, thinking over Cathel’s words. If she was being honest, the prospect of an actual fight breaking out terrified her. But she had come to the Twilight Realm willingly. What did she think was going to happen?

You can't turn back now, she reminded herself. You have to see this through to the end.

Cathel reached into his pack, drawing out a bundle of blue cloth and setting it down between them. Rae stared, recognizing the talismans he had brought into the Edgelands, the bundle that had stayed untouched at the bottom of their packs since the day they had left. He unwrapped the runed cloth gingerly, wordlessly passing a set of metal bracelets to Rae. They glowed with a faint cold light, lines tracing their way across the iron. She took them from him, snapping them around her wrists with a grim expression on her face. The metal felt cold against her skin, and she had no idea how jewelry was supposed to protect her from the Ivali, but she trusted Cathel enough.

Then and there, she trusted him enough.

He picked up the edges of the cloth, solemnly beginning to wrap the talismans up again.

“What about you?” she asked.

“I won't wear any,” he said.

“What?” asked Rae. “Why not?”

“Because I won't be sneaking in,” said Cathel. “And I don't want to appear hostile right away.”

Rae’s eyes widened slightly, and she looked over at him. “What do you mean you’re not sneaking in?”

“I’m going to try to negotiate with the
firithan
first. I want you to watch my back.”

“Are you insane?” asked Rae. “Why?”

“Because the High Court and the Dark Court aren’t exactly enemies,” said Cathel. “At least not overtly. If I start out hostile, I’m going to end up causing trouble for High Lord Alcian.”

Rae scowled, meeting Cathel’s eyes. She wanted to protest, to tell him that exposing himself like that was stupid, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She knew that he was right. And as much as she hated it right now, she was supposed to be the Arbiter. She couldn’t condone an act of violence between the Courts…not unless a peaceful resolution had been tried first.

“Fine,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Just…fine.”

“Watch my back,” said Cathel quietly, getting to his feet. “If it starts looking like it’s going badly, step in.”

#

If it starts looking like it’s going badly, step in…

Easier said than done.

Cathel let out the breath he was holding as he stepped towards the camp, forcing himself to remove his hand from the hilt of his sword. His eyes drifted towards the hill, searching for Rae. He caught sight of Larin blinking once through the foliage before disappearing. Somehow, Cathel could imagine Rae standing there in its place, half-hidden behind the trees, her face contorted into a scowl to mask her concern.

She had every right to be concerned.

He was fairly certain that he was about to do something very stupid. But she wouldn’t interrupt him. She would do as he had instructed.

And if he died from this, it would be his own damned fault.

Slowly, he unclenched his fist, attempting to ease the tension he felt as he stepped out of the woods, walking into the camp. At once, he felt the activity in the camp stop. He saw wood sprites drop shovels and other tools for setting up the camp, saw them turn towards him. Although none of them touched him or even moved in his direction, he could feel their hostility. The
firithan
did not move, continuing to sit hunched over by the fire as Cathel approached, his footsteps seeming strangely loud in the quiet of the forest.

He came to stand in front of the
firithan,
keeping the fire between them. Cathel considered the fire, wondering if it was worth establishing a bond with. It wouldn't be. It had been started by the
firithan,
and thus was loyal to the
firithan
. The control he would get wouldn’t be worth the energy expended in subduing it.

“What do you want, human?” asked the
firithan,
looking up.

“Firstly, your name and your business,
firithan
,” said Cathel, looking in the
firithan
’s eyes. They were bright amber, and for a moment he saw himself reflected in them—pathetically weak and human compared to the Ivali. He forced himself to keep his back straight, his posture rigid as he watched the
firithan
.

“And who are you,” asked the
firithan,
getting to his feet. He was as tall as Cathel, not that that seemed to matter. He knew enough about the Ivali to know that size was not always an indicator of power. “to demand such things of me?”

“I am Cathel,” he responded. “
Tarethan
to High Lord Alcian, in whose lands you currently rest.”

The
firithan
let out a laugh. It sounded like a bird's cry. “A human
tarethan
?” he asked. “Alcian must be growing soft. But the mark does ring true on you. Very well. I am Skor,
firithan
to Dark Lord Moriwen.”

He ignored the taunt about Alcian, not rising to the bait. Skor tossed aside the bone he was picking at, and Cathel wondered briefly what sort of animal it had come from. His hand twitched, but he kept it away from his sword, not letting any of his intimidation show on his face as he stared Skor down. The owl man folded his arms, watching Cathel.

“…So then,” he said. “What do you want with me, human
tarethan
?”

“You have a prisoner,” said Cathel. “A human girl.”

“Yes,” said Skor, his eyes moving towards the gathering of sprites to his right. Cathel looked as well. The girl was still there, and she was, thankfully, still unconscious. Rae was right. She was young. “A girl child, from the Daylight Realm. She cannot possibly be an acquaintance of yours. What is it to you?”

“I wish for you to release her to me.”

“That is impossible,” said Skor, his eyes narrowing. “It is Dark Lord Moriwen’s will that I bring the human to her.”

“I don’t care about the Dark Lord’s will,” replied Cathel. “Release the human, and you may leave these lands in peace.”

Skor’s eyes narrowed further, anger growing in them. “You would openly defy Dark Lord Moriwen?”

“The last time I checked,” said Cathel quietly, his hand going to the hilt of his sword. “We were not in Dark Lord Moriwen's lands.”

Skor’s eyes moved towards Cathel’s sword, and he let out another screeching laugh. “You would fight me, human?” he asked. “Your mistress has given you a false impression of yourself, if you think you stand a chance against me. My power would overwhelm you with ease.”

“Maybe,” said Cathel, his eyes narrowing. He slowly drew his sword, the fading sunlight reflecting off of the blade. He resisted the urge to look towards the hilltop, taking a deep breath as he held his sword in both hands.

Anytime, Rae…
he thought to himself, facing Skor. “But I won’t allow you to insult High Lord Alcian further.”

Anytime…

Skor screeched, rushing forward towards him.

And blinding light exploded from the hilltop, rippling down towards the camp.

#

Rae had to hand it to Cathel. If there was one talent seemed to hold without a doubt, it was the amazing ability to piss people off.

As soon as she saw the
firithan
rush towards Cathel, his talons extended at the end of his long fingers, she released the magic she had been building up inside of her, a blast of light rolling down the hillside and overtaking the camp. She didn’t stop to think about the utter madness of what she was doing, instead flying down the hillside at a run, ducking under branches and stumbling over roots as she rushed towards the campsite.

Her blast of light faded as she touched down on the ground, and she caught sight of the wood sprites standing up and beginning to collect themselves, seemingly disoriented by the attack. Cathel jumped back, and she saw him blocking Skor’s claws with his sword, the sharp talons scratching down the side of the blade and leaving an ear-piercing screech in their wake. Cathel’s eyes were narrowed and the mage’s expression was serious as he jumped back, the ground rising up in front of him at his command and blocking Skor’s attack.