Phoenix in Shadow - eARC (4 page)

She wished she could argue that, but she couldn’t. Vantage Fortress
was
a symbol, hundreds, maybe thousands of years old, and if their enemies wrecked it after she left...

She toyed with the seasoned steak in front of her. “You’re right, of course. But I can’t stay here forever. Your mission and mine...time’s not standing still, and we know what’s happening elsewhere. But I need
someone
who will be able to keep Vantage Fortress...
alive
, I guess, even if they’re not a Vantage. Vanstell—”

Vanstell shook his head and smiled. “My Lady, I am—with no false modesty—an excellent Master of House, and I have been proud to serve you and your family in that capacity for the last twenty-two years. But I am, regrettably, not a person with the dynamic and powerful presence you would need.”

Kyri smiled fondly at him. “I was about to say something of the sort, because I know what you like to do, and if you wanted to be that kind of person, we’d already know it. But then...who? Or do I leave anyway?”

“You may have to,” Tobimar said with obvious reluctance. “Believe me, I understand your concern—in your position I’d share it—but as you said, the world isn’t waiting for us.”

“Perhaps
I
might offer a solution,” said an impossibly familiar voice from the doorway.

Almost without realizing it, Kyri found herself standing, staring in simultaneous disbelief and joy.

Tall, angular, straight of figure, impassive of expression, Lythos, her invincible, imperturbable Master of Arms, stood framed in the doorway.

And then the
Sho-Ka-Taida
collapsed to his knees.

“Lythos!”

Chapter 4

Tobimar hadn’t recognized the tall
Artan
, but he knew the name that Kyri gasped as the warrior nearly fell face-first to the polished stone floor.
He taught her entire family, including her parents, her brother, and her sister.

Kyri reached the
Artan
warrior, whose deep-violet hair pooled slightly on the floor before him as he knelt on all fours, arms and knees supporting him so he looked like a man broken. “Lythos...
Sho-Ka-Taida
, are you all right?”

The head lifted then, and Tobimar could see a tiny smile, a glint of amusement in the eyes that matched the hair. “More exhausted and worn than I have been in many generations, but my injuries are minor. I have...perhaps driven myself too far, too fast, and have so failed to take my own advice, eh, Kyri Vantage?”

“You...you...” To Tobimar’s astonishment, Kyri suddenly burst into tears and threw her arms around Lythos; by the
Artan
’s expression, it was at least as great a surprise to him. “Lythos, I thought you might be
dead
! Thank the Balance!”

A great sadness descended upon Lythos, clouding the long, aristocratic features and dimming the smile. “Ah, of course you would have. Nearly I was, as well. It has been a trying time—but no less for you, I think.”

Leaning slightly on Kyri’s arm, Lythos stood. “If you will allow me to sit at table with you, I can refresh myself some and speak with you a while, before I must rest. But now that I acknowledge my body’s warnings, hold them no longer at bay, I will admit that rest must come soon.”

Kyri helped him sit. “You said you were
injured
, Lythos.” She said the word as though she found the concept impossible to grasp. Then she shook herself and straightened. “I’m sorry, I sound like I’m fourteen again.”

Her hands rested on Lythos’ shoulders, and the gold-fire glow of the power of Myrionar shone out, the power that Kyri Vantage could wield because she was the one, the true, and only Justiciar of Myrionar. Even though this was far from the first time he had seen that power, the sight still sent a tingle of awe through Tobimar. His own god, Terian, rarely granted such powers to warriors who walked the world, nor did He often intervene directly.

Lythos’ head came up, and in his eyes Tobimar saw an echo of the same awe, and, at the same time, something else: vindication. “So it
is
true, Kyri Victoria Vantage. You are now the Phoenix Justiciar, the one to reclaim the honor that was lost and cleanse the stain from Myrionar’s name. So I heard rumor as I approached.” His voice was stronger, though still exhausted, and the lines that had hinted at pain and injury were gone.

Kyri bowed. “Because you taught me, and I learned, I suppose, enough.”

“Enough, yes.” He smiled again, and that simple expression made Kyri smile back at him. For a moment Tobimar found himself wondering if there was something else in that smile, then kicked himself, mentally.
If there is, it is no business of mine. Besides, he is
Artan
and ancient; he wouldn’t think of...and there I go again! It’s not my
business!
Stop thinking about it!
Why
am I thinking about it?

Vanstell himself laid a plate with carefully prepared delicacies before Lythos. “Welcome home,
Sho-Ka-Taida
,” he said. “You have been greatly missed.”

“Many thanks, Vanstell.” Lythos took several bites, sipped at water, and seemed to finally begin to relax. “Milady Kyri Vantage, I bring to you a message from your aunt, your middle namesake Victoria.”

Formality; it is an important message, then.

Kyri had clearly caught that implication as well. “May I have the message, then?”

From within a case bound to his armor, Lythos withdrew a gem and placed it in Kyri’s hand. Tobimar saw Poplock rise up in startlement.
Gem of Speaking; haven’t seen one of those since I saw one conveyed by linkstone to Toron himself. They’re expensive and used only for carrying messages of great import.

Kyri took the gem and held it tightly. “I am Kyri Vantage. Show me the message,” she said.

Tobimar had only seen Victoria Vantage once, from a distance, in front of the Palace of the Dragon, but from that glimpse and the portraits around the house he could instantly recognize the older woman—hair streaked with silver, proud and sculpted features not terribly different from those of Kyri herself—who suddenly appeared in the air before them. She wore a brown and green travel outfit, with a pack perched on her shoulders and a staff in her hand.

“Kyri,” Victoria Vantage said, “As you have this message, you already know that—by great good fortune—Lythos has returned to us. I hope this message finds you well and...successful in your quest.

“I had
hoped
,” and her voice was wry, “to return to Vantage Fortress relatively soon; I hardly intended to leave you with no support, even if the Dragon King could not aid you, and I was certain I could find someone to watch over Urelle while I returned to assist you.

“However...Urelle took things into her own hands, and has run away.”

Kyri gasped in shock. “
Run away
? Oh, Myrionar, no!”

Victoria Vantage shook her head. “Now, don’t panic. At least, not terribly much.” The apparently apropos comment reminded Tobimar strongly of the message he’d received from Khoros, where every comment he thought to make had already been anticipated and answered by the ancient mage.

“She didn’t run away from despair, nor to try and catch up with you,” Victoria continued, and Tobimar saw Kyri relax the tiniest bit.
She doesn’t want to have
that
responsibility, of her sister’s safety, added to her problems.
“Unfortunately, it is, in a way, your fault. And mine, I admit.”

The tension was back, as the recorded message went on. “You of course recall young Ingram and Quester, who helped escort us here to Zarathanton. I also have little doubt that you noticed that Urelle seemed...rather taken with the young man. Which I cannot entirely blame her for, he is formidable, polite, and rather pretty. But a few weeks after you had left...well, obviously I had to inform your sister of what had happened. Keeping such secrets from her would be an insult to one of our family, and she had to know why you had left, and what it meant.

“In any case, she was as you might guess more than a bit annoyed—one might even say quite put out—that we chose to keep her out of the adventure to avenge Rion and the rest. I believe she actually went out one night and tried to get Myrionar to call
her
as well!”

Nervous as she obviously was, Kyri laughed at that. “Oh, she
would
. And I’m half-surprised Myrionar didn’t.”

“Well, a few weeks after that, Ingram received a courier message from home—from Aegeia itself, one that had been spelled to find him—and it apparently contained dire news of his homeland. I of course gave him leave to return home—we had found a decent household by then—but when he did—”

Kyri finished the line along with her distant Aunt, “—Urelle had gone with him.”

“Without warning,” her aunt added. “I don’t believe this was a
romantic
action—or not entirely. Urelle’s a bit more dramatic in that area than you, Kyri, but she’s not witless. I believe that she got details out of Ingram of what had happened back home, and decided that if she couldn’t help her sister, that she’d help Ingram who’d defended us and guided us. How she convinced
him
to let her come...I have no idea.”

Victoria Vantage sighed. “So, Kyri, you understand that I cannot come home now. As you can see, I am leaving—the moment this message is finished—to try to catch up to her. Urelle’s not helpless, but you have seen what is happening to the world. I am afraid—I am
very
much afraid—that what is happening in Aegeia is a part of that. I cannot let my youngest niece and that half-grown boy face it alone, or even solely with Quester’s help.”

She looked momentarily sad and worried. “I pray to the Balanced Sword that you are well, and that you understand, and that—please, Myrionar—you do not need my help now. I know that Lythos will help you in any way he can. May the Balance guide you and support you. I love you, Kyri—and I am as
proud
of you as I would be of my own daughter. Be well, be safe...” and her smile suddenly returned, “and be
victorious
.”

The image faded and Kyri stood there for a moment, unmoving. Then she looked down to Lythos, who had continued eating during the message. “So you—”

“—had arrived only a short time after she had discovered Urelle’s departure, yes. She begged me to carry this message to you, if you could be found, and I agreed.” A shadow passed again over his face. “There is...nothing left for me in the Forest Sea, now.”

“My sympathies,
Artan
,” Tobimar said.

“Thank you. And I forget my manners as well. I am Lythos-Hei-Mandalar
,
called Lythos by those whom I call friend or ally. As you sit here as a guest, I take you to be at least the latter, if not the former.”

“Oh, I’m
sorry
, Lythos!” Kyri looked mortified. “I should have at least done that much before grabbing Auntie’s letter. Lythos, this is Tobimar Silverun of Skysand, Seventh of Seven, and one of three reasons I’m still alive after facing false Justiciar Thornfalcon. That little toad poking around through the fruit is Poplock Duckweed of Pondsparkle, the second reason.” Poplock waved but said nothing; given that his mouth was bulging, Tobimar suspected he
couldn’t
say anything right now.

“It is an honor to meet you both,” Lythos said, and rose to give them the wide-armed bow of the
Artan
. “And I suppose that Myrionar’s favor is the third reason?”

Kyri’s gray eyes twinkled. “Well, okay,
four
reasons. The third I can’t introduce to you because he’s not here, but his name is Xavier Ross of Zahralandar itself.”

The lavender eyebrow quirked upward. “You have indeed found some most interesting allies, Kyri.” He leaned back, and his weariness was clear in the way that he sagged slightly in the chair. “You also obviously know what has passed in the Forest Sea and elsewhere, so I will not insist on telling you that dark tale, not now; I have passed through it and survived, and I do not wish to dwell upon it anymore.” He nodded to her. “There are some things I must speak of with you alone, even though these are obviously boon companions and Adventurers of much worth. But before that, I will say this: if leave you must, I will take the stewardship of Vantage Fortress, maintaining its name and strength for you. If this will meet with your approval, that is.”

“
Meet
my approval? Lythos—this is more than I could possibly have hoped.
Everyone
in Evanwyl knows you, you’ve been with our family for generations, and even the false Justiciars won’t dare go after
you
casually.”

That’s for sure,
Tobimar mused.
A
Sho-Ka-Taida
of the
Artan
, someone who trained two Justiciars and their parents...and theirs...Doesn’t matter if he’s not favored by a God, he’d still be open gates of
Hells
to fight.

“Then it shall be done...as long as you have a clear destination in mind? For I will not approve of just a random wandering to find your answers in this world.”

Kyri’s smile was now brilliant, a flash of white against skin nearly as brown as Tobimar’s own. “Oh, I
do
have a destination, Lythos.” She looked to Tobimar and Poplock. “Sorry, but if you...?”

“Of course.” Tobimar reached out and plucked Poplock from the table—the little Toad giving him an offended look but hanging onto a small cluster of Pixies’ Apples as Tobimar placed Poplock on his shoulder. He bowed to Lythos; Poplock was good at clinging, so he didn’t fall off. “We will speak later, then.”

“Just as well,” Poplock said finally as they exited the room. “I’ve got something for you. Well, something I
think
will work and I want to test before I gave it to you.”

“Something you weren’t going to show to Kyri?”

“Well...” The little toad scrunched his face comically. “It’s something only
one
of you can use, and honestly, she’s got a lot more going for her right now. If it works, it’ll be a useful secret that we have as a little backup.”

“Okay, what is it?” he asked. They emerged into one of the small side courtyards of Vantage Fortress. “Small” was of course relative; while Vantage Fortress wasn’t the size of his home castle, and utterly
dwarfed
by
T’Teranahm Chendoron
, the Dragon’s Palace, it was still a big building and the side courtyards were large enough to fit a good-sized house into. This particular courtyard was a sparring and exercise area, one that Tobimar had used a lot for practice of late.

“Here,” Poplock said. From inside the little pack on his back, the toad produced a carved crystal; it was about two inches wide and looked like frosted glass.

“Oh, a summoning crystal? What’s it for?”

“That’s what I want to test.” Poplock bounced off his shoulder and all the way over to the other side of the courtyard, near a notched pell for sword practice. “Okay, now that I’m well away—”

“—are you expecting something dangerous to happen?” Tobimar studied the sphere suspiciously.

“
Trust me
, Tobimar. Now, all you have to do is say “Come forth!” and throw it down, concentrating on calling something to your aid.”

Despite the Toad’s occasionally low sense of humor, Poplock was very much his friend and Tobimar would, in fact, trust Poplock Duckweed with his life. “All right,” he said. Envisioning a sudden and powerful need for aid, he gripped the gem. “
Come forth!
” he shouted, and threw it down.

The crystal sphere shattered with a brilliant flash, and in its place was...

Poplock Duckweed.

Tobimar stared in disbelief, then looked back to where Poplock had been an instant ago. “A
teleport
sphere?”

“No, a
summoning
sphere.”

“But...you...it’s summoning
you!”

“Yeah, pretty darn neat, isn’t it?”