Voyages of the Flying Dragon (18 page)

And then, when Lenis felt as though he could do no more and Lucis had begun yawning from her perch on the railing, Yami taught him what to do if you had been pulled off guard and there was a fist coming for your chin. Yami showed him that you had to lunge forwards, even though your body instinctively tried to pull back against your opponent's leverage, and then you sort of twisted your body a bit so your front leg was behind their leg, and if you did it right you could counterattack with your free hand. Of course, if you did it wrong your opponent could also twist and throw you over their shoulder. Lenis only got to try it once. Yami recognised immediately that this particular exercise was too hard on Lenis's ribs and put a stop to it.

When the ordeal was over, Yami made him go through his forms again. He said it was to make sure his body didn't seize
up after the training, but at that point Lenis was convinced beyond all reason that it was just a fresh wave of torture.

Finally, after Yami had excused him and Lenis had thanked his teacher for the lesson, Lenis was able to stagger below decks. He was in more pain than he had ever been in before, even counting the time he had burned and bruised his body during the
Hiryū
's escape from Yukitoshi, but he also felt strangely euphoric. The frustration that had plagued him for the past couple of days was gone. He was too tired to dwell on it.

‘What happened to you?' Hiroshi asked as Lenis entered the galley. The cook picked up a handful of what he was chopping and dumped it into his pot.

‘Training.' It came out as a mumble, and Lenis drew in a deep breath and tried again. ‘Training.'

‘Good lad!' Hiroshi laughed. ‘Training is dedication, I tell you. Soon you'll be looking back and thinking, “What a weakling I was!” Don't you doubt it.'

Lenis nodded, too tired to try and form any more words. Suddenly he felt dizzy, so he sat down on the nearest chair and cupped his head in his hands. Nausea rose up in him, and he felt as if he was going to faint. He didn't even flinch as Suiteki ran up his leg and began nipping at his fingers.

Hiroshi's laughter drew closer and there was a small thud as the cook placed something on the table in front of him. ‘Here, get that into you.'

Lenis peeled open his eyes and lowered his hands as Suiteki stopped biting him to sniff the contents of the bowl. For a
moment his vision turned white, but then he caught the scent of noodle soup, or perhaps it was Suiteki's sudden craving for savoury things rubbing off on him, and his stomach growled. His head stopped spinning and his vision cleared. Gently, in case any sudden movement brought back the dizziness, Lenis picked up his spoon and started eating around Suiteki, who watched his movements closely with her glinting dragon eyes so she could dip her head into the bowl when he wasn't looking. He didn't mind. There was something about their shared hunger and the satisfaction in seeing it fed that revived him as much as the food itself. Together, they devoured the noodle soup Hiroshi had brought them.

‘Thatta boy!' Hiroshi slapped him on the back. Lenis winced but kept eating. ‘We'll make a warrior out of you yet, I tell you!'

Missy had never quite believed that anyone could truly mistake her for a god. She was only thirteen years old and up until a few weeks ago had been a slave. Heidi had soon lost her awe of Missy back in Fronge, and Missy suspected Ajat Freyrsson would too if they lingered too long in Erdasche.

Magni was a thunder god, just like Raikō. They were probably the same Totem, the one who had captured Missy's soul and ordered her to find a cure for his sickness. Adad the Thunder Bird. Now he was just another Demon. The only thing left of him, of the
real
him, was the Quillblade, and that was clasped firmly in Missy's hand. There was no way she was letting go of it until the
Hiryū
was on its way again. The weight of it was reassuring, and it kept her fears at bay.

It didn't seem as though she was going to make it back to the airship before dawn. The people of Erdasche had turned
out in force to catch a glimpse of the long absent war goddess once word had spread that Magni had returned. Missy suspected Heidi's hand in this. She was taking her role as the goddess's personal herald to heart, calling out to anyone who would listen that war was coming with the Demons. Missy was given a place of honour by the duke's fire pit. The men who had been with him when they had arrived, the ones dressed in animal hides, clustered around her, keeping the other folk back at what they deemed to be a respectful distance. Missy sat cross-legged between Arthur and the captain, thankful they had remained by her side while this whole thing played out. She wanted nothing more than to sneak off and return to the
Hiryū
, but she knew that would have to wait until the last of the Heiliglanders left her in peace.

Missy's grip tightened on the Quillblade's hilt, every sense alert for trouble. The hall was full of people now. Some knelt as close to Missy as her makeshift honour guard would allow. Others stood in clusters and whispered amongst themselves. Missy didn't need to be telepathic to know what they were thinking.
Who is this child claiming to be Magni?
Her mind was ready to pounce on any who doubted her, to instill in them an image of herself as the Lightning-Wielder, but this proved largely unnecessary. It seemed that people were already altering their perceptions of what they thought Magni looked like to mirror the girl sitting before them. Perhaps the word of Ajat Freyrsson was enough to quell any disbelief as to her identity, or perhaps it was a lingering effect of Missy's
telepathic manipulation of the duke and his men. Certainly it seemed as though the Quillblade amplified her own powers. Maybe she was somehow radiating a sense of herself as Magni without even realising it.

A flicker of unease itched at the back of Missy's mind only to be absorbed by the Quillblade a moment later. She was glad when it left her. She didn't want to deal with her doubts and guilt right now. All that mattered was that she had done it. Her deception had worked. The Heiliglanders would be ready to confront Ishullanu's army of Demons. That was all that mattered. Besides, whatever her reservations had been about her actions, the worst of it was over. It wasn't as if she could go back and change things. Soon she would be back on the
Hiryū
and far away from here. She may as well try to relax.

If Missy had ever wondered what gifts the people of Erdasche believed would please a war goddess, she didn't have to any more. As they arrived at the meeting hall, they presented her with gift baskets full of chunks of red meat and earthenware jugs Ajat told her were filled with honeyed ale. There were also flowers. They looked like the white snapdragons Missy remembered from back home in Pure Land, but these ones were rose-pink verging on red, and they were called loewenmaul in Heiliglander, which meant ‘mouth of the vicious beast'. Missy supposed that was close enough to snapdragon anyway.

‘Miss Clemens,' the captain whispered to her in Shinzōn, ‘I understand that you are enjoying yourself, but how long do
you intend to allow this to continue? Karasu is getting further ahead of us.'

Missy startled. Was she enjoying herself? Yes, she supposed she was. She wasn't used to being the centre of attention, much less on the receiving end of so many presents. And it wasn't as though she was hurting anybody. Another wisp of unease curled around inside her, but it too vanished into the Quillblade. If she had to pretend to be a goddess, she could at least have some fun. ‘Sorry, Captain,' she whispered back. ‘I'm not sure how to make it all stop.'

‘You are the goddess here, Miss Clemens.' His face remained impassive, but she thought he sounded more amused than angry. ‘It will end when you decide to end it.'

Missy swallowed and nodded. It was probably time to go. She was tired and the captain was right; they had to go after Karasu. She stood up awkwardly. The hall fell silent as everyone turned to her. The Quillblade quickened in her grip, vibrating gently as it absorbed her nerves. Heidi scowled at her from where she was greeting the new arrivals – and accepting their gifts, Missy noted. No doubt the Heiliglander was worried Missy was about to ruin everything.

Missy cleared her throat. ‘People of Heimat Isle.' No. That wouldn't do. ‘My people! As you know, I have come to warn you to prepare for war with the Demon King and his army. I charge you to gather your forces and rally the rest of our people. I have to leave you now.' A murmuring rose amongst the crowd. ‘I must go north,' she went on quickly, ‘to a temple
dedicated to, er …' What did Tenjin say Apsilla's Heiliglander name was? ‘… to my cousin Kolga. She has been … um … holding onto a weapon for me. One of great power. With it, we can defeat many Demons.' Missy faltered. The murmuring had turned to whispering. ‘I will be leaving. Now.'

Ajat Freyrsson cleared his throat and rose to his feet. ‘You will not stay and lead us into battle, oh great Magni?'

‘Magni has much to attend to,' Heidi called across the hall. ‘It is not for us to question her actions.' Missy saw many of the hall's occupants nodding in agreement. ‘With the goddess's permission, I will remain behind so that she may speak to you through me.'

Missy wasn't sure she liked that idea at all. She understood the logic behind the girl's plans to mobilise her country, but now Missy detected something else in her. Ambition. If Missy allowed her to remain here to speak for Magni, what would Heidi do in her name? Suspicion blossomed inside her, and this emotion the Quillblade did not take.

Everyone was looking at her, and Missy realised they were waiting for her decision. It occurred to Missy that she could make Heidi come with her. She could even make her happy to do so. They could be friends. All it would take would be a suggestion, planted deep in her mind, a shared memory or two, and then the erasure of Missy's deception and manipulation of the girl. Missy was already reaching out to Heidi when she brought herself up short.

What was she
doing
?

She shook her head to clear it. ‘Yes. Of course my herald should remain amongst you in my absence.' Missy saw the triumph in Heidi's face and turned away from it.

Both Arthur and the captain had risen to stand behind her. Arthur was eyeing her closely. ‘Are you all right?'

‘I want to go home,' she whispered in Kystian. Snatches of feelings were flaring up inside her, only to be dragged down into the Quillblade so fast she couldn't register what they were. She didn't dare let the
shintai
go. Not here. Not now. ‘I want to get back to the
Hiryū
.'

The Kystian nodded and began pushing through the crowd. Missy followed along behind him, trying to feel something. Anything. She had been planning to manipulate Heidi's mind, to
force
her into liking her. How could she have even considered such a thing? A few hours ago even reading the girl's mind without her knowledge had seemed repulsive. What had changed? Missy tried to hold onto the feelings these thoughts evoked. Uncertainty. Fear. Anger. Self-loathing. But the Quillblade devoured them all. She felt the captain moving close behind as they approached the exit to the hall, and Arthur's back was a reassuring mass in front of her, but inside she knew that something was desperately wrong, for as the unsettling emotions were sucked out of her the Quillblade bolstered contradictory ones within her. Instead of fear she felt reckless. Instead of uncertainty she felt determination. And instead of hating herself for what she had done to the men in the hall, for what she had been
about to do to Heidi, she felt only an overwhelming sense of self-righteousness that was building close to fury.

How dare Heidi claim to speak for me! How dare she shun my friendship! She should be grovelling before me!

The familiar tingling in the Quillblade had turned to an incessant throbbing. Sparks of electricity arced down its length. Missy's hand ached from holding its hilt so firmly. Her jaw ached from being clenched so tightly. The only thing that kept her moving was the desire to return to the
Hiryū
, to
her
airship. It was where she belonged. Why was it taking so long to get there? Didn't these people know who walked amongst them? What was the delay?

At the doorway Heidi made to touch her hand but pulled back when Missy looked into her eyes. There was fear there. Missy could see it riding at the forefront of Heidi's mind. Well, this was what the girl had wanted. Magni the war goddess. Implacable. Battle-ready. Wielder of lightning. She had no idea how right she was. Magni was all but dead. What remained of her was held firmly in Missy's hand. Her wrist twitched and the Quillblade screeched. Heidi backed away, her head bowed. The rest of the Heiliglanders fell back as well.

‘I wish to leave,' Missy said, and even her voice didn't sound like her own any more. It was higher, and beneath it she seemed to hear the shrieking of the Thunder Bird. ‘Do not get in my way.'

Finally they were out of the hall and alone. The Heiliglanders, who had been so eager to cluster around her, now
left her to venture into the night without them. Missy broke into a run. She was dimly aware of Arthur and Captain Shishi beside her, behind her, falling ever further back as she outstripped them. Her muscles were working harder than they ever had before. She could feel the Quillblade's electricity coursing through her. Her feet barely touched the ground. The distance between strides grew longer until she wasn't running but leaping. Higher. Further. Faster. The frigid air tore through her lungs. The pain was exquisite. The Quillblade whirled in her grasp. She could see sparks.

And then Missy was at the airdock. A leap and she was on the
Hiryū
's deck. For a moment she stood there, exulting. She
was
the Lightning-Wielder. She was the Thunder Bird. The Lord of Storms. She was Magni! She was Raikō! She was Adad and all of his incarnations! Let Karasu try and stand against her. Ishullanu would fall to her blade.

Suddenly Kanu was kneeling before her, and it was
right
. Here was a servant worthy of her. Heidi was nothing. A mere human. Kanu was a Titan. He was born to serve her. He had been chosen for her eons past. Missy reached out to place a hand on his shoulder but then, over Kanu's bowed head, Missy saw her brother. He was standing at the top of the stairs leading below decks, holding Aeris. It was good. He had finally come to speak to her.

Except Lenis wasn't looking at Missy. He was staring at something in her hand. Missy followed his gaze. Where once she had held the Quillblade she was now gripping a bolt
of lightning. It crackled like strands of blue fire. Missy looked from it to her brother. Panic assailed her.

What was she doing?

What had she been doing?

It vanished. But the terror returned, sharper than before, cutting through the feelings of triumph, through the strength, through the shield the Quillblade had formed inside her. It pierced deep inside her, and this time when she looked down at the lightning bolt in her fist she felt revulsion. What was it doing to her? What was it making her into? She had to get rid of it, had to get away from it. She had to get
it
away from
her
.

Missy tried to throw the Quillblade away, but it was stuck fast to her hand. Then Lenis was there, and he was pulling at it, gripping the writhing lightning bolt in his bare hands.

‘No, little brother,' Missy whispered as she felt something tearing in her palm. The light died. The world went dark. She heard the metallic clang of the Quillblade hitting the wood of the deck. Then she felt everything. All of the fear and anxiety and unease the Quillblade had taken from her came rushing back. Bile rose in the back of her throat. Missy vomited. Her stomach muscles clenched and unclenched and clenched again. Every muscle burned. She became aware she was crying even as her guts heaved.

And through it all her brother held her. She threw up all over him, but he didn't let her go. Vaguely, as if from a great distance, she heard others speaking. There were pinpricks
of light in the darkness. They stung her eyes and added to her nausea.

So this is what remains of Adad's power?
a voice whispered inside her mind.
Oh, my compassionate one, they should never have been allowed to use you so. Do you not see? You and your brother will never know peace until they are gone.

It wasn't that Ishullanu had so easily reached into her mind that so unnerved Missy. He was a Caelestia, one of the most powerful beings in the world. She already knew he was a dangerous enemy. What scared Missy the most was knowing that, for the briefest of moments, she had believed his words.