Heir of Scars I: Parts 1-8 (63 page)

Chosen Daughter
... it is the first time he has called me that in some time, she realized, but did not allow the endearment to distract her. “And if he is false, what then? He will have seen our army and our location. He will know how to counter us.”

He nodded for a moment, frowning. “I know what you must feel, Adria, but there is much you do not know... I know that if the Moresidhe truly wished for us to fail, it would have happened. I cannot pretend to understand Tabashi’s plans in full, but I know that he has come when I have called. I know that he has helped more than he has harmed.”

“He saved my life,” Adria admitted. “Even if he caused the attack, he saved me from it.”

“
It is true.
” And Preinon gave a long sigh, and looked about the camp for a moment. “We have need for what the Moresidhe can give us, and we may have something to give him in return. It is never an easy bargain, but... as long as it is to our strength, and not to the strength of the Knights, it can be done.”

“And what is my place in this?”

He nodded. “You can see the spirit of a man. It is a gift you share with Shísha. A gift that I do not. Compared to her, to you, there are times I am truly blind. I know this. You will know the truth of what he speaks.”

Adria was shaking her head, but she sighed, and stilled. “I... will. I will do this.”

He took another long breath, nodded slowly. “It is good.”

Adria was less certain. “I am not a Lichushegi. I would be a fool to think myself so.”

“I cannot ask her back.”

Adria shrugged. “She walks her own path, Zho wateli limiyati. But why can she not walk it here? You would lead us into battle without a Healer? You can summon the Moresidhe, but not Shísha, and ask me to take her place, even if just a little….”

“Mélitali…”

“You command. You bring order. You raise an army, but you also divide us…”

“Lilene,” he nearly shouted, and the Hunters about the fire looked to them with greater interest. Preinon took another long breath, and Adria followed the motion.

Finally, he nodded. “When this business with Tabashi is set, I will send Mateko for Shísha as well.”

Adria was half satisfied, half disappointed, though she nodded her head, and reached over to touch his arm in thankfulness.

It was my task to heal… and too easily I fail and beg for the help of another.

>Preinon had already sent Ihala to speak with Shísha by the time Mateko returned, and so there was time for Adria to share with him.

“Hwel medt,” he raised his hand as he found her while she stood watch in a Hunter’s blind. It was a rare moment when he did not sneak up on her.

“
Shush… you will scare away my food,
” she laughed as he leaped upwards, swinging from limb to limb to reach her. “
To whom have you been listening now?
”

“
Aeman travelers greet each other this way.
”

Adria shrugged, then embraced him as he hunched down onto the platform. “Hail and well met to you, then, traveler.”

“
Only squirrels near now…
” He motioned out into the trees. “
But I did not know you considered them food instead of enemies.
”

“
Either way. They steal the walnuts.
” She shrugged. “
The enemy of my food is my enemy. Or my food.”

Mateko laughed.

“
And anyway, I think this is more a way for me to practice patience. And it is a good time to think.
”

“
What do you think?
” he wondered.

“
Did you bring Tabashi?
”

“No
,” He shook his head. “
But he will follow soon.
”

“
Do you trust him,
Mateko?”

Mateko swallowed, looked into the distance, and then back. “
He saved your life,
Lilene.”

“
He brought an enemy.
”

Mateko considered this, leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees. “
He saved my life also.
”

Adria did not want to dwell. There would be time enough. She let her doubts drain away as she watched him watching the world.

If we were both saved from death, perhaps we are both meant to be here… No matter the cost.

As she watched him, she grew dizzy in a way the height of her berth could no longer cause. She searched for the words that danced giddily just out of her grasp, and fought in vain to calm her beating heart.

He turned back to her, and she realized just how strong her feelings for him had become. The sight of him, the scent of him, and the closeness of him intertwined with all her present anxieties.

He seemed to symbolize, suddenly, all that she wished for herself among the Aesidhe. He smiled, just a little, as one who had seen enough death to fear it, and enough love to embrace life.

I love you...
 she realized simply, but could not make the words. Instead, she closed her eyes and turned from him, hoping he would reach out to her, hoping a little he would not.

Perhaps this is why Preinon paired us so often, and Sh
í
sha,
she thought, a little helpless, a little angry. 
They knew that if I fall in love, I will never leave. This is how they decide my life.

But in a moment the thoughts and excess of feelings subsided, and she managed to slow the pace of her blood and regret her blame. Aloud, she said, while pretending to watch the squirrels, “Watelomoksho
has sent for
Shísha.”

“
He is wise
,” Mateko said. “
It is time.
”

She nearly blurted out that it was her idea, almost her insistence, that he do so, but thankfully stilled herself as she turned halfway back to him, then looked down at her hands, shaking her head.

“
I thought to turn him from this course myself,
Mateko.”

“
I know,
” he said soothingly.

“
I thought my wisdom as strong as hers, but I choose small battles, while the great one waits, just out of reach.
”

“
It is not too late. You must prepare yourself to make a choice, and
Shísha
may not even come.
”

“
She will. I know she will.
”

“
But this battle may yet be yours.
”

Adria shrugged.

“
I know you spoke an oath,
” he said, and Adria grew nervous.

Does he know of my promise to Hafgrim?
It now felt like a seed of betrayal that she had not told him.
I am foolish and selfish…

But Mateko continued, “
I know you promised to teach your uncle. And again, I say it is not too late. In my way, I have known him longer than you, and know that there are moments of weakness and strength in him. But you know him in ways none of us can understand. You will see the moment when it is true. If you are strong, he will gain your strength. Sh
í
sha believes in you, and I believe in you.
”

She looked back at him, and again her emotions overwhelmed, and when they kissed, Adria could already not remember if he had reached out to her, or she to him. She was thankful to find such a balance between them, between action and reaction, between strength and weakness, at least for a little while.

Late one warm summer morning, Tabashi entered a camp unlike the last. Adria watched him from a distance, from the hill at the camp’s center where Preinon, Adria, and their closest Hunters had raised their tents.

By then, the army itself had Hunters from nearly every Aesidhe tribe in Heiland. If nothing else, Preinon’s message had succeeded on this level. And with the nearly-full complement of Runners patrolling the perimeter, Adria took comfort that any approaching enemy would find a far greater challenge than they had before, and have no chance at surprise.

The Moresidhe approached with little haste and seemingly less interest. He shaded his eyes in the bright sun of the sparsely-forested glade. Even as he walked among the main row of tents where the Shémaphho Chetopaya were quartered, he remained focused upon his destination, the small rise where Preinon and Adria awaited him with open palms.

He trades in information,
Adria thought. 
And yet he does not bother to take in the scope of our forces. Either he waits for an opportunity, or he already knows.

Beneath this, even stranger possibilities brewed, but they were faint wisps of imaginings, and she knew she needed to shift her focus to the immediate.

“
He carries no weapon,
” she noted, and then tried to remember if she had known this before. Her memory of him was wreathed in shadow, dream, tainábe.

“
He never has,
” Preinon said beside her. “
Of course, he is unlikely to need one.
”

“Is he so formidable?”

Preinon lowered his voice as Tabashi came within hailing distance. “
The reputation of his race is so formidable. As for Tabashi himself...? You would know better than I.
”

Adria stilled her thoughts and feelings, letting her eyes half close and her breath grow deep and even. The sky seemed to dim, and her vision blurred, and yet deepened, as she focused on the vague shape of the stony, long-armed figure rising up the hill.

“
Like
Shísha
...
” she murmured, seeing the brightness of the web that wove its way under Tabashi’s skin, and the light that rose around. Then she realized that the color seemed different, though she could not be certain it was color she was sensing, at all. Still, it was less blue-white, more purple.

Cerulean
, she thought. Or azure...

And her eyes blinked, and she lost the image, even as Tabashi bowed lowly, to both of them in turn.

“Scion, I am grateful for your invitation,” he said, in his calm voice which now seemed a little unnerving to Adria. The image of his spirit made her anxious, she realized. But... not afraid.

For now, at least, he is not here to harm us.

“I am glad you received it, Moresidhe,” Preinon answered, bowing himself. “And honored that you have chosen to accept it.”

Tabashi inclined his head simply. His eyes were difficult to watch, behind the inner eyelids which seemed to protect from the sun somewhat. Still, he seemed to be resisting the urge to squint.

“
Please, will you join us in my tent?
”

When they were settled upon the furs inside, Preinon continued the formality of their conversation as Adria offered and poured mead into wooden cups for the three of them.

“It has been some time, Moresidhe” Preinon nodded. “I was worried you had found your home.”

Tabashi examined the honey wine, sipped. “I often wonder if I am ever bound to settle. I fear I will miss the open road.”

Preinon chuckled. “With that, I can duly sympathize.”

The Moresidhe nodded. “Your Mélitali has healed well.”

Preinon hesitated at his change of topic without a corresponding change in tone. He nodded. “She has, thanks to your skill.”

Tabashi inclined his head in recognition, but gave no appearance of pride. 

So closed, his emotions,
Adria thought as she sat and tasted the drink herself, toasting a little, though uncertain if that was a gestured Moresidhe followed.

“I thank you as well, Tabashi,” Adria said.

Tabashi turned a little, raising his cup, and the slightest of smiles appeared. “
If only the uncle had healed as well, he would have little need of our long blades.
”

Adria blinked twice quickly. Tabashi had spoken in Kelmantian, and though Adria was no master at the language, she was certain she had much more knowledge of it than her uncle — and obviously, so did Tabashi.

Preinon said, “What do you say, Moresidhe? I have little memory of the Eastern Tongue.”

“I say that the hands that heal can also harm, and that I am ready to bring you your blades.”

And it was a cunning alteration — close enough that, if Preinon had understood a few Kelmantian words, the false translation would likely convince him.