Lady of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper Book 2) (4 page)

Kalla was beyond surprised that it was Vander who reached her first. His mane was fluffed to its extent, so angry was he. He grabbed her shoulders.

“What in the hells were you thinking? You could have been killed!” Fury blazed in the Dashmari's blue eyes, but beyond that Kalla could see that he was sincerely concerned. She twitched a smile and then couldn't help but laugh, softly at first, but building. Vander's ears twitched uncertainly.

“Why are you laughing?” he asked with a frown. He took a step back, unease replacing the anger. Kalla reached up and put her hands to his face.

“What are you doing?” She turned a question back on him.

“I'm being angry because you almost killed us all!” he bit out, baring his long canines as the anger rushed back.

Behind him, Aleister finally caught on to what she found so funny and laughed himself, his own anger melting away.

“Vander, you're challenging me,” Kalla said, low and solemn, though mirth still danced in her eyes.

Vander stiffened and tried to pull away from her, a hint of fear filtering through the bond. He tried to turn his head, but the healer's hands kept him facing her.

“I'm sorry, Dashkele. Please forgive me,” Vander said, ears drooping, shoulders hunched.

“There is nothing to forgive. I am proud of you for doing such a thing. It means that you are no longer the least of the wolves. You are no longer omega, if you are willing to challenge me,” Kalla said. She released him and the War Mage stumbled back, a stunned look on his face. Aleister slapped him on the shoulder on his way to sweep Kalla in a hug.

“Well, I can't say much after that. Just, please don't do anything so rash again, okay? We are here to protect you after all,” Aleister whispered.

“I'd be lying if I made that promise, but I will try. I was never in any danger though. If I wanted to teleport back to the ship all I needed to do was focus on either you or Vander and I would go right to you. Not nearly as difficult as teleporting out in the first place!” Kalla said.

Aleister merely wrapped her in a tighter hug and sighed. He let her go with the mental muttering, “
Again, I see why they wanted you to have a Magister.”

Kalla relieved Aleiter of the staff and Quill case he carried and turned her attention to where the shaman were now talking with Kasai. Beside her, Aleister stiffened.

“You! I know you! From Sevfahl,” he said in an accusing tone.

Kasai turned back to the pair with a slight grin. The Harrier had known his little scapegoat would have been on the ship the moment he'd seen it. The appearance of the suicidal mage had clinched his suspicions.

Kasai had been ready to turn the wyvern around and return home to report these new developments when Kalla had decided to go on a sky-diving trip. He was very thankful that they had not destroyed the ship as ordered, since two Arkaddian shaman were aboard

Shukke and Komugi must have been desperate to have traveled in the ship. Kasai had also been astounded to learn that not only had it had been Kalla herself who had cleared the storms, but she who had healed the land as well. Surely Nobunaga would listen to her instead of the Rang'moori mage. With a relieved chuckle, he turned back to Aleister.

“You're still alive, aren't you? And just think, where would you be now if you hadn't ended up in the Inferno?” Kasai asked, a sly look dancing across his features.

Aleister scowled at him a moment, then the magister's face relaxed into an easy grin of his own.

“Fair enough. All's well that ends well. But why were you in Sevfahl to begin with?” Aleister asked.

Kalla gave the Harrier an attentive look as well. Kasai's lip curled up.

“I was ordered to assassinate the Lord Governor of Sevfahl for reasons I do not know. I suspect that the order actually came from the Rang'moori mage, rather than being Nobunaga's own idea. After all, why would the Khan care about the goings on of a skycity? But orders are orders and I am bound to follow them unless I can give a very good reason why not. Like now,” Kasai replied.

Kalla turned her attention back to her main concern, that of the wyvern.

“Kasai, can you have the other wyvern riders bring their mounts to the
Stymphalian
two at a time. The sooner we free them, the better. Vander and I can do the healing, if you and Aleister pull the pins out. The riders can keep the mounts calm. Are all of the wyvern riders Harriers?” she asked.

Kasai nodded and whistled sharply, two short notes followed by two long. He repeated it, with three long and one short at the end. Two wyvern responded to the call, fluttering over to the ship. One was the second who had assaulted the ship. The other was a huge bull wyvern, battle-scarred and wary. He was almost as large as Amaterasu.

Kasai explained what the Mage had discovered and showed the riders the spike taken from Thiassi. The riders obediently slipped down, taking up places by the wyvern's heads. Kalla stepped up to the bull wyvern as he grudgingly sank down to allow her and Aleister to climb up. Nearby, Vander and Kasai did the same with the other frost wyvern.

Kalla unlaced the straps holding the leather armor down and searched for the pin. Beneath her the bull wyvern shifted, irritated. Finding what she sought, she gently prised the scale back and let Aleister pull the pin free, as she healed the wound behind him. The wyvern growled, a deep bass sound and, as she smoothed the scale back down, he reared up, bugling. Twisting his sinuous neck around, the wyvern fixed them with a piercing ice-blue eye.

I am Baal, leader of the Rus Akkad. I thank you, for freeing me. You will do the same for the others?

“Of course,” Kalla replied. Baal nodded, as they slipped down from his shoulders. He looked to where the others were clustered.

Once we were many. Now there are only us seven left. My clan is gone, destroyed.
The wyvern's mind-voice was sad. He allowed his rider to climb back up, and fluttered away as Kasai called two more of the wyvern over.

Kasai ran a hand over his face, as the last of the wyvern flew back into camp.

“I am going to be in a great deal of trouble over losing the mage his slaves, but in this I am sure the Khan would agree. I hope.” He turned to Kalla. “What will they do now?”

“Some may still stick around. If Baal stays, they all likely will,” Kalla replied.

“Well, we might as well go and get this over with,” Kasai said.

Kalla followed the Harrier as he began to walk towards the great Palace, one of the few stationary buildings in Karokorum. Aleister, Vander and the shaman fell in beside her. From Aleister she felt tension. His first foray back into his homeland since he'd left and he was smack in the heart of it. The mage was fairly certain that no one would recognize him. After all, he'd left when he was twelve. Still, he was wary as a wild sabretooth amongst wolves. From Vander, there was only curiosity. Of all the places the War Mage had traveled, Arkaddia hadn't been among them and the central city of Karokorum was a wonder to behold.

The Arkaddians were a nomadic people, following the vykr herds across their vast territory and establishing tent cities at certain locations during certain parts of the year. Winter was traditionally spent by the Khan and his immediate circle here at Karokorum. The Palace had been built by the first Khan Arkaddia, many generations ago. It and its outbuildings and storehouses were the only stationary buildings in this highly mobile society. Tribute from the clans was sent here, to the Palace, where it was redistributed as needed by the Stewards, the only Arkaddians to actually spend their whole lives in one place.

The Palace itself, built of red granite, loomed before them. Giant statues of Celestial Hounds flanked the entrance, iridescent pearls of zarconite clenched between half-open jaws. Under the right paw of the left Hound was an orb, shaped like a closed flower bud. Under the left paw of the right Hound was a pup on its back.

As the group entered, they were greeted by the Seneschal, a whippet thin Sveldtlander dressed in robes similar to the shaman, but of a gray color. His long, raven-colored hair was pulled back in a loose tail, a marked change from how most of the Plains people wore their hair. Kasai bowed to him.

“Master Ari, we must see the Khan. It is important,” he said. The Seneschal took in the group, noting the magi and the shaman. A shadow passed over his face, a look of puzzlement that passed as quickly as it had come, yet Kalla knew what he was thinking. He was wondering where the second magister was. Ari nodded slowly.

“If it were any but you, Kasai, I would say no. Follow me,” the Seneschal said. He started to turn away, then turned back. “I… know you,” he said, looking to Kalla.

“Yes, Master Ari. I was here with Lord Hauss, during the plague,” she replied.

“Thought so.” Ari turned away again, striding down the corridor. Kasai shook his head in disbelief and followed after the Seneschal. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised that Kalla had been here before. If she had met Ari, then she had met the Khan. Hopefully he would remember as Ari had and that would give weight to her words.

Ari stopped before another doorway and motioned for them to stay put. He pushed aside the cloth covering and slipped inside. There was a soft murmur of conversation, and then Ari's voice, calling them inside.

Kalla blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the dimmer light. An older Arkaddian male, reddish-brown hair streaked with grey, sat at a desk working on papers by lamplight. Shelves upon shelves of books lined the small room giving it a cluttered, chaotic appearance. Kasai went to one knee before the desk, head bowed, as did the shaman and Aleister. Kalla and Vander followed the gesture smoothly, though as magi they did not have to.

“Rise,” the Khan said, his deep voice breaking the silence. As they rose to their feet, Kalla studied the Arkaddian ruler. That he was here, in his study, didn't surprise her at all. She remembered Nobunaga's scholarly bent, despite the fact that he was a skilled warrior. As with so many male Arkaddians, battle scars laced his face and hands.

Nobunaga wore rust-colored clothing similar to the Harrier's outfit, comfortable yet simple and functional. The Khan's greying beard was broken into three strands and bound with gold beads, a mark of his rank. Around his neck he wore a
jinshin
and a golden torc, another sign of his office. The graven longtooth heads at either end held tiny zarconite beads in their mouths.

He still looked fit and hale, yet there was an exhaustion about the Khan's aura and beneath it a sense of corruption which she had come to associate with Al'dhumarna. From his agitated mind, Kalla could tell Vander sensed the same. Yet, it seemed highly unlikely that the Khan himself were actively working for the Nagali. Something caught Kalla's attention, the briefest glimpse of a pendant around the Khan's neck. A jagged spiral, almost a mockery of the Spiral of the One so revered by many peoples the world over. Tired eyes of bittersweet brown regarded them intently.

“My Khan, I've brought you the ones responsible for breaking the storms. They were in the ship we were sent after,” Kasai said. Nobunaga frowned.

“You were ordered to destroy the ship, Master Harrier.”

“Yes, my Khan, but there were… complications.” Kasai went on to tell Nobunaga of all that he had learned. Another frown creased the Khan's face when the Harrier told him of the wyvern and Kalla's freeing of them. When Kasai had finished he stepped back to allow Shukke to speak. Nobunaga's face grew more and more thoughtful, but he remained silent until the Harrier and shaman were done speaking, before he turned his attention to Kalla.

“I remember you. You came with Master Hauss, when you were still just an apprentice. You truly broke the storms as Shukke and Kasai say?”

“Yes, Lord Khan.”

“How is it that you were able to do what the magi said couldn't be done? And to have healed the land after?” he asked.

“That is something I'm still trying to figure out myself, Lord Khan. I'm just happy we were able to,” she replied.

“For that you have my thanks. I-” Nobunaga broke off as Vander started growling, a deep warning rumble. Kalla turned to find him backing away from the doorway, ears flat and mane fluffed. Rage bubbled in his mind, spilling over to her. She caught wind of what had disturbed him so. Scent of Rang'moori, scent of pine, scent of Al'dhumarna's corruption.

“
Grosso comes.
” Even as he thought this, Grosso pushed through the door covering. The mage still carried his ironwood staff. Kalla frowned. She sensed the staff's attendant magick, not uncommon for an Artisan, but Grosso carried something else now too, something like a protective amulet, though Kalla couldn't tell what it was supposed to be protection for. Kage did not follow, but Kalla had no doubt the nighthawk was somewhere close by. Grosso sauntered past them, to where the Khan sat, blithely ignoring the angry Dashmari. Kalla put a restraining hand on Vander's arm.

“I see you managed to survive after all, wolf,” Grosso drawled in a cold voice. “Pity that.”

Vander snarled and started to lunge forward, but checked himself when a smoky wind blew through the closed room, causing the flames to dance. The flames flared high as the smoke twined around Vander's form, growing thicker. Kalla sucked in a breath as the smoke coalesced into a flame elemental, wrapped around his body. Summoning was an art forbidden by the Kanlon, but apparently that hadn't stopped the former Tem' and judging from Vander's reaction, he'd known beforehand.

The flame elemental vaguely resembled the dragon-kin, having a long, serpentine body and a tapered muzzle, but lacking in wings. A mane of black fur ran down along its neck and upper back and live flame tipped its tail. The elemental laughed, a smoky malicious sound, its head swaying in front of Vander's, clawed hands resting on the War Mage's shoulders. Yellow eyes glowed in the firelight and fear spiked through her link with Vander, though outwardly he remained controlled.

It'ss been too long, cubling. Far too long since last we played.
The elemental hissed in its smoky voice. Vander flinched.

“Tama…”

Ssso, you remember. Good.
Tama crooned the words in a malevolent whisper and Kalla felt Vander whimper in her mind.

She found herself drawn into his memories in a way she'd never experienced before, actually reliving them with him rather just viewing them. They were tied down, Tama towering over them, much larger than he was now. Sweat drenched their body. Pain. A great, roaring flood of pain that washed over the body, consuming all coherent thought.

Oblivion would be welcome, even if waking was never an option, yet even that was denied. Magick kept the mind awake and alert. They had disobeyed, had disappointed, and now they were paying the consequences. One delicate wolf ear had been ripped to shreds, blood running freely down their face, into their eyes. The scent of copper blood was mixed with the sickly-sweet scent of burnt flesh, an assault on the Dashmari's sensitive sense of smell.

Tama drove a flame-tipped claw into a half-healed burn, dragging down their chest with agonizing slowness. Once more, then again and again, always assaulting an existing wound. They bucked and thrashed against the bindings, reigniting the agony of half-healed burns that laced their back, further evidence of the prolonged torture. And yet, despite all of that, only a thin whimper escaped them. Tama turned away, disgusted that no screams had been forthcoming.

They lay shivering on the floor, stripped to the waist. Horrible burns laced their back and chest, unhealed wounds that left them sobbing unashamedly from the pain of it. They lay there for what might have been hours or days. Time had little meaning in the dark. Exhaustion and shock finally led to sweet, blessed sleep. It didn't last long, before they were jolted awake, roughly shoved over onto their belly. Another whimper as the pain flared up again, then the feel of warm healing energy mending the wounds that criss-crossed their back, leaving ropes of rough scars to join the ones already there. A cold indifferent voice, Grosso's voice, ordered them to turn over and the burns on their chest were healed, as was the tattered ear. The cold voice told them to remember and to not be a further disappointment, though this was not the first time this had happened.

They drifted back to sleep on the cold stone floor, too tired to care, too tired to move. They slept for an interminable amount of time before they were roughly shaken awake once more. A deep, gravelly voice urged them up. Molten fury bubbled in their minds, anger not their own, and they understood that Shingar had been forced to feel part of the torture this time. He, too, had failed in his job of serving as Grosso's watchdog and making sure the mage did as he was told.

The memory link broke as suddenly as it had been formed. Kalla gasped, ashen-faced, shocked by the horror of it all. Silent tears slipped down her cheeks, unchecked. Grosso had used the flame elemental to punish Vander. It was from Tama that he had gained the scars that she'd seen in his wolf form, the inexplicably shredded ear. More than that, despite all outward appearances, Shingar had controlled Vander, not the other way around. The magister hadn't been overzealous in his protection. He'd been set to make sure that the War Mage carried out his tasks and did nothing 'foolish', such as fleeing or killing himself and she understood now that it was an option he'd seriously considered more than once.

Tama had the group entirely mesmerized now, watching his swaying form as he tormented the War Mage with old memories and the promise of fresh torture. Kalla growled, low in her throat and shook her head to clear it. Around her, the others were still hypnotized. Only the three magi were free from the effect. The Healer drew on the inherent authority of her new-found rank, using the power of the Lady to banish the elemental.

“Begone from here! This is not your place. Leave here and do not return. You are free from your charge!” Kalla's voice was forceful. Tama started to laugh, but the laughter broke off quickly as his form began to fade. The elemental hissed in surprise and swung his head from Grosso, to Kalla and then to Kasai. A wicked grin lit up his face as his gaze settled on the Harrier.

Your quarry iss right in front of you, hawk. What you've sought all these yearssss…
Tama's voice faded away as he disappeared, sent back to the Otherplane. For a moment the Harrier stood stock-still, then he turned to look at Kalla and her group. His eyes widened slightly. For a brief moment, the Healer saw pure rage flare in his good eye, then his face closed down, all traces of emotion vanishing. Kalla frowned as the others around her came to, completely unaware of all that had transpired. For Kasai, it would have seemed as if the words had come from his own mind or from a flash of divine inspiration. However he chose to interpret it, the words had clearly meant something to him.

Grosso whispered something to the Khan and Nobunaga shook his head, his movements a little dazed. He turned once more to Kalla.

“Lady kyl'Solidor, I hate to cut this meeting short, but there is business I must attend to. I look forward to resuming this conversation when I return.

“Once again, Lady Kalla, you have my most sincere thanks for helping my people. I cannot begin to think how we might repay you.” The Khan stood as he spoke, giving Kalla a half-bow. “Master Ari, will you show the magi and the shaman to appropriate quarters and see that their needs are tended to?”

Behind him she caught the faintest twitch of Grosso's eye. She knew the former Tem' well enough to know that he was very irritated. “I thank you, Lord Khan. I, too, look forward to resuming this conversation.” Kalla and the others followed Ari out of the study and through the Palace, to the guest quarters. Kalla was surprised to see that the guest wing was full. When she asked Ari about it, he gave her an apologetic look.

“We are housing the Clan leaders and representatives here at the moment. If you will give me a second, I'll need to do some rearranging to get you your own quarters,” he said with a tired sigh. Kalla exchanged a look with her magisters.

“No need, Master Ari. The three of us can stay together,” she replied and Ari relaxed visibly. It wasn't uncommon for a magister to share quarters with their mage and she really didn't want to leave Vander with strangers. The War Mage had been silent since the encounter with Tama. He was doing an excellent job of shielding his emotions, yet still she caught the occasional flashes of anxiety and fear.

“That would help immensely, Lady kyl'Solidor. I believe we only have two rooms still available at the moment.” The Seneschal led them further down the corridor. He stopped at one room and installed the shaman, then led Kalla and her magisters to a room a few doors down. As he was talking with them, one of the servants ran up and whispered something to him in urgent tones. Ari bid the magi to ask the servants for anything they needed and excused himself, looking slightly harassed. Kalla chuckled softly. She didn't envy the man his job.

Their quarters were much like the ones they'd stayed in while in Xibalba, with cushions and blankets stacked neatly along the walls. Kalla slipped the Quill case from her back and laid it reverently on the floor. Picking up some of the cushions and blankets, she made a nest against the far wall. The magisters joined her, making pallets nearby. As the three settled down, Kalla and Vander shared a look.

“What to do, what to do…” Kalla muttered.

“Grosso is controlling the Khan. He hasn't yet been tainted by the Nagali's corruption himself. If we can free him from Grosso's power, he will be as he once was,” Vander said in a flat voice.

“Yes, but controlling him how?” Aleister asked. The War Mage frowned.

“Most likely through some sort of talisman or other artifact. He
is
an Artisan after all,” he said.

“Like the pendant Nobunaga was wearing? The jagged spiral?” asked Kalla.

“That would be my guess. Such mockery would appeal to him,” Vander replied.

“But how to get it away from him…” The Healer's voice trailed off at Aleister's soft laughter.

“Easy. You have a thief for a magister. Not a problem, especially not now,” he said. The magi frowned at him and were rewarded with a mischievous grin. “I can use illusion well enough to blend in. I doubt I'll need to resort to that though. This is an easy job compared to some… adventures… I've had.”

“Fox magic has its uses, I'll admit. Even if I am still learning,” Aleister said.

“You really think you can steal it from the Khan himself?” Kalla asked. Aleister nodded.

“Sure, no problem. With your permission, milady, I'll go have a look around.”

“Your confidence scares me…” Kalla muttered, gesturing for him to leave. Aleister merely laughed again as he altered his appearance to that of a servant and slipped out the door. Kalla sighed and turned back to Vander. Alone with the War Mage, she decided to confront him about the memories she'd shared. She felt horribly guilty, full of 'If only' thoughts.

“I'm sorry you were drawn into my memories like that, Lady Kalla. It was never my intention that you should see those,” Vander said, before she could say anything. He stared down and his hands, bunched into fists in his lap. He refused look up, to face Kalla, too afraid of seeing contempt in her eyes. She could hear the thoughts buzzing in his head.