Sunstone - Dishonor's Bane (Book 2) (19 page)

“Good. I’m ready to get going.” They walked to the tool hut and stood in the middle. Shiro had brought his pack along with his sword. “Teach me.”

Teleportation requires that you have been to where you are going. You need to visualize your destination. The spell is simple, but you must have the power.”

“Why did they need the entire Guild council to transport Boreko and I?”

“If you push someone to another location, you need a great deal of power. If you were on a horse, you could take the horse with you and feel some fatigue, but if you transported a horse without you, the act would make you faint and it might take a day or even a week to recover.”

A bit of anxiety made Shiro’s breath a little short. “Do we hold hands?”

“Why Shiro!” Ashiyo laughed, and then nodded. “The closer the contact, the easier. You will transport both of us since I’ve never been to the North Isle.” He gave Shiro the words and described the mindset.

Shiro extended his hand and didn’t waste any time. The sun changed places in the sky and it was now earlier in the day. “I guess we made it.” His stomach revolted at the change and Shiro fell to his knees, retching.

“You get used to it,” Ashiyo said, looking a little ill, too.

“Like seasickness?”

“Exactly. Now where are we?”

Shiro looked around. “The road is over the hill. I ate a meal here.” He pointed to the stream. “And filled up my skin. The inn is just over there about half an hour’s walk.” He looked to the south. “Let’s talk to the innkeeper, first.”

They entered a wood. The inn was nestled on the other side. As they turned a corner, the inn lay inert, dormant, like a dead thing. Windows looked like the pits in a skull. The thatch roof no longer existed and filled the leaning blackened plaster walls halfway up with ashes.

“I don’t believe she lives here anymore,” Ashiyo said.

“That’s disappointing. I had the impression that she was White Rose and someone special.”

“She might still be special, but living somewhere else.”

“Let’s head back north to the valley and the nexus.”

It took them an hour and a half to make it to the valley. Their progress sped up once Shiro found the track that he used so many months ago. At the side of a stream, a little hut sat with a tendril of smoke curling up into the sky.

“Is that your old lady?” Ashiyo said.

“I hope so, I’m hungry and as I recall she cooked rather well.”

Shiro stopped them ten paces from the house. “Hello.”

The old woman Shiro remembered put her head through a window. “Who’s there? Oh, you returned. I thought you would. Come on in.”

“My name is Shiro and this is…”

“Himura, my lady,” Ashiyo said, smiling and bowing deeply.

“Sit and rest your bones, mine certainly need it,” she cackled away as she put water in a pot and hung it over the coals in the brazier.

“I am Tishi. I imagine you saw my inn? Cooking fire. That’s what happens to an old woman. What brought you back? I thought you’d be in sorcerer’s robes by now.”

Shiro lifted the sleeve of his tunic, showing only one blue dot.

“Oh. You didn’t make it and have gone rogue? I’m surprised you survived.”

“They tried twice to kill me, but obviously failed.”

“Obviously,” Ashiyo said. Shiro couldn’t believe the personality change in the man once he revealed his true identity. Gone was the servant and here was the smart-aleck master.

Shiro leaned forward. “What do you know about the White Rose Society?”

“I’ve heard of a group of women sorcerers. Their purpose is to stay hidden. The world’s openness to females with Affinity waxes and wanes. Like the moon, but not as regular,” she said.

“Do you know who owns this valley?” Shiro said.

“Are your questions connected?”

“They are. The antipathy towards the society is waxing in the South Isle and I’d like to find a home for them. There is more tolerance in this prefecture, so I’d like to bring them to this valley. They can keep their powers filled up and defend themselves.”

Tishi laughed without humor. “What makes you think that? You saw my inn. The truth is roving bandits who have no tolerance for independent women came to my door. They tried to make their way with me…with me!  I had to use my power to kill the one who attacked me. The others ran outside and torched my thatch.” She shook her head.

“No cooking fire?” Shiro said.

The woman shook her head.

“So you are of the White Rose?” Ashiyo said.

“We don’t have the society up here, but intolerance exists here as well as in the south.”

“If there were other sisters nearby, you would not have feared roving bandits. Sisters, banded together, can defend themselves even against the Guild,” Shiro said.

“They probably can,” she admitted. “But why do you care?”

Shiro gave her his story from when he left her until he ended up at the village.

“Are you in love with the warrior-cook?”

“I wouldn’t say love…” Shiro said, not happy about Tishi perceiving his one-sided relationship with Chika.

“I wouldn’t either,” she said, “but that story isn’t over. You’ve convinced me of your sincerity. I’m not convinced of his,” she glanced at Ashiyo, “but it matters not at this point. I own the valley, not directly, but you can settle here. You can bring your society here, but I will approve any buildings and their placement. Nothing within three hundred paces of the nexus outcropping. It is unique in the world.”

“Very well. We will bring two other women with us tomorrow, if that’s okay. You may ask them any questions.”

“Oh, I will,” Tishi said. “Are they in Hoksaka?”

Shiro smiled. “No on South Isle. I might not have made it as a sorcerer, but I am not without my own power.”

Tishi’s eyes widened a bit. “Teleporters? You two?” She produced a throaty laugh. “Come, bring me knowledge and I will provide sanctuary.”

~~~

Chapter Twenty-Six

~

“D
id you look through her disguise?
” Ashiyo said.

“Not quite. She is younger, but I couldn’t tell how much. Her disguise spell is different.”

Ashiyo winced. “I couldn’t either. I guess my spell isn’t perfect. She’s not my type, anyway. I think she is a worthy opponent of Miroshi.”

“May it not come to that.” They approached the orange rocks. “Feel the power?”

“Not yet.” In a few more paces he said, “I do now. It sings like an instrument.”

Shiro smiled. “My first thought. We won’t go further. This will restore our full power before we transport back to the village.” Shiro felt his body synchronize with the nexus and felt the expansion he had before. It soothed him like a hot bath. “It’s time,” Shiro said as he reached out with his hand. He spoke the words and…

They stood in the front of their little house. Late afternoon in the north had given way to the beginning of twilight in the south. Shiro felt no ill effects.

“That was easy.”

“I think you could move the old lady’s house without ill effects.”

Shiro thought for a moment. “By twos and threes, Ashiyo.”

“Indeed.” His friend grinned. “Easy.”

“We’ll visit the witches tomorrow,” Shiro said.

Chika ran into the yard. “Where have you been this afternoon? The village had a visit from my father’s troops. They have violated the borders of this prefecture, but I’m afraid nothing will be done to stop them.”

“The witches?” Ashiyo said.

“They weren’t taken, but the soldiers promised to return tomorrow. I’m afraid you will have to help them.”

“What about you?” Shiro looked into her eyes.

“I’m with you. I can’t bear any more of this.”

“Good. Gather your things. We are leaving tonight,” Shiro said. The timing of everything just became immediate.

“But they’ll catch us on the road!” Chiba said. “They know about you. The smith left to get them this morning. Something about a shovel.”

Shiro put his hands to his face. “It’s my fault.”

“Our fault, I’m afraid,” Ashiyo said. “Shiro tried to sharpen a shovel with his magic and ruined it. Any smith would figure out what happened. He evidently doesn’t like sorcerers.”

“Or witches,” Chika said as if the words tasted badly. She followed the two men into the house as they gathered their meager belongings.

They made their way to Yori’s house. “We are leaving town,” Shiro said.

“I figured that you would. That was nasty business with the ladies. They are shaken up, but I fear for them tomorrow.”

“We are taking them with us. I won’t tell you where, but we’ll be far from here by the time the soldiers come. I didn’t get much done,” Shiro said.

Yori bowed to Shiro. “Anything was worth it. Do you need money?”

Shiro shook his head. “But I thank you for the opportunity to meet you.” They all bowed to each other and the three of them hurried to the witches’ house.

“I thought you’d never arrive,” Miroshi said.

“We’ve got good news. I’ve successfully arranged for you to go to the valley in the North Isle.”

Miroshi shook her head in defeat. “I’m afraid we’ll not be able to travel far enough to avoid the soldiers. Either way around the desert will bring us closer to peril.” She sat down on her porch and put her head in her hands. Sobs shook her. “We’ll never get out of here in time.”

“What did they do to you?”

“We are shaken up, is all. No broken bones, but we all have bruises. They broke our furniture and made a mess of things.”

“How long until you can be ready to leave? I’m transporting you and your possessions to the North Isle. I’d try to take your house, but I’m afraid I’d make a bigger mess of things than the soldiers.”

Ashiyo laughed. “You are beginning to feel your power, Shiro.”

“Bundle things up. Ashiyo and I can make as many trips as we need. Who would like to leave right now?”

Ishura stepped up. “I was leaving with them or without them. Just wait.” She ran into the house and brought out two large bundles wrapped in quilts.

“How far did you think you’d get carrying those?” Ashiyo said with a grin.

She shrugged and blushed. “Hold on to them tightly,” he looked at Shiro. “I’ll be back.” Ashiyo mumbled a few words and vanished with Ishura and her things.

“See?” Shiro said. “What can I do to help gather your possessions? We can transport from inside the house.”

Long past midnight, all seven of them surveyed the piles of furniture, kitchen equipment and heaps of clothing that sat by Tishi’s cottage.

She came out with a large pot. “Here is tea to refresh you. We will work out what we will do with your things tomorrow, but it’s past my bedtime and yours too. All of you arrived a bit earlier than expected.” She cackled like the old woman she wasn’t.

Miroshi, Chika and Shiro sat on benches, with grass under their feet.

“I will give you letters. There is a code that we use. Here is the list I made up before the soldiers arrived. It is a start. We only know a few of our sisters. That is why the Lord Sekkoro didn’t capture any to the east of his city. But now that Udishi is carrying on in his stead, we will have to liberate those in the east and those on the north coast.”

“We will start in Udishi’s domain since those sisters are the most exposed,” Shiro said. He looked at Chika who nodded, grimly. She had dropped her disguise, much to Shiro’s pleasure. “There is no time to lose. Unfortunately, I have to return to the village since I’ve never been to the east.”

Chika sat up. “Teach me to teleport. I know my old province as well as any.”

The prospect had never dawned on Shiro. He thought that women wouldn’t have enough power, but then Ashiyo told him that many men didn’t. Chika would. He knew it.

“Come with me,” Shiro finished his tea and held out his hand.

“Does this mean we will spend time in the grass?” Chika said, her lips curling.

Shiro grinned. Chika was back. “I’m so sorry. Only the soles of our sandals.” Shiro forced a mock frown. On the way to the nexus outcropping he told her the teleport spell.

“So you think I may be strong enough.”

“Indeed. But we will let you try it out. We’ll teleport from the nexus to Tishi’s. Your power will be filled up first.”

“Not quite betting on me?”

Shiro pursed his lips in the moonlit night. “You’ll be transporting both of us.”

As they approached the nexus, Shiro felt the humming, but his power topped out quickly. Chika put out her arms.

“This is wonderful.”

“Tell me when you feel…  You’ll feel something like satisfied.”

“Oh, like after a long night of love?”

Shiro smiled. “Better.”

She scoffed but in a few moments hummed. “I know what you mean. I’m ready.”

“Let’s step away from the nexus,” Shiro said.

They clasped hands. Chika looked expectantly at Shiro.

“Go ahead,” he said.

She closed her eyes and in the next instant, they stood in front of Tishi’s cottage. Chika screamed and jumped up and down with joy and then clutched her stomach. “I shouldn’t have done that.” She sat down gingerly, but ended up getting sick.

Shiro laughed. He felt great. “You did it!”

Chika could only grunt, but she presented him with a weak smile.

“We leave tomorrow.” His elation dissipated quickly enough as he thought about the task he had accepted for the both of them.

~~~