The Girl With Red Hair (The Last War Saga Book 1) (12 page)

But what concerned Decay the most was the girl. It looked at the black glass of the domed ceiling and inhaled. It could sense her. It could taste the magic that ran off her being. Still she was unrecognizable. Even in its mortal bonds, Decay knew every creature that existed within every world, in every instance, in every life. Nothing escaped it. It had been there when the world was formed and it would be there when it was destroyed. But the girl was a blind spot to the part that called itself Decay. And a distinctly mortal emotion took root and began to fester within the inky shadows.

Fear.

Chapter Twelve

SACHIHIRO STUMBLED AS his feet hit the ground, but he didn’t fall. The journey had been far more enjoyable as well. Instead of twisting and tumbling head over heels in the wind and color, he had remained upright. He couldn’t wrap his head around what magic had transported them, and he didn’t bother to even attempt to understand it. He had learned to accept most anything that happened as it related to magic. Jaydan had taught him that much.

“That was amazing,” Jaydan said as he suddenly appeared next to him.

Alexander and Adelaide were there as well. Alexander looked about, wide eyed, and Adelaide was grinning ear to ear.

“That sure was something,” Sachihiro said with a nod to Jaydan. He could only imagine the many thoughts racing through the Healer’s mind. Where Sachihiro was glad to remain in ignorant bliss, Jaydan was the opposite, always seeking an answer to every mystery. No doubt he had concocted several ways to attempt the feat himself. And it wouldn’t surprise him if he did.

A sharp curse alerted the group to Tannyl’s arrival. The Hunter stepped from the air with grace and skill, directly in front of Sachihiro. He looked past them and cursed again. There was a murderous edge in his tone. More so than usual.

“Don’t be so moody,” Sachihiro said as he turned to see what Tannyl was transfixed by. A curse of his own left his lips before he could stop it.

A few steps away, the grassy patch they stood on gave way to polished stone and a city that jutted high into the blue sky. Sachihiro craned his neck, trying to follow the twisting streets that wound around the mountain-side. He couldn’t determine how high the city rose, for the peak was lost in the clouds that floated lazily all around them. Like the Archway, it was clear they had landed on another floating island; the edge was a couple of paces behind Sachihiro. This, however, was an entire city. It was even more majestic and imposing than all the stories combined.

Tannyl cursed again and then said, “I hate cities.”

Adelaide let out a sound of awe and clasped her hands together. “Oh, it’s like home.”

“No, it is not,” Tannyl said firmly.

The group stood in silence for a time after that, each lost in their own thoughts. Sachihiro had never seen anything like what lay before him now. He’d spent nearly every night in the tavern of Woodhaerst, gathering stories from any traveler willing to share. He had even bartered extra drinks for those too reluctant. It wasn’t unusual for there to be at least a couple herbalists or hunters from the Civil Empire that stayed in the village, but never had they described anything as majestic as the Fae city of Paladrix. Buildings of stone stood many stories high, and every road he could see was made of shiny white rock. Everything about it seemed impossible. And that was discounting the fact that the entire thing seemed to be floating in the middle of the sky. A certain part of him felt uneasy, as he knew Tannyl did, but a larger part was growing increasingly curious. The ballad in his head continued to grow.
No one’s going to believe this,
he thought. But he didn’t care.

Adelaide broke the silence, pulling Jaydan and Alexander toward the city, and saying, “Now you can buy me new clothes, Alexander. And maybe we can get something clean for Tannyl.”

Tannyl remained silent, but Sachihiro could see rage simmering behind his emerald eyes. He felt for the elf. Tannyl was clearly out of his element, not just being in a place like this, but for having been stuck with a group of younger charges. And Adelaide, whatever she was. Sachihiro knew that Tannyl had promised Fae’Na to watch over him and Jaydan when they first left Woodhaerst, but she was dead now, as was the rest of the village. He had fully expected the elf to disappear into the forest at the first opportunity. He was, by all accounts, a loner. Why was he still here?

“All right, we can try, Addy,” Alexander was saying as Sachihiro caught up to the trio. “But I don’t have much to barter with. We may not be able to get much.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with the dress I made you?”

She didn’t even bother to turn. “It smells awful and fits worse. I would trade it if I thought it was worth anything. It would be best to burn it.”

Sachihiro felt as if he had been stabbed in the back. And then the front. And then the back again. It took a moment to catch his breath. “I worked hard on that. You should appreciate it.”

“Well, I don’t,” she said sharply. “A lady does not wear…
this.”

He thought to argue, but they crossed into the city and were enveloped by a crowd that seemed to appear all at once. They milled about, unconcerned by the new arrivals, each going about their own business. Most were elves, but he saw a smattering of others races as well: gnomes and humans to be sure, and many more he could not identify. A horned woman winked at him as she walked past. Sachihiro winked back and turned to watch her glide away.

“I told you we should have left her,” Tannyl said, nudging Sachihiro forward again and falling into lockstep at his side. He had never seen the elf appear so… unsettled. If Sachihiro didn’t know any better he would have thought Tannyl was staying close to him for shelter.

“Don’t worry,” he said, unable to stop himself. “I’ll protect you from all these
friendly
people.”

Tannyl elbowed him sharply in the ribs, but made no effort to leave his side. In fact, he seemed to draw nearer.

Sachihiro laughed off the pain. “You would leave a young girl like that by herself? Even you’re not that heartless.”

Tannyl’s jaw flexed and his frown deepened, eyes locked on Adelaide, a few strides ahead. “I might be.”

The larger view of the city soon vanished as they walked along the broad street, surrounded by towering stone structures. Many of the first floors were open stalls, packed with goods hawked by energetic merchants.

Adelaide let out a squeal of delight and darted into a store, leaving Alexander and Jaydan to catch up, both shouting after the girl.

Tannyl sighed. “At least she’s taken to Jaydan and the other one.”

“Alexander,” Sachihiro said.

Tannyl grunted. “I know his name.”

Sachihiro heard the meaning in the tone Tannyl used. He wasn’t nearly as hard to read as he thought. But then again, Sachihiro made a living off reading every tavern patron that held something he wanted. Knowing the emotions of a mark was just a tool of the trade. “Oh, I think he’s all right. Done nothing but help us so far.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“That surprises me, Tannyl,” he said in his best stage voice.

Tannyl didn’t respond, instead following the others into the store they had entered.

Sachihiro laughed to himself and did as well.

“Greetings, travelers,” the elven woman behind the counter said as Alexander chased after Adelaide. The girl disappeared into one of the rows of clothing hung around the small shop, only her gleeful squeal giving away her location. Jaydan stumbled in and leaned against the counter, giving Alexander a look that spoke of growing exasperation.

Alexander smiled and shrugged, turning back to the shopkeeper. “Greetings. We aren’t from here…” he said slowly, unsure of how much to reveal.

The woman nodded, her face split with a matronly smile. “Outsyders. Yes, I know. Please, what is it that you require?”

Adelaide burst from a group of dresses and nearly leapt onto the counter. Her eyes were wide and her voice climbed a few octaves. “I need a new dress,” she asserted. “Something fashionable. And clean clothes for my friends. We’re going to see the Council.”

She spoke with an energetic authority and Alexander found himself snapping to attention. “Uh, yes,” he said. “Addy could use a set of new clothes, as you can see.” He indicated the drab wolf pelt that hung from her slight body. The woman nodded, still smiling. “But we have only a little to trade and no Imperial coin…”

The elven woman waved a hand and let out a soft laugh. “Do not speak of barter or coins. The young lady shall have whatever she needs. And I can offer some practical clothing for the rest of you, should you desire it.”

Alexander looked at Jaydan. The Healer shrugged.

“I don’t understand,” Alexander said slowly. “You’re just going to
give
her the clothes?”

The woman nodded, blue eyes soft and warm. “We do not simply give our wares away, but neither do we trade in physical currency.”

Alexander just stared back dumbly.

“You are worthy,” the woman continued. “It is plain to see.” She then turned to regard Adelaide, who was hopping with anticipation. “I will have my assistant, Elora, help you. Just tell her what you desire and it will be done.”

Adelaide squealed, clapped her hands together and vanished into the back of the store. A young gnomish woman appeared from a small door cut into the wall behind the counter and followed after her.

Sachihiro and Tannyl came in then. The elf looked peeved, while the other had a curious gleam in his eyes. It amused Alexander to see the pair side by side. Like the night with the day. He was still unsure of how he felt about any of the group, but as long as they helped look after Adelaide, he would trust them. She was proving to be a handful. And he couldn’t ignore the loss the others had suffered. By all accounts, the three were all that remained of their village. They needed him just as much as Adelaide did. He hoped his father would be proud of the decision to join with the battered group. It felt right.

“What’s the girl doing?” Tannyl asked, eyes roving the cluttered store.

“She’s picking out some new clothes,” Alexander replied, nodding toward the back of the store. Girlish giggles continued to echo from the stacks.

Tannyl grunted. Sachihiro scratched his head. “How we going to pay for them?” he asked. “Think they’ll pay for a performance? I’ve been working on a new song after what happened in Woodhaerst.”

“No need,” Alexander said. “Seems they’re just going to
give
her the clothes. Said she was worthy.”

Sachihiro’s eyes lit up. “Think I can get some free wares too?”

“Doubtful,” Tannyl said. “The Fae use emotions as currency. Or something approaching that. Hard to explain. Most of them can look into you and know what you’re feeling. Or who you are.”

“How do you know that?” Sachihiro asked in challenge.

The elf said nothing, and after a moment, turned and exited the shop.

Jaydan and Sachihiro shared a look that Alexander had seen numerous times in their short coexistence.

“How well do you know him?” he asked when it seemed clear the elf wasn’t returning.

“Since I could walk,” Sachihiro said.

Jaydan shook his head and rolled his eyes. “That was only a few seasons ago,” he said. “And besides, he asked how
well
we know him. And the answer is not well, but Fae’Na trusts…
trusted
him, and my parents always raved about his skill in the forest. Used to bring them supplies from his hunts once in a while in exchange for treatment.”

“You trust him?” Alexander asked.

“More’n I trust you,” Jaydan said, and then added, “no offense.”

Sachihiro smiled apologetically. “Tannyl’s all right. Just a bit…”

“Haunted,” Jaydan finished.

Sachihiro nodded. “As Uncle used to say,
that’s an elf with a ghost after him.
”

There was a crash from the back of the store followed by the exasperated cries of Elora. Adelaide’s shrill voice rang out soon after. Alexander couldn’t be sure of what she was saying, but the previous euphoria had seemed to wear off and she was no doubt ordering the gnomish woman about.

“Better go help her out,” Alexander said.

“Which one?” Jaydan asked.

“Both.”

The crowd was more suffocating than he remembered. It had swollen in just the few moments Tannyl had been inside the stuffy store. He darted and spun around the haphazard mass of citizens. A pair of elven women holding hands nearly caught the Hunter in the chest with their arms, parting just as Tannyl ducked. They looked at him quizzically, but continued on their way. Tannyl let out a sigh of relief and turned, colliding full force with a distracted gnome.

Tannyl froze as he watched the gnomish man fall on his backside, armful of colorful fabrics going in all directions. His guard had only faltered for a moment, but he knew it took less for a thread to leak out. His breath caught in his throat as he waited for the realization to hit the man. The world crawled in slow motion.