Lady of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper Book 2) (10 page)

* * *

Kasai jerked awake with a panicked yelp that woke the others. He flailed in the dark, jerking away when one of them managed to grab his arm. He needed to get out, wanted to get away. It took a lot to frighten the Harrier, but the bizarre experience he'd just been through had more than done it. A ball of magelight erupted in the darkness and he squinted against its sudden brightness, flattening against the wall.

The hawk struggled to remember where he was, why he was there. The last thing he recalled was talking to Kalla as she checked on the War Mage, and then her as a giant wolf, protecting him from the Deathbringer. He gathered that he must have died when the War Mage did, but she'd managed to bring them both back, as she'd promised. He rubbed his chest, wondering why he felt so sore and was surprised to find his tunic in tatters.

“What the hells was that all about?” he growled out, edging away when Kalla moved closer to him.

“That would be journeying. It can be quite a unique experience,” Kalla said.

“Quite. And will we be doing this… 'journeying' often?” he growled again.

“I wasn't expecting to do it this time,” Vander replied. “Journeying is not one of my strong skills. It is fairly uncommon for a magister to do so without outside help. In this case, Crookfang, I guess.” He looked to Kalla for a confirmation and she nodded.

“Yes, it takes one from the spirit realms to bring the average person there. Crookfang here. Kituk for Aleister,” she said.

“Oh, lucky me,” Aleister muttered. He pointed to his brother. “I agree with him. I'd rather not do it again. Unpleasant things happen.”

“Heh, well now,
Prince
, I think you might end up going on more by default. You'll get used to it. And besides, your first trip didn't end badly,” Kalla replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Aleister ducked his head with a sheepish grin. Kasai gave them a puzzled look, his fear and his temper finally calming down.

“Prince?” he asked. “And why did they call you Amaraaq?”

“It's a long story…” Aleister muttered. “Too long for now. We should try to get some sleep.”

As if to emphasize his point, the Fox gave a huge yawn. He made a face and shifted into his fox form, curling back up next to Kalla. To her other side, Vander's face brightened as he remembered the Hound's gift. With a look of concentration, he too shifted. A red-furred tail swept the blankets in delight and he curled up in a ball on his pallet with a contented sigh. That left Kalla and Kasai to stare at one another. The Healer twitched a smile.

“In the morning. We will have much to discuss come tomorrow. It's a bit much to take in right now and far too long to explain. Let's just say, there's more to my magister and I than what you see here.”

“I intend to hold you to that.”

Kasai winced as he gingerly eased himself back onto his pallet. He rubbed his chest again, feeling as if he'd been trampled by a whole herd of pronghorn. Seeing his discomfort, Kalla gestured for him to lay down. When he did, she gently rested her hand against his chest. He tensed, then relaxed as soothing healing energy melted the soreness from his bruised muscles.

“I'm afraid I had to shock you to restart your heart. It can leave one feeling as if they've been run over by an angry vykyr.” She tugged the tatters of his tunic. “I can repair this also, in the morning.”

“Shocked me?” he asked.

“Yes. Your heart stopped. I needed to get it working again, to give it the energy it needed.” she replied. Kasai was silent for a moment, digesting this information.

“It really happened, didn't it? We both died and you brought us back,” he said slowly.

Kalla nodded. To either side of her, mage and magister were closely attending the conversation, though both looked to be slumbering peacefully. The Harrier closed his eyes, running a hand over his face. “Thank you,” he said softly.

“You are welcome, Master Kasai. Just remember what I said and give me no cause to regret it,” she said. He gave her his own nod before rolling over to face the wall, drawing the blankets up around his chin. Kalla watched him a moment more. He looked lost and alone, a stranger suddenly thrust into their close-knit group and uncertain of how welcome he truly was. Understandable given all he'd been through, but the hawk was tough. She was sure he'd adjust quickly.

Kalla sighed inwardly and turned to find a pair of amber eyes regarding her. She snugged back into her own nest and pulled the fox to her. He gave a growly sigh and wriggled closer as she pulled a blanket up over them.

“
Why'd you shift?
” she asked.

“
How else to get
you
to hold
me
instead?
”

Mischievousness laced the Fox's words, but beneath that lay a sleepy embarrassment, a hint of fear and more than a bit of pleasure. She chuckled softly, as he relaxed against her, stretching his paws out in front of him.

* * *

Morning dawned and voices in the hallway drew Kalla from her slumber. She groaned and started to stir, but found herself effectively pinned in on all sides. She still clutched the dozing fox to her chest, his warm presence a comfort. Vander the wolf was pressed against her back, pinning the blanket down.

The surprise was Kasai. At some point during the night, the Harrier had rolled over to his other side and now had his head buried against hers. Warm breath tickled one fuzzy wolf ear. She shifted slightly and, in an instant, the hawk was awake. He jerked away from her with a murmured apology that woke the wolf and the fox. The pair stretched their paws out, yawning, then shifted back to their human forms. Vander gave a regretful sigh and turned a sapphire gaze to Kalla.

“Well… what now?” he asked. Kalla met his gaze briefly, then focused on Kasai. The Harrier had edged away from them, sitting a little apart and she once more had the impression of a very lonely and unhappy hawk. She gestured for him to come closer.

“Come here, give me your tunic. I can fix that while we answer your questions. I'm sure you have a great many,” she said.

Wary, Kasai moved closer, slipping off the tunic and handing it to her. Like Aleister, scars laced his chest and arms. Several deep gashes ran along his left side, across the ribs. Any lower and the blow would surely have eviscerated the hawk.

“You might say that, Lady Kalla.”

Kasai paused a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. While they waited for him to speak Kalla spread the tattered tunic on the pallet before her. With skilled hands she set about alchemically reweaving the frayed edges.

Kasai watched for a moment and, though he made no outward showing, Kalla detected the faintest scent of fear from him. The events of last night had fanned the fires of a dormant phobia of magick. Kalla exchanged a covert look with Vander that told her that her assumptions were correct. Unconsciously, Kasai rubbed his chest again, then ran his fingers over his
jinshin
.

“The Hounds called you Amaraaq, but your name is Kalla.”

For the next several minutes the three filled the hawk in on who, exactly, Kalla and Aleister really were.

The Harrier looked thunderstruck at the news. Part of him wanted to disbelieve what they had told him. Another part knew they were telling the truth. Kasai had been to Dashmar. He vaguely recalled the legends and myths he had heard of Kituk and Arvynn. Of Amaraaq. He hadn't connected her unusual tattoos with the legends before now, but it fit. That, and what she'd been able to do, to heal the very land itself. He found it harder to believe that his brother was actually the son of Inari, though he could hardly deny that Aleister was a
kitsune
.

The Harrier put that out of mind and turned his attention back to the terrifying 'journey' he'd been forced on last night. The Song the Hounds had given them was coming back to him now, along with remembrances of the strange conversation between Kalla and them.

“What of playing the Song, Lady Kalla? It will be… difficult to say the least,” Kasai said. Kalla chuckled.

“I think we should first go and see Lord Nobunaga. I have my own apologies to make. We have stolen you away from him. Then we shall go see Shukke and Ari. I'm sure that we can easily work it into what's already planned for tonight.”

“Lord Nobunaga understands it was an accident. My successor is already named. Khasar was my second. He will make a fine Master Harrier,” Kasai said, low.

Sadness laced his words and Kalla was once more overcome with guilt and regret for them having chained the hawk. He didn't deserve to be taken from all he'd ever known, all he'd worked his life for.

“Tell me what I am allowed to bring with me and I will have my belongings moved here.” He paused a moment. “Thiassi… Thiassi wishes to come with me. I tried to get him to understand he should stay here, but it didn't go over well,” he finished. The Healer reached out and gently placed her hand over his.

“Kasai, he doesn't have to stay here. If you would be more comfortable having Thiassi with you, by all means, invite him to come. We already travel with one wyvern, why not two? As for your belongings, bring whatever it is that you wish.”

Kalla shook out his restored tunic, which had been laying, forgotten, in her lap. He slipped it on.

“Very well, Lady Kalla, Lord Vander. We might as well go see the Khan now,” the Harrier said. He steeled himself and slipped through the door covering. The others filed out in silence. Halfway down the guest wing they met a relieved looking Seneschal, accompanied by Shukke and Koumugi.

“You're all okay. We were worried when we couldn't get into the room to check on you,” Ari said. “Master Shukke said you were doing fine, that they met you while you were dreamwalking.”

“We are doing much better, Master Ari. I apologize for the sealed room. Another line of defense for a helpless mage,” Kalla replied.

“Very well. If you will follow me, Lord Nobunaga wishes to see you,” Ari said.

“I have no doubt,” she said dryly. They followed the Seneschal and shaman through the Palace to the Khan's office. As they traveled, Kasai grew increasingly more agitated and nervous. As they approached the office a shadowed figure slipped out the door and the hawk was brought short as he came face to face with his replacement. Khasar's drawn expression brightened when he saw Kasai.

“You're okay. You looked like death warmed over yesterday. We were worried about you. All of you,” he said. Kasai barked a laugh.

“Yes, well… you have no idea how accurate that statement is,” he replied.

“You must come see us later, nest-brother. Both of you,” Khasar said. The new Master Harrier murmured something to Kasai in lilting Arkaddian that made the hawk smile and respond in the same.

Beside her, Aleister chuffed a soft laugh, but didn't see fit to share the Harrier's words. Whatever he'd said, it had put Kasai more at ease. Kalla guessed that Kasai's uneasiness came from how he should act in his new role, more, how he should act around those to whom he'd always been a hawk.

She reflected that the Harriers and the magisters weren't all that different, really. Both served as guardians to important people. Kasai made a promise that they would come to the Mews later and Khasar left them to face the Khan. Ari had slipped into the office while they had been speaking to the Harrier and now stood waiting for them in the doorway. Kalla followed the shaman into the room, trailed by the rest. She and Vander knelt with the shaman and magisters and waited for Nobunaga to tell them to rise. The Healer rose smoothly to her feet, facing the Arkaddian ruler.

“I do apologize, my Lord. We seem to keep causing you problems. First we nearly kill you, trying to help and now we've gone and stolen your Master Harrier.”

“The aid you've given us has far outweighed the problems. I will miss my hawk, but his service is a small price to pay for the peace and prosperity you've restored to us.

“I understand that it was not done intentionally, but tell me, how did you come here with one less magister than needed?” the Khan asked.

Kalla spent the next few moments giving Nobunaga a very abbreviated version of the story, leaving out any mention of Amaraaq. As she talked, the Khan stroked the middle strand of his bound beard in thoughtful contemplation.

“I see. Your Guardian bound you and the War Mage thus as a lesson, perhaps?”

“Maybe. Among other things, we have learned to share our skills. It would be a great benefit to the Kanlon if we could teach others how to create and then sever such a bond. A mage could effectively double the skills they know. Vander has already proven just how useful that can be. Even the few Healers who specialize in Defensor's skills have not come up with his innovation. Who knows what new things we might learn if all the magi could do this,” she replied.

“Perhaps you will find out the means to do that as well,” Nobunaga said. He looked from Kalla to Aleister, a slight smile on his face. “Do you need us to postpone things for a day or two, while you recover?”

“No, Lord Nobunaga. I don't think that will be necessary. We just need to make some changes to the plans,” Kalla replied.

“Ah, yes. Master Shukke has told me what is required already. I'll leave you to make those arrangements.”

Kalla bowed at the Khan's dismissal and followed Ari and the shaman back out into the corridor.

“Well, Lady Kalla, I think our first order of business should be to see to the thunderdrums. This should be … interesting,” Shukke said.

“No doubt.”

The group made their way through the Palace, to a cordoned off area outside. The massive thunderdrums had already been assembled, great drum looming above all the rest. It was a matter of little effort for Kalla and Vander to move two of the bull-drums to new places beside the great drum, using coils of air to gently lift them and settle them into place. Kasai whistled as he slipped one of the shoulder drums on and picked up two of the great drum's strikers.

“It normally takes three or four people to move one bull-drum.”

“Yes, well, magick does have its advantages,” Kalla said, shouldering a drum of her own. Aleister handed her the twins to Kasai's strikers. She accepted with a murmur of thanks and gestured for Kasai to join her.