Stars' Light, page 18
Asenath stood for a moment, wanting nothing more than to punish him, to give him pain, but she knew that he was right. She took in a deep breath, and her face lost its coldness. A warmth and sensuality returned. “You are right, of course, dear.” Her voice was still cold, but her tone let him know that he would survive this. She walked behind the bar and into her office. Koios followed her, closing the door behind them.
“I am sorry, my Queen, but we cannot make any mistakes if we are to seduce…” He paused, frowning. Shaking his head in frustration, he started over. “We cannot make any mistakes if we are to turn the General to our cause, is what I am trying to say.” Koios waited for her to sit behind the desk before he, too, sat. He always marveled at how plain this room was in comparison to her rooms upstairs. There was no art, no rugs, and no color. Only bare wood with shelving. The shelves were mostly empty, with a few rare bottles of alcohol.
“I understand why you did it,” Asenath said finally, “and if you had waited to intervene after the boy had taken the fruits of his labor, we could have been doomed.” She took in a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes. “You were right, and I thank you for what you did. You have saved us.” She cocked her head, still struggling to quell her emotions. “Now, let us see what he has brought us.”
She placed the crystal in her projection stand.
Sarannya took a few quick breaths, and they steamed and puffed in the air around her. It was a cold morning, and would probably be a cold day. Her arms were trembling from holding her sword up, but at least she was warm.
“Now, just breathe. Long breath in. Long breath out. Relax while you move. A tense body slows you down, and is easy for the enemy to see.” Jorian stood behind her, speaking softly. They had gotten up with the sun and begun training. Sarannya had been a little rough this morning, but he had expected that after last night. He watched in silence for a moment or two while she moved her sword through a series of movements that made a form.
“Good. You’re doing well.”
Sarannya wanted to turn around, but she knew better. She stayed focused, and was about to begin the next form in the series.
“Hold.”
She paused, holding her posture. Her arms were burning. Her attention began to be drawn to the pain and discomfort. She took a long breath in and then slowly let it out. She was trying to clear her mind and ignore what her body was feeling.
“Good. Take in the light around you. Use it to calm your mind. Use it to soothe away the ache and burning in your body.” Jorian whispered the words, not wanting to break her focus.
Sarannya could only see small fragments of the dawning light. It was thin and weak around her. “There isn’t enough yet.”
“There is always light. There is even light in the darkness. You must train yourself to see it. Just like when you touched the earth, you can touch the air, water, and fire. You can even touch the mind, time, and spirit of everything around you.
“Move through the next series, but as you do, I want you to connect to the ground that you can feel with your feet, and the air that is on your face. I want you to bridge the gap between the two and discover the connection they always share.” Jorian grew quiet as Sarannya’s sword began to move.
Sarannya flowed through the movements. It was a basic set, and she had done it so many times now, she did not really need to think about it. She just moved. Her awareness moved to her feet. She could sense the energy there, the coursing lines of light that moved through everything. She traced the lines through her body, to her face, and then to the wind as it brushed her skin.
She gasped as light exploded around her in a web of connections. To the trees, horses, ground, air, sword, and then she saw him, standing close. He was a being of light connected to everything. She took a step back. She became aware of something more. Something elusive. She leaned in to see more clearly, but then it was just gone. All of the light vanished.
Jorian just watched her. “You can’t be drawn into it. You have to be able to stay in the flow. Your focus took you to a single moment, instead of seeing the connection between the moments. That is what bounced you out.” He smiled and lightly grabbed her by the shoulders. “Still though, you did well. How do you feel?”
“I feel much better. My stomach is still a little off, but overall, I feel much better.” She sheathed the sword, knowing that this morning’s session was over. They always got up, ate, packed camp, trained, and then moved on. The sun was almost over the mountains, and she looked up at Atlas, who immediately moved over to her. She watched as the General mounted Titan.
“Everything that you are experiencing is only the beginning. It gets better and worse from here.” He nodded in the direction of the ash that discolored the ground.
Sarannya looked at the ash, remembering the shock of it all. She also remembered the General using his second long sword, that was a Rimerian blade exactly like Shadow. She now knew, for sure, that he had two War Blades. Now, if she could only remember what he had said about that at her party, since she remembered asking him about it at the dinner table.
“This is not an easy life that we are doing, but it is a good life.” Jorian was quiet a moment. “Remember that with regular swords, it will be blood and guts on the ground. Instead of your hands being dusted with ash, they will be stained with blood and gore.”
“I understand,” Sarannya replied calmly as she mounted Atlas.
“Not yet, you don’t, but you are starting too.” Titan turned and moved out of camp. Atlas followed.
It was still early when Jorian and Sarannya broke into the outskirts of Bosc City. They had already passed several people heading over the mountains toward Imperial City. All were courteous and polite, being merchant caravans. They had guards that rode out and spoke with Jorian. It always ended with a shake of the hand and a laugh.
Sarannya was shocked with how easily the General, also a lord, could talk with commoners, and they with him. Of course, they had no idea who he actually was, or she for that matter. But there was an ease to each encounter that spoke to her. It was just people talking, no titles or protocol getting in the way. She stayed quiet and behind her teacher. The hilt of her sword drew eyes, but they never said a word or questioned her about it, and the General exuded an ease that only a veteran warrior could. He was clearly in command of every situation.
“So, Mr. Flaviu, how many names do you really have?” Sarannya teased, as they rode away from the second caravan. She was marveling at the trees and how tall they were.
Jorian turned to her, smiling. “You will find, in time, that you, too will need many aliases. If you are recognized everywhere you go, you will not be able to see the situation or experience the person for who and what they really are. They will know who you are, and will act and construct a situation that suits their needs. It becomes much more difficult to see and ascertain what is really happening. So, I have many names.”
“So, is Lord Bral your real name?” She questioned, biting her lip. What if he was not really a lord at all, she thought.
Jorian turned to her with a smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He laughed.
Sarannya’s face scrunched up. Well, of course she would, that was why she asked. She opened her mouth to comment, when she caught the twinkle in his eye as he turned away from her. Damn it. He was messing with her again.
Jorian just laughed, and then pointed at the small houses that were beginning to appear through the trees. It was in short order that Atlas’s hooves struck cobblestone. It was clearly an old road, but had been well maintained through the years. It led to a narrow part in the pass that made a natural choke point. It was only three hundred feet across, and clearly walls were once used to guard the entrance, but now they were just broken rubble.
“The oldest road in the empire,” Jorian commented as they came out of the trees. Bosc City was a tiered city, having been built on the side of a mountain pass. They had already come through the low hills, and it always brought a smile to his face. He loved riding into Bosc City. It had been a majestic city in its day. The jewel of the empire, but now it was just old and beaten down from the continuous warfare for its freedom.
Sarannya’s eyes opened wide, taking in the many tiers of the city as it worked its way up the pass. It looked as if this could have been a beautiful city at one time. “This is a major city!” she exclaimed, taking in the construction. The stone construction started at the top and worked its way down to about halfway, before it gave way to wood, sod, and mud.
They rode past the mud huts with sod roofs. The people were up and about, leading the animals out of their homes. Sarannya was trying not to stare, but she could not help herself. She had never seen anything like it. People sleeping in the same room with the animals! She tried to disappear into her cloak, but she could sink down only so far.
The General nodded and wished many a good morning as he rode past. He was always courteous and quick with a smile. She noticed that it always eased the situation. These were not a trusting people. They watched warily as she and the General rode past.
“They live like animals, with the animals. I…I…” Sarannya whispered.
“Do you think that people who live in palaces are the only ones who understand love? Do you think these people don’t love their children, or experience happiness, because they live differently from you? Remember, they have feelings, aspirations, dreams, and hopes, just like you. They will defend their own as vehemently as anyone if you were to try and bring harm.”
Sarannya felt shame at her thoughts, but it was so different, and she could not keep from staring. The servants in her home were like kings compared to these people.
“Now, you are getting an idea why Marpesia is worth fighting for. Also, remember that not all people want to live the way we live. They have their own ideas on how best to live, and what makes them happy. You would do well to remember this.”
They rode in silence for some time, passing through the outskirts and the small farms that dotted the early rise of the pass, and moving through what would have been a great gate, flanked by walls that would have closed the city and used the pass as a secondary defense, but it all lay in ruins. Sarannya frowned, noticing the damage. She was about to comment, but thought better of it as the General seemed to be in another place at the moment.
They were rising up through the city as houses became more familiar looking to Sarannya, with yards, small walls, and better construction. Some were manicured and well maintained. Some were broken down, overgrown, and otherwise looked abandoned, but for the smoke issuing forth from the chimneys.
The ground leveled, which surprised Sarannya. Generally there was not a lot of level ground in a pass, but here there was wide swaths of it. She marveled at the amount of excavation that had taken place. Cut stones held back the dirt she assumed had been dug. Stairs and small bridges rose up and crisscrossed everywhere. It was dizzying to look at. It would have been a marvel, had it all not been so run down.
The General angled them toward a large building that connected with several bridges and looked to be many stories tall, with apartments mixed with businesses from the look of the signs. One in particular caught Sarannya’s attention. It was painted with a pair of legs covered in silk stockings. The sign was immaculately maintained. There was a wide covered porch that had tables and chairs set up for customers. Sitting at one of them was a young man with short black hair. He wore two swords, one tucked into his belt, while the other hung blade down from a decorative rope. He jumped up and set his coffee cup down, its steam rising up into the cold morning air.
The young man came bounding down the steps off the porch, smiling from ear to ear. “General.”
“It’s good to see you.” Jorian dismounted, and took hold of Kiril’s shoulder affectionately.
Sarannya could see that the the young man was close to the General and wanted to embrace him, but there was a distance between them. She felt it was the same distance that was between her and the General. She had sensed moments where that distance had melted away, but it always returned. She had assumed it would change the more time they spent together, but now, she was rethinking this.
Kiril glanced over at the girl, who was riding Atlas.
Jorian smiled. “Kiril, Sarannya,” he introduced them.
Kiril turned and bowed slightly, waiting for her to present her hand. As she did, the Masamirian blade on her hip was exposed by the opening of her cloak. He paused, leaving her hand hanging in the air. “You are training her?”
“Yes.”
“But, she’s a girl.”
“You are very observant.” Jorian spoke formally. His tone spoke volumes on how he was going to ultimately respond to Kiril’s questioning. “I am pleased to see that my training has not been lost on you. You can take care of the horses for your rudeness.”
Kiril nodded his head stiffly and moved past Sarannya without ever taking her hand as a gentleman should. Atlas and Titan seemed very excited to see him, butting him with their heads and whinnying as he lead them toward the stables around the side of the building.
“Maarika! It is good to see you.” The General exclaimed walking up the steps to hug a very pretty lady with brown hair and soft brown eyes.
“It is good to see you as well. I know the girls will be happy you’re back.” She hugged him tightly.
“Business has been good?” He asked, as they walked into the Silk Stocking.
Sarannya followed, feeling completely out of place.
“Yes, business has been good. In fact, it has been too good, which I wanted to speak with you about, but we can talk later about that. You have other things to worry about right now.” She turned back to Sarannya.
Jorian frowned. “Please excuse my rudeness. Maarika, this is Sarannya. I have taken her on as a student, so please treat her well.”
Maarika moved forward, and gave Sarannya a hug before Sarannya even knew what was happening. It was an unnatural feeling for her to have a commoner touch her, and she did not know immediately what to do, so she hugged Maarika back and smiled as warmly as she could.
Maarika smiled in return, noting the forced warmth from Sarannya. She turned back to Jorian, who was holding the door open for her. They walked into squeals and and exclamations. Jorian was inundated with hugs and kisses on the cheek.
“Back to work girls!” Maarika exclaimed, clapping her hands and shooing them away. The girls laughed and smiled, but obeyed the command and went back to work, getting ready for the truly busy time.
Jorian frowned, noting how many men were in the brothel at this time of the morning. “What do you think is causing this?” He was holding a chair out for her to sit, and then he pulled another chair out and motioned for Sarannya to sit. When they were seated, he took his own seat.
“I don’t know. It has been ramping up for the last couple of weeks. I noticed a difference just over a month ago, but thought it was just an upswing, but then the Burnished Horn became the destination of most of the men in town overnight. I paid it a visit and spoke with the matriarch of the establishment. She was very nice and very alluring. I’m not into girls, but I could be with her.” Maarika shook her head, remembering the flawless skin, the curves, and those aqua blue eyes with small hints of purple. She nodded to Ivana, who placed nice hot cups of coffee in front of every chair, even the two empty ones.
“Has this woman always been at the Burnished Horn?” Jorian asked.
“I don’t think so. It used to be where only the lowest level of prostitute would go. Any woman worth anything came here or worked on their own. It was completely run down, and looked like it was about to fall down. The inside has been completely remodeled. It looks amazing, and the outside has a fresh coat of paint. I spoke with the contractors guild, and they didn’t know anything about it.” Maarika smiled as Kiril sat down, noting Sarannya’s scowl.
“So, who did the work?”
“I don’t know.”
Jorian sat back and sipped his coffee. He looked over at Kiril, and then back at Maarika. “There is a storm coming, and I have a sense that it may not be safe for you here. You should begin making preparations to leave.”
Maarika frowned and shook her head. “And…where would I go? This is my home and my livelihood. I have built this place, with your investments, into a nice establishment from the dump it was. I have helped in restoring many of the buildings along this street. I don’t want to leave.”
“You may not have a choice. You know that I care for you and the girls. You will have a place in Marpesia,” Jorian said quietly.
“Even with who you are, I don’t think your protectorate would take too kindly to my kind, from what I’ve heard.” Maarika smiled, patting Jorian’s hand.
“And I’m telling you that you have a place there. You and the girls will be protected. You can make a good living there.” He sipped his coffee, staring at her over the rim.
“Is that an order, my lord?” Maarika was not happy, but she could see there was genuine concern on Lord Bral’s face.
“I would prefer to not have to do that. Once this starts, you will see the wisdom of my words.”
Sarannya sat there as quietly and unobtrusively as she could. She was so far out of her normal, that she did not know what to do. Maarika’s frown made her look older than she had first appeared. There was clearly a strong friendship there, but it was interesting with how comfortable the General was with prostitutes, and she was taking notice on how he did it. The girl who had served her coffee seemed nice enough, but she did not look any older than Sarannya, and was being paid to have sex. She was about to get up and go sit on the porch, but a shadow fell over her.
She looked up into a Niparian face. He carried two swords, one short and one long. He was wearing some divided pants that looked like they had seen much better days with burns and holes in them. When she looked at him, to truly see him, she saw nothing but light. It was not quite like the General, but it was unsettling all the same. Sarannya gasped.
