Chapter 34: Home
"ALERT! ALERT! The valley has been breached!"
Etaceh ran towards the gaggle of panicking gray witches angrily. "What was it? Do you see where it went?"
A gray witch bowed respectfully. "The signal went out, but we could not see what it was. It disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
Etaceh rubbed her temples. "I swear to the Maker that if you do not
find
what caused the alarm to sound, I will choke the
life
out of you, gray worm! Now go!"
The witch scurried off, consulting the water basin and mystical tomes with its kind. Etaceh nibbled at her blood red fingers worriedly. With Zyra, Scallen, and now Medean gone she was the sole protector of the Valley. Surely Creedon knew this. His Reani warrior was a clear indication that there was nothing he was not prepared to do for his revenge. He was growing bolder, but bold enough to cross into the valley himself? Surely not, and yet, she wasn't sure.
How could she be?
"I wish..."
She stopped the thought. No, there was no way she could. Not after everything he'd done. But she was alone here with more enemies than allies, and it seemed like things were only getting worse.
Pushing the witches aside she dug her fingernails into her palm until blood ran freely, and spilled the drops into the pool. "I call forth Hecate, who is mother. I call forth Circe who is sister. I call forth the protection spells of old."
The water sizzled and Etaceh looked around. "Does anyone have a stone?"
A grey witch scuttled forward with a brick.
"Close enough."
She dropped it in the pool and the grey witches began their chants, giving her strength.
"I call forth Hecate..."
"I call forth Circe..."
"Rise..." Etaceh commanded. "Rise warrior born of blood and stone!"
Out of pool rose a massive creature, grey and hulking with blood red eyes. It shook itself dry and stepped out of the basin, standing several feet taller and wider than her.
"More!" Etaceh bellowed. "More warriors!"
Four more emerged all varying in size and shape, but all strong and intimidating.
"Pledge your loyalty to me creatures."
The looked at one another, then the biggest of them who Etaceh stared down, daring him to disobey. He bent onto one knee and the others followed.
Etaceh placed her hand on its head, and he grumbled appreciatively, sensing that his blood was her own.
"Master," he rumbled.
"Yes, I am your master. My land is threatened. Settled yourself beneath the earth on the edge of the border that separates our land. If you sense anyone enter rise and defend me!"
"HUH!
The warriors rose and from themselves formed their own weapons, spiky lances, dangerous mallets, deadly blades.
"Go now!" Etaceh commanded. They stomped off to obey, and Etaceh ushered a gray witch forth to the ground. He knelt and she sat on him, sighing.
"Fetch me my wine, I'm parched. And someone do make sure they go the right way. Golems have no sense of direction, the giant fools."
Her mind drifted back to the Nightlock.
"Oh shit!" she exclaimed. She'd forgotten he'd left the valley, for lord knows why. She jumped up and rushed after her creatures. Why did she have to do everything?
———————————————
River was in trouble. He was in more trouble than he had ever been in his entire life. He remembered that as he led the red-headed female to his family's hut that had been repurposed for the keromedio. He kept waiting for a nymph to spot her or a centaur to sniff her out, or worse, a witch to find her, but no one did.
In fact, despite having such a garish human hair color, she was quick and stayed hidden quite well. Someone times he was sure she wasn't there, but anytime he turned she was right on his heels, glaring him down with those piercing cool eyes of hers. He reached the hut and pulled the door open, watching her slip inside. He closed it behind him sighing.
"You know, this is not—"
Turning back he was stunned to see a knife at his neck.
"Where did you—"
"Listen green one," she hissed. "I am here to seek out the one you call...kero something...she is a human in this valley. Her name is Zyra. Do you know her?"
"Know her?" River scoffed. "This is her home."
Firetoucher's eyes widened and she took in the room for the first time. Yes, despite the oddness of it, she could see Rovian touches. The water station, the furs on the ground huddled together. Had her baby ever gotten the luxury of furs upon his skin? Certainly not since she had run. Glory began to hiccup, waking from slumber hungry. She looked at the creature and her baby and decided to put down her knife.
"Are all human women so violent?" he asked.
She ignored him, settling into the furs and putting her baby to her breast. River blushed, turning from her. He'd seen her pink nipples, standing full and proud. Her chest was freckled. He wondered why little things like her variety of color made her so attractive. Reds and pinks, and browns, and greens. Humans were so...mismatched.
"Where is she?"
"Zyra is not here," he said, "She is on a mission."
"When will she be back?"
River shrugged. "She is the keromedio. It is not my business."
He gestured to a chest beside her. "This place is sustained by the garden outside and she has stores of dried meat in that one, my...sister, helped set her up." Mourabet was kind of like his sister. Might as well go with it.
"Your sister, she is friend to Zyra?"
River laughed out loud, coughing to cover it a bit. "Sure. What is your name?"
She looked at him suspiciously. "Will it give you power over me?"
"No. I'm not a witch."
"You are...an ogre yes?"
He smiled, his fangs peeking over his lips. "Yeah. I'm guessing you know my brother."
"Brother?"
Firetoucher saw the resemblance then, though he was much leaned he had the same bright golden eyes, the same bright red hair, the same cocky smile. But she could see he carried none of the lines of torment in his brother. He was an innocent, pure and untouched. He was a handsome youth.
"Kail is your elder brother?"
"Yes," he said. "How does he fair?"
Firetoucher sighed. "I do not know. I...ran from my village around the time Zyra entered the valley."
"Why?"
She pulled her baby from her breast, and rocked him, burping him so he would not become sick.
"My baby is a boy."
"So?"
"Our village only allows female children."
River's face drained of blood. "You kill your boy children?"
"No! They are given to their fathers! The all male Ursie tribe."
"Oh. And his father is dead?"
"No. But he would be a poor father. My child will not be a pawn in his game for power."
River yawned, stretching out, and noticing her eyes following the curve of his body. Well then.
"You aren't safe here," he said honestly. "And I've never been near a witch and don't intend to start now. But I know someone who might be able to help. Until then..."
He walked over and reached beside her, ignoring her intake of breath and lit Zyra's lamp.
"Stay inside," he whispered.
She nodded. River exited, his heart racing. Mourabet was going to kill him if she found out. Or rather.
When.
————
"I wouldn't."
Azmaria turned in surprised. She'd been following Zyra for several minutes when she disappeared down a hole beside a giant wall. She was about to follow them when the strangest creature she had ever seen interrupted her. He was all white from head to toe and had pitch black eyes and long white hair that went past his waist. He was naked and every inch of him was build with care and perfection. Never before had she seen a creature so...beautiful.
"What are you?"
He stepped forward. Her heart raced as he stretched out a gentle hand, and caressed her face.
"I am someone who watches over you."
"But I've never seen you before."
He smiled. "And yet I have never let you out of my sight."
"Why?"
He trailed his finger tips gently across, the pads of his fingers grazing her lips and setting her sense ablaze.
"Where you are heading is dangerous. What do you hope to find by following the keromedio and her friend into the Darklands?"
"I have to speak with her," Azmaria stated. "She...I have something to tell her."
"What?"
"I don't know. But I have to find her."
The man sighed, putting his hands on her shoulders. They were warm and encompassing.
"You will not wait until she returns. You will follow her even if I ask you not to."
"Yes," she answered, though he hadn't really asked.
He reached into his hair and plucked out a few strands.
"Close your eyes."
Azmaria looked in his eyes, and swore she saw blue, deep within them. A blue that had once been like the color of her skin, and now was as deep and pitch as the night.
"Azmaria."
She closed them and he released her, leaving her for a minute in suspense. She jumped when his fingers came to circle her neck. She could feel him inches from her lips, breathing warm air on her face, and making her shiver.
"What are you..."
A thin cord slid gracefully onto her neck and she opened her eyes. Somehow the hair had been braided into a solid silver cord. She turned it in her fingers, a humming resonating in it.
"Promise me you will never take it off."
She looked up at him in confusion. "Why are you giving me this?"
"For your protection. It will protect you from any illusion and falsehood."
She stared at him, her gut squeezing. His eyes, how could a stranger look at another stranger so...longingly?
He pulled her close. "Promise me."
She found herself nodding. "I promise."
He kissed her forehead, took a step back.
"Wait! What is your name?"
He smiled. "When you remember my name, all will be revealed."
