Tsr Bk 2 Ch 01 03

AN- Thanks to everyone for your supportive comments and feedback! I am continuing to refine my writing, so please feel free to keep either or both of those coming.

In book two I am working on improving my action writing, which takes up the same part of my brain as the explicit erotic stuff. so explicit scenes may not be quite as regular and frequent. Still, I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

"This won't be like our last excursion. We will be engaging in open conflict, and you aren't in any immediate danger right now. You could simply walk away from this." I tried not to let my exasperation leak into my voice, but the look Myta shot me indicated that I hadn't succeeded.

Cata looked at me with a wry, almost amused expression. The former apprentice woodworker had wanted to shift his apprenticeship to me, though he had simply asked if I needed an assistant. Perhaps he sensed that an actual apprenticeship was a sore topic with me. Denu looked rather angrier, as though my warning was some kind of personal affront. She had proven herself to be a more than capable tracker and archer, I just dreaded taking a fifteen year old girl into a war zone.

"Perhaps let them think on it, master?" Myta's suggestion was more to help me save face, than any other reason. Her amusement flowed easily over our bond. She had warned me of their response already, but I had still wanted to caution the pair of youths again. As harrowing as our time battling the Pure in the ancient ruins has been, it was nothing compared to the horrors of open warfare.

"Of course," I responded in an even tone. "I only wished to be clear. We will leave in a few hours, and try to keep ahead of the caravan."

"We'll meet you at your cart then, Esur'uk." Cata pulled Denu away, and her eyes lingered on me as they went, still smoldering with resentment.

"I just wanted to warn them." I sighed, looking at my vas, unable to keep my frustration bottled up any longer. She snorted in response, annoyed with my annoyance.

"No, master. You wanted to scare them. To drive them off. And you didn't fool anyone about that fact, other than yourself." Myta gave me a look of genuine anger, and I was taken aback by it. Her eyes were darker red, closer to the color of embers than flame, signaling her disappointment with me.

I felt the urge to argue, to defend my intentions. But Myta was devoted to me, and until recently she was deferent to a fault. So I stopped myself, and took stock of my feelings instead.

"It is true that I don't think they really understand what is coming. And yes, perhaps I would rather scare them away than let them walk into this unknowing." Memories scratched at the back of my mind, like starving rats trapped in a box. Trying to dig into my thoughts.

"You can't make these kinds of choices for them." Some of my distress must have leaked through, because my vas' voice became far more sympathetic.

"You can't give us your experiences. Nor can you expect us to feel or react in the same ways you did. Don't make assumptions about what is right for others. Teach, support, and lead them instead."

"As you say, my flame." I suppressed a sigh, annoyed at my own petulance. "When did you get to be so insightful? Let alone so confident?"

"Master?" She blinked at me with an affected air of complete innocence. "Have I overstepped? Perhaps you need to remind me of my place?"

"Perhaps," I said dryly. "Tonight though. Now we need to check on the cart, and ensure everything is in order for our trip."

The warm affection that flowed between the two of us was something that I'd been sorely lacking in my life, as it had been lacking from hers. I no longer worried that Myta would outgrow our relationship, now that her soul sickness was cured. Finding out how to deal with our bond was my highest priority, however. I didn't fully understand how it functioned, and having it be altered or broken could prove disastrous.

"You're like two rabbits, always ready to rut." That lovely sentiment came from my other reason for wanting to learn more about our bond. Sati, once Princess Sati'ramana, apsara, and daughter of King Ramana. I looked over at the former princess, raising my brow upon seeing two men trailing her, loaded down with goods.

"What is all this?" My tone was unamused, but Sati waved it off.

"Just some supplies for our travel, we'll need to load them in your cart."

"What supplies? I can make some space, but we don't have enough room for all of that, so we'll need to prioritize. And how did you afford it in any case? I believe Minister Yatek said that you no longer had access to your previous line of credit?"

"I told the merchants that we needed some sundries for our trip," she scoffed in dismissal of my concern. "They were honored to assist us."

My lips twitched in an unamused smile. Sati had played on the gratitude of those merchants, when she had been supporting the Pure soldiers who were raiding the caravans in the first place. The bond between us was weak, but apparently my anger was strong enough to carry over. Sati's expression turned to one of worried confusion. Myta, while not as angry as I, burst into incredulous laughter.

"We will pay for any of these goods that we actually need." I told the porters clearly. "But I will need to go through them first. Please lay out the goods so I can review them."

It didn't take me long to sort through things, while the apsara alternately fumed and fretted beside me. Considering her background, I could actually see how the former princess would see all of these items as necessities. Traveling gear, which I approved of. Some cosmetics and personal care products, which I trimmed down significantly. And clothes, which I largely returned.

Sati had chosen the richest clothing she could find in the caravan. While I could see some potential value in dressing her to impress, it was all supremely impractical for the conditions we would be living and traveling in. The men were willing enough to exchange the clothes for more practical garments, although I did ensure that she had several veils available.

It wouldn't do, to show off her eyes too freely. Her rainbow irises, like the shimmer of oil on water, would be an immediate indicator of her relation to Ramana. I wasn't aware of any other sorcerer to show such a change.

"You cannot take liberties like that in the future," I said to the apsara grimly. "They offered you their goods for free, as a gesture of goodwill. Goodwill that will quickly wear thin if we take advantage of it. Goodwill, that you did not earn, and do not deserve."

"It's only money, and not that much money." She scoffed, and I felt her defensive confusion.

"I know you know what it is like, to struggle for power and recognition," I said. "Well here, outside your father's court, money and goodwill are the currencies people must have to survive. You will not always have access to either, unless you conserve them."

She bowed her head in acceptance, but I didn't get any real sense of understanding from her. I rubbed between my brows, feeling a headache coming on.

When the men returned with Sati's new clothing, they also brought a rucksack. I gestured to her goods, which I'd divided into two piles.

"These things Myta and I will load up into the cart for you. Those, you will need to pack into the bag and carry." She stared at me in blank confusion. "Unless you don't want them after all? I imagine the merchants may be willing to refund me."

Sati jumped a little, seeming finally to understand my words, she set about packing, with an ineptitude born of complete inexperience. Myta took pity on her, settling in to assist the apsara. Teaching her about packing and organization. At least the former royal didn't reject my flame's aid out of hand.

Watching the two work together made me grateful for Myta's aid. My vas' light gray skin and flame colored hair were a balm to my frustration. But as I watched the two of them, I began to feel ill, queasy. I tried to pin down the sensation. It wasn't physical, nor was it a reaction to my mood. With a sinking feeling in my gut, I realized the source of my distress. Poisoned mana, the tainted discharge of a soul sickness, seeped into my meridians.

For one, reactionary moment, I feared that Myta had relapsed. That somehow, after all our trials she had fallen back into her wallow of shame and self loathing. But I pushed that thought aside. My flame was stronger than that, she had moved past the stigma others had tried to force on her. Looking with clear eyes, I found the wellspring of filth. Sati, apsara and daughter of Ramana, was sick to the very core of her spirit.

No wonder her father had been so eager to put her in my care.

I shouldn't have been surprised, really. The Pure had been working on creating, cultivating, and controlling demons. The sorcery that bound me to the erstwhile princess was Pure sorcery, originally intended to chain her to one of their monks. It was Ramana's spell that had intercepted that link, binding her to me instead. I honestly wasn't sure how much of that scenario the god-king had planned out, but it was clear that I was his preferred poison.

Myta's sickness had been an insidious self hatred. Her father and her peers had done their best to convince her that she was, not just worthless, but an active blight on her family. Guilt for her supposed sins had left wounds for the Pure to exploit, driving her deeply into an all-consuming malaise.

Sati felt different. Unsurprisingly her sickness stank of arrogance, and unfulfilled desire. But I also felt a thread of hollow loneliness to it. Her pain was more complicated than the apsara's shallow demeanor gave credence to.

Our bond was weak yet, incredibly tenuous compared to the deep rapport I'd developed with my flame. Not enough for me to draw much of the poisoned mana from her at a time. But I made a start of it, turning my spirit into a drawing poultice, wicking away the foul energy.

It struck me then, exactly how isolated she must have been, if such a simple thing as working beside Myta on a task was loosening that vile poison. How had not one person in Ramana's court given even this much aid and attention to his daughter?

My irritation vanished, as though it had never been, and a hollow feeling took its place inside me.

Cata and Denu returned, at the time that we had arranged. Unsurprisingly, neither had changed their minds about accompanying us. We got my goats, Ita and Ina, harnessed up and ready to leave. I took my time about the task, allowing Sati enough time to finish packing. Her pack was bulging and heavy, but her spirit was strong, making her body more than equal to the task. I had no worries about her being able to keep the pace.

It was time for us to return to Bani.

Chapter 2

Our return trip to the city of Bani was blissfully uneventful, at least in comparison to our previous travels. I drove my cart, while the rest of my companions walked, with packs on their backs.

"Too good for walking now?" Sati challenged me. I wasn't terribly surprised by her comment. Honestly I was more surprised that her tone was more teasing than derisive.

"My gut wound still isn't completely healed." I noted calmly. "We've been on the move constantly after our battle, and these types of wounds are notoriously difficult to treat."

Sealing my bowels, cleaning my abdominal cavity, and repairing all my organs had been challenging while on the move. But she didn't need to know the details, nor did I really expect her to care. Myta had already taken me to task for not spending more time recovering. Cata and Denu were floored, however. The former literally stumbling from his shock.

"Esur'uk, I did not know you were so severely injured!" He exclaimed. "We could have created a litter for you to ride in."

Myta made a noise of agreement, shooting me a vindicated glance. I waved off their concern.

"Perhaps if time was more of an issue. But I'm more than capable of taking care of these things while walking. The ride in the cart will speed things along now. If it were a less complicated injury, a simple cut or burn, it would already be gone."

"He lost a chunk of his arm to the monk in Bani." Myta offered. "That was healed within a couple of days."

Both of our younger companions were suitably distressed, and impressed. Sati was eyeing me with an odd look. She understood, more than the others here, the complications of healing. At least I assumed that was the reason for her assessing gaze. I doubted that she was all that impressed by my skill, Ramana doubtless had more skilled healers than I. But it was enough to confound her expectations.

I spent a little time fielding questions about my healing abilities. Cata was clearly interested in learning more, in a practical way. He showed hints of a wood affinity already, which made sorcerous healing well within his reach. The vitality and growth aspects of such affinities were easily adapted to restoring the body. Myta's aspect of flame could also be used in such a way, but with less ease. As such I was happy to discuss the practical ins and outs of it.

I didn't think Myta had the interest or temperament to dedicate herself to healing. But she was whip-smart, and could easily pick up the basics. Cata might go much farther on that path, if I judged him correctly.

The time passed quickly, and soon enough we were making camp for the evening. Myta and I shared a large tent, much larger than we needed for sleeping. I'd purchased it to serve as a mobile clinic, where I could treat patients when there wasn't a good space to rent for the purpose. As such, it was a bit harder to find appropriate spaces to camp, but the two of us ended up with plenty of space.

Sati arrived while we set up the tent, watching us intently. I shot her a quizzical glance as she stood there.

"Our tent won't be set up the same as yours, but they aren't difficult to figure out. Cata or Denu can assist if you need help."

"I don't need their help." Sati scoffed at my comment, but she remained standing there. A slow suspicion began to creep up on me.

"Myta and I share this tent." I said slowly. "You have another, smaller one to use."

"This is the highest quality shelter." The apsara stated casually.

"Yes, and it's mine." She hadn't asked for, or really even explained anything, but the implication was clear. As the best shelter, it was the one the former princess expected to be staying in. There was no demand, she simply assumed it as her due. I was about to gently correct that worldview, but my vas had other plans.

"Master, let her stay with us. If that's what she wants. Please?" Myta's voice was full of mischief, and she rarely asked for anything. I met her sly smile with a quirked brow, but then I nodded.

"As you wish, my flame. I need to look at her soul in any case."

Sati was nonplussed, not having realized that her sleeping in the tent was ever in question. A strange mix of indignation and gratitude flooded through her, strong enough that I could just feel it through our weak bond. Uncertain how to deal with the situation, she simply ignored our conversation as though it hadn't happened, laying out her bedding in the tent once it was set up.

"Have you had your soul examined before?" I asked her as she settled in.

"Of course," she replied. "Though not for many years. Ramana examines all his daughters until our defenses are up to the standards of the royal court."

She was so oddly cooperative with me. And I couldn't quite understand her behavior. On the one hand she assumed that others would serve and coddle her. And then on the other she had no issues following my directives. Being disowned didn't seem to bother her in the least, but she had not even the barest scrap of empathy or consideration for those around her. It wasn't malice, or cruelty, but complete disregard.

"I want you to maintain those defenses as I try to examine you then, shore them up as completely as you can by the time dinner is over." Sati looked puzzled at my instruction, but she nodded, and I could feel her mana stir.

Our meal was calm. Myta began instructing our companions on the basics of using their mana, just as I'd instructed her only a couple of months ago. This was a challenge, both for her and for them. I knew that my flame was quite intelligent, and she'd proved herself to be a capable instructor when training our company in fighting together with their glaives.

Sorcery was something else, however. More vague, and difficult to explain. Moving your mana was easy to do, all thinking beings did so every day. But doing so intentionally was a difficult thing to grasp. Like flexing a muscle you weren't consciously aware of. Fortunately she soon proved that she could control their mana for them, just as I could control hers.

The bonds between us were continuing to deepen. I could feel my vas guiding my vasra. Their spirits were all linked to me, and I could trace the paths between us in the Radiant Sea. The distances between us were growing ever shorter. Well, the distance between them. Myta and I were pressed together in the sea. As far as that spiritual plane was concerned we were nearly one being. And we had been, ever since her soul sickness was fully healed.

Myra's ability to control the mana of her vas proved just as useful to her in instructing them, as that same ability had been to me, instructing her. In hours she had them running through basic exercises for mana control, with only minor input from me. Once they passed beyond the basics then I would provide more input, but for now I was deeply pleased, and proud of her progress with them.

In the late evening we settled in for the night. Myta and I shared our bedding, while Sati had her own bedroll off to the side. Even a pavilion tent had little privacy, but we set up a curtain between us. All three of us falling into a sleeping meditation.

My inner world was now shared with Myta. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that our inner worlds were conjoined. Where once I'd had to travel through thick fog to reach her, now it was as simple as glancing across the valley we dwelt in. Our wells of mana were joined together by a deep stream, passing both ways between us. And I could clearly see the great tree that represented her soul. Standing proud and healthy, crowned in fire of silver and gold.

But Myta was not my goal right now. She was aware, her attention followed me. But she didn't manifest, and I didn't call her forth.

Instead, I turned my attention to the other stream flowing from my mana well. This connection was far more shallow, and it was cloudy like flowing mist. Tinted with rainbow colors. That was my bond with Sati.

I set out walking, following this new stream. Distance in the inner world was variable and subjective, warped to my whims and will. So it took only a few steps for me to find myself lost in the mists again. Mists that I now knew represented distance in the Radiant Sea.

The sea was a mystery to me, as it was to most sorcerers. Up until recently I'd thought it to be the sole domain of the gods, especially the divines. But Ket, the leopard spirit who had been my guide and traveling companion, had let me know that many more beings could access the sea.

With more context, this mist was far more ominous to me than it had previously seemed. Back when I thought it was some vague interference from the unconscious mind. Now I wondered if gods, or other powerful beings, were lurking in the obscurement. Watching me, and hunting me, or judging my actions.

The trip to Sati's inner world took far too long for my comfort.

When I reached the edge of the apsara's inner world, I was unsurprised to find that it was well guarded. A towering hedge coated in prismatic mist barred the passage of any intruder. I, of course, wasn't an intruder, due to the bond between us. If I wanted I could simply follow the link through her defenses.