Victor of Tucson-12.35 Change of Plans

35 – Change of Plans

Victor walked around the map table Arona had set up in his command offices—a series of rooms that included a library, a map room, a large meeting table, and a balcony that overlooked the majority of the citadel grounds. She’d updated the map with all the information Lesh and Bryn had brought with them, filling in the names of cities and major landmarks. There were carefully detailed forests, rivers, mountains, and even barrows and cemeteries denoted on the multi-colored topographical table.

“It’s really well done, Arona. You drew all of these?”

She scoffed softly. “As if you couldn’t. I’ve seen the patterns you draw.”

Victor tilted his head, considering, but he didn’t agree. “No, this is a different sort of art. These trees and rivers are lovely, and the shading on the mountains…” He let his words trail away as his gaze drifted to the ocean and the dark continent a thousand miles off the shore of the peninsula where his citadel sat. He tapped it with one thick, calloused finger. “I suppose this new plan is better. I won’t have to risk anyone else on his lands.”

“You trust her that much?”

It was Victor’s turn to scoff. “Not at all, but I don’t see it as much of a risk. I was going to go there alone anyway, to set up the anchor stone for a new portal.”

She nodded. “Meanwhile, you’ll be calling in reinforcements. If anything, our position here will be stronger. Have you sent your letters?”

Victor shook his head, frowning.

Arona must have decided he wasn’t going to elaborate. “I’m assuming you’re reluctant to ask for help?”

He walked toward the balcony doors, and Arona followed behind. “It’s not a pride thing. I’m happy to ask for help when it comes to helping you and the others defend this place. It’s just that some of the people I might ask will consider it a favor and expect something in return.”

“Tes wouldn’t.”

“No, she’s on my list.”

“Surely there are others to whom you wouldn’t mind owing a favor.”

“Honestly, Arona, when it comes to veil walkers, I’d rather not owe anyone anything.”

“You don’t think Dar would aid you?”

“Yeah, of course, but he’s famously worried about karmic balance. Right now, our scales are well-balanced in his eyes, and I don’t want to owe that man anything.”

“Even after your help with Vesavo?”

Victor shook his head. “He sees that as having benefited us both. However…”

When he trailed off, Arona nudged him. “What?”

“Well, you gave me an idea of someone who may help. Someone with some big friends who might feel like they owe me one.”

“Ronkerz!” Arona’s eyebrows shot up. “You think he would?”

“I think it might just be his idea of fun, yeah.”

Victor looked out past the citadel walls to the legion’s encampment. Bryn and the other commanders had designed the budding city with precision and care. Streets ran in concentric rings around the citadel, connected by straight boulevards that ran outward like the spokes of a wheel—some gravel but many already cobbled. Hundreds of buildings and tents stood along those streets, with the foundations for dozens more being built every day. He watched the men and women working out there—cogs in a well-oiled machine. “What do you think? Can you and the others, with Ronkerz and Tes, hold off three Great Masters?”

“If by others you mean Lesh, a few thousand steel seekers, and several hundred thousand veteran soldiers… yes, I think we’ll be fine.”

###

“He’s beautiful!” Tes said, laughing as Deyni’s young drake circled her, hopping over the sun-blasted gravel and sand of the wastelands outside Coloss. He was posturing, wings back, neck arched, air bladder at the base of his jaw full and bulbous, extending his cervical crest and the glittering silver-blue scales that adorned it.

“He’s showing off! I think he senses that you’re…” Deyni trailed off, perhaps worried about stating Tes’s true nature aloud.

Tes chuckled. “A dragon? Perhaps he does!”

“I’ve never seen him do that!” Dalla chimed in, giggling.

“Pakrit!” Deyni cried, trying to put herself between the little drake and Tes. “Stop that!”

Tes laughed. “It’s fine. I just need to assert a bit of dominance.” She watched the drake for another minute, then stepped forward and, quick as a viper, snatched the leading edge of his right wing. For just a second, she projected her aura and chuffed a growl that sent the dusty sands blowing off in a small cloud. Pakrit immediately relaxed his cervical crest and lowered his head, clicking in his throat as he shrank down before her. Tes smiled and gently stroked his neck. “That’s better, you little showoff.”

“Um…” Deyni glanced from Tes to Dalla, clearly lost for words.

“Nothing to worry about, girls.” Tes crooned, still stroking the little drake whose clicks had become a purring rumble. “He’s never been around my kind, but, as you guessed, he sensed something. I just needed to give him a little lesson on hierarchy, that’s all.”

“He’s so good around people—”

Dalla laughed, interrupting her. “If stealing food off people’s plates, bathing in fountains, terrorizing domesticated pets, urinating—”

“Dalla!” Deyni cried. “You’re supposed to be on my side!”

Dalla giggled, shrugging.

Tes gave the drake a final scratch, then stood. “Don’t worry, Deyni. He’s at an awkward age. He’ll grow much more manageable after his first mating flight.” She turned to scan the pale sky. “Speaking of which, there are drakes on this world. You don’t let him fly out here alone, do you?”

Deyni shook her head. “No! Victor warned me.”

Tes nodded. “Good.” She nodded back toward the dun-colored walls of the city. “Shall we head back?” They’d been on a little hunt—more an excuse to be away from the city and the many demands on the girls’ attention than any real attempt at killing any game.

“We didn’t get anything, though!” Deyni groused, thumping her spear on her shoulder.

Dalla grabbed her friend’s wrist and tugged her toward the city. “It was nice to be away, though, wasn’t it? Even so, I’m hot, dusty, sweaty, and hungry.”

Tes smiled. “What say we eat at the Warlord’s old citadel tonight? I’ll let Ardek know you’ll get back to your teaching tomorrow.”

“Oh, please, yes!” Deyni cried, laughing. “We’ve been doing so many spirit walks! It’s exhausting. Half these Degh spirit casters can’t maintain concentration long enough to even stand up on the spirit plane!”

“That’s not nice, Deyni,” Dalla said, still holding her wrist. “They only started forming Spirit Cores this year.”

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“I know! I don’t blame them. It’s just exhausting; that’s all I’m saying, Tes. You don’t think I’m mean, do you?”

Tes looked the young woman up and down—fierce eyes, braided hair, wiry muscles, Shadeni tribal markings despite her mixed heritage. “You’re certainly not mean, Deyni. We’re all very proud of you both, and the Degh I’ve spoken to are enamored with you, so don’t worry. If you were mean, they wouldn’t be so eager to ask for your help.”

“Thank you.” Deyni gave Dalla a pointed look, swinging her arm up and down as they walked.

Tes had been quite surprised to see how busy the girls were when she’d arrived a few days ago. Their outing for the day had been the first chance she’d had to catch up with them. Of course, they could have cancelled their lessons, but Tes wouldn’t hear of it; some of the Degh they were instructing had been waiting weeks for their turn with them. As the thought passed through her mind, she asked, “How long do you think it’ll be before your first students can take over some of your lessons? I always found the best way to solidify my learning was to teach someone else.”

“Of course we agree with that,” Dalla replied, “but even our first students have much to learn. It’s one thing to form your first affinity and begin exploring the spirit plane with someone to look over you, but the spirits in this place are very unquiet.”

“We’ve had to chase off spirits several times,” Deyni added.

“Ah, of course. The Degh Spirit Casters won’t have the strength of will or a strong enough aura to keep them at bay, I suppose—not after voluntarily having their old Cores broken down.”

Deyni nodded. “It’s really a lot more responsibility than we expected. When Victor said we’d be helping the Degh with their Ancestor Stone and giving some lessons—”

“We thought he was exaggerating,” Dalla finished.

“Are you pleased or angry?”

Deyni looked at her, wide-eyed. “Pleased, of course! I can’t believe he entrusted this to us, and the Degh are so grateful!”

Tes smiled, feeling some second-hand pride at how mature Deyni had become. “It astounds me how quickly some species grow up. I’m very impressed with you, Deyni.” She looked at Dalla, extending her smile to her. “And you, too, Dalla. I’ve heard so much about your progress over the last few years. You know, I never got the chance to thank you.”

Dalla tilted her head, her almost pink-hued Shadeni eyes narrowing. “Thank me?”

Tes nodded. “For saving Victor.”

Deyni’s smile grew huge as she looked at her friend. “She’s right! You know it too. Victor told you.”

“Well, who’s to say what would have happened—”

Tes shook her head, interrupting. “Victor told me your little luck stone thwarted the Warlord’s secret card. Imagine how different everyone’s lives would be if he’d lost that fight!”

Deyni shuddered. “Don’t say that, Tes.”

Tes shrugged. “We all walk on a cliff’s edge, dears. One twist of fate in the wrong direction could spell disaster. It’s worth noting when we avoid such things because it makes us appreciate these peaceful times all the more.” They both grew quiet, looking at each other as they walked, and Tes added, “Speaking of appreciation, I have a gift for Dalla.”

The girl spun toward Tes, eyes wide. “You do?” Her eyes drifted skyward, and Tes knew why; Pakrit was slowly gliding in circles around them, and he’d been a gift from her to Deyni.

She chuckled. “I’m sorry to say, it’s not a drake’s egg.”

“What is it?” Deyni asked, far bolder than her shy friend.

“Well, really, I have gifts for the two of you.”

“You do?” Deyni asked, releasing Dalla’s hand so she could spin and walk backward, watching Tes intently.

“I do, but you can’t tell anyone else about them. It’s something of a secret art of my kind, and I wouldn’t want the word to spread to people I don’t trust.”

Both young women stopped in their tracks, staring at Tes intently. “I swear!” Deyni cried, then she hurriedly grabbed Dalla’s hand. “Say it!”

“Oh! Um, of course, Lady Tes! I’d never share something you told me to keep secret!”

Tes smiled and held out her hand. A moment later, a pair of soft leather pouches appeared in her hand. One was stained pale blue, and the other was snow white. “The blue one’s for you, Deyni.” As the girls took their gifts, Tes looked around in a slow circle. They were still a mile from the walls, and she wanted to be sure nothing was stalking them. The wasteland was quiet, though; too many hunters lived in Coloss for anything large to hunt that close to the city.

Dalla gasped, surprising Tes by being the first to get her gift open. Deyni froze in her efforts, looking at the chain Dalla pulled from her white pouch. It was silver and adorned with a single blue oval scale. It was about two inches long and half as wide at the center, and it gleamed in the sunlight. The sheen of rich Energy gave it a luster that was beyond any natural enamel. More than that, it was decorated with delicate black lines that formed a glyph. Tes smiled, always pleased to see others take joy in her art.

“What…” Dalla looked from the scale to Deyni, then to Tes. “Is it yours, Lady Tes?”

Tes nodded. “It is.” She nodded to Deyni. “Go on, open yours. It’s the same, save for the glyph. That’s my name in dragon script, but do you see how the bottom half is different? Those are your names in my native tongue.”

“It feels so rich,” Dalla said, her voice a breathy whisper.

“It has a potent enchantment on it. They both do.” Tes stepped a little closer. “If you ever need aid—if you’re ever in a dire situation—send some Energy into this scale, and I’ll know you need me. Because Victor loves you, and because I care about you, too. I’ll move oceans to get to you as quickly as I can.”

“Oh, Tes!” Deyni said, her eyes swimming in tears. “It’s so wonderful! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“Yes!” Dalla agreed, rushing forward to grasp Tes’s arm. It wasn’t lost on the dragon that her human form was barely larger than Dalla and a good deal smaller than Deyni. “Thank you so much, Lady Tes.”

“It’s my pleasure, dear ladies. Just remember what I told you. I’m placing a great trust in you; those scales are mine, and I’d hate for them to fall into the wrong hands.” Tes made a stern face, but inside, she was smiling. It was true that the scales could potentially be used in scrying magic against her, but she wore half a dozen charms to protect against such things. Still, she could see by the pride in their eyes that the girls were pleased by the perceived trust.

“Come on, now. I’m hungry.” She led the way, listening with a sly smile as the girls whispered behind her, weighing the differences in their name glyphs.

“Can we learn this language, Tes? Is it permitted?”

She looked over her shoulder at Dalla, arching an eyebrow. “Very ambitious! Of course it’s allowed; we love to see the younger races show interest in our customs. I can give you a primer before I leave, if you’d like—an alphabet and some simple grammatical rules.”

“We’d love that!” Deyni replied, eyes agleam as she hung the necklace over her head, pulling her braids through the chain.

“Tuck that down close to your heart, now. No need for strangers to see it and ask questions.” Tes nodded to Dalla, including her in the admonishment.

“Yes, Lady Tes.”

As the wall grew ever closer, and the sun’s bright heat turned to a baleful glower in the west, Tes felt a tingle at the nape of her neck and she stopped in her tracks, reaching into her spirit space for the Farscribe book she shared with Victor. She’d contrived a simple enchantment to alert her if he wrote in it.

“What is it, Tes?” Deyni asked, coming to a stop beside her.

Tes held up her hand. “One moment.” She deftly flipped the pages to the most recent message and read:

Tes,

You were right. There, I said it, so stop thinking it and read the rest of this message without judging me, okay?

I suppose I should have considered the idea that Xelhuan wouldn’t face me in a one-on-one fight. I mean, I did think of that, but I figured I’d just fight him and whoever came to help him at his place. It turns out, though, that I might have underestimated how much he’d prepare. The good news is that I think we’ve got a plan. You see, it turns out Xelhuan was in love with a woman, and she’s come to give me a heads up—

“Oh, that big-hearted, romantic fool!” Tes hissed.

“What?” Deyni asked, breathless. Dalla leaned close on Tes’s other side, peering at the book.

“You’re both being awfully forward.” Tes didn’t mean to growl, but she did, if only a little.

Dalla stepped back immediately, but Deyni leaned closer. “What is it, Tes? Is it about Victor?”

Tes couldn’t help but smile. “What makes you ask that?”

“You called him a fool, but it sounded almost like a compliment,” Dalla responded.

“Well, yes, dear girls. It’s from Victor, but my condemnation was hasty.” Tes pointed at the letter, her eyes still scanning Victor’s words. “As I read on, it seems he’s being cleverer than I feared. As he would say, that’s the good news.”

“And the bad news, Lady Tes?” Dalla whispered.

“I’m afraid I’ll need to cut our visit short.”

###

Ronkerz closed his Farscribe book with a heavy thud, pushing it back to Lira—she was better at keeping track of things like that.

“Was I right?” she asked, leaning close, her feathers rustling.

“You know you were,” he rumbled. He pushed his chair back—more of a bench than a chair, really. The furniture artisan the council had sent to his new estate had yet to deliver anything suitable for a man of Ronkerz’s stature. With Lira following close behind, he walked out of his study—bookshelves empty—into the estate’s central hall, glowering left and right, sending servants scurrying in fear.

“Why do you do that?” Lira asked, ever-critical since she broke through the veil. “You know they’re nervous. The old lord of this estate was—”

“You don’t need to tell me about Vesavo,” Ronkerz growled. “He’s lucky Victor killed him, ‘cause I would’ve done it slow.”

“Well? What of Victor? What did he want?”

Ronkerz ignored the question for the moment, walking toward the wide double doors. The walls were bare—Vesavo’s apprentices had looted the place of anything that wasn’t mortared down. Still, it was a grand hall. It was a grand estate. The land alone put it in the top five—in terms of value—on the world of Sojourn.

Standing in the enormous entryway, beside hand-tooled doors carved from the petrified wood of an ancient forest giant, he looked out at the expansive, tree-lined assembly yard. Soldiers were drilling out there, and he watched them, contemplating Victor’s request.

The pup was ballsy, that was for sure. Still, he’d come through, hadn’t he? Saved a lot of death and destruction. Saved Ronkerz a lot of fighting. “Cheated me out of it, more like,” he growled, but it was a growl tinged with mirth.

“What is it… Lord Ronkerz?” Lira asked, trying to butter him up with a little respect.

“Get my Big Ones. We’re going on a trip.”