The Great One, part 22

“You’re a very good rider.” The compliment surprised me out of my thoughts, and I smiled gratefully at Jast.1

“Thank you.”2

“I could tell that you’d never seen a Rattragon before this morning,” he said. “Yet you have the balance and form of an experienced rider. I must admit that it has me puzzled.”3

Lisper’s derisive snort came from my left. “He’s a Naktol,” he sneered. “Who knows what enchantments or spells he’s cast on himself?”4

My eyes narrowed. “With all due respect, sir,” I said hotly, “we Naktol don’t believe in magic. We are scientists and scholars, not witches and whatever other nonsense you seem to think.”5

His scoff told me that he had nothing to say to combat my words. To escape embarrassment he rode ahead, taking the lead of our small group. His blood-red Rattragon stood out among the green of the forestry around us.6

“That was well handled,” Zela softly said behind me.7

“Don’t mind him, Xen,” said Jast. “Lisper doesn’t like things or people that are different—that’s just his way. Don’t let him get you mad.”8

I tightened my grip on the reins. “I’m just tired of people judging me because of what I am,” I muttered.9

Airam’s purple Rattragon, Emeran, caught up to mine. Her rider gave me a knowing look before she said, “They do not truly know what you are if they judge you on what they think you are. You are not just a Naktol. You are a Namu now, too.”10

I said nothing; her words seemed vaguely familiar to me, so perhaps I had heard something similar before… but who had said them? I couldn’t remember.11

“We should stop in about an hour,” suggested Jast. He looked up at the canopy of tree branches above our heads and frowned. “I can’t see the sun in all this plant mess.”12

“I’ll let you know when an hour has passed.”13

The entire party stared at me; I could even feel Zela’s eyes boring into the back of my head.14

“What?” I asked, indignant.15

Lisper’s eyes narrowed. “How will you know when the time has come? Have you some innate sense of Terna’s time cycle?”16

“Actually, no.” I reached under my thick shirt and pulled out my crystal shard. “This’ll tell me.”17

“That thing can tell time as well?” asked Airam curiously.18

I nodded.19

That seemed to be enough for her. “Well then, let’s keep going until Xen says the word.”20

My Rattragon snorted and swiped its paw across its scaly muzzle. The other Rattragons wheezed in reply. I watched the process with some fascination, since I had never seen such a strange method of communication.21

Lisper gave me a suspicion-filled glance before riding up to join Jast, who had taken the lead. They began speaking in hushed voices, their incoherent whispers echoing through the woods.22

“I’ve never seen this many plants all in one place,” I mused.23

There was green even on the flora itself! All around us there were gigantic trees covered in moss, bushes and ferns, and smaller plants of which I’d never seen the like. The sound of the wind blowing through the branches overhead was another new experience for me; there could be no breezes through the tunnels of the City.24

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Zela was looking at our surroundings as well. “And so many of these plants, these small bits of Terna’s life force, can be used for healing. See that one?”25

I followed her finger to a large, round bush with a single white blossom sprouting from its middle.26

“That’s a Pelaris. When you crush the flower’s petals, you can use the paste to stop infection in a sword wound.”27

“Do you think you could teach me some of your healing skills? I have a feeling I’m going to need them.”28

She laughed softly behind me. “If you want.”29

The group rode in silence for a few moments. Lisper and Jast had turned away and stopped speaking, and Jast took the lead once again. I wondered what their brief conversation had been about.30

Soon, my crystal shard burned hot against my skin. Wincing, I pulled it out. It flashed several times, indicating that a full hour had indeed passed. 31

“It’s been an hour.” Airam glanced at me as I spoke.32

“Very well”—she clicked her tongue—“Emeran, rest.”33

Her Rattragon slowed and finally stopped, making a soft snorting noise as it bobbed its head. The other beasts halted as well, following Emeran’s lead. My Rattragon shook its head back and forth, as though to clear it.34

Airam and Jast dismounted masterfully, on the ground before I realized what they were even doing. I paused, uncertain, before copying their graceful motion; I was relieved when I felt my feet hit the ground without having a humiliating fall.35

“Um… Xen?” Zela held out her hands. “A little help?”36

I grasped her elbows and supported her weight as she carefully descended my Rattragon. Her foot caught on the stirrup somehow, and she lost her balance—she ended up falling on top of me. I toppled backward and found myself staring upward at her astonished and reddening face; it seems I got my dreaded fall after all.37

“Sorry,” she gasped, trying to get up. 38

I sighed heavily. This was very awkward. “It’s all right,” I muttered.39

Lisper watched the entire situation with an expression of disgust plastered on his face, one that was almost as bad as Airam’s. I didn’t know why SHE looked that way; Lisper hated me for no particular reason, but Airam?40

“Zela, please,” she snapped, “try not to crush him with your enthusiasm for this journey.”41

Lisper snickered; Zela’s face grew an even brighter shade of red.42

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, brushing leaves off my pants. “It’s not that big of a deal.”43

Zela nodded, hesitant. “Thanks.”44

“Airam’s just crabby at the moment.” I smiled at her reassuringly and watched her return the gesture.45

Meanwhile, I got a death glare from my fellow Vorn. My life was just getting better and better… and better.46

/*/*/*/*/*47

“How many more hours of travel left?”48

“Seven.” Jast chipped the pieces of flint together. “So another day’s ride.”49

I watched the sparks fly from his fingers. “Ulonn is nearly a hundred lengths from Kaiven, isn’t it?” I asked, leaning forward. We were sitting between a group of trees that had space between them; the process of making camp for the night was currently underway.50

I looked just past Jast’s right shoulder and saw Airam sitting back against a crooked tree, leaning her head back against the bark; her golden-brown eyes were raised to the sky—or where the sky should be. The upper branches of the trees seemed to grow together in order to block out any view of the heavens.51

My eyes returned to the older Warrior, only to find him watching me with a smile threatening to break across his weathered face.52

“What?” I asked defensively, sitting up straight again.53

He chuckled under his breath and shook his head a little. “Think nothing of it, boy,” he told me. “But take care not to let her see you staring like that. Nahte and I have known her since she was a wee one, and she would not take kindly to that kind of attention.”54

“Attention?”55

“Are you really that stupid, boy?”56

I felt a little stung. “I beg your pardon?”57

“I’ve seen this before.” He struck the flint again, and this time the dry leaves caught the sparks. He blew on it a little to make a small flame. “Did you see that, just now? All it takes is a little spark, but give it the fuel it needs and it’ll blaze. Just be careful not to let it get out of your control.”58

“Are you purposely trying to confuse me?” I demanded.59

The Warrior let out a deep breath and looked me in the eye. “Xen, that thing around your neck—does it show a person’s feelings, like in the stories I’ve heard?”60

“Only MY feelings.”61

“Well,” he said, standing, “it’s a lovely pink right now.”62

Startled, I looked down to check my shard. Strangely enough, he was right. 63

“Do me a favor and get the fire going, won’t ya?” Jast walked away from the ring of stones that would serve as our fire pit and disappeared from my line of sight.64

I watched him go, feeling really strange. What on Terna did he mean by ANY of that?65

My eyes drifted over to Airam again. The hair around her face had come loose from its bun and floated as bright as the fire in the light, teasing breezes that sifted through the trees. The meek flames before me reflected in her eyes, which were still raised upward, staring into nothingness.66

A small, small smile made its way onto my face. Then I knelt on the ground beside the ring of stones and blew gently to help the little fire along.67

“Hey, Xen.”68

I glanced up to see Zela kneeling beside me. “Hello,” I replied, turning back to the tiny blaze I had created.69

She shifted; the leaves beneath her crackled.70

“Something wrong?” I inquired.71

“No, no, no.” She gave a dainty sigh. “I just miss my sister.”72

“Oh?”73

“She’s back at Kaiven. She’s… she’s my twin.” Zela paused. “I’m not usually far from her. On every journey I’ve been on, she’s been an accompanying Vorn. This time, though, she isn’t.” She laughed. “Obviously.”74

“It’s okay to miss people,” I told her absently, picking up a thick stick. I poked the fire and watched it spread through the ring of stones.75

She was quiet for a moment. “Do you miss anyone from… your old home?”76

My old home. Home. They were only words, words that struck me hard for some strange reason. 77

I exhaled sharply and sat back on my heels, staring at the flames. “The only people I would have missed,” I said slowly, “well… he’s dead. As for the rest… no. I suppose not.”78

“I’m… I’m so sorry.” She sounded upset. “What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”79

“I don’t know.”80

“Oh.”81

“I mean, I just found him like that. I got blamed for it. I was kicked out. End of story.”82

“Were you close to anyone?”83

“Yes.”84

Airam’s gaze came down from the treetops to meet mine. My heart skipped irregularly, and I forced myself to look away. Zela watched my face curiously; she did not follow my eyes to see what I was looking at.85

“A girl?”86

I looked at her in surprise. Why was she so interested in my life? “Not exactly,” I said evasively. 87

There was an odd little silence between us.88

“Okay,” she said, “thank you.”89

“For what?”90

She shrugged and stood up. “Letting me get to know you a little more, I suppose.”91

Zela left me by the fire. Once again, I found myself watching Airam; this time, she had her eyes closed and her arms folded across her chest. With this in mind, I knew I was less likely to be caught. The light of the fire made her hair shimmer, rose-gold radiance framing her face and making her seem otherworldly. 92

My crystal shard made a soft humming sound. As I looked down again to check on it, I realized that it was an even deeper shade of pink.93