Chapter 19

Chapter 19

He apperated out and left me to my business. I looked back over the land toward my city for a few moments then apperated to the Court House and met with Skyler and Sasha. I sent a thought to Ja` Lynn and asked him to meet me in my office. H let me know he would be there.

I looked at Skyler and Sasha, “I need to talk to both of you about a personal matter.”

They looked at each other then back at me. Skyler asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. I just need to let you two know a few things.”

“Ok. I suppose you want to apperate us to your office?”

“Yes. Unless you want to just shift there.”

Sasha sighed, “I guess I can go with you. Skyler?”

He held out his hand. I smiled and took it then put a hand on Sasha’s arm. I found that it was a lot harder to take more then one, but I didn’t let them see it. While they recovered I walked around my desk and sat down.

Sasha recovered first so she sat down in one of the other chairs and said, “Ok, so spill. What’s going on?”

I looked from her to Skyler then said, “I am going to be leaving for a school soon that will teach me how to control this gift I seem to have. For some reason I am able to channel all six elements. Ja` Sair told me about a special school that has been set up for people like me. While I am gone at the school Ja` Lynn is going to be my steward only because he is the next in line after me. I haven’t told him this yet, but he should be getting here soon so that I can let him know.”

Skyler looked at me, “Well, then I will get my things together. How long are we going to be there?”

“We are not. I am not sure how long I will be there. Unfortunately it is the kind of place that can only be reached by those who can channel all six elements.”

“So that’s it? Just like that you are going to leave for who know how long? Did it even cross your mind that maybe I really don’t want you to go?”

“Sasha, can you give us a few moments?”

Sasha nodded and left. I looked back at Skyler, “Why don’t you want me to go?”

“I never see you as it is. How is this dating thing going to work out when I will se you even less? How am I supposed to guard you if you are there and I can’t be? What if something happens while you are there? Why do you even have to go to this place anyway? Are your own people not good enough for you?”

I stood up and my chair flew across the room and crashed into the wall. I hadn’t even realized I had picked it up and threw it until I saw the pieces explode against the far wall. I glared at Skyler, “You would dare to ask if my people are good enough for me? You would dare? Your right. I don’t know how long I will be gone. I don’t know how this dating thing will work out when I am there. Hell its not even working out when I’m here. If something happens while I am there I guess I will just have to pull on my big girl pants and deal with it myself. It’s not as if I really need you to guard me.”

“Careful the words you speak. You may not be able to call them back Sa` Tain.”

“I may not want to call them back De` Cain.”

He reacted as if I had slapped him. He looked like he might start backing down when he said, “Yari…”

I couldn’t have him back down yet. I walked around the desk, locked eyes with him and really did slap him with claws extended. I hissed, “Do not ‘Yari’ me Sk` Yler De` Cain.”

It was finally enough to push him over the edge. I saw him move a split second before his claws connected with my cheek just below my eye. I tasted the blood that ran down my cheek and grinned. I attacked, slashing, biting, kicking, clawing, and anything else that came to mind. This was not a controlled fight where there are forms and moves to follow. This was the total rush of unvented anger.

I slammed him into my desk as he knocked me to the floor. He followed me down and just missed sinking his teeth into my arm before I sent him into the wall. He used his wings and claws to catch himself on the wall then launched back at me. I snarled at him and uppercut him just as he got to me.

The blow sent him into a back flip that he wasn’t quite able to recover from. He slammed into the floor then rolled into the far wall. I shifted into Kier form and let him get back up. I rushed him and put the full force of my punch into his jaw. His head snapped back into the wall. His eyes went to slits then glazed red. He jerked his head forward into my face.

I managed to tuck my chin just enough to avoid a broken nose, but I was still dazed a bit when our foreheads met. I felt my head slam against the wall and felt a growl escape from my throat. We both moved toward the other at the same time and our lips met.

The meager clothing we were wearing provided no resistance to our claws as we shredded each other’s clothing. I still wasn’t done fighting so I dug my claws in to his shoulder, kneed him and used my wings to push myself away from him, letting my claws slice down his chest.

I used my wings to cover myself and took a good look at him. The sight of him standing in all his glory with blood running down his chest stirred me in a way that I can’t describe. I could see lust and rage warring and mixing in his eyes and could feel the same welling up in me. I folded my wings back as he came at me.

We continued to fight as he pressed me back into my desk. His claws dug into my back as he pulled me to him so I ran mind down his back. I saw a question flash across his eyes asking if I wanted to continue. I answered him by sinking my teeth into his neck and wrapping one leg around him.

I never would have imagined my first time would be quite so violent. It was full of such painful rapture that all I could do was hold on as my body screamed for more. We had just finished when I felt Sasha ask if we were ready to see Ja` Lynn. I looked around the room and laughed.

I formed a light robe that would at least cover me and told Skyler to do the same. When we were both at least covered I sent back to Sasha that they could come in. I was sitting on my desk with Skyler standing beside me, both of us still with bloody marks visible, when they walked in. The slowly glanced around the room then looked at me and Skyler.

Ja` Lynn nodded to me, “You wanted to see me?”

I smiled, “Yes. I am going to a school that will teach me how to channel all six elements. You will be my steward while I am gone. Do you have any problem with this?”

He looked around at the damage to the room and shook his head, “None at all. Will you want me to sit in at Court with you tomorrow?”

“Yes. You are free to go about your business until then.”

“Thank you, my Lady. I will be going now.”

I nodded and he left the room. I looked at Sasha, “There seems to be a bit of cleaning needed in my office. Do you think you can arrange it?”

Sasha nodded, “I will have someone in here shortly. Do you want me to have the kitchen send your meals to your room?”

I let a slow smile spread across my face, “That would be wonderful.”

“Ok. Well, if it’s all the same to you I will be going now. Just send a thought if you need me.”

“I will.”

Sasha left the room and I looked up at Skyler, “As for you. I’m not done with you yet.”

I apperated us to my bedroom where we continued where we left off. I told him that if he got me pregnant I would rip his manhood off so that was the only thing he was careful about.

I woke up early the next morning blissfully sore. Skyler tried to pull me back into bed but I pushed him away with a smile. He sat up and looked at me, “I know why you have to go. I just wish you didn’t have to.”

I sighed, “Me too, Sky. I have the feeling that I am going to need what I can learn there, though.”

“I know. I can see it in your eyes. I stand a better chance of stopping the sun in the sky then stopping you from going. Well, If I can’t stop you, then I will help you get there and back as soon as possible. Tell me what you want me to do.”

I grinned, “Keep me company at night?”

He smiled, “I would be happy to do that.”

“Good. I will see you tonight then.” I kissed him and went into my bathing room to wash up.

I met Anna Marie in the Alter room where she instructed me to wrap the rune cloth around my waist. I immediately felt myself cut off from the natural strength I got from my Kier nature. I looked at Anna Marie and she smiled.

She led me to another room and said, “I believe you already know what to do. You will know when you are ready to do it. Do not do it too soon or it will kill you.”

I nodded and got started with the steps to the first and second runes. It was significantly harder to make my body stretch far enough to do the steps with out my Kier strength. All I could do was grit my teeth, feel the bite of Anna Marie’s whip, and carry on.

My mornings were filed with training and pushing myself entirely too hard my afternoons were spent making sure Ja` Lynn would be ready when I left, and my nights were filled with Skyler. Thankfully he didn’t ask me anything about my training though I could tell he wanted to.

Anna Marie pushed me hard. As I tried to do each step she would have me explain the rune. I tried and failed to keep my momentum going when I would miss a step because she would require me to repeat my explanation word for word.

She was starting to piss me off a bit so when she had me start over with the first rune when I was most of the way through the second I had enough with trying to explain it. When she asked me again to explain the first rune I said, “Sight beyond Senses.”

She smiled, “It’s about time you get it right, now do the steps.”

My feet were already moving to start the steps when it sank in. While still moving I asked, “So that was all I had to say?”

She chuckled, “Can you think of a better or more accurate way of describing it?”

I thought for a moment, “I guess not.”

I finished the steps for the first rune then moved on to the second. It took the same amount of force to do it this time as it did the first time. When I could finally do both runes with a fair amount of ease I brought up the 3-D image for the third rune.

I took the first two steps and wished I hadn’t. I had thought the second rune was hard. The third one nearly dropped me to my knees. I barely made it through the entire rune. I just managed to stand back up and identify the rune as meaning Strength of Body.

Each of the next four runes presented their own challenges in addition to the challenges of the rune before. The fourth, Stillness of Mind, was indeed the most challenging. The fifth, sixth, and seventh, Clarity of Motion, Fortitude of Purpose, and Flexibility of Action respectively, were only easy comparatively.

Anna Marie explained that the first seven runes were known as the Major Runes. They were used to test the resolve to make absolutely sure the student wanted to go on and had the ability to go on. They were the Unchangeable Laws, the things that must always be there. She went on to explain the next six were the Minor Runes and their attributes were much more fluid.

The eighth rune was Speed. As I studied I learned that Speed was more then just moving fast. It was moving with precision. Just enough speed to be accurate, and just slow enough to conserve energy.

The ninth rune was Silence. I discovered that it wasn’t always a good thing to be absolutely silent. There were times that silence would cause more noise then a slight bit of sound. It also took more energy to be absolutely silent then to let just enough sound out.

Agility and Will, the tenth and eleventh runes, were about knowing when to show it. Sometime it would be better to move with less grace then you are able to in order to throw off you enemy, but not to the point of appearing weak. Just as there would be times when bending others to you will would be best and other times when letting yourself bend would be better.

The twelfth and thirteenth runes were Past and Future. It took me a bit to find how they were fluid. The connection came when I realized they were each governed by the Present. Each decision made paved the road of the past and built the foundation of the future.

As I completed the test of each rune the pattern on the rune cloth grew more intricate. The labyrinth pattern grew more complex and beautiful. I also began to notice wisps of power flowed from one rune to the next along the pattern.

Anna Marie left me zero room for error. If I made any mistake it was immediately corrected usually in a painful manner. I went from hating her, to understanding, to respecting, to liking her. I found myself looking forward to the training, not just to get it done, but to learn from her.

She wouldn’t let me move on to the Elements until I could go an entire training session without a single misstep. If she said a rune number I would have to say the meaning and do the steps. If she said the meaning I would say the number and do the steps. If she displayed a rune I would say the meaning and the number then do the steps. I felt a sense of pride when she grudgingly said I was passable and we would be starting the Elements in the morning.

I woke up even earlier then usual. I made my way to the Alter room to meditate a bit before Anna Marie came to get me and found that she was in the room meditating. After we meditated we got up and walked to another hall. We walked into the first room and I felt a sense of solidity and could smell fresh grass and trees.

Anna Marie turned toward me and asked, “What will you be learning in this room Yarianna?”

I smiled, “The basics of the Element of Earth, Ma’am.”

“You are correct and not quite accurate. This is the Room of Ashen, or the Element of Earth. In here you will learn the Forms of the Ashentok, or the Earth Stompers. The only ones who know the name Ashentok are the Earth Stompers and the Order or Saleen. There are thirteen forms that you will learn for each of the Elements. Each Form translates to a Rune. These are important to remember. Each Rune invokes an aspect of the Element. For now you will only learn the Forms. We don’t have the wards here that will let you put those Forms into practice. Let’s go on to the next room.”

As we walked from room to room she explained what the room was called and the name of the Forms. The next room was the Room of Ethas, or the Element of Air, and the Forms were called the Ethasian, or the Wind Weavers. Following that room was the Room of Inok, or Fire with the Forms or the Inokahn, which was the Flame Blazers. The next was Ociana, or Water, and the Forms of the Ocianatan, or the Wave Runners. Then came the Room of Usina, or Spirit and the Forms of the Usinason, or Spirit Fighters. Last was the room of Yenia, or Time and the Forms of Yenianas, or Time Spinners.

Anna Marie took me back into the first room and told me that she expected me to remember exactly what each room was and what would be learned in it. I told her that I would. She smiled and told me to wait in the room for my instructor.

I looked at her, “You are not going to teach me, Ma’am?”

She smiled, “I will teach you the Element I am most gifted in. For the other Elements you will learn from those who are most gifted in that Element. You will be training for an hour in each Element every day until you have mastered the basics. I would caution you now not to get the Forms mixed up. It will be painful for you if you do.”

I nodded and waited for my instructor. She walked in a few minutes later. She was just shy of five feet tall and very petite. She had her hair pulled back into a braid that hung to her knees and clicked from the short bladed whip she had braided into the end of it.

She walked up to me and looked up, “You are Yarianna De` Ekar?”

I nodded, “I am, although I go by Sa` Tain, Ma’am.”

“Bah, Sa` Tain is not as strong as De` Ekar. While you are with the Order you will be known as De` Ekar. Understood?”

I nodded, “Yes Ma’am.”

“Good. I am Aliana Ca` Fain. You will call me Lady Ca` Fain. I here you are the Heir to Clan Sa` Tain. I don’t care. To me you are Initiate De` Ekar. Understood?”

“Yes, Lady Ca` Fain.”

“Good. Let’s begin.”

Lady Ca` Fain may have been small, but she made Anna Marie seem as if she were pampering me. Every misstep was punished by a switch she carried with her. That wouldn’t have been too bad, but she pushed her Element into the strike so that it felt like I was being switched by a tree. I thanked every God and Goddess I could think of when that hour was up.

Anna Marie was my instructor for the Forms of the Ethasian. I walked in and slimed, “You have no idea how glad I am to see you.”

She laughed, “Lady Ca` Fain is quite the firecracker isn’t she? Don’t tell her I said that though. She out ranks me by a long shot. To work though, Initiate Dr` Ekar.”

That hour passed rather quickly and I went on to my Inokahn instructor. This one surprised me. He was standing near the center of the room with flame rolling off of his body. He stood about just shy of seven feet and his head was shaved. His eyes looked like twin pools of molten rock. When he spoke it was deep and gravelly.

“Greetings Initiate Dr` Ekar. I am Sy` Khan Dr` Agon. I am not one of your kind and I consider you to be an abomination. Regardless of my personal feelings toward your kind you are still Children of Kier and I will respect that. Keep in mind that I am one of the few who will and you are my natural enemy. That being said, I agreed to teach your kind what I know of Inok so that you will provide some amusement to my kind when they decide to erase you from existence. Now let us begin.”

My next two instructors were Amy and Annie De` Cain. They were identical twins and chose to teach me together on both Ocianatan and Usinason Forms. If there was a way to tell them apart I didn’t know it. When one hour ended they just started the next with a new set of forms. I finally got to Ja` Sair and the Yenianas forms. By the time the day was over I just wanted to lay down and pray I could remember everything the next day.

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The next morning I woke up to the sight of Anna Marie grinning. Picture the most deadly predator you can think of. Now imagine opening your eyes to see it grinning at you because it knows it just found it’s breakfast. It was kind of like that. Thankfully I didn’t squeal. I did groan though.

She laughed, “Good morning to you too Yarianna. It is time for you to start hating me. I have been going easy on you because of the conflict that has been going on, but since it is over it is time to really get started.”

“Ok. Give me a moment and I will be up.”

“I don’t believe so. You have been pampered enough. You need to be in top form before you ever go into training with the Order. Luckily Ja` Sair is here to work with you on you Time Spinning. I have to admit Time is not my strong point. Well, Lets go.”

She grabbed my ankle and started dragging me out of bed. I threw off my blankets and scrambled out of bed. She let go just before I would have landed on my but. I looked at her, “Do I have time to change out of my pajamas?”

“If you can change in one minute. After that you are going through the portal dressed in whatever you have on.”

I swore and striped off my pajamas and just managed to pull on a pair of sweats and a shirt before she shoved me through a portal into the alter room where I had left my book from the Order of Saleen. She smiled, “Grab your rune cloth, wrap it around your neck, and follow me..” I did and when I wrapped it around my neck I felt it seal completely smooth and shift so that it wasn’t visible. I immediately had a bad feeling about this whole thing but I followed her down the hall through another portal that I hadn’t even realized was there.

She led me into a room where Ja` Sair was waiting. She stopped next to him then directed me to stand in the middle so I did. I faced the two of them and listened while she spoke. “From now until I decide you have passed the basics to my satisfaction I rule every moment of your life. I understand that you still have other responsibilities and I fully expect you to see to them. That being said, since I was the one who gave you the initial test I am responsible for ensuring that you begin training at the Order with a knowledge of the basic Runes. That means you will know the basic Runes for each of the six elements as well as the thirteen that are on that cloth you have around your neck. Ja` Sair has agreed to teach you the basics for Time Spinning. I can allow this because he is your father. While you are training with us you will refer to his as ‘Sir’ and me as ‘Ma’am.’ Do you understand so far?”

I nodded, “Yes.”

Pain unlike anything you can imaging flowed through my body. I found myself laying on the floor shaking with Anna Marie kneeling over me. She smiled, “You forgot to say ‘Ma’am’ Yarianna. Don’t let it happen again. Do you understand?”

I looked up at her, “Yes Ma’am.”

“Good. Stand up and we will get started.”

I slowly started dragging myself up when another wave of pain dropped me to the ground again.

Anna Marie said, “When I tell you to do something you will do it immediately. Do you understand?”

I glared at her, “Yes Ma’am.”

“Good. Now stand up so we can get started.”

I stood up and glared. She smiled, “Good girl. Ja` Sair, explain to your daughter why she felt the pain and why we have the rules we do.”

Ja` Sair stepped forward, “Throughout your training with us you are going to feel pain. A lot of it. You will hate both of us while we train you, but you will appreciate how thorough we are when you enter the Order for further training. As a member of the Order you are an Elite Warrior of a Warrior Race. You will be required to show proper respect to those of higher rank then you. You will also have to learn to do anything you are told exactly when you are told to do even if it doesn’t make sense to you. This is not negotiable. One misstep at the wrong time can kill everybody around you. The rune cloth around your neck is the Order’s way of mitigating that damage as much as possible. It is not a matter of trust. It is a matter of necessity. You will make mistakes while you learn. With the rune cloth we will be able to stop the flow of your energy before you destroy everything around you. One last thing. When you get to the Order and begin training with them, what we do will seem child’s play. Do you understand?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Good. Anna, I am going to leave her to you. Let me know when you need me.”

Anna Marie nodded, “I will Ja` Sair. Yarianna, Show me the first Rune of the Kier and tell me the meaning.”

I started to do the moves for the first rune. She let me take the first few steps before the pain hit. I picked myself back up and started again. This time I tried explaining what I had learned about it. “The first rune is about Seeing. Not just on a physical level. It is about the ability to See with out sight. It is about having the Vision to see things on a deeper level. It could also…”

Pain flooded through me again. Anna Marie smiled, “You missed a half step. Start again.”

I started the steps again. “It could also…”

More pain poured through me. I could barely make out Anna Marie’s voice, “I said start again. Not pick up where you left off.”

I stood up again and started the steps. “The first rune is about being able to See…”

Pain again followed by Anna Marie’s voice, “That is not what you said the first time. I want it word for word.”

I stood up and said through gritted teeth, “How am I supposed to remember exactly what I said, Ma’am?”

“Why, you could always try to See what you said,” she said with a smile on her face just before she dropped me again.

This went on for a few more hours and by the time she told me I could go see to my city I realized that she was right. I did hate her. I made my way back to the alter room and into my bedroom.

Sasha smiled when I walked in, “Anna Marie said that you would be starting intensive training this morning. You have enough time to was up and get presentable before the funeral services for the ones who have died.”

I just grunted and started washing. We had a full ceremony and gave my personal guard a Clan Head’s funeral. Luckily the other Heir’s and Clan Head’s helped me with it because I was nearly wiped out before we even started. I still did the majority because it was my city they died to defend.

I had to spend most of the rest of the day in court trying to settle disputes that had come up during the battle but had been put off so that we could focus on surviving. Quite a few of the issues had to do with reimbursement for food, land, and other supplies.

After court I met with the Heirs and Clad Heads to discuss who was going to stay and who was going to return to the crater. Come to find out quite a few warriors from the other clans wanted to stay in my city. I didn’t have a problem with it as long as the other Clan Heads appointed a liaison for their clan.

After the meeting Ja` Sair pulled me aside to work with me on apperating. At first I was going to refuse, but I really wanted to be able to do it on my own so I went with him. By the time I was done for the night I had just enough time to eat before I passed out.

I felt like I had just fallen asleep when I was drug out of bed by Anna Marie for another day of torture. I discovered that your day tends to turn to crap when you wake up to the feel of pain. After making even less progress then the day before I saw the Clan Heads and Heirs off with all the warriors that were going to return with them and help Valora retake her throne.

Before he left I pulled Le` Than aside and told him that in the near future I was going to have to go to a school that could train me in using all six of the elements and that I was going to appoint Ja` Lynn as my steward until I got back. I tried to ask too many questions about it at first, but I told him that Ja` Sair was my real father and he would be watching over me. He reluctantly agreed and left so I went to sit in court until it was time to train with Ja` Sair.

There was very little variation to the routine from day to day. Skyler and Mary Ann tried to spend as much time as they could with me, but I was so tired by the time I was done for the evening that I usually fell asleep in the middle of whatever we were doing.

Each day I got a little bit worse and made more mistakes then the day before. Anna Marie was nearly ruthless in her punishments. Each day I was forced to dig a little deeper into my own energy to keep going because the rune cloth cut me off from every other source. I even tried to meditate to restore my energy. I couldn’t get up for a few minutes because of the pain after that.

I became increasingly volatile until I finally lost control of my temper during training with Anna Marie. I hadn’t even realized that I had tried to lash out with my energy until my vision went white and I dropped to the ground because of the pain.

I slowly picked myself up and restarted the training. I had to restart four times due to mistakes and I lost control again. This time I felt something give inside of me. Energy that felt very similar to the energy the rune cloth was made of flooded through my body. I felt it explode from my core and fill me nearly to the point of intoxication. I felt the swirl pattern on the rune cloth shift to a labyrinth pattern as I lashed out with the new energy. I could see the nimbus that surrounded me as the rune cloth struggled to contain the energy.

The pain hit and the energy consumed it, growing even stronger. I could feel the new energy try to take control of me. I felt the second rune start to burn on the cloth and knew what I needed to do. I formed the rune in my mind and projected it in a 3-D image under me. As I did with the first rune I used the second rune as a pattern for my steps. As I took each step the nimbus withdrew a little farther into me and made each following step that much harder. My entire body was on the brink of muscle failure by the time I finished the last step of the rune.

It felt like fire and ice rushing through my body. I could barley breathe. It was all I could do to hold the image of the rune in my mind. The rush of energy slowly subsided and the rune cloth released from my neck. I could still feel the new energy mingling with my own, but it felt natural and was as contained as my own energy was.

Anna Marie knelt down beside me and quietly asked, “What is the meaning of the second rune?”

I looked up at her and said, “Endurance of Spirit, Ma’am.”

She smiled, “Very good, Yarianna. You may rest now.”

“I still need to attend to my other duties Ma’am.”

“Not during your training time. I will wake you when it is time for you to attend to your other duties. Now go rest.”

I smiled, “Yes, Ma’am.”

I made my way to the room I had stayed in before and laid down on the bed. I had just gotten comfortable when Anna Marie came in and woke me up. I groaned and drug myself up. My clothing didn’t feel quite the same so I looked down. I must have fallen into a deep sleep because not only was I wearing different clothes, my hair had also been braided. I looked up to see Sasha standing in the doorway.

Sasha smiled, “About time. You have Court in a few minutes so Ja` Sair is waiting down the hall to take you. We have been trying to wake you up for nearly an hour. I finally just said to hell with it and had Anna Marie levitate you so I could make you look presentable.”

“Thank you. Are you going to go with me to Court?”

“Do I look like I enjoy being turned inside out and shoved through a tick’s back end?”

“Well, now that you mention it. You do a bit.”

“Funny. I’ll remember that when my itch powder accidentally finds it’s way to your sheets sometime.”

I laughed and headed down the hall to where Ja` Sair was waiting. The rest of the day was rather uneventful. It was as if everybody in the city was told to stay out of Court.

After waiting for an hour for anybody to show up I finally looked at the herald, “Did I miss something today?”

He gave me a curious look, “Not that I am aware of.”

“Huh. I wonder where everybody is. It’s been packed in here for weeks.”

“There is nobody scheduled to see you to day, my Lady. Likely they don’t have a reason to be here.”

“Nobody scheduled to see me? Do you mean that the past few weeks have all been scheduled appointments?”

“Yes and until just now I was under the impression that you had arranged it like that. Would you like for me to send for the one who makes your appointments?”

I thought about it for a moment then smiled, “That won’t be necessary. Do send for a messenger though. I may as well eat a bit while I am here.”

He nodded and soon I had a messenger on the way to the kitchen to get me some snacks. I took the time to meditate. This time when I meditated I found myself in the same clearing, but everything was more vibrant and alive. My other side seemed to have a nimbus around her. The one thing I did notice was there seemed to be a spring near the edge of the clearing. I walked up to it and found that instead of water it had raw power flowing out of it.

I looked at my other side, “This showed up earlier today, didn’t it?”

She nodded, “Yes. The finally pushed you to the breaking point. I was nearly able to take control with the surplus of energy you flooded me with. I may have even let you have control again after I was done separating them from their skin for the pain they caused you.”

I smiled, “I may have let you have control if you had told me what you intended.”

She calked her head to the side then smiled, “I shall remember that for future reference.”

“What will happen if I drink from this spring while here in meditation?”

“You will feel better. Outside of that nothing as it is our own energy.”

“Have you been watching the lessons in apperating?”

“Yes. I find the practice quite fascinating. Of course, I don’t have much use for it here as I am where I decided I want to be at any given moment. You will find it to be easier on you now though. This new energy is more closely related to the power required for such an act of displacement.”

“Can you show me?”

“Yes.”

I watched as she drew on the well of energy and used it to move herself to the other end of the clearing. I noticed that rather then moving her body she gave it to the energy and moved the energy to where she wanted to be then took her body back from the energy.

I looked at her, “That isn’t how we have been learning.”

“True. This way is better and easier. It does require you to know yourself completely though. You already know the other way. You have done it without flaw. Now you know how to take another with you. I can show you that if you wish. Though it is more painful it requires less knowledge of self and more knowledge of where you are and wish to be.”

“Please do.”

She showed me what she had observed when we apperated and I was able to see how to do it. I thanked her and left meditation. No one had come in during that time so I closed Court early. I found Ja` Sair waiting for me outside of the main entrance. I held my hand out to him and he took it. I apperated both of us to the place he had been teaching me.

I smiled, “Is that good enough?”

He grinned, “I was wondering when you were going to pick it up. You must have passed the second rune test.”

“I did just this morning. Please tell me that that was the hardest one.”

He shook his head, “They each provide a challenge in their own way. Some challenges are easier for some people and others are easier for others. I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to.”

“Was that one the hardest for you?”

“No. my hardest was the fourth for reasons you will understand when you get there.”

“If I never have to repeat the second test it will be too soon.”

“Do you understand why we had to be so hard on you?”

“I understand it. It will take me a while to trust either of you again, but I do understand. Can you tell me about the new energy?”

“I can. That is the true power of the Kier race. It is rather rare that someone outside of the Order is pushed far enough to bring it out, but it has happened. Has it started mixing with your own energy yet?”

“Yeah. Was it not supposed to?”

“No, it was. When we start on you basic knowledge of the elements we will teach you how to separate your energy and only use what is relevant to the spell.”

“You and Anna Marie keep talking about how you are only going to teach me the basics as if you expect me to go to the Order. What if I either can’t go or don’t want to?”

“If you truly don’t want to then that is your call. I keep saying that you will because if you are anything like your mother you will not be able to resist. The curiosity will be too much for you.”

“How long will I have to be there and will I be able to come back here to see to my city at all or will I have to leave it to someone else’s care?”

“You will have to appoint a steward to over your city while you are gone. During your time there you will only be a student. When you are let out for breaks you may choose to either return here to run you city for the short time you have or stay there and enjoy the time you have to just be you. As far as age is concerned you will actually be among the youngest. It‘s not often that the students discover they can channel all of the elements this early in life.”

“What if I decide that I don’t like it and don’t go back after a break?”

“You won’t. If you do though they will send one of the Knights to find out why. After that it is up to them what they will do.”

“So I take it that it wouldn’t be a good idea to skip out on school.”

“No. Not a good idea at all. When will you know if you are going or not?”

“I decided during training with the second rune when I thought it was going to be completely torturous. That is why I want to get back to training with the runes as soon as I can. The sooner I finish the basics the sooner I can get there to learn the more advanced things.”

“You have already chosen your steward and cleared it with Le` Than?”

“Yeah. Like I said. I already made up my mind.”

“Well then. I thought I was going to have to argue you into it for another month. I that case we had better get you back so you can get your sleep. You will need it.”

“I was counting on that. See you later. I still have to let my steward know what I have planned.”

“Sk` Yler and Sasha don’t know yet. Do they?”

“Not yet. I am going to let them know tonight. Neither of them are going to like it, but I am going anyway.”

He smiled, “Good luck when you tell them. I am going to inform Anna Marie of you decision.”

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

We ran out of the cavern screaming. Most of the ravine had been roofed over so it was a long, sun-less, fight. Skyler and Ja` Lynn kept me toward the back so that I could direct the waves. At first it chaffed that I wasn’t able to be on the front line fighting, but soon I had as much as I could handle.

Sasha returned with the Stompers after they finished sealing off the upper vents so I had them go down the wall of the ravine and pick the Imperials off until I gave the word to collapse the ceiling. I had another patrol show up so I sent them to retrieve and replace the ones that were injured and help drag them back to the healers that showed up. I had a Patrol of Blazers show up but I held them in reserve because we were close to the cavern entrance by that time.

Even with the extra Kier that arrived we still slowly gave ground until we were in the cavern. I gave Sasha the go ahead on collapsing the ceiling. The roof of the tunnel came crashing down and half filled the ravine with bodies and debris.

I had the Blazers cover the entrance while everybody took a few minutes to rest. As soon as the first wave was ready I had the Blazers and Stompers clear the path back to the Imperial line. As soon as we got back to fighting I had the Blazers and Stompers cover the top of the ravine so that we weren’t cut off and didn’t have any get behind us. As more people would show up I would create another wave and when we lost enough to injury I would take away a wave until the injured were well enough to fight again.

We kept this pattern up until we pushed all the way to the mouth of the ravine and didn’t find anymore Imperials to fight. We could see what was left of the Imperial army quick-marching in the direction of West Fork. I became aware of a roaring sound around me. It took a few moments to realize it was my people cheering. I soon found myself cheering with them. We did a head count and realized that we didn’t loose a single person in the entire fight. There wasn’t anybody that hadn’t visited the healers at least half a dozen times including me, but all of us had survived.

We made our way back into the city. And found the entire city had lined the streets that led to the Court House. As we passed by the crowd saluted us with a fist over their hearts. We got to the Court House and found Le` Than standing with the aid of two healers.

He saluted us and said, “Because of each of you all those in this city are alive. I am the most healthy of the Clan Heads and the Heirs so I ask you to excuse them for not being here. These healers say that I need to return to my bed so I will just say this, thank you.” Slowly he kneeled and spread his wings then bowed at the waist, letting the tips of his wings touch the ground. We turned back around and saw that the entire city had done the same.

There wasn’t a dry eye among any of us. It takes a great deal for a Kier to bow to anyone. To receive a bow where the wings touch the ground is an honor far greater than any I could imagine. We slowly returned the bow to the city and made our way to our separate destinations. I helped Le` Than stand up and helped him back to his bed.

After getting him situated I asked him, “How many did they kill?”

“At last count there were three Divisions and two Wings dead and another three Divisions recovering. One Division of those recovering requires twenty-four hour watch and they might not make it. We are trying to figure out what that poison is so we can make an antidote for it. Some of the Clan Heads think the price is a bit high for keeping one city.”

“Then they don’t have to come back to this city when they leave. Speaking of which. The Emperor has invited all Clan Heads and Heirs to the Capital in order to work out negotiations. I told him that West Fork would be a better place. Oh, and Solstice is now it’s own Kingdom again. I’m going to have to let Valora know that she can go back to her Kingdom.”

“That’s good to know. I’m sure she will be happy. I do need to rest now, Yari. I’m one of those under twenty-four hour watch.”

“Ok, Le` Than. Get better soon.”

“I will.”

I left him to the care of the healers and went in search of Valora. It took me a while to find her. I tried to sense her but for some reason I couldn’t pick up anything. I finally found her just outside of one of the upper vents. She was looking toward West Fork when I landed next to her. She glanced in my direction then turned back toward the city. I sat down and waited. She remained standing foe a few more minutes then sighed and sat next to me.

She gave me a look then said, “Are you sure you are in the right place? I don’t see a single Kier Sona up here besides you.”

I sighed, “Ok, I deserved that. How long are you going to be mad at me, Grandma?”

She looked at me and I saw a slight bit of shock flicker across her eyes. She sighed, “Well, I had planned on making you feel guilty for a few more days but how can I when you call me Grandma? I guess you should tell me what’s on your mind.”

I smiled, “I don’t even know where to begin. I guess I should start by letting you know that the Emperor released Solstice back to your bloodline.”

“Really? Why did he do that?”

“I made it one of the conditions of his survival.”

“Ha! That’s funny. That’s not the thing that is troubling you though.”

“What can you tell me about Ja` Sair Dr` Ekar?”

“My court Wizard? Not a lot. Why do you want to know about him?”

“Because he is my father.”

“How sure are you in this?”

“As sure as I can be with a Power Sink. Is there any way that one of those tests can lie?”

“No. There isn’t. That is why it was used back in the day to determine legitimacy in the Royal Bloodlines. More then one civil war has been prevented that way. I don’t get it though. How can he be your father? He doesn’t even show up at all in your mother’s Memory Stone.”

“He is a Time Spinner. He has a way of blocking the stone so that it doesn’t record him.”

“Well, that’s news to me. Like I said, I don’t know much about him, but if he is still the same kind of man he was when I ruled Solstice then he is a good person. He was very private and seemed to be searching for something. I don’t know what it was or if he found it, but he was the reason that I made it out of that castle alive.”

“That’s good to know. I’m still trying to decide if I am going to trust him or not. There have been too many things lately that aren’t what I thought they were. I’m afraid that if too many more things turn out to be something else I’m going to be a paranoid as you.”

She gave me a look and I laughed, “It was a joke. On a more serious note, when are you going to talk to Le` Than? You two have a lot of history that needs to be straightened out.”

She sighed, “I know. It has been a long time since I even thought about him. I know that he is on a very close watch and I keep meaning to get down there to see him, but I don’t know if it will be a good thing or not. What if I talk to him and I become the reason he doesn’t make it? What if I go down there and I become the reason he does make it? Which one do I really want to be? Le` Than has been my reason to live for a long time. At first it was because I loved him. Then he left and it was so that I could get revenge on him. Now? I just don’t know.”

“I’m sorry, Grandma. You’ll figure it out though. I’m sure of it.”

She smiled at me and put her arm around me. We watched the sun set then got up and went inside. I was greeted by Skyler and Sasha. Sasha looked at Valora and said, “Hi, Grandma. I hate to pull her away, but Yarianna is going to relax for a bit now.”

Valora smiled, “By all means. Tie her up if you need to. She can be stubborn about things like this.”

Skyler laughed, “Tell me about it. I don’t think I’ve seen her relax in the entire time I’ve known her.”

I looked at the three of them, “I’m standing right here you know. I think I am very capable of relaxing without help.”

The three of them looked at me then back at each other. Sasha continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “I agree, Skyler. I’ve see drawn bowstrings more relaxed then she is.”

Valora laughed, “That is a rather accurate description. Well, I don’t want to stand in the way. You all have fun.”

Skyler and Sasha both said, “We will.”

I looked at the three of them, “Don’t I get a vote in this?”

All three of them said, “No.”

Valora walked off and Skyler and Sasha each took an arm and started leading me toward my living quarters. We got there and Skyler waited in my front room while Sasha drug me to the bathing room. Sasha looked me up and down then said, “Shift out of that armor and strip. Your going to take a bath first.”

I looked down, “Why?”

“Yarianna, you have been fighting and training in those same clothes for nearly two months and it had been at least that long before you were injured enough to have to change your clothes. If you don’t do it yourself I will sink your feet into the floor and do it for you. Now strip.”

I shifted my armor out and noticed that my white undershirt wasn’t so white anymore. I shrugged and finished peeling off the rest of my clothes. I soon found myself sitting in a bath tub with attendants scrubbing dirt off of my body and out of my hair. At first I was uncomfortable because I was perfectly capable of washing myself, but when I tried to protest Sasha just ignored me. I tried to do it myself but I got my hand slapped so I leaned back and just let them wash me.

I will have you know that I did not enjoy it in the least. As if I wasn’t perfectly capable of washing myself. That was not a sigh of comfort. It was exasperation at the indignity of, mmmm fingernails on the scalp feels sooo gooood, someone else washing me. Imagine the insult. Treating me like, where are you going? No, I think my hair still has dirt in it. Was it again. Mmmm feels sooo gooood. Treating me like a little girl that can’t bathe herself. What? I was not snoring. I was trying to clear my nose.

After that horrendous bath I was forced to let the girls dress me. I tried to do it myself, but got my hand slapped again. I tried to draw the line when Sasha started fussing with my hair and brought out the make-up. Can you believe that she actually pulled out some rope? I asked her where we were going since she was going to get me all dolled up and she smiled and said, “Nowhere. You’re a girl and for now the battle is over so you are going to look like a girl no matter where you are.”

I gave her a shocked look, “I’m a girl!? Really? And all this time I thought I was a boy. Gee golly, I sure am glad you’re here to let me know these things. Ouch! What the hell?”

“Gee, I’m so sorry. Your hair is just so tangled. You really do need to start taking care of it better.”

I glared at her reflection in the mirror, “You can take the halo off now. It is starting to dig into your horns.”

“Yeah, but then the horns flair out and it is so unattractive. That halo is the best horn scrunchy ever.”

She finished dressing me up and doing my hair then led me out to the main room. Mary Ann was there along with Skyler, Valora, Ja` Sair, Le` Than, Ja` Lynn, and Anna Marie. I saw that Mary Ann had brought several board games and was trying to explain the rules to one of them to everybody else.

Sasha looked at everybody then said, “This is a stress free evening everybody. You are all here because you can’t seem to relax without help. I have left strict orders with my girls that if any one of us starts stressing about anything they are to hang us up-side down from the ceiling until we can behave. If the offender continues to stress they are then to be tortured by feathers until they wet themselves. A picture will be taken and laughter will abound throughout the city. Do I make myself clear?”

I smiled, “Do you include yourself in this mess?”

“Yes. I also need to relax a bit.”

I looked at Skyler and grinned, “He he… Begin operation ‘Stress Sasha.’ I want to see her pee her pants.”

She punched me in the arm as everybody laughed. We settled down with everybody else and discussed the rules of the board game. The attendants kept a constant flow of refreshments going and soon we were too involved in the game to worry about too much.

It was getting brighter outside of my window by the time I started getting yawning. Skyler started heading out so I grabbed his arm and looked at everybody, “You all have fun. Eat my food. Drink my alcohol. I am out.” I led him to my bedroom and smiled, “I would really like for you to hold me while I fall asleep, Skyler. It would do me a world of good.”

He smiled back, “The benefit will be mutual Yari.”

We both laid down and our arms went around each other. Our lips met and the rest of the world went away for a few moments. I snuggled up to him as close as I could get and sighed. I don’t remember actually falling asleep, but it was the best sleep I think I have ever had.

I woke up the next morning feeling warm and safe. Skyler was already awake and watching me. He smiled, “Afternoon.”

I picked my head up and looked out the window, “So it is.”

I laid my head back down on his arm. He put his other arm around me and kissed me. After some time we broke the kiss and got out of bed. I made my way into the dining area and found a breakfast laid out on the table. We started eating and Le` Than came in. He grabbed a tray and piled up a breakfast for two. I looked at him and he shrugged, “Valora always did like breakfast in bed even if it was afternoon when she woke up.”

I shook my head and smiled. It seemed like him and Valora finally made up. A short time later Ja` Lynn came in followed a bit too close for coincidence by Mary Ann. I noticed that Mary Ann had a particular glow about her and she just happened to glance at Ja` Lynn a bit too often. I caught her eye and gave her a look that said we needed to talk later. She blushed and nodded and I went back to eating. Ja` Sair and Anna Marie walked in and sat down to eat. Sasha stumbled in and poured herself a large mug of coffee.

We all mutually decided that last night’s stress free time would extend into tomorrow. I sent Skyler off to entertain himself and corned Mary Ann. I took her arm and pulled her into my bedroom then shut the door. I plopped on my bed and looked at her, “Ok, spill. What happened last night between you and Ja` Lynn?”

She blushed, “Well, You and Skyler went to bed and we all joked a bit about that. Then everybody else started drifting to separate rooms and Ja` Lynn and I were still sitting up talking. I think he said something about how attractive he found me but the next thing I remember we were kissing. I don’t remember how we got to the bedroom.” She smiled, “He kissed me on my neck and I felt his teeth drag against my skin. I thought I would die on the spot.”

She drifted off a bit with a smile on her face. I prompted her, “And?”

She shook her head slightly, “And what?”

“Well, did you?”

She turned red, “Yes. We did. Several times.”

“How was it?”

She smiled, “Definitely something I am going to be doing with him again. Sooner rather then later.”

I grinned, “Good for you. I’m glad you found somebody your are comfortable with.”

“Me too. So did you and Skyler yet?”

“No. Not yet. I fell asleep last night. I wanted to though.”

“You will when the time is right.”

“Yeah. Anyway, what do you think of my city?”

“I like it down here. Any chance of getting citizenship now that you are no longer part of the Empire?”

“I think we can work something out. I will have to talk it over with Le` Than”

“That conversation will be short. ‘Le` Than, your going to give my friend citizenship right?’ ‘Why of course I will because if I don’t said friend will tell Valora on me.’”

I laughed, “ ‘Grandma! Le` Than won’t make my friend a citizen.’ ‘Tell him if he wants to keep his anatomy intact he will.’”

We both laughed until our sides ached. We went back in to the main room and spent the rest of the day being lazy. I have to admit that Sasha was right. I did need to relax a bit more. It was a good thing I did because it would be a while before I had the time to relax like that again.

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

It took almost a month to get the Emperor to the point that he could survive on his own. We set up a small camp in the clearing so that we didn’t have to move him any more then absolutely necessary. I stayed in the camp and trained with Anna Marie any time she wasn’t working with the Emperor.

Ja` Sair would sit in on the training every once in a while, but for the most part he avoided the Emperor. Although he did tell me of several uprisings throughout the Empire that were looking fairly serious. He told me that he had heard from a reliable source that large resistance forces throughout the Empire had heard of the Emperor’s near death experience and subsequent defeat of his army and had decided that it was time to take their kingdoms back. From what he told me they were doing quite well in that regard.

Re` Than and I started spending more and more time together, to Skyler’s annoyance. I didn’t feel the same attraction to Re` Than that I did with Skyler, but there was definitely something there. I couldn’t tell if Re` Than was also attracted to me or not, but he seemed to find excuses to spend time around me.

When the Emperor finally recovered he sent a message for me to speak with him. I was training at the time so I finished what I was doing and made my way to him. I didn’t bother to shift my blades away when I walked into the Emperor’s tent and some of the guard started forward. The Emperor sat up and said, “Let her in. We all know that she is as dangerous with those blades and she is without.”

They backed off and I walked up to the Emperor. I gave him a nod, “You wanted to see me?”

He nodded back, “Yes. I wanted to ask you why you chose to save my life. I would have just let you die and negotiated with whoever was named Emperor in my place.”

“Whoever was named in your place would have either been a puppet for someone else or would have felt a need to avenge you. Neither one of those scenarios were what I would call idea. By saving your life I would know who I was dealing with and you wouldn’t feel the need to call my bluff. You already know that if I say I will do something I’m not bluffing.”

He chuckled, “You have a good point there. How do you know that I won’t just take you prisoner and declare the treaty I just signed with you void? How do you know that I won’t just continue the invasion until I have satisfied the blood debt with Clan Sa` Tain?”

I smiled, “Because you know that if you do I will kill you. I have already proven to you that I am more then willing to sacrifice my life if need be. What you need to be asking yourself is this: Are you willing to risk your life to see any of that done?”

“You already know that answer, Lady Sa` Tain. I value my existence too much. Not everyone you meet will have that restraint though. I am sure your Captain has advised you of this, but you need to be there for your people. You have to stop being so willing to throw your life away if you ever want to truly lead them. It is their job to give their lives for you. It is your job to provide the leadership that inspires them to want to do so. I am going to withdraw my army and return to the Capital in a few days. I would like to invite you and the Clan Heads with their Heirs to go there in order to begin the negotiations that will determine how our separate lands will deal with each other.”

“I don’t think it would be such a good idea to have the negotiations in your capital. Especially not with all of our leaders. It could too easily turn into hostage negotiations. I suggest we have them a bit closer. West Fork, for example, might be a better place.”

“A good choice, however if we meet there it will have to be postponed for a time. I have other business that needs attended to.”

“I can imagine. I am sure the rumors of your imminent death sparked all kinds of trouble for you.”

“You seem remarkably well informed. Should I assume this information comes from a certain Wizard that was, until recently, in my employ?”

“You may assume that if you wish. Who am I to correct the assumptions of an Emperor?”

“There is a time and place for sarcasm, Lady Sa` Tain.”

“I agree with you. The time seems to be whenever I draw breath and the place happens to be wherever I am standing at the moment. On the day of my funeral I will most likely sit up one last time and make some sarcastic comment about how bright it is on the other side.”

He shook his head, “Well, before I decided that your sarcasm offends me, I am going to call an end to this conversation. I will be in touch with you in regards to the date of negotiations.”

“I look forward to it.”

I left and found Anna Marie packing away her supplies. She looked up as I approached. She looked around at the camp that was getting packed away and ready to move then said, “I hope you made the right decision in sparing the Emperor’s life, Yarianna. I think it may have done more good to let him die with all of these rebellions springing up all over the place.”

“I feel as though it was the right thing to do. If it turns out that I was wrong then the next time they come against us there will be no quarter. I don’t think it will come to that though.”

“Well, let’s hope not. I know that you didn’t come over here to talk about if you made a good choice or not. What’s up?”

“Ja` Sair, actually. He said that he is my father and there was a way for you to test that. Would you be willing to?”

“Sure. Is there any reason for you to believe that he is telling the truth?”

“Up until a few days ago I was under the impression that my father was human.”

“Well, that is not possible unless your father was a latent Kier. If your mother was aware of her nature before they married then it would have woken your father’s Kier side. Is there any way that he was latent?”

“I don’t know. If he was he kept it hidden from my mother’s Memory Stone.”

“Well, that would have been next to impossible unless he was aware of his nature before hand and kept it on a tight leash. It is very difficult to suppress that side when two Kier, well…”

“I get the point. I would still like for you to check.”

“I will. I can do it right now if you would like.”

“I would.”

I cast out my senses until I found him then gave him a nudge to let him know I wanted to talk to him. He appeared next to me a short time later and said, “You rang?”

I looked at him, “Yeah. I thought it was a good time to see if you are father or not.”

“Fair enough. Is this the one testing us?”

I nodded, “Yes. I trust her to tell the truth.”

“Good.” He looked at Anna Marie, “Do you know the Power Sink method?”

She smiled, “Is there any more sure way?”

“Doubtful. Shall we begin?”

Anna Marie looked at me, “Give me the word and I will start the test.”

I took a deep breath and nodded, “Go ahead.”

She traced a symbol in the air that looked like it was a combination of several runes. It vanished too fast for me to make out which runes were in it. Suddenly the area we were standing in seemed to shift. Outside of the circle of normal under our feet seemed to be nothing but raw power, as if we were standing in a vein of power that was coursing through the planet.

Anna Marie traced another symbol in the air and I felt that power seep up through the ground and wrap around me. I could feel small streams of the power enter my body and rejoin the larger rope above my head. The rope wound back down my body and seemed to pool in front of me.

She traced a third symbol and the pool in front of me shifted to form an image. It formed the design that was on the front of the book Anna Marie gave to me with a few slight changes. Rather then the scimitars it had the keris style blades and in place of the claymore it had a bladed staff. The design was set into the forehead of a dragon skull that had drops of blood running from the symbol. I could clearly see Dr` Ekar written just above the design. Just below the design was written my name then Ja` Sair and my mom. I looked over to Ja` Sair and saw that he had an identical symbol in front of him with the exception of the names that were written.

Anna Marie traced a fourth symbol in the air and we were back in front of the stuff she was packing away. She looked at me, “The Power Sink doesn’t lie, Yarianna. This man is your father.”

I looked at Anna Marie, “Thank you. I will leave you to your packing unless you want some help.”

She shook her head, “None is needed. I will see you tomorrow in my office to continue training.”

“Looking forward to it. You did guarantee that I would hate you. I’m still waiting for that.”
“Who said I was done with you yet?”

I smiled then looked at Ja` Sair, “I have never had a father figure and frankly don’t really feel the need to have one now. It will take me some time to get used to the idea of actually having a living parent before I will even consider the idea of calling you dad. In the mean time I do want to start working on apperating with you, if you wouldn’t be opposed to teaching me.”

He smiled, “On that same note, I have never been a father figure. Hell, until I saw you in the Emperor’s tent that first time I wasn’t even sure that I was a father. So, while you are getting used to the idea of having a living parent I will be getting used to the idea that I am a parent. In the mean time, I will be happy to teach you because if you are anything like me you are going to try and learn on your own if I say no. Am I right?”

I blushed slightly because he had hit it dead on. I still gave him my best imitation of an innocent look and said, “No. Of course I wouldn’t.”

He snorted, “Yeah, bullshit. When do you want to start?”

“How about later this afternoon?”

“That will work for me. Your days are going to be busy, you know.”

“I know.”

“Good. I have some stuff I need to take care of. I will find you later.”

“Ok.”

He walked off and I looked at Anna Marie, who had a grin on her face, “I don’t want to hear it.”

She laughed, “It was like hearing someone talking to an older version of themselves. Hell, I didn’t need the Power Sink. All I would have had to do is sit in the same room as the two of you.”

“I said I don’t want to hear it. I’m going to go get my stuff gathered up and moved. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I left and she was still chuckling. Skyler and Ja` Lynn were waiting with Sasha outside of the tent. They all had grim faces. I looked at Skyler, “What’s wrong?”

“We found the bodies of the other members of your personal guard. Ja` Lynn and you are the only two left that fought for Heir.”

“Where are they and what happened?”

“Over here.”

They led me to a tent set up just outside of the main camp. I opened the tent to find the three bodies of the rest of my personal guard. I knelt down to examine them as Ja` Lynn explained.

“We were separated for a time during the last skirmish before we were asked to do guard duty on the command tent. They had told me that they were ambushed by a Patrol carrying war bows. I tried to sent them to get checked out, but they refused, insisting that they were fine. I have been keeping a close eye on them and noticed that they seemed to be getting worse. I tried to tell them to stay behind and get seen by a healer, but they refused again. Last night I sent them to bed early. When they didn’t report this morning I took the first opportunity to tell you.”

I used energy to carefully raise them up and remove their armor. I found the places they had been struck by arrows because there were black lines radiating out from the infected cut.

I looked at Skyler and Ja` Lynn, “Did either of you get cut or shot at all? Don’t lie to me on this.”

Skyler shook his head and Ja` Lynn said, “I had an arrow graze my back, but that was it.”

“Remove your armor and let me see.”

He shifted his armor out and raised his shirt. I looked at his back and swore. Along an infected cut he had small black lines beginning to radiate out.

I sent a thought, “Ja` Sair I need you now.”

He apperated into the tent, “What’s wrong?”

“Ja` Lynn. I need you to take him to Anna Marie now.”

Ja` Lynn looked at me, “There isn’t any need for that. I feel fine.”

“I’m sure they did too, just before they died. No arguments. Go.”

Ja` Sair didn’t wait for him to agree. He took Ja` Lynn’s arm and apperated out.

I sent out another thought, “Le` Than, I need everybody that was cut of struck by any weapon of the Empire to get checked now. I just lost three of my guard and might lose a fourth to what looks like poison.”

He responded that he would see to it and broke the connection. I looked at Skyler, “We need to get back to the city now. Gather what is left of the Patrol and meet me by Anna Marie’s tent.”

He nodded and left. I turned to Sasha, “Gather all of your attendants and send them to assist the healers then get your Stompers together. We may need to seal off the city in a hurry.”

She sank into the ground and I headed toward Anna Marie’s tent. Ja` Sair apperated next to me. “Anna Marie swore something fierce when she saw his back, but she said that he would be ok.”

“Good. I need you to tell me if the Imperials are moving toward my city or not.”

“Ok. I will meet you at Anna Marie’s tent unless I see you sooner.”

“That will work. Before you go, how many can you take with you when you apperated?”

“One at a time unless you link with me and share your energy. With that I should be able to shift everybody still living back to the city.”

“Good. Get going. I will meet you in a moment.”

He vanished and I arrived at the tent. Ja` Lynn was lying on her work table with his back exposed to the air. Anna Marie looked at me, “I was able to get all of the poison out and he should be back up in a few minutes. I hate to think what would have happened if you wouldn’t have discovered it for another hour. I’ve seen this kind of poison. It numbs the area around it so that you don’t feel the damage it is doing until it hits your heart or brain, whichever is closer. It is one of the few that will actually work on our kind.”

Skyler walked in, “We are ready to leave when you are. Sasha has some Stompers moving the bodies back to the city.”

I nodded and Ja` Sair walked in, “The Imperials and on the move. They should be at your city within twenty minutes.”

I swore and looked at Skyler, “This is going to make most of us feel uncomfortable, but it is the fastest way back to the city.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

Anna Marie and I lifted Ja` Lynn off of the table and carried him outside. The rest of the Patrol was waiting for us and took Ja` Lynn. I linked my energy with Ja` Sair and had everybody grip forearms. I nodded to Ja` Sair and he apperated all of us to the city.

Sasha was just coming out with a small group of Stompers. I looked at them, “I need you all to seal the city as tight as you can get it and send out everybody well enough to fight. The Imperials are on the way.”

The saluted and rushed back into the city. The Patrol was just getting back up. Ja` Lynn looked at me as he called his armor back in, “I don’t know which felt worse, getting the poison sucked out of me or that apperating thing.”

“I hear it gets easier the more you do it. Are you well enough to fight?”

“Yes, I am. Bloody Imperials. They couldn’t beat us in a fair fight so they had to use poisons.”

“Yeah, I’ll be sure to feel proud about that after we kill them.” I looked at the rest of the Patrol, “All of you check for poison now before the Empire gets here. I want to trip over their corpses, not your’s.”

They stared checking as reinforcements arrived. In all we had a two Wings that weren’t poisoned. I swore again. I had to send all but a Quad back of the Patrol I had with me. I looked over the Kier that had gathered. “The only way I can think to do this is fight in waves. We can bottleneck them in the ravine and fight our way back into the city. We will give ground only grudgingly and use the first cavern entrance to further bottleneck them. We cannot let them get into the city itself. I want three waves of channelers and archers and three waves of blades. Channelers, do not wear yourselves out. If they get inside the first cavern entrance you and the archers will be picking up blades.”

Ja` Sair appeared next to me, “They are in the ravine. Maybe another ten minutes until they get here.”

I turned to my people, “We ready to die?”

The shouted they were and I smiled, “Then lets give these Imperial dogs something to break their teeth on!”

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“Say what?”

“I said, I am your father.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Your mother would get that same disbelieving look. I had to stop myself from staring at you in the Emperor’s tent. You look so much like her.”

“If you knew her, then why don’t you show up in her Memory Stone?”

“I am a Knight of the First Order of the Order of Saleen and exceptionally gifted in the Element of Time. No Memory Stone in existence can record me if I don’t want it to.”

“Prove it.”

“Look at the past few minutes of you own stone.”

I pulled out my stone and did as he asked and sure enough, he wasn’t recorded. It was as if the stone just stopped recording a little before the blast went off.

“I’m not dead so why did it stop recording?”

“I am holding the recording spell in an alternate time. It will pick it up again when I release it. I did the same thing with you mother during the time we were together. I didn’t know that she was married at the time or I wouldn’t have been with her. I only found out that she was married at the end of our time together.”

“How long were you with her?”

“Two weeks.”

“So what makes you so sure that you are my father instead of her husband?”

“A human male cannot impregnate a Kier female. It is impossible.”

“How do you figure? Our genetics aren’t that much different. The Emperor’s son has a human mother.”

“This is not the kind of conversation I want to be having with you.”

“Too bad. Start talking or go away.”

“Fine. Kier males were designed for their DNA to adapt for compatibility and to prevent inbreeding. The females were not, although there is a rumor that the females were born with the latent ability to temporarily shift their gender, but that has yet to be proven. A male’s DNA would adapt to be compatible with the mother then lie dormant until it was awakened by another Kier after which it would begin to change the host DNA into Kier DNA. It is not a very pleasant process for the host.

“The way that we were designed make it impossible for any species other then the Kier and the Children of Dr` Agon to get a Kier female pregnant. The egg walls are too thick and regenerate too fast. The females were designed to choose the gender of the child so that the race could repopulate as long as one Kier male existed. Understand now or do you want me to spell it out for you?”

I sat in silence trying to take it all in. I tried a couple of times to say anything, but I couldn’t seem to be able to form a coherent thought. Finally I managed to say, “So what your saying is that there is a possibility that I can turn myself into a guy? Skyler is not going to like that.”

His mouth dropped open, “That is not what I was saying at all. Were you even…”

“I know. I get it. Mom married a human, couldn’t have kids with him, hooked up with you, and had me. It’s called sarcasm. I use it to cope when a whole butt load of crap is dropped in my lap that I have to no idea what to do with yet. Deal with it.”

“It’s bloody annoying.”

“That’s kind of the point in using it. This still doesn’t prove that you are my father and you sure as hell haven’t earned the right to be called dad yet, so what do you plan on doing now?”

“First, prove to you that I am your father, then I guess I will find out what I have to do to get you to call me Dad. What do I have to do?”

“You can start by telling me your name. I can’t go around calling you Wizard all the time.”

“I am Ja` Sair Dr` Ekar. I am not from one of the thirteen Clans of this world.”

“If you’re not from one of the Clans, then what Clan are you from?”

I am from the Dr` Ekar Clan. The rest of my Clan is scattered throughout the universe. I am descended from one of the Wings of the Division that destroyed our home world. That Division was part of the Order of Saleen on our home world. When they found themselves here after the destruction they chose to remain separate from the Clans that were forming and the Clans were happy to let them because they blamed the Order for the destruction even though there were others who had been planning on doing the same thing.”

“Great, another name to add to the list. Pretty soon I am going to have to write a book just to sign a piece of paper.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mom’s husband was a Silverstone but Grandma officially adopted me. I was named Le` Than’s Heir and add that with your name, which would go on the end since a Saleen Clan is more powerful then a regular Clan, and I become Yarianna Nicole Silverstone Sorenson Sa` Tain Dr` Ekar. I tell you it’s a bloody mouthful. I dare you to say it ten times fast without getting tongue-tied.”

“Oh, for Kier’s sake child, you don’t have to use them all, and I am not going to say it ten times fast. I have enough trouble with my own name.”

“But it is fun trying to make people say them all. How are you planning on proving that you are my father?”

“The same way a human would go about it. With a DNA test. Know any medics that you would trust to do it?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know if she has the equipment for it.”

“We won’t need the equipment. I can show her how to do the test without it.”

“Well, then can you take me back to my city? They are probably panicking right now trying to see if I’m still alive.”

“Sure. Take my hand.”

He offered his hand and I hesitantly took it. The sensation of being turned inside out, sucked through the eye of a needle, then reassembled on the other side was just as unpleasant as it was the first time.

I shook my head, “Bloody hell, next time I want information from somebody I’m just going to have you take them across the room a couple of times like that. You could make a rock talk after that.”

“Eh. You get used to it after a while.”

I shook my head again then sent a thought to Skyler, “I’m here. Let me in please.”

I felt him send back, “Thank the gods, I will be there in a moment.”

While I waited I took a look at what my blast had done. Most of the Imperial Army was simply gone. The Emperor must have gotten a shield up in time because it looked like the blast had been deflected around his tent. I just barley missed West Fork by a little less then a mile.

I heard the rock crack behind me as Skyler and Sasha came running out and both hugged me. They let go and Sasha slapped me hard enough to make my vision go white and knock me to the ground. She was shaking when she said, “If you ever do something like that again, so help me I will rip you into so many pieces the gods wouldn’t even be able to identify your remains.”

Skyler waited for me to stand up then looked at Sasha, “Slap her for would you?”

I held up a hand, “I get the point.”

He glared at me, “Really? Because I don’t think you do. You keep putting yourself into situations that kill anybody else. Gods, I can’t take much more of it.”

I looked at him, “Everything I have done was for the protection of my people.”

“Well how about letting your people protect you for once? You slap them in the face every time you put yourself in harm’s way.”

“I don’t mean to. I’m just not used to relying on other people.”

“No. You became Kier and forgot that you are still Yarianna.”

I didn’t know what to say. I knew that I didn’t want to be standing in that spot anymore. I didn’t even notice the feeling of being turned inside out. I found myself sitting under the tree where Skyler and I met. I finally let go and cried. I let all of my fear, pain, hurt, and frustration go and cried until I didn’t have anything left in me to cry. I’m not sure when they showed up, but I found myself with my head in Skyler’s lap and Sasha running her fingers through my hair, encouraging me to cry it out.

I started to say something but Skyler cut me off, “Don’t. We already know.”

I nodded and smiled, “We should probably get back though. We are, after all, in Imperial lands.”

Sasha snorted, “Just tell them that you are going to build an Embassy here and that it is now your land. After that blast They will probably offer to be your footstool just so you don’t glare at them.”

I sighed, “I could only wish. I have the feeling that even if they concede to us now we are going to have problems in the future when they recover.”

Skyler smiled, “You at least bought us some time, but you are right. We do need to be getting back. Speaking of which, What the hell was that thing you did to get here? On moment you were standing there and the next there was a pop and you were gone.”

“To be honest I’m not really sure. I knew that I wanted to be somewhere else and this place flashed in my head about the same time I kind of pushed myself with energy. Kind of don’t want to try it again for a bit.”

I felt a slight distortion behind me and raised my head to look. Ja` Sair was standing a short distance away. I sat up the rest of the way and looked at Skyler, “By the way, this is Ja` Sair Dr` Ekar. He claims to be my biological father. Ja` Sair, this is Sasha Na` Sean, my Head of Housekeepers and good friend, and Sk` Yler De` Cain, my Captain of the Guard and boyfriend.”

Skyler looked at Ja` Sair, “Her father huh? Well, hello. Dr` Ekar. I don’t recognize that House name. Is it Imperial?”

“No, nor is it from one of your seven Clans. We chose to remain separate from the Clans when we found our way here.”

“Ah.” Ja` Sair looked at me, “Yarianna, apperating like that is dangerous. I would suggest you piggyback a few more jumps before you try it again.”

“Is that what it is called?”

“Yes. I take it there are not many Time Spinners among the Clans?”

Skyler shook his head, “Not many. I don’t know about the Imperials.”

“Well, that is unfortunate. Time Spinners make things interesting.”

“Interesting huh. I’ve learned that Kier have a rather unique definition of interesting. Is it the same among your House?”

“Yes. Although I fear your definition may be rather tame comparatively. We really should return to your city rather soon. The Emperor is on his way there. He is requesting a meeting with Yarianna.”

I looked at Skyler, “I will meet you there. Let Ja` Lynn know and have him get a Patrol ready.”

“Ok. See you in a bit.”

Sasha and Skyler left and I looked at Ja` Sair, “You probably shouldn’t be seen with me when we meet with the Emperor. It might get ugly.”

“I have nothing to fear from him, but I will do as you ask. I will be watching to make sure nothing happens.”

“You don’t have to.”

“No, but I would like to I never really got the chance to know your mother. I would like to get to know you though.”

“We will have to see. Let’s go before they come back to look for me.”

We apperated to the entrance to the cavern just before Skyler came out with Ja` Lynn and a Patrol. I looked at Ja` Sair and nodded. There was a popping sound and he was gone. Ja` Lynn gave me a curious look I shrugged, “Apparently he is a Time Spinner. He is going to keep an eye out for mischief.”

Ja` Lynn nodded, “Sounds good to me. Any idea what the Emperor wants?”

“All of us to die painfully. With this meeting, I don’t know. Maybe he wants to surrender.”

We shared a laugh then started toward where the Emperor had stopped. I looked at Ja` Lynn, “Do me a favor and have a Quad provide an escort for Anna Marie. I have a feeling we are going to need her.”

I sent nudge to Anna Marie letting her know I wanted to talk to her. A short time later se sent back, “What?”

“If I asked you to save the Emperor would you do it?”

“Isn’t he the one trying to wipe our Clans out of existence?”

“Yes.”

“It would have to be for a good reason.”

“Um I think it will be.”

“Fine. I’m going to need some help bringing some stuff…never mind. You knew I would say yes, didn’t you?”

“I guessed that you would. I just have this feeling that you will be needed”

“I will be there in a few moments.”

She broke off the connection and Skyler asked me, “Why are you sending for a healer?”

“I have the feeling that she will be needed. I can’t really explain it.”

“Ok. As long as you don’t plan on needing her for yourself.”

“I will when we get back. I got a few cuts in the aftermath of the blast.”

“Yari…”

“I know. They have scabbed over. I just want her to look at them to make sure they are not infected.”

We traveled the rest of the way there in silence. When we got there the Emperor’s tent was already set up and the sides were rolled up so that we could see inside of it. I could tell that it was a new tent and most of the guard were wearing dented and blackened armor. It looked like they had tried to clean it up, but I could see that it wouldn’t get too much cleaner. The Emperor wasn’t sitting up and the Sergeant that had escorted me to the Emperor the last time came forward. His face was still deep red and he had a bandage on his cheek that had blood soaking through.

He looked at my Patrol and sighed, “Lady Sa` Tain, I have been asked to deliver the Emperor’s words, as he is not able to do so at the moment. The Emperor has agreed to the terms you set forth for his survival to be signed into effect as soon as possible. The terms being as follows. One, the Kingdom of Solstice is released from the Empire to the care of Queen Valora Sorenson and her bloodline. All those who wish to remain part of the Empire will be provided with homes and employment within their fields in other parts of the Empire. Two, The Eastern Waste is recognized as the Territory of the United Clans of the Kier. It is recognized as being separate from the Empire and in no way subject to Imperial Rule. The Boundary being set at the boundaries of the former Kingdoms of Fireflow Mountains and Southern Steppes and the Current Kingdom of Solstice. Three, the law forbidding Kier to exist is hereby repealed and banned from being signed into effect ever again. Four, All Kier within the boundaries of the Empire will be allowed to leave the Empire if they so choose. All choosing to leave will be provided safe escort to the Territory of the United Clans. Five, All Kier bearing the Clan Markings of the United Clans shall be granted immunity within the boundaries of the Empire. Any in violation of Imperial law shall be escorted to the Territory of the United Clans with a list of the laws violated. Six, the Blood Feud between Clan Sa` Tain and Clan Kh` Oman is hereby ended at the signing of these terms. The Emperor hereby releases Clan Sa` Tain from any Blood Feud generated by the blast created by Yarianna Nicole Sorenson Sa` Tain and takes full responsibility for the blast. As per the terms of the survival of the Emperor these things shall go into effect as soon as the Emperor is in the condition to survive from the blast. The Emperor has already signed the document. All we need for this to be in effect is your signature.”

He handed a rolled up document to me and Skyler took it. He opened it and read over it then handed it to me. I read it and saw that it was as he had read it. Anna Marie sent me a thought letting me know that she was there. I read over the document again and looked at the Sergeant, “I will not sign it until my medic lets me know if the Emperor can be saved.”

He nodded, “I figured as much. He is this way.”

Anna Marie and the Quad with her followed me into the Emperor’s tent. She examined him very thoroughly. Finally she looked at me and said, “I can do it. It’s not going to be easy on him, but it can be done.”

I nodded and signed the document then looked at Anna Marie, “Do it.”

She nodded then got to work. The Sergeant looked at me, “You know that this battle is still ongoing until the Emperor himself declares it over. All that document does is let you know that we agree that we are an invading army. We can take you hostage if we chose to.”

I smiled at him, “You could. You’re not going to though. You have too much honor.”

“Why not just let him die? He did try to kill you, after all.”

“Yeah, he did. It’s not all that easy to do apparently. I would have been pissed if he would have succeeded in it. I have too much crap to do to die just yet.”

He laughed, “Blasted Death. Always getting in the way. How did you know the Wizard would get you out of the blast?”

“I didn’t.”

“You really were prepared to die?”

“Yes, if that is what it took to end this thing.”

“Well, then on behalf of the Imperial half of Clan Sa` Tain I, Re` Than Sa` Tain thank you for ending the Blood Feud with Clan Kh` Oman. We have been little better then slaves to them for three generations now. They declared a Blood Feud with Clan Sa` Tain and got the other Clans to go along with it. He forced our Heir to marry him and take his Clan name so that he could force our Clan into whatever he wanted then had our Clan Head killed before we could appoint a new Heir.”

“Wow. That is an unexpected surprise. To be honest I hadn’t planned on actually getting what I asked for.”

“Well, planned or not, thank you.”

“Your welcome Re` Than.”

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I sat my stuff back on the book shelf and walked out of the room. I walked out of the building and launched myself into the air. I flew to the prison first. I asked the guard take me to the General I had spoken with before. They led me to a room and asked me to wait. A few minutes later they brought him into the room. He smiled when he saw me, “Lady Sa` Tain, I was wondering when you were going to drop in for a visit. How is the battle going?”

“Were you laughing at me as I told you about the Kier?”

“What do you mean?”

“You can drop the act. We have already discovered the army is Kier.”

“No, I wasn’t laughing at you. It was a good attempt at intimidation. Had we been human it might have worked.”

“Why does the Emperor hunt our Clans when we are all the same race? Is it left over from the Clan Wars?”

“In part. It is more due to the death of General Kh` Oman by the hand of Le` Than. General Kh` Oman was a personal friend of the Emperor and Queen Valora was under the Emperor’s protection.”

“Just as Ra` Tain was a personal friend of mine. Are we going to slaughter each other until kill each other off entirely? I don’t mind the opportunity to fight, but I still wonder.”

“What would you give to see this war ended? Would you turn Le` Than over to Imperial Justice?”

“What justice? General Kh` Oman threatened the life of Le` Than’s betrothed and unborn child. What would you do to one such as that? Furthermore, Le` Than didn’t kill Valora.”

“On whose word? Le` Than’s? That won’t fly in Court.”

“Not Le` Than’s word alone. I have something better.”

“Oh? Do you have Valora’s word as well?”

“Something like that.”

“It would have to be something that cannot be contested. Letting us go would go a long way to helping resolve this. Nice job on that, by the way. It is a rare occasion that I am taken so completely off guard.”

“Thank you, but it’s not going to happen until this is over. You are my bargaining chips.”

“You make a formidable opponent, Lady Sa` Tain. It’s too bad you are going to have to die.”

“I’m only seventeen, General. I have no intentions of dieing any time soon.”

“Is there anything else that you wanted from me?”

“Your unconditional surrender.”

He laughed, “A sense of humor too. It’s no wonder they are so loyal to you. Well if that is all, I will bid you good day. Use care though Lady Sa` Tain. If this is not concluded soon the Emperor himself will be here with his elite warriors.”

I stood up, “I thank you for the warning.”

I left the room and let the guard escort the general back to his cell. I walked back out of the jail and flew to the cavern entrance. I sent a thought to Skyler and Ja` Lynn to meet me then made my way to the front lines.

I was only about half way there when Skyler dropped out of the sky and wrapped his arms around me. I hugged him back just as hard. He reluctantly let me go and looked me up and down, “Your not still hurt are you?”

I laughed, “He asks after he tries to crush me. No, I’m not still hurt. I’m actually better then I have been for a while. How’s the battle going?”

“It’s about even. If we keep it up like this there isn’t going to be anything left of either side to bury the corpses.”

“I was afraid of that. Where are The Clan Heads and the other Heirs?”

“I was just with them. They are at the Command Tent. Ja` Lynn and the rest of your personal guard have been doing guard duty there. I told them I would be back with you.”

“Good. Let’s head there. This battle has gone on long enough. I aim to put a stop to it before the week is done.”

“How do you plan on doing that?”

I smiled, “Still working out the details.”

We walked through the lines to the Command Tent. Le` Than saw me and smiled, “Good to see you again, Yarianna. I do have to say that you look much better than you did the last time I saw you. Near death is not a very good look on you.”

I grinned, “I’ll keep that in mind. I need an update on how things are going.”

“Not as well as we had hoped but better then the first week. We are down half a Division to injuries and death. It is hard to tell due to the size of their army, but It seems as though they are about the same. We are better off due to the capture of their supplies so if we can end this soon it will be better. If they manage to get resupplied it could be a while before it is over. We put a Division to work getting that tunnel to the crater finished to resupply, but we can’t count on that happening soon enough to do any good. If all else fails we can use it to retreat.”

“No we can’t because I’m not going to retreat.”

“Yarianna, the possibility…”

“It doesn’t exist Le` Than. Would you abandon the crater? Would you tell your people that it was a nice thought, but you are going to have to leave a place that you’ve come to think of as your home?”

“You have only been here a few months.”

“I have been here my entire life.”

“I’m not going to hear any argument on this.”

“Good. That means you are dropping the idea of retreat. We did it last time. It is their turn.”

“Yari…”

I looked him in the eye and let my eyes go to slits, “Do not ‘Yari’ me Le` Than. I would happily give my life to ensure that my people are safe. Would you do the same?”

He was silent for a few moments. I could feel his other side fighting to get out and fight but I refused to break eye contact. Finally he said in a very controlled voice, “Fine. We stay and fight no matter what. Now can you please look away.”

I held his eyes for a moment longer then looked at Skyler, “I need a Wing of the most powerful channelers. If I’m not going to be able to stop this battle today then I will give them something to think about.”

Skyler smiled, “Any chance your going to tell me that something?”

“Nope. The best way to make sure that a plan like this works is to do it all at once and not tell anybody what is going on so that nothing can be betrayed even by accident.”

“I don’t think I want to know what you are planning because it will probably get you killed.”

“Most likely. I’m going to need them to meet me in three hours and be ready with an Energy Channel to me.”

“Ja` Lynn and I will be in your Quad.”

“Of course. Now go or you won’t be ready in time.”

He left and Le` Than looked at me, “Just what are you planning this time, heir of mine?”

“We will shortly be receiving a visit from an emperor. It is my intention to give him an offer he can’t refuse and since one of his heirs is currently in our prison win or lose today we shall still win in the long run.”

“Your not planning on assassinating the emperor are you?”

“Not if he does what we want him to.”

“It won’t work. He tends to reward threats with death you know.”

“That is exactly what I am counting on.”

“So you want him to kill you?”

“You have to admit that it would make everything so much easier.”

“I have a sudden dislike of this plan of yours.”

“That is why it is my plan and not yours.”

One of my messengers ran in, “Lady Yarianna, The Emperor had been spotted. He should be in their camp within the hour.”

“Very good. Go get something to eat then tell the nurse Anna Marie to get a bed ready for me. If things go the way I think they will I may need it in a hurry.”

He saluted me then ran off. Le` Than asked, “How did you know the Emperor would be here?”

“I had a conversation with one of the generals we have in prison. I have some things to prepare but before I do I need you to pull all of our warriors back into the cavern except those that go with me. If you see Skyler and Ja` Lynn come in without me seal off the cavern until I return. If I don’t return then it would be a good idea to withdraw to the crater because the Empire will be rather upset with our clans.”

“Again I am going to express my dislike of this plan.”

“Again that is why it is my plan and not yours. Are you going to do it or not?”

“I’ll do it. I will also be expecting to name a new Heir before this is done. It seems as though my current one is going to do her best to get killed.”

“Bah, Ja` Lynn is next in line after me. There, now everything is settled. I have some things to prepare.”

I left the tent and made my way to the vents at the top of my city. From there I could see the other army rather clearly. I watched as our warriors made their way into the cavern. Skyler and Ja` Lynn joined me a short time later. Skyler looked at me, “You look like your planning on doing something really stupid.”

“That’s because I am. Everything ready?”

“Yeah. We are waiting on your word. Can you tell me why you had everybody else return to the cavern?”

“That depends. Will you swear on your blades that you will follow my orders without question or hesitation no matter what they are or the situation we are in?”

“Is it going to be that bad?”

“I am going to require the same oath of every member of the Wing.”

I am fairly certain he used every swear word in both languages. He looked at me like he was going to try and talk me out of it so I held up a finger to stop him. I turned to face him directly. He finally stopped swearing and said, “I don’t like or agree with this plan of yours. You are putting yourself at too much risk.”

“Before you say what I know you want to, don’t. I have to do this.”

“Yarianna I…”

“Skyler. Sk` Yler. I love you, but if you cannot agree to this then I do not want you there.”

There was a long moment of silence before he sighed, “I don’t like it, but I will do as you say. I swear it on my blades.”

“Thank you. Now, I need you to go to Valora and tell her that I need her memory stone and hers only.”

“First tell me why you had everybody return to the cavern.”

“I am going to turn myself over to the justice of the Emperor. If he decides to kill me I will be holding enough energy to vaporize anything within a ten mile radius.”

He swore again but left to do as I asked. While I waited I sat down and meditated, gathering as much personal energy as I could. Skyler returned and I stood up. He handed me the stone. I looked at him and Ja` Lynn. “Ready?”

They answered in unison, “No.”

“Good. Lets go.”

We flew to the mid-point between the two camps and I sent my Wing the thought, “Begin the Energy Channel and all but my Quad return to the cavern. Continue to hold the Energy Channel until you are released.”

My Quad and I continued on and we were met in the air by a Patrol of Imperial Elites. The Sergeant sent the thought, “We are here to bring you to Imperial Justice. Fight and you will die.”

I felt the Energy Channel mix with my own energy and sent back, “I have come to settle a Blood Feud with the Emperor. Allow the remainder of my Quad to return or be held accountable.”

The Sergeant nodded, “So shall it be done. They may return.”

I nodded to my Quad, “Return directly to the cavern and wait for my return. If I do not return then follow Le` Than as you did me.”

They saluted and very reluctantly started back to the cavern. I looked at the Sergeant, “If you would escort me as I do not know the way.”

They formed ranks around me and flew me through the camp to the Emperor’s tent. We landed and the Sergeant went in. A short while later he walked back out and said, “Bring her in.”

We walked into the tent and I saw the Emperor for the first time. He looked a few years older the me, but his eyes said that he was at least as old as Le` Than. The Sergeant acted as herald and said, “Emperor, this is Lady Yarianna Nicole Sorenson Sa` Tain, Heir of Le` Than Sa` Tain who is the Clan Head of Clan Sa` Tain of the Rebel Kier. Lady Sa` Tain, this is Emperor Kh` Oman of the Imperial Kier, Protector of the Steward of the Solstice Province, Queen Valora Sorenson, first cousin of General Le` Sean Kh` Oman, both of whom Le` Than murdered, and third cousin of Lieutenant Ra` Yler Kh` Oman, who you murdered. Lady Sa` Tain has stated that she is here to settle a Blood Feud with Emperor Kh` Oman. You may state your case Lady Sa` Tain.”

I looked up at the Emperor and around at the Kier surrounding me and shook my head, “This is all just a show to you isn’t it? None of you particularly care if I can prove innocence, self defense, or guilt. You have already made up your minds that either way you are going to execute me. Is this a reasonable assumption?”

The Emperor smiled, “Yes. This is a reasonable assumption. I would still like to hear what you have to say though. You never know, I might find it in my heart to be understanding.”

“That smirk on your face and gleam in your eye give lie to your words, Emperor Kh` Oman. Since you are going to insist on continuing this pretense of a trial then I will go ahead and present my defense. First, I have proof that, not only is Le` Than innocent of Queen Valora’s murder, he was also acting in defense his wife, who General Kh` Oman had threatened, then caused physical harm to and coerced the signing of a treaty by threatening the death of Valora and her unborn child.”

“What proof do you have? Valora’s word? Le` Than’s? To produce either could be contested. In our records Valora is dead and Le` Than is a murderer who would lie to cover his transgressions.”

“Both and neither. I have Queen Valora’s Memory Stone.”

I saw a flash of surprise in the Emperor’s eyes. The Emperor looked at the Sergeant, “Bring in the Wizard. He will be able to verify the truth of the Stone.” The Sergeant left and the Emperor looked at me, “If you do truly hold her Memory Stone look into it and tell me what I was wearing in my left ear the first time we were introduced.”

“I will wait for the Wizard to verify it. I do not trust you enough to leave myself that vulnerable.”

“While we are waiting for the Wizard I would like to hear your reasoning for the murder of Lieutenant Kh` Oman.”

“He attempted to assassinate me and killed my guard instead, who was a personal friend and one of the contenders to Heir of Clan Sa` Tain. This was after demanding entrance to privately owned land five miles beyond the border of the Empire in the Eastern Waste. I told him that we were a peaceful settlement and he was no longer welcome to which he replied, and I quote, ‘Peaceful? I’ll show you peaceful.’ After saying those words he fired a shot from a hand crossbow, killing my guard who had shoved me to the ground to protect me.”

“Do you have proof of this as well?”

“My own Memory Stone is the best proof that I have, but I will not let you view it at your leisure due to secrets that are not mine to tell. I also have the word of the General who was Lieutenant Kh` Oman’s commanding officer. Said General is currently imprisoned within my city.”

“So what you have are witnesses you won’t produce to a crime you admitted to committing. How convenient.”

I heard a voice in the back of the tent say, “Emperor, I am a witness to that event. I was the one she handed Lieutenant Kh` Oman’s head to.”

“Step forward and be seen.”

The Private stepped forward. It took me a little bit to recognize him in the uniform of an Elite Guard. He bowed before the Emperor and said, “It is as she described. After shooting the guard Lieutenant demanded the surrender of the city, using the dead guard as an example of what could happen to the rest of them. She stood up and revealed her true nature as she punched her fingers through the Lieutenant’s throat, gripped his spine, and ripped off his head. She then handed the head to me and stated that the Lieutenant had declared war and that our Division would share the Lieutenant’s fate if we did not get off her doorstep, as she put it.”

“I see. Your testimony is noted Private, you are dismissed.”

The Private bowed again and left. The Sergeant walked in leading a man that looked exactly like Valora’s Court Wizard from the Memory Stone. The Wizard bowed before the Emperor, “You sent for me?”

“Yes. This girl claims to have Queen Valora’s Memory Stone. A stone which you said was lost beyond recovery when you came into my service. Tell me, Wizard. Is the girl lying?”

The man looked at me, “For the girl to have that stone she would have to be Valora’s blood descendant. How could she be if Valora died in her throne room?”

“How indeed. You have the power to display the images stored on a Memory Stone do you not?”

“I do.”

“Then Display for me the contents of that stone beginning with General Kh` Oman entering the city before the signing of the treaty.”

The Wizard took the stone and said a few words in a language I had never heard. The stone started to glow then began displaying the images. We had to watch as General Kh` Oman marched through the city, killing anybody that got within ten feet of the street. He walked into the throne room, dragging the Queen’s double in by her hair. We watched as the double was stripped, using a whip to remove any clothing, then raped by the General and his men. Afterward the General slit her throat then walked up to the Queen. He handed her the treaty and said that he would love to do the same to her. He only option was to sign the treaty and be under the Emperor’s protection. We watched as Le` Than entered and killed the General then left with the pendant. We watched the Queen’s escape and eventual death in child birth.

It was quiet in the tent when the stone finally stopped glowing. I took the stone back and put it away. The Emperor looked at me, “It seems as though you were telling the truth after all. It is too bad that it is a crime for you to exist in the Empire. Guards, finish her off.”

“I wouldn’t. The consequences would not be pleasant.”

“Why not?”

“I am currently holding an Energy Channel linked to a Wing of the most powerful Kier in my city. Can your people kill me faster then thought? If you try to kill me, I will vaporize everything within a ten mile radius. My city is shielded and just incase that doesn’t hold, the only beings within range are your Generals and son, whom I have imprisoned. One way or another, Emperor Kh` Oman, our Blood Feud with you will end today.”

“You would sacrifice your life for this?”

“Yes.”

“Well, you have my attention. What do you propose?”

“First, that you release the Kingdom of Solstice from the treaty the Queen was forced to sign and restore the monarchy to the proper bloodline. Second that you recognize the Eastern Waste as being the territory of the Kier and not part of the Empire. Third that you repel the law forbidding Kier to exist as you are in obvious violation of your own law. Fourth that you grant safe passage to all Kier who wish to enter Kier territory and grant immunity to all Kier in the Empire who bear the Clan Markings of the Kier from Kier territory. Fifth that you declare the Blood Feud over and release me to return without any harm to my city.”

“Are those the terms of your surrender?”

“No. Those are the terms of your survival.”

“You have a Wing of Energy at your disposal, yet I have Divisions at mine. What makes you so sure that I just counter your blast?”

“By the time you react to counter it you will already be dead. I have been bleeding the energy into everything within the ten miles throughout this entire pretense of a trial. Sense it for yourself if you wish. All it needs now is for me to trigger it.”

The Emperor looked me in the eyes then said, “She’s bluffing. Kill her.”

Blades flashed out and descended toward me. I triggered the explosion then released the Energy Channel so that my city could completely seal.

I felt a weight slam into me a moment before the blades would have decapitated me. The sensation that followed was the most unpleasant feeling I had ever felt. It was as if I had been turned inside out, sucked through the eye of a very small needle, then reassembled on the other side. I was then slammed onto the ground and pummeled by rocks half the size of my head. It was only due to the shield of whoever it was that had tackled me that none of them did more then cut my skin. Even still, a thousand paper cuts is not a pleasant feeling.

Half an eternity later the rocks finally stopped and I was greeted by the Wizard’s voice, “You fool of an idiot child. What, in the name of Kier, possessed you to do something so slack-witted?”

“Um, Why am I not dead?”

“The Order of Saleen protects it’s own, child.”

The Wizard let me up then pulled up his sleeve and showed me the mark that was on the front of my book was glowing slightly on his arm. I knew that the only reason I could see it was because I was also in the Order.

“You still haven’t answered my question. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking about protecting my people.”

“There are better ways to go about it, child.”

“Name one, and quit bloody calling me child.”

“I will bloody call you child all I want, Yarianna. I am you father.”