Chapter 11 Ro
Ro
“Come on, hit me. You know you want to,” I taunted Rav as we circled each other in the fighting arena. Well, less of an arena, more so a spot where grass had died that we used for training exercises.
Every time we’d spar, I’d end up flat on my ass with bruises for a week. Still, it didn’t prevent me from getting in on the action. I’d rather learn from the best and lose than waste my time with anyone else.
“Don’t overlap your feet,” he repeated for the ninetieth time.
“Oh, you mean like this?” I criss-crossed my feet back and forth in rapid succession, essentially dancing in place.
Mistake.
Rav charged, smacking my cheek with his elbow, and sent a roundhouse kick directly to my ass.
With a tangled stance, there was no hope of recovery as I flew forward, soaring through the air like a boulder launched from a catapult.
Landing with a harsh thud, I lay prone on the ground, palms digging into the dusty soil.
“I warned you.” He never hesitated to rub it in.
Still, I accepted his outstretched hand and rose to my feet, despite my screaming knees.
He’d been going easy on me, and I knew it was because he was still mad for what happened in Hava City.
The pain felt like triumph, knowing he’d gotten a little bit of it out of his system.
I would have preferred he’d yelled at me instead of this weird refrain.
Like defeat was beginning to best him because of how bleak things had started to seem.
So coaxing him into sparring had been my last resort.
We cleared the ring, letting the next pair take up their fighting positions.
Radhak and Rav had ensured that all active bodies on patrol duty trained several days a week.
After all, a guard that can’t stop an intruder is useless.
I tried to hide the hobble from my torn up knees as I asked, “So, what’s going on with you?
And don’t tell me ‘nothing’. I can read you. ”
“If you can read me, then why don’t you know?”
I smacked his bicep, the slap stinging the back of my hand, and he smiled, the closest thing to a laugh I’d get. We continued our leisurely stroll back to camp.
“I don’t know.” He sighed. “I don’t know how to prepare for a threat I can’t see coming. Sure, things are fine for now, but with Argora Vale’s curse, and an odd lack of information from Windguard, I feel like problems are closing in around us.”
“Rav, you’re a lifeline to everyone here, but no one expects you to take on every threat single-handedly. Don’t put that on yourself. Besides, if your wind won’t stop them, my arrows will. Problem solved.” I clapped my hand on his shoulder, extending my arm upward to reach.
He offered a pathetic attempt at a laugh, mostly just air rushing out of his nose. There would be nothing I could say or offer to soothe his mounting worries. They were valid. Maybe I’d been in denial about the severity of everything, since we’d been so well isolated and secure for years.
A little blue blur raced to me and perched on my shoulder.
“Hey you. What have you been up to?” Braxius wasn’t allowed in the training arena—my rule. Also Windguard, hence why I’d left him behind. Since Mira had been at camp, he had no issues racing off to spend time with her, anyway.
“I helped roast some meat! My flame got pretty big. Impressively big.” The little lizard preened.
I chuckled. “I’m sure it was.”
Mira came into view as Rav and I parted ways, and I asked, “Will you be making the trek with the first settlers? I’m sure Dante told you about the town in Highcrest.”
She rested her hands on her hips, gazing around the ramshackle tents of the group she’d brought down. “I’d rather continue gathering evacuees in Argora Vale, but Dante wants me settled somewhere safe. Overprotective beast,” she teased.
“Ask her why,” Braxius nudged his snout into my neck.
“Why?”
The same moment she brought her gaze back to mine, her hands sat atop her belly.
My jaw dropped. “You’re pregnant?!” I kept my voice low.
She nodded, her smile as bright as the sun. “Mhm. I never thought I could have a life in general thanks to that blessing, let alone a family.” She shook her head in disbelief, her curls jostling gently as her eyes glossed over.
Braxius flew from my shoulder to hers, spinning in circles and nuzzling against her cheek while getting tangled in her mess of red hair.
“Oh, that’s why you’ve been excited to be around her. I thought you were getting yourself a new best friend,” I said to Braxius.
“She just smells like love and life, more than you. I like it.” He licked her cheek, his tail wagging, wings fluttering.
“Not many people know, but I know Dante won’t mind me having told you. He owes you a life debt, by the way.”
“Me? Why?” I hadn’t said or done anything in that meeting to warrant such a thing. Maybe she meant Nora, for finding a place for their people to go.
“Because you saved us from the ogres. Now, of course, he won’t let me out of his sight. Without you to save the day, things could have ended badly. I owe you as well.”
“Technically, you owe Evenita. She’s the one who told me there was trouble.” I shrugged, trying to brush off the praise.
“Yes, we owe Evenita an endless amount already. But it wasn’t her arrows who stopped them in their tracks.”
I scratched at the back of my neck. “Don’t mention it.”
Mira bounced on the balls of her feet. “Too late, already did. Life debt owed. Goodbye, Ro!” She trotted off, not letting me resist further. Braxius remained in the air, watching the red-haired beauty leave before returning to me, albeit reluctantly.
Tio’s swagger was more grand than usual at the campfire as he engaged the children in an evening time story. He wore a woven blanket over his head and shoulders, hunching like some old crone. Being from Windguard, this was often the topic.
“At the dawn of Myelle, when the world was new, the Gods looked down upon their creation, and found it lacking. Neri, the God of Water, said, ‘Eww, there’s too much diiirt, and it’s so brooown.
I know! I’ll paint it blue.’” His ridiculous impersonation of the famed God lacked all manner of reverence, but even I joined in on the laughter shaking the children at Tio’s antics.
“Then he poured water over half the world!” From somewhere behind his blanket shroud, he poured a small bowl of water over the fire. It hissed and sizzled, and the children’s mouths dropped in awe.
“The Twin Goddesses of Flora and Fauna, Hypiphany and Taia, said, ‘we agree with Neri! There’s too much brown.’” He scrunched up his nose and lips, resting a dramatic hand on his hip. Then he twirled around and used his magic to summon a prepared, uprooted flower from the ground.
“The showmanship,” I mutter, lips twisted in amusement.
He shot me a scrutinizing glare, but fought his own smile. The flower went next into the flames, and a few children ripped out some grass and tossed that in, following their theatrical leader.
“Brax!” Tio widened his stance and pointed to my shoulder. When the little creature didn’t stir, Tio remained frozen in position. “Brax,” he hissed. “That’s your cue.”
I bit my lips, knowing how stubborn Braxius could be. Instead of watching my best friend flounder with such a captivated audience, I reached over my shoulder and plucked the little dragon, holding out my hand while he remained nestled in my palm, curled up like a cat by the fire.
Tio sighed, his pointed finger slumping to the ground, but he quickly reanimated.
“Thus, Myelle became decorated in forest, flowers, and obstinate little creatures.” He muttered the ornery descriptor.
“Zyanna, the Goddess of the Sky, Dae, God of the Sun, and Galenna, Goddess of the Moon and wind continue to watch down over Myelle, making sure we have light, and rain, and a nice cool breeze in the summer.” With an insanely loud open-mouth inhale, Tio puffed his cheeks and waddled around the campfire, blowing in each child’s face.
Their laughter roared louder than the crackling fire.
Once he finished, he covered his mouth with a hushing finger and waited until the giggles subsided.
“And one God lives among us to this very day. At this very camp.” With wide eyes, he encouraged their questioning, rapt attention.
“Oh, gods.” I knew what was coming before he said it.
He threw off the woven blanket and tossed his arms wide. “Tio! God of Storytelling!”
The air swelled with cheers and jeers from the half-dozen children gathered. A few adults who hovered by their children couldn’t contain their smiles, even if they rolled their eyes and shook their heads.
“Alright kids, say thank you and goodnight to Auntie Tio,” I announced before the angered gods split the ground from the blasphemy.
Plus, the rest of the gods history became dark and disturbed, definitely not suitable for children.
Whether I believed in the legends, they were the explained source for the magic Myelle had been blessed with.
Legend said each God left remnants of their magic behind.
The curse of Argora Vale was said among Windguardians to be the work of Thanna, Goddess of Death, summoned by a king’s mutineering first counselor, Razael.
Other theories were about the combination of magics he used, and his corrupted heart.
“Goodnight Auntie Tio!” the children shouted in unison and I snort-chuckled, covering my mouth with my hand.
Tio cackled, shaking his head at me, and bowed before making his way over to sit beside me on the now cleared log bench.
“You have a pleasant time with the queen’s sister?” I cocked an eyebrow and leaned into his shoulder.
He simply sighed with a smile. “Her name is Melody.”