Chapter 5

Northern Duenin - Lady of the Vale Orphanage

“It’s been two days.”

“I know, but she will wake up.”

“But what if she doesn’t”“That’s not an option.”Hemi said as he stared down at Sterling, “She has to wake up.”

Hemi rubbed the pendant through the moneybag. He could still feel the heat it gave off through the thick leather he knew as long as it gave off heat, Sterling still had a chance.

“Forgive me.”He said under his breath.

“What was that?”Mother Anwell asked from the other side of Sterling’s bed.

“What? Oh nothing,” he denied.

“Why don’t you go home?”Anwell was worried about Hemi. His color had not been the same since he had seen Sterling lying in the infirmary. “The sisters and I will watch over her while you rest.”

“No, I can’t leave her side.”He sat back in the chair that had been his spot since the day Sterling had been struck by lightning. “I’ve already failed him once, I won’t do it again.”

“Him? What are you talking about?”Anwell asked in confusion at Hemi’s comment

Hemi stared into Sterling’s face and saw the hint of her father’s chin as well as the golden color of her skin. He saw her mother as well; her eyes and the color of her hair were identical to Vash’Te’s.

He had given his heart to Vash’Te when Khort had first introduced them. But his friend had been in love so he had kept silent.

Perhaps raising Sterling was his way of loving Vash’Te. He remembered what the old woman, Finde’Lima, had told him, that he would show his love for her by raising her child. He had done his best, but now here she lay still as death.

A lock of her hair had fallen down over her forehead and as he went to push it back he noticed her eyes. He thought at first he had imagined it, so he leaned in and watched her eyes. It was subtle a first, but then they started twitching spastically as if she was in the middle of a dream and she was running for her life.

* * *

Sterling stood in the center of the storm ravaged valley that haunted her nightmares. The rain was whipped around by the wind and the tiny drops stung as they pelted her face. She turned in a circle and all around her the land was covered by water, all except the tiny mound of land she now stood. Off in the distance was the burned shell of the tree and the stones that lay crumbling in a circle.

Lighting lit the sky and sparks shot into the air as they hit the tree repeatedly.

Sterling covered her eyes a brilliant light flashed brighter than the other flashes. When she took her hand away she could see a man standing within the stone circle. His outline was blurred by the rain that ran into her eyes. She rubbed her eyes dry and saw that his lips were moving.

At first she could not hear him, but his words carried over the roaring of the rain. They repeated in her mind until they were a staccato that she repeated over and over…They are coming, they are coming…

“Look Anwell, she is waking.”Hemi was excited to see Sterling opening and closing her fists. Anwell seemed just as excited as Hemi. They were both leaning over her when suddenly her eyes flew open. She turned her head and looked at Hemi with a distant look, “They are coming.”She said.

Hemi and Anwell looked at each other in confusion.

“Excuse me, Mother Anwell.”

They both jumped at the intrusion, “Yes?”Anwell looked up to find Sister Treva standing in the doorway. Her face was pale and her eyes wide, “What’s the matter?”

“There is a solider here from the Severon. He said he wants to see the girl that was hit by lightning.”

Hemi’s head came up at the mention of the Church’s fanatical army. “What are the Severon doing here?”

“I’m not sure but he knew Sterling was here and that she had been hit by lightning.”

“How are you feeling?”Hemi asked as he helped Sterling to sit up.

“A little stiff.”

“Do you remember anything?”

“Are you kidding? How could I forget?”

“Sterling, we must hurry, the Severon are here.”

“What?”Sterling stood and stretched the kinks out of her back. A tingle of a memory etched away at the back of her mind of a man pointing at something behind her.

“He cannot find her here. Treva, they will need food.”Mother Anwell’s voice intruded into her thoughts.

“Yes, Mother.”Treva left the room at a fast pace.

Anwell opened a cabinet and pulled out a set of clothes, “Here, dress quickly. I will hold them as long as I can.”

Hemi looked angrily up at Anwell, “Who told?”

Anwell paused on her way to the door, “Hemi, surely you do not think that neither I nor one of the Sisters sent word to the Severon. You know that we do not subscribe to the Stratum’s beliefs.”

“The Severon are the Stratum’s own personal army.”Hemi growled at Anwell. When he saw the hurt in her eyes he apologized, “I’m sorry.”Hemi was contrite, but only for a moment, “I hope it was not one of the Sisters, but if I find out who it is they will pay for this.”

“I understand.”She replied as she continued on her way.

“How is Bridget?”Sterling asked as Treva packed the food into two bags.

“She is fine, she has checked on you every day.”

“We’ve not time for chitchat.”She could hear Hemi’s impatience in his voice.

“Where are we going?”

“Away from here.”

“Sterling?” A little voice sounded in the doorway.

Everyone turned to find little Bridgett standing in the door way. She ran over to Sterling and wrapped her tiny arms around her legs. “Don’t leave me Sterling.”

Sterling stooped down and looked at the little girl. Her brown eyes were blurry with tears. “Don’t worry little one, I’ll be back.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”Sterling stood and looked at the bed and an idea came to her.

She bent back to the little girl, “Do you want to play a trick?”Bridgett’s eyes lit with excitement as her head bobbed up and down.

“What are you thinking?” Hemi asked Sterling.

“Come with me.” She took Bridgett’s hand and led her behind the screen. “We’re going to play a trick on someone. How would like to play the silent game?”

“Oh, I’m very good at that game.”

“Good, first you have to dress the part.” Sterling pulled off her night gown and put it over Bridgett’s head

“They are here for you, child, you must hurry.” Sister Treva’s strained voice reached them behind the screen.

“Just a second.”Hemi heard Sterling’s muffled voice. He looked to Treva and the sister shrugged. Then little Bridget emerged from behind the screen wearing the night shirt that had been Sterling’s. Sterling followed behind dressed in her customary pants and shirt. She was tying the leather vest as she led Bridgett over to the bed. She lifted the little girl and placed her on the side of the bed. “Now, you must be as quite as a little mouse and as still as a pebble. Do you think you can do it?”

“Yep.”Bridgett answered excitedly. She lay back in the bed, her eyes closed and her arms down by her side.

“Mother Anwell cannot hold them forever you need to leave now. You can go out the back way.”

Sterling kissed Bridgett on the forehead, “Who would have told them?”She turned to leave and nearly knocked Gweneth over.

“I told them.”The hate that showed in her eyes surprised Sterling.

“You foolish girl!”Sister Treva scolded Gweneth.

“She is a witch and should be dealt with as such.”

“I am no witch!”Sterling said as she advanced on the girl.

“We don’t have time for this,” Hemi pulled Sterling by the collar of her shirt; “We have to get you out of here.”

“Sister Nisa has your horses ready for you in the stables.”

“Thank you Treva, you and the Sisters have my gratitude.”Hemi said to her as they fled the orphanage.

Treva took hold of Gweneth’s arm and dragged her from the room, “You have a lot to answer for girl.”

Mother Anwell followed the soldier down the corridor, “Captain, the child was struck by lightning, it is a fact, but she is no witch.”

“I’ll make that determination myself.”Engrame turned to look at the head Mother. He pushed the door open and saw the figure lying in the bed; she was much smaller than the girl, Gweneth, had said. He stood over the child and saw that she was asleep; her skin was pale like she had been sick for some time.

Anwell hid her surprise at seeing Bridgett where Sterling should have been. “You see Captain, she is but a child, only six summers, and she knows nothing of witchery. Her parents were killed by lightning so it is truly a miracle that she survived. Even Stratum Lynch would agree that Karuk is merciful to let the girl live.”

“Perhaps.”Engrame turned to face Mother Anwell, “Where is the girl Gweneth?”

* * *

“We don’t have much time before they discover the truth.”

“I can’t believe she ratted me out.”Sterling said as she jumped to the ground.

“Stop worrying about her and start worrying about getting out of here.”Hemi said as he threw saddle bags on the table. He returned with arm load of food. “You’ll have enough food for a week, but only if you ration.”

“You mean, last us a week?”

“I’m not going.”

“What?”Sterling stopped what she was doing to stare at her uncle. “What do you mean you’re not going? Of course you are.”

Hemi closed the bag and looked at Sterling. “There’s something you need to know about your parents.”He stepped around the table and took her by the shoulders. “Your father was not my brother. Not my blood brother at least, he was a Kai’Varian. I owed him my life.”

Sterling stared at Hemi in disbelief, “A Kai’Varian?”

“Your father was concerned for you safety so he asked me to take you as far from Kai’Vari as possible. He did not tell me much, only that Moraug wanted you, I know not why. I was his bakari slave, honor bound to follow him until I could fulfill my pledge. He forgave the debt when I took you from the forest.”

“Why are you just now telling me all this?”Sterling asked in utter disbelief.

“I- I thought it best for you. But I realize now that it was a mistake.”

“A mistake? You’re telling me that my parents are from a different country and that they told you take me away from them? Where are they now?”

Hemi looked Sterling in eye and told her the truth, “I told you the truth about your mother, she died just after the birth, but your father was killed by Moraug’s hands.”

“You told he died fighting in the wars, but never that he was Kai’Varian. Why have you not told me before now and why now?”

“I was afraid you would tell the other children. Dueninians are fearful of the Kai and they would have treated you wrongly if they’d known the truth. Your mother though is not of Kai blood, she was from Fin’Varrar.”

“Fin’Varrar? The island of the gods?”

“Yes, she married Khort after they met on a diplomatic trip to Mor’Vean. It’s where you get your eyes.”

Hemi released Sterling’s shoulders; she promptly sat down on the wood stool, her legs to weak to hold her. Her life had suddenly been turned upside down and she suddenly felt like a stranger in her own skin. She was a Kai’Varian. Hemi had told her stories of the mysterious people and she had longed to meet one of their great warriors to see if the stories were true, were they really ten feet tall? Surely they couldn’t be as tall as that if she were only five foot three; perhaps she took after her mother.

“Khort gave these to me when you were born.”Hemi came up from the cellar with a large bundle wrapped in a woolen blanket. He sat the bundle on the table and unwrapped the cargo. Hemi watched Sterling’s eyes lit up. “These were his swords, Riva and Seda. I promised him that I would train you to fight, to protect yourself and when the time was right I was to give you these swords.”

Sterling ran her fingers along the cold metal, “They’re beautiful.”

“Careful, they’re also extremely sharp.” Hemi warned as she ran her fingers along the edge.

“Why did you owe my father your life?”

Hemi knew they didn’t have much time, but he couldn’t deny her the truth. He sat across from her and told her of his misguided youth.

“I was a spoiled child from a wealthy merchant and I resented the fact that I had to live for four years in a forest filled with what I thought were witches and demons. At first I was the typical smart mouth know-it-all until I was put in my place by a Kai youth that was nearly half my age.”

"Are you saying that a boy got the best of you?”

Hemi laughed at the memory of being bested by a child, “He was eight. His name was Brom, Brom Dai’Geahn and he was the son of King Norden. He had more power in his little finger than I had in my entire body. Let’s just say I learned a little humility those first few years.

I learned my lesson that day, but for the next year I was teased by both the Kai as well as my own comrades. I became hateful towards the Kai, blaming them for my predicament, when I really should have been blaming myself. I was a loner, separated from everyone, I just wanted to serve my four years and return home to the comfort of my family’s estate.”

“You would have put a red streak across my butt if I’d acted like that.”

“I was…misguided. I was also a misfit, getting into trouble almost every day. I had no friends and the only thing that comforted me was my training. It was a miracle that I lived to see the next day when we fought the demons that invaded the forest. It was on one such day when my life changed forever.

My unit was to join the Kai horsemen in a battle that had already lasted for three days. We were brought in to back them up just in case. We knew the Kai were exhausted from fighting so we knew it would not be long before they had to call us in to rescue them. We could hear the screams of both men and demons as they fought just on the other side a stand of trees. We waited for what seemed like hours in that clearing. I remember the sun speckled the ground through the thick trees; it seemed such a pleasant spot to relax. Although not a one of us was relaxed as we listened to the death all around us. We never got a chance to battle the demons that day. Most of my comrades were all too happy to return to the barracks without bloodying their swords, but I was disappointed.”

“You actually wanted to fight?”

“Fighting was the only thing I was good at. I had no friends so I spent my time training, but I had few occasions to actually put my training to the test. My unit was filing out of the clearing when the Kai came through the trees. They were bloodied from the battle, their swords were covered in the blackish blood, their arrows spent and their dead were draped over their horses. All I could do was sit on my horse and watch, as they filed past. I was envious that it was not I that had fought the demons. I sat there until the last of the Kai filed past, but I did not follow them. Instead I rode my horse through the trees, I wanted to see for myself what it was that I missed out on.”

Hemi couldn’t help but swallow the back the bile that threatened to erupt from his stomach. The memory of that scene still haunted him to this day.

He came to a stop as he surveyed the battlefield in which the Kai had just departed. Bodies of the defeated demons were strewn across the ground like dead leaves in the fall. He urged his reluctant horse on to the field, Cadao balked at having to walk upon the bloodied ground, but Hemi got his horse under control and they advanced into the fray.

Hemi stared at the ground as he rode across the field, his stomach churning at the sight that lay before him. The black eyes of the severed heads stared up at him as if they watched his progress among their fallen. A chill ran down his spine and he decided that he had seen enough of death that day.

He turned Cadao back towards where he had emerged from the safety of the trees. He tried to keep his eyes focused forward, but they continued to stray to the ground and he had to force them back to his destination. It was one such occasion that a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned and saw a Kai horseman charging towards him, his sword drawn. Hemi was so surprised by the attack that he fumbled for his sword where he would have normally been very agile. He was finally able to pull his sword from it sheath just as the Kai horseman launched himself at Hemi. He prepared himself for the impact and was surprised when he hurtled over his head. Hemi saw the events take place around him as if they occurred in slow motion. The Kai’s body was laid out flat in the air, his sword out in front of him. As he came down on the other side of Hemi, his sword entered the throat of a demon that had been standing behind Hemi. The honed steal of the Kai’s sword sliced through the flesh of the demon as if it were soft butter.

The Kai turned to Hemi and said, “You should not be here. Go, join your unit and speak nothing of this.”

The Kai’s words brought Hemi out of his stupor. Realization that his wish of death could have just been fulfilled caused his heart to start beating so hard he thought it would burst from his chest. His breath left him and he found it hard to breath.

“Leave now.” The Kai repeated his words for Hemi to remove himself from the battlefield.

“He will go nowhere.” A second voice reached Hemi’s ears just as his heart decided to return to a normal pace. He turned to find five Kai warriors standing along the tree line.

The Kai that had just saved his life turned to his fellow country and bowed, “Leader Kesho.”

Hemi had never met Kesho, but had heard a great deal about the man. One of those being that he was very strict when it came to following tradition.

“Khort Rin’Ovana, it has been witnessed by myself, Vicote Kesho, Clan Leader of Clan Del’Ove, along with other council members that you saved a life outside the bounds of the battlefield.”He then turned his eyes up to Hemi, “This man owes you his life until his debt has been paid. Dueninian you will dismount and give your life over as slave to Khort Rin’Ovana until such time you have repaid your debt.”

It took a moment for Hemi to understand what was being said to him. When the full realization hit home he shook his head, “I…I mean, I…didn’t”

“Kesho, I have no need of this man’s life. He knows not of our traditions.”

“He fights in the Sandori therefore he must follow the traditions and the strictures of our people. If he is foolish enough to let his guard down, then he must pay for the debt he owes you in saving his life.”

Hemi watched as Kesho turned to his fellow councilmen and said, “Remove him from his horse.”

Before Hemi could react he was being pulled from atop his horse and forced to kneel in front of Khort. The blood soaked ground sucked at his legs, the smell of the demons threatened to gag him. The next thing he knew a sword point was pressing into the back of his neck. A face appeared next to his, “You will perform the bakari and pledge your life to Khort Rin’Ovana for the debt of saving your life.”

“What is the meaning of this? Let that solider up!” Hemi praised all the gods when heard his commander’s voice. He raised his head up, which caused the tip of the sword to cut into the skin on the back of his neck. He quickly returned his head to its lowered position.

“This man owes a debt to Khort for his life.”

“We do not follow your traditions.” His commander argued.

“Commander, King Hywell has agreed that while his troops are within the boundaries of Kai’Vari they will obey our laws. Do you not agree?”

Hemi hoped that his commander would continue to disagree, but instead he took a step back and bowed to Kesho. “Hemi, your duties to your country are no longer needed.”

Hemi’s heart hurt as his commander turned and left the battlefield.

“They forced me to give a bakari,”

“What’s a bakari?”The word rolled off her tongue with ease as she asked her question.

“It translates to noble pledge. I was forced to pledge my life to Khort. I was essentially his slave. I was miserable and at every chance I got I tried to end my life. But Khort was just as determined to not let me. I was fortunate in that he was not interested in having a slave.”

“He freed you?”

“No, I was bound to him until such time that I saved his life off the battlefield. You see normally a slave is lower than all others are, but Khort treated me as a friend. Eventually we became like brothers. We trained together and fought side by side on the battlefield. In everything we went through I never got the chance, not even once, did I get the opportunity to save his life. I thought for the sure I would die of old age before my debt would be paid. But then you came along.

Sterling could hear the emotion in Hemi’s voice as he recalled his memories of her father. “You loved him, as a brother.”

“You’ve no idea; he saved my life that day, not just from the demon, but from myself.”

They were both startled when they heard the sound of hoof beats approaching the farm. Hemi peaked out the window, “It is Treva.”

He opened the door and walked outside to greet the Sister.

“They know where you live, Gweneth escaped and found them. The Captain left to get more men. You need to leave here now.”

“Damn.”

“We both need to leave.”

“No, I have to stay here, to hold them off as long as possible.”He pulled Sterling inside and sat her down, “Now listen to me carefully. You ride like the devil is on your heels, do you understand.”He waited for her to nod. “Ride south for Kai’Vari. Go to Bac’Ku and find Maeve Dai’Geahn, she will protect you.”

“How will I know who she is?”

“She is the queen of Kai’Vari. You find her and ask for sanctuary. I’ve trained you to fight like any good warrior, but you need to be careful and keep your temper under control. Do you understand?”

Sterling nodded, she couldn’t speak because of the tears the clogged her throat. She couldn’t help the tear that slipped past her lashes.

“Don’t cry love, crying won’t help anything.”Hemi pulled her into a deep hug, “You are so much stronger than you think.”

Hemi pulled away from Sterling and removed the money pouch he’d worn everyday of her life. She rarely saw him without it.

“Your mother gave this to me; she said it was precious to her and that I should give it to you when the time was right. I had no idea when that would be until now.”

He poured the contents of the pouch onto the table a few coins rolled around, the rest lay in a heap on the table. He pushed the coins aside to reveal a tarnished pendant.It was large for a pendant; it was the same size as Hemi’s large palm. All the stones were missing, save one. He rubbed his thumb around the rough edges of the prongs that no longer held their cargo.

She took it from him when he held it out to her.Sterling was amazed by the detail that reflected in the soft light. The stones were held by a lace work of metal that form an intricate design.She studied the work, but could not determine what the pattern represented.All the stones were missing save a white stone, which was as white as the new fallen snow and was still held in place by the tarnished gold prongs. It was on the right of the pendant separated from the other five stones on its own intricate island of lace work while the other prongs were placed in random spots on the larger piece.

Sterling examined the white stone more closely and found that when she twisted the pendant the white stone had flecks of green, pink, and blue within its depths. She wondered what the other stones had been like.

“It is beautiful.”

“Here,” Hemi had pulled the leather string from his pouch and held his hand out for the pendant. He threaded the string through the pendant and then tied it around Sterling’s neck.

It fell between her breasts, just inside the collar of her shirt. When it touched her skin she could feel the warmth the pendant gave off. It felt right for her to be wearing her mother’s pendant, as if it was made for her to wear.

“You can waste no more time.”Treva urged them.

“Treva is right; you need to get out alive. There’s no more time for goodbyes. You listen, you run for your life, don’t put your life in anyone else’s hands, but your own. Stay to the shadows and don’t bring attention to yourself.”

Sterling nodded at his instructions as they made their way towards the stables. He bypassed the mares and went straight for Ottimo’s stall. He was Hemi’s prized stallion that was the son of his Kai’Varian war horse. He had more spirit than any of the much smaller stallions that were breed in Duenin.

“He’s strong and will get you to Kai’Vari faster than your mare.”Hemi said as he left to saddle Ottimo.

Treva took Sterling by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes, “Sterling, there is something I must tell you.”Treva’s words had an urgency that concerned Sterling.

“Here we are.”Hemi interrupted before Treva could tell her what it was

“What is it Treva?” Sterling asked.

Treva’s eyes flicked to Hemi, “It’s nothing.”She responded, “Here child, wear this, it has served me for many years and will serve you now.” Treva removed her long cloak and wrapped it around Sterling. “It will remind you of better times when everything seems to be falling apart around you.”

Sterling was confused by Treva’s ominous words but was distracted when Hemi handed her the swords. He showed her how the weapons were worn, across her back with hilts in the perfect position to easily draw.

“Up you go.”He offered her his hand.

Sterling guided Ottimo out of the stables once outside she looked down at Hemi. “Thank you. Thank you for taking care of me, you’ve been like a father to me.”

“It was a pleasure, now get.”

She nodded and was about to say something else when the thunder of hooves could be heard approaching the farm.

Sterling raced towards the forest to the south. She’d use the forest as cover until she reached the road to Mor’Vean.

Engrame cursed as he watched the girl disappear in to the forest. “Follow her, bring her back to me.”He ordered Phayao and Benji. The rest of you come with me.”

Phayao and Benji split off from the group and followed the girl into the woods.

Engrame pulled up in front of the farm where the Sister and the girl’s uncle waited. Her uncle stood with a strange looking sword gripped in his hand. The Sister stood back her hands folded as if in prayer. “Your prayers will not help you now Sister, you have helped a witch and therefore sentenced yourself to death.”To Hemi he said, “Tell us where she is.”

“I’ll not tell the likes of you anything.

Sterling watched from the cover of the woods as the Severon soldiers attacked. She bit back a scream of anguish as Hemi fought back, but there were too many of them. He took down two, but there were two more waiting to take their place. Tears blurred her eyes, but not before she recognized their leader. He was the same soldier she had met on the road to Shee. The two that followed her were getting too close for comfort so she turned Ottimo and urged him into a fast gallop. His larger gate would keep the Severon from catching up with her, but had to go slow because of the thick forest. Once she made it to the open road she spurred Ottimo and gave him his head. She ducked down behind his neck and let the tears come freely.

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“You are the best tracker in the army, what do you mean you don’t know.”

Phayao looked at his commander and was at a loss for words, “We lost her in the woods” he threw his hands up in the air, “once she made it to the road she just disappeared.”

“There were two of you and only one of her, how could you have lost her?”

“Her horse, it was the fastest thing on four legs I’ve ever seen.”

“His Holiness will not be pleased if we lose another one.” Engrame turned to Benji and said, “Ride to the tower and send a bird to New Alden and tell them,” He paused to think of the right words, “Tell them Sterling Rhe’Sida and her uncle attacked a soldier of the Severon. Tell them the she was last seen heading towards Mor’Vean. Then send another bird to Shee to alert the Bishop of Elos of their approach.”

Benji clicked his heals and bowed. He mounted and rode down the hill.

“What if Stratum Lynch discovers we lost her?”

Engrame studied his tracker, “He won’t find out, because no one here will tell him.” He looked at each one of his soldiers in turn, “Is that understood?”

When they all agreed he said, “Mount up, we ride to Mor’Vean.”

“But sir we cannot be certain that is where she is headed.”

“No we cannot, but we can only assume she intends to get lost in the crowds.”

“Giddup!” Engrame yelled as he spurred horse down the hill, the other soldiers followed behind. He’d be damned if he let this one get away. The Stratum had threatened demotion if he lost another suspect witch. He gritted his teeth at the thought of being demoted because of a witch.