Crimson Warrior Read online

  “Sorry…” I blinked several times. “I don’t even remember her. For a moment…my mind confused you two. I don’t know why.”

  The woman scoffed. “Do you want to fuck me or this mysterious woman you hardly remember?”

  “You, of course!” I kissed her hard. “I love you.”

  “Tell that to her, too?” My lover snapped, refusing to kiss me back.

  “San, I’m sorry. Really. It must be that seal you broke. I had that dream, and then this. Maybe some of those memories were behind there. For me to push that memory back there, it was probably unwilling.”

  My lover relaxed just a little. “Well…it’s entirely possible. Fine, I forgive you.”

  Our lips met again. This time I was the one to break away so I could attack her ears. As I nibbled and sucked at her ear lobes, she began to massage my breasts. Slowly, I made my way downward to her jawbone, then to linger along her collar bone, making my lover begin to breathe harder. Encouraged, I started to pinch at her tits.

  In revenge, Anshumali snaked one hand lower; stopping just before the waiting treasure chest. She made a little whimper as I dropped to lick one tit, then the other. Abruptly the image returned. Sanquility growled angrily and thrust three fingers into my hole. I gasped at the force of it, instantly reminded of Lyrea.

  “I’ll teach you to stop thinking of other women.” Sanquility’s voice was only half-teasing. I felt a wave of jealousy quickly rebuked with lust as she began moving inside of me while pinching my clit. San gripped the spell she’d set and intensified my pleasure ten-fold. I suddenly couldn’t think of anything but what she was doing.

  “Oh!” My nails ran along her back, leaving a red ghost trail. “More, San. Please, I need more.”

  There was a sudden knock at the door. Sanquility snarled angrily. “Who is it?” She demanded as I squirmed, so turned on I didn’t care if there was somebody on the other side.

  “Don’t stop.” I panted, kissing her desperately.

  Callie called “San, we have an issue. Fay needs to see you right away."

  A flash of a cold, dead body twisted through my mind, making me gasp and recoil.

  "...Is Anna dead?"

  There was a stretch of silence. "Y-yes, somebody came here with a dead body. They're on their way to the temple, but they needed supplies."

  "Is Fay going to lead a ceremony?"

  "She wants you and San there, sweetie."

  "We'll be right out." I said sadly.

  She should be with her friend.

  "How did you know?" Sanquility asked in shock.

  "I just did, okay?" I snapped, trying to shake the unnerving vision that had killed the mood.

  San shook her head. "You weren't even in her head."

  "It just happened, okay?" I replied very quietly. We dressed hastily and went out immediately to be greeted by an array of auroras; human, plant, animal and – by Xian! I reached up to grasp at something swirling through the air, white with twists of pink.

  "What are you doing?" San laughed, but I felt her concern.

  "There are swirls of pink and white everywhere!"

  "I don't see anything."

  It happened again; I gasped as I realized it was the wind. "It's the wind! I can see the wind!" I whispered in awe. "The grass is a swath of light and dark green...the air is white and blue and pink...it's like...like the world was painted by some divine hand..."

  "You can see?" Fay's voice brought me to peer at a silver-blue aurora. She was a flurry of beauty, reminding me of a butterfly or blooming flower.

  Even right to her soul, Fay is kind, innocent and beautiful.

  "Sort of." I replied with a smile. "Even your aurora is stunning, Fay." I told her quietly.

  "Aurora?" Sybel asked curiously. "So you've been granted second sight? People can still use that kind of magic?” I faced her. Her soul radiated a deep, ocean blue with ripples and streaks of dark green. “You can still use that magic?”

  San cleared her throat. “The Monobi can. She’s a mystic. Thankfully her son takes after her.”

  Every stared at her with shock. “You mean Vortix is a mystic too?”

  “Yes.”

  Ryeger grunted. The deep red and undertone of light gray didn’t surprise me at all, but it did make me wonder how he was with Sybel – or so mellow!

  "What about objects?" Vortix asked hopefully. The boy surprised me by having a surprisingly similar but different aura than mine; it was very light green with dashes and splotches of white. It was like looking at the Mist Peak Mountains during very early spring, while the snow was still melting.

  “I can sort of see them…” I replied, just happy to see them, even if their astonishment was so evident, and there was still a heavy air.

  Ryeger took a step forward. He made an angry gesture with her arm. “You broke the seal?!”

  “Leave Sanquility alone!” Vortix surprised us all as he got between them to snap “She’s just trying to help!”

  …Seems like he likes you to me.

  “Huh.”

  I gently brought Vortix into my arms. “Settle down, Vortix. Don’t speak to your superiors like that.”

  The kid growled low in his throat, but didn’t move or argue with me, to my relief.

  Sanquility, however, was inclined to defend herself. “Hey, hey. The only major side-effect is disorientation and some really odd memories.”

  “San, how could you?” The man growled furiously.

  “Sanquility did a lot of research before she broke it. She knew the risks. I’m sure she knows Xia is ready for it.” Callie defended her heatedly. She was a deep dark green with flecks of red. The red honestly surprised me, until I thought of the pain she'd gone through.

  Fay stepped between them. “Calm down. We need to say a prayer over Anna's body before we send it to the temple in Taiyuan to be burned with Alex. I'd like to say goodbye."

  Daniel cleared his throat. He was the color of spring grass, not surprising me in the least. "Thank you, Fay. I wanted you to say the prayer over the new priest. I don't know him."

  "It's a woman, and she's an honorable woman who believes strongly in the Seven."

  Everybody collected around a place on the ground I couldn't see. I followed them, and was suddenly overcome with something strange.

  The smell of sulfur was thick on the body. I could hardly tell who it was, but all of us knew. Kneeling, I gently picked up the carcass.

  “If she can’t fight them, who can?” A voice asked me. I looked over at the crowd, my stomach ill. Turning each way, I saw the hope fading from their eyes.

  “She died fighting for you.” I told them sadly. “Have you no will to avenge her death? She laid down her life for your children.”

  “Our children? Annabel was a warrior, not a mother.”

  “What life do our kids have if we die?” Another said.

  My love came to me. She spoke very quietly. “Her soul cannot be freed. He made sure of it.”

  “No. It cannot be freed. But it can be saved.” I answered in a quivering voice. “She will still lead her people.”

  I carried her body to lay it next to her dead war mount. My love gasped as she realized what I was about to do. Leaning over, I placed a hand between the two bodies.

  “See now, humans, how Annabel loves you. How strong she really is. How she will die for you, and be reborn to live by you. For you.” I charged both with white magic, earth magic, older than all that was here but the gods themselves. Their bodies gleamed. Then they grew dark. Slowly, very slowly, the horse rose. Black as night with a single horn on her head. The animal reared with a soul-shattering neigh, pounding the earth with her hooves. “This is animal is called the Unicorn. She is the embodiment of self-sacrifice. A soul cannot be reborn as such a beast without having given his or her life for those he or she loved with all her heart. Only the worthy may ride this beast. Only the loyal and honorable will ever see her. This is the will of the Children, and the gift of the gods. Fight or never
see her kind again.”

  I didn’t know why, but I could feel everybody’s eyes on me.

  Fay quietly whispered. “Thank you, Xia. That was…amazing.”

  “Yes.” Sybel swallowed hard.

  Even Ryeger said, “Beautiful.”

  “Wow…that’s like out of the stories…” Aden sounded awe-struck.

  I blinked at their praise, feeling completely turned around.

  //You said that aloud. // San told me. //Only Fay, Ryeger and Sybel seem to understand it as a tribute. The others are just kind of dumb-struck. //

  "Tribute…yes."

  //I can’t think of anything else to call it, love. I’m sorry. You couldn’t have been alive. That’s part of the story of creation. //

  "…Yes. You’re right; that’s probably why I remember it. It just felt so…real."

  Without waiting for anybody else, I followed my dog right out the door.

  It was only moments later that the group followed me. Fay gently took the body from me to lie on the earth. San came to clasp my hand; hers were clammy. She was preparing herself as Fay said the Final Rites.

  “To the Seven I do call for a daughter and warrior of the Gods. A soul has fallen to save the innocent and faithful. Her loyalty showed to her last breath, following a code laid down to her by the gods. She spilled blood of the forsaken to spare the blood of the innocent, and has now paid the ultimate price.” Her voice was somehow steady and calm. She could have been giving a sermon about the birth of the earth. I didn’t know how her voice was so steady and calm when this would have been so hard on her. “Anna, may you be guided home from the earth to the sky. Let your journey be as swift as the wings of a raven. Let it be with the mercy the gods did not grant you in life.”

  “Si te vok.” Everybody – including me – concluded.

  //You guys send a Monobi prayer at the end of life? //

  “Most of them don’t realize it originates from their parent culture. I always knew what it meant – I just never knew it was the Monobi language. Just like I write in the runes of my homeland but never knew why it came so easily."

  //Saying It is the Will of the Divine is a little unexpected from a culture so based on free will. //

  “Okay; she’s…she’s ready to be taken home and burned with Alex.” Fay said very quietly.

  Daniel approached me, handing me a dagger with a curved edge. I felt it carefully, and realized it wasn’t something a Templar would be issued by the temple.

  Sanquility gasped. “That’s a witch’s blade!”

  “It’s the dagger that killed Anna. We’ve been after them, and…she saved me. She’s the reason I’m alive.” Daniel’s voice was too quiet. “I don’t know what’s going on anymore. People are dying, and things are happening. But I’m pretty damn sure you’ll be our biggest chance. I know you didn’t like her, Crimson Blade, but if you see a witch, kill it for me.”

  “How’s Teresa?” I asked quietly.

  “She’ll be made a full Templar in Anna and Alex’s fire. Her first task will be to regain and settle Mist Peak Village.”

  “Wish her luck for me, Daniel. I’m sorry for Anna.”

  “She died a warrior, Xia – like I know you will someday, protecting those you love.”

  Then Daniel gathered up his supplies, the body and headed out. They’d need to get her back as soon as they could.

  “I need a drink.” I complained in frustration. “But I don’t want to go home.”

  “They have a tavern here, Xia. Let’s stop by there and have a drink.”

  “…That sounds nice, actually. Then we can train all day tomorrow.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.” Callie stated, making me turn to see her. “Fay wants you to know that if you’re willing, you can work for the temple again, as soon as you’re ready.”

  I shook my head. “I’d have to think about that, Callie. I think I’d rather be a warrior who protected my sister than a Templar.”

  “She’ll have a hard time hearing it, but I’ll tell her. Please don’t be out too late.”

  “I’ll try not to be.” I gave her a tight hug, and led the way toward the tavern.

  The smell of the tavern was comforting. Even after being gone so long, it felt the same. Between my second sight and Al’re, I found my favorite seat at the end of the bar. The bartender was a flora of green and gray as he approached me.

  “Xia Leafsong; it’s been too long. Where’ve you been all these years?”

  “What, haven’t heard the rumors, Augua? Shame; you must be going deaf in your old age.”

  He gave a guffawing laugh. “Okay, so I’ve heard. Seeing is believing, and even then I can’t bring myself to do so. Are you truly blind?”

  “I’ve found a sort of sight, and what I can’t see my dog can. I have retired from the temple, but war’s in my blood. I’ll never give up the good fight.”

  “Xia, war’s in your soul. Shen himself had to have born your soul. Did you come into this world with a sword in your hand?”

  “No, but I was raised with one. I suppose you’re not deaf after all.”

  He turned to San. “So you’re the one who stole her from Callie, eh?”

  “Whoever is spreading that rumor needs to stop; we’re all three together, and I love them both. Do me a favor and correct anybody who speaks out of their asses about us. Now get me some firebrand whisky.”

  “Ale, if you would.”

  “Sure; got some scraps for the pup too, if you want it.”

  “How much?”

  “Are ya kidding? Free of charge – Templar or not, you don’t owe me a coin.”

  “Thanks, Augua. How about I chop some wood for ya?”

  “Just don’t do it drunk again, Xia! Callie would have my head if you limped home with another axe wound!”

  “It wasn’t deep…”

  Sanquility sighed, shaking her head. “Is it bad that I can picture you doing that?”

  “It’s not like it was a big deal. Callie fusses over the smallest wounds.”

  “It was nearly to the bone!” Augua growled out with a glare pointed my way.

  “No more wood chopping.” Sanquility retorted dryly.

  Rolling my eyes, I shooed the man off. “I’m thirsty, old man.”

  Shaking his head, the man went to fetch our drinks. We sat there most the night, telling tales new and old while drinking all night long.

  Quiet knocking pulled me from my bed, making me groan. Sanquility sat up, shielding her eyes against the light as Callie opened the door to let in the noon-day sun.

  “Good afternoon, sleepy heads. Sybel’s here with some troubling news, and needs to talk to the three of us.”

  “What troubling news?” I asked, squinting one eye and blocking the light with my hand.

  Ohhh, my head feels like it was hit with a mallet.

  //I know what you mean. I’m never betting I can outdrink you again. //

  “Get dressed and we can all find out.” Callie gave us sharp looks. “If you want to go to the tavern to get drunk, stay the night there instead of waking everybody up trying to sneak by quietly.”

  I flipped her off playfully and got out of bed. Callie stood there watching as I stretched and dressed. Sanquility dressed normally instead of using her magic.

  “Sure, you dress without magic for Callie.” I teased her good-naturedly.

  “Oh, but I undress for both of you.” Sanquility retorted with a wink.

  “Common, you two; we can flirt when there’s not impending news.”

  Following Callie into the brightly lit kitchen, I was instantly snapped into wakefulness to see the somber look on Sybel’s face.

  “Who’s with-?”

  “Ryeger and a handful of the local militia are with Fay. I came alone because Fay is stressed and busy. I had to force her to lay down instead of searching longer.”

  “Searching?”

  “As a new priestess, she carried books from the old temple to the new. Wanting to keep some ver
y old texts safe, she brought them along the way, and now can’t find them.”

  “So?”

  “Xia, the texts are so old we can’t decipher them. They were in the section of the temple that was blocked off to everybody but the Priesthood. They were locked up because whatever’s in there is evil – and they’ve gone missing.”

  Unease trickled through my entire body, making my already sick stomach churn. “Where could they have gone too?”

  Sybel shook her head. “Somebody had to have taken them – somebody who was with us. Ryeger and I never would have. We traveled with a small party, but it could’ve been any one of them.”

  “So search them.”

  “We can’t. But perhaps Al’re can. He’s just a dog, after all. Nobody would think of him looking for anything.”

  “He’s a trained war dog and is almost trained to guide me.”

  “Yeah, but sniffing around isn’t threatening, and if you’re not there they won’t think of it.”

  I glanced down at Al’re, who was chewing on a bone. “Where’d he get that?”

  “It’s from the tavern last night.” Sanquility reminded me. “I remember he wouldn’t let it go, so we let him bring it.”

  I called the dog to me; he dropped the bone and hurried over, his tail wagging. “Do you have anything for him to scent it by?”

  She pulled out a black cloth. “They were wrapped up in these; it’s a sure sign they were stolen instead of dropped or misplaced, but Fay insisted on searching until dawn.”

  “Just tell him to track it when you get around who you want to search. Reward him if he finds it with food, and then bring him back here.”

  “No problem. Will…he just listen to me?”

  “I’ll tell him to.”

  I slipped into Al’re’s mind “Follow Sybel and listen to her. She wants you to find something very important for her. When you’re done, come back here to guide and protect me.”

  ~When I know to come back? ~

  “She’ll tell you to go home.”

  ~Al’re go find thing for Sybel. Al’re like Sybel. She gives Al’re treats. ~

  “When he’s done, just tell him Al’re go home.”

  “Got it.”

  “Until then, good night.”