He built the fire low and sheltered, deep within a thick forest glade. There weren’t any roads to follow where they were traveling now. They were being guided only by the light in Aunt SaRa’s eyes, to a place SoYa knew nothing of.

She had briefly spoken the name of their destination. The syllables had fallen from her lips quickly, a word that was never uttered and quickly forgotten by those who were not supposed to know of its existence. The sound flitted away between the hoofbeats of the rhawn, lost to his memory.

Aunt SaRa says that Father will be there. That it’s the place he’s been all along.

The hope of seeing his father again helped to ease the bitter sting of his brother’s betrayal and kept him moving. Even when lugging an old rusted bucket up the hill, as he was at that moment. Aunt SaRa wanted to make a proper soup that night, she said. And that required proper water. Water required fetching. Mindmage or not, SoYa had found the bucket presented to him for the task.

I guess some things really don’t change.

The stream wasn’t far from their hidden camp. The bucket wasn’t really that heavy. But it was rusted – the only bucket that they could find in the rhawn stalls as they had made a quick attempt to grab supplies for their hasty ride. It certainly needed a good cleaning before it could produce anything near to proper drinking water.

When SoYa finally reached the edge of the stream, he knelt down and began to wash the bucket out with a spare cloth. The early sheen of moonlight broke over the horizon, dappling the surface of the water. The night around him was strangely silent, as if the world was holding its breath in apprehension.

In the still, heavy air, SoYa heard a sound — a soft, melodic voice spoke his name. When the Apprentice looked up, a wonderful vision appeared before his eyes. The rusty bucket clattered hollowly as it dropped at his feet. It took a moment before he could gather his wits enough to make a sound.

“AsaHi?”

She stood on the other side of the stream, watching him with deep green eyes. It was so long since he had last seen her, but she was just as he remembered — inquisitive face lit in a half smile along the curve of her pink lips.

“AsaHi, what are you doing here?” SoYa stammered.

It never occurred to him that the place they were heading to might be the same place Aunt SaRa had sent AsaHi. Nor did it occur to him that they might catch up with the girl in mid-course, for she was traveling on foot and they were riding rhawn-back.

No matter how the chance happened, SoYa felt his heart lighten at the sight of the girl. His longing yearn for her reassurance was almost too much to bear. When she extended her hand towards him, the Apprentice lifted the edge of his robes and began to stride over the slick rocks, crossing the stream.

“I can’t believe it,” he told her, balancing precariously as he stepped. “I was so worried… I wondered if I’d ever see you again!”

“SoYa, why are you here?” AsaHi reached both of her hands out to him with a questioning face. “I thought you were back in Nefol.”

He blanched a little, trying to think up a quick answer. Little wonder that she would be surprised to see him. Because she was right. He was supposed to be back in Nefol.

“Some things came up,” he replied as vaguely as he could, making the last hop to the opposite bank. Then he switched tactics, “But what matters most to me is that I know you’re safe.”

The girl came closer, a hint of a smile on her lips. Teasing. “You’re such a romantic.”

The Apprentice smiled in return, reaching out to take her hand. As he did, a strange tingling sensation spread up his arm and over his body, something that made his hair stand on end. Though he couldn’t place what made him feel that way, he pulled away from her.

She snagged the edge of his robe sleeve, green eyes large and luminous as she peered up at him.

“AsaHi..?” SoYa didn’t know why his voice sounded so uncertain to his ears.

“Now we can go back,” she told him, her gaze direct, straight into his own.

“Back?” he echoed. For some reason, he was feeling light-headed.

“Back to Nefol,” AsaHi answered.

“To Nefol…” his thoughts began to swim in hazy circles. He heard himself speaking as if from a distance. “Yes. Nefol. That is where we should be going. Why are we out here… running away from…”

A sudden frightening image flashed through his mind. The memory of his brother. Dressed in the Robes of the High Guide. Ordering his capture, possibly even his death. And the death of Aunt SaRa, too.

Shaking his head, SoYa’s mind cleared. It was all too obvious why they were running. Why they could not go back to Nefol. His answer came sharply, “We can’t!”

“Why not?” AsaHi seemed disappointed.

“It’s too dangerous,” SoYa explained quickly. “Something is going on there. I don’t know what it is, but it’s taken Tsu. And now, if we don’t keep running, then…”

“You can fight him,” she answered.

The thought of it curdled his stomach. She must have seen the ill reaction reach his face because she pressed on.

“Now that you’re here, I’m not afraid of going back. I’m not afraid of the Council. I’m not afraid of anyone, not even Tsu,” AsaHi reached out, wrapping her delicate arms gently around him. “I know you’ll protect me.”

The tingling had returned, so intense that it was almost numbing.

“Won’t you, SoYa?” her voice seemed to drown out everything else in the world.

And as much as he loved her. As much as he yearned to see her again, safe and in his arms. As much as he had missed her… everything within him screamed a sharp warning in his mind. The words of Aunt SaRa came back to him in a rush of realization.

~ You must fight the thoughts and fear that rise in your heart. They are not of your own making.~

The tingles were no longer tingles but sharp prickles against his skin. SoYa fought to clear his head and gain control over his limbs. He fought against the influence that was trying to overwhelm him… control him… change him like it had changed his brother.

“You’re… not… AsaHi..!” SoYa hissed through clenched teeth.

It took every bit of strength in him to push her away. Though he didn’t think he had used very much force, AsaHi recoiled as if struck a great blow. Staggering back, her face was obscured by long strands of white hair. Her breath came as a low hissing sound as she struggled to say his name.

SoYa backed away, one foot slipping off the bank with a splash in the shallow running stream. He could feel it now. Everything about her was wrong. Unnatural. Even the way she held herself was now hunched and slack-limbed, like a creature being held up by some outside force alone.

When she spoke again, her voice was a dry, rasping whisper.  “Come back to Nefol, SoYa. Come back and claim what is rightfully yours… or will you let it fall to the darkened hands of your brother?”

SoYa just shook his head, backing away more. If she was trying to tempt him, the only response she earned from him was revulsion and horror.

Seeing this, the voice became more forceful. Frightening. The limp form took a shambling step forward. “How long do you think you can resist me, Athrylith-child. Do you really think that your feeble Earthian mind can withstand my will? I give you one last chance to make your own choice before I make the choice for you.”

Panic flooded his mind. All the Apprentice knew to do at that moment was run. He hardly watched where he placed his feet as he bolted back across the stones that led to the opposite side of the bank.

Somewhere behind him, a terrible, inhuman shriek sounded. It echoed sharply through his mind, painful to his keen senses. He stumbled and almost fell flat as he reached the other side of the stony bank. Sharp rock pierced his palms where he caught himself, but SoYa didn’t feel the pain.

Just the panic.

The Apprentice fled frantically, the sound of hollow laughter haunting his every step. He dodged the shadows that grew and stretched across his path, reaching with long spindly claws. Screeches echoed from the very stone of the earth.

He could see the pale firelight ahead, a light that would bring them no safety. He could hear Aunt SaRa’s shouts and see the form of the huddling little girl at her side.

As he burst into the camp, SoYa grabbed anything that was close enough to be gathered. A pack. A blanket. There was no time to stop for anything else.

His free hand ushered both woman and girl towards swaying, uneasy mounts. His voice commanded more strongly than he intended, “Ride! Ride!”

As the darkening forest shadows began to seethe, they rode on tired hoofbeats. A flight into unending night.

“I’m terribly sorry, sweetie, but for just this once I can’t stop to talk,” Zento replied over one shoulder as he turned the hallway corner. He paused as a piece of the wall parted for him, then he made his way into a dark domed chamber.

Ruffled, the girl pushed her way in right behind him. A warning thought flickered through her mind.

You are being bold, now aren’t you, AsaHi? If Lord Zemi doesn’t strike you down for your impertinence, then his Champion just might. It’s a surprise you made it this far considering… if Kaze really is Zemi Dreigiau…

It was the first time she had admitted that it could be true, even in her thoughts.

Still, Kaze never said so. Sure he has the robes. Sure he sometimes does strange things. But where’s the proof that he’s really THE Lord Dragon?

The girl gave a bitter internal laugh.

Just a few weeks ago I didn’t even believe Lord Dragon existed. And now here I am trying to figure out if the man I’ve traveled with for days could actually be an Arweinydd.

Zento was busying himself with something in the far corner. It may have been her imagination, but it felt like he was doing just about anything to avoid her questions.

“Zento, please!” she finally strode over to the man, grasping his sleeve. When he turned, there was a sharp look in his eye that made the girl step back.

Emerging from the corner’s shadows, Zento placed a small metal box in front of her on the floor. His hand dropped lightly on it, remaining still and silent. Finally, the latch clicked and the lid flipped open. He lifted a small slivery-white stone out of the box, holding it for her to see. The edges were lit with a flow of shimmering energy.

He came all the way in here for that?

That was when she realized that the room they were in was a small armory. Though it was not anywhere near the size of the sprawling arms storages in the Spire of Nefol, the room was littered with long unused weapons and strangely shaped plates of armor.

She watched as Zento lifted the small round object and placed it into the open circle of his amulet. It gave a soft hissing click as it fit snugly within. If she didn’t know to look harder, AsaHi would never have thought that the stone could be removed from the frame.

Silence born of interest, the girl stood watching.

The man lifted his fingers to the stone, eyes closing in deep concentration. At first AsaHi thought it was her imagination. But as she watched, pale white lines of energy traced around the man’s chest and shoulders until she could make out a solid outline. The soft glow enveloped Zento’s body and the power flowed over him, the outline filling with smooth white spirit-steel. When he finally took his fingers away, he was standing in a full suit of…

“Arfogaeth?” AsaHi breathed in surprise.

I’ve never actually seen Spirit Armor before!

“You sure know your legends well,” Zento gave her an approving nod as he pulled his weapon from the wall.

“It comes from spending your life trying to disprove all of them,” she muttered half under her breath.

He must have heard because he gave a warm chuckle, “Yes, well, I hope you now realize the urgency of the situation.”

What’s he trying to say?

Without further words, Zento strode back out the way he came, the soft light of the ornate plate armor shimmering through the darkness. The hook of the bhinod was draped over his shoulder.

“No, I don’t understand!” she jogged to catch up with him again. “What is it with you guys? Always so secretive… always on the rush with these ‘important things’ that you won’t tell to anyone else!”

He paused for a moment. Then shook his head. “Morh-AsaHi, please don’t take me wrong. I’m not avoiding your questions. There’s a lot going on that I will admit you do not know. But it is for that reason that I ask you to trust me and Zem–”

He froze and stuttered, trying to cover his mistake.

AsaHi’s eyes flew up to his face. Her voice was weak, “So, Kaze is Lord Zemi?”

“I… cannot answ–”

“Don’t worry, you didn’t tell me anything I wasn’t figuring out by myself,” she told him gently. “He really isn’t trying to hide it.”

“Yes,” Zento finally admitted. “I don’t think it was ever his intentions to hide his identity from you. He told me it just happened that way. Then, when he saw how much pressure you were under, he thought it was best not to frighten you more. Especially since he believes that all this happened because of him.”

The girl jerked her head up, “What? No, it happened because of what I did!”

“Tell that to Zemi. He seems to blame himself.”

“But, why?” she began to puzzle. The same question that rose in her mind time and again. “Why would someone like Lord Zemi care, or even take an interest, in a no-body like me?”

A soft look shimmered in Zento’s eyes as he spoke, “Can you always answer why you are fond of certain people? Real friendship, and daresay, love, doesn’t choose people on basis of how much they have in wealth or knowledge… magic or non-magic. These things hold no sway over a true heart.”

AsaHi found herself without words.

“You’ve got a lot of hard choices ahead of you,” his tone became deeply troubled. “I’m afraid I’m not the one to ask for advice in such matters. I’ve always been guilty for following the whims of my heart, and that hasn’t always led me to the brightest of days. It rarely will.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” she wrinkled her brow at him.

“All in good time, Morh-AsaHi. And all too soon,” Zento dropped a grim hand on her shoulder.

Then in a swirl of silver and blue, he was gone.

“You apologize like it’s your fault,” the winged man lifted his head, his eyes remaining distant upon the horizon. From the moment he received word from SaRa of what had happened in Nefol, he endured the sharp pang of a father’s concern for a son in grave danger.

“In a roundabout way, you could say it was,” Zemi picked at a loose stone on the rock outcropping.

“Hey,” Zento’s head lifted. “What did I tell you about blaming yourself? Things just happen sometimes.”

“Well, if I had never–”

“Zemi,” the winged man interrupted quickly. “Unless I’ve sorely overestimated you, or you’ve got a few tricks up your sleeve I don’t know about, there was no way even you could have seen things leading to this.”

“This is true,” the Dreigiau nodded somberly. “I still can’t help but feel like there was more I could have done to stop it. And especially to stop him.”

“Him?” Zento frowned. “You mean TsuYa?”

“No, I mean the one who is forcing TsuYa to do these things,” the Dreigiau answered, picking his words slowly. “Your boy is not acting of his own will, Zento. He’s not the driving force behind this.”

“Then,” astonishment grew in his voice, “Who is?”

“You know how I’ve told you there are many more of my kind back where I came from?” an eyebrow arched.

“Yeah,” the winged man answered with a similar eyebrow arch. “But most of them don’t give a rhawn’s nether-side about us. I remember.”

“Well,” the Arweinydd leaned back for a moment. “That’s not the case anymore.”

Zento’s eyes widened, “What are you saying? That we’re up against another Arweinydd?”

“In not so many words, yes.”

Zento choked, “But…”

“Why?” Zemi finished the question for him curtly. “Not sure. Probably because he’s jealous.”

“Do you know him?”

The Dreigiau lowered his face, his voice heavy, “I named as my brother Arweinydd a long time ago. He calls himself Zerom.”

Zento’s eyes widened even more.

“Zerom probably finds it amusing to turn brothers against each other for his fight against his own brother. Seeing that your boys were the most influential powers in the School that I created, the School that he loathes, it was ironically convenient,” a fanged scowl broke over Zemi’s face. “He knew it would hurt me to see the children of my Champion set against each other.”

“He doesn’t like the School? Why?”

“Because Arweinydd believe we should not get involved with the Earthians,” he answered slowly, “The fact that I do makes me the odd one out. And the fact that I continue to gain power through my Earthian connections makes the Others terribly uncomfortable.”

Zento was quiet before he took a conversational detour, “AsaHi asked me today why you took such an interest in our people. I didn’t know how to answer her, to be honest.”

Zemi arched an eyebrow, “Hrum?”

“I don’t want to think everything we’ve done is all just about power,” the champion murmured quietly.

“ZenToYa, I am not my brother,” the Arweinydd’s voice cracked slightly. “You should know that by now.”

The winged man glanced over in silence, giving the Dreigiau a prodding look.

“I admit,” Zemi leaned back thoughtfully, “Maybe in the very early days, power was a strong persuasive factor. But that was before I understood Earthians and their compassion. Two children that wandered into my cave to take shelter from a snowstorm… they taught me all about that.”

“Hrmmm?” Zento’s eyebrow rose slowly.

“Strange isn’t it, how the students often teach their Master?”

“Yes, yes it is,” the winged man gave a hint of a smile.

“Still, the Arweinydd are wrong to think that the Earthians have nothing to show us,” Zemi’s grin widened. “Wisdom comes from an open mind… because even the smallest of people have so much to give to this world.”

“You mean AsaHi when you say that,” Zento approached the topic carefully.

The Arweinydd fell silent.

“She’s figured it out, you know.”

“She’s clever. I knew she’d put it together for herself,” Zemi finally nodded.

“Why didn’t you just tell her?”

“That would steal her control when she already feels small enough as it is,” Zemi frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. “For me to waltz up to her and say, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m Zemi Dreigiau!’ wouldn’t really have gone over well. This way, she can feel accomplished in something over me.”

Zento chuckled, “So that’s what it’s all about?”

“I’d rather she approach me in anger than fear.”

“I don’t know. Earthian girls are notorious for their tough tempers,” Zento’s eyebrows arched.

“I think I can handle it,” Zemi gave a broad grin.

“We’ll see about that,” Zento gave a slight grin in return. A grin that faded as the Dreigiau’s chuckle trailed off into a soft growl.

Zento shifted at the sound, his eyes turning back to the horizon. There, he could see the outline of two riders racing desperately towards the gates of the city. Just behind them, a storm of darkness swelled across the sky.

The little girl slumped motionless over the back of the rhawn. She looked worse every time SoYa glanced up at her. Despite all the time that SaRa spent with the child in healing wraps and incantations, nothing seemed to be improving her situation.

No matter where we go, TsuYa will follow. And now that he’s taken up the robes of the High Guide, he has the Council of Nefol to support his actions. He could follow us into any town and simply demand our capture.

SoYa eased Thorne around a particularly steep pile of stone, weaving between the scraggly rock brush. Sweat stood on his brow under the rim of his cap. The climate in this area was a lot warmer than a mountain range should be.

After all, I am Athrylith. That, and Aunt SaRa’s wings, should be enough to turn people against us.

Aunt SaRa’s face was lined and grim, speaking measures of exhaustion and worry. Now and then, her head nodded, chin dipping to touch her chest.

“Are you okay?” he peered over one shoulder in concern.

“I’m…” the woman paused to catch her breath, “I’m fine. Just a tad tired. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

That’s true… we’ve been riding nearly non-stop. Not to mention every chance she gets, she’s been putting healing wards on the girl. It’s no wonder she’s about to pass out.

Then Aunt SaRa’s eyes turned to look along the path, hardening in determination, “Just a little further. Then we can all take a rest.”

She seems so certain. She claims a city is out here, yet, I haven’t seen roads or other people.

Just as the question passed through his mind, the sound of the rhawns’ hooves on the stone changed in pitch. Looking down, SoYa could see that the ground had leveled out into a wide hollowed area. The stone was perfectly round and inscribed with thousands of runes in a flowing, circular pattern.

The Apprentice couldn’t help but take a sharp hissing breath, “The Host Gate…”

“What was that, dear?” Aunt SaRa asked.

“This looks almost exactly like the…” SoYa stopped and craned his head back, eyes widening as they fixed upon the looming dragon statues above. He barked a proclamation, “It is!”

“Come on now, we’re almost there. I need you to stand in the circle, SoYa. Not much good in me leaving you here, now is there?”

“No, but…”

“If you really want to stay here, you can,” she gave him a droll face.

He scurried forward quickly, leading Thorne into the center of the circle.

“I thought not.”

SoYa watched in curiosity as the woman fitted blinders over the eyes of her steed.

“What are you doing?” he finally asked.

Aunt SaRa peered over at him, “In my experience, these Gates bother land creatures. I’d suggest you’d do the same for yours. They still won’t like it all too much, but it prevents them from leaving the circle. Or worse, halfway leaving the circle.”

“What happens then?” he asked in a wary tone.

“I doubt half a rhawn would be as useful as a whole one,” she answered in a conversational tone.

SoYa choked. Without further words, he slid the blinders over Thorne’s eyes.

Once that was done, Aunt SaRa gave a last long look around to see if all was in place. Then laying a steady hand on the girl’s leg, her eyes closed. Instantly the runes upon the stone floor leapt to life, shimmering a brilliant pale blue.

Hedd-ynad!! What sort of spell circle is this?

A chill of power rippled up through SoYa’s body from the earth. With an uncomfortable glance, he measured how far he was from the edge of the circle. Then, the Apprentice shuffled closer to his steed, weaving his fingers into the rhawn’s long black mane.

A momentary feeling of displacement churned through his stomach, forcing his eyes to squint shut. Though his feet did not leave the ground, his body grew lighter, until he felt as if he might float straight off the earth. As strange as it made his head feel, the sensation was not unpleasant.

Just as he felt ready to lift away, his whole body lurched. With a violent jerk downward, he felt himself dragged back. Eyes flipping open, he found himself still standing on the stony ground in the middle of the circle.

What?

Glancing over, he saw Aunt SaRa reel, then collapse against her white rhawn. A trickle of blood streamed from her forehead.

“Aunt SaRa!” he gave a choked cry, rushing to her side.

“You still call that thing our aunt?” a voice sneered from behind.

SoYa’s breath caught in his throat. His green eyes shifted to look at the blue-clad figure that stood just inside the crevice of the rocks. He recognized his brother instantly.

“Tsu!” he stammered. “What have you done to her?”

The man lifted his foot slowly from where the toe of his boot crossed the circle’s pattern. A sickly smile broke over his face, a smile that did not touch his dead-colored eyes.

“I’m sorry. It seems I broke her circle,” the chiding tone spoke anything but apology.

SoYa hissed, taking a step forward, “Haven’t you done enough damage? I can’t believe that you could-”

“Believe?” TsuYa snapped, taking a step forward in return. His face was wary, like a man approaching a snake. “Believe! I’m the one that can’t believe!”

“Tsu…”

“SoYa, my brother… the saint of saints… the good child…” a scowl accented the words. “All this time you were Athrylith!”

“Tsu, I swear to you,” he began to back away fearfully. “I didn’t hide it with evil intentions or use it to hurt anyone!”

“Oh, and I suppose what you did back at Nefol wasn’t hurting anyone? Over twenty of the Council, of which only four had halfway recovered when I left.”

SoYa’s grit his teeth, only a low groan escaping.

“For the love of Light, SoYa! If you weren’t guilty, why did you run? I have no choice but to take you back with me. For your sake. For my sake. For our father’s name!” TsuYa’s eyes suddenly lit with a deep shimmer of obsession.

The elder brother shook his head, caught between standing his ground and backing away. Any further would leave Aunt SaRa and the girl exposed. “It was Father that told me to keep it a secret!”

“You lie!”

“I do not! He knew! He knew and told me to never tell anyone… not even you!” the Athrylith snapped in return.

“Father would not allow a curse like you to thrive in Nefol!” TsuYa snarled.

“Obviously he didn’t think I was a curse!” SoYa retorted.

“Well, I do!” The sound of shifting metal revealed a cold, black curve of blade, reflecting darkly in the rising moonlight.

DuLlafn! Father’s old scythe! He took that along with the robes?

The curve of the long-hafted scythe leveled at SoYa’s head, a wicked intensity balanced upon TsuYa’s poise. Weaponless, the elder brother shifted backwards once more, both palms open in a pleading motion.

“Tsu… don’t…”

“Or what? What are you gonna do, brother?” his sneer came with a forward jab of the blade. “Will you take my mind, too?”

No… no… I couldn’t do that to you, Tsu.

The point of the scythe traced across the soft flesh of SoYa’s throat. Their eyes met, mirroring green on green. When TsuYa spoke next, the voice was not his own, “So weak… I gave you a chance to make the right choice. And all you did was run.”

SoYa’s breath caught sharply. His mind reeled back to the meeting in the forest, the thing that had looked and sounded like AsaHi, but had not been AsaHi at all. The voice had been the same as this. But as he stared into the distorted snarl in front of him, he knew that it was no trick this time — it was really his brother’s face.

A cold scoff gurgled TsuYa’s his throat, “You have so much power, but you are so weak. I could have given you these robes if you hadn’t resisted me. I could have given you all of Nefol if you weren’t such a fool.”

“You cannot give someone something they already own,” a strong voice rang out from above.

SoYa peered up at a silhouette perched on top of the coiled tail of one of the stone dragons. Even in the dim light, the eyes reflected brilliant, slitted green.

TsuYa wasn’t overjoyed with the appearance. “No one asked you! Just mind your own business.”

A deep-throated chuckle rang down from above, “My, my. Quite the confident one, aren’t we?”

It certainly doesn’t look as if he’s backup for Tsu. I wonder who…?

A snarl broke over the younger brother’s face, “I gave you a warning!”

“How kind. How about I give you a lesson in return?” an obvious grin was woven into the words.

SoYa’s eyes widened as the figure on the rock rose and stretched a pair of feathered wings into the starlit sky. With unimaginable speed, the shadow sprang, darting from rock to rock until it landed only feet away. Then one hand lifted in a practiced motion, followed by the sheen of metal as it flew, a curved blade attached to the end of a chain.

With a metallic ring, the blade swooped around, swinging wide of its target. Then with little show, it returned straight to the hand of the man who had thrown it.

He missed?

The smug look on TsuYa’s face spoke similar sentiments.

A glimmer of a grin crossed the stranger’s face as he fingered the chain. Eyes shifting down, SoYa realized…

The chain! He wrapped it around Tsu’s-

One quick jerk sent TsuYa reeling forward as his feet were swept from underneath him. With a surprised shout, the Apprentice fell face-first upon the stone. He managed to flip over on his back before the winged man sprang on him, pinning him to the ground with one foot.

The chained blade leveled at TsuYa’s nose. DuLlafn had fallen from his hand and lay out of reach. Frozen in fear, SoYa could only watch as the shadow towered over his brother, great wings extending wide in triumph.

“I thought your father would have taught you… sharp, pointy objects are not toys.”

A soft tingle fluttered through the Apprentice’s mind as the stranger leaned forward, withdrawing his weapon and lowering his face towards TsuYa’s. A shaft of light illuminated the silvery-white hair and familiar, laughing green eyes – a vision from his childhood that SoYa had not known for many years.

TsuYa choked, his face lined with disbelief.

“You could lose a hand to one of those, boy,” soft emotion shimmered in the winged man’s eyes.

“Fa…aaaaaather…?” TsuYa’s mouth opened, struggling to make the sound. As one hand lifted in longing, billowing darkness rose around his form. “Help me… please..!”

Their eyes locked. Their hands met. The air resounded with a sudden, silent impact. The boiling darkness gave a ghastly, rending screech. SoYa jumped back as the writhing shadows reeled away from his brother’s form and fled into the night on black wings. The screech echoed forebodingly from the growing twilight in the heavy sky.

Then TsuYa’s eyes fluttered and rolled back into his head as he fell limply into his father’s arms.

Emotion pulled SoYa in so many different directions. Joy at seeing his father’s face again. Deep concern at watching the strange transformation sweep over his brother. And growing fear at the deep thundering darkness that rose up in the east, blotting out the stars.

It’s not over yet.

Father turned his head, green eyes falling on his son. Softness touched his features before it faded into grim seriousness. Carefully, he laid the slumped form of his youngest son down.

“SoYa,” his voice hadn’t changed, even with all the time that stretched between memory and reality.

“Father…” SoYa choked on the word, unsure of what to say next. He had no time to figure it out.

The winged man rose to his feet, strode over and thrust the grip of his weapon into his son’s hands. Father’s tone was heavy with urgency as he reached down to lift the black bladed scythe, “I need your help. We have to hold this off just a little longer.”

“What? But…” SoYa stared, blinking at the strange curve of steel, gripped loosely in his sweaty hand. He had seen the Bhinod so many times before, but had rarely touched or held it.

However, Father wasn’t listening to his protests. He was already making his way quickly to where Aunt SaRa drooped against the side of the rhawn. “SaRa? SaRa, speak to me.”

The Apprentice watched as the winged man cupped her shoulders in both palms. Very gently, he shook her. Somewhere in the back of SoYa’s mind, he could feel the slightest tingle, an exchange of energy between the two.

Then Aunt SaRa’s eyes flipped open in a rare expression of open shock. She managed to stammer, “Zen…Zento!?”

“SaRa, listen to me,” Father attempted to get her to focus on his face.

“Zento? Is it really you?” she asked.

“It’s me. I’m here,” he reassured her quickly. Tightening the grip on her shoulders, he tried again, “Listen to me. I need you to finish casting the rift circle.”

“Rift… circle…?” she gave him a disoriented look.

“Yes. There’s something dangerous coming and we’ve got to close this rift,” Father said with complete finality.

“Oh… the circle…” Aunt SaRa seemed to be coming around, understanding touching her eyes.

“Can you do that?” he asked solemnly.

“Yes,” she replied, slowly brushing her robes off. “Yes. Of course.”

“Alright, we’ll do what we can to hold them off.”

An inhuman howl sounded from the shadows of the stone outcropping. Close. Far too close. SoYa’s hands began to shake as he gripped the Bhinod, knuckles turning white.

Then Father was beside him, balancing the large black-bladed scythe between both fists. He murmured to the haft under his breath, “DuLlafn. It’s been a while…”

“Father, I don’t understand,” SoYa’s voice was low as he came closer. “Can’t you just create the circle? Aunt SaRa’s already exhausted.”

“Yes, I can. And, yes, I know,” he pursed his lips with a grave expression. “However, SaRa’s energies are already tied to the casting of the circle, even though it’s been interrupted. She has to finish the spell, or else it could leave the gate open to hostile powers. And in this case…”

Again, the sounds of nightmare shadows began to press in on them.

“I don’t think we want to leave anything to chance,” Father’s voice fell low as he crouched, moving towards the darkness.

SoYa’s eyes widened as the night rose up, seething like a vast ocean wave over the rock. Formless, but struggling for solidity, they were creatures devoured — once alive, now consumed and trapped within the unliving taint. Things that looked like claws… limbs… faces… pressed against the membrane of darkness from the inside.

Screeching. Struggling. Mad with the desire for release.

In the face of the storm, Father was the only glimmer of light. His wings half-spread, he stood his ground. Then, the wicked dark blade whistled, a blur of shadow spinning at his side as Father leapt forward in silent advance.

The winged man darted into the pressing darkness, unafraid. Slashing. Dodging. Moving in harmony with the blade as if it were an extension of his body and will. As if it wasn’t a weapon that he had not touched in over 20-some passes.

Wow…

SoYa stared in mute awe. He had forgotten just how amazing a warrior Father was. It was easy to see why legends were wrapped around his shoulders.

The sound of a nearby screech shook the Apprentice out of his stupor. Things were coming from the other direction, too. Bubbling. Frothing. Keening out of the shadows towards the edge of the half-lit circle.

I can do this… I can…

With uncertain steps, SoYa rushed towards them. The Bhinod was light, but awkward in his hands, just as it had been when he was younger. With a click, the hooked blade came away from the wooden grip. The clanking of the strong, lightweight chain sounded in his ears, stirring memories of the past. Memories of watching his father practice in the yard, working through techniques with his newly crafted weapon.

Now it was in his hands.

SoYa met the onslaught of darkness with wide and frightened eyes. The blade glimmered with an encouraging light as he swung clumsily. And swung. And jumped back. And swung again. There was little skill and absolute desperation. He knew that no matter what, he couldn’t allow the shadows to pass into the circle.

Over his shoulder, he could hear Aunt SaRa’s tired voice speaking the magical words. The light under his feet began to grow stronger as she struggled to power the rifting circle. Then, once more, it began to fade. He could see her form slumped against the flank of the rhawn, wavering between determination and exhaustion.

She’s not going to be able to make it!

Somewhere, the sound of Father’s battle shouts rang from the face of the uprising stone. It was hard to tell if he was simply getting warmed up, or if the battle had begun to overwhelm the winged warrior.

They’re everywhere!

SoYa found himself pushed backwards, inch by inch. He recoiled as the Bhinod sliced through what looked to be some sort of darkened limb. It dropped off limply, disintegrating and splashing into a puddle of dark ooze at his feet.

There’s too many!

Once more, the light of the circle faded and fizzled. The runes grew dimmer and Aunt SaRa’s voice fell silent. This time, SoYa wasn’t sure if the winged woman would be able to make another attempt. The Apprentice pressed closer and closer to the center of the circle. From the sound of battle behind, he could hear that the same was happening to Father.

The shadows were closing in.

“SaRa!” Father’s voice shouted. “SaRa, stay with us!”

But she did not respond.

Stumbling back under the pressure of the shadows, the winged man did something that SoYa had never seen him do before. Father lifted his silvered head back, staring up into the sky. Though no sound came from his throat, the vibration of the single word within SoYa’s mind was vast and overpowering.

~ZEMI!~

It roared down upon them, a bolt of lightning leaping from the depths of night sky. The world at once flooded brilliant white. SoYa stumbled away from it with a cry, his eyes clamping shut from the blinding light. The ground under his feet trembled with the coming of something immense. Something that he could feel gathering in the air around them. It left prickles of anticipation over his skin.

When his vision returned, a tall pillar of white and blue spiraled up into the sky. The circle under their feet blazed with renewed power and life. The power churned at the feet of the tall figure that supported the motionless form of Aunt Sara.

Can it really be…?

SoYa was breathless as he stared into the luminous expanse of light stretching in every direction. It burst through the writhing shadows, sending them screeching in agony, back into the depths of the night forest.

“Zento,” a voice sounded from the star-lit figure. Though they had a distant, echoing quality, the words rang clearly to the Apprentice’s ears. “The Wayrift is open. Gather your family and pass through. Quickly!”

The winged man gave the scythe a final flip before he rushed back towards where TsuYa lay slumped on the stony ground. With a grunt, Father gathered him up in his arms. Then, his green eyes flicked back towards the tall, glowing pillar.

“What took you?” the warrior asked as if it was the most casual of conversations to have.

“I didn’t want to steal your fire,” came a surprisingly cheerful answer in return.

“Next time, feel free,” Father muttered. Then with a glance over his shoulder, he motioned towards the staring Apprentice. “SoYa! Gather close. We’re heading up.”

Needing no other urging, SoYa was already on his way towards the center of the circle. His voice could hardly be heard above the rushing roar of energy around them, “Heading up to what?”

His question hung unanswered as the light filled his every sense and the world around him faded away.

AsaHi sat, arms crossed, watching the rift circle on small floating island. This was the spot she remembered appearing when they first entered the city of Ceiswyr. It was the only place she knew where people could return to the lands below.

I know you have to come back this way! I saw you and Zento leave… and I’ll be right here when you get back!

Her eyes narrowed.

Avoid me will you!

She hoisted herself into the swaying branches of the drooping feather tree next to the pond. Slowly, she swung her feet back and forth, taking small bites out of the buttery roll she had swiped from the kitchens when no one had been looking. Certainly no one would have wanted to see her sitting out there waiting on the Dreigiau for so long without food… thus, it was justified.

Dreigiau? Just look at me! I already think of him as the Dreigiau without question.

The girl watched ripples dance away from a straying leaf that had fallen into the pond. Her eyes squinted as she caught a change of light on the pond’s surface. The color of the sky had become a pale, hazy blue.

A pattern formed on the ground, one not unlike the runic engraving on the stone of the Rift Gate’s circle. As if being drawn by an invisible hand, the writing spread outward from the center. It traced gracefully up the trunks of the trees, under the surface of the water and across the grassy hills.

The girl hopped down from her perch, backing away as to not be caught inside the circle’s glow. She didn’t know what would happen if she passed over the lines. But one thing she had learned about magic, one never wanted to tempt it to find out.

As the blue light grew stronger, shapes appeared, standing inside of the circle. She only expected two of them to return — Zento and Kaze. Instead, a large group of people and two rhawn came through the Rift Gate. As their forms wavered and solidified, AsaHi crept forward, peering out from under the leaves.

Kaze stood there, cradling a winged figure gently within his arms. AsaHi could barely hear the soft words he spoke, the sounds shifting and dancing away from her mind just as they came to her ears. But all of that was lost upon her as she began to make out the features of…

Aunt SaRaYa!? What is she doing here? And why does she have…

She couldn’t help it. AsaHi was staring, face pale. Even though she had seen so many people with wings in the city, to see a familiar person so transformed was somehow overwhelming.

Aunt SaRa, too?

The older woman looked much worse for wear than the last time AsaHi had seen her. Her eyes were closed, face lined with exhaustion.

Zento stood next to them, hunched with the blue-robed body of another man over one shoulder. His face was taunt, making him look somehow older and more careworn than she remembered. The blue robes that the two men wore somehow contrasted, despite being the same color.

Daring to take a step out from her hiding place, everything around her shifted. AsaHi’s heart stopped cold in her chest. She hadn’t seen him standing there before, since he was was concealed on the other side of the rhawn’s bulk. Her eyes traced him over and over…

So…Ya?!

Something about him was different, but she couldn’t tell what. He certainly looked the same. Just a little splattered with the grime of a hard ride. The girl opened her mouth to speak as the light of the circle faded away. But no words came.

ZenToYa took a few wavering steps forward. His eyes turned gently to his son.

“Welcome to the city of Ceiswyr, SoYa,” the sound of pain cracked his tone. “I wanted you and Tsu to come here one day to be with me and your Aunt. But this was hardly the way I envisioned it happening.”

The man over Zento’s shoulder is… TsuYa?

Sudden concern gripped her.

What’s happened? Why do they all look like they’ve just been to the depths of the Lost Hills and back?

“AsaHi?!” that was the moment SoYa saw her.

She wanted to run out to greet him, hands flung wide until they fell around his neck in a soft embrace. But something about him was distant now. The way he looked at her gave her the feeling that he did not want to be touched.

What’s wrong with him?

AsaHi finally found her voice, “SoYa, are you okay?”

His reply was silence. The expression on his face was still soft, still gentle, but faded as if a great distance was put between them. He looked away, pretending to busy himself with the rhawn’s halter strap.

“Is that it? You’re not going to answer me?” she took another, more demanding step forward.

“AsaHi,” Kaze gave his familiar murmur.

The girl turned towards the big man. There was something wild about him, not unlike the first time they met. His eyes plainly spoke that there was more going on than she knew.

“Y-yes, Lord Zemi?” she heard herself stammer without meaning to.

The Dreigiau blanched, his voice watery as he forced the words out, “Will you please take SoYa to the guest quarters for a proper meal and bath? I would see to it myself except that the wounded need tending…”

“Of course,” AsaHi adverted her gaze.

She turned to SoYa and reached out her hand. Only a few weeks ago, he would have taken it and hugged her close. She yearned for that embrace more than anything as she felt the world of familiar strangers closing in around her. But it did not come.

She settled for merely motioning to him to follow her, “This way…”

The silence that rose in reply broke her heart.

“I think so,” her voice was weak, eyes fixed on the bridge beneath their feet. Her delicate hands wrapped around the white gossamer ropes that connected the structure from one islet to another.

He was scared. So scared. Scared and overwhelmed. Scared to look at her. Scared to talk to her. Scared that she might see him for what he was. Scared that he might hurt her like he had hurt the others.

Though his face reflected with cold distance, his heart was aching. He wanted to hold her… he wanted to feel her arms around him… he wanted to tell her how glad he was that she was okay. He wanted to tell her how much he had missed her. And he wanted to tell her about all the things that had happened.

But the fear was too great.

“I thought you didn’t believe that Lord Zemi existed?” he asked.

“I was wrong.”

SoYa peered up quickly, blinking in disbelief. Those three words were rarely, if ever, heard coming from AsaHi’s mouth. The girl was the most stubborn, rock-solid soul that he knew. She seemed less likely to buckle to pressure than the foundations of the earth.

His mouth opened slightly, green eyes focusing on the girl’s back. For the first time he realized that something about her had changed.

His footsteps sounded hollow as they left the final plank of the bridge. The grass under his feet was enticingly green, even in the shadows of the early night. Islets floated off on the distant twilight haze. Winged people were heading home along the expanses of shimmering bridges, fading in and out of the sifting clouds. But he did not see any of it.

Lord Zemi is here? How is that possible?

His mind simply churned on.

And how does AsaHi know him? I don’t understand any of this!

AsaHi’s eyes were upon him. There was a strange, knowing look behind her gaze. A look that had never been there before.

What a terrible… terrible mess…

His stomach churned in response. Fear. Fear that she would see. That she would know.

“SoYa,” her voice was soft and quiet. There was emotion there. Uncertainty. Yet, hope. Always hope.

His eyes met hers. Their gazes held. Silence choked him and blanketed his mind. There was so much that he wanted to say. But he couldn’t make a single sound.

“Don’t be afraid. This place is safe,” she told him.

The shadows of birds broke into a swooping scatter across the faint line of moon above. The breeze rippled through the dangling tree limbs and streamed gently through AsaHi’s hair. The scent of warm flowers dappled the evening air, a scatter of petals fluttering through the wind. Misty clouds drifted across the grass leaving sparkling trails of dew in their wake. Not far away, a cheerful waterfall babbled, reflecting crystalline moonlight.

Off over the hills, nestled safely within the valley, were a number of tiny white structures. SoYa guessed they were some sort of shelter, even though they looked nothing like the houses that he knew back home. Somewhere in the night, was the sound of children laughing — a laughter more clear than he had ever heard.

SoYa had never seen a place of such magnificence before. Everything seemed more rich, more mystical, yet more real than he had ever felt. Still, despite the beauty that dawned all around him, confusion bubbled in his heart.

“Where are we?” he finally asked. Anything to keep a conversation going.

“It’s called Ceiswyr. I don’t know a whole lot about it, but it’s the place where the winged people live,” she answered.

“Winged people?” SoYa’s voice dropped in tone. “Like Aunt SaRa?”

AsaHi fell silent. Her face seemed uneasy.

“I didn’t know she was…” he attempted.

“Neither did I,” the girl offered.

Silence resumed.

SoYa began to grapple to keep the words flowing between them, “How long have you been here?”

She blinked up into the sky, her face calculating, “I’m not really sure. Time passes sort of weird up here. I think it has to do with the way the sun looks when it gets below the clouds.”

“I’m… glad you’re safe…” his voice cracked slightly as he forced the words out.

AsaHi peered at him, face softening, “You are?”

“Of course. I… couldn’t stop worrying about you,” he nodded quickly.

“SoYa,” her lips parted with the sound of his name.

Encouraged, he pressed on, “I really missed you.”

“I missed you too,” AsaHi answered. He couldn’t tell if it was from conversational habit or if she really meant it.

“It will be okay, right?” his voice quavered as he tried to hide his own need to seek comfort from her. Somehow it felt as if AsaHi was handling everything so much better than he was.

She nodded, “Lord Zemi and Zento will make everything better, I’m certain of it. So don’t worry… just follow me and we’ll get you a room.”

A million questions bubbled up in his mind, but AsaHi was already walking away over the flower-dotted hill. He watched her make her way through the knee-high grasses. The moonlight shifted through the trees, reflecting off her hair in a soft white glow.

Somehow, he couldn’t help but feel that she looked completed here, as if the mystical realm in the clouds had perfectly embraced the magic-less girl. In such a short time, it had taken her in as one of its own and she no longer belonged with the people who lived on the ground. As AsaHi vanished over the hill, the last solid foundation of his past broke away. He was left floundering in the symphony of lost shadow and sound.

SaRa wiped the sleepy haze from her eyes at the sound of the voice. She peered up from the covers of her bed, straight into the face of–

“Zento!” the gasp made her chest ache.

The winged man chuckled quietly as the concern drained out of his expression.

“Is it…” SaRa’s mind cycled in groggy excitement. One hand reached out towards his face. “Brother… is it really you?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” he closed his hand around hers gently, pulling it up to touch his cheek. A soft, longing smile curved his lips. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Zento!” SaRa reached out threw her arms around her brother’s neck.

“SaaaaRaaaaa!” He jested as he lifted her in his arms, “Does this mean that you’re actually happy, or do you just want to strangle the life out of me?”

“What if I said a little bit of both?” SaRa touched her nose to his with a smirk, “You big dumb rhawn-brain!”

He simply chortled back at her, as he always did. Then, silence born of overwhelming emotion fell over them, both of their faces mirroring stupefied grins. Words could not touch the feeling of reunion, of finding something that was lost for so long.

“I didn’t know if I’d see you again,” SaRa finally breathed.

“Of course! I told you I was working on Zemi’s big project. I promised I’d call for you when the time was right,” Zento frowned.

“I know… It’s just been so long. I sent a message ahead of us, but I wondered if you were really still out there.”

“Naturally. The world can’t get rid of ZenToYa that easily, now can it?” he grinned broadly.

“I suppose not,” she smiled, finally releasing her brother from the death-grip-of-love. “I only knew sparingly of Ceiswyr.”

“I know. And I’m sorry,” he apologized. “It was too dangerous to allow that sort of information out, even to you. If the Council realized that you knew my whereabouts, it could have been dangerous for you.”

“I guess that’s true,” she looked down with a pause, “Yet, you never called for us.”

“It wasn’t time for SoYa or TsuYa to come here. I still don’t think it is. They haven’t Awakened yet.” A grim look crossed his face, “And now, I’m not sure what’s going to happen to them.”

SaRa clutched his sleeve in concern, “Oh… dear… Tsu…”

“Zemi is working on it,” Zento frowned slowly. “Tsu’s in the best hands there can be right now.”

“Zemi,” she blinked. “So that really was him?”

“That’s right… you don’t know!” A silly grin broke over Zento’s face, “By the Light, you should see him, SaRa! He’s actually taken on an Earthian form!”

She shook her head, “How can that be?”

“I’m not too sure. He’s been here in the city, as Earthian-looking as can be, ever since AsaHi brought him to the Gates.” He eyed her suspiciously, “Was that part of some sort of plan on your side?”

“Plan? Me? Noooo… of course not! I was just trying to get AsaHi out of Nefol before the Council acted against her. I had no idea that Zemi was in the physical world,” SaRa shook her head. “How in the name of the Seven Universes did he manage that?”

“It’s all about AsaHi,” Zento answered.

“AsaHi? You don’t mean…” SaRa peered over with a frown.

He gave a quirky look in response, “I think there’s something going on there.”

“Zento,” her tone grew quickly disapproving. “You do know that AsaHi is SoYa’s Promised, yes?”

The winged man paused and heaved a long sigh, “Yeah. That’s a problem.”

“Do you actually think that Zemi could be…”

“Hey. Zemi’s a guy. What’s to stop him from thinking like one?” Zento spread his hands.

“Light forbid! And here I thought he had a bit more sense in his head than to go falling for someone else’s Promised!” she grated.

“Well,” Zento lowered his voice. “I don’t think he quite understands what he’s feeling, if you know what I mean?”

“Typical male.”

“Heeeeeey.”

“Truth,” she leveled a finger at his nose.

Zento snapped at it with his teeth playfully, “Okay. Truth.”

“But what are you going to do about it?” SaRa asked, crossing her arms.

“Do about what?” he furrowed a brow.

“Zemi and AsaHi. I mean, it would break poor SoYa’s heart if…”

“I know, SaRa. I’m not sure what to do.” He ran one hand through his hair, “How can you tell Lord Dragon that he can’t fall in love with whoever he wants to? Feelings come as they do. You can’t always control that sort of thing.”

SaRa began to slip on her sandals. “Well, if you’re too chicken, I’m not.”

“Oh, reaaaally? You don’t know what you’re up against.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she frowned at him, crossing her arms.

“He’s practically three times your size, SaRa,” Zento teased. “I’d like to see you try to take him on.”

“Well, I guess I’ll just have to get a step ladder.”

“Whaaaaat?”

SaRa brushed down her robes and made a purposeful march towards the door. “You heard me, Zento. I’m going to have a talking with that Dreigiau one way or another. So you might as well fess up on where he is.”

“I think he’s still in Tsu’s quarters, but I’m not sure.”

She grabbed a hold of her brother’s shirt-front and began to tug him along through the halls, “Show me.”

“Now, just wa-wait a sec!” he stammered. “Shouldn’t you think about this a little bit before you burst in there demanding to see Zemi about–”

“Eh!” SaRa pulled up short as the shadows at her feet loomed large. She took a step back, running into Zento.

“Ommph!” his mouth opened in complaint only to close as realization dawned. His eyes darted up at the towering silhouette in front of them.

“See me about what?” a voice rumbled from within the shadow.

“About… about…” SaRa suddenly found her mind devoid of word or thought.

One step. Then another. Slowly, the tall Arweinydd strode into the lighted area of the hall, his features becoming clear as he drew closer. With a droll, fangy smirk, he stuck his nose straight down into SaRa’s face. It was obvious by the chortle in his voice that he was having the time of his life.

“I gotcha, didn’t I?” he rocked backwards in a huge barking laugh.

“ZEMI DREIGIAU!” SaRa could hardly contain herself.

At the sound of his laughter, she didn’t even try. Instead, she tackled the Arweinydd around his waist, hugging him like a little girl. For the first time in many years, they were all together again. And despite their struggles, it felt as if for a single moment in time, everything was as it should have been.

-Continued in Dreigiau Book 2-