“I can’t believe it!” AsaHi stared at the map. She turned it upside down. She turned it backwards and forwards. No matter how she looked at it, it said the same thing. “The map says it should be right here. But I don’t see anything here at all!”
“Maybe it was eaten?”
AsaHi blinked at Kaze. He had a strange way of attributing the loss of things to being eaten. Considering he didn’t seem to need to eat, she found it rather unusual.
When the fire-maker disappeared, it had been “eaten.” When her bracelet came up missing, it had been “eaten.” When the hairbrush, which was ironically the item Kaze most disliked, had vanished, it had been “eaten.”
Each time she gently explained to him that things like that went “missing.” They were not “eaten.” Yet, it still seemed a mistaken phrase that he was fond of.
“Kaze…”
He looked at her, “I know. You will say, ‘Places not eaten.’ Right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Places can’t be eaten. A city isn’t food.”
“Depends,” he beamed his trademark sly grin.
It really unnerved her when he smiled that way. It was as if there was something terribly important that he knew that she did not… and he was not about to indulge in telling her.
When the girl didn’t reply, a concerned expression replaced the clever grin, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m afraid that we might be lost,” AsaHi admitted. “I thought I was following the map exactly. I mean, this is where I was told to go. But nothing’s here. Maybe I did something wrong?”
Kaze took the map from her and studied it for a while. Then he leaned back on his heels, folding both hands behind his head. In a very deliberate way, he turned his gaze towards the blue expanse of sky. AsaHi was tempted to look up, too. When she did, she saw nothing more than the bottoms of the high-rising clouds.
He cracked another big fangy smile.
“Kaze, do you know something?”
“Maybe,” his tone was teasing.
“Please, this isn’t a time to joke,” AsaHi frowned up at him.
His face remained unabashed. Then he pointed upwards. The girl’s eyes followed his indication.
“There are many people,” he told her with a curt nod.
“What?” She squinted upward, “How can that be? People don’t live in the clouds, Kaze.”
“Maybe they do now,” he didn’t seem to be joking this time.
Aunt SaRa said that the place I was going to was special. Could it be that it really is somewhere up in the sky?
“Are you certain?” she asked.
“Many people there,” he reassured her quickly. “Not feel them?”
She shook her head. All she could do was peer up, squinting at the wide bellies of the clouds in wonderment.
What if he’s right? What if there are really…
Lost in her pondering, AsaHi did not hear Kaze’s warning growl.
The girl spun just in time to see the blur of silver metal and hear the crack of stone. She gave a startled cry, reeling back into Kaze’s chest, his large hands shielding her in a protective motion. AsaHi’s green eyes widened as she blinked up at her big companion, then back at the stone outcropping.
A glittering, wickedly-hooked blade was embedded into the rock. At one end, it was attached to a slender silver chain. Her eyes followed the snaky metal until her gaze fell on its source — a man.
He was tall and his white hair was streaked with the pale silver of weathered decades. Despite his age, his eyes were young and a brilliant, fiery green. His expression was fiercely intent, watching their every move with careful calculations. Between clenched fists he held the haft of a short-spear that was attached to the chain.
AsaHi choked. For, on his back, two great silvery-white wings arched proudly over his head.
What… is he? Where did he come from?
“I’m sorry but this is as far as you go,” the stranger flicked his wrist upwards, the scythed blade zipping back to fasten itself onto the end of the short spear.
“Is that so?” Kaze answered, his tone turning droll.
Despite the power of his gaze, the stranger’s face grew visibly uncomfortable at the sight of Kaze. Their eyes met in a long moment of silence. The air froze, growing rigid as estimations flickered between them.
Then, with a sweep of his wings, the stranger dropped from the rocks. An agile twist in mid-air sent the blurring sheen of blade speeding along the chain. The hook entrenched itself deeply into the stone inches from where Kaze was standing.
In turn, Kaze leapt and landed, balancing perfectly on the taunt extension of the chain. A smirk transformed his face, eyes sharp and serpent-like. He shot down the length of the steel, yanking the haft of the weapon from the winged man’s hands in one swipe. The weapon went skittering over the rock as if it had been nothing more than a toy.
The stranger stumbled back, his wings beating the air in attempt to catch his balance. Kaze’s face was blank as he pinned the man against the wall of rock, fists wrapping into the man’s tunic-front. Feathers rained down around them as the two men struggled.
“Kaze!” AsaHi shouted, a cold feeling rising in her chest. “Don’t hurt him!”
Very deliberately, Kaze lifted the winged man off of his feet, until they were eye to eye. The stranger’s face grew extremely pale, eyes rounding in a watery reflection of comprehension, as if seeing something very important for the first time.
“ZenToYa,” Kaze’s grating voice rippled through the silence. “You are brash. Just like I remembered.”
There was a mysterious twinkle in Kaze’s eyes, a dancing dapple of silver-flecked teal. The one he had just named as ZenToYa was staring back with open shock. The girl wasn’t certain who made the first move, but it came as a clasping of forearms in a greeting that could rival a spring afternoon in warmth. With a throaty sound, ZenToYa drew Kaze to him in a strong, almost brotherly embrace.
They act like they know each other… but how? Kaze is… Kaze. And the stranger… he is…
ZenToYa.
She knew that name. Who in Nefol didn’t?
SoYa’s father…
Legends spoke of him as the first man to learn the teachings of Lord Zemi. He was the one of the founders of the School and the first leader of Nefol. But, he died many years ago, the hero of a valiant battle in the Outterlands.
AsaHi had never met ZenToYa. She had only heard the tales of his great power and wit. A man who had a wild spirit that burned like that of his Patron. A man known for his powerful compassion for his people, both great and small.
Could it really be him? He didn’t deny the name. And that weapon he carries…
She could feel her pulse quicken as she watched him. Instantly, she could see the striking similarities between this man and his son… TsuYa. The girl bit down on her lip.
He looks nothing like SoYa.
Even though the years had worn his long white hair to a silvering sheen, there was something in the way he held himself that spoke of immense power. By far, the most unusual thing about him was the large pair of wings that arched from his shoulders. They sat folded calmly, as if they were perfectly natural.
I don’t believe it! This is ZenToYa? Right here in front of me?
As if he could hear her very thoughts, the stranger’s gaze fell upon her. AsaHi took a long step back.
“You’ll catch a fly if you leave your mouth open like that,” a warm smile spread over the man’s face. He took a slow, gentle step forward, reaching one hand towards her. Then with a kindly placed finger under her chin, the man motioned her mouth shut.
“Are you really…?” she heard herself ask.
“Really what?”
The girl stood, staring. She was unable to finish her question.
“Really–” he continued to prod gently. Then he began to offer her suggestions to finish the sentence, “–really this good looking all the time?”
“Uh?”
“Don’t be afraid,” ZenToYa gave her a quick wink. “That’s what all girls ask when they first lay eyes on me.”
AsaHi’s mouth had fallen open again.
“Ignore him. He is always this conceited,” Kaze gave a flickering grin of his own.
“Hey, what can I say? I learned from the best.”
The two gave barking laughs, their faces plainly speaking that they thought they were the most clever creatures in existence. AsaHi couldn’t help but screw her face up at the both of them.
Her voice was tremulous when it finally returned, attempting to break through the laughter, “Are you really Master ZenToYa?”
The stranger choked, face mirroring his sudden astonishment, “Eh? I’m no Master! Really!”
“I, uh…” AsaHi stared down at her feet.
Why can’t I say anything right? I’m making such a fool of myself in front of him!
“Hey, it’s okay! No harm done, right?” ZenToYa turned to look at Kaze.
Kaze simply shrugged and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets.
“See? It’s all good,” he assured her.
“How do you know Kaze?” the girl frowned at them both, her brow wrinkled.
“Kaze?” ZenToYa frowned in return. Then he turned his eyes towards the other man repeating, “Kaze?”
“Is the name she gave me. I like it,” Kaze replied with an unruffled face.
“Oh?” the winged man’s mouth reflected the shape of a letter “o” as the sound drew from his lips.
AsaHi cleared her throat, a worried curiosity issuing forth, “Why? I thought that Kaze was your name?”
Kaze gave a large fangy grin and patted the girl on the head, “Names are just… names. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
That’s when she realized that they had avoided not one question, but two. She tried rewording the approach, “You two know each other?”
“Yes,” Kaze nodded finally. He placed a strong arm around ZenToYa’s shoulders. “We’ve been good… friends… for long time.”
ZenToYa exclaimed, “And would you get a look at YOU! What happened? How?”
“You can thank her. She put up with me. A very long trip,” Kaze nodded towards the girl.
“I’m sorry,” the other man flashed a playful mock-pity face. His grin returned full force on Kaze. “Shoulda known it would take a woman to beat all the kinks out of you.”
AsaHi felt a huge flush rising over her cheeks, “Please, sir… I’m already Promised.”
“Is that so?” ZenToYa’s face was still wolfish.
She nodded shyly, “To your son, SoYa.”
He suddenly looked as if someone just dropped something extremely heavy on his foot, “Really?”
Kaze’s expression had grown inquisitive as well.
“Yes, sir.”
“Please, no formalities. You can just call me Zento,” he lifted his hands to her, “I… don’t believe I ever caught your name?”
“AsaHi,” she blurted, mouth growing dry.
A deeply sad and wistful expression crossed ZenToYa’s face, “SoYa… how is he? And TsuYa, do you know him too?”
“Yes, of course!” she was excited just to be able to hold some sort of conversation with this strange man of legend.
“Are they doing well?”
“Er, I may have left SoYa somewhat distressed. But other than that, both were well.”
ZenToYa turned to Kaze, shaking his head, “Last I saw them, they were only boys. And now, SoYa… Promised already. How fast they grow up!”
“Heh. That’s what I said about you,” Kaze replied.
ZenToYa then turned to her and gave a quick half-bow, “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Morh-AsaHi.”
The girl ventured to ask, “Why did you attack us?”
“Attack? What? No!” he shook his hair out vehemently. “I was trying to scare you off. I didn’t know who you were and we’ve had a lot of rather… unfriendly…. things making their way around here as of late. Lei’Igro have been the least of our worries.”
“Lei’ Igro?” she echoed slowly.
“Those without wings,” he explained.
Her breath caught, “You mean there are more people with wings?”
ZenToYa pursed his lips, “Before I answer that, can I ask you a question of my own?”
AsaHi nodded.
“How did you know where to find this place?” he asked.
The girl fumbled around in her pockets, finally fishing out the worn and wrinkled parchment map. She offered it to him with one quivering hand, “Aunt SaRa told me to come here.”
His eyes grew sharp in response, “SaRa?”
ZenToYa took the map and unfolded it carefully, as if it was one of the most precious things in the world. His face was soft as he studied the page. Finally, he cleared his throat and gave a choked response, “I see. So she did.”
“She is doing well, too,” AsaHi offered.
“I’m glad to hear it,” he paused. Gathering up the haft of his weapon and slinging it into a clasp at his hip, ZenToYa motioned to her. “I’m sure you have a million questions. It’s not often that we let Lei’ Igro into the city, but, this is an unusual circumstance.”
The girl fidgeted, a feeling of discomfort churning in her stomach as his eyes fell on her.
“Well. Never mind that,” ZenToYa took her gently by the elbow, his soft smile attempting to ease her fears. “Come with me, Morh-AsaHi. Some things in life are better seen than told.”
