Ohh… Kaze… er… Zemi… er… whoever! You’re in big trouble next time I catch you!
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.
