Frozen Prospects

Chapter 5

Between the long journey from Screaming Wind Village, and the two hours of one-armed weapons practice I'rone had put him through, Va'del was possibly the most tired he'd ever been, but he didn't really care. Not even the normal cycle's worth of law homework was enough to discourage him.

As Va'del shifted his sleeping mat so that it would shield him from the cold wall he was leaning against, Jasmin came over and asked to look at his arm. "It is healing up nicely now. I think we'll probably be able to pull the splint off tomorrow morning before we set out."

"Thanks. It will be nice to be able to switch which hand is holding Sleepy's guide rope."

Hearing her name, the gurra bleated from the darkened corner serving as a holding area for the animals.

Va'del and Jasmin both laughed. Jasmin looked over to the far end of the cavern where I'rone and Betreec were engaged in a discussion of their own, and then leaned in and whispered. "Last night when I worked on your arm I also made a little change that will make it easier for you to put on muscle for the next little while."

The teenager felt his eyes go big, but remembering he'd told her he was ready for whatever changes were necessary to become a Guadel, he stammered his quiet thanks as Jasmin continued. "It isn't quite tradition, we aren't supposed to make changes like that until you are approved by the Council and become an actual Guadel. I'rone definitely wouldn't approve; he's a firm believer in pain and suffering, but as hard as you seem determined to work yourself, I thought maybe you could use a little help. Besides, it isn't as though I'm building it for you like we do to keep I'rone in top shape. I'm just making it a little easier for you to put it on yourself."

Before Va'del could open his mouth to thank her again Jasmin shook her head. "This is the least I can do. I'm only sorry that we couldn't come sooner. Most of us suspected things were getting bad at Bitter Rocks, but if I'd had any idea how poorly you were being treated I would have found a way to convince I'rone and Betreec to defy the Council and come put Ma'del in his place.

Va'del knew that most people tried to frame their past actions in such a way as to make themselves look better. Jas'per, for one, had excelled at the practice, but he somehow knew Jasmin really meant every word of what she'd just said. Nearly overcome by emotion, he momentarily found it a little hard to breathe.

Smiling once again as if to relieve the seriousness of the moment, Jasmin handed him a piece of hard bread made from dried, ground mushrooms that they'd been given at the last village. "I'd better let you get back to work. You still need to perform your meditation and relaxation exercises."

A little more than a cycle later, Va'del found himself in bed listening to the others breathing. Is this what it feels like to have a family? It has been so long I can’t really remember, but I think so. Jasmin, at least, is starting to feel like an older sister.

Two days later, the group found itself in the last way cave before the village furthest from the Capital. Once everything was unpacked in the sprawling, multi-roomed cavern, Betreec went outside to get a feel for the weather while I'rone started into weapons instruction with Va'del.

Mindful of the fact that Jasmin had told him he should be starting to put muscle on more quickly than normal, Va'del tried to determine if it was any easier to hold his practice sword at the ready as his feet slowly crept across the rough surface of the cave floor. Maybe a little easier. It's hard to tell, but it's still pretty early after the change.

I'rone whipped the slender length of his steel practice weapon around in a cut at Va'del's head that the teenager ducked before riposting with a stab that the older man gently deflected to the side with his dagger.

The pair moved back and forth across the floor raining blows down on each other for half a cycle before I'rone signaled an end. The Guadel then set Va'del to practicing specific parries and blows by himself while I'rone began his own exercises.

I know I'm not pressing him yet, and he's being very careful not to press me too hard, but I'm getting better. In fact I think with my longer reach I could probably take Jas'per now.

A cycle later I'rone patted Va'del on the back and gestured for him to go do his reading and meditation. After thanking the Guadel for instructing him, Va'del walked over to Betreec who'd been staring at a yellow sapphire since shortly after she had finished her portion of the unpacking.

Looking up with a smile, Betreec rubbed her temples. "I'm sorry, were you waiting long?"

Va'del shook his head. "No, I just came over. Can I ask what you were doing?"

"Jasmin said she showed you the Heart Stone when we were at the village?"

The teen felt a thrill of excitement. "You're making another Heart Stone?"

Betreec shook her head. "No, nothing so ambitious or grand as that. It’s just another sphere that will give off heat similarly to how the Heart Stone works, but not as powerful or hot. Each time we increase the number of Guadel on patrol, we have to provide them with light, heat, a way to keep the wind out, and a way to thicken the air up if they have to spend the night at too high of an altitude."

Jasmin came over from where she'd been cooking dinner and ruffled Va'del's hair despite his attempt to duck away. "Alternatively, anytime the Council decides to try and start a new village, the same kinds of things are needed."

Va'del was suddenly struck by the amount of time associated with each sphere, and the sheer number of spheres in a given village. "That is incredible, how often do we establish a new village?"

The younger of the two women smiled at the teenager, once again seeming to know where his thoughts were headed. "Not very often. The women among the Guadel, especially those who are at the Capital for some reason or another, spend thousands of cycles preparing the things necessary for such an event. That is why He'lo's request was so unusual. Once a village is established, the healer is the one who typically provides those kinds of things."

Betreec nodded, "On the other hand, if it allows the People as a whole to become less dependent on bringing food up from the lowlanders, the Council will be inclined to approve it. Especially if He'lo is really prepared to forgo a large amount of the goods that his jewels otherwise would entitle him to."

Jasmin rose to her feet again and gestured for Va'del to follow her back to his sleeping mat. "Betreec has agreed to forgo your usual legal instruction tonight so that we can spend some more time on your meditation."

Va'del suppressed a groan. "Great more hours of imagining curtains parting, ice melting and picks chipping away at rock walls. It's gotten to where I dream about those things more nights than not. I don't suppose you'll tell me the point behind all of this?"

Jasmin shook her head. "Nope, a little frustrated curiosity is good for you. If it makes you feel any better, though, you seem to be doing quite well."

The group had been traveling for about a third of the day across the hard snow when Va'del noticed a curious, high-pitched whistling. The sound was so unnatural he immediately fell back far enough to ask Jasmin about it.

Jasmin's eyes suddenly got big and then lost focus briefly. Va'del turned in time to see I'rone's coat whip through the still air as though in a wind. The curious action was repeated three times, but by the second, I'rone had stopped walking and started scanning their surroundings with even more than his usual care.

Jasmin gave Va'del a gentle push to get him started, and the pair quickly rejoined I'rone and Betreec.

Panting slightly from exertion and nervousness, Jamsin leaned toward I'rone, speaking quietly. "Va'del heard high-pitched whistling ahead."

I'rone took a deep breath and then nodded. "Bag'ligs."

Va'del felt his blood run cold. I thought they were just myths, the kinds of things parents threaten misbehaving children with.

I'rone handed his gurra's lead rope to Betreec, who sunk to the ground and closed her eyes.

Jasmin pulled on Va'del's arm to get his attention, her voice the barest whisper. "Don't panic. Do exactly as I'rone tells you, and we should have a chance unless it is a particularly large tribe."

Taking the lead rope to Va'del's gurra, Jasmin closed her eyes and sat down as well.

I'rone had drawn both of his weapons, and was moving with the deadly grace and controlled menace Va'del remembered from back in Bitter Rocks.

The first squat, ugly shapes came around a spur of rock, and Va'del felt his heart speed up as they were joined by more and more of the hairy, long-armed beasts.

There are so many of them.

I'rone gestured Va'del closer, and then looked at the teenager with a kind of grim anticipation. "They'll attack as a single group. Follow and guard my back. If we can keep them from surrounding us, we have a chance."

For all that the Guadel gave the impression he was reigning himself back, his strides devoured ground at such a rate Va'del had to nearly run to keep up. The teenager drew his weapons once he caught up to I'rone, and then the pair waited for the dark mass to reach them.

There can't be more than ten or so of them, it’s all just like practice. Don't forget to breath.

One moment, the creatures were creeping towards the humans before them, and then suddenly they were running. As the two groups crashed together Va'del was too focused on staying alive to have energy for rational thought.

I'rone cut down the first two bag'ligs to reach him with brutal arcs of his sword that left gaping wounds, and then carried the fight forward. I'rone seemed to slide effortlessly around attacks, stabbing and slashing with an ease that made his heavy weapons appear weightless, but even his momentum was finally overcome by the sheer mass of biting and clawing forms before him, at which point, Va'del was able to catch up.

The teenager swung his sword as hard as he could at one of the creatures that was trying to edge through the bloody snow around I'rone's right side, and nearly lost his weapon as it sliced into the creature's flesh.

The next few minutes of fighting were a blur of dodges and desperate parries interspersed with blows that just served to keep the bag'ligs from swarming I'rone under.

As suddenly as the charge had started, it ended, and Va'del found himself collapsing to the ground, his weapons falling from numb hands, as I'rone gracefully dispatched the last of the creatures.

Va'del tried to get back to his feet, but his body seemed unwilling to respond. While he was still trying to find his feet, I'rone easily picked him up and slung him over a shoulder. The sight of the bloody snow sliding away below him faded away to nothing as he momentarily passed out.

Va'del came to as Jasmin stripped off what was left of his coat to bind four large slashes that’d somehow appeared on his ribs.

"I don't remember those. I guess I didn't dodge everything I thought I had."

Jasmin shook her head in exasperation as she worked, but a sound off to the left captured his attention before he could ask her what was wrong.

Looking around, Va'del saw that I'rone was undergoing much the same procedure from Betreec, although for a collection of much shallower wounds. The massive Guadel looked over and once he realized Va'del was awake, a broad grin flashed across his face. "Good job. Very good indeed."

The trip the rest of the way to the village was blessedly short, and once Jasmin had him properly bandaged, Va'del was able to make it under his own power with only a small amount of stumbling. Even so, when the group found itself inside the dark tunnel leading to the village, Va'del's knees nearly buckled with relief.

A greater than usual number of guards had been stationed at the mouth of the cave, and once Betreec explained that they'd already dispatched the bag'ligs, there was no end of hands that were willing to steady Va'del, help unpack the gurra, and carry the Guadel's bags to the guest quarters.

When Va'del finally woke, it was several cycles past mid morning. He felt more than a little sheepish at having slept in so late until he tried to sit up and the motion pulled at his wounds.

Betreec must have heard him shuffling around. She came to check on him while he was still trying to gather the things he'd need for a bath. "How do you feel?"

Va'del's groan was quite theatrical, but he honestly felt better than he'd expected to and said as much.

"Jasmin accelerated the healing process and fought off an infection already. You should be more or less back to normal in a day or so."

The Guadel shifted from one foot to the other in a way that Va'del had come to realize meant that she was trying to figure out the best way to phrase a question. Finally the older woman sighed and just asked it.

"What is driving this sudden change? You've attacked your weapons instruction, the legal readings you've been given, and even your meditation with a gusto that’s markedly different than the first little while you were with us? Frankly it has me more than a little worried."

Va'del felt confusion settle on him. "I don't understand. I thought you'd be happy I was doing so much better. I thought you'd be pleased."

Betreec sighed, "I am happy, and I don't suppose all of this really makes much sense, but the fact you're doing better isn't any more important than the reason you've decided to change. Why are you're working so much harder."

Tears started to form in the corners of Va'del's eyes. "My whole life I've been picked on and ridiculed. I've always been different, and different has always been bad."

The teenager wiped the nascent tears away. "Now you tell me those differences are part of what makes me potentially able to become like I'rone and I want that more than anything, so I can help people too."

Looking Betreec in the eyes, Va'del tried to will her to know the truth of what he was saying. "The widow at the last village, we were her only hope of justice, and we gave it to her. I want to help those like me, the ones without anywhere else to turn."

The older woman finally sighed and pulled Va'del towards her in a hug. "That’s what Jasmin said you'd say, but we had to be sure. To be able to right wrongs, we have to have power beyond that of most people, and that power is easily misused by those who seek power simply for power's sake."

Va'del looked up at Betreec through eyes that were blurry once more. "Does that mean you aren't going to send me away?"

"No, we aren't going to send you away, and if you continue to be the same thoughtful, caring young man you are right now, I have every confidence you’ll someday make a very fine Guadel."

For Va'del, the rest of the day had mostly been spent reading law books and meditating while Jasmin had tested a variety of scared-looking girls and anxious young men for the qualities that would make them potential Guadel or healers.

Under normal circumstances, the teenager would have been itching to get out of bed and do something physical, but whatever Jasmin had done to make him heal faster had exhausted him. Just a few cycles after he awoke for the day, he found himself lying back down and falling asleep for the night.

The next morning found Va'del awake at his usual time, keyed up and ready for weapons practice.

Surprisingly enough, I'rone had chosen to have Va'del practice with some of the guardsmen, and the teenager quickly realized just how much better he'd become since he'd left home. I'm not the best here, but I'm not the worst either, and some of the people he's matched me up against are blooded from fights against bag'ligs.

I'rone, on the other hand, was the best present, and not by a small margin. The massive Guadel was skilled enough he could take the two next best fighters three fights out of five, but watching his mentor in between fights, Va'del was struck not by I'rone's unquestionable skill, but rather by the fact he seemed just a pale shadow of the warrior the teen had seen cut down eight bag'ligs with almost negligent ease.

Suddenly bits and pieces of things Jasmin had said over the last few weeks combined with observations he'd made, creating a picture he somehow knew was right. His wives, they're somehow making him more than human.

Once I'rone released him from practice, Va'del sought out Jasmin. "You and Betreec did something to make I'rone so much faster during the fight with the bag'ligs didn't you? You make him faster and stronger.

Jasmin put the harness she's been mending down and nodded. "You're right. I'rone is amazing by himself, but it is the augmentation Betreec and I do that makes him capable of fighting off three or four opponents. Of course, you must not ever let anyone in the villages know that. If they find out, the female Guadel would be even more vulnerable than they are already."

Va'del nodded in understanding, "So the exercises you are having me do are what makes it possible for someone to link?"

Jasmin's eyes suddenly lit up. "Yes, and now that you know what they are for there isn't any reason we can't link to show you what it’s like."

Stretching tired muscles, the teen shrugged. "If you say so, I would have thought it'd be proscribed."

"Well, it is frowned upon. Usually you wouldn't link until just before you were accepted by the Council, but Stephens' bloodline has always been more than a little unorthodox. I'rone and Betreec have more or less approved the idea, so let’s give it a try. If this all works, go back out to I'rone and he'll put you through your paces."

Va'del soon found himself meditating cross-legged on one of the thick rugs that protected the guest rooms' inhabitants from the icy cold of the rock floor.

Having a purpose to the exercises somehow made it easier to focus on the melting walls of ice, to ignore the vague sense of pressure on the outside of his mind. Va'del found he was able to vividly picture the trickling streams of water rolling down the ice, weakening it to the point where a simple push would shatter it, and then Jasmin was suddenly inside his mind.

The Guadel's presence seemed to snap into place with a mental pop, and tired muscles were suddenly energized as everything slowed down to a snail's pace. The web of light Jasmin was creating inside Va'del's mind became more intricate, and the effect increased until his body seemed to hum with power and energy.

Rising to his feet and snatching up his practice weapons, the teenager found that even a task as mundane as walking had somehow changed. The faster Va'del tried to walk, the more the cool air seemed to resist his efforts, but it didn't matter as much as it would have otherwise because his body felt strong and seemed to welcome the fight. If nothing else, it represented a way to bleed off some of the energy flickering back and forth between his limbs.

The walk out to the cavern where I'rone and the guards were practicing seemed to take far longer than normal, but once Va'del arrived and saw how slowly everyone was moving he realized just how much faster he was really moving.

I'rone looked up from the practice forms he'd been doing, and Va'del had the satisfaction of seeing the Guadel's eyes slowly widen.

At I'rone's command, the guardsmen in the cavern stopped what they were doing and fell back to create a circle. The process was slow enough Va'del found his attention wandering to other things, like the subtle tightness of his skin where his muscles had swollen beyond their normal size, or the pleasant sense of warmth flowing from his navel out to the rest of his body.

Looking up Va'del saw that three of the guardsmen had remained in the circle, and were slowly bringing their weapons up in a salute to him. An incredible sense of eagerness washed over the teenager, and he drew his own practice weapons and returned their salute while walking forward.

Normally it would have looked like the guardsmen attacked as one, but Va'del found he had plenty of time in which to analyze their expressions and determine who would strike first. It then became a simple matter to intercept the first blow with his sword while sliding far enough to the right that the second guardsman's strike was easily parried with his dagger.

The normally complicated task of monitoring two weapons had become easy due to the simple fact that Va'del found himself with plenty of time to shift his attention back and forth between the two, ensuring each was moving in a perfect arc to land where he wanted it.

The third guardsman was a heartbeat behind his fellows, and Va'del took advantage of their dispersion to snap his foot out in one of the powerful kicks I'rone had been teaching him. The blow took the guardsman in the side and launched him back into the spectators.

The first two guardsmen had disengaged and attacked again, but Va'del easily dodged the first blow while parrying the second with his dagger. Before either opponent could recover, Va'del's sword licked out and gave each what would have been mortal wounds.

A sudden whistling sound from behind the teenager clued him into a new attack, but the air seemed to push against him as he tried to spin around, slowing him just enough that I'rone's sword gently bounced against his ribs.

As quickly as that, the world returned to normal, speeding up until it was just as he remembered it, and Va'del was left panting from exertion.

I'rone clapped his protege on the back. "Good. The blade you don't see will be the one that ends up marking you." Giving the young man a gentle push, I'rone sent him back to the guest quarters, where he found Jasmin asleep.

Betreec came out of the other room and smiled at Va'del. "The poor thing is exhausted, but she'll be ok after a good day's rest. She burned up her reserves during the fight with the bag'ligs and with the testing we've been doing hasn't had a good chance to replenish them yet."

The euphoric high Va'del had felt after seeing how the guardsmen had been looking at him came crashing down as he realized what it had cost Jasmin. "You're sure she'll be ok?"

The older wife nodded. "She's fine. She has a good heart that one, but even so, she wouldn't exhaust herself like that for just anyone. You're important to her, important to us all really, but especially her."

Va'del nodded past the lump in his throat. The feeling he'd finally found a family was back, and somehow he didn't think it would ever leave. As long as I have these three, I'll never be quite so alone again.

Chapter 6