A Song of Snow and Ashes by S.J. Drew
that building," it said, pointing to a well-lit tavern.
"Thanks. You can go now."
It bowed and melted into the shadows.
Aolani was sitting with five other people her age near the window, which meant Donnan could get a fairly good view of what was going on from the alleyway. She was laughing and talking, and holding the hand of one young man. Every person she was with was well-dressed and clearly from the upper class. The tavern itself seemed to cater to the young and wealthy. He watched for nearly an hour as they ate their meals, ordered drinks, and generally enjoyed themselves. When it started to rain, he decided he should head home. He stepped into the shadows and returned to the apartment.
Alain had already left.
"Probably went out to eat," he thought. "She may believe in equality and all that, but all her friends are rich people. I guess I should have known. Those are the types of people she'd know. She tutors me, but she's friends with the well-off and well-educated. I bet if she wasn't tutoring me, she'd forget she ever met me. I'm not the person she'd make friends with on her own, much less get romantically involved with." He put those bitter thoughts aside and took up reading, until he felt tired and went to bed. His dreams were dark and disturbed.
"You didn't sleep last night, did you?" asked Jomei.
She shook her head.
"Why not?"
"I needed to do some thinking."
He paused, but she seemed disinclined to explain further. "Well, let's get started with your language studies."
"Tell me about Davin," she said suddenly.
"Davin?" It took him a moment to put a face to the name. "Oh, yes. Him."
She raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound good."
"Well, honestly no one here knows too much about him except that he comes from the Charred Land. He came here few months ago, angry and worse for wear. He was taken in, of course, but he's clearly not here to be a fighter. That's made him something of an outcast. I've tried talking with him, but all I could get was that his family had recently died, and he had nowhere else to go. He tends to keep to himself, and isn't really friends with the young men because he doesn't want to be a warrior."
"Maybe he just doesn't know how to fight," she offered.
"No. He knows how to fight, and quite well. I have kept an eye on him, as I keep an eye on everyone here. He often goes off by himself to practice. He did get into a bit of a fight before you showed up, and unfortunately won."
"Unfortunately?"
"Yes. The men thought he didn't fight because he couldn't, which is forgivable to them. Finding out that he can fight but doesn't is an unforgivable attitude. After all, the younger men are here to fight. It doesn't help that he's not entirely subtle about the disdain he has for this warrior mentality."
She thought this over for a moment. "Yes, I think that fits."
"Why do you ask?"
"We've talked a few times."
"Oh. Well, can I give you a bit of advice?"
"Sure."
"Of the men to make friends with, he's probably not your best choice. He is a strange young man, with strange ways, and those strange violet eyes.”
It hadn’t occurred to Eliora until that moment that Davin’s eye color might be odd. In her home country, nearly everyone had brown eyes so any other color at all was highly unusual.
The priest continued, “He has a certain Darkness in his soul, and keeps a lot hidden inside. I think Aidan's a much better choice."
She picked up on some innuendo in his statement, but decided to respond at face value. "Because Davin is char-kin?"
"Where did you hear that word?"
"Aidan referred to Davin as char-kin. It didn't sound very nice."
"It isn't nice. It is a derogatory term used for someone from the Charred Lands. It implies the person is some sort of scoundrel, usually a thief or a liar. But that's not why I think you should be careful. The young man is very dark and secretive."
She nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind."
"Shall we move on to language lessons?"
"Will the Council or the community ever accept me?"
He sighed. "Honestly, I don't think so. Everything about you is so foreign to the people here, and no one understands why the gods have decided to appoint Avatars, so basically I'm afraid you're never going to be part of the community."
"Even if I become a warrior?"
"That will earn you more respect from the people here, especially the Council and the young men, but it will serve to set you farther apart because women don't become warriors."
"And if I try to do everything the Council expects of me, what will that get me? Respect? Acceptance? Will they start listening to my opinions or what I want? Will I even be included in their decision making?" she asked earnestly.
He sighed again. "Quite honestly, I don't know. Certainly they would be pleased that you're behaving as they expect. But I don't think that would get you respect or acceptance. I also don't think you'll be involved in decision making. Once the StormBringer makes his move, I expect the Council will be busy working out a plan, and then will tell you what they need you to do."
She nodded. "Yes, that's what I thought." She looked up at him, with fire in her eyes. "This absolutely won't do. I can't force them to accept me, but I refuse to be held in contempt. They will learn respect."
"What?" he blurted, taken aback by the look in her eyes. "What're you going to do about it?"
"Take over, of course."
"You can't be serious."
She looked at him sharply. "You doubt me?" she countered, a rumble in her voice. The lamps and fireplace briefly flared blue and hot.
"N-no," he stammered, catching a glimpse of the power she concealed within her.
Then she smiled and the moment passed. "Good. I really don't like resorting to bluffing, but it's really the only choice."
"You mean you don't really want to take over?" he asked, confused.
"No. I don't know nearly enough to be an effective leader. But if I can make the Council think I want to lead, perhaps they'll start to give me more respect. I'm sure I can prove I'm effective warrior. Hopefully that will cure them of their prejudices. At least for a little while."
"But the young men say you're no good at gambling games."
"That's because I have no luck. There's no point in bluffing if all you're holding is a pair of threes. I think my hand is considerably stronger in this," she replied.
He half-laughed, still uncertain about this sudden determination and bold attitude. "It won't be easy to bluff these men."
"Well, that's why you're going to help me. We both know that in the end, whenever that may be, I will have to face the ShadowWalker, and I'll have to do it alone. I don't want to be uninformed and untrained when that happens. I really don't think the Council wants that either."
"You do have a point there," he sighed. "What can I do to help?"
She smiled. "Thank you. I need you to get me books on the culture and history of this area of the world. I think I'm fluent enough in your language to actually read and understand them now. And I want to know what the Council is doing."
"I can get you the books, but I've been entrusted to the Council's confidence. I can't betray that."
"Then I'll need some other way to find out what they're doing. I don't want to be left out. I need information. I need the news from the rest of this area of the world. And despite what they may think, I've always been told I have an excellent grasp of politics and strategy. Now I suppose that will be put to the test. If this bluff works, I'd better have some idea of what I'm talking about."
"I'll tell you what they're doing," he sighed. "I don't need you to get into trouble trying to spy on them."
"Thank you. I know you're risking your own status by helping me like this."
"Well, my allegiance is really to a higher power. Since you are the direct servant o
f that power, my allegiance should be to you over them. Not that the Council would like to hear that."
"They're probably afraid they'll lose their power as I gain mine," she remarked thoughtfully. "And perhaps they will. But that's something they must deal with. I'm not going to let their fears and prejudices hold me back anymore. They must learn to respect me, even if they don't like me. I am the LightBearer, and that's certainly no bluff."
"You surprise me, Eliora. I knew that the Light One would pick a good Avatar, and I'm glad you've decided to not let the Council dictate your actions. I warn you, though, they won't like this."
"I know, but this is bigger than what they like or dislike. I'm glad you've decided to help me. Now I can get all the news and information I need, and they won't know what I'm doing until I'm ready to tell them."
"Bluffs do work better when they're unexpected," he agreed. "Well, then, let's get started."
When lunch came, she ignored the odd looks she was still receiving, and proceeded to her fighting lesson.
"Are you going to pay attention today?" Aidan asked, looking annoyed.
"Can I hit you?"
"What?"
"Can I hit you? With my full strength?" she clarified patiently, but that fire was still in her eyes.
"You mean you've been pulling your punches all this time?"
She nodded. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"Well, damn. Yes, Eliora. Hit me. Hit me as hard as you want."
"Alright." They started to walk to the practice area. The ground was soggy and slippery from the rain.
"Actually, give me one minute," he said suddenly, and went to the gym. When he returned, he wearing considerably more armor than
"Thanks. You can go now."
It bowed and melted into the shadows.
Aolani was sitting with five other people her age near the window, which meant Donnan could get a fairly good view of what was going on from the alleyway. She was laughing and talking, and holding the hand of one young man. Every person she was with was well-dressed and clearly from the upper class. The tavern itself seemed to cater to the young and wealthy. He watched for nearly an hour as they ate their meals, ordered drinks, and generally enjoyed themselves. When it started to rain, he decided he should head home. He stepped into the shadows and returned to the apartment.
Alain had already left.
"Probably went out to eat," he thought. "She may believe in equality and all that, but all her friends are rich people. I guess I should have known. Those are the types of people she'd know. She tutors me, but she's friends with the well-off and well-educated. I bet if she wasn't tutoring me, she'd forget she ever met me. I'm not the person she'd make friends with on her own, much less get romantically involved with." He put those bitter thoughts aside and took up reading, until he felt tired and went to bed. His dreams were dark and disturbed.
"You didn't sleep last night, did you?" asked Jomei.
She shook her head.
"Why not?"
"I needed to do some thinking."
He paused, but she seemed disinclined to explain further. "Well, let's get started with your language studies."
"Tell me about Davin," she said suddenly.
"Davin?" It took him a moment to put a face to the name. "Oh, yes. Him."
She raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound good."
"Well, honestly no one here knows too much about him except that he comes from the Charred Land. He came here few months ago, angry and worse for wear. He was taken in, of course, but he's clearly not here to be a fighter. That's made him something of an outcast. I've tried talking with him, but all I could get was that his family had recently died, and he had nowhere else to go. He tends to keep to himself, and isn't really friends with the young men because he doesn't want to be a warrior."
"Maybe he just doesn't know how to fight," she offered.
"No. He knows how to fight, and quite well. I have kept an eye on him, as I keep an eye on everyone here. He often goes off by himself to practice. He did get into a bit of a fight before you showed up, and unfortunately won."
"Unfortunately?"
"Yes. The men thought he didn't fight because he couldn't, which is forgivable to them. Finding out that he can fight but doesn't is an unforgivable attitude. After all, the younger men are here to fight. It doesn't help that he's not entirely subtle about the disdain he has for this warrior mentality."
She thought this over for a moment. "Yes, I think that fits."
"Why do you ask?"
"We've talked a few times."
"Oh. Well, can I give you a bit of advice?"
"Sure."
"Of the men to make friends with, he's probably not your best choice. He is a strange young man, with strange ways, and those strange violet eyes.”
It hadn’t occurred to Eliora until that moment that Davin’s eye color might be odd. In her home country, nearly everyone had brown eyes so any other color at all was highly unusual.
The priest continued, “He has a certain Darkness in his soul, and keeps a lot hidden inside. I think Aidan's a much better choice."
She picked up on some innuendo in his statement, but decided to respond at face value. "Because Davin is char-kin?"
"Where did you hear that word?"
"Aidan referred to Davin as char-kin. It didn't sound very nice."
"It isn't nice. It is a derogatory term used for someone from the Charred Lands. It implies the person is some sort of scoundrel, usually a thief or a liar. But that's not why I think you should be careful. The young man is very dark and secretive."
She nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind."
"Shall we move on to language lessons?"
"Will the Council or the community ever accept me?"
He sighed. "Honestly, I don't think so. Everything about you is so foreign to the people here, and no one understands why the gods have decided to appoint Avatars, so basically I'm afraid you're never going to be part of the community."
"Even if I become a warrior?"
"That will earn you more respect from the people here, especially the Council and the young men, but it will serve to set you farther apart because women don't become warriors."
"And if I try to do everything the Council expects of me, what will that get me? Respect? Acceptance? Will they start listening to my opinions or what I want? Will I even be included in their decision making?" she asked earnestly.
He sighed again. "Quite honestly, I don't know. Certainly they would be pleased that you're behaving as they expect. But I don't think that would get you respect or acceptance. I also don't think you'll be involved in decision making. Once the StormBringer makes his move, I expect the Council will be busy working out a plan, and then will tell you what they need you to do."
She nodded. "Yes, that's what I thought." She looked up at him, with fire in her eyes. "This absolutely won't do. I can't force them to accept me, but I refuse to be held in contempt. They will learn respect."
"What?" he blurted, taken aback by the look in her eyes. "What're you going to do about it?"
"Take over, of course."
"You can't be serious."
She looked at him sharply. "You doubt me?" she countered, a rumble in her voice. The lamps and fireplace briefly flared blue and hot.
"N-no," he stammered, catching a glimpse of the power she concealed within her.
Then she smiled and the moment passed. "Good. I really don't like resorting to bluffing, but it's really the only choice."
"You mean you don't really want to take over?" he asked, confused.
"No. I don't know nearly enough to be an effective leader. But if I can make the Council think I want to lead, perhaps they'll start to give me more respect. I'm sure I can prove I'm effective warrior. Hopefully that will cure them of their prejudices. At least for a little while."
"But the young men say you're no good at gambling games."
"That's because I have no luck. There's no point in bluffing if all you're holding is a pair of threes. I think my hand is considerably stronger in this," she replied.
He half-laughed, still uncertain about this sudden determination and bold attitude. "It won't be easy to bluff these men."
"Well, that's why you're going to help me. We both know that in the end, whenever that may be, I will have to face the ShadowWalker, and I'll have to do it alone. I don't want to be uninformed and untrained when that happens. I really don't think the Council wants that either."
"You do have a point there," he sighed. "What can I do to help?"
She smiled. "Thank you. I need you to get me books on the culture and history of this area of the world. I think I'm fluent enough in your language to actually read and understand them now. And I want to know what the Council is doing."
"I can get you the books, but I've been entrusted to the Council's confidence. I can't betray that."
"Then I'll need some other way to find out what they're doing. I don't want to be left out. I need information. I need the news from the rest of this area of the world. And despite what they may think, I've always been told I have an excellent grasp of politics and strategy. Now I suppose that will be put to the test. If this bluff works, I'd better have some idea of what I'm talking about."
"I'll tell you what they're doing," he sighed. "I don't need you to get into trouble trying to spy on them."
"Thank you. I know you're risking your own status by helping me like this."
"Well, my allegiance is really to a higher power. Since you are the direct servant o
"They're probably afraid they'll lose their power as I gain mine," she remarked thoughtfully. "And perhaps they will. But that's something they must deal with. I'm not going to let their fears and prejudices hold me back anymore. They must learn to respect me, even if they don't like me. I am the LightBearer, and that's certainly no bluff."
"You surprise me, Eliora. I knew that the Light One would pick a good Avatar, and I'm glad you've decided to not let the Council dictate your actions. I warn you, though, they won't like this."
"I know, but this is bigger than what they like or dislike. I'm glad you've decided to help me. Now I can get all the news and information I need, and they won't know what I'm doing until I'm ready to tell them."
"Bluffs do work better when they're unexpected," he agreed. "Well, then, let's get started."
When lunch came, she ignored the odd looks she was still receiving, and proceeded to her fighting lesson.
"Are you going to pay attention today?" Aidan asked, looking annoyed.
"Can I hit you?"
"What?"
"Can I hit you? With my full strength?" she clarified patiently, but that fire was still in her eyes.
"You mean you've been pulling your punches all this time?"
She nodded. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"Well, damn. Yes, Eliora. Hit me. Hit me as hard as you want."
"Alright." They started to walk to the practice area. The ground was soggy and slippery from the rain.
"Actually, give me one minute," he said suddenly, and went to the gym. When he returned, he wearing considerably more armor than