A Song of Snow and Ashes by S.J. Drew

you wake me up sooner?" he demanded irritably.

  "I figured you needed to sleep," he shrugged. "Sometimes doing lots of magic wears out the clerics. I figured it was the same with you."

  "Yeah, alright. I'm starvin'. Where's that food you said you'd get, before you ran off like a scared rabbit?"

  "On the table. And I didn't run like a scared rabbit."

  "You did too," he snapped, and started to eat.

  He sighed. "Alright. I'm sorry. I know you're the Avatar and all, but it was a shock, somehow, seein' you like that. You were glowing weirdly, and doing somethin' no mage could ever even think of doing. Your voice sounded weird too. It was echoing in a weird way." He half-laughed. "Ironic, isn't it? Here I am in the Order of Darkness, learning to worship the Dark One, friends with ShadowWalker, and now I find I'm scared of the Dark."

  "That's not ironic, that's just smart," Donnan countered. "Gods, I am the ShadowWalker, and I'm scared."

  "I know, I know. It's just, well, I don't think of you like that, you know? You're my friend, not a cleric or a mage or somethin'."

  "Thanks. I think that actually makes me feel better."

  "Well, glad I could help. But you've got to talk to your brother soon. He'll be getting up for work. If he even slept."

  He sighed. "Yeah, I should take care of that." He finished up the food. "When do the ceremonies start?"

  "Sundown."

  "When're they over?"

  "Midnight."

  "Midnight? Gods. I guess I'll find some way to have some fun until then."

  "Good luck with that. Good luck with Alain."

  "Thanks," he replied, and left the temple.

  He took the long way home, but when he got there, his brother was already awake and making dinner. "Hey."

  "Hey," Alain replied shortly, not turning around.

  "You didn't sleep, did you?"

  "Not much. Not well. I was havin' weird dreams about thunder and lightnin' and ice," he answered, shuddering slightly. "Where've you been?"

  "Talkin' to Blake down at the temple."

  "I thought so." He continued to cook, so Donnan took a seat and waited. Alain laid out the food and sat down.

  "You burned it a little."

  "Sorry. I'm not used to this new stove." He sighed. "Well, gods. Best get this over with."

  "Get what over with?"

  "Donnan, you're my little brother. I love you. I want to help you in anyway I can. But I don't know how. Do you know how?"

  He shook his head. "I don't think anyone can help me."

  "I was afraid of that. I was thinkin' maybe we should get separate places."

  "What? Why?" he demanded.

  "Because you're doin' stuff I'd rather not know about."

  "So? You knew that before."

  "Yeah, but I thought if I was around, I could, you know, talk you out of it. But now I know I can't. You've got to do what you've got to do. I understand that. I don't want to make things worse by lecturin' you, or bein' in the way. I don't really want to have to bring you in if you do somethin' wrong."

  "Thanks," he snapped. "So you're just coverin' your rear end?"

  "Aw, don't be like that." He sighed. "Look, I'll be honest. This whole thing scares the livin' daylights out of me. I've thought and I've thought and I still don't know what to make of it all. I knew you were in trouble before, and now I've got a better idea of what kind of trouble. I just don't know how to help. I don't know if I can. Honestly, little brother, I'm not sure I can handle this."

  "What?" he asked, feeling his heart sink. "But-but you can handle anythin'. You got us to Renfrew after Mother and Father were killed by those bandits. You got us jobs and a place to live. You got in the guard. You've never backed off from anythin' in your whole life. And now you're leavin' me alone, even though you know what's goin' on?"

  "Yeah, but that was just bad luck. This is somethin' the gods are doin'. That's beyond me. Way beyond anythin' I've had experience with."

  "Yeah, well, me too, dammit." Anger welled up inside him, anger that his brother wasn't as strong as he thought, wasn't as good a man as he thought.

  "I'm sorry, Donnan. Gods, I'm sorry. But I've got to be honest with you. You'd know if I was lyin'. You're all mixed up in things I can't handle. The gods, the Order, learnin' to fight, and I'm guessin' your new books are about magic too?"

  "Yeah," he answered dully. His throat was tight, and his stomach curled up into knots.

  "Right. I'm just a simple guy. I know that. I can patrol the streets, and I can run down a pickpocket. But I've got no faith, and I've got no education. I'm no cleric and I'm no mage. I'm just a guard. I don't know if I can stay here and watch you get into trouble, watch you have to deal with this, knowin' I can't do one godsdamn thing to help."

  "So you're scared of me?"

  "No. No. Well, yeah, kind of. But really, I'm scared for you," he replied earnestly. "I'm scared you're goin' to get into trouble, and the only thing I'll be able to do is just watch." His voice choked up. "I watched Mother and Father get killed and all I could do was watch and pray I wasn't next. Tore me right up inside. So I vowed I'd at least protect you, since I couldn't save them." Tears shone in his blue eyes. "And now it seems I can't protect you after all. And I'm scared I won't be able to save you either," he finished quietly.

  "Oh, Alain," he sighed, the anger draining away.

  "I'm sorry. I'm a lousy brother. Here you need my help the most, and I'm runnin' away. I don't want to lose you, but gods, I don't think I'm strong enough to watch that happen."

  They sat quietly for some time, the silence punctuated by broken sobs from both of them.

  "Alain, I don't want to be left alone," Donnan said at length.

  "I don't really want to leave you alone." Alain sighed, and ran his hands through his dirty blond hair. "I wish to the Light One I knew what to do."

  "Yeah, well, I don't know if askin' the gods is worth much," he replied.

  "Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I just got an idea," he responded, suddenly brightening up.

  "What?"

  "We can get separate places, but we don't have to get places on the opposite side of the city. I can just move into another apartment."

  Hope stirred faintly in his soul, but a troubled thought came to his mind. "On your salary?"

  "Oh, yeah." His face fell.

  "Now, wait a minute," Donnan replied, not wanting the hope to fade. "I've got money. More than I let on about. I can help pay for your place too."

  "You sure?"

  "Yeah. And it's honest work, really. I run messages. That's all I do for the Order. That's not illegal or nothin'."

  Alain's brow furrowed in thought. "Alright. I'll see about getting another apartment in this buildin'. Would that be alright?"

  "Yeah," he replied, relieved.

  "Good. I can keep an eye on you, but I won't be in the way either. Hopefully by the time you really need me, I'll be a stronger man."

  "Thanks, Alain."

  "Well, good. I'm glad that's settled. At least for now. Before I go out, though, I want to give you your present."

  "You didn't have to."

  "Sure I did. You're my little brother, right," he replied with a smile, then went into the bedroom. "Maybe it's a good thing you're out so much, or you might have found it. I didn't have a good place to hide it." He set down a small, rectangular package wrapped in rough brown paper. "Open it," he said eagerly.

  Donnan ripped up layers of wrapping to reveal a handsome, leather-bound book. The title showed it to be a collection of folk tales and legends from the region. "This is great," he exclaimed, delighted. He opened it carefully, relishing the new book smell. To his surprise, a folded up sheet of parchment fell out. Puzzled, he unfolded it and read it. "A two month pass to the library? Alain, this must have cost you two weeks' salary."

  "Well, I've got money, and what's it good
for if not for spendin' on my family."

  "Thanks. This is great. Really great. I've got a gift for you too, but I was afraid you wouldn't take it, considerin' who pays my salary."

  "If it's honest work, I can't argue with that."

  He went into the bedroom, and then slipped into the Shadow Realm. He kept the gift in the closet in his room in the temple. He quickly returned and set a narrow box down in front of his brother.

  Alain opened it, and found a sheathed dagger. He pulled the weapon out, revealing a silver blade. "Donnan, where did you get this?"

  "I bought it, of course. Been runnin' a few messages for the Iron Guild too, and asked around for a good smithy. It's, um, not for every day use though."

  "I know that. Silver's too soft."

  "See, I wasn't sure what to tell you, but since you know about me already, I'll tell you why I got that. It's for emergencies."

  "Like what?"

  "There are nasty creatures out there. Creatures of Darkness. Sometimes they come out at night, and you're on the night watch and all. Silver's the only thing that hurts 'em. I didn't want someone usin' them to come after you to get at me, you know?"

  He glanced sharply at his brother, then nodded. "Well, I guess you're lookin' out for me too. Thanks. I just hope I won't need it."

  "Me too, but it doesn't hurt to have it. You'll keep it on you, right?"

  "Of course. I appreciate it. I really do." There was an awkward pause. "So, would you like to play a game or somethin' until I have to go to work?"

  "I'd like that," Donnan replied.

  After Alain left to go on patrol, Donnan opened up his new book and eagerly started to read. When midnight came, he went to the Temple, dodging drunks and pickpockets. Blake was waiting in his guest room.

  "Gods, that was boring," he said.

  "Well, tell me about it anyway," Donnan replied.

  "You and Alain alright?"

  "Mostly. He's busy tonight, I'll bet. Lots of drunks out."

  "Well, that's good. Right. Gift time. What'd you get me?"

  "Don't be greedy." He handed the acolyte a rectangular package, wrapped in rough brown paper.

  Blake ripped it open. "A book?" he asked. "The Book of Lunae," he read off the black leather.

  "I figured you should have a copy of your own."

  "Thanks. This will really help me with my studies. They don't give out copies for us to keep. We just get lectured on it." A piece of paper was sticking out of the book. He opened it and pulled the paper out. "It's a credit note. What's this for?”

  "Read the verse about half way down the first page."

  His eyes scanned the pages. "'Moonlight made into metal, silver is the bane of all Dark creatures, for it pierces them as moonlight pierces the night.' I don't understand."

  "I talked to some of the members of the Iron Guild. That's enough credit for you to go get your dagger treated with silver."

  "Oh. I get it. Thanks." He put the credit note in his pocket and put the book aside. "Right, time for your gift. It's in my room. I'll be right back." He left, then returned in about five minutes.

  Donnan stared at the rectangular package. "I'm guessin' it's a book."

  "What's wrong with a book?"

  "Nothin'. I just find it funny. Alain gave me a book too. And a two month library pass."

  "On his salary? Damn."

  "Yeah." The package was wrapped in smooth purple paper. He opened it carefully, revealing a book with a white leather cover. "The Book of Sol? Can you give this to me?"

  "Well, don't tell Dwyer, but there's no reason why not."

  "But why?"

  "I thought it might help give you some insight on the Light. You know, give you some idea of what she might do. Every little bit of information helps, right?"

  "Yeah. Thanks. I mean it."

  "Good. But don't be showin' that around here. I might get in some trouble."

  "No problem. So, tell me about these mysterious ceremonies."

  "Gods. Do you really want to know?"

  "Yeah."

  They talked for a couple hours, until they were interrupted by a soft knock. Donnan hid his gift in the closet and opened the door. A female acolyte stood there, smiling coyly, flinching only slightly at the sight of his black eyes. Blake made himself scarce, and Donnan spent the rest of the night at the temple.

  New year's day passed uneventfully. Eliora first checked her eye color in the mirror. They were no longer white. She occupied herself by getting maps of the area and using the information she had gotten from Jomei and the Council to make notes and marks on the map. The rest of the city seemed to have decided to sleep in.

  The next day, she was ready to meet with the Council. She met briefly with Jomei, and they both proceeded to the Council Chamber.

  "Good morning, Eliora," Hialmar greeted. "Have you thought about what we discussed on the solstice?"

  She nodded. "I've acquired some maps, and I think the ShadowWalker is working from Renfrew," she answered.

  They all looked at her, startled.

  "What?" Hialmar replied.

  "Well, somewhere in the city-states, but if I gambled, I'd put my money on Renfrew."

  "Please, enlighten us," he said, a little skeptically.

  "He needs people to raise an army. No other area besides the city-states has a large population."

  "There's the Charred Land," he offered.

  "No, I don't think so. The Charred Land is full of warlords and robbers, which is a good place to recruit people, but there's no money and there's no trade. He'd need a way to get weapons if he wants to turn a lot of warring factions into an army. Although it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to keep an eye on the area."

  "Why Renfrew?"

  "It's near the center of all the city-states, and the Azura River runs along the city's western border, bringing in a lot of trade from the north and south. The Sun Road also runs through the southern end of the city, bringing in the trade from the east and west. In the past hundred years the city-states have gone to war twice, and Renfrew has emerged a little bit larger and a little bit stronger. Right now it's easily the biggest of the city-states, and one of the largest cities on the continent."

  The men nodded. "We've thought of Renfrew too," Hialmar replied, "but I don't think we have enough evidence to rule out some of the others, like Meldon. It's also on the road, and since it's near the edge, it's got more goods to trade."

  "Yes, but the Iron Guild hasn't increased their movements in Meldon over the past three months. They have in Renfrew."

  "But trade hasn't increased," he protested.

  "Legal trade hasn't increased," she countered. "And something's going on with the Salt Guild too. I'm not sure what, but according to the letters you've received, they're going through quite a change in their upper ranks. I've gathered that spices are as valuable, in their own way, as gold in this region."

  "I must say, I'm surprised at your insight. How can you be so sure of this?" Hialmar asked.

  "I'm not sure. But my job was to record government meetings. I've spent five years listening and learning how politics work. It doesn't seem to be so different here. Every time there's been a major change in who runs a trade, that trade has tried to change policies for their benefit. The spice trade is one that my people watch particularly closely. They're quite rich, and what's to their benefit is rarely to the benefit of everyone else," she explained dryly.

  The men looked startled again, even Jomei. They quickly looked over the maps and the relevant correspondence, talking amongst themselves. Then Hialmar nodded, and she felt as though she'd passed some sort of test. "You're right. At least, I can understand your reasoning. Very well, what do you suggest we do?"

  "Gather information. Try to confirm that the Iron Guild is smuggling in weapons. Try to figure out what the Salt Guild is up to. It could be just a coincidence, but somehow I don't think so
. Both of those trades have too much money to be ignored. We need allies. We need people to watch and listen for us. People who can be trusted."

  "We need spies?" Hialmar asked, with a touch of disdain in his voice.

  "Is that your word? Yes, I guess so."

  "That seems underhanded."

  "Why? You can't arm your soldiers until you've armed yourself with information to tell them where to go and what to do. In the early stages, information is more important than force."

  "The information we have comes from our friends and families," he reminded her. "They aren't soldiers or spies."

  "Then we need allies who are. Or at least are willing to become spies and soldiers."

  "Where do you suggest we look for those?" he asked.

  She sighed. "I don't know. So few people even know there's to be a battle, I have no idea how to recruit them for something they don't know about."

  "I can help," came Jomei's voice.

  They turned to him.

  "How?" asked Hialmar.

  "I can talk to my Order. We know what's going on. They can perhaps start looking for willing recruits, and explain the situation."

  "Why doesn't your Order just tell people the truth?" Hialmar asked, narrowing his eyes a little.

  "We fear it would cause panic."

  "And it won't when those two start to fight?"

  "I'm sorry, Hialmar, this is out of my hands. I can only ask my brethren if they'll help us find allies."

  "It'll have to do," Eliora interrupted quickly, to spare the priest from more questions. He already looked very uncomfortable. "Please, get those messages ready. Hialmar, I know you don't want to endanger your families and friends, but they're all we've got right now. Can you please get some more messages to them, requesting information on the Iron or Salt Guilds? Speed is important. I'll carry the messages myself if need be."

  "We'll do that, we'll take you up on that offer." He glanced at the priest. "I've already told those I can trust what's really going on in the world. They haven't panicked."

  "I'm sorry, Hialmar," he repeated.

  "If we get more allies, we run the risk of telling someone who's not trustworthy," she mused. "We'll have to find some way of guaranteeing that trust, and making sure we can't be spied on." She shook her head. "But we'll worry about that when we get allies."

  "Yes, we'll have to worry about security soon," Hialmar agreed. "If we do confirm the ShadowWalker is working from Renfrew, what are we going to do about it?"

  "I think my bluff worked too well," she thought, feeling a little under pressure. "I guess that depends on what he's doing. If it's illegal we can report him to the guard. Yes, guards, right?"

  Jomei nodded.

  "We'd have to get that information though. I don't suppose he'd just having it lying about," remarked another man.

  "Apparently working for the cause of Light is going to be more complicated than we first thought," Hialmar sighed. "We'll need connections in the trades and in the politics."

  "What've we got to offer?" countered the other man dryly. "We can't expect people to help us out of the goodness of their hearts."

  The others echoed this sentiment.

  "Then ask the younger men to help," she suggested.

  "What?" Hialmar asked.

  "They're here to fight, right? To defend the demians? Well, maybe they'd be willing to serve as spies."

  "It would take weeks to get to the city-states," he countered.

  "I can open portals to cut down on travel time."

  They discussed this for a few moments. "Very