A Song of Snow and Ashes by S.J. Drew
enough to stay," he replied, sounding a bit sullen.
"You didn't tell me you liked me that much."
He shrugged. "I was stupid. I didn't know how much I liked you until I realized you were going to leave and not come back."
"I can understand that feeling," she said, thinking of Zeki. "But I know where my heart lies." She started to lead Orlice out of the stable and towards Jomei's cottage.
"The guys are having a party tonight to celebrate your victory. Aren't you even going to stay?"
"I can't celebrate the ending of another life."
He paused before replying. "We weren't thinking of it like that."
"I know."
"Is that why you chose Davin? Because he would think of it like that?" he asked, following her.
"It's part of it."
"Are you even going to visit?"
"I don't know. I have a lot to do."
"It's going to be pretty boring now with no great enemy to fight."
"And that would be another part of why I didn't chose to stay here," she thought. "You know, you could always invite more women to come here. I learned to fight. There's no reason other women couldn't be taught to fight. I'm sure there are plenty would like to join in your cause of protecting the demians."
"I don't know about that."
"You never know until you ask."
"Maybe we have been thinking too much like Hialmar. Why only let men be warriors? You did pretty well, after all."
"Thanks," she replied, mentally adding, "but I'm no warrior." They were standing in front of Jomei's cottage.
"I guess this is good-bye. I'm going to meet the guys in the dining hall."
She gave him a hug. "Thank you for helping train me and for being my friend."
He blushed a little, and then kissed her.
"What was that for?" she asked, surprised.
"So you know what's waiting here for you if you ever change your mind," he said with a wink. "Take care of yourself, Eliora." He turned and trotted off toward the dining hall.
"Good-bye, Aidan," she called.
"Well, I suppose he made his feelings clear," Jomei said, opening the door.
She flushed. "I'm still not staying."
"It's alright, Eliora. I understand. Aidan will be fine, especially if he follows your advice and convinces the Council to bring in some young women."
She sighed, a little hurt. "I suppose it always was just a matter of proximity."
"You can't develop a relationship with someone if you aren't near them. But good ones endure distance and time apart. But, this is not why you're here." He looked at the horse. "You've come to say good-bye."
"I don't intend to come back. I do like him, but it wouldn't be fair to anyone involved. I learned that lesson," she said, thinking sadly of Zeki and Basir.
"And the community here has never really accepted you."
She nodded.
"I understand. I've lived here for several years now and they still don't completely accept me or my calling."
"Then why do you stay?"
"Because it is my calling to serve them as best I can. They do glorify battle or they wouldn't be here and I find that a dangerous attitude to hold. As you said, to become callous to taking life is to let Darkness in. Although perhaps having met you and seeing the power of the Light One they will pay more attention to my advice. Before you go, it's my duty to make sure you'll be alright. You're going to the Charred Lands to undo the damage, correct?"
She nodded.
"And you'll stay with Davin?"
She blushed a little and nodded again.
"Given the miracle you worked on that young man's soul, repairing the Charred Lands should be an easy task in comparison."
"That only took a bit of kindness and patience."
"Believe me, in my many years of service, kindness and patience are far more difficult to provide than spells or skills," Jomei said. "And how are you doing? I know you had to kill the ShadowWalker."
"It was worse than I imagined. The best I could do was ease his pain."
"No one could ask for more than your best. You understand grief. In time, this too shall pass."
"I appreciate your kindness, Jomei. You of all the Council accepted me. I apologize if I ever treated you badly because of how my Order treated me."
"Forgiven and forgotten. I only wish for you now to have a full and happy life, no matter what you choose to do with it. May the Light One bless you always."
"May you always walk in sunlight without fear of shadows," she said in her native language. "Good-bye, Jomei, and thank you."
"Good-bye, Eliora, and good luck. My prayers are with you and Davin."
She smiled then opened a portal into the Light Realm so Orlice could follow.
Eliora and Davin traveled to the eastern-most border of the Charred Lands to wait until the solstice to start healing the land.
"Why start there?" he had asked.
"Because the sun rises in the east. This is the dawning of a new day for this land. It's very symbolic."
He smiled and nodded.
She filled up her time with writing down the history of her land and started the story of the ShadowWalker because she felt someone should.
"Of course, it would help if I had firsthand accounts," she said to Davin one evening.
"They must find their own way. All you can do is pray for them."
"I know."
The morning of the solstice dawned bright and hot. The demarcation of the Charred Lands was startlingly clear. Tall, healthy grass simply stopped growing.
"Even here, with some seeds and wind and rain, nothing can take root," she thought, looking at the ashes.
She left Davin, the wagon, and Orlice parked on the side with the grass.
He watched her anxiously.
She walked to the border and concentrated. Her eyes turned white and the ground started to rumble and shake. The wind started to blow from the east through the grasses. Ash and dirt started to fly into the air as though giant, invisible blades were cutting into it the ground. She kept pouring magic into tilling the ground as far and wide as she could see until the east wind brought in rain clouds and the first cool drops splashed on her face. She relaxed and felt herself float gently to the ground. She slowly opened her eyes, which she wasn't even aware she had closed.
The gray veil of clouds was moving toward the west. There were a few flashes of lighting, but mostly the clouds produced gentle showers. The wind smelled of rain and the perfume of grain and flowers.
Davin walked up behind her.
"That was hard." She gratefully leaned into him.
"It's a good start."
"I think I overdid it a bit," she murmured, feeling very lightheaded.
He picked her up. "Then rest."
"I will," she said, and passed out.
She came to some hours later.
Davin handed her a cup of tea. "There is something here to see you."
She turned to see an iridescent standing patiently next to the bed. "Yes?" she asked.
It bowed. "We were summoned by one called Blake to deliver a message to you. He thanks you for your kind offer, but wishes to stay in Renfrew. He has found a new calling in his life. He has joined the Order of Light and is under the tutelage of one called Eldoris. He says that Alain has remained in the guard and will likely advance due to his keen insight and honest nature. He says that he has taken up the task of writing the story of the Dark Avatar. He says that one day, when the grief is lessened, perhaps he and Alain would like to meet with you again and share that story, and learn your story."
"Is this true? Is he really an acolyte of the Light now?"
"It is difficult for us to tell truth from falsehood, but he wore the correct garments and was accompanied by an elder female cleric."
"Describe her."
It did so.
"That sounds like Eldoris. I suppose he couldn'
t get her to lie. And I hope he told the truth about Alain. Did he request a return message?"
"Nay, Mistress."
"Thank you. You may go."
It bowed again and disappeared.
"Good news?" Davin asked.
"I think they'll be alright."
"And so will you."
"In time," she agreed. She yawned and stood up. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Just a few hours. Come and see. This is something I've never seen before. I'm not even sure my language has a word for it." He helped her out of the wagon.
The storm had slowly moved west, leaving them in bright sunshine.
"Look at that," he said, pointing to an arched band of colors glowing against the gray curtain of rain. "I've never seen that before."
"It's called a rainbow," she said with a smile. "It's a sign of hope and good fortune."
"My people will see that and perhaps they will also take it as a good sign. They will at least take it as a sign of change, hopefully for the better."
"I hope so. I want to do some good with this power."
He smiled and kissed her. "You will. You already have."
She blushed.
"I love you, Eliora."
She blushed even more deeply, realizing she returned his feelings. "I love you too, Davin."
He kissed her again and they held it for a long time. "Come on. Let's get some lunch."
She smiled. "I'm glad I have you around. I forgot I was hungry."
He laughed. "You are amazing."
They looked at the rainbow for a few more moments, and then went inside.
###
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"You didn't tell me you liked me that much."
He shrugged. "I was stupid. I didn't know how much I liked you until I realized you were going to leave and not come back."
"I can understand that feeling," she said, thinking of Zeki. "But I know where my heart lies." She started to lead Orlice out of the stable and towards Jomei's cottage.
"The guys are having a party tonight to celebrate your victory. Aren't you even going to stay?"
"I can't celebrate the ending of another life."
He paused before replying. "We weren't thinking of it like that."
"I know."
"Is that why you chose Davin? Because he would think of it like that?" he asked, following her.
"It's part of it."
"Are you even going to visit?"
"I don't know. I have a lot to do."
"It's going to be pretty boring now with no great enemy to fight."
"And that would be another part of why I didn't chose to stay here," she thought. "You know, you could always invite more women to come here. I learned to fight. There's no reason other women couldn't be taught to fight. I'm sure there are plenty would like to join in your cause of protecting the demians."
"I don't know about that."
"You never know until you ask."
"Maybe we have been thinking too much like Hialmar. Why only let men be warriors? You did pretty well, after all."
"Thanks," she replied, mentally adding, "but I'm no warrior." They were standing in front of Jomei's cottage.
"I guess this is good-bye. I'm going to meet the guys in the dining hall."
She gave him a hug. "Thank you for helping train me and for being my friend."
He blushed a little, and then kissed her.
"What was that for?" she asked, surprised.
"So you know what's waiting here for you if you ever change your mind," he said with a wink. "Take care of yourself, Eliora." He turned and trotted off toward the dining hall.
"Good-bye, Aidan," she called.
"Well, I suppose he made his feelings clear," Jomei said, opening the door.
She flushed. "I'm still not staying."
"It's alright, Eliora. I understand. Aidan will be fine, especially if he follows your advice and convinces the Council to bring in some young women."
She sighed, a little hurt. "I suppose it always was just a matter of proximity."
"You can't develop a relationship with someone if you aren't near them. But good ones endure distance and time apart. But, this is not why you're here." He looked at the horse. "You've come to say good-bye."
"I don't intend to come back. I do like him, but it wouldn't be fair to anyone involved. I learned that lesson," she said, thinking sadly of Zeki and Basir.
"And the community here has never really accepted you."
She nodded.
"I understand. I've lived here for several years now and they still don't completely accept me or my calling."
"Then why do you stay?"
"Because it is my calling to serve them as best I can. They do glorify battle or they wouldn't be here and I find that a dangerous attitude to hold. As you said, to become callous to taking life is to let Darkness in. Although perhaps having met you and seeing the power of the Light One they will pay more attention to my advice. Before you go, it's my duty to make sure you'll be alright. You're going to the Charred Lands to undo the damage, correct?"
She nodded.
"And you'll stay with Davin?"
She blushed a little and nodded again.
"Given the miracle you worked on that young man's soul, repairing the Charred Lands should be an easy task in comparison."
"That only took a bit of kindness and patience."
"Believe me, in my many years of service, kindness and patience are far more difficult to provide than spells or skills," Jomei said. "And how are you doing? I know you had to kill the ShadowWalker."
"It was worse than I imagined. The best I could do was ease his pain."
"No one could ask for more than your best. You understand grief. In time, this too shall pass."
"I appreciate your kindness, Jomei. You of all the Council accepted me. I apologize if I ever treated you badly because of how my Order treated me."
"Forgiven and forgotten. I only wish for you now to have a full and happy life, no matter what you choose to do with it. May the Light One bless you always."
"May you always walk in sunlight without fear of shadows," she said in her native language. "Good-bye, Jomei, and thank you."
"Good-bye, Eliora, and good luck. My prayers are with you and Davin."
She smiled then opened a portal into the Light Realm so Orlice could follow.
Eliora and Davin traveled to the eastern-most border of the Charred Lands to wait until the solstice to start healing the land.
"Why start there?" he had asked.
"Because the sun rises in the east. This is the dawning of a new day for this land. It's very symbolic."
He smiled and nodded.
She filled up her time with writing down the history of her land and started the story of the ShadowWalker because she felt someone should.
"Of course, it would help if I had firsthand accounts," she said to Davin one evening.
"They must find their own way. All you can do is pray for them."
"I know."
The morning of the solstice dawned bright and hot. The demarcation of the Charred Lands was startlingly clear. Tall, healthy grass simply stopped growing.
"Even here, with some seeds and wind and rain, nothing can take root," she thought, looking at the ashes.
She left Davin, the wagon, and Orlice parked on the side with the grass.
He watched her anxiously.
She walked to the border and concentrated. Her eyes turned white and the ground started to rumble and shake. The wind started to blow from the east through the grasses. Ash and dirt started to fly into the air as though giant, invisible blades were cutting into it the ground. She kept pouring magic into tilling the ground as far and wide as she could see until the east wind brought in rain clouds and the first cool drops splashed on her face. She relaxed and felt herself float gently to the ground. She slowly opened her eyes, which she wasn't even aware she had closed.
The gray veil of clouds was moving toward the west. There were a few flashes of lighting, but mostly the clouds produced gentle showers. The wind smelled of rain and the perfume of grain and flowers.
Davin walked up behind her.
"That was hard." She gratefully leaned into him.
"It's a good start."
"I think I overdid it a bit," she murmured, feeling very lightheaded.
He picked her up. "Then rest."
"I will," she said, and passed out.
She came to some hours later.
Davin handed her a cup of tea. "There is something here to see you."
She turned to see an iridescent standing patiently next to the bed. "Yes?" she asked.
It bowed. "We were summoned by one called Blake to deliver a message to you. He thanks you for your kind offer, but wishes to stay in Renfrew. He has found a new calling in his life. He has joined the Order of Light and is under the tutelage of one called Eldoris. He says that Alain has remained in the guard and will likely advance due to his keen insight and honest nature. He says that he has taken up the task of writing the story of the Dark Avatar. He says that one day, when the grief is lessened, perhaps he and Alain would like to meet with you again and share that story, and learn your story."
"Is this true? Is he really an acolyte of the Light now?"
"It is difficult for us to tell truth from falsehood, but he wore the correct garments and was accompanied by an elder female cleric."
"Describe her."
It did so.
"That sounds like Eldoris. I suppose he couldn'
"Nay, Mistress."
"Thank you. You may go."
It bowed again and disappeared.
"Good news?" Davin asked.
"I think they'll be alright."
"And so will you."
"In time," she agreed. She yawned and stood up. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Just a few hours. Come and see. This is something I've never seen before. I'm not even sure my language has a word for it." He helped her out of the wagon.
The storm had slowly moved west, leaving them in bright sunshine.
"Look at that," he said, pointing to an arched band of colors glowing against the gray curtain of rain. "I've never seen that before."
"It's called a rainbow," she said with a smile. "It's a sign of hope and good fortune."
"My people will see that and perhaps they will also take it as a good sign. They will at least take it as a sign of change, hopefully for the better."
"I hope so. I want to do some good with this power."
He smiled and kissed her. "You will. You already have."
She blushed.
"I love you, Eliora."
She blushed even more deeply, realizing she returned his feelings. "I love you too, Davin."
He kissed her again and they held it for a long time. "Come on. Let's get some lunch."
She smiled. "I'm glad I have you around. I forgot I was hungry."
He laughed. "You are amazing."
They looked at the rainbow for a few more moments, and then went inside.
###