To Accept Power

Ch. 4

The Outer City had never been given a name, that was simply what it had always been called. After the catastrophic event known as the Tearing of the Earth, communication between human cities all but ceased. Then, little by little, those who dared to travel in a world with new creatures of otherworldly intelligence managed to seek out other surviving groups of mankind. Fighting back these ‘intruders’ the people began rebuilding, recovering from the shock of a great black ocean sinking over half of the land of Ristare. Aura had never seen this ocean, but had heard rumors that the Sea of Letum looked black as death and was colder than a gravestone.

Plotted out by the mysterious founders, the city sustained itself well enough by distributing the talents and tasks of the people between the townships of Saespio, Pavidus, and Lateo. Some focused on crafts, such as clothing and all which was needed to weave it. Most were workers in the three large fields which were surrounded by old trees between the inner cities. One field grew food. Another sustained livestock. The last was left to rest for two years. Besides cultivation, some people were assigned to maintain the great stone homes and roads. The buildings had been laid out so precisely and economically that expansion was next to impossible unless the Elders wished to severely upset the balance created and sustained for over four centuries. Instead, with the constant flux of citizens and the pledge to take in all abandoned children, the Outer City beyond the one stone gate of the Barrier grew and expanded.

The Forests of Umbra to the North had been partially cleared for more fields and homes. No one dared to cut trees from the Forest of Shade which cloaked the Mountains of Murus. All that was cut each year was the stretch of ground which surrounded the walls outside the Barrier. Those trees at night were full of whispers, things of the dark, and of the tales of the magicians who lived in their shrouded, eye-shaped fortress of towers. During the day the shade of the Southern wood waited, full of horrors which lingered for the Phoenix to end her course across the sky so they could emerge and dance in the moonlight.

For generations, the colored sky of Barrier City had protected its people. Few creatures had the power attack the combined talents of the eight magicians who had made it. It was the one true haven for humans in a world which was no longer their own. It was also the perfect object to destroy should someone or something choose to break the hope of man.

Though Aura had lived within the Barrier City her entire life, she had never been fond of the center city of Caeco. It was overly crowded and almost blinding in the illusion of cleanliness. The many-storied buildings were made of polished white stone with their windows and doors of black mahogany. The capitol had been built upon the top of a small hill where an endlessly flowing spring bubbled up and provided water for the entire population.

The capitol of Caeco’s foundation had three points, each opening to the long roads connecting the sub-cities and bringing the annual funds to the elusive Elders within. No one knew much about the heads of the city, only that they were the ones who gave the last word of judgement in any crisis. They were also the ones who supposedly maintained the magical field which shielded them from the outside dangers, though no one knew how.

Lateo’s primary responsibility to the Barrier’s economy went to cultivating the tracts of land between the three sibling towns. Most of the lower level citizens were workers on the narrow plots. Since Aura and her seamstress-guardian Gihanni were a small business, they could afford a three-room cottage which lay just beyond the formal boundaries of Lateo. Made of mud bricks and thatched roofing, it served their purposes well enough. Gihanni had been an orphan in her own early years and knew all sorts of tricks to encourage the most out of their small garden each year. She had been taken in by a tailor in her teens, then married and was widowed by the same tailor. It was only fitting in her mind that she pass his kindness on by taking in Aura.

Now, at twenty-three, Aura had begun taking on the brunt of their services of sewing while her adopted grandmother turned more towards their small personal garden and doing the primary laundry. Hurok was four seasons older but still had many more to go under his apprenticeship.

Protection month was always an event. Sale signs hung in every store window and all street vendors vied for best deal. Presently, the attention of the travelers turned towards the great capital’s polished exterior. As they made their way through the crowd, Aura could see the City Crier standing on his podium hanging over the inner wall. His black robes contrasted dramatically with the white stones around him. Looking haughtily down his long nose, he raised his arms for silence.

"The Elders have taken in all accounts of these strange attacks on livestock. Measures are being taking to ensure that the culprit will be caught. There is no evidence that this may be a," he paused, "Magical beast, but for your own safety, please refrain from traveling at night."

Aura felt a forboding shudder run up her spine at the mention of magic. Her hand subconciously twisted in the dark blue sash she wore belted over her long blue-gray dress.

Next to her, Harok shrugged. "I don’t know if that should reassure or worry me."

The Crier waved a hand dismissively. "Return to the tables."

Hurok grabbed Aura by the hand and pulled her through the milling people. The lines were reforming slowly while individuals mused at the recent declaration. Hurok managed to secure a place only a few yards from an accounting table. He grinned and Aura returned it. Usually it would take nearly an entire afternoon to reach a table, now it would only be an hour or so. Aura’s good spirits abruptly fell at the sight of the accouter.

A pudgy man with rapidly thinning red hair sat in a gaudily upholstered chair. His thick lips continually mouthed whatever words he wrote in the massive black leather-bound book. Whenever something pleased him, he smacked them loudly, as if tasting the worth. Sunken black eyes darted from each assistant taking the fees and products to be properly sorted. He closely examined the individuals giving the selections, as if to judge whether they were giving properly to their station before returning to the leather book. Aura slipped behind her friend with a groan.

"It’s Ralfus. Can we please move to another table?"

"But then we’ll be here all day. ‘Sides, he forgets about you every year."

She shrunk further behind him, noting that the accounter’s gaze was drifting down the line. "Yes, but somehow he always ends up taking my tithe. One of these days he’ll actually remember and try to court me. Granny would have to let him."

Hurok gave her a crooked smile. "Well you could pass me off as your present sutior."

Aura wrinkled her nose and absently twisted the strand of white hair which had become her trademark around her fingers. "We did that last year."

"It worked didn’t it?"

"Yes but..."

Hurok pulled her out of her hiding place and looped his arm with hers. "Just smile and ignore him."

Aura glared at him over a fake smile, feeling Ralfus’s attention on the both of them. "Perhaps I should just let him see my unpleasant side." She tilted her head to the side, implying the discolored hair and the mis-healed shape of her ear.

He pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. I find it rather fascinating." He reached over to give the white strand a tug.

Aura elbowed him. "Scars are not fascinating. They only prove how blundering I was at four years old."

"Compared to the graceful specimen you are now."

Aura smiled sweetly and replied, "In comparison to present company."

He pouted for a moment before pausing. "Aura, you say you were burned when you fell in the kitchen fire."

Eyeing the closing distance between the accounting table and their place in line, she absently answered, "Yes."

"Well, Evin, silly kid that he is, managed to light half his hair when cleaning out coals from the big stove a week ago. His burns looked nothing like yours, and his hair’s started growing back the same color."

Aura reached up to check if her own hair still covered the crinkled scarring which marred the shell of her left ear, melting it back against her scalp. The story wasn’t entirely true, the incident had happened before she came to Gihanni, but she did remember flames, black hair burning, and a terrible pain at her temple. She had been left an orphen and someone had brought her here. Gihanni had immediately taken her in and treated the burn as best she could.

They had reached the accounting table. Snapped out of her musings, Aura did her best to smile as Ralfus took the effort to rise out of his generously padded chair and take her hand as she offered her tithe. His thick lips smacked as he spoke.

"My dear Aura, I’ve been looking forwards as always to seeing you again."

She curtsied slightly. "I am flattered sir. You will take note that the gift from Gihanni and I remains the same."

He smiled widely, thick lips pulling back over yellow teeth. Untying the bundle of linen shirts he nodded. "Yes yes, fine work as usual. If only they were not quite so plain I would take one for myself." He unwrapped the pouch of coins and grunted in pleasure. "Yes yes, but perhaps I could come and have one specially made."

Hurok stepped in on cue. "Oh, Aura and Gihanni are wonderful shirt makers. Aura has already made me two."

Ralfus’s red eyebrows went up to his receding hairline. "Is that so?" Black eyes darted between the two, taking note of how closely this young man stood to the object of his attention. "And this is?"

Aura tittered dramatically. "Oh, surely you remember Hurok. I come every year with him."

Hurok set the basket of bread down on the table with a loud thunk. Taking the money pouch from around his neck, he winked. "Only been recently courting her." He leaned in with an air of conspiracy. "She’s a hard one to crack."

Aura discreetly kicked him in the ankle.

Covering his flinch with another wink, he straightened and continued with business. "From Benjamin’s Bakery, a month’s worth of Hardcrust, ten gold pieces, and ten silver." Hurok wrapped an arm around Aura and gave Ralfus a short bow. "Let’s go have some fun now, sweety."

Gritting her teeth, Aura turned to the confused accouter. "I’m not quite sure we’re done yet, Hurok."

Ralfus frowned, affrontment rolling off of him in waves. He sat back in his chair and dismissed them with a flip of his hand. Hurok grinned and in full view of the man and the others in line, leaned in and pecked Aura on the lips. She turned away and began walking stiffly from the crowd, forcing Hurok to follow.

Once out of the stream of people, she violently shook off his arm.

"How dare you!" She nearly shrieked. "Telling him off was one thing, but now all of Barrier City will think we’re practically married!"

Hurok frowned. "I figured it was enough to keep him away forever. If you were already taken, then what could he say?"

"Taken? By Smoke and Flame, how can you say that? I sound like a service maid!" She paused, another thought making her groan. "If word of this gets back to Granny G, I’m in so much trouble."

Hurok placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I’ll go with you and we’ll explain -"

Aura pulled away sharply a second time. "No you won’t. It’ll only make it worse. I can’t believe you kissed me in front of all those people! What were you thinking?"

"That I wanted to."

Surprised, she repeated, "Wanted to?"

He smiled shyly. "Well, sure. It seemed like a good idea, and I thought all girls liked it - at least the few I’ve kissed liked it."

Aura sighed, her anger dissipating. "Hurok, you’re my best friend, but if you want to kiss someone, it might be a good idea to ask first."

He raised an eyebrow sarcastically. "And when were you such an expert?"

Her face warmed. "I’m not. I just don’t like surprises like that." The look he shot at her made her want to squirm. "Look, just don’t do that again."

Hurok’s open and good-natured face took on a shadow as he shrugged. "So what do you think about that announcement? Think that had anything to do with that rider we saw earlier?"

"I don’t really care, so long as it doesn’t involved Gran and me."

"But this has been going on for a while. Something’s been stealing quite a bit of the cattle and sheep at night. The patrol from the Outer City has brought back some reports of noises in the forests. Seems kind of strange."

Aura flipped the end of her sash at him. "You go sticking your nose in too much trouble. I wonder how many times Benjamin had to smack you with a rolling pin when you were younger."

"About a dozen times a day."

"Explains why you’re such the fool sometimes. Didn’t help with your hight."

Exasperated, Hurok finally gave in, "Aura, can we just go get something to eat?"

"I’m not stopping you - bean pole." She smiled and resorted to their childhood game of name calling.

"Skunk."

"I bathe every-other morning! Oven paddle."

"Yeah every other morning. Magpie."

"Needle."

Hurok groaned. "I’m not that skinny! Accident with bleach."

Aura laughed triumphantly. "That’s not an object or an animal! You broke the rules!"

Hurok retorted, "If you think about it, an accident results in something being damaged, so really it is an object." He shrugged and adopted a whine. "Just let me get some food!"

"Bottomless pit!"

"We could go to the Outer City, we have the rest of the day."

Aura frowned. "I don’t like that place. It’s too... unpredictable."

"The last time we went was months ago. You seemed to have a good time." Hurok grinned. "That is, until that kid tried to get you to have a drink with him. When he pulled out that charm of his, you must have jumped an elle high."

She flushed at the memory. They had managed to coordinate free days to meet up for a dinner in the Outer City three months before. While eating, a young traveling trickster had tried to sell her a talisman which he swore would tell her who her true love would be. It was an ordinary rock that had been infused with some sort of magical spell to send off sparks when touched. Naively, she reached out to examine the offering. The mild shock it gave her had almost sent her off the stool she sat on and left her on edge for the rest of the evening. Hurok had found the incident extreamly amusing, while Aura held a grudge against all other tricksters she encountered.

"Don’t want to go to the Outer City. Let’s go to into Pavidus. There’s a shop that has a nice mutton, from what Gran said."

"That’s some walk from here, and then to Lateo."

"We have all day. Besides, I only get to see you now and again."

Hurok gave her a huge smile and tugged the white lock of hair.

Night had fallen and the air had chilled. It was dark and damp. The smell of earth soaked into everything. Patting the wall with his hand, Reu Simone smiled.

"A body could get used to living down here." He bent and picked up his staff where he had dropped it. Answering an unspoken question, he began making his way through the tunnel, "Oh I’ll have plenty of time when the time comes. Now where are we going? Forwards? Of course we are."

A shower of dirt rained down as the necromancer crept down the passage. The ceiling began to press down till he was half bent over. Any other person would be feeling the weight overhead, but Reu ambled along as if on a picnic, his pack tied to one foot and dragging on the floor of the tunnel while his staff was slung across his back. Black eyes followed invisible lines in the walls and he nodded to himself.

"You certainly know how to do your job well, I must say. I can imagin that the Lord of Fire commended you. He didn’t? That is a shame. Now how will he know her? It has been quite some time."

Dim blue light began sifting through the dust up ahead. Popping out of the rather wide hole, Reu smiled up at the three-quarter moon through the dancing rainbows of the Barrier.

"Ah, how nice that the Lady is out."

The exit had been carefully chosen to emerge behind a grove of trees and thick brush. The creature which he had been following left a clear indication of direction by the torn foliage. Reu pulled himself out of the tunnel and began dusting himself off, compleatly missing the dirt which had become plastered to his hair.

"Now that we are presentable, let us find this wayward son."

Humming to herself, Aura twirled the end of her sash through her fingers as she walked. It had been on of the first relaxing days she had had in months, though she had spend her small allowance from Gihani on a large meal. Hurok had been the prefect gentleman all afternoon, though his teasing nature did come to light a handful of times. He had been genuinly worried that she would hold his earlier actions against him and insisted on paying for dinner but she only let him pay for her dessert. When the sun had vanished over the Barrier wall, they knew that their holiday had come to an end.

Hurok had seen her to the edge of the square past Benjamin’s where they had met. Awkwardly shuffling from one foot to the other, he had stammered an apology,

"Look, Aura, I just thought that it might stick in Ralphus’s head better if I did something to... show that you weren’t interested."

Aura smiled, "Hurok, don’t linger too long over it. I don’t stay mad at friends. Just, don’t surprise me like that, and not in front of people."

He had looked at her, eyes bright. "Would you mind if I said that I kinda liked it? Kissing you, I mean."

Feeling her heart jump oddly, Aura had taken a step back and felt her face flush. "Hurok, you are my best friend, but I’d have to to think about it before making any decisions."

He had sighed and given her a quirky smile. "Of course. Well, stop by the bakery if you can."

Now she walked down the unpaved road towards the small sewing shop that would someday be her own. She was fortunate in various ways. She, unlike Katy Sky, could remain independent if she wished. Many girls her age were already married and she had had a share of suitors, yet something had always held her back from any final commitment. Hurok was one she had always depended upon when her relationships failed, but now...

Unable to return to the house with the new thoughts that were plauging her, Aura walked past the garden gate and towards the fields beyond. The moonlight merged with the lines of prisma-color overhead, making it easy to follow the path down to the carefully cultivated plots of new vegitables and corn which was only waist high. The shadows of the town orchard beckoned past the silver lines of the watering canal. She gathered her dress in one hand and carefully crossed the bridge made from a split log over the canal, pausing for a moment to look at her reflection.

She wasn’t a beauty, but neither was she homely. Her hair fell to the middle of her back, cut through by the patch of white over her marred right ear. That was the one thing she hated - the strange scaring that was unlike any burn she had ever heard of. Her eyes were the other oddity, the peircing green paired with her black hair easily attracted the attention of boys when she was younger, but the novelty faded and her strongly independent attitude eventually led to their dissintrest. With a sigh, she stepped over the bridge and came to the darker orchard. The apple trees were blooming, their perfume delicatly tainting the air. Some of the trees were twice as old as Gihani, their branches gnarled and tangled as they compeated with the younger and smoother limbs of pears and cherries.

Aura took a deep breath and smiled. This was her favorite place, either in the day or night. After hours bent over various fabrics or tending to the requests of a customer, she found new energy simply by standing and listening to the breeze in the trees. They calmed her, and gave her answers to any confusion that may be haunting her. Now she came looking for an answer concerning Hurok.

Wandering a bit deeper into the orchard, she chose one of the oldest apple trees to climb, tucking her dress in an unlady-like manner into the sash. If her grandmother could see her now, she would most likely have the scolding of the week. Sitting comfortably on one of the ancient arms, Aura leaned back against the trunk and closed her eyes. Settling into her ‘conversation’ state, she began catagorizing her thoughts.

What do I do about Hurok? I have had relationships in the past, but this is different. Grandma would be thrilled, I know, but is it such a good thing?

The wind picked up slightly.

I am a seamstress. He is a baker - or will be soon. Would I give up my work? Do I want to?

The wind swelled, the tapping of branches against one another masking the approche of clicking feet. The hoot of an owl carried a strange note of warning and Aura opened her eyes.

The ground had been covered in pitch black, lined with glowing red. Aura gaped as the outline of an enormous scorpion reared up and took hold of the bottom limbs of her apple tree. A flaming yellow topaz turned upwards and fixed on her, triggering an unexplainable terror. With a scream, Aura scrambled higher, her perch being severed just as her foot left it. The branch fell and hit the scorpion, pinning one great claw for a moment. Even in the semi-shocked state at the sight of a creature like this within the Barrier, Aura knew that she would be an easy target trapped in a tree. How it found her didn’t matter - she had to warn Gihani. Scraping her knee on the rough bark, she frantically swung herself behind the trunk, trying to keep something between her and the intruder before she tried to make a run for it.

The scorpion pulled out from under branch just as Aura’s feet touched the ground. She ran, but was hit hard in the back and sent sprawling. Madly groaping for something she could use to defend herself with, her hand pulled a peice of limestone the size of her head from the roots of a pear tree. The monster was crouched over her when she rolled and slammed the rock into its equivelant of a face with a desperate yell. The scorpion reared, screeching in an eiry high-pitched whine. Aura scrambled to her feet, tripping on her dress.

How dare you!

Aura whirled at the sound of a voice desperately hoping it was a rescuer but was only faced with the glowing yellow topaz paired with a black crystal eye that gleamed red in the moonlight. The mandiables beneath them moved, and the voice came again.

Did not ex -sspect sssuch a fight from a fffemale human.

"W-what?" She stammered.

The creature took two steps forwards, claws low, and the deadly tail raised high in preparation to strike.

You are needed. Come.

Sudden anger pushed aside her fear at the command. Bunching her tratorous dress in one hand, Aura glared.

"I think not."

Before she had time to run, the creature pounced, knocking her the air from her lungs with a sweep of it’s right claw. Landing on her side, Aura tried to roll to her feet but was held down without much effort by a secondary leg. The claws raised and her anger doubled. Striking with her bare hands, she slapped at the eyes, hoping ferverently that it would cause some pain.

A sharp fang tore across Aura’s upraised arm. The wound went immediately numb but she watched with morbid fascination at the dark wetness which began spreading across the sleeve of her dress. The creature hesitated, the golden eye flaming.

What is it waiting for? She wondered dazedly.

The scorpion shrieked abruptly and stepped back, the topaz appearantly turning on its user. Cradling her arm to her chest, she scrambled backwards. Tripping as she regained her footing she heard the voice again.

Sssssoft human. You will not be harmed. Massssster knowssss. Your mothhher ran. Ssshe died.

"What?" She gasped.

The scorpion leapt forward. One great pincer snatched at her but the flaring in the yellow jewel caused the blow to miss.

Mysssstics are dangeroussss. But I mussst bring you back. Alive.

One of the lesser claws darted out and pinned the hem of her dress to the ground. Aura screamed, partially in fear, and partially in anger, tugging at the material. The jagged edges of the creature’s pincers closed painfully around her body, trapping one arm and lifting her into the air. Beating at the black exoskeleton with her free hand, she ignored the pressure growing on her ribs as the scorpion struggled to hold on to her.

"I’m not going anywhere! Put me down!" She thrashed and kicked.

Sssssilence. I will sssting if I mussst.

Aura closed her eyes as the fire scorpion drew her closer to its blazing yellow jewel. Her screams died under the terror which flowed through her veins.

Aura began chanting in her head, Go away, go away, go away...

Then an uncontrolable urge to lash out gave drove her to look straight in to the strange gaze of the scorpion. The creature paused, confused at her defiance. Aura lifted a shaking hand and held it out - wheather in a plea or in some mad attempt to fend off the massive insect she didn’t know, but for one instant the entire world glowed with electric blue threads. They traced the branches of the trees, sparked from air, and tangled in the ground below. Somehow, they found their way into her outstreached hand and exploaded.