Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sorry Kirbs, My intranetz have been down. I've got a lot of catching up to do. Good, interesting.

My sister bugged the hell outta me the entire time I was pasting this, so don't sweat any typos or anything.

(btw, she wants to know if this domokun is a cheeseburger. n00b.)

Chapter Eight:

But I don’t understand! Kamilé cried desperately as they ran down the corridor. What are soldiers doing here? This is Ametris!

I don’t know, Everan said quickly, but it doesn’t matter! We’ve got to warn Lina!

They flew through chambers, corridors, passages, with no idea of where they were going.

“Lina!”

Where the hell is she? Everan muttered, cursing. Kamilé shook her head, running faster, and they called in unison again: “Lina! Lina!”

“What’s going on?” a voice said behind them, and they skidded to a halt and turned around. Lina emerged from her room, pulling on a dressing gown and staring at them in bemusement. They needed no further persuasion.

“Lina, quick! There’s something out there—”

“—soldiers—”

“—they’re at the wall!”

“And they’re coming—”

“—couldn’t really see—”

“—why in Ametris—”

“—it doesn’t matter, we have to—”

“Wait a minute!” Lina interrupted sharply. “Slow down, and for the love of the gods stop talking in turn like that! What’s wrong?”

They rolled their eyes at each other, shouting it together:

“We’re under attack!”

Lina paled. “W-what?”

Kamilé let out an impatient breath and grabbed her hand, leading her to a window that faced west. “See? You see it?”

“See wh—” Her eyes widened. “Oh gods.”

“Shut up, I’m trying to think,” Kamilé muttered, forgetting who she was talking to for a moment. She ran a hand through her hair, linking minds with Everan for a moment and rapidly exchanging thoughts with him as he stared out of the window.

“We need to…let everyone know,” she said, in a quiet, fast voice, speaking for both of them. “And get them out, ‘cause they can’t fight…”

“W-what should I do?” Lina asked tremulously, obviously unsure of herself. They understood, taking complete command of the situation in seconds.

“Lina, get someone to ev—evas—um, get everyone out, then find the Heart of Ametris and give it to Everan. See if there’s anyone who can fight good—well—and if there’s more than a score of them send them to the gate to hold the soldiers off. If not, tell them to protect everyone as they leave—any way out to the east is fine. Is there one?”

“N-no, there’s only one entrance to the city—”

“Oyäe,” she cursed. “Um, Everan can make an exit, but he still needs the Heart, so you get that and meet us outside.

Lina nodded, awaiting further instruction; Kamilé raised her eyebrows and urged, “Hurry up!”

They ran off before waiting for a reply, flying down the steps and out the door as fast as their feet could carry them. Their thoughts ran together, incoherent even to them, only one continuous thought muttered between endless curses and exclamations; This is bad, this is really, really bad…damn, how did this happen?

They skidded to a halt, Everan throwing open the gate, and looked up. A light was in the sky, enough to see the very quiet, supposedly peaceful capital city.

What do you think they’re doing? Kamilé asked nervously, glancing to the west.

Before Everan could answer, a loud crash of falling stone and wood echoed through the quiet city. That answers that, he muttered.

Okay, I’ll go to the gate, Kamilé said at once, and hold them off. You…you need to get everyone out, all right?

Yeah, but can you do it by yourself?

She smiled, with a hint of steel. Like we haven’t ever done that before, she replied, and he nodded.

That’s true. Be careful, and I’ll try to go as fast as I can.

Okay. See you in a minute.

He nodded again, watching her as she drew her sword and stepped into the shadows, moving quickly and without noise as she headed west. When she was out of sight, he pulled out his bow. Nocking an arrow, he pulled back hard, pointing it straight into the sky. A flash of fiery magic burst at the tip, glowing in the half-light; he fired with a smooth, practiced motion, watching it soar into the dark sky. He hoped it would be enough; this bow was not as big or as strong as the one he was used to, but it should serve this purpose…

The arrow flew out of sight, merely a reddish speck in the sky, until it reached its zenith, and then it exploded, flashing bright light over the entire city, the sparks of magic hovering like a second sun over Merista. He quickly stepped out of the way as his arrow fell out of the sky, landing point down in the grass. He inspected it closely, finding no damage, before he placed it carefully back into his quiver.

“What’s that?” a voice behind him asked. He turned to see Lina standing beside him, a package wrapped in white cloth in her hands.

“Signal,” he said shortly. “Where’s the Heart?”

Lina wordlessly handed him the round package. He snatched it, ripping the cloth off of it; a small circle, half of it silver and the other half obsidian, with a smaller dot of either material on the opposite side. He nodded his thanks and started to run, beckoning her to follow as he set off in the opposite direction as Kamilé.

“Where are we going?” Lina asked him, panting and struggling to keep up. She had changed into a tough, plain dress and boots, but she was a human and therefore tired easily, and he was a chosen.

Wishing Kamilé was there to talk for him, he said as loudly as his quiet voice would permit, “I’ll be at the wall, due east. You wake everyone up as fast as you can, get them to help you bring everyone to me, I’ll get them out.”

“Where’s Kamilé?”

“Holding them off.”

“By herself? Shouldn’t we be helping her?”

In spite of everything, he couldn’t help but smile. “It won’t be any good unless there’s a lot of us, we’d only slow her down. But send anyone who can fight her way, she’ll find something for them to do.”

“All right, good luck!” She allowed him to pass her, falling back and turning into a side street, and then he was alone.

Everan, where are you? Kamilé connected with him suddenly from somewhere in the city.

I’m almost at the east wall. Are you okay?

Bigger problems. Everan, they’ve pretty much destroyed the gates—she sent him an image, and he saw that she was right; all that was left was rubble and splintered wood, and there was a massive hole in the wall. That isn’t good if there are others out there, there’s already too many—there must be almost a thousand of them, Everan, and they’re all under the same symbol, too!

Can you still take care of it by yourself?

I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me. Is everyone leaving?

Not yet, but--

He paused as a faint scream echoed in the air from far off. Kamilé, was that close to you?

Yeah, it was. Everan, I’ll send everyone your way and meet you over there as soon as I can, all right?

I’ll wait up for you.

Thanks. Good luck!

And then she severed the connection, the better to concentrate on the task at hand. So did he, wondering why everyone was wishing him luck; as if luck had anything to do with it. Power and skill would keep them both alive tonight, hopefully, and not luck.

He gritted his teeth in frustration; this city was nothing but walls. He placed his hands on one or two in passing, hastily feeling the composition and thickness of the stone, trying to find a wall that was thick and tall enough to be the right one. His fingers sparkled with loose magic, lighting his way as he ran down street after street, completely lost.

Finally, he could go no further—placing both hands on the wall, he felt the vibrations of the magic as he pushed it into the stone. Good, about three feet thick and so tall he could barely see the edge; this had to be it. He pressed his hands together, the Heart of Ametris between them, and laid his left hand on the wall. Orange magic glowed intensely from the spot, and the stone shifted, changing its density and allowing a small pinprick of a hole to grow wider by the second. He felt a tendril of a cool night breeze ruffle his sleeves and hair, and knew he had succeeded.

When the gap in the wall was large enough for an average-sized human or elf, he pulled his hands away. Hardly any of his magic was gone, thanks to the powerful little conductor that he now slipped into his pocket. And then he waited, leaning against the wall and nocking an arrow, holding his breath for the inevitable chaos.



Startled screams rang in the night all around Kamilé as the gate and the wall around it fell to the ground with a crash. Humans nearby heard the noise, throwing doors and windows open, and shouted in fear and surprise as they saw the decimated gate, the burning signal in the sky, the hundreds of soldiers climbing over the rubble and standing to attention. Kamilé hid in the deep shadows caused by the flaming beacon, her sword sheathed to eliminate the glint, the only light to give her away being her silver eyes as they flashed in the reddish glow.

A distress signal…great job, Everan, she praised him silently, her eyes locked on the black-clad soldiers passing by her. In the erratic, flickering light, she could hardly make out each individual body, but symbols painted in red glowed brightly on almost every shoulder, shield, and bare sword. She did not recognize it, but it did not bode well—there were far too many of them, and what was more, they were unified. And she knew too well from long experience that a unified army was three times more deadly than any random assortment of beings, no matter how individually skilled they happened to be.

This is bad, she thought, clenching her hand over her sword’s hilt. This is really bad.

And had she been able to see properly in the half-light, she would have known that it was even worse than she could have imagined.

Everan, where are you? she thought, keeping her eyes on the immobile soldiers.

I'm almost at the east wall, he replied at once. Are you okay?

Bigger problems. Everan, they've pretty much destroyed the gates, she informed him, sending him a mental image.That isn’t good if there are others out there, there’s already too many—there must be almost a thousand of them, Everan, and they’re all under the same symbol, too!

Can you still take care of it by yourself? he asked her, sounding worried.

I'll be fine, don't worry about me, she assured him. Is everyone leaving?

Not yet, but--

Kamile started as a scream echoed close by.

Kamile, was that close to you? Everan asked her, obviously having heard it, too.

Yeah, it was. Everan, I’ll send everyone your way and meet you over there as soon as I can, all right?

I’ll wait up for you, he promised.

Thanks. Good luck! she wished him, severing the connection and concentrating once more on the situation at hand.

She winced as the few humans who lived in this part of the city started to panic, drawing attention to themselves, practically begging to be killed. The wall she had her back to was part of a house; she could feel the tremor as its door was thrust open, and she heard the fast, fevered voice of a young woman and the crying of a child. Hastily, she darted out of the shadows, tugging the woman’s arm until she was safe in the darkness with her. The woman screamed, but Kamilé cut her short by placing a gauntleted hand gently over her mouth.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” she whispered. “You can’t draw attention to yourself, it isn’t safe.”

She took her hand from the young woman’s mouth, and she drew back against the wall, holding her infant son to her chest protectively.

“Listen to me,” Kamilé continued quietly. “Go by another road to the east, as far as you can, and tell everyone you meet to follow. There is someone waiting at the east wall for you, to help you get out of the city—do what he says and don’t argue. Okay?”

“W-who are you?” The woman asked tremulously, her eyes wide. “Are you one of them?”

She shook her head, with a small smile. “Trust me,” she answered, pushing back her hair. “I’m a chosen.”

The woman stared incredulously at the crescent-moon mark, relief seeping into her eyes.

“The other chosen is waiting for you to the east. Do you have anyone else in your house?”

She shook her head. “M-my husband isn’t here,” she managed. “H-he went to—”

“Right,” Kamilé cut her off hastily. “Good, so take your son and go east, let everyone you see know, it’s really important that everyone finds out. Got it?”

The woman nodded, her baby son staring at Kamilé through large, fearful eyes.

“Then go!” Kamilé said impatiently, and the woman nodded and dashed down a side alley, running as fast as she could with her infant in her arms. Kamilé turned back to the soldiers, who had been forming precise columns outside the wall a moment ago…

But no more—a sharp command that she could not comprehend rang out, and a sudden outburst of flame rose up against the black sky as a nearby house was set on fire. She heard muffled screams from inside as the soldiers marched on; cursing, she decided it was time to make her move.

The army spanned the entire breadth of the street; she held her breath in the shadows, waiting, and then snatched a soldier by the collar with a swift movement, knocking him over the head before he made any noise. She dragged him into the shadows, relieving him of his cloak and leather guard, both engraved with the army’s insignia. On second thought, she took his sword, too, sheathing it at her belt before slipping into the guard, which was far too large for her, and fastening the cloak around her neck. She admired the sword for a moment, hanging bare at her side; obviously dwarven-made, with a basket hilt and double-edged blade. If she hadn’t known better, she could have sworn it was Sirteman…

Timing it perfectly, she slipped out of the shadows into the street, marching in step with the mass of soldiers, in the very heart of the danger. However, the insignia on her front and back allowed her to be one of them, if only for a moment—for all they knew, she was either a small elf or human or a rather slim dwarf. Perfect, she thought, her very heart beating at the same pace as the hundreds of feet around her.

The burning house was ahead, radiating heat, and she could see that they would pass right by it; thinking quickly, she observed a wide awning in front of it, with a roof of straw, which had caught fire at once. As she passed it, she kicked with all her strength at the thin wooden support beams, already weakened by the heat of the fire—the entire thing collapsed, sending shards of burning wood and ash on top of every soldier nearby. Amid the cursing, she dodged out of the way, drawing her swords and deciding with a dangerous smile that her moment had come.

Three soldiers fell before anyone even noticed she was there, and she managed to wound two others before any of them put up a resistance. Though she was severely hindered by the cumbersome guard and her mismatched swords, she fought them like a whirlwind, her old skills coming back to her with every swing of the twin blades. She blocked a spear here, a saber there, slashing at every weak point and uncovered area she saw in the confusion of the masses of bodies pressing in. Blood rose to her silver eyes as adrenaline rushed through her; this was easy, this was so exciting, and she felt as if she had never been so aware of every detail of her surroundings, never been as strong as she was now when she needed her strength more than she ever did.

By the bewildered shouting, she guessed that they didn’t know what had hit them; for all they knew, they were fighting ten or even more instead of just one small elven girl, for who would ever dream that a mere child could battle like this, striking hard and without mercy, even laughing in the face of death? And she laughed all the more—obviously, they had never fought a chosen.

Another building burst into flames, more screams echoed in the night, but she could see nothing but black armor and tunics, silver blades, and skin shining red with the light of the flames and with blood from numerous wounds; she could hear nothing save for the clash of metal on metal, shouting, and her own unintelligible shouts, a wordless battle cry so loud and intense that the soldiers before her hesitated—to their downfall, of course. Blood ran from a cut on her arm, staining her white sleeve, and she knew of many other wounds, though she had no time to stop and feel the pain. She knew her arms were tiring, her feet were moving more slowly, but she would not let herself show it, would not let herself grow weak…

And then suddenly, she was free of the mêlée; she found herself back at the edge of the army, in the clear, and ran for it, dashing up the street while she still had the chance. She ran as fast as she could, seeing dozens of humans rushing to and fro, shouting and going in every wrong direction there was. She kept running, calling as loudly as she could:

“East! Go east! The chosen’s waiting for you at the east wall! Tell everyone to go east, now!”

And as she kept shouting, they slowly got the message, changing course and running towards the heart of the city. She would have bet anything that it was the word “chosen” that galvanized them into action; it was like saying an angel of the Goddess had descended from heaven to rescue them all. And really, that was not very far from the mark.

She snatched a tall man dashing by and shouted to him over the noise of burning wood and war cries, “Hey, I’m the chosen, listen to me! Get everyone you see and bring them to the east wall, the other chosen is waiting for them! Got it?”

He nodded and ran to do as she had told, and in the blink of an eye, she was alone, the humans running away from her and the wave of soldiers coming closer with every breath. She gripped her swords tightly, grinning. This was going to be fun.


They get scary when they fight....O.o it's the creepy silver eyes I think. Oh yeah, and the fact that they pretty much breathe holy power.

Word Count: 30,126 thank you, word vomit.

And more you shall have! I am over 38k now, and I have up to half of chapter eleven written! I'm stopping in a little while to skip ahead to the interesting part, but till then, here's chapters nine and ten! heart

Chapter Ten:

“W-what?” Lina stuttered uncomprehendingly. Everan stared at Kamilé wordlessly, his expression unfathomable.

“They were from Sirtema! I know it! I didn’t think about it before—I’m so used to fighting them—but now—”

“But that’s impossible, Kamilé!” Lina cut across her, her tone slightly skeptical. “How could a Sirteman army be here, and why would they attack us?”

“I don’t know! But they were, I know they were!”

“How do you know, Kamilé?” Everan asked out loud, his voice very faint.

“I wasn’t really paying attention—too many soldiers to fight—but there was this one I was fighting and it moved so fast and then I killed it and I swear, I saw a tail and ears—it was a chimaera!—and I kept seeing shadows everywhere and I didn’t think about it, but they weren’t right, and now I remember that some of them had eyes and—”

“Slow down, Kamilé!” Lina interrupted hastily. “What in the world is a chimaera?”

“—and you can ask anyone that fought with me, there were these soldiers that were really tall, and I heard hooves, and I swear they were centaurs!”

“What are you talking about?” Lina demanded. “What are centaurs? Kamilé, you’re not making sense—”

“Look!” Kamilé cried, pulling back her ripped and soiled sleeve, brandishing her forearm at the human. “Look, you see? See that? I’m not lying—”

“What the—”

Lina stopped, lost for words; a bruise was forming on Kamilé’s arm, in the perfect shape of a hoof.

“Centaurs!” Kamilé insisted. “They’re human from the waist up, but the rest of them has four legs and a long tail and hooves, just like this! Chimaeras, part human or elven, with ears or tails or something from an animal—they were there!”

“Wha—?” Lina could think of nothing to say.

“Ask Marli and Raena, they’ll tell you, they—wait.” Kamilé paused mid-rampage. “Where are they?”

“Oh, them,” Lina said carelessly, waving an arm in the direction of the crowd. “They’re here, they wanted to fight but they didn’t have any weapons, and I wouldn’t let them—”

“Go get them!” Kamilé commanded. “Go get them, ask them, they’ll tell you! There are—no—centaurs—in—Ametris!”

“Okay, okay,” Lina said hastily, in an attempt to calm her down. She was three feet taller than Kamilé, but after all, the elven child had a chosen’s mark and a bloodstained sword in her hand. She disappeared into the crowd, leaving Kamilé out of breath and Everan staring incredulously at her.

You believe me, right? She sat beside him again, her knuckles white on her sword hilt. You don’t think I’m lying?

No one thinks you’re lying, Kamilé, Everan placated her. But to Ametrisans, you have to understand how strange it sounds…

But they were there! Kamilé insisted. Centaurs, demons, chimaeras, they wouldn’t come from here! And why would an Ametrisan army attack the city—where would they get an army? And to me, it looked like a country’s army, they had symbols and everything, how do we know what Shan’s is?

Why would Shan attack us?

I don’t know, but Everan, if they don’t believe me—

They do, Kamilé. They’re trying, anyway.

But what if they think I was seeing things? She bit her lip, worried. Or that I’m crazy or something?

What? Everan could not think of anything to say, completely bewildered. Why?

“Kamilé!” Marli’s voice called to them as she and Raena pushed their way towards them. “Kamilé, are you all right?”

“I’m fine!” she insisted. “I’m perfectly fine, ‘m not lying or anything, right, Everan?” He nodded, looking up at them all, and Kamilé flashed him a smile.

“What are you going on about?” Marli said cheerfully, hugging her tightly. “We were worried about you! Lina said you were taking on an entire army by yourself—”

“Never mind that, Marli, Raena, I’m telling the truth—there were centaurs and chimaeras in that army, I saw them, I fought them—”

“What?” Raena said faintly. “Did you say centaurs?”

“Yes! And chimaeras and demons, I know they were from Sirtema, I know it!”

“No, Kamilé,” Marli said quietly, shaking her head. “That’s impossible.”

“No it isn’t! Don’t you get it? There were more than four races, and this is Ametris, what else could it be?”

“Calm down,” Marli ordered her, sitting cross-legged on the ground, Raena following suit. Kamilé obeyed reluctantly, sitting beside Everan again. “I’m not saying you’re lying, Kamilé. I believe you, and I’d bet that any one of the fighters you were with would back you up. But Sirtema cannot be attacking Ametris—”

“Well, they did, obviously!”

“Hold on, let me finish! Don’t you remember? Sirtema is Ametris, Ametris is Sirtema! They’re not separate, they’re almost exactly the same, you know that. Attacking Ametris would be just as bad as attacking themselves—”

“But why? They could, they can all fight!”

“I know that. But think about it, Kamilé.” Marli lowered her voice, her expression very serious. “Why do the chosen go to Sirtema, if they are born in Ametris? Why bother? Why should you care about a country that’s literally worlds away?”

“Because…” She glanced at Everan, slightly confused. You know this one, was all he said. “Because it’s what we have to do,” she answered at last. “And when we help Sirtema, we help Ametris, because without Sirtema, Ametris wouldn’t exist…”

“Exactly.” Marli smiled, her point made. “And it’s the same with Sirtema; they need us. Time flows from Sirtema to Ametris to Sirtema; it’s a cycle. If they were to destroy us, they would also destroy themselves.”

“But they had to be Sirteman!” Kamilé said desperately. “Where else could they be from?”

“They might be from the Light World,” Everan interrupted quietly. “But not from Sirtema. There were other countries besides Sirtema that we never saw, Kamilé…”

“Yes, Lacausta and Ïlanarda,” Raena offered. “Now, I don’t get all this space/time—”

“Time/space,” her sister corrected her.

“Whatever. I don’t understand all this other-world stuff—Ametris was always a legend to me, until I came here—but Lacausta and Ïlanarda…well, I’ve been to Lacausta. They don’t know anything about Sirtema, even. They don’t know about our deities, or our battles, or anything about us, and as far as I know, that includes Ametris. No one in Sirtema even knows it’s real, except a few scholars and magi. How would they know how to get here, and why would they?”

“So where, then?” Kamilé demanded. “Where else could they be from?”

“Aren’t there other countries here, too, Sis?” Raena asked her sister.

“Yes, Calstra and Adranalï. But Adranalï is completely underwater, it’s a mermish country—”

“What about Calstra?”

“Well, when last I heard of it, they’re having a lot of problems with werewolves—well, they have been for centuries—but other than that…”

“Could be them,” Raena said to Kamilé, as if that solved everything. “Could be Calstra, I’m guessing it’s more probable than anything from our world—”

“Hold on a minute,” Everan interrupted, “why are we still here?”

“Still where?” Raena asked blankly.

“Still outside of a city filled with dangerous fighters, with hardly a score of injured humans for protection!”

Everan had done it again, had caught their most fatal mistake before it killed them all. Kamilé stood up at once, gesturing Marli and Raena to follow. “He’s right, we need to move! Um, where’s the nearest town…?”

“Hell if I know,” Raena muttered, and Marli shrugged.

“Excuse me,” Kamilé asked a man, after rolling her eyes at the two of them. “Where is the nearest town?”

“That’d be Corlino, to the south,” he answered at once. “’S about three leagues away, a good day’n night’s journey from here.”

“Thank you,” she said gratefully, waiting a second before shouting at the top of her lungs, “Hey, everyone listen up!”

The crowd near her fell silent, all eyes turning to her—pointedly looking downwards, she noticed in annoyance. “It isn’t safe here, we’re going to the nearest town right now, got it? It’s only a few leagues away, we’ll make it by tomorrow night!”

The humans nodded obediently and gathered up their family and friends, preparing to march. “Which way is it?” Kamilé whispered to the man, and he smiled and pointed south and slightly east.

“’Kay, I can do that. Lina!”

“All right already, I’m coming,” she answered grumpily, appearing next to her after a moment. “What’s this about? Where are we going to go?”

“Corlino, I think,” Kamilé replied, watching the humans prepare themselves. “We have to get away from here before the army realizes where we went to.”

“But there’s nearly six hundred of us here!” she objected. “Corlino couldn’t hold us all—”

“To bad for Corlino, then,” she answered shortly. “We’re going.” Six hundred, and they could only spare me fifty? she thought moodily. Humans…

“Fine,” Lina agreed ungraciously. “Shall I lead them?”

“Yes, we’ll follow up behind,” Kamilé answered. “It’s that way, we just need to go in a straight line and hope it doesn’t rain too hard.”

“Right, I got it. Are we crossing the river?”

“Oh, um, I guess so. Can we ford it there?”

“There’s a bridge, it’ll be fine.”

“Okay. Get them marching as soon as possible, now would be nice, and we’ll follow.”

“Right.” Lina nodded and wove through the crowd, and they heard her shouting the order to march.

Kamilé? Everan asked her faintly, eyes worried.

Yeah?

I can’t move, are you going to leave me behind? [KV1]

Oyäe, she cursed, I forgot. She sat beside him, putting an arm around his shoulders. I won’t leave you. We’ll just have to wait for you to get your strength back, right?

He nodded, but she could tell he felt guilty all the same. They need us, though. We can’t stay here…

“Coming, you two?” Marli said cheerfully.

“No,” Kamilé answered. “Everan can’t march, we’ll catch you up later—”

“Why?”

“Um, I think he used too much magic…”

“Oh, not a problem,” Marli said cheerfully, digging in her bag. “Here.”

She tossed her a glass flask of some dark red substance, and Kamilé caught it, giving it a skeptical glance.

“What’s this?”

“Blood.”

“What?”

“I’m kidding, it’s just wine,” she said with a smile. “It’ll do until we all get some sleep…you might want to have some too, Kamilé.”

Ick, Kamilé muttered as Marli and Raena headed off to catch up with the rest. What is it with grown-ups and this stuff?

I don’t know, he answered, wrinkling his nose. It’s like they think it cures everything.

But you’re drinking it, she told him firmly.

Well, so are you, then.

I don’t have to!

Yeah, you really should, Kamilé.

Fine, she consented. But you first.

He shrugged, taking a sip of the heady wine and coughing as it burned in his throat. He took another, just to be sure, and then handed the flask to Kamilé. She reluctantly swallowed a small mouthful before stowing the wine away again in their own bag. I hate this stuff.

But at least I can walk now, he replied, as close to bright away and shiny [KV2] as it was possible for him to get. Come on, let’s go.
She nodded, helping him to his feet, and they broke into an unsteady run after the rapidly disappearing group of humans, heading for the distant river, and soon they were lost in the dark cover of the thick, stormy clouds, Everan’s beacon slowly fading away.

Kay, so Kamile gets hysterical and talks like a squirrel when she's upset, and Everan's amazingly cheerful when he's drunk. What can we do?

I admit, something is completely off. No one would be so stupid as to stay there after a battle, and they're all too injured to run. But, it's rough and wordy, and it's gonna help me win Nano heart

[KV1: Everan gets so cute when he's tired heart ]
[KV2: I stole that from grey's Anatomy ^^]

Chapter Eleven:

It’s official, Kamilé said sullenly as they collapsed onto the ground. My clothes are ruined…again. [KV1]

Relax, Everan said, feeling much more cheerful than usual. I’ll fix them, like always.

What is it with you? she asked him as he conjured a magical fire again. That wine get to you or something?

I don’t know, he answered, but I’m really, really tired. Here, give me your tunic, and you make something for us to eat.

She agreed, pulling off her tunic and tossing it to him. She sighed, glancing at her ripped and bloodstained shirt that she had been wearing underneath. There’s no hope for this one.

Doesn’t matter, it’s summer, he replied, threading a needle with thick string from their bag. Just leave it or live with it.

You sure you want me to cook? She rummaged through the bag for something to eat, emerging with a loaf of bread and a couple of
early, small apples. I wouldn’t know what to do, could be dangerous…

Sounds like fun, he said, nimbly stitching one of the larger tears. But I wouldn’t risk it if I wasn’t already busy. Just make something. Or, we can eat it like that.

How come you got all the cutesy skills? she demanded. You can cook and sew and sing and all of that, and I can’t—

Cutesy? He frowned. [KV2] That’s just mean, Kamilé. And to think, I’m fixing your only tunic for you.

I have another one, it’s just—oh, oyäe, she muttered. We left our bag in the city…

Exactly. So be nice. He smirked impotently at her, leaning closer to the rough green cloth to see where his needle was going.

Hmm, I guess this shirt isn’t completely useless, she conceded. Wash it off, use it for bandages, right?

Don’t start ripping it to shreds until I’m somewhere else, he warned.

I won’t, she agreed. But you’re so weird sometimes…she tossed his apple at him, and it bounced off of his forehead and landed in his lap. He rubbed the spot for a moment, never looking up from his work.

Stop throwing things at me, he said sternly. I’m trying to fix your stuff.

We don’t have a blanket, she muttered, impaling her piece of bread viciously on a stick. Oyäe…

You know, I don’t think cursing is very chosen-ish, he replied carelessly. But then, you don’t care, do you?

Please, you curse more than I do. She took an experimental bite from her dinner, sticking it back into the red flame-shaped sparks. Just not until you get mad.

When do I ever get mad?

When don’t you? She giggled, pulling a small lump of white cheese from their bag. Want one of these?

‘Kay. He grinned, glancing up at her. And you say I’m weird.

What? she said blankly, in the process of toasting another slice of bread.

One minute you’re acting like you’re ten again, [KV3]the next you’re an insane killing machine.

I’m not insane, she said at once, frowning. And just what do you mean by that?

At least I don’t change so much.

Unless you’re drunk, she grinned.

I am not…

Just keep telling yourself that, Everan.

He did not respond, ignoring her as he tied off a stitch.

Well, you know why I’m happy?

He snorted, but raised an eyebrow as invitation for her to continue.

‘Cause it’s happening again. A war. We get to fight again!

He looked up at last, staring incredulously at her. You sadistic little murderer!

What’s that mean? she asked him blankly. And who are you calling little?

We’re under attack, we were caught by surprise by an army in the middle of the night, and you’re pleased about it!

Of course! she said brightly. Because if the other people fight, then we have to, to make sure that the right side wins and no one gets hurt. I don’t like to kill people, you know, but I do like to be useful.

He went back to his work, his expression softening.

You’re happy, too, she accused him. You can’t lie to me.

No one can, huh? he replied vaguely.

No. You’re just as happy as I am.

Sure, I like to be useful, he agreed. But how much use will we be if another chosen is needed instead of us?

Wouldn’t we already be dead by now? she reasoned. What’s a baby chosen going to do? The deities need us, just like everyone else does!

We’ve gone on too long already, he said quietly. [KV4] I can’t help but feel like we’re just going to fade away, right when everyone needs us the most.

Don’t think about it that way, she said at once, pulling her stick out of the fire before the slice of bread burned. She spread some cheese onto it with a small knife from the bottom of their bag, handing it to him. Kilio and Tara lived for a long time after they came back, didn’t they?

That’s because they had something to offer. He took his dinner from her without looking up. They got married and had a child, the next chosen. We didn’t, so the deities are going to have to pick someone, and we’ll die. Don’t you get it?

She didn’t answer, chewing on her own slice of bread. He tied off the end of the string and snipped it off with his teeth, tossing her tunic back to her. She caught it as he took a bite out of his dinner, leaning back against a tree and staring off into the dark pine grove. She took advantage of his absentness and ripped off her shirt, pulling on her tunic and cinching her sword belt over it. [KV5]

Sorry, he apologized suddenly, without moving.

‘s all right, she replied cheerfully. Thanks for fixing my tunic.

No problem.

They ate in silence, both of them tired to the core.

The humans were far ahead of them, probably halfway to the little town already. They moved much slower, Kamilé wounded in a dozen places and Everan fighting back unconsciousness, and as such, they had taken up the job of covering the human’s footprints before the bridge at the sandy riverbank before crossing over themselves. At least they had eliminated the painfully obvious traces; there was no getting rid of the flattened grass, the broken twigs and crushed leaves, or the faint smell of human, evident enough to reach their own noses. They had stopped in this pine grove, only a half-league away from Merista, at what they guessed was midday. It was hard to tell, considering that the sky was covered in clouds. Any second now, they expected it to pour down rain, though it seemed to be holding back. However, small, irregular droplets fell onto their bag, dinner, and noses, and they knew it could wait no longer.

Great, Kamilé thought bitterly. No blanket, can’t see the sun, and now it’s going to storm.

A distant rumble of thunder added to her uncharacteristic pessimism, and she frowned as she swallowed the last of her dinner.

Can’t get any more miserable now, can we? Everan replied, being as cheerful as he could to make her even more annoyed. It worked. She threw a pinecone at him, sitting beside him and shivering as a cool breeze announced the coming of the storm.

I think we switched places, she told him, her arms around her knees as she leaned against his shoulder. It’s kind of annoying.

He yawned. Well, I can’t be evil all the time…it’s your turn. Now, get some sleep, we have to march fast in the morning…

That’s better, she said with a smile, shivering as the first drops of rain began to fall. Soon, it was pouring in icy sheets between the trees, but they were no longer awake to care, huddled together for warmth beneath the rain-soaked pines as the afternoon faded into night behind the stormy clouds.


Gomen nasai, just had to make the end all cute...I'm in that sort of mood, you should see some of the crap I pour out...Check out the Ametris update for a very good example. But anyway, no sensual or sexual meaning to the phrase "huddled together for warmth"; come on, they've been together for like.....ever.

But of course, I didn't say that it wouldn't get romantic later ^^ or did I?

On a side note, anyone interested to know that Ametris used to be called soemthing really faerie-tale-esque, like Albrathar or soemthing, and I debated for about a week on whether to call E. Everan or Erevran. I like Everan better, don't you?

[KV1: About the tunic: this is the same one she's had since she was...what, six? Um, did I mention that they were always short? So I guess she hasn't needed a new one... sweatdrop ]

[KV2: After all, he is a boy, even if he isn't a very good one. Typical of Kamile to call a boy "cutesy."]

[KV3: Ten again; the significance is that in Ametris, the day they turn eleven is the day everything starts. Before that, they were little, wild, and carefree...you know. It's kinda sad, really...]

[KV4: Everan just has to ruin all the fun. I liked drunk Everan muuuuuuch much better.]

[KV5: Gotta love how she just pulls off her shirt right in front of him and he doesn't even notice. And this is in olden times too, before the invention of the corset/bra. *shakes head* I showed this to my Grey's Anatomy-obsessed friend, and she said that she can just imagine Christina Yang pointing accusingly at K. and calling her a dirty stripper (Kamile: *blankly* "What's that mean?" Everan: *explains* Kamile: "Ohh....hey!") and then Meridith appears and says, ", "Who are you calling a dirty stripper, you dirty dirty stripper?"". I love my friends heart ]

The Ametris Eagle


“Whoa!” Kamilé exclaimed aloud. “Cool!”

Everan nodded mutely in agreement. Riana laughed, more lighthearted than they had ever seen her, climbing up a rope and swinging over the railing.

“Aye, this’s me ship, The Ametris Eagle. Ain’t ever seen a more seaworthy ship, eh? Ah, but she’s old now, though still pretty, ain’t she?”

They heartily agreed; the trader’s ship was the largest contrivance they had ever laid eyes upon, and the strangest for two who had never seen such a craft—at least, human-made. The ship had a rather flat bottom, perfect for coasting unharmed over hidden reefs, three sails, raised decks fore and aft, a crow’s nest…though it was doubtful either of them were familiar with these terms. Their first impression of the Eagle was of a huge wall of planked wood crisscrossed with ropes, so tall that it blocked the sun and so wide that they could not even see the ocean. They never once thought of actually stepping on it, even living in it; the very idea made them rather nervous.

Riana lowered a rope to them, the tip dangling in their faces. “Are you coming or not? We have to get moving, if we’re ever going to fix this!”
They glanced at each other for a moment, and then nodded. Kamilé led the way, scampering nimbly up the rope, and reached down again to pull Everan over the rail. They stood on the deck of the great ship, The Ametris Eagle, fully awed by their surroundings. The score or so of men they were taking along hurried about here and there, all looking very useful and efficient as they shouted out orders, unfurling the sails overhead. Raena jumped right in to help, seeming completely at home; Marli disappeared somewhere and did not return above.

“We’ll shove off, and then I’ll give you a tour, all right?” Riana promised. “But right now I need to—Hey, you! Where d’you think you’re going, water casks go below, you know that!”

And with that, Kamilé and Everan were on their own.

Below what? Kamilé asked, looking around as if to find a trapdoor on the deck.

Below the deck? I’m not sure, Everan admitted, looking around in fascination. All was rather confused and disarrayed; between all the ropes, loose supplies, and men, they saw the thick mainmast, its rope ladder dangling from the crow’s nest, the newly scrubbed deck, the foredeck adorned with the carved steering wheel and a short metal spike, the afterdeck’s steps next to a solid-looking door. They observed everything with their curious silver eyes, careful not to touch anything until they were absolutely sure the mast was not going to fall down on them.

“All right, let go the sails! Shove anchor, is everything lashed down tight? You know what to do, men!” Riana was at the steering wheel now, shouting orders, none of which they understood. Two men began to push on a turnstile on deck, curling a heavy, barnacle-encrusted chain around it; they swore to themselves to see what they were doing as soon as they would not be in the way. The orders were followed swiftly, with many salutes and many a bellowed “Aye!”, and with a strong jerk, the unfurled sails caught the wind, and just like that they were on their way.

Kamilé grabbed Everan by the collar before he fell backwards over the rail, swaying herself as she struggled to keep her balance. They clutched the rail tightly, leaning over the side, watching their country slide away with each passing wave.

“Bye!” Kamilé shouted into the breeze, waving. “Bye, we’ll come back soon!”

Who are you talking to? Everan inquired, seeing no one on the deserted shore.

She rolled her eyes, as if it were obvious. The trees, of course! And the earth, and the animals, they’ll miss us!

If you say so, he muttered in reply, unconvinced.

They watched for a long time, the salty air fresh in their faces as it tossed their hair playfully from side to side. As soon as they found a way between passing men—now sailors, they supposed—they shot up to the aft deck, the better to watch their homeland disappear.

“’Hoy, you two,” Riana’s voice said behind them, and they turned around at once. “Come on, I’ll show ye around ‘er…”

What her? Kamilé asked Everan in bewilderment. He shrugged.

I think the ship is a girl, he observed. I don’t get it…

Kamilé giggled in amusement as Riana led them back to the main deck.

“That’s the mainmast, of course, and atop it is the crow’s nest…you can see for miles up there, though you shouldn’t go up there by yourselves. There’s a fore and an aft sail, see, and the foredeck, and the aft deck, though the men call it the poop deck…don’t matter. C’mon, I’ll show you belowdecks…”

They followed her through the single door, fascinated. Inside was a room with an entire wall simply one large window, out of which they could see the deep blue ocean and the gray, smudgy line that was Ametris. A door lay on the wall to their left, and a small hole in the floor allowed a wooden ladder to protrude from the floor.

“Through there’s the galley,” Riana explained. “Safest place to be in a storm, I’d say, it’s got no portholes or nothin’ of the sort, and it’s warm, but I wouldn’t go there too often, were I you. That’s why it’s set in the aft end of the ship, so none of us’ve gotta smell it.”

She said all this as she climbed before them down the ladder; they followed, hopping down into a low, dim passage.

“Crew’s mess is through there,” she informed them, gesturing to a door on the right. “Where we eat…they bunk in those other cabins.” One of the doors she pointed at was open; the room inside was tiny and cramped, with nothing but a single lantern, a shelf, and two boards chained to the wall, one on top of the other, which they supposed served as beds.

“This is the captain’s quarters.” She led them through a door on the end. “Where you two’ll be staying.”

Their quarters were fairly plain, but after they had seen the other crew’s lodging they knew it was quite a privilege. Instead of the simple boards, there was a small bed, which seemed to be nailed to the floor, alongside a single enclosed shelf, a wide porthole, and an ornate, metal orb lantern that hung from the ceiling.

“It’s a little small, and there’s naught but one bed,” Riana commented. “But it’s the best quarters on the ship, little mates.”

“That’s fine, we don’t mind,” Kamilé assured her at once. “But where are you going to sleep?”

“With the crew, if’n there’s room.”

“No, that’s not fair,” she objected at once. “You sleep here, we’ll go with the others—”

“Now, that I won’t hear of. Yer the chosen, after all.” She smiled at them. “Don’t ye worry ‘bout it.”

They sighed resignedly, submitting to her insistent persuasion.

“Well, that’s all there is, mates,” she noted, rubbing the back of her neck. “There’s a hold beneath here, but only the crew an’ me go down there…look, I’ll let ye know if ye can help, but ‘till then, jus’ try an’ keep outta the crew’s way, aye?”

They nodded, and she turned on her heel and left to steer the ship.
It moves too much, Everan complained, finding it hard to keep his balance. Kamilé shoved him lightly in the shoulder, giggling as the push almost knocked him over.

You complain a lot, she informed him. I like it! It’s fun!

Yeah, let’s…let’s go back up. Without waiting for a response, he led the way out of their room, not stopping once until they were back in the bright sunshine.

Kind of shaky, aren’t you? Kamilé noted. He frowned at her.

No, I’m not, I just…it keeps moving…

Whatever. She tugged him over to the mainmast, starting to climb the rope ladder. Come on!

Kamilé, you know I don’t like heights…He glanced nervously upward at the towering crow’s nest.

And you know I’m not chancing my mind, she replied, already ten feet up. And that you aren’t staying behind. Come on, it’s not hard!

He sighed and followed her lead, doing his best not to look down as they quickly ascended to the crow’s nest. But a voice hailed them before he had gotten halfway up.

“Hey, you two can’t come up here!” a sailor called from atop the [beam the sail hangs on].

“Why not?” Kamilé shouted back, offended.

“You’ll be thrown off into the sea, go back down!”

Everan’s eyes widened. Kamilé, for once let’s listen…

Fine, she agreed, pausing to watch the deep blue ocean beneath the ship for a moment before following him as he made his steady way downwards. They eventually found satisfaction in leaning over the fo’c’sle rail, closely watched by Riana as she steadied the wheel and shouted orders. The sun was behind them, illuminating the clear water as it slid beneath the ship; they smiled with delight as they pointed out to each other brightly colored fish, strange dark shapes beneath the waves, oddly shaped clouds. Everything captivated them; nothing escaped their sharp eyes or their overwhelmed awe.

Even better, an hour or so after their banishment from the crow’s nest, was a group of dolphins, leaping higher than the railing and swimming parallel to the ship, startling all but the most experienced of seamen—and Riana—with their high-pitched squeaks. Kamilé laughed, overjoyed, as she saw them, leaning far over the rail; Everan hastily grabbed the back of her tunic as she watched the dolphins dart below the keel. One of them squeaked inquisitively at her—Everan nearly let go of her in surprise, starting as she mimicked the sound perfectly. She laughed at the look on his face, and the dolphins seemed to as well, spitting a jet of water in his direction before falling back and disappearing to the east.

Everan dodged the stream of saltwater, fixing a strange look on Kamilé.

What? she said defensively. They were talking to me!

They…what?

They were! But I didn’t know what they were saying…

He shook his head in amazement as they followed the crew to lunch, the salty smell of the air leaving them ravenous. But food at sea, they soon discovered, was rather different than the meager repasts they made for themselves on land.

“Aye, ain’t nothin’ like some good ole skilly’n’duff for the first day at sea!” a human called, dropping a large cast-iron pot of some sweet-smelling substance onto the table. A similar pot was placed next to it, along with a bowl of fresh fruit and hot bread; Kamilé and Everan did their best to help, shying out of the way of the burly humans and lithe elves that shoved past them.

What’s that? Kamilé inquired of Everan; he shrugged, mystified, as they took a seat beside Marli and Raena.

“Grab a bowl, mates, and let’s eat!”

The order was followed rapidly; the sailors prepared to dive into the delicious-smelling food.

“Hold it!” someone called out; every eye glared at him. “Ain’t no one gonna say grace?”

The whole mess burst into laughter.

“Aye, mate, we can pray t’ thank me, since I chopped th’ potatoes an’ all!”
“An’ me, I told ‘em the recipe!”

“An’ why don’t we thank th’ galley fire, for keepin’ our skilly so hot?”

“Hey, who’s the cook hereabouts?”

“All right, that’s enough!” Riana shouted. The entire room came to attention before her sharp eyes. “Yer behavin’ like children. Grace ain’t a bad idea, but we got too many different races on board, and asides, ain’t no man alive who c’n keep a sailor from ‘is skilly’n’duff. We’ve been fair with th’ food—no meat, and the skilly’s made from the sea plants, for the elves an’ merpeople—so we gotta be fair with everythin’ else, too. If you want grace, say it yerself. Now, mates, food awaits!”

A great cheer went up as the food disappeared in a flash; Everan snatched two bowls and handed one to Kamilé before it was gone. She took it, asking him, What’s a grace?

It’s like praying before you eat, he explained, already making inroads on his meal. The food was both hearty and delicious, perfect for a day at sea, though he could only guess what was inside of it.

Why don’t people do that more? Kamilé pushed a cup of cordial towards him, taking a sip of her own.

He shrugged. Can’t say. Maybe they think they don’t need it?

“Enjoyin’ that, little mates?” a human beside them said cheerily.

“Yeah, dunno what it is, though,” Kamilé replied around a mouthful of bread.

“Ah, this is a sailor’s fav’rite meal, it is. Skilly’s made from seaweed an’ the like, along with leeks, potatoes, an’ carrots, an’ duff’s made from all diffr’nt kinds o’ fruit. Gotta have your fruits‘n veggibles out here, scurvy’s a turrible thing t’catch when yer miles away from home.”

“What’s that?”

“You don’t know ‘bout it? Firs’ time at sea, ain’t it? Scurvy’s a disease y’get when you got too much salty water in yer blood and not enough green things. You two make sure t’ drink lots of water, too—wouldn’t want the two of ye to get sick, would we?”

They shook their heads in unison, returning to their lunch.

Strange, isn’t it, Kamilé noted, being at sea.

You’ll have the pirate talk down in no time, huh? he teased.

I’d be a failure as a pirate if I didn’t, wouldn’t I? she replied brightly. Of course!

He smiled, wrinkling his nose at her. I know, he said. I’d be a little disappointed, too.



The afternoon was spent accustoming themselves to the swaying of the ship, the constant creaking of the wood, the endless shouts as the wind changed, ropes were tied off, sails adjusted to better catch the wind. They soon found out that the strange turnstile chain was connected to a large, heavy anchor, rusty and covered in barnacles and algae. They both learned several things, without directly asking the sailors; that would come under the heading of being “in the way”.

First and foremost, ship terminology. Port and starboard, fore and aft, forecastle, poop deck…the list went on and on. They found it all hard to remember, but somehow, Kamilé at least managed to slip a term in every other sentence, dropping a few syllables here and there and experimenting with—or rather, mutilating—basic grammar until her language would have passed for that of a lifelong seadog. Everan grew tired of correcting her, in the end letting it go; as soon as they were on solid land, she would either give it up or pursue some other charade.

They also soon became aware that they would need to know how a ship worked: how to unfurl and furl the sails, change their direction, tension, steer, navigate…even special knots had to become familiar to them. They carefully observed all that went on before them, resolving to learn how to do all of this, just in case.

And the final and most important lesson they learned for survival on the high seas was that everyone—no exceptions—must help in some small way. Everan discovered this the hard way as a tall elf shook him awake in the middle of the night and told him to go keep watch. Not bothering to argue, he slipped on his boots, bow, and quiver and stumbled his way through the dark ship and into the moonlight.

Every star seemed to be out; very faintly, he could hear them singing as he shivered in the night breeze. No longer obscured by trees, mountains, or stone walls, the full moon seemed to smile down on him, unnaturally large in the vast emptiness of the sea. He climbed carefully up to the crow’s nest, tapping the man on guard on the shoulder.

“Aye? What is it?” he muttered sleepily, obviously surprised to see a small elven boy there instead of the man to take his place.

“Keeping watch,” he answered simply. The man stared at him for all of ten seconds before he understood.

“Right,” he said at last. “Here’s th’ Cap’n’s spyglass—drop it o’er th’ edge an’ she’ll have yer head, watch it—an’ yeh can have this,” he added, handing him the rough blanket draped across his shoulders. “Ain’t gonna need a lantern, moon’s shinin’ pretty bright t’night, so all yeh gotta do is keep yer eyes on that horizon in ev’ry direkshun. Aye?”

Everan nodded, and the man disappeared as he climbed down the mainmast, muttering in complaint against the cold. He wrapped the blanket tightly around himself, warding away the chill, and leaned back against the protruding mainmast, eyes scanning the horizon. Above him, the white flag with the black Ametrisan insignia flapped in the strong breeze, and far louder than that was the ever-present sound of the ocean. He had grown used to it a while ago, and hardly even noticed; he spent a few minutes trying fruitlessly to stop himself from becoming entranced by the moonlight-tipped waves far below. Shuddering as he imagined how high up he was, he toyed with the spyglass to keep himself awake.

A small creak echoed from the main deck; a taut rope creaked and sailcloth swished. Neither sound escaped his notice, though he paid them no heed—nevertheless, it was no surprise to him when Kamilé’s head suddenly appeared, blinking owlishly, at the top of the ladder.

Hi, she greeted him, pulling herself up.

What’re you doing up? he asked curiously in return. She shivered as she came to sit beside him; he offered her half of the blanket, and they sat side-by-side and watched the moonlight play on the ocean.

What, you think I wouldn’t notice if you left? She grinned. Don’t think you can sneak out like that and get away with it.

What took you so long, then?

She shrugged. It was cold, I didn’t want to go following you all over the ship, but I guess I had to in the end…What’re you doing up here, anyway?

Lookout, he replied. I watch things.

Why?

I dunno, I guess everyone has to sometime.

She yawned, burying her nose in the blanket. We’ll keep watch together, then…hey, Everan?

Hmm?

Do you miss Ametris?

He took his time in answering, turning the spyglass over and over in his hand. Yeah, he said at last, but…it’s okay. We’ll be back, right?

Of course we will! she said cheerfully. I promised them, remember?

Who?

The trees, of course. You can’t break promises to them, can you?

He sighed. I guess not.

But, you know, she said slowly, I’m curious and all…but I don’t think we should be going to Calstra.

Why not? he asked, surprised.

Something just isn’t right…she murmured as she drifted into a half-sleep. I can feel it…Dunno what it is…

Does it have something to do with the mist? Everan asked her urgently before she could doze off.

…Yes.


Precisely 48k words. NANOWRIMO FINISH LINE HERE I COME!

some more word-vomity drama and I am KICKING a**, people. ^^

Wish me luck! heart