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10.

Crystals Like the Glass of Sky

Sianna watched as her grime and caked blood bloomed on the water's surface. It swirled and puddled only to float down to the bottom.

"Do you need help? Are your injuries hurting you?" the sightless sister asked.

Sianna had already forgotten her name. "No."

The sister nodded. This one had a yellow robe, blonde hair falling over the matching blindfold. "I will bring more water for you. It seems you will be needing another bath. There was too much blood on you."

Sianna froze and didn't relax until she had left the room. She leaned back on the tub, the cold metal kissing her flesh. It had been nice that the sightless sisters had prepared baths for all of them that morning, but she wished this sister wasn't as chatty. She had been the one that had entered the shrine that morning to summon them back to the chapel. She led them downstairs and that was when Sianna had seen the dozen of acolytes, six brothers and six sisters, that lived underneath the chapel's floor. Seven of them came up to Sianna and the rest and ushered each of them to a room. The one Sianna was in was small and furnished by only a bed, chamber pot, and bath tub, but she figured the others probably looked like this one too.

By the time the sister returned, Sianna had gotten as clean as she could. The sister had been right. Red crust still patterned her skin and her hair remained rough and matted with burgundy mud.  

Was it really that much blood? she thought as she looked at her hands.

"Don't worry," the nameless sister said. Apparently she had been talking about something. "I'll just wash your hair and I'll apply fresh bandages on you."

Sianna shook her head. "I can wash my own hair, sister, but I will appreciate if you call the boy to help me with the bandages. Tell him to bring his ointment." She grinned, recalling his earlier fluster at seeing her chest. "And tell him not to be so shy this time."

Through the thin blindfold, Sianna could see the woman's eyes furrow with confusion but she didn't say anything and left the room again. When she returned with Iari, Sianna was drying herself off with a cotton towel.

"S—sorry, Sianna!" he stammered and lowered his head, cheeks a bright red.

She laughed and wrapped the towel around herself. The sister came up to Sianna, another queer look on her face, and handed her new undergarments and breeches along with her own furs, leathers, and her belted sword.  

"Once you are done, follow the hallway left till the end. We shall have breakfast for you," the woman said and again she stepped out, leaving Sianna alone with Iari.

He was freshly bathed and dressed, his leather satchel slung across his chest. Without the dirt and blood smudging his face and hair, Sianna could see how handsome he was...or would be. His green eyes alone could probably enchant a maiden to his bed and while his chin and jaw were strong and angular, his cheeks appeared childish and round.

"How old are you, Iari?" she asked him.

He faced her, her odd question unsettling him. "Um. Nineteen."

She was surprised. "Nineteen? A late bloomer, aren't you?"

For the first time he smiled at her and Sianna felt if he figured out how to flaunt it perfectly, he could probably lure her to his bed one day.

"That's what I always 'ear from everybody," he said.

"Then would it be too much to ask you to apply your medicine and bandages on me again?" She grinned at him.

He looked at his shoes. "No. I can do it."

Dressed and laying on the room's straw bed, Sianna decided she would keep her shirt on this time around. She lifted it to her shoulders while Iari gathered his materials. Sianna saw the look of dread and mortification on his face as he approached her.

"Your left arm," he said.

"What?" she asked.

He pointed at her arm. "Lift your shirt so I can treat the gashes you have there too."

For a moment, Sianna didn't know what he was talking about, but then she remembered. The wounds on her arm from the wolves. She rolled her sleeve up and gazed at the pink and scabbed skin.

This was from a time when Jabel still stood.

"Iari," she said, "you said you were from Vess Wake." She knew he was; Sianna knew almost all the faces from Jabel, but she wanted to hear his answer.

"Yes," he said, spreading the ointment across her stomach.

His fingers massaged it onto her skin in no way any of the Jabel sages had, but Sianna didn't let it distract her.

 "You seem to know Lycin," she said.

"Of course. Everyone in Vess Wake does. It's 'ard not to notice the man with the Rhokin."

"I mean you seem to know Lycin and he seems to know you. Know of you magick."

His hands froze over her chest and she saw what looked like fear flash through his eyes. "Yes."

"Yes?" she probed.

Iari stepped away from Sianna. "I don't want to talk about my magick. I don't know how I got it either, so please don't ask."

She smiled and propped to her elbows but the sharp pain on her sides brought her back down to the bed. "Believe it or not, Iari, I wanted to know about Lycin. Not you."

"Lycin?"

"How did he find out about your magick?"

He looked at the ground, appearing thoughtful, and then faced her. "Can I finish bandaging you up? I don't know if I want to 'ave this talk while you're, um, exposed."

Laughter seized her. "Fine, Iari, but you have to tell me when you finish."

He waited until she was fully dressed in her clothes and after he had placed his ointments away to answer her question.

"Ser Lycin saw me use my magick on a wolf one day during his patrols. I don't normally use harmful magick. I like to use it to heal, but I was being attacked. It was on the first day I came to Vess Wake." Iari had his hands on his bag, fingers squeezing it.

She noticed his hands were coarse and scarred which was odd because she never felt their roughness in his touch. "First day?" she asked.

"I arrived to Vess Wake a few turns ago which was good 'cause the town was in need of sages. There was only one. When Lycin saw me he asked what else I could do. I was afraid but my father always said the Guards were one to trust."

"Of course," she mumbled.

"He kept my secret. Asked if I could heal for him should he need it. He also said Ser Aldermeck would know of me but no one else."

"Ser Aldermeck?"

That was why she was so calm about it. It's probably why she asked him to heal Tiel. Her hand gripped her sword's hilt.

"Why did you come to Vess Wake, Iari?" she asked him.

He shrugged. "I just kept going till I got somewhere."

She didn't like his answer. "Where did you come from?"

"A town that no longer stands, destroyed by the Magus." He shook his head, blond locks sweeping his eyebrows.

Sianna sighed and brought her hand down from her hilt and motioned him towards the door. "Let's go eat some of that breakfast."

His face lit up and he smiled. She followed him out of the room, staring at the back of his head.

He's still a magick user and he may be hiding something. Sickeningly adorable or not, I shall keep my sights on you, Iari.

They reached the breakfast room the sister had told them about. It was bare, like all the other rooms, but the long wooden table in the middle of it was full. It took Sianna too long to realize the three seated strangers were Deneck, Calera, and Reth. They were dressed in common tunics and leather pants, their usual blue uniforms discarded.

"Sianna!" Lycin greeted her.

She noticed his leg was healed and no longer bandaged. Iari's magick no doubt. Sianna nodded at him and slipped next to Aldermeck who smiled at her.

"I think your little Rhokin may love soup a tad too much," she told Sianna.

Across the table, Reth was scooping as much broth as he could onto his spoon and into his mouth. He appeared like a child with terrible table manners especially since Calera, seated next to him, was calmly sipping her own soup. Deneck was watching Reth with an amused smile on his lips. Sianna rolled her eyes as she served herself from the giant pail in the middle of the table. It was a vegetable stew that was more broth than anything, but Sianna spied some bits of potato in it too.

Of course there'd be potatoes, she thought as she eyed Reth. Though his face was as stoic as ever, she thought she saw a glimmer in his eyes. Sianna barely finished her own soup when Aldermeck stood up and declared their time to depart had arrived.

"I have spoken to The Brother, Iari," she addressed him, "and he says you are welcome to stay here a few days to rest before you set off on your way."

Before he could answer her, Lycin stood up. "Leitnant, if you please, I was hoping to take him along with us."

Her face was stern. "Why?"

"Well he—" Lycin glanced at the two sisters at the back of the room.

Though they were chatting while kneading dough for bread, Sianna understood his hesitation. She shot a look at Iari. Hesitation and dread clawed at his face, but he stayed silent, staring at his half eaten soup. 

"You know what he does, ser," Lycin continued, "and I think it may be useful to us."

"It is useful, but I do not wish to carry a child with us along a two day journey. We need to arrive to Caister and report to Dux Suller the events that fell upon Gwyn Valley as soon as possible. That means we will have minimal stops and short night's rest."

"I may be able to help you in that, Ser Aldermeck." The voice that spoke was sharp like a blade's passing on a whetstone.

All turned to the man that walked in. He was draped in a black robe that seemed to shimmer. At first Sianna thought it was made of satin but as he walked to them, she saw flashes of blue, white, and yellow dance on the threads. It was Lindow silk, a special material crafted by the Unseeing sisters. Its strange display of colors was said to come from Nata's tears which were woven into each robe. Such material was specifically reserved for The Brothers of each chapel to wear.

"Brother," Aldermeck addressed him, "has one of your birds returned?"

He nodded at her underneath his hood. The cloth over his eyes shimmered in the same way as his robe. Unlike the other acolytes, Sianna knew his blindfold casted actual darkness. It was supposed to be kept on at all times, even when bathing. Some Brothers have gone as far as to have their eyes plucked out all in the name of Nata. This one, though, didn't seem the type to do that.

"Once it's been fed, we will send its winged words to Caister and inform Dux Suller of your arrival," he said. "It should arrive a day before you."

"We thank you, Brother and the sister for all you have done. You have cared for us and given us shelter." Aldermeck gave a small bow of her head.

The brother lifted a thin hand. "It is Nata's grace that fed and took care of you and may her grace continue to guide you."

The Leitnant waved her hand at Sianna and the rest, a notion to tell them to get up and follow her. Lycin and Calera were the only ones that remained rooted in their spot.

"Ser," he said, "I insist—"

"And I insist you listen to me, Lycin. As your Leitnant, I am ordering you to shut up and do as I say. The boy stays here!" she growled.

"I am his Leitnant too," Sianna found herself saying, "and I allow Lycin to bring him." She turned towards him. "Did you hear me? That is an order."

He lifted an eyebrow and smiled at her.

That boy. There is more to him, I know. He came from a town destroyed by Magus only to settle into another that suffered the same fate.

Aldermeck narrowed her eyes. Though her face seemed calm and indifferent, Sianna recognized the silent rage brewing inside of her. She had seen that look on Aldermeck before and it made her feel like a lowly Miles recruit again. Sianna inhaled.

"Iari is useful. I've been hoping to have Reth learn something from him." Sianna hoped her lie eased away some of Aldermeck's wrath and she thanked the Saints Reth had had enough sense this time to keep quiet.

"Very well." Aldermeck stormed off.

Deneck came up to Sianna and to her surprise grinned at her. "She actually likes the fact that you stood up for your first order as a Leitnant."

Sianna shook her head and made for the door. She nodded her thanks at The Brother as she passed by him only to remember he couldn't see her, but as she opened her mouth, he nodded back at her and smiled.

◌-◌-◌

The rest of the morning passed by in uncomfortable silence. Aldermeck's wrath could be seen in her hasty strides that only Deneck could keep up with. Lycin had fallen in step next to Sianna. She caught him glancing at her and every time their eyes met, he would smirk at her. It was irritating, but even so, but she preferred his sly green eyes over Reth's cold silver ones. He and Calera were at their heels with a distraught Iari lingering behind them.

"I must say I wouldn't mind taking orders from you, Sianna," Lycin said. The first words of the afternoon.

She grunted. "Assuming I stay your Leitnant. Who knows what will happen once we reach the Dux. I was supposed to command Gwyn Valley, but it is gone now."

His smile faded. "I know. We were helpless."

Sianna frowned at his solemn face. It was not often she would see Lycin during her stay at Jabel, but when she would he was always sporting the same half smile. It was odd seeing it replaced by sorrow and regret.

"Vess Wake may not have been my hometown, but it sure felt like it for a while," he added.

His words stunned her into silence and she watched the rocks pass beneath her feet.

"Nothing to say?" His grin returned.

She scowled and tried to focus on Aldermeck's walking figure, but she had lost her cloak and its comforting threads were gone.

"I can say for you to go away. I can order it too," she said.

"Are you ordering it?"

Sianna halted and Reth almost crashed into her.

"Ser?" he said.

She didn't pay him any mind, her glare on Lycin. "I do not care what happens later on. For now, I am your Leitnant and you shall address me accordingly and give me the respect I deserve. You shall also shut up until I allow you to speak again and in case you are still wondering, that was an order."

Sianna walked away from him before he could say anything. Instead of heading forward, she went back towards Iari. He looked up at her and gave her a sheepish smile.

"Thanks," he said.

"For what?" she asked.

"For letting me come with you. I honestly didn't want to stay in that chapel. I wouldn't 'ave known where to go."

Despite her suspicions towards him, she smiled.

"Did you mean it when you said you wished Reth to learn from me?"

Her smile faltered. She had forgotten about that, but now that she thought about it, it didn't seem like a bad idea. A warrior that knew how to heal could be useful. Sianna turned to her side to talk to the Rhokin but was surprised to see he was not there. He had stayed where he was, next to Calera.  

"Reth," she called him.

He turned and fell in stride next to her. "Yes, ser?"

"Why didn't you follow me? I was about to speak to the wind."

What appeared like confusion flashed through his face. "You seemed upset, ser, and I figured you wished to be alone. Was I wrong, ser? Should I always follow you, regardless?" 

"I—no, Reth. You did fine." Sianna was so surprised she stammered.  

 He nodded. "Did you need something, ser?"

"Yes. Listen to Iari. He shall be teaching you the ways of herbs and potions and ointments. I expect you to be as good a healer as any sage."

Even while walking, he stuck his chin out. "Yes, ser. I shall make you proud."

"See that you do."

Sianna let Iari and Reth walk ahead of her. Her Rhokin was a head taller than the boy, but they both shared the same blond locks. They could have been brothers. She released a quiet laugh.

As if Rhokins have family.

She passed the entire day watching the two. Iari had talked nonstop, opening his satchel to show bottles of green, blue, purple, and other different colored substances. Reth touched and rubbed herbs between his fingers and palms—ungloves now, Sianna noticed. On one occasion, the two paused by the side of the road to look at what appeared like moss. Reth said something and Iari nodded. Sianna had to do a double take to register the small smile that played on Reth's lips, but when she dared to take a peek again, it had left.

When the crescent moon greeted them, Iari held off his lessons; it was too dark to properly see the herbs and colored potions. It wasn't till the stars overtook the sky that Aldermeck ordered for them to make camp. She ushered them away from the path but not too far they couldn't see it. No fire was made which would've bothered Sianna more if it had been any colder but the approaching spring had warmed the nights now. Even so, the sight of a flame might bring more trouble than it was worth.

Aldermeck opened a pack one of the sightless sisters had given her. Inside were loaves of bread and a wedge of cheese. Skins of wine and water were packed to wash it down. The Leitnant passed the food around, leaving some for tomorrow. Sianna could sense her anger was no longer bubbling but there was still a simmer to it.  

The meal was shared in the same unsettling silence that had fallen upon them since the morning, but Sianna welcomed it. Her sides and chest were sore from walking but she was too tired to summon Iari and his salve. Her exhaustion would lull her to sleep without it. The ground was cold but dry and free of ice and snow. As long as she slept on her back there was no worry of bothering her bruise.

It was nothing that woke her up.

Sianna stared at the quiet and still darkness. The first thing she noticed was the warmth. She was too warm. She turned to her left to see Reth sleeping next to her. When had that happened? Rhokins didn't feel the cold. Sianna then noticed she had been the one that had scooted to him during the night. The glossy gleam of her sword's sheath she had fallen asleep next to lay further away from her.

Asleep, Reth didn't make her skin crawl. In fact, she thought she could see a softness on his face. It was such a vast difference from his usual impassiveness that even in the dark it was visible. Sianna almost laughed as she realized what she was seeing was human.

The nothingness caught her attention again.

She whipped her head to stare into the distance. All she saw was black ground, shadowed rocks, and inked foliage, but still...

There is something there.

Sianna sat up and keeping her crouch, stalked over to her sword. She eased to her feet and held the hilt with one hand, the other positioned underneath the sheath's mouth. Her eyes scanned the darkness.

There's nothing.

That's exactly what is there, pretending to be nothing.

She shouldn't have gone further into the night, but Sianna knew it was too late for that once she took her first step. Despite seeing nothing but unmoving scenery, she felt like something was hovering around her, encircling and watching. At some point, she felt the wind of someone whipping past her.

After a few minutes of searching for nothing, she came across a small river. It was too small and shallow to be frozen in the warming weather. She could see the smoothed rocks at the bottom along with her shadowy reflection. Sianna blinked. There were two blobs on the water's surface.

She reached to her right and grasped what felt like an arm. A yelp was heard as she gripped her fingers around it. Even through the gloom, the creature radiated like a gemstone. It appeared nude and its skin looked grey but jewels covered most of its body.

Belts of them encrusted its waist and legs in winding patterns that looked like vines cradling crystal flowers. Smaller stones, as fine as powder, peppered its chest and star–shaped gems gleamed on its breasts—Sianna was starting to think "it" was actually a "she"—leaving her dark nipples exposed. The star gems continued up her neck and collarbones, trailing down her shoulders and arms to stop at her hands. The only area untouched by sparkling stones was her stomach.

Crystals like the glass of Sky

Alluring they may be

Withhold your touch, do not try

For they are the Nayichi

The lyrics visited Sianna's head. The voice that sung them was familiar and brought the smell of smoke to her nostrils and the taste of ash in her mouth. Sianna released the creature. She stepped away and gazed up at Sianna with eyes that were entirely orange. Though they held no pupils, Sianna still felt like they were holding her sight.

"You're a Nayichi," she said, not knowing what else to say.

She reached out to her and Sianna saw the gems it had for nails. "Sianna."

Her sword flew out. "How do you know my name?"

The Nayichi looked at the blade as if it were a leaf. She pointed away to the rocks and shrubbery in the distance with a crystal coated finger and her face twitched like it was struggling to say something. "Friends. Call you that." It turned to her with its orange eyes. "Your friends. I heard them call you Sianna."

"You can speak our tongue?"

She smiled. Her teeth were like a wolf's. "It has been long since I've spoken the language of this land. My name is Kota."

"Kota." Sianna's blade lowered only for her to raise it again. "Why were you following me?"

"I wished to see Sianna."

"I don't understand. See me?"

"Yes."

She shook her head. "Why? Did the Nayichi send you? What is this all about?"

"Not the Nayichi." Kota put her hand on Sianna's and guided it down so she would lower her blade. "Simply Kota. Simply me. That is all I can say. "

The countless questions that gripped her faltered Sianna's speech. All she could do was stand and gawk at the Nayichi.

She smiled. "I am sorry I woke you. You are very keen if anything. I will be watching, Sianna. Do not worry."

Kota melted into the darkness, literally fusing into it. Sianna stared at the area where she had been standing, trying to decipher her disappearance. She turned to the stream, hoping to catch a glimpse of her once more, but she only saw her own murky reflection.  

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Author's Note: Hi there! :D

First of all, I would like to thank ALL of you guys for reading my story. I never thought so many people would come to enjoy it and all your feedback and support makes me happy. I'm glad to be able to give you something to read that you actually enjoy...despite all my typos. Haha. That being said, there are some questions you guys ask me. A lot. So I'm just going to answer them here for you and put your sleepless nights to rest.

Ser? Don't you mean sir? - No, I don't mean "sir" and it is not a typo. "Ser" is a title I've seen used in fantasy books like A Song of Ice and Fire and in fantasy video games like Dragon Age. It is usually used to address an anointed knight. I use it in a similar way in that it shows a sense of respect, and I also chose to use it to help set the fantasy mood. I consider it to be a genderless word. 

What is the time period in this story? - Calathus takes place in a fictional world set in a fictional time period. There are no luxuries such as plumping or electricity. Food has to be harvested or bought fresh. More of the setting will come to light as the story goes on. If you MUST compare it to a time period, I guess you can think of the medieval times, but I wouldn't say it's EXACTLY like that.

When do you usually update? - I do not have a set day where I update. I have two stories I'm working on...this one and my trilogy. I update weekly, rotating between the two which means, at the latest, I update this story once every two weeks. I try not to let it go longer than two weeks and also do my best to update sooner than the two weeks mark.

Welp. There you go. Hope you guys find rest during your nights now. :D

P.S. Picture is a drawing of Sianna!