Meet the Cousin

A couple of hours later they’re back on the road. Diane’s still in the dress, now upgraded with a wide leather belt and a small but sharp dagger in a pretty, embroidered sheath. Both items had been a gift from the grateful mayor. Her old clothes are neatly folded in her bag. Her soulbook is safely tucked away in one of the side pockets, and she’s resisting the urge to take it out to study it some more.

“So where are we going, exactly?" she asks. "Now that we don’t need to find you a doctor to examine your confused, concussed head.”

“Very funny." He laughs and gives her a 'I told you so' wink, then gets serious again. "We're heading to my home. It’s close to the border of Kagemure, right on the edge of the deep forest at the foot of the mountains. Close to the Great Wall.”

“That sounds beautiful. I’ve never seen real mountains.”

“It is a magnificent sight. You’ll like it. We also have a skilled healer living there. She should be able to help you more than I can.” He chuckles and drags his hand through his hair. “I’m not much of a teacher. Don’t have the patience for it.”

“Oh, I think you’re doing pretty well.”

“Then I say you should practice. It should be safe now that you’re practically manaless. Just focus on gathering it around one hand.”

“Got it.”

She’s going to make that skill number grow as fast as she can. Then the next time they come across sick or hurt people, she’ll be able to really make a difference. And she won’t see that disappointed look on Aster’s face again. Determined, she focuses on her right hand, trying to bring forth the tingling, stinging sensation and the blue magic that follows it. It’s still ridiculously hard. Magic should be easy, right? Effortless.

Even with her focusing on her practice they make good speed. The road is wide enough for a cart, smooth and easy to walk on. On each side, there are fenced fields, herds of antlered goatlike cattle munching on the thick grass and bright yellow flowers. The animals have heavy manes in various green and gray shades, looking a bit as if they’ve got moss or lichen growing on them.

“Mossgoats,” Aster says, pointing at a large herd. “Their milk makes excellent cheese. Or so I’m told. I’m pretty sure the pie they packed for your lunch has some of it.”

“It does smell delicious. As does your roast. And the bread.” She looks at the goats again and then at the wide road. “Don’t you have like… carts or something. Pulled by horse... fast animals? Or do you always walk everywhere?”

“Getting tired already?” he teases, then nods. “But yeah, we do have several different means of transportation. Besides our own feet. But now with the curse spreading and the overhanging threat of war, most prefer to keep their valued beasts safe. The ones not conscripted to the defense of the capital, that is. Too many have been lost, and a lone carriage is vulnerable.”

“Oh, that makes sense." She stops abruptly. "Wait… did you say war?”

“I did. While they haven’t attacked full-scale yet, I fear it’s only a matter of time. Until we have been weakened enough, or their strength has grown enough.”

Diane chews her lip nervously. It seems he left some things out when he described the ‘dire need’ before. This wasn’t just about helping their doctors find a substitute for antibiotics or some basic vaccine to cure a disease. A war? What use would she be in a full-on war? She's never even held a weapon, nor does she want to. 

There'll be injuries. Many injuries, the little voice in her head points out, and a tinge of fear makes her chest tighten. 

Still, if there is a chance she can help people and animals, she’ll do her best. She just needs to focus more. Learn more. Practice more. Right on cue, weak blue flames lick her hand and fingers, and she excitedly shows them to Aster. The die out quickly though, and she does her best to bring them back. Managing a few sparkles around her fingertips. Well, that’s something at least. Progress.

A man suddenly steps out onto the road. Tall, lean, on the verge of being skinny. He stops in the middle of the road, arms crossed in front of him, waiting for them to come closer. His pale blond hair glistens in the sunlight, but Diane’s eyes focus on the large, impressively hooked nose that's his most distinct feature. Next to her, Aster tenses, and she looks suspiciously at the newcomer.

“You’re late, cousin. The princess is not pleased.” The man sounds much to smug. And, what princess? 

“The princess is never pleased. I think we can agree on that much.” Aster answers drily.

“True. But you’re still late. And here I find you, taking a stroll with a pretty girl as if you have all the time in the world.” His tone is snarky, but Diane relaxes. It’s clear they know each other, even though they don’t seem overly friendly. “Need I remind you that you’re on a mission? A serious one.”

“You don’t, but you had to do it anyway, didn’t you?” Aster shakes his head, then waves his hand at the man. “Diane, this is my cousin Hector.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Diane lies politely. She’s already decided she doesn’t like this guy, cousin or not.

“Anyway, this is her. The one I was sent to find. Her name's Diane.” Aster continues the introductions, and the cousin gives her a surprised look.

“Are you certain?” Hector doesn’t even try to conceal the contempt in his voice. “She looks like the runt of her litter, hardly the kind of mage you were supposed to bring back.”

“Are you doubting my judgment? Doubting the Ritual?” Aster’s face darkens, and Hector holds his hands up as a peace offering.

“No, of course not. But you can’t tell me she’s what you expected either?”

Aster says nothing, giving her a guilty little glance, and Diane remembers what he told her once. ‘You’re not what I expected, but I guess we’re stuck with each other for now.’ Her heart sinks. It’s true. She’s nothing like what they need. A powerful warrior or mage. But she’s here, so...

“I may not be what you wanted, but I’ll help in any way I can,” Diane says with as much confidence as she can muster, and Aster nods.

“I believe in her.”

“Very well. I’ll go ahead and let your mother know that you’re on your way. Dragging your feet.” Hector sniffs, looking Diane up and down. “With those tiny legs of hers, it’s no wonder you’re taking so long. You know you could move a lot faster if you carried her.”

Now that’s going entirely too far. Runt of the litter? Cousin or not, he’s getting a piece of her mind.  Diane opens her mouth just as Hector turns back to Aster with an insinuating grin.

“And you do want to make haste, don’t you? After all, your fiancée is eagerly awaiting your return.”

The angry words get stuck in Diane’s throat, and something cold and tight takes over her chest and turns her belly into a knot. She manages to force out a somewhat coherent and polite farewell, then watches Hector stride away, leaving an awkward silence behind.

A fiancée? Aster has a fiancée… He's getting married... 

Why is the air suddenly so hard to breathe?