The Fires of Change

The heart of Emmerlaine was a place forbidden to Chimi for the risk of the human condition she now understood. As much as she thought her people were good and the people of Odibrand and Crystolle were bad, they were all still people. But this was still something up in the air. People can change, people can get better and choose to do good. She tugged on her helmet as people started to gather family by family, first the military kids raised by the barracks, then the military families. The crafters, cooks and other families of mixed professions flocked soon after.They sat in the pub by the square, which used to host the town council. Disbanded two hundred and more years ago, with the initial outbreaks of fell Fae attacks upon the death of Ashworth and Thomas Mayne. Many people said that was the fall of Rasu, but the stories passed down from generation to generation, heard from traders, indicated that it occurred more than five centuries ago.Chimi rubbed the blood from her hands— she cursed her mind. The memory of the sword getting stuck in the man’s neck, her dire, desperate effort to show mercy, only put him through more anguish. The squelch and crack of the cut, the gagging, puking and terror and rage in his bloodshot eyes. He opened his mouth to scream as she made a dismal cut that gloomed over her mood. She chewed her lip and looked around for some food, only to find her mother shaking her head.“You’re a soldier now, Chichi.” She said gently, “Pray.”Chimi shut her eyes and felt for that thing within, that cluster of forces that moved around. All colours of the rainbow and more beyond, colours she felt but couldn’t see. It felt more vast than the world she knew— no, it dwarfed their world and spanned far beyond. If this is real, help me show the people of Emmerlaine today.“I’m ready.” She whispered.Mother nodded.The square began to fill up, townspeople and shopkeepers who lived locally stood outside their homes or on their balconies if they were fortunate enough to have them. The rest took up benches or stood as they waited for the military announcements to begin. The mages even stood at the back of the square, under their silly, curtain robes, with their hoods drawn up, except for Eleanor, who had her hood down. The mages beforehand would show their faces. Now they behaved much like another subculture with Eleanor at their head. A cult of killers to join the military, all in service of the Emmerlaine people.Dad marched through the crowd with Egeon and Kennedy by his side, and applause sounded through the air as they took the stage of the square that led directly out of the pub. He saluted.A small thunder tittered in the air when the townspeople saluted back.“People of Emmerlaine,” he said, “I’ll keep it bloody simple, the prophecy for my daughter was false, and today, proof will be revealed.”The words: blasphemy, apostasy, blunthead, and military-muscle filled the air. Egeon cleared his throat loudly to quiet the people and draw fighting eyes from the industrial men, smiths, carpenters, tinkerers and the like.“A funeral offering for Thom, Freddy, Jaime, Clive, Jane, Barbara, Stephen, and Robert who perished in the Odibrand ambush.” Dad said, “This attack on Shimmerrain’s land was an act of cowardice, and it shall not go unanswered, for as some of you already know, there is no prophecy but a new beginning. With ambition and the flare of an ancient star reborn.”“Show them.” Mother whispered.Chimi rose to her feet and marched out. Dad and the other soldiers gave her a wide berth as she saluted. “I am Chimi, daughter of Angus and Wes, I am…” could she say it? The words nearly choked her with those eyes that regarded her in a coalition of hot, cold, anger, disgust, respect, thankfulness… “Enough talk, witness.” She clutched that piece of herself. Tried to force together the expansive colours that tasted of something with alien sweetness and filled her blood with sugarcane from the east like the ecstasy of battle. She heard flames erupt all over her and tried to force them into wings, four wings. Then push them up into a miniature star above her. Chimi felt consciousness slip away from the strain—*Annabella keenly observed the child take the cobblestone stage with a decent boxie march toward them. The gambeson Angus’ daughter wore had a fit on her, better than home clothes or a smith’s rag or butcher’s apron. Absolutely, that was a good flaming sign. But if she were going to take the stand beside her brother, she’d have to display proof of her— white embers flickered into existence with sparks of flames like lightning, blinding white as Winterheart.Annabella raised a hand to call over Caitlin, the stupid woman who was too busy being jealous to see what was taking place. Her eyes nearly fell out of her pretty face. Chimi, this poor girl who’d been the suspected cause of the Fae surge, needed to be trained to balance out the issue. Enough to make Annabella consider taking the flaming Urien test from the plankies now that Eleanor was at their head.Her flames were forged into a set of four wings behind her, and Chimi’s eyes had glazed over completely and almost rolled to the back of her head. A small crown formed over her head, and from her back, a large wave of flames rushed into the air and formed a sphere of light that made Annabella think: Star.“We have our stellar girl, Gibson.” She said aloud to make sure he could hear.“So we do.” Lloyd replied, “Now we need to get her used to killing.”“We have our legitimacy.” He clenched his fists, “The Blades are going to change warfare itself.”“Killing civilians is my limit.” Annabella retorted.“That’s boring.” Gibson spat, “I only care about the art of combat. She is legitimate, but I will not subject us to her unless we can see that she is her father’s child.”Annabella regarded the lunatic with lidded eyes, “I need a favour.”“Finally,” he said with a lopsided grin, “Meet me in the training ring.”Annabella looked up at Charles, who currently stood atop the Winespring Shop. He gave her a stout nod and a stupid grin with too much teeth for her. Men shouldn’t show that much teeth unless they were built like Gibson or broad like the smithy. This dainty little boy, riddled with muscle, smiled too much and was far too pretty. And she’d have to find him a wife to make sure he doesn’t get lonely and keep his feelings to himself like the rest of these men. She sighed. Oh, to be a woman in the army.“Hey, Gibby.” She said, “I’m gonna keep an eye on all of you, Caitlin’s too much of a boy to do that right.”“I got you for your uncanny shield—““A shield in more than for enemies, you fucking fool.” She still remembered how he nearly jumped into the Lewin pool to freeze himself to death as a child. The loneliness in his eyes that only seemed to be filled by duty and violence. But he was a good fellow, if a bit too bloody bloody. “Need to find you a wife to house some sense into you.”“I—“ he stared in frustration right at her, “I’m fine.”“For now.” She said, “But who knows what’s to come, you know what Chimi’s ambitions are and that her father aligns with them. Just look at Angus’ eyes when he looks at her.”“Ambition?”“She wants to unite Eiramoor as Empress.” Anna glanced back at the star in the sky that still hung low despite Chimi having passed out into her mother’s arms. “And he wants to do it, but he knows he won’t be able to leave past Umbrae. We’ll need a strong commander to push behind her slowly if she is capable, and her power makes her a unifying factor. Perhaps, she may be a god for the first time come to press their perfect little feet on our lands.”“Which would mean we have to take Asheluna or Uwain or both first.” He said, “You think we’ll go where first?”“Asheluna, Uwain can be defended against; the only issue is if our friends down south decide to muster a coalition and manage to swing Almeira. Then we’re rightfully fighting like girls.” She knelt down and took up some snow to make a ball out of it.“Like a girl?” he turned and caught the snowball as she threw it, then tossed it back. She sidestepped.“You bitch.” Lloyd grunted with his forearm covered in snow.“You blocked it, good.” She gave him her best smile.“It’s a wonder Gibson doesn’t pick you for a wife.”“Because it’s strange to marry my sister.” Gibson said, “You remember?”“Oh, but you do love swimming.” Lloyd chuckled.“I’ll bury you in the sea.” Gibson bared his teeth in a vicious grin.“Try it.” Lloyd returned the same animal grin.Anna covered her mouth and quietly laughed to herself.*The next day, Chimi sat outside the funeral procession for the fallen warriors whose bodies had been prepared and prayed over in private by their families. She rubbed her hands with a clump of snow when she felt they were too red with blood, only to mutter to herself about delusions. She chewed on the rations mother had given her, as she’d only woken up in the late morning to attend. The strain on her body left her sore as if she were brand new to military camp. Her fingers ached, her head throbbed, her body weighed twice as much and hurt to move.Mothers wept, and fathers beside them, if they were still alive, to maintain the mountain of strength. Chimi had never seen her father be vulnerable. He was always persistent in his strength, an immovable bastion that withstood the span of many wars. Though her mother did mention that she would have him speak the contents of his mind when the time was right.Chimi forced herself to pay attention again as more bodies were buried outside their wall to the east of the village near the great fall. The place where clouds hung under their lands, if you fell, nobody would be able to hear you land, let alone see you again. Many traders brought books over from travellers who claimed to see a distant land under eclipse or other natural events.A grand spread of cotton that isolated their home continent. If someone could find a way to sail or fly these clouds to new lands, it would not only shift the tides of known warfare but make them a superpower— Chimi coughed when she smelled the blood of the dead men. You are a soldier, you will be empress. Think like one, act like one. She clenched her teeth and tried to push the thoughts away— No. Like mother said, they won’t go away. She must deal with them. Think like an empress, think like an empress who is prepared to walk the bloody path. Dad was always a mountain steady, and she was getting distracted over fantasy and fancy for more tools to kill and could smell thin iron in her nostrils.“For them to witness this,” Dad said, “I think it is appropriate.”Heads turned to watch him at the head of the funeral pack, “With my daughter’s birth eighteen years ago, Eleanor and her mages have done some actual bloody work and confirmed something interesting.” Dad said, “The Godsrest will awaken within the next year or two.”Glances were shared around the cemetery, Lloyd was present and the rest of the Blades were notably absent. He clapped his hands for some boxies to come out and place a sign with a map of known Eiramoor on the side, then a map of Alba beside it.“Now that she has gone to battle, words catch wings and fly on the wind. We must act soon, so we will begin an operation to strengthen our position and bind the towns back together so we may flourish into great cities.” She’d never heard the man so excited in his life, “For the other nations have need of power for the Godsrest, and no power is as admired as that of Rasu.”“You almost sound like a mage yourself.” Egeon chuckled.“Now is a time of magic, sirs.” Eleanor lauded, and a song of mages filled the air with flutes and violins that quieted down and took their place behind father.Dad rolled his eyes and continued, “For us to avoid a situation where the Alba Steppe is easily besieged, we will begin our first operation of unification with Uwain and Asheluna. First, Eleanor, Egeon, Chimi and the newly formed Blades will go to the north with scouts already in operation. Eleanor, you may select fifteen mages to attend you. Asheluna as of late has not faced any threats as their home is well structured for defence and self-sustaining. Negotiations will be possible but may take weeks. But with Chimi as proof, you will succeed. There is no failure.”Dad pointed to Fox Hill near the Shimmerrain and the subsequent hills that divided the forests of Uwain from the open flatlands, “We will hold this area, attempt peace, but bring the tools of war if they do collude with the enemy. Defences will be extended beyond the town, we’ll dig holes, fell trees and butcher them if necessary. But Asheluna must ally with Emmerlaine. We suspect that the warrior you observed is from the joint alliance between Odibrand and Crystolle, as they have been attempting to drive animals from our lands. We have had to kill thirty of them this morning. Our scouts are the best archers in Alba.” He initiated applause with a single clap.Chimi nodded in agreement with the plan.Dad continued, “Once negotiations are complete, we will begin the skirmishes into Odi-Crystolle territory and establish footholds to attack. The one concern,” he pointed to the South-east Alba blight, “If this thing wakes with the presence of Chimi and the magecraft present, we will be facing a pear-shaped fuck up. Before you ask, we have confirmed the presence of three Vileroots from observations. The grotted blightland is worse than it looks. Unfortunately, it is unprecedented.”One of the civilians piped up, “Shouldn’t we use Chimi’s power to destroy it?”“An untrained mage is as much a danger to herself as she is to all of existence, especially one of such magnitude. Her power out of control shall magnanimously deal death indiscriminately if unleashed as such.” Eleanor spoke firmly, “That is an idea that will have disastrous consequences. Please also consider that the birth of such a Being likely means there are forces that humanity is being bolstered to counter. The strength of your people of Emmerlaine and your ability to forge weapons of solid quality is also indicative of such.” Eleanor looked to Dad.He gestured for her to continue.Eleanor approached and pointed to the Fenina mountains, “If I may, I think after the objective of the New Rosomona Alliance is attained, this area must be conquered as it contains valuable resources and rare metals only found in mountains to bolster your military might.”“So the mages are useful.” Poole barked a laugh and threw an arm around his son, who laughed like a wild animal.“So they are.” Egeon said, “Perhaps we ought to have some detachments.”“I would appreciate that,” Eleanor said gently. “Further, the mage court of Emmerlaine presents a new advancement in anti-magic developments.” She raised a small stone on a cord, “Wear this, and it will provide a small boost to your innate barrier that all humans possess to divert projections of the craft away. Larger stones have a stronger effect, but as you must remain mobile, specific units will have to be charged with larger chunks of it.”Dad took up the stone between his thumb and finger. “How many can you make?”“With time, as many as needed, we currently have four hundred available.” Eleanor said, “With another three days, we can produce the remaining four hundred, but to produce higher quality materials and other types, we would have to fell Vileroots, other rare types of Fae, daemons, and conquer Fenina.”“Good.” Egeon said, “Go get yourself a husband and get to work.”“I’d prefer to take a stray dog.” She waved for her mages to escort her away.Egeon watched them leave. Dad tapped him on the shoulder and whispered, but Egeon shook his head. “I’m aware.”Chimi glanced between the two. Egeon was a hammer, and she was certainly a mage with a toff’s attitude. The two would make an interesting match, but the interconnection of military might and magic pretty poetry would be fitting. Chimi rubbed her nose to try to rid the scent of blood. No, didn’t bloody work.Mother touched Chimi’s arm, “Go, Isheila has a meal ready for you.”Chimi pulled mother into a tight embrace, “Thank you.”Mum returned the gesture, “Go on, our little empress—““You don’t have minutes of silence for your dead?” Eleanor asked.“The dead don’t need our silence or stillness. Those are things that belong to the dead or the sleeping.” Chimi said, “They only desire their sacrifices to be honoured by action. We move forward, to honour their deaths and prevent further death, actions are sought after, results are their veneration.” And found herself confused at the silence that lingered afterwards…Father and mother started to clap, and the crowd followed after until the air filled with joy, cheer and applause.“Well said.” Mother said, “Now off with you, enjoy your rest.”*Chimi kept her head down as she made her way through the snowy town to Ishi’s family’s home. The snowfall had started to dampen her coat. She rubbed her hands together, knelt down to gather a clump of snow and wash any possible blood off. Took some more and rubbed it on her nose, some fresh snow off a windowsill to chew and spit out. The blood wouldn’t go away in scent, taste or smell. There was a faint buzz in the back of her head. When she listened closer, it was a distinct scream of a dying man.She reached Ishi’s house, and she could smell venison from the windows. Chimi drew a breath in… the smell of cooked meat helped to squash the iron stink a small amount. She reached forward to rap her knuckles on the door— it swung open to Ishi’s delighted face, and the young woman dragged her inside before Chimi could say hello.“Bloody time you showed up.” Ishi said, “Come on, you need to pamper yourself more, you got your first skirmish done and got the first kills.”Chimi recoiled, “Ishi!”“Come on, let’s eat. Your mum gave us permission to treat you tonight!” She shut the door behind Chimi.“Boots and socks, this is sacred ground,” Ishi said sarcastically.