Liron had survived the Promised Dawn. He had killed two assassins sent after him by House Urach. He had freed his sister from the Inquisition and escaped Kupferrang. Within a week, he would bring justice to Adenius and put all the souls he had sacrificed for his sick game to rest.
Liron didn't simply lose anything to anyone. But as they followed Shae, his attention stuck to the smallest details. The flowers in her hair. Her straight posture and the silent strength in it. Her tattooed lips.
Pinching himself in the side, Liron forced an end to unsavory thoughts. He had entered the war for Ekon's soul with a formidable foe waiting for him. Romance had no place in his life. In particular, to a girl he had met twenty minutes ago.
"So you have seen the Empire army?" Shae asked.
"We have," Zonis said. "But only the infantry. Do you know their size?"
"Yes. It is a moderate army. They have access to Fides, but how many I can't tell. Furthermore, I suspect they don't have any Wizards or greater war beasts with them."
Zonis grumbled into his fins. "With them being here, the Qyoral is close, I take it."
Shae nodded. "I couldn't get too close, but I think they are of a similar magnitude as the Empire's forces."
"They keep each other in check then. None intend to fight but to scare the other into holding their position."
Emma threw glances at Liron. They walked behind Shae and Zonis. Emma pointed at her, wiggling with her eyebrows at Liron. Her brother did not appreciate the gesture.
After reaping her joy from him, she turned her attention back to the conversation in front of them. "A question. How do you know all of this?"
Shae turned to her. "My Magic allows me to fly and disguise myself as a cloud. It makes me perfect to scout the area and analyze our enemies. In Sannara, this often proves difficult as there are no clouds."
"Yeah, it's dry as fuck," Emma said.
"That it is," Shae said, amusement swinging with her words.
"So these armies will be no trouble for us?" Liron asked.
"Not necessarily," Shae said. "We don't know what Adenius intends to do, but on their own they will remain docile."
Every second in her vicinity, the poison that had taken root in Liron's heart sunk deeper. The sound of her voice, her every movement, her sheer presence. His chest grew tighter, every beat a painful reminder that Emma was right.
Liron had never fallen for any girl in Eisenrahm. There were a few that struck his fancy, but he never pondered the possibility of being with them. None of them would have chosen him. They would have sealed their fate as well as the one of their future children. Feeling his stomach come alive at the thought of Shae alone, Liron realized something.
He hated this. His dark thoughts were kinder than this.
"Shae, what's your Magic?" he asked. Perhaps the reminder of violence would cleanse his stupid heart. "I mean, we should know what the other can do, right? And you probably already know what Emma's and mine deal is."
"Indeed," she said. "My Conduit is the dancing lion costume of my people. I can summon it around me, using it to fight. My Gate, a storm, allows me to control the wind and smaller aspects of the weather. Like clouds."
"That's… awesome," Liron said. His tongue, once the only blade he could rely on, had dulled.
Shae smirked, faint and fleeting on her stoic face. "It is awesome."
Why was her smile so beautiful? Liron pinched himself again. He stumbled around like his father when he had drunk too much. He had no control over the world at large, so he had hoped to be the master in his own home. But even this was taken from him.
As they walked on, Liron tried to start a conversation with Shae several times. But after she had smiled, she became stone again. She cut each attempt short. Never rude but always clear. So, for the remainder of their journey, he had to be content with her presence and nothing else.
Another distant person in his life. Exactly what Liron had begged for.
…
The moment Liron saw him, a boy his age, stomping towards them, he knew he would hate him.
After an hour of marching, they finally arrived at the camp of the remaining agents. One of them marched towards them. He had dirty blond hair, keeping it in a similar messy style as Liron. He had a bigger build, appearing like a brute dragged out of a cave. A scowl took away the last chance of charm he could have had. Liron hadn't seen much of the Empire, but he recognized a Nord in him. They were unpleasant and pessimistic folk.
"Oh my," Zonis sighed. "This will be ugly."
Shae's silence spoke volumes.
"There you are," the boy. "Was startin' to get worried."
When he saw Zonis, his features lit up. As much as they could. "Master Zonis. You're a good sight for sore eyes."
"Bran, my boy," Zonis said, taking him in a hug. "It is good to see you, too. I hope everything has been fine."
Bran glared at Liron, all joy evaporating. "As fine as they can get. So, you're the Ravenspawn, eh?"
"Well, manners aren't your strong suit, eh?" Liron said.
Bran snorted. "This is Bran Schmied," Shae said, stepping between the two young men. "He's a Nord as you two. He has been with the Resistance his entire life. I would trust him with my life. And Bran, this is Liron and Emma Sturm."
"Aye, I can see that," Bran said. "I thought you'd be bigger."
"Really? 'Cause your mother said all o' me is rather big," Liron said.
"My ma is dead, or do you fancy courtin' a grave?"
"Wanna play the dead family card? I think we two can sing a better song than you."
Zonis cleared his throat, clapping both men on the shoulder. "I guessed you would like each other. Come, you can… acquaint yourself with each other later. Let us first go to the others."
Liron followed with the rest, glaring at Bran the entire time. The brute returned the favor. Shae had all but left his thoughts. What a potent cure a little hatred could be.
The other agents all introduced themselves. Seven in total, dressed in clothes that helped them hide in the sand, they were here to aid them in all that was to come. But none of them could help them fight like Shae would. They took care of transport, making camps, scouting ahead, and reading the terrain. Bran took charge of keeping their gear in decent shape, repairing it with the trained hands of a smith. The agents had brought a massive lizard with them.
It walked on all fours and kept low to the ground. Two people could ride it at the same time. It was supposed to transport their luggage. Liron and Emma ran their fingers over its black scales. Some on its back were red, forming stripes that resembled the eye of a greater beast. The lizard was docile and even trusting, rubbing its head at them.
Bran rolled his eyes at Liron's and Emma's enthusiasm. "This is a gila," Zonis said, petting the beast. "Some of the most peaceful animals you will find on Ekon. They avoid all forms of conflict and rather use deception and hiding to escape their predator's grasp. They are one of the most trusted allies we of the Resistance have. Them and camels. We rely on them heavily. It's good to see that you two seem to like her."
"Don't touch her too much, or you might kill her, Ravenspawn," Bran said, spitting on the ground.
Shae raised her eyebrows but paid no further attention. This was Liron's battle to fight.
"Thanks for the compliment," Liron said, "but I think you overestimate me, you donkey. I can't just kill with my hands alone."
"No, you breathin' is enough to push the whole world into the shitter."
Emma showed her teeth, ready to lay into Bran. Liron signaled her to wait. Usually, he would agree with the smith, but the only one allowed to insult him like this was himself. "Fuck yeah. I woke up and decided to piss everybody in the soup."
"You're not as funny as you think you are," Bran said. "Do you have any idea how many folk we alone lost? How many folk died in total? They're dead because o' you. The vision and the dreams are a bad omen. You have your black hair for a reason."
"If that's the case, then I'm rather fathered by Drom than the pig your ma pulled into her bed. And it is funny that you blame me more than the Empire for the dead. You do sound like a good little follower."
Bran stared at him. "What did you just call me?"
"You fuckin' heard me, or are you deaf from the priest screamin' lies into your ears? I'm pretty sure when you go to bed, you think o' the dear Emperor. But not for too long, or you will get your wood standin'."
Shae tried to suppress her laughter, but pieces escaped from her shut lips. Emma laughed loud for her, too. The surrounding agents grimaced, knowing Liron scored hard against Bran. Zonis had not intervened. Strife between them was inevitable, so all he could do was overlook it. And call an end to it.
"Enough, you two. I hope you feel better having said such foul things to one another. But now it is over."
Liron did feel better. Especially watching Bran work his mouth to find a reply. Failing to find one, he turned around, his eyes glittering. "Fine. But I hope you won't slow us down."