by L. Itram and Ben Yackley Main * Story * Setting * Cast * Illustrations * About * Comment

Chapter 7: Lightning on Glyphic Mountain (Posted on 11/11/02 )

The public carriage pulled into Estevas around mid-afternoon of the following day. Luen had woken a grumpy Kinto at dawn under the pretext of "getting a good head start so we don't miss Viola," but the latter had promptly fallen asleep as soon as they had secured themselves and their luggage.

From afar, Estevas looked less like a mountain mining town and more like a lowland city that had been picked up and dropped onto the side of Glyphic Mountain. Streets were cut into the side of the steep ground like giant stair steps so that the houses on the "downhill" side were two -- or sometimes three -- stories lower than their neighbors across the street. More normally proportioned steps took the place of footpaths, running up and down the mountainside with a few wider avenues equipped with small carts on rails, presumably salvaged from the mines which originally spawned the town. Needless to say, all the buildings in sight were covered in brightly colored geometric frescos.

Kinto leaned out the window and gawked. "Aezo's sure got a thing fer heights."

The carriage stopped. "Everyone out!" called the driver.

Luen stepped out of the way as the half-dozen other passenger reclaimed their bags from the roof of the carriage. "I thought you said you'd take us to Estevas."

"Sorry, man, this is as far as I go. Unless you wanna get out and push the carriage up the hill."

"Mining town? Where've you been for the last thirty years, huh?"

Luen refrained from reminding the barkeep that thirty years ago he hadn't even existed. "Not here, obviously. So why have you cleverly disguised this place as a mining town, then?"

Instead of getting angry, the dark-skinned mustachioed man behind the bar laughed. "That's a new one, boy. You're right, we used to mine silver. But thirty years and change ago Glyphic Mountain got hit by a falling star." He squinted his one brown eye at Luen and Kinto, the other one being covered by a leather patch. "Do I need to explain that, too?"

"Nah, we know all about Shards. Go on."

"Right, well, mining's a risky business at the best of times. When the star -- or Shard, if you want to get technical -- crashed into the higher slopes, it collapsed some of the upper tunnels. The shockwave from the impact hit the ones below and the whole thing, well, it snowballed down the mountain." He paused to laugh at his own joke. Luen managed a smile on cue. "The mines were near destroyed."

"So what do you do now?" Luen asked patiently.

"I'm getting to that. After the dust settled, we -- well, by 'we' I mean the miners, of course. I just keep the wine coming. Got out of the business back when I lost my hand ... Now, where was I? Ah, right. The miners tried to patch up the lower tunnels and re-open the mine, but they kept getting interrupted by treasure-seekers who wanted to find that Shard. Mages pay a lot for those, you know?"

"Yes, I realized that."

"Wasn't too long before it hit us -- metaphorically, I mean. We'd already been hit by that star once, didn't need it to happen again. Where was I? Ah, right. Wasn't long before we realized that we could make a lot more silver out of the mountain climbers than out of the mountain."

"So you're a supply post now?"

"Might say that, yeah. We're a waypoint for anyone who wants to try their luck going after the Shard. Also for anyone who wants to split their head open climbing up the mountain and for anyone who wants a nice quiet temporary retirement after splitting someone else's head open climbing the mountain. If you know what I mean," he added warningly.

"I get your drift." They didn't look around the bar, knowing that the sort of clientele it attracted were not the sort who wanted attention drawn to themselves. Or, conversely, were the sort who would draw plenty of attention to you if you drew attention to them.

"Yeah, it's pretty obvious. But you seem like two nice kids and nice kids have a habit of missing the obvious. Just don't look funny at anyone and don't take any bets or get into any contests and you'll do fine until the next coach arrives tomorrow morning."

"And then?"

"And then you get on that coach and get out of here before your luck runs out."

"Nice kids, huh?" muttered Kinto into his breakfast. They had found a semi-secluded table near one of the walls; all the corners having been occupied by various shady-looking parties. "Doesn't know who he's talkin' to."

"Which is exactly why he said that," responded Luen. "So quit complaining already. We're here to find Viola and the Shard, not get ourselves ---"

There was a soft hum of air and an arrow flew past Kinto and buried itself in their table.

"-- killed?"

The noise level died for a second, then someone shouted. "Hey, it's Mia!"

Standing in the entrance was a short, grey Levendish woman in sturdy green trousers and a cotton shirt dyed a dozen different colors whose sleeves were tucked into thick elbow-length leather gloves. Accessorizing this gaudy costume was a quiver of arrows over her shoulder, an elaborately filigreed bow in one hand and a smirk on her face. Her fur was gray in color, and had been enchanted to mimic a porcupine's quills; long and sharp on her back, shorter (but no less spiky) on her limbs. From the shouts of recognition it was obvious that she was a regular, and a well-liked one at that.

"Don't you go breaking my wine bottles again," called out the bartender, grinning at her and shaking his remaining fist in mock anger as she brushed past the front tables, obviously heading for Kinto and Luen.

"Aw, chill it, Zythos. That was three months ago and you know it. I'm just here to give the kiddies a proper Estevas welcome," she added, patting Luen on the head.

The two mages just stared at her.

"You coulda killed someone!" Kinto finally responded. "Who d'you think you are?"

"If I'd wanted to kill someone, I would've." She pulled the arrow out of the table and used it to spear a slice of toast off Kinto's plate. "Name's Mia. I'll be seeing you boys around."

Before either of them could come up with a suitably witty response, she was gone.

Luen sighed. "Is it just me, or do we have awful luck with women?"

Get equipment. Get Viola. Get the shard. That was the plan. Step one was proving to be problematic, however.

Purveyors of armor, weapons, supplies and climbing gear were a dime a dozen in Estevas. Mountain climbing was, after all, the town's stock in trade and brawling was its main sport. Unfortunately the armor, weapons, supplies and climbing gear were also worth a dime a dozen qualitywise, no matter what the price-tags said.

"Nobody's gonna buy this stuff," muttered Kinto, tossing aside a gilt-covered sword and heading for the door.

"Nobody who knows any better," countered Luen as they headed back into the sunlight. "These guys are probably doing quite good business on the shard-hunters, though."

"Yeah, right. What I wanna know is --" he paused as something caught his attention, "-- where can we get some o' that?" Luen followed his gaze toward an Ertseti lounging against an attic window -- presumably attached to a house on a lower-level street -- and chatting with one of the shop owners. Her leathers were dusty but the oversized bracers covering her forearms looked new. The bladed quarterstaff strapped to her back had obviously taken several beatings but it -- unlike the "quality goods" in most of the stores -- was far from being worn out.

"Why Kinto, I never would've pegged her for your type."

"Not her, th'armor!"

Luen stopped grinning. "You've got a point. These places are for the tourists, not the locals. But how are we going to find -- "

For the second time that day, an arrow sliced into his conversation. This one stopped in a post, three inches in front of his face.

"Do the new boys in town need a map?"

"A bodyguard would be more useful." Luen tugged the arrow lose and threw it in the direction of the voice. "You should keep better track of those things," he grumbled, turning back as if to continue his interrupted stroll.

"You should keep better track of where you're goin'," Mia responded with a smirk, catching the arrow without even looking. "Not everyone's aim is as good as mine."

"Some 'f us don' need t'shoot at people t'get their attention," Kinto retorted.

"We don't have time for this," Luen muttered, tugging at Kinto's elbow. The other two ignored him, of course.

"Maybe where you come from you've got all the attention you need. But around here we eat your kind for breakfast."

"My kind, huh? You don' know anythin' 'bout my kind!"

Mia took a step back, raising her hand in what was meant to be a conciliatory gesture but was a bit spoiled by the fact that she still held the strung bow. "Hey, easy there. I wasn't being racist, cuz that's just rude! I meant, you know, green types like you and your friend."

"I know what y'meant an' I still say y'don't know anythin' about us." He folded his arms smugly. "Y'probably ain't even heard 'f Tenthys back here."

"Kinto..." Luen warned in a low voice.

"Calm down, I know what I'm doin'. Not gonna make a mess 'f this city, don' worry."

"Tennnnthys, huh?" Mia drew out the syllables of the name. "Yeah, I heard of it. And now you're gonna tell me you -- Mister Bold, Brash and Brainless -- and your sidekick friend were in Tenthys when it crumbled. Right? That your new story?"

"In Tenthys? Who d'ya think crumbled it, huh?"

"Oh I believe that, yes I do. The two of you single-handedly took down the White Tower. Right."

"Three," sighed Luen, having given up hope of keeping his friend quiet.

"Three," agreed Kinto. "We're s'posed t'meet the third one here."

"Uh-huh. Well, Spike, if you really are the Terror of Tenthys -- or one third of it -- you wouldn't mind giving us lowly Estevans a little demonstration, right?"

"What, now?" Kinto hefted his staff.

"No, you dimwit. Not a fight. A contest. A show of strength and accuracy. My bow against your," she waved her hand vaguely, "whatever."

"Lightning," said Kinto, twirling the staff. "I do lightning."

"Even better, then. A target contest on the archery range at sunset. You game?"

"'Course."

Luen knew better than to protest.

"Stakes?" asked Mia.

"Stakes?"

"Yeah, stakes. You think I waste my time shooting at liars and incompetents for fun?"

"According to the evidence..." mumbled Luen under his breath.

"Could use some armor," conceded Kinto.

Mia named a number.

"Huh?"

"Cash, Spike. Smiths aren't cheap. Neither are fletchers."

"We don't have that much." said Luen.

"How much?"

"Yeah," Kinto added turning to his friend, "how much?"

Luen named a much smaller number.

Mia made a sound of disgust. "Ferget that. You're mages, right? You enchant stuff?"

"C'mon. Tha's even more expensive than yer first choice!"

"Fine, what d'you want?"

"If we win," Kinto paused for effect, "y'let everyone here know we're fer real an' not kids t'be messed 'round with."

"Fair enough."

"An' y'buy us both supplies. Real stuff, none of this junk they sell out here."

Luen looked surprised. Sounds like he did know what he was doing. And here I thought he just wanted to show off.

Mia thought about this, then nodded. "And if I win, you shine my boots in front of the whole town. Annnd...I get whatever's in your wallets. And if it ain't at least the number your friend--" she nodded at Luen "--just said, I get his luggage, too."

"Sounds fair t'me. It's your luggage, tho."

Luen gritted his teeth. "I'll take the risk." At least I wasn't stupid enough to tell you how much we really had.

"Great. See you at sunset. Just ask anyone where the archery range is." And with that, she raced off.

"Kinto," said Luen, "You are either a genius or a complete idiot."

"They know her," Kinto explained. "'F we beat her, they'll know us. Y'think anyone here's gonna help out a pair 'f strangers?"

"Not with the prices they're charging, no."

Luen wandered the streets of Estevas alone wondering just how he was going to find Viola. Although it was nowhere near as large as Tenthys, it wasn't exactly a little mining town, either, and certainly easy enough to get lost in. We could spend days searching for her, only to find that she'd arrived and left while our backs were turned. He let out a soft sigh. I hope nothing's happened to her; she doesn't strike me as the sort who would have much in the way of wilderness skills. Good thing Kinto's scoping out the archery range, he thought with a smirk, or he'd be teasing me about falling in love again. Admittedly, though, I am starting to miss her -- snobbiness and all. Maybe he's onto something ....

He thought it over.

Nah. Don't be ridiculous, Luen.

Kinto had little trouble finding the archery range: it was the largest flat piece of ground for miles. Some long-dead architect had taken advantage of a momentary leveling off of the steep slope and had carved out two trapezoidal "steps" of flat land and then covered them with grass and weeds. At the top of the upper trapezoid stood the training hall -- or so it had been called when he asked -- a three-story building which leaned back into the cut side of the mountain. It was still a faded blue and brown along its upper half, but someone with free time had covered the entire first floor with target bullseyes and someone else with more concern for safety had set up a piece of furniture in front of each -- including an old mining cart, several barrels and a rocking chair. More traditional targets stood at the bottom edge of the lower "step" of land, placed in such a way that an archer with strong arms might be able to hit them from the door of the hall.

"You're early," said a familiar voice.

"Just checkin' out th'place. Looks more like a playground than an archery range."

"We don't have that much space," commented Mia, eyeing the joggers, fencers, boxers and loafers who were taking advantage of the afternoon sunshine. "'Bout the only thing you won't find in Estevas. That and green kids; they don't last long, either."

Kinto took aim at one of the targets and waited for an elderly Levendish with a cane to slowly stroll away from the field. "Not surprised if y'keep talkin' at 'em when they're tryin' t'practice." Zot!

Luen surveyed his newly rented hotel room. It was a run-down old building that looked like it had started life as a warehouse, but it had two advantages: it was relatively cheap -- meaning, of course, that it only charged slightly more than one would pay for more posh lodgings in other towns -- and it was near the training ground where Kinto and Mia would be competing. He had passed by those training grounds and found his friend warming up by demolishing a few targets, but hadn't stopped to chat.

He slipped into the washtub which the landlady had been kind enough to provide and leaned back. Her exact words had been, "There's an extra by the pump out back. You break it, you replace it."

He reached for the crystal pouch and pulled out the "faulty" green crystal that the merchant at the roadside inn had rejected the day before. "I could use some practice myself. And if I'm going to be keeping you, we'd better introduce ourselves."

Closing his eyes, he began the first of the mental exercises designed to lead into the Summoner's Trance, where a mage's consciousness slips out of the real world and into the maginary plane, specifically into the sealed room associated with a capture crystal.

When Luen opened his eyes, he was floating weightlessly in a large open space, illuminated by the light which filtered through - or perhaps from - the numerous oddly-angled walls. The only other inhabitant was a lanky green animal with the build of a greyhound, a rabbit-like head with ears like waving ribbons, four oversized blocky paws - or two paws and two hands, Luen noticed as he got closer - attached to legs bearing thickly armored shells, and a snarl that she put to good use as soon as Luen tried to approach her.

"Easy..." Luen drifted backward until the maginaria settled down again. "I'm not going to hurt you." He slowly moved toward her, rambling on soothingly, "I know you're upset, but this place isn't so bad, now is it? It's warm, it's quiet, and there's nobody chasing you." She -- maginaria didn't have genders but Luen found himself thinking of this one as female, possibly because it looked smaller and more streamlined than his previous pet -- hissed again, feebly lashing a paw in his direction.

"Sorry. I forgot, you're still sore from that fight. You're probably hungry, too, aren'cha? Let's see what I've got." He reached into his crystal pouch -- or the mental representation of the pouch; he had never been all that interested in the metaphysical details -- and rummaged around. "I'm thinking green, what do you think? Here we go. See, food?" He held out the crystal and slowly approached the maginaria again, "Not gourmet cuisine but the best I could find in this benighted town. Yes, it's for you -- " as the creature made a slight move toward him " -- I don't eat the stuff. C'mon. No? Not getting any closer. Okay, catch! Good, huh? Still hungry?"

Within a few minutes he had struck up, if not a friendship, at least an understanding with the creature. "No more green for now. I need to keep some in reserve for emergencies. You like blue? Yeah, blue's nice." He stroked her head as she chewed on the chroma, her long ribbonlike ears waving lazily. "I think I'll call you Clorin. From the Aezite word for 'green'. Not that you speak Aezite."

Clorin lifted her head and hissed, ears and tail lashing. Luen felt a ripple in the air - if it was air - around them. He turned slowly around in the direction she was facing... A shadow fell across the hexagonal walls: a huge canine shadow, with a warped, dented ring running through its eye sockets. As they watched, it shrank as the beast outside retreated, then plunged toward them, dashing as if to slam itself against the crystal. Frozen in fear, Luen and Clorin could only watch as it collided with the wall --

Luen's eyes shot open as he snapped out of the trance, gills dry and heart pounding. Clorin's crystal lay on the floor next to his tub. Nhaal! Could the black maginaria still be out there? Get a grip on yourself! He plunged his head underwater and forced himself to breathe slowly until his pulse returned to something resembling normal. Whatever it was, it was after him and not Clorin. He didn't know why he was so certain but he would've bet money on it.

He lifted his head out of the water and stared blankly out the window until another thought slipped in. It's almost sundown! I have to get to the archery range!

"Rules are --" Mia announced to the gathered crowd. She was wearing the same casual clothing as she'd had on that afternoon but had replaced her quiver with a newer model, filled with slightly larger and fancier looking arrows. "Rules are -- we take turns choosing targets. Whoever misses, loses."

"What's the penalty?"

"He gets me cash, I get him armor. Reeeeal armor." That brought forth a few laughs; the locals were well aware of what sort of armor Kinto would have been finding in the shops.

"You get him a real bow, too?" It was the same Ertseti fighter Kinto had seen on the street.

Kinto spun his staff, "Don't need no bow." That produced more laughs as well as a bit of applause.

"Ready, Spike?"

"Name's Kinto. Don't ferget it."

"Fine. Ready, Kinto?"

"You first."

"I call targets --" she gestured toward one end of the range, "-- at fifty paces."

"Blindfolded, right?" scoffed Kinto.

"It's a warmup, Spike. Or is your mouth better than your aim?"

Kinto didn't even try to regain the crowd's sympathy. He measured off fifty paces and scorched a perfect bullseye. Mia landed an arrow in the center of his scorch mark.

"Try a hundred."

"Arrows?" she asked.

"Paces."

The two shots had apparently warmed Mia up enough because her next turn she called a ricochet -- "Off that wall into that barrel."

"Y'may be an expert archer, but no way yer gonna ricochet an arrow."

"I called it. You gonna do it?"

"I wanna see you go first."

"You're only delaying things, kid." She nocked an arrow and took aim at the wall.

PWING! thunk!

"Your turn."

Kinto sent an arc of lightning crackling its way from his staff, off the wall, and into the barrel, which promptly exploded in a sharp shower of pickles.

"Loser buys a new target!" hollered a voice from the back of the crowd.

Luen gave up trying to push his way through the wall of people blocking the street above the training hall. It was obvious even from the back of the crowd that the contest was still in full swing: lightning bolts and arrows flew overhead, occasionally landing on an unlucky weathervane or bouncing off the corner of a building, accompanied by the sounds of cheering.

"What're they doing now?" he asked the tallest bystander he could find.

"Three ricochets, past the training hall, through the ring on the second hitching-post and into the drug-store door."

"No way an arrow can do that."

There was a sudden silence, then three soft thumps, a metallic pling and the creaking of hinges.

"No way 'n arrow can do that," exclaimed Kinto. "Y'just turned a right angle there."

Mia shrugged. "Never said I used normal arrows."

"So yer arrows are enchanted, huh? Doesn't take much skill fer you, then."

"Nah, my arrows are normal, actually. It's the bow that's enchanted." She nocked another arrow and sighted down the end of it. "It sends 'em aaaaanywhere I want 'em to go."

"Anyone c'n win a contest with a magic bow," retorted Kinto. "Thought this was 'bout skill."

If his intention was to get her angry, he failed. "Anyone can win a contest with magic lightning bolts," she responded with a grin. "I thought this was about skill."

"They're my own lightning bolts," grumbled Kinto.

"And this is my own bow. Or are you stalling 'cause you really can't make a triple ricochet?"

"No way he's gonna make it," said the woman next to Luen.

"You don't know Kinto. Lightning is what he does best."

She opened her mouth to say something, then stopped as the crowd grew silent. There was a soft crackling noise which terminated in the same creaking of hinges.

Luen's neighbor peered down her equine nose at him. "How -- wait, you're the little blue runt who came into town with him arencha? What're you doing all the way back here?"

She gave the man in front of her a thump on the shoulder. "Ey, gang way. This boy wants to cheer his friend on."

Before Luen could protest, he was shoved into the front row of spectators, just in time to hear Mia say "Okay, let's end this."

"Your turn," said Kinto.

Mia grinned. "Okay, let's end this."

"Gimme yer worst."

She stepped up to him until they were almost nose to nose. "It's been fun, kid," she said, then paced backwards across the field.

"Targets at fifty paces," she called out, putting a thumb to her chest. "Right here."

"What?" responded Kinto, breaking the sudden silence.

"You heard me. Unless you can't do it?"

She's betting I'm gonna give in. Was that the idea all along? Bet this town's seen bloodshed, but nobody would be stupid enough to shoot the town hero in front of all her friends. It'd be suicide.

He lifted his staff and pointed it at her. The crowd held its breath as the faint glow of orange chroma appeared around his hands.

But I don't give up.

Mia's eyes widened as she realized her bluff wasn't going to work. But she stood her ground.

zot

A tiny spark of light hit Mia in the chest. She looked down at the faint scorch mark on her shirt, then back at Kinto. Her spikes were standing on end, but apart from a slight tingling sensation, she was completely unhurt.

"Your turn," he said.

Mia gritted her teeth and glared at Kinto. She pulled an arrow out of her quiver, but then dropped it and her bow on the ground, conceding the victory to him. The crowd erupted in cheers and swept in on the two of them.

"Th'one thing you fergot, Mia," said Kinto after they'd been carried back to the tavern, "is that an arrow is always an arrow, but a spell c'n be tiny like that one or huge like th'one I used in Tenthys. You believe me yet?"

"About Tenthys? I still dunno. But I'll say this, Spike, you're no green kid." She seemed more willing to gracefully accept her loss once she realized that she could still get the crowd's attention, even if Kinto was the darling of the day. A bottle of the bartender's best wine didn't hurt, either.

"Kinto! The name's Kinto!"

"Whaaaatever." She lifted her mug and climbed onto the table. "Hey boys and girls. Kinno here says he's the Terror of Tenthys. You believe him?"

The crowd cheered.

Mia sat down again. "Guess I'm outnumbered."

"Hoy, Luen!" Kinto waved his friend over. "Di'nt do it on my own, though. Here's th'guy I was with -- th'one who made sure that tower di'nt fall over an' kill anybody."

More cheers. The tavern was packed with everyone who could fit and more people were celebrating in the streets outside, though it wasn't entirely clear what they were celebrating and they probably would've been just as happy if no matter who won.

"So nobody at all has seen her?"

"Believe me, if anyone had said they saw a purple lady wandering around, I would've remembered it. Instilled aren't that common around here."

"It's like looking for a needle in a haystack," Luen complained.

"Hey, it's not that bad. The whole city's gonna hear about your friend soon enough -- I'm not boasting when I say I've never been beaten until now. Soon as your girlfriend shows up in town, she'll hear the news and put two and two together."

"She's not my girlfriend, Mia."

"Yeah, whaaaatever. I'm sure you'd be just as frantic if Spike - I mean Kinto - got lost." Mia stood up. "I'll ask around when we go shopping in the morning." She patted Luen on the shoulder as she left, "Take it easy for now."

Luen sighed and stared out the window. The moon was rising -- a slender sliver crescent hanging low in the twilit purple sky. She's out there somewhere ... we'll find her soon enough. In the meantime, I suppose I might as well go enjoy myself. He uncurled from the windowsill and headed back to the party.