Chapter 2-2

Our return trip to the city of Bani was blissfully uneventful, at least in comparison to our previous travels. I drove my cart, while the rest of my companions walked, with packs on their backs.

“Too good for walking now?” Sati challenged me. I wasn’t terribly surprised by her comment. Honestly I was more surprised that her tone was more teasing than derisive.

“My gut wound still isn’t completely healed.” I noted calmly. “We’ve been on the move constantly after our battle, and these types of wounds are notoriously difficult to treat.”

Sealing my bowels, cleaning my abdominal cavity, and repairing all my organs had been challenging while on the move. But she didn’t need to know the details, nor did I really expect her to care. Myta had already taken me to task for not spending more time recovering. Cata and Denu were floored, however. The former literally stumbling from his shock.

“Esur’uk, I did not know you were so severely injured!” He exclaimed. “We could have created a litter for you to ride in.”

Myta made a noise of agreement, shooting me a vindicated glance. I waved off their concern.

“Perhaps if time was more of an issue. But I’m more than capable of taking care of these things while walking. The ride in the cart will speed things along now. If it were a less complicated injury, a simple cut or burn, it would already be gone.”

“He lost a chunk of his arm to the monk in Bani.” Myta offered. “That was healed within a couple of days.”

Both of our younger companions were suitably distressed, and impressed. Sati was eyeing me with an odd look. She understood, more than the others here, the complications of healing. At least I assumed that was the reason for her assessing gaze. I doubted that she was all that impressed by my skill, Ramana doubtless had more skilled healers than I. But it was enough to confound her expectations.

I spent a little time fielding questions about my healing abilities. Cata was clearly interested in learning more, in a practical way. He showed hints of a wood affinity already, which made sorcerous healing well within his reach. The vitality and growth aspects of such affinities were easily adapted to restoring the body. Myta’s aspect of flame could also be used in such a way, but with less ease. As such I was happy to discuss the practical ins and outs of it.

I didn’t think Myta had the interest or temperament to dedicate herself to healing. But she was whip-smart, and could easily pick up the basics. Cata might go much farther on that path, if I judged him correctly.

The time passed quickly, and soon enough we were making camp for the evening. Myta and I shared a large tent, much larger than we needed for sleeping. I’d purchased it to serve as a mobile clinic, where I could treat patients when there wasn’t a good space to rent for the purpose. As such, it was a bit harder to find appropriate spaces to camp, but the two of us ended up with plenty of space.

Sati arrived while we set up the tent, watching us intently. I shot her a quizzical glance as she stood there.

“Our tent won’t be set up the same as yours, but they aren’t difficult to figure out. Cata or Denu can assist if you need help.”

“I don’t need their help.” Sati scoffed at my comment, but she remained standing there. A slow suspicion began to creep up on me.

“Myta and I share this tent.” I said slowly. “You have another, smaller one to use.”

“This is the highest quality shelter.” The apsara stated casually.

“Yes, and it’s mine.” She hadn’t asked for, or really even explained anything, but the implication was clear. As the best shelter, it was the one the former princess expected to be staying in. There was no demand, she simply assumed it as her due. I was about to gently correct that worldview, but my vas had other plans.

“Master, let her stay with us. If that’s what she wants. Please?” Myta’s voice was full of mischief, and she rarely asked for anything. I met her sly smile with a quirked brow, but then I nodded.

“As you wish, my flame. I need to look at her soul in any case.”

Sati was nonplussed, not having realized that her sleeping in the tent was ever in question. A strange mix of indignation and gratitude flooded through her, strong enough that I could just feel it through our weak bond. Uncertain how to deal with the situation, she simply ignored our conversation as though it hadn’t happened, laying out her bedding in the tent once it was set up.

“Have you had your soul examined before?” I asked her as she settled in.

“Of course,” she replied. “Though not for many years. Ramana examines all his daughters until our defenses are up to the standards of the royal court.”

She was so oddly cooperative with me. And I couldn’t quite understand her behavior. On the one hand she assumed that others would serve and coddle her. And then on the other she had no issues following my directives. Being disowned didn’t seem to bother her in the least, but she had not even the barest scrap of empathy or consideration for those around her. It wasn’t malice, or cruelty, but complete disregard.

“I want you to maintain those defenses as I try to examine you then, shore them up as completely as you can by the time dinner is over.” Sati looked puzzled at my instruction, but she nodded, and I could feel her mana stir.

Our meal was calm. Myta began instructing our companions on the basics of using their mana, just as I’d instructed her only a couple of months ago. This was a challenge, both for her and for them. I knew that my flame was quite intelligent, and she’d proved herself to be a capable instructor when training our company in fighting together with their glaives.

Sorcery was something else, however. More vague, and difficult to explain. Moving your mana was easy to do, all thinking beings did so every day. But doing so intentionally was a difficult thing to grasp. Like flexing a muscle you weren’t consciously aware of. Fortunately she soon proved that she could control their mana for them, just as I could control hers.

The bonds between us were continuing to deepen. I could feel my vas guiding my vasra. Their spirits were all linked to me, and I could trace the paths between us in the Radiant Sea. The distances between us were growing ever shorter. Well, the distance between them. Myta and I were pressed together in the sea. As far as that spiritual plane was concerned we were nearly one being. And we had been, ever since her soul sickness was fully healed.

Myra’s ability to control the mana of her vas proved just as useful to her in instructing them, as that same ability had been to me, instructing her. In hours she had them running through basic exercises for mana control, with only minor input from me. Once they passed beyond the basics then I would provide more input, but for now I was deeply pleased, and proud of her progress with them.

In the late evening we settled in for the night. Myta and I shared our bedding, while Sati had her own bedroll off to the side. Even a pavilion tent had little privacy, but we set up a curtain between us. All three of us falling into a sleeping meditation.

My inner world was now shared with Myta. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that our inner worlds were conjoined. Where once I’d had to travel through thick fog to reach her, now it was as simple as glancing across the valley we dwelt in. Our wells of mana were joined together by a deep stream, passing both ways between us. And I could clearly see the great tree that represented her soul. Standing proud and healthy, crowned in fire of silver and gold.

But Myta was not my goal right now. She was aware, her attention followed me. But she didn’t manifest, and I didn’t call her forth.

Instead, I turned my attention to the other stream flowing from my mana well. This connection was far more shallow, and it was cloudy like flowing mist. Tinted with rainbow colors. That was my bond with Sati.

I set out walking, following this new stream. Distance in the inner world was variable and subjective, warped to my whims and will. So it took only a few steps for me to find myself lost in the mists again. Mists that I now knew represented distance in the Radiant Sea.

The sea was a mystery to me, as it was to most sorcerers. Up until recently I’d thought it to be the sole domain of the gods, especially the divines. But Ket, the leopard spirit who had been my guide and traveling companion, had let me know that many more beings could access the sea.

With more context, this mist was far more ominous to me than it had previously seemed. Back when I thought it was some vague interference from the **** mind. Now I wondered if gods, or other powerful beings, were lurking in the obscurement. Watching me, and hunting me, or judging my actions.

The trip to Sati’s inner world took far too long for my comfort.

When I reached the edge of the apsara’s inner world, I was unsurprised to find that it was well guarded. A towering hedge coated in prismatic mist barred the passage of any intruder. I, of course, wasn’t an intruder, due to the bond between us. If I wanted I could simply follow the link through her defenses.

I didn’t, however. The Pure monk she’d been working with had bypassed Sati’s defenses without such a shortcut, and I needed to determine how he had done so. Only by understanding that, could I help her to improve them, and prevent it from happening again. I pressed my hand to the wall, feeling it out.

Sati’s will was surprisingly well formed. She had faced more trials in her life than I gave her credit for. Her mind and spirit both pressed back against me with hostility, sure of her unassailable strength. I might be able to **** my way through, but it would be difficult. More than that, such a forcible entry would alert her to my efforts. And Sati had been unaware of the shackle the monk had put on her spirit.

So I didn’t press, I explored. I ran my fingers gently through the mist, trailing my fingertips over the woven vines of the hedge. Lightly enough that their thorns failed to pierce my skin. She was ferocious, and my respect for the former princess rose. She might have been spoiled and self-centered. But she had far more spirit than I’d expected. Her defenses didn’t know how to handle a gentle touch, however, and I soon found the opening I was looking for.

A fine vine ran through the hedge, dotted with small flowers of white and gold, with a perfume like honey. The vine was soft, but incredibly strong, binding the hedge together like the weft of a cloth. When my fingers grazed it I felt her surety. And I felt how it traced back to her arrogance, her sickness.

Sati might be strong, but she based that strength on a false foundation. A weak and unsteady center. It was the work of a moment to cloak myself in that now cloying perfume, and I slipped right through her walls with nary a whisper of protest.