CHAPTER 838: REMINISCING

Shouts rang across the walls as we approached the city, a dozen guards taking positions above the gate. Fable gave them one look and jumped, soaring over the parapets and gaping mouths with ease. We landed in a street some four hundred feet from the wall, and kept going, leaving the confusion caused by our coming far behind.

"Is that going to be okay?" I asked, looking at Fyren.

He shrugged. "Why would you care? They’ve been nothing but difficult for your friends. Besides, how many silver wolves are there around here? They’ll figure things out."

The hour was late, dusk approaching, but the city was as lively as I remembered. Elves went about their business, haggling at open stalls and muttering to each other in low, subdued voices. The alleys were filled with refugee humans and elves. The children there were gaunt and pale, dressed in rags. Their parents were no better, with dull, dispirited eyes.

Fable was careful in maneuvering around the pockets of people, but they scattered as soon as they caught sight of us, screaming in panic. I hunched low over his shoulder and avoided looking at anyone, grateful we were never in any place long enough to truly cause a scene.

Fable trotted to a stop before an inn. Fyren settled to the ground, embers flickering out around him. His first few steps left scorchmarks in the cobblestone street before his boots cooled. Turning to me, he offered his hand. I accepted the offer and took it, letting him steady me as I slid off Fable’s back.

"I didn’t know you could fly," I said, looking up at him.

He smiled faintly. "There’s much you don’t know about me."

I made a face. "Answers like that are the reason why. Also, Gayron uses fire, but he doesn’t burn everything."

"The remnant that taught him would have been mindful of collateral damage, and likely taught them an art with inhibitors built in."

"Could you be more careful? Please?"

He sighed, rubbing his head. "Fine. But don’t expect me to hold back all the time. By limiting my fire’s heat, I neuter the speed and power I can muster in the air."

"Oh, really? Could you teach Korra and Gayron how to fly like you do, then? I’ve never seen them move as fast as you did back there, when you came to me."

He hesitated, then sighed, shrugging. "Fine. I suppose there’s no harm in revealing that technique. Though perhaps you ought to issue them the same warning as I. I can’t see the Water Hero caring much about holding back if it means she can go faster."

I smiled, shaking my head. It didn’t take much to imagine Korra screaming through the sky as fast as she could. Her technique wouldn’t use fire, but a freak thunder or ice storm could be just as devastating to anyone below.

"Wait out here," I instructed Fable.

The great wolf padded over to an alley near the inn and plopped down, scaring a family of refugees deeper into the shadows. Their son, however, crept near to Fable, ignoring his parents’ frantic voices. He pounced on Fable’s tail, laughing as the wolf began to wag it back and forth, keeping it just out of reach.

"These elves have no sense of self-preservation," Fyren muttered, shaking his head.

"I’m just glad they’re able to find joy in something so simple," I said. "Besides, Fable loves kids. Playing with that one will keep him out of trouble. Gods know we’ve caused enough already."

The inn was quiet as we entered. A few patrons, mostly well-dressed elves, were scattered around the common room. The innkeeper stood behind a counter, polishing a glass. His eyes narrowed at us, focusing on my horns and Fyren’s sword. The air was thick with wood smoke and the soft notes of a lute. I found the player in the corner, a woman dressed in a yellow dress. As I started to look away, I noticed a girl kneeling in front of her, looking up in awe. Two ruddish fox ears protruded from her long brown hair, a tail swishing out from under her dress.

I approached from behind, carefully weaving between tables. A few patrons scowled at me, muttering ’filthblood,’ under their breath, but I barely heard them. My heart accelerated as I neared the girl, my tail flicking back and forth. Whether excited or nervous, I didn’t know.

"Sari?" I whispered.

The girl froze, her ears swiveling toward me. A shiver ran down her tail as she slowly turned, facing me. As our eyes met, her lips parted, but no sound came up. A heartbeat passed, then another.

"Starlight?" Her voice came out as a gasp. "You’re...you’re here!"

She threw herself off her chair, cannonballing into my arms. I fell back, laughing, as she carried me back a step into Fyren. The demon chuckled and propped me back up before taking a seat at the table Sari was sitting at.

"I thought you were gone," Sari said. "They said you...you got lost. And you might not be coming back."

"A lot happened," I admitted, stroking her hair. "But I’m back now. Mostly."

She looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Mostly?"

"Never mind that now. When did you get so tall?"

Sari giggled, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. She straightened as tall as she could, her ears standing erect, adding a few more inches. Her eyes were level with mine, the tips of her ears taller than those of my horns. She was still slender, but she’d begun to fill out her dress, with a touch of curves at her hip and chest.

"I’ve caught you!" she cried, tail wagging.

"So you have." I chuckled, sitting by Fyren. "You’re growing into a proper woman. Has it really been so long?"

She sat down across from us, her ears twitching, tail still wagging. "Almost a year. I’m twelve now!"

"That long?" I sat forward, brow furrowed. "Was Brithlite that long ago?"

Even with my memories in shambles, that didn’t feel real. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized she was right. I had spent the first year and a half as a slave, first in the warehouse, then at Soltair’s side, and finally at High Valley. After I’d been freed, I spent the next four or so months in Heartland, and then the next two traveling to Brithlite. My memories were particularly jumbled after that, but I’d woken up in Luke’s camp sometime in the summer. And right now, it is already late spring.

"A year," I mumbled, rubbing my horn. That put the age of my body around what, sixteen? Maybe even older. Sari herself was only a few years younger than me when I appeared in Enusia.

"I’ve been practicing my magic every day, too!" Sari said, "See?"

She took a breath, holding her hands up. Three magic circles materialized between her fingers, resolving with a soft flash of light. A gleaming blue bird appeared in her palm. It looked around, then stretched its wings and took off, doing a loop around the room. A few patrons gave us annoyed looks, but from the lack of surprise, it seemed this wasn’t an unusual occurrence. If anything, they appeared almost...fond.

Sari snapped her fingers, and the bird disappeared. "See? I broke through to the third level! And I’m almost to fourth, I think. Selena said I could start learning a fourth-circle spell in a month or two."

"Selena? She’s teaching you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded. "She said she used to be a teacher at the Divine Throne. Isn’t that great?" she clapped her hands. "Oh, I’ve been working on an enchantment for you, one that will protect your feet. You said walking a lot makes them sore, right? I’m almost there, but I’m stuck on a few runes. Do you think you could help me fix them?"

My smile faded. "I...don’t think I can. Not right now, at least."

"Oh. You must be really busy."

The disappointment in her eyes broke my heart, and I hastened to say, "It’s not you, Sari. I could never be too busy for you. I just...well, when I was gone, I got hurt, and some of me got...lost. I’m still searching for it, but I promise that when I find it, we can work on your spell together, okay?"

"You’re hurt?" Sari stood up sharply, leaning over the table to examine me. "R’lissea taught me a healing spell. It’s only second level, but if I can help, I want to."

I shook my head. "It’s not that kind of hurt. It’s something I have to take care of on my own."

"Are you sure? I want to help you."

I shook my head, and she sank back into her chair, deflating. "I’m sorry, I’m not strong enough yet. I’ve been working really hard, but I guess it wasn’t enough." She looked up, eyes flashing. "But don’t think I’m calling it quits. If there’s one thing we country folk know, it’s how to persevere. One day, Starlight, I promise I’ll be of use to you. I’ll reach ninth-level if I have to!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Country folk? Is that what they call us around here?"

She giggled, nodding. "That’s what they said in Brithlite. They thought Heartland was a small, backwater place."

"It was," I said, smiling faintly. "But I liked it that way. Small, quiet, and peaceful. One day, when this is all over, I’d like to return there."

"Me too." She rested her chin on the table, no sign of her energy from earlier. "I miss Ror."

"He’s safe with Tana and Sorrin, I’m sure," I said. "But don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll see him sooner than you think."

Her ears perked up. "Really?"

I smiled. "I’m sure of it. Just be patient a little longer, and you’ll be at his side in no time. I’m sure he’s training just as hard as you. He might even be third level, too."

"Heh. Then I’d be ahead. He’s a whole year older than me, and when I’m his age, I’ll be fourth!"