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Cities of Power Ch. 01

By: xelliebabex



The Great War had taken its toll on the lives of the generations to come. The anarchy, madness and depravity that had ensued after the obliteration of the known world had continued for decades. Finally on a dry and dusty continent plagued by ruination leaders arose with the forethought for the survival for all, not just themselves and having encompassed the small parcels of still fertile ground, these leaders built three great city states.

Small villages of peaceful hippies and the simplistic descendants of remote Amish communities were taken into a kind of bondage to work the small plots of farm land and raise the meagre herds of livestock that could be found scattered across the wind swept landscape. With peasant labour to work the farms and a new class of slave labour to build the houses of stone and battlements upon the city walls to keep the leaders and their chosen people safe, the monumental cities grew and prospered.

It was such that the three great cities rose from the ashes of what had been the pinnacle of human achievement to start again. Each holding their own belief's as to what would save their brave new world. As the cities evolved under their separate ethos, they came to rely on one another for trade and citizens from the towns mingled with travelling merchants. It was not unusual for arranged marriages to occur between the elite of two cities in return for preferential trade agreements. As news of the towns spread throughout the ruined lands, more people began to arrive at the gates, seeking shelter and food. The towns groaned under the weight of the refugees until eventually they closed their gates. 

Over time, the country side surrounding the great cities became dotted with small villages of peoples who had sought out the legendary new cities and been turned away, as well as runaway slaves and peasants. Most eked out an insubstantial living amongst the sparse wooded areas and gathered together into small communities to ward off the roaming bands of thieves. With bandits and village militia in the foothills around the towns, raiding their resources and tapping into their clean water supplies, travel between them became limited and was taken only in direst need and then with armed escorts. 

Phoenix, or Techno, as the villagers referred to it, was the city realm of Lord Zhou. His clan prized the knowledge and use of technologies above all others. They created a new fuel and invented modes of transport from the remnants of past civilisations. Robotics and computerised equipment pieced together from bits, and pieces gathered by relic hunters made their lives easier as well as the lives of the lower caste members that served them. The technologies though were pieced together without precise knowledge and understanding causing accidents to occur frequently amongst the lower castes. From time to time warriors of the city's elite would venture out into the country and capture new slaves to supplement the labour force required to keep the city running. 

Skirmishes became regular occurrences between the Techno warriors and the Village militia throughout the small continent as time went on. With losses occurring on both sides in every raid, feuds between villages and city of Phoenix became part of the folklore of each group of peoples.

The other two cities did not require the replenishing of the lower castes at the same rate as the Techno city seemed to and allowed petitioners to approach their gates twice a year to apply for refuge. Most were refused and became permanent residents of the small towns and villages set in amongst the foothills and forests between the great cities. Some few of the more desperate people agreed to join the lowest castes of each city and work in slavery for the security of food and shelter.

*****

It was in one such village, close to the city of Gryphon, or Justice as the villagers had named it that Trix lived. The youngest child of the village blacksmith, she had four older brothers and lived a protected existence. She was not allowed to stray from the village in which her family lived, to play in the sparse woods with the other children of the village, she had grown up watching the world rush past her as she learned to cook and sew patches on her brother's clothes. She longed for even the smallest freedoms of village life, but her oppressive father, Spar ruled their home with an iron fist. 

Spar had wanted to live in the city of Faith and Justice, Gryphon, but the gates of his chosen city had been closed to him. He had returned on petition day, and though his iron fists had proven him worthy of their survival of the fittest ethos, he had been offered work and shelter amongst the bonded peasant class only if he continued to fight within their security forces. He had turned his back on their offer of becoming a bonded man. Instead, he sought freedom in the villages of the foothills meeting with an aging blacksmith who had escaped the bonds that held him to the city of Gryphon. Finding in the man a kindred spirit, Spar had undertaken an apprenticeship, the value of which eventually saw him earn his position as a village leader.

Trix sat daydreaming about the story of her parent's romance and wedding feast, sighing heavily. She lamented that she would never have adventures or a life beyond this small village, she had come of age last week, and no boy would even look at her for fear of her father and brothers, and she sighed heavily again. She knew she would never have a romance like that of her mother, and she despaired.

Unlike her brothers who were carbon copies of their hulking father, Trix was small and slight. Though she did her best to cut the better parts of her brothers hand me downs into usable pieces of fabric to fashion clothes for herself, she always looked like an orphan boy from one of the poorest villages. Trix smiled as she looked down at what she wore now, real girl's clothes of her own. Her brothers had been trading the jewellery and metal work they created in their fathers forge with the men from other villages who went out on raiding parties to the cities. They had traded for the clothes to give Trix at her coming of age feast. It was a gross mismatch of items, but she loved it none the less and felt like a princess for the first time in her life.

They had given her thick soled boots, with buckles all down the outside of them. Tights with only one hole in them, a pleated leather skirt and a snug top that held her nicely rounded breasts displaying how much of a woman she had become much to her fathers disgust. The best part of the outfit was a leather jacket she had been told had come from one of the Techno warriors who rode those two wheels roaring machines. She had never worn anything so beautiful, and she stroked over the embroidered picture on the back of the jacket, closed her eyes and leaned back against the tree imagining the girl who may have worn it.

She had only ever heard stories and seen drawings of the techno people riding their roaring machines, her village being too far removed from the skirmishes that occurred all too often with those people. Her village was located closer to the city of Gryphon or Justice as they called it, and they lived in relative peace if not prosperity.

Trix knew that to keep the beautiful picture on the jacket was dangerous, but as she sat with the small scissors in her hand she could not bring herself to destroy it. Taking up her old worn hand-me-down coat she carefully measured and cut a piece fitting it directly over the design and taking her small sewing box began to stitch it into place before she was chastised again for not removing it. She worked quickly her nimble fingers sewing a nearly invisible second seam over the top of the original to sew in the false back she had created. 

Taking one last look at the intricate design longing to know what it meant she sewed the last seam into place wondering once again about the woman who had worn it and what had become of her, feeling sadness at the thought that she must have died. No one would give up a jacket like this willingly. Trix held up the jacket and smiled, the false back made it look worn and older than it was even though she had used the best piece of her old patched coat. 

Trix looked up at the sun edging toward to the horizon and stood stretching, her mother had started the evening meal without her help and guilt pulled at her as she gathered her sewing basket and headed inside to help with the evening chores.

*****

Talon rode out of the city under cover of darkness. His clan needed a metal worker to repair damage to their bikes, one of the tech heads had taken their master metal worker to test a new technology, and he had not returned, leaving the clan with inept apprentices whose shoddy workmanship endangered lives. The last scouting party of three warriors had returned with only two riders, the third having crashed. The assumption was that the bike she rode had become out of control due to the substandard repair work of the apprentices. The two remaining warriors claimed that she had been then been set upon by bandits in their report and that they were unable to assist her. Each techno warrior knew the risks involved in leaving the safety of the city walls and accepted the price. The missing warrior, however, had been important to Talon, and he needed to know her fate.

The warriors that had returned reported rumours of a village to the north of the city of Gryphon where a family of metal workers lived. A master blacksmith and his four sons, their work was renowned as the finest of the villages and was valued highly in their bartering system.

Talon had volunteered for the scouting party to find the source of the rumours and investigate their authenticity. His main motivation though had been to discover the fate of Clove, the missing warrior. He looked to his left and saw the figures of Venn and Edge both veteran warriors with reliable skills in a skirmish. Talon touched the tazer at his side to reassure himself it was there. 

The three scouts had packed provisions and extra fuel for an extended journey, and as they roared into the darkness each revelled in the freedom of leaving the city walls behind them to venture into the vast wilderness for their own reasons. 

They had scouted around the outskirts of the foothills not venturing too close to the small villages for two days following the directions of the scouts that had returned from the last foray in which Clove had been lost. On the third day, they found debris from where a bike had crashed, but as usual there was no sign of the actual bike aside from small shards of broken glass and paint flecks. Searching the area thoroughly there was no sign of a shallow grave that usually marked the passing of a techno warrior.

Camping for the night within a small grove outside of the village closest to the crash site, they had located from the directions they had been given the three techno warriors prepared their strategy for the following morning and bedded down. Their mission had been to confirm the whereabouts of the family of metal workers and possibly bring one back willingly, not engage in futile skirmishes so far from the safety of their own city. 

The following morning dressed in the patched cloak and mismatched clothes of a villager, Venn went into the small village, to seek information about the blacksmith and his family ostensibly to repair a knife his father had left him. Time ticked over slowly for Talon who wanted nothing more than to be the one to seek out the information they needed and search the village for signs of Clove and he prowled the tree line like a caged wolverine. 

Venn returned shortly after noon, "It's a faith village," he announced. Faith villages had originally sprung up around the city of Gryphon, known to the refugee's as a city of Faith and Justice, where preachers clinging to fragments of old books had become priests and extolled the existence of a greater being. Organised religion had been all but eradicated by the anarchists as they seized power after the Great War and the few survivors made the pilgrimage to the cities of Pegasus or Gryphon hoping for asylum.

The villages and people of the faith were like those of the city of Gryphon, known to be truthful and reliable even to their own detriment and were often called upon to bear witness to events that occurred close to their homes. Their priests were seen as incorruptible, and their word was rarely called into question.

Venn turned to Talon, "She's not here," he was abrupt not knowing how else to tell the news. He threw a set of the dog tags all the Techno warriors wore to Talon who snatched them from the air examining them.

"Who is this?" He growled, reading the name upon them. He had known she had not survived deep within himself, but he pushed knowledge away once more until he was faced with proof in his hands. Shocked to realise these were not her tags, he looked up at Venn, "The crash wasn't her?" Talon's voice was barely audible.

Venn watched Talon carefully weighing how much to tell him. "They say a boy found Clove as he explored the forest, she and her bike had been hidden by broken branches, they say she had minor injuries and the bike was in tact." 

That in itself was unusual, and both Venn and Edge could see the confusion simmering to anger under the still exterior of Talon. "The villagers took Clove back to town to heal. They say she left the same day, she should have been back in Phoenix before we left," they watched his muscles bunch and Talons hands shake as he took in the words. "She could be anywhere now, or with any clan," Venn refrained from asking if something could have made her a runaway keeping to the idea to himself and allowing Talon his belief of abduction and foul play. 

Talons knuckles had grown white as he clenched the dog tags tightly. He needed to know what happened, he had no doubt of the story Venn had told him, but he still wanted to know where she was. "Did you talk with any healer's?"

Healers knew the ways of remedies and therapies that were practiced in the great city of Pegasus. "I have the report," Venn hedged, "The village did everything to keep themselves safe and stay within boundaries of the peace pact they brokered with Gryphon." He looked at Talon directly asserting his rank within the mission they were on. "The family we are looking for live in a village further north, we are out here for another reason, not for your personal crusade." He dropped the report on a log and walked away with Edge. 

The report was filled with discrepancies from the story the returning scouts had given them, and he pushed it into the saddle bag of his bike determining to find out what actually happened to the woman his parents had arranged for him to wed. The political alliance the marriage was to bring was greatly needed by his family, and Talon was a man of duty and honour. He had barely spoken to or even acknowledge the woman he was to wed before the announcement was made, and from that time the woman had avoided him taking riskier assignments from the warriors guild.

Talon did not resent her for her reactions, he too had no desire to marry and give up his warrior life as would be expected by their families, but his innate sense of duty to his family and their place within the elite caste had given him acceptance if not pleasure when he was told it had been arranged. Talon considered the new information that the last time she had been seen she was on her own, but very much alive and he cursed her recklessness.

*****

Two days later the three techno warriors pushed their bikes silently into a small stand of trees close to the remote village of the blacksmith family. They had been scouting the area for a full day locating the hidden dip within the small stand of trees late in the day. They were able to stay safely out of sight while watching the village for evidence the family. They only need one of the men, for now. No point in taking on all five metal workers unless necessary. They crept out into the darkness of a moonless night, to scout around the village; they wore long patched coats to cover their riding leathers. 

No sooner had they entered the town than a voice halted their progress, "Evening neighbours," the hulking figure of Spar greeted them. "Don't get too many travellers in these parts," his eyes were bright, and while his words were friendly enough there was an underlying question and threat in them.

Venn stepped forward, "We have been travelling through the villages of faith looking for a metal worker. We heard the best were in this village. I need this dagger repaired, it was my father's and is extremely valuable to me." Venn fished the broken dagger from inside his coat lamenting, "I broke it on one of those roaring machines."

Spar looked at the broken dagger, being in an outlying village bandits often sought out the blacksmith, but these men asked for metal workers, and he looked at them more closely noting the boots that each of them wore, "Killed a few have you?"

Edge felt the hackles on the back of his neck rise, his gut told him something was amiss, "What of it?" He growled belligerently before Venn could answer. 

"I think you should come back in the daylight, neighbours," Spar had not flinched at the aggressive stance of Edge, "You will get a more hospitable reception in the morning rather than skulking around the village at night."

Edge grumbled picking up the obvious unease in the man they faced, "Does this dust bowl at least possess a distillery?"

Spars mood lightened slightly, "One of my boys brought some firewater back from his travels. You have something to trade?"

Edge pulled a small clear plastic bag from his pocket, it held five seeds from a pumpkin plant and several smaller seeds that could be apple but the rarity of such tree's made it hard to tell. Spar smiled for the first time, "We might be able to trade, come back tomorrow. Ask for Spar, someone will point the way to my forge."

"I'd appreciate a bottle more tonight, the weather is turning," Edge rumbled, but all three warriors now reappraised the man before them, he was obviously the man they searched for after his mention of the forge.

Spar grunted, "Stay here," and turned and walked deeper into the village. They said nothing to each other all three warriors looking around carefully noting details of the village before they moved into the shadows.

Stomping into the house Spar and called his sons, Emery and Flint, "Get a bottle of fire water and come with me." His eldest son, Cobalt raised an eyebrow inquisitively but said nothing. Leaving the house with two of his four sons, Spar approached the edge of the village once more with the equally formidable figures of his sons following behind him only to find the travellers gone. Skirting the village quickly they returned home to find Cobalt unconscious a large contusion on the back of his head seeping blood, his mother tending the wound, Trix was nowhere in sight.

Spar swore long and loud hammering a wall, Opal looked up from her son's prone form, "They took Trix. They want one of our boys to go with them to their city, if we send one of the boys to them they will set her free, if not..." Her eyes were glassy as she whispered, "How could you be so careless, Spar, the trade could not have been worth the cost of one of our children."

Spar turned and left the house, he couldn't track them at night he knew, but he also knew they wouldn't be unable to move very far or fast on this dark moonless night. He turned to the hutch where several message birds were kept, sending out a coded message of distress to neighbouring villages he returned home to bear the anguish and recriminations of his wife, grateful that his hot headed youngest son, Mica had not been home.


Cities of Power Ch. 01



*****

The passage back to their bikes was slow moving in the dark. Talon held the small terrified form of Trix over his shoulder as tree branches clawed at them in the darkness tearing at their skin and clothes. Constantly watching and listening in the darkness for the pursuit from the family the trio moved to their hidden hollow and the safety of their bikes and weapons.

Talon dropped the girl shackling her to his bike noting in the darkness a large rip across the back of the jacket she wore showing a techno insignia. Pushing Trix to the ground he tore the false back from her jacket and held a small torch over the insignia. Gaping open mouthed, he picking her up by her hair, his eyes hard his voice cold and penetrating, "Where did you get this jacket?"

Trix was frozen with fear and unable to breathe let alone answer the terrifying techno before her. She gasped open mouthed as his dark eyes bored into her own. Talon drew his tazor, but Venn stilled his hand. "We need her alive," he said placing his hand on Talons arm slowly guiding the tazor to point down at the ground. "Now let her go, we need her to trade for one of the brothers," Venn voice was dark, "I won't let you jeopardise this mission on petty vengeance, and have others come back out here to finish the job we were sent to do."

Talon dropped the girl and walked away to the edge of the hollow scanning the surrounding trees his mind finally seeing the inevitability of Clove's death, she would not have given her jacket up so easily otherwise.

Venn looked at the girl, "You wear his betrothed's jacket, where did you come by it?"

Trix looked up surprised, "My brothers gave it to me for my coming of age day. All of what I wear came from trades my brothers made. I don't know where they got it, I swear, but they would never harm a woman, it's against our faith."

Venn hadn't realised this remote town was a village of the faith, he had assumed another clan of outlaws lived within. He knew now that other villages would come to the aid of the blacksmith's family because of the girl. At first light they would need to move, parties would be readying to hunt them. His mind began to work over the problems that taking this girl now brought them. Yet handing her back was not an option either as the family new they were hunted for their skills now. He set about making a new plan.

Before the first rays of light appeared on the horizon the three warriors readied themselves, Talon had taken possession of their hostage. He had watched her through the night; she was amazingly similar in build and stature to Clove. Perhaps the plans of his family could go ahead, and none would be the wiser. His marriage to Clove was to meld his own family with one of the powerful founding families of the city. The disappearance of his betrothed on her last mission had left the way clear for rivals to question his family's right to their place on the ruling council once again and the grief stricken family of the missing girl had withdrawn from council deliberations for the time being.

He looked at the girl in the light of the coming dawn and considered her, she was clearly terrified. She immediately followed all of their commands, there was no fight in her, even the slaves in the city had some spirit within their nature, she seemed to have none. He shook his head, her look aside she could not pass for Clove even to someone unknown, she had no spirit, yet the possibility nagged at him. Removing her shackles he sat her on the back of his bike and began to push the bike out of the hidden hollow following the other two men back out onto the plain.

Silently Talon loosely tied a scarf over her nose and mouth and bound her hair tightly in a looping braid before climbing aboard his bike. He smirked as it roared to life making the girl scream and grab at his jacket. Accelerating to high speed he felt her cling to him her body pressed up against his back surprised at how soft the small tight body felt melded against him. Slowing the pace once they were far enough out onto the plain he felt her relax her grip on him slightly, and her head move from side to side watching the landscape they sped through.

The plan was to head closer to their own city to one of the bandit villages that held a loose pact with the Techno's in exchange for outdated or failed technologies. The villages of faith and justice would not abide their kidnapping of a young innocent woman and the usual bandit towns were hostile to anyone uninvited or of their clan.

Knowing the hunters would have tracked them from the village they left a map of where to find them and the kidnapped girl and make the exchange for the metal worker they so badly needed. It would take the warriors a day of hard riding to get there, but it would take their pursuers over a week to follow. Time was not on Talon's side as he considered the girl clinging to him as he rode closer to home. They stopped for food in a small stand of trees that appeared out of nowhere on the plain, Talon turned to lift the girl from his bike undoing the face scarf and smoothing the windblown tendrils of her hair surprisingly gently.

Her eyes were bright as she looked up at him, but she said nothing and he pushed her toward a dead log lying in the shade. There was something in the girl's eyes that pulled at him, but he looked at her back, and the anger of Cloves disappearance rose in him again. He turned to his saddlebags and the rations they had brought. Tossing a pack at her feet he leaned on his bike and watched her, inexplicably he felt drawn to the girl, he cared for no one outside his rapidly diminishing family, but the girl intrigued him. She picked up the pack and looked at it like she had never seen food before. He took the pack from her and tore it open barking, "Eat."

The aggressive Edge turned on him. "She's probably never been two steps outside that village, you expect her to know what real food looks like?" He turned his gaze on the girl.

"What do they call you girl?" Edge said in a surprisingly gentle tone.

Looking up from her inspection of the dried meat and fruit she whispered, "Trix." She picked a piece of dried fruit up looking at it closely and sniffing it before nibbling on the edge of it. It was tart and sweet almost at the same time, and she pushed it into her mouth savouring the taste. Most villages lived on what little the forest supplied supplemented by the few meagre crops that had been born from seeds taken by runaway peasants and slaves when they left the great cities seeking freedom. Those seeds had become the most valuable commodity in the bartering system between the villages.

Her family was lucky in that they could always trade their skills for what was needed, but still she had never had the strange dried food that appeared in the pack. Edge approached her and sat beside her and began to explain what each thing was. Laughing as she pulled faces at his explanations and the subsequent taste.

Talon felt his hackles rise at the sight. He turned his back on the two walking over to Venn and spoke softly to him, "I want the girl."

"We need the metal worker more than you need to make a slave of some village girl out of some sense of retribution. We are not of the faith there is no 'eye for an eye' stance here. We will trade her," Venn's tone brooked no arguments.

Talon looked at the scarred old veteran, "Should the opportunity arise to have both?"

Venn grunted, "Unlikely."

Talon turned back to where Trix sat with Edge, watching her expressive face as she listened to the grizzled old warrior, she did not say anything as she ate. He had not loved Clove, what he had loved was the prominence and privilege his marriage to her would have brought his family. The strange young girl sitting with edge actually pulled at him in a way no other woman had. He considered the pampered women of the ruling families of his city, and the female warriors like Clove, the uneducated peasant girls and the beaten and cowed slaves. This girl was different to all of them and he stared at her trying to fathom what it was about her that affected him this way.

Trix could feel Talon's eyes boring into her and ate swiftly, the man beside her was trying to be nice to her, but the other two were cold and seemed hostile in the way they watched her. No sooner had she put the last piece of food in her mouth then the young techno was before her, lifting her up and onto his bike again. He tried the scarf about her nose and mouth loosely and climbed on. Her hands touched his sides lightly as he started the bike, but as he accelerated out of the stand of trees her arms wrapped tightly about him again making him smile.

It was close to dusk when they entered the bandit village and headed to the leaders home. The leader was a shrewd man adept at manipulation and subterfuge. The tentative pact the village had with the techno city was stretched often and neither trusted the other fully, but outside of the city the techno's had little choice in where they took shelter. 

Venn left the two warriors and Trix outside and entered the leader's home to discuss the terms of their stay in his village. Trix pulled the dusty scarf from her mouth as Talon lowered her to the ground. She heard someone shout her name and spun around her eyes wide and an audible gasp escaping her lips. 

"Trix!" The burly young man shouted once again as he charged toward the bikes. 

Growing up in an ever fearful world Trix took a step forward and standing in front of Talon and Edge so they could not see her face called. "Don't you come near me, Azreal Black, didn't my brothers teach you enough of a lesson the last time you were in our village." She looked at Mica, the youngest of her brothers her eyes beseeching him to recognise the name she called him as the code for danger.

He continued his walk toward her slowly, "A least I wasn't as scared of them as every other boy in your village. Still the virginal princess locked up in her tower? I don't see any of them here now, how about you and I renew our acquaintance, I'll be a prince I promise," he gave her a lecherous look his mouth in a wide smile as he played along. 

Talon took a step forward, his hand on his tazer, "You heard the girl, back off."

Mica burst into laughter, "We are just playing techno. No need to get all jumpy," Mica said good-naturedly. "Everyone knows not to mess with that girl. Is her father inside? He never lets her more than two feet from his home. I was just surprised to see her here of all places."

Edge was looking between the two villagers, there was an uncanny resemblance between the man and Trix despite the disparity in their size, and he narrowed his eyes shrewdly. He walked forward his hand extended in friendship and as Mica took it in a firm grip, he said, "We met her father in a village far to the north, cowering snivelling little man, he couldn't wait to give us his only daughter in exchange for his own life."

The flash of anger flared in Mica's eyes, and before he could stop himself he had swung at Edge who had been more than prepared and pulled on the hand he still clasped flipping the boy onto his back and placing a foot over his throat. "Now clever little Trix, why don't you introduce us to your bother," Edge smirked at the look of horror on her face.

"Mica!" Trix cried and rushed to him trying to prize Edges boot from his throat with her hands. Venn came out of the house and took in the situation. Edge and Talon had drawn their weapons as Edge pulled his boot from Mica's throat allowing him to breathe.

"Oh Mica, no," Trix cried. 

"Seems we have our volunteer," Edge chuckled. "You will come with us to the city of Phoenix, to protect your family, won't you boy?"

Mica was coughing and rubbing at his throat croaking, "What?" He looked at Trix, and the tears in her eyes, still not comprehending what was going on.

"They need a metal worker, they need you, in their city," Trix whispered sadly. "They took me to trade for you, or flint or Emery, they hurt Cobolt, I am not sure..." Her voice trailed off and what little bravado she had been clinging to crumpled and she began to cry.

"Well," he said, "Don't cry, Trix, it's not so terrible, I have always wanted to work on the roaring machines, and you can go home and tell father I am happy it was me they found. Cobolt will be fine, he is the strongest of us all, you will see. Everything will be okay."

Mica stood up pulling Trix with him. Wrapping an arm about her shoulders he looked at the two men pointing tazers at him, "Well fella's," he smiled, "When do we leave?"

The leader of the village, Judah, who had come to stand with Venn looked on with a darkening expression. The young man was a frequent visitor to their village, against the wishes of his father, he was skilled in not only metal work but in his ability to see how to make the technologies they had work. His quick mind and agile hands had made him invaluable to the small community, and his loss would not be taken lightly.

"This boy has our protection," Judah announced loudly, "Wait and see if one of the others comes." He was playing for time. Time to think and all he had at his disposal was a fragile pact with the techno warriors.

Venn too was aware of the fragility of the pact with this and very few other villages. Safe haven's for those whose bikes malfunctioned or crashed it was a necessary evil but to have such a willing metal worker prepared to go to the city was such a boon. Venn grunted, "We discuss it in the morning. Where can we rest, it's been a long ride?"

They were shown to an abandoned building on the outskirts of the village and wheeled their bikes within. Edge rolled out his blanket and lay beside his bike, "Wake me for the watch, it's going to be an interesting night."

Mica was looking over the bikes, turning to Venn he asked, "Can I take a look at your machine." Venn grunted nodding but watched the boy closely. Mica ran his hands appreciatively over the unblemished metal of the chassis noting the style, he began to ask questions, and Venn could see the boy's genuine enthusiasm. 

Talon stood in the doorway watching the village, but his gaze moved often to Trix as well as she slumped against his bike close by. Their eyes met, and he murmured, "That's was clever the way you tried to protect your brother." His eyes scrutinised her as she said nothing, "He is the brother that gave you the jacket." 

It wasn't a question it was a statement and Trix who had forgotten his reaction to her jacket blanched her eyes widening in fear. "He would never hurt anyone I swear, especially a girl," her voice was quiet bit filled with anxiety.

Talon looked up at the boy, "My bike's better than that old junker," he smirked at Venn. "I will let you look her over if you can answer a simple question for me."

Mica stood and faced Talon, his amused face taking in the bike Trix leaned against. "What can I tell ya?"

Talon turn from the doorway bristling, "You can tell me," he said through clenched teeth, "How your sister came to be wearing my betrothed's jacket."

Mica turned pale and swallowed hard, "Why didn't you unpick it, we warned you, Trix?" 

"I couldn't, it's so beautiful," she pleaded with Mica for understanding, "I never had anything so beautiful before."

Mica rolled his eyes and turned back to Talon, "Traded for them at the Soloaks markets, the massive annual ones. A woman there said a crazy girl, a young techno woman," he corrected himself quickly, "Traded all her clothes for some of her Gryphon designs. Cobolt wanted something pretty for Trix, she always looked like such a tomboy in our hand me downs. I think mother made him do it honestly, but he sent me with some jewellery and knives he and the twins had made to trade with."

"A woman?" Talon questioned his voice restrained.

"Yeah every year women from Pegasus and Gryphon come to the fair with goods, it's during their petition time, so the gates are open for the week so people can trade, but you knew that right?" Mica looked at Talon his face open and honest, "I never saw the girl who traded the clothes. Sorry."

Talon grunted and walked over to his bike, "This bike can out run that old bucket of Venn's on her worst day."

Trix stood and moved out of their way towards the door. Talon's hand shot out and pulled her back from the doorway keeping his hand on her arm as he talked about his bike with Mica. She could feel the pressure through the jacket as he held her in place beside him while he talked. Finally, she sank to the ground and sat beside the bike again to her rid of his constant touch.

The night wore on and after refusing the food from the village they ate the rations from the techno packs. Trix was amazed at how at ease her brother was with these men. "What's to be afraid of," he had said when she told him, "We haven't done anything wrong." He grinned at her, "What's it like to ride on the machines?"

"Windy," Trix grinned back despite herself.

Edge woke and took up his position at the door. The night wore on, and Talon spread a blanket out, "Sleep," he stared at Trix until she moved to the blanket. Venn threw a blanket to Mica, and he settled himself sitting with his back against a wall. Talon likewise sat against the wall beside Trix. 

Trix woke startled in the middle of the night taking several fearful moments to remember where she was. Blinking rapidly into the darkness of the hut, she breathed deeply calming herself, Mica slept heavily beside her and she looked to the other side expecting to see Talon, but he had gone. Sitting up she saw him in the doorway and steadying her nerves she went to sit with him and try to apologise for the hurt she must have caused him.

"I am sorry your love is missing," she began quietly as he watched her sit close to the doorway beside him. "It must have been awful to find a stranger wearing her jacket. I wonder why she gave up all her beautiful clothes for Gryphon garments," Trix mused curiously.

Talon said nothing in response; the girl confused him, why should she care about his feelings or about the fate of Clove, he did not love Clove, theirs was to be an arranged marriage between two powerful families. It was not a partnership borne of love but out of necessity like all marriages within his caste.

"I have never been in love, but if one of my brothers were missing, I would be worried and angry too," She touched his arm, "My family will miss Mica, but at least they will know where he is and he wants to go to the city, he always has, so your helping him in a way because father would never let him go to Phoenix." She seemed to consider her words, "Gryphon maybe, but never Phoenix." She leaned back and smiled, "At least we will know where he is."

"Do you always do what your father says?" Talon murmured unsure of himself in the face of her forgiveness for destroying her family by taking her brother from them.

"With four brothers as well as my father I have never stepped foot outside our village, even in the village I am generally watched. I guess I never truly had a choice but to do what he said," she looked out of the doorway, "When you leave I will go back, and all I would have seen is the scenery fly past me and a strange village from this doorway."

Talon smirked at the girl, "Who said you were going home?"

"You have Mica. You don't need me anymore ," she smiled, "It's not like I know anything about metals and forging."

"So the princess will just return to her tower?" Talons face held an amused look, and Trix was stunned by how the small smile changed his face.

"It is all that I know, and mother needs me to help with all the chores," Trix shrugged, "It's not so bad, I guess." 

"You don't seem so sure," Talon watched her expressive face and the way she wound a tendril of hair around her finger as she thought about his words.




Cities of Power Ch. 01



"It is the way it is," she said quietly, "I will miss Mica though, he always brings me sweet treats when he comes home from a journey and makes everyone laugh, even father."

Again Talon found himself considering this strange girl, so unlike the spirited, argumentative women of his city who seemed to be constantly at war with something or someone, this girl was accepting and forgiving of her circumstances. She did not even seem to have ill feelings toward her kidnappers. There was now the opportunity to take the girl as well as her brother, he swivelled his head to find Venn watching them as he knew he would be. 

Venn had survived so long within the constantly changing hierarchy of the city and on his many journey's into the wilderness by been alert and aware for all signs of danger in its many forms. He narrowed his eyes, for all her seeming innocence and sweetness, he knew the girl was dangerous and what ever game Talon had in mind would only bring more trouble than she was worth. He turned his head to look at the boy. Also obviously dangerous, he was valued by this village, and they did not seem to want to give him up easily. This mission was rapidly slipping from Venn's control, and he stared into the darkness beyond the door planning his next move.

In the first rays of dawns early light, the Phoenix warriors started their bikes within the abandoned house they had stayed in and roared out of the doorway past the startled bandits who had been set to watch their movements. Venn had ordered Talon to take Mica on his bike, it was as he had said more powerful and faster than the older models of the other two warriors. Trix sat behind Edge clinging to his large frame as the sped from the village leaving the chagrined leader Judah, standing and cursing them from the front portico of his home.

Mica had whooped with joy from his position behind Talon revelling in the speed and the rush of wind in his face. They travelled for half of the day head back towards the village they had taken Trix from in an effort to meet with the blacksmith. Venn had questioned Mica about the route his father would travel and the time it would take him to get to various points. They pulled into a clearing that Mica expected his father to move through toward the end of the day, before reaching the next village of faith. 

They had found a place half hidden within scrubby trees and waited, eating ration packs and saying very little. They heard rather than saw the approaching men and took up positions on the tree line holding their weapons on the two hostages they held. "Call him," Venn said to Trix.

"Father," she yelled, the distance between them still so wide that she was unsure he would hear her, but his head whipped around to the sound of her voice and darkened at the sight of the three Techno bandits holding his children with weapons pointed threateningly at them. The group of ten men formed together waiting for Spar to make his move.

Cobolt moved to his fathers side, Emery and Flint standing directly behind them with men from the village they passed through the night before. Spar had planed to raise a small posse to retrieve his daughter as he had travelled, but the techno's had surprised him by turning back to meet him once they had found Mica.

His eyes looked form his daughter to his youngest son, and he cursed. "Are you hurt?" Spar called as he walked closer to the small group.

"They are both unhurt," Venn assured him moving out before them, "Meet me half way, alone," Venn indicated the grassy clearing. The two hulking men walked slowly forward sizing up each others strengths and possible weaknesses.

They stopped a few feet apart, "The young one," Venn tilted his head back toward Mica, "Wishes to be the one to come with us." Spar grunted and looked over at Mica who seemed relax despite his predicament. "He is young and impetuous, quick to temper, quick to laugh," Venn continued. "His quick temper revealed who he was to us regardless of the girl's attempts to protect him through subterfuge."

Spar was surprised and looked over at his daughter. She was not the type to speak out against authority let alone attempt subterfuge to save her brother. She was meek, mild and obedient as every girl should be.

"We would rather take one of your other sons that is less volatile than this one, but as we have him with us already and willing to accompany us, unless one of your other sons will take his place with equal willingness, we will take this young one," Venn looked past his shoulder to the other three young men noting their belligerent stance and shook his head, "Perhaps they are all just as volatile."

Spar finally spoke, "I will not willingly give you any of my children if you try to take even one of them I will hunt you to the end of your days."

"As you wish it to be," Venn walked backwards until he had rejoined his fellow warriors, and the men with Spar walked up to join him.

Mica climbed to the back of Talon's bike sensing the shift in mood and knowing his father was about to attempt to rescue him, "Father," Mica called, "I want to go and see the wonders of the city. Take Trix home to mother and tell her I am happy and will think of her often."

Talon realised his chance to take the girl had passed and climbed aboard his bike, reminding himself she was an insignificant village girl, and he was the first son of the House of Hawk, current rulers of the Air Clan and members of the cities presiding council. He did not need nor want another slave, neither did he need the distraction of the odd feeling the strange girl aroused in him. 

His bike roared into life and pulling away from the other two warriors, he looked at the young girl momentarily and as the other bikes roared to sing along loudly with his own they took off at speed, leaving Trix standing alone at the edge of the trees before she walked slowly to her father knowing they would not return now that they had what they wanted.



Cities of Power Ch. 02



Trix had returned home from her adventure with her brothers and father to a tearful welcome from her mother who had embraced her and not let her go until she finally fell asleep. Cobalt, who had blamed himself for her kidnapping, having been surprised by the Techno's appearance in the house, sat with her in the back garden the next day and carefully copied the pattern from the back of her jacket to paper for her, shading in the colours with the precious coloured chalks the men used in the forge. Once it was complete, he took the jacket to their mother who sat and unpicked the intricate stitching as Trix tried not to cry at its loss.

It was not just the loss of the pattern, but the loss of her link to the Techno's who had taken her. She had at first been terrified during the short time she was with them, but she came to realise they were just doing what they needed to for their families and clans. She wasn't as afraid of them as she had been taught to be, if anything she thought of them with fondness and wished in some ways that her adventure had have lasted longer.

Having heard from Trix herself about the events surrounding Mica's capture in the bandit village, Spar began to give her small freedoms within the village, though she was still not allowed to venture into the surrounding woods. Life went on for the family, and Trix began to gain friendships within the village as she was seen running errands without her brothers or mother and as the change of season celebration approached she found herself swept up into the excitement of village preparations.

Even with her new found freedoms Trix still spent a lot of time in her back garden, leaning on her favourite tree. She had no idea how people kept track of the seasons since the Great War, to her it always seemed to be hot and dry. Storms that came their way held little rain to accompany the thunder and lightning, but she smiled as she dug up the small soft rag she had hidden beneath her tree. 

Mica had pressed the green lump into her hand when they had stopped awaiting their fate in the clearing the last time she had seen him. "Plant it," he had urged her in a whisper, "beside your tree. Then I will always be there at home watching over you." Trix knew that such a valuable gift would be taken and used in trade for supplies for the coming winter, so she guarded it carefully looking at it from time to time as she waited for planting season.

Trix jumped guiltily as Cobalt called from the back of the house, "Trix, stop daydreaming and come help mother with supper plates." She had thought she would have had a few more minutes before being called back in, but she got up and dutifully went back inside the house.

Emery and Flint had been travelling since the departure of the Techno's. The family had needed supplies for the fast approaching winter season and Spar had believed it safer to send the two brothers together rather than send them individually into danger. Trix smiled delighted seeing the twins sitting at the kitchen table safe and home again from their travels. She hugged them both as tightly as she had when they had arrived just in time for supper before moving to the kitchen to take over from her mother clearing the evening meal from the table and washing the plates.

"I can do this," her mother said with a smile, "I think Cobalt and his friend Reed want you to walk with them."

"Cobalt always complains about having to take his kid sister anywhere," Trix looked at her mother, "What's going on?"

"Things change," her mother shrugged, "maybe he realises your not a kid anymore. It's so good to have the twins home, you go have some fun while your father is in a good mood," Opal winked at her daughter. Spar had been like a bear with a sore tooth since the loss of Mica, the return of the twins safe from their travels had lightened his mood considerably.

In the evenings, Trix and her mother would typically sit and sew or work with the limited resources they had to create decorations for the coming winter celebration. The men of the house would sit out on the front portico welcoming friends and neighbours or going to visit others within the village. Feeling unsure of the change to the usual routine of the house Trix grabbed her jacket and headed to the front where Cobalt and Reed waited for her.

Walking to Reed's house they stopped and waited for his sister Willow to join them. The four young people talked and laughed as they walked a full circuit of the village, calling out to people they knew as they passed by. Trix had enjoyed herself more than she thought she would have and when asked to walk again the following night went happily with Cobalt and his friend.

Trix began to hurry through the supper time routine helping her mother as much as she could to clean up before Cobalt called, and her mother would, as usual, smile indulgently and send her on her way. She quite like Reed, he was tall and slim much like the plant he was named for, when she spoke he would lean down to listen to her every word making her feel like he actually cared what a girl might say.

The following Sunday the family gathered for their weekly night of Faith and Thankfulness, after the rites and prayer that Spar presided over they all sat for the family meeting. Trix and her mother usually sat in the background attending to their mending or sewing as the men talked. It was Emery who spoke up about the amount of time Trix had been spending with Reed and Spar raised an eyebrow in her direction. "I think she should walk with Flint and me a couple of nights as well, we have friends who would like to have the opportunity to talk to her before spring comes," Emery grinned. 

"And do they all have sister's as pretty as Willow," Spar asked and the boys groaned. "I don't approve of you using your sister in this way, you should be men enough to go and see their father's yourselves as should any boy interested in walking out with your sister come to see me."

"But Father!" Cobalt complained and from her corner of the room Trix let out a sigh, no one would be brave enough to approach Spar and ask such a thing.

"Enough," Spar said abruptly. "Mason has already asked himself, he misses Mica immensely and would like to talk to Trix about his friend. If none of you will walk with them in Mica's absence, I will walk with them myself," Trix squeaked in fright at the idea of walking with Mason and her father.

"I'll go," Flint the quietest and gentlest of her brothers murmured, "I like Mason he reminds me of Mica, the way he jokes all the time. Remember that time he and Mica stole the school bell, and gave everyone the day off." His chuckle was rich and deep. The men at the table relaxed into easy banter about Mica and his friends causing trouble throughout their childhoods.

Trix looked at her mother who had a far away misty look in her eyes reaching out and taking her hand, "I miss him too, but he wanted to go Mother, he wanted to see the Techno city. We have to believe he is happy."

*****

The three Techno warriors had returned to the city of Phoenix with Mica and received accolades for bringing a willing metal worker back with them. The return journey had taken two days in which time Mica had the opportunity to ask a myriad of questions about the town and what his place within it would be. "You have come willingly, I expect you will have the opportunity to be bonded to the ruling family of our clan, the Hawks," Venn explained in his gravelly voice, "Talon's family."

Mica looked at the brooding young warrior. From what Mica understood being bonded was far preferable to being a peasant or slave. Bonded men had some freedoms and privileges though they were still seen as low caste compared to the warriors and ruling families which over the years had become one in the same. Bonded warriors were almost unheard of in recent years from the information he got from runaway peasants and slaves he met. Mica suspected that giving the warriors freeman status was far preferable to having your own army poised for a coup and being ill-equipped to stop it.

They entered the city through the west gate and went straight to the Air Clan council chambers. The warriors left their bikes with their bonded men who had been watching for their return, and they lead Mica through the maze like stone building. Mica had never been surrounded by so much stone, and his head swivelled around taking it all in making Talon chuckle as he remembered Trix and the way she tried to take in the landscape they sped through.

"You will have plenty of time to look around once we are done in here," Talon slapped Mica on the back ushering him forward into the large room. A large horseshoe shaped table filled the room, and Mica looked at the sea of faces that stared at him as he stumbled through the doors.

Talon smirked and raised his voice, "Greetings Father and members of the Air Council."

Edge echoed his statement, followed by Venn who gave his report on the mission and introduced Mica as the metal worker that had agreed to accompany them to the city. "He may seem young," Venn concluded, "but the bandit village of Judah tried to stop us from taking him which I believe shows his worth."

"Was the treaty with Judah endangered?" Boreas, the leader of the clan asked.

"I do not believe so, the boy was only a visitor there, though, Judah did try to give him the protection of his village," Venn answered truthfully.

"We will alert the other city leaders then, to avoid the town for some time, to be safe," There was a murmur of dissention at the table. "To be fair if one of the other clans had caused a potential problem with the safe villages we would want to know." Boreas, the leader looked around at the gathered people and the murmur ceased. He turned to Mica who had stood quietly watching them all realising that all was not as it seemed with these people and to wrap his head around the politics of this city would take more time and brainpower than he had at his disposal at that moment. "You have a week to prove yourself young man. Should you prove an asset we will allow you bonded status, if not you will face the tribunal to discover your fate, Spark," Boreas addressed a large man standing at the side of the room, "show our new man to his forge and his apartments."

The large man approached Mica and opening the door signalled for him to follow. For the first time, Mica questioned his fascination with the city and its technologies. He wondered if his willingness to go to Phoenix with the warriors, was as terrible a fate his father had warned about.

Within the council room a severe looking woman with a pinched face, stood and burst forth in a rush of words, "Was there no sign that she could have survived? How could you come back without my daughter?" She pointed at Talon, "You, who were her betrothed, did you even look for her? Or question people as to her whereabouts?"

"There were several rumours," Talon hedged in the face of the hysterical woman, "The most recent of the rumours seemed to indicate she went to the city of Gryphon."

Venn also spoke in answer to the woman, "The mission was for the boy, not Clove." He let his words settle on the woman before continuing, "I stopped Talon's investigations on more than one occasion to ensure the mission entrusted to us. I was leader, it was my decision. Talon is not at fault here, if anything he is to be commended for putting the good of the clan before his personal feelings."

The woman began to screech at him in unintelligible tones until her husband roared, "Stop this foolishness! Venn is right, and Talon should be commended. Clove's disappearance is neither their fault nor their doing, and they do not deserve your acid tongue." The woman sagged into her seat and stopped her tirade.

"I am sure you are all in need of rest, we will expect a full report tomorrow. Thank you gentlemen, you have done well," The three warriors turned and left the room. Talon ran his hands through his hair and exhaled loudly as the door closed.

"If you want to go back for her I will come with you," Edge smirked at Talon.

Venn grunted, "If Clove is alive, I don't think she wants to be found."

"I wasn't talking about Clove," Edge chuckled and walked away whistling.

Talon spent the next two days constantly reporting about the mission and what he had discovered about Clove's mysterious disappearance as well as the rumours that pointed to the fact that she was still alive. The more he talked of Clove, the more he thought about the girl he had found wearing her jacket, and seeking out her brother in the clan forge. 

The young metal worker like his sister was good-natured and forgiving of those around him, rather than deriding the inept apprentices he had patiently shown them how to hone their skills to craft pieces of quality. His always present smile and a constant stream of jokes and laughter had changed the mood of the workers in the forge, and the workmanship coming from the apprentices began to improve almost immediately upon his arrival. Mica had tried to explain the formula's for mixing metals to the rulers of the air clan without success but quite happily took over many of the roles involved in running the forge on a day to day basis. His uncanny ability to work with the current available technologies made him indispensable to many of the tech heads who still struggled with the remnants of forgotten technologies the relic hunters brought in.

Within two days rather than the week, the clan leader, Boreas came into the forge and handed Mica a small ingot of gold and a large armband. "We have never had a master forger quite as muscular as you are, this will need to be enlarged to fit around your upper arm. It should bear the image of a hawk, like so," he held out his hand baring a large ring in the shape of a hawk with flared wings.

Mica picked up the armband and gold ingot comparing the two, "I will get right on it, boss," Mica laughed tossing the weighty gold in the air and catching it.

Word had sped swiftly through the city of the boy who had become the air clan's master forger while most had scoffed at the idea of one so young being a Master of anything, it was the warriors who proved time and time again his value with the subtle changes the boy suggested to their bikes and weapons. The tech heads too, who worked to recreate new technologies from the relics also sought out the boy and Mica found himself constantly surrounded by people and rewarded handsomely for his work.

Venn and Edge both began to seek out the company of Talon, each for their own reasons and quite often accompanied him to the forge. Venn had new respect for the brooding young heir of the Air Clan, after the last mission, and Edge had found in him the qualities worthy of a leader. They often found Talon with Mica in the evenings, talking late into the night about his work and discoveries and their own plans and adventures.

"I'm going out again," Talon said quietly as he entered the comfortable accommodation Mica had been relocated to recently. He looked back over his shoulder ensuring his warrior friends were not approaching, then still murmuring softly he said, "I could get a message to your family if you wanted." The truth was Talon had been unable to get the image of Trix from his head and wanted an excuse to see her again without admitting his own desire.

Mica had laughed, "You think anyone of my brothers or father wouldn't kill you on sight? I was the favourite after all." His chuckle was deep and full of mirth.

Talon stiffened, "They could try," he growled.

"It's your head," Mica shrugged, "and if you're going that way you might as well take these, with you, I guess. What good are they to me here," he held up a small bag containing several seeds, "I will write a note to go with them."

Edge walked in without knocking, "Who's going where?"

"No one," Talon snapped, and Mica looked between the two of them, held up his hands and back away from what he realised could become a heated argument. 

Venn arrived shortly after, and the four men lapsed into the easy banter that accompanied their strange new friendship. It was late in the night when Edge casually turned to Venn and said, "Seems Talon is planning a trip without inviting us along."

"Is that right?" Venn raised his eyebrow at the younger man.

"Word has come from Gryphon," Talon said slowly, "Clove and a Water Clan warrior, Tide have petitioned for asylum. The Council members in Gryphon require identification of their status before granting such a privilege."

Edge whistled, "Why are they sending you?"

"Clove's parents have issued me with the task of returning her to the clan. If I do not avenge the dishonour of the water warrior, she has assured me they will no longer support my family in the clan politics," Talon ran his fingers through his hair as he disclosed the information.

"Who are you riding with?" Venn asked seriously.

"Eddy and Bay from Water Clan," his hand went through his hair again, "and Sirrus," He looked at his friends. Warriors generally went out in groups of three. There was no room for his friends in this mission, with four men already going.

The men bristled, there was no mistaking what this mission would entail and Talon looked at them, "I am sorry my friends."

"I'll come see you before I leave," Talon stood and looked at Mica, "Your village is close enough to Gryphon for me to detour slightly if possible. Write your message I will get it to a village of faith priest if nothing else." Then he left the room, he didn't want to get into a caste argument with Venn and Edge. While they were freemen and renowned warriors, Venn and Edge were not of the ruling clan families, and that was what was required for this mission. 

Talon hated the political manoeuvring and intrigue of the cities foremost families, his brother Squall loved it, and Talon was happy in the knowledge his parents had not only Squall but Hunter and Aurora, as well. Should they each make good marriages their family should be able to shore up their tenuous grasp on power. 

*****

The four warriors sat in a small camp a day's ride from the Gryphon city gates. Eddy, the older of the two water warriors finally broke the silence, "We all know you must challenge for your honour," he spoke to Talon. "It has been a hard ride and Tide will be prepared, we will stop before the city tomorrow and allow you time to rest and focus if you wish. Tide has brought our clan into disrepute and should you fail, it will fall to us to carry out his sentence."

Relieved at the apparent offer to help rather than them being a hinderance to him, Talon nodded, and turned to Sirrus, and asked, "It is still your wish to return Clove to her mother?" Sirrus nodded. "Then yes, I would like the time to prepare myself for both battles. Clove will not return easily I do not think." He saw Sirrus smirk, and he looked up at the two water warriors, and inclined his head, explaining, "Clove is a warrior herself."

They had been travelling over the open plain, taking shelter in the sparse forests in the evenings. The following day Talon gauged the distance to the village he sought to visit, even if only briefly and pulled his bike into the trees a small distance before the village and due north of the city of Gryphon. Bay and Eddy went through Talon's physical exercises with him, preparing for the worst case scenario as they had no knowledge of the young air princes' abilities, nor that of the warrior woman he sought to return to her family.

Eventually, they separated out into the forest to find their own inner peace and meditate, Sirrus stayed closer to the bikes, he had no intention of fighting anyone tomorrow. His inbred arrogance and foolishness that had been his families down fall told him that his sister would do as she was bid and that there would be no problem or altercation with her, he did not consider that her decision to runaway would have changed her idea's about duty to the family.




Cities of Power Ch. 02



Talon was skirting the village edges when he saw Trix. She was sitting with her back to a tree at the edge of a cleared space behind a house, he guessed it was her home. He stared at her for some time wondering why he was there and what it was about the girl that pulled him to her after so many weeks apart. He moved silently around behind the tree she leaned upon, his soft soled boots hiding his movements, softly he murmured her name staying hidden within the foliage. Cocking her head she turned around, finally standing up to peer into the dark shadows of the canopy.

Talon murmured her name again, and she looked nervously at the house before taking a step forward, "Mason if that is you are playing a trick on me..." she said quietly taking another step into the shadows.

Talon appeared beside her covering her mouth with his hand and pulling her deeper into the shadows behind the trunk of one of the larger trees. "Do not make a sound," he whispered and she shook her head, "I won't hurt you I just have a message from Mica." Trix nodded and relaxed slightly in his tight grip. Talon took his hand from her mouth and fumbled in his pocket while still holding her between the tree and his body enjoying the feel of her pressed against him. 

"Is Mica happy?" Trix asked quietly looking up into Talon's face.

"Yes," Talon smiled, realising she was not scared of him, but rather he had shocked and surprised her with his presence, any other girl would have screamed as he took his hand away, "He sent short letters and gifts for you and your family."

"Really?" She asked in wonder then grinned, "He hates to write he must be missing us as much as we miss him."

"Really," Talon replied with a smile, "Do not give them to your family until tomorrow, when I am gone from this place. I do not want your father pursuing me to the gates of Gryphon." Again Talon smiled at her feeling the effect of her body touching his and of the whisper of her breath on his neck as she looked up at him.

"Are you camping close by tonight? If I left a letter for Mica, here," she indicated the tree they stood against, "Could you come back and get it?"

Surprising himself he lifted his hand to smooth her hair back from her face and whispered, "I would rather come back and see you again."

Trix blushed as he held their faces close together, she could feel his breath caress her cheek, and she couldn't pull her gaze away, "After supper," she said quickly, "I will try to come after supper. Will you take a letter back to Mica for me?" 

Talon softly stroked his fingers through her hair as she gazed up at him, and nodded, "Yes," he found his voice gravelly as his heart thumped in his chest and he pressed her harder against the tree leaning down to brush his lips over hers.

Lost in the moment, aware of nothing but the man who held her captive in arms, Trix jumped as she heard her mother's voice from the back of the house, "Trix! Where are you?"

Talon relaxed his hold on her and stepped back as she called, "Just looking for new saplings mother, I am right here behind my tree." Impetuously, Trix leaned up and kissed the startled Talon who grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his arms to kiss her harder before letting her go. Trix fled back into her garden, "Gosh mother, you think there would be bandits this close to our house? I am right here!" Her voice seemed breathy and held a slight tremble even to her own ears.

Talon chuckled to himself as he melted back into the forest watching her walk towards the house hiding the small envelopes within the pockets of her coat and following her mother inside. Trix stopped briefly at the doorway looking back at the forest and touching her lips with soft fingertips before disappearing within. Talon looked at the sun in the sky, the smile still lightening his face and his mood showing his happiness at seeing her again. He had several hours before she would return again, and he moved back toward their camp cautiously.

He walked back to their camp feeling exceedingly happy despite the danger of seeing her again and what he knew tomorrow would bring. "Meditation does you well," Eddy grunted upon seeing him. 

"I like the wilderness, it makes me content," Talon replied choosing his words carefully, "I am more able to focus on what needs to be done."

Bay sat with them and pulled out a ration pack, "Want to swap?" He asked Talon who shrugged and tossed over his own ration pack. It had been some time since Talon had had the dried and smoked fish of the Water Clan, and he found it was an interesting if not wholly pleasant change from the usual packs he ate.

Trix had made sure her mother wanted for nothing before disappearing into her room. She took the three envelops from her pocket and sorted through them. There was one addressed to Mother, one to Father and one to her. She ripped at the envelope and pulled out the sheet of wrinkled paper as she did a tiny pink heart shaped pendant fell out, and she smiled at the delicate object. Trix unfurled the letter and began to read, 

"Hi Princess, What an adventure huh? I hope father wasn't too harsh on you when I left. I miss you all terribly, but I miss Mason more. Can you tell him I love him? Tell him not to be sad, that I am happy, and if I ever have the opportunity I will send for him. Do not think badly of us. I know father would never approve. He never approved of anything I did anyway. I think Flint and Emery always knew, but they are weirdoes anyway, right? Don't let them pick on him. I have no one else to ask to talk to Mason for me, please try. Talk to mother about things in your life the way you used to talk to me, she is more understanding than you realise. Be happy princess, I love you. Mica. PS. You can trust Talon, he is actually a pretty good guy, and my friend here in the city."

Trix realised she needed her mother's help if she was going to meet Talon after supper, but she just wasn't sure that it was worth the risk. She looked again at the letters and hid the one for her father beneath her mattress. Placing her own and her mother's letter in her pockets again she went back out and watched her mother preparing the vegetables for dinner. Trix sat with her mother and took up a paring knife. "When Mica and I were with the Techno's they ate purposely dried up fruit and vegetables in silver packs."

Her mother's head came up, Trix had never wanted to talk about the time she spent with the Techno's except to reassure them all she was unharmed and untouched by the men. "I think I have heard of that before, a long time ago before I came to this village, I saw a silver pack like that. The fruit was dry but still sweet, right?"

"Yeah," Trix smiled, "I bet Mica is enjoying the food in the city. He always had a massive appetite." Her mother nodded sadness clouding her features. Trix began again, "There is something I haven't told anyone about," she started nervously, "That I think I would like to share with you."

Opal could see her daughter's nervousness, "You can trust me, I do not share everything with your father. The important things always but who is to judge what is important," she tried to smile reassuringly.

"Mica told you all his secrets, didn't he?" Trix asked already knowing the answer from the hint in his letter.

"Not all," Opal looked out of the window into the distance, "but he did confide in me a lot. Things he thought your father wouldn't understand, I think you all underestimate your father at times. He wasn't always so gruff and intolerant. It's just he lives by a code of conduct that any man would struggle with from time to time let alone use to lead a village."

They finished preparing the vegetables and Opal set them in a pot of water to wait until they were ready to cook them. "Will you... Would you... Do you think you would like to come and sit under my tree with me for a few minutes?" Trix asked. Once she began to spill her beans to her mother she didn't want to be interrupted by her father or her brothers.

"Sure," she smiled again and took her daughters hand, "We have plenty of time before we need to start supper and the other chores can wait." They walked out of the back door towards the tree her daughter loved. Opal shielded her eyes from the early afternoon sun and took her shoes off, "I love the feel of the grass on my bare feet."

Trix smiled, "When I saw Mica last, he gave me something, he made me promise not to give it to father for trade," she looked away her hand digging at the small patch of dirt in which she had hidden the small rag. "It's a tree seed, I think, he wanted it planted out here so he would always be watching over us."

Opal began to cry softly, she hugged her daughter fiercely and closed her fingers around the small rag and seed. "I don't know what to do with it, I come out and talk to it and hope it will show me when it is ready to go into the ground but it just sits there like a lump," she looked up at her mother, "Help me mother, please, for Mica."

Opal wiped her eyes, "It is a very rare seed, and we probably could have gotten a very good trade for it," then she looked into her daughter's eyes, "but you did the right thing, the right thing for Mica and for us. Come with me," she held out her hand and Trix took it. Together they returned to the kitchen, Opal took a small broken bowl and lined it with wet mushy paper then sprinkled a small amount of dirt before putting the seed inside and repeating the process. She then placed it on the window sill in the afternoon sunlight. "The men never come into the kitchen," she winked, "and it will sprout there I am sure." 

Trix shoved her hands into her pockets and considered her mother as she touched the envelopes. "There is more isn't there?" Opal asked. Trix looked furtively at the door that led to the forge and back at her mother before nodding. "Tell you what," her mother said realising her daughters reticence to speak about the things she held secret and how much she wanted to share them, finally, with her mother, "Why don't we see if your father is done fixing Shaylee's pan and we can walk down and see what sort of pie she has made today to go with our vegetables."

Trix grinned widely, she loved the rare times when they could afford pie from Shaylee's kitchen, and she followed her mother through to the forge. Shaylee and her husband had run away from Pegasus many years ago with eggs ready to hatch hidden in their clothing. They had managed to save most of the eggs and tended them like expectant mothers until their little flock was born. They had nurtured and protected them from the over hungry villagers and eventually had provided eggs if not meat to the town. Through the many years between they had raised enough birds to begin being able to sell the meat as well in small amounts, but it was the pies Shaylee made that gave her the fame she so richly deserved. She traded eggs and chicken for small amounts of goat or pork and kept a kitchen garden for vegetables. 

Trix and Opal arrived at the shop to the mouth watering smells of Shaylee's cooking, and the plump woman greeted them with cheery smiles and gratitude for her pan, offering to make them a fresh pie if they had time to wait. "Perfect," Opal said, "We were going to visit the Sanctum anyway." Though the village had no priest of the Faith, they had built a sanctum for people who needed solace in time of need or if any visiting priest requested shelter. It was regarded to all within the village as blessed ground.

Shaylee nodded, "We all miss Mica's laugh. Come back when you are ready, dearies." Then she turned and let the women go.

They sat side by side in the Sanctum, Trix looked up at her mother and took her hand. "Mother I need you to swear to me in this place that you won't tell father what I am about to say or show you until I speak to him tomorrow night, during Faith and Thankfulness night."

"Trix, this is a holy place," Opal began to protest but stopped and nodded seeing the importance of the moment in her daughter's eyes, "I swear."

Trix took the crumpled envelope from her pocket and handed it her mother, "It's from Mica."

Opal looked bewildered and started to ask, "When, how, why didn't you give it to me sooner?"

Trix said nothing for a few moments, taking her own letter from her pocket and tipping the pink pendant into her hand, "I only just received them, there is one for father too, but I gave my word not to tell him until tomorrow evening."

"To who, Trix? Who would you promise such a thing to?" Opal was aghast and unbelieving as she looked at the letter in her hand.

"Read it, I am sure Mica will explain," she moved away form her mother to another seat and opened her own letter to reread it. Opal opened the envelope, and an oval locket spilled into her hand, its face mounted with a thin blue green sliver of an opal, she opened it and saw a sketched likeness of Mica within and began to cry softly again. She opened her letter and read looking up at her daughter from time to time. Mica had described his sister as the bravest, kindest, smartest woman he ever knew and berated his mother for letting Spar keep her locked up like a princess in a tower. He explained his happiness in the city and his new friendships, he urged her to trust Talon as he had urged Trix to do the same.

When she finally put it down, she looked at Trix who was studying her carefully. "You swore," Trix reminded her, "Just twenty-four hours, that's all."

Opal whispered unsure if she wanted the answer, "There's more isn't there," Trix nodded and returned to her mother's side. 

She placed her pendant beside her mothers, "He sent us a piece of him to remind us he is thinking of us," she smiled, "If you help me, we could send letters of our own back to him, but it has to be this evening or not at all."

Opal drew a deep breath and put a hand on her breast, "You must promise me, swear as I did that you are in no danger."

The image of Talon, tall, dark and brooding formed in her mind, and Trix nodded, "I swear."

"Then tell me all of it, quickly, we won't have much time," Opal said uncertainly.

Trix told her story of the meeting with Talon that morning, and promise to meet him again rather than just leave letters. She pleaded for her mothers help to be able to meet with Talon one last time.

Hurrying about their business they picked up the pie from Shaylee and all but ran home. Leaving the pie to keep warm on the oven top they prepared the vegetables and placed them in the oven, and then each went to compose a letter before the men came in for supper. Opal visited the room Mica had shared with Cobalt and took the small soft leather rolled case that held the jewellers tools Spar had crafted for his son himself. Taking it to Trix's room she rolled it out and placed both their return letters atop the delicate tools and rolled it back up. 

The women then laughed hysterically as Opal and Trix forced the leather roll into the bottom of her bra making her small cleavage appear more generous than even Opal's was. Change your shirt to one of your brothers hand-me-down's that should disguise it a little, then come down for supper, your father will be in at any minute. 

The pie was superb, and not having to cook a large meal themselves had allowed the women the time they needed to make plans. As the supper finished, and the men started to move from the table Opal uncharacteristically spoke up. "With all of the walking out you men have had Trix doing of late I think it is time she and I had a talk about women's business." Spar grunted, but she continued doggedly, "It is a full moon tonight so she and I will spend some time under that tree she loves so much, and you will be able to see us out there and hear us should we shout."

Trix had rolled her eyes and complained, softly, "But mother..." as she had rehearsed.

Spar had immediately frowned at her, "Mind your mother, and do as she says," he growled as if on cue. "Cobalt you can stay with me on the porch, tonight, you two clowns can go," he dismissed the twins reasserting his control over the family as he grumbled under his breath about "secret women's business."

Talon saw them coming toward the tree, "Shit! She was supposed to be alone," he mumbled to himself and prepared to leave. 

The older woman stood with her back to the house shielding Trix's movements as she walked into the shadowy trees. "I don't know who you are," the soft voice carried into the trees, "but thank you," she paused, "for the letter, for the friendship you have shown my son and for not harming my daughter."

Talon lowered himself to the ground from the tree Trix had been standing beside. "That was unexpected," he whispered as she jumped, and turned to smile at him. His thumb traced over her smile gently, and he smiled in return.

"It was the only way I could make it here," she explained as she unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing.

Talon tried to pull his eyes away from her hands, but he was spell bound as her bra and torso came into view. She was speaking as he stared at her small breasts that peaked out from the fabric, "Mother knows, she has agreed not to say anything until I give father the letter tomorrow night." Talon nodded at a loss for words as he dragged his eyes up to her face momentarily. Talons eyes dropped again, he watched Trix reach inside her bra and pull out the case holding their letters with Mica's tools.

"You should have told me where you were hiding that, I would have gotten it for you," Talon smirked and trailed a finger down her neck and between her breasts to the base of her bra. He took the rolled leather from her hands pushing it deep into his pocket. Trix blushed deeply and began to redo the buttons on her shirt quickly. Talon reached forward again and trailed a finger down the side of her neck and into the still open part of the shirt. He smiled watching the goose bumps rise on her flesh and pulled her to him moving her to stand with her back against the tree. He kissed her then, softly but as it lengthened the kiss became deeper and more needy, his hands travelled down the sides of her body as he pressed her against the tree.

"Will you come back?" Trix asked breathlessly as he pulled his head back to look at her.

"I have this mission to complete, it may take a little while," he murmured and found himself happy at the look of disappointment in her eyes. "Would you like me to? When and if I can? Come back for you?" He asked in return.

She nodded and looked up into his face, "Yes," she whispered, "I would." 

He bent down to kiss her softly, sweetly, savouring her taste and smiled. "Then you can be sure of it, but it may take a little time. Wait for me," his eyes scanned her face and his hand stroked her hair back from her eyes. "If you wait for me, I will come."

Trix told herself it was gratitude at the tenuous link this man offered her to her brother that made her tremble in his arms the way she did, but he kissed her again, deeper and longer and she felt the fluttering of her heart.

Opal called urgently, "Trix, your father is at the window checking on us, come back!"

"Wait, please," Trix urged Talon, and darted the four or so steps to her mother's side, and put her hand out to swing around her tree as she always did. Opal laughed and satisfied with the sound Spar moved back through the house. 

Curious to see the mother of the elf like Trix and the hulking Mica, Talon moved a step closer staying well in the shadows his dark clothes disguising him. The older woman was wide hipped and large bosomed, unlike her daughter, but she was exactly as Mica had described, the image of matronly beauty.

As Trix swung around the tree slowly, Talon put out his hand to stop her, and Opal gasped, "Mother," Trix said softly, "This is Talon." He could see the indecision in the older woman's eyes, but just as suddenly he saw her look at her daughter and straighten taking a deep breath.




Cities of Power Ch. 02



"Thank you," she said, "My heart is a little less sore knowing my Mica is happy and has friends."

"You are as beautiful and kind hearted as he told me so often," Talon responded with a smile. "Mica is an easy man to be friends with, he has made many friends in the city."

Opal put a hand on her heart and her eyes misted, "Thank you," she said again.

"I will see you again," she smiled down into Trix's face and leaned to kiss her cheek chastely as Opal watched. "I will make sure Mica gets your letters. Be well both of you." With that, he moved back into the trees a little and watched them turn back into the yard. They had every reason to hate him and yet they only thanked him, he shook his head and started when Trix turned and hurried back toward him.

She reached up and stroked his cheek, memorising his features, "I will see you again," she whispered and kissed him softly feeling his arms wind around her. Pulling back she smiled, "I must go for now," she whispered and fled from his arms.

Opal realised in that moment that she would eventually lose her daughter to the city too and hugged the girl close. She had seen the look in both their eyes, and though she might not realise it yet, Trix was about to get pulled into the emotional whirlwind of passionate romantic love. Opal had grown up a peasant in the city of Pegasus, as a young woman she had gone with her mother and one of the ladies of the city to the Soloaks Markets. Twice a year st the markets she had seen the young blacksmith, but that was all it took to fall madly in love with him. With so little time spent together, they had planned her escape, or as Spar liked to put it, his rescue of her and their subsequent flight through the foothills and forests. 

It became the making of a family legend that they told their children during each spring feast as men and women walked to the tree together and ceremonially bound their names together with a ribbon. She let another tear fall having no doubt Talon would return to take their daughter away.

*****

Talon had gone to the city of Justice, Gryphon, to fight for a woman he did not love nor want, but duty propelled him forward. He hoped that, in her shame, she would take her own life rather than return to her family. He knew that was a cruel and uncaring thought, but he also knew he would not marry her now, an image of Trix danced before his eyes, and he smiled sadly. While the majority of the council would not expect him to continue his betrothal to Clove, his family's tenuous hold on the power of the Air Clan seemed to seesaw on a knife edge, and they needed the support of Cloves family.

The fight for his honour had been short, Talon had not expected much, it was true, but he had expected more from the man who had turned his back on his clan, to be with the spoilt bitch that lay on the floor screeching at him over the body of her dead lover. Talon had turned his back on her moving toward Sirrus, "Take care of your sister," he had spat.

Sirrus was horrified by his sister's behaviour, he had thought her innocent and gullible taken in by the water warrior as his mother had told him, but as he looked at her now he could see it was the warrior that was the victim of his spoiled sister's wants and needs, and he shook his head. "You stupid bitch, do you really think you can just flutter your eyes at any man, and he will do your bidding, now?" 

Clove looked around the room, there was no sympathy in any of the eyes that watched her, and she immediately changed her demeanour. She became almost infantile as she looked around with wide eyes and pointed at the dead man, "He made me do it," she wailed, "I didn't understand what I was doing." She beseeched the crowd who were dispersing after the short battle of honour between the two men from Phoenix, disappointed in its brevity.

"Get up before you humiliate our family any further and be thankful that Talon is not a vengeful man," Sirrus derided her.

"I will return you to mother because that is the task I have been sent for, but believe that I will tell father all that has happened here. Now get up!" Sirrus roared.

Clove flew at him her nails raking his cheek before the water warriors stepped forward to restrain her. They cuffed and collared her before Eddy picked her up throwing her over his shoulder. "Perhaps we should transport her home to your clan," Bay suggested indicating himself and Eddy.

Turning to the Gryphon council Sirrus addressed them, "My sincerest apologies for this nasty business today," Ever the statesman spoke clearly with a strong powerful voice. "My family are indebted to you, for your strict adherence to the laws of our lands," then he turned following the water warriors from the room.

They left the city immediately and headed back toward Phoenix. Clove remained restrained and travelled on the back of the water warrior's bikes during the long rides from dawn till dusk. Talon ignored her totally. Sirrus made sure she was fed and watered but her sobs and begging for forgiveness fell on deaf ears as the two men stoically turned their backs on her.

The morning before they road into the city, Sirrus made sure his sister was restrained and asked the other three warriors to walk several meters away, he spoke softly, "She will no doubt make outrageous claims when we return and mother will call for an investigation, may I apologise to you now for the inconvenience this will cause in your lives."

"It is of no moment," the quiet Bay spoke, "We will accompany you to your council on arrival and put all minds at rest as to circumstance of this event. Just as I am sure you will both accompany us to our council and remit a similar account of the details."

Within hours, they had walked into the air council chamber throwing the still restrained Clove to the floor before them, "Mother!" Clove had cried, "Make them release me!"

Wisp stood to demand her daughter's release, but Sirrus stepped forward, "No Mother you must hear the full report first. Do you think I would have her restrained without reason?" Clove hissed and spat at her brother.

"Go ahead," Gale put a restraining hand on his wife's arm and looked pitifully at his daughter before returning his attention to his son.

Bay stepped forward introducing himself and Eddy naming their families as high born Water Clan. "If I may," he said softly placing a recording device on the table before the parents of the girl so they could see the small picture but amplified the sound of the voices for the room to hear. "We have not returned to or own clan nor did we stay longer than necessary in the city, the device is regardless, tamper proof," he hit the play button.

The council heard and saw the entire encounter at Gryphon as most had moved to view the small screen. Wisp had wailed that it must be a conspiracy, a fake to ruin them as one of the founding families but the humiliation was too much for Gale who silenced his wife with a slap across her face. "She is the spoiled creature of your making, and I let it happen, shut up woman before you share her fate," Gale pointed at his daughter without looking at her.

"With your permission," Gale looked at Boreas the clan leader as he stood, "I am proud of you my son, you acted with dignity in the face of such humiliation," He smiled at Sirrus. Formally he turned to Talon, "You are released from your betrothal to the wretch, Clove, she will not be seen again within polite circles." Talon nodded his head in thanks, and Gale sat a defeated man as his wife sobbed quietly beside him.

"We will need a copy of the report, please," Boreas spoke directly to Bay before addressing all four of the men who had returned with Clove. "I expect the water clan is waiting patiently for their report, you may go attend to that while we discuss events."

The four men made their way through the city to make a similar report to the Water Clan assuring the leaders that the recording was not disputed by the leaders of the Air Clan before they were finally released form their duty. Bay and Eddy walked the other two men to the vortex at the centre of the four clans before clasping hands. "I would not be surprised if Tide's family claim Clove as retribution," Eddy warned.

Sirrus nodded his understanding, "It is such with founding families and bloodlines. Even as a slave she is worth something." Sirrus knew they would impregnate Clove and claim bloodline to the firsts. The four men separated and as they walked Sirrus turned to Talon, "You have honour, I am sorry to have doubted you, not that you knew that I did I suspect, but I am sorry regardless. I must go seek out my father will you join me for a drink later? At Sirocco?"

Talon grunted, "Okay but I expect my friends to follow me perhaps we can talk better tomorrow if you have things that must be said."

Sirrus smiled, "I would like to be counted among your friends."

Talon grinned, showing the softer side of his nature for the first time to Sirrus, "Wait until you meet the ones I already have before you volunteer for that!" He laughed feeling the weight of Clove and his duty to her lift from him. "I need to go see Mica, meet you at Sirocco's later then." Talon jogged away in search of Mica, feeling the need to share with him his meeting with Trix.

Mica almost dropped the piece of metal he was pulling from the furnace as he saw Talon walk in. Placing it gently over a wooden mould he called to an apprentice, "Hammer the lumps out of that while I hammer some lumps into him." He nodded his head toward Talon who put up his hands in surrender.

Mica pulled off his heavy leather apron and grabbed up Talon in a tight embrace, "Shit, don't leave me alone with those two warriors again, talk about whining about being left behind. Actually, I feel sorry for you, and what they will do to you when they find out you're back."

"Let's head back to your place, I have something for you," Talon said quietly and touched his groin suggestively, and Mica gave him a brilliant smile.

"You're such a fag. You're lucky I like you," Talon joked with the burly man and pulled the rolled soft leather case from his pants. "Plus," Talon grinned like a schoolboy, "I kissed your sister." He laughed and ran ahead of the big man out of his reach. "Read your letters I have to make my report, tell Venn and Edge I will meet them at Sirocco's, later."

Talon went to meet with his family. He knew what he wanted as his reward, but he also knew it was a near impossible request. The image of Trix in his arms floated in his mind and wanting to make not only her but the matronly Opal smile he walked into the meeting determined.

*****

Opal had watched her daughter carefully over the days following the meeting with Talon. It was just like Mica had said, she was innately good. They had protected her from a world that would never truly hurt her. While the boys had gone to school, Trix had been homeschooled in their desire to protect her. Opal realised in their efforts to protect her they had also allowed her no friends, no childish enjoyment of silly things no real childhood except what Mica had given her. Opal regretted her actions and set about making amends taking the time every day to take Trix out to meet the women of their village and their daughters.

Opal and Trix had visited the Sanctum together the day after the Talon had left. They had decided together not to reveal their personal letters from Mica allowing Spar to feel the importance of being head of their household and Mica's respect of sending a family letter to him alone. They had concocted a story of meeting with a priest-like pilgrim who had slept in the sanctum that night and brought the letter from another town planning on leaving it to be found and left just as quickly that morning. 

Within the envelope had come a large package of seeds for trees that could be grown long term into an orchard as well as garden crops. Mica had advised his father that if they followed the curve of the foot hills and studied it they would find an underground spring to feed the orchard he hoped they would plant rather than trade the seeds for short lived stores. His letter had sent greetings to them all and did not mention the other two letters as Opal and Trix had hoped, and they breathed a sigh of relief. 

Over the following weeks, Spar brought water diviners from neighbouring villages who all pointed to the same spot and the digging of a well was begun, knowing that it was guided by Mica's legendary letter Mason was at the forefront offering his skills with stone to create the needed well. He and a few others of Mica's friends had continued to dig when all others had given up and finally had hit the spring Mica had assured them was there. As Mason climbed from the narrow pit exhausted after days of digging Opal and Trix both had greeted him with warm embraces softly whispering, "Mica loved you, he would be so proud."

After the well had been finished and the stone work done, Trix invited Mason to supper at their house and asked her father if Opal could chaperone them as they sat on the back porch. Spar granted the request, he had always liked the boy since he had approached him after Mica had gone and asking to walk with Trix and talk about him. "Mica loved you more than any of us," Trix said softly as they sat together shoulder to shoulder. Mason shook his head, but Trix stopped him, "He told me so."

Mason looked up with wide eyes, "You can't tell anyone what I am about to show you." Trix warned and passed him the letter that Mica had written to her. "I would have told you sooner, but you wouldn't come out of that hole, you just kept digging and digging until you found the spring."

Trix leaned into Mason and let him pull her close with an arm around her shoulder as he sobbed loudly, "I love him still." Opal wanting to diffuse any concern that might come from the front of the house went to sit beside Mason pulling his other arm around her as he cried.

"We know, and he still loves you," Opal reassured the boy, "He would be so proud of that well."

Trix had found in her mother a true friend, they worked together to bring everything Mica had wanted to fruition. The town had found with their new found well several families from poorer areas petitioned to become part of the community and village. Spar resided over the councils of admittance claiming he was protecting the village until one day an old crone turned to him and said, "You are no better than the cities, you judge and discard at your leisure. What are you afraid of?"

Spar had taken the words to heart, and he called a village council meeting. "We are no longer a village," he said proudly, "We are a self sufficient town." He let that settle on the gathered crowd of people. "The question now arises, do we continue on as we always have or do we start to build defences to repel those who want to take the and abuse life we have built here."

From the rear, a small man stood. I am Thatcher, my son is Reed," he indicated to the young man beside him who also stood towering over his father. "The reason this village flourishes is that everybody gives something, no matter how little or how much, even if they are absent for a time," he nodded his head in the direction of Spar acknowledging the information and seeds Mica had sent. "I believe, to keep our town the way we want it is time to build some walls against those who would denigrate it or adversely influence our children."

Rock stood with him, "I agree." He looked out over the gathering, "It is time to build walls."

The chant was taken up, and a map was brought forth, boundaries were agreed upon and workers were appointed in teams to quarry the stone needed from the rocky outcrop to the west of the town. Mason was the first to volunteer alongside his father, Rock.

Trix stood outside the village hall and felt tears sting her eyes. How would she see Talon again if walls of stone surrounded her now? She thought. Trix had been holding to the knowledge that Talon would return to see her again, the thought that he may not come once there were walls in his way, made her feel sick. Opal gathered her daughter by an arm around her waist, "it will take time to build a wall," she murmured, "and I bet he could find a way around it regardless."

Looking up at her mother Trix was stunned by her insight into her feelings. "I was young once too or do I have to tell you the story again," Opal laughed, "I could see the way you looked at him and how he looked at you. I am not blind Katrix," Opal said in mock sternness. No one ever used her full name, she actually thought it had been banned from the family vernacular and she turned to look at her mother. "What? I know what I saw." Opal said with a small laugh.

Trix blushed, "I know but you called me Katrix," she said in a hushed tone and looked around making sure they were alone.

Opal stopped and turned to look at her daughter, she looked so small and frail, so unlike many of the village women, so much like Opal's own mother for whom she was named, "Katrix," Opal enunciated, "You are named for my mother it is a name you should wear proudly, not be embarrassed about it." 

"Knowing the issues raised in the village council meeting would in all probability rage all night Trix stole into the back yard and sat by her tree thinking of Talon wondering if the letters he delivered were truly a good thing for their village. With a sigh, she sagged back against her tree and heard it. A quiet murmur amongst the movement of leaves in the small the small breeze, "So your real name is Katrix," the voice of her dreams said.

Talon stepped forward into the mottled moonlit shadows extending his hand to her. Taking a last look at the house she took his hand and stepped into his embrace. He kissed her deeply, and smiled as he pulled back, "There is nothing as delicious as kissing your lips." He leaned down and kissed her again. 

"What are you doing here?" Trix whispered looking back at the house. 

"I said I would be back, you asked me to come back." He said looking injured. 

Trix smiled shyly, "You came back for me?" 

Talon wasn't sure how to answer and hesitated, the hesitation was too much for Trix who with her new friendships had heard tales about travellers who ruined the reputations of nice girls. She turned to look at the house. "Father will be home soon," she said into the silence. She pressed her lips against his one last time and fled back into the house, tears streaming down her face.

Talon watched her go. She was such a strange girl and made him feel so uncomfortable on so many levels. He was no stranger to women, he had personal slaves, dalliances with women of the warrior caste on occasion, "Why did this girl turn him inside out?" He sat behind her tree in the shadows watching her house and scratching at the bark, when he saw the last light go out hours later he stood to walk back to their camp and turned into the hard body of Venn.

Venn grunted and shook his head walking with Talon back to their camp, "You are as foolish as all of the ruling families," he murmured, "and I thought better of you."

Talon looked back at the house, "She is unlike any girl I have known before."

"Of course she is," Venn grinned, "Why else would we be here."

Sirrus took in the expressions of the warriors. "No luck breaking the princess out of her tower huh?" He directed the question at Talon.

Edge snorted and rolled his eyes. "The way I heard it she was ready to climb out of the tower herself but he pulled the ladder away."

The three warriors almost in unison threw forest debris at him and told him to go to shut up. Venn waited until the others slept for a while, "Edge will take your watch," he murmured gruffly, "Go tell the girl how you feel."

"She is locked in a tower," Talon whispered morosely, "Or close enough to one."




Cities of Power Ch. 02



"No risk, No reward," Venn chuckled and kicked Edge. "Talon and I have something to do." Edge grumbled but sat up and blinked his eyes as Venn and Talon melted into the forest.

Venn watched from the edge of the trees as Talon silently approached the window of the room he was certain belonged to Trix. Knocking gently he woke her, and she opened the window pane. He grasped her face between his hands, and kissed her, "I think I love you," he murmured, "I came only to see you. You are always in my mind." Talon confessed and kissed her again.

Trix smiled widely, "I think I love you too," she whispered into his kiss. He climbed through the window and held her close, his kisses heated and filled with desire as he hands ran down over the thin short night gown she wore, "You can't be here," she whispered, "They will kill you if they hear us."

"Come with me," he said rashly aware of the adrenaline that ran through him, not just from the risk of seeing her but from holding her body so close.

She was silent, and she felt the hurt in him as his body stiffened, "Not yet," she had whispered, "I cannot leave now." She wasn't quite sure why she couldn't, but she knew it was wrong to leave right now but she couldn't voice her fears.

Talon's arms tightened around her again as he realised she had not refused him entirely, and his head dipped to kiss her deeply again before climbing back out of the window and standing to look at her the thin nightgown doing little to disguise her body as he smiled.

"The truth is we have come for Mason, this time. Mica wants to show him his new world, they will not be judged in the city as here in the wilderness," Talon looked at her, she made him feel his own recklessness in his need to see her again and again. He reached through the window to pull her close, and as he kissed her a last time, he murmured, "Mica deserves to be happy, but I will return for you. Soon."

"I will see you again," Trix whispered, and Talon disappeared back into the forest.

The following morning Mason farewelled his parents and took his tools to work in the quarry, he never arrived at the rocky outcrop, and the search for him revealed nothing, it was as if he disappeared into thin air. The walls surrounding the town rose with haste as the young men of the village were kept close to home, the taking of Mica and the disappearance of Mason having affected them all.



Cities of Power Ch. 03



Time was running short for Talon and he paced showing his frustration as he waited for Spark to come and usher him into his fathers Den. Mason had told them all of the walls being built around the village and Talon knew with certainty he needed to go and claim the girl who haunted his dreams before the walls were complete. Talon looked to the doors as they opened and Spark signalled for him to enter.

"The mystics of Pegasus have contacted us," Boreas started without preamble, "With your recent successful missions in the wilderness it has fallen to you, my son, to lead yet another."

Talon scowled, "Will I ever have time of my own? I do nothing but the council's bidding. Surely Edge or Venn are better equipped to lead," he named the older of his friends acknowledging their experience and individual successes. 

"It will be a formal delegation," Boreas continued as if his son had not spoken, "You will take with you three air warriors of your choosing and you will be accompanied by three warriors from each of the other clans." He watched his son as the importance of the mission settled on him.

"You are sending a quorum to Pegasus?" Talon asked startled as he realised the warriors would total thirteen. "When?" He sighed realising this was not an insignificant mission he could pass on to someone else. Trix danced in the back of his mind like a mythical unicorn he could never quite capture.

"You will leave once preparations have been made, two days at most. Select your warriors carefully," he looked at his son meaningfully, "The quorum will carry more weight if you take those of ruling families. Jag or Keen have good reputations."

"Of their own making," Talon laughed. "I will take men of honour that I can rely on in a tight situation, not men who wish only to bolster their own glory at the expense of those around them." He shook his head in disgust at the thought of Jag or Keen accompanying him anywhere, "I will take Sirrus if I must take another from the ruling families," he said.

"He is no great warrior," his father disapproved.

"No, but I trust him and would rely on him in a battle," Talon stared hard at his father, "He only lacks experience and opportunity." He could see the doubt still clouding his father's face, "Or is it you do not want further altercation with Wisp for sending her son out into the wilderness again?"

"Gale would be proud to have his son chosen for a quorum, but you are right. Should anything happen to him, Wisp would be uncontrollable," Boreas Agreed.

"I will talk to Sirrus and give him the choice then, before the party is announced," Talon conceded, "Any idea who the other clans will send?"

"Torrent was fairly sure Eddy and Bay would ride with you again. Scorch put forth Glow and Thorn has said his own son, Kaolin would choose their team," Boreas seemed to consider his words, "All good warriors I am told." 

Talon nodded, "Two days, not long. I will go find Sirrus and report back." He stood and left the room.

"Fuck!" Talon curse under his breath as he left the room, "This is all I need right now." His sense of duty and honour though pushed the thought of Trix being walled inside a stone tower from his mind. He had spent too much time over the last weeks smoothing everyone else's ruffles feathers and now this.

*****

When Mason had disappeared so mysteriously from the village, Trix had endured all of the restrictions that were once again put on her movements daily. Opal had appealed to Spar on her daughter's behalf not to have her locked up again. She tried to explain the damage done from their restrictions to her early childhood. Rather than making friends and getting into mischief as the boys had; Trix only had her mother for company and, with the ongoing hi-jinks of their sons, she was barely there for her daughter. 

She had no friends, no happy childhood memories, "No childhood at all," Opal had raised her voice in a rare show of bravado with her husband. "The only thing she had close to a childhood friend was Mica, who went off to school every day and brought her home tales of life outside this house," she beseeched her husband, "Please, Spar, don't do this to Trix again. Not now that she is finally making friends within the village."

"She walks with her brothers in the evenings," Spar had countered, "She is not at a loss for candidates for husband."

"And how much of that is because our boys seek time with the sisters of those boys, or that they have been turned down by every girl who knows their reputations? Will you give our daughter away to a boy whose own mother considers him a reprobate?"

"Don't be silly, woman," Spar had chastised her, "Those boys wouldn't dare."

"Are you so wrapped up in village politics that you have lost sight of the people in the village?" she said sadly making Spar stop to look at her. His wife was not the first to criticise him in such a way. His mind drifted to the old crone and her fateful words: "What are you afraid of?"

Spar had been a refugee from the war. He had seen the anarchy and brutality of a world gone mad. He had lived through it and chosen his life, a life he wanted for his family. He wanted to live in safety with good people who believed in looking after their neighbours and working as a community for the common good. It was why he had sort out the Cities of Power and Justice. Having been disappointed that their words were just rhetoric, he had gone out alone to seek his way and find like minded people in the villages of the faith, eventually starting one of his own with friends he had met along his journey.

Spar had never meant to become judge, jury and executioner, but the burden of leadership had been thrust upon him and once he took up the mantle, he held his small family to a higher standard. Over the week following Mason's disappearance, Spar's wife had nagged at him constantly about their only daughter. While he understood and lamented the damage that he had already caused to his daughter who had no friends and no fun memories of childhood, unlike his sons, he refused any reconsideration of her captivity that would bring her into danger.

Spar had finally relented only in that she could, with her mother's supervision, help in the clearing of the forest for the new orchard near to where he worked on the wall. His three remaining sons also were at work on the wall. If he had pressing business back in the forge, he knew the girl would be watched.

It was a small boon, but Trix enjoyed the feel of the earth in her hands and the sunshine on her face as each day she worked with the other women on the small tasks of weeding the orchard beds that were being cleared and hoed by the men. 

Life in the village was busy with the new projects after the decision to build walls and become a protected town had been made. Parents soon relaxed and became less vigilant about their young ones as work began to take shape and people began to feel safe again. 

Trix and Opal made an effort every day to talk to Thatcher and Tressa about the loss of their son and their hope that Mason was happy wherever he had gone. They laughed about the trouble the two boys always seemed to run headlong into during their school years and beyond and spoke sadly about both boy's fascination with the artificial power and technology that came from the Technos and their relic hunters.

*****

Sirrus let Talon into his family's apartment surprised to see him. Talon had avoided the apartments of the Falcon family ever since Cloves return. He understood that Wisp blamed him alone for the fate of her daughter. It had only taken days for the family of Tide, the water warrior Talon had killed in a battle of honour, to claim Clove as retribution after viewing the sequence of events on Bay's recording machine.

Clove and Wisp had clung together on the day of parting and had to be separated by the warriors charged with the collection of the warrior woman. Wisp and Clove had wailed and fought the event until it was over and they were out of each other's sight. The horrendous lack of decorum had been the talk of the ruling families throughout the city.

"Sirrus, my friend," Talon greeted the man, "Is your father home? I would like to speak candidly with both of you."

Sirrus was not only stunned by his presence but stunned by his request and stood speechless. His father walking up behind him to greet Talon. "Hello, young Hawk. To what do we owe this pleasure?"

Talon looked around acknowledging his nervousness at being in their home and asked, "Do you perhaps have a Den or an office, as my father does, that we could talk in?"

Gale sensed the boy's nervousness and said magnanimously, "Of course, come this way. Would you like a drink?"

The three men walked to the Den. Wisp, on seeing them pass the room she was in, stood and took a breath to begin a tirade, but Gale raised his hand and his voice, "If you dare to insult a guest of mine you had best be prepared to follow your daughter into exile." Wisp fell to the couch crying, and her husband and son turned their back on her and walked with Talon into the open door of Gale's den.

Talon took a seat in a comfortable armchair, in front of the desk, watching Gale take his place behind it looking uneasy. He had been humiliated by his wife and daughter's behaviour and was unsure of why the young Hawk would be visiting him. Sirrus took a seat beside Talon and tilted his chair slightly askew, so he sat facing them both. "You have heard the news from Lord Zhou and the city council," Talon inquired knowing the elderly Lord Zhou rarely attended council deliberations anymore sending his son who was too respectful to allow any to use his name while his father lived.

Gale hedged, "The most recent council only just concluded we have not convened the Air Clan council as yet."

"The Pegasus mystics have contacted us," Talon said softly knowing that very few believed in the power of mystics any longer. "They have asked for a delegation," he paused, "A quorum, to attend their city."

Gale let out an explosive breath, and Sirrus moved to the edge of his seat in excitement at the idea and its importance. "Do we know what it is about?"

Talon shook his head, "If my father knows he has not divulged that information to me."

"Who will lead?" Sirrus asked his excitement and interest in the politics of the cities showing in his voice. 

"I will," Talon admitted softly not wanting them to think of him as an overblown egotist like some of the warriors they all knew too well. 

Sirrus stood up and paced thinking, "So you can take three from Air Clan, Good that is best. Will they let you choose? Who is on your list?" Sirrus was calculating the political weight this would carry for Air Clan, to have a leader of a quorum. Earth usually led due to their staid unflappable natures.

Talon chuckled at his friend, "Go pace over there. You are making me anxious." He pointed to the far side of the room before turning to Gale. "I need at least one other of noble birth." He swallowed, and Gale stared back at him uncomprehendingly, "Keen and Jag have reputations based on half truths and the sacrifices their teams made for them." 

Gale nodded knowingly, "They are exceedingly impressed with themselves and their parents have much pride. You could do worse than those warriors, though."

"Do you really not know why I am here now?" Talon asked exasperated, "I would like Sirrus to be part of the quorum with Venn and Edge, both warriors of great renown."

Gale was stunned to silence, and Sirrus from came back from his pacing in the corner with a loud expletive, "Fuck me! Are you serious?"

Talon ignored Sirrus his attention on Gale, "This is not out of some sense of regret over Clove. Sirrus proved himself as loyal and trustworthy on our last mission. I would be proud to have him ride with me. He is my choice but..." Talon looked to his friend and back at Gale, "If you and your good wife do not wish the possibility of losing another child in the wilderness, I will not make the announcement."

Gale could see his sons eagerness, but Talon was right, Wisp would go over the edge should anything happen to another of her children. He leaned back in his chair his own pride in his first born son winning out over all other considerations, but he tapped his fingers together pretending to consider the possibility.

"Father!" Sirrus could not bear the silence.

"You truly understand the dangers?" Gale addressed his son, but the burgeoning smile crinkled the edges of his lips. Sirrus nodded vehemently, and Gale let his smile burst forth, "I would be very proud. Of course you must go."

Talon hadn't relaxed as yet and continued to look at Gale rather than his friend. "Do not worry, young Hawk. I will handle my good wife one way or another."

Sirrus smiled widely, his friendship with Talon had been developing slowly and cautiously and even still he could not have expected this honour. "Thank you," Talon returned the smiles he had received and got up from his seat. "I will let you talk it over. We will be leaving in less than two days. Get your bike to Mica as soon as you can."

Talon left the apartments quickly expecting Wisp's reaction to the news to be loud and obnoxious. He had one more piece of unfinished business he needed to attend to before he left and he made his way to the top of the Air Clan tower.

He looked at the rickety, flying fox style contraption and the large magnets that held it in place and would slow his pace as he made his destination. He disliked using the contraption but walking to the water tower could take several hours, so he climbed into the saddle like chair and nodded at the operator who spoke briefly to his counterpart on the other end of the line and the magnets holding him in place let go to make him plummet southward at speed to rival that of his bike. The magnets gripped the chair just prior to his crashing into the wall of the Water Clan Tower. 

Breathing a sigh of relief, Talon alighted and went in search of Eddy or Bay. He wanted to know Clove was being treated well, for the sake of her family before he left. Having found Eddy he walked cautiously through the Water Clan tower enjoying the sight and sound of so many fountains. Surprised at the luxurious apartment he was shown to, Talon greeted the parents of the man he had killed formally and expressed his deep regret for the battle that he and Tide had both been drawn into by the wretch they now held as retribution.

Ebb had nodded his solemn thanks, "The life of a warrior is precarious at best and Tide added to that by his actions. I appreciate the honour you showed him by offering the battle rather than returning in disgrace."

They guided Talon through their apartment to a small room, opening the door with a large key. Talon was surprised by the luxury she was afforded as he took in the room until Clove flew at him with her nails poised to strike him, screeching her hatred. Flow, the mother of Tide, stepped forward and slapped Clove's face raising her own voice, "Will you continue to humiliate my family!"

Clove pinched her lips together and glared at Talon before spitting on his boot, with lightning speed Ebb's hand flashed out and took hold of her hair kicking her feet from below her, "Lick it up you filthy wench." He held her head to Talon's boot as he stood unmoving surprised by her defiance in the face of these people. Of course, she was used to being able to give the orders but surely she understood her predicament. He left thanking the spirits of the air that he had not had to marry Clove. The image of Trix floating into his minds eye once again.

*****

Mica stood with his arm around Mason at a west side window watching the thirteen bikes ride into the darkness with the rising sun touching their backs as they raced it to cover the ground between the city gates and the vast plain beyond the foothills. He kissed his lover and smiled, "Let's go to bed." Together they had worked for forty-eight hours without rest to make new modifications to the four bikes and light armour of the Air warriors. Mica knew he would miss the warriors but having his friend and lover brought from the village had made him happier than he could have imagined, and he turned his back on the window hoping Talon would find time to visit his family one last time before the walls were complete.

The thirteen warriors rode in wedge formation, Talon at the centre and in the lead as they raced for the safety of the vast desert like plain beyond the foothills that surrounded the city. The roar of their bikes was amplified by the number and speed at which they travelled paralleling the sparse forests and small mounds containing the villages of refugees and runaways. The idea of passing the Village that held the woman he loved the following day without being able to see her crushed down on Talon like an anvil but he rode on showing none of his inner turmoil.

Mid afternoon of the second day of travel Edge rode directly at a large rock in their path swerving at the last second and pulling up as the rider behind him appeared to swerve too late the bike sliding sideways and the rider rolling free unharmed. 

Sirrus got up gingerly if anyone was expected to have a fall, it was him. They knew no one would think much of the fall as Sirrus was the most inexperienced and unknown of the quorum. It took some time for the front riders to double back seeing most of the group had lagged behind them. 

"Edge was playing chicken again. Sirrus didn't make the obstacle," Venn grunted and nodded his head toward the trees, "We are stopping to ensure his bike is not damaged." A small smile crept over his face at the bright sparkle that had come into Talon's eyes.

"Fuck! Edge is too reckless for his own good, sometimes," Talon swore at length colouring the air and steered his bike toward the trees. Taking off his helmet in the make shift camp he threw it at Edge and swore again, "Of all the fucking stupid games!" Talon glared at both Edge, and Sirrus, "Are you alright?" Talon said abruptly.

"Yeah," Sirrus said sheepishly, "I'm fine and I think the new side roll bars on the bike saved it from any great damage. Mica is worth his weight in gold you know?"

Talon turned to the rest of the group, "We stay to make sure the bike and the dumbass are not harmed unduly, and ride from dawn into the early evening tomorrow to get there on time." He looked at the warriors, and most nodded in agreement. "I know this area well, there is a large village near by, split up and divide the watch equally. Venn and I will scout for hunters in the forest near the village."

Edge whispered to Sirrus, "I hear they have a princess locked in a tower, in that village," and Sirrus turned back towards his bike to hide his smile. Talon shook his head at his friends. He knew they had done this for him, but the risk involved was high and he wasn't sure he should seek out the elusive unicorn of his dreams. Leaving his bike well hidden within their camp he turned and walked through the wooded areas followed by Venn, "You knew about their plan?" He asked gruffly.

Venn grunted, "I would have preferred to do it on the journey home, but we were not sure when that would be. This mission is scant on details."

"It was not worth the risk," Talon looked ahead and smiled as he saw the edge of the village come into view. "If anything goes wrong the number will be wrong and the mystics will not give us the audience," Talon turned his back on the village and closed his eyes picturing her in the back garden underneath her tree. 

"From what I understand, they need us, not the other way around. They asked us to come with all speed," Venn reasoned as he continued his walk to the village knowing the way as well as Talon, after their last trip.

Together they skirted the village carefully noting that walls were going up around their newly dug well, and the patch of forest they had cleared for their orchard, "It is good they know to protect their food supply first. This village could become a rival for our peasant population if they consolidate their agriculture and knowledge." The five towering buildings of the own city were surrounded by the farmlands and ranchers of the peasant class with a few factory style buildings and silo's dotted between. The majority of the population lived in the high density housing of the towers of the four clans and the central tower known as the vortex where new arrivals and the slave population waited to be assigned to clans or tasks within the city.




Cities of Power Ch. 03



They saw the hulking figure of Spar walk through the builders of the wall helping carry the heavy stone blocks and moved away back around the edge of the structure staying deep in the shadows. Venn reached out and put a hand on Talons arm and pointed. In amongst, the people tending the newly cultivated land, was Trix, smiling and laughing with a group of young women. Talon's heart beat faster at the sight of the girl so close and as in his dreams just out of reach. His eyes bored into her, willing her to look up, and he reached for the small amount of power he possessed and blew a soft gust of whispered air carrying her name directly at her.

He saw her head come up and look around, her eyes travelling over the shadows in the trees looking for any hint of movement and he stepped slightly to the mottled shadows and saw her eyes widen. She wiped her brow and stood up from the group she had been working with, Talon watched as she sought out her mother, the woman also turning her head to the forest briefly and nodding. He smiled at the smooth manoeuvring as Trix began to sag and wilt and Opal approached her husband talking animatedly and finally nodding demurely before turning to another man, clearly younger but almost as burly as her husband.

Opal gathered Trix with an arm around her waist and left the work site with the burly young man following them. Within ten minutes, Trix fled from the rear of her house into the forest as her mother watched from the kitchen window.

*****

It had been weeks since she had last seen Talon when she felt the strange prickle on her skin and the whispery gust of a breeze that carried her name. She had scanned the tree line desperately hoping she hadn't imagined it when she caught his movement. Her heart thumped in her chest, and she trembled with excitement, trying not to jump around and draw attention to herself she located her mother and whispered quietly in her ear the urgent need to return home, "Oh you poor dear," her mother had said loudly, "I really should take you home." Opal excused herself from her group and, after a minor disagreement with Spar over his daughter's health, he agreed as long as she took Flint with her so he could check the forge fires and do some mending work for Shaylee while he was there. 

As they walked into the house Opal smiled at her children, "Flint, go check the forge fires and I will get you a snack and a drink. Trix, you go lie down I will come check on you in a few minutes, once I have gotten Flints snack." Flint walked into the forge, and Opal grabbed her daughter in a tight hug whispering, "Do not be long you understand? You must promise to come back through your window. You will come back, won't you? Promise me," Opal's voice rose higher in her anxiety.

"Yes, mother," Trix whispered and fled from the house.

Flint the quietest of the brothers was aware that something was amiss as his mother and Trix almost ran home from the wall. He had stood at the door to the forge a few moments before creeping back inside. He had listened and watched as Trix fled the house before turning to his mother and quietly murmuring, "I think you better let me in on the secret, don't you?"

Opal clasped her hand to her mouth and turned to the back door knowing it was too late to stop Trix, then she turned back to look at her troubled son. Flint, the most quiet and thoughtful of her boys. She had to trust him with the whole truth now, and she hoped he would understand why she had kept the secret. Opal took Flint's hand and guided him to Trix's room, sitting him on the low stool before the small chest of drawers. Opal pulled out the bottom drawer and rested it on the floor before putting her hand in to retrieve both of their letters from Mica from the bottom of the chest.

"The messenger from the city, who brought the letter from Mica to your father, is here," she said carefully, "It wasn't a priest, it was a warrior." Flint said nothing taking in the information as his mother stood up after replacing the drawer. "We should have destroyed these, but, I miss him so," Opal felt her eyes mist with tears once again. Here, she thrust the letters at him, "They will help you understand our secret. Read quickly, your father will be expecting the forge to be roaring. I will get you the snack I promised," Opal left the room closing the door quietly. 

When she returned some small time later, Flint was bunching clothes and cushions into Trix's bed making it look as if she lay sleeping curled up. "I knew he would be happy there," Flint's bottom lip trembled showing he was barely holding his own tears back at the loss of his brother, "You think the messenger will bring word of Mason too?"

"Yes," Opal embraced him, "We know Mason is with Mica. Talon came back for him as a favour to Mica. They were heartsick without each other." Opal whispered as they walked from the room closing the door behind them. 

Flint look toward the back of the house, "You are sure she is safe?" Flint spoke low and soft watching his mother nod. "I will not betray your secret, but you need to be more careful because now I will bear the guilt as well if anything befalls our Trix." 

He turned back to the forge a troubled look on his face and Opal worriedly watched the tree line for signs of her daughter.

*****

Trix flew into the trees and into Talons arms. She tilted her face up accepting with absolute pleasure his kisses, before finally pulling back to look at him. She blushed, and Talon grinned while Venn cleared his throat. "Hello, Princess," Venn smirked, his worn face creasing with his half smile. "I have greetings from Mica and Mason," His hand went into the jacket he wore, and he pulled forth several envelopes.

Trix gasped and looked at Talon who released her momentarily. "Thank you so much. You have no idea what Mason's disappearance has done to the town," she whispered, "The wall grows higher and longer every day. Rock is beside himself." She looked at their uncomprehending faces, "Mason's father, Rock." She watched them grin and realised they were teasing her.

Trix stuffed the letters into her coat pocket deeply without looking at them. Looking back up at Talon, she smiled, "I have missed you greatly, which is strange since I hardly know you." Talon kissed her deeply again, and when he released her Venn was gone. "I think I have a little time today to get to know you better," she looked back nervously over her shoulder knowing Opal would protect her for a little while at least. Talon had smiled and taken her mouth again in sweet deep kisses before she could say anymore, pulling her body against his.

"I have missed you," he murmured in her ear, "not strangely, not intermittently but always. Your face is always on my mind, but it has never been as perfect as it is at this moment." He kissed her deeply and passionately his hands stroking down over her small body. "You have bewitched me. I dream about you every night. I want you so badly," he murmured hotly into the kisses.

Trix's mind fluttered briefly to her mother and the promise she made before leaving the house, but he forestalled any words she had. "I am on another mission, but I will come to claim you. You are mine. Tell me you are mine." His voice held and edge and his eyes stared into hers demanding an answer.

"I love you," Trix whispered, "For now, and for always, my heart belongs to you."

Talon leaned back against a tree and pulled her with him, his hands ran down her back and cupped her ass pulling her against his hardening manhood, and he groaned into the kiss they shared. Trix had four older brothers, she was not naïve as to what they held in their pants, but her eyes widened at his proof of desire for her and pressed against him harder knowing that she wanted to be his one and only as much as he wanted her. 

Sinking back against the tree Talon dragged her down to the soft leafy carpeted forest floor and pushed her tank top up over her breasts his hands moulding the soft flesh as he continued to kiss her. Trix ran her hands down his back to his ass pulling him closer against her. Their voices whispered over the top of each other...

"We can't," she appealed.

"We shouldn't," he whispered.

"We can't be together yet."

"I am on a mission," Talon said.

"I am not ready to leave," Trix replied.

"I love you," he said, kissing her full lips.

"Want you," she said, returning the kiss.

"Need you," he mumbled around her tongue.

"Love you," she completed.

Somewhere in their impassioned words, Talon ripped her underwear from her rolling onto her body. His pants were around his knees when he entered her slowly feeling the resistance of her virginity and swallowing her cries with his kisses as he thrust forward, taking her innocence and love as his own. Trix wrapped her legs around his waist welcoming him into her as she grimaced against the pain. Tears spilled from her eyes showing both the joy and the sadness she felt as he began moving within her. 

It seemed too soon when he stiffened trying to hold back his flood, reaching his hand down to find the hard little nub he knew in his limited experience, and the salacious talk amongst the warriors; was the key to her pleasure and rubbed gently feeling her shake below him. His mouth continued to take her cries and moans as they moved together. Feeling her quiver almost uncontrollably below him, Talon finally released his pent up need and flooded Trix with proof of his vigour. "Are you in pain?" He whispered seriously as he pulled from her.

Trix shook her head, but tears stung her eyes, and she didn't know why. She wanted what had happened as much as he did, she did not regret one moment of their love making.

Talon held her closely, savouring the feel of her for long minutes, "I will come for you," he whispered, "You will be ready, next time."

Breathless, Trix nodded, "I will see you again."

Helping her to her feet he kissed her and helped her straighten her clothes while adjusting his own and pulling her once again into his arms to kiss her. When she finally looked around she saw that the sun was low on the horizon, and she gasped, "I should have returned already." 

"You were exactly where you should have been," Talon smirked and kissed her once more. "Are you sure you are okay, not in pain or harmed in anyway?" 

Trix looked up and stroked his cheek, "I am wonderful. Are you able to return tomorrow for a letter in return?" 

"No, we must leave before dawn." He kissed her, "but I will return for you, as soon as possible."

She turned and moved back to the edge of the forest scanning the house for her parents and brothers. Trix squeezed Talon's hand before finally letting go and whispering, "I will see you again." 

She moved quickly across the yard to her window climbing in quietly. Her pussy ached, and she felt the discomfort of what she had just done. She noticed the bed and the lumpy form that had been created to resemble her sleeping form and she smiled. She put the items away and began cleaning her thighs and tender pussy as best she could without a pitcher and basin. She slipped on new underwear and finally she sat and pulled out the letters she had been given. Mason had written to his parents, Trix was glad about that. There were two letters from Mica, one to the family and one to her. She clutched the envelopes knowing how upset her mother would be not to receive one of her own.

Opal opened the door to Trix's room having finished the dumplings she had been working on in the kitchen as she watched her daughter return from the forest and washed her hands hoping her daughter would come to see her but unable to wait any long she had gone in search of Trix. "What took so long...?" Opal started to ask when she took in her daughters flushed features and the way she gingerly sat on the edge of the bed. 

"Oh no," her eyes went wide. "He took advantage of you! We shouldn't have trusted him. Come with me quickly!" Opal dragged her speechless daughter from her room and banged on the door of the forge. "Flint, heat me a caldron of water. Trix has a fever and needs a bath." Opal pulled her along to the wet room of the house. Trix moved like an automaton totally confused by her mother's reaction as Opal pulled open the pipe from the water tank and half filled the old metal tub that served as a bath.

Flint came in looking concerned the roaring forge taking no time to heat the water he poured it into the tub. He looked silently between the two women and left. "In, and wash the evidence away," Opal directed sternly, realising her daughter had no tears or words of regret and sadness. "I will be back in a moment." Opal bustled to the kitchen and found the piping bag she never used for cooking. Returning to the bathroom she looked at Trix, so small and delicate but very much a young woman. "No daughter of mine will have her reputation put in jeopardy by letting some thief in the night promise her the world and leave her with a swollen belly. How could you be so stupid, Trix?"

Trix had no words. She was stunned that her mother could tell and a baby? She hadn't thought about a baby. Opal filled up the piping bag and held the nozzle describing in detail what her daughter must do to ensure, as much as possible, that there would be no baby. Trix douched herself thoroughly all the joy she felt from being in Talon's arms draining from her, and she began to cry, whispering, "But I love him."

Silently, Flint turned from the closed door to the wet room guilt and rage burning from within.

*****

Within the shadows of the trees Talon had been so filled with love and pure joy that he had not seen nor heard the warrior woman who had watched all that had occurred from a nearby tree, a look of pure hatred on her face.



Cities of Power Ch. 04



The thirteen bikes roared to life as the first rays of the sun touched the horizon. Talon led the way out onto the plain his mind firmly on the mission and its completion. He had stolen back to the home of Trix in the small hours of the morning to check on her and to leave her the gift he had brought to give her should he have the opportunity to see her on this mission. Taken over entirely by the feel of the young woman in his arms he had forgotten its existence until he returned to camp. Mica had created the jewelled unicorn for him with exquisite delicacy, and he wanted Trix to have it as well as the small packet of seeds Mason and Mica had collected for their village.

Trix had clung to him through the window and begged him to stay. He in turn promised to return for her as soon as the mission reached it completion. She filled his mind and his world, and he knew that should she return to Phoenix with him he would happily take his place within the council and settle down to ensure the future generations of his family and clan. The thought gave him a sense of urgency as they set out across the vast plain again. The warriors rode hard barely stopping for food at the highest point of the sun before Talon had remounted and called them all back to the ride ahead.

The last rays of the sun were sliding beyond the horizon when the gates of Pegasus were opened to them, and they rode through the small inner bailey of the castle style city. Talon knew through his education that each of the healing disciplines wore different colours, but he had not paid enough attention to know which class in the cities hierarchy had been sent to meet them. They followed the red robed healers through the maze like castle to a large vaulted room with several fireplaces burning along each side to add warmth to its stone walls.

The heavy boots of the thirteen warriors sounded loudly in the vaulted room as the marched as one to greet the seven rulers of this city. Talon went to one knee ceremonially and held out his empty hands in the traditional greeting of peace when entering a neighbouring city. 

"Be welcome children of the Phoenix," Intoned an elder woman in green.

"We bring greeting from the Great Lord Zhou and our clan leaders," Talon said formally handing over a scroll and stepping back to his place at the forefront of the thirteen. The woman briefly scanned the scroll and looked up. 

"We thank you for heeding our summons and give you a short time to rest, should you need the healing hands of our people ask and you shall receive," the woman clapped her hands and once again a small group of red robed healers approached the group to lead them to their rooms.

"The rest would be appreciated after a long ride. We shall be at your service during our brief stay," Talon responded, turning to follow his fellow warriors from the room hoping he put enough stress on the words to expedite the sharing of their Mystics concerns and reason their reason for summoning the warriors.

An hour later, Edge wandered into Talons room exclaiming, "How does the food here taste so much better than at home? We have the same fruits, yet these, he held two peaches in one hand, are succulent!" Reiki healers had massaged their tired bodies as fresh fruits and cheeses were brought in on platters by soft spoken servants. Talon had shrugged off the healing hands sometime ago and sent a servant to find his three friends. He felt fully restored and while grateful for the marvel that was the healer's gift, he was anxious to find the answers he came for and return home, "With Trix," he thought to himself and the healers could not take that anxiousness from him.

The four men sat in a small room alternating between speculating on when they would be summoned, why they were here and teasing Talon on his anxiousness to get back to the princess. It was another full hour before they were called to the hall of mystics. Rather than the thirteen warriors though they asked that only one representative from each clan attend them as well as their leader. 

So it was that Talon and Sirrus along with Briny, Glow and Kaolin approached the group of Pegasus leaders and mystics. "Well met, young hawk," an ancient seeming mystic greeted the party, "Please sit and be welcome."

They each took a seat around the oblong table separated from each other by at least one member of healers. Discomfort with separation was clear on the faces of the warriors who from the earliest of ages were taught of safety in numbers. It was clear that they had been separated purposefully and while respectful of their hosts' customs Talon was on the verge of speaking to the matter when the ancient woman addressed them again.

"We thank you all for coming so swiftly to our call; I will not beat around the bush and I ask you to take what I say and give it the full consideration of the night, until we reconvene in the morning, before making your comments and decisions," She paused and continued. "We are more pragmatic than legend would have you believe and we have real facts and eyewitnesses to back up out claim that a disease once eradicated from the face of the world has returned again to those wanderers of the void beyond our territories. Red Plague has reached our ends of the earth and recent accounts have been brought back from the void that tells us it is spreading virulently through each community it touches.

I am sure you and the leaders in your city will be as concerned as we, but there is hope. The disease was once eradicated from the world by inoculation before the cataclysmic wars and their reshaping of our world. It is our hope that more information about how this was achieved lays buried in the void," there was surprise on the faces of the warriors at this. "We deal with the treasure hunters as we need much the same as the people of your cities do, but rather than technology and innovation we have always sought knowledge of the past to learn from it and not make similar mistakes."

"We have over time, in our dealings with treasure hunters reasoned the location of a buried and preserved section of a university our elders once resided in," she was tiring as she came to the end of her carefully prepared speech for the sharing of information. "We can give detailed maps and the services of some brave seers but you, the children's of Phoenix, only you have the means to get there and the bravery to undertake the journey."

Sirrus, the scholar and politician among them, spoke up, "I understand we are in your home, and we are very respectful of that point; however we must be allowed to ask questions that will affect our decisions and thought processes." Talon knew if his friend could be pacing, he would be as he worked his way through all of what the elder had said.

"You may ask young falcon but we may also choose whether to answer now or in the morning, agreed?" the leader of the City dresses in blue robes responded.

"Agreed, I understand the morning when everyone is refreshed is the time for debate but I feel I have need to ask the pertinent questions," Sirrus was thoughtful and polite but he would not be dissuaded. "Have the men of Gryphon been similarly summoned and given the same information?" For some reason, it was important to him that the Techno's had been informed first.

"They will not come to a summons from a woman they have asked that we send our delegation to them," The blue robed leader shook his head sadly, "We are not gifted in the modes of transport as you so it will take some time for us to impart the message."

"Our technology may be able to help you with that, Maester," Sirrus used the archaic term for teacher, "But that is a discussion for the morning."

"My friend and colleague is a lover of knowledge like yourselves, and I am sure he has many more questions he would believe to be pertinent to the moment; however, I want to speak plainly and clear away any doubt that I or my party might hold about what you are asking of us," Talon stood looking to Sirrus, who sat his expression thoughtful. 

"You want us to return to Phoenix and persuade our leaders that we should send our best warriors into the void to seek out a long forgotten store of knowledge in the hope, not surety, but hope, that some information still remains about this disease that our ancestors eradicated," he glanced around the table at his team as well as the leaders, "Do I understand the request?"

"You do," the ancient Mystic nodded. 

"Then what more is there to be discussed? We should leave in the morning and ride with haste to deliver your request," Talon turned as if to leave the room. 

"Young hawk," a soft spoken purple robed man addressed him causing him to turn back to the group. "Perhaps I can help ease your mind about the elusive unicorn you seek and lessen your rush to leave our walls before we have imparted all of what we know." The young man smiled benignly, "You have now the crux of the situation to think over as you rest through the night, but you must know the whole scope of the threat before you dismiss it as merely another battle to be fought or won. I will be at your service should you wish to know more of your unicorn, at a later time."

Talon was startled but remained stony faced. "If you could give us a communal room where we can inform our team of what has occurred this evening we would appreciate it. I will discuss the need to stay an extra day with them, but I feel they will be as eager as I to depart." He turned then to the purple robed leader, "You may seek me out at a time convenient to you to tell me of this unicorn."

The rest of the techno's stood as one and followed Talon from the room. In truth, he was tired of the words within words and hints of mystery and more. He spoke plainly and expected the same courtesy from those he dealt with. Sirrus was the politician amongst the group of warriors and had shown himself worthy of being amongst the group tonight by being the first to speak when the healers had wanted nothing more than to include them in their own concerns.

The thirteen warriors lounged in the comfortably furnished salon as Talon allowed Sirrus to take the lead in their deliberations. This was the man's strength; he could see through the pretty words to the truth of the matter and could see that there was more to the situation than met the eye or ears of the others. He encouraged Talon to meet with the purple robed leader as he may have information he would be willing to divulge privately rather than before the other leaders.

Talon found the in depth discussions of his companions tiresome as they talked in circles, he was more a man of action and he found himself grateful when the soft knock announced the arrival of the purple robed healer who suggested a walk along the ramparts to view the night sky as they spoke.

Talon guarded his thoughts as he walked in silence with the man ascending several staircases before they reached the final floor of the tower and stepped out onto the rampart. They had walked a small way before Talon asked with genuine interest, "What do you know of my unicorn?"

"She dances always just out of your reach which is why you think of her so, almost mythical in her beauty and innocence she has ensnared you young hawk," his voice was soft and melodic and Talon felt the tell tale tingle in his mind as the mystic attempted to discover his thoughts. Most would not have even been aware but his small amount of power from the air that gave him an elemental awareness of the changes in the forces of nature. While mystics held a different type of power, the tingling was still present.

"I know you are searching my thoughts," Talon challenged the man, "Do you have a premonition of my future life or shall you tell me what I already know and confirm that the mystics are only powerful in legends told to children while at school."

If the man was surprised he didn't show it, instead he looked up to the sky. "A comet is a rare sight you must agree and portends something momentous is occurring in the lives of men. Over centuries, they have been revered and documented along with prophecy."

"I am the keeper of my own fate, the mystics can keep their prophecy and potions and powers of sight. I believe in what I can see and touch and hear. I do not believe the tale we heard downstairs tonight and I wonder why we were called for and why you wish to delay us for yet another day from our mission if it is so urgent. Perhaps you have underestimated us. Pegasus is not the only city to revere knowledge and science." This time, the healer, did look surprised, but it was more a look of chagrin Talon realised as if he had been caught out in a lie. "Perhaps you should tell me why we are truly here," Talon suggested.

"It was a comet such as the one we see tonight that led our ancestors to seek out these lands and these people and form our new world order in the chaos that was left after the cataclysm. It is said that all three of the leaders dreamt of each other and the place in which they would meet. They gathered those closest to them and travelled to that place, so strong was the pull of their dreams. When they met they dreamed of what could be and how to lead their chosen people here, creating what we have today," the man looked out over the ramparts into the city and smiled. 

"I am not disputing the wisdom of our ancestors for bringing us here," Talon said simply, "Only that the mystics have more at play than they are saying with their pretty words and riddles. If the red plague is truly upon us, surely you would not want the delay of another day."

"The reappearance of the comet is troubling and dreamers have been sharing the same dreams once again. It is important that you are here at this moment, though we are not sure if it is you or one of your companions bears the comet's mark." Talon still looked expressionless, and his mind was now closed to the man. "They dream of a jewelled unicorn in addition to a young hawk," he offered to see if it made an impression.

Talon flinched involuntarily but said nothing, his thoughts firmly on the picture of a unicorn rather than the image of the girl herself. "You are fishing for information now. Maybe your mystics truly are only the stuff of legend after all. Your parlour tricks and pretence at friendship are lost on me. Speak straight what is it you wish to learn, I will not play your word games?" In truth, he was disappointed to learn that the mystics were not as powerful as he had been taught. The elemental powers of his own city's clans seemed to appear sporadically at best in the newer generations and had diminished in intensity over time, perhaps it had been the same with the mystics.

"I had hoped to discover your unicorn, who is it that dances out of your reach, young hawk?" he asked. 

"My betrothed betrayed me. She now belongs to the family of the man killed in a battle of honour over her," Talon said softly. Instinct told him to protect the girl he thought of as his unicorn, but he kept his mind closed concentrating only on what he was telling the man beside him. "If you wish to know more of her you would perhaps be best to ask the warriors that are here from the water clans. An image flashed into his mind of his friend, Sirrus, being asked similar questions and the thought worried him. 

"I have no further answers and the night grows late. We shall be leaving in the morning, but we will deliver the messages you wish to our council. If you would show me the way back it would be appreciated," Talon said abruptly ending the conversation as if wounded by the thoughts of the betrayal.

"Certainly," the man nodded and led the way back through the descending staircases to the rooms they had been assigned. 

Talon found his companions in the room he had left them. Closing the door behind him, he asked, "Any other visitors tonight?"

"Just one who wished to talk to Sirrus," Bay rumbled in his deep baritone, "We were in the middle of a heated debate over whether we would allow them the use of my recording machine, so I declined on his behalf." There was a crooked smile on Bay's broad face, and Talon realised the hulking water warrior was suspicious of the motives for this quorum, as well.

"I suggest we stay here tonight and sack out as we would on the road, something is not right about this mission and we need to be watching each others backs, no one goes out alone, stay with your clan members at the very least," Talon looked around at the twelve other members of his quorum.

"I for one am going to sleep in a bed," Briny announced moving towards the door of the room.

"If you wish princess," Eddy growled, "But Bay and I will carry it in here for you so you can enjoy the companionship of being part of this quorum."

Talon raised an eyebrow realising there were issues between the members of the water clan.

"What a great idea!" Blaze turned to her fire clan companions and batted her eyelashes, "Please, guys, I would kill for even a mattress to sleep on." The two men shrugged and nodded not seeming to be bothered by the request.

"The women can use the bathroom first; its been a long ride and the hour grows late, stay together and take two of the men with you to stand guard," Talon started issuing orders, "Best to be over cautious than regretful." He added as he saw a couple of the warrior's look at him with unease. "If you feel a tingle to your scalp try to close your mind, think of the night sky or the sea something you can use as a blanket, we all learned this at school I don't have to tell you, I know, but they continue to try and read me because they are not as good at it as legend would hold."

There was chatter amongst the clans as they gathered their packs and rolled out their blankets. Talon pulled Sirrus to the side and motion him look out the window turning his back to the room. "Your agile mind makes you their best target for the information they seek, if you are in a situation where they ask questions of our acquaintances keep your sister foremost in your mind, as my betrothed and my betrayer. They seek someone or something related to someone in the group, they asked about my unicorn more than once, Clove is that unicorn, she is out of my reach and out of my life," Talon explained carefully not daring to mention even in passing his love for another, and he relaxed as Sirrus nodded his understanding and asked nothing more. As if by unspoken agreement, the four clans took their turns at watch during the night realising something bigger and more sinister than the reason they had been given, was behind this mission.

******

It was with more than a little surprise that Trix listened as her mother explained that she was still not well enough to go to the orchard and that the two women would stay home today. She looked down at her breakfast plate not daring to show her face to her father's scrutiny. Spar grunted his assent and Flint quickly volunteered to stay home and run the forge to catch up on the work that had built up while they had all worked on the wall.

Spar farewelled his family as he and two of his four sons went to work on the wall. His mind as always filled with the community that he led and protecting them from the cruel world beyond their small village. Within the house, it was his wife Opal, whose mind was firmly on keeping her children safe and protected, and she worried about her daughter, seduced and bedded by a techno warrior, her innocence gone and though Trix assured her mother that the warrior would return for her, that they were in love, Opal knew better and her heart broke for her only daughter.

Flint went to stoke and bring the forge to roaring life as the two women cleared the table and cleaned the breakfast dishes. Opal said nothing as she considered how she would say what needed to be said to her daughter and Trix felt the tension emanating from her mother believing her still distressed by the events of the evening before.




Cities of Power Ch. 04



Turning her worried look on Trix, Opal steeled herself to speak quietly and calmly, not wanting another scene like that of yesterday. It had taken great time to explain away the extra mid-week bath they all enjoyed to her husband when water was a scarcity even with the new well. Even the discussion of 'women's issues' had not taken his temper away.

"You must be vigilant now," Opal began watching her daughters face turning to a confused frown. "What happened yesterday and what we did after, it is not foolproof; you must tell me immediately if your breasts swell and ache even a little. You must tell me if you become queasy and cannot keep food down, in the mornings particularly. You must be aware and tell me of any changes. Do you understand?" Opal's voice had taken on a sense of urgency.

"Yes, Mother," the words from the tirade her mother had been on yesterday still rung in her ears.

"I am going to see Shaylee and Gaylan this morning, I want you to stay here with Flint and do some washing for me. I will tell him to heat some water to add to that still in the wash tub. I promised your father we would not waste it," Opal turned back to the dishes that she sponged clean before going to her room to gather the few small items she had for trade. She did not wish to barter with forged materials for what she wanted from the baker and her husband.

"My sweet girl," Opal hugged Trix to her before leaving the house, "I should have better prepared you for all of this but how was I to know you would be taken in by a techno bandit." She sighed and released to the girl, "Now do as I have said I won't be back for a while."

Trix gathered the pile of washing her mother has left for her and took it to the wash house. They were luckier than most of the poor village people. Having one of the few forges in the free villages meant that they were well stocked with soaps and cleaners as well as food and other items needed for comfortable living. While Spar would have frowned at the term, they were in comparison to other villagers quite wealthy. 

Washing was a hard physical task, but one that required no thought and she let her mind drift to her love for talon and her mother's assertion that he had gotten what he wanted from her that he would not return. Tears sprang to her eyes as she lost herself in dark warnings of her mother, to have a child and no husband would be the worse disgrace she could impose of her rigid father; she would be sent away or worse, she swallowed hard not wanting to imagine being married off to some fawning sycophant of her father's choosing.

Flint came in with a boiling caldron and yelling a warning dumped it into the wash tub. Seeing her tear streaked face Flint gathered her into his arms and hugged her tightly. "Hey, it's not as bad as all that. We all make mistakes; we have to so we learn as father would say." Flint gave her a half smile.

"What if it's worse, what if..." she broke down and cried whole-heartedly then. 

Flint loved his little sister immensely. The girls of the village only confused him with their giggles and games. Trix he knew and understood. He was disappointed and in a strange way jealous that she had fallen for a techno bandit and let him take advantage of her, but it was not the end of the world as she seemed to believe it was. He stroked her hair and let her cry into his chest, "The only thing that could be worse is if you had gone with him. I already miss Mica I could not have borne losing you too."

It had always been Mica who had been her confidante and friend, Flint was the quiet brother whose strong presence was always there just hovering out of reach yet here he was comforting her as if they had always had a special closeness. Flints twin had always overshadowed him with is gregarious nature and teasing ways that as is often the case they had become one in eh same in Trix's mind as Flint was so quiet he allowed; Emery to speak for him more often than not. Her three oldest brothers had always seemed so inaccessible to Trix, but she had trailed around after Mica as much as he would let her and like Flint she had to admit she missed him dearly.

"Why don't you finish the washing and come keep me company in the forge? You can tell me all about this guy who sweet talked you into making mistakes," Flint teased. 

"Okay," She nodded dashing away the tears that still clung to her cheeks with the back of her hand. "I'll make us some lunch, it should take me that long to do it all.

"Good, I am starving," Flint grinned.

"But you just had breakfast!" Trix was aghast. 

"What can I say I am a growing boy. Probably more around the middle than anywhere else these days but still..." he chuckled, and Trix burst out laughing. Happy to hear her laugh again Flint went back to his forge and left her to her chores. As Trix worked hard within the steamy wash house, Opal sat with five other village members in a small house that joined the bake house of Shaylee and her husband, Gaylan. Like her, each of the people within their small group had once belonged to the city of Pegasus. When Opal had met Spar, her husband, so many years ago he had thought her a servant, a handmaid to the woman she was with. In fact that wasn't quite the case, Opal had been a free woman of the Seers guild, her gift was not strong and as such many of the stronger seers looked down upon her and treated her with indifference, and this is what Spar saw and made his assumption. 

Gaylan too had been a Seer but had fallen in love with a woman from the peasant class, Shaylee; they had had to leave the city for their love to be allowed to bloom. Jace and his wife, Elita, sat quietly with their son, Jason all three were healers having left the city for their own reasons which they had not divulged. 

"I have dreamed for weeks of a jewelled unicorn," Opal stated, "and a black hawk and a flame that licks at them as if to engulf them but seems to be held back by an unseen force." She tried to put her dream into words for the group. 

"The mystics dream it too," Jason said softly, making his parents gasp. He turned to them then, "Have you truly never told any of these people what I am and that you left Pegasus so that I could be free rather than locked within the mystics enclave never to see you again." He shook his head, "After all this time you must trust these people, I can help them for good or for ill."

Opal looked in shock at the young man who would have been not much older than Trix and saw in him the maturity of one beyond his tender years. "The mystics have the dream?"

Gaylan held up his hands, "If you can know of them and what they think, do they not know of your thoughts too?"

"They do but cannot pinpoint my whereabouts. I have learned to surround my mind in mist when I open it to them. As a child it was like a game of hide and seek, I have become very good at it," he grinned. 

"It will not be a game if they come for you and in turn us," not given to bouts of rage, Gaylan instead let his disappointment show.

"I believe they like the glimpse of village life I afford them. It gives them an insight into the countryside and its peoples, do not be alarmed they have no means of getting here even were they to locate us," Jason said with the cocky arrogance of youth. 

"Tell us what you know of this dream, and be quick about it, we each now need to decide for ourselves whether to go or stay in this village," Gaylan muttered and Shaylee let out a small cry at the thought of leaving this village and the life they had made here.

"They seek the black hawk of the air and the elusive jewelled unicorn he covets," Jason was clearly rocked by the groups reaction he had thought they would be happy that they had a great mystic with them. "It was prophesised some twenty years ago on the birth of a star that it would come to pass that the hawk and the unicorn would change the face of the world once more. They have located the black hawk they believe. Now they seek his jewelled unicorn before he beds her and creates a child of genesis."

"Charcoal and paper," Opal asked Shaylee urgently. Given the materials she quickly sketched the brooch given to her daughter by Talon the night before and held it up to the boy. "This is my dream is this what they seek?"

The boy studied it, "I believe it could be, it is a filigreed coat with red, blue, green and white jewels here and here, hence its name."

Opal paled dramatically. "I need the full prophecy can you find it for me, write it down?"

Jason was a little frightened by the wild look in the woman's eyes but nodded despite his parent's protests. His eyes went blank, and Opal turned to the others once he was gone from them into the mist of the mystics, "A storm is about to descend on us my friends, and she pointed to the drawing and then nodded letting them know she knew who the unicorn was before closing her eyes in grief for her only daughter. 

The catatonic Jason suddenly began to move his hands, and words were scrawled onto the paper despite the unnerving stare that showed only the whites of his eyes. When he finally roused himself he smiled and reported that he had encountered no other minds as they were all busy seeking out the flight of the hawks allies. The prophecy read:

Flight of hawks travel swift and true Flight of unicorn and peril ensue Flight of elements no equal share Fly four, fly three, water, earth, fire, air

Come roaring, goring, warring beasts Come set the stage for carrion feasts Come beat your chest and shout your ire Could fate but wait for one man's desire

Desire the moon, the stars at night Desire the comet radiant bright Desire the unicorn by stars bejewelled Dancing elusive beast, so easily fooled

Break upon the walls of lowly man's power Break upon the stones of crumbled tower Break upon the shores of crystal clear lake Big men march and the earth does quake

Son of the hammer, son of the jewel Son of the end will stand to rule Son of the people, son of the light Sovereign rule, by day, by night.

Opal was wide eyed. War was coming whether they liked it or not. The hawk had found his unicorn, and there was little anyone could do about that. She resolved to protect her daughter no matter what, but a village meeting was needed immediately to put things in place against the coming of the darkness. The walls of lowly men had to be the walls Spar worked on now. How soon would they be finished she wondered, with all of the new arrivals and the workforce available surely it would not be long. That would mean she had limited time to plan. She needed to plan. There had to be a way to protect Trix and her baby. The thought stopped her in her tracks. A baby. The girl was barely more than a baby herself.

Elita spoke into the silence nervously, "We thought it was us and our son. I am of the house unicorn, and Jason was born at the time of the prophecy. Jace is not a hawk though, we had thought the meaning might be hidden to us. Jason assures us though that they have found the hawk they seek. So we do not believe this village is in danger any longer." She was looking directly at Opal, who sat pale and trembling. 

"Of course you're right," Opal said in a shaky voice. "The strongest of mystics will be able to read your mind Jason, and while I cannot thank you enough for your help in answering my questions I must ask you to guard yourself against the tingling feeling of your scalp in case they try to read your waking thoughts."

Understanding blossomed on his face, and he smiled, "Do I smell pastries out there Shaylee? I am starving and might just sneak a peek at what you have on offer today." He stood and grinned at Shaylee, who flicked her apron at him.

"Come on then rapscallion, let's get you a sweet treat then," She laughed and followed him out into the bakery.

Gaylan looked at Opal with serious eyes, "You need help, and Spar cares more for the community than his own family at the moment it seems. He does it for his family as well I understand but he seems to be taking the role of father to us all lately."

"Yes, I need your help," Opal said softly. These people were her closest friends, and she trusted them. She had to trust someone because she would have to think carefully about how best to protect her daughter. "The elusive unicorn lives within the village known to us all, but in another guise. I fear the child of prophecy already grows within her belly." 

"Come then," Gaylan said quickly taking Opal's hand, "We shall talk again tonight, Elita and Jace. It will take all of us to protect our world as we know it, here in this small village." He looked meaningfully toward the bakery and their son as he said it. Picking up the parchment the boy had written on he walked with Opal out into the bakery to farewell Shaylee and then into the bright midday sun.

Arriving home Opal found Trix eating lunch in the forge with Flint. She smiled at Flint, her quiet child had always kept a watchful eye over his sister from the time she had been born. Amazed by the tiny squalling bundle, he had vowed at the age of six, to be her protector. 

"I'm home Trix, and I have brought Gaylan with me, come talk with me," Opal said lightly. Flint looked up at the doorway and furrowed his brow. He picked up his plate and made to follow his sister. "I don't suppose asking you to stay here wouldn't work any better than last time?" Opal sighed at her son who merely grinned at her.

Throwing her hands up into the air she turned and left the forge expecting both her children to follow her. They sat at the kitchen table, and Gaylan reached out to hold both Trix and Opals hands. He closed his eyes and focused on the pathways before him as Opal spoke to her daughter of futures and how a small drop of water in a pool can cause ripples that would expand out to the edges unless disturbed by a second drop that would distort the first. 

Flint could see the confusion and anxiety fill his sister's face and reached under the table to take her other hand to let her know she wasn't alone. He found that she was clutching something hard within it though and looking down he saw a beautiful broach in the shape of a unicorn. Puzzled he looked at her but she was focused on her mother's words.

They talked for what seemed to Trix to be a lifetime about how the men and women of Pegasus often sought to discover their future pathways and change them for the better. She explained she had been experiencing powerful dreams since the first letter from Mica arrived, and she sought to change her daughter's destiny.

Gaylan eventually spoke, he was clearly exhausted by his seeking of pathways, "There are so many paths but they all must meet at the same junctures. A war is coming, and the fates have ensured Spar is prepared. He is the puppet of the fates now. If Trix stays in the village, Spars sense of righteousness will force him to hand her to the men of Justice should they come for her," He made sure Opal understood this was not something they could change. 

"She must leave then," Opal whispered appalled at her own words.

"The hell she will!" Flint exploded.

"Calm down boy," Gaylan roared, "show your mother the respect she is due." Trix sat wide-eyed saying nothing as those around her decided her fate. Gaylan turned to her then and in a kind voice said, "You are a magical unicorn; your destiny cannot be that of a mundane village girl. I wish only to keep you safe from harm, the best way I know how, do you understand?"

Prising her hand from Flint's, Trix lifted it to the table and slowly uncurled her fingers revealing the unicorn. "I was given this by someone I love very much," she whispered.

"May I?" Gaylan asked and at her nod; he enclosed her hand with his holding the brooch between their palms. Once again his mind flashed and raced down the pathways of the girl's life searching for a peaceful end to the war he saw at the end of every pathway. Somehow this innocent seeming girl would be the catalyst for war. Her best hope for a future of any kind was to leave the village with her brother, Flint. He studied the young man, tall and strong like his father, he had a temper and a keen sense of justice like him as well but he was also thoughtful and considerate of the women in his family. In truth, Gaylan liked the young man and knew the village would suffer without him but he felt after searching the pathways for so long that he was her best chance for survival.

Should she die the war would still inevitably come as the fates had set the prophecy in motion all he could do now was warn the village and try to protect the girl that seemed to be the at the heart of the coming storm and her family's separation. 

"You are with child," he said softly, "and though your lover may return for you in time it will not be soon enough. You must leave the village if you want to protect your baby and the man who would be the father." Opal had begun to cry softly and shocked to the core Trix sat in wide-eyed terror. "I will accompany her, Opal, though it breaks my heart to leave Shaylee," Gaylan said sadly. "I will let no harm come to her, you have my word."

"I'll take her. She can pretend to be my wife. One of the bandit villages will protect us because of my skill in the forge," Flint said slowly his mind still working it out in his head. He did not want an old man trying to protect his sister, nor did he relish the idea of what his father would do when her belly began to swell with the baby if she stayed. He took his mother's hands and spoke softly, "It will not be for long, less than a year and then we will return and say we found the baby and adopted it as our own. You will see us again mother and your grandchild." Flint spoke with the confidence of a young man who was sure of his own skills.

*****

It was in the small hours of the morning when Talon woke the skin on his neck prickling with the sense that something was not right and he peered into the room the dying fire giving scant light. Siting up the men around him immediately came awake but it was too late for most of the techno warriors who found a blade at their throats. At the cries of alarm, the door burst open and standing there was a black robed man dragging the unconscious body of a warrior behind him through the door.

"Cease, or I will make an example of that one," The man said loudly pointing at Sirius. The fight that had broken out between Talon and his would be captor subsided as he saw his friends in peril. His captor kicked at the back of his knees making him crumple to the floor with a groan.

"It would seem that the men and women of Phoenix have become quite adept at hiding particular memories from the Seers so now it falls to the Martial to find what we need," he looked around at the small group. "Who will now betray the young hawk and tell us where the unicorn hides?" Most of the techno warriors looked at the man blankly not comprehending the reference to a mythical beast, "His love that he seeks but cannot catch?" He explained further.

"The woman he was to wed now resides in the tower of water," Briny offered believing Clove to be the love that he could no longer have, earning her looks of disgust from Eddy and Bay. 

"It is not Clove that now fills his heart, there is another who dances elusively out of his reach," the man watched them all his words exacting to make them think of the girl so that the seers could seek her out. After a few moments, he moved to the side, and a purple robed Mystic entered the room. 

"Her," he pointed to Glow and waited as she was dragged toward him. Each of the techno warriors shifted uneasily as if readying to fight when he turned to them, "We have your bikes, and you are surrounded by the walls of our city what do you hope to achieve by fighting us at this point, aside of proving you are loyal to a man who would have you die rather than give up a girl of no consequence to any of you."




Cities of Power Ch. 04



"If she is as you say of no consequence, why is it you seek her with such zeal?" It was Sirrus who spoke.

"Do not seek to goad me brother of Clove. You and the young hawk cannot hide the depth of disgust you feel for her actions." He turned back to the fire warrior and smiled. "This will be much easier if you just tell me, I would hate to break your tightly held grip on your mind and send you into insanity's oblivion."

"I am sorry Talon but some little slut from a wilderness village is not worth all this!" Glow said and in doing so allowed access to her mind.

"Oblivion may have been preferable to the vengeance that will stalk you for your short life," the mystic smirked as he took the thread of thought she had given him. "We are too late!" he turned on Talon then, "The consequences of your actions will be far reaching, and you shall never see the child you have created! Take him to the penitent cells. The rest of you leave at first light we are done with this quorum." Talon could sense the tension in the men who remained with knives poised at their throats. 

"Do not fight. Go and tell my father what has happened," he said as he was pulled from the far wall and dragged slowly across the room. "If you want any redemption at all, you will find her and protect my child!" he spat at Glow as he passed her, and then he was in the hallway and the door shut. It was a long slow walk to his imprisonment and his mind worked over all that had happened. How had Glow known of Trix? Had she spied on him the night they had made love? The martial artisans of myth seemed to have come back to reality to find his unicorn, Trix. Why was she so special to them? He couldn't work it out. He needed Sirrus and his logical thinking to help him with the puzzle, but instead he was locked in a cell, high in the tower of Pegasus.

As he stared at the stark walls and barred window he cursed, "If Glow does not rescue Trix, her life will be short indeed."