Bellica Read online

  Bickering will do you no good, children.

  Jules' jaw fell open in shock even as he inwardly bristled at the diminutive. Ghia had to bite back a laugh.

  "Who...what...how...." He was unable to form a sentence.

  Rosa prefers we mindspeak, Jules, Ghia sent to him. His head snapped in her direction and he opened his mouth to ask something but slammed it shut almost immediately.

  How? She picked up from his public mind.

  Just like that, said Rosa's voice.

  Who are you?

  A friend. Slowly the blend faded, revealing her shape standing at the window.

  You're a tree, said Jules, as if he expected to wake up at any moment.

  A long-suffering sigh floated from the magea's mind as she turned to face them. Ghia, will you please explain?

  Quickly the healer gave Jules a summary of all the events leading from her incident at the banquet. His eyes widened briefly before he saw how much of Ghia's behaviour made sense with this explanation.

  I called you here because I have questions for you, Rosa said before Jules could ask. Though I am sure you would prefer your questions answered first. As we have little time, I would like for us to be quick, so please proceed.

  Jules didn't miss a beat. I have only one. Why does Ghia have the eyes of a Magi?

  A terrible silence followed. Ghia felt as if she'd been slapped. This was what Rosa had been hiding from her? How could she hide something so important?

  I wasn't sure, child.

  Ghia felt a protest bubbling up but Rosa cut her off.

  I speak truth. It's never been done before. I did not even think it was possible.

  For what to be possible? said Jules, and Ghia suddenly saw the depth of her teacher's distress, as if she was projecting unintentionally.

  Another silence followed, Jules looking at the two women with questions in his eyes; Rosa at a loss for words; Ghia sinking into understanding and resignation.

  I'm part Magi, Jules. It makes so much sense. It's why I've never fit in, will never fit in. I'll always be an outcast --

  When she'd started crying she didn't know, and was aware of falling only as Jules caught her.

  Not to me, he thought fiercely, and she felt like sobbing.

  Rosa stood back from them, awkwardly. Ghia didn't know if she was angry with her teacher or forgave her. I'm too tired for this....

  You need to rest, child.

  Of course she does -- she may be part Magi but she's still human, Jules shot at the magea.

  Rosa looked about to argue, but thought better of it.

  Regardless, she cannot rest now. It is of importance that we speak tonight.

  Can't it wait till tomorrow?

  No. The world is changing, Medic, and every day is a step closer to what may come.

  I still think Ghia should rest first....

  I'm fine, Jules. She's right. We can't waste time.

  Jules looked from magea to healer helplessly before acquiescing.

  Instantaneously Rosa came back to her agenda.

  Ghia is part Magi. I said nothing because I don't have more of an answer than that. I know not how or why it happened; it is certainly the first instance I've seen of a successful interbreeding experiment.

  It doesn't mean I'm the only one, though, said Ghia hopefully.

  No, child, it does not, but I do not know where to even begin in finding your relatives, nor do I have the time to devote to the search. Not now, she added, cutting Ghia off before her thought was formed.

  What questions do you have for me? asked Jules a tad nervously.

  About the terrabane, mostly.

  Jules gave a sharp intake of breath and narrowed his eyes. How....

  I caught it from your mind, Jules, and Rosa got it from me, said Ghia before she lapsed into silence again.

  What precisely did you see? asked Rosa.

  Jules related the story and his musings, catching on that there was no point in keeping anything from the magea. Yet she had some basic questions for him.

  Could you please explain the relationships between these people and yourself?

  Yarrow is bellica of the first regiment and sister to Empreena Zardria. I'm her Chief Medical Officer. Anala and Aro are bellica and major of the second regiment; Anita and Leala of the third. Caelum is Yarrow's major.

  Ghia noticed that Jules did not mention any feelings between people, much less any of his feelings for Yarrow. Maybe he is sparing me and himself the hurt. I should tell him I know, at some point.

  Looking at Rosa, she barely caught the magea's near-imperceptible head shake. She would have questioned this strange display but the magea was speaking to Jules again.

  Caelum is the tall fair-haired man who was late to the banquet?

  Jules nodded, and Rosa lapsed into a thoughtful silence.

  Suddenly aware of still being held by Jules, Ghia wondered why he hadn't shifted position. He must be uncomfortable, she thought, and moved herself so he could sit without parts of him going numb. He resettled as well but didn't let go of her. She smiled inwardly.

  When Rosa spoke again Ghia started and realised she'd been dozing. I must be tired.

  You have done the right thing, Medic Jules, the magea was saying, in not turning in Yarrow. She is not guilty.

  Then who is?

  Caelum. Ghia felt Jules breathe in deeply in disbelief. Rosa continued, But he had his reasons, I feel, and would not want to hurt Yarrow intentionally.

  But he has, said Jules. If that spy heard anything, Yarrow is in deep trouble.

  Yarrow did confess to Caelum, and the spy has reported it to Zardria. And Yarrow does know it was Caelum who did it and has not forgiven him.

  How do you know all these things? asked Jules after a pause.

  I watch. I listen. I observe. I formulate hypotheses. I do not know why Zardria has not acted; she is harder to watch than other Terrans.

  Why?

  Too many questions, Medic. I have told you what you need to know to ease your mind; now Ghia must rest.

  Abashed, Jules nodded and stood before helping Ghia up.

  Will we speak more? he asked Rosa before they turned to go.

  Undoubtedly, was her reply.

  They had reached the door when she called after them. Ghia!

  Yes, Rosa?

  Bring Yarrow, if you can, when next you come. She'll be home early tomorrow morning.

  Ghia nodded, too tired to ask how, exactly, she should accomplish that, before she and Jules left.

  Jules

  Jules had his arm around Ghia all the way back to the tavern. She wouldn't admit she needed help walking.

  All the information his brain had absorbed in the past hour was being processed, settling into his inner system, integrating itself into his current world view.

  It all made sense, to his surprise. But why should I be surprised? Ghia's behaviour was so much more than a healer's know-it-all attitude. At least he now knew that no thoughts were safe around her.

  Except maybe now.

  Ghia was so tired, she gave no indication of knowing what he was thinking. She stumbled a bit and quickly, he caught her.

  "Thanks," she said, too tired even to smile. Whether she said it aloud or merely sent, he didn't know.

  The walk between the tavern and castle must have been longer than it felt. Somehow he got Ghia through the tavern door and, with a brief explanation to her aunt, he picked her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs. She didn't protest. She was so feather-light in his arms he couldn't believe she was as filled out as she looked -- it looks as if she kept her promise about eating, but why is she so light to carry? Her head rested on his shoulder. He was pretty sure she was asleep already.

  With only a little difficulty he opened the door to her room and set her gently down on the bed. She didn't seem to be aware of any of it. He pulled her shoes off and tucked her in before turning to go but her arm caught his. He turned back to her.

  "Please
don't go, Jules," she half-said, half-whispered.

  "I was just going to find another room. I won't leave the tavern."

  She shook her head feebly. "No. Stay here, please."

  Her eyes were closed, but Jules knew she could still see him with her mind. He nodded and pulled the chair over to the bed, where he settled in for an uncomfortable rest. At least I know it's worth it.

  Aro

  "You've been sent WHERE?"

  Aro's voice reverberated through Anala's room. She glared at him as she continued packing. "Keep yer voice down, Aro."

  "I can't believe that -- that -- that -- cur of a treecat would send you there!" he continued in an angry hiss. "Of all the missions...why didn't she choose a bellica from a lower regiment?"

  "Ta cause me a mite of pain, Aro."

  "If she wanted to cause pain, she could have sent Yarrow."

  "Ye know very well that would be a mite politically unwise."

  Aro had nothing to say to that and settled for making an irritated sound in his throat. A few minutes of heavy silence passed, Aro fuming and pacing while Anala packed. When he'd calmed down a bit, he spoke again.

  "When do we leave?"

  "We dinnae. I'd be departing a daybreak."

  He stared at her incredulously. "She's sending you alone?"

  "She reckoned me battle skill'd be more than needed in case of an...incident."

  "Incident?"

  "Her words, ye ken."

  "It's a deathtrap."

  "Might well be." She shrugged and shut her bag.

  "You can't go, Anala."

  "I must, Aro."

  Instantly she was wrapped up in his arms in an embrace so tight she could barely breathe. "No. I won't let you," he said into her hair.

  "Would ye take on an Empire, Aro?"

  "Yes," he said vehemently. He couldn't let this happen, couldn't go on without hearing her speak his name with her accent that made it sound like 'ara', rather than a misspelled weapon. He couldn't go on without her smile, without seeing how clear her eyes were when she looked at him. Not like this.

  Not with her unwell. Despite his heroic words, he knew he could not prevent her from going. One woman cannot fight the world. He'd let his soul go to Umbra if he let her go without first being looked over medically.

  "Come on," he said, pulling away from their lengthy hug. "We'll have one last night at the tavern before you go."

  ~

  Ghia had slept for only three hours when Anala and Aro arrived at the Cauldron.

  "She's resting, Major," Kasandra told the officers.

  Aro sighed. "It's a matter of importance," he said urgently.

  Kasandra looked from him to Anala, who'd not heard his last statement, and nodded reluctantly before disappearing upstairs.

  Aro felt a brief tinge of regret for waking the healer as Ghia descended the stairs, for she looked little better than Muerta. An angry-looking Jules followed her.

  "You should be resting, Ghia," he was saying.

  "I'm needed," was her response, so soft Aro almost didn't hear.

  Jules turned his glare to the officers. "Aro, is this really necessary?"

  "Yes," the major replied, drawing Anala next to him. Anala looked about to protest, but did not speak, as usual. "I think Anala's unwell."

  "Since when?" Ghia's hoarse voice cut off whatever the bellica had opened her mouth to say.

  "Since the seventeenth, roughly."

  Ghia nodded and took a step forward; then stopped. She evidently listened to an inner dialogue and then turned to a back room, gesturing for them to follow.

  It was the privy. Very clean, even if it's smaller than a flint-and-tinder box, Aro thought as he squeezed in with the rest of them.

  "Best I could do," Ghia croaked, unable even to smile. She beckoned Anala forward, closed her eyes for a moment, and unerringly placed one hand on Anala's forehead, the other over the bellica's heart.

  Ghia

  Ghia dropped into Anala, the essence of the woman, with a splash, and almost sank below, crushed by the tumultuous sea of personality she found within. Using a bit of her wasted strength, she bobbed to the surface and looked for what she needed.

  It was dark and murky, and the healer had trouble concentrating. She fell into a memory, long-buried, brought to the surface recently. It felt fresh in Anala's mind.

  ~

  Rain. Gray skies. A mountain looming up in front.

  She'd been out in the inclement weather for hours. Her uniform and her hair were plastered to her skin. She was soaked through and could only silently thank the Goddess for no-rust mail.

  The beach was long and stretched, black sand dull and glimmering simultaneously. Their boats waited in the harbour, as they had for tredicems. They still had not gained any ground. The troops that were alive were exhausted and wanted to go home.

  Truth be told, so did she.

  "Anala!" A voice called out from down the beach. Red hair stood out above the uniform as the lithe figure of Yarrow jogged up to her.

  She turned and saluted her superior. Yarrow was just as soaked, which made Anala feel better, oddly enough.

  "Love the weather," Yarrow said flippantly. "Maybe next time we can ask Lord Exsil Vis for sunshine; this is hardly the way to treat guests." She smiled at Anala, a gesture the bellica gratefully returned.

  "What'd da news be?" Anala asked.

  Yarrow's face turned serious. "Reconnaissance found a way in. West of Clifton are caves and lava tubes. They're used as an escape from the palace."

  Anala raised her eyebrows. Secret entrances meant infiltration and infiltration possibly meant victory. "Who'd be going then?"

  Yarrow's eyes gleamed. "We are."

  ~

  Frantically Ghia backpedaled out of Anala's memory. It was interesting, to be sure, to see history as it happened. She didn't have the energy.

  Quickly she sifted through the crowded mind, which was rife with turmoil. Searching, she found the bodymind connection and looked for the source of Anala's apparent illness.

  She had no idea what was happening in the room, but she hoped her gasp hadn't been out loud. Rosa, she called as she double-checked her findings. I don't think I'm the only one.

  The magea's presence was there instantly. Ghia suspected she'd been hovering the whole time. She looked at Anala quickly and quietly.

  I think you're right.

  Anala's part Magi?

  So it would seem, said Rosa, sounding weary. She's leaving tomorrow for Mt. Voco. Give her a glamoury in case her eyes turn, and an energy store. It'll keep her safe until she returns.

  Ghia nodded mentally; as Rosa left, she completed her assigned tasks as well as her own treatment.

  Withdrawing from Anala, she fell backwards and was barely aware of Jules' arms encircling her.

  "You're okay. Just fatigue. I'll check you again when you're back from Mt. Voco." It took the rest of her energy to say that before she dropped into darkness.

  Jules

  There was an uneasy silence in the tiny room.

  Ghia was unconscious, Jules awkwardly holding her. She was light, sure, but her slippered feet kept on sliding on the wood floor, forcing him to adjust his grasp constantly.

  Anala looked better; her eyes had regained their brightness.

  Aro was stunned. "How...." he began; then shook his head.

  Jules grunted as he readjusted the sleeping girl in his arms. "Ghia must have trusted you to reveal that much -- or she was too tired to hide it."

  "What, exactly, did she reveal?" Aro asked.

  "She'd be a Wind Seeker, Aro," Anala said. Unlike the major's face, her voice held no fear.

  Jules shook his head vehemently. "No. Not a Wind Seeker."

  "Then what?" Aro looked as if a rug had been pulled swiftly from under him.

  There was a pause -- can I reveal this much? Jules didn't want to endanger Ghia.

  Your silence does more harm.

  The medic managed to not show his sur
prise, but Rosa's voice had scared the starlights out of him.

  "She's part Magi."

  Another silence followed. Aro's face registered incomprehension.

  "Is that a good thing to be?" he asked.

  Jules wanted to laugh hysterically. He managed to choke out a strangled "Yes," before being reduced to giggles.

  Aro looked at him worriedly. Anala still had a peaceful look on her face.

  As he recovered from his fit of mirth, Jules managed to explain a bit.

  "So you see it must be kept a secret?" he finished, mirth replaced by seriousness.

  Aro and Anala nodded in unison, which Jules found very funny as well, for some reason. I'm tired. He looked at Ghia with some dismay. But I still have to carry her upstairs.

  As if she'd heard his thoughts, Anala wordlessly stepped forward and hoisted Ghia with no apparent effort. She was out the door before either man could protest.

  Sighs escaped major and medic in unison.

  "Stubborn woman," muttered Aro as Jules expressed the same sentiment about the healer. They exchanged glances and both laughed..

  "I think I need to sleep," said Jules, bursting with giggles.

  "I think so too, Medic."

  The stress on his title did not go unnoticed but Jules chose to ignore it. "Good night then, Major," he said as he left the small room, leaving Aro alone in the privy. He snorted at that thought; then, tired of fighting hysteria, gave in to laughter completely as he climbed the stairs.

  Molly

  Ridiculously, childishly, Molly had waited impatiently for every mail caravan from Atherton, hoping for word from "Selina".

  She'd kept her vow, although the excitement of meeting her idol had been almost too much for the seventeen-year-old. Bellica Anala had been the reason she'd wanted to join the military. Since childhood, she'd been entertained with tales of the Empress' best bellicas. Yarrow'd done little to impress her: a princess-turned-bellica was a boring story, told too many times. Anala, by contrast, had humble origins, in Harbourtown. While the rest of the bellica's past was shrouded with a thick cloak of mystery, the knowledge of her rising from the bottom to the top had enchanted young Molly and given the girl hope.