See Prologue for Disclaimers
Chapter Two
The Aerie was unoccupied by her mother when Atylanta arrived an hour later, but it was not empty. Atylanta bit back her instant aggravation as she saw Zad, the Terrons' king, leaning against a wall of her mother's main cavern. Unfortunately, he spotted her before she could teleport away again. Some days, Atylanta reflected as she clenched her teeth, it truly does not pay to get out of bed.
Zad approached with a smile and an almost desultory half-bow. "Lady Eskerr. It has been too long."
Atylanta allowed herself a sigh. "There is a purpose to that. Why are you here, King Zad?"
He shrugged, his eyes assessing her as they always did. Her hair flowed loose about her shoulders, held back from her face by a simple silver band that curved about her forehead before disappearing among the glossy dark curls. She had changed clothes before leaving the grove, wearing now a simple, flowing gown of blue-fringed white with absent sleeves and a scooped neck. It did wonderful things with her skin-tone and her figure.
Atylanta had inherited her mother's curves and height if not her coloring, although Zad was not aware of her connection to the elder sorceress (mainly because he did not wish to see it), and the Terron king was as greatly appreciative of what he saw before him as he had always been. There was just something about a beautiful woman who was eternally young -- and after 15 years, he still seemed to not have learned to keep his lasciviousness to himself and his slaves. The man made Atylanta's skin crawl, and it wasn't just from the obvious lack of cleanliness he practiced.
"I await an audience with the Sorceress," he answered her. "As do you, perhaps?"
Atylanta raised an eyebrow. "I await no one's audience, King."
"Of course not!" Zad said quickly. "Just as a woman as lovely as yourself should never need await anything, from anyone. Attention, power, gifts . . ."
He took a step forward, smiling at her engagingly. Or it would have been engaging if Atylanta had had even the slightest interest in buying it, whether for profit or courtesy. As it was, the dark-haired sorceress, as the secondary name "Eskerr" dubbed her, simply looked at him coldly as he attempted to place a light kiss on the knuckles of her hand. She had neither the patience nor the good will to deal with this at the moment.
"Perhaps I have not made my opinion plain to you over the past fifteen years, King Zad," she said coolly, moving her hand out of his reach. "So allow me to do so now. I do not like you. I have never liked you. I shall never like you. And the more you try to make me like you with sweet words that even the most moronic of honeybees would know were false, the more you annoy me. That is not a wise thing to do."
Zad blinked and then smiled just as coldly. As she turned away from him to walk deeper into the cavern, he said, "I have heard that your powers are not so great as those of the Sorceress. Perhaps then, Lady Eskerr, it does not matter if you like me. We can still find . . . other uses for one another." He took a step forward, following her movement, and placed his hand quite confidently on her ass.
Atylanta froze and then turned very slowly to face him. Zad was also too stupid to see the fury in her eyes as she spoke softly.
"You have heard correctly, King. My powers are not so great as those of the Sorceress." She took a step forward and grabbed his wrist, lifting his hand between them. Zad smiled until she continued, power flaring in her hand to heat the skin of his wrist. A lot. "But they are still more than great enough to burn you to cinders if you EVER dare touch me like that again."
Zad gasped in surprised pain as the skin of his wrist began to burn as if touched by living fire, and he began to understand just how grave an error he had made. Atylanta's eyes met his, cold and sparkling with anger. "Am I making myself clear now, King?"
Zad nodded desperately. "Very clear, my lady!"
"Good." She released him as she sensed her mother's return to the Aerie. "Now go. You can have your audience some other time."
Elorene came through one archway just as Zad was leaving through the opposite one. The golden-haired Sorceress arched an eyebrow first at his back and then at her daughter, as she noticed the other woman's presence. "Don't tell me you've frightened him away," Elorene teased.
Atylanta gave a decidedly unladylike snort. "That man is too stupid to be frightened," she said scornfully. "He actually put his hand on me." Elorene raised her other eyebrow and Atylanta continued dryly, "A much lower part of me."
Elorene's eyes widened in surprise, then she shook her head. "King Zad is clearly in need of a new hobby."
"And a bath," Atylanta added. "I can't help him with the first, but I am seriously considering dumping him into that lake to help with the second."
Elorene laughed. "And is that why you've come to visit me? To throw my pet king in the lake?"
Atylanta sighed. "It would almost be worth it," she said, sounding wistful. Mischief glinted in her eyes.
Elorene laughed again. "Then we shall have to come up with something else to distract you, my dear." She approached and tucked her arm through that of the other woman, then led the younger sorceress to the scrying room.
As they walked through the labyrinthine corridors, Atylanta said, "It's your distractions I've come to speak to you about. I had not one, not two, but three visits yesterday from powerful beings."
Elorene's features stilled, confirming Atylanta's suspicions. If that were not enough, she asked, "Was the Ancient One among them?"
Atylanta nodded and allowed her mother to pull away as the reached the central room, where Elorene's crystal scrying bowl sat atop a pedestal. "He was the first. Followed by Curupira and then the Lady Pelagia. And all of them with the same basic message to relay to you."
Elorene scowled. "To stay away from the BeastMaster," she guessed, her voice almost a little girl's mimicry of silly adults.
Atylanta smiled, the corners of her mouth twitching in amusement. "Exactly. Mother, what in the Great Powers' name have you gotten yourself into?"
Elorene frowned at her. "Nothing!" She smiled at the eyebrow Atylanta raised. "Yet," she conceded. "Though it is not from lack of trying. Come." She motioned towards the scrying bowl, then summoned a familiar image as Atylanta reached the pedestal.
Atylanta regarded the two young men with interest despite herself, admiring each one's looks, dramatically different as they were. From the way the blonde one moved, and how the waters followed him more closely, she guessed that he was the object of the scrying. "The BeastMaster."
Elorene nodded. "Yes. Beautiful, isn't he?"
Atylanta chuckled. "Quite. Are you sure it is just his powers you wish to handle, Mother?" she added with a wicked smile.
Elorene frowned at her. "You can ask such a thing?"
"You're right," she said dryly, grinning. "I know you better than to need to ask." Elorene tried to glare at her; it didn't quite work. "And the other one?" Atylanta asked, neatly interrupting even before a thought could become words.
Atylanta was watching the young man with a slight smile. Elorene looked into the waters and waved a hand negligently. "The BeastMaster's friend. Quite clumsy. His name is Tao, I believe."
Atylanta raised an eyebrow. "Tao," she repeated. "That's an Eiron name. It means "the way" if I am not mistaken." She smiled wickedly as she continued to observe the dark-haired man, and murmured, "I can think of several ways where he's concerned. . ."
Elorene stared at her, trying not to either laugh or scowl. "You're supposed to be watching the BeastMaster!"
Atylanta smiled at her brilliantly, her eyes dancing with laughter. "No," she corrected. "You are supposed to be watching the BeastMaster. I, free from obsession as I currently am, can watch anyone I wish." Elorene succumbed to laughter and banished the images from the waters. Atylanta turned to follow her with her eyes as the Sorceress walked around the pedestal.
She was headed towards the "balcony" section of the Aerie. It was where the Sorceress liked to go when she wanted space to think or argue; Atylanta knew it well. With a soft sigh, she followed. "Seriously, Mother," she said as they passed through another corridor. "What is it about this BeastMaster that has so captured your attention?"
"I want his powers," Elorene replied, as if it were a silly question. "The ability to communicate with animals."
Atylanta rolled her eyes. "Yes, I had gathered that." They reached the balcony but Atylanta refused to let the view distract her. "But why?" she asked. "I mean, the ability is a useful one, I grant you that -- but for the Powers' sakes, Mother, you don't even have any pets!"
Elorene turned back to her impatiently. "I want them because they are powers I do not possess!"
Atylanta sighed. "Of course," she said dryly. "How silly of me to wonder. Still . . .," she continued in an exasperated half-mutter, "couldn't you start small? Like with plants?"
Elorene frowned at her. "Why this concern on your part? My dealings are my concern. Even the Ancient One should know that."
Atylanta felt irritation bubble up despite her best efforts. "Well, apparently he does not," she snapped. Elorene blinked; Atylanta took a breath and tried to release her tension. Somewhat more calmly, she said, "I dislike playing intermediary or peacekeeper, Mother, particularly with powers like the Ancient One. I have other things to occupy my time, and not enough of that time to spend it playing messenger for him, for you, or even for Lady Pelagia."
Elorene frowned. "You mentioned she also visited you. What part does she have in this? Why would she care for the BeastMaster?"
Atylanta sighed. She conjured a comfortable swing in between two stone pillars and sank into its cushioned depths. "Perhaps because he is the last of the Sula, with the exception of the girl who is giving the Ancient One an infusion of youth?" Elorene didn't look any more enlightened than Atylanta had felt earlier. "Pelagia was one of their guardians."
Elorene snorted lightly. "Not much of a guardian, it would seem." She sat in the broad swing as well.
Atylanta raised an eyebrow. "I would have a care to speak that softly, were I you, Mother. Pelagia's ears are quite keen, and even her temper can be tested." Elorene looked away, clearly irritated but also upset by something deeper. The Sorceress had not gotten on well with Pelagia for many years, despite the close friendship shared by the goddess and her daughter. Atylanta sighed again. "There are some things even a god cannot halt, or in which she is forbidden to interfere. But Pelagia cared greatly for the Sula, and she does not take your interest in the BeastMaster well."
Elorene almost seemed to roll her eyes, then her gaze was captured by something in the sky. Atylanta followed her narrowed gaze and saw an eagle riding a thermal. "The BeastMaster's eagle," the Sorceress murmured. "Again . . ."
Atylanta frowned. There was something . . . something about that bird . . . "It's not a normal creature, is it?" she asked.
Elorene looked at her, surprised. "I do not believe so. The Ancient One told me a story . . . about two Sorcerers who fell in love, and were punished for the transgression."
Atylanta decided not to voice her opinion of that particular rule. "How?"
"The woman's memories of that love were taken from her -- and the man was turned into an eagle and set into the sky, with the added curse of immortality."
Her mother looked speculative; Atylanta returned her gaze to the eagle as it banked steeply. It seemed to regard them as it swooped somewhat nearby. "You think this eagle . . ."
"It would explain a great deal," Elorene murmured. "He has visited me several times, and I think perhaps he seeks my aid. Although how I could break such a curse . . ."
"Perhaps he seeks to make you aware of it," Atylanta mused. "And in so doing gain his friend the BeastMaster some sympathy from you."
Elorene glared at her. Atylanta continued, "If the BeastMaster has such friends, Mother, it is perhaps not such a wise endeavor for you to pursue. Even Curupira came to see me, and her interest combined with that of her mother--"
"That name, again . . ."
"Curupira?"
Elorene nodded. "Should I know it?"
Atylanta stared at her, then shook her head in aggravation. "You have been harassing this boy for his power and you don't even know ---" She sighed, knowing very well that it was a habit she had when around her mother. Her lungs always felt tired after one of her visits. "The Demon Curupira, Mother. Guardian of the animals of the Mydlands? . . . The one who gave the BeastMaster his power?"
Elorene nodded again, her eyes showing recognition. "Oh yes. Her."
Atylanta shook her head. "Quite," she agreed. "She is also the reason why he cannot give you his powers, even if he wished to. They are not his to give."
Elorene waved a hand. "Well--"
"No! No 'well'! No nothing!" Atylanta said. She stopped and glared at the other woman as Elorene turned to face her. She shook her head in aggravation and turned away. When she turned back, she had gotten her temper marginally under control. "There is nothing I can do to dissuade you from this obsession, is there?"
"It's not an obsession. And no, there is not. I want what I want, and I get what I want."
Atylanta looked at her evenly. "That is literally the story of my life, isn't it, Mother?" She knew Elorene wouldn't understand, just as she knew she was only bringing herself pain, but she said it anyway.
The Sorceress frowned at her. Atylanta shook her head, forestalling any questions. "Just -- Will you at least promise me that you will not do anything rash?"
Elorene gave her daughter her most innocent large-eyed look. "I promise," she said solemnly.
Atylanta sighed. "A small comfort, but I will take what I can."
The Sorceress chuckled. "Then I shall not feel duty-bound to lighten your mood. Are you planning to stay for a bit? There's a spell I'd like you to see: I've been working on the chimera --"
Atylanta shook her head. "No. I have duties of my own." She hesitated, then added, "But I will try to visit again, soon."
Elorene shrugged. "As you will. Be careful that that garden dirt doesn't stay under your fingernails. Not a good image for a sorceress."
Atylanta shook her head. "I will keep that in mind, Mother."
She reached for a tendril of Power and tweaked it, creating a rift to send herself back to her grove. The Sorceress looked back up to the sky where the eagle still floated, then returned inside her Aerie. The swing remained for a moment and then returned to the nebulous between from which it had been drawn.
The eagle watched it all with keen interest. For those with eyes to see, the resemblance between the two women was unmistakable . . . and as an eagle, Sharak very definitely had eyes with which to see. Unfortunately, he also had a heart with which to feel of betrayal and grief. He had known that Elorene had no memory of him or their love, he had known that she had therefore moved on with her life, but this new knowledge -- that she had had a child, one that was not his -- tore a scream from him.
He wondered who the father was, or had been. He wondered if Elorene had chosen to have this child, or if it was an accident of that affair. He wondered how the child had been raised; if the Ancient One had corrupted her with lies, as he had Elorene. He wondered very many things, mainly to do with what might have been. Then he forced himself to stop thinking, and simply fly.
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