"Come on, Rudolph, hurry," I called to my brother, who was panting as he stuggled up the path, all out of breath. We were not far from the overhanging rock where I slept in the night I arrived. But that was not where we were going. Up on the summit Iria was having a meeting with the generals from Savitro Zhan, who had gratefully been free of the soil affinity tying them to their clan. For a while.
Seven Generals from the north were the Zhan representatives. The mages she had with her, her retainers, were elite mages that she gathered on her nightly adventures while we still lived at our old place in the capital. And Rudolph and I were "Alchemist Nei" and "Little Master Rudolph". Well. Not entirely mouth- watering, but we were expected at the meetings every morning.
I offered Rudolph a hand. He ignored it and climbed up on his own. Was he still cross with me? Maybe it wasn't a nice feeling to be lied to for ten consecutive years. But I didn't lie to him, I remained stubborn.
"Rudolph,--"
"I'm fine, let's go," and he walked on without waiting for me. This was not the Rudolph I knew. Could one month change someone this much?
I roused myself and hurried to the meeting.
They were waiting for us, already sitting in their places around the table. I lowered my head in greeting to the Savitro Zhan generals and they raised their eyebrows while they glanced over to see Iria's expression.
"Nei is very humble," was all she said, "sweet,"
Arhid lifted the corner of his mouth but I refused to meet his gaze. I was distabilized, maybe they all didn't know, by all that had happened. Especially by Rudolph refusing to talk to me. I took the only seat left, opposite Uncle Ruhzhan. The two of us were the closest to Iria, who wad of course at the head of the table. All the Savitro Zhan generals sat on Uncle Ruhzhan's side. Iria's retainers were on my side, Rudolph between Twiaro and Khu. He refused to sit next to me.
"Now that we are all here, may we begin?" one impatient Savitro Zhan general said irritatingly. I did not know his name; but then, I didn't really care about knowing any of them. He had a vicious scar on his face, in the shape of a sickle. Without taking a look at him twice, I knew he was the one with the most authority.
"I am glad that Samahan let you visit the new alliance headquarters," Iria began, "knowing your strong affinity to your land--"
They all nodded their heads.
"Therefore, I will not waste any time saying unnecessary things. General Zarin has launched the first attack on the army base beyond the Valencian capital. His report arrived earlier this morning. The battle ended in a draw. Our soldiers had to withdraw eventually, as the Valencian soldiers held their fort. That should give us some insight into the strength of the Valencian army."
"Isn't the king of Valencia leading their army?" the impatient general asked thoughtfully.
"Yes. General Zarin mentioned that the king was present at the army base he attacked," Iria replied.
"You know," the same general continued, "if you can convince our clan princess, Samahan--rehha, to lift the soil affinity for half a year-- we might be able to completely finish off Valencia, these generals and I," he concluded.
(Samahan-- rehha: a respectable way of referring to Princess Samahan when he used her name)
Iria smiled.
"That little clan princess of yours is extremely difficult to persuade!"
"What exactly is the soil affinity?" I asked, speaking for the first time. Everyone looked at me.
"Heh?"
"Nei-- the soil affinity is--" Iria sighed and started to explain, but something happened which surprised me.
"She didn't ask you," said a quiet voice.
Iria's eyes narrowed as she looked at Rudolph.
"What?"
"No matter how much you know about it, you can't explain it as much as those who experience it can," he continued in his soft, almost quiet voice.
"Well said, little master," said Uncle Ruhzhan with a smile. Turning to me, he explained: "The soil affinity lifts our power in exchange for our presence. In Savitro Zhan, our aura nay be four times more than our aura elsewhere. Having been used to it, it becomes difficult for us to project our magic on other soil."
"I see," I muttered, "so, you all sitting here-- you aura is four times less that of what you normally use in Savitro Zhan,"
"Yes," said the grumpy general, "Advisor Ruhzhan has explained it well. But, alchemist, why do you ask?" he looked at me questioningly.
I grinned.
"I have a tonic that can increase the aura of a weak link to become a star one magic user." I said.
Iria narrowed her eyes as everyone around the table drew in a sharp breath. The gulf between a weak link and a one star magic user was ernomous. It took almost three years of dedicated training to advance to a magic user star if one was not originally born with the prowess. A person originally born with prowess would reach star one magic user within three years of life. That was why the gap between prowess born mages and weak links was so great.
To posses a tonic that could close the three year gap-- it was really tantalizing. I knew that they would be hooked by the offer.
I had not told Iria that the couple of one star mages she found in clan Hakorhi were originally weak links. But my sister was not stupid. I could see the cogwheels turning in her head as she realized this fact.
General grumpy smacked his lips.
"Are you intending to give us this tonic? If it can bridge the training gap-- it can surely increase our auras until it's not so much lower than what we wield back in Savitro Zhan,"
I nodded. Iria knocked the table.
"Neiman," she said, "have you had high tiered mages test this tonic?"
I nodded. Grandmother had taken the tonic and her aura increased by a couple of levels. Grandmother's aura was not a fighting aura, it was an healing aura.
"Well, I think Samahan wouldn't disagree much with this inclusion, would she?" Iria asked.
"It is also not the joy of our clan princess that our auras weaken drastically when we leave Savitro Zhan. As long as alchemist is able to successfully concote the tonic, then be rest assured that we will lend a helping hand to General Zarin," general grumpy's mood lifted considerably.
Iria nodded satisfactorily. Snapping her fingers, a scroll and quill appeared in front of her and she scribbled a few words on it. After this, she handed it over to Uncle Ruhzhan.
"Help me bring this with you when you are returning to give Samahan,"
"Yes," uncle Ruhzhan nodded.
"Once she agrees, I will start the procedure to brew the tonic," I said and they all nodded respectfully at me. Originally, they were respecting me due to Iria's influence, but now they realized that without my sister I could also lead this rebellion. Though I hope it never comes to that. I really wish she would just be satisfied with the remnant clan and live peacefully with Rudolph and I. But my sister is a hot-blooded person. She can't sit still and do nothing while the people who killed our parents and slaughtered our whole clan remain happily on soil surface.
Not that I cared. This whole avenging thing was not high on my priorities. Well. Maybe because I was not their daughter, as I had recently learnt. But I'm still sure that I loved Thzarmir Hakorhi more than Iria ever did. And maybe not.
I sighed and rose first. Everyone around the table rose and cupped their hands to me. Except Iria and Rudolph that is.
"I will leave first so as to prepare the materials needed," I said and lowered my heads at them.
"Alchemist should rest easy about Clan princess Samahan-- rehha's approval. Just take all the time you need to brew the tonic. After all, General Zarin is no child and he can hold off until reinforcements arrive."
I nodded and left the gathering, proceeding down the mountain. The tonic brewing was hard work. But maybe by immersing myself in it I would get my thoughts off the mangled emotions in my head.
Siva and Lena were waiting for me at the foot of the mountain. They smiled and hurried over when I came into view.
"The meeting is over then?" Siva asked, and looking around added, "where's young master Rudolph?"
"I left first," I muttered, "come. I need to make more bottles of the Restoration tonic. We'll not rest until five days later,"
I expected them to protest, but instead they giggled excitedly. Perhaps these two girls are really made for me.
.....
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