Iriona: Season Two

[athena]

The images in the flames slowly faded away as the fire returned to normal. Silence settled over the small camp, and Elion’s question remained unanswered. Finally, Elion turned towards Briya. The look of confusion on her face made it abundantly clear that she knew absolutely nothing. The vision in the flames had been as unexpected for her as it had been for him. Elion was tempted to remind Briya that the spirits, when summoned, almost always answered. He opted against it though. He had already reprimanded her for her brash behavior earlier. No need to do that again. Besides, it looked as if the wind had been taken from her sails. She looked more lost and confused than before.

With a sigh, Elion settled beside her. “I suppose there’s no point in hiding it now, is there?” Briya just watched him silently. “It’s a rather long story, convoluted even, but it must be told.” Elion laced his fingers and began his story with the start of Adus’ investigation. “It was shortly after I found the first murdered sprite that I met Aria. She just appeared in my home one evening.” He shrugged as if it were normal. “We really didn’t begin to understand it until we were delayed in Haleah for some time.” He took a moment to back track and fill in the rest of the story. Aria’s sudden appearances and disappearances, the book in Muula, the teddy bear and orbs, the stabbing, all of it.

Briya remained silent, watching Elion’s face as he told the tale. “During our stay at the farm, Aria confessed she had been shot in her own world. We had no way of knowing if she had died or was in some state of suspended sleep. As we got closer to capturing Adus, Aria’s hold on Iriona grew somewhat tenuous. She would start to fade in and out before returning to normal. On the day of the raid, Aria stayed behind. When I returned, she was gone.” He passed her the note. “This is what I found.” Elion sat and watched the flames as Briya read the note and passed it back to him. “She, obviously, has not returned since.”

Elion pushed his fingers through his hair in frustration. “We expected something like this might happen, but I’ve become worried. There have been...signs...that are unsettling.” He motioned at the flames. “That vision was one of them. I have a missing persons report open, but I’ve reached a dead end. I’ve exhausted all my sources. I don’t know what to do anymore.” His shoulders dropped as he thought. “Nobody else knows of Aria’s background or role in Iriona. I think Grifad probably suspects, but he hasn’t said anything. Everybody assumes she’s from Eltal or some other city. And that she has returned to her home city now that the investigation has concluded.” A heavy silence settled on them again, both lost deep in their thoughts.

Elion finally broke the silence. “I know it’s a lot to absorb Bri, but we both know that the spirits always have some purpose. I just don’t know what it is now.” He stood, brushing the dirt and leaves from his pants. “I have to return to Eltal before this night is through. There is still work to be done on many other things. It’s as good as a base as any.” Quietly, Elion stalked into the woods to collet Azrel. He pulled himself into the saddle. “Be sure to put out the fire,” he called. A moment later, darkness enveloped the forest. He heard Briya rustling through the brush to collect her own mount and then a “Let’s go.” Elion turned Azrel back to the back path and slowly led the way out of the woods. “We’ll have a long ride back,” Elion said as he motioned to the horses. “I don’t want to push them too hard. We can work as we go.” It was Eion’s way of saying he would answer any and all of Briya’s questions, and he knew there would be plenty.

[Victoria]

They rode together in silence down the trails back to Eltal. She had a million questions for him, so many things she wanted to know to try and better understand what was going on, why she had been pulled into it. What Elion didn’t seem to understand was that she hadn’t actively searched this out, the spirits had summoned her, much the way he had been summoned when it came to the first sprite death. They came to her, at first it was only a whisper, something she couldn’t decipher. It had started a few weeks ago, based off of his story it would have been right around the time Aria had returned to her own home. It had been as if the spirits waited with baited breath for what he would do, and the more he struggled the stronger the call came through to her. At least, that’s how it seemed to her. At least until it had become maddening enough that she had sought him out, only for him to turn her away. She could feel it in her core though that this is where the spirits wanted her. That maybe they were supposed to be in this together.

Briya didn’t know what to make of any of this though, and she could tell by the glances he was sending her way that he was surprised by her silence. But even with the thousands of questions pounding through her mind, they all seemed trivial and inconsequential. The specifics didn’t matter, she didn’t need to understand everything. And she was pretty positive that he had already told her everything he knew. It wasn’t a matter of where Aria was, if he hadn’t known that before, he knew now. They knew that she was alive and apparently being held against her will, if the look in her eyes had told Briya anything. They knew where she was, it was more important to ask the question, how? How were they supposed to get to her when it seemed even the spirits couldn’t? Or rather, if they could, why weren’t they just opening the door for her again? Why couldn’t they just bring her back, even just long enough to explain, show she was okay? But even the spirits had their limits. Which, made Briya then question, if the spirits couldn’t reach her, how were they supposed to? But those were all questions that didn’t seem to matter in the moment. No, only one really needed an answer, because it would make all the difference in how they went about this. It would determine just how far he was willing to go to get Aria back.

“Do you love her?” she asked after a long pause. When he looked at her, she could see that he was ready to tell her that it didn’t matter, or that it was none of her business. “You don’t have to say it out loud, just even to yourself will do. Because if you do, love her I mean, then I’m in this with you Elion, we can find a way to get to her. We can figure this out. It may seem daunting, but we can do it.” She smiled slightly, “I know the spirits come when summoned, they always have, especially for us. But what you missed before you found me in that clearing, I didn’t ask about you, I didn’t ask about Aria, I didn’t ask about your case, I asked them what I needed to know. You’re right, the spirits always have a purpose, a plan, and they had a reason for showing me what they did. I think it’s their way of saying you can’t, or rather shouldn’t go at this alone.” She watched the path for a long moment of silence, she could almost hear the wheels turning in Elion’s head. He always had been a thinker, but that’s why they balanced each other out. She was the rash, impulsive, and sometimes explosive fire walker to his calm, collected, peaceful earth. They needed each other in this, he needed her pushing him and challenging him, but she needed him to keep her grounded. “If you love her, then we have to go after her. Maybe you haven’t exhausted all leads and sources, maybe you just weren’t looking in the right spot.”

[athena]

Do you love her? The question echoed in his head as they rode on in silence. He thought of the time they spent bickering with each other, and the continual frustrations Aria seemed to always heap on him. She was headstrong, as headstrong as Briya and that had contributed a great deal to the tension between him. But his heart reminded him of the time on the farm. Of the time they spent truly getting to know each other. Aria had shown him a completely different side of herself, and in return he had shown her another side of himself. And then she was gone. Gone before they had a chance to explore the feelings that had undoubtedly begun to grow. “Yes,” he responded simply. It seemed to be more than enough for Briya, and for that he was thankful. As a fellow spirit walker, she understood him in ways many could not. Now was one of those time.

“Maybe you haven’t exhausted all leads and sources, maybe you just weren’t looking in the right spot,” she said, hope tinting her voice. Elion only offered a noncommittal shrug. He was thorough in all his investigations, and this was no exception. Elion had checked every lead possible, and nothing had revealed itself. Then again, he was wise enough to know that a fresh set of eyes could possibly turn up something new. He wouldn’t argue with Briya over this. “I’ll show you what I’ve put together when we get back.” They continued to ride on, the woods thinning as they picked up the road. They talked quietly, Elion filling in Briya’s questions. The sun began to peak over the horizon; it was then Elion realized he had not slept in some time. The exhaustion settled on him like bricks. He knew Briya would be feeling similarly. She had no doubt been up longer than he had, and she had been up to more.

“Before I go back to headquarters though, I’m going to stop at home and get some sleep. Possibly eat and clean up. You know I’ve got a guest room now,” Elion said with a smirk. “Zara demanded it so she could send my little niece or nephew to visit.” Briya whipped around, surprise on her face. “I meant to write you or stop by, but I’ve been busy with building the room and work. Plus, we both know how much your father loves it when I stop by unannounced.” They rode a few moments in silence. “From what mother tells me, she’s due sometime in towards the end of Ventus, maybe the start of Pelagus. It’s too early to tell much now, but we’re all very excited and preparing for the bundle of joy.” He turned down the small path that eventually led to his home. “The point is I actually have space for guests. We’ll get some sleep, grab something quick to eat and then head into headquarters to look at everything I have together.” Elion couldn’t explain it, but the prospect of finally having somebody help him lightened his spirits considerably.

*****

As promised, Elion showed Briya all the materials he had collected in the past month. It was, admittedly, a small folder. Briya was able to read through it in no time, and that included the recently added events of the previous evening. She seemed to be at as much as a loss as he was. Occasionally, afternoon that way. A few questions, a few ideas, and they would stop to ponder. A commotion out on the floor drew both their attention away from the case. Elion paused to look up as the door to his office opened. “Dux,” Tela said meekly as she poked her head in. “Hmm?” he said in way of answer. “Grifad and his team have returned from the Helm.” “Excellent. Send him in.”

Tela disappeared and a moment later, Grifad stepped in and shut the door behind him. He offered a curt nod to Briya before he plopped into the open chair. It was clear the newly approved agente was exhausted. “How were things at the Helm?” Elion asked gently. He indicated that Briya was privy to whatever conversation they were about to have. Grifad sighed loudly. “I’m not entirely sure. Whatever Adus did has changed the usual balance of things. Even the spirits at the Helm are unsettled. I think it’ll be some time before balance returns. In the meantime, I suggest we brace ourselves for whatever strangeness may ensue.” Grifad rubbed his face. “Honestly, I think it’d be best if you went to the Helm. As a spirit walker, you’d probably understand things better. You know, have a better insight into what’s going on.” Elion nodded. “Thanks Grifad. You’ve earned a break. Take a few days to yourself.” His former apprentice nodded before he stood and left the office.

Elion looked at Briya, a small smile on his face. “I suppose we have a new lead on our hands. How soon can you leave for the Helm?”

[Victoria]

The Helm. Briya had never been there, it was where the spirits were at their strongest, it was where everything she had been feeling was culminating from. All the unease had just been confirmed with Grifad’s report, why things had been so out of sorts since Zara’s wedding. “I can be ready in an hour,” she answered his question with her own smile. She had to take care of Sol before they could set out on such a journey, but that wouldn’t take her long at all. It was foreign to her though that Elion was actually letting her be a part of this, that maybe, despite his stubborn tendencies, he was actually admitting to himself that he needed her help on this one. But with the spirits seemingly unbalanced, she wasn’t sure what he was hoping to find there. If the spirits couldn’t answer their questions here, what made him think they would get their answers there? They were still dealing with the ever cryptic spirits after all, it wasn’t like they were just going to say where Aria was or how they were supposed to get through to her. They never made things that easy. But on the flip side of that, she had to admit to herself, that perhaps Elion knew more than her on this one. He had been to the Helm before, she had never been allowed. Apparently traveling to the Helm would have only increased her scary voodoo powers as a walker and her parents wanted none of that. They didn’t want to feed into her insanity at all.

Pushing away from the table she was leaning against, she looked at Elion, “I just have to clean up Sol a little before we go,” she explained before heading out of his office to care for her horse. Elion admitting that he loved Aria, to Briya it gave this investigation a new meaning. This wasn’t just the average run of the mill case anymore. This was a love story in the making. If they could find Aria, she had little doubt that there would once again be a wedding celebration. Instead of going to Sol right away when she stepped outside, she wandered around behind the headquarters, into the woods that surrounded Eltal. “Spirits hear me,” she begged, “What are we looking for? What are we trying to figure out?” She knew she wouldn’t get an answer though, the spirits had become very sporadic at best since the last investigation had closed. She shook her head, it was useless to ask them for help. How could they help Elion and Briya, when at the moment, they couldn’t even help themselves.

Heading back out to Sol, she dug through the saddle bag and located the brush she had stashed in there. She started to brush the matted mud from his coat, pick the dirt from his hooves, anything to make this trek a little easier on him. If she did all of this now, perhaps they wouldn’t have to stop as often, they could push through to the Helm that much quicker. Though she really didn’t know just how far the Helm was. Was it only a days ride? Or would it take them longer than that?

She looked up when she heard the door to headquarters push open, only to find Elion making his way towards her, “I’m ready when you are,” she told him before moving to stash the brush and pick she had been using on Sol. But when she opened the saddle bag again, she smiled at the book in there. She had taken it from the library with every intent on returning it, but she hadn’t counted on Elion finding her in the woods when he had. Pulling it out, she flipped through the first few pages, “I can’t believe this was her,” she said, tilting the book up so he could see what it was. The Girl of Two Worlds. “My father used to read this to me before bed every night, mostly because I would throw a fit until he caved to me,” she smiled at that, it was a particular talent of hers. “But he didn’t approve of me reading such frivolous books, I should have been studying and not wasting my time on stories. You have no idea how much I would love to tell him everything, that I was right, she was real. Is real.” Briya shook her head and looked up at Elion with a knowing smile, “I know, I know, I’m not allowed to. But it would just feel so good to prove to him for once that I was actually right about something.”

[athena]

Elion entered the stables, offering a polite nod to some of the agente before collecting Azrel’s tack. As per usual, one of the apprentices and brushed and fed his mare until her chestnut coat gleamed. He smiled to himself. Sometimes the perks of being a dux paid off. Elion was in the midst of saddling Azrel when he heard Briya. “I can’t believe this was her,” she said, pointing to the book in her saddlebags. Elion snorted. “Trust me, we couldn’t either.” He paused to tighten the girth. “And that damned teddy bear...” Elion trailed off, wondering what had become of that bear. In all the chaos of their final moments, he had lost track of it. Had it returned to Springmont with Aria, or was it still in his satchel on the farm? It would have to be something to investigate further when they returned. He shrugged before leading Azrel out to the mounting block.

He swung easily into the saddle and urged her a few steps out so that Briya could mount as well. When he heard she was clear, he guided Azrel through the busy streets of Eltal. The closeness of the buildings and people necessitated the duo ride single file; however, once they cleared the city gates, the lane opened and Briya pulled up beside him. “It’s about a two days ride to the Helm,” he said. “And then a day of sailing to the Helm, and more riding to get to the center. Luckily, the waters are always calm so the horses shouldn’t have too much difficulty in crossing.” Elion hummed quietly to himself for a time, enjoying the fair weather and the peaceful ride. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Briya fidget. It seemed like she was wrestling with a question, but didn’t want to disturb Elion’s peace. Knowing Briya, it was more likely she didn’t know how to phrase the question.

“What is it?” Elion prompted her. She looked somewhat relieved that he had brought it up. She motioned vaguely in the direction of the Helm and stumbled across her words. Elion couldn’t tell if she was asking if a visit to the Helm would help their case or what the Helm was like. Again he shrugged. There would be no harm in answering both questions. Perhaps he’d be lucky enough to actually answer whatever it was Briya had been aiming for. “I don’t know if the Helm will help us. The spirits seem distracted and withdrawn lately. They are more than likely at the Helm. If it won’t help us with the current investigation, it will at least help us understand – as much as we ever can – what is happening with the spirits.” Elion twisted in his saddle and began to root about in his bag for the bread he knew was stashed away. A moment later, he withdrew the loaf, ripped it in half, and tossed the remainder to Briya. She deftly caught it.

“As to the actual Helm, it looks like any other forested island. No shrines or any nonsense like that. It’s more about the feeling of it all.” If Elion had been talking to anybody else, he knew the conversation wouldn’t make sense. But it was Briya, and she would understand. “It is different for everybody, and the experiences and interactions with the spirits also vary widely. My first time on the Helm was overwhelming. I’d never felt so close or connected to the spirits before. And as a walker, they taught me many things about my abilities. I do not visit the Helm often, as it can be draining in so many ways. But it is always rewarding, and the spirits have always been kind and taught me.” He paused a minute to chew his bread and contemplate. “I cannot predict what your experience will be, nor can I predict what the spirits will be like. With the past disturbances, they may not be as friendly as they have in the past. I can make no promises.” Briya nodded in understanding.

The remainder of the day continued much in the same manner. Small talk, questions, and comfortable silence. At times, Elion would take it upon himself to instruct Briya in some of the lessons she would need as an agente. Despite his constant reminders to watch her temper, Briya latched on to his lessons and enjoyed them nonetheless. As the sun began to set, Elion steered them off the main road and onto a small path that led up a hill to a small rocky overhang. A fire pit and some kindling and wood occupied the corner. “This is a popular waypoint for many travelers,” Elion explained. “All we need to do is rest and resupply the wood before we leave.” They spent the evening bantering; it was almost as if they were children again. Finally, the day caught up with both of them, and Elion found himself drifting into a deep sleep.

The next day brought with it a cold, gray rain. It was a rain more closely associated to Ventus than Ager. If it had been closer to Ventus, the weather would not have concerned him. However, it was mid Ager. There should still have been plenty of sun and cooling temperatures. The rain, if any, would have been warm, clinging to the last days of Facis. Elion was unsettled by it, and wondered if it had anything to do with the disturbance at the Helm. Briya seemed to be just as disturbed as he was. Silently, they mounted their steeds and pressed through the dismal weather. Neither felt the need to talk, and so the day passed in drudgery. The daylight seemed to flee even earlier than normal, and Elion pushed Azrel to move faster. He hoped to reach the boathouse before darkness completely settled. Eventually, the faint light of the building appeared, and Elion motioned towards it. Briya only nodded.

They quickly reached the building and led their steeds into the small barn. Elion made sure to towel Azrel off well before he placed the bucket of warm mash in her stall. The mare nickered softly, seemingly appreciative of his offering. Together, Elion and Briya made their way to the boathouse. “Miserable weather out there,” the keeper said as they entered. “Aye,” Elion responded simply. The old man nodded. He did not bother to ask their business. There was only one reason people ever ventured this far. The man waved and led them to a small room kept for travellers. “We’ll leave in the morning,” he said gruffly, “regardless of weather.” Elion nodded before stripping out of his wet clothes, ignoring Briya. They had grown up together and had seen each other naked plenty of times. The thought of changing with her in the room did not bother him in the least, but he still turned his back to her in a show of modesty. As he climbed into one of the many beds, Elion again found himself falling into a deep, exhausted sleep.

The morning arrived gray. The rain had moved out, but it had been replaced with a thick fog, which was not unusual considering the proximity to the ocean. The keeper assured them both that the voyage would be easy, he knew those waters like the back of his hand. Elion clapped the man on the shoulder. “Oh I know,” he said, “you’ve taken me there several times.” The keeper smiled at him, recognizing Elion. “Aye I have young one. You always kick up the spirits. They won’t need much kickn’ now.” Elion nodded solemnly at the gentle warning. Even though the Helm was across the waters, he could feel the unease of it. With a practiced hand, the keeper loaded Sol and Azrel onto the boat before allowing Elion and Briya on. Finally, with a sigh and a heave, the old man cast them out into the still waters. Quietly Elion watched as the murky shape of the island began to form, and with it, the strong sense of disquiet. He looked at Briya. She felt it too. The only comfort he could offer was a small nod and a hand squeeze as they watched the Helm grow closer.

[Victoria]

The helm. She had never seen it before, but Briya could feel the disturbance in the air just as well as Elion could. She wasn’t sure what he expected to get out of this trip, there was clearly something up with the spirits, that for the first time in her life, she actually doubted how much assistance they would be. But something was wrong. There was a sense of imbalance permeating the air around her. It was something she had never felt before. Looking to Elion, she was looking for some kind of explanation, but he seemed to be at just as much of a loss as she was. His hand wrapped around hers though helped her stay grounded on the swaying boat as they approached the island. But that was the effect Elion had always had on her. He was the calm to her wild. Right now they needed the calm. To be able to think rationally, to question the spirits with tact.

As they grew closer still, she started to see the flutter of sprites. Their wings glistening in the dull morning light, she had never seen so many of them in one place before. But this was the helm, home to the spirits and all its kind. Including sprites. She had to get her head on straight if they were really going to do this. She had to keep her resolve about her, she couldn’t let her known temper flare. Not here. She was too in tune with the fire spirits here, there was no telling what would happen if she let herself get out of control on this island. At least for Elion, if he let the spirits in it only produced a flowing calm. But she knew better. Water spirits were known for following the flow, air spirits were flighty and off in the clouds, earth was calm and peaceful. But fire, fire was the one everyone feared. It was why people shied away from her. Possibly more so than they had Elion. Because fire was unpredictable at best. It was positively deadly at its worst.

As the old man pulled the boat into the dock, the unease of the island washed over her with a tidal force. She looked to Elion, she was confused. How had everything with Adus caused all of this? Did any of this have to do with the situation Aria was in? Could they bring her back, or were the spirits just refusing to? She had a million questions dancing through her head, all begging to be answered. But the words felt bitter on her tongue every time she tried to push them from her lips. She was at a loss for anything to say, it somehow felt disrespectful to say anything at all. Not when everything was so up in the air, so chaotic. She understood the keepers warning before they had left the dock on the other side. The spirits didn’t need to be stirred up, there was a buzz in the air, but at the same time everything was still. It was an odd feeling, something just didn’t mesh together the way it was supposed to.

Briya was the first to step off the boat, closely followed by Elion, turning back, she looked up at him. “I’m not sure I understand,” she said, finally finding her voice. “What’s happened?” Elion had taken the time to explain the investigation against Adus. But some things just couldn’t be explained. And this felt like one of those moments. This was the first time in the history of Iriona that someone had waged a war against the spirits directly. The first time man had actually caused a few battle scars. It was something Briya had never felt before, everything around her was in disarray, even the sprites were acting erratically. She had known it was bad, but she hadn’t been expecting this.

[athena]

Elion squeezed her hand reassuringly. He felt the spirits tugging at him, urging him to act and let them in. He hesitated. This much energy was unpredictable, and there was no telling what effect it would have on him. Yes, earth spirits were typically calm, peaceful even. But given this much power, even earth spirits could explode. He thought of earth quakes and landslides. They were both incredibly rare events in Iriona, but they happened when the earth spirits were beyond angry. Elion felt that now. He felt it from all the spirits, and it was a dangerous situation. Under normal circumstances, the helm would be a haven for both walkers. A place for them to explore their gifts and their connection to the spirits.

They stood together on the edge of the island, silent. The horses shifted uncomfortably behind them. Even the keeper was uncomfortable. He pushed away from the island to anchor in the calmer waters off shore. He would wait there for their return. Elion hoped it would not be a long visit. Finally, Briya broke the strained silence. “I’m not sure I understand. What’s happened?” “I’m not sure I understand either,” Elion finally responded. He warily glanced at the woods. “I need to go in there.” The spirits seemed to sigh in approval. Briya looked hesitantly at him, and then to the woods. He knew she felt it too. Perhaps not as strongly, but it was there nonetheless.

He dropped her hand and headed slowly through the thick underbrush into the forest. The sprites buzzed about him, occasionally landing on his shoulders or plucking at his shirt. One particularly tenacious sprite settled at the base of his neck, tickling his ear with its wings. As he pushed through the forest, the little creature continued to cling to his neck, watching him and chirping occasionally. Elion let the being remain; he was more focused on reaching some undetermined point. The spirits, even in their chaos, guided him to a small creek side clearing. The sprite tapped at him, as if it too knew this was the spot he needed to be. Elion turned to check on Briya. A small sprite clung to the top of her head, but she seemed otherwise fine.

“Here is where I need to be. I will be here should the spirits guide you elsewhere. Normally, I would tell you to go, explore, open up. The helm is different and dangerous though. Do as you will, but be cautious.” Briya nodded, her usual fire seemingly dampened. Elion, as the more experienced of the two, should be guiding her through her first trip to the helm. Again, the unusualness of the situation prevented him from being the mentor he should be. He hoped Briya would understand.

Quietly, Elion settled into a seated position, his legs folded and his fingertips brushing the earth. The sprite scurried down his arms to reposition itself on his knee. Elion peaked at it, watching as it struggled to fold its own gangly legs into a mirror of his own. Eventually it settled itself into a similar shape its delicate fingers touching the top of Elion’s knee. It looked at him expectantly, and Elion found himself smiling gently at it. The creature’s behavior was highly unusual. Sprites were typically flighty, and avoided humans. Unless...

Elion paused, looking at the creature harder. For the first time, he noticed the sprite did not look as normal ones did. Its wings did not shimmer, but instead had a muddy color to them. In fact, the whole creature looked like it was covered in a greenish mud. Perhaps this was a result of Adus’ experiments? He had created something new, but they did not have this shape when he had sent them to the helm. Maybe this was the way the helm had dealt with his abominations. As he watched the little creature, he felt the spirits slightly settle. This new being, not truly a sprite, was the purest thing the spirits could create from the mess Adus had created. It watched him with a gravity that was foreign to the average sprite. It was almost as if an earth spirit had taken a new shape. Maybe that was the case. Whatever had happened was beyond his understanding, and it seemed that the spirits had made their point. They had moved on to something else.

Digging his fingers into the soft soil, Elion warily opened himself up to the spirits. They were still agitated and imbalanced. Not nearly as much as they had been upon their arrival, but still unpredictable. He felt his new companion fidget lightly on his knee before the spirits began hurling cryptic images and feelings at him. Fire and smoke, anger, destruction. They were a vague warning of something. Or perhaps a reminder of the past. The ambiguity of it made Elion unsure. Then they paused. The images changed, but grew clearer. They began to paint a story.

He watched in his mind’s eye as a group of people carried an aged woman to the edge of a lake. Gently, they placed her in a boat and pushed it into the still lake waters. It was clear the woman was respected, yet as they hurriedly departed from the lake shores Elion sensed a great deal of fear. A moment later, it began to rain. The lake was no longer still and it seemed to slosh about like water in a bucket. The boat was tossed about in the waves. It capsized. As soon as the woman touched the waters, they stilled. Elion felt the water spirits’ attention drawn to the woman. The water cradled her gently, and then, rather suddenly, she was gone. She disappeared form the lake altogether. The village people looked at each other, but no one said a word. Instead, they silently departed and returned to wherever it was they were from. At that moment, Elion felt a wholeness and sense of exuberance in the water spirits, as if they were welcoming back an old friend.

Again the image changed. Elion started to see himself from above. Vines had crept across the ground and wrapped gently about him. The little sprite had moved back to his shoulder. It watched the forest, almost as if it were guarding Elion. He felt the earth spirits surround him, calm and warm. Then he saw Briya, her own interloper still clinging to her hair as she wandered. The fire spirits called to her, but she did not answer. Or perhaps she was ignoring them. Elion couldn’t tell in the brief time he saw her. Finally, the image settled on a boy. A mischievous grin split his face as he darted in and out of a crowd. Sprites followed in his wake, laughing with mirth. The wind spirits tossed his hair before fluttering away.

The images faded and the spirits finally settled. Elion sat a moment, feeling the water spirits gently nudge him. He felt the imbalance. “Oh,” he breathed, finally understanding the story they had painted. The little sprite tapped his cheek. Elion opened his eyes to see Briya emerging from the depths of the forest. The look on her face indicated she too had had an enlightening experience with the spirits. Gently, Elion pulled the vines away from him. “I think we have what we need,” he said in the quiet calmness that had settled.

[Victoria]

Leaving Elion where he sat, Briya followed the tug on her hair as the small sprite guided her away from him. She had never been to the Helm before, and this wasn’t how she had imagined her first venture to go. The spirits needed them though, they had to figure this out before they could even entertain the idea of trying to find a way to reach Aria. Moving deeper into the forest she could feel something pulling her, it wasn’t the sprite anymore. She didn’t know how to describe it, it was something calling out for her, reaching her very core. It didn’t feel right, something wasn’t making sense to her. Regardless, she followed the call. She knew it was something she had to do. The sprite settled into her mess of raven curls, she could feel the twitch of its wings on the top of her head. She didn’t know how far she had wandered into the forest, she didn’t know how she would find Elion again after she found whatever it was she was looking for. But something told her that she didn’t need to know how to get back to him when the time came. Just that she would find her way back. None of that matter though when she felt the first gush of heat, she could feel it in her feet as it permeated up from beneath her. She didn’t know where she was, but she knew she was getting close.

Emerging from the forest, she found herself standing on the edge of a cliff. She could feel the heat rolling up from its depths in waves washing over her. While most would be frightened, she felt at home. She could feel them then, the fire spirits swirling around her. Pulling at her, calling for her. The sprite on the top of her head moved then, fluttering in front of her until she held out her hand for it to land softly. It watched her with wide, expectant eyes, waiting for her to piece together the riddle laid out before her. Sprites had never been spirit specific, they had been their own entity since the beginning of time. But this one didn’t look like the average sprite. Instead of the usual rainbow, she could see reds and oranges pulsing through the veins on its wings. When she looked at it, really studied it, she could see it. The fire burning bright behind its wide eyes and for a second her heart stopped.

She watched the tiny creature for a long moment before she could feel the fire spirits buzzing around her, beckoning her, tugging her closer to the edge of the cliff. She stumbled forward and her sharp movements jostled the small creature from her hand. It fluttered over the mouth of the gorge, hovering in front of her. She could see it trying to relay a message to her, but without truly calling on the fire spirits she knew it was a lost cause. It wasn’t as simple for her, she couldn’t just sit in the dirt the way Elion could. She had to create it first and while she was surrounded by woods, she found herself at a loss for kindling. She could only hope Elion had a little more insight. She turned to leave, but the sprite shot around her and halted her in her steps. It fluttered forward and grabbed onto a lock of her hair, guiding her back around to face the ledge. “I don’t understand,” she said, trying to convey that maybe she wasn’t the best option to receive this message. But the creature urged her forward until she was standing so close to the edge that the toe of her shoes curled over the sharp rock. Looking down into the cavern, she felt safe standing so close to the edge. Like nothing could touch her. It was when she finally let her eyes drift closed that she saw what they were trying to convey to her. First she caught a flash of four standing in a circle, all joined at the hand, in the center was a roaring fire, the wind swirled around it, the grass grew winding its way into the flames, and then it started to rain. For a moment everything stopped, and then a bright light flashed in the center and she could catch glimpses of other worlds. The vision changed then to something completely different. It all came in flashes, quick and bold. The old woman being pushed out into a lake. The young boy running with the wind, Elion with the trees, when it flashed to her, it zoomed out until she realized that she wasn’t standing at a cliff. She was standing at the mouth of a volcano. The one place fire dwelled beneath the surface. When she opened her eyes, she teetered on the edge before stumbling back.

The sprite let her hair drop and fluttered around her, guiding her back into the forest. It wasn’t long before she reached the clearing where Elion waited for her. She could see in the way he looked at her that he had seen the same things she had. The sprite that had settled in her hair for the journey back flew off, leaving them alone in the forest. She stared hard at Elion for a long moment, trying to make sense of everything she had just been shown. “How many walkers are there?” she found herself asking him, hoping he had some kind of answer for her. But he seemed just as muddled as she was. “I don’t know what just happened…”

[athena]

I don’t know what just happened,” she breathed. Elion motioned her. “Not here. Back at the waypoint.” The spirits had finally settled, and Elion did not wish to disturb them again. Briya nodded and together they silently trekked back to the small boat. The old man had come ashore. “I ferried the horses back,” he said gruffly while eyeing the Helm suspiciously. “I don’t know what you did, but it’s calm.” Elion only nodded before helping Briya clamber into the boat.

As he was climbing into the boat, he felt a light tug at his ear. The little earth sprite looked at him, its eyes pleading. “You should return little friend.” It tugged desperately at him again and looked pointedly at the boat. “I suppose you’ll just come along regardless of what I say.” A grin split its face. “Fine.” The little sprite settled on his shoulder, a smug grin on its face. Elion glanced warily at the woods. He waited for the spirits to flare up in protest, but they never did. Instead, the small sprite that had been pestering Briya zoomed past him and reclaimed its perch in her hair. Elion could only shrug. Sprites had always been independent and willful; these two were no exceptions.

Finally Elion settled into the boat. The old man pushed away from the Helm and began the short trek back to the mainland. They all sat in silence. Well, mostly silence. The little sprites buzzed about excitedly before returning to their perches and chirping at each other. And then they would begin the process again. Both Elion and Briya watched the two sprites in fascination. The creatures had never been known to attach themselves so strongly to a human before. Then again, Elion reminded himself, these were not normal sprites. And they were not normal humans.

It did not take long for the boat to bump against the opposite shore. Before long, Elion and Briya were settled before a roaring fire, a bowl of stew in their hands, and the small sprites zipping about excitedly. Elion sighed, sounding very much like his mother when she was annoyed with her children. “I wonder if they will ever tire out,” he commented as his little sprite performed an exceptionally challenging aerial feet. As if it understood, the small thing settled on his shoulder, chirping happily at him. It is just like a small child Elion thought to himself. “And you will need a name,” he concluded with a mutter. The creature looked at him expectantly. “Elora.” He said firmly, naming the small sprite after his thrice-great grandmother. She had been the previous earth walker, and from all the stories had a personality quite like this little one. Elora nodded in satisfaction before zooming off to pester Briya.

“I think they are a result of Adus’ experiment,” Elion began. Briya gently dislodged Elora from her hair and focused on Elion. “I told you what he did, and I think these are the spirits’ way of coping with it. But I do not think they are the cause of the imbalance we felt.” Briya nodded her agreement. “We no doubt had the same vision. I’m not sure what the first was...it was much too vague. It could have been the contention, or the future. There is no telling. But the rest...well that was the present.”

Elion silently wished that the Helm had been normal. And that circumstances were so. Briya was still so limited in her abilities as a spirit walker, and that was through no fault of hers. Repeated endeavors to the Helm and practicing her gifts would have allowed her to grow. To better understand the fire spirits and control her gifts. To learn the history of the previous fire walkers. Her family had squashed that and stunted her growth. For a moment, Elion felt a flash of guilt. His own family had been supportive of him. They had encouraged his travelling to the Helm, to working in the fields and connecting with the spirits. He should have taken Briya under his wing sooner. Their gifts were not the same, but they had a bond nonetheless. In that brief moment, he vowed to help Briya become not only an agente but also a formidable spirit walker. Something told him she would need those gifts soon.

“Elion?” she nudged him none too gently, bringing him back to the moment. “Oh yes. I think there are four spirit walkers at any given time. One for each spirit. Together we help maintain the balance of Iriona, but it looks as if the water walker has recently died. Iriona was already unsettled before her death, and I think her passing has tipped the balance closer to chaos than we’d care to admit. There is no telling how long it will take for another water walker to be born. I do not know how the process works.” Elion paused. “The other one...the boy...he was the wind walker. I’m sure of it. There’s nothing we can do about the water walker, but I think we should find the boy. It may not help us find Aria, but it will help us understand our history as walkers. And spirits only know what will happen when we unite.” Elion sighed and rubbed his eyes. “It was not what I expected. But then again the spirits never provide that.” He felt Elora’s small hand on his ear in an attempt to comfort him. “Regardless, the spirits have given us this knowledge for some purpose. It’s up to us to figure out just what they mean.”

[Victoria]

Trying to take in everything Elion was attempting to explain to her, Briya kept her gaze focused on the little sprite that kept zooming back and forth between them. She couldn't make heads or tails of what the spirits had shown her, at least not much past the conclusion Elion had come to. There were four of them. Only the four of them. Well, three without the water walker anymore. The spirits worked in funny ways, but there was definitely a message behind what they had shown them both. There was definitely something to be figured out. Elion suggested that they find the boy, the wind walker. But there were so many different towns and cities in Iriona that Briya didn't know how they were even going to start that search, she didn't know how he expected to find one person in all of Iriona. It would take weeks, months even. Briya really wasn't sure they had that kind of time, not based off what she had seen in that fire when it came to Aria. They didn't have time to waste here.

"I would wager a guess that Muula would be our best bet to start trying to find this wind walker. I mean it's where the wind spirits thrive outside of the helm. But then again you and I are from just outside Muula and neither one of us connected with the wind." She shook her head and could feel the sprite that had once again settled in her hair, fly off again. "I guess we set out in the morning then," she added on with a slight glance over at Elion. They would figure this out, they had to figure this out. Not just for the good of Iriona, but for Elion too.

She liked to believe that they were more than just warriors to the spirits, she had read the legends the same as any other child in Iriona had. That the walkers had been born to act as agents of the spirits. That in times of war, the spirits could call on the walkers to defend them. Even if that meant fighting against their own towns, their own people, their own families. It was the lore shrouded in mystery that made people fear walkers. No one really knew where it was they had come from, it wasn't a birth line, the spirits seemed to pick the next walker at random. If it had been a birth line, if it had been that simple than Briya would have had an argument against her family that claimed she wasn't normal. That she needed to forget this fantasy of being some big agente hero and just accept her place in life. Briya wanted to believe that she was meant for something more. That she was meant to be more than just a dress shop attendant. But at the same time she wanted to believe that she could be more than the Spirits right hand man. She didn't know where her place was in this world, everything they were finding, everything they were searching for called all of that into question. As much as she wanted to help Elion, this trip was about finding Aria after all. Briya could only hope that through it maybe Elion could help her find herself too. She didn't have the guidance and support he had growing up. She was the monster in the family that had to just sit down and behave and act like she wasn't given this gift, this power to make a difference.

She knew they needed rest, but their new little sprite friends seemed hardly ready to go to sleep. Briya could feel the tug of exhaustion pulling at her, they would need to sleep before they continued this journey, wherever it was going to lead them. Elora zipped by her, returning to Elion again and her own little sprite friend looked at her expectantly, "I guess you want a name too?" she asked and it just bobbed it's little head in a yes. "How about Adena?" She offered and small creature zipped about happily before settling back in her hair. It wasn't long before the pulls of sleep were too great for her to fight.

The sunlight broke through the barrier of trees that hung over them protectively and Briya blinked her eyes open against the bright morning light. It was certainly a nice change from the drab atmosphere that had surrounded them the day before. Looking over, she wasn't surprised to find Elion already up and ready for the day. They needed to get an early start if they wanted to make any progress at all. While she still stood by her suggestion from the night before about heading to Muula first, hoping the library there might contain something of use to them about the wind walker, she couldn't help but think that it would do them little good. It was the obvious choice, and in her experience, the obvious options was hardly ever the right one.

Straightening out her clothing, she turned to face Elion. She wasn't one that took direction well, she knew that. But she also knew that here she had to bend to Elion's experience and expertise. She had to let him lead the way. They could work together, she could make suggestions, offer a different perspective to be considered, but at the end of the day all the final decisions would fall to him. He knew what he was doing here, and as much as she really didn't like to admit to it, she didn't. But that's why she was here, she needed to learn these things. Not just in regards to her hopeful future as an Agente, but as a walker. She needed to learn what she was capable of, what it meant to be a walker. And not just the stories told when she was a kid. She wanted to know what it really meant to be that connected with her element, to really understand the fire spirits the way Elion understood the earth. At this point, he was the only one she had to show her. So she knew she had to just listen and follow.

"So what now boss?" She asked, "Where do we start?"

[athena]

Elion idly rubbed the leather straps of Azrel’s saddle. He was lost in his own reverie, trying to piece together all the snippets of information and just how exactly it was related to Aria’s return. Azrel shifted beneath him, sensing his mood. For the umpteenth time Elion straightened the saddle, checked the girth and stirrups, and rubbed the skirt. The familiarity made it easy for his mind to wander. Boss? Elion snapped out of his daze. The title sounded foreign coming from Briya. He wondered if more had happened to her at the Helm then she was letting on. She was never one to be so...submissive. Or perhaps she was learning to grow as an agente and spirit walker.

“Yes...” he finally responded slowly. “Muula is a good place to start. Baiae will know something.” Again his mind drifted, recalling how Baiae had spiked such controversy between him and Aria. He suspected that she would be less than pleased to discover he would once again be consulting her. But circumstances were different now. They were both aware of their feelings for each other; there would be no doubts this time. He realized that he was distracted and distant. As an agente and dux he needed to be focused in order to perform at his best. Furthermore, he was doing Briya a great disservice. She had come to him for guidance, and so far he had been failing her.

“When in doubt, check with the dux of the area. We know a surprising amount of information.” He offered her a soft smile. “That seems fairly obvious and yet it took me, and many others, years to realize agentes and duxes of other cities were invaluable resources. If this boy resides in Muula or any of the surrounding areas, Baiae will know. It is one of the various responsibilities of the dux to keep track of walkers in their jurisdiction” At that Briya raised an eyebrow. Elion shrugged. “You technically fall under Baiae’s jurisdiction. If you were to move to Eltal or the surrounding area, then you’d fall under mine. I’m not sure how Baiae runs things – every dux is different – but I’m sure she’s got a little file or something somewhere. Probably just basic information about your residence and such. It comes in handy in these kinds of situations.” Despite Elion’s attempts of comfort, Briya still seemed dismayed about the situation. He only shrugged. “If the wind walker is in Muula or the area, Baiae will know. Getting the information out of her is a different matter.” Elion concluded with a mutter.

Elion turned to Azrel, placing his hands upon the pommel. He paused and thought better of it. Briya had explicitly stated her reasons for joining him: agente training. He could not teach her all that she needed to know. This investigation would only cover field experience. Even then, she would still have to apprentice herself to an agente and complete the necessary pretraining. This would only quicken the process and find her a better mentor. Of course, that was mostly contingent on her reigning in her impulsiveness and harnessing her gifts as a walker. Spirits knew her family did not encourage the exploration that Elion’s did. “Actually,” he began, gradually spinning to face Briya, “we should take this time to work with the spirits and your gifts.” Briya’s eyebrow visibly shot up. It was almost as if it was trying to pull away from her face. The thought made Elion snort.

“I know I don’t have experience with fire spirits and what that feels like, but I am a walker that has figured out a great deal about himself. Besides, now that you have visited the Helm, the spirits should come to you easier than before. Of course, your understanding might be...lacking but with more exposure and practice, you will find that communing and understanding are like breathing.” She looked at him with her characteristic scowl. Elion decided to ignore her and press on. “Most of the learning will rely on you. I can only guide you through my own experiences. It is up to you to discover the path that is best for you.”

With that, Elion settled on the nearby mounting block. “Get comfortable.” Elion paused. “Or do something that will let you clear your head. Our first lesson is awareness.” Briya scoffed, and Elion shot her a stern warning glare. “I do not mean simply being aware that the spirits are there, but really and truly aware in all senses.” He realized that sounded rather vague. Confusing even. A small sigh escaped his lips. This was more easily done than said. “You have to open yourself to the spirits and listen. Filter the information.” Briya opened her mouth to protest. No doubt to complain that there was no fire for her to listen too, or that Elion was crazy. Whichever it was, he would never know. “No. Really listen.” He paused, opening up his own senses. “There is fire deep beneath the earth. There is a campfire a league away; it is being tended by travelling merchants. These woods are old and content, but lonely. They miss travellers. The small garden plot of the ferryman thrums in anticipation of the cold. This stump,” he said patting it, “is proud to serve.” He felt it stretch tall beneath him.

“There is boundless information around you. There is fire deep within the earth that can tell you so much. Perhaps focus on that. Once you’ve gotten the hang of that, you can widen your range of awareness. Eventually, you can feel as far away as you like. Although at such a distance, for me, it is more of a sense or feeling rather than such precise information. For example, the farms in Muula feel dry. Much of this will come through your own exploration, Briya. I can help you only so much, but I will continually encourage you to explore.” He smiled warmly, and a small daffodil popped up and bloomed beside him. “That trick comes later. For now, focus on this. We’ll sit for a while before mounting up.”

[Victoria]

“Fighting against them isn’t helping your case James,” Jack said sternly from the chair next to her bed. They had dared the day before to release her from her prison, strapped to the bed and once again she had let her judgment be clouded by her need to get the hell out of this place. Which, of course, meant she was once again confined to her bed. “This isn’t a battle you’re going to win.”
“Oh bite it Bartlett,” she hissed, “I wouldn’t be in this damn mess if you had just told me what the hell was going on that night,” she challenged and out of the corner of her eye she saw Jack flinch back, instantly sobering her sour mood. “Jack…”
He held up his hand to stop her, “It’s fine,” he told her, but it wasn’t fine. As easy as it was to blame him for what had happened, she couldn’t. It wasn’t his fault. If she didn’t have it in her to blame Elion for stabbing her, than she couldn’t blame Jack for getting her shot. Elion was actually the one behind the sword, Jack hadn’t been the one to pull the trigger. ”If you just play nice, you know they’ll let you out of here,” he reminded her. It was something he had been reminding her of every chance he could get, “I know not getting your way isn’t something you’re used to, but playing by their rules will get you what we all want.”

What the hell did it matter? Getting out of here wasn’t going to change the predicament she was in. She still needed to find a way to contact the spirits and they seemed so adept at ignoring her since her return to Springmount. And her release from the psych floor didn’t mean she was released from the hospital. Her constant fighting back had opened her wound more than once since she had woken up. The pain was sobering, but it hadn’t been enough. “You don’t understand…” she turned her head away from Jack, he would never understand.
“Then make me understand,” he challenged.
Aria shook her head, she knew what talking about Iriona and Elion would get her. Another damn pill, something else to shut her up and put her to sleep, dark and dreamless.
“Aria, just talk to me,” he all but begged of her. If only it were that simple.

Thoughts of Adus, of the investigation, of Iriona clouded her mind. She knew they caught him, but at what cost? She worried for the fate of everyone she cared about there. Lys and Elammin, Zara and Saheer, Briya, Grifad. But mostly it was Elion. She missed him, as infuriating as he could be, she loved him. She was scared not knowing what happened to him out there. And it was damn torture to know there was a chance she would never see him again, that she would never know. It wasn’t fair that she had finally found someone she knew without a doubt that she could be happy with, only for him and everything else to be ripped away from her, thrusting her back into a life and world she wanted nothing to do with. She closed her eyes against the thoughts, trying to will them away before the tears fell from her eyes. She didn’t want Jack to see her cry. But when she finally dared to open her eyes again, she chanced a glance at him. Only to find his chair empty. But in the silence of the room something came back to her. Something that Zara had said to her when Elion had gone after Adus with Grifad, leaving her on the farm with nary a note.

“If you can’t find it in you to believe in your connection to the spirits, believe in your connection to Elion. You’ll know if something is wrong.”

In her frantic desperation to get back to him, she had zeroed in on the ones that had banished her here. The spirits. But maybe that wasn’t the answer at all. Closing her eyes again, she allowed herself to conjure him for the first time since he left her behind at the headquarters. She allowed herself to picture his smile and the way it lit up his eyes, hear his warm laugh, feel his gentle touch even if it was just a phantom against her skin. She allowed herself to feel the weight of the sadness that encumbered her at the idea of a life without him. And she allowed herself to embrace what she already knew. She loved him. And he loved her. As cheesy and ridiculous as it sounded to her, that was going to have to be enough to pull them through.

In that moment, she was granted a reprieve. The warmth spread over her and without a doubt in her mind she knew one thing. Elion was okay. He was alive and he was looking for her.

[athena]

Sonu flew through the streets of Muula, dodging the foot traffic with a skill rarely seen. From time to time he would stretch out a hand. With a feather light touch, Sonu relieved an unsuspecting pedestrian of their purse. At one point in his life he had felt guilt over stealing. He had quickly overcome it. An orphan from a young age, Sonu had no means of income as a child, and the orphanage had only been able to provide for him until his tenth birthday. He had fallen in with a rag tag band of boys.

It was with this band of boys that Sonu discovered his gift. And what a gift it was. The boys encouraged it. Having the sprites as lookouts and the wind as a distraction had helped the gang steal on numerous occasions. It had given them escape routes and warnings. His gift had allowed the band to flourish, and it was only natural that they pushed Sonu to try more. That had been years ago. Now Sonu preferred to work alone. He found that he was more successful that way.

A small sprite tugged at his coat lapel. A pedestrian had noticed his purse had been stolen. “THIEF!” The cry went up behind him. Sonu didn’t bother to look back and see if the man had pointed him out. He had to get of the streets and soon. Sonu looked desperately for the sprite; they usually guided him to a safe location, yet this one had vanished. The sprites and wind had been unpredictable these past few months. Something had happened to stir them up, although Sonu wasn’t sure what could do that. They had been extra fickle, and it seemed today was no exception. A small curse escaped under Sonu’s breath. He could have used the sprites’ help today.

Sonu dodged into a small alley, gaining speed as he turned and twisted through the city. After a few minutes the sounds from the square died down, and Sonu slowed down. His breath came in shallow gasps and he had to pause a moment. The sprite reappeared, laughing at him. Sonu swatted it away. The last thing he wanted was an annoying sprite hanging around. Suddenly, he felt a twinge. Or a tug. He wasn’t sure exactly what the feeling was. It drew his attention though, and he focused on it harder. Something had changed, and something was coming. The feeling was unsettling. He had to get away. Away from this spot to start. Maybe away from Muula altogether. Sonu set off at a jog, not paying attention to where he went. And that is when he ran straight into the line of agente. “Oh shite,” he muttered as an agente found the pouches he had stolen. “Oh shite is right,” the agente responded.

[/div]

[Victoria]

Together they walked their horses into the busy streets of Muula. It felt weird to be back home, to know that she could run into her mother or father in this city. They didn’t come here often, but Haleah wasn’t that far outside the city limits. Briya felt herself on edge at the very thought that she could run into one of them. She really wouldn’t put it past her father to attempt to drag her back to the farm. Keeping her eyes open as she followed Elion through the crowded, bustling streets Briya’s gaze flitted from one face to the next as people passed by. What she wasn’t counting on was someone coming up from behind her.
“Bri?” a voice called and she froze mid step. Maybe if she kept walking, they would figure it was a mistake and keep moving. But there was no such luck. Suddenly he was in front of her, “Briya.” He looked at her and she felt a smile pull at her lips.
“Oh thank the spirits,” she answered shaking her head, “You sound so much like Victor,” she accused, smacking her little brother on the arm. “I thought I was in for it.”
Felix shook his head, “Father and Victor are still in Haleah,” he confirmed, “Mother needed new fabrics, so she sent Emery and I to retrieve her order.” Briya glanced around for her third brother. Emery had always been on the fence. He wanted to make their father and Victor proud, but he had also always been fascinated by his older sister’s gift with the spirits. Briya was the only one in her family to connect with the fire spirits, it had proven to be a challenge. “Emery knows the truth Briya, he’s been helping me keep Victor and Father at bay.”
She sighed with relief, “What would I do without the two of you,” she answered, pulling her youngest brother into a hug.

She looked up over Felix’s shoulder at Elion, who had stopped. They needed to keep moving if they wanted to make it to the Agente Headquarters and still have time to question Baiae about the supposed air walker that ran through her jurisdiction. But it was so nice to see a familiar face, besides Elion. “I’m going to need you to keep them off a little longer,” she told Felix. But glancing up she saw Emery coming down the street. He smiled when he saw her, shaking his head slightly.
“Always causing trouble Bri,” he accused.
She huffed at that, “Something big has happened, Elion and I are trying to figure out exactly what that is,” she tried to explain. “You know Father and Victor don’t approve of my gift, but Elion is helping me understand it a little better too. But we need more time. So please, do whatever it takes to keep Father and Victor off my tail,” she begged.
Emery nodded, “You got it sister,” he promised.
Felix looked back over his shoulder at Elion, “I don’t like it Bri,” he confessed, “I don’t like that you’re in danger.” He sighed, “But I know you have to do this,” he admitted. “We’ll do our best. We won’t tell Father or Victor that we saw you. Right now they assume you’ve run off to Eltal.”

Briya smiled, quickly hugging both of her brothers, “You two are life savers,” she told them sincerely.
Felix nodded, “Just be careful Bri, whatever this is, just be careful.”
She smiled, “I will,” she promised.
Emery looked back at Elion, “You hear that,” he challenged, though he smiled all the same, “Take care of our sister out there.”
Briya reached out and smacked Emery in the arm this time, “You both know damn well I can take care of myself,” she chastised. But she slipped around both of her brothers, “I’ll be sure to write,” she promised before turning to catch up with Elion.

As they started down the street again, she sighed, “Is it always hard to leave your family?” she asked him, “They’re the only two who really give a damn about me, it’s hard not seeing them every day.”

[athena]

Briya’s younger brothers fixed the agente with a pointed stare. If they had hopes of making Elion uncomfortable, they would have to try better. “You hear that? Take care of our sister out there!” one of her brothers shouted at him. Elion only listened with half an ear; the insistent tugging he had felt since they left the helm had become clamorous and unrelenting since their arrival in Muula. It demanded his attention. Even Elora seemed preoccupied with the strange tugging. Elion could only assume that it was the spirits pulling him towards the spirit walker. He distantly heard Briya claim she could take care of herself. Under normal circumstances Elion would have made some pointed comment about it. Instead he bowed his head slightly, acknowledging all the siblings demands and statements. He watched as Briya gave her siblings a tight squeeze before he turned and pushed his way towards Muula’s headquarters.

Briya joined him only moments later. “Is it always hard to leave your family?” “In a way,” Elion responded. “You get accustomed to the time away, and missing them. But we write often, and I know I will see them again. I suppose that helps.” Briya nodded as they continued to push their way through the crowd. In all his visits to Muula, Elion had never found the city to be in such a state of disarray. Even during festival times there was some sort of order. He spotted an occasional agente, but the usual patrols were noticeably absent. What was Baiae doing? A sharp tug told Elion they were close. “Do you feel the pull?” he asked Briya. “We are close.” He did not wait for her answer. Instead, he pushed the wrought iron gates open and entered Muula’s agente headquarters. That the gates were closed was another sign something was amiss.

Normally, the place was lively with people and agente bustling about. Today Elion saw barely a soul. He led the way to Baiae’s office and entered without a knock. The woman was stooped over her desk, pouring over documents. An air of weariness hung about her, and the usual energetic playfulness was gone. “Baiae.” At the sound of her name, the dux’s head popped up. “Elion,” she replied tiredly. “I didn’t expect to see you back in Muula so soon.” He only shrugged his shoulders. “I’m afraid I will not be of much assistance to you this time around. We’ve had a lot of crime and unrest in the weeks since you and Aria left. All my energies are going to rooting out these new gangs.” She looked at him hopefully, as if the Eltal dux was there to offer his support. “We won’t keep you long. I’m working on another case, and I would like access to your records of the spirit walker in your jurisdiction.” Baiae’s sculpted brow rose noticeably. “I’m...I’m afraid I don’t have any. There are no walkers here.” Elion’s eyes narrowed; he knew she was lying. After all, Briya technically fell under Baiae’s jurisdiction. He had seen her files in this very building.

With a sigh, Elion passed his hand across his eyes. He would not press this issue farther. “Very well,” he said slowly. “I would like to see your holding cells. Perhaps there is somebody there who matches the description.” Elion felt Briya’s eyes boring into his back. Baiae looked surprised before she quickly regained her composure. “Fine,” she almost snapped. “But your friend isn’t going.” Elion fixed her with his own hard stare. “My friend is Briya, and she is my apprentice. She will be going with me.” He could see the fight rise up in Baiae before she squelched her outburst. “Fine.” She tossed the keys to Elion. “You know the drill.” Elion bowed his head in thanks before wheeling from the room. “He’s here Briya,” he whispered as they headed towards the cells. “I can feel him enough to know that it’s a man.”

Turning down a stairwell, Elion led Briya to the underground holding cells. He had never cared for keeping holding cells underground. Actual prisoners, perhaps. But people who were there merely for a few hours? It seemed cruel. He was not the dux here though, and he would not pick a fight with Baiae. Not today, and not over this. Deftly, Elion unlocked the door and ushered Briya in. He pulled the heavy wooden door shut behind him. The pull was stronger. Without much thought, he let it guide him as he peeked from cell to cell. As he approached the final cell, Elion knew without a doubt that this man, no boy his senses told him, was the wind walker he and Briya sought. He peered into the dark cell. “Hello...” Sonu the spirits supplied. “Hello Sonu,” Elion said calmly, watching as surprise, suspicion and finally fear flicker across the boy’s. “We’ve been looking for you.”
/div]