Humans’ final keep, in this part of the world at least, was a singularly unimpressive holdout, but he had seen worse. They’d chosen a location that was defensible, for what it would be worth to them when the local lord finally decided to move on them. The approaches were few and narrow. The city itself had its back to the waters of the great Atalan Sea, approachable only from a single avenue.
That would ultimately prove their end, Kaern guessed. Only one way in meant that there was only one way out as well, and when that way had already been overrun by demonic hordes…well, running wasn’t an option.
Best hope they’ve a plan to stand and die, Kaern thought darkly as he turned away and began trudging once more toward the wastes. Better that than to live under the talons of a Fal lord.
He tried not to think too hard on the young human he’d just left in the path of that inevitable oncoming wave. Destiny, prophecy, these were words he had long since learned to respect in whatever language they were spoken.
Respect and fear.
Kaern well knew that many considered destiny to be the ultimate fate of all things, that there was no free will, just predetermination.
He knew better.
Destiny wasn’t predetermination, otherwise Kaern would view the whole situation through rather apathetic eyes and like as not ignore the entire thing. He knew from deep experience that while many things in creation were, in fact, predetermined…destiny was not one of them, though it was a counterintuitive thing to understand.
Destiny was the ultimate expression of free will, a point in the history of a universe when choice could truly make a difference.
Most decisions made by men were inconsequential. Turn right, turn left…either way, your decision would quickly merge back with the mainstream of the unfolding river of time. Most choices barely diverged at all from the trunk line universe. Some diverged enough to briefly become full-fledged alternate worlds in their own right, but even those would inevitably and quickly—by universal scales, at least—fold right back into the breath of time.
A destiny event, however…that was something else entirely.
That was a point where the universe could be struck just so, sending a portion off at such an angle that it all but permanently diverged from the trunk line. It was the point of creation for an entirely other world, a different universe that would become a trunk line in its own right.
A glorious thing, to be sure, but birth pains were legendary among mortals. The pain of a newly birthing universe could be no less, and for those who were at its epicenter…rarely survivable with one’s mind fully intact.
No, Kaern had no wish to be anywhere near a destiny convergence in the making, and it wasn’t his business anyway. This was a human affair.
Not my concern at all.
He forced the image of a burnt and bloodied little girl, staked out in the desert, from his mind as he consciously made his feet take one step at a time away from the human city.
*****
Elan found herself feeling very alone as she sat out in the open air, back to the farm home. Daylight was making its appearance known in the slowly lightening sky, and she’d already been up for an hour. She wasn’t used to sleeping late, nor was anyone else in the house. For now, she was just grateful for the shelter and care, but soon Elan knew that she’d have to find a way to contribute.
Simone had been quietly comforting, as if dealing with Kaern and his attitude were an old skill she’d brought out of the past with ease. Elan was doubly grateful for that, actually, as the man’s explosion the night before had left her utterly lost within her own mind.
The fact that he hadn’t been human, that just didn’t make any sense.
Demons were monsters. They killed and destroyed. Demons didn’t save an injured girl, patch her up, and get her to help. Elan didn’t know how to deal with the disconnect she was facing. The internal break was just too much for her. She’d been trying to work it out since the night before, but all she could manage was to decide that Kaern couldn’t be a demon.
Maybe he wasn’t human, maybe he was even technically linked to demons somehow, but he couldn’t be one.
“Feeling better?”
Elan twisted, then started to rise as Simone stepped out of the house. “Yes, thank you. I can help…”
“Sit,” the big woman said, pushing her gently but firmly back down. “You’ll have things to do soon enough. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Someone?” Elan blinked. “Who?”
“He should be…ah, there he comes,” Simone said, eyes focusing off in the distance.
Elan turned, eyes falling on a shadowed figure walking out of the east, his back to the lightening sky. As he got closer, she made out the trim and well-muscled form of a young man who couldn’t be much older than she was.
She instantly felt warmer and for a moment worried if she was becoming ill again, but her attention was held quickly by the newcomer as he stepped into the large yard of the farm.
“Caleb,” Simone said, “meet Elan. She’ll be joining you for your lessons, but she’s been injured so none of your usual nonsense.”
“Yes’m,” the boy said with a half crooked grin, eyes falling to Elan for a moment before he nodded. “Nice to see you.”
“And…you too,” she stammered out, swallowing.
“You alright?” he asked, concerned.
“She was raised alone,” Simone said. “Elan will have some troubles until she gets caught up.”
Caleb nodded amiably. “Well, I’m sure we can get her caught up fast. What is it today, Simone? Planting schedule?”
“No, swordplay,” the big woman answered.
The boy perked up instantly. “Really? That’s usually not until fifth day.”
“Times are changing, son. We’ll be working it more often, for both of you. You brought yours?” Simone asked.
“’Course.”
“Good. Elan has one of her own as well. We’ll do forms today.”
Simone saw them outside and around to the back of the house, where a small workout arena was waiting.
“I want you to start, Elan,” Simone said as she gestured to the middle of the ground.
Elan nodded, a little nervously and a fair bit self-consciously. She wasn’t used to being watched, and so many new faces were making her feel weird. She was trying to avoid looking at Caleb, not really knowing why, but the blond boy made her feel like she was constantly doing something foolish.
Not knowing what else to do, she took the blade she had…acquired from the bandits and walked to the center of the ground, dropping into the first stance her father had taught her.
Simone frowned, cocking her head to one side, but said nothing as she gestured for Elan to continue.
Elan struck out with the blade, exactly as she’d been taught, then withdrew to the first block position before transitioning to the second strike. Her heart stopped hammering in her throat as she fell into the old way of doing things, happy to be going through motions that made sense to her.
So she moved through all the motions she had been taught, then began the cycle a second time before Simone spoke up and stopped her.
“That’s enough,” the woman said with an odd frown on her face. “I’ve seen what I need to. Who taught you, Elan?”
“My father,” Elan answered, eyes dropping to the ground for a moment.
Simone nodded, as if having expected as much. “Tell me,” she asked, “was your father a large man?”
Elan looked up, her smile almost eclipsing the sadness reflected in her eyes. “He was the biggest in the world.”
Simone chuckled. “I think you may be surprised by the variety you’ll find in the world, even today, child…but for now I’m afraid we’ll have to start your training from the beginnings again.”