Ignis

By Kate Copeseeley

Nikka, Zyander, and Luka have returned, though one of them is no longer in the nation of the Five Tribes.
Nikka is still reeling from the damage she took during her stay with the Terris. Her body and her powers are broken. Can she still help her tribe, despite it?
Zyander has been thrust into leadership of his tribe, but will discover that no path to power is without hardships.
Luka has gone with Khara to her island of griffins. She promised him an army to fight against Surgal, but life among the others of her kind is as terrible as she hinted.
Great change is coming; are they prepared to fight for the survival of their home?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate Copeseeley
• Release date: Mar 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370349555

Kate Copeseeley

Kate grew up in a household of vociferous readers. Whether via womb or some other kind of nefarious brainwashing, Kate herself also became a vociferous reader, devouring books in just about every genre imaginable.It wasn't long before this led to writing her own stories (in every genre imaginable).

Book preview

Ignis

Kate Copeseeley

Book Description:

Nikka, Zyander, and Luka have returned, though one of them is no longer in the nation of the Five Tribes.

Nikka is still reeling from the damage she took during her stay with the Terris. Her body and her powers are broken. Can she still help her tribe, despite it?

Zyander has been thrust into leadership of his tribe, but will discover that no path to power is without hardships.

Luka has gone with Khara to her island of griffins. She promised him an army to fight against Surgal, but life among the others of her kind is as terrible as she hinted.

Great change is coming; are they prepared to fight for the survival of their home?

Text Copyright © 2017 by Kate Copeseeley

Cover Image Copyright © 2017 Bethel Stoddard

World Map Image Copyright © 2011 Lindsey Anderson

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of the publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is hands down dedicated to all my fans. You have commented and emailed, and been a beacon of light to my writerly soul.

Without your praise and attention, I might never have succeeded this far. I wrote this book with all of you in mind and I hope you love it as much as I do.

Pronunciation Guide

Characters:

Nikka (Ni like Knee -Kah)

Zyander (Zi like High -and -er)

Alea (Ah -lay- ah)

Luka (Luk like Luke -ah)

Adjudah (Ah -Judah ) The D is silent

Jilli (Jill like the name -i is a long eee sound)

Alys (Like Alice, but with a long aaa sound)

Keran (Kee-ran)

Hama (Hae like day-mah)

Koen (Koe like Roe -en like hen)

Joah (like Noah)

Etho (long e -th -long o)

Kanae (Kan like can -ae like day)

Salia (Sal like Paul -ia)

Roder (Rod like Road-er)

Surgal (Sur like Sir-gal like doll)

Keev (K-eev like sleeve)

Citen (C-iten like frighten)

Khara (Khar like car-ah)

Tribes and Titles:

Aquis (Aqu like aqua -is like hiss)

Aeris (Aer like air -is like hiss)

Terris (Terr like air -is like hiss)

Ignis (Ig like big -nis like hiss)

Sanguis (Sang like sang –gu like the gu in iguana -is like hiss)

Divinaris (div like divide -in like in -aris like Aeris)

Compis (com like comma -pis like hiss)

Duor (sounds like drawer without the r)

Roaneu (roan like loan -eu like ewww)

Lumenta (lum like loom -en with a short e -tah)

Places:

Praete Lines (like plate with an r)

Praetra (praet like plate with an r -trah)

Abira (Ah -bir like beer -ah)

Awatha (Ah -wa like wall with an l -thah)

Akme (Ahk -me like may)

Napalin (Nap like nap -al like all -in with a long ee sound like between)

COMPIS:

There is a nation of tribes; a place where common magic is used alongside elemental magic. In this world of tribes, there are five elements and five tribes that harness them.

Aquis to harness water, fishing, and weather magics

Aeris to harness air, engineering, and inventing magics

Terris to harness earth, growing, and animal husbandry magics

Ignis to harness fire, crafting, and creative magics

Sanguis to harness blood, healing, and potion magics

Here we meet three characters:

Zyander, son of High Council member Adjudah, member of the Ignis

Nikka, daughter of Duor Culten, born into the Aeris

Luka, born into the Aeris

GATHERING

Nikka and Zyander meet during the first year’s gathering, when each 17 year old is chosen for the tribe they will be Inducted into at the end of the year. They have a gathering romance, a common ritual for the many young attendees. Nikka comes from a prosperous tribe and a normal life. Zyander is a bitter member of a tribe that was decimated by the sickness, which left them at a fraction of their number, with practically no magic. His tribe is the poorest in their nation, and as a result, he has a hard time moving past the envy he feels for the other tribes.

When Nikka is chosen to be Compis, a magical being with the ability to harness any element she chooses, their bond is shattered. As Compis, Nikka will also choose her own tribe, something the two of them didn’t take into account when they said goodbye. Now there is a chance they will see each other again, that they might be able to explore deeper feelings for each other, maybe even fall in love.

However, when Zyander is packing to leave for home, he is treated to a lecture by his father on the ethics of being involved with the Compis and they argue and part. Zyander decides to travel down to the forgotten city—Abira—with his friend Alys and search for a way to bring back the power of Ignis magic.

Luka is heartbroken at being parted, through Initiation, from his beloved May. She was chosen for Aeris, he for Terris—the most conservative and introverted tribe in the Five Tribes. He briefly considers joining the tribeless and his friend Ryd—a new acquaintance, but he decides to stay with his new tribe, in the hopes that he can use the extra time to convince May to join him when he runs away.

NIKKA

Nikka travels with Jilli to her home of the season, in Mokar of the Aquis territory. She is introduced to Jerem, Jilli’s handsome nephew and his friend Luba. She is also introduced to Agga, Jilli’s house servant, who is one of the Sea Mothers and Fathers. It’s clear from the start that Agga holds little respect for her employer, when she tips Nikka off to her spying ways. Nikka quickly learns that her talents set her apart from the other Initiates, with whom she has nothing in common and who make her something of an outcast because of her talent.

She seeks out Jerem and Luba and spends time with them instead of on her spell work. Agga is there to tutor her in what she needs to know of common magic, in any case. The little creature has an aptitude for common magic that exceeds many others and she takes up the task of molding Nikka’s great power. Everything is progressing fine until Nikka sees another, darker side of Jerem. The new side of him is abusive, and angry toward his own small servant, Joaga. When Nikka sees that, her world is turned upside down. She realizes how little she knows everyone in the Aquis tribe. This is when she dreams for the first time.

Nikka has two dreams. The first dream is about a seal who is taken by net from its watery world and when it emerges from the net on the deck of a boat, it turns into a being very much like Agga. These creatures are the Roaneu. Her second dream features Jilli, who is holding the pelt of a transformed Agga. She cuts the pelt and forces Agga to bend to her will. Nikka awakens, determined to save her friend, even if there is no way to save all of the Roaneu.

With the help of her powers and some of her new knowledge of Aquis spells, she breaks into Jilli’s workshop to find the pelt and use it to set Agga free. In the process, she finds a folder labeled Ignis and sends it to Zyander. She then retrieves the pelt, takes it and Agga to the beach and after making her promise to come at Nikka’s call, watches her leave.

Unfortunately, Jilli felt the loss of power from the pelt and is there to greet Nikka after her release of Agga. Jilli is clear with Nikka that Agga’s loss is nothing and she will have another servant by the end of the day. Nikka vows to save all the Roaneu from their slavery, and she packs up her things and uses the principles she learned from Agga to transport herself back to the Citadel.

ZYANDER

Zyander, meanwhile, has gone to new settlement and joined up with his friend, Alys, to start their long journey down to the forgotten city. Alys may not believe that they can save the Ignis, but he is always eager to try a new adventure.

During their wet journey southward, Zyander is plagued by a series of dreams:

In the first dream, he is introduced to a vixen. She tells him she was sent by Iam, that she will usher him through Napalin, and that she can see his magic, which is strong. He has a golden palm printed on his chest.

In the second dream, she takes him to a secret waterfall—the sacred birth place of Aeris magic. The vixen tells him that water runs through the earth and the bodies of the creatures in it. She has him swim in the falls and the pond at the foot of it. She tells him that the Five Elements were given to the Five Tribes and the common magics were given to the animals. Humans share common magic in order to stay connected with Iam’s creations.

In the third dream, the vixen makes him climb the Cliffs of Iverside, and tells him that there is no cure for the effects of the sickness. Better that he should consider his tribe forever changed, she says. She also alludes to an important truth that the Five Tribes leaders may not have grasped. All of the elements must remain in balance together. If one element dies, they all do. Iam is invested in saving the tribes. Then she pushes him off the cliff and he flies.

In the fourth dream, they walk into a sacred oak grove, where the vixen made him climb a giant oak and pluck a large acorn from one of the branches. When he lands back on the ground, she has him plant it in the soil. Earth is where we’re born, she says. It grows our food and gives us a grave when we die.

In the Fifth and final dream, she takes him into a cave, where there is a bowl and sharp spike waiting. She tells him that blood is the trickiest of the elements. Blood is not an element of the earth; it was given solely to the beings that live on it. Blood came from Iam directly, and is one of the reasons why the Sanguis are so powerful. Zyan cuts his hand and the blood drips into the bowl. When he wakes up, the cut is still on his hand.

When Zyander and Alys have almost reached the forgotten city of Abira, they are greeted by the fox herself, who until now, Zyander has supposed to be imaginary. She takes them down into the city and leads Zyander to a building that houses the Shining Stones. They represent the magic of his tribe.

She tells Zyander that Ignis magic is not just representative of fire, but also of life’s spark. It is the soul of the five elements and the reason the Ignis were once powerful. She also tells him there is a reason the phoenix is a sacred creature to the Ignis: Their magic can die and yet be reborn. All that is required of him is to smash the stones with the hammer on the wall. He smashes the stones and a great magic overwhelms him. He collapses to the ground, unconscious.

LUKA

Luka is heartbroken and feels out of place among the Terris. He is not allowed to write to May. He can’t figure out what his Lumenta—beast of the soul, which every Terris transforms into—is and he gets stuck with Kanae, his new mentor, because she is a carpenter, like his parents were. He’s made some friends: Joah, Brelle, and Grem, though overall, he feels compelled to stay alone.

He is surprisingly talented at common magic and dreams of flashing feathers and bloody prey, but still, his Lumenta eludes him. Finally, near the close of the season, he goes with the other Initiates to make a call for his Lumenta, and all are surprised at the shrill shrieking cry that escapes him. His Lumenta doesn’t appear, however, so he goes about his business.

It’s only when he runs off to the woods alone, after a distressing conversation with one of the Duor, that he finally meets his Lumenta. It’s a griffin and it is very irritated with him for calling it.

AERIS:

NIKKA

Nikka ends up at the Citadel alone, which is fine because the Divinaris welcome her with open arms. Her accelerated progress in common magic is confusing to the Divinaris, who point out that the other Compis, Samain, has no such gifts. They promise to keep it a secret, though.

After the fallout with the Ignis and the threat of the Terris to pull out of the Five Tribes altogether, Nikka has to throw her weight around and force them to remain, for now. She then joins Salia, the leader of the Aeris, at her house and gets ready to begin the season.

Almost at once she is confronted by the idea that all her personal information and progress is being recorded in a file that is being passed around between all the most important politicians in the Five Tribes. When she demands to see it, the Divinaris woman refuses and Nikka loses her temper, transports herself elsewhere, and meets the vixen, who agrees to take a turn as a magical tutor.

While the fox teaches her common magic, Nikka also agrees to learn Ignis magic with Zyander and the others in his group, although he takes a firm stance on public displays of affection. After witnessing May and her flirtation with Salia's assistant, Roder, that might not be a bad thing.

It isn't until Salia invites her to a local gala that Nikka suspects anything strange is afoot. But a pair of worried parents show up, and from the way Roder whisks them away, Nikka knows that something bad is happening. She makes it her mission to find out.

Through a series of investigations, she discovers that the parents of the Aeris are involved in a hideous pact with Salia. In return for eternal life, they enter their children in a yearly lottery. The child chosen is drained of blood, which is made into an elixir for all the new Inductees to drink.

The problem is, it's really just a scheme for Salia to give herself long life, with no regard for anyone else. Not only that, but Nikka discovers that her own sister, Roane, was one of Salia's victims. And that her parents have wiped the memories of her sister from her mind.

When Nikka unveils the truth, Salia and her husband are placed under arrest, but no one cares that the other tribe members escaped with little or no punishment.

In the final days of her stay with the Aeris, Nikka learns that her sister is strangely impervious to magic. Blinding spells and memory wipes don't work on her. When Nikka looks to see what magic her sister may have, she sees a strange mix of all the magical elements that are wrapped up in her sister's body. She isn't sure what to make of it, however.

LUKA

During the gathering, Luka manages a reunion with May, and the two not only reforge some of the bonds they'd had before Initiation ripped them apart, they create some new ones. But they are once again parted before Luka can get her to promise to run away with him.

Meanwhile, he learns that the griffin that he called is named Khara and she is a Sharina (or ruler) of a griffin kingdom far away. She and Luka are off to a rough start, miscommunications abound, but somehow, they end up friends. In the midst of their getting to know each other, they discover they can share memories, somehow. Luka learns that she ran away from home because of pressure to mate and have heirs for the kingdom. Khara volunteers to teach Luka all about being a griffin, so he'll be able to transform into his Lumenta when the time comes.

Kanae is surprised by his early return from the gathering, but then again, the whole tribe is abuzz over what is going on with the Ignis, whom they see as being punished by Iam. There are rumors of a secret army in the Terris, and tribe members disappearing from among them.

When Khara comes back from hunting one day with a strange tale about what she's seen in the woods, she allows Luka the large favor of riding on her back and takes him to see an army encamped in the woods, led by a Terris with a bear Lumenta.

Luka hurries back to tell Kanae, but is greeted by a letter of rejection from May. After a period of grieving, he finds Kanae and they set off for the camp on foot, so Kanae can see if she recognizes anyone. They're very concerned about a takeover from Koen's secret council.

When they get to the army's camp, they do indeed find someone Kanae knows: Surgal, the leader of the army. When she shouts his name, the soldiers kill her and take Luka captive.

He spends some time working like a slave (literally), then ends up conscripted into Surgal's army, where he spends most of his days getting pounded on by the other recruits. He does manage to extract one piece of information from Surgal, though. The man intends to start a revolution.

ZYANDER

Zyander finds out that his actions have far-reaching consequences when he is informed by his sister that his entire tribe has collapsed. Meanwhile, he has settled into the abandoned house of a former tribe member: Finaell. The man was something of an experimenter, and his theory of Scientia turns out to be a big help to Zyander. Zyander learns he's going to have to write the new spells for Ignis from scratch.

After Alys and the other tribe members wake up, he and Zyander set out to form a team of spell makers, trying to rewrite spells that haven't worked for years. The group has to stay hidden from the elders, especially because the elders found out about Zyander's doings in Abira.

Adjudah brings word in the midst of their work. The elders want Zyander to come to them and stand trial for his so-called crimes.

And so, Zyander answers their endless questions about the fox, and the stones, and his new views on magic. All seems to be going well, until an elder by the name of Leena pays him a late night visit. She confesses that even though she doesn't remember much of what happened during the time of the sickness, she has learned that the elders knew all about how to reset the Ignis' magic. They knew that all they had to do was smash the stones and all the tribe's magic would be restored. But they chose not to do it, because they wanted so badly to hang on to the power of the past.

This truth tears Zyander up inside, because he sees this as being the reason his mother didn't survive his sister's birth and the strange fatigue that inflicted her. Zyander loses his temper before the elders, and swears never to reveal the secrets of their new magic. In return, the elders banish him from Awatha and Labaria, threatening to kill him if he ever shows his face again.

Still, he gets called back by Leena when horrible monsters attack the new settlement. Two of them, weird creatures with human-like faces and barbed tails, cut through several ranks of Custaps before Zyander uses his limited magic on them.

It's clear that the Ignis are no longer safe in their own cities. What's also clear is that they need to move everyone to the newly protected city of Abira.

Terris:

NIKKA

Nikka is delivered to the Terris and notices at once that she can't find her friend Luka. When she asks the Duor about it, she is told that he disappeared during the previous season and no one has been able to find him. He is presumed dead.

She spends the first part of the season investigating his disappearance, which leads her to the campaign of one new candidate for High Council member to replace Koen. His name is Carse and he is suspected to be responsible for a rash of disappearances in the tribe. These tribe members were disillusioned and unhappy living in a conservative tribe like Terris. People even left behind husbands and children with no word.

Meanwhile, Nikka visits with Zyander in the woods and meets his new griffin friend, Khara. Zyander and Nikka grow closer, learning magic together, talking, and caring for Khara's injuries.

When she and Zyander disagree over the best way to put a protective barrier around his camp, she insists that her way is better. This decision comes back to haunt her when Zyan is attacked and almost dies. He and Nikka quarrel in the ensuing days and she hides away at Koen's house, focusing on her previous investigation.

The investigation gets closer and closer to finding out what's going on, when voting day arrives, bringing all sorts of surprises, the first of them being that the candidate who won the most votes steps down from his position in favor of a man named Surgal—who was never even candidate.

The man shows up at the house where she is staying with Koen to claim guardianship of her and to trick her into wearing strange metal arm bands that make her so sick she passes out.

In the weeks following, Nikka discovers she can no longer do common magic, though she is able to do some elemental magic with effort. She stays with Surgal and Luka in a large farmhouse, training as a soldier when she has the energy for it. She also starts dreaming about Surgal's time among the Phasma, eventually discovering that he has two children, Jordan and Lewis, still living in that land.

During the rest of the season, Surgal continues to isolate her from the rest of the tribe, and insists she swear an oath of loyalty to him. When she steadfastly rejects the idea, and even refuses to stay out of Surgal's way while he enacts his long-term plans, he threatens to harm everyone she loves. When she still refuses, he tries to kill her using the armbands.

She escapes by transforming into her Lumenta, the phoenix. She makes contact with Zyander again, and they renew their relationship. By the time the season ends, she makes a bargain with Surgal anyway, agreeing not to interfere with him in return for the safety of her friends and family.

ZYANDER

Zyander offers up Abira to his tribe members after the New Settlement is attacked by a hideous creature. The tribe moves to the city and the elders promptly banish him to Napalin, where he spends his days meditating and practicing his magic.

He is eventually warned away from using magic in the forest by the Unoria. They are miniature black horses with horns. They tell him that his magic is a beacon to the other magical creatures in the forest, who will use it to hunt him and kill him.

Days later he discovers a griffin (Khara) in a trap who is slowly dying of starvation. The trap was made by a sphinx who captures him as well. Using magic, Zyan is almost able to free himself and the griffin, but the sphinx surprises them and tries to kill them. Fortunately (or unfortunately) a basilisk who has been hunting Zyander by scenting his magic comes to claim him as its meal.

While the sphinx and the basilisk fight over him, Zyander frees himself and Khara and they fly off toward his camp, but not before Khara is injured by the sphinx's claws. She is able to make it back to his camp, but collapses soon after, from blood loss and exhaustion.

Over the next few weeks, he tries to make friends with the prickly griffin, but it isn't until they are both almost killed by the basilisk again (her wing and his arm) that they truly bond. A group of unoria save their lives, but Zyander has a dead limb as a souvenir of his battle.

Soon after he and Nikka fight over the loss of his arm, Timbric and Alys come to find him with good news: the elders have been deposed and Zyander himself has been picked to lead his people.

He reluctantly agrees to accept the burden, but doesn't want to change his life until he is attacked in the middle of the night by an assassin. Zyander is kept from death by Alea, and healed by Mordra—who is disturbed by an Ignis leader who is so young.

Meanwhile, his friends, Daen and Kala, have taken Finaell's teachings to heart and now plan to eschew many of the Five Tribes tenants in the Treaty, including the blinding spell.

As if he didn't have enough to worry about, Surgal, the new leader of the Terris requests an alliance. Zyander remains suspicious of the man's motives, especially when Nikka tells them that Luka discovered there is a spy among them: Golan, who is looking more and more likely as the person who initiated the attack against Zyander. There is an investigation that frames the former elder as the culprit. The man is also proven to have tried to orchestrate an uprising. The man is taken and put on house arrest until he can be tried for his crimes.

Zyander meets with him, and Golan denies everything, confessing something that few but the elders are aware of: Roar is a house of assassins who hire themselves out to the other tribes in return for money and favors.

Reeling from this revelation and more confused than ever, Zyander escapes to his old residence and is eventually joined by Nikka in bird form. After love confessions and intimacy, they are interrupted the next morning by the news that Golan has escaped.

LUKA

Luka has thrown himself into being the best recruit he can be, while still being an outcast for stopping Julia from getting gang raped by his fellow recruits. After another of Surgal's rousing evening speeches, he discovers that the other soldiers don’t hate him the way his bunkmates do.

He starts a relationship with Imore, a Terris soldier whose Lumenta is a golden eagle. He uses her as an excuse to leave his bunk at all hours, so he can tutor the Phasma slaves and perhaps find a way to help them escape. Unfortunately, Imore catches on to his other activities and feels offended, so she reports him to Surgal, who is less than pleased that Luka went behind his back.

In a show of force, Surgal has one of the slaves, Mary, whipped until she is broken and bleeding. He runs out to the forest afterward, until the pain from his arm bands make him collapse. When he wakes, Surgal is there to convince him to swear fealty. When Surgal agrees to let Luka take the slaves back to the border between lands, Luka agrees to be a true soldier, and Surgal releases his arm bands.

On their journey to return the slaves home, they are attacked by a lizard creature (turns out to be a basilisk) and Luka instinctively transforms and kills the beast. Everyone in the group views him as a hero, and he's cemented his place among them.

Now that he can transform, he stays longer to fly each of the slaves up and over the mountain range, promising to meet with Surgal's group as soon as he can.

Returning home is harder than he thought, because he can transform and none of the other Initiates can. The Duor see him as a rule-breaker, even Etho, who disapproves of his relationship with Surgal. Even his meeting with Nikka doesn't go well, because she views him as conspiring with the man who put the arm bands on her.

He helps Nikka tap into her other magics, trains with the soldiers, and forges friendships to get the Initiates on Surgal's side. Then one night he finds out that the Ignis have a traitor among them and tells Nikka so she can warn her friends.

While flying the next day, he meets two new griffins, a silver/black griffin and a silver/white griffin. They tell him they're from the griffin island and that they are looking for Khara, whose parents were in an accident. According to the pair, one of her parents died and the other barely clings to life.

He tells them to meet him at a certain time and he will try to find her location. Then he flies to Abira to find Khara. She is astonished at the change in him and even more astonished at the news of her parents. She agrees to meet with the griffins, who Luka meets and sends to her location.

On his return, he finds Surgal alone in the house, drinking and mourning the fact that he will have to kill Nikka. Luka tries to stop him, but he pushes the button on his pendant that activates the kill command and in his horror and grief, Luka attacks Surgal.

The two fight, but Surgal is by far the better skilled, whether human or bear. He beats Luka to the point where the younger man passes out, and when Luka awakes, Surgal banishes him from his presence.

Luka goes to find Nikka and when he sees that she is still alive, he convinces her to meet him at Etho's house. By the time she arrives, so has Khara, who is irate that Luka didn't come to say goodbye. On a seeming whim, Khara invites him to go back to the griffins’ territory with him, promising him an army to fight Surgal if he does.

So he goes with her, denying to the other griffins that he and Khara have mated, to see the island of the griffins.

Part One: Astra Cida

The flicker of stars,

under my eyelids,

When I open them,

the same flickering

The flashing all around me,

burning into my eyes and skin

The greatest time,

to be alive.

-Poem by Sorchelle, The Golden Era

Chapter 1:

Nikka

Her hands were trembling, and she curled them into fists.

I can do this. I can do this, Nikka thought.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed onto Zyan's shoulder, and braced herself for his movement through the Praetra.

She felt the whoosh of air and saw the many lines of power move around her, flitting here and there—calling to her. Then she felt the nausea, and the pain. Her insides clenched and she struggled to remain conscious, holding onto Zyan with a death grip.

It was mere moments, but in the end it didn't matter. Nikka collapsed as soon as they reached their destination: The Citadel. Zyan caught her as she fell, or so she assumed, for she was in his arm as she woke. Regaining her sense of balance, she pushed away from him so she could stumble over to the bushes and vomit.

After Nikka had finished heaving, he came over to help her to her feet, an arm wrapped around her waist. Without comment, he handed her a canteen when she could stand on her own, so she could rinse out her mouth. It was not the first time they'd performed this routine, nor would it be the last. They were so practiced at it, that Zyan's use of one arm was not a hindrance any longer.

Iam's Light, last season was a hard one, she said, laughing.

Nikka heard the bitter edge of it, cutting at her soul. Zyan glanced around them and pulled her into his chest, resting his chin on her head.

We'll figure out how to fix this, he said, whispering, lips against her soft blonde hair. We'll get you in perfect health soon, I promise.

It was a vow that fell flat, and they both knew it. Zyan had no more control over his own dead limb than he did over this mysterious ailment that continued to plague her. Freeing herself of the arm bands Surgal had used to limit her hadn't done it. Nikka wasn't even sure it could be done.

It matters not if I am healed. We have more important things to worry about, she reminded him, pulling back to a proper distance.

Their relationship wasn't public knowledge—only a few privileged people from Zyander's tribe were privy to it. Since several of the Ignis delegates were minutes behind them, Nikka took one more steadying breath and let go of Zyan.

See? I can stand on my own two feet, she told him, and reached down to pick up the bag that she'd dropped when she'd collapsed.

He gave her a sympathetic look and nodded. I see that. Now if you wouldn't mind staying on both of them until we can get you settled and over to Samain, I'd be grateful.

Nikka wrinkled her nose at him and started walking toward the area where the Ignis would be erecting their tents and bedding down. Following close behind, he helped her find their respective spots and the both of them fumbled with their tents, taking much more time than was necessary. Nikka had never assembled a tent in her life and Zyan was hampered by his one arm. When they had finished, they walked down to the market to buy a cool drink, and sat on the steps of the empty Citadel stage while they sipped.

How are you feeling about your first meeting as the official head of the Ignis today? she asked.

As well as I can, knowing that I've made a deal with the devil, Zyan told her. I know you believe that Surgal is necessary for our nation's future prosperity, but I cannot trust the man.

Nikka sighed and took another drink. She set the cup next to her and fiddled with her hair, combing it smooth with her fingers.

Believe me, Zyan, no one has cause to trust him less than I do, but it was necessary for so many reasons, not the least of them was saving your life, she said. Just stick to the agreement, and everything will be fine.

He bit the inside of his cheek, a sure sign that he wanted to argue the point, but he remained silent. She couldn't blame him. Surgal was like a calm hornet's nest in the best of circumstances. Today, Zyander had agreed to support the man's request to change the terms of the treaty between the Five Tribes.

It was all a ruse, to hide his real purpose—opening up the treaty to new negotiations. If they were lucky, it would force some of the older, archaic precepts to fall by the wayside. Surgal had studied the treaty of the Five Tribes backwards and forwards, for each tribe had a copy at the ready.

It says here that if there is a change in circumstance that leads one tribe to feel they are being taken advantage of, that tribe can request a renegotiation of terms, he had told them.

They'll never agree to it, Nikka had argued. You may have important tribe members on your side, but you have yet to win a High Council member.

I only need one, and I think I have that, Surgal said, glancing at Zyander.

All he needs is the support of one High Council member to make it happen. With other decisions, everyone has to agree and get the resident Divinaris to allow it, Zyan explained. In this specific case, a special provision was made, because if everyone in the Five Tribes was mistreating your tribe, they wouldn't admit it. That is why if he can get me to support his request, he can make it happen.

Nikka looked between the pair of them with questioning eyes.

I've been doing reading for days to prepare for this, Zyander said by way of explanation for his understanding of treaty law.

And now it makes sense why Surgal would even care to align his interests with yours, Nikka said, talking as though the man was no longer in the room.

I also happen to think the Ignis are a good tribe under difficult circumstances and I want to help them, Surgal said.

Zyan snorted and rolled his eyes at Surgal’s pious tone.

So, suppose you call for treaty renegotiation and Zyan supports you. What happens then? Nikka asked.

Surgal gave them one of his enigmatic smiles. Then we begin the process of breaking the Five Tribes down until they are nothing but clay waiting to be shaped.

Nikka shivered, thinking over the words as she sat by Zyander, waiting for her time with Samain. There was no telling what would become of their nation by the time today's meeting had ended. Even though she knew from her dream that making a bargain with Surgal was the right thing to do, she hated being bound by her oath to him.

The clock tower chimed its low bells and she pushed herself to her feet, waiting for Zyan to join her. The day was warm, and the sun beat down on the spires and colored glass above them, putting rainbow echoes across the ground where the light refracted.

The city was starting to open up, people bustling in for trade and treaty. There were booths lining the whole of the main road, and Nikka sighed to remember her first gathering so many months ago.