Mist and Memory: The Heartwood Chronicles, #2

By Rabia Gale

A sinister and shadowy organization. The young mages who oppose it. The hunt for ancient relics has begun.

 

Cloud Village Arc: Lisette never thought she would return to the mountains she fled as a child. But when Tamsin, a Heartwood alumna, invites Amber, Naia, and her on a job in the area, Lisette figures it's time to get over the past.

 

However, this all-girls trip turns out to be anything but routine when the mages find Tamsin's campsite in disarray and her colleagues missing. For the unscrupulous Red Dawn has moved into the mountains, and it will stop at nothing to obtain greater power.

 

Mirror Vale Arc: Three girls went into the mountains, and they all came back changed. For Amber, the change brings about a resolve to finally unravel her complicated feelings about her dead father and deal with his memories that were gifted to her. But the people who wanted to use her abilities in Hopeswell haven't given up on her. Taken to the mysterious Mirror Vale, an eerie place that plays havoc with her pattern senses, Amber is about to uncover a shocking secret.

 

This volume of the anime-inspired fantasy The Heartwood Chronicles contains two completed arcs and a bonus short story featuring Troi and Naia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rabia Gale
• Release date: Feb 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215187203

Book preview

Preface

Begin as you mean to go on, says the old adage. And having begun the habit of including a preface at the start of every Heartwood volume, I mean to go on doing so.

This volume marks a shift in the way I write The Heartwood Chronicles. The first arc, Cloud Village, was written and released in episodes. After it was completed, I decided to abandon the web serial model. Instead, I wrote the next arc, Mirror Vale, as a novella, while still trying to keep the pace quick and action-oriented.

Secondly, this volume contains material written from the point-of-view of characters other than Amber. I explore Lisette’s backstory (and shed light on her previous actions) in Cloud Village and give the engaged-but-at-odds Naia and Troi a chance to remember the way things used to be between them in the bonus story, The Kaidan Cultural Appreciation Club.

Please enjoy the further adventures of Amber and company! Thank you for supporting the Heartwood Chronicles.

Cloud Village Arc

Lisette ran in the dark, blundering through undergrowth and tripping over roots. A black shape loomed suddenly in front of her. She veered, but not in time. Her shoulder clipped the tree trunk. Pain jolted through muscle and bone. Lisette gasped and kept going.

Her shallow pants rasped in her burning lungs and filled her ears. Her muscles ached.

If only it wasn’t so dark! If only she could see!

Night smothered the forest. The sky above was layered with clouds, hiding moon and stars. It would storm soon—the scent of rain mingled with that of pine. Thunder growled in the distance.

Down on the forest floor, trees pressed their shadows upon Lisette’s tight shoulders. Nameless things rustled at the edge of her hearing.

They’d been keeping pace with her.

Lisette forced herself onward, fighting through clinging branches. Where was the village? Where was home? Desperately she scanned the unrelieved black for some hint of light.

Nearby branches clattered together, went still. Dread crawled over Lisette’s skin. Fear was a hard, tight fist in her chest.

Something was stalking her. She felt its presence, clammy against her skin. A stirring of air brought its rank smell to her nose.

A shape, darker than darkness, sprang towards her.

Lisette screamed.

Fear turned to liquid, ran hot and molten through her body. With it flowed something else.

The bracelets upon her wrists snapped.

Light erupted, a white blaze exploding outwards. It caught the creature leaping at Lisette full in the face. She glimpsed green eyes, sharp-toothed snarl, smoke-textured body. The creature twisted mid-leap, fell to the side, whimpering. Trees, tall and stark, cast sharp, elongated shadows behind them. Eyes stared from within bushes—glowing green, yellow, red.

Lisette stumbled, her gaze sweeping down to where the ground dropped into nothingness. Her foot slipped on damp grass.

The light vanished. The darkness rushed back. And, with a sharp, hopeless cry, Lisette plunged down the sheer drop into the unknown—

Lisette jerked awake, her stomach still clenched with bad memories. Her body had gone tight, rigid. Her fingers clutched grass, tearing it from the sod. Its scent was sharp in her nose.

No, no, no.

This wasn’t the forest. It wasn’t nighttime. She was no longer ten years old.

Lisette was behind the girl’s dormitory at Heartwood, and that memory was years past.

The present returned to her in bits and pieces. The rough weave of the rug under her stomach. The press of her cheek against grass. The sharp warmth of the sun against her bare back. The golden light of spring and the twitter of a distant bird.

Lisette allowed herself to relax. That’s right. She’d come out here to recharge, to soak up the sunlight. I must’ve fallen asleep. And that was only a dream.

But why now, after all this time?

Lisette heard a door shut, smelled soap and damp, and turned her head. Amber had emerged through the back door, holding a basket against her hip. She walked over to the clothesline she’d put up for herself.

Oh, yeah. Lisette folded her arms and propped her chin upon them. She’s weird about her laundry.

Amber glanced over and raised her eyebrows. Here it comes, Lisette thought. Uh, Lisette? You do realize you’re not, um, fully dressed, right?

Yes, Amber, I realize that I took off my shirt and pants, said Lisette with exaggerated patience. She stretched her legs and wriggled her toes, enjoying the glide of light on her skin, the heaviness of it soaking into her suns. She hadn’t realized how depleted she’d been. Even all the third and fourth helpings she’d consumed at dinner couldn’t make up for the lack of real sunshine. But I have a reflection spell on. If people are close enough to see anything, they shouldn’t be back here anyway.

She gave Amber’s back a pointed glare.

"Shouldn’t be and won’t are two very different things. Amber clipped a tunic to her clothesline. Flavius wanted to carry this basket for me. I turned him down, but I could’ve said yes. Are you really okay with him seeing you like this?"

Lisette ignored the question. He’s taken quite the shine to you. There’s no accounting for taste, is there?

I didn’t ask him to! Amber spun around, her eyes narrowed in annoyance. It’s all his own initiative—oh. She saw Lisette’s grin and sighed. Stop teasing—you’re as bad as Kael. She turned back to her laundry.

Kael is right, Lisette called. You are fun to wind up.

Amber gave an exasperated scoff. Lisette smiled. She’d found the pattern mage uptight and annoying at first, but Amber wasn’t a bad sort underneath all that rule-following primness. She had worked hard to help Flavius with his difficult shapeshifting magic, and Lisette didn’t question Amber’s courage, even if the pattern mage had a tendency to complain.

Yes, to her surprise, the new girl was fitting in just fine.

Actually, Amber wasn’t the new girl anymore, was she?

Hey. Lisette sat up cross-legged. Amber protested, Lisette! but Lisette’s mind was on something else. How’s Troi’s girlfriend doing?

I think neither of them would appreciate you calling Naia Troi’s girlfriend. Amber hung a skirt with unnecessary vigor. And she’s doing quite fine, thanks. She already has two hundred friends on her cryst, joined five committees, and is learning country dances on Tuesdays and card tricks on Thursdays.

There was silence as Lisette digested all this. Two hundred? she asked finally.

Yep.

I didn’t think there were that many students at Heartwood, Lisette went on.

Amber shrugged. "The staff have crysts, too. Including the pastry chef, the head cook, and the housekeeper. Naia’s friends with them all."

Wow. Lisette frowned. What are the committees for?

Hmm, I don’t remember them all, but there’s one for the Midsummer Ball and another for the Heartwood-Carradia Goodwill Society. She also started a Kaidan Cultural Appreciation Club. Didn’t you get an invitation?

Nah, I turned off all social notifications. I only want to hear from the people who want to actually talk to me.

And you’ve been gone a lot. Amber tilted her head inquisitively. Where to?

Are you being nosy again? Lisette demanded.

Unabashedly so. Amber grinned. The mischievous look on her face was a far cry from her usual expression of guarded skepticism. She looked bright, even pretty.

Lisette found her own lips twitching into a smile. I’m mostly running errands for Master Zoya, taking letters and parcels back and forth. Don’t ask me what’s in them, because I don’t know. But I’ve been up and down the coast from Blacktop to Hopeswell, so I think she’s gathering information and allies over the business in the Shattered Valley. She rubbed the back of her neck, grimacing. She loved flying, but she’d been doing a lot of it recently.

Amber sobered up instantly. I guess she wouldn’t tell us even if she found out anything.

Lisette shrugged. Master Zoya will tell us when Heartwood’s actually ready to do something about it. Until then just go on as normal.

Amber sighed. She did a lot of that, Lisette thought. Aren’t you at all curious? the other girl demanded.

Yes, but I’m not losing sleep over it.

Amber huffed and stabbed a clothespin into another of her garments. Oh, by the way, I heard a former Heartwood student’s back. Kitchen staff was quite worked up about it.

Lisette stilled. Who is it?

Hmm, I don’t quite remember. Amber wrestled with a wet bedsheet, the last of her laundry. Began with a ‘T.’ Tammi? Tamlin? Something like that?

It’s Tamsin. Lisette lunged for her clothes and wriggled into pants and shirt.

That sounds right. Friend of yours?

Lisette laughed. You could say that. She’s one of the very first Heartwood students! She slung her metal wings over one shoulder and grabbed her shoes with one hand. Hey, can you take this rug inside for me? It’s going to rain soon.

Amber spluttered. Wha-why? There’s not a cloud in the sky!

Trust me, I smell it. Thanks! A light, happy feeling bubbled up inside Lisette as she waved and ran towards the main building, Amber’s protests soon left behind and forgotten.

Finally! Tamsin’s back!

Tamsin had indeed returned, but, Ainsley informed Lisette, she’d gone immediately to an appointment with Master Zoya.

Lisette’s shoulders drooped.

Check your cryst, Ainsley suggested helpfully. Maybe she left a message.

I don’t know if Tamsin even kept hers, Lisette muttered, but she pulled it out anyway. The crysts had been rather unreliable at first, and their communication spells still didn’t work long distance. They weren’t very useful outside of Carradia, so most sun mages left them at home when they went on jobs. Tamsin didn’t live at Heartwood anymore—she resided in Hampton, the largest city in the middle coastal region of the continent.

But Tamsin had evidently kept hers, because a blue-edged message invited Lisette to join her in the main hall for lunch at—here Lisette checked the time. Darn, I’m ten minutes late! Bye, Ainsley! She hurried out of the lobby as Ainsley yelled, Have fun! to her back.

Lunch was always the least-attended of Heartwood meals, with the journeymen usually out on jobs and Masters eating at their desks. By the tail end of the lunch period, students were back in classes.

Lisette spotted Tamsin immediately, standing by the buffet table. Even without the sparse attendance in the dining hall, Tamsin stood out in a business suit of grey jacket, white blouse, and pencil skirt. Stockings and high heels completed her ensemble. Her red-brown hair was pulled into a sleek bun, the ruddy highlights shinier than Lisette remembered. Even Tamsin’s green eyes seemed brighter, and the freckles that had once speckled her cheekbones were gone.

She looked grownup, professional, and quite unlike herself. Lisette stopped, suddenly shy of this almost stranger. The gulf between them was wider than the year since their last meeting.

Tamsin glanced up, saw Lisette, and a smile spread across her face. Lisette!

Hey, said Lisette, not moving.

What’s the matter? Tamsin asked. Aren’t you going to give your big sis a hug?

I’d mess up your clothes. Lisette nodded towards Tamsin’s immaculate jacket.

Oh, don’t be silly. Tamsin swept Lisette into an embrace. After a moment, Lisette returned it with a hard, fierce squeeze.

Now come sit down and eat, Tamsin invited. Tell me what you’ve been up to all this time.

In the end, Tamsin did most of the talking, clearly enthusiastic about her Hampton apartment and the perks of city life. "You should really come visit some time, Lisette! I’ll take you shopping—every girl needs a show-stopper outfit in her wardrobe. We can go see a show—not a play, but a musical, and…"

Lisette let Tamsin chatter on in this vein for a while. When the older mage paused for breath, she asked, So, what do you do in Hampton, Tamsin? She couldn’t picture Tamsin—or anyone, really—fighting yuka or traveling in that outfit. Most of the sun mages she knew were in high demand as bodyguards, monster hunters, or involved in massive defense or construction spells, none of which could be comfortably done in business attire.

I do survey work for businesses based in Hampton, mostly Kaidan and Ravinian ones. Honestly, I’m out on the frontier up to my elbows in muck about half the time. Makes me appreciate my gargantuan bathtub even more when I do get home. Tamsin laughed.

Are you traveling for work right now? Lisette asked.

I’m in between jobs. I had something to discuss with Master Zoya, so I decided to make a quick stop in Carradia. Tamsin’s lips tightened.

Something wrong?

Oh, things didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. Master Zoya is just stubborn and old-fashioned, but it’s not a big deal really. Tamsin shook off her dark mood. "Hey, I just thought of something. I’m off on my next job—why don’t you come along? I could use the help—and the company. The people I work for pay very well. She leaned forward, eyes brightening. Do say yes!"

A job with Tamsin? It had been ages since she’d spent time with the older mage. Lisette had been afraid that Tamsin still thought of her as the clingy tagalong child she’d been when she first came to Heartwood. It warmed her that Tamsin saw her as an equal. I don’t have any other commitments, so yeah, I’m interested. Where’s the job?

Greyridge Mountains. In the Spines area.

Lisette froze. Her mind stuttered. Had Tamsin just said the Spines?

Tamsin saw her expression and exhaled loudly. Oh, Lisette. You can’t keep running away forever. You have to face it some time.

But… Lisette’s thoughts were in splinters; she couldn’t come up with anything to say in the face of Tamsin’s pragmatism. The remnants of her earlier dream clung to her like glue.

She’s right. But still…so soon? Another voice in her mind argued, It’s been eight years. You’re not a child anymore. They have no hold over you.

Besides, Tamsin went on, I was serious about roughing it. We’ll bring our own supplies—we won’t need to go into any of the settlements at all. It’ll do you good to get used to the area again. Come on, Lisette.

Lisette stirred her cooling soup unhappily. Tamsin was right. She couldn’t avoid the Spines for the rest of her life. Employers would laugh in her face if she refused jobs in that location in case she might run into someone she’d known. Tamsin was offering her a way to get over her irrational fears. She should take it.

Lisette! exclaimed a bright voice. Lisette looked up as Naia, beaming, bore down upon them, tray in hands. Amber, looking annoyed, was behind her. She grabbed Naia’s shoulder, staying the Kaidan mage. They’re busy, Amber hissed. Don’t bother them.

It’s fine, Lisette assured them. Right now, even an interruption by Miss Prim and Proper was welcome.

You must be the new journeywomen. Tamsin smiled. Ainsley told me about you two: a Ravinian pattern mage and a Kaidan wind mage, right?

Yep. I’m Naia, and she’s Amber.

Amber hung back, wearing her usual guarded expression. She gave a noncommittal nod.

At least Naia made up for it with her puppy-like enthusiasm. Are you really one of the very first Heartwood students? she asked eagerly, as if Tamsin had stepped out of some mythical past.

Tamsin laughed. "I was here before there was even a Heartwood. And when they made the school official, I was third on the list—and only because they went by alphabetical order."

Wow, Naia breathed.

Amber frowned. You were here before Heartwood Academy formed? How’d that happen?

Oh, I was called, said Tamsin with a wave. Tell me about yourselves, girls. How do you like Heartwood? Have you gone on many missions yet?

I just got here. Naia made a face. I changed my magical style recently, and it’s not stable yet. I’ve only been practicing. She let out a gusty sigh. It’s kinda boring, actually.

I’ve done some stuff around town, Amber confessed when Tamsin looked at her. With Kael, usually. I didn’t really want to go to the mines with him when he asked, though.

I don’t blame you. Kael’s idea of a good time doesn’t match up with most people’s.

He’s all right, said Amber.

Tell you what, announced Tamsin. Lisette and I are going on a job. Why don’t the two of you tag along and see for yourself what a real Heartwood mission looks like?

Wait— began Lisette, but Naia clapped her hands together. Oooh, like a girls’ trip? It sounds fantastic!

Amber looked at Lisette. You okay with this?

I don’t mind if you come along, Lisette said, but I haven’t decided if I’m going or not.

A faint frown appeared between Tamsin’s brows. Then she shrugged. Well, I’m happy to take anyone who wants to go. Unfortunately, I can’t give you too much time to decide. I leave tomorrow morning.

What? Lisette protested. But you just got here! We barely had time to talk!

Sorry, Lisette, but I have to work to eat. Tamsin’s expression was sympathetic.

Lisette’s hands clenched in her lap. Then I guess I’ll come with you.

You sure? Tamsin gave her a searching look.

I’m sure. Lisette nodded at Naia and Amber. You can come, too, if you want.

Naia cheered. Amber said dryly, I thought we were already invited.

Draw up some chairs, girls, Tamsin spoke briskly, but she looked pleased. We need to plan.

Lisette flew over an undulating forest rippling in shades of green. Her wings stretched out from her back, catching the light she drew against them. Thin and metallic, they were composed of several narrow horizontal sections she could manipulate either singly or in groups. They flashed as she bent and broke light around herself, generating both lift and forward motion.

If some hunter in the forest below looked up right now, would he think she was a legendary snoutbeck? A small smile tugged at Lisette’s mouth.

Up ahead the verdant foothills gave way to taller mountains, blue in the distance. The highest peaks were an ice pale wall, masses of cloud bunched against the top.

There’d be rain coming, but that was nothing unusual.

Lisette bent the light in front of her face and the Wall sprang into closer focus, showing individual mountains and summits wreathed in the mist. The cloud stuff was an innocuous white, with no ominous tinges of green or purple.

Good. Lisette released the rays, and the Wall once again retreated into the distance. She banked and turned back the way she’d come. The railway they’d ridden on earlier had climbed down from Last Chance Pass to come to an end in Dismal Hollow, a dingy town about as attractive as its name. After spending a restless night in the town’s only inn, the four girls had hitched a cart ride to a village several miles down a narrow dirt track, then hiked into the woods on foot to an empty rest area for the night.

Tomorrow they’d be in the wilds. A nervous quiver ran down Lisette’s spine. For one panicked moment, she wanted to arrow straight towards the Pass, to flee homewards.

She gave her head a savage shake. You’re a Heartwood mage, she told herself. The thought is unworthy.

Besides, how could she leave Tamsin all alone with the two newbies?

Below, the woods gave way to a clearing, the steep-pitched slate roof of the rest area starkly visible. Lisette changed the angle of her wings, swung her legs. She hovered in the air for a moment, then drifted down to land feather-light on her feet. The magic drained out of her wings, and they fell limp, whisper-sighing against her back.

Naia stood next to the nearby well, a bucket on the ground in front of her. Lisette watched as the Kaidan girl screwed up her face in concentration. A ribbon of water arced out of the well and dove for the bucket. The stream lost shape as it entered the container. Water slopped over the rim and spattered down the sides. Naia made a frustrated sound.

Lisette grimaced in sympathy, but Naia was already calling up more water from the well. Leaving the girl to her training, Lisette ducked into the rest house.

Inside, Amber was arranging her pack and bedroll upon one of the wooden platforms that served as bunks. Not a wrinkle marred the smooth surface of her precisely-folded blanket. Her unrolled bedding was so correctly lined with the edges of the platform, Lisette wondered if she’d used a ruler.

Amber’s spellwork brushed like cobwebs across Lisette’s face. She almost swiped them free of her cheek, then thought better of it. No doubt one of the pattern mage’s spells was a mosquito repellent. Lisette approved of pest control.

Tamsin squatted near the hearth, coaxing a flicker of fire to life. Back in sensible shirt, trousers, and boots, she looked more like herself. Her hair no longer had that unwonted golden sheen.

She looked up at Lisette.

I didn’t see anything amiss, Lisette reported.

Tamsin nodded. Thanks for checking.

No problem, said Lisette, though they both knew that the only reason Tamsin had sent her on a reconnaissance flight was to work out her nerves.

Tamsin tilted her head towards a sack of supplies. Help cut up the vegetables?

Sure. This would be the last real meal they’d have until they reached the surveyor’s camp where Tamsin’s two associates waited.

Naia bustled in behind Lisette. Got the water! she called out cheerfully.

I’ll scrub the potatoes, Amber announced, and soon the little camp was bustling with dinner preparations.

After dinner had been cleaned up, Amber sat cross-legged on her bunk and said, "Tamsin, you said you’d been called before there was even a Heartwood. What’d you mean by that?" She leaned forward slightly, her braid over one shoulder, her face half in shadows, but