Editing Tears of a Fallen Crown:Characters:Mirage:History (section)

==Chapter 14: Gifts and Goodbyes==


Samira was surprised how quickly the first week flew by and how much she had learned.  The schedule was indeed grueling.  When she wasn’t physically practicing she was studying.  It was much harder on her than on Caleb who no longer needed sleep.  Still, it was well worth it.  While she still wasn’t as good as Walker in Darkness at swordplay, she was very close by the end of the week.  He taught her some difficult techniques that most people didn’t know, and while she didn’t know all the charms she wanted she was very well-read on the subject and only needed a little time to put them into practice.  She even was making him break a sweat during their sparring, which seemed to please him immensely.  


Meanwhile, Caleb was mastering his own charms, still being trained by Jauffrey; to such an extent that Walker in Darkness gave him a special gift to help.  He was becoming a master shape-shifter but lacked the mastery of the virtue associated with the ghost magic he needed.  Walker in Darkness gave him a vial filled with liquid that smelled like orchids, something he called, with a grin, “liquid compassion.”  And, it was more than enough for him to master his path of arcanoi by the end of the week as well.


The second week Caleb and Samira mostly trained on their own and sparred with each other.  Walker in Darkness said he was “preparing for their journey.”  Several nights in a row he went into the basement for several hours, followed by the clanging of metal being shaped and screams of agony, as though the very metal itself was in pain.  He had hinted that he was a master craftsman of soul-steel before, and the sounds, they assumed, must’ve been a result of that fact.


On their last night, after a supper alone, Walker in Darkness surfaced from the basement, covered in sweat and smoke, but he looked happier than they had ever seen him.  He was followed by a group of servants carrying many items that looked of incredible value.  


Walker in Darkness seemed to beam with pride as he motioned to a full set of soul-steel armor that looked specifically crafted to fit Samira’s body.  He grinned and said, “It is done.”  He also motioned at a diaklaive fashioned to be large enough to deal a very heavy blow.  And, at a ghost carrying what looked like the mask she had worn at the festival, only made of soul-steel.  He grinned, “What do you think, Mirage?  Do you like your new armor?”


She was overwhelmed, “It’s wonderful!”


He looked over at Caleb and said with a laugh, “Don’t feel left out yet.  I have some items for you as well.”


He motioned to another group of ghosts.  One held a finely crafted set of tiger claws and a black lamellar, and the one next to him held another soul-steel helmet, this one fashioned off of the raiton mask he had worn to the festival.  The last one held the vial of “liquid compassion” and what appeared to be a glowing green lantern with a large green crystal inside of it.


Walker in Darkness explained, “The lantern is a very precious gift that you should try to keep a secret.  It illuminates your path in any darkness, even in the labyrinth.  And, if you wish to find something or a way out of the labyrinth, all you have to do is concentrate on the thought, and the light will guide you towards it.  This is a big responsibility – if Mirage must flee to the labyrinth, you must guide her out.”


Caleb nodded solemnly, but also with a bit of pride.


Walker in Darkness smiled and continued, “The liquid compassion is there should you need to use it again.  But, use it sparingly.  Too much compassion, or too much of any emotion, can be a dangerous thing.”


Caleb stared him in the eyes and nodded in understanding, realizing Walker in Darkness was referring to their duel on the first day there.    


Walker in Darkness’ orange eyes seemed to twinkle with excitement as he motioned for them to follow him, “I also have one more surprise for you.  I have two extra noble steeds for you both.  They can travel between both worlds easily without dying.  One in particular needs someone to care for it.  I think he’d be best suited to you, Mirage.”


He led them behind the castle into a magnificent stable and showed Caleb to his horse, then escorted Mirage to her own.  The animal was thrashing around in its stall upon seeing them approach.  It was indeed a beautiful horse, looking very much like an Arabian stallion she used to own, only its eyes glowed an eerie reddish-gold in the darkness, and it was as large as a warhorse.


Walker in Darkness said softly, “When I went to get the fey blood, this poor animal was stolen and taken by them to be turned into one of their enchanted stallions.  Sadly, since his nature is dark and their magic is based on creation, by the time I recovered him the damage had already been done.  He was one of my smartest horses, but no matter what I do now he won’t calm down.  I’m afraid if he doesn’t take to you I’ll have to put him down.


She sighed, “I’ll see what I can do.”


Samira approached the stall cautiously, but the horse continued to buck and rise up on its hind legs as she approached.  Samira’s mother had once told her the best way to calm a horse was to whisper softly to it and pet its muzzle.  But, it seemed she wouldn’t be able to get close enough.  As though sensing her thought, Walker in Darkness snapped his fingers saying, “Restrain him!”  And several ghosts appeared, throwing ropes around the horse and holding it still.


The horse rolled its eyes upward, avoiding looking into her eyes but eventually did glance at her as she continued to rub and whisper to it.  As their eyes met, she suddenly felt and odd connection to the animal and it slowly started to calm down.  There was an instant where it seemed they were sharing thoughts and images, mostly of being tortured by the fey – and hating them for it.  She whispered in a firm but soft voice, “Calm yourself.” And the animal obeyed.  She continued, “You’ve been treated cruelly, but I will treat you with kindness if you will obey.”  Though the animal couldn’t speak, it bowed its head low to the ground, as though beckoning her to ride it.  It seemed they had an agreement.


Walker in Darkness applauded, “Stunning!  You have a way with horses.”


She grinned, “I think I used to own a few.”


Later that night, Walker in Darkness gave them several maps of the neighboring region and helped them plot a course to Chairoscuro.  He said it would be a good place to start gathering information about the First and Forsaken Lion since it was rumored to be a city he desired.  Also, as long as they stuck to the route he had mapped for them, they would run into Death of a Thousand Summers, the deathknight he had previously sent to gather information on the First and Forsaken Lion as well.  He had hoped they would travel together and it seemed now that they would.  She was to report to him if the Lion’s troops were on the move or if he overtook any cities or acquired any new territory.  Other than that, she, Caleb, and Death of a Thousand Summers, were free to do as they pleased.


As he finished explaining the plan, he asked calmly, “Now, what would you like me to do for you?  Death of a Thousand Summers asked me for an army of zombies.  Do you desire your own army as well?”


Her mouth gaped open.  At first the thought was very tempting, but then she thought better of it.  “Well, I would like one eventually, but I’d rather gather forces on my own, when I know I’m ready.”


Caleb could tell she was thinking of her new dream, to exterminate the fey with the very people they ravaged.  He nodded, “Yes, waiting would be best.”  (He also didn’t like the idea of what Walker in Darkness would have to do to gather an army for Samira.)


She nodded and continued, “I guess I could use some trustworthy spies though, so I can keep watching the First and Forsaken Lion even at his own borders.”


Walker in Darkness nodded, “A wise decision.  Then you will have the spies and Death will have his army.  Anything else?”


She nodded slowly.  She was afraid to ask before because Jauffrey was one of Walker in Darkness’ more trustworthy allies, but she had grown attached to him.  He was the one who had trained Caleb most of the time, and with his hatred of the Green Lady, she knew he would be the perfect ghost to deliver messages only to Walker in Darkness for her.  


She sighed, “You’ve been so kind to both me and Raiton.  I hate to ask for anything more, but I need a trustworthy currier.  Will you allow Jauffrey to accompany us, if he will?”


Jauffrey, who had been overseeing the meeting, looked shocked, “Me?”


She smiled, “Yes.  You’re the only one I trust to send Walker in Darkness a message personally other than Raiton, and I need him to stay with me to be my bodyguard.”


She turned to Walker in Darkness and said, “I’d like to keep corresponding with you through letters should something come up I think that might be of interest.”  She was thinking of her dreams.  


Walker in Darkness’ eyes grew wide, realizing what she was referring to as well.  He quickly said, “That’s an excellent idea!  Jauffrey, if you wish, you may begin traveling with Mirage – as her servant.”


He looked even more surprised, “Really?  I would be…”


Walker in Darkness nodded, cutting him off mid-sentence, “Yes.  You would be to her and Raiton what you are to me right now, only you would have the added job of being a currier between me and her.  Can you handle it?”


He grinned, “Yes, Sir!”


Walker in Darkness beamed at all of them and said with a yawn, “It’s getting very late.  I’ll brief you one more time in the morning and then you’ll head out before dawn.  Good luck, and pleasant dreams.”  With that, they ended their last night with Walker in Darkness, excited and a little afraid.


The next morning, Mirage was surprised to find twenty five ghosts under her control awaiting orders as her spies, including Jauffrey.  As her first order of business, she was to tell them where to station themselves and to give them specific instructions about when to report to her. 


Luckily Mirage had anticipated as much and it was easily done.  She stationed them at the most strategic spots nearest to the First and Forsaken Lion’s territory without actually being in it.  They were to report back to her should he begin to be on the move.


The best and most trustworthy of the group were to actually infiltrate his territory slightly and begin mapping it out.  Should they be discovered they were to try to flee, and if they were caught they were to say they were sent by the Mask of Winters, and then beg for mercy (mostly so they could hopefully return to her, but also to cause more problems for Winters).  


Mostly, they all were to use their own judgment and to investigate any rumors that might be useful to their cause.  After two months time if nothing brought any of them back, they were to report back in shifts of five, one or two from each region to tell her what they had found out, or what they had been doing.  Those who did an excellent job that brought her more than just rumors, that is, proven facts, would be awarded with “The Five Gifts.”  Walker in Darkness seemed very pleased with her plan.  And, as she had planned, Jauffrey was to remain with her as a servant and messenger.


Walker in Darkness escorted them out with the pride of a Father sending his children off into the world on their own for the first time.  They all had ample supplies, great armor and weaponry, and, as promised, they knew more than they needed to know to merely survive.  Walker in Darkness seemed almost sad, but as they were leaving he would also be going back to business as usual.  Still, he smiled and clapped them both on the shoulder, saying, “This isn’t goodbye.  This is a chance for you both to shine.  And, when you do, I shall know it and be honored for it.”


They smiled and both bowed low.  Mirage met his eyes, “The honor was ours, being trained by you.  We can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done!”


He smiled and said a little dryly, “All I ask for is your loyalty.  I don’t know why, but there’s something special about you two – I felt it with Death of a Thousand Summers as well.  I’m sure whatever you do will be great, and you’ll repay me one hundred fold.”


He suddenly unsheathed his axe and said with a grin, “And now, before you go, I shall officially make you a deathknight by giving you a name suitable for one.  I knight the Mirage, as Lady Mirage of a Dead Desert Rose.”  He tapped her on the shoulder with the axe and oddly enough, it was as though her old name suddenly meant very little, like a simple pet name or nickname.  His name was now her identity.  


He then turned to Caleb, “Raiton, though you aren’t an Abyssal, I consider you also worthy of a knightly title.  From now on you shall be, Sir Raiton, Phantom Raition of the Shimmering Desert Mirage.  Serve me well and protect your wife.”


Raiton nodded vehemently.  And, with a final wave, the three of them were off.