BOOK 3 - Myth Ch. 02

"Can we see what you and Selene came up with for your disguise tomorrow?" Stryx asked.

"No. And it's not so much a disguise as a deterrent. We think I don't need to be disguised so much as make people not want to look at me in the first place."

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IQIOHR

Iqiohr watched his Esne walk away from him towards the portal that would take it to Ashana. It wasn't easy to let it out of his sight. This was the first time since they were children it would be away from his side overnight. As long as he had possession of the little Esne though, his would return.

He gestured two men forward. "Apan. Gajo. Go with my Esne. Ensure sure it does what it's supposed to do."

"Why trust it?" Apan asked. "We can go in your place and get what you need."

"No. There may be unwanted attention on the book with the knife. It's better if someone unknown to the other mages buys it. And it will obey because one of the reasons to breed an Esne is for control." He used to fight to remember a time when he felt something for his Esne, but stopped that effort long ago. It didn't even provide him with the magic he needed to hold his place as the Scorpion-Mage. He had to use a real witch for that. "Bring the small witch."

The guards around him separated in precise rows. An eight-year-old boy led a four-year-old witch forward, his larger hand engulfing hers. When the little witch resisted the boy snapped at her and tugged harder.

"Do you like this little witch?" Iqiohr asked. The boy, Tizoc, was Iqiohr's chosen to kill him and become the next Scorpion-Mage.

Tizoc nodded. "Yes, Scorpion-Mage. She's young, but she's pretty."

"It, my boy." Iqiohr gave Tizoc an indulgent smile. He was just learning how to treat a witch, after all. "It is young, but it is pretty. While it is okay to indulge them once in a while, never forget what a witch is. A way to grow your power. They are not like wives."

"I understand, Scorpion-Mage."

As usual, his Esne sensed their daughter was near. It turned around and couldn't keep the hint of terror from its eyes when it saw him holding the little witch's arm. His Esne offered the little Esne a smile and held up a hand.

"Make it wave." Iqiohr had long ago spelled the small witch to not make noise. It cried for its mother far too often and irritated him. His Esne's attention needed to be on him at all times. He didn't need it distracted by a squalling child. He'd saved his Esne from a fate of being available for breeding by all the men in Aztlan in spite of it having no magic. It owed him servitude and attention.

The little witch struggled, but Tizoc raised their joined hands in a wave.

His Esne's smile faltered. It might not have magic, but it could bear him a line of witches and sons. And it was smart. It understood the message. If his Esne failed in the mission, their daughter would be given to Tizoc, and never see its mother again, just as it was given to him when they were children. It was never too early to start training an Esne.

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MYTH

The hardest thing Myth had ever done was turn her back on her daughter and walk towards the portal, leaving her little girl in the hands of Iqiohr and the boy. Iqiohr had already begun grooming the boy to take his place as Scorpion-Mage when his current body became too old or frail.

Mommy, I don't like this boy.

Be brave, little one, Myth projected to Fable. I'll be back as soon as I can.

Take me with you, please! I was good. I didn't fight.

If Myth could bring Fable with her to Ashana they'd never need to return to Aztlan. I—

"You're taking too long." A hard shove to her back made Myth stumble into the portal and the communication with her daughter cut off. Myth fell to her knees on the shore of a lake in Ashana.

Across the lake golden sand dunes under a bright blue sky abutted icy glaciers under a night sky full of stars. Over her head the sky was a pink and gold sunset.

Apan and Gajo exited the portal and it closed behind them. Gajo reached down and seized her arm, pulling her to her feet. Gajo was one of the worst. He enjoyed inflicting pain on witches even when he wasn't draining them. His eyes weren't white like Iqiohr's, but they were just as dead.

Myth tried to yank free, but his grip was too tight. Speaking with as much force as she could muster, she said, "Let go. Iqiohr will cut off your hand for touching me."

He laughed and pulled her against him. "Iqiohr won't know what happens in Ashana and you won't say a word. The boy with the little witch is my nephew. If you don't do what I say, everything I say, while we're here, when we return I'll teach Tizoc how to use his Esne, starting with what I'm going to do to you."

Myth recoiled and ice crawled through her veins. Fable was only four years old and Tizoc was only eight. He couldn't possibly mean to teach him to abuse her that way yet. She would do anything to keep Fable safe, but she was no fool. Even if she did everything Gajo said there was no guarantee he would leave Fable alone. "You—"

"Welcome to Ashana," a woman's cheerful voice greeted them.

Gajo relaxed his fingers and Myth wrenched her arm away from him, turning to face the woman.

Two women stood in front of them. They were both tall. One had long blonde hair done in braids and wore leathers with light silver armor. She had a sword in a scabbard on her back and daggers on her hips. Myth tried not to gape and couldn't help wondering what her story was.

The other woman wore a dark grey knee length tunic split on the sides, trousers that matched and boots. She had eerie eyes, emerald green mixed with a golden hazel and looked young, no older than Myth, but there was something scary and ancient in the weight of that gaze that made Myth feel like all her secrets had flown away and she'd been judged.

"Hello, I'm Eir," the blonde woman said. "If you'll show us your keys we can make any adjustments you may need to your rooms."

Myth extended the key.

Eir accepted it and turned her gaze on Gajo and Apan.

"We're staying with her." Gajo reached for Myth's arm.

The woman with two-toned eyes moved so fast, she was just there, in between Myth and Gajo. She turned her back to Gajo and Apan. "Eir, will you escort our guest to Clio? I will see to these two... visitors."

Eir crooked her elbow and drew Myth's arm through, turning her from Iqiohr's men.

"There's no need for more rooms. We're fine staying with her." Gajo spoke in his imperious tone. The one his underlings feared.

"You're not." The woman sounded amused.

"We can—"

"You can't." Something had changed in the woman's voice. Even though the words weren't directed at Myth, a chill went through her.

Myth peered over her shoulder, anxiety swamping her as Eir tugged her away, bringing them into a forest. Eir was touching her. They'd separated her from the men Iqiohr sent to watch her. "We can't leave her with them. They're dangerous. She doesn't have any weapons."

Eir laughed. "She's not in any danger."

What if they contacted Iqiohr or Gajo's nephew and told him to hurt Fable? "I have to stay with them. They're supposed to watch me," Myth whispered. "Those men are monsters."

"The thing about monsters is there's always a bigger shark in the sea." Eir squeezed her hand. "Well, almost always. I guess it's different if you raised a boy who can make the sea. Or you regularly swim with a fish three days long. Or a kraken lives with you."

Startled, Myth caught Eir's gaze. "What? A fish three days long? She swims with Bahamut? And she has a kraken?" Who were these women?

"She's the monster that mother monsters warn their children about, and she's our monster." Eir guided Myth out of the forest and into a jungle. "It never hurts to have a monster on your side. I see the way you're looking at me. You want to know what I am."

Myth nodded.

"I'm a Valkyrie."

"You select which of the slain will be taken to Valhalla."

"In another lifetime I did." Eir gave her a small smile. "Maybe someday I will again. You know a lot about Other Worlders."

"My mother told me stories all the time when I was a little girl."

"Make sure you go to the bar while you're here then. There's always someone with a story to tell in that place. Oh, and I'll introduce you to Clio to get your room sorted. She used to be the muse of history. She could tell you a story or two if her lists don't get in the way."

They exited the jungle and Eir opened a door to lead Myth into a building. "You heard her call you a guest and them visitors, right? She knows they're bad men and will make sure they don't hurt you while you're here. And I'd be surprised if she lets them contact anyone. You know how magic and technology are."

Myth shook her head. She didn't own any technology. "How are they?"

"Well, you know, sometimes they just don't play well together for some people." Eir threaded her way through the crowd of people in the lobby to a woman with blue skin and yellow eyes. "This is Clio."

Myth couldn't help but stare at the woman. There was nothing in the fairy tales she knew about a woman like this.

"It's a phase," Eir said.

Blinking, Myth snapped out of her stare and held out her hand. "It's nice to meet you."

Clio shook her hand. "Aloha, bonjour—" Eir smacked Clio on the arm. Clio smirked. "Hey, I own my lists." She held out her hand palm up.

Eir placed the key into it. "Our friend here likes stories."

"And you're here for auctions, bordellos—" Eir smacked Clio on the arm again.

"The auction,"Myth replied.

"She arrived with two visitors," Eir said.

"In that case this room won't do for you at all. There's no telling how many keys out there might open it." She plucked a different key from a row hanging behind her. "This room will be much better for you. No one will know which room is yours unless you take them to it or ask me for an additional key. You are safe from... visitors here."

"Thank you." Myth sucked in a breath as realization struck her. Part of the problem with her plans to escape Aztlan was she didn't have a place to go. Now if she returned to Aztlan and found Fable, she had a key to a safe place even Iqiohr couldn't find her in. Maybe they could actually be free.

"Do you need to put anything in the safe?" Clio touched her arm.

Myth shook her head. "It was already placed there."

"Then let's show you your room and get you settled. The pre-auction is tomorrow at eight in the morning. After you've gotten your bearings come back and see me, maybe we can exchange a few stories. I bet I know one or two you don't."