Fic: A Cold Wind Rising - Prologue
Title: A Cold Wind Rising || Story Details

Prologue
Length: 985 words
Summary: How to shove a mystic into a hole in one not-so-easy step.



Prologue
Loule’s Field, Cassitaire, Outer Zone
Fifth Annual of Azkadellia’s Reign

The swirl of northern snow obscured the Longcoat guard until Zero, and the two behind, nearly traipsed into him. Wisely, the guard had tossed a cloak over his tell-tale coat, with a hood up to keep the snow at bay. His feet shifted in the collected fluff. Greetings were exchanged between Sergeant Moraine, Captain Erdmyss, and Lieutenant Zero. And, finally, Zero ushered his guest forward. A woman in a heavy aqua cloak, long auburn hair spilling nearly to her waist, mottled in flakes. She looked into the face of the sergeant and a welt came across her senses. She retreated.

‘Mal,’ she faced him with tears resurfacing, cold in the harsh touch of air. ‘Mal, no, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to! I don’t want…’

She sniffled as he held her shoulders. He was younger than her, by a handful of annuals, but he knew how to soothe. ‘I know it’s scary, Lyn. I know it is. I don’t want you to go either. But we’re out of options. This is the best decision. You must go.’

‘I’d rather risk my life than live underground forever.’

‘It isn’t forever.’ He poked away a tear on the height of her cheek. ‘Don’t say that. And while you might be willing to risk your life, I’m not. Lyn, I promise, everything will be fine.’

Lyn’s chin lowered into her scarf, and all she saw was snow and the billowing ends of their cloaks—and a terminal life ending in the underworld. How had she agreed to do this? ‘I can’t, Mal, I can’t! It’s so different than Chalet! At least we had peace!’

Wanting to be useful, Zero interceded. ‘You don’t have that peace anymore. Chalet is in the hands of the Sorceress now. There’s no going back, Lyn—and this is the only route forward. You’re safest there. Out in the open but hidden underground.’

How could she be so persuaded? Because she knew, deep in her heart, they were right. Mal wanted what was best for her. She’d always treated him so terribly, and he was always willing to jeopardise his reputation, his neck, on his staunch belief in her.

‘Just remember the rules,’ Mal told her. ‘Don’t tell anyone your real name. Don’t let on that you’re more powerful than you show. And for the love of the gods, Lyn, eat something every once in a while. And don’t date anyone.’

Relieved by the joke, Lyn smirked. Mal pulled her in for a hug.

‘All right, well,’ he kissed her head over a downy hood, ‘I made that last one up, spur of the moment, swell brother that I am. A job’s waiting for you. And some girls you knew at Academy are here, too. You’ll be rooming with them. Zero’s arranged all of that. You’ll be looked after. By me, when I can, and Sergeant Moraine—Zero, too, when he gets the opportunity. It’ll be all right, Lyn, it really will. At least you’ll be here, somewhere I can keep an eye on you. And…’ Malcolm sighed and held her out to the length of his arms. Sometimes he saw Father in her, sometimes Mother—but she was always Lyn. It had been annuals since he’d seen her cry so liberally. It agonised him. ‘You are so much stronger than this.’

She closed her eyes, felt the Presence. And, nodding, threw him into a final hug. ‘Ei ke tierno.’

‘Ei ke tierno isav.’ He had a moment to pat her back before she swooped away lithely.

Moraine guided her into the square porthole. And, soon, in the deepening night, the latch closed on the Realm of the Unwanted. Deflated, Malcolm sat on it, quivering in turmoil and cold. The silence continued but for winds hissing through the pine trees, whisking the dried sedges into eerie rattles, and the sound of large flakes alighting upon them.

‘So,’ Mal feigned leisure by trying to ignite a lamp, though his hand shook violently, ‘when I see Lyn again, she’ll be this Airofday thing? A—wait, what did you call it?’

‘Interlocutor. And yeah, Airofday. Let me do that.’

He took the lamp and had it lit immediately. Better action than talk. Zero preferred leaving speech as an option. The natural sounds mimicked well the hush in his mind. The Sorceress’ invasive, idle buzz had been missing for hours. He soon beckoned Erdmyss to end the dally. They exited the plain only entered minutes before. One less in their company.

Their horses were encamped in a well-stocked manger on the grounds of a farmer oblivious to their presence. Mal huddled into the hay loft, shivering, dousing the lamp should a spark catch the dry feed on fire. Zero stretched out on his back. Above him, the crossbeams housed two dozing owls who’d soon be on their way.

‘How’s your head?’

Mal’s questions were often of the personal sort. But while they had not known each other very long, they had crossed boundaries, rather quickly, of all the filtering it takes to become true friends. Malcolm Erdmyss was his captain, his friend, a brother in spirit. And shoving Lyn into the Realm of the Unwanted had been as equally difficult for Zero as it had been for Mal.

But Zero couldn’t answer the question. Mal’s hand swatted him at the shoulder.

‘So she’s up to her tricks again.’

‘The battle never really ends. It fights in rounds.’ Zero nodded and turned on his side. His temple throbbed. The snow went on behind his lids. ‘There will be hell to pay tomorrow.’

‘Probably. But keep fighting, Zero. One of these days, she’ll be defeated.’

The thought of Azkadellia losing her powers, losing whatever hideous darkness lurked inside her, often cheered Zero as he coveted sleep and escape. But he invited no cheer tonight, only sorrow and relief. ‘I’m sorry, Mal—about Lyn. If I thought there was another way… I’m sorry.’

It would be the last sensitive thing Zero said until the Sorceress left him alone again.



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Notes
Ei ke tierno (isav) - Carazdran, an archaic and rare language spoken in the state of Carazdra. Translation: I love you (as well)