Chapter Text
The next day they headed out and further up the mountain. Lunaria took the lead while Rhea and Iyo stayed farther back. Her keen sense of smell would alert her long before she was seen. Plus a lone wolf in the mountains would garner far less attention, than the two women would if seen from a distance. If she came across any enemies, the large wolf would communicate back to Iyo and Rhea and they could prepare. The farther up they went the colder it got. The wind picked up, but it was clear, so it didn't appear there would be snow. Snow had both perks and detriments for basically the same reason. Footprints. In this case, Rhea felt better knowing they wouldn't be leaving a trail of prints behind them. They didn't see anyone, but the trail was pretty treacherous now compared to further down. Rhea felt bad for Iyo, as it was obvious she was afraid in certain areas where the trail was thinner, and the rocks were getting slippery. She tried reassuring her, but it wasn't helping much. Iyo couldn't get through the mountain trails fast enough. She was ready to be off the mountain. Being cold and windy didn't help either.
They finally reached the next cave where they would camp for the night. It was close to the top, so at least they would spend most of the next days descending. Lunaria had let them know she was going up farther to hunt for food, and would return. It was very cold in the cave, so Rhea immediately got a fire started, while Iyo chopped up the ingredients for the stew. Rhea tried to peek and see Iyo's secret combination of spices and herbs she added to make it taste so good. Iyo laughed and told her to go away. Rhea went and sat by the fire and pretend pouted. When Iyo returned with the pot to set it on the fire, she saw Rhea's pouty face and laughed again and then kissed her. "You're just too cute"
While the stew was cooking, Rhea grabbed a stick about as thick as Iyo's staff for them to practice Iyo defending with her mace. "Don't try to match power with them. Use the mace to deflect an attack away from you."
She had Iyo swing at her to demonstrate how to deflect an attack from many different angles. "Let their momentum get them out of position, then you'll be able to attack. Again, I know you don't want to use a weapon, but there will come a time, you'll be glad you know how" Iyo nodded. She knew Rhea was right, even if it went against everything she had always believed in.
They continued to practice for an hour. Iyo was getting wore out, plus she needed to check on dinner to see if it was ready. It was close. Rhea suggested they practice more after eating. Iyo was getting the hang of it, but Rhea wanted her to get even better. Iyo agreed. She knew she needed a lot of improvement. There were quite a few times that Rhea "killed" her. Of course most enemies wouldn't be as skilled, but some would.
Lunaria returned while they were eating. She reported that they should be able to reach Tarsis in two days as it was near the base of the mountain. It was a larger city. It appeared to be well guarded from what Lunaria could see. A man made stone wall surrounded the city. They would have to be careful during their stay. The wolf lay down to sleep for a while, so she could be awake when Iyo and Rhea rested.
After eating they practiced for another hour or so. Rhea could tell Iyo was exhausted, and stopped. Iyo had done much better this time, and Rhea was proud of her. She added more wood to the fire and sat down. Iyo sat next to her and leaned against her shoulder.
Rhea wrapped her arm around Iyo and kissed her forehead. "I'm really proud of you. You're really getting the hang of this."
"I have a very good teacher" Iyo replied grinning.
"Tomorrow when we stop for the night, we will practice some more." Iyo agreed.
It made her happy to know Rhea was proud. She sighed, closed her eyes, and leaned in closer to Rhea. "If you're tired you should go lay down."
"Hmmm, rather stay here.."
Rhea stoked the fire, and quietly watched the flames. She had spent so many nights in her life watching flames like this. It reminded her of her old campsite. She had loved it there, but of course now it was gone. So much had changed in just a few weeks. She was far from her former home, but more importantly she had a purpose in life besides surviving day to day. She would play a very important role in the future of the world.
And then there was Iyo. She changed everything. Because of Iyo, Rhea was no longer alone. She was needed, and she was loved. She hadn't felt love for such a long time and the type of love Iyo had for her, she had never felt, nor had she ever thought she would feel. It was completely foreign to her. As was having the same feelings for another person. A few weeks ago, she was content with her life. She had accepted it, and even enjoyed it. Now she couldn't imagine being without Iyo.
She looked down at Iyo and grinned to herself. Iyo had shifted and was now curled up and her head rested on Rhea's lap. Rhea pulled the fur cloak Iyo wore over her so it covered her like a blanket, and added more wood to the fire. She knew Iyo was exhausted. Between training and going up the mountain, she was not used to this much physical activity like Rhea was. Rhea was tired also, so she could just imagine how tired Iyo was.
Lunaria woke up from her sleep, and saw Iyo curled up and sleeping while Rhea was starting to look like she was ready to sleep too. "How is her training going?"
"She's getting better, and I know she's trying. I'm wondering if I should continue with the lessons or not."
"Why? It is good for her to know these things, right?"
"Of course it is, I want her to be able to defend herself, but I know she doesn't like the idea of using a weapon. It goes against her very nature. Plus she's exhausted. Maybe I'm pushing her too hard."
"Back off on the training for now, and see how she responds. You should rest now. I will stand guard." Rhea carefully lifted Iyo up and set her on the blanket that was on the ground and then joined her. Iyo slept the whole time. Rhea fell asleep soon after getting settled in..
Iyo was back in the meadow with Kana. Her mentor appeared surprised to see her again. "Why are you here again? Are you still trying to join me in the stars?"
"Not this time. I seek guidance. Rhea has been showing me how to use a weapon as a way to defend myself. I have gone along with it so far, as her reasoning does have merit. But as a follower of Silvara, we have always been taught to heal the sick and injured, not to cause injury or death. She knows of my reluctance and she said she is proud of me for trying."
"What answers are you seeking Iyo?"
"I need to know if I'm doing the right thing, or if I will anger Silvara by using a weapon designed to maim or kill."
"Ask yourself this. Will these lessons help you in your quest?"
"Rhea believes they could help, yes"
"And you worry about angering the Goddess?" Iyo nodded.
Kana thought for a moment and then said. "I want to show you something."
Iyo was now in a forest with Rhea and Lunaria being attacked by several men. Rhea was fighting off two of them, and Lunaria was surrounded and trapped by three others. Another man was racing towards Iyo and she didn't have time to cast a spell with her staff before he pierced her chest with his sword and she fell to the ground dead.
Now Iyo was back with Kana. She was clutching her chest as Kana said. "You can't free Silvara if you're dead now, can you? Now she is trapped forever. Would the things you've been taught have helped in this situation?"
"Yes" Iyo replied.
"Show me" Kana instructed, as she replayed the same scenario. Iyo demonstrated the way Rhea had shown her how to deflect that type of attack to get the attacker off balance, and then attack with her mace. She was then able to cast her spell to help the others win their battles.
Kana nodded. "So tell me Iyo, which do you think would anger Silvara more? Using a weapon to save yourself, Rhea and Lunaria, or not using it and dying, trapping her forever?"
Iyo smiled and bowed to her mentor. "Thank you for giving me clarity. I know what I need to do now."
Kana Smiled back at her. "You've always known the answer. There was only one choice. To do what is necessary to free Silvara. Sometimes we have to make what we think are the wrong choices in order to fulfill our destiny. Go now, and help Silvara return to her rightful place in the sky." She kissed Iyo on the forehead and faded away in the distance..
When Iyo woke up, it was still dark outside. Rhea was still asleep and Lunaria was sitting at the entrance of the cave. It was snowing heavily and was very windy to the point where Iyo could hear it whistle. Iyo knew the weather didn't faze the wolf much, but she called her over away from the snow and wind.
The wolf came over and sat next to Iyo, so she could get some pets. "Looks bad out there. Do you think we'll be able to travel today?"
"Might be best not to. It would be difficult even for myself. An extra day of rest would be good. Speaking of rest, why are you awake?"
"I visited my mentor in a dream. I needed clarity."
"Does this pertain to your weapon training?"
Iyo was surprised. "Yes, how did you know?"
"It's no secret, that you don't really like the idea of using a weapon. Did you get the answer you were looking for?"
Iyo nodded and replied. "Yes. She showed me a scenario where I was killed because I couldn't defend myself that lead to Silvara being trapped forever. Then she asked me to demonstrate my training with the same scene and I lived, and was also able to help you and Rhea against the men attacking because I then had enough time to cast a spell with my staff. I don't think I'll ever like using the weapon, but I have a much better understanding on why I need to know how to use it."
"I'm glad you got the clarity you needed. You won't be able to free Silvara if you are dead. Rhea will be happy also. She was considering stopping the lessons, because of your feelings towards weapons. We will stay here today, so you can train and rest as you need to." Iyo hugged the wolf and laid back down to sleep..
In the morning when Rhea woke, she saw that Iyo was already awake and had already made tea. She put some in a mug for Rhea and brought it to her, then sat down. "Lunaria says we will stay here today. It has been snowing and windy all night. She said it would be dangerous even for her."
Rhea got up and walked over to the cave entrance. It wasn't snowing as hard as it did overnight, but it was still coming down. It had piled up quite a bit. They might be here for a couple days. Rhea went over to grab the pans and fill them with the snow. It wouldn't be the best tasting, but once the snow melted they could fill their water flasks.
Iyo watched in awe. She never would have thought about using the snow to replenish their water supply. There was so much Rhea could teach her about survival. She likely would never need to know, but she still wanted to learn. Having lead such a sheltered life, knowing how to survive had never been taught to her, while with Rhea it was almost all she knew.
Iyo grabbed her mace, and practiced maneuvering it between her fingers and wrist to learn how to twirl it. She wanted to do more than just swing it. She wanted to become proficient with it. She had seen Rhea do it with her sword, and wanted to be able to do the same with the mace. After her dream visit with her mentor, she was extra motivated now. She knocked herself in the head quite a few times, but was determined.
Rhea came in with a pan of snow and saw Iyo clunk herself and shook her head with a grin. She remembered all the times she had done the same thing when learning how to do the same maneuver. Luckily for her she was using a stick and not a sword. "Maybe you should try using a stick to practice doing that. That couldn't have felt good."
Rhea handed her the stick she was using when training with Iyo the night before. Iyo looked at her with a fire in her eyes that Rhea had never seen. "I'll be fine, I have to get used to this. A few knocks won't kill me." and went back to practicing.
Rhea shrugged and looked over at Lunaria who had been sitting quietly watching Iyo. "What's with her today?"
"Her mentor came to her in a dream and helped her find the clarity she needed"
"What clarity?" Rhea asked.
"Her mentor showed her being killed when she didn't defend herself causing Silvara to remain forever trapped. Then showed her the same scenario where she used the training you've been helping her with, and she lived. She may never like using it, but she now truly understands that she may need to in order to free Silvara."
Rhea nodded. "Guess it's time for another lesson then" She went over and picked up the stick that she had left for Iyo. "Defend yourself"
As they parried, it started getting pretty heated. Every time Rhea would get a "hit" on Iyo, it just fired Iyo up even more. Rhea had never seen her like this. She couldn't decide if she liked seeing this or not. On one hand, she liked that Iyo was taking it seriously now. She would need to be this serious in a real confrontation. On the other hand, this wasn't the calm, peaceful healer she was so fond of, and had fallen for. Rhea also had a competitive side that started to show up.
Lunaria watched them in silence wondering how much farther she should let them go at each other, before stopping them. It wasn't until Rhea pulled off a move that Iyo wasn't prepared for that the wolf had seen enough. She had swung and as Iyo blocked, Rhea grabbed and held onto the mace, and then put her foot behind Iyo's and pushed her to the ground. Iyo was angry when she got up.
Lunaria got between them. She looked at both of them and said "Enough!" to Rhea first, and then to Iyo. Both women were fired up. Rhea tossed her stick to the ground, and walked out of the cave to cool off.
Iyo was pacing back and forth trying to calm herself down. Anger was an emotion she had never felt. At least not like this. The wolf finally asked Iyo "What happened there? I sensed your anger. Taking the training seriously is good, but getting mad and challenging her the way you did was only going to end one way. The way it did, with you on the ground. Rhea is a highly skilled fighter who is trying to help you. Instead you fought her like she was the enemy"
Iyo went over and sat next to the wolf and hugged her. She was pale and had a few tears running down her cheeks. "I don't know what came over me. I just got so angry after she pushed me."
"You were angry before then. Rhea saw it too. Both of you handled this poorly today." Iyo lowered her head and nodded in agreement. She got up and walked to the entrance of the cave to apologize to Rhea, but Rhea wasn't there..
Iyo saw that Rhea's footprints headed up the mountain and went back inside to inform Lunaria that Rhea was gone. She wanted to wolf to go after her, but Lunaria said no. She wasn't about to leave Iyo alone. "But she could be in trouble out there" Iyo pleaded.
The wolf still refused. Her priority was Iyo, and nothing was going to change that. "She can take care of herself. She's done it for many years. Let's give her some time. She'll return when she's ready" Iyo didn't like the thought of Rhea being out there in the storm at all. She knew Lunaria was right in that Rhea could take care of herself, but she was still worried, and would remain worried until she returned..
Rhea had walked to the top of the mountain. Off to the side of the trail she sat down and leaned against a large boulder away from the wind. She was freezing, but at least the wind wasn't hitting her now, so that helped. She felt like a total piece of shit for what she had done to Iyo back at the cave. Iyo had kept challenging her like she was an enemy, until Rhea had lost it and decided to teach her a lesson by putting her on the ground. She was supposed to be helping Iyo learn to defend herself, and instead had let her temper get the best of her. To be fair both of them had crossed the line. What had gotten into Iyo though? She always had such a calm and peaceful presence and today she had snapped.
Rhea knew she should head back to the cave, but she wasn't ready to face Iyo yet. No doubt she'd be getting worried by now. "She doesn't deserve you. She gets angry at you and fights you when you are trying to help her."
Rhea looked up and saw a faint image of a woman in all black standing before her. "You again.. Go away"
Rhea stood up and pulled out her sword. It was glowing brightly. "A brave warrior. I like that. But do you really think you're a match for me?"
The woman flicked her wrist, and Rhea's sword flew straight up towards the sky before coming down and sticking into the ground.
"None of them deserve your loyalty. I can give you more than any of them could. Gold. An army to call your own. Someone who truly appreciates you and your skills. Oh, and of course since you want a home, the whole world can become your home to rule as you wish. All you have to do is call for me and it will all be yours."
A new image appeared. Rhea herself in black plate mail riding a black dragon with a large army behind her attacking a village. The village looked familiar and she realized it was Parthrax. Her army raided the village and they were killing all the villagers as they pleaded for their lives. Soon the whole town was on fire except for one house on the outskirts of town.
There was something about that house.. As her army arrived at the house, Rhea commanded the dragon to land. A woman came out of the house. She was dressed in all white and was crying. "Rhea? Rhea, please come back to me. I love you.."