Challenging Lessons

8/14/2019 Challenging Lessons

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Challenging Lessons by Tracy Falbe

enough for +n'a to have taken him into her arms as a rysling& orphaned and bereft of

kin!

/e took his eyes off the approaching caravan and focused on the soft lamb.sool tunic in his hands! /e gathered the fine fabric that had come from the loom of

some unknon but skilled loland oman and pulled the tunic over his head! /e

slipped his long blue arms into the sleeves and slid the tunic don his smooth blue

chest!$han ran his fingers through his short black hair to unrumple it after putting on

his shirt! /e grabbed his green suede 'acket that as draped over the balcony railing and

tossed it on ithout buttoning it! /e took a half step toard the open balcony doors butthen paused to admire the morning sun on the mountains that surrounded the "ingten

#alley! -old and pink gloed from the snoy peaks of the Rysamand 2ountains! The

gentle early autumn sunrise could not soften the harsh toering mountains that erebeautiful yet alays cold!

$han took a deep breath and let his senses caress the mountain tops! /e loved

the Rysamand& as all rys did! This as their orld& the Rystavalla& and it gave them lifeand it fueled their magic!

3hite curtains tinkling ith silver threads covered the balcony dooray! Aburst of bree*e billoed the curtains around $han as he entered the bedchamber of

,ueen +n'a! +pposite the balcony doors as a huge four0post bed! %ts great carvedpillars of bedposts rose to a canopy draped ith blue velvet! Pine cones and birds ere

carved into the ood& tining and climbing up the posts ith the vivacious energy of a

happy spring day!%n a hite gon and robe& +n'a reposed against her gold threaded pillos! Far

older than a thousand inters& she looked cold yet beautiful! /er blue skin& unblemished

and perfect& as the same shade as the blue stone mountains that ruled her realm assurely as she did! Long hite hair floed from her head over her pillos& and a choker

necklace of diamonds& each cut ith one hundred and one facets& held her strong blue

neck!+n'a opened her eyes4black eyes& dark as the abyss of knoledge that as her

mind! $han approached her bedside and she sat up! /er robe fell from her left shoulder&

e5posing that corner of her lovely physi6ue! $han plopped confidently into the bed and

touched her bare shoulder!7%t ill be a good day at court today&8 +n'a said!

$han reclined alongside her legs! /e put his hands behind his head and said& 7%

do not ant to go! % ant to go hiking!8Before she could admonish him& hich he sa coming& $han grinned! 7Come

ith me& +n'a! The mountains are lonely ithout you&8 he said!

A fond smile came to her lips! 79ou are young& $han& and once % e5plored the

land ith e6ual relish& but % no longer need to! % can feel the Rysamand beneath my feeteven from here&8 she said!

$han sighed and said that he ould miss her& but then +n'a.s kindness slipped

from her face! 79ou are still holding court ith me&8 she said! 7:o not let yourselfbecome bored ith it! % am teaching you an important lesson if you ould pay

attention!8

/er subtle anger poked $han& and he sat up! /e had not meant to provoke herdispleasure! $he as his teacher& and no other being in the orld had the knoledge to

offer that she did! /e ould mind his lessons& as she bid him!

79es& +n'a&8 he said!

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The rys ,ueen got out of the bed and she let her robe slip across $han.s knees as

she ent by him! /er gon as open in the back& sen together in a # at the small of

her back& and $han focused on the distracting skin revealed by her sleepear! +n'a asa tall striking rys& and her physical presence enhanced her aura of poer!

+n'a tossed her long hite hair and glanced over her shoulder at $han! 7Aait

me in the throne room&8 she commanded!

Blue fire sparked in her eyes& and $han kne she used her magical mind to callher servants! /e e5cused himself and left her to prepare for a day at court!

+n'a& despite her perennial eagerness to receive her tribute from the humans&

took her time arriving at the throne room! $han stood at the base of her dais! This ashis place! 1o other rys presided over court ith the ,ueen! /e alone as alloed to

look out upon her sub'ects ith the throne at his back!

9et $han reali*ed that this as the e5tent of his privilege! /e understood thatthere as only one throne in "ingten! +n'a as supreme& above all other rys& and their

rightful ruler!

As if to remind himself of this& $han looked behind him! Polished stone stepsrose to a golden throne here +n'a had sat for approaching to millennia! Thinking of

her poer that had stamped her name upon this age of the orld& $han felt humbled byhis youth! At one mere century& he as only 'ust considered mature and no longer a

rysling! $o young& yet not another rys matched his poer!$o young& and so alone4e5cept for +n'a!

$han.s heart 6uickened hen he sensed her approach! $han folloed her

brilliant lifeforce ith his mind as she left her private chambers! /is eyes becameunfocused to his physical surroundings and blue energy gloed from his pupils as he

vieed her remotely! $he alked alone through the passages and glided don steps

orn smooth by centuries of 6uiet traffic! $unshine poured through skylights andshimmered on her hair and 'eels!

+n'a easily sensed $han.s admiring presence! #han"her mind murmured to

him affectionately& and he as pleased by her approval!$han ithdre his senses and simply aited ith the eight rys guards posted in

the throne room! Blue light from the large arding crystal orbs mounted in the corners

mimicked a bright sky& and once the humans arrived& the light ould cast their kneeling

shados upon the marble floor!To door ardens clothed in green suede uniforms studded ith silver opened

the doors from the outside and ,ueen +n'a strode in unattended! $he locked eyes ith

$han& seemingly glad that he as there to receive her!The sight of her& ready to hold court& rearded $han.s e5citement! /e believed

no poer could be as aesome as her poer! All the ay through her being burned a

great energy that linked ith the forces of nature! $he as capable of terrible sorcery or

the most subtle trick of pleasure! And the centuries had only put the slightest blunt onher beauty! /er face no longer had the sharp features of a younger rys! As the storming

ind could shape a boulder& so time had softened her face!

Today she ore a dark green gon& tight fitting in the bodice and floingaround her legs! A second net0like necklace of large diamonds glittered over her collar

bones! /er floing mane of hite hair as tamed beneath a headdress of alabaster and

lapis la*uli beads fitted ith more diamonds! $he as as perfect as the "ingten #alleyfrom its verdant alpine forests to its icy peaks!

$han kne the humans ould be in ae of her even more than he as! $han

kneeled before her as she reached the dais& and +n'a dipped her head to him!

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$he settled onto her throne as if it nourished her and arranged her skirts around

her booted feet ith a seeping flourish!

7$hall e see hat our half0it (englaa )ing has scraped together for us=8+n'a said!

$han stood up! 79ou did bid him last year to do better&8 $han recalled!

7%ndeed % did&8 +n'a said! 71o pay attention& $han! % ould have you learn

from me today!879es& +n'a&8 he said solemnly& ondering hat there as to learn from a tribute

delivery! The humans ere usually reverent& frightened even& and eager to complete

their errand! /e had seen this ritual for decades no and it hardly interested him!+n'a signaled to her Captain of the -uard and he collected the (englaa

delegation! )ing Telender entered ith his entourage! A do*en arriors in their finest

clothes and armor attended the (englaa )ing& ho had also brought three of hisives! A floor0length sleeveless black robe trimmed in fo5 fur rippled from Telender.s

shoulders! /is cron as a simple circlet of gold! Beneath his robe as a shirt of

chainmail& polished and unmarked by actual battle& and the horn handles of his sordand dagger glinted ith inlaid silver and gold!

Telender.s honor guards ere ell matched like e5pensive pairs of carriagehorses! They ere of e6ual height and they ore deep blue capes pinned at their right

shoulders ith brooches bearing the fo5 face symbol of Telender.s royal line! The menhad not orn their helmets and they had straight black hair cut 'ust above their

shoulders!

The bron eyes of the arriors stole glances at the tremendous -oddess ,ueen&but for the most part& the (englaa arriors kept their eyes don like the royal ives!

The three omen ere all beautiful in their on ays! The bron skin of their

faces as smooth ith youth! +ne oman had a rounder face and fuller lips than theto oval0faced omen! The middle oman as taller than the others and her haughty

high cheekbones radiated pride! /er green sash and headdress that rapped her neck

and head marked her as a (englaa first ife and the 6ueen of her tribe! The thirdoman had a fuller softer build& likely from a recent pregnancy!

They ore black& but their green or yello sashes and headdresses brightened

them among their darkly clad men!

Telender as still a young )ing! 1o hite mi5ed ith his shining black hair!/is shoulders ere broad and his back straight& but his manly strength meant little

before the throne of +n'a!

/is servants trundled forth three chests to set before the dais! They thuddedheavily hen set don on the marble floor! Before ithdraing& the servants opened

the chests! +ne contained a mound of ra gold nuggets and poder& recently coa5ed

from the streams of -yhen! The second chest contained precious gems& semi0precious

gems& fine crystals and ores! >very mineral color sparkled from the pleasing pile! %n thethird chest ere furs and bolts of e56uisitely fine cloth dyed ith the rarest colors!

Purples& striking blues& orange& red and soft pastel pink mingled among the lu5urious

splendor of animal skins!+n'a spoke! 7Telender of the (englaa& you are ise to bear your -oddess gifts!

The fortunes of your tribe ould diminish ithout my blessings!8

Telender kneeled and his entourage ent to their knees behind him& servant&arrior and ife alike! 3ith his head boed& Telender said& 7,ueen +n'a& my -oddess&

it is my pleasure to deliver the fine offerings of my tribe! 9our acceptance of them does

us honor!8

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7Acceptance=8 +n'a repeated! The ord rolled from her throat like thunder

threatening a edding day! $he took her eyes from the treasure bo5es& here they ere

normally apt to linger& and said& 7% have not said that % accept this or am satisfied!8$han felt the kneeling humans collectively tense ith dread! /e had seen +n'a

play this sport before! $he en'oyed making the humans s6uirm! 1o matter ho full

centuries of tribute made the vaults of "ingten& +n'a alays anted more!

Fear bulged in Telender.s eyes! 7Forgive my hasty speech& -reat ,ueen&8Telender said! 7%t is my sincerest ish that you be satisfied by the tribute of the

(englaa!8

7%ndeed it is&8 +n'a said! 73hat else have you brought to us=8Telender proceeded to detail the rest of his tribute that had been delivered to

storehouses in the city! /e spoke ith enthusiasm& hoping that his gifts ould suffice!

$i5 do*en ell0fattened steers had been brought along ith seven agons laden ithseven grains! A great variety of foodstuffs and herbs had been provided as ell& and one

hundred bolts of ool and linen cloth no added to rys stores!

7:id % not command you to bring more than last year=8 +n'a reminded! 79ourstinginess angered me and % gave you this single chance to restore my confidence in

your faith!87% did bring more& my ,ueen&8 he insisted but his head cringed into his fur

collar!$han kne from e5perience that the )ing ould be begging soon!

79ou have not brought enough&8 +n'a announced!

Aghast& Telender clasped his hands together! 72y great ,ueen& famine threatensthe land! This as the third year ith poor crops! This year as the orst! The spring

as cold and et! $eeds rotted in the ground! After e replanted& drought came!8

$incerity gushed from the )ing in guileless urgency!+n'a as unimpressed! 79our e5cuses are pitiful& Telender! :o you think % shall

be moved to use my poer to favor the (englaa if you are cheap ith your offerings=8

she asked!Telender replied that his tribe had brought as much tribute as it could4more

than it could spare! /ardship pressed upon the people and they prayed for the

intervention of their -oddess!

7%f ne5t year is good& % shall double our tribute& my ,ueen@ % sear it&8 Telenderadded although he truly had no idea ho he might fulfill such an unieldy promise!

79ou ill pay no&8 +n'a declared& and the enchanted fires locked ithin the

orbs mounted in the corners of the room flared ith agreement for her greed! $hescanned the boed heads of the (englaa entourage! 7Rise and look at me& Telender&8

she commanded!

Convinced that he ould be stricken dead and his soul snared by +n'a.s ill and

cast into the 3ilderness to serve ith her damned servants& the undying :eamedron&Telender came to his feet! 3hen he looked upon his ,ueen& blue light si**led in her

eyes and a faint aura sparkled around her hite hair like inter sun on snodrifts!

79ou have held back& Telender&8 +n'a said! 7But you shall still pay me my duetoday! 9ou ill sho your faith by an act of great value!8

+n'a let her statement hang in the silence! $han felt the hearts of the humans

thud ith an5iety! $han also felt +n'a.s e5citement! $he loved ruling them!The ,ueen.s ords came into $han.s mind no! #ee ho! I o!n them% I

command them more surely than a horse !ith a tight bit.

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But the rys ,ueen did not listen to the servile ords& and she could not

appreciate the horror she had son! The trembling bodies& ide tearful eyes& 6uaking

helpless rage& and hot death around her ere shoved aside by her displeasure ith $han!+n'a looked don her dais at $han! /is head hung and he did not look at her!

%n his mind& $han felt an ugly silence instead of her ords! /e as afraid of

hat he had done! /e had never before dreamed of performing such a thoughtless

action counter to the ill of +n'a! But as he atched the ives of Telender help thethird oman to sit up& $han could not regret his action! The to omen rubbed the

hands of the tormented third ife and they loosened her yello headdress and neck

scarf!+n'a commanded the (englaa out! They took their dead and left the treasure!

Telender never looked at his ,ueen! /is eyes ere fi5ed on the blood that he had

spilled!3hen the door ardens shut out the reduced and retreating (englaa& the throne

room still reeled ith tragic energy!

1o $han turned and looked up at +n'a! :etermined to be bold& he demanded&73hat as the lesson& +n'a=8

Bitterness clamped the face of the ,ueen! 3ithout speaking& she descendedfrom her throne and brushed by $han as if he as an ornamental shrub that needed

pruning!$han said& 7+n'a& % forgot myself! % did not mean to anger you!8

$he did not respond and continued across her bloodied throne room! To be

ignored by her panicked $han! /e must set right his intrusive blunder! /e tried toapologi*e to her again& but he as forced to silence! $han.s skin became hot and a spell

that heated and moved the air pushed him against the steps to the throne! +n'a passed

through the doors and they slammed shut behind her& pulled hard by her magic insteadof the rys door ardens!

/er temper as no secret to $han& but he had never goaded her to such

displeased re'ection before! $tunned& $han sloly got up from the steps! /is impulseas to go after +n'a and continue attempting to apologi*e& but the throne room doors

confronted $han like to slaps to the face& and his initial desire to apologi*e slipped

toard disregard! /e could be angry too! /e had told her he did not ant to attend court

today!'nd then she tries to entertain me !ith that sick display"he thought& becoming

disgusted!

/is distaste suddenly felt right! "ust because rys ere superior did not mean thatcruelty as correct! The oman flopping like a broken puppet sank teeth into $han.s

memory! 3ith certainty& $han kne that Telender ould never be 6uite right again!

And hy= Because +n'a had meant for this forced butchery to be some kind of lesson!

+ver the ne5t to days& +n'a continued to receive her tribute from theremaining tribes! The horrors inflicted upon the (englaa had 6uickly spread among

the other delegations& and +n'a as greeted by thoroughly subservient )ings ith

trembling entourages! 3ithout being prompted& each tribe voluntarily declared thatmore tribute ould be brought the ne5t year!

$han did not 'oin the ,ueen for these final audiences of the tribute season! /e

skulked around the )eep and as surprised ho good it felt to be separated from +n'a!$he had alays been so close ith her voice hispering! The peace found in his on

thoughts as therapeutic!

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After the last tribe delivered its tribute and departed "ingten& an enchanted 6uiet

settled on the valley! The frosts of the deepening autumn called for inter! >very inter

secluded "ingten from the human orld and left the magic rys at peace in their alpinerealm! $no& cold& and bli**ard inds could not kill a rys although most of them stuck

to the domestic comforts of "ingten!

+n'a sought $han out in this 6uiet time at the cusp of inter hen she no longer

had her human sub'ects to preside over! $he found him on a alkay along the top ofthe high all that enclosed the )eep.s courtyard! /e as leaning an elbo on the

ramparts and staring across Lake 1in!

$han did not look up as +n'a came toard him! %n his mind.s eye he sa hoher navy blue dress looked almost black beneath the steely overcast sky and ho the

cold ind toyed temptingly ith the ends of her hite hair!

$han ished he could 6uell his e5citement over her arrival! 3ould sheapologi*e or should he=

79ou can stop avoiding me&8 as +n'a.s greeting!

7/as your anger passed& +n'a=8 $han said& keeping his eyes on the lake!$he surprised him by saying yes!

$han faced her no! +n'a as close to him and to be inside the aura of herpoer again felt good!

72y ,ueen& % should not have interfered&8 he said!+n'a seemed to resist her urge to chastise him and said simply that it had not

been the reaction that she had e5pected! 7But did you see the lesson& $han=8 she added!

/e confessed that he had not& so +n'a e5plained that she needed to sho thehumans her poer from time to time! %f she gre la*y and lenient& then the humans

ould alays drift from obedience! They needed to be reminded every other generation

or so that she as their -oddess and they ould do as she bid them!7-etting someone to kill on your order is a tremendous statement of poer&8

+n'a concluded!

$han did not disagree ith her opinion& but asked& 7:id you have to be so harsh=They ere afraid of you and the oman.s suffering as so unnecessary!8 >ven as he

spoke& he felt again the ra plaintive misery of the human emotions that had battered

him!

+n'a e5haled and as condescending in her frustration! 7$han& hat do you careabout the killing= /umans kill each other all the time! Telender has sent others to ar

and death in stupid conflicts motivated by greed or a trifling insult that pricked his

honor&8 +n'a said! Then ith a kinder maternal tone& she added& 7$han& do not pity thehumans! Telender ould put that oman to death if he even imagined she committed an

indiscretion!8

$han thought on this! Telender had not resisted the order to kill very long& and

he had voluntarily killed to men ithout being asked!(es" the humans are !icked"$han as forced to admit! But not alays! Those

people had cared for each other& and $han had seen into Telender.s soul in his moment

of murder and itnessed ho the foul act had scratched his sanity!$han could concede that he no understood +n'a.s lesson& but the ability of

humans to be cruel did not 'ustify +n'a.s harsh desires!

73ould you have killed that oman=8 $han asked because that as really hatas at the heart of his defiance!

+n'a narroed her eyes! $he did not ant him to belabor that point! $he

ansered him mentally& &e !ill ne$er kno!.

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Aloud she told him to alk ith her!

$han folloed her on the alkay to here the all met the )eep! A deep

archay covered the door to the )eep and once inside the shady alcove& +n'a stoppedand set a hand on his cheek! $he kissed his other cheek& and ith a arm sad smile& she

gathered one of his hands and held it to her chest!

7$han& you are gron no! A rysling no more! 3e both kno that&8 +n'a said!

$han placed a hand over her hand on his face! Closing his eyes& he kissed herrist& relieved to have her close again! The touch of her poerful flesh made him forget

his anger and moral difficulties!

+n'a continued& 7To truly be my consort& you must shed your innocence!8/er statement confused him! $han did not 6uite conceive of himself as any more

or less innocent than any other rys! %n his defense& he said& 7+n'a& my ,ueen& it as not

youthful innocence that made me not ant to see you kill that oman!8$he arched her eyebros and let go of his hand! 71o= Are you sure=8 she said!

$he turned toard the door& but before she opened it& she added& 72y poer is not

pretty& $han& but it is aesome! The humans respect me and the rys respect me! % am themost poerful and the rightful ruler of us all!8

79es& +n'a! +f course&8 $han said!/e folloed her into the )eep& but she did not take the stairs to the upper levels

here she delled in lu5ury! /er steps led them donard!%n the loer places of the )eep& $han kne there ere store rooms and vaults&

filled ith centuries of treasure given up by the humans to their -oddess& and even

loer& into the rocky boels carved from the bedrock& ere dungeons! At times& $hanhad sensed suffering from these places& and the lingering ache of dark hidden sorros

clung to the cell blocks far beneath the regal grandeur of the throne of "ingten!

+ccasionally& hen $han had been a rysling& scalpel sharp misery from thedungeon had slashed his perception& and he had sought comfort and e5planation from

+n'a! $he had told him that sometimes she punished criminals! %t as an unpleasant

thing& but he as not to let it upset him! >veryone& rys and humans& kne their place insociety& and he should not pity those ho defied the proper order of things!

The frightening episodes had thankfully been rare& and $han had only once let

his curious mind ander into the depths! /e had seen a dead human& broken and

starved& and he had not looked again!But the memory shuddered through him no as he ent ith +n'a through

stairells that became increasingly dark and damp! Tiny indo slits alloed a little

daylight in at the top of the stairs that descended into gloom! At the bottom of the steps&+n'a opened a door that creaked on hinges burdened by thick timbers and rust! %nside

as a guard room lit by several lanterns! $oot from the lanterns streaked the ceiling of

the room cut from stone! A do*en sets of iron manacles and chains hung on a all! To

rys of the "ingten -uard stood from the small table here they had been sitting andboed to their ,ueen!

+n'a selected a lantern from the table and told the guards that they ould not be

needed! $he opened the door on the other side of the room and entered the hopelessdark! As $han passed by the manacles& he reached out and touched a set! The essence of

the humans that had been grasped by the ugly hard rings cut across his nerves! $han

revealed his discomfort ith only a bat of his eyes! /e looked at the other to rys! Theydid not speak to him! Rys rarely initiated conversation ith him! /e supposed they

feared him because he as more poerful than they ere! /e lived and alked in

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+n'a.s steps and fe rys ished to involve themselves in the inner orld of their

,ueen!

$han hurried after +n'a! They descended another long set of steps beforereaching the et smelly cavern here cells had been carved into the hard darkness! The

lantern light sayed gently in +n'a.s grip! $han could hear ater dripping from the

high ceiling!

1ear the cells& +n'a stopped! 7:o you feel her& $han=8%nside one of the cells languished a human female! /er presence as impossible

for him to miss! /er flesh and her soul ere bright and hot against $han.s magical

perception! A ave of sickness craled up his stomach and throat as he recogni*ed theunfortunate ife of Telender ho he had thought that he had saved in the throne room!

Astounding horror raved inside $han.s chest! 7+n'a& hat have you done=8 /e

anted to shout but it as only a hisper!+n'a lifted the lantern beteen them! %ts orange light burned across their faces!

73e are going to finish your lesson& $han&8 she said!

-uilt robbed $han of pride! And although +n'a had told him not to pity thehumans& he pitied the oman& and $han fell to his knees!

/e begged& 7Let her go& +n'a! Please! % am sorry % interfered in the throne room!% ill make it up to you! :o not punish this oman because of my foolishness! Please!8

/is reaction baffled +n'a for a moment! Recovering from her confusion& shesneered& 7$ee ho eak your innocence makes you!8

7%nnocence=8 $han said! 7%t as my indiscretion! Punish me instead of this

human!8+n'a shook her head& annoyed by his blathering compassion! 7$tand up8 she

commanded! 3ith an effort he obeyed! 7% do not ant to punish you& $han! % am trying

to teach you!8 Blue energy sirled in her dark eyes& but then +n'a.s face softened ithsomething akin to vulnerability! 7For over seventeen centuries % have been alone! Then

you ere born& and % have atched you gro& and in that time % have hoped that you

could ease my loneliness! 9ou kno of loneliness! 9ou feel it more every day!8$han nodded! /e could empathi*e ith his ,ueen!

$he continued& 79ou are orthy to be my companion& $han! % ant there to be

love beteen us!8

7% love you&8 $han blurted! Perhaps these ords ould be the magic needed forher to end her use of the human as a game piece!

+n'a smiled& and for an instant& she as a beautiful rys female ith an allure

that no poetry could describe! Then her voice hardened! 7But only a poerful rys can bemy consort& $han! And you have only 'ust begun to kno your poer! % ant you to be

like me& to understand me! 9ou are still too like the other rys& ho ith my protection

live in peace and ealth! They are respected& as ell! % have seen to that& but they are

innocent& unlike me! % fought the -reat 3ar long ago! % made the orld as it is no! %made myself ,ueen! And no % ould teach you of this poer& $han! %t is a great

pleasure to kno& and it ill be a great pleasure to share it!8

$han as uncertain of hat she as getting at& and hen he did not respond&+n'a chose to be blunt! $he said& 7$han& % ant you to use your magic to kill this

oman!8

7)ill her=8 he said stupidly!79es! Free yourself of this useless pity that is making you eak! )ill her and

feel hat your poer can truly be like! 9ou ill understand once you have done it&8

+n'a said!

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$he stepped aside and ent behind him as if she might even shove him toard

the cell of the unfortunate oman! +n'a.s lips caressed his ear! 7Trust me&8 she

murmured and tiny ripples of pleasure radiated from his ear along his cheek and donhis neck!

It is a simple thing"$han told himself! /e had hunted and eaten the flesh of

animals! /e had used his magic to do such a thing! )illing the human ould be easy&

but it seemed so different& so rong!$han approached the cell! 3ith the force of his mind& he unlocked the door and

then pulled it open! The lantern light did not really penetrate the black s6uare of despair&

but $han heard the oman shuffling about inside! /e stood there thinking!The oman came to the door& dran toard the light by the aful hope that she

as being set free!

$he as a mess! /er hair as undone& hanging in tangles around her dirtysunken face! Filth no marred her once fine garments and her golden scarves hung over

her shoulders instead of rapping her head! $he staggered into the dooray& s6uinting

at the light and shielding her eyes ith her hands! :irt filled the creases in her palms!$he began to talk! $he begged for mercy and asked if she as being released!

$he babbled apologies for the (englaa and gave promises on behalf of her kinglyhusband that they ould bring more tribute than ten tribes ne5t year!

$han sa her no in her loathsome despair4caused by his impulsiveinterference! %f not for him& she ould have either died 6uickly in the throne room or

been halfay home ith her tribe right no! The guilt as aful! %t ould be best to

end this!$han grabbed her by the arm and tossed her toard +n'a! The oman stumbled

appropriately to her knees and $han sept don behind her! :ropping to one knee& he

placed one hand around her throat and tined the fingers of his other hand through herdirty hair and clasped her skull!

+n'a raised her lantern and hovered e5citedly!

$han fetched his poer that as inherent in every cell of his body and focusedhis mind! The shaking body in his grasp suddenly fueled his sense of supremacy! /er

blood thudded against his fingers and he felt her soul bashing inside her body like a mad

bird flapping in a cage!

/e had to decide ho to kill her! $uffocate her= $top her heart= $hatter herspine= $o many possibilities opened up to him in an inspiring rush of knoledge! /is

magic could let him do 'ust about anything to her body! /e could manipulate any

system and damage any part of her! /e could kill her instantly or make her suffer fordays!

$han.s eyes ere gloing ith fierce blue light! /is magic surged inside him in

thrilling aves of ecstasy! 9es& it as ama*ing to cast aside pity& compassion& and

innocence! The other rys ould not be ary of him because he stood in +n'a.s shado!After this& they ould fear him because he as fearsome!

I kill at Ona)s command"he thought and the sick delight of the moment

unraveled! The reali*ation that +n'a as e5erting her authority over him changedeverything! $he did not love him! $he anted to control him because he as poerful!

The clarity ith hich $han sa hat the rys ,ueen as doing blinded his mind ith

bright epiphany! An e5ploding defiant rage replaced his groing bloodlust! Theeruption of his hate as made even more intense by the lifetime of affection $han had

felt for +n'a! $he had nurtured him& taught him& given him pleasure& but no his

'uvenile love ithered like a baby being droned by its mother!

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$han released the oman& ho collapsing sobbing onto the et gravel! $han

stomped close to +n'a and satted the lantern from her hand! %t banged loudly against

the rock all and the light ent out! +nly the cold glo of rys eyes broke the darknessno!

7% 3%LL 1+T )%LL />R F+R 9+I8 $han thundered to +n'a.s face!

Pure shock gripped her body! 1o one had told her no for ell over a millennia!

Blue energy rippled along $han.s arms and boiled from his eyes! /e had neverfelt his magic like this before! Filled ith righteous energy& he bent don and picked up

the oman! /e pulled one of her arms over his shoulders and started to leave! $he

scrambled alongside him! Beteen her near0hysterical sobs& she thanked him! /ergratitude as such a tiny& human thing& but the sentiment told him that his poer did

not have to be evil!

3hen he reached the first step of the dark hard stairs& +n'a reacted! Blue andhite fire raced up the high alls of the dungeon and drove back the dark as if lightning

had struck beneath the )eep!

Pain pierced $han.s back! 3ith a scream& he crumpled to his knees and theoman slid from his supporting shoulders!

+n'a stalked toard them and released another blasting spell of bright energythat clung to the alls and spun around the edges of the ceiling!

The (englaa oman did not look back! $he claed up a fe more steps andtried to escape ith all her strength& but +n'a lunged over $han and grabbed the

oman.s ankles! +n'a supplemented her angry strength ith levitation magic and flung

the oman behind her and back toard the cells!-asping& $han rolled over and +n'a stood over him like a crane about to strike a

fish from the pond! $he as fierce and terrible& and until that aful moment& $han had

never truly conceived of the aesome poer that +n'a commanded!The rys ,ueen attacked him ith her magic! $uper hot blasts of air pummeled

him as she cast her attack spells! Pure instinct alloed $han to survive! /e cast shield

spells for the first time in his life and insulated himself from her killing magic!+n'a.s spells stormed around him& and in the eerie glo of her magical fire&

$han atched the cuffs of her sleeves begin to smoke! /e also felt his shielding magic

buckling beneath her mighty onslaught! $he as going to kill him! /e as certain of it

even though the most sacred la to all rys as the la against killing another rys!+n'a as close to $han and he kicked one of her feet out from under her! $he

came don hard onto one knee on the stone steps& and her attack faltered!

$han scrambled backard on the steps and then rolled over and ran up to theguard room! %n terror of +n'a& he fled and forgot the oman such as his fear for his

life! /e ran by the to rys in the guard room! They had surely sensed the eruption of

magic in the dungeon but neither of them had investigated! All rys kne to stand aside

hen +n'a used her poers!$han ran out of the )eep! 3ith barely a conscious thought& he opened the

rought iron gates of the courtyard ith his magic! The bird designs in the gates banged

open loudly like to cros disturbed from their roosts! $eat plastered $han.s hair tohis head and his heart hammered like a cre of miners! /e ran through "ingten! /e sa

rys on the streets stop and look at him! 2any stepped out of his path& aghast by the

sight of him! They could feel the hot guilt of their ,ueen.s punishing magic all overhim!

/alfay across the city& $han sloed! There as a ind and it as cold on his

seaty skin! $han sagged ith despair! Placing his hands on his thighs& he leaned over

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and tried to catch his breath! /e had no one to turn to for help! (es" I kno! of loneliness"

he thought!

3hen $han lifted his head& he looked beyond the rooftops of the city! $ome ofthe copper roofs ere recently polished and reflected the thickening cloud cover over

the valley& but others ere tarnished green and complemented the pine forests that

pressed close to "ingten! $han.s eyes latched onto the great mountains that contained the

forested valley! The peaks of the Rysamand suddenly beckoned him!/e ran again& out of the city and through the pines! 3ithout pausing& he labored

up the increasing inclines toard the mountains! $han passed the tree line and here

snoflakes ere driven by a stronger ind! 3ithout seeking any kind of trail& heclimbed! /e grasped the narro cracks in the rock and pulled himself up sheer cliffs

and across rough icy fields of sharp broken stones!

$han did not stop until the dusk dimmed the valley and the first stars lit up overthe mountains! Pulling himself onto a ledge& he rested and looked back! "ingten as far

belo him no& nestled against Lake 1in like an egg in a distant basket! /e did not

dare send his mind back to the city to see hat +n'a as doing! %t sufficed at themoment that she as not claing her ay up the steep rock and sno to attack him!

The air as thin and cold& but the alpine e5tremes ere the natural environmentfor rys and did not trouble him! Actually& the pure mountain ind refreshed him and

began to blo a lifetime of litter from his mind!/e looked higher! The peak of the mountain tisted over him into the starry sky!

After getting his bearings& $han recalled the name of the mountain that he had half

climbed in his blind flight! 2ount Curlenfindi!Through the night& $han climbed for its summit! %f he slipped on the ice& he

caught himself ith his levitation magic and struck his hands into the snopack as if

they ere ice a5es! /e used his magical perception to find a ay in the dark& and onehand hold and foot hold at a time& he approached the mountain top!

3ith the dan& he mounted the summit and came shakily to his feet! All around

him spread the Rysamand 2ountains& choked ith glaciers e5cept for the green 'eelthat as the "ingten #alley! The rising sun kissed the sno fields! $no poder

bloing from the peaks cast rainbos don the mountain sides& and $han sa his

orld of Rystavalla ane!

/e settled onto the summit cross legged and descended into meditation! /efocused the forces of nature through his soul and into the ma'estic pinnacle of

Curlenfindi beneath him! $han tuned his body to the slo colossal breathing of the

orld!The elements did not harm his body! /arsh ind drove ice needle sno against

him& but his body automatically healed its flesh ith his magic! /is breathing sloed

and he preserved his body against the cold! /e did not need to eat or drink! :eep into

his semi0hibernation& he began to discover the true potential of his poers!:ays passed and he felt the sun passing over him in the same ay as his brother

mountain felt the potent rays! -roing armth and then fading armth@ all in a blessed

cycle of poer that invigorated and soothed!3hen $han opened his eyes& they bla*ed ith blue light and his magic

6uickened inside him! /e as much more poerful than he had previously guessed! +f

course +n'a anted to control him! $he desired him as a companion because shedreaded him as a competitor!

%t as night and a full moon had risen! %t hung atchfully over the valley like a

proud mother checking on a sleeping child! $han urged his blood to flo again and

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pumped vitality back into his stiff limbs! 3hen he could move& he titched his right

cheek and cracked a fro*en tear off his cold skin!

1o $han had the courage to direct his mind to "ingten! The lifeforces of the rysin the city felt much as they had alays felt to him! 1othing had changed for them!

They lived their lives of ease& obedient to their ,ueen! /e did not envy them though!

1ot ith the potent fire of high magic inside him for comfort! $han pushed onard ith

his aareness and dared to look into the )eep and find +n'a!But hen he found the ,ueen& poignant suffering assailed $han.s senses! The

(englaa oman as spraled on the dungeon floor! +n'a stood over her! Agony rose

from the oman.s flesh like smoke from a fire! $han& although barely able to stand theugliness& cast his mind over the oman and e5amined her! +n'a had been torturing the

oman the hole time! Ceaseless torments clung to the oman.s flesh that as beyond

healing! /er begging for mercy had turned days ago to begging for death!+n'a finally granted the oman.s aful re6uest no that she sensed that $han

as atching! 3ith one more vindictive spell& +n'a lashed the nerves of the human

ith her burning magic! The (englaa oman& ho had been ife to a king& tossedagain in ragged throes& screamed& and died!

7+1"A8 $han shouted from the top of Curlenfindi!/e had never knon such rage! +n'a as disgusting& beyond cruel! There had

been no reason for any of this! /e ould end it!$han descended the mountain in terrible haste! /e relied recklessly on his magic

as he slid don ice fields and bounded don cliffs and landed on ledges! /e reached

the high meados and ran toard the tree line! Through the moonlit forest& he ran ithhis magic building inside him! Blue energy streaked behind his racing feet like a

comet.s tail!

>ven ith such speed& daylight had come before $han reached the city! Thestreets ere empty! $han sloed to a alk! /e looked at "ingten and pondered the

details! /e noticed the shape of every cobble in the street and the curve of every tree

branch! The burble of a fountain came sloly to his ears and he heard the musical clashof every drop in the lively aters! /e stopped at the fountain and cupped his hands into

the ater! /e drank several times& tasting the ater and the nuances of its minerals!

Then he ent to the )eep! The gates ere open and +n'a stood in the courtyard

aiting for him! $he ore a hooded cloak& and its red fabric draped her appropriately inthe color of blood! $han stopped a fe paces from her!

7$han& do not do this&8 she said! 7% ill forgive you!8 $he e5tended a hand to

him!/is lack of temptation encouraged him! Boldly& he said& 7The rys are ruled by

the strongest among them! %t is our ay!8

+n'a cocked her head and loered her hand! /er e5pression became severe!

79ou are being foolish&8 she arned!$han began to circle her ith slo steps& si*ing her up! $he folloed him ith

her eyes but did not turn her head! /e felt no fear from her but he as not afraid either!

7+n'a& you are rotten and cruel! 9ou have been ,ueen too long! %ndeed youhave been alive too long&8 $han said!

$he chuckled ith contempt! 79ou don.t even have the nerve to kill a stupid

human&8 +n'a critici*ed!7+nly those ho deserve death should be killed&8 $han retorted& feeling

righteousness groing inside him!

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Amused by the drama& +n'a said& 7% think& $han& that you ill discover that

'udging ho lives and dies is not a simple thing!8

$han abruptly bashed her ith an attack spell! /is magic flamed around her in asphere of blue bolts and the force of it made her falter a fe steps before she caught her

balance! +n'a then shook the hood off her head and faced him! Blue light bla*ed in her

eyes and her poer filled the courtyard ith snapping energy!

7This is your last chance to control yourself&8 +n'a said!Inintimidated and sick of hearing her voice& $han attacked again! /is magic

thrust out from his spirit like a striking scorpion.s tail! /is anger and repugnance for her

actions ere transformed into energy! /is spells bla*ed around +n'a! %t as time the ryshad a )ing instead of a ,ueen!

The ,ueen defended herself! /er shielding magic had been perfected in many

ancient battles and she as ready for this challenge from her upstart ard! $hanintensified his attack and alked up to her! /is hands roiling ith hite0hot energy& he

reached for her throat! $he grabbed his rists and they grappled! They traded attack

spells until +n'a finally had to admit to herself that his challenge as at leastrespectable! $he had alays suspected that $han possessed a poer that rivaled her

on& but rivalry did not mean superiority!$han tisted one arm free of her grasp and struck her across the face! %t as a

savage blo made ith his male strength and it knocked her don! /er upper lip ascut on her teeth and her purple blood s6uirted don her chin! $han as e5cited by his

success and his attack spells became more potent!

%t felt so good to use his poer this ay! /e had never imagined hat it mightfeel like to use battle magic! /e kne that long ago rys had used their magic in ar& and

although he had contemplated the technical aspects of arfare& he had not guessed at

the emotional thrill that giving battle produced!/is hunger for victory gre! /e forgot his feelings for +n'a! /is rage consumed

memories of kind ords and gentle touches! /urting her as hat he needed no! The

single throne of "ingten ould soon be his!Again $han struck her face and reached for her throat ith his free hand! /e

s6uee*ed her strong sleek neck& pressing the 'eels of her necklace into the blue skin!

The vulnerability of her living flesh against his palm and clamping fingers e5cited him!

/e could feel her mortality& and it cheered him toard violent victory!+n'a had had enough! $he as done testing him!

Through the blue blur of their roiling magic& $han atched the cut on +n'a.s lip

close and the bleeding stop! $he released his other rist and smacked her palm againsthis forehead! $he struck him ith a boulder of magic that sent him backard like a

skipping pebble! $han obbled to his feet and tried to make his vision stop simming!

:etermined to fight on& he raised his hands to cast another attack spell& but enchanted

fire encased him! /is skin burned and his body felt heavy! +n'a gasped a ord thatcompleted her spell& and $han could not move! The energy had coalesced around him

and turned into solid stone up to his neck! The hot enchanted stone gripped him so

thoroughly he could not even struggle!/is head 'erked from side to side! :istress sei*ed the finely chiseled features of

his young face! +n'a picked herself up and alked over to him in his partial upright

sarcophagus!$he gloated for a moment& very much en'oying his panicked reali*ation of

defeat! +n'a caressed his lips! %t had been a long long time since she had dueled ith

anyone! %t had been a genuine pleasure!

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7$han& % ill forgive you&8 +n'a said and cast the ne5t spell that encased his

head in stone!

$he left him to languish inside the monolith here she presumed that he ouldlearn to hibernate or perish! $he e5pected that he ould not have trouble grasping this

lesson& and the Age of +n'a continued!

J J J J J J

The struggle for poer and moral conflict continue in 7The Rys Chronicles8

fantasy series!

The Rys Chronicles begins in 7Inion of Renegades8 in hich the stakes get

much higher as $han enlists the alliances of human tribes to support his reneed attackson +n'a!

Bonus:7Inion of RenegadesK The Rys Chronicles Book %8 is availableas a FR>> ebook donload at!braveluck!com!

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Challenging Lessons