Tempered by the Will

2 - Invitations

 There was a whole world out there full of breathing souls that she would never meet, that she would never know existed. The world was too big for that. Too much, too many. But here, paused and standing in the middle of a wide, stone-paved road that led all the way up to the towering city on the crest of the far hill, Vica could believe that the Capitol was just the right size.

The air was already different here. Something about being seaside, Bren had said, but it wasn't just that. There was something different in the grass, the earth, the way the streams burbled and flowed, the way the sun beamed down and cast its light all over the vibrant green that made up these coastal hills. She though she could hear distant singing.

"You said you have never been here before."

Vica turned around to look at Bren with a radiant smile. "I haven't. It's amazing. Every color seems brighter here, is that normal? Or is that just me?"

"This place is home to many who agree. There are several more cities to the north and to the south, just along the coastline. But this one is the jewel of the land where mages gather from all corners of the nation."

"Like me. You. We'll be just like the rest of them."

Bren shook his head. "You are Unchartered. You are nothing like the others, and that will be your greatest strength."

"I - well, alright, but I just mean that we're going to be in a city full of mages. It's going to be so different. We're going to be..."

Vica had to stop herself from wiggling in place. A cold rush of excitement flew through her, chilling her bones and making every muscle in her body tense. Mages, mages everywhere - and who cared if she ran into hostile ones? In such a massive place populated with all kinds of people, she knew she would find like-minded allies to join forces with.

Oh, she knew it wouldn't be easy. Constantine would have to sneak her into the city, for one. Someone was bound to recognize Vica otherwise and stop her at the gates, maybe order an all out attack: Bren had explained that Chartered mages - an army of which she had just incapacitated a week before - often relayed visions to their Heads of House when something of paramount importance occurred. That meant they would be on the lookout for her, and she had many enemies already before ever stepping foot in the city.

But such a display of power would have gained her allies too, he had continued. Mages who respected power above loyalty, or mages who might want to rebel against the standing system. Anyone who recognized Vica for what she was, a wildcard and a dangerous new player, would consider courting her for an alliance.

And while Vica had no interest in power hungry despots and politicking minds, at least that meant they wouldn't act against her. She would have enough of those as it was already. And she needed every second of peace she could get if she really wanted to integrate herself into their midst and find a place to anchor herself to, solid as an oak.

"When we go deeper into the city, stay away from the fountains."

She frowned at the half-elf. "What? Why?"

An amused gray-eyed gaze turned to meet hers. "Water nymphs," he said. "The rowdy sort, used to city life. They'll grab you and try to pull you in."

"Oh, that's...mischievous of them."

"No, to drown you."

Vica flinched.

"But nothing to worry about as long as you stay several feet away," Bren assured her with a thin smile. "They'll only attack if you get close enough to grab."

That wasn't as reassuring as he seemed to think it was. Vica glanced around and took in the beauty of the grassy hills to drive out the image of naiads drowning people in their fountains from her mind. A wonderful first look into Capital life.

But it wasn't nearly enough to dissuade her. She smiled at the thought of crossing over into the next stage of her life in just a little while. She had waited for a moment like this her whole life, her time. And who would have thought the moment would find her right here at the doorstep of the greatest city in the whole land? More than that, who would have ever thought she could dream of changing it?

A moving figure far down the sloping path suddenly caught her attention, however - especially when she realized what it was.

"Constantine!" she shouted. "Where are you going -"

But of course she knew the answer to that. With a frown and a sigh, Vica motioned for Bren to follow before jogging down the stone roadway. The dark blue fabric of her cloak flapped and billowed as she struggled to catch up to the fast-receding shape descending the hill.

"Don't do this," she said when she knew she was within earshot of the man. It didn't feel right falling into step next to him, not after everything that had happened between them the last several days, but she stayed nearly on his heels. "You shouldn't be going to the Capital anyway. It's dangerous. The kill order - I can't even do anything to help so long as we're together."

He didn't say anything. With long strides, he moved on, and Vica threw a glance over at Constantine's other side to find Bren's pale eyes staring back. She sighed again.

"They'll come after you. I should be going on my own."

"Or you could stop talking."

She did a double take, nearly stumbling over herself in surprise. A whole sentence? It was the first thing he had said to her in two days, and then another two days before that: both of those had been searing arguments, insults thrown and cutting remarks made. Vica preferred not to think about that - and she still didn't understand where so much of his fury was coming from.

A part of her understood that he'd grown attached, that he thought it was stupid for her to enter the Capital where danger lay in every alleyway, every corner. But why couldn't he see that this wasn't just about her, or him? This was about - so much more. And if she was careful, she knew she would be fine. Hadn't he seen it? How she had surged forth and wiped out the army alone, cleared the valley and flooded the gorge where the river still ran even now.

It was the same river that fed into the Capital, too. It was all connected, all signs. Why couldn't Constantine understand that she had been brought here for a reason? Couldn't he feel the thrill of purpose running through his veins, revel in the knowledge that all along, there had been a path to follow?

She had thought she was lost for so long. Now she realized her time simply hadn't come yet - not until now. And Constantine had been such an integral part of everything that had happened, she didn't want to part ways either. Yes, she had gotten attached. And yes, she admitted that there was something that brewed even now between them even though he was making it seem like they were little more than mortal enemies now.

Like the last fight two days ago when she had come into his room at the inn (since he had been so petty as to get separate rooms for all three of them even though Vica would have...been fine with sharing one with him). He had ended the argument with a slicing taunt, a crude invitation to warm his bed (or, as he had said, to wet his c**k). At which point he had taken himself out of his pants and begun pleasuring himself while staring her in the eye from across the room.

She had left, uncertain what to do. Clearly they weren't lovers anymore, not after the night they had left Yezia and resumed the journey to the Capital. He hadn't touched her...like that, since then. So obviously, if he was doing...that, then it meant she wasn't welcome anymore.

He was confusing. He was complicated. Why couldn't he ever just say what he meant without being cruel and making a fight out of it?

"We're not going through the main gates. Once we're close enough, we're going off the path and entering the Capital through a different way."

An entire conversation, Vica thought. Constantine was feeling especially generous all of a sudden now that they were almost upon the city. A little earlier would have been far more helpful.

"How do you know it's safe?" she asked.

"It's not. But I'm not planning on getting my head cut off by trying to enter through the main gates, so we're going the other way."

Vica frowned again. "You should stay out here," she said. "I don't understand why you're risking all of this when Yezia already told you they'll kill you on sight. If you're spotted..."

"They can try, Vica."

Hearing him say her name sent an odd shiver down her spine. She didn't know how to feel about that, didn't know what to think.

So she didn't. She looked over at Bren instead and nodded.

They were almost there.