The Gamma's Dark Witch

6 - Tasks

(Nisha)

“That's it?” Zephyr asked.

“It won’t be too difficult.” Kevari knelt down and dipped her hand in the freezing water, and closed her eyes. “We need to figure out the best route for minimal disruptions.”

“We just need to re-route it from here to his new windmill?’ I asked, making sure I understood. I was used to menial tasks in exchange for food and lodging, but this was a first.

“Yes,” Soleil responded.

“And he didn’t build it on the water because..?” Zephyr asked.

“The building itself is old, he just updated it, changed it. It requires more power than the stream it was built on.”

Kevari opened her eyes, frowning slightly. “There is a village downstream, I’m not sure what kind they are, but this would take the water source from them.”

Soleil stilled.

“Is there another point we can re-direct it?” I asked.

“Not one that would work for Elowyn.” Soleil shook her head, her ruby hair settled around her waist.

“Can we not move it below the village?” Zephyr asked.

“It would be too low. We cannot force the water to go upstream, not naturally, at least,” Kevari explained softly, her turquoise eyes settled on Soleil. “Are we still going ahead?”

“It has to be done.” Soleil nodded before turning her back on us, her fiery hair blazing under the morning sun. “This is the point that Ezowyn specified. Follow me I’ll show you the path it must follow.”

We followed silently. The only sound was the diminishing rush of water in the distance and our feet padding over damp leaves.

It wasn’t a far walk, and Soleil marked the path, placing her hand on trees and leaving a charred mark in its wake. A creaky shack came into view; a wheel sat above the stream, barely grazing the water.

“Is there another way to turn the wheel?” Zephyr asked, “Magic, maybe.” She snorted.

“It must be water. It cannot be magically moved for it to work,” Soleil explained with an edge to her voice I rarely heard.

“But we’re using magic to move the water source? Would that affect it?” Kevari asked.

Soleil closed her eyes. “Ezowyn said it must be this way. You may ask him tonight." Soleil took a deep breath through her nose. "Let's begin."

“We need to start carving a path,” Zephyr said and turned her back to us. “This might take a while.”

Zephyr closed her eyes, and the wind picked up, forming a swirling cyclone in front of her. Her eyes shot open, and her hands clenched and unclenched as she fought to keep control of it. The cyclone died down if only a bit, and Zephyr took stead steps, urging it forward as it ripped into the earth. Churning and pulling and breaking, it slowly carved a path in front of her.

We stayed on the outskirts behind her. Soleil’s watchful eye’s never left her back. I could sense Soleil’s unease; her hand raised slightly in front of her in support. I was always amazed by the magnitude of what my sisters could do. They rarely unleashed even parts of their full potential, and seeing Zephyr summon and control a force of nature was something I don’t think I would even fully get used to.

We finally reached a spot close enough to the raging river. Zephyr dropped her hands and sagged against a tree. The cyclone spun and disappeared in the wake of dust.

“We’re going to need to do that a few more times.” Zephyr panted; beads of sweat clung to her brow. “It needs to be deeper.”

Kevari flicked her wrist and offered an orb of water to Zephyr, who drank deeply.

“We don’t want it too deep so that it will stay fast,” Soleil observed the small ravine of freshly turned dirt. “But I agree, a few more passes. While you rest, we will collect stones and seal the edges.”

We worked into the evening.

I enjoyed it; it helped me focus my energy and collect my scattered thoughts to focus on menial tasks.

Zephyr slept as soon as her head hit the pillow, and no one dared wake her the next morning.

- - - -

The river bed took days, as I settled into the routine, my shadows slipped out like inky snakes, helping me.

“Nisha,” Soleil breathed, her sun-flecked eyes wide and a brilliant smile on her face. “You’re controlling it?” It wasn’t really a question.

I couldn’t help but smile back at the pride that filled her familiar face. “I’ve been testing them out; to see what I could do.” I shrugged.

“Don’t downplay it; your gifts are rare,” Kevari said, her voice trailing behind her as she passed us.

“Kevari is right,” Soleil agreed. “What else have you discovered?”

“I’m working on getting comfortable with them. I can make shadows now or separate them from me.” I motioned to the inky tendrils that wafted through the air and swirled around me. “They can move things, but I haven’t tried a shield or anything with them.”

“The fact that you are letting them exist and comfortable enough to let them out is a huge feat. I am proud of you,” Soleil said, and I felt my face flush a bit. “We can test them out when you’re ready,” she added.

“I think I would like that.” I smiled at my mentor, my sister.

Finally, we were ready to break the small barrier that separated the churning icy river with its new path. Zephyr stood on one bank, swirling a small cyclone, barely up to her waist, ready to burst through the last bit of solid earth. Kevari held her hands in front of her, testing the water. We were waiting for her lead; once she found a good flow, as she called it, she could push the river up, halting it momentarily. Soleil and I were behind Kevari to make a barrier, a shield, so the water couldn’t return to its route until we could seal it.

“She’s almost ready,” Soleil noted, nodding towards Kevari. I don’t know how she knew that, but I trusted her.

I lifted my hands and focused on the air where I would create the barrier with Soleil. The water rushed, and the wind picked up. A wall of water shot out in front of us, and my breath hitched.

Soft-spoken, lovely, assured Kevari breaking the laws of nature was even more shocking than Zephyr. I always forgot the scope of her sheer power. Her water seemed so docile, but it was a force that could k.ill.

“Get ready, Nisha.”

I shut my eyes against the dirt and leaves that were whipped around us, forming a cloud of dust. I tried to will my shadows to protect me, and I think they did. I focused on the charge between the air that I mapped and held strong, waiting for Soleil.

“Now!” Soleil’s steady voice ripped over the rush of water and wind.

I let my shadows go hoping they would do what I willed without my mind on them. I felt the shift in the air, the pieces snapping into place and the air hardening, charging, forming a solid wall.

I closed my eyes, trusting my sisters implicitly to play their part and focusing on the charge, the warmth, and bracing myself for the resistance. Icy water sprayed my face, but I held firm. The wind picked up and rang in my ears; bits of debris tangled in my hair and grazed my face.

I pushed forward when I felt the water push against the shield Soleil, and I created the barrier. It almost knocked the breath out of me, but I focused. A hot bead of sweat dripped down my face despite the cold air.

The wind died at once, and the sound was replaced by rushing water, sputtering and roaring and protesting against its new home.

I felt Kevari move, sensed Soleil’s strong presence, and I held firm.

The longest few minutes of my life passed as I felt myself deplete. “Stay strong, Nisha; we’re almost there.” Soleil’s voice was warm and firm and confident, and it gave me a flicker of strength.

“That’s it. Take a deep breath and slowly let it go,” Soleil said.

I struggled not to drop the barrier completely and slowly let it down, my hands and feet shaky. I sunk to my knees, and when I opened my eyes, the water was flowing in its new path—a makeshift d.am built from Zephyr’s debris.

“It will hold for now,” Zephyr said, brushing the back of her hand across her forehead. “We will need to reinforce it and then again tomorrow.”

“Good work.” Soleil’s smile was radiant; she didn’t look the least bit winded. “We will stay and monitor the progress.” she brushed her flaming hair behind her slim shoulders.

The water was barely a trickle now in the original river bed. Deep puddles and dark, smooth rocks stood n.aked without the raging water to c.aress them.

“I put a barrier up that will hold for now,” Soleil stated; I glanced at her. I couldn’t imagine the power she must hold to be able to do that without thinking. “Let’s take a short rest and patch this up. Then, I think we’ve deserved a hot meal and warm bed at Ezowyn’s expense.” She smiled at us all.

-

Not two days later, the aftermath Soleil mentioned found us.