Dedicated to TNT2011J for all your votes on my story. Thank you. :D

Bottom picture is Lycin. (created on heromachine.com)

9.

The Unseeing

Sianna stared at Aldermeck's frayed cloak, the swaying threads of gold and red caressing her sheathed longsword across her back. With her battle–high gone, the combat aches were nagging, pulsating pangs that spread throughout her body, but the swish of the Leitnant's cloak helped Sianna push down the pain. Most of it at least.

Her chest was still in throbbing agony. Sianna could feel the bruise on it all the way down to her bones. It hugged her ribs with squeezing fingers that made it painful to breathe. How stupid for the wound from yesterday's scrimmage with the Magus scout be the injury bothering her now. Though Sianna had to admit her injuries from today's battle were a blur in her head.

There was an angry abrasion through her armor that started from her left wrist up to her shoulder where her strapped plate piece had been scrapped off. The scratch cut deep and wide enough for her to see her boiled leather and fur cuffs underneath. There was a similar gash on her right thigh and she just noticed the ice that covered her left, but if asked how she received them all, she wouldn't have been able to tell.

She could, however, for Aldermeck. The slash that had hacked off her cloak and dented her armor had come from a Magus claw swipe. The hundreds of tiny scuffs and nicks decorating her entire body were from the flying icicles that sliced open her wooden wall cover.

Sianna also knew the reason the Leitnant was missing her right hand gauntlet. It was because Brye had pulled it out during their battle with one of the Magus. Aldermeck had grabbed a hold of his hand in an effort to yank him out of the way of the beast's jaws, but she hadn't been quick enough. He was lifted up above her head, taking her gauntlet with him. Brye was bitten in half, raining blood and gore on those below.

The Magus bent down again before the Leitnant, Brye's intestines and blood shining on its blue fangs. It had snapped at Aldermeck but she ducked and slid under its head, thrusting her sword into its lower jaw. The Armadura metal pierced through the golden, magick skin and erupted inside its mouth. She pulled the blade out halfway, angled it, and stabbed it again so her sword threaded through its chin like a pinned brooch on a lady's dress.

"Behead it!" she called out while she struggled to keep its head down.

Sianna and the others rushed at it, ducking and blocking the barrage of claws. A scream reached her ears as the talons found a target. An ice crystal exploded somewhere and the smell of blood followed. It had taken four of them to saw through the Magus' neck since only two of the four swords they had were enchanted Armadura blades meant for magick combat. When the beast was dead, Sianna noticed out of the ten set out to kill this Magus, only half of them survived.

Only half of us when countless other times we had prevailed. But those times were different. Those foes did not tower over us, wielding incredible ice magick.

"Sianna?" Aldermeck cut through her thoughts. "I have been calling you. Are you alright?"

Calling me?

Sianna looked up to see Aldermeck standing before her. When had the Leitnant turned around and walked back to them? Hadn't she been staring at her cloak only moments ago?

Sianna shook her head. "Yes, ssss—Meryl?"

This time she smiled at hearing her say her name. "I said allow Iari to heal you. He should heal Deneck as well. I may have been too hasty to push us forward on our trek, short as it may be. I would not want another death."

Sianna could see the restraint in her eyes. Tiel. Brye. They had been part of her men, warriors under her care. Warriors long gone now save for herself, it seemed. There was grief and anger in Aldermeck's cool blue eyes, but it was wrapped under a strict demeanor that refused to expose it.  

Is that what it means to be a Leitnant?

Sianna studied the ring of red that framed Aldermeck's face. Her stomach twisted when she remembered the pour of blood that fell on her head when Brye had been crushed.

To literally have the blood of your companions on you should you fail?

"Iari, if you please?" Aldermeck said, facing the boy.

He flinched. "Uh. I only 'ave the energy to heal one more time, but I'm a sage–in–training. I can heal with medicine too."

"Heal Deneck first then. I won't mind being treated with bandages," Sianna said. In fact, she preferred it. What this boy did was magick and that was the weapon of Magus.

Iari nodded and his fist emerged from his pocket as he walked up to Deneck. He placed a hand over his chest like he had with Reth. It shifted to the Rhokin's arm. As Iari healed him, Sianna turned to Reth standing next to her. He looked down at her, face stoic as ever. She felt too tired to feel any distress towards his vacant eyes.

"Reth," she said, "do you feel better? Do you feel your injuries are gone?"

He nodded. "Yes, ser. When the boy placed his hand over my wounds, I felt a sense of relief and all pain melted away."

Sianna turned back to Iari. His hand had moved to Deneck's stomach. Her eyes flickered to his clenched fist. What the hell could he be holding? Sianna's familiarity wirh magick was mostly derived from the Magus she has faced, minimal as it was, but she knew from common knowledge humans wielding magick was rare as it was dangerous.

Human bodies can't control magick naturally. Those that use it are said to need an article to help channel the magick and create an appropriate flow for the user to shape the power into what he wanted.  King Oric's wizard was the perfect example of that. He was known to have several amulets dangling from his wrist. He clutched different ones depending on what he wished to will his magick into doing. The process of how humans obtained magick, however, was as mysterious as the users themselves.

Users are supposed to be rare.

Yet a user now stood before her. She felt she should be more astonished. She should be amazed, but she was disappointed. As marvelous as users were supposed to be, she saw him fail in bringing Tiel back. Magick was not as wonderful or powerful in the hands of man.

Iari came up to her, his boyish face flushed. He looked like he was going to speak but instead put his hand over her heart.

Sianna pulled back. "I thought you weren't going to do that."

His blushed darkened. "I'm just gonna use it to see what I need to heal."

She glared at him but allowed him to replace his hand on her chest. She expected to feel something but nothing happened.

"I can apply something for your chest pain but other than that, you're just sore and bruised," he said as he brought his hand down.

Sore and bruised? She was covered in her companions' blood and she was sore and bruised? Sianna's hands balled into fists and she walked past him.

"We don't have time for this," she spat.

Aldermeck gave her a small grin that warmed Sianna a bit. The Leitnant fell in step next to her, Deneck at her heels. That reminded Sianna she had to call her own Rhokin or else he'd probably stay standing in the middle of the path for the rest of his days. She turned around but was surprised to find him following her. Iari scuttled behind them all, his head bowed.

It was some time after the sun set that The Silent Chapel came into view. Like most of the Silent Chapels, its roof was three connected arches in ascending heights. Candles shone through the stained glassed windows at the tip of each arch, dying the flames with color: one was dark yellow, the other a light blue, and the third was a bright white.      

There was a hanging ring of lanterns over the entrance meant to guide night travelers to the chapel. Under the glow, Sianna could see the carving on the dark, wooden double doors. It was so detailed and polished it appeared to be etched in metal. It featured a naked woman save for a cloak that draped around her shoulders and hugged her legs. The hood was drawn down and her wavy hair fell over her large breasts. Her arms were extended out, bare feet frozen in mid–walk as if she wished to embrace those that opened her doors.

Aldermeck pushed one of the doors open and stepped through. Sianna and the others followed. The inside seemed smaller than the outside, but Sianna knew there were underground rooms that served as the clergy's living quarters.

The floor they stood on was outlined by benches and pillars of candles, most unlit. At the end was an altar, but it was too dark to make out the black blobs that decorated it. There was a ladder at the side of the wall that led to the smaller top floor where the arch candles were located.

A woman came up to greet them. She wore a white hooded cloak stained black at the bottom from where it dragged on the ground. A white blindfold wrapped around her head, plastering her dark hair to her skull.  

She clasped her hands in front of her. "Welcome, my brothers and sisters. May Nata's grace guide you."

"And her sight fall upon you," Iari added.

The woman turned to him and smiled but it faltered when she faced Sianna and Aldermeck. "By the looks of your battle worn armor and blood, I see what we were told was true. Magus have destroyed Jabel and Vess Wake."

Sianna caught her words. What they were told? Did some people manage to escape to be able to tell them this?

"Sister," Aldermeck said and stepped up to her, "I'm afraid it is true. Is The Brother still awake? I wish to speak to him."

The sister nodded. "I shall bring him up. Please take a seat while you wait." She disappeared into the gloom by the altar.

"Sianna," Aldermeck said, "while I speak to The Brother, you should go check the shrine outside."

For once, Sianna was ahead of the Leitnant. If there were Jable and Vess Wake survivors that managed to come to the chapel, that's where they would be taking refuge.

"What should I do?" Iari asked.

Aldermeck grinned at him. "You promised to heal my companion. See that you do."

Even in the dark, the red on his face could be seen.

Sianna sighed. With the boy tagging with her, she was going to have two useless children following her.

"Come, Reth," she said.

"Yes, ser," he answered.

The shrine was not far away from the chapel and was a smaller version of it except there was only one arch over the door with a single light at its tip. Sianna hesitated outside the entrance. The last time she stepped into a shrine was the day she lost her mother.  

"Milady?" Iari asked.

She realized she never gave him her name. "Call me Sianna," she said and pulled open the smooth, wooden doors.

It wasn't as dark inside as it had been in the chapel but it was dim enough that Sianna minded her steps. Every other candle that lined the low ceiling was lit, crudely illuminating the lined, wooden benches that faced the miniature altar at the end of the room. It also showed the people inside. Sianna's heart faltered when she saw there were only two, but her face hardened when she saw who they were.

"Lycin," she said.

He was sitting on one of the benches up against the wall, leaning on the surface behind him. Most of his armor was tucked under his seat and he was draped with his signature long coat that displayed his violet house crest on the chest. His right leg was sprawled out, wrapped in bloody bandages up to his thigh.

Calera was sitting next to him, her hollow eyes fixed on Sianna as she approached them. Her thin and pale face, framed by her dark locks and shadowed by the dim light, looked like a floating skull.   

"Calera," Sianna said, fighting back her shivers, "is there anyone else beside you two?"

She glanced at the sleeping Lycin and shook her head.

Sianna cursed loud enough that Lycin stirred. He groaned as he straightened up in the bench. He blinked a few times before he seemed to find focus on Sianna's face. A tired smile pulled at his lips.

"Glad to see you and your Rhokin are still alive," he told her, "but who is that?"

Iari stepped closer to him. "It's me, ser."

"Iari. So you did live."

"Um. Your leg."

He waved the boy away. "One of the sightless sisters already took care of it."

"I can 'ave it completely healed come tomorrow."

Lycin grinned. "I know you can."

Sianna looked at him. Lycin knows of the boy's magick too. Does that mean the Leitnant also knew? She didn't seem too surprised when she saw what he was doing to Tiel. She was calm about it all.

Lycin shifted in his seat and hissed through his teeth as his leg moved. Calera turned to him and what looked like concern flashed through her face.

"What happened to you?" she asked him.

"A Magus stepped on my leg. It's quite painful."

She frowned. "Is it broken?"

"Your concern elates me, Sianna."

She crossed her arms and then brought them down when the pain in her chest protested.

"Is it only you three?" Lycin asked Sianna.

"No. The Leitnant and Deneck are also here. They are talking to The Brother," she answered. 

The dull throb on her chest erupted with pain. She staggered forward but kept her balance, sight on the floor.

"Ser!" Reth said.

He draped her arm over his shoulder and slipped his own around her waist. He hunched down and helped her to the bench next to Lycin. Sianna felt the gentleness in Reth's touch and noticed how his hand tried to keep away from pressing her chainmail against her bruise. When she sat down, her armor felt heavy on her.

Iari appeared by her side. "Let me take care of it."

She was about to refuse his offer but the pain intensified. "Fine. Help me out of my armor."

Lycin looked at her but his face was shadowed so only his light green eyes could be seen. Sianna couldn't read what was in them.

"Reth," she said and turned to him, "collect my armor and weapon and place them under my bench."

"Yes, ser."

Iari looked around. "Maybe I should do it somewhere where there is more privacy? You 'ave to take your clothes off so I can treat the whole bruise."

Sianna lifted an eyebrow at him. "So you know how big it is without having seen it?"

He looked at his feet. "Yes."

"It doesn't matter. Here is fine."

He gave a small squeak and Sianna couldn't help but chuckle.

"Stripping, Sianna?" Lycin said. "How I wish there was more light."

"Fucking shut up, Lycin," Sianna said.

He laughed.

She gingerly pulled her cotton long sleeve over her head, ignoring his japes. When she dropped her shirt on the floor, she looked up to see Reth was standing in front of Lycin's line of sight between him and her. Sianna gave a small smile and laid down on the bench. She heard the clank of glass and stones being pushed aside as Iari searched for ingredients inside his satchel.

The boy stood and reached over to the lit candle over them. He used it to light the two next to it and bring more light to the area. Sianna's giant bruise leaped at her. It was now a dark blue, almost black. It might as well have been a giant hole from the looks of it.

"Um," Iari's nervous voice said, "I'll have to...I mean...do I 'ave your permission to..."

"Touch my breasts?" Sianna finished for him.

The boy turned a bright red.

She laughed but it was strained from the sharp pain on her side. "It seems you have to if you want to treat the whole bruise."

"Would you like to trade places, Iari? I'll gladly do it for you," Lycin said from behind Reth.

Sianna rolled her eyes. Her sight landed on Reth and his tattered uniform. His back was towards her as he hid her from Lycin's sight.

I didn't ask him to do that.

Her thoughts were soon drawn to Iari's hands and the soothing sensation that enveloped her as he was rubbing her skin. The ointment was warm but also had a refreshing tingle of mint that gave her goose bumps. Iari gasped and jerked his hands away. Sianna erupted in a fit of giggles that she freely gave into now that most of her pain was gone.

"Have you really never seen a pair of teats, Iari?" she asked. "That's what they do when they're touched."

"I'm sorry. I...I..." he stammered.

This time Lycin's laughter added to her own.

Sianna didn't know when she had fallen asleep but her eyes were open now. She sat up, pushing away a blanket that had been placed over her, and felt the constriction of the bandages around her chest tighten. She was dressed back in her shirt and leathers.

Sianna looked around, the darkness from last night a lifting grey now. She could see each bench that lined the walls were occupied with a sleeping body, each covered with a blanket save for the two in the blue uniforms. At first, she thought one of them was Reth but she noticed his hair was black, not blond.

Another sweep of the room found him standing in front of the altar, his head moving as he studied it. Sianna gave thought to going back to sleep but her exhaustion had left her. With a sigh, she stood up. The cold air made her grab the blanket and wrap it around her. She walked up to Reth and stood next to him, observing the altar as well. 

It was brightened by the circular stained glass ceiling that was exclusive to that area. Dull rainbow lights casted over them and the half–circle shelf on the wall. The three statues of The Unseeing saints stood on the sill. They were hooded men, each was about five hands tall and would have been identical if not for their different colors.

One was a solid yellow. His hands were held in front of him, a green sapling—the only disturbance to all the yellow—cradled between the cupped palms. The saint in the middle was entirely white and he held out an empty hand in a beckoning notion. The third statue was blue and under his left palm was the butt of a sword hilt. The blade was painted silver and stabbed into the ground by his feet.

"Ser, what are these?" he asked her in a quiet voice.

She stirred at his question. The last time she talked about The Unseeing was also the last time she had stepped into a shrine, but she remembered the details well.

"These are The Unseeing saints, Reth," Sianna said in a quiet voice of her own. "Each one stands for something. The yellow one is the saint of art and poetry named Niv. The white is hate and love. That one is Ano and the blue is the saint of intellect and ignorance. His name is Keen. They are the divine spirits that took the form of man to care for Nata through her passage through the land of men."

"Nata?"

Yes, Nata. The Grace of Nata, a song I shall never hear my mother sing. Maybe she shouldn't have answered his question. She could always tell him to go back to sleep. He would do it. Why wasn't he asleep in the first place?

She watched him from the corner of her eye.

How long had he been standing here?

She decided to answer his questions after all. "Nata is the daughter of the gods and men, a demigod. She was born when deity had merged with mortality. Each saint taught her about the essence of humans so she may better understand them and bring them peace. Nata is not seen here though. She was the woman carved into the chapel's doors."

Reth looked down at the countless objects that littered the floor under the shelf. There were plants—some fresh, others rotten—mingled with papers holding faded words. The dim glint of rusted swords, armor, and shields stood out the most. Some of them were miniature versions of the real thing, so small that a child could play with them. There was also the unmistakable gleam of gold, silver, and copper coins sprinkled in the ensemble.  

"Are those saints too?" Reth asked, pointing at the objects.

She shook her head. "No. Those are tokens of offerings. Each saint receives a specific offering and should only receive that offering. Niv is gifted articles of nature for there is no greater form of art than nature itself, supposedly. Keen is given tokens of art, strange as it sounds. You would think the saint of art and poetry would want art instead of dirt and flowers, but it is Keen that the art is given to."

"Art?" Reth asked. "Do you mean the still pictures painted with hands?"

She smiled. "Paintings? Yes. That is art I suppose. So is the art of swordplay and songs. Smithing is an art. Giving great pleasure in bed can be an art too."

"Pleasure in bed? How can such be an art, ser?"

"Maybe if I buy you a whore you'll know what I mean."

He gave her a look. "I know what sex is, ser. I just do not see the art in it if it is something that has the possibility to be taken by force."

His words silenced her and for once, she didn't know what to make of the Rhokin.

"What of Ano, ser? What does the saint of love and hate wish to be gifted?" he asked.

Sianna pulled the blanket around her shoulders tighter. "His gift has been lost. It has been forgotten. No one remembers what to give him and so money is offered instead, the gift of desperation. Many wish to be blessed with love and free of the hate of others."

"How do you know all this, ser?" There was surprise in his voice and for some reason it soothed her.

"Songs," she said. "I heard it all in songs. Songs of The Unseeing. It told of these saints that traveled along Nata's side with their heads always hidden under a hood so low that it cut off their sight. That is why the blind brothers and the sightless sisters blindfold themselves. Nata's grace will guide them and give them sight.

"Her grace had always lived with them until they had forgotten how to give true homage to Ano. Without his proper gifts, her grace disappeared from the world. Mankind had forgotten his true humanity. Many believe this is why the Magus appeared, never mind Nata's fucking grace supposedly left us hundreds of years ago." Sianna was surprised at the bitterness in her voice.

Reth heard it too. "Ser, I am sorry if my questions upset you."

She sighed. "No. In fact, I'm glad you asked these questions." Asking questions is a sign of free will. Of free thought.

"Then, may I ask something else, ser?"

She looked at him. His eyes were blue, but Sianna realized it was just the kaleidoscope of the ceiling lights on his eyes that gave it that illusion. Seeing him like that, he looked human.

"Yes, Reth," she whispered.

He gazed at her with his blue-illuminated eyes. "Do you believe in The Unseeing?" 

Her sight swept the three statues, their names echoing in her head as her eyes landed on each one. "No, Reth. I don't."