A Game of Chi Book II: A Throne of Tears

Chapter 18: Li'ella III

LI'ELLA

Li'ella left Scorm's palace before Eris had woken up, not wanting to confront the eagle in the morning. I've got enough to worry about right now, she thought. Leaving the palace, she saw Tormak leaning by the door. "Ready?" he asked, eyeing her suspiciously. Li'ella nodded and stepped away from the palace's entrance, walking down the steps and towards the market stalls of the Scorpion Den. Tormak followed, his footfalls muffled by the pads under his claws. "What's bothering you, Li'ella?" he asked. "Nothing," she responded curtly. "Aside from the culprit of the bombing," she added. "While I'm sure you're concerned about that, I don't think that's what's on your mind," Tormak said. Li'ella stopped walking and turned towards the tiger, her hands on her hips. "Since when do you care so much, Tormak?" she demanded. "Everything used to be about Flinx and protecting her, without caring about the rest of us!"

"I do care about you!" Tormak shot back. "Lundor and Panthar are like my brothers, and you're like a daughter to me. I know you, Li'ella. I practically raised you. I know when something's on your mind." Li'ella sighed and looked down shamefully. "You're right, Tormak," she muttered. "I'm sorry." The tiger put his hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "It's alright. I understand that these past few weeks in particular have been difficult. We've all suffered. So, what's the problem?"

"It's Eris," Li'ella said. "Eris?" Tormak repeated. "What's wrong with her? So far, she's been nothing but helpful to us. She's taught Flinx more about Chima than we ever could, and her advice about Panthar was sound."

"I know," Li'ella said, growing frustrated. "There's nothing wrong with her on the surface, but there's something... wrong with her. It's like my mind and my body are fighting every time I'm near her." Tormak didn't answer for a short while. "Are you... attracted to her?" he asked finally. "What? No, of course not!" Li'ella exclaimed. "I'm not — women don't —" Li'ella was surprised when Tormak's chuckles became laughter. "I'm not in love with her," Li'ella said, fighting back a smile. "I know it sounds like it, but that's not what I mean."

"I'll take your word for it," Tormak responded. He began walking again, and now it was Li'ella's turn to follow. "But fine. Let's say she unsettles you," Tormak continued. "Maybe it's just an interpersonal thing. Not everyone gets along."

"Now you're the one being weird," Li'ella replied. "It's not like you to give anyone the benefit of the doubt." Tormak considered Li'ella's words for a moment. "True," he admitted. "But Eris is different. She has phoenix blood. And more importantly, she has the power of farsight. Both Eris and the Golden Book foretold that the Ice Hunters would descend from the north to attack the rest of the world. Except that the Golden Book was much more ambiguous about it. It didn't say whether or not we'd survive." That does sound ominous, Li'ella admitted to herself. "What's the story with that?" she asked. Tormak sighed and looked up at the sky, still not yet lit by the sun. The market stalls were beginning to open up, and scorpion, spider and bat vendors were beginning to set up shop. "I can only tell you what I remember, from what my father and Emperor Fluminox told me," he said. "It's something that has haunted me ever since I heard it."

"The Golden Book was written around three hundred years ago, coinciding with when the Phoenix Tribe conquered Chima. Some phoenixes had the power of farsight then; the claim that all phoenixes could see the future had always been false. The farseers, Fluminox I included, began writing down what they could see in the Golden Book in the form of cryptic fragments, as their visions were often impossible to describe otherwise. Most of the events they had foretold — the Eagle Council changing their seats from seven to five; the Lion Lord's miscarried son; the gradual annexation of the Northerlands by the Raven Tribe — all ended up coming true. So, the powers of the farseers were no longer doubted. One of the last prophecies was about the Queen of Fire, and about how she was the one destined to stop the cold from engulfing Chima entirely."