Twin Suns of Arterra

1

"Is that all you've got?"

I thrust the blade forward and pivoted, moving inside arm's length and jabbing with my dagger. It snagged cloth, but nothing else as my opponent danced away from me, an insolent smile twisting her lips. Her dark eyes mocked me as they tracked my movement, as if nothing I could do would impact her.

I heard the growl that escaped my throat as I feinted right, twisting left at the last moment and spinning as if to bring my sword around in an arc with my right hand and attack her from the left, but at the midpoint of the twist I tossed the blades. Months of practice culminated as the light bounced and flashed, both hilts landing in opposite palms. I continued with the thrust from my right hand, now holding the dagger.

Her haughty smile faltered as her blade blocked my smaller one.

Her face stiffened. Her lips pulled back in a grimace. I liked it much better than the smile, especially since I had caused it.

Her eyes slid down to her right hip, where only my left hand and the hilt of my sword were visible against her side. The rest of my blade went through her, the point exiting just over her back left flank.

"That's for Camille!" I gritted my teeth and yanked the sword back out of her.

It took a moment before she crumpled, as if it took her body time to realize it had been wounded.

Her image flickered and dissolved.

"You've become quite the assassin, Bana." Saka's compliment carried a trace of worry.

"Bane," I corrected him, not that he ever listened.

"You can be Bane to everyone else." He tossed a towel at me as I racked my blades on the wall. He moved his chin to point at the space where the holo of Valyn Harba had been. "What level?"

"Eight."

He whistled between his teeth.

"How long until you hit the magic number?"

"That was my first kill on this level," I admitted. "Two more and I can move up to level nine."

"How long did it take you to get through eight?"

"A month."

His eyebrows lifted, but he said nothing, a serious indication that he was truly impressed with my progress.

After a long pause he turned toward the door. "You'll be ready by year's end."

It was a casual comment, but loaded. Once I made level ten it would take only one kill to complete my training, one stumble by the virtual rendition of my opponent before I could begin my hunt of the real Valyn.

"Yes," I agreed.

He put his arm out to stop me as I joined him in the hall. His dark eyes were serious. "If Camille is alive," his voice was gruff as he spoke her name, "if by some slim chance she was spared, any word of your mission could doom her."

In his own way, Saka had loved her. Everyone had. Not just our family and the servants, but everyone she met. No one could look into her indigo eyes and not be touched by her. The day my sister disappeared was the day the light had gone out of my life.

I clapped Saka on the back. "Don't worry, my friend. No one will know enough to spread rumors."

He frowned again, but didn't question.

"So tell me what bad news you bring."

He snorted. "Good thing it's you training for this mission and not me. I can't seem to keep anything secret." He shook his head. "The council is convening."

"When?"

"Now."

Now? This was dire news indeed. The council did nothing quickly. "What's happened?"

Saka's face darkened. He didn't want to tell me.

My stomach tightened.

"Another abduction."

Bile rose into my throat. I swallowed to push it back down. "A child?"

Saka nodded, his lips tight. "A girl."

My legs froze midstride. I grasped for the wall to keep myself from stumbling. I knew the answer already, of course. Still, I had to ask the question. I had to hear him say it out loud.

"A prism?"

Saka braced me with a hand on my shoulder. "Yes. She was like Camille."

No one was like Camille.

Still, to lose another child, another prism... it was a grievous injury. Another family without their precious daughter; another priceless resource pillaged from our society.

"How old?" My voice was a stranger's rasp.

Saka could not meet my eyes. He looked behind me, his eyes fathoms away. Again, I knew the answer before he spoke it. My body tensed, my muscles reacting of their own accord. My lips moved, mouthing the word even as Saka spoke it.

"Seven."

Exactly like Camille.

I closed my eyes, trying to bring the world back into balance. I took a deep breath, segregating my body into sections and slowly releasing the tightness as I released the air, starting at the top of my head. I managed to get to my chin before the scream tore loose, erupting up through my chest and bursting from my mouth.