Legends of Vecira

Veli blinked a few times, not sure if xe heard right.

“You have an irfin?” Elhomm asked, thrilled. If Veli had heard wrong, so had Elhomm.

“My employer granted me an irfin because I do so many errands,” Risi revealed, “Xer name is Noone.”

“The gold one?” Elhomm was reaching pitches Veli didn’t realize were possible.

“She sometimes helps in the stables,” Veli revealed.

“Yes, the gold one,” Risi confirmed, “Xe’s descended from the one the Slayer rode.”

The Slayer was what people called the general before Ulven, who had fought hordes of demons until they used a false truce to overtake the city. If they hadn’t taken him captive for their own amusement, he might still be general today, or at least Ulven wouldn’t have managed to “defeat” him.

Veli scoffed.

“You don’t believe me?” Risi asked.

“The Slayer rode a scarlet irfin.”

Veli had seen him ride it into battle when xe was younger.

Risi fidgeted with its headscarf.

“The Slayer had multiple irfin, and preferred a gold one for travel. The scarlet one was a war steed.”

“But all the art—” Elhomm began.

“And it doesn’t matter because Noone is descended from both.”

Veli rolled xer eyes.

“You didn’t say if you could teach us or not,” Elhomm said.

Risi shook its head.

“I’m in no position to teach anyone. Besides, my presence would only draw more of the guard’s attention toward you.”

“Then take Veli with you to train with your master, and Veli can teach us.”

Risi looked Veli up and down.

“You’d lose your leader for some time.”

“But it would be worth it.”

“I don’t know if he would be willing to teach Veli.”

Veli should put a stop to this. They had no idea if Risi was all that good a fighter, or if it was just fast. He needed to watch over the others.

But this was an opportunity.

“Even if it won’t teach me, I’m a hard worker, and maybe someone willing to hand a general’s irfin to an employee could have room for some extra help.”

“That he might be willing to do. He has a soft spot for abandoned children.”

“Speaking from experience?”

Risi stopped in its tracks.

Elhomm smacked Veli’s side.

“It just seems like if it gave you an irfin,” Veli explained, “And is willing to train you, then it has to have a soft spot for you.”

Risi nodded.

“He knows I have nowhere else to go, so he treats me kindly.”

“Are you going to take Veli?” Elhomm asked.

Risi halted. They’d already reached the stable.

“Risi, you ruined my bet,” a stable hand said. It was strange how many Vecirans were fond of someone so reviled by the guards.

“Some kind strangers insured I didn’t have to make a second trip.” It lifted the bag, tilting its head toward Elhomm and Veli.

“Elhomm,” the stable hand said, “This is Noone’s rider.”

“I know, Feran, he told me.”

“Did xe tell you xe and Noone can fly straight even with winds like today’s?”

Veli couldn’t tell much difference in the wind from any other day.

“You exaggerate,” Risi said, “Official routes don’t allow us to ride straight.”

Feran laughed.

“I’ll get Noone ready for you.”

Risi looked at Veli.

“I promise nothing, but if meeting my master can somehow help you, I will make the introduction.”

“Why?”

It shrugged.

“The worst that happens is I escort you back out, and I enjoy riding Noone.”

The attendant brought over an irfin with warm gold feathers and slightly redder fur on its back half. It looked like it would tear everyone there in half if it wanted to, but maybe that’s what all irfin looked like. This was the closest Veli had ever been to one, but xe could believe it was descended from a general’s war steed.

Elhomm got behind xer and pushed xer closer to Risi.

Risi was busy giving Noone something from its pocket.

“I didn’t even need to buy you extra treats today, thanks to them, so will you allow a second rider?”

Veli watched the irfin nervously. It stared xer down as Risi stroked its feathers. The irfin laid on the ground so Veli could sit behind and cling to Risi.

“I won’t let you fall,” Risi promised.

Unconvinced, Veli clung on to Risi for dear life, keeping xer eyes shut as they gained speed and altitude.

It helped to feel Risi be surprisingly calm in this scenario, not that xe’d seen it distressed beyond Elhomm’s general comment and Veli’s incorrect accusations of Noone.

Feran was right too, the winds were loud against them, and other riders seemed to be struggling, but the ride on Noone and Risi was smooth. Veli felt guilty for doubting Noone’s pedigree.

“Trust that I’ve done this dozens of times,” Risi suddenly said.

“I trust—”

Noone swiftly nose-dived, Risi’s grip tight enough to lighten the skin of xer knuckles, before smoothly halting in front of what looked to be a stable.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” someone said, stepping out of the stable.

“Noone would be disappointed if we didn’t do it.”

“I’m sure your guest could have done without.”

Risi finally deigned to look back at Veli.

“I am fine,” xe said, weakly.

“See?”

“Of all the things Rah could have spoiled you on, it had to be riding.”

Risi giggled, finally jumping down, offering a hand to Veli after settling xerself.

“Is Rah your master’s name?” Veli asked as Risi gave some final attentions to Noone, then handed it off.

“Yes,” Risi confirmed, walking toward the front of the building and gesturing for them to follow.

The building was not grand, but it looked expensive by size alone. There was an upper floor with many rooms, and many open areas on the ground floor. Veli could see an impressive amount of bookshelves, many seats and couches to lounge on, a table to dine at.

“Luxurious, isn’t it?” Risi asked, “At least as far as we’re concerned.”

“We?”

“The people who live here. Most of us wouldn’t know anything better than this. Those that do know its better than what they could manage on their own.”

“I’ve helped move things in finer homes,” Veli admitted, “This is shabbier than I expected from someone with so many irfin.”

“The irfin are how we pay for everything. Rah is a breeder. How else do you think he could access the slayer’s stock?”

“These are the freshest fruits you’ve ever gotten, Risi,” a larger person bowed, holding a bag that seemed to be bigger than Risi’s.

“You can thank Veli, xe helped insure my bag returned safely.”

Veli startled for a moment. Risi had referred to xer as a friend instead of a stranger. Was xe really going to help Veli train?

“Yes, I noticed it was the same one,” the large person observed.

Risi’s eyes widened, before pulling another bag from xer skirt pocket.

“I didn’t even think about the spare. Thank you, Arnelo.”

Xe started muttering to herself.

“Would you follow me to the stable?” xe asked, pointing through a sitting room, “I’m not actually sure where to put this away.”

Veli followed xer as xe went to a door at the end of the sitting room that led into a stable. Veli backed away as soon as the doors opened.

“How do you keep the rest of the house from smelling like this?”

“Talent,” Risi answered, shrugging.

“I heard you returned early,” someone larger than Risi put a hand on xer shoulder, “And with a guest.”

Risi nodded.

“Veli, this is my master, Rah. Rah this is Veli, xe made it so I did not need the spare.” xe brazenly handed Rah the bag despite calling him xer master.

Rah handed the bag to someone else working at the stable before turning his attention to Veli.

“And why have you come here?”

“I—”

“Xe had nowhere else to go, and xe helped me, so I invited xer here.”

“I heard—” Veli started.

“May I show xer around?” Risi asked.

“Of course,” Rah said.

Xe grabbed Veli’s hand.

“This is the stable.”

Xe pulled Veli back into the house.

“This is one of our sitting rooms. We have quite a few on account of all the workers.”

“I didn’t come here for a tour,” Veli finally said.

“Make your request after he has been fed with good food that you bear some credit for.”

“He didn’t want to teach you, did he?” Veli asked, “But everyone in this house acts like you’re his family, so you probably—”

“He insisted I learn actually, but he’s made it clear he has no plans of taking another student. I am only an exception—” xe stopped.

“Why are you an exception?”

“Because he took me in as a child, so there’s less scrutiny about it.”

xe walked to a place with a large table.

“This is the dining room. We all eat together because Rah believes no worker is more valuable than another, even himself.”

“What about you?”

If Risi wasn’t Rah’s child, xe had to have been the child of someone Rah cared about, like a sibling or even a parent.

“I understand my relationship with Rah seems curious,” Risi said, “But if you wish to work here, let alone train under Rah, you should leave it alone.”

Veli put xer hands up.

“Fine.”

Risi showed xer a few more sitting rooms, an impressive library, and then a set of closed doors.

“This is why everyone treats me like Rah’s family.”

“What is this?”

“Only two people in the house are allowed inside: Rah and myself.”

“Why are you allowed inside?”

Risi looked away.

“Like I said, Rah took me in when I was very young, and raised me like his own child. This place was made in memoriam of the reason he took me in. I remind him of the person it would be for.”

“Did you ever know it?”

Risi shook xer head.

“It’s Rah’s memory, not mine. I am just doing my best to repay his care and kindness.”

“So why bring in someone who will ask something he’ll say no to.”

Risi shrugged.

“You helped with my bag.”

They were almost done with their meal, and Risi began to have doubts about the plan.

Rah was stubborn, and made clear before why he wouldn’t take on any students.

But situations change, and besides, she’d made clear to Veli and Elhomm that she couldn’t promise what they asked.

“Thank you, Arnelo, for making the food,” Rah said as he finished eating, “And thank you, Risi, for bringing fresh supplies.”

“Thank you, Veli, for returning my bag to me so I didn’t have to make a second trip through the market.”

Veli looked uncomfortable, probably because Risi told xer not to mention Risi had helped Elhomm first. It made better odds if xe’d helped Risi from xer own kindness, and not a debt.

“Because of you, our fruit is fresher,” Arnelo said.

“What repayment did Risi bring you here for?” Rah asked.

Veli looked at xer. Risi gave an assuring nod.

“Can you train me to fight like you have Risi? I live with a few orphans and abandoned on the streets, and we often run awry of guards while trying to get by. Just some knowledge to help us get away—”

“I will not take on another pupil. I already get enough scrutiny for training Risi.”

“Scrutiny?”

“Do you have a second wish?” Rah asked.

“If you have room for another worker—”

“Why not?” Risi asked.

All the other workers nervously left their seats.

“I have explained this before, Risi,” Rah’s tone was already tired, “We cannot risk—”

“Maybe a risk is exactly what we need.”

“If you have space for another worker,” Veli said louder, “I am unable to find work in Vecira, and would like to support the people I live with.”

“Head to the library, Sivam manages the books and can find you a room.”

Veli left them alone.

“What is this, Risi?”

“Ulven advised you to send someone less troublesome next time.”

Rah shook his head.

“Did ae hurt you?”

“I let aer.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I do.”

As long as they didn’t want Ulven to bother with the ranch, they needed to make aer feel like ae had the upper hand, not that there was much pretending.

“Ulven will take anyone I train as a threat, including you.”

“Maybe you should threaten aer.”

Rah shook his head.

“Provoking aer—”

“Ae has been provoked since you returned, and ae’s obviously shared our secret with the guards, so the contract has already been broken.”

“You don’t know what he’s shared with the guards.”

“I know they call you demon-addled, and consider me a threat for merely existing. What do you think Ulven has told them?”

Rah remained as stoic as ever.

“Ulven fears you,” he said, “And if we provoke that fear, he will make all Vecira fear you.”

“If Vecira’s kindness to me is dependent on Ulven’s mercy, then I don’t want it. I wasn’t born in Vecira, and I have never lived there. I have lived under Ulven’s thumb for as long as I remember, and I’d rather have freedom than safety.”

“And you think Veli can provide your freedom?”

“I think you can,” Risi said, “But you have to become what Ulven fears about you.”

She stepped away from the conversation. Rah was a coward, and she wouldn’t stand for it.

“Why do you insist I train it?” Rah asked.

“I was an abandoned child too,” Risi said.

“Your circumstance—”

“And Veli is willing to give the same kindness to them that you gave to me.”

Rah watched her.

“I will give it a job for the sake of these children,” he said, “That is the best outcome for all of us.”

Risi took xer boiling rage out of the room. Blowing up would ensure xe lost the argument.

Even at the age of ten, Veli knew this place well. About once a month, someone would challenge General Vara, and the general would make swift work of them.

This time was different. The crowd was silent, and General Vara was on the ground, bleeding from several cuts.

“Your general has been brought low,” a pale person with hair that matched the color of Vara’s cuts announced. It was taller than any raosi Veli had seen.

The crowd remained silent. Veli watched the general begin to stand up confidently.

“We came here for recompense,” the red-haired announcer said, “One of our own lived here for years, so we shall bring one of yours to stay with us for just as long. Since your general was kind enough to house her all this time, it will be the one to join us.”

They were demons, Veli realized. The Demon of Vecira was the only person staying with General Vara. The announcer didn’t look too dissimilar from her. One look proved Vara wasn’t going to be treated well.

Where was the Demon of Vecira in all this?

“Our envoy has moved on to a new world, leaving this place to us.”

Demons were finally overtaking Vecira. The rest of Raosi would be next.

“Of course, we need only stay here as long as he remains general, but it’s not a role that can be gently passed down, apparently.”

General Vara moved to a fighting position, like the wounds he suffered weren’t going to kill him if he moved too much.

“Have you never wanted power?” the demon asked, “Is the honor of fighting an uninjured man so important that you will let us claim your city?”

Veli didn’t know what xe was doing when xe threw a rock at the demon, hitting aer in the face.

The demon scowled.

General Vara walked forward, grabbed Veli from xer seat and threw xer into the ring.

“You can’t fight to be general, but you can serve your people as an example.” The demon looked at the general, now standing still again, “Kill aer.”

“No!”

Veli’s mother ran and grabbed xer. Xer father stood in front of General Vara, whose attention remained focused on Veli, walking forward.

“Please,” Veli’s father said, “We’ll do anything, just don’t—”

“Leave the child be,” the demon ordered. General Vara stilled.

Veli nestled closer to xer mother.

“Do you both promise to do anything to spare this child? Anything less and I will kill it.”

“Yes,” xer parents said.

“We are healers by profession if that information is useful to you,” xer mother said.

“That won’t be necessary,” the demon said, “I already know neither of you could fight your general even in this state.”

Neither of xer parents would fight the general. That was good.

“Abandon the child. You never want to see it again.”

Veli’s mother dropped xer. Xe tried to follow xer parents back, but xer father turned on xer.

“Stay away from us! We never want to see you. You are a curse upon us and a drain on our resources.”

What?

“We abandon you, Veli,” mother said, “With nothing but your name.”

General Vara was staring at them. Veli wanted to scream, yell, beg him to fight off these demons like he’d done hundreds of times. Wasn’t he supposed to be the Slayer?

“Run,” the demon ordered, “You have no one else to care if you annoy me again.”

Veli lost all train of thought, and ran.