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Karranatey
K’tey woke shivering in the early morning light. She pushed herself up from her side blinking in confusion as she tried to clear her sleep-fuddled mind and recall where she was. As she did so she felt the talisman clutched in her hand and memory came flooding back. That minor spell had taken much out of her and she had fallen asleep beside the slashed circle. Now she needed food to replenish herself further and she had no home to go to, nor money enough to purchase something. Rubbing her temple where she felt a fierce headache developing she frowned and pushed herself to her feet. She wavered unsteadily for a moment and firmed her resolve. There were things to be done, first and foremost she needed food, but she also needed to discover the meaning of her talisman. There was only one person of her acquaintance whom the talisman would allow her to visit. K’tey clenched her fist tight about the talisman and headed down the hill, away from the town and deep into the woods. She soon found the clearing she’d been looking for and called out a greeting as she entered it. The resident of the cottage on the opposite end would have set wards against her and any others of her family line who might stumble upon him. The wards would not harm her, but nor would they permit her to approach the house. As she expected, her path was suddenly changed and she found herself walking out of the clearing in the same spot through which she had just been entering it. “Brother!” she called loudly, hoping he was in the house and not out in the forest. She was not one who could be kept waiting for long and as weak and hungry as she was she needed him to be there. “Who goes there?” called a voice which K’tey knew was that of her second brother despite the magic used to disguise it. “It is K’tey, brother, I come to seek your aid,” she called, wishing he could just emerge and let her in, she could feel her knees beginning to shake as she stood at the edge of the clearing. “I have no siblings, no family, I have given them up. No prior family of mine would seek my aid.” “I too, brother, have no family, save the brother who has given them up as I have!” K’tey called fiercely, realizing she would need to show him proof. She held up the hand that was clenched about the talisman and despite the trembling in her legs she drew power from the earth and channeled it into the talisman. The talisman flashed a brilliant light and the entire clearing seemed to hum with the power of it. “K’tey!” was the call she heard as the door to the cottage was opened, a figure silhouetted there. K’tey gasped as she fell to her knees, her legs unable to support her further. Her brother, Karmenal, stood over her in an instant and carefully lifted her and carried her into the house.
Later, once K’tey had eaten and rested Karmenal sat down at the table with her and regarded her with a searching look. He opened his mouth to speak but she just shook her head, sipping hot tea from a mug. “I know what you’re wondering, and don’t ask,” she said, staring straight at him, defiance in the set of her eyes. “What’s more important is what I need of you.” “It’s always you, isn’t it, K’tey?” he said angrily, pushing violently away from the table as he stood and paced away. “Why did you come here? To see what your disgraced brother can do for you?” “You are no more disgraced than I am!” K’tey yelled back at him, slamming her mug down on the wooden table. “Is it disgraceful to stand on your own two feet? To take your life into your own hands when others deny you your right? I think not, so do not yell at me, brother dear!” Karmenal’s frown disappeared and he sighed as he righted his toppled chair and sat once more. “Alright, then what do you want from me?” K’tey hesitated only a moment before she gently placed the talisman on the table, face up. “I know what the first half stands for, but the second puzzles me. I know you have spells to unlock its secrets, all of the ‘disgraced’ do.” “I do indeed,” he replied, his voice tight with constrained anger. “But what makes you think I can unlock your secrets? Though you managed this spell I know you’ve had no training. You would not survive such a spell.” “Then you’ve got to help me through it!” she said, snatching the talisman up as he reached for it. “Why else do you think I came here?” “I won’t help you in this, it would be tantamount to murder!” “If you don’t help me, I’ll find someone else!” she cried, standing up and leaning forward, fists to the tabletop. “There are plenty of lonely second sons who made the choice you did. Any of them would be glad to help me!” “For a price!” he yelled right back at her. “I would pay any price to get what I seek,” she said, narrowing her eyes as she watched his resolve begin to crumble. “Very well,” he replied and resignation made the words sound bitter, “I will help you. But never say I didn’t warn you!” Smiling in smug satisfaction K’tey straightened, drawing a circle in the air between them and stomping her foot three times. “Deal.” Continue...
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