Side A – Yasgrid
Kayelle’s concern wasn’t a revelation to Yasgrid. The idea that she and Nia had been switched by a power with a specific agenda had occurred to her many times over.
“If we begin questioning the machinations of destiny or fate, we can ascribe almost any meaning to the events we see,” Naosha said.
“But you have people who can bend fate to their wills, don’t you?” Yasgrid asked.
“The Fate Dancers practice a deep and ancient magic, but they are not so puissant as that might suggest,” Naosha said. “They are bound by laws even more ancient than their arts, and even working together there are harsh and arcane limits on what they can accomplish. An effect as broad and far reaching as what has happened with you and my daughter is both far beyond the scope of abilities and well outside their realm of interest.”
“Are there any breakaway sects?” Yasgrid asked. “People who might have instructed Elshira in magics that are forbidden to the Fate Dancers?”
Even as she asked the question though, Yasgrid knew it wasn’t the right one. Elshira wasn’t the one responsible for switching her into Nia’s body. Too many pieces didn’t fit in terms of motivation and demonstrated abilities.
And, more than that, Yasgrid didn’t feel shadowed, or diminished, or tainted by the exchange. Some part of being in Nia’s body felt strangely right. Like the body she’d worn since she was a child had only been a temporary shelter before she emigrated from it to find her rightful home.
That thought gave rise to a constellation of questions. Could she and Nia have been the ones responsible somehow? Might they have swapped much earlier, perhaps as young children, or infants? And what else were they capable of if so?
None of those questions were going to help her move forward though, so she packed them away for a day when their Troubles were behind them.
“None of the magics the Fate Dancers forbid, nor the forbidden magics of any other mystical society in the Darkwood, are capable of crafting an enchantment that could reach so far, or last so long,” Naosha said.
“You’ve researched forbidden magics?” Kayelle asked, surprise plain in her voice.
Yasgrid found that unexpected too. Naosha M’Kellin was many things but ‘Dark Sorceress” did not seem to be a profession that fit with the rest of her accomplishments.
“Yes. Extensively,” Naosha said, making no apology.
“Why?” Kayelle asked and then drew in a short breath as understanding dawned. “Oh. I see.”
“There are many rituals to wake the dead, but even the ones which promise to return the departed for a single night are lies and do little more than breed Troubles,” Naosha said.
“You attempted to bring him back?” Kayelle asked, her voice notably softer.
“No. I merely required confirmation that the world could place no further burdens on him,” Naosha said. “No matter the urgency or the dark designs of those on this side of the veil, there is nothing that can disturb the peace of those who’ve gone before us.”
Side B – Nia
In the face of the churning waters in front of them, one part of Nia was willing to head back to the Shatter Band and declare Osdora’s escape complete. The Darkwood did not have mountains like the Stoneling lands did. The idea of casting herself into a river, even a small one, that was flowing at a decided downward angle seemed questionable at best.
That voice of eminent reason however ran up against the solid trunk that was her sheer obstinancy.
Osdora was setting a challenge in front of them. Osdora didn’t think they could overcome it. Therefor Nia was going to smash a path through it and prove…she wasn’t entirely sure what. That Osdora was wrong? That she was better than Osdora thought she was? That she was better than she herself thought she was?
Maybe all of the above.
“Can we get the Cloud Divers to carry us on to the next town?” she asked, turning to Margrada.
“Depends on how far away it is,” Margrada said.
“About a half day’s trip down stream if you take the river,” the taller Stoneling said.
“It’s too far then,” Margrada said, shaking her head. “They can’t go that far outside their range or that far down the mountains.”
“Predators?” Pelegar asked.
“That and the thermals are wrong. Makes it too hard for them to get back,” Margrada said.
“Other options for chasing her then?” Nia asked.
“We could hike it,” Pelegar said. “That’ll put us pretty far behind them though.”
“Too far?” Margrada asked.
“Depends,” Pelegar said. “How did Gossma take Osdora showing up to drag her off on another wild adventure?”
“She knew Osdora was coming,” the shorter Stoneling said. “Was all packed and ready when she got here.”
“Uh, how?” Nia asked. “Osdora was moving pretty fast. She couldn’t have sent a message ahead.”
Pelegar sighed and cursed something in a language Nia didn’t recognize.
“She could have, and she did,” Pelegar said. “Did she ever tell you about Gossma?”
Nia knew the name sounded familiar but Margrada placed it first.
“Osdora and Gossma were close at one point, weren’t they?” Margrada asked, phrasing the question with as much discretion as she could muster.
“Too close,” Pelegar said. “I guess the bond hasn’t snapped yet. Osdora must have drummed a dream over to her.”
“She can do that?” Nia asked.
“With Gossma? Sure. With anyone else? Maybe? She’s gotten to be a wiley old thing over the years. Usually doesn’t give me half of what she’s capable of when she’s playing for the band,” Pelegar said.
“What’s our deadline for getting her back?” Nia asked.
“It’s not so much a question of time as it is whether we’ll be able to smack some sense into her at all,” Pelegar said. “She gets wild ideas on every trip, but this? I don’t know. She’s never roped Gossma in before. This feels different.”
Nia froze and let out a long slow breath.
It was different this time.
It was about Yasgrid.
Could she tell Pelegar that? Or could she lie and pretend she didn’t know?
Was that even a real choice?