Chapter 223: Touched

Author’s note: Hi guys.

Enjoy this one!

Chapter 223: Touched - link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124119047

─◇─◈─◆────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 223: Touched

Ashe eyed the woman closing in on her.

[War Healer: 152 sigils]

'Fuck - they're serious about this.' 

A chill ran down her spine. Everything here felt off.The enchantments on the walls licking at her skin, the war-like check-up, and the strength of mere gate guards. Eight in total. The weakest held 128 sigils - barely worth a swing of her blade. But the gatehouse held more, no doubt.

'Even a cat could be torn apart if the rats swarmed fast enough.'

"I will touch your temples," the healer informed her. "It will only take a moment."

"Careful with my hair," Ashe remarked, watching the movement of the gate guards through her domain, though heavily suppressed by the enchantment of the walls. The healer ignored her arrogance and, without a word, pressed cool fingers to her temples, shutting her eyes. It didn’t take long before her brows shot up.

"Hey, Hayward - write down she’s got at least half a dozen geases on her."

"Got it," he said, but made no effort to take notes. Instead, his fingers curled around his sword hilt, waiting. If the healer gave the wrong word, he would be ready. Even knowing he wouldn’t stand a chance, he would still try.

'Admirable.'

It really was - no malice in the man, no sign he meant to kill her. Took years and two weaves to unlearn that instinct when on the hunt. 

This was just a job to him. One he took seriously.

Rare thing, that.

Sure, there were always one or two like him, but most of the guards she met served their own hunger, whether it was for coin, power, or both. Flash some gold, shake your ass, and they would jump to obey.

Now, though, Ashe felt that doing so would bring her nothing but trouble.

"Does it always take this long?" she asked, genuine impatience seeping into her voice.

"Hard to sift through so many geases," the healer noted, not breaking her concentration.

"You're not trying to break them, are you? A lady's got to have her secrets."

"Sure," the gate guard grunted. "Then don't complain that it's taking so long."

"It might help if you were a little nicer."

"Not my job to be nice."

"Then maybe I should have a word with your commanding officer, Sergeant...?" Bold. Maybe reckless. But Ashe couldn't resist pushing him a little. His reaction could tell her plenty.

The guard smirked. "Go ahead. In fact, if Gillian doesn’t clear your head, you’re seeing her anyway - shackled."

'Shackles? I don't think so.'

However, her interest was piqued. This checkup wasn't just some initiative by an overzealous soldier boy. "Clear of what? I assure you, my thoughts are pure as maidens."

"Which you certainly are not," the healer sneered, pulling her hands away.

"I haven’t found any traces of mind mages, Hayward, but..."

"Got it." 

No sooner had the words left her mouth than two guards flanked her. Any other time, that would’ve put her on full combat alert. And, deep down, it still did - her stance shifted before she could stop it, weight braced. Yet she hesitated, not from fear but from sheer bafflement.

'Mind mages? That was what they were looking for? Not us, but... arse above, they really were out of their minds! The mind mages are gone!' 

Sure, rumors cropped up from time to time, either offering their services or work - but Ashe had only ever seen frauds, leeches feeding off old fears. Even at Munca Fort, no one took the threat seriously. Not like this. This was madness!

"Calm down, ma'am." The gate guard lifted a hand, palm steady, but the other stayed firm on his sword. "If you would only..."

"We have one here!" The voice that rose above the murmurs belonged to the healer, checking out the merchant woman in the line behind Ashe. Remarkably calm, considering she lunged at him like a beast unchained.

Three guards rushed in, forcing her down before she could do any harm.

'Fuck my arse! Her eyes...' Ashe swallowed, her throat tight. For a heartbeat, the woman’s gaze met hers, empty of anything but rage. A cold, feral fury - one Ashe recognized all too well.

Beyond the south reach of the Sahal Empire stretched the Yallara Desert, a wasteland of shifting sands and creatures with that same eerie look. She knew because she had stood face-to-face with them.

The first time when she was young and stupid, fulfilling the dare her crew gave her. A rite of passage, of sorts. Then a few times, when she took the job to wander into those forsaken rocks and dunes or hid there when a job turned sour. Either way, every meeting with those creatures left her skin crawling.

That merchant woman? Touched by a mind mage magic.

"Don't concern yourself with her. She’ll be tended to, and when she recovers, she’ll be released," the gate guard said, voice steady, too steady. Too practiced. He wasn’t the only one. Every guard here moved with the same easy calm - like this happened every damn day. "As for you, answer a few questions under truth spells, and you’re clear."

'Fuck!' Ashe clenched her jaw. Not how she saw this going. "What questions?"

"Hand on the tablet - please," the man said,and in his free hand, a stone slab laced with runes flickered into existence. 

Cursing once more under her breath. There were tricks, ways to weave half-truths through magic like this, but none she knew well enough to risk. Here, she had only herself.

"Very well." The moment her skin met the stone, the air thickened. She gasped as the walls around her seemed to close in, the weight of their enchantments crushing down, smothering even the smallest chance of a lie.

"First question," the guard pressed on. No pause, no mercy. "Do you intend to bring harm to the city of Castiana?"

"As I already told you - I’m here to delve into Fallen’s Cry." The spell coiled around her tongue, wringing out the truth, leaving a sick taste in its wake.

"Answer the question - please."

"Well," she muttered, sweat beading under the enchantment’s weight. "No."

"Good. Second question. During your stay, do you intend to harm the residents of Castiana or citizens of the Sahal Empire?"

'Fuck! Alright, alright…' 

The flaw in these spells was always the same - belief. If someone thought a lie was the truth, the magic wouldn’t challenge it. They could swear the sky was crimson, and the spell would let it slide.

"Unless they strike first."

"Yes or no, please."

'Not stupid, huh?' Truth was, they weren’t here to hurt anyone - not really. It just happened that way more often than not, leaving bodies in their wake. She took a steady breath, testing her tongue before answering. "No."

"Good. Third and final question. Are you, or someone you know, in touch, in talks, or working for a mind mage?"

Relief washed over her. During the wars, people had to answer a dozen carefully prepared questions as they entered cities, and often it wasn't enough. "No."

"Good."

"So, can I go now?"

"Yes, ma'am. Apologies for the inconvenience, but you saw why it is necessary. Have a good day, Miss Akene."

With a silent nod, she grasped the reins of her scalehoof and stepped into Castiana. The city loomed ahead, but a cold truth gnawed at her - some of their crew sure weren’t making it in.

─◇─◈─◆────────────────────────────────────────

Author’s note: I know, not Korra. But don't worry I don't intend to make this prologue longer than the one in the first book. :)

─◇─◈─◆────────────────────────────────────────
                                                     Glossary

                                                   Korra’s Grid

Previous Chapter . . . . . . . Table of Contents . . . . . . . Next Chapter