They’d spent the entire night traveling to the next closest village. Though they didn’t find one they had found a home. There were clothes strung out drying in the night air and after very little convincing from Ryza, Snow had some new clothes to wear. Ryza had walked away allowing her to change in privacy despite Snow’s teasing.
“Not sure how I feel about these clothes. They’re comfortable at least,” Snow said pulling at her shirt. Well, it was more like a vest. Twisting and turning slowly she nodded. A simple piece of beaten leather and trousers but no shoes or boots.
“At least it looks good with your cloak,” she said wrapping it around herself. She had elected to keep it claiming that Ryza had yet to take it off her so it was still hers. Ryza had decided to not contest that point and wait it out.
Stepping through the grass slowly Snow wiggled her toes and smiled broadly. “Haven’t done this since I was a little girl,” she mumbled.
Ryza watched her and tried to imagine Snow as a little girl. Somehow, she imagined a version of her except with wolf ears and a tail. She couldn’t shake the image of her new ally’s other form. The family curse as she called it.
Leaving the house behind they went back to walking adjacent to the main road. Ryza had consulted one of her maps to figure out where they were but guessing distance wasn’t exactly straightforward. As Snow adjusted the clothes she yawned, stretching her arms above her head.
“I could just pass out on the ground out here,” she said rubbing her eyes.
“Once upon a time I could as well but I’ve learned to do better,” Ryza said turning around slowly.
“Well unless you can find us an inn right now we might be hanging around out here. I hear the roads are safer these days,” she joked.
“I’ve been hearing the contrary. That there have been more attacks on people traveling. Especially earlier in the da-“ Ryza glanced at Snow who was watching her and trying to keep a straight face. Blinking slowly she glanced away. “You were joking weren’t you?”
“I was,” Snow said. “You really are a serious one aren’t you Ryry?”
“Yes,” Ryza said not looking at her. “It is something that a friend said I should work on.” But she mouthed the name and tried to ignore how much it made her smile.
“Well don’t worry. I can help you do that while we go looking for it. Whatever we’re looking for?”
“My brother’s journal.”
“Right. The necromancy research,” Snow nodded quickly. “What would even be in it? I mean after what you did I figure you’re kinda a master at it.”
She chuckled, “I am very talented and skilled with my craft but my brother and I had a goal. He achieved it I think. We’ll see in the long run. I want to learn his method and adapt it to my own.”
“And what is that goal?” Snow asked walking closer and glancing down at her.
“The same thing all necromancers covet. Discovering immortality.”
Snow snorted at what she said but then really looked at her, “You’re serious? Like never having to die? That’s a thing you can do?”
“Potentially. We were going about it in different ways. I on separating the soul from the body. My brother on making an immortal body for the soul. I could be wrong and my brother was right. Or the opposite. Or we both were on the right track but neither was right,” she shrugged. “I won’t know until I really look into what he made.”
“Huh. Now you’ve got me curious,” Snow scrunched her nose and nodded quickly. “I wanna see this.”
Ryza stopped in her tracks stunned that Snow left her behind before glancing back at her. “What?” Ryza said.
“What what?”
“You want to see. See what?”
“You figure out immortality. What else?”
Ryza narrowed her eyes sharply but forced herself to breathe and looked at her, “I’m sorry. I’m not used to that type of interest in good faith. Most are repulsed or want to use it for their own gain.”
“The hell kind of people do you hang around?” Snow asked.
Ryza shook her head and caught up to the shapeshifter, “Not pleasant ones. Me and my brother both were raised in a strange household to say the least.”
“Tell me about it,” Snow said. “I told you about mine. Only fair right?”
Ryza was going to protest but she couldn’t protest at the smile on Snow’s face. So earnest, so curious, so positive. An entire 180 from what she was used to. It reminded her of the young zodiac Virgo. Except Snow was on a different level and very much not a young girl.
So Ryza told her her story, starting from the beginning but keeping it simple. Told her about her mother and her father, her brother. Her father stealing her away so that she wouldn’t become a tool of her mother. The life of isolation and running that they both lived for many years. Her father’s eventual death. Finally, she ended on her reunion with her brother, his death and killing her mother.
She hadn’t realized just how much she had been talking but when she finally stopped, her throat was raw but her body felt light. Like she had shrugged off some of the weight that she didn’t know she was carrying. Shriek tapped her face with his tiny paw and she chuckled. “Yes, little one, that was quite the tale. And you’ve been there for most of it.”
She began to turn toward Snow when she felt a constricted pressure around her body. She jumped to the conclusion that she was being attacked and began to channel a spell but then she heard the minor whimpering. Kicking her legs at the air slightly she looked down at Snow who had lifted her off the ground in a powerful hug.
“Snow, what are you doing,” Ryza asked trying to ignore the embarrassment of being lifted in such a way. When she finally looked closer at Snow she realized that she was full out crying while holding her up.
“I’m so sorry Ryry! I thought my childhood was bad but after hearing that I-“ she shook her head and sobbed shaking her back and forth. “How the hell are you so strong?”
She blinked shaking her head and trying to process much of what was just said to her, “I-I’m not that strong Snow. Please set me down.”
Snow nodded quickly and put her down, making sure her feet touched the ground. She wiped her face quickly and stared at her. Ryza made a face as she saw the emotions on display on Snow’s face. “Why do you even believe me?”
“You don’t smell like a liar,” she said tapping her nose. “People smell different when they lie.”
Ryza stared at her skeptically but couldn’t maintain that face. Snow looked on the verge of tears though and sniffled she looked at Ryza. “But it makes sense why you’re so serious. And easy to tease.”
“I am not,” Ryza said quickly, blinked and then frowned hard realizing what had been done. She sighed rubbing her face slowly. “Fine. Perhaps I am. What of it?”
“Nothin,” she folded her arms and smiled. “Just thought you were a little uptight. In reality, you just needed a hug. Maybe get laid.”
“W-what?” Ryza sputtered which just made her laugh even more. Glaring at the shapeshifter she shouldered past her and kept going down the path. “Come on. The next town is a ways off and after that, we’ll need horses.”
Snow raised her eyebrows, watching the necromancer storm off and then laughed. She leaned forward and chased after her in easy strides. Ryza continued to walk but glanced at Snow every once in a while. The woman walked with a powerful stride, obviously able to overtake her if she wanted but didn’t she was letting Ryza lead.
They walked together until the sun began to rise in the distance. While it peaked the edge and bathed them in its warm glow, they found the village. The natural grass grew shorter and the sudden handmade buildings were apparent. The ground of the village was bare of any flora and their steps kicked up dust.
Few people were out this early but they were stopped by a portly man stumbling his way forward. He was older, salt and pepper haired but didn’t seem overweight. He was wearing a sword at his hip and arms folded. “Not used to strangers at this hour. Not with good intentions at the very least. What brings you to Radiant?”
Ryza stared at the man and shook her head, “Our business is our own. We’re just passing through. Is that a problem?”
“Well I don’t have to let someone so hostile into this town then,” he said leaning back on his foot. “So you wanna try again?”
Snow stepped forward and lowered her head, “We’re travelers sir who’ve been hit with some bad luck. Please don’t take my companion’s reaction to heart. She’s not happy because she lost our horses in the night. We’ve been walking the entirety of the night to try to avoid bandits. So here we are. We need a soft bed and later some food.”
Immediately the man’s face changed from one of suspicion to one to rueful understanding. He spread his arms motioning toward the town. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m no stranger to overnight mistakes. I’m glad you both made it here in one piece. I know Leah’s inn should have some beds open and she doesn’t charge too much. Also, good cooking if I say so myself.”
“We’ll go right over. Isn’t that right Ryry?”
Snow beamed at her and Ryza resisted the urge to scowl. But she nodded slowly and plastered a smile onto her face. “Yeah silly me. I dropped the ball and I’ve been lashing out.”
“It happens ma’am,” the man smiled at her welcoming and raised his arm toward the town. “Welcome to Radiant. Be careful and try not to cause any trouble.”
They nodded and he walked back to a building, going to the porch and overlooking the town. Ryza kept an eye on him while Snow pulled her along into the town proper. The path of the town wasn’t that hard to understand, a simple cross, a well in the middle, and a hub surrounding it.
It was Ryza, really Shriek, who pointed and found the inn. Just like the rest of the town, it was dead. The tables were empty, shares cleared, and only an older woman behind a counter setting up. She wasn’t greying yet but there was a certain stiffness to her movements. She looked up at the pair of them and scowled.
“Let me guess. Neil sent you.”
“Who?” Ryza mouthed glancing at Snow.
Snow shrugged then snapped her fingers, “You must mean the older guy looking over the town.”
“Yeah. Our warden. Takes care of Radiant and makes sure His rules are followed.”
Ryza recognized the emphasis on that. They were in the Sanctum proper now. She mentally made a note to be wary of how she used her magic. The last thing she needed was mage hunters on her.
“You must be Leah then,” Ryza said.
“What do you two want? And don’t ask for food.”
“Just a room,” Snow said. “A place to rest for the day. We can pay. Right?”
Ryza nodded and glanced at Snow, “Right pocket of the cloak.”
Snow fished through it slowly and out came a jingling purse. She tossed it to Ryza who caught it, untied it, and took out a few silver pieces. “Is this enough?”
She stared at the two of them, her eyes flicking to the coin before scowling. “There’s one around the corner. End of the hallway. I hear any complaints you’re out.”
Ryza walked to the counter, paid for their room, took the key and walked with Snow to the staircase, took it upstairs, and sure enough, a matching room was waiting for them. A simple room, a washbasin, a coat rack, and a bed against the wall with a window opposite side it. Except there was only one bed.
Snow went right over and laid down on it easily taking up half of it if not three quarters of it. Her eyes had closed almost immediately and she was relaxing. She rolled over slowly hugging the side closest to the wall and miraculously there was space for Ryza if she so chose.
Taking her shovel off of her back she lay it against the wall gently. The runes on it glowed at her touch before she stepped away from it. Kicking off her boots as well she reached to her shoulder. Shriek came to her hands quickly but as he scurried down he blinked at her slowly.
She smiled at the small animal with its drooping eyes and crouched near her boot. He crawled inside of it slowly and when he didn’t peak back out at her she was sure that he was ready to go to sleep. Rarely did he sleep while she was awake. He must have been as exhausted as she was.
“Sleep tight little one. We’ll figure out our next move soon,” she whispered and sighed.
As she trudged toward the bed her true exhaustion began to take root and every thought that she began to have about sharing a bed with a stranger let alone Snow bled away. Finally getting to the bed she lay down on her half and found a corner of the pillow that gave enough support for her head.
Closing her eyes Ryza sighed already planning out what to do for her next day. She didn’t get far before she fell into the warm embrace of sleep at the back of her companions.
The Harlequin Library 