The Will-Breaker

A warm breeze blew past, carrying with it snow whipped up from the tops of buildings. The sun shone brightly in a nearly cloudless sky, its heat diminishing as it sank slowly towards the western horizon. It had not been an uncomfortably warm day—indeed, most of it had been fairly pleasant—but it had been warm enough to melt small patches of snow or ice, and was a clear sign winter was nearing its end.

Jorvanultumn was standing on the roof of Night's Tower at Saints Cathedral, looking out over Quorge. Although the cathedral was in bad shape, this and Nature's Tower were undamaged and stable. They were the highest points in Quorge and offered a good view of most of the city. It was impossible to see everywhere, but it was useful to watch from here while resting from flying. He and Fevionawishtensen were taking turns flying over the city to look for any indication of the air-based demon.

It was also a fitting location since it was the same place he and Zandrue had first discovered the demons. They were not here now, of course—he had double-checked to make sure—but there was a certain symmetry to watching from here and not Nature's Tower, which offered the same view.

So far, he had not seen anything. Neither had Fevionawishtensen. It had been a long and dull day, and it was beginning to look as though the demons would not be holding to their nineteen-day pattern.

Accompanied by a refreshing gust of air from her wings, Fevionawishtensen landed on the roof a short distance from Jorvanultumn. They touched foreheads and wing tips. Then Jorvanultumn said, "Anything?"

Fevionawishtensen shook her head. "I'm not surprised. If I were the demons, I would not attack on a day I was expected."

"Then why not attack before now?" Jorvanultumn said. "We will expect them every day from now on."

"We can't maintain constant surveillance."

"I suppose not." Jorvanultumn leaned against a crenellation, and gazed out over the city. "But we can be prepared."

Fevionawishtensen's hand touched the back of his neck, and he leaned into it, savouring her touch.

"I suppose I should start my patrol now." He wanted to stay here with her a little longer. Did a few more minutes matter?

Much to his disappointment, Fevionawishtensen let go of him, but then she pointed.

"What?" He followed where she was pointing, towards the far side of the cathedral, near one of the side doors. A figure stood there, reaching out to open the door. A winged figure. He looked at Fevionawishtensen. "Is that…?"

Fevionawishtensen frowned. "You said she was acting strangely."

Jorvanultumn looked back. The figure had already gone through the door, but there was little doubting it. It had been Mikranasta.

Fevionawishtensen flew off the tower and down towards the door.

"Wait!" Jorvanultumn called after her, but she either did not hear or did not listen. With a sigh, he flew after her.

What could Mikranasta be doing here? Was it something to do with whatever other work she was doing? That made the most sense.

The side door led into the region behind the main worship area, a region where, as Jorvanultumn understood it, there were offices and other administrative locations. The small entry area had a pair benches and several dying potted plants. A short flight of steps led into a slightly larger foyer where a message board hung on one of the walls. To the right a full flight of stairs curved around a corner, presumably leading up to the next level. Two passages branched off from the far side of the foyer, which was decorated with more dying plants.

Fevionawishtensen stood at one of those passages, looking down it. She turned as Jorvanultumn entered, signing exasperatedly, "I don't know which way she went."

"Perhaps we should just call out to her," Jorvanultumn said.

Fevionawishtensen frowned, but nodded.

"Mikranasta!"

Fevionawishtensen ran a finger along the wall by her, but Jorvanultumn could not tell if she was writing an equation or just running her finger through the thin layer of dust that had accumulated everywhere.

"Mikranasta!"

"I would be careful of excessive volume in here." Mikranasta came around the corner on the staircase. "This region of the building is reasonably stable, but others are not. You do not want to cause further collapse."

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Jorvanultumn bowed his head. "My apologies."

Mikranasta strode over to the smaller flight of steps to the entry area and stared down at Jorvanultumn. "Why are you here? Should you not be watching for demon incursions?"

Jorvanultumn bowed his head again. "We were watching from the top of Night's Tower. It provides a good view."

"I would agree," Mikranasta said, "so why leave it?"

"We saw you enter and—"

"And you let your curiosity about what I was doing get the better of you." Mikranasta shook her head sadly. "If you were my siare, Jorvanultumn, I would be very cross with you. As it is, I am disappointed in you. You endanger lives by abandoning your post, even temporarily."

"Again, my apologies," Jorvanultumn said.

Behind her, Fevionawishtensen signed, "She is hiding something."

"I would appreciate it if you did not speak behind me, Fevionawishtensen."

With a scowl, Fevionawishtensen raised her hand with her forefinger and pinky extended.

Mikranasta's lips twitched. "And your tendency to resort to such crude gestures can be very exasperating." She had not looked back at any time to see Fevionawishtensen's signing. "If you must know, Felitïa Asa Folith asked me to investigate the disappearance of Father Victrin Bandren."

"Is it not likely he died in the attack?" Jorvanultumn said.

"It is possible, but his body has still not been found. Indeed, no additional bodies have been found in some time, so it is seeming more and more likely there are no more to be found."

Fevionawishtensen pushed past her—Mikranasta scowling slightly—and came over to stand beside Jorvanultumn. "Why come here then?"

"I wanted to investigate his office. Perhaps there are clues there to his activities. However, you interrupted me before I could begin a search."

"Sorry," Jorvanultumn said.

"So you keep saying. I think it is time the two of you returned to your duties. If you want to speak more of it later, we can, but not now." Mikranasta turned and returned up the stairs.

Her story made sense. It had been foolish of him to doubt her for even a moment. He took Fevionawishtensen's hand. "We should do as she says."

Fevionawishtensen pulled back from him. "I still think she is hiding something."

"Then we can ask her about it later. She said she'll talk later."

"She's up to something."

Jorvanultumn sighed. "The two of you clash over many things. Are you sure it's not just your dislike of her biasing your view?"

Fevionawishtensen's eyes narrowed and she scowled. "Are you sure your love for her is not biasing your view?"

"What else could she possibly be up to? What reason would she have to...to do whatever you think she's doing?"

"I don't know, but she's doing something."

"Yes, investigating—"

"No, more than that. Why has Felitïa not told us of this?"

"Felitïa has been stressed and overworked. She might have forgotten."

"And Mikranasta conveniently didn't tell us either?"

"You know what Mikranasta can be like."

"Yes, I do, which is why I don't trust her."

"I still don't understand what you—"

"Oh, forget it." Shoving her way past him, Fevionawishtensen stormed over to the door. Then she turned around and glared at Jorvanultumn. "Do you really not care that she used her magic to invade my mind just now?"

"What? What makes you think…?"

Fevionawishtensen flung her hand up. "Fuck you, Jorvanultumn. You're on flight duty. I'll watch from the tower top. We'll talk later when I've cooled off." She spun around, stepped outside, and flew straight up.

Jorvanultumn stared at the spot where she'd been standing a moment earlier. Surely Mikranasta had not been reading Fevionawishtensen's mind. She would never do something so inappropriate. There had to be another explanation for how she had known what Fevionawishtensen was signing. A quick glance around showed there were no mirrors visible. However, there was a window beside the door. Perhaps from the right angle, it had caught Fevionawishtensen's reflection. Yes, that had to explain it. Mikranasta would never read someone's mind without consent. However, she was very observant, and could easily have spotted a reflection and made use of it. She also would not have mentioned the reflection. Fevionawishtensen would understand that once she calmed down, and he had a chance to talk to her.

Feeling a bit better about the situation, Jorvanultumn headed back outside and took to the air.

The demon did not show.