135. Stalker In The Shadows

“I think he might be the one,” Mira said, glancing at the tent where El-Prime slept.

Both she and Penelope failed to spot the Stalker keeping watch from the ledge above. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the spot provided the perfect vantage point. It also allowed him to maintain a Shadow Illusion while keeping magic expenditure to a minimum, keeping the campfire and their tents perfectly hidden.

“Have you even been with anyone before?” Penelope asked, not looking up from her journal. Her quill worked away, illuminated by the fire and the azure crystal that crowned her staff.

“Well, if you’re asking if I’ve slept with anyone else before, then it’s a yes.” Mira’s voice carried a hint of defiance. “There was a boy when I was growing up. We were stupid and discovering ourselves. There was also someone I met through Ephram. I thought that was real, but then he disappeared before things could get serious. It's different with Lukas.”

“I apologize.” Penelope sighed, closing her journal. “It wasn’t my intention to sound patronizing or treat you as a child. So, you don’t need to get defensive. But you do realize that Lukas is old, right? I don’t mean to discourage you, but he might be older than me. Don’t let the young face and body fool you.”

“You believe he’s taking advantage of me?” Mira frowned. “Lukas wouldn’t do that. He might have a dark side, but he’s not evil.”

“There you go again, Mira. You need to think beyond concepts like good and evil. But if you want to simplify things like that, no. I don’t believe Lukas is evil. However, love and relationships work differently when you’re older and live as long as we do. It will be different for you, too.” Penelope stared at the fire, falling silent for a moment. “Do you believe you’re the one for Lukas? Do you think you’re the first person he’s been involved with?”

“Not at all. I was there for the whole Leisel thing. I also know that his last proper relationship was a long one.” Mira hesitated, eyes drifting to the tent where El-Prime slept. “I’m not going to share details because Lukas wouldn’t want me to. But he told me about his last partner. I know it lasted longer than I’ve been alive. Does that make me feel a little insecure? Sure. But I know better than to compare or compete.”

“Then you should also know better than to believe in or give so much weight to concepts like the one,” Penelope said. “Believe me. It’s already a bad idea to get seriously involved in our line of work. But even putting all of that aside, you need to learn and accept that relationships work differently for people like us who are likely to live longer than most mortals. People fall in and out of love. People outgrow each other. People get bored, and priorities change.”

“You really think Lukas will get bored with me?”

“Honestly?” Penelope reached toward the fire, holding out her palms. Even though her magic protected her from the elements, it seemed she enjoyed the heat radiating from the dancing flames. “I believe you’ll get bored with him. He’s matured and been through a lot. Lukas is likely to value, if not treasure, the comfort and contentment you’ll bring. However, you’re young and inexperienced. Things will change for you.

“Lukas’s ambitions are grand, and he might need to do unsavory things to get where he wishes to go. Are you happy living in his shadow and following him? Will you be able to stomach the things he might have to do? Will you be able to keep loving him despite it?”

“Why do you sound like you’re speaking from experience?” Mira asked. “It sounds like you had a Lukas of your own.”

“No.” Penelope smiled. It carried a hint of sorrow. “I was Lukas in this context. I’ve had to do some terrible things. They cost me friends and the relationship with the person I thought I was my one.”

“Do you regret it?”

Penelope shook her head. “Not for a moment. It was all to rescue, protect, and ensure a future for people like us. I know I did well, and I’m proud of it. The cost was high, but I’d pay it again in a heartbeat.”

“Lukas wants to build. He wants to be powerful enough to remove the Greater Beings' influence from our lives, perhaps even Fracture—”

“But he also intends to become one of them in the process,” Penelope interrupted. “That kind of power changes people. If and when Lukas manages it, he might no longer be the person you know and love. More importantly, you’re certainly not going to be the person you are now by the time he gets there. So, what I’m trying to say is that you shouldn’t get hung up on concepts like the one. It hurts a lot more when things fall apart afterward.”

“No,” Mira replied after taking a moment to think about it. “What you’re saying makes a whole lot of sense, but I don’t want to live in a world where such things don’t exist.” She smiled, rising from her spot on the other side of the fire. Mira walked over to where Penelope sat and plopped down next to her. “The world is a better place where love is what I think it is, and there is a one.” Mira put an arm around the older woman’s shoulders. “I’d rather have my heartbroken and break a heart than live with the constant weight of such worries and concerns.”

“I won’t patronize you by saying you’re young and inexperienced. Or an idiot.”

“And I’ll try my best not to highlight how you’re a cranky, jaded, old bat.”

Penelope narrowed her eyes, looking Mira up and down before playfully shoving her. “I know you intend to leave with Lukas after all of this is over. Perhaps I’ve just enjoyed these past few months too much and grown used to having you around.”

“Would you say it's made you just a touch overprotective of me?” Mira asked.

“Perhaps,” Penelope answered, resting her head on Mira’s shoulder. “Just don’t give up who you are or yourself for Lukas, okay? Or anyone. You’re a powerful dragonblooded woman with two fires burning inside of you. Add your spell scripint skills and brilliant mind to the mix, and you have the potential to becoming a great power that could make the Conclave bow. Never forget that.”

“I won’t. I promise. After Ephram and the Revolution, I never want to be anyone’s tool or weapon again. Lukas only has me because he’s the kind of person who never tries to take advantage of who I am. He values me for me and now what I can do.” Mira hesitated again, glancing at the tent. “I don’t think Lukas needs me. He’s with me because he values me and needs people of his own. People that he cares enough about to protect.”

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“Well, in that case, all I’ll say is don’t just become one of his people. Don-t—”

“I know. I know. The worst thing I can do is become his accessory or a prized bird he puts away in a gilded cage.” Mira took Penelope’s hand. “You need to stop worrying. I’m not helpless and certainly not the naive girl who let people like Ephram control and trick her. You’ve shown me and taught me plenty this past year. Believe in your lessons.”

The Stalker wiped a tear, mentally cursing El-Prime and his fellow clones for making him soft.

______________________

The night was quiet and calm, but the morning brought concerns. Lukas received reports of Jotun parties moving around the hills. They ranged from small squads of three to warbands of at least a dozen strong. One especially large group appeared en route to the Gray, but the rest were all heading in the same direction, deeper into the mountains, going where Penelope was leading them.

Shadow-Shroud-covered scouts patrolling during the early morning hours had a close look at the larger groups. They were all well-equipped, wearing a mixture of fur and wood armor, the latter of which appeared alive. The clones had also spotted protective wear that appeared to be made of stone and crystal. Lukas had failed to get his hand on the Jotun’s equipment thus far and hoped to steal some during the outing.

Thanks to Shae’s willingness to share everything with his mistress, Penelope, Lukas had learned a fair bit about the Elder Wyrmkin. A fair bit of it, he had already inferred the rest was unexpected. Now, Lukas wanted to learn as much as possible about the Jotun. Neither party seemed willing to cooperate and negotiate with outsiders, but he still believed that understanding the enemy was the easiest and swiftest path to victory.

There was also the matter of their magic. Penelope was sure that, like her and the Wyrmkin, the Jotun didn’t rely on shards. Their power came from what she called Old Magic. She had studied it closely while spying on them and theorized that it was energy drawn from a Primordial source that mortals likely couldn’t tap into. Penelope believed that they drew it directly from mountains that were once a part of their home world or from a Greater Being.

Part of the reason Lukas agreed to help was the latter possibility. If there was an entity like Lady Silverspine pulling the strings behind the Jotun, he wanted to know and ensure they wouldn’t get in his path.

Alongside the scouting memories, Lukas also heard Mira and Penelope’s conversation from the night before. He was both touched and concerned. The sorcerer interfering in his relationship didn’t worry him. He knew that Mira wasn’t so easily shaken or twisted. They’d grown close during the times between missions and shared details that they’d told no one before. Lukas had told her about things he’d done and experienced that he hadn’t with Minarv. Mira had a clearer image of who he used to be and wanted to become more than anyone. The leader of the Court of Owls discovered his secrets anyway when poking around in his mind, purging unwanted memories, but it wasn’t the same.

Lukas believed in his and Mira’s budding relationship. Instead, he worried that Penelope was right about everything. Mira was young, inexperienced, and, to some extent, naive. She was likely to change and want different things. It wasn’t her leaving that concerned him. Lukas worried about holding her back and getting in the way of her growth, or her staying while unhappy and growing to resent him. A big part of him wished the Stalker hadn’t listened in on the conversation.

Ignorance is bliss.

The truth of how Mira felt about him filled Lukas with warm feelings he hadn’t felt since the start of his relationship with Minarv. But Penelope’s insight on the matter tainted it all. He didn’t hate her for it, but it left him a lot to take into consideration.

For the time being, Lukas focused on the mission. He started off by summoning all of the clones. Morph once again received the Super Clone position. Biomancy’s powers felt more valuable than multiple Spellweavers or Arcane Chroniclers. Morph straight away made four copies of himself, all with the same Body Pillar ability, and they ran off in different directions to gather biomass.

A couple of hours after setting off again, a familiar cloaked figure approached the party. Mira ran to greet him, stabilizing the snow underfoot using fortification magic. She threw her arms around the hulking Elder Wyrmkin. He turned to the party after returning the warm embrace.

“Lukas Zaun.” Shae greeted with a shallow bow and received a polite nod in response.

The Elder Wyrmkin had changed significantly over the past year. He had ceased gaining bulk, but his scales now made him look like the night sky after dark. Lukas could also sense the dragonfire burning within Shae. The volume hadn’t increased, but felt more potent. He hadn’t seen it in action, but Mira claimed it was powerful and terrifying. Even though Lukas was curious, he hoped the mission wouldn’t require its use.

“Why did you leave your watch?” Penelope frowned. “Were you discovered?”

“Apologies, mistress. I wouldn’t go against orders unless necessary.” Shae flinched. It was odd seeing someone so much bigger cower before. “I trekked down to catch you before you advanced any further.” He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder before nodding at a nearby outcropping. “It’s best if we find cover first.”

“Cover?” Mira sounded concerned. “Are you sure you’re not being pursued?”

Shae nodded. “But movement has been erratic all morning. We’re too exposed to talk out here.”

The party complied. Lukas sent Ace and a pair of Stalkers ahead to look for any and all threats. Shae didn’t seem overly worried but had proven himself loyal and obedient to a fault. His making an independent decision that went against Penelope’s directions meant something big was in the works.

Fortification magic allowed them all to walk on the snow and move to the outcropping’s shadow without leaving tracks. A pair of clones erected a Shadow Illusion to hide them. Even though dawn had come and gone, the sun was still on the other side of the mountain, ensuring the shadows didn’t stand out and appear out of place.

“What is it?” Penelope asked once they were secure.

“A human party arrived at the encampment last night,” Shae answered. “They didn’t look like locals. By dawn, most of the settlement was packed, and large groups started descending the mountain.” He pointed back the way Lukas and the others had come. “Toward the Gray.”

“Did it look like they were going to war?” Lukas raised an eyebrow.

Shae shook his head. “I think they’re moving their base somewhere closer to the city. The most concerning part was the giant eggs and warbeast pups that emerged from the big tent. I’m almost certain they’re preparing to launch an attack.”

“Perfect,” Penelope said, smiling for the first time since morning.

“How is that perfect?” Mira asked, her alarm apparent. “An army of warbeasts and Skadi knows what the eggs carry? This—”

“It means that we have at least a month, if not a season, before they’re ready to start their war,” Penelope said. “And evidence of the warbeasts or the eggs would be enough to convince the city council and kingdom of their intentions.” Her eyes moved to Lukas. “There is only one thing I’m concerned about.”

“The party of foreigners,” Lukas said, completing the thought. “Just because they looked like foreigners doesn’t mean that’s what they are. There might be a spy or mole in the Gray or royal court working with them.”

“But why?” Mira asked. “Anyone who has been up close will know for sure that the jotun intend to massacre the land and take it for themselves. They already have human slaves. I bet they’re going to take more.”

“Are you asking us why people would sell their own home and people to the enemy?” Penelope laughed, but there was no humor behind it. “Power and riches, of course. Its the only reason people do anything.”