18: Time Slows

18

As Alexa’s eyes met the red haired woman’s, her mouth fell open. Her… From the barn. When they just left. They’d barely left Shining Capital when they been attacked. By werekin. Other bandits. This woman…

The shock of remembered pain ran through Alexa’s mind as her stomach clenched in reflex. This woman had tried to kill Alexandrie before. She’d tried to kill… or capture. Kill or capture. Alexandrie’s eyes widened and her face paled slightly at the portal. No. No, she would not be going anywhere.

One question, only one, crept into her mind and begged a response of La Chanson. Just one.

1 - 2

Her eyes slipping from Re’mik’ki to the wound in reality, she felt the moment - the blissful moment of true synchronicity with Remiki, with La Chanson du Monde. The disconnection as Re’mik’ki sagged in the saddle pulled at the strings of her soul. Now though – now she had to survive whatever emerged. She couldn’t bear to feel such triumph only once.

3

“Kill them all.”

The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t imagine where – especially coming, as it was, from such a magical space. What came through looked familiar too, but hazy, different to what she saw originally. What was happening? Aquideon hadn’t warned them of this but Alexa sensed this wasn’t to do with Re’mik’ki. Not exclusively. If the voice of the world knew anything about this it was certainly nothing to do with Aquideon.

4

Turning away from the werekin eating a bandit, Alexandra stared in shock as it leapt at Chevalier, claws spread wide. They collided, and Vee’s armour usually a porcelain white, gained hairline cracks, before dulling slightly. Her eyes widened: she had never seen Chevalier wounded, nor was she certain she could heal him the way she could Lucas, or the rabbit, or the man at the mill. She raised her hands to try anyway - 

5

Crack. Heads, all heads, snapped around to see Spider land on a werekin. Where had he been? Why had he fallen?

6

Unanswered questions on her lips, she turned in time to see a thickly muscled, furred creature dive at Lucas and try to tear at his neck.

No. No.

The werekin. Bandits. It was happening again. It was happening again. Was this part of the test? The same test? This could not be a test? Had she failed the previous time? She tightened her grip on the reins - holding back, barely, the impulse to flee.

Not for herself – she didn’t want to die – no. Decidedly not. But if this were a test, she had to pass it. To pass she had to live. To do what La Chanson wanted, she had to live. How could she complete the task if she died?

But Lucas needed help, Chevalier was protecting Re’mik’ki who swayed distantly and Spider was scrambling to his feet.

Lucas needed help.

Her mind flashed back, lightning quick, to a conversation she had with Vee just days earlier.

“I think I’m going to kill again.”

And even earlier to a conversation with Chevalier before they left, when she asked what it was like to kill.

“There may come a time when you find something – it could be a cause, it could be a person – something more important to you than life… Even your own.”

Her fingers, still weaving the notes to heal Chevalier, shifted toward Lucas.

What if you found both?

7

The softness of the notes became sharp, jerking movements as she turned them on the werekin.

“All life is precious”

Hands reached out clawlike toward the werekin. Atop her steed, the golden strands of music which normally glittered softly, took on a sharp metallic hue.

“and beautiful.”

Where was the beauty in any of this? Where was the beauty in this creature that wanted to destroy – only destroy?

No.

Releasing a breath she released the magic. It closed in on the werekin, slicing at exposed points of life.

Perhaps this is a mercy.

Or so she would pretend. She wasn’t sure, and it formed a pit of cold in the bottom of her stomach.

Lucas needs help.

And that was more important.

8 - 9

So distracted was she that she didn’t see the werekin pouncing for her throat until the last moment. Too late to move the horse or slip from it, she braced – only for Vee to intervene with his shield. Not one had attacked Re’mik’ki, whose eyes were beginning to refocus.

This was them. This was whoever was searching for them. Whoever was searching for her.

Pausing only for the briefest of moments, she caught Vee’s eye and guided the horse so she was between Re’mik’ki and Lucas, just as he remained between Re’mik’ki and she. A hum remained on her lips to keep her steady while she waited as –

There. 

Re’mik’ki’s eyes wandered the street and she backed up, looking as if she were about to take the warhorse and run. Alexa didn’t know whether to groan or heave a side of relief.

Keep the Voice safe.

But no, she pulled out a bow, aimed, and shot. 

As the crossbow bolt went wide, the half elf frowned. Why did she not use magic?

“What magic?”

Alexa opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by time slowing, the world slowing, everything moving through treacle. She knew this feeling, calling to her, and a smile at her face even as the warm musical energy rushed through her hair, into her ears and filled her with calm.

10

Lucas using La Chanson. No – allowing La Chanson to help. As he completed the swing, their eyes met and she beamed at him, her fingers already weaving through the air once more in musical response.

Since their falling out days earlier, she had been careful with her use of La Chanson. If he was going to learn how to use its power, she was not going to be the teacher unless he requested it. She was not going to use her abilities mindlessly. 

But this?

This was glorious. And demanded reply.

Eyes still on his, her hands released the music she sang at him, nestled on his sword, the golden light caressing where his hands met it. He may not need it, but Alexandrie would help.

11-17

The werekin Lucas fought, as if by unheard command, snapped its head toward her. Another howled and grated at her skin, but she held firm and glared at it.

Too late she realised she was between not two, but all three werekin.

Two leapt for her and she screamed as first one, then the other, was cut down by first Lucas, then Vee and fell silent.

In the briefest of silence she heard Spider shout something about a summoner and her breath caught as time slowed again and she hurled furious music at the enraged werekin. 

As Spider ran away from the past that stepped out of the still open portal.

As the red haired woman stepped out, eyes fixed on Alexandrie.

No.

She didn’t want this.

But here it was. The question she needed to ask.