Third Power Page 10

  “Ya’ can put me down here, lad. We’ve arrived,” the little man said tapping his foot on the young man’s finger.

  Steve obliged him and then straightened to gaze once more across the expanse. “This?” he asked feeling a twinge of annoyance. “I mean, it’s a great view and all, Jiv, but you brought me all this way for a vista?”

  The sprite walked right to the banks of the rushing stream and paused, looking excitedly into the waters; so close, in fact, another half step would see him swept away. “Not exactly,” he replied. “Ya’ see that glade far off there?”

  Steve peered out across the valley and saw the same, circular clearing of trees he had noticed before.

  Jiv pointed to the stream. “This here leads right to it and will save us the good day’s travel twould have taken us ta’ go around the cliff wall.”

  “What do you mean this will—Jiv!” Steve dived to save his friend but was too late. The little man fell backward into the water and vanished over the falls an instant later. Steve scrambled back to his feet and skidded to a halt at the cliff’s edge screaming his friend’s name. But to no avail; Jiv was gone. Frantically Steve’s eyes searched the rim of the cliff from right to left, looking for a way down that might allow him to intercept the sprite somewhere farther down in the valley but that was an option no more tangible than smoke. He paced back and forth for several seconds, certain only his little friend couldn’t stay above the waters for very long.

  There was only one choice to be made.

  Still gripping Mr. Martin’s sword firmly in his left hand, Steve landed in the stream with a tremendous splash. Fighting to shake the water from his eyes, he had just enough time to see the empty expanse of space beyond the waterfall rush up to meet him, and then he was a flailing, plummeting rag doll at the whim of gravity. He had heard stories of people who fell from great heights before. In the recollection of every survivor, a common thread: the feeling of falling forever. And now he knew what they meant.

  Then a terrible thought came to mind. Although the rapidly approaching bottom might be deep enough to cushion the fall of someone as small as Jiv, it might prove a very different matter for a full size human. Before Steve could contemplate further, something smooth and solid touch his left hand, followed by his left foot. The wall of the cliff seemed to reach out, and he could feel it press against his shoulder blades, changing from a sheer drop to a gradually, ever-decreasing slope. He hurtled down the slick surface of the sharply angled cliff face until it once again became a wide, rapid stream again as it flattened out near the valley floor.

  Steve came up sputtering water and struggled to keep himself afloat as he torpedoed through the valley at a frightening speed. Though smooth, the irregularity of the streambed threw him off balance with its sudden dips and rises and left him to wonder between breaths how Jiv could possibly hope to survive when he himself couldn’t manage to keep his head above water for very long. More than once, he went under unexpectedly and tumbled beneath the surface as the bottom dropped out, only to rise again as it returned, gasping for air with Mr. Martin’s sword held in a vice-like grip.

  Steve saw trees racing by on either side whenever he managed to shake the water from his eyes, but only the fear of finding the sprite’s lifeless body washed up on the riverbank somewhere ahead registered in his mind. The stream turned sharply left, and then veered right, twisting in and out of the forest growth like a winding mountain expressway. Then without warning, it dropped at a steep forty-five degree angle. For the next two-hundred feet Steve descended, gaining speed every second of the way before the racing waterway finally reached the hill’s bottom. It leveled out with such suddenness the young man disappeared below the waves for the hundredth time before resurfacing a moment later, coughing and sputtering.

  Where is he? he thought frantically. Steve prayed he had not passed the little man somewhere along the way. He just had to keep his head above the water and his eyes clear or he could very well—

  The streambed fell away and Steve kicked wildly as he fell through open air. He looked down and brought his legs together with both hands wrapped around the hilt of his sword held high above his head. Steve hit the surface and the brisk waters swallowed him whole with a great splash. The moment his head went under Steve started kicking for all he was worth, back toward the light of day, dragging his teacher’s sword in one hand. The weight of it slowed his progress but not enough. He breached the surface of the lake with a deep inhalation of breath and shook the water from his face.

  “Glad ta’ see ya’ could make it, lad.” The sprite hovered in the air before Steve, supported on each arm by a winged woman no larger than Jiv himself. “Allows me ta’ introduce ya’. The lass on my left be Lavari, and this one be Narumi,” he said indicating each with a nod. “They’re pixies.”

  Each of the scantily clad young ladies nodded in turn, their transparent wings beating the air like a hummingbird behind them.

  “Glad to meet you,” Steve replied, treading water with some difficulty. Without another word he started for the nearby shoreline with a modified side stroke.

  “Good idea,” Jiv said as Lavari and Narumi carried him away. “Ah’ll see ya’ on the shore.”

  “I’m gonna’ tie you to a bottle rocket,” Steve grumbled as he swam. He dragged himself up out of the water and collapsed in a soaking heap upon the grass. Dozens of tiny voices chittered around him but he was too tired even to wonder from whom they came.

  “Get back, get back!” he could hear Jiv saying. “Give the lad a minute to rest. What? Oh, I suppose ya’ could swim with a sword that size an’ not be a little tired, right?

  Something brushed Steve’s finger.

  “Tregali! This is ardly’ the time ta be molestin’ the lad. Sheesh! Take advantage of im’, why don’t ya’?”

  Steve’s head perked up in an instant.

  “Ha!” Jiv exclaimed. “Ah thought that’d get ya’ awake!”

  Steve glowered at the sprite as he sat up. The crusted blood that had once coated his sweats was gone now—thanks to his trip down the stream—leaving behind only the heavy dark stains in the material.

  Scores of pixies scattered like a flock of birds as the giant shook his head wildly and sprayed water in all directions. Jiv was the only one to remain where he stood. He was already dripping wet, so what did it matter?

  “If ya’ are quite through sharin’ the experience a’ yer journey,” he said finally, “perhaps ah’ could introduce ya’ ta’ a couple of me friends.”

  Steve raised his brow, amazed at the sprite’s nonchalance about the whole episode he had just put him through. “Jiv, the next time you have a surprise like that in mind, tell me about it first, okay? You scared the crap out of me!”

  “But if’n ah’ did that it wouldn’t be a surprise,” he protested. He turned and motioned for everyone to gather about. Pixies from all around came cautiously out of hiding; prepared to scatter at a moment’s notice should another sudden rain befall them.

  “Everybody,” Jiv announced, “this be mah friend Steve.”—then to Steve—“Steve, this be everybody.”

  He managed an uncomfortable smile and dipped his head to all the tiny people gathered around. The whole lot of them consisted of females of various body types but all very fit. Their skin ranged everywhere from slightly pale to cocoa brown, their breasts and hips clad scantily in a cloth that looked like wrapped spider silk.

  The one Jiv had introduced as Lavari flitted up to meet his eyes at head height, her brown skin as smooth as any he had ever seen. She smiled as she observed him curiously. “What happened to your clothes?” she asked.

  “You mean the blood?” he replied glancing at himself.

  A low murmur spread out through the crowd of pixies, and Steve wondered if he had somehow offended them.

  “Uh, lad,” Jiv began.

  “How did you get blood all over you?” Lavari asked.

  “I got into a fight.”

  Lavari gasped intri
gued. “A fight? With whom? How did it happen?”

  “Uh, lad.”

  Lavari turned curtly and scowled at the sprite. “Hush, Jiv!” she said. She then turned back to Jiv’s giant friend.

  This puzzled Steve but he did not comment. Instead, he just gave the pixie a quick explanation. “Well, I was running across a field, thinking I was on my way to help someone, when a shangee tripped me up halfway there.” From all around the pixies pressed in closer as he continued his story. Jiv stayed where he was, his fingers touching his forehead as he shook his head.

  “Its tail was wrapped around my leg and after I cut it away the shangee started screaming. I used the distraction to kill him before he could return the favor.”

  Lavari flitted close and alighted upon his shoulder. She leaned close to his ear and spoke with true awe in her voice. “You are very brave to stand against the Dark One’s minions like that.”

  Steve’s cheeks felt hot. “Well, uh, not really. To be perfectly honest, I was scared senseless.”

  “But that is bravery, is it not?” she countered. “To face danger even though you are frightened. You did that, and you are brave because of it.” She paused, her head tilting coyly. “I like that.”

  Steve’s cheeks flushed with color. For someone so small she was doing an excellent job of unsettling him. At last, Jiv saw fit to rescue him from his increasing unease.

  “Scuse’ us just a minute, won’t ya’, Lavari?”

  She glanced one time to Steve, seemingly reluctant to leave but persistent gestures from the other pixies bade her do so. She flitted away in an acrobatic spiral that would have made a hummingbird proud, and then glided down to the grass where the other tiny beauties surrounded her like sharks in a feeding frenzy. The chatter was hushed and secretive, interrupted only by sudden bursts of girlish giggles and furtive glances back at Steve.

  “Ah don’t think yer’ knowin’ what yer’ getting’ into,” Jiv said when they were safely out of earshot.

  Steve didn’t understand what his little friend meant but he had the distinct feeling he was missing something important.

  “It’s like this, lad: it takes more than a pretty face to capture a pixie’s attention. What really gets to em’ is a fella’s prowess—especially as it relates ta the dangerous. It’s a matter of status, ya’ know what ah’ mean? Now if ya’ think about it, the pikes—“

  “Pikes?” Steve asked.

  “Yeah, pikes. Ya’ know, the males. Anyway, the pikes can do little more in the Memsherar than hunt and compete with each other, so they’re all pretty much on an even keel when it comes ta’ impressin’ the ladies.” Jiv paused just then and nodded at the look of dawning understanding spreading across Steve’s face. “If ya’ don’t stop yer’ story tellin’, Lavari’s goin’ ta’ land ya’. Not to mention you’ll be ruinin’ any chances a certain young pike ah know might’ve had with the lass.”

  “Wait, wait. Hold on one second. How can she possibly be interested in me as a mate? There are certain…” he gestured to the whole of himself with both hands, “anatomical impossibilities when you’re only five inches tall and your boyfriend is a human.”

  “Keep yer’ voice down, lad,” the sprite said in a loud whisper. “Don’t be fergettin’ where ya’ are. Pixies pull their magic straight from the Mem, and with it she can fix that soon enough. And Mem forbid she should get wind that yer a wizard-type! She finds that out and it’s all over.”

  Steve shrugged. “So? It’s not like I don’t have some say here. I’ll just tell her I’m not interested.”

  Jiv looked like Steve just slapped him and he threw his hands up in alarm. “Ya’ can hardly be doin’ that, lad! Not if you don’t want to break her poor little heart and destroy her status among her own people in one fell swoop. Pixie courtship is a complicated thing. They pick one male to court—and choose him carefully, they do--and then it’s done. Then again, if that male does refuse em’—which is unheard of, I might say—they’re social standing among their peers is ruined. Lavari would be ostracized. My bet is she’s tellin’ em’ all even now she’s got’er sights on ya’ ta’ keep the others away.”

  Steve placed his lower lip between his teeth as he contemplated the sprite’s words. “Then I guess there’s only one thing to do. I’ll be keeping my mouth shut now, if it’s all the same to you.”

  “Good plan,” Jiv agreed with double thumbs up and a wink.

  Together they walked back to the waiting crowd of pixies, and Lavari flitted up and batted her eyelashes girlishly at Steve. “Tell us more. We want to hear many things about you,” she stated eagerly.

  Steve and Jiv exchanged glances and the little man gave him a knowing nod. Although he didn’t like it, Steve was prepared to lie if he had to.

  “That’s all there is to tell. You know, now that I think about it, it was mostly luck that I even got out of there alive.” He smiled and quietly congratulated himself; for it was certainly true enough. Not all of the truth, but hardly a lie either.

  The glimmer in Lavari’s eye, however, did not fade. “That is all right. Modesty is a commendable trait in a warrior. I know many who—“

  Just then dozens of tiny winged men burst out of the cover of the wood. The pixies screamed in unison and they scattered like autumn leaves in the wind from their flying counterparts.

  Seeing Steve tense, Jiv held up a cautioning hand. “Easy, lad. It be only a game they’re playin’.”

  Lavari, however, did not flee. Indeed, she hovered fixed in the air as a charging pike flew directly toward her. Noting her strange behavior, the pike slowed steadily until finally stopping altogether with the most bemused expression upon his face.

  Wearing only spider silk homespun breeches that covered him from hips to knees, he cocked his head slightly to the side in confusion. “Are you not going to flee so I may catch you?” he asked.

  “I most certainly will not,” Lavari crisply replied and folded her arms.

  The pike, momentarily taken aback, narrowed his eyes as he regarded the human standing behind her. A look of contempt flashed in his countenance that Steve was certain he did not like.

  “Him?” the pike said pointing to Steve in disbelief. “Surely you are not taken with this human?”

  She turned her back on the pike to face Steve and a smile crossed her lips. “Perhaps.” After a moment, she spun in the air to face the pike again. “But whether I am or not, it is hardly your concern.”

  The pike’s lips pursed in anger and then he flew off without another word.

  “This isn’t good,” Jiv muttered.

  Steve disregarded his little friend’s remark and instead took the matter up with Lavari. “Who was that?”

  She smiled and settled upon his shoulder once more. “That was Tippen. He is only angry because I deny him a kiss—one he has come to expect a little too readily I’d say.”

  “Kiss?” Steve asked. “For what?”

  The little pixie’s breath tickled his ear as she laughed. “The game, silly. When the pikes return from their hunt they will chase us. Those they catch will reward them with a kiss.” She hesitated a moment and then said, “Open your hand.”

  Steve looked to Jiv questioningly but the sprite only shrugged. “All right,” he said at last.

  Lavari floated down into his open palm and then gasped in mock surprise. “Oh my! You have caught me, and now I must give you what is yours.” Before Steve could react she darted into the air as quick as a hummingbird and then kissed his cheek affectionately.

  The redness filled his cheeks once again, and Jiv’s sudden burst of laughter only embarrassed him all the more.

  Steve watched Tippen from afar. Though the pike did his best to appear unphased whenever his peers flitted by, his gaze was otherwise the picture of envy whenever he spied Lavari showering him with her affections. For his part, Steve was a pillar of radiated disinterest, deftly deflecting the little pixie’s attempts to talk about him, and even refusing to engage in otherwise idle ch
itchat. He looked over with concern to the pike, who kept his distance but never strayed overly far. During one rare instance when Lavari flew off to converse with her friends, Jiv had elucidated further on the severity of his mistake. All the pikes had was the hunt, and if Tippen were to roll up all of his successes into a single story it would still pale in comparison to Steve’s encounter with the shangee.

  Steve exhaled through puckered lips and puffed out cheeks as he thought about it. Something had to be done to make this right.

  Tippen raised his head, drawn from his musings when he spied Steve walking toward him. Steve stopped before a large boulder Tippen and several of his friends sat upon.

  “You mind if I speak with you?” Steve asked.

  Tippen’s mouth twisted in a humorless half-grin. “Why, human? Seeking to rub my nose in your victory?”

  Steve shook his head once. “You’ve got me all wrong. I’m not trying to steal her from you. Jiv explained your situation to me—the culture of your people—and it was never my intention. She only likes me because I killed—“

  “I know your story!” Tippen hissed. “We all do. You are a warrior who fights the minions of the Dark One. Hoo-ray for the mighty human,” he finished with a flourishing hand gesture.

  Steve had to laugh. “Man, have you got the wrong idea. I’m not anything like that at all. That fight happened by accident. And, if I have any say in the matter, it won’t be repeated. Now I don’t know if all pikes give up as easily on their girl as you seem to have, but if you feel like taking a break from your little pity party I’d like to help you get her back.”