All Things Impossible: Heartstealer Read online

  He shrugged. "We're the elite, we can't just let anybody in."

  Der's fingers crinkled the paper between her hands. "Just an interview?"

  "Yes."

  She bit her lip. "But, that's it? I couldn't afford it anyway, but..."

  Jakkobb laughed. "Do you honestly think I would've come personally to deliver that if this was going to be an impossible obstacle? Besides, we only make the people we know that won't stay with the Order pay and secondly, the king already vouched for you."

  "He said yes?"

  "His words were, 'Good idea, if you don't give her something to do, she'll probably conquer her own kingdom out of boredom.' "

  "He said that?"

  "Near enough."

  She nodded. "Having the king of the elves as a friend has its advantages."

  "You have a supreme talent for understatements."

  She sucked her tongue. "So, I've truly been accepted? For this interview?"

  "Aye. We're going to have to fly to make it there by the date though."

  "Spike's still saddled, right?"

  "Yes. Why?"

  "Because we're leaving as soon as I saddle my horse."

  The knight glanced at the darkness expanding from the horizon. "Don't you have to pack?"

  "No. I keep my saddlebags already prepared. I just have to snatch some fresh food and put my armor on. You know, no one around here wants to believe I actually have elvish mail, even though they've seen it."

  He chuckled dryly. "I'm not surprised, by any of that. But, it is getting dark, Der."

  "So? I know that doesn't bother you." She clapped her hands and danced a quick jig. "I'm truly going to see the knight-commander! This is wonderful! But, wait, I'm not like most recruits, I'll wager. Usually recruits haven't already been to war and then go for training. And, most of them won't have a sword like mine."

  "You're not even wearing it, Der."

  She waved her hand at him as if the statement was a pesky fly. "I don't have to here. It's a Pallens sword, sir! It might be the only one left."

  "Could be, yes."

  "Why did the chemmen even have it?"

  "Why are you asking me? My answer is the same as it was last winter, I don't know any more than you."

  "Yes, but I can complain about it to you and you don't look at me as if I'm crazy."

  "Because I already know you are." He grinned.

  His expression faded as they stepped through the gates of the village. Everyone in town was out to watch them. Jakkobb slipped his helmet back on. He saw other townsfolk glaring at Spike. The horse thoroughly ignored them and was partially through his self appointed task of draining the village water trough with the most annoying sucking sound he could manage.

  The knight slid into elvish. "I know they've seen elves before."

  "You're not a typical elf, sir," she replied in the same language. "You've said as much yourself. And you're a dragoon knight; they've never had one of those in Riversbridge before."

  He watched a woman pull her daughter back from their path. She stared at him defiantly. "They're nervous, Der."

  She bit her lip. "We don't have an actual need for warriors around here; mayhap they think we're bad news. Everyone just ignored me for the longest time, and now, ever since I've been back I've been some sort of stranger. I know all of these people too." She pointed. "My parents' cabin isn't far. Just on the other side of the river and up a ways."

  "Perhaps training the militia wasn't such a good idea. They're looking at me like I'm going to steal them away now."

  "Derora Saxen!"

  She whirled with her hand going for a sword that wasn't there. Avice marched down the lane as proudly as any of the militia members. Her lips were as straight as a sword's edge. "You're leaving again, aren't you?" She stabbed an accusing finger.

  Der glanced to Jakkobb for support, and he shook his head a tiny fraction. She held up open hands toward Avice. "I never planned to stay." She glanced fretfully at the crowd.

  "You'll miss my wedding! You know that my trial marriage is over and now it's time for the life-binding ceremony!"

  "I'm going to join Silver Dawn's order!" Der squeaked, hiding behind the legendary name.

  "This may be the most important thing in my life!" Avice continued to advance like she was an entire army herself.

  Der raised her fists defensively. "Well, it's not in mine."

  The population of Riversbridge collectively gasped. Der waved her hands frantically. "No! No, I didn't mean that harshly! I meant that your wedding is far, far more important to you than it is to me. Ha... You see, if I miss it, the wedding will still happen, but if you miss it, it won't. Um, see, Avice?" Her smile froze on her face. "Jakkobb, run." She whirled on her heel and dashed over the stone bridge.

  Jakkobb swiveled around slowly and walked very, very rigidly after her. He didn't bend his knees. Behind him, Spike stopped waterlogging himself and trotted after the running girl with a sniggering whinny, if horses could do such things.

  Der bounced from one foot to the other around the corner of a cottage, hiding in the evening's shadows. The knight smiled awkwardly at her. "You should ask the king how to weave words eloquently. That was horrible!"

  She made a face. "I don't understand them. Don and Avice got married and now they've decided to stay together until death and I'm just starting to figure out my life."

  "Getting married isn't a death threat, Der, even if you treat it as one." Jakkobb chuckled. "I'm certain you'll meet a young man soon enough."

  She stuck out her tongue as if she'd eaten something sour. "Ugh. Romance. I don't understand it. There's barely enough room in my life for me." She jerked a thumb toward herself. "Besides, swordplay is much more interesting than boys." Behind her, Spike whinnied suspiciously.

  "Good, because you'd probably get him killed on your first adventure together."

  "That would solve my problem!" She glared at Spike. "He's laughing at me, isn't he?"

  Jakkobb looked sideways at his mount. "Horses don't laugh."

  "He's not a typical horse, sir."

  "I'm not a typical elf, and you're not a typical, well, you. You're absolutely unique."

  She shook her head firmly. "I saw him fight at Gladioli Fields."

  "There are lots of horses in battle."

  "Not without riders."

  "Actually -" he began brightly.

  "That don't start with riders." She glared.

  "Well, I wasn't around at the start of the battle to saddle him." He patted his stomach and his armor clanged. "I smell cooking. Is that your parents' house?" Spike wandered out behind the farmhouse, obviously not bothering with who owned it.

  Again, Jakkobb had to stoop to fit inside the door. Candlelight illuminated the interior of the house in a warm, cheery glow. The home was small, with two bedrooms and a large kitchen area. They observed that Riodan already ordered an extra place for supper set.

  The Saxen family's eyes widened as the knight entered. Der smiled. "Alright, Jakkobb, this is my father, Riodan Saxen."

  "We met at the inn, Der." Riodan tapped the ash out of his pipe.

  "Oh. Right. My mother, Rhoesia." The lady met Jakkobb with a flurry of smiles. She looked very much like Der.

  "My older sister, Chera, and my older brother, Emil. He's away from his family visiting; he doesn't live in Riversbridge anymore. He's a scribe for the Count if you couldn't tell by the ink stains on his fingers."

  "And you've some interesting calluses on your hands from your sword, Der." Her brother winked. He looked very much like their father, with dark hair and broad shoulders.

  "True enough." She gestured at the knight. "This is Sir Jakkobb, knight-captain of the Silver Dawn Dragoons, and a good friend of mine."

  "Yes." Riodan chuckled. "You've mentioned his name before, many times."

  She nodded. "Right, so Jakkobb, take a seat there." Cautiously, he hovered over the suddenly very small wooden chair and eased himself on to it with a sigh. It creaked
warningly, and he dispersed the weight of his mail and himself as carefully as he could. Meanwhile, Der vanished into one of the two other tiny rooms.

  "Derora, what are you doing?" Rhoesia put her hands on her hips and walked toward the bedroom.

  An eager voice answered, "You all eat! I'm going to get my packs!"

  Her mother nearly collided with her as she reemerged with saddlebags tossed over one shoulder, and a slim mail shirt over the other. Rhoesia pointed. "Put those down. You're going to sit down and have the meal with us."

  "But, Mother, it's already dark!" She set the bags down and darted back into the room. Almost immediately, she came back out, buckling on her elven longsword.

  "Take your seat at the table, please!"

  "But-"

  "Sit, Der," Jakkobb said quietly.

  She immediately took her seat at the table. "Yes, sir."

  The family stared. Jakkobb glanced around awkwardly. "Is something wrong?"

  Emil set down his fork and applauded slowly. "Impossible things do happen."

  "Oh. Der taking an order." He looked directly at his recruit. "Yes, I had to put her on trial for her life to get that effect."

  "I thought you were friends!" Chera nervously twisted her fork in her hand.

  "Oh, we are," Der answered hurriedly. "The whole trial thing was all a big misunderstanding."

  Jakkobb laughed. "At least you aren't bitter about these things."

  "Unlike Farallon," she said darkly.

  "Duke Farallon."

  She snorted.

  "Who is this duke? I've not heard of him," Emil said cautiously.

  "Elvish duke." She stabbed at her food. "Right pain in the arse if you ask me."

  "Yes," the knight said. "But he is on our side."

  "You don't like him either, sir."

  "Der, just be quiet."

  "Yes, sir." She thrust at her food again.

  Riodan cleared his throat. "I must say, you are the first elf we've ever entertained."

  Der slammed her fork down, and exclaimed in elvish, "Elf! I thought we were hosting an ogre!"

  "Well, they're used to having an imp," the captain fired back in the same tongue. The family was conscientiously quiet.

  Chera coughed politely. "Do you sing, sir elf? I remember when the elvish bards came, I could not stop listening... Derry, what's wrong?"

  The young warrior was bright red and biting her fork with all her strength. The utensil slipped from her mouth and she sprayed her food back onto her plate. She exploded with coughs.

  "I happen to have a very good singing voice!" Jakkobb shot back.

  "For a tavern!" She gasped the words.

  He burst into Victory Over the Bridge. The light in the room grew in response to the elvish song. His voice was brighter than the sun as he spun through the verses. Der remembered he actually fought at the famous Battle of the Bridge, and tried to imagine what it was like. She pictured rivers of fire roaring up against a thin strip of a bridge that according to legend spanned an abyss between worlds. She opened her mouth to ask just exactly what it had been like, but saw the look on the knight's face as his song recounted the battle, and for once, bit her tongue.

  The music's spell lingered for a warming moment. Chera sighed. "Such a sad tale."

  Rhoesia nodded. "Indeed, but very well sung."

  Der rolled her eyes.

  "Quite. Well done, sir." Riodan shook his head and blinked experimentally. "Pardon me, Sir Jakkobb, but why are you in town?"

  "I've been accepted to Silver Dawn!" Der exclaimed through a full mouth.

  "For an interview," the captain corrected.

  "Accepted?" Rhoesia brought her hands to her mouth. "You'll be a dragoon knight?"

  The captain grinned. "Not yet. She's been accepted by my recommendation and that of the new elvish king to join the Silver Dawn Dragoons. This means she is granted an interview with the knight-commander. He is the only one who decides who is admitted for training and who is not, and this is dragoon soldier training. Then, if she makes it through that and serves for five years, she might be accepted into knight training."

  "I still can't believe that, Derry," Emil whispered. "It's too mythical."

  Riodan sighed. "If it was anybody else, I wouldn't." He dropped his eyes. "Sadly, we cannot afford it."

  Der nodded. "I said the same thing, but Edillon sponsored me."

  "Edillon?" Rhoesia asked. "That's not a name you've repeated."

  "The elvish king, King Edillon now, I guess. I said Kaleb in all the stories I told you." She shoved another forkful in her mouth. "I don't think they've had time for the official coronation yet though."

  Jakkobb pressed a hand over his eyes.

  "What!" Emil lost his grip on his fork.

  "You called him by his name?" Chera demanded.

  "People have names for a reason!" she shot back through partially masticated food.

  Riodan held up his hand and they quieted. "Derora, will you owe him any service for sponsoring you?"

  She looked at Jakkobb. He shook his head. "She won't. If anyone gets picky, this is payment for services already rendered during the elf-chemmen war."

  "Then, it's settled," her father said.

  "You're truly leaving again?" Chera asked softly.

  Der glanced away. "I knew I wasn't going to stay for long."

  "But, it's just late summer!" her mother exclaimed. "You haven't even been back two seasons!"

  "Mother, it's the world's elite!"

  Emil smiled ruefully. "She'll go anyway, Mother."

  "We'll have to fly to get there on time," Jakkobb said.

  "Right." Der piled a mountain of food onto her fork. "So, eat quickly and we can be on the road by the time Mendelin's star comes up."

  "Silver Dawn's Horizon, that must be where you're going," Riodan said. "I've heard many tales of the fortress. None battle related though."

  Jakkobb grinned. "There's never been a battle there."

  "Why is it called horizon?" Emil asked. "That's an unusual name for a castle."

  Jakkobb grinned. "Because it takes up the horizon."

  "And we're going!" Der punched the air victoriously. "It should only be a few days to get there, right? We'll use the tree paths."

  The knight shook his head. "Sorry, kid, but the knight-commander made certain that there were no tree paths anywhere nigh when the citadel was built. So, we're hoofing it, and it'll take a few months."

  Her face fell. "Oh."

  He chuckled. "I almost forgot. The commander is especially interested in the Pallens sword. You've kept it safe."

  She nodded. "I hope he can give me some answers about it."

  "Pallens sword?" Riodan straightened in his chair.

  "Pallens as in the paladin empire?" Emil mouthed 'Pallens' again.

  "Uh. Yes." She looked at Jakkobb.

  "Why don't you show them?" he offered softly.

  Slowly, she rose from the table and disappeared into the room she shared with her sister. A reverential silence grasped the household. Der came out holding the longsword across both of her hands. The blade reflected blue and golden light off of the very plain yellow candlelight. The sapphire, encased by the pommel, winked a thousand times. Along the hilt, blue and green rivers of perfectly melted gems forever intertwined and dispersed.

  The Saxen family became very still. They didn't even gasp as they gazed at the mesmerizing sword.

  "Sorry, but the elves told me to keep it a secret."

  "That's been in our house!" Rhoesia gripped her husband's hand. She brought her other hand up to her mouth.

  "Yes, Mother." Der winced a little. Then, her head bobbed back up. "So, we're done with the meal, yes?"

  "Der!" The knight broke into a grin. "We're leaving tomorrow, so relax."

  She slouched back into her chair. "Fine."

  * * *

  "I see you staring at my horse, sir! You've been doing it since we left Riversbridge."

  Jakkobb looked away. "I
wasn't going to say anything."

  Der patted her horse's neck soothingly. "He's an excellently bred human horse, sir."

  "But, he's not even a warhorse. He's a messenger's mount."

  "I wanted to get home as fast as I could. He's bred for speed. Besides, I'm not trained to ride a warhorse."

  A burst of laughter escaped the captain. "You've never let minor details like that stop you before. And also, I'm a trainer!" Beneath him, Spike snorted. "I'm sure the king would've given you a horse if you'd asked."

  She bunched her face. "I didn't want an elvish horse. They all don't like me because I'm mostly human."

  "That's another thing I noticed. Your family still doesn't know."

  She nodded. "This isn't something I can exactly tell them. How would I phrase it? Dad, did you know you married an eighth elf? Actually, I know you don't know, and she doesn't know either." She shrugged.

  "I can see you wording it precisely that way."

  "Well, I didn't." She shook her head and grinned. "I can't believe I'm going to join Silver Dawn."

  "Interview, Der, you have an interview."

  "You and Edillon both recommended me. And, I was the one who came up with the plan that won the war."

  "Yes, we did. And, no, you didn't. You had the idea, but as you recall, it was more complicated than an idea."

  "So."

  "So?" He laughed. "So, that makes a vast difference! And, this interview is between you and the commander; neither the king nor I can speak for you there."

  "But you're here, now, you can coach me on the way."

  "I'm not going to." He chuckled. "I think he should meet Derora Saxen as she truly is, with the word charge written on the inside of her eyelids."

  "It is not."

  "The only defensive move you use is to hit your opponent first."

  "Well, it works."

  He coughed purposefully and lifted his eyebrows.

  "Of course not against you, but against everyone in Riversbridge! I even defeated the king's sergeant when he came by to check on the militia. He was easy. I disarmed him in one move."

  "So, Thealith's army is actually training people now. Good. Well, you're a natural, and on top of that, you've had some serious training. That was in swordplay alone. You don't know what the real military is like yet."