until nothing remained but a bloody, foul-smelling smear on the ground.
“I am the Nemesnik, and you will never challenge my word again!”
Melissa could tell Ruger was a proud man who had fought in many battles, proved himself against formidable foes, but who also had the prudence and patience of a seasoned Battlemaster. For an instant she saw the fire light in his eyes, only to be dimmed a second later. Ruger hastily bowed low, and with the other Generals and their aides, swiftly departed.
“What are you doing?!” screamed Melissa, beating on Toby’s chest with her small, bony fists. “Who have you become?”
“I am doing what needs to be done. War is not the province of the boy, with an immature mind and vacillating commitment. It is only for men, who press on no matter the obstacle, until victory is obtained.” He grabbed her fists and pulled her close. “ That is what is needed from you; to finally emerge from this life of a dilettante and take your rightful place in this world as a woman and Archsussa.”
Melissa yanked away and sat down, her stomach in knots, confused about what must be done. She had never seen her brother kill -- not even father killed in her presence. But she had seen the Freilux kill many times, and their growing similarity scared her.
Toby knelt by her side, his expression changed.
“Lissa, I’m sorry you had to see that. But if I don’t act with strength, then others will seek to control me. We must think of father and his resurrection, before --”
“Do you really want father back?”
Toby recoiled at her words, cringing at their strength. “Father was a great man, and --”
“He knew the Second Apocalypse was coming,” pressed Melissa, “and did nothing. He didn’t prepare me; he didn’t siphon off the Freilux’s power. He sat in his chair, growing thinner and older and stupider day by day, until he finally gave it all up to the one person who should never have gotten it. He could have stood up to the council, but he chose not to. And we want to bring this man back?”
“Father may have gotten . . . weak, in the end, but he was a great leader for much of his life. He knew answers to problems I couldn’t dare try to solve. No, we must have him back, restored to his youthful glory, if we are ever to bring our world any semblance of balance.” He smiled, and kissed Melissa on the cheek. “Now get a good night’s sleep tonight -- it will be the last you’ll have for a very long time. Tomorrow we begin your training.”
As he rose to leave, Melissa asked one last question; “who is the other Archsussa?”
“You’ll meet her tomorrow,” he said, as he walked out. “Her name is Yllinae, and she is my wife.”
Melissa fell asleep, but it was filled with rivers of tears at the loss of her one true love.
Yllinae was a short, rotund woman with a fat pock-marked face and a pale, thick hide for skin. She said she came from the levitating city called Ghunab, a small settlement close to the equator. Melissa thought she looked like something out of one of the zoos.
Melissa was afraid and anxious about how she would be treated, but Yllinae surprised her by sitting her down, first thing, and speaking to her as if she were her mother.
“ Melissa, I tell you this now because it is the most important thing. You think you see Toby, and I, and other Archsussa, but you haven’t yet emerged. You still have the eyes of a commoner, and cannot divine our true form. For that reason, you must remember and follow what I say; never wound yourself purposefully. Never take a spike, or a blade, and draw it across your skin for the purpose of hurting yourself. We Archsussa can survive a lot, but when we draw our own blood, we place ourselves in mortal danger. Do you understand? I hope you do, because it is the most important thing I can tell you .”
Yllinae was a strict taskmaster, and already had a training regimen created for Melissa that stretched over ten weeks. Each night