Warrior Blind by Calle J. Brookes

her words were faint and confused. She stopped again. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good at this. I suppose I should start at the beginning, with who I am. And why it is that you’ve been called here today, and why we find ourselves in a world that doesn’t even have a true name.
    ‘I am Bronwen of the Gaian Dardaptoans. The House of Sebastos, to be exact. We are a family of healers and prognosticators and justices. We aren’t a family of born leaders, though my eldest brother manages well enough. But I am the youngest of our House, and indisputably the weakest. I spend a great deal of time questioning myself and just what exactly it is that I am doing here. Or doing anywhere, really. But recently I had to face the fact that no matter what choices I make, there are still places and situations that I will find myself in where I am either useless or not.”
    Not being able to see the crowd had some definite advantages—she didn’t have to gauge their responses as they listened to her words. She could just speak from her heart.
    So that was what she did.
    “Some of you know of me and my history. Most of you do not. Most of you just know that a call went out through the worlds that a band of Laquazzeana had put out a request for healers to gather. Well, I am one. I am Laquazzeana, I am Dardaptoan, and first and foremost I am Healer. I am also blind, for those of you who do not know. So I cannot see you today, but I can feel you. Especially in my heart. And I know you are questioning, and I know you are all afraid. As am I. How could we not be in these times? I know you have heard the rumors, and have no doubt heard about the Battle of Thrun.
    ‘War is coming. And I am not so old that I have seen so many before. I do not know what the words ‘War is coming’ truly mean. But I know that many—if not most—of you do. You have seen death and war before. But I have not truly. Yet the rest of the Laquazzeana have told me that it is the wish of the Four Destinies that I be the one to lead you this day. This week. Until either this war is ended or...well...until I am ended.” Someone shouted questions. Questions Bronwen could not yet answer. She waited until the voice was quiet before continuing. She wanted to pace upon the rock, but didn’t dare. She settled for rocking back and forth instead.
    “I want you to know that I do not take this responsibility so lightly. Not at all. I am thinking of you every moment of every day.” The crowd was murmuring, their fear apparent even though she couldn’t see it on their faces. She held up both hands until the buzz quieted.
    She continued. “And as these wars approach us so quickly know that I will be beside you, working, healing. Fearing. I’m not asking you for miracles today, though those of us who have been healing for a while know that miracles can a do occur. From whatever deity we choose to follow. And there will be losses. War always brings loss, to those who are defeated and to those who win. For a piece of every soul is lost when a war rages. But I am going to ask you today this one thing—tend the souls in your care. And tend them well. We do not know what the future brings, or even when the horrors will be brought to us. But all we can do is work hard, love each other, and do what we must to ensure that this place remains a haven for those in need, a place to heal and to grow. A place that only we the healers of the Nineteen Worlds can build.”
    She waved a hand toward where she knew Koios stood. “The Warrior King Koios stands near me—being blind I can’t tell you just exactly where he is, but I can feel him nearby—and he has spent a thousand years in the pursuit of war. In the prevention of it as well, as only a wise man would wish. He has brought with him this day more than six thousand Warrior demons from Relaklonos. Each and every one of them has sworn an oath to him to serve as he asks. And he has brought them here today to protect all of us. So that