by Gin Hollan
"No one wants the change, but they need it."
"One more good reason to help Andun, right?" she sighed.
Sam fell silent, thoughtful.
The Lyar opened up before them and it was time for Arabeth to get to work. Andun stood waiting already.
"I'm not sure I should be in here while you do this, but curiosity is a weakness of mine." Andun wiped a hand down each of his arms, presumably smoothing down his nerves.
"Curiosity is hardly a weakness," Arabeth smiled. A nervous twinge hit her gut. "You both stand in the trees. The effect has been limited to the dirt, so far."
As they both receded from sight, Arabeth pulled out her next stone. The blue one. Time to find out what that meant. She stopped and pulled out her journal. Hopefully it would outlive her, she chuckled to herself as she tucked it back in her satchel.
"Marble, you might want to go into the trees." She reached up to pull Marble down but the foxes claws suddenly dug in. Her refusal wouldn't be much consolation if things went badly and she was hurt, but if this was her attitude, she'd be underfoot anyway. Arabeth rubbed Marble's head and sighed. "You never did follow wisdom."
She leaned forward with the blue crystal extended then remembered she needed to have someone or somewhere in mind. Gregor. She recalled his lanky frame as he instructed Melanie. As she did, she saw him sitting at a desk, writing.
Would she be safe walking over to see what he wrote? And wasn't blue supposed to be something related to water? Apparently that was all wrong.
"There's a lot you don't know, watcher," he said, not looking up.
Startled, Arabeth took a step back.
"I thought there were none who could use Lyars, so my thought is that you're Melanie's friend. I'm also guessing that you have a blue stone in place, since I can't shut up and am speaking my mind, as honestly as I know how. Of course, I want to talk to you, so that helps."
Arabeth smiled. "I appreciate your candour. How are things where you are? Is the King's Advisor still around?"
"Mardell? Not for days now. When he lost control of our future King, he went in to damage control mode. He's even drafted an Accidental Death announcement and is watching to see if he needs it."
"Tell me what you know about these Lyars." What better source, than a middle-aged Seer?
"You must be working out what the colours do." He stood up and went to one of his many well-stocked shelves and pulled a book out. "Take this. I hope you remember who it was that first took your side."
He held out a short, hard-cover book, as thick as her hand was wide. "It'll give you more than enough information, I think."
Arabeth reached out and was startled to see she could touch it. "Thank you, but what is it?"
"You'll find out soon enough. What is your name, Crystal Mage? I recognize you as Melanie's friend."
"Arabeth." She took the book, wincing when her cut rubbed it's edges. The book's light weight surprised her. "Is there anything we should know as we advance King Andun's cause?"
"I only know what you have no doubt figured out - that this treason has been long in the making. I wouldn't be surprised if he was behind the royal deaths, but of course, that's best not spoken."
"I appreciate that."
"Don't offer me gratitude when you use a blue crystal. I'm going to let it slide this time, because I suspect you didn't know it's a truth diviner, but if you use it on me again, I shall be very put out."
His oddly old-fashioned phrase was endearing, as was his fealty. "I will make sure King Andun knows you remain loyal."
"Now you have my gratitude. Can I get back to work?"
"Yes, thank you. Give my regards to Melanie." She reached out and took the blue crystal back from the centre spot where it hovered.
"That could have gone a lot worse," Sam said, stepping forward. "If it was someone's whose true intent was murder...." He let the thought hang.
Arabeth clutched the book to her chest, grateful he was true to the rule that Seers were faithful to the King.
"He is loyal to Andun," she defended her choice.
"Many cultures believe there is a divine connection between the land and the King or Queen."
"And crystals are of the land."
"So, Seers from another country will be loyal to wherever they were when they turned, even if they leave it?"
"How would I know?" Arabeth chuckled. "Maybe. It makes a certain kind of sense," she said, drawing the logic out.
"I hadn't thought of that," Andun said, grinning as he walked up. "I need to open these fields up to anyone who wants to test themselves, then. Back at the Battle of Skaldarrow they were called Lyar witches. I think you're going to want to go by something less threatening. Maybe call yourself a Lyar Mage. Or even better – call yourself a Lyar technician."
"A Lyar Operator?" Arabeth shrugged. "None of it really rolls off the tongue. I like Crystal Smith, but doubt that was an accurate use of the term. Crystal Mage sounds too... mystical."
"I question the ethics of opening the fields to everyone," Sam stood with his hands on his hips. "The prejudice we've encountered here is something I wouldn't wish on anyone."
"I won't be invading anyone's country, if that's your concern. I would simply put myself in the enviable position of knowing when others have ill intent toward me, and toward this country."
Arabeth suddenly laughed.
"What?" Sam asked.
"I just had a thought - can two stones be used at the same time? Like, yellow to obscure me, and blue to bring out the truth? A person would speak the truth, thinking they were talking to themselves, right?"
Sam shook his head. "I knew you'd find a way to cause trouble."
"Then think of it this way - just because someone says what they think is the truth doesn't mean it actually is. They simply believe it to be so. It would be up to me or whomever I was gathering information to corroborate it. It would be a starting point, or used to corroborate someone else's story."
"You need to find a stone that works as a shield to combine with the blue one," he frowned. "That would be honest."
"I'm not even sure I could use two at a time. And what if this was you? With your police training, you think that it doesn't matter how you get to the truth because you have a badge. That's hypocritical, you know. It's almost like you don't trust me." Arabeth fanned her face a moment, wondering where all that came from. She clearly had issue with some of the accepted police tactics, but why take it out on Sam?
"Focus," Andun said. "Can we focus? What just happened was perfect. We need to read that book as soon as possible."
"It's too dark to read now," Arabeth sighed. "In the morning, we'll ride."
"We're going to sleep out here?" Andun looked startled.
"How far is the next town?" Sam wondered.
"You've been the guide, so far. Where should be head now?" Arabeth agreed.
"It's a little ways. We'll need to ride."
"That's fine. The horses see better in the dark than we do, anyway," Arabeth looked at Davin. "Just remember you're in disguise and act like it."
// Chapter 35 //
Arabeth woke up, her head resting on a little desk with the book open in front of her. She should have gone to bed. The strange dreams might have been avoided, then. Slamming the book shut, she stared at it like a new adversary. She couldn't read a word of it and the sketches weren't helping.
Strange dreams. Is that what those were? As her fingers passed over the ink of a passage, things around her changed. Except for a three foot radius around her, nothing stayed the same. At one point she and Marble had morphed into dragons, another time they were sitting in the desert.
It may as well be magic, she thought, it was so fake, so frustrating. Gibberish and symbols. Arabeth stood, straightening her hair and clothes. Suddenly she started laughing, but there was no humour in it. She was going to be burned alive at the stake. The minute she got home, someone was going to try to kill her. It might not even take that long.
A knock on the door startled her. She tucked the book under a blanket. Sam and Andun both stood on the other side looking worried, looking her over but not talking at first.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
"You tell me. What exactly happened last night?" Sam asked.
"I'm afraid you will need to be more specific." She didn't like the idea of being scowled at so keenly first thing in her day. She hadn't done anything, really. Her fingers tingled as she thought about the book, though.
"Want to tell me what's going on?" Maybe it wasn't a dream. If so, this was not a conversation for public ears. She turned away to let them into the room. As the door closed, she retrieved the book.
"It sounded like you were... fighting demons... in here. When we opened the door, the room was empty," Sam said. "Then the door vanished."
"Witchcraft," Andun said.
"It's not that," Arabeth protested. "Witchcraft needed components. All I did was dream... out loud."
"If it's not witchcraft, what would you call it?" Andun asked.
"You tell me. This is your technology." Arabeth hesitated, not sure it fit the definition of technology. "I am going to say that this is a technology we do not yet understand. This is not witchcraft, and I will stake my reputation on that."
"You would. My suggestion is you keep it behind locked doors." Sam shook his head, balefully. "And don't fall asleep again. I will bring you endless coffee, if that's what it takes."
"What was Gregor thinking?" Andun muttered.
"He was probably too shocked and excited by the idea that the Lyar was being used," Arabeth defended his decision. “And that meant someone might be able to use the programs in this book. That's what I think this is. It seems to draw blood from my finger when I trace the lines, and that must be closing connections, like on the shuttle control panel.”
"More like he's glad to find someone else to take on the risk," Andun said, with a touch of resentment coming through. Arabeth and Sam looked at him. "He's a coward. If he can defer or transfer risk while staying loyal, he will," he added.
Arabeth took her satchel and tried to stuff the book in. The book was four inches thick, but barely bigger than a novel. Still, it wouldn't go in, as though it fought her. She wiggled it and fought to get it in anyway.
"Your satchel is full." Sam said, putting his hand on her wrist. "Try your backpack."
"It fit yesterday. I don't know why it's arguing now," her voice was low but the edge of panic in it worried her. She stopped and took a deep breath. She didn't want it in her backpack. She'd almost left it behind three times. "Just get in there," she muttered. "I'll strap you shut if you don't behave." Suddenly the book slipped in.
Andun and Sam exchanged a look. Andun eyed her satchel like it may jump up and eat them all, if the whim took it.
"Let's get on the road. Breakfast, tea, then riding straight to the Lyar again." She leaned forward so Marble could jump up to her shoulder.
"Why are we going back there?" Sam asked.
"If I can talk to Melanie directly, that beats waiting for some one-way crystal communication. Would she be able to use it, too?" Arabeth ignored what just happened.
"Normal people can't, and very few crystal-sensitive people can," Andun said.
"Is that based on scientific study? You said the Seers were so few because it is highly regulated, and a matter of status."
He paused. "Well, I don't actually know. You are proposing we open the fields up to the general population, and teach people how to use the Lyars. Our ancestors controlled access for a reason."
"If crystal exposure changes allegiances making them loyal to the King, that would ensure you are the most powerful person in Vensay," Sam pointed out.
"Seers are predisposed to loyalty. They are not mindless automatons."
That struck a chord with Arabeth. She was going to do everything she could to open this up to the world at large. Imagine being able to talk to the person you needed to talk to, whenever you needed to. It would revolutionize life as they knew it.
"This is all distant and theoretical. Let's go see what mischief Graham has got himself up to," she changed the subject.
"Right. Melanie said he was playing with explosives. How is that different than normal?" Sam scoffed.
She hadn't told him Blastborn was a burning mess. It was unbelievable. They'd saved the city when they collapsed the cave. "We need to ask why he came back. A complete about-face on being home again warrants investigation," she insisted.
"And what about catching the people responsible for attacking Blastborn?" Sam narrowed his eyes. "It seems like you've forgotten our real goal here."
Her forget? How could she? She shook her head. It was all connected. She didn't answer, gathering her gear and walking out ahead of them. She'd sound like a conspiracy theorist if she told him what she was really thinking now.
"Hey, can you talk to Graham using the copse?" Sam asked.
Had he actually forgotten what it was called? Or maybe he didn't like it being called a Lyar. It was kind of an unfortunate name. Arabeth shrugged. "It will save a lot of time, if it works."
Andun nodded. "We should have thought of that sooner. Of course, we didn't know you'd be able to use it, so...."
"Hey, I wonder if you could talk to people back home, too." Sam's expression brightened. "Didn't Mel say Graham called it a disaster area? We should check, if we can."
"Brilliant, yes. I'll try." Arabeth climbed up on Davin, happy to be with her travelling buddy again.
Her nerves jangled as she rode, memories coming more to the fore of the things she'd apparently done last night, all thankfully undone by morning.
Her notebook. She must have taken some notes as she went, right? Next time, she wanted supervision, but could she risk anyone? Not likely. She'd hide in her old workshop and test things there, during daylight. Right now, though, she needed to put the book out of her mind.
As they neared, the copse stood quiet, giving no hint of the fire quietly burning inside. What equipment was with the practitioners when they were destroyed? Why didn't the fire spread? What would happen to that spot once it had burnt out? Logically, it had to burn out, eventually. Or flare up. Or something, right?
"Who will you try first?" Sam asked.
She'd been avoiding that question, preferring less minatory thoughts.
"I'm going to try Melanie first. She hasn't messaged. Since she's closest, she may be our first stop,” she finally said.
"Aren't you worried about Graham? He's in the more... explosive situation." Andun asked.
"Yes, but it may be a bad idea to let him know we're coming. If he has gone off the deep end, we'll need a strategy," she explained.
"I think the broader question is why. Why is he building bombs? Did he find out who attacked Blastborn?" Sam asked.
"Hmm, maybe I should contact my mother first, then. She is the head of the Intelligence community there."
Hopefully it wasn't the doings of her mother's minions that got them blown up. That would put the biggest bullseye on her family. Maybe minion was too strong a word.
Still, Maralise had unhealthy levels of ego and ambition. She could be involved.
Arabeth's own life was built on other people's secrets and lies. Technically, she ought to be as paranoid as Melanie, or worse. Today she would suspect everyone, she decided. Everyone except Sam and Andun. Paranoid but logical.
She would start with the yellow crystal and reveal herself if things looked safe. The book was supposed to be about Lyar use, but last night proved it was for more. Should she test it here?
"I'll do this quickly," she said, pulling several different crystals out of the saddlebag. "Two conversations, and I'll play it by ear with Graham."
Both Sam and Andun nodded silently and waited with the horses. Why not bring everyone in, including the horses? There was room enough for all of them, and then some. The fire only took up three feet in diameter, after all. The centre was large enough for a middl
e-income house.
With one last glance back at her travel companions, she nodded and went into the trees.
// Chapter 36 //
Arabeth pulled the book out then changed her mind. The book and Lyar didn't seem related. She'd ask Gregor later. For now, she withdrew a yellow crystal. She'd been thinking that Melanie would be the best first choice, considering how connected she was to information sources.
She fought back the itch to travel. She knew Graham was trying to blow up Andun's seat of power, now. She also knew why. Did she really need to talk to Melanie?
She placed the yellow crystal beside the blue one in the centre of the fire. As they rose up to hover in front of her, she concentrated on finding her friend. Suddenly she reached out and took the blue one, sticking up back in her pocket. Instead, she chose a purple one and placed it. She had no idea what purple did, but there was no other way to find out.
As her friend came into focus, Arabeth gasped. She sat blindfolded and tied on the floor of what looked like a wooden storage room. The dim light could only be attributed to cracks along the wall. Maybe small windows, up high.
Arabeth looked around to see if anyone else was in there. There was another shape off to the side, curled up against the wall in a dark space. She suspected that would be Gregor. Whoever it was, they were in the same situation as Melanie.
"Melanie," Arabeth whispered, standing close then sitting on her heels. "Where is this place? How can I help?"
"Arabeth." Melanie barely said, her voice dry and raspy. "I think they forgot they put us here. I don't know where here is."
As Arabeth's gut wrenched, she stood up. She could find that out all she had to do was look outside, or go outside, if that was possible.
The other person coughed harshly.