by Gin Hollan
Arabeth bit her lip. “Fine. Alright. But set up a sling gurney first, so all I have to do is roll you onto it and pull you inside.” She was sure he wouldn’t be effected. He had normal blood, unlike her.
The crystal fields needed days to charge and recharged to have a strong effect on a person though, so they'd never had a chance to find out for Sam or Graham.
“Alright. Sun's up around seven these days, so let's aim for eight am.”
Graham clasped one of her hands in both of his. “Thank you, Arabeth. I hope this works.”
She pulled her hand back slowly, so as to not offend. “Tomorrow, then.” She nodded.
Putting her hands in her pockets, she walked with him as into the back yard. As he walked out the gate toward the street, he had a lift in his step now.
Absently, she pulled out the red crystal she kept with her at all times and held it up in the moonlight. It was getting dull. Maybe she should put it out with the others for a while. Until Graham arrived.
She hesitated as she stuck it into the ground near another red one. As she pulled her hand away, it pulsed with light, seeming to gather energy from the others.
Suddenly a voice crackled out, through the entire field like a chorus.
“Arabeth, I'm not kidding. Find a way to get Sam home,” her friend's harsh whisper reverberated through the air, making all the hair on her arms stand. “If you can't do that, then come help.”
The field fell silent. What was going on over there? Had Sam gone power mad or something? Or was he just over-worked. That seemed most likely, but Melanie wouldn't care about that. Just what was going on? Arabeth fought the temptation to ride out in the dark to find the Lyar. She could stumble right past it in the dark. It was just a bunch of trees on a mountainside with a clearing in the middle.
As worry about Sam crept through her, could she sleep? She had to, she scolded. As soon as light crept up over the horizon, she'd be gone.
// Chapter 4 //
ARABETH ROSE a little before dawn, not worried about navigating in the dim light. She knew the road north well. At the mountains the road would stop, but a path continued east, or much less used, to the west. It would be fully daylight by then, and she had the map with her this time. A newly drawn pencil line would guide her along the path she should take.
Her newest container sat snuggly tucked in the back part of her satchel - a leather bound pack of seven glass vials normally used for apothecary ingredient clippings now held seven different coloured crystals. In a separate pocket she'd stowed a water bladder, dried snack foods including wax-sealed almond-based food bars she designed as emergency rations. Over-prepared was rarely a bad idea, she reasoned.
Swinging the gate open to lead Kate out, Arabeth nearly bumped into Graham.
“I knew you'd forget,” he said, disapproval in every word. He stood dressed in his customary dark blue slacks, dress shirt, and navy blue dress vest.
Arabeth felt her face flush, grateful the dimness of pre-dawn hid it. “I didn't really forget …” Somehow that felt worse. “Nothing comes through this fence. You'll be safe from everything but sunburn.”
“And rain? Are you going to stop the rain, too? The radio suggested we're getting some mid-morning.”
His nerves echoed in every word and Arabeth felt a twinge of guilt. “You're right. You may need help.”
“Then let's get ready.” He lifted a cloth gurney similar to the make-shift one Sam had put together for Melanie when the crystals knocked her unconscious, but this one had padding along the middle and a little pillow at one end.
“I'll put this at the edge of the field,” he said.
Arabeth led Kate to the back steps and sat down to watch. Graham stood, staring into the crystal field as they waited for the first rays of sunlight to reach them.
Within moments she was fighting against a growing sense of impatience. It shouldn't be long until the sun was up, and the field was on the morning side of the house but every minute lost slowed her own plans down. He had the wrong blood. The idea that this would fix his ‘vision problem’ was far-fetched.
As the crystals caught the morning light and started to shine, Graham stepped toward them. Arabeth reached out to stop him.
“Timing is everything, as you know,” she said.
He grumbled something but waited.
She raised a hand to shield her eyes as she looked up, into the now-lit field. “I think this is good enough. The crystals have had a few minutes sun plus no one has been in the field for at least a week. Ready?”
He nodded and moved forward cautiously, eyeing the crystals with some suspicion.
Graham's goal was more than healing himself, she knew. He wanted to improve his abilities as a tinker, to increase market potential. Everyone shared that goal. That was fine, but his fiscal strategy made her uncomfortable.
Her mind wandered as she waited for him to accept the inevitable. Thoughts of tinkering being a career choice, of it being a way to simply earn a good living put a bad taste in her mouth. Society should be improved, living conditions should be enhanced.
The thought of money made her think about Sam helping King Andun. Those who invest in rebuilding his kingdom could have a say in how it was managed, regionally. Sam might stand to gain from that. Andun would need to appoint regional fiduciaries, gaining the support of the powerful in doing so, and they would report to him, strengthening his authority.
Maybe she was naive, but she couldn't see loyalty as a commodity. Something bought and sold like that didn't fit the definition of loyalty, as far as she was concerned. That reminded her - she needed to check on Nate's progress when she returned.
She returned her attention to Graham. He was mid-field and looking disappointed.
“Nothing. I feel nothing. These are just pretty crystals, energy sources to me.”
Relief swept through Arabeth but she tried not to show it. He looked disappointed. Of course he did. He wanted the physical enhancements so he could be better at his tinkering.
“Well, that's that, then. It is the silver the crystals react with,” Arabeth said, standing. “Sorry, Graham. The percentage of tinkers and makers without silver in their blood means there will be an endless market for your gadgets, at least.” But his vision – the constant death he saw around him – would be hard to live with. She’d find a solution, later.
He nodded and heaved a sigh. “There are no true shortcuts. You should go. I want to think a bit before I head home.”
“I'm off, then.” Her heart jumped as she said it. Having an active lyar on this side of the mountain range would be useful. She could study it properly. Odds were good there was little to no foot traffic, seeing as how it was well off the beaten paths, and no one had a reason to go out that way now that the mountain caves were blocked again. She reminded herself to look into hiring some certified miners to gather the ore she'd found. She wouldn't tell them what it did, but supposed she'd better come up with a name for it. The mineral rights should be hers within the week, she realized.
“Wait, I have something here for you, from Sam.”
Arabeth stopped and turned back. “From Sam?”
He nodded. “He meant to give it to you the day the cave collapsed. Of course, after that, it wasn't at the front of his mind.” Graham pulled a folded sheet of yellowed note paper out of one of his vest pockets.
Arabeth's hand shot out to take it, keen to see what Sam sent her this time. “When did he give this to you?”
“Just before I came back. He said to hold it until today, though.”
Arabeth frowned. What was the significance of today?
“It's the anniversary of the day your grandfather disappeared.” Graham said. “He said you both kept it marked on your calendars, for some reason. This will be the tenth year.”
Her throat caught at the sudden reminder. Ten years. Had it already been ten years?
“Thank you, Graham.” She inclined her head in a deep nod.
?
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nbsp; As she reached the city edge, she urged Kate to lengthen her stride, reaching out for a stronger pace. Kate suddenly balked as an old man ambled into the road in front of them, seemingly on purpose.
As they walked around him, Arabeth tipped her head in greeting and continued.
“You are looking for something.” He called out after her, his tone unquestioning.
Stopping, she turned Kate around and they faced him. She stared at him a moment. He didn't seem familiar.
“Do I know you, sir?” she asked.
“You won't find it. Not without my help.” His slow, stilted speech combined with here is a parent great age, did not feel Arabeth with trust. He seemed to be a kin to a wandering madman, only cleaner.
“Forgive my skepticism, but,” Arabeth smiled politely. “How can you know what I'm looking for?”
“You. You and this horse were there. You were there yesterday. In the trees. You came so close. But I have it hidden and only I can reveal it.”
“You will pardon me if that seems to be coincidence and therefore I doubt the veracity of your statement.”
He laughed and pointed at her, then turned and pointed a shaky arm toward the area where she had been the day before. “You will never find it.” His tone was teasing this time. “I can teach you, but you are sassy. I am not sure I want a student like you.”
She wasn't looking to become anyone's student. What was he talking about? Her hand searched slowly through her pocket for the red crystal, and she remembered it was still in her field. Which other crystals had she brought with her? Why was she suddenly doing inventory? She sighed and pulled her hand out, taking the reins in both hands again.
The old man stared at her curiously. “Yes, I see it now. I will meet you at the second tree. Your map is accurate but also wrong. You ride. I will meet you there.”
He turned and shuffled away at what seemed like a sloth's pace. Arabeth couldn't help staring after him for a moment. This strange man had followed her back of the mountains? What was his angle? As Graham had stated earlier, people were consistent. He would want something in exchange for revealing the location, especially if he told the truth when he said he had somehow it.
She squeezed Kate, cuing her to walk forward but swung wide around the path the old guy took. She should get there at least half an hour before him by being on horseback. That would give her some time to look before he showed up. If she were lucky, she might be able to avoid him altogether. She didn't know who to trust with her newfound knowledge. The little she'd shared had caused protests. She shook her head and shoulders. That was enough doubt for one day, she chided. Focus on the road ahead.
Graham was right about the rain. It started shortly before she reached her destination. She pulled her goggles out, wishing she had brought some less technical eye wear. Putting them back in her bag, she made a note to pack with inclement weather in mind next time. She hadn't needed to plan for rain in a long time.
As she neared the second tree, she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the old man standing there, leaning up against it. Still, facts were facts. She doubted he had a twin waiting there just to mess with her head.
“You travel fast, sir,” she inclined her head to him.
“I've learnt a few things over the last few decades … or … years. Yes, I'll say years.”
His strange speech did nothing to reassure her. He must've known a shortcut, but even so, he barely moved faster than a shamble.
He turned to face the tree and Arabeth was sure she saw him pull a crystal out of his pocket and draw with it on the tree. He had used an orange crystal. She tried to remember what orange did, but failed.
“Alright, girl. Let's go see what you know. It's going to be impossible to devise a training plan for you until we do that.”
When he looked at her this time, his eyes were clear and bright, and his speech matched.
She didn't want to challenge him on the idea that he was playing games with her. If you really did know where to find the Lyar, she would let it go. His having the crystal definitely gave credence to his statements. When he started walking at an impossible speed, she hurried Kate to keep up. This was getting weirder by the moment and she suspected this was only the beginning. If Vensay had taught her anything, it was that both her education and understanding were severely lacking.
It was only moments later that an opening in a group of trees became apparent, reminiscent of Vensay's lyars. As Arabeth's excitement grew, she hurried forward past her guide. “How did this stay hidden all these years?” She muttered as she dismounted and turned to look at him. “Why has this been hidden for so long? Why can't other people use them? I know we're here as part of the peace treaty, but this technology has so many applications and uses. Why shut it down completely. Why not screen the operator's better. Wouldn't that be wiser?”
His face went red a moment and fists sat clenched at his side as he took in a deep breath. Apparently, she'd hit a sore spot.
“This mountain range serves a few purposes,” he started. “It does a good job of protecting Blastborn and the other little towns back here. It also protects the world outside. As you've unwittingly told the leaders of Blastborn, this area is a glorified prison. You need to be guided into a moral and sound use of the lyars, since they react to you. King Andun's parents died before he learnt the full truth of why the mountains exist.
That's the only reason he didn't have you killed the minute he found out who you are. You are descended from a people who committed murder - irrational, wide scale murder. They were trapped here in a process that created a mountain range, endorsed and enforced by our own government as a way to save the rest of the country from true defeat. It was expensive, and difficult, but seen as necessary.”
The news of that shocked Arabeth. For a moment she couldn't think straight. That couldn't be right, could it? Wasn't this just a case of the victors writing the history books? Still, the how and why didn't matter as much as the truth of it. She noted the distinct shift in his wording to draw a line between himself and the others of Blastborn.
“How many people were killed by this mountain?” she asked, still doubtful. “And how can a mountain be-” she waved her hands in the air. “How can they simply be conjured up, as it were?”
Tamden shrugged. “That's not really the point, right now. If we can get this started, it can locate others with the ability and call them here.”
“Andun - King Andun of Vensay, says he didn't believe we should be held accountable for the sins of our progenitors. He did want a high level of supervision, though. I can't disagree with that, having experienced some of what it can do. In some ways, it feels like too much power for one person.”
The old man's eyebrows shot up and he stared straight at her. “One person? You operated it alone?”
She nodded. “It is straightforward. I mean, I did have to experiment a bit, but it's not exactly complicated.”
“I see. Well, let's get started. It's going to be a long, soggy day if you don't master a few of the fundamentals right away. The first thing we’re going to do is wake this beast.” He indicated the empty centre square with one of his hands. “Tell me how you used it the first time.”
“I thought the entire network woke up when I activated the one in Vensay.”
“Apparently not this one. It must be too far away, or disconnected.”
Apprehension grew when she heard that, but she pushed it back as she explained how Sam lit a fire in the middle not realizing he was igniting something other than tweaks and bark, and how Arabeth thought she was hallucinating when she saw people she knew were elsewhere standing there looking like ghosts.
“Wait a minute. You're telling me that your fox took the crystal in without instructions from you? Why did she do that?” He stared at her, his disbelief obvious. She sat beside Arabeth, licking a paw and cleaning her face with it.
“She's more clever than a lot of people I know.” Arabeth felt herself getting flustered. She also
had trouble accepting that her progenitors were mass murderers. They had to have a reason. They should just focus on this moment, in this place. He said he had something to teach her. They should do that.
“So, the crystal hovers in the middle and I imagine the person I want to talk to or see and they appear as a ghost in front of me. Different crystals do different things. For example, the yellow ones prevent people from seeing me. Without it I also appear to them as though I were a ghost. I can walk around, sort of. The trees keep me from getting far.”
The old man had his chin in one hand now, as he appeared to be thinking over her words. “That is, I have to say, the worst use of a lyar I have ever heard of. That is not even amateur status. You don't,” he seemed to be getting angry. “You don't let the crystals hover. And you don't walk around. You bring the space to you.” With a sigh, he walked to the centre and knelt down. He pulled a blue crystal out of his pocket and held it up for her to see. “Come, watch the correct method.” Arabeth walked over so she had a clear view, but he waved her back. “Not that close, girl.”
As he pressed the crystal into the dirt sharpest end down, he paused three times to tap the side of the crystal twice with his fingertip. “I'm listening for the tone. Pay attention. It is a combination of depth and proximity to the lyar core that changes the sound. It needs to be a strong, thick sound. Listen.”
He tapped the crystal with his fingernail again. “One more centimetre down should do it. You will need to do that part. I am no crystal mage. I simply understand the rules and the processes. I am your guide.”
Arabeth walked over and took his spot. As he backed to the tree edge, he nodded for her to push the crystal down again. The process made sense, but had nothing in common with how the other lyar had been started. Still, she reminded herself that she was the student in this.
“What should I focus on as I do this?” Her train of thought had proved to be essential to the outcome before.