She remained focused, her stance relaxed, ready to respond to whatever came next. He was bigger and stronger. Avoiding injury would be her challenge.
The wolf sprang at her face. She pirouetted behind it and dodged away. It spun around, using its mass to propel a powerful leap in her direction. She teleported to the opposite side of the clearing.
Thorlu flashed into view. Regaining his equilibrium, he tried to stare her down. Her calm remained unruffled, her focus total. She knew his next move before he did, and she was ready. He paced toward her, his eyes never leaving her face. In the instant before his arms encircled her and yanked her roughly against his body, her arm shot above her head. A light touch on his temple left him immobilized. The only thing that moved where eyes filled with the knowledge that he had just lost.
The Corvus dupligram and Allynae arrived at her side. Thorlu’s eyes darted from one to the other. Allynae stepped behind him. Corvus touched the center of his forehead. He toppled, unconscious, into Allynae’s waiting arms. Together, they lowered him to the ground.
Corvus glanced up and smiled. “You did well, Mira. Kneel beside me and watch closely. You, too, Allynae. There may be a time when you will need to know how to abstract a memory for someone’s mind.”
Almiralyn knelt. With a sigh of resignation, Allynae joined her.
Corvus pressed his palm to Thorlu’s forehead and closed his eyes. Almiralyn monitored his mind probe and was pleased to find Allynae paying attention as well. Corvus searched Thorlu’s memories, gently removed any that would jeopardize the Isle of RayTucans or Almiralyn, and finally sat back and wiped sweat from his brow.
“Done. Always remember it is vital to respect the mental patterns of the person you are working on. Be sure to leave the mind as close as possible to the way you found it…minus the memories you removed, of course.”
Almiralyn smiled at him. “What do we do now? We can’t take Thorlu back to the temple. And he shouldn’t see you or me.”
Corvus motioned them to their feet. Almiralyn rescued Thorlu’s cape from the pond and with a snap of her fingers, returned it to its former elegance. Telekinesis lifted Thorlu to his feet. She draped the cape around his shoulders and with Allynae’s assistance settled him on a bench. Corvus touched his forehead. When they reached the cover of the willows, Allynae whispered, “How do we know The MasTer has forgotten us?”
“Watch.” Corvus fixed his attention on their enemy.
“Thorlu yawned and gazed around the clearing. A confused frown creased his brow. Stretching as he went, he ambled to the edge of the pond. A motion of his hand transformed the water’s surface to a mirror. The image of a hood-draped face emerged. A crackly voice said, “Since you have not discovered the whereabouts of Almiralyn Nadrugia, I have recalled the Elite Guard. Return to TreBlaya. We must consider other options. It appears our information about KcernFensia was incorrect.”
Thorlu bowed his head. “As you wish, my MasTer.”
The image dissolved. Thorlu trudged toward the path, puzzlement on his face. “I could have sworn, I found the Guardian.” He glanced at the bench. “It must have been a dream.” With a shrug, he walked briskly from sight.
A light flared at the clearing’s center. The real Corvus grinned at them. Almiralyn hurried forward and pressed the gift from the old woman into his hand. “You are alright?”
“I’m fine.” He glanced at the gift, heaved a sigh of relief, and slipped it into his pocket. Turning to his dupligram, he motioned it forward and held up his hands. Their palms touched. The dupligram grew translucent. Like mist in the wind, it wavered, thinned, and dispersed. For a brief instant, Corvus seemed smaller. Then he dropped his arms and sank onto the bench. “I need to rest. It takes quite a bit of energy to maintain a double for an extended period of time, especially one that must function fully. Allynae will stay with me.” I’ll be with you soon, Almiralyn.”
Almiralyn blinked. Steldom Esplanade and the small pond had disappeared. She stood alone in her apartment. Out her window, the temple spire glowed gold-orange in the last rays of the setting sun. Only two moon cycles and I will take my place as Myrrh’s Guardian. For now, the Mocendi have no recollection of me. She frowned. They will find me again. At least this adventure has given me a glimpse of their treachery. I won’t let them take me by surprise ever again.
A knock on the door interrupted her reverie. She hurried to open it.
A grinning Allynae strode into the room. “I have a gift for you.” He stroked the black breast of the raven perched on his shoulder.
She closed the door and offered her arm. Raven talons gripped it. A coal-black eye peered up at her. The head lifted. A single white feather caught the light.
She smiled. “Hello, Karrew. I gather that Corvus has returned to Roahymn.”
Karrew cocked his head. “He has…at least for the foreseeable future.”
Over the delights of a delicious meal, Almiralyn, her brother, and Karrew discussed the events of the past few turnings. Relief at the departure of Thorlu and the Mocendi Elite Guard from KcernFensia proved to be the main topic of conversation. Allynae shared what he could remember of the vision he had seen in DoMani’s, Corvus’ friend’s, shoppe. Dominant were memories of exquisite paintings by an intriguing, dark-haired woman, a huge bird composed of water circling above a red desert, and a black and silver owl—an enemy that somehow became a friend.
Allynae stretched. “I could use some sleep.” He kissed Almiralyn on the cheek, ran a hand down Karrew’s feathered back, and departed, yawning.
Almiralyn smiled at her raven. “Sleep well, my friend. It is almost time to begin a new adventure in Myrrh.” Humming to herself, she left her mentor to the silence of the coming night.
Karrew paced his perch, his ebony eyes aglow. The KcernFensian moon hovered over the Isle of RayTucans, its light splashing his feather’s with silver. He stretched his wings and fluttered to the floor. A muted flash preceded Corvus’ appearance in Human form. He stood to the shadowy side of a window and sighed. How I love this time of night. He drew in a deep breath, pulled DoMani’s gift from his pocket, and studied it.
A black tourmaline raven rested on his palm. It’s powers of protection and grounding would help him to remain in his raven form for long periods of time without fear of losing his humanness in the wildness of the bird. As much as he would miss his Human body, he knew it was prudent to make the shift. The charade would keep him safe and at Almiralyn’s side. It would, therefore, keep her safe, as well.
His dimple deepened as he thought of his charge, of the sun cycles they had spent together, of how much he loved her. When the upcoming cycle of The Unfolding reached completion, he would tell her how much she meant to him, that he loved her with all his heart. Until then, he would keep her safe. And what if she does not love me? The memory of his discussion with Almiralyn’s father when he was thirteen made him smile. Time will tell all. Until then, I will savor every minute we share. He shifted and flew to his perch. And I will protect her with my life.
For a moment longer he soaked up the beauty of the night, then tucked his head beneath his wing and slept.
end of
Duplicity
UnFolding 12
The next book is MasTer’s Reach in The UnFolding Collection Three . A sample follows…
A sample of the next book in the series:
MasTer’s Reach
UnFolding 13
Novel
with illustrations
by
S.K. Randolph
Copyright © 2015 by S.K. Randolph
CheeTrann Creations LLC
13UF-V-29
Prologue
The children of many strive for what’s right.
They follow where led by their galaxy’s plight.
The Unfolding defines the direction they’ll go
To bring to fruition its ultimate goal.
N ear The Outer Rim on the small planet of Persow, cold fingers of dread woke the VarTerel of
the Inner Universe. Troubled dreams left his heart hammering and his mind in unaccustomed disorder. Wolloh, his favorite former apprentice, had fallen to the ground in an exhausted stupor. Five children, the ones foretold in the ancient prophecies, scrambled through the rain forests of Trinuge on DerTah, pursued by a Mindeco from RewFaar. The final cycle of The Unfolding had begun.
Relevart bolted upright and ran a hand though his mane of white hair. Uneasiness nagged. Throwing back the covers, he shivered in the chill of early morning. Midway through buttoning his shirt, he paused to frown at his reflection in the mirror. An elusive thought emerged and faded. What is it? He tucked in his shirttails, fastened his trousers, and stuffed a few personal items in a pack. A verbal command ignited the wood in the fireplace in the main living space. Flames danced and heat penetrated the room.
Snatching a chunk of bread and a slab of cheese from the larder, he downed a quick breakfast and walked to the room’s center. A wave of his hand sent a stack of books and a pile of hiking paraphernalia sailing to a far corner. In the wall revealed by their sudden flight, a well-hidden door slid open.
Rowan wood staff in hand, he scanned his comfortable home. It had been many sun cycles since need had prompted him to journey. I am going to miss the quiet of this cabin and the mountains and forests of Persow. With a sigh of regret, he whispered a succinct phrase. Three taps of the staff against the floor, and all but the secret entrance disappeared in a blur of muted colors. Turning his back on what had been, he stepped through the doorway. The soft sound of its closing click melted into the vastness stretching in all directions.
Relevart paused. A shake of his head dispersed the momentary sense of befuddlement that always accompanied his entrance into Mittkeer—the place where all time and no time existed in the same instant—the place from which he traveled through time and dimension.
The sole object in the boundless expanse, a large quartz crystal christened Froetise, glinted atop a tourmaline pedestal a short distance from where he stood. Froetise connected him to crystals throughout the Inner Universe and allowed him to track the progress of The Unfolding.
Peering into its center, he watched a trail of phosphorescence follow a small, iridescent bird up from the crystal’s depths; form a spiral of glowing, white light; and, at his command, flare and vanish. In the clarity left behind, the image of Elcaro’s Eye, sitting at the center of Veersuni in the Dojanack Cavern’s on Myrrh, came into focus. Bloodied water stained the fountain crimson and splashed over the alabaster rim. Five reflective pools formed on the stone floor. On each surface, a different scene emerged.
Huge ferns and gigantic moss-covered trees filled the first pool. Hidden in their midst, five young people watched two monstrous creatures battle. The leather-scaled wings of one whipped the foliage into a tempest. The single eye of the other flashed. A predatory roar reverberated through the forest. A challenging howl echoed after. The young people crouched lower, clinging to one another in terror.
Screams of anguish vibrated the air as soldiers met hand to hand. Knives gleamed in the white-hot sun. Blood sizzled on the desert sands. Men on both sides fell and lay still. A DerTahan bearded buzzard wreathed in flames lifted into flight, sought its target, swooped, and rose again, a Human form dangling from taloned claws.
An elderly woman walked from the Tropal Gateway into the sunflower field in Myrrh. She pushed large-framed spectacles up on her nose and peered between tall, leaf-covered stalks. A RewFaaran camp occupied the garden where the Guardian of Myrrh’s cottage should have been. Removing her spectacles, she dropped them into a pocket, straightened her be-flowered hat, and stepped into the open.
In a prison cell, a raven gave a hoarse caw as a man in shadow extended a hand and stroked its blood-covered feathers. Footsteps in the stone passageway grew louder. The hand withdrew. The man disappeared. The raven’s ebony eye peered through the pitch-black.
A woman in the fifth pool stared through salt-spray-covered windows at the frothing return of the tide. The roll and pitch of the sea mirrored her inner turmoil. Tears overflowed summer-green eyes and slid down pale cheeks. Her hands shook as she retied a blue scarf, the sole reminder of her life in Idronatti.
Elcaro’s bowl came into focus at the crystal’s center. A final scene formed on the surface.
Flames blazing from a fiery pit sent shadows dancing over a charred land. Above it, the dark green feathers of a large bird of prey glistened in the diffused light. It circled and swooped to a landing on a stone balcony. A cloaked figure materialize. Scarred fingers plucked at a silver and moonstone locket on a long chain.
Relevart’s throat constricted. An urgent need to back away overcame his compelling desire to see more. The scene faded. Reflective pools evaporated, creating a reddish mist that dissipated as water once more spilled from alabaster palms into Elcaro’s bowl, the only sound in the Sanctuary of Veersuni.
He rubbed a hand across his eyes. His quiet interlude had ended. At his word, Froetise shrunk to a miniature of itself. He snapped it into place atop the staff. Rowan sprigs and leaves wove a cocoon around it. Holding the staff high, he focused on his destination.
And The Unfolding continued.
1
Master’s Reach (Sample)
Myrrh
C hilling dampness cut SparrowLyn AsTar to the bone. Miniature fingers tugged her hair taut. Slimy tongues spilled rank smelling spittle down her face. Despair drowned her. Fear more deadly than she had ever known made her knees go weak. A light flared. Tiny winged creatures scattered, their screams bouncing off stalagmites and stalactites. Strong hands caught her falling body, lifted her, held her next to the beat of a heart. Warm breath brushed her cheek and then nothing .
Fighting the turbulent aftermath of the nightmare, Sparrow flung herself from bed. Her gaze bounced from rough stone walls to a small oil lamp to a heavy curtain. Where am I? She sank onto the coverlet and pulled it around her shaking body. Meos, of course. I’m in my quarters in the DeoNytes’ home in the Dojanack Caverns.
Drawing her knee’s to her chest, she hugged them tight. Will the memories of Vascorrie ever stop haunting me?
Her gaze settled on the empty bed beside her. I wish you were here, Allynae. DerTah is so far away. And the twins… How can you and our daughters be on another planet?
Determined to shake off troubling thoughts, she tossed the coverlet aside and slid to the edge of the bed. Her feet came to rest on a hand-woven rug, her eyes on a small portrait she had painted of the twins. So much has happened since you girls took Torgin Whalend to Myrrh for his Sun Cycle Celebration. Most important of all, Allynae found me and met you. The few turnings we had together as a family before The Unfolding snatched you away were not nearly enough. And now I wonder if I will ever see you again.
She picked up the portrait and planted a kiss on the identical faces. You look so much alike, but I know just how different you are. Returning it to its place on the ledge above the bed, she smiled. Of course, right now you don’t look the least bit alike. I can’t believe how much you resembled your father, Ari, when you shape shifted a boy. Ira Raast…a good name. Nobody will recognize you as twins, and you’re safe. I’m grateful for that, but I miss you so much.
Sparrow forced her gaze away from the portrait, straightened her bed, pulled on her clothes, and picked up a comb. Stroke by stroke, she untangled the silky length of her chestnut hair. Her brow furrowed. Her hand hovered. Almost against her will, her attention was drawn back to the image of her daughters.
I never meant to put you in harm’s way. Because my mother is KcernFensian and my father is the Largeen Joram of the planet of RewFaar, you are royalty on both planets…but I never told you. I didn’t want the PPP to use you as a tool to find your father and condemn him to the Five Towers for life. She sank onto the bed. Now you are off to face your enemies and fulfill your destinies with only an intuitive understanding of your extraordinary powers to guide and protect you . She blinked tears away and put her comb down.
> Snippets of her nightmare taunted her. She shivered. The subterranean cavern on Thera…the primavers…the tarwish… Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she scrubbed the goosebumps away.
Vascorrie. Just the word makes me want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over my head. Merrilea and I almost died there. One Man found us and carried her from the cavern. Someone else carried me. Who? One Man wouldn’t tell me.
She nibbled her bottom lip. What if I… A small smile curved the corners of her mouth. I’ll do it.
With sudden possibilities flooding her artist’s mind, she hurried along the passage to the studio Yookotay, the DeoNyte Redael, had arranged for her use. She had come to Myrrh knowing she was a talented artist; but after the events of the past few moon cycles, her completed works had surpassed even her wildest dreams. Paints infused with a drop of Merrilea’s Myrrhinian blood, transformed her canvases from ordinary to prophetic. Not only that, but the images carried life. They melded in and out of each other, showing the changes wrought by The Unfolding.
She hadn’t tried painting on demand until a couple of turnings ago when Myrrh’s Guardian had asked her to discover where the twins and their friends were on DerTah. Sparrow hadn’t thought she would succeed, but she had.
Today, I’m about to try it again. I have to know who saved me in Vascorrie, who carried me away from certain death.
The image of the High Dimensioner Wolloh Espyro crumpling at the center of the arena at Shu Chenaro haunted Seyes Nomed. Asleep or awake, he could not shake the shocking memory. Wolloh had always seemed invincible. What left him so weak? Did his companions manage to hold the shields in place?
A frown tugged at the scarred corner of his mouth. Elcaro’s Eye, the Guardian of Myrrh’s fountain, had also shown his nephew Esán and friends Brie, Torgin, Ira, and Desirol teleporting away from Nissasa Rattori and his army. They had not reached their expected destination.
The UnFolding Collection Two Page 68