Lightgiver

by Gama Ray Martinez

  Enki shrugged. “Sharim is a demon. Demons cheat.”

  “Surely it’s not that simple,” Besis said.

  “Not quite, but few rules are as binding as they appear, Sharim is among the most cunning of the creatures of the abyss. If there is any who can find their way to the library, it is he.”

  “Provided he knows his answers are there,” Besis said.

  “He knows.”

  “You told him.” Jez said. It wasn’t a question.

  Enki shuffled away at Jez’s tone until his back touched the wall. He took a deep breath and forced himself to look Jez in the eyes. Though his voice wavered, his gaze remained steady. “I have endured more tortures than you can comprehend for far longer than you can imagine. Yes, I told him. When he asked, I told him everything I knew.”

  “I suppose that is to be expected,” Fina said. “After all, you are one of them.”

  Enki’s back stiffened, and for the first time, he showed something other than timid fear. He took a step toward the destruction master and his eyes glowed yellow. “I am not one of them!”

  Flames whooshed to life around Fina, their edges catching the demon. Enki hissed, and an acrid smell filled the air. Enki fell back. If such a creature had been capable of crying, Jez was sure he would have tears in his eyes. His next words came out barely above a whisper. “I am not one of them.”

  The flames around Fina died, leaving a blackened circle around him. He glanced at the other masters, all of whom looked as taken aback as he was. Jez didn’t blame them. He had never seen a demon look so afraid. Jez took a slow step forward, and Enki whimpered but didn’t look away.

  “Do you know how to reach the library?” Jez asked.

  Enki nodded so hard Jez thought his head would fall off. “Yes.”

  “Then, Sharim knows too.”

  “Not exactly.”

  “But you said you told him everything you knew.”

  “I know how to get to the library, but I don’t know how to leave the abyss save by a summoning. If I’d been able to give him that knowledge, he wouldn’t need to get to the library.”

  Relief washed over Jez, but it only lasted a second. “Sharim almost certainly has allies in this world. If he can communicate what you told him to them, they might be able to reach the library.”

  “If they could do such a thing, he might soon be free.”

  “When did you tell him?”

  Enki hissed. “Time doesn’t work the same way there as it does here. I told him when he first came to me, but whether that was a day or a year ago, I cannot say.”

  “Six months at most,” Jez said. “That’s how long he’s been trapped.”

  Enki inclined his head but said nothing. Balud cleared his throat.

  “Will you tell us how to reach this library?”

  “It is not a matter of telling. It is a matter of understanding. There is a ritual, but I cannot teach it by words and deeds alone, not unless I had a century.”

  “Then how?” Balud asked.

  “I can impart it into the mind of one who is strong enough.”

  Besis and Osmund glanced at Jez who had started rubbing his forehead as a dull pain blossomed there. He’d been through such a teaching before. It had almost been more than he could bear, and it had left him unconscious for days. He took a breath. It had worked though, and they were desperate. He nodded at the demon. The protection master opened his mouth to speak, but Jez cut him off.

  “Give me the knowledge.”

  Instantly, Horgar, Fina, Kerag, and Rael started to protest, but Linala, Besis, and Balud remained silent. They argued for several minutes and would have probably kept going, but Jez stepped closer to Enki.

  “Do it,” Jez said. Fina started to say something, but Jez shook his head. “You said so yourself. I’m the one who’s been studying this for the past six months. There’s no one more qualified.”

  “I won’t deny that you’ve done impressive things, but to go into the emptiness between worlds?” Kerag shook his head. “I wouldn’t even want to send a full mage to do that. Mortals can’t survive there.”

  “He is a limaph,” Besis lied. “He might have the best chance.”

  “What about Osmund?” Fina asked. “He’s a stronger limaph than Jezreel, from what I’ve seen, and he’s far more skilled in battle magic.”

  “Battle magic wouldn’t help me there,” Osmund said. “I’ve been there. Twice. If anyone can do this, it’s Jez.”

  “Jezreel, you’ve been through enough,” Horgar said. “There’s no need for you to do more.”

  Jez smiled at the beast master. “I appreciate the concern, Master, but these are difficult times, and we all have to make sacrifices.”

  He huffed and looked at Rael. “I thought he was Besis’s adept. When did he become such an expert in philosophy?”

  The secrets master smiled. She gave both Jez and Osmund level looks. “If I could steal either of them away to my dominion, I would.” She let out a breath. “He has a point, though.”

  “He’s just a boy,” Fina said.

  “A boy trusted by the high lords of the pharim,” Linala said. “I don’t like the thought of sending him into this kind of situation any more than you do, Horgar, but who else would we send? I doubt any of us would survive.” She turned to Enki. “Can he?”

  “A mere mortal does not have the will to survive Between unless he is sustained by a greater power. If this Jez is partially pharim, he might be able to make it.”

  “Might?”

  “Nothing is certain. I can but try.”

  Jez nodded. “Do it.”

  Enki looked at the masters as he took a step forward, though none tried to stop him. He placed a scaled finger on Jez’s forehead, and agony erupted from every inch of Jez’s body.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The Library of Zandra had been four stories tall and as big as a city block. Its yellow stone almost shone in the sunlight, and in its highest tower, a brilliant fire had burned golden. The inside was incredible, dozens of chambers, each a library in its own right. Shelves lined the walls while others were freestanding, forming long halls. They were crammed with books. So many books it would take a year just to read all the titles. Volumes had been gathered from all over the world. In a time when most of the world was primitive, Zandra had been a center of learning to rival any in the modern world. The stories said there was more knowledge gathered in that place than in all the rest of the world put together.

  And it was all gone.

  A cry of rage that didn’t sound completely human brought him back to reality. He was on the ground, his head pounding. Ziary, flaming sword in hand, stalked toward Enki. The demon tried to back away, but he seemed too frightened to simply turn and flee. Besis raised a hand and shimmering blue bands entangled Ziary, but the scion had apparently grown stronger in his time with the beast men of Aniel’s valley because he shrugged off the binding with an almost casual ease. The light slipped off of him and puffed out of existence. Jez threw his hands forward and tried to craft a working of his own, but whatever Enki had done to him had left him feeling drained, and his working disappeared after a few feet. Ziary’s sword tore through the air. Enki hissed and threw his arms up.

  There was an explosion of light and sound. Ziary was driven several feet back. Enki fell to the ground. He extended his hand, and a sword appeared. For a second, it looked to be made out of a beam of sunlight, but then the light gained substance and became a blade of yellow smoke. Ziary surged forward, and Enki moved to catch the scion’s weapon on his. There was neither the clang of metal on metal, nor the crash of thunder Jez had come to expect from the meeting of otherworldly blades. Rather, Ziary’s sword entered the smoke of Enki’s, and it just stopped.

  Ziary snarled and launched a barrage of blows, but Enki’s weapon silently turned each one aside. Still, every blow came a little closer, and it was clear that Ziary was the superior warrior. Jez tried shouting at Ziary, but the scion either didn’t no
tice or didn’t care.

  Ziary delivered a two-handed slash that ripped Enki’s sword from his grasp. Almost as one, the masters cried out. Ziary drove his blade into Enki’s chest. Fire spurted from his eyes and mouth. For a moment, he met Jez’s eyes. Then, he lifted a hand. The ground shook, and the circle that had been used to summon Enki flared up, shining so brightly it temporarily blinded Jez. When it faded, Enki was gone, replaced by a pile of ash. The circle too had been transformed to ash. It had apparently released a burst of energy because a hole the size of the circle had been torn in the ceiling. Ziary’s sword puffed out of existence as he turned to Jez.

  “Why did you do that?” Jez asked.

  “He attacked you.”

  “No, he didn’t. He was trying to show me something.” Jez’s hand went to his forehead, and he winced. “I don’t think he gave me all of it.”

  “You were in danger.”

  Jez rolled his eyes. “I’m always in danger.”

  Ziary’s form melted away, revealing Osmund. The larger boy’s eyes glowed orange for a second before fading to gray. “Sorry, I lost control.”

  “Osmund, we can’t have you at the Academy if you’re a danger to the students,” Balud said.

  “I’m not, Chancellor. I’m not sure I can keep Ziary in when there’s a demon hurting someone in front of me.” He looked around and sighed. “I just didn’t think I’d ever be in a situation where that would be a problem.”

  Fina inclined his head. “A reasonable assumption. This is no more than a minor inconvenience, though.”

  “What do you mean?” Jez asked.

  “Enki wasn’t destroyed, and we know much more about him. He can simply be summoned again.”

  “But not for some time,” Linala said. “His essence will be weeks or months in reconstituting itself. Even now, Sharim’s allies may be acting on information that we don’t have. I hate moving this fast, but we’re six months behind Sharim.”

  “What about Ziary?” Jez asked.

  “What about him?” Osmund asked.

  “He showed me how to cross into Between once. I might be able to use what Enki gave me to find the library if I can just get there.”

  “It almost killed us when we went there.”

  “When we both went,” Jez said. “It’ll be easier if I go alone.”

  “What if you run into trouble?” Osmund asked.

  “There’s nothing Between,” Jez said. “That’s literally what it is.”

  “Jezreel,” Besis said.

  Jez cut him off. “I’m not letting Sharim escape.”

  “I know. I was going to recommend a ward that might help you get through this. I believe I have something that could help survive Between.”

  “Oh.”

  “Besis, you can’t be serious,” Balud said.

  Besis grinned. “You don’t know him like I do, Chancellor, and there’s one thing you’re not considering.”

  “What’s that?”

  “There’s nothing we can do to stop him.”

  Osmund grinned and walked up to Jez. He laid a finger on Jez’s forehead, and a heartbeat later, Ziary stood before him. Then, everything went black.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Jez woke in his room with a splitting headache. Unfamiliar ideas floated in his head, and it strained his mind if he focused on them. He allowed himself to smile. It was knowledge not meant for a mortal mind, and it would drift away in time, but for now, it was his. He moved his blankets and sat up. Osmund, who had been snoozing in a cushioned chair next to Jez’s bed, stirred. He opened his eyes and frowned.

  “It’s about time.”

  “How long?”

  “Four days.”

  “What? Last time, it was only two.”

  Osmund shrugged. “If you want, we can do it over and over again and see if the number of days is random or if there’s some pattern.” Jez glared, but Osmund let out a breath. “We were worried. Rael tried looking into your mind. Afterward, she screamed for a quarter hour.”

  He blinked. “Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine, but she couldn’t remember anything she’d seen. She’s been in and out since then, but Besis is waiting in the other room.”

  Jez blinked at him. “How did he know when I would wake?”

  “He didn’t. He’s hardly left your sitting room. He knew the knowledge wouldn’t stay with you very long, and he wanted to be on hand when you woke up so we wouldn’t miss the opportunity.”

  “Lina?”

  “She’s sleeping. We were staying with you in shifts.”

  Jez nodded and swung his legs out over the side of his bed. He hopped to his feet and swayed as he stood up. He had to grab onto the bed post to avoid falling. The room was spinning, and for a moment, he felt like he was going to throw up. Instantly, Osmund was at his side. It took him a second to find his balance.

  “That didn’t happen last time.”

  “Balud said this might happen. You haven’t used your legs in a long time. He worked some magic to lessen the effects, but it should still take you a little while to be back to normal.” He smirked. “As normal as a pharim wearing a human costume ever gets anyway.”

  Jez glared at him but didn’t say anything. He took a few unsteady steps and shook Osmund off. It was a struggle to walk, and he couldn’t quite manage to move in a straight line. Osmund offered him an arm, but Jez refused it. Eventually, he made it to his sitting room without falling. Besis sat in a cushioned chair as he flipped through a leather-bound book. The protection master looked up when Jez entered and smiled.

  “I’m glad to see you’re finally awake, though I admit I expected you to be better attired.

  Jez looked down at himself and blushed. He hadn’t even realized he was in his sleeping robes. Someone must’ve changed him into them. He held his head high.

  “I was kind of in a hurry.

  Besis met his gaze. “Are you well?”

  “A little dizzy, but I’m fine.”

  “Good, if you’re ready, I’ll put the ward on you.”

  Jez stared at him. “So soon?”

  “We don’t want the knowledge to fade, and I’d prefer not to put you through that again.”

  “Shouldn’t we tell some of the other Masters?”

  Besis raised an eyebrow. “How long can you hold on to that knowledge?”

  Jez considered, but the thought made his head hurt. He let out a breath. “I don’t know.”

  “Then, it’s best we don’t wait.”

  “Why is everyone suddenly so eager for me to do this? Last time something like this happened, I practically had to drag the information I needed out of you.”

  “The pharim are gone, Jez.” Besis kept his voice low, and Jez could hear the faintest tinge of fear. “Do you know when the last time that happened was?” Jez shook his head. “That’s because it’s never happened. Rael isn’t sure what the effects could be, but it can’t be good. Someone has to go Between to get that information, and we’re not so arrogant as to believe any of us can do it. It has to be you.”

  Jez nodded, not quite sure how to take that. Besis started walking around him in a slow circle, his hands weaving elaborate patterns in the air as he moved. From the door to his bedroom, Osmund watched, clearly not liking what was happening.

  “Are you sure I can’t come with you?”

  Jez shook his head. “Last time I tried to do that, it almost killed us both. I’ll have to spend almost all my concentration on keeping myself together. If I’m going to look for the library, I won’t have anything to spare to keep you alive.”

  Osmund nodded. “Be careful.”

  Jez grinned. “Aren’t I always?”

  “No.”

  Jez bit his lower lip. “If I don’t come back...”

  Osmund snorted. “You’ll come back. If you don’t, Lina will never forgive you.”

  Jez felt his face heat up as Besis finished his ritual. The edges of the protection master’s mouth had tightened in the be
ginnings of a smile. Jez glared at Osmund before closing his eyes and concentrating. He allowed the images in his head to come into the forefront of his thoughts. Between one breath and another, there was a gap, and he forced himself into it. He heard a gasp, though he wasn’t sure if it was from Osmund or Besis. Then, the world faded away, and he drifted into Between.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The fogs of Between surrounded Jez in a white void that seemed to go on forever. He realized he could see, though he hadn’t opened his eyes. That made sense. He didn’t really have eyes here. He didn’t have a body. It was all thought and perception, and unless he did something about it, he would remain a shapeless cloud of pure consciousness.

  He shaped himself into something resembling a human form, but the constant concentration that required was a strain on his mind. He felt stretched out as if he would fly apart at any moment. He looked down at his hand and realized he could see through it. He tried to focus on his self-image and give that idea weight. His body solidified a little, but he was still ethereal. He could feel Besis’s ward around him, helping to give him form. It wouldn’t last, though. Nothing of the mortal world could last here.

  He focused his mind on the idea of the Library of Zandra. Enki had showed it to him, and that image should be all he needed to get there, but as he called up the picture in his mind, nothing happened. For a moment, he was surprised. He knew that if he wanted to, he could travel to anywhere in the world from here, but then, the library wasn’t in the world. It wasn’t in a place at all, so in a way, it made sense that he couldn’t just go there. When Sariel had brought him and Osmund here, the pharim lord had shaped the area according to his will. Maybe that was the secret. Maybe instead of going to the library, he needed to make it so the library was here.

  He focused on the idea of the library again, of its great stone walls and the fire burning atop it, and he thought about the nearly infinite books, their texture, and the musty smell. He called up the images Enki had given him and thrust them into the surrounding fog. It was surprisingly easy, as if he were tapping into a well of strength he didn’t know he had.