Essence of Chaos

by Marie Andreas

  She frantically looked around for someone who could watch the injured prince. Unfortunately, the only people left around them were in no condition to watch anything anymore.

  Storm shook his head. “I’m going with you.” Shoving his bloody hair free of his face, he shakily arose. A small, unarmed child could have beaten him at this point, but at least he was standing.

  Jenna finally gave up. “Fine, but you lean on me. And don’t worry; at the first sign of trouble I’ll be more than happy to drop you off.” She was trying to joke, but from the determination on his ashen face, Jenna understood that if trouble did come, he would leave her. Jenna vowed they would stay clear of trouble until they reached the king’s side.

  Their progress was slow but steady; most of the fighting had ended in the area they were in. As they reached the royal dais, the malevolent figure threw back the last freestanding mage before him. The remaining eight mages were linked with Ghortin in a final shield between the giant figure and the royal family.

  Unsure what to do, she pulled them up as close as she felt was safe to the dais. She kept them low, behind another shattered table; she didn’t want that rogue mage realizing there was an unshielded royal out, since they seemed to be his target.

  She spotted Sir Edgar helping Tor Ranshal across the room. Like she and Storm, they were out from the protective circle of the mage shield. But she was relieved to see that both men were moving.

  The robed figure raised his hands and Jenna felt unbelievable amounts of Power flow into him. Gasping, she realized he was drawing from the mages he had already disposed of. Whether they had been dead when he started, Jenna had no way of knowing. They were now.

  Ghortin’s face contorted in a feral grimace. He too understood what was happening. He also obviously realized he couldn’t stop it if he wanted to maintain the shield over the royals.

  Storm had been laying still, and for a moment Jenna thought he’d lost consciousness again. Then he stirred at her elbow.

  “Must get closer.”

  Jenna looked down at him in exasperation. “That thing out there just sucked up the lives and magic of a score of mages. How in the hell do you think I can fight that?”

  Storm struggled to shake his head, but his eyes were starting to roll back in his head. “Just get closer. Don’t attack.”

  Jenna looked around for any way she could move them closer without being seen. There was none. The floor between the dais and their hiding place was bare.

  A burst of painfully raw Power lifted her off her knees and slammed her to the ground. Shaking, she peered around the edge of their table. The three outermost mages in the shield had been literally blown to bits. Ghortin and the others were shaking with fatigue and she could see they wouldn’t be able to hold for much longer. She started to pull in Power, unsure what she was going to do; the over-riding urge to destroy that she had felt at the first attack was gone now. Unfortunately, so was her magic. Like in the forest after the sciretts, she felt nothing when she tried to draw Power in. Collapsing, she turned to Storm just as all hell broke loose.

  An earth-shattering blast shook the room and a stabbing glare momentarily blinded her. Straining to see through the pain, she saw that the wall of mages was now gone. The rogue mage had gathered Ghortin’s body like a rag doll. A woman’s hysterical scream broke out as the figure reached for the king. Next to her, Storm swore under his breath and managed to cover Jenna with his own body in a final burst of energy. She had the vaguest sensation of things rushing at her. Then the world went black.

  15

  Jenna’s eyes felt like she had fallen asleep face down on a beach. She tried to raise her hands to wipe them, but neither arm would respond. Gritting her teeth against the throbbing pain, she forced her eyelids open.

  A dark form hovered over her. After a few panicked blinks she finally realized that it was Keanin’s worried face that filled her blurred vision. She tried again to force her hands up, but it was as if they weren’t hers.

  “Now, now, my lady. Everything is fine.” Keanin was trying hard to force some lightness into his voice. But he wasn’t good at lying. “Maggie said you are to rest. Don’t worry, your body will let you know when it’s time for moving about.”

  “What…” Her throat felt like sandpaper and sounded the same.

  Carefully supporting her head, Keanin held a small glass to her lips and gently let the fluid slide down.

  Jenna took a moment to enjoy the coolness on her throat, and then tried again. “Thank you. Where am I?” A memory flashed through her confused mind. “Storm? Where is he?”

  “Easy, Jenna, easy.” Keanin glanced around the sparse room; then leaned in closer. “Do you remember anything about the transfer?”

  Jenna tried to shake her head and found that it was as immobile as her hands were. “What transfer? Keanin, where am I?”

  “You’re in Irundail. Corin was holding on to you when the rescue beacon was activated.”

  “Rescue beacon?” She remembered something triggering Storm’s final burst of movement. “A woman’s scream?”

  “The queen. See, you are remembering. I knew you would.” He looked around again, his movements suspicious.

  “Why wouldn’t I? And who are you looking for? Where’s Storm?” Her voice rose as her strength came back.

  “He’s here; like I said, you two came through the transfer together. That was two days ago, and you’re the first one to wake up. He’s still unconscious. Maggie is the head healer; she let me in even though the mages all said your mind was more than likely burnt out.”

  “Great.” Jenna looked at the ceiling. She couldn’t remember anything after the scream. But what happened prior to it was coming back in pieces. “What happened to Ghortin?”

  Again Keanin furtively looked around, and Jenna realized that he more than likely wasn’t supposed to be talking to her, providing she recovered well enough to be talked to. The local mages must have figured she’d blown something important in her head. Thank goodness experts were as fallible here as they were in her world.

  “The rogue mage who attacked the ball took Ghortin and the king. And before you ask, I don’t know much more. The final blast took out all the mages at the Lithunane end, and those here were drained pulling the royals and friends through. I think—”

  The door behind Keanin opened. “You think what, my quiet-as-a-mouse seducer?”

  Jenna found she could now turn her head enough to see the speaker. She was a large human woman with broad hips and flyaway gray hair. Her thick hands were on those hips and she looked less than pleased to find Keanin talking with one of her supposedly comatose patients.

  Keanin hopped off the bed and bowed to the imposing woman. “Maggie. I was coming to tell you, she’s up. And she seems to be all here too.”

  “Lad, what am I going to do with you?” She was frowning, but there was a smile in the woman’s friendly brown eyes. “Well, my lady, I am glad that this stuffed peacock was right for once. Can’t say as I agree with those mages when it comes to healing anyway. If you’ll pardon, you being one of them and all.”

  She turned back toward Keanin. “Now what was this grand idea I heard you voice, pretty boy? I might be willing to listen since you were good enough to keep our lady company.”

  Keanin looked hesitantly from Jenna to the healer. “I thought that maybe Jenna might be able to help with Corin’s healing. She might know something about how he got his injuries.”

  Maggie studied Jenna for a few moments. Then shook her head. “No. I won’t have you risk injury to one patient for another. It’ll wait.”

  “I could at least talk about it. I’m feeling better already.”

  Maggie started to shake her off, but Jenna forced herself up into a semi-sitting position. “I was with him during the fight. I threw a spell at the creature that attacked him.” She looked away with stinging eyes. “For all the good it did.” One thing for certain, the bitterness at having her magic first be too weak, then
disappear entirely, was going to haunt her.

  Maggie rubbed her hand on her chin, reminding Jenna of Ghortin thinking on a problem. “Hmm. Do you know what kind of creature it was? None of the royal family got a good look at any of them. Except for Corin.”

  Jenna nodded slowly. That monster would stay in her memory almost as long as her guilt did. “I think it was what Storm called a demonspawn. The thing was disguised to look like a kelar guest, but it burst out of the illusion once the fighting started. I think some of its slime or something got into Storm’s wounds. I tried healing him, but I couldn’t do much.” She looked away again. What was the point of having Power if you couldn’t count on it?

  Maggie sat on the bed next to her, taking one hand gently. “So you were the one who did that. You probably saved his life, you know. That is, once the stubborn boy wakes up. You stopped the bleeding and slowed whatever had gotten in.” She smiled with a nod. “And aside from your being Ghortin’s apprentice, Corin must think fondly of you. He spent the last of his energy making sure you came through the transfer with him.”

  Jenna felt her face go warm. She had thought he was trying to get her closer to fight, but he was trying to make sure she was caught up when the eventual rescue beacon was cast.

  “I wish he hadn’t. I mean, I’m glad he did, but maybe if he hadn’t he would be better off right now.”

  Maggie gave her hand a little shake. “Now don’t you be beating yourself up. It wasn’t pulling you through with him that got him in his present state. Something got inside that poor boy when he fought that demonspawn. You slowed it down, but we can’t stop it.”

  A strange and intangible feeling crossed Jenna’s mind. “Could I go see him? I know my magic isn’t working, but I think maybe I could help him somehow.” She had no idea why she had that feeling, but she did. She knew she could help him if she could see him. Maybe Keanin had been on to something.

  Maggie shook her head; then stopped and stared at Jenna’s face. Obviously something was there that gave her hope. “Do you think you can get up? Keanin, give her another sip of the silberia. Now, drink it all.”

  Jenna found she was able to sit up completely and hold the clear glass without help. She drank the whole thing, feeling the last numbness flee from her limbs as she did. “I think I can walk.” She glanced at Keanin. “I might need a leaning post?”

  He smiled. “I am but to serve.” The stunning kelar bowed low as Maggie snorted and shook her head.

  “Aye, always for a beautiful woman you mean. Oh, lad. Away with you.” She shooed the bowing kelar out. “You can come back when your ward is properly attired.”

  Jenna managed to swing her legs over the side of the bed by the time Maggie returned with a suitable outfit. “Why was I unconscious for so long? I gather that Keanin got here the same way, and he seems fine.”

  Maggie handed her a skirt, loose shirt, and soft slippers. “We’re not sure as to that. Could be a lack of familiarity with the transfer spell or trying to defend Prince Corin. Keanin said he was certain you’d never experienced that in your homeland.”

  Jenna managed to hide her start of surprise. Surely Storm wouldn’t trust her secret to Keanin? He was nice, but rather flighty to be trusted with something so important.

  “I have a feeling that you were weakened by that mage’s attack; the backlash could have struck you before you were pulled out of there.” She helped Jenna with her clothes, and then stood back with a smile. “There now, pretty as a picture. You’re certain you feel up to this?”

  Jenna nodded; if she could do anything for Storm, she had to try. Ghortin would have wanted her to. She waited for the stab of loss to leave before moving toward the door. Ghortin wasn’t dead. He couldn't be dead. Once Storm got better, they’d go find the old mage. She refused to let her mind think about what would happen if her only two companions in this world were lost beyond her reach.

  Maggie took hold of her arm. “Lass? Are you all right?”

  Jenna forced a smile at the honest concern. “Yes, but I’m worried about Storm and Ghortin.” She wished she had someone, anyone, who she could confide in right now.

  Maggie nodded and motioned for Keanin to come back in and take Jenna’s other arm. “That’s more than understandable. Now you say something if you get too tired.”

  The walk to the room wasn’t far, and although Keanin tried to make small talk, Jenna wasn’t paying attention. The slim white door ahead was her main focus. Keanin took a deep breath, and she felt the tension in his arm as he held the door open for her.

  Jenna gasped as she stepped through the doorway. Storm was lying on a large white bed; unfortunately there was little difference between the snow-white coverlet and his pale face. His dark brown hair fanned out in an almost black halo above his head. His face had always been angular, but now it was gaunt, sharp bones jutting out everywhere.

  Jenna hesitated a second before rushing inside the stuffy room. She carefully lay her hand atop one of his, wincing as she felt the protruding bones underneath. His long black eyelashes fluttered a tiny bit, but there was no other movement.

  A soft scuffing noise brought her attention away from her dying friend’s face. Two women were off to the side, one leaning heavily on a chair. It took Jenna a few moments to recognize Queen Areania and cleric Kaytine. Both women looked almost as bad as Storm did, with the addition of dark circles under their eyes.

  Kaytine forced a tight smile and motioned for Jenna to take a seat by the bed. The queen looked ahead blankly, clearly not seeing anything other than her son’s wasted face.

  “I’m afraid we were never introduced. I am Cleric Kaytine and this is my mother, Queen Areania. You must be the Lady Jenna that my brother spoke of so fondly.” Her voice was so soft and soothing that Jenna found herself relaxing immediately. She nodded, and then looked to the queen.

  The queen gave no response until Kaytine leaned forward and spoke in the older woman’s ear. Jenna couldn’t hear what was said, but a flicker of awareness flashed across the queen’s delicate features.

  “My daughter tells me you were with my son during the attack.” It was a statement not a question.

  “Yes. I tried to help him. My magic wasn’t strong enough.” Jenna bit her lower lip to keep her eyes dry. “I’m so sorry.”

  Kaytine gave her an encouraging smile. “I’m sure you did what you could. In fact, if I know my stubborn little brother, you had your hands full convincing him he couldn’t fight anymore.”

  Jenna felt her own smile come back. “Even when he could barely walk, I had to practically carry him.”

  Kaytine shook her head with a grin, and even the queen gave a small smile.

  “That’s my brother.” She gave her mother’s shoulder a little squeeze and got her settled into the large chair. “You always did say he was the most headstrong kelar in the land.”

  “As a child he was worse.” The queen looked back at her unconscious son and her smile faded. “It seems he never grew out of it.”

  A voice came from the partially shut door behind them. “I hate to interrupt your majesty’s premature grieving, but I believe the Lady Jenna has something that could help your son.”

  Jenna started at the new voice. Maggie and Keanin were still standing by the door, but two new people had entered. It was the taller of these two brown robed figures that had spoken.

  “Forgive my companion if we startled you.” The second figure stepped forward, extending a small hand. From the lack of height and low voice, Jenna guessed the second hooded figure was a derawri male. She took the shorter man’s hand. “I am Dantil, a helaermage. And this is my companion, Ailane. As she said, we have sensed something in Jenna that could aid in the prince’s recovery.”

  Jenna had no idea who they were, or what a helaermage was for that matter. “I couldn’t stop that demon thing from attacking him in the first place. My magic fled when I needed it. How do you think I can help him now?” Never mind that was what she’d come there for. She hea
rd how hopeless it sounded coming from another.

  Ailane held up her hand. “Not just you, my child. Your mentor will help you. If what I sense is true, it shall be Master Ghortin’s skills and Power you will draw upon.”

  Jenna looked from one robed figure to the other with a skeptical eye and dropped her voice. “How can I draw on someone who isn’t here? I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I don’t think it’s right to hold me up as a false hope in front of his family.” She couldn’t face the queen and Kaytine.

  “We wouldn’t say such a thing if we thought it could not happen.” Dantil came forward. “We have reason to believe that Ghortin may have transferred his essence into your mind prior to his capture. Although difficult, it would be within his range of skill, and it would explain why none of us have felt anything from his consciousness since the battle. If he were dead, we would have felt his leaving. Besides Ailane Felt something in you, which is what drew us here. She’s never been wrong about a Feeling in her life.”

  He took hold of Jenna’s hands. “You will have to relax completely. Whatever he’s done is going to be disorienting for both of you, and it’s going to feel strange having another consciousness in your mind.” The derawri man squeezed her hands gently. “You must stay calm, no matter what you feel. Although he’s the one that initiated the transfer, he may not have much memory of what happened. At least not at first. This is a rather unexplored skill, I’m afraid.”

  As he spoke, Jenna felt part of her mind pull away from the rest. A thin wall blocked out the room around her. With a jolt, she heard Ghortin’s voice coming out of her body.

  Actually, her mind heard Ghortin; her ears heard her own voice.

  “Dantil. Damn it all, man, what are you doing here? I thought you were still holed up with the rest of your strange crew in Irundail. Well, come along quickly, man, something’s after the royal family.”