“How many deities were there?” Jenna was becoming more confused with this explanation, not less.
Rachael gave her an odd little smile. “I am sorry, I’m jumping ahead in my story. The deities, oh yes, there were more of them back then, or rather, they were more separate back then.” Rachael looked carefully at each of them, and Jenna wondered if she looked as confused as Storm did.
“I suppose I’d better go into that a bit. Oh dear, there is so much that’s been forgotten. I’m afraid the Guardians have made poor choices over the years. Back in the beginning, the deities were in contact more often with the worlds. They watched over more than our little world; and there were many gods and goddesses. After what happened with the cuari, some of them left and hid themselves on planes known only to them. Those who remained divided themselves into three groups. Basically good, evil, and neutral. Those beings that are now worshipped as single deities are actually groups of deities. Makes it easier for them to keep their distance that way.”
Storm looked like he’d been struck. “You mean the goddess Irissanta doesn’t exist at all?” Jenna didn’t think that Storm was a particularly religious person, but the idea was clearly unsettling.
“Not in the sense that she is believed to exist, no. She is the embodiment of all of the remaining gods and goddesses who work on the side of good. Just as DOL is for the neutral deities and Qhazborh is for the evil.”
Storm wordlessly opened and shut his mouth a few times. But the poleaxed look stayed on his face. Jenna could sympathize. She had lost her world, now his was being turned upside-down.
“As I was saying about the cuari. The remaining deities decided that the cuari would have to pay for their crime. After a mighty war, the portal was obliterated, and almost all of the cuari population was destroyed. Floods, famine, and pestilence claimed most of those who survived the war. Finally, the goddess Irissanta, or the group for good, stepped forward and said that was enough. They took the remaining one hundred cuari and set them the task of watching this world. The events of what had happened were wiped from their memories, except for one cuari scholar who managed to write it all down. He alone of the cuari understood what would happen if the portal reversed itself and all knowledge of how it could be closed again was lost. He wrote the Books of the cuari, and it is believed the gods let him, for they could have stopped him had they wished it. They did wipe his mind clear of the event after he was done. Then the gods created three new species of beings, each with the full range of goodness and evil that the cuari had tried to erase.”
Rachael stood up and paced around the small front room. “A group drawn from the three new species was also given the task of watching over the new world. Unlike the cuari, these Guardians had knowledge of what had truly happened and the Books of cuari. As well as how to use both when the portal opens again. But in thousands of years, knowledge and books can be lost.”
Jenna felt like she had been struck with too much information at once. “But why worry about the portal at all? I thought the gods destroyed it.”
Rachael slowly shook her head. “They could only destroy the physical aspect of it. Without the unique set of skills from the cuari who created it, they couldn’t will it out of existence. It still exists, even though we cannot see it.” A small frown creased her face and she looked down for a moment. Then she shook it off. “And they still hoped that their lost brother would be able to return.”
Something finally connected in Jenna’s overloaded mind. “So you think that this portal is coming back. And that things are going wrong because of it.”
“Yes. Tor Ranshal and I are two of the Guardians.” She waved a hand at their startled expressions. “Don’t look at me like that. Unlike the cuari, the Guardians are not immortal. The post is handed down when the time comes.” She slipped a quick smile to Jenna. “In fact, I had hoped that your coming might be my time. I’ve been on this world for quite a spell, far longer than any of my kind has lived before. But I see now that something else has shaped your destiny.”
“What do you mean?” That didn’t settle Jenna’s nerves at all.
Rachael resumed her pacing around the small rug. “It is said in one of the books that there is a special Guardian, a protector incarnation. One who will show him or herself when the time is at hand. One who’s Power will be unlike any other. Like the other Guardians, this one will not be immortal, but will be passed down through the generations, to come forth when needed. I think, somehow, you are that protector.”
Now it was Jenna’s turn to drop her jaw. “But how could I be? I’m not from this world.” She paused as a chill crawled up her back. “Unless the mindslave was the protector incarnation?” If the mindslave was some sort of savior, and whoever had made her into a mindslave knew that— “That’s why they’ve been following me.” She whispered it more to herself than the others.
Both sets of sharp kelar ears picked it up however.
“Who’s been following you?” Rachael asked as Storm said, “That could be.”
Jenna looked from one to the other as the insight solidified briefly in her mind. She wanted to say her idea before her mind dumped it out of terror. “Someone’s been looking for me, or rather, this body. My coming over here modified this body somewhat, but I still might be recognizable to whoever destroyed that poor woman.
“If this woman was the protector, and if whoever killed her knew that; they’d fight like hell to make sure she hadn’t come back somehow. Like the women who have been killed that looked like me, and the one who’s been following us. And Ravenhearst must somehow be part of it, that’s why I kept seeing him.”
Luckily, both Storm and Rachael were sharp enough to keep up with her ramblings.
As she nodded her approval of Jenna’s assessment, Rachael raised her hand. “One thing more, whoever controls the portal, should it come back into physical existence, would wield an unheard of amount of Power. Enough to change everything we know, should they wish it. But they’d also have to deal with who, or what, comes through once it is opened.”
Jenna struggled with the implications. “What would be coming through?”
Rachael gave a small shrug. “We’re not sure. Things that were sent in there originally, like the ertin. Perhaps it does link to other worlds, and peoples from them could come through. We’ve truly no way of knowing. We do know that most of the life here on this world now would perish in the cataclysmic changes that the fully opened portal would bring to this world. The worlds are not meant to be open to each other.”
“Wait a minute, what do you mean, like the ertin? What do those creatures have to do with this portal thing?” Storm had managed to overcome his shock.
“The portal was in what is now known as the Markare.” Rachael favored him with a smile, as she fixed them all cups of tea. “Haven’t you ever wondered how a natural desert could be almost a perfect triangle? Each of the three groups of deities held a corner when they destroyed the portal. The ertin are the first ones that we know of to have come back through after the destruction. A new species doesn’t pop up out of nowhere. But after they appeared, or reappeared, there were still no indications that the portal was open. The Guardians noted it, but there was nothing we could do.”
She waved her hands, trying to dispel the gloom. “Now don’t think that everything’s lost. The portal isn’t open. We are sure of that much. We’ve kept a close eye on it. There was a group of kelar mages who tried fiddling with it many years ago. They died of their own folly before they could do any real harm. But if someone should find out how to open and control the portal…” She let the rest of her thought fade out.
The three of them sat in silence for a long time.
Finally Jenna screwed up her courage. “So, the followers of Qhazborh want me, because somehow I may be able to open this thing? Could I have come through it?” That thought frightened her almost as much as the rest of the morning’s conversation had.
Rachael took her hand gently. “They w
ant you because you can close it. Or so they fear. And I don’t think you came through the portal. Corin found you too far away from the Markare. But someone may have been trying to create a new portal, or experiment with Power, and inadvertently pulled you from your world.” She turned to Storm. “Was there anything odd about the area where you found her?”
Storm started to shake his head, then stopped.
“Yes, there was. I had gone out to check a strange sighting near one of the villages.” He shuddered. “The village had been completely destroyed. Ghortin said he thought it was by a single blast of Power. She wasn’t more than a few hours from it.”
Jenna shook. She’d had a feeling there had been something about her arrival that Ghortin and Storm hadn’t told her, but she had no idea that she might have been the cause of death for an entire village.
Rachael kept a tight hold of Jenna’s hand, keeping up a soothing rub as she held it.
“Easy, lass. I know what you’re thinking, and I can say you’re wrong. You were probably the unexpected result of what happened to that village.” She nodded slowly to herself, as if something had finally been settled.
“I think I can make a fairly accurate guess at what happened. Whoever is trying to reopen the portal, and all signs point to someone doing that, has been experimenting with Power sources. Necromancy is the fastest way. This person was testing to see how much Power they could get by destroying a small village. They must have brought their slaves with them, including a mindslave. Which of course supports the theory that the followers, and possibly the deities, of Qhazborh are involved.” She nodded to Jenna. “This wasn’t an ordinary mindslave; the mage user behind this must have known she was the protector incarnation, which would explain why this mage possibly kept her with them at all times. Somehow they generated a partial portal, one to your world.”
Jenna sat there while a stunned coldness crept over her. “Am I supposed to take over where she left off?” How could she save an entire world? If she had the knowledge the original woman had, instead of only her echo, she might have a chance. But without it?
“I think that’s what has to happen.” Rachael peered into her eyes. “I’m afraid you haven’t had any choice in this whole thing. However, I will give you a choice. You can stay here, fight, and possibly die, to save us. There won’t be another protector incarnation in time, I’m afraid. They are born when needed. A new one won’t be born until you die, or are gone from this plane.” Her wide blue eyes grew brighter. “Or I can send you home.”
The kelar witch said it as if it was the simplest thing in the world, and Jenna felt a momentary thrill. She meant it; she could send her back. Somehow, Jenna knew she could go back to her world.
Then she turned and looked at Storm. She’d grown more than fond of him. And more importantly, how could she let this world go? She was a part of it when she worked her magic. And if she was as important as Rachael claimed, her leaving might end up destroying it.
The vision of the cave where they’d found Ghortin’s empty body collided gruesomely with the faces of the people she’d grown to care about.
“No.” She shook her head at their startled looks when she said it louder than intended. “Sorry, my thoughts kind of escaped.” Another deep breath. “I’m staying. It wouldn’t be right to run off on you. Besides, this is my home now.”
Storm gave her a quick hug, his eyes saying things she wasn’t sure of. Rachael beamed. “I’m pleased. For more than a few reasons. One of which is that your former world may be in danger as well. Obviously, it isn’t too hard to reach. That rogue mage was able to do so. They would have physically been there to cause you to be pulled through.”
Jenna hadn’t thought about that. If the portal was like a hall, the worlds closest to this one were more likely to be affected.
She drew herself up straight. “What do I have to do?”
“First, we have to find my father,” Storm said, as he too straightened up, but Jenna felt his arm still protectively close. “I don’t know why he was taken, but odds are whoever kidnapped my father is the same person who’s trying to open the portal.”
At first it looked like Rachael was going to disagree. Then she gave a small nod. “Although, I think it would be wise to stay out of the Markare until we know more of what is happening. And until we find the third book of the cuari.”
Third? They already had two of these mysterious books? Jenna’s question must have been transparent.
“Yes, child. We have two of the books already. Or rather, I have one and your master has the other.” She scowled. “Or will have once he gets it back. Although he doesn’t know it.”
“That gray book?” Storm and Jenna exclaimed at the same time.
“Yes, that would be it. I’m afraid Tor Ranshal and I felt it best if no one outside of the Guardians knew of their existence. I’m not sure where Ghortin found the one he has; it sort of showed up with him one day. Which is why you must make sure to tell Ghortin everything. Once you get back from freeing your father, we must regroup and plan our strategy. I’m afraid our fight hasn’t even begun.”
34
As it turned out, Rachael’s concern about their trip back was unfounded. Of course they also took an unexpected and twisting route back, and avoided going through Lithunane itself.
The attack upon Rachael was mostly glossed over, but she did say she had people tracking down whoever was behind it. They’d all been out of towners, and even though only one died there, the others wouldn’t have survived long.
She wouldn’t go deeper than that, but said she was completely safe out where she was. Then she admonished them to watch out for each other, gave them one of her bright smiles, handed them packs filled with food, and shooed them out the door.
The trip back had been quiet for the most part, with Storm and Jenna each lost in their own thoughts. When they stopped for a meal break, Storm finally broke the silence.
“I’m glad you’re staying.” He hesitated; looking like that hadn’t been what he was going to say. “Not because of what you may or may not be able to do. I’ve grown fond of you; I wouldn’t want to be without you.” Storm grimaced as the words came out stiffly.
“Thank you. I wouldn’t want that either.” Jenna looked at him closely; was that a blush? It was hard to say with Storm, he was so forthright in some ways, and so closed off in others. Chances were if she pushed the issue now, he’d clam up. “Well, you really are stuck with me; Rachael’s made us each other’s wardens. That will teach you to rescue foundlings in the forest.”
“Ah yes. I’ve always had a soft spot for weak, helpless females.” Storm had composed himself and he looked her over appraisingly.
“Somehow, I think that once you, Ghortin, and Crell are done, that won’t be a term that will apply to me.” She wiped the breadcrumbs from her lap. “How much of what she told us did you already know? I know Ghortin never said anything about any of that to me.”
He pushed a stray hair free from his face. “To be honest, I hadn’t heard of anything that she spoke of before. It was as if she was speaking of a different world, not mine.”
Jenna nodded slowly. That hadn’t made her feel any better. “What will we do now? After we get the king, I mean.”
“I’m not sure. Once we get my father back, I’ll fight wherever they tell me.” His look was thoughtful as he turned and looked out into the woods.
“You think it will be a war?” These skirmishes and odd attacks had been unnerving enough, but the idea of a full-scale war, with both magical and physical aspects, terrified her.
“It’s hard to say. We have to assume that whoever this mage is, he’s got support somewhere—at this point we can’t exclude that he is either a follower of Qhazborh or is working with them. Even the most powerful mage in the world wouldn’t take on everyone at once without support.” He looked down. “I wish I knew why they took my father. Ghortin I can understand, they probably thought to drain his Power. But no demands have been ma
de for my father.”
“Is your father mage-gifted?”
“Slightly, but not enough to be of any value in that respect.” He ran his fingers through the new knots in his long hair, more as an act of frustration than any real hope of untangling it. Jenna didn’t envy him getting his long hair knot free this evening, although she was tempted to offer to help him with it. “That mage must have known we’d not let him take our king without a fight.”
Jenna’s mind slowly came up with a partial answer. “Maybe he was counting on it.” She waved his confused look away. “No, think about it. We shouldn’t have known what we learned from Rachael about that portal. And if we didn’t know better, we’d go blazing into that desert.”
“But why set a trap? What could we have—” He broke off and looked at her sharply. “You. You can’t go with us.” He said it so matter-of-factly that Jenna’s temper rose.
“Oh? How could the mage be assured that I would go traipsing after the king in the first place? And in the second place, weren’t you listening to what Rachael said at all? I have to go.”
He shook his head. “No. You have to be there later, when we’ve figured out what we’re supposed to do to shut this portal.”
“How do you know that this isn’t an important part of that?” She stood up and dusted herself off. “I don’t think we have a choice here.”
Storm followed suit, but his movements were stiff. “Look, you can’t go, and that’s final.”
“And where are you going to put me? The only safe place would be Ghortin’s cottage, and even I know it’s in the opposite direction from the Markare. Or were you planning on sending half our group with me?” She tried to calm down. The look in his eyes told her he wasn’t doing this to be difficult, he was worried. But so was she, and she knew they had no choice; she had to go. She hadn’t been happy to hear Rachael’s words, but she had to admit they rang true.
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