by Jamie Murray
"What name is that?"
"Jameson."
Baloric only looked blankly at him in response.
"No kidding," he said finally.
"Is something wrong?"
"No," said Baloric. "It's just…that guy I mentioned? His name was Jameson."
Baloric put the necklace down the table and paced as Jameson stared at him with bewilderment in his eyes.
"Jameson was always talking about destiny and what he wanted his to be," Baloric said. "Do you believe in any of that stuff?"
"I'm not sure," Jameson said truthfully.
"All right, I'm going to try something," said Baloric, gesturing for Jameson to sit on the bed. As Jameson passed him, he could feel Baloric's stare almost piercing through him, studying every movement. "Before I get myself all excited, I want to know for sure if you're somehow the real Jameson, or if this is just a series of bizarre coincidences."
"Could there really be so many coincidences?" Jameson asked as he sat down.
Baloric knelt down in front of him. "Sometimes coincidences are more apparent when you're looking for them so desperately," Baloric explained. "And I think it's a fair claim to make that we're both so desperate."
"What are you going to do?" Jameson questioned as Baloric put his hands on either side of Jameson's face.
"I'm going to see if I can read your thoughts," he answered, closing his eyes. "If I can find a memory to prove your story."
"I can't remember anything," Jameson said.
"There might be a bit of something left," Baloric said.
"I did have a few weird dreams," Jameson started to explain.
"It might hurt," Baloric warned him. "But it's important you stay still."
"What happens if—?" Jameson started but Baloric shushed him.
Jameson didn't move and waited for Baloric to speak again. The inside of Baloric's palms began to shimmer, as if bending the air around them and Jameson felt a strange pang in the back of his head that felt almost like he was being sharply poked. He tried to ignore it and stay still, but he felt the pang again and again, pushing against the back of his head.
Soon, there were no interruptions between the pangs so it was just a long continuous stream of pain, echoing throughout his skull. Jameson tried as hard as he could to obey Baloric's orders, but he found the pain too unbearable, and pulled away from Baloric's invisible grip on him.
As soon as he did, Baloric groaned and put his palm against his forehead, crumpling to the floor. Jameson didn't even realize Baloric had reacted in such a way until he sat up and observed him lying on the floor, not moving.
"Baloric?" Jameson said, standing up, but Baloric did not respond.
8. I Failed That
Chapter 8
Jameson fell down to his knees and turned Baloric over, but his eyes were closed. There was a small trail of blood coming out of his nose that Jameson hadn't even noticed, and he realized that whatever Baloric was doing had been more painful for him.
After Jameson checked to make sure Baloric was still breathing, he propped him up and put him gently down on the bed. He sat beside the bed, hoping Baloric would wake up soon and unsure if there was anything he should be doing. As he sat patiently, he wondered if Baloric's actions had fixed anything with his own head.
Jameson stood up and strained himself to remember, but all Baloric had apparently did was bring back all the images he had seen while he was sleeping. He saw the same things, except they seemed much clearer; the lines were more defined and it was easier for him to visualize the expressions and faces of the people in his mind. He could almost see straight into the eyes of the boy who stabbed him in the leg, and they were familiar eyes.
Just when he was starting to settle on certain memories to understand them better, he heard Baloric start to move from the bed. Jameson immediately went to his side and knelt next to the bed as Baloric sat up, his head in his hand.
"Are you all right?" Jameson asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine…" Baloric said as he tried to stand. He stumbled, so Jameson eased him back onto the bed.
"I'm sorry," said Jameson. "I moved."
"I'm glad you did," Baloric commented. "If you hadn't, I don't know what would have happened."
"What do you mean?"
"I held on to long," Baloric replied. "I could have killed you, me or both of us."
Jameson didn't expect such a serious statement to be said so casually.
"Did you get anything?" Jameson said.
"Only a few flashes," Baloric answered. "You hung onto the strongest memories, but you really have lost most of it."
"Was it enough?" Jameson said nervously. "Do you know who I am?"
"It was enough," Baloric said as he stood. Jameson tried to stop him again, but Baloric gestured for him not to bother. Instead, he put his hand out for Jameson to shake. Confusedly, Jameson took Baloric's hand but, rather than shaking it, Baloric took hold of Jameson's shoulder and pulled him into a hug.
Jameson remained silent as Baloric held onto him. Finally, Baloric let him go, and then turned away from him without giving an explanation.
"What is it?" Jameson said.
"I don't know how," said Baloric. "But you're back."
Jameson's eyes lit up. "Who am I?"
Baloric took the necklace from the table in front of him and held it out for Jameson to see, with the stones dangling. "Your name is Jameson Zane and you are from a village called Rayran in the Forest just east of this city. You are a descendant of the Ancient Lorne and the people who didn't know you but knew of you usually called you the Prophesized One. You saved my life more the once in the short time I knew you, and you are someone I put all my trust into."
Jameson took the necklace from Baloric.
"You are someone who died ten years ago, and you are someone I was supposed to protect." Baloric lowered his hand and looked to the floor. "Obviously, I failed at that."
"I don't understand," said Jameson quietly.
"Neither do I," Baloric admitted. "I don't know how it happened, but I saw what remained of your memories and there's no doubting it. You are who I say you are."
Jameson stared at the stones, and then met eyes with Baloric. "You were the boy with the knife, weren't you?"
Baloric slowly nodded. "It was wearing my form, but yes," Baloric answered.
"How can I trust you?" Jameson said. "In my memory, you stabbed me."
"I know," said Baloric. "Right now, it doesn't make sense to you, and I know that. But if you want to know who you are and regain your memories, you have to trust me."
"What are you going to do?" Jameson asked, taking a step backwards.
"I have to take you to see Louisa," Baloric replied.
"Who's Louisa?"
Baloric made an uneasy face as he suddenly realized he didn't have any words to describe exactly who Louisa was. "It's complicated," he answered. "She's someone who knew you much better than I did."
"Why should I go see her?"
"Because if she's with me, I can perhaps revive your memories," Baloric said.
Jameson hesitated. "What was that stuff you were talking about before?" he said randomly, as if trying to change the subject. "With the Prophecy and Ancient Lorne or whatever. Explain that to me first."
"It's certainly not something I can summarize," Baloric said as he began to pack up a small bag, and quickly changed his shirt. "Come on, I'll explain everything to you once we get there."
"No, I want you to explain everything right now."
"We don't have time right now."
"Of course we have time!" Jameson argued. "You wouldn't have known the difference if I hadn't showed up! You tried to turn me away, and now you're saying we have no time for you to explain anything to me?"
Baloric stopped packing a moment and looked at Jameson.
"Very well," he said. "Brace yourself. One thousand years ago, your ancestor, known as the Ancient Lorne, brought balance to each of the six nations by creating a Spirit in each one. When the
Spirit died, their power became a stone."
He pointed at the stones Jameson was holding.
"That's the power of the Six Spirits right there," Baloric said. "It is said that only one person in this world can hold all six and bring the power back. Ten years ago, you had that power. When you held the stones, they would glow and produce abilities that had enough power to destroy the Forces in an instant.
"Also, there was a prophecy written. The Prophesized One will emerge from the Forest, bearing the Rain Stone. That's the green one on the end there. Aided by the Power, he will travel with a woman with golden hair; his guide, and an armed horseman; his protector. The Power was me, the Guide was Louisa, and the Protector was a man named Walden."
"What were we supposed to do?"
"Ironically, that's the next part of the Prophecy. Together, they shall locate the magic of the stones, hold them in one hand and activate the Door. The Door holds the greatest power known to mortals; the Fighter, the Rescuer and the Mystics."
"What door?"
"It's a door beneath this city," Baloric said. "We traveled there ten years ago, and that's where you were killed. I hold the Mystics, and that's what gives me my unique abilities to utilize power without draining life force from anything. Aside from that, my new powers were basically useless without you to hold the stones."
"And what about the Rescuer and the Fighter? Did those go to Louisa and Walden?"
"They did," Baloric nodded. "The Rescuer, which Louisa holds, is what has been keeping us hidden from Lord Devin and the Forces all these years. He would give anything to have us killed and the powers taken from us."
"What does the rest of the Prophecy say?"
"The rest of the Prophecy feels very obsolete," Baloric said. "But there is one part that I still feel we interpreted wrong, and that's why there were disastrous results when we went beneath the city. It stated, upon entering the shrine, the guardians shall perform their eternal duty, and the Seven of the Prophesized One will fulfill his destiny to unite the six nations. The stones will turn to dust, and the spirits will rise again."
Jameson blinked a few times. "The stones didn't turn to dust," he said.
"No," said Baloric, shaking his head. "They didn't."
"What exactly happened?" Jameson pushed. "I still don't understand this."
"I'll explain the rest on the way," Baloric said, lifting his backpack up.
"On the way where?" Jameson said.
"To see Louisa."
"Where is she?"
"Miner Town."
"Where's Miner Town?"
"A three hour ride west from here."
Baloric swept past Louisa and opened his door. "Now?" Jameson exclaimed, following after him as he pat his horse to wake it up.
"We don't have any time to waste," Baloric responded. "You're already ten years late for fixing the world."
"What do you mean?" said Jameson. "I don't understand any of this! How am I supposed to fix the world?"
Baloric leaned over, took the stones and then waved them in Jameson's face. "Make these glow," he said, putting them back in Jameson's palm. "And then you can fix the world."
"I don't understand," Jameson said firmly.
"I know that," said Baloric as he pulled himself up on the horse. He reached his hand down for Jameson to take. "If you come with me, you'll understand everything within the day. That's what you want, isn't it? It's why you came to me, right?"
"I didn't expect it to be so much," Jameson said.
"None of us did, Jameson."
Jameson looked Baloric and the horse up and down, and then cautiously reached out and took Baloric's hand. He pulled him up onto the horse so he was seated right behind him. Baloric turned the horse around and snapped the reins, riding towards the exit of Market City that was located conveniently close by to where Baloric's home was.
Jameson looked back at the road behind him, and regretted even going to meet Baloric. He knew when Meg woke up in the morning, she would cry when she could not find him.
9. This Can't Be Jameson
Chapter 9
Jameson almost fell asleep leaning against Baloric until he felt the horse come to a stop. He pulled away and looked ahead, expecting to see a house but he was only faced with an enormous gate that stretched to the twilight of the very early morning. He gazed up at the top to see an old man peering down at them.
"Good morning," Baloric called to the man.
"Baloric!" said the old man. "You're back early! Who's that?"
"An old friend," Baloric replied.
"This world needs a few more of those!" chuckled the man.
He gestured to someone on the other side of the gate, and then the doors began to open.
"Wake up, Jameson," Baloric urged.
"I'm awake," Jameson replied.
Baloric trotted into the town that was absolutely silent. Jameson glanced at his surroundings and found that, despite it giving off the appearance that it was a small village, the houses stretched on further than he could see, even curving up onto the mountains behind it.
"Miner Town?" Jameson said to Baloric.
"Yes," Baloric replied. "It's almost doubled in size since the attack on Ailyth. Most people who survived came here. Also, there has been an influx of Ivilia as well now that their lake has dried up."
Jameson didn't understand much of what Baloric had said, but he decided to just remember it until everything was explained to him. Baloric navigated the town until he finally pointed out a small inn up ahead.
"This is where I stay," Baloric said as he dismounted and tied the horse outside the inn where it was among several others.
"You live in an inn?" Jameson said.
"I don't live here," Baloric corrected. "I just stay here sometimes."
He quietly opened up the doors and gestured for Jameson to follow. The inside had two floors of rooms with a staircase leading to the balcony. There was a desk in the corner, and Baloric went right to it without saying anything. Jameson cautiously followed until Baloric leaned over the desk and waved his hand for Jameson to look as well.
When Jameson leaned over the desk, he saw a girl asleep underneath it. She had long black hair that was pulled back very tightly and a very delicate face that clashed with her dark boyish clothing. She inhaled and exhaled very quietly, making hardly a sound at all. Jameson thought that she must be Louisa, the woman Baloric had mentioned several times when they were still in Market City.
Baloric began to clear his throat, quietly at first and then loudly to wake her up. She stirred and looked up, disoriented, before quickly springing to her feet and hitting her head on the way up. She moaned as she covered the spot she hit, and then ran her palm over it to make sure her hair was still in place. She finally stood up straight only to frown when she saw Baloric. She took a moment to give him a disapproving look, and then turned to Jameson, looking confused at first and then trying on a smile at a loss of anything else to do. She was much younger than Jameson had originally thought when he saw her sleeping, but he did notice her eyes looked a lot like Meg's green ones, just much deeper. In fact, the more he looked at her, the more he thought she looked like someone he knew, which was strange since he didn't know anyone.
"What are you doing back?" the girl said finally as she turned her head to Baloric.
"And why were you sleeping?" Baloric asked. "What if I was a customer?"
"All our rooms are full," she sneered playfully.
"Funny," Baloric said sarcastically. "Come on, I know you're happy to see me."
"Yeah right, Baloric," she said, and then nodded her head at Jameson. "Who's your friend?"
"Jameson, this is Johanna," said Baloric. "Johanna, this is Jameson."
Jameson tried not to look surprised or disappointed, since he had been expecting her to be Louisa. Still, Johanna reached out for his hand to shake it, but then she stopped and pulled her hand back.
"Jameson!" Johanna exclaimed, looking back at Baloric. "Really? Strang
e!"
"Not that strange," Baloric said.
"Strange that you should make friends with someone named Jameson when all you do is whine about another someone named Jameson," said Johanna.
"Oh, yes, then I'm sure that is strange then," said Baloric with a sigh.
"Sorry?" Jameson said hesitantly.
She held out her hand again, and this time Jameson shook it. "Nice to meet you, Jameson," she said warmly. "I'm Johanna. You can call me Jo if you want. I own this inn."