by Thomas Rath
He locked onto those eyes drawing them in as he willed his inner self forward. Almost instantly he found he was staring down at his own body and he could feel Teek stroking the front of his chest.
“Welcome, earth child.” The words seemed to form in his mind though they weren’t really words at all. It was communication on a different level than that shared by people. It felt like pure emotion yet he could understand the meaning behind it as if it had been spoken with words. It made normal communication between people seem barbaric and base.
“How do you know me?” he asked using his own emotions to convey his thoughts in return. He couldn’t really say how he did it other than it just felt innate. It was as if they shared the same intellect and the thoughts just naturally formed and communicated.
“All know the earth child. Your mere existence calls to us.”
Though he wanted to follow along the current path and ask how he called to them and if there were no others who did the same, the urgency of the situation would not allow it. “I need your help.”
“It is all for the earth child to ask.”
“I need you to take my friends and me to our home in the Ardath forest beyond the Shadow Mountains.”
“I know the place you seek, but I cannot do it. It would be unnatural.”
Unnatural? What did she mean by that? How was her giving them a ride unnatural? “Why is it so?” he asked.
“I have chosen. Once one is chosen, no other may take his place.”
Though the words themselves did not answer his question directly, he knew she was speaking about Teek. She had chosen him and would therefore not carry another. “But you carried me once before,” he pressed.
“It was my duty. You were in danger.”
“But we are all in danger now. My friends and I must get to the Ardath for the protection of all.”
“I am sorry, earth child, but it is not possible in this situation for me to carry you.”
Thane was getting desperate. He could feel it in his emotions as they began to strengthen and grow darker. “Is there no way?”
Tchee paused and he could see through her eyes as she regarded him as if searching for something hidden. “There may be an alternative but I make no promise.”
He was about to respond but suddenly felt himself jolted back into his own mind and body as if he’d been pushed by some unknown force. His eyes refocused on Tchee just in time to see her spread her massive wings and leap into the air and then wing her way southward.
Chapter Four
Dor found Kat late in the afternoon the following day. He’d been watching with interest the growing mass that was Calandra as it continued to expand to his vision with every step he took. He had volunteered to find the healers and reveal their plan should the HuMan king continue to reject good council and judgment. They would need all the healers they could gather to leave with them should it come to that. Tam had wanted to come with him, but knowing Kat’s aversion to her, he thought it best she stay with Thane and Jne.
Kat was just finishing up with wrapping a child’s arm when he approached. He noticed her quick scan of his immediate area as if she were looking for someone else before her face broke into a warm smile. “Dor,” she cried, “It warms me to see you—alone.”
He blushed at the obvious show of affection. Though he knew that Kat was aware of his feelings for Tam, the healer still displayed her unabashed feelings for him whenever they were together. It made him uncomfortable which seemed to only please Kat that much more.
“And you, Kat,” he answered without directly looking at her. “We need to talk. Where is Bren?”
Her demeanor changed instantly to one of ice. “And what is it that requires him more than just me?” she snorted.
He raised his hands in defense. “It is not like that, Kat, I would just rather say this once to you both then have to seek him out on my own and repeat myself.”
She glared at him briefly as if trying to decide the validity of what he’d said and then just shrugged and pointed behind her. “He’s this way. Come, I’ll take you to him.”
Pushing through the throng of refugees that slowly pressed on toward the capitol city in a slow moving mass, they veered slightly to the right, darting between the ragged and weary people of Haykon. Shuffling along in silence, for an extended length of time, Dor was becoming convinced that Kat was just leading him about. But finally he caught a glimpse of the tell-tale brown robes, worn by all healers, draped around a person bent over in the back of a cart that was being pulled along by a woman and her daughter. Bren jumped from the cart and walked toward the woman just as they approached.
“Your husband’s fever has broken,” he said to the woman whose face clearly showed her relief and gratitude. “He is still weak and will need to rest more but as soon as he is up you should feed him as much as you can get into his belly to give him back his strength.”
Dor could see the tears of joy slipping down the woman’s cheeks as she thanked the healer profusely. Bren just nodded and turned away addressing the approaching pair. “What news Master Dor?” he said, clearly pleased to see the young Chufa. “And what of Master Thane, will he keep our meeting tonight? I am anxious to know whether or not I have the gift of the wind.”
Dor smiled slightly while his own face paled. He remembered all too well his experience with Bren when the healer tried to teach him to pull fire from a piece of wood. He’d never felt so wrong in his life. Though Bren had pushed again and again, insisting that he could learn the gifts from other Tane, Dor wanted nothing of it. In his mind it wasn’t natural. Nor, as his reaction had proven, was it to his body.
“If Thane promises something,” he finally said, “then you can count on it. My errand deals with something of greater import.” Pulling the two healers aside where others would not hear, he quickly went over the previous day’s meeting and the decision that had been reached.
“It is a long journey, Master Dor,” Bren said. “But we see the wisdom in it. There are many healers in Calandra and many more that can be gathered quickly from other towns. We will assemble all we can and give what aid we are able.”
Dor bowed his head slightly in acceptance. “Your help will prove of great worth I am certain.”
Bren grinned. “Especially if Thane and I are successful tonight.”
Dor didn’t respond. Instead he merely turned into the crowd and forced his way against the current of people back toward Thane and Tam. He wanted nothing to do with the healer’s plans to “expand” his gifts. As he went he thought he could hear Kat’s voice rising above the noise accusing Bren of chasing him off. He sighed. Not for the last time he longed for the innocent days of the past that were filled with nothing more than mundane activities mixed with the occasional bout of mischief. Even PocMar and his gang seemed appealing at times. What he wouldn’t give to have those times again.
* * *
Thane and Jne rode up just as the last rays of the sun were bathing the plains with their glow and casting a revealing light on the outer edges of the great city of Calandra. Jack turned in his saddle, waiting for his report as Thane eyed the massive sprawl of brick and wood buildings that surrounded the city proper.
“And what is the news, my friend,” Jack had to ask, pulling Thane back to those who now crowded him to get his report. He’d been out again on the winds to check on the progress of Zadok’s army but seeing Calandra up close after watching its form ever growing at their approach had captured his attention.
Finally looking down as Jack’s voice broke his concentration, he blinked. “They have not moved. The sacrifice of those behind may not have been in vain, though they did not choose it. It would appear we have possibly a week to move as many as feasible out of the city on our race to Bedler’s Keep.”
Jack smiled though the pain he felt at those lost was still evident in his visage. “A tiny ray of light in the face of such hopelessness,” he said softly.
“Not enough time though for us,�
�� Dor said. “Without the help of Teek’s flying friend, it will take us that long, if not more just to reach the Ardath. We may be too late to help at all.”
Teek looked at the three Chufa and then bowed his head slightly. “I am sorry, Dor,” he said meekly, “but I have no control over what Tchee will or will not do. I would gladly go for you if you thought I could retrieve the thing you seek.”
Dor shook his head. Tam smiled at the young Waseeni who, though just a couple of years her junior, seemed so innocent and naïve. “We do not blame you, Teek,” she said, trying to reassure him. “Nor do we blame, Tchee. You both have been a tremendous asset to us all. I am sure that what she has in mind will help us greatly.”
“Whether that is true or not,” Thane added, “we cannot wait much longer for her return. We need to be on our way whether the king will side with us or not.”
“We will have to camp on the outskirts of the city tonight,” Jack said, “but come sunup tomorrow morning he will have to accept our presence in court and then we will know who our friends, and our enemies, really are.”
“Aye,” said Helgar, “but it be no matter to us what his mind may be,” he said indicating himself and the dwarfs that marched with him. “We will be making our way west before the morning sun back to Thornen Dar. We have done what we could be doin’ to git ye here and the purpose of our comin’ be no longer of concern since the fight be on us already. Now we must be preparin’ our people to lend an axe or two to the battle.”
“Our thanks to you Master dwarf and to your people for what they have done to help us and what they will yet do,” Jack voiced for all present. “We will bid you safe journey with our thanks and will look to your coming at Bedler’s Keep.”
Bardolf smiled, a bright twinkle in his eye. “Ye can be countin’ on it.”
“Aye,” all the dwarfs present voiced their agreement.
“Ye will, of course, be watchin’ after me friend here, Teek, now won’t ya?” Bardolf asked, ruffling the Waseeni boy’s hair.
“You can count on that, Master Bardolf,” Jack said winking at Teek, “like he was my own.”
Teek blushed at the attention. Part of him wanted to leave with the dwarfs. Bardolf and Helgar had become like fathers to him and he still wanted to work their mines to appease his people. But he knew that Jack and his friends still needed Tchee’s help. He couldn’t leave until she came back. And after all, he would have no trouble catching up to them should he want or need to later.
Domis smiled at the exchange. He and Teek had become fast friends, both being orphans, and both falling under Jack’s care since they left Haykon. He was not anxious to see his friend gone so soon.
* * *
Thane hailed the two healers as they approached the campfire. With confirmation that Zadok’s army was still a good distance away and since they were right at the doors of Calandra, it was decided that cook fires would be allowed. Knowing what had happened to Dor when he’d tried to learn the QenChe Tane Thane jokingly asked his friend if he’d like to light the fire. His reply was a launched rock that passed extremely close to Thane’s ear. Thane chuckled at Dor’s response. “I guess that means no.”
Dor just harrumphed at Thane’s apparent amusement at his expense but Tam placed a calming hand on his arm that brought a smile to his face and a poorly hid frown to Thane’s. It was still difficult for him to see them together but he knew he’d have to do better at masking his pain if they were to maintain the friendship that was more important to him then practically anything else.
He jumped when he felt Jne’s hand rest tenderly on his arm but she recoiled immediately in response to his reaction. He turned to look at her and thought he saw some of the same pain he felt but masked over by the burning look she gave him as she pointed out the two approaching healers. He held her gaze for a long moment, her eyes boring into his as if daring him to say something. Looking down at her slender hand, now balled into a tight fist, he felt his own hand lift and then tentatively reach for hers.
“Thane,” Bren called, pulling him, and his hand, back.
Jne quickly rose and walked out into the camp disappearing into the darkness. He sighed as he watched her go and then reluctantly turned his attention to the healer. He wished Bren had not been so punctual in their meeting but he couldn’t blame him too harshly. He too was anxious to see what exactly he could teach the healer regarding his Tane. If they were successful, it could mean a light of hope against their enemies.
“Welcome, Bren,” he finally said, directing him and Kat to sit where Jne had just been.
“I am sorry, Master Thane,” Bren said before sitting, “if I have offended Mistress Jne in anyway.”
Thane laughed. “Oh no my friend, you would know if you’d offended her. That is you would come to know it as you left this life for the one beyond.”
Bren swallowed hard and nodded, absently bringing his hand up to his neck. “I understand,” he whispered.
“Do not fear, Bren. It is something between Jne and me that I am finding that I need to deal with more quickly than I had supposed. Now, let us get on with why you are here.”
Bren smiled and nodded his assent. Kat seemed to be ignoring the whole exchange, her eyes boring into Tam’s turned head as she whispered something to Dor. Dor suddenly nodded and then started to rise. “I think we will take our leave then and leave you two to your…” he paused as if searching for the right word, “…work.”
Thane quickly stood. “Wait,” he pleaded with his friend. “I know how you feel about this but I really wish you would stay. This may be extremely important to us all and I might need your help.”
Dor’s face paled noticeably. He had met death multiple times and had stared it straight in the face and almost dared it to take him but such situations held no discomfort for him like the time he’d tried to use the powers of another Tane. This was something that did not sit right with him. He would gladly face ten wolgs without so much as a knife than try to use any Tane other than his own.
“I won’t do it,” he finally said. “I won’t try to learn another Tane and there is nothing you can say that will get me to change my mind.”
Thane smiled. “I don’t ask that of you, and I never would. It seems most likely that you, or Tam for that matter, are unable to use any Tane other than your own. I can’t explain it, but I believe it has something to do with the purity of your blood in that direction. You are MarGua and nothing else.”
Dor nodded enthusiastically. “I agree, but what then could you need me for?”
“I need you to help test a theory I have and then figure out how to pass what we may learn onto others.”
Bren chuckled. “There is nothing really to figure, Master Thane. We have been teaching the ways of multiple Tane for years. I know what it will take for you to teach me the TehChao Tane.”
Thane shook his head. “I’m not going to teach you the TehChao tonight, Bren,” he said. “I’m going to teach you how to draw out water.”
While the others present drew in deep breaths of surprise, Bren laughed nervously while shaking his head. “Impossible. Drawing water is not a power of any of the Tane. How can I learn something that cannot be done?”
Thane gave him a hard, serious look. “But it can be done, my friend. And if I can teach you how it will be of great benefit to us all.” Turning to Dor, he added, “As well as you my friend.”
Dor looked surprised. “Me?”
Thane nodded. “Yes. Whereas you are unable, like Bren or Kat, to learn another Tane, pulling water from an object is a power reserved for the MarGua.”
“But it’s impossible,” he started to say and then realized who he was talking to. Thane had pulled the water from the dragon using the MarGua Tane. It was that power that had saved the lives of hundreds and, very probably, his life as well. Could it really be done? That was a poor question since he knew that it could be—he’d seen it. But could he do it?
“Then I want to learn to ride the winds as you
do,” Tam suddenly said, the excitement obvious in her voice. All eyes jerked to rest upon her.
“Tam!” Dor said incredulously.
“What? If you can learn to pull water, then it is only fair that Thane teach me to ride the winds.”
“But we don’t know that he can teach me,” Dor pressed, though he really didn’t understand why he was arguing with her about it. He of all people knew that Tam was stubborn to the core and that when she set her mind to something it was easier to hold back the tide than deny her what she was after.
Her face suddenly became red. “That does not mean that I cannot learn,” she spat and then turned to Thane. “Will you teach me?”
Thane smiled at Dor, suddenly feeling relief that it was his good friend she had chosen and not him. Bowing slightly to her, he said, “As always, I will teach you what I can, but not tonight. Tonight we concentrate on the power of the MarGua” His comment was not lost on her, her mind following back through the memories of the past when she’d blackmailed him to teach her how to use a bow and a knife. It was ironic that his teaching her was partly why they were all there together now instead of dried bones on a desolate mountain.
“Fine,” she said, the smile returning to her face. “But soon.”
Thane smiled and quickly reached for a leather water skin resting against the rock on which he’d been seated. He tossed it to Dor and then motioned for Bren to come closer. “Now, I don’t know whether this can be done or not but the fact that Kat and Bren have been able to learn multiple Tane and the fact that I, though having all five, can perform what would seem extraordinary things with my Tane, leads me to believe that the powers I have are found in all the Tane but lie dormant or their skills forgotten. I believe we can change that. Dor, I want you to pull the water out of the bag.”
His friend smiled. “That’s easy.” Opening the top of the skin he took a long drink before replacing the top and giving Thane a knowing look. “You were right, I can do it.”