by L. S. Gibson
"Apparently? Are you thinking perhaps this woman could be from this House?"
"It's possible. Why else would I be shown the vision? It was pure chance you opened that particular drawer."
"Perhaps it wasn't just chance at all." Jhond looked thoughtful, then he asked, "Could it be certain crystals were created for just that reason? To keep track of the ten families. Is that it? There was one created for each of the ten families? Have you found others by such a method?"
Ninian stared at Jhond. "You're amazing. The knowledge of the origin of the ten Houses was supposed to have been passed down in my family, but, somewhere along the line, part of the information was lost. I know where seven of the families are. I believed the eighth, the House of Thail, died out about a hundred years ago. Trace of the ninth and tenth was lost.
"I suppose it's possible that at the time of the magi Withdrawal such crystals were created for the ten Houses, but if so, the information was never passed down in my family." Ninian was confused. If it was true why didn't the House of Hartees know of it? It made no sense.
"You said yourself it's possible many magi were in hiding, waiting for a safe time to reveal themselves. Now I've emerged, perhaps you can even find the last two families. Perhaps that's why you found the crystal today. Look at how many drawers there are, and, as you said, I just happened to open that one?"
"Yes, you're right. It's a clue I can't afford to ignore. It's time to stop talking and take action. Let's get everything here to the Temple, stored away safely."
"You don't want to check out any of the others yet?" Jhond asked.
"They've waited for all these centuries. What's a little longer?"
Jhond frowned, looking uncertain. "I'm not sure you should act so precipitately in tracking down the vision. I'm not suggesting we should investigate the library in any detailed way, but I think it important that at least we--I--skim them all, just to check there are no other crystals that provide such direct interaction."
Ninian blew out a breath and glanced at Jhond with a ghost of a smile. "I still tend to forget now and then you're the one with the power nowadays."
"Ninian--"
"Don't worry...not a complaint, just an observation. And, of course, you're right. The female mage will still be there waiting for us after we've safely stowed these in the Temple."
Ninian slipped a hand into his pocket and took something out, drawing a sigil as he did so. He murmured words of magistry, and a large chest appeared near the plinth in the center of the room. Meanwhile, Jhond opened a few more drawers, glancing at the crystals inside, in preparation to transferring them to the chest, which Ninian would then shrink with the wired oval artifact he had found in this very room and which he always carried on his person.
"Ninian," Jhond said, and Ninian was struck by the odd tone of his voice.
He walked to Jhond's side and followed his friend's gaze into an open drawer, the one directly below where he had found the ovoid crystal. There, sitting alone on the padded silk bed was a large crystal, perhaps the largest he had ever seen, but what really caught his attention was the crack that split the crystal from roughly halfway along its length to the tip. Also the color of the crystal was wrong. Instead of the bright reflection of clarity, this crystal was clouded in the upper cracked half, while the lower half was shot through with white and cream streaks.
"I've never seen one like it," Ninian murmured. "Wait!" he declared, as Jhond extended his hand and touched the crystal, Ninian's warning coming just a second too late.
* * * *
Jhond lifted the crystal and was instantly struck by the power of the thing. It surged through him. His back arched and his mouth opened on a silent cry. His automatic reaction was the desire to drop the crystal, but his hand refused to obey his commands. If anything, his fingers gripped the crystal tighter. Jhond was falling, almost the way he did when interacting with the Strands of Time, but he could see nothing but blackness.
Abruptly, the darkness lightened to a pale grey, and though Jhond couldn't see anything as his senses went into overdrive, he could smell heat and decay. He could taste copper, acrid as if burned; he could hear sobs and murmurs of prayers for help, broken by a sudden scream. Above all of this, his senses were screaming of danger, of evil beyond imagining. As heat and pain seared his hand and Jhond finally managed to withdraw, the last thing he heard was laughter, pure joyous laughter.
Jhond knew it was joy at the pain of others.
Chapter 3
Jhond gasped, heart pounding as he dropped the crystal to fall back into the drawer. Nursing his painful hand close to his chest, Jhond felt Ninian's hand gripping his shoulder, and it was only then Ninian's words got through to him.
"Jhond! For the Lords' sake, answer me!"
Swallowing the bile in his throat, Jhond said, "All right, it's all right. I'm fine."
Ninian sighed and glanced at his hand. "That's not fine."
"No," Jhond said and automatically spelled his burned hand. It swiftly healed and the pain subsided, but his confusion didn't.
"You should never have picked up a broken one," Ninian insisted.
"You've never seen one before, so why would you say that?"
"I think what happened to you explains that conclusion," Ninian replied, as if that was answer enough.
Jhond shrugged. "Maybe, but what I experienced was very important and not to be ignored." Jhond went on to describe what he'd seen and felt. "And as I was returning, I got a sense of where I'd been."
"You said you couldn't see anything clearly, that it was mostly sensations you experienced."
"True, yet somehow I know it was north from here, far to the north." He glanced at Ninian, raising an eyebrow.
"You're not saying what I think you're saying?" Ninian looked perplexed.
"I'm saying whatever sensations I experienced led me to the conclusion that the location was somewhere near the icy wastes."
Ninian stared at Jhond for an instant. "Well, that confirms it then. I'd already come to the conclusion we ought to go north; now I think it's a necessity. Whether these two visions are linked I don't know yet--though it seems likely--but we have to hurry and get all these items transferred to the chest so we can move it to a safe location and plan our trip north."
"I need to speak with Patinus and my father before we leave," Jhond said absently.
Ninian paused in his work with the wired oval to say, "You've finally worked out a way to leave them a calling card?"
Jhond smiled. "Sure you can't read my mind?"
"No, I just know the way it works."
"Well, that is certainly one way to describe it," Jhond said. "I've been trying to think of a method that would let me know what was happening to them so, if they needed me, wherever I was, I could come to their rescue. I couldn't come up with a foolproof way to do that, but I did come up with something almost as good."
Ninian was curious, but Jhond just carried on sorting out the items and smiling to himself.
Eventually, they were ready. The room was now empty, every scrything block and crystal shard reduced to a miniature of its true size and stored inside the chest. Ninian had one last look around before he used the oval to reduce the chest to a size small enough to fit into one of Jhond's jacket pockets. They pulled on their cloaks and descended, leaving behind an empty building.
Amired was dozing under the shade of his tree, roused by a tap from Jhond's boot. His eyes snapped open, but he soon relaxed when he saw his friends staring down at him.
"All done?" he asked as he got to his feet, adding with a grin, "Sequestered neatly in a pocket?"
"Yes, but we also have a new quest to pursue," Ninian said.
Amired frowned. "I thought you just came here to collect the contents, not to use it."
"We did, but we were each drawn to touch a particular crystal, and now we must follow where they lead," Jhond said.
"Ninian said a quest. Did he mean two?"
"To be honest, we're not
certain. Possibly different questions with maybe one answer, but we won't know for sure until we follow the clues," Jhond replied.
"Which lead where?"
"North...both crystals pointed to the far north, near the icy wastes."
"Are you going to use your powers to reach there or were you wanting a more mundane form of travel?" Amired asked.
Ninian glanced at Jhond with a raised eyebrow.
"You've not thought that far ahead yet?" Amired queried.
"I've been thinking about that and don't feel I can trust the...the pull I received via the crystal. It was cracked, but I think the damage went beyond just what was obvious. I'm not prepared to put myself or Ninian at risk."
"You said the crystal was cracked? I've never heard of such a thing."
"Neither had we, so hence my caution." Jhond met Ninian's gaze for an instant before transferring his attention back to Amired. "So, my dear Captain, if you have nothing better to do, would you like to take us as far north as you consider safe in the Horologue?"
"I'd be honored, but you understand I have to pay my crew." He left the rest unsaid.
"Of course, your fee will be no problem," Ninian replied.
Amired laughed. "Of course not."
"With one little detour," Jhond added. "We need to return to the Iroban port of Buchern so we can visit with Patinus, Gallia and my father in the capital city of Robat before we start out on our new adventure."
"I'm sure my crew will be delighted to hear the Horologue will be honored with your presence for some time to come." Amired's expression gave the lie to his words.
"Are you suggesting we're not popular with your crew?" Ninian asked, sounding perfectly serious.
Amired grinned as he began the climb down the cliff path.
* * * *
Jhond strode along the corridor of the Iroban palace, Ninian at his shoulder, and as they approached the entrance to the throne room, the steward stepped forward to announce their arrival to Prince Patinus and his lovely wife, the Princess Gallia. Patinus was on his feet immediately, striding to greet them through the large room filled with courtiers, cheerful and self-satisfied men and women in their best attire. Gallia remained seated with a broad smile on her face.
"You were successful, I trust," Patinus said, as Jhond and Ninian each gave him a graceful bow.
"Indeed." Jhond patted his pocket. "All safe and sound, but we have come to say farewell as we must be leaving soon."
Patinus frowned, but obviously recognized Jhond didn't wish to say anything else in front of the courtiers watching closely. Patinus turned and nodded at his seneschal, and the man tapped his rod on the floor.
"The audience is at an end. Please clear the room. You may return on the morrow for the next audience."
There was some grumbling among the attendees, but the room quickly emptied. The seneschal glanced at Patinus, who signaled the man to leave...which he did smartly.
Jhond stepped closer and asked Patinus, "Is my father still here or has he--"
"Here, son."
Jhond turned around to see his father approaching, the door to the throne room closing behind him. Lord Girau grasped his son's hand and pulled Jhond into his embrace.
"I'm glad to see you back. I'm due to leave in the morning for Timendra. King Corianus has summoned me for a full report of our success and information on the plans to finally end the war against the imperial forces. I wanted so much to see you before I left." Girau gazed into his son's eyes, as he continued, "I had the uncomfortable feeling if I didn't see you before you left I'd regret it." He frowned. "What is it, son? What's happening?"
"Let's get comfortable, and we'll explain everything."
"Come," Patinus said, letting Gallia lead the way through a narrow door in the wall behind his throne into a small drawing room.
When everyone was settled, Ninian described their visit to the Isle of Truth and the visions he and Jhond had both experienced. Those listening had many questions to ask, but it was soon clear that neither mage could do more than describe what had happened and the need they felt to follow through without knowing the depth of their reasoning behind it.
"Why do I have the feeling this is going to be dangerous?" Gallia queried.
"Because you worry about your dear friend," Ninian responded, and Gallia met his glance with a nod, aware he knew of her past association with Jhond.
To change the subject, Jhond said, "I wanted to give you each a little something before we leave. A short time ago, I had a difficult experience when I sensed something was wrong with one of you, but I couldn't tell which one, and it took far too long for me to discover the problem." He gave a sheepish grin. "So long that, when I did discover the problem, I was greatly relieved to discover it had already been solved. But I decided there and then I had to find a method of emergency contact between us.
"It took me a while to work out how I could do it"--Jhond slipped a hand into his pocket as he spoke--"but I finally solved the problem in what I think is a rather clever way." He grinned as he produced three small jewel boxes, passing one to Patinus, one to Gallia and the third one to Girau.
Patinus opened his, Gallia looking over his shoulder. Inside was a silver ring with a small blue gemstone inset in the center. Girau opened his box to find a ring set with a brilliant green gem.
"You'll note that each one has a different gemstone," Jhond explained. "The magistry I used to create them will inform me which of you is calling me."
"These are meant for emergencies only, yes?" Gallia asked, as she slid her own ring with its pink gem onto her finger, not surprised to discover it fit perfectly.
"Hopefully, you'll never need to use them," Jhond said. "But if ever you do, just press a finger over the gemstone, think of me, and I will know you need me. I'll come at once."
"Just press the gem?" asked Girau, as he stared at the green gem set in his ring.
"The ring will only respond to your touch and only those to whom I present the rings will know that. I'll know which one of you is calling me. Wear them at all times."
Girau and Patinus slipped on their rings, also finding the fits perfect.
"You said those to whom you presented the rings," Patinus said. "It sounds as if that may include more than just the three of us?"
"Ah, yes," Jhond agreed, with a glance at Ninian. "I've given one to Ninian and another to Amired." He lifted his right hand as he spoke, and there on his index finger was a silver ring, topped with a horizontal bar divided into five tiny sections, each one filled with a different colored gem: blue, pink and green for Patinus, Gallia and Girau. The last two were opalescent, which Ninian showed was his gemstone, and black for Amired. "Each of the gems is magically linked to my ring, hence the constant contact."
"Thank you. I feel much safer already," Gallia said.
"Good."
"Thank you, son," Girau said, adding, "When are you leaving?"
"On the evening tide. Amired has the ship ready and waiting for us to board," Ninian said.
"Sorry for the short visit," Jhond added, "but we really feel the need to pursue this quest as soon as possible, and the journey will take some time."
"Even with the Eynan and his magnificent control of the wind?" Patinus was smiling, and Jhond remembered only too well the excitement with which he had brought the Horologue back to Timendra by harnessing the wind to his control. The ship had made the journey in a fraction of the usual time.
"I don't think Amired would appreciate my repeating that action too often," Jhond confessed. "He complained afterward that many of his ropes and some of his sails needed replacing, and he was nervous of the stress caused to the main mast. And that's not even mentioning his crew's reaction."
"I can imagine," Patinus said.
"Perhaps for short bursts," Ninian commented, with a grin.
"Keep your power for when it's really necessary," Girau said, grasping his son to him in a farewell embrace. "Come back home safe to us," he murmured.
"I will, Father, and pass on my love to the rest of the family, especially Mother."
Ninian shook hands with everyone, as Jhond gave Gallia a quick embrace before grasping her husband's hand.
"Take care," Jhond said, then he turned and followed Ninian from the room.
* * * *
"You've not forgotten, I trust, that we have to secure the chest before we set off?" Ninian asked, as they rode back toward the docks at nearby Buchern.
"No, I decided we'd take a quick trip from our cabin onboard ship before we set sail."
"Ah, your method of travel," Ninian said with a smile. "Very convenient when one is short of time."
As they climbed the gangplank, Amired approached. "All is ready to set off on the next tide if you are ready."
"Yes, thank you, Captain. I have a little something to see to in our cabin, so I'd appreciate it if you could arrange that we're not disturbed," Jhond said.
Amired looked curious, but simply inclined his head and allowed them to pass. They slipped out of sight and descended below decks to the guest cabin.
Once in the privacy of their cabin, Jhond pulled the pendant from beneath his tunic and placed it against the top of the ring on his index finger where the two artifacts fit together perfectly. Ninian held onto his arm as Jhond twisted the pendant one quarter turn, concentrating on where he wanted to go. In the blink of an eye, they were both standing in a small, dark space surrounded by stone.
* * * *
Ninian drew a tiny gem from his pocket and, with a few choice magic words, the jewelite lifted from his palm, brightening as it rose and soon the space was illuminated. Ninian recognized one of the underground rooms in the Temple of the Magi. Even with the illumination provided by the jewelite, the corners of the room were still dark, with an air of mystery. The stone blocks were in remarkable condition considering the age of the structure, which pre-dated the Withdrawal by at least ten centuries.