by L. S. Gibson
"It's gone," Ninian declared, the shock clear in his voice. "She's no longer under its control. She must've acted on her own. Why would she do that?"
"I'm not convinced she'd do this of her own will," Jhond said.
Ninian frowned. "But how can it exercise control over her now?"
For a moment, Jhond didn't know what to say, then he admitted, "I had a sense something was wrong, but I couldn't pin it down. I didn't... I wasn't even certain I was correct. I--"
He'd come to believe he could trust her. Could perhaps-- He stopped that thought cold.
"Is it possible she's helping it without outside coercion?" Ninian asked quietly.
Jhond stared at Ninian. That couldn't be true. Could it?
"I don't think so." He paused, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before continuing, "I don't want to believe that, but I know I must consider the possibility. There's only one course left to me. Stop the entity, destroy it, and, if necessary, anyone who's helping the evil thing."
Ninian grabbed his arm, and Jhond glanced at him. The determination in his friend's gaze told Jhond that Ninian knew exactly what he was thinking and feeling. Jhond took a breath and instantly transported both of them to the nunnery.
Chapter 19
By the time Amired reached his cabin, he was just in time to register Jhond and Ninian's disappearance from view.
Aldous peered into the cabin over his shoulder. "They've already gone then?"
"Yes. I assume they confirmed Remelin was indeed carrying that particular box, and whatever it contained was very important to them." He turned to face his first mate. "They were already planning to return to the nunnery and perform a vital task, and I assume that box was part of it."
"Can't claim to understand half of what they get up to, but I trust they know what they're doing, which can only mean if she stole it, they got trouble."
"Indeed. They'd already asked me to follow them to the nunnery, so I think the sooner I get started the better. From what I understand, the nunnery is through the village and up on the side of that mountain."
"You want any company?" Aldous asked.
Amired thought very carefully about the offer and his first reaction was to say no. After all, Jhond hadn't asked for anyone other than him to follow them. However, on second thought, having someone to watch his back seemed like a very sensible idea. He didn't know the area at all...or what might lurk in the shadows.
"Yes, I'll take one man with me. An extra pair of eyes might prove useful." He gave Aldous a hard stare. "Keep a close watch on the crew. I imagine a few of them might want to go ashore and see what the village offers. But there will be no shore leave."
"Aye, Captain. You want the ship ready to sail? Just in case?" Aldous raised an eyebrow.
"Just in case," Amired agreed.
"And who do you have in mind to accompany you?" Aldous asked.
By the glint in his eye, Amired thought his rather smart first mate might have an inkling as to who that might be.
Smiling at Aldous, Amired turned and led the way back on deck. Once there, he called out, "Warkist!"
Behind his back Amired heard Aldous choke off a laugh.
The sailor came ambling over, already grumbling. "What now? There was nothing else I could've done, Captain."
"Maybe not, but there's something you can do now," Amired said.
Warkist glanced warily from his captain to the first mate and was clearly not impressed by what he saw, but he didn't say anything, merely waited for orders. Amired thought that was perhaps the most sensible thing he had done all voyage.
"Grab your coat. You're coming ashore with me," Amired said.
"Ashore?" Warkist's confusion was obvious.
"You're going to begin restoring yourself in my eyes by accompanying me as I journey to the nunnery."
Warkist's eyes widened, and his face paled. He licked his lips. "But that place is dangerous. Even Jhond doesn't like it up there."
"True, but that doesn't mean he won't follow Remelin there when she's in need."
"It's her own doing," Warkist grumbled.
"You know better than that," Amired snapped. Amired hardened his gaze as he stared directly into the sailor's face until Warkist dropped his eyes. "Isn't that why you're so afraid to accompany me?"
"Not afraid, Captain," Warkist mumbled. "It's got nothing to do with me. I just don't see why we got to risk our lives for her; she's not done anything to deserve it."
"You don't know the first thing about what she deserves or otherwise, but I'm doing this because Jhond asked me, and I--and you--owe Jhond everything. Even you can't deny that!"
Warkist raised his head and met the captain's gaze steadily. "No, and neither can I deny that we've had nothing but trouble since the day you took the coin to hire out the Horologue to them two."
"Lords, you are not only stupid, you're blind! Without the rise of the Eynan, we'd all be slaves to the whim of an evil mage!" Amired took a deep breath to calm himself. "Anyhow, I have no need to debate this with you. I'm captain and you are crew, and you will obey me. Now get your coat."
Clearly unhappy, Warkist nevertheless obeyed the command and made his way toward the stairs leading below deck.
"And grab some arms," Aldous added sharply.
The words caused Warkist to hesitate at the top of the stairs, glancing back over his shoulder. His jaw tightened, but he kept his mouth shut as he continued down the stairs letting his stomping steps speak for him.
Amired met Aldous' gaze and had to fight to stop from laughing out loud.
"Let's just hope that amusement is all the arms are needed for," Aldous said, stopping Amired's laughter cold. Amired had forgotten for a moment they were heading into very dangerous territory.
"I wish I could believe that would be all, but I very much doubt it."
"Yes," Aldous said, with a sigh. "To get to the nunnery from here, you'll have to travel up a steep path and then through the rough scrub at the foot of the mountain."
"Never been that comfortable climbing a mountain," Amired murmured. "I remember the last time all too clearly." He thought back to the climb up to the tower on the Isle of Truth. "Much happier on the water."
* * * *
Jhond materialized in the entrance to the nunnery, which surprised Ninian as he'd expected to appear in the cellar.
"Why here?" he asked, bemused.
"Better to catch her before she gets to the cellar," Jhond replied. "We might also be able to discover if Remelin has any free will or if she really is still under the entity's control. Either way, if I take the box before Remelin gets any closer to the damned thing's control, we can derail its plan."
"Will proximity matter if she is under its control? We already know it can somehow control her far out at sea."
"Maybe not, but that's no reason not to try." Using his powers Jhond checked the nunnery and the surrounding area to confirm they were alone. Ninian paced a few feet down the road, keeping a careful lookout for Remelin. Jhond joined him, and almost at once he saw her. "There, look!"
Ninian followed Jhond's pointing finger, and, sure enough, Remelin was hurrying up the road toward them, the small wooden box visible in her hand. She suddenly came to a halt, and Ninian surmised she had seen them, but when he noted the vague expression on her face, he thought perhaps it was the entity that had brought her to a stop.
"See her expression?" Ninian asked Jhond, who didn't respond.
Ninian wasn't sure what kind of contact the entity used with Remelin, whether it was verbal or the direct mental variety. Or even some other kind of which Ninian had no knowledge. At that point, it didn't matter, though Ninian was annoyed he hadn't questioned her about it before.
Remelin stood stockstill a short distance from them. Jhond started to draw a sigil in the air, and Ninian knew he intended to bring her to him before presumably transporting the three of them back to the ship.
Before Jhond could complete the spell, Remelin vanished before th
eir eyes.
Jhond gasped and then swore in frustration. Ninian was shocked at the strength of this being, which was still able to wield such power while trapped inside Jhond's shield. Jhond grabbed his arm and right away they were standing in the cellar, where, as expected, they found Remelin. She was standing with her back to them facing the section of the damaged wall that had once trapped the entity, chunks of debris scattered around her feet. She still held the small box containing the crystals.
Jhond called to her, but she didn't respond.
* * * *
Remelin found herself once again standing in the cellar, but with no clear memory of how she got there. The last thing she clearly remembered was being in the cabin on the Horologue, attempting to get some sleep after a very restless night. She frowned as images beset her, feeling like memories and yet somehow, not. One particularly odd one seemed to involve the sailor, Warkist. With the recall of his name, she also had a sudden memory of pain, sudden and sharp, before the memory slipped away. She shook her head in an attempt to dismiss the uncomfortable feeling that accompanied the confused images. Instead she tried to bring to mind the last clear memory she had.
She knew Jhond and Ninian had returned after the complete annihilation of Garileon Castle and that Jhond planned to go to the cellar in the nunnery at first light to put an end to the entity. She very much hoped that all this would be behind her soon and she could travel to Timendra with the two magi. It was her dearest wish to have control over her talent finally, and if close contact with Jhond would once again make him take personal interest in her, so much the better. The kiss they had shared had been even more wonderful than she had imagined it could be. The idea she might never experience it again was like a nightmare.
She was aware that since the subterfuge of her appearance, both Jhond and Ninian doubted her feelings for Jhond, but they were genuine, and perhaps, once away from the memory of what had taken place in Garileon, they'd believe her. Jhond would believe her. Her drifting thoughts were brought back to the here and now when a sharp pain shot across her skull. An all too familiar pain.
::Attend me!::
Remelin flinched, as much at the harsh voice booming out as at the lingering pain still throbbing in her head. Please, no! She knew that voice, and the memories came crashing back as if they had never left.
She had spent many weeks listening to it, trying to disobey and being punished in consequence. It had seemed like a bad dream, but now she knew it had been all too real. Though there had never been a mark on her body, the entity had caused her terrible pain. Even daring to question the entity had resulted in agony. She realized that it must have brought her back here to the hated cellar. Yet, how could that be? Jhond had broken the last contact when he destroyed the locket.
She flinched again as the thing laughed. If the grating noise it made could be termed laughter.
::You think the Eynan has freed you? From me? You will never be free. You are mine, and always shall be.:: Somehow, she sensed amusement from the entity, and it gave her a chill. "I hid it from you while you were with him, but now he is coming, it is no longer of concern.::
Jhond was coming? Wait...it? She gathered her courage to ask, "What is no longer of concern?"
::That it matters not how many times he might try to free you from me, you will always wear my mark.::
"Mark?" she whispered, afraid of the answer.
::I have impressed the mark of the House of Thail on your lower back. It is part of your body, cannot be removed and you will always be compelled to answer its call. Not even the Eynan can take that from you."
She closed her eyes as a chill run down her spine. She'd never had a chance. The entity had owned her since those first days she'd stumbled across it, and she had never known. Now she had blindly drawn Jhond deeper and deeper into the trap this cruel, evil monster had devised. She was the bait, first as a stumbling mage, then as a young woman whose false image intrigued the Eynan. The only thing the entity hadn't engineered was her reaction to Jhond, the feelings that had stolen over her until he became the most important thing in her existence. And perhaps those feelings were the very thing that would give her an advantage, something beyond the entity's control. Fighting for herself was one thing; fighting for the man she loved was another.
She prayed then. To whom she knew not for she believed in none of the old gods and didn't trust that the Lords of Light really existed. But still, she prayed with all her heart that Jhond would prevail.
It laughed again, the horrible sound scraping at her psyche like coarse sand grains against her skin.
::No, child, such prayers are useless. I am the only superior being that controls your life. Worship me as is my due.::
"Never, never!" she declared. "I hate and despise you and would destroy you if it was in my power." Pain shot through her head again, and she lifted a hand to press to her temple as if she could somehow wish the pain away.
::Power? You have no power, you poor deluded child. You are but dust under my feet, mine to mould and use to my advantage as and when I need. Now you have brought to me the one thing I wanted above all else. I can be whole again and then none can stand against me. Not even the vaunted Eynan!::
Brought? What did it... It was only then she realized she held something in her hand--a small box--and she instantly recognized what it was. Her anger died, swallowed up by despair and regret as her tears overflowed and ran down her cheeks. "Oh, Lords, what have I done? What have I done?"
* * * *
Amired forced himself to stop grinding his teeth and instead let loose his anger. "For the Lords' sake, Warkist, stop your damned complaining! Climbing this Lords' forsaken mountain is not my idea of enjoyment either, but moaning about it non-stop isn't going to make it any easier. If that slip of a girl can repeatedly climb up here to that nunnery, I'm sure you can make it. Keep your mouth shut and get moving!"
Amired didn't add yet again that Warkist's insistence on carrying his short sword in his hand hardly helped him keep his balance on the difficult parts of the climb. They'd already had that discussion twice, and Warkist was of the firm opinion it was better to be prepared. As the man wasn't exactly enthusiastic about wielding weapons, Amired decided to leave well alone. At least the man had left his pistol in its holster, so Amired decided to let him be.
Warkist scowled, but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut as he continued on up the rough path with Amired close behind him.
A minute later, Warkist asked, "Are there any dangerous animals up here?"
Amired sighed. "Not that I know of. Remelin never mentioned anything like that."
Warkist stopped and turned around. "But she didn't say there weren't any either, did she?"
"Warkist, stop wasting both our time and get moving. Our help might be needed up there."
"Nobody asked me if I wanted to help," Warkist grumbled, as he turned back to the path.
"I'm not nobody. I'm your captain," Amired snapped. "Enough of this, Warkist, and get--"
Whatever Amired was about to say Warkist would never hear as the sailor yelled at the top of his voice, "Captain!"
Amired felt the hard thrust as Warkist shoved him aside. Out of the corner of his eye, Amired saw the ground unexpectedly coming up to meet him. Even as he grunted in pain when his shoulder hit rock, Amired watched the metal glinting in the bright sun as Warkist's sword whisked past about three feet overhead. Amired was shocked to see the weapon slice through the thick body of the largest snake he had ever seen. He watched in awe as the two halves of the animal fell either side of him and he found himself staring into the wide jaws of the snake. He'd never seen fangs so long. He dreaded to think of the kind of death he'd have suffered if the creature had bitten him. His awe turned to utter shock as the remains of the animal shriveled up and disappeared in two puffs of smoke.
Amired stared up at Warkist, who stood there panting, looking as astounded as Amired felt.
"Thank you, Warkist. You saved my life."
Amired's words seemed to break through the rather stunned state Warkist was in. The sailor straightened up and a broad smile split his face. "I did, didn't I?"
"Yes." Amired was pretty sure it'd be quite some time before Warkist let him forget this.
Warkist leaned down and offered Amired a hand, which the captain took gratefully. He'd never even seen the...whatever it was until it was too late.
Amired shuddered. "Though I'm not sure from what."
Warkist's uncertainty returned. "No, I... Lords, what was that? I was terrified enough when I thought it was the largest snake I've ever seen, but now..."
"Now we have to assume it was a creation sent by the entity."
"I was right to keep my sword to hand, wasn't I?" Warkist pressed, raising an eyebrow.
Amired found himself smiling as he replied, "Indeed, you were. Would that you showed such thoughtful determination while at sea." Amired drew his own weapon. "And now we have to be even more vigilant."
Bristling a little at the backhanded compliment, Warkist pulled a rag from his pocket and wiped the blood from his blade. He straightened his back, looked squarely at the captain, and said, "I'll continue to lead the way, eh, Captain?"
Amired kept the smile from his face as he inclined his head in agreement. This was certainly not the Warkist he had come to expect, and Amired found perhaps he was the one being taught a lesson.
* * * *
"Remi!" Jhond repeated. When there was still no response from her, he glanced at Ninian, who edged nearer to Jhond, while keeping a close eye on Remelin.
"It still has her in its thrall," Ninian whispered. There was no doubt now, and Jhond's expression hardened as he began to intone the words of a very powerful spell, its intent being to destroy any servile bond created using magistry.
Ninian stepped back, trusting the spell didn't harm Remelin in the attempt to free her from the entity's influence. Abruptly, Remelin fell to her knees, dropping the small box beside her and burying her face in her hands as she wept bitterly.
"What have I done?" she cried brokenly.
Ninian shot a glance at Jhond, relieved to see he'd immediately aborted the spell he was casting. Jhond quickly knelt beside Remelin, as Ninian grabbed up the box and cast out his talent to try to protect them, while Jhond was distracted by Remelin.