“Well, this is it.”She told him.“Last chance to change your mind. I won’t hate you if you do.”I’m considering changing my mind. She finished in her head. Russy shook his head and started to walk toward the gate.“Okay.”She called after him. Gathering her courage, she took a step forward. As she approached the pass she saw something shinny. She was drawn to where it was in the middle of the pass. She crouched down for a closer look. A glint of silver welcomed her.
It was like what she had found in the cliff. The silver was shaped into a four point star. A black stone with flashes of red and blue was imbedded in the silver. She moved it in the light, fascinated by its intense colors. She had no idea what the stone was. It was a beautiful mystery. Terana’s fingers tingled where they touched the cool metal. It was small; about the size of a large coin. The facets of color bloomed with an inner fire. A shiver of power winked around her and the pass. A slight pressure brushed against her neck. It was gone just when it began. Terana blinked. She shook her head to clear it, then turned the trinket in her hand. A detail that she had not noticed before was that onyx ran along the outside edge of the star. So immersed in the strange object was she that she did not hear the plodding of a horse…
Chapter Twelve- The Melting Stone
“Concerning Magic: Magic is one of those funny things in the universe on the same level as wind, love, and the divine: one can’t see it, but one can definitely see its effects….” Author unknown.
“Terana!”A shocked voice called. Terana turned her head so fast that it hurt. Her hand holding the trinket went to her pants’pocket; where it was soon forgotten.“TERANA, TERANA!”Zeeve came running toward her.
“Zeeve?”She did not know if she could trust her eyes and ears.
“Well, I’ll be… ”Said a vaguely familiar, awed voice. Terana looked up at the rest of the approaching party; two men and a dapple gray gilding. One of the men was the white haired stranger. He was leading the supply burdened guiding. The other was Liam Seedman. She swallowed. Liam was an okay fellow, but he was a little unnerving. Their eyes met. Mr. Seedman smiled slightly and gave her a slight nod. Raising an eyebrow, Terana turned to the stranger. He too smiled at her. “Hello. Your name is Terana, right?”He asked. Zeeve answered before she could.
“Yeah. Who else?”Zeeve turned to her.“I told him it might be you.”He told her seriously.
“Why would you think I was here? How?”She was at a loss. How could these people know that she was going to be here? She hadn’t told a soul. Unless Jeremy had found her note... And that reminded her about why she was leaving. Her heart bled a little more. She knew she would cry soon if she didn’t stop this train of thought. So she stopped.
Zeeve shrugged, casting a glance over at Mr. Seedman.“A hunch.”He replied with infuriating simplicity.“By the way Terana, this is Kadrean.”He gestured to the stranger.
Terana looked back up at Kadrean. So that was the name of the white haired stranger. Interesting. Terana stood and started to curtsy, as had been drilled into her head, but then realized that she was not wearing skirts. Her cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. She corrected herself quickly and nodded her greeting to him instead.“Nice to finally meet you, sir.”She said with a shy smile.
“Please don’t call me‘sir’.”He begged plaintively.“I had enough of that in Plarn, thank you. Kade works justfine.”
Terana smiled, liking this man. She glanced at Zeeve, who was trying to sniff her bag. Smells the food, no doubt.She thought. She smiled sadly. She didn’t know how she felt about Zeeve knowing about her…lack of relation to anyone else. The knife was poised over her heart again. Damn it Terana! Stop it!
Mr. Seedman laughed, drawing Terana’s attention back to the conversation.“You did?”Seedman shook his head, smiling broadly.“I can’t say I blame you, Kadrean. That is why I prefer my first name.”He turned to her.“Hello, Terana. Lovely day for a walk, don’t you think?”
“I would guess, Mr. Seedman.”She replied shyly.
“What did I just say? Liam, if you don’t mind.”
Terana’s eyebrows climbed her forehead in mock shock.“But, Mr. Seedman, you are older than I am. You deserve the respect due someone your greater age.”She flinched after she said it. If she had said the same thing to anyone else with the same lack of respect, they would’ve had her whipped. With her hands clamped over her mouth in horror of what she had just done, she wondered how it had happened. Liam laughed.
“Now you know why I don’t want to be called by my sir name. It makes me sound old.”His smile relieved her. She returned his smile. Maybe she liked him too. She looked about at her companions; Zeeve was glaring at Russy who had stopped his forage into her bag, Kadrean stroking his horse’s neck, and Liam who was watching Zeeve and Russy. She knew why Russy was here, but why were they? Liam caught her puzzled look.“Something wrong, Terana?”She became the center of attention at his words.
“Why are you here?”She asked.“And how did you know Iwould be here?”
“Already answered your second question.”Zeeve said sweetly.“A hunch.”
“How”Terana repeated.“I never spoke aloud my plans. And Zeeve, you are speaking normally.”
“Yep. I’m tired of the third dialogue.”
“So you have been lying to me?”
Zeeve blinked.“No. Zeeve never lied to you. I was just playing with accents. That’s all.”He finished with a shrug.“tis fun.”
“Ah, Terana, you now discover why Zeeve is so annoying.”Kadrean cut in. Zeeve glared at him and stuck out his tongue. Russy snorted what sounded suspiciously like a laugh. Zeeve smacked Russy’s snout. In retaliation, Russy sent Zeeve rolling across the path with his paw and a wolfish grin. Zeeve skidded to a stop on his face.“Anyway…”Kadrean continued.“You wanted to know how we knew where you would be. If you wanted to leave Plarn the pass is right there. This is the way you would eventually have to go.”
“Oh.”Terana felt sheepish. Another thought occurred to her“How did you know I wouldgo? I could have just spent the night in the woods like I sometimes do.”How are you going to answer that?She wondered. She was certain that they would have trouble explaining this. She forgot Zeeve’s favorite answer.
“A really good hunch.”He answered on cue, lifting his torso off the ground and raised his finger in declaration. His strength gave out, apparently, and he flopped back down to the ground.
“A suggestion. Besides I was leaving anyway.”Kadrean answered. ‘bout time someone actually answered the question. Terana thought.
“Why would you be looking for me anyway? I am no one special.”Terana pointed out reasonably.
“Terana…”Kadrean paused for a second as if searching for the right words.“I’m not sure how to phrase this, but has anything ever strange happen around you?”
“What type of question is that?!”Zeeve exclaimed, springing back to his feet.
Terana blinked. That was what she wanted to say. What was Kade trying to ask?
“Have things reacted in tandem with your emotions?”He tried again.
Terana remembered rocks splitting around the Pan boys yesterday.“Maybe. Why?”She replied uneasily.
“Terana, have you ever heard of magic?”
“Who hasn’t? It’s in every fairy tale I’ve heard.”She said scratching Russy’s ruff. Russy still had a smug expression on his face.
“You have it.”Said Zeeve with certainly, brushing dirt off his front.
Terana laughed.“Yeah right. Magic doesn’t exist.”
Kadrean snorted.“I beg to differ.”He held out his hand and a purple flame licked at his fingers.“Terana, I ama mage.”Terana stared at him, struck dumb.“There are many mages. Zeeve and I believe that you are one.”
Terana turned to Liam; the only one she could count on to be somewhat normal. If not that, at least above the insanity of what the other two proclaimed.“Please tell me that I didn’t see that.”She begged. There was no such thing as magic, there just wasn’t such a for
ce. She had been imagining things for awhile now, that purple flame in Kadrean’s hand was just another of her imaginings. She could dismiss it if Liam let her by telling her that she didn’t see it.”
Liam raised an eyebrow.“Surely you don’t want me to lie to you, do you?”
Damn him, he’s just as bad as Jeremy. Terana thought looking away.
“If I lied to you, I wouldn’t be able to appreciate what he has done for me.”Liam continued nonchalantly. His ploy worked. Terana returned her curious gaze back to him. Liam held his cane in both hands and walked first two steps back then two forward then he did a little jig in front of her. Terana’s jaw dropped. She remembered seeing him have to clutch at a wall sometimes when his cane fell. Liam was known for his inability to walk. Now he was dancing?!
“You’re a healer?”She asked Kadrean.
He smiled.
“Fine, magic exists, but I’m not a mage.”She amended.
“But you are.”Zeeve insisted.
“You believe, but you do not know.”She pointed out.
Kadrean nodded.“True, but we have a way to find out.”He reached into a saddle bag and pulled out a black velvet bag. He tossed it to her.“Within that is a Kadelle.”
“A what?”Terana asked dumbfounded.
“A rock that glows if a person has magic.”Zeeve explained.“You dump it out of the bag onto your hand. If it glows, Kade and I are right. If it doesn’t, you’re right. Small chance of the latter.”He muttered under his breath.
Terana cocked her head curiously, weighing the bag in her hand.“If I do have magic, what will you do?”
“Take you to a place that can teach you to use it.”Kadrean said.
“Where would that be?”
“Razyan’s Keep in the Vermillion mountains.”
“Where is that?”Terana asked blinking. She had never heard of the places.
“As far from here as one can get and remain in Marlhema.”Zeeve replied.
Terana glanced from Zeeve on the ground to Kadrean who was still near his horse to Liam who was standing on the other side of the horse, stroking its neck to Russy who sat on his hunches, watching all. If she did have magic, she would have a place far from here. If she didn’t perhaps they would take her with them. Seeing nothing to lose, Terana turned the bag over. Onto her palm plopped a small stone the size of her thumb nail and shaped roughly like that of a tear. It looked like someone had spilled milk on a drop of honey and then froze it in time.
At least, that was how it was just as it touched her skin.
On contact a golden light flashed brilliantly then the stone promptly melted. With a tiny scream of surprise, she flung the stone away from her. The stone landed with a thud. By then it had cooled into a milky slate. Terana swallowed guiltily. She looked up expecting anger or, more reasonably, fear. Instead she was met with the wide eyes and jawless mouths of shock.
Zeeve crept toward the stone. He looked as though it could not possibly be true. But how could a six inch tall man think anything could not possibly have some truth to it? He saw it with his own eyes! Hypocrite. A small voice in her mind whispered. She had seen the flame in Kadrean’s hand before and refused to believe it.
“Kade, I don’t ever remember hearing of a Kadellemelting.”Zeeve said looking over his shoulder at his companion.
Kadrean could only shake his head, his grey eyes staring at the stone.
Terana wished desperately that she could vanish.
“Of course, I would never hear of such a thing.”Liam said, bending to pick up the slate. In his palm it went back to its original tear shape as if whatever had melted it had been removed. Then it turned black.
***
Pershara- South of Sigon Pass
After the freak storm and the even stranger white Tree Gir, Bendon pushed the group as hard as they could go. But it wasn’t fast enough. Nowhere near fast enough. Worried thoughts for his daughter snarled at his heels. Perela was a talented, powerful sorceress. But…Cold dread washed through him. He remembered the Dragon Wars during the Fall. The Dark had employed the Fires then too. Only a fearless faith in God could save one from becoming damned. Only God’s hand could protect one from losing one’s life.
The Fires coupled with the Dark Moon would strengthen the Dark Sons to a point where they were nearly invincible. There were only a few spells that Bendon knew that could stop the Dark Sons. Weapons were useless, unless of course, one had one of the Three Swords of Power. But all three were lost. And Perela would be standing at Duncan’s side before the very fires of hell…
“We need to hurry.”Bendon said forcing his legs to move faster.
“Arriving exhausted will do nobody any good.”Robert muttered.“I’m sorry, old friend.”
“Perhaps we could use magic?”Tommy suggested.
“Yes, any of those transport symbols handy?”Robert asked brightening.
Bendon sighed.“No. The one we used to meet up with Kindra was a temporary stepping stone. The nearest permanent one was at Shenandoah, but someone attempted to use it without permission. It disintegrated. After that is Riverdale.”
In the rear of the group marched Toliver. He had been listening closely to the mages’discuss faster ways of travel. Toliver, a good honest soldier, didn’t necessarily trust magic, but it sure made traveling easier. In fact, he had started to look forward to a short cut. Learning that such a short cut wasn’t handy made him grumble. He glanced at Tep who was beside him.“It just goes to prove my mother right. 'Life don’t believe in short cuts. Only‘ard work.' Das what she always said. Yes indeed.”
Near the front, just behind Bendon and Robert, walked Kindra and Tommy. The mother dragon reached out to Bendon.“Don’t worry, old friend. We will walk with all our strength. We must have faith. We will get there.”
“Yes, I just hope we are in time.”Bendon muttered.
“Why don’t we fly?”Kairevasigh asked. She had been pondering what the white Tree Gir had meant by saying they already had the quickest way possible. Flight, she concluded, would be very fast.
“Cause we don’t have wings, lass.”Toliver answered.
Kairevasigh rolled her eyes at Toliver. She stepped closer to Kindra.“You are a dragon, are you not?”
Kindra blinked at her.“I am, but.”The blond woman shook her head.“I have the knowledge, but I lack the potential.”
“Then who has this potential? Kairevasigh asked.
“I do.”Bendon replied.“But it takes a lot of power to sustain a shape change. And I will need it when we get there.”The group could see the ripping pain that Bendon was in admitting that. He needed to protect his daughter. Needed to get to her side as quickly as he could. But to fly would leave him powerless to defend her.
“But I don’t understand. Are you not naturally a dragon?”Kairevasigh asked confused.
Kindra smiled sadly.“Originally, yes. But this is not my original body. Elainia, through a series of unfortunate events, took my place as sacrifice. Some bits of her self are still here. Only recently has she been resurfacing. Her body is pure human. It will take me centuries to accumulate enough potential to attempt shapeshifting.”
Kairevasigh listened with wide eyes to Kindra’s explanation. She knew there was more to this story then Kindra had told, but Kairevasigh also knew that it hurt the mother dragon. Kairevasigh looked down biting her lip as they trudged on. She could teleport. That was by far the fastest way, nearly instantaneous, but could she bring them all safely? She did not know the landscape of Pershara City. She had to be able to picture it perfectly…Kairevasigh’s eagle form wasn’t big enough to carry a man, much less a group. But she did have power, could Kindra use it to shapeshift?
“Could you use my magic?”She asked Kindra hesitantly.
Kindra paused and turned toward her. Bendon eyes brightened with hope. They had, somehow in the urgency to get to Pershara City, forgot that Kairevasigh had magic. Granted a mysterious kind. But she had some.“Take my hand.”Kindra said holding her hand
out.
The Sheyestivan girl stepped forward and clasped it with both of hers. Kairevasigh closed her eyes and sought the part of her that knew the wind. She felt the shapeshifting magic stir…. It reached for her hands….
But it stopped short of transferring to Kindra. It balked. It did not know or like the form that Kindra was imagining. It knew not the form of a dragon because it was of an avian image with night black feathers. Not willing to give up Kairevasigh offered up the other well. The one where most of her power lived. It flowed up and out. Kairevasigh heard the gasps of astonishment from the others, but she still held Kindra’s hand.
Kairevasigh and Kindra opened their eyes at the same time. For a moment, Kairevasigh saw a double image. A copper dragon with emerald wings and eyes stood on the road. It was obvious that the others were impressed. But under the image of the dragon stood the very wingless Kindra.
“It didn’t work.”Kindra said.
“What do you mean? Yes it did! Look at you!”Tommy said breathlessly.
“No it didn’t.”Kairevasigh muttered in defeat. She let go of Kindra’s hand and backed away. Because she hadn’t anchored the image the dragon faded away to the nothing that it was.
“It was worth a try.”Kindra said, patting the girl’s shoulder.
Kindra didn’t see Bendon sag in grief. Kairevasigh did.“I still might be able to get us there quicker.”She said quickly. Tommy raised an eyebrow at her. Kairevasigh continued.“I just need to be able to visualize where we going. Perfectly.”
“What’cha mean?”Tep asked.
Kairevasigh glanced at him before picturing the spot just behind him.“I mean this.”She said tapping his shoulder. The boy yelped and whirled around. Toliver had his hand on his sword. Kairevasigh backed slowly away with her hands raised.
“That is how you got out of the tree.”Robert mused.
Kairevasigh nodded.“If all of us hold hands I could jump us to a point nearer to the city.” Hope kindled in Bendon’s eyes as he and the rest formed a circle. Tommy described a point of destination in astonishing detail. She soaked all the details up, painting the image as an illusion in the center of the circle.“Like this?”She asked. Tommy made some minute corrections before nodding. Kairevasigh took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Truth be told, she was scared out of her mind. She had never teleported a group before. She wasn’t quite sure she even could. But the devastation in Bendon’s eyes was something she never wanted to see again. Hopefully her well of power would be enough to get them close. Needing to trust that another would assist her, she prayed.
The Ways of Mages: Starfire Page 12