Oathtaker

by Patricia Reding

  “Scepter? It’s safe. Remember? You dropped it in your pack.”

  “And the—?”

  “Books? Here. I’ve got them.”

  “Huh. You seem to be able to read my mind now before I even think something.”

  Basha giggled.

  Mara looked overhead. Mere inches separated her from the roof of the cove. The closeness of the space unnerved her. “Yes, let’s get out of here.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Leala sat up straight and groaned.

  “What’s on your mind, old woman?” Fidel asked.

  “It’s just that I’m not as young as I used to be.”

  “Do tell,” he quipped.

  She half sneered, half grinned, at him. “Well, junior, I’ve noticed you up and down regularly, stretching your legs. So in spite of your relative youth,” she laughed, “you don’t seem any better off than I.”

  Mara looked up from her book. “You two should take a break.”

  “No. No, if junior here can keep up with you, so can I,” Leala said, leaning back over her book.

  Mara grinned. She was grateful the two oldtimers somehow managed to keep her spirits light as she spent hour after hour, day after day, studying. “Which one are you reviewing now?”

  The old woman slapped her book closed. She held it up. “One of the books from the palace. History of the First Family of the Select.”

  “Anything new?”

  “No.” Leala stood and paced in her slow, old way.

  “How about you, Fidel?”

  “I’ve got What is to Come and A History of Oosa.”

  “Need I ask?”

  “There are some interesting things here in A History of Oosa that speak to some of your questions. I marked a page for you. But I can’t seem to make heads or tails of this other one. It’s as though it was written in some foreign language and someone then translated it to Oosian. It seems to be about the seventh seventh and she ‘who is but is not,’ but that’s about all I can make out. Like, listen to this: ‘Then shall they come through test and trial, once again revealing the flits,’” he read.

  “The what? The flits?” Mara asked.

  “That’s just it. It says ‘the flits.’ What’s a flit?” He shook his head.

  “Any idea, Leala?”

  The woman screwed up her face, in thought. “You know, the trouble with age is that I’ve already forgotten more than I ever thought I could learn. The word is vaguely familiar, but . . .”

  “What have you there?” Fidel asked Mara.

  “I have The Significance of the Oath: Rules and Exclusions. Here, read this from the first chapter. Ahhh yes, here it is,” she said, flipping pages. “It’s called ‘The Double Oath.’” She turned her book toward him and waited as he read.

  “Aha! That fits right in with the page I marked for you in this one,” he exclaimed as he held up A History of Oosa.

  Mara grabbed the book and turned to the marked page. She read for a couple of minutes, then put it down. “It answers a lot about having more than a single charge, doesn’t it?”

  He nodded. “Yes, it does.”

  “That’s gratifying at least.”

  The three sat in one of Ezra’s back rooms. Over the weeks they’d developed a pattern to their days. Whenever possible, they breakfasted as a group, spent the morning with their books, played with the twins over the lunch hour, took them out for some fresh air, and then resumed their studies until dinnertime. While they studied, Nina and Adele kept the twins in the adjoining room with Samuel and Jules in attendance.

  Leala sighed. “When is Dixon due back?”

  “He’s with Ezra and his men that returned last night, debriefing them,” Mara said.

  “Maybe he knows what a flit is. He had a terrific, I’d call it a ‘classic,’ Oathtaker’s education.”

  “Ezra too,” Mara said. “Maybe one of them can make sense of it.” She made her way to the end of the table where a pile of books sat, including some she’d taken from the palace. Time after time, she’d shuffled through the stack, picking one up, then putting it back down. The information seemed endless; her understanding, sadly, finite.

  She placed The Significance of the Oath: Rules and Exclusions back on the pile. “I guess I’ll send this one with the group that’s going to Lucy’s. I doubt there’s anything more of importance in it. Maybe I’ll get to finish reading it there.”

  Drawn once again to a small black leather-bound volume in the center of the stack, she moved some books aside and picked it up. “Serving Daeva: The Power of the Great Under,” she read out loud. She slumped back down into a nearby chair. “I suppose I should try to tackle this one to get a better idea of Lilith, but I just can’t bring myself to open it.”

  Leala reached forward with her cramped, arthritic fingers. “I’ll try,” she offered.

  “No, thank you.” Mara took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “But I suppose it is long since time I tackled it.”

  Celestine entered, carrying a tray. “I thought you all could use some refreshments. I’ve got coffee, tea, and some sweets.”

  “Sounds good,” Mara said. “Any word from Ezra and Dixon?”

  “No, but Ezra is very thorough, you know. They’ll probably be busy most of the day.”

  Nina and Adele entered. Mara’s visage lightened as Reigna recognized and reached out for her. She took the infant, then leaned toward Eden to brush her cheek. “How are my little ones this morning, huh?” she asked. Her voice rose. “Are you well today?”

  The girls cooed and jabbered and smiled.

  “We thought you could use a break,” Nina said, “and truth to tell, so could we.”

  “Have a seat. Celestine is just pouring the tea now.”

  “Great.” Nina leaned back as the barmaid placed a cup down before her. “Coffee for me, please. Thank you, Celestine.”

  Mara sat with Reigna in her lap. She picked up the black book once again.

  The child reached out and took it. Her eyes pooled with tears.

  “What is it, little one?” Mara asked.

  Reigna trembled as she tore the book open. Her body went momentarily rigid.

  “What?” Mara asked again, looking into her eyes.

  Reigna dropped the book on the table and cried.

  “It’s almost like she’s trying to tell you something,” Fidel offered.

  “Yes.”

  The child slapped her hands on the opened book. Mara handed her back to Nina, then looked at the text, scowling.

  “What is it?” Fidel asked.

  “You thought your text was tough to make out. Look at this.” She turned the book toward him.

  He squinted. “What language is that?”

  “Let me see,” Leala said. She examined the text, then cocked her head right, then left. “I have no idea.”

  “May I see that?” Nina asked.

  “Sure.” Mara turned the book around.

  “I think it’s in Old Chiranian.”

  “What?”

  “It’s a dead language. That is, it was a dead language. It had been for centuries. But Zarek is bringing it back.”

  “Do you understand any of it?” Fidel asked.

  “A few words.”

  Mara let out a long breath. “Well, enough of that then.”

  “No, let me try.”

  “It’s odd the title is in Oosian, but the text is in Old Chiranian,” Leala said.

  “Makes me wonder if Lilith could read it at all,” Mara said.

  “Maybe she had a teacher,” Nina suggested.

  “A teacher?”

  “She’s working with soldiers from Chiran. Maybe she’s had a longer connection with Chiran than anyone knew.”

  “Maybe. Are you willing to give it a try, Nina? Really?”

  “Sure. Maybe I can make out enough that we can fill in the blanks.”

  “All right then. It’s all yours.”

  “I’ll do what I can, but you know . . .”<
br />
  “What? What do you need?” Mara asked.

  “Well, I know someone who might really be helpful with this.”

  “Who?”

  “Erin.”

  “Oh?”

  “That’s right. I only learned some Old Chiranian from things like notices and invitations to Zarek’s events.”

  “But?” Mara asked.

  “But she ran a kitchen. She placed orders, dealt with vendors. She had to learn as much as she could as quickly as possible because Zarek was in the process of making Old Chiranian the official language of Chiran. She could be very helpful.”

  “It would mean another trip to Polesk. Still, I suppose after the others leave for Lucy’s, you would appreciate the company.”

  “I’ll see what I can do. For now, at a minimum, I could use some scratch paper.”

  “Done.” Leala handed Nina paper and a quill.

  “Is there anything that I can do?” Adele asked.

  Mara grinned. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the offer, but the most important thing you can do is to continue to help with the girls. Are you willing to do that?”

  “Willing? I dare anyone to try to stop me!”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  The days moved slowly. The group spent a great deal of time studying and conducting experiments. Since they all knew the whereabouts of Lilith and her army from reports Ezra’s men brought in, and since Lilith was still some distance away, they agreed they should stay in the City of Light for the present.

  When not busy reading, Mara conducted exercises, trying to travel with multiple people, but whenever she did, she required a great deal of rest to recuperate. It didn’t seem to matter with whom she chose to travel, the results were always the same—with one exception. She could travel with the twins without adverse effects.

  Fidel and Leala pestered one another and argued betwixt themselves, with good humor, over history and prophecy. The only fact they agreed upon was with regards to a prophecy concerning the seventh seventh and “she who is but is not” entering the City of Light as young adults after years in exile.

  Of late, the principle question they all pondered was how it was that Mara could pass her powers on to the other Oathtakers. They’d confirmed this fact when she passed to Dixon, and to Ezra, the ability to turn their flares to crystals, and with that, the ability to communicate with her by thought.

  They were at first startled to find differences in the colors of their crystals. Mara’s were like diamonds, clear and see-through, refracting light in a spectrum of color. Basha’s were the soft azure of a summer sky. Dixon created crystals of a bright yellow-green, the color of a verdant spring pasture. Ezra added to the rainbow with crystals of the flammeous pink-orange of a splendid sunset.

  The Oathtakers spent hours practicing and experimenting. They wanted to know how far apart they could be and still communicate with Mara by thought. With each person, the results differed, but in each case the distance and clarity of reception increased little by little, over time. Eventually, they discovered that the farthest possible distance was a city block or so.

  Then one day they learned that, not only could they each communicate with Mara, but they each also could communicate with one another so long as they carried with them, a crystal created by the other person with whom they wished to communicate. Accordingly, they all kept pocketed, at all times, at least one crystal each of the others had created.

  Leala found no historical accounts of Oathtakers transferring their powers to others. Fidel found a few weak prophetic references, but they were uncertain and open to various, sometimes contradictory, interpretation. Frequently frustrated, Mara felt she was left with continually more questions and continually fewer answers.

  A small porcelain bowl sat in the center of a corner table in the group’s common quarters. The Oathtakers, all of whom were fascinated with their ability to create crystals, did so regularly and repeatedly. Occasionally, they deposited them into the bowl.

  Mara sat quietly, intensely focused on its contents sparkling in the early morning sunlight.

  “What is it?” Dixon asked after watching her in silence for some time.

  She tilted her head from one side to the other. “Hmmm, nothing.” It was good to speak with him, though they both made efforts to keep distance between themselves. She took in a deep breath. “They . . . remind me of something.”

  His gaze followed hers. “You mean the crystals?”

  “Mmhmmm.”

  “They’re crystals. Maybe they remind you of, you know, something sparkly.” He laughed.

  Her eyes flashed his way. She smiled. “No, I mean, there’s something about the colors of them, about their size and shape. They all are flat on one side and multi-faceted on the other. You know? And look at the way they refract light. It somehow differs from other crystals I’ve seen except . . .” Her eyes opened wide. “Oh, Dixon, I’ve got it!” She smiled. “Do you see it?”

  He gazed at her for a long moment, drinking in the beauty of her smile. Finally, he looked back at the bowl. His eyes narrowed and then slowly, he shook his head. “Do I see what?”

  “Do they remind you of anything?” She tapped on the bowl.

  His brow furrowed as he concentrated. “I don’t think so.”

  “Dixon, they’re exactly like the crystals that make up the windows at sanctuary in Polesk! And look.” She picked one up and allowed the light to shine through it. Then she pointed at the prism it created on the opposite wall. “Look.”

  Slowly, he smiled. “You’re right.”

  She continued to study the crystals. “Wait a minute. Now that I think on it, I’ve seen these somewhere else as well. Wait right here.”

  She rushed out of the room and into the sleeping quarters she shared with the other women. A minute later she returned with one of her saddlebags. She held the flap open and rummaged inside of it.

  “What are you looking for?”

  She dug, then removed items one by one, emptying the bag. “It’s here. I know it’s here.”

  “What?”

  “Oh, here it is!” She pulled something out of the bag. She held it in her closed fist, then put her hand out toward Dixon and opened it. There, in her palm, was the hairpin studded with crystals that she’d found among Rowena’s things the day the girls were born.

  “That was Rowena’s.”

  “That’s right. Look at it. Look at the crystals.”

  He picked up the object and examined it closely. “You’re right. But what does it mean, do you think?”

  Her shoulders slumped. Her smile fell. “I have no idea. Just one more question to answer, I guess.” She got up to walk away.

  He reached out, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward himself.

  She froze. His touch was intoxicating. She closed her eyes, willing herself to pull away.

  He released his grip and took in a deep breath. “So what’s one more question? With what seem to be hundreds already, what difference could one more make?” He smiled and winked at her. “Look, you need a change of scenery. Suppose we go out to the countryside today?”

  “Leave the girls?” She sat at his side.

  “No, of course not. We’ll take the girls. We’ll take everyone.”

  “Leave the city?” She squirmed in her excitement. Against her better judgment, she took in a deep breath, savoring his scent. She paused, then sat up straight, chiding herself for her weakness, determined to remain focused.

  “We’ve planned to find a safe place to experiment with the crystals. Why not today?”

  She leaned in, then pulled back suddenly. Gracious Ehyeh! It got harder all the time to stay away from him. She hadn’t expected it would be so difficult. Keeping her distance was easier before she knew he returned her feelings. Even though they tried to respect each other’s space as much as possible, the draw toward one another grew stronger every day—as did the pain that came of fighting it. Perhaps this was the reason Oathtakers were
not to engage in such relationships, Mara thought, because they seem to shut out other things of importance—perhaps even oaths and duties.

  She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “You always seem to know just what I need. A change of scenery. That’s it. Let’s do it.”

  The group spent the next hour preparing for their journey. A kind of holiday excitement reigned amongst them.

  Ezra arranged for someone to watch over the inn during his absence and ordered the kitchen staff to prepare food for the journey. Samuel and Jules readied a carriage for the trip, filling it with blankets to keep the riders warm while en route. Finally, Therese and Basha packed necessities for the girls, as well as extra tools and weapons.

  At last, everyone was ready. Mara grabbed the bowl of crystals on her way out. As a last thought she also brought the scepter out of hiding to take along. She didn’t want to make the same mistake that Lilith had made when she’d left it behind at the palace.

  Ezra rode ahead on horseback. Samuel and Jules took the reins of the coach, inside which rode Nina and Adele with the twins, along with Fidel and Leala. Mara and Dixon rode on either side of it. Finally, Therese and Basha brought up the rear.

  They made their way through the city, taking in its sights and sounds, all in excitement over the long awaited change of scenery.

  A couple hours later, they came to an old secluded farmstead Ezra used for his network. Nearby ran the river that cut through the city, some low rocky hills, and a glen of hardwood. The air was chilly. A shallow snow, covering the ground, glistened in the sunshine.

  Dixon dismounted, then assisted Mara down from Cheryl while Ezra and Samuel entered the farmhouse to start a fire. Within moments the smell of woodsmoke filled the air.

  When Dixon approached the carriage, Jules was already at its door. He reached up to assist Nina. Their eyes met for a moment, then they both turned away as though embarrassed they’d held their gaze for a fraction of a second longer than might have been anticipated. Mara, watching the exchange, smiled to herself as Dixon helped with Adele and Eden.

  Dixon handed Eden to Therese. Basha made a snowball and held it out to the child, laughing as she reached for it and then promptly disposed of it with a howl. Once again, she reached toward the ground, begging for another chance.