by Dean Murray
Fingering the knife concealed in its usual place, Va'del realized that there really wasn't anything left for him at Bitter Rocks. Even Pa'chi would be better off without him.
Looking from one Guadel to another, Va'del finally nodded, and was surprised to find it was the man's face which seemed to brighten the most at his decision.
Chapter 3
Jasmin woke Va'del while the time globe was still giving off a very faint green glow, but he'd learned that asking questions about what was happening was almost completely useless. He simply wiped the sleep from his eyes and gathered up his few possessions at her command. Once the decision to leave with them was made, Sara brought his things. The Guadel hadn't seemed willing to let him out of their sight. Was that because they are trying to protect me, or are they just trying to insure I don't slip away?
Betreec bustled around the suite of rooms, pulling shrouding cloths from a pair of light spheres, while her husband, I'rone, packed the group's possessions into an endless series of bags that were cleverly designed to easily tie onto gurra harnesses.
For all Va'del didn't have much in the way of baggage, the other three seemed to have an endless array of items, all of which took more than a color cycle to pack.
The time sphere had advanced to a dark yellow by the time the little bundles were all arranged to I'rone's satisfaction.
The massively-muscled Guadel looked at the time and then grunted at a number of empty bags. "Still no food, and we haven't seen the slightest hint of the other things we asked for."
Jasmin nodded sharply. "Nor have we seen their stock of trade jewels. You know that sorry excuse for a Headman has something dirty up his sleeve."
Betreec looked up from the chair and table where she'd been preparing their breakfast and made calming motions. "None of us like it any more than you do, beloved. Especially in light of other things we've learned here." She looked at Va'del out of the corner of her eye as she finished speaking, but there was no way of knowing just how much of their unhappiness really had to do with Va'del.
Unaware of the thoughts crashing around Va'del's head, the older woman continued. "Despite that, we can't take the kind of direct, violent action you would like us to. The code and laws are too important to dispose of. We have to work inside them."
Jasmin's ice-blue eyes hadn't calmed down in the least. "Deciding to do away with the Captain of the Guard and then proceeding to make every able-bodied young man the equivalent to a part-time guardsman isn't normal. He's all but building an army. Rather than patting him on the back for suppressing any and all real information about us, we should bring in ten or fifteen Guadel and forcibly remove him from power."
Jasmin momentarily looked like she was about to continue her argument, but then looked at Va'del and sighed. "We'll do it according to the code of course, but I maintain that serious problems are going to be caused by this Headman in the future. The Council would be far better off making sure that this village is visited more than once every year. This hands-off policy they've adopted can only lead to trouble."
Va'del tried to file Jasmin's words away for later analysis, but he didn't know enough yet to put them in the proper context.
Sara and Pa'chi were waiting for the group when they left the guest rooms. Va'del's friend looked up at him with green eyes that were shiny with unshed tears. "You're really going away?"
Unable to speak past the lump that’d suddenly developed in his throat, Va'del simply nodded.
In a whisper Pa'chi continued. "I won't see you again. Sara told me you'll never be allowed to return to this village, and I already know I'll never get the chance to leave."
Va'del attempted to smile and lighten the mood a little. "It's ok, you'll be better off without me. Once you aren't always trying to stick up for me, Jas'per and the others will leave you alone."
Pa'chi shook her head violently. "None of that matters. Sara says you'll be in a better place. I'll miss you Va'del. I'll miss you a lot."
Before he could think of anything else to say, Pa'chi wrapped her arms around Va'del's neck in a desperate hug. He opened his mouth to comfort her but she turned and ran away as the tears finally started trickling down her face.
##
Va'del reached up with mitten-covered hands and adjusted his hood slightly to try and keep the cold air further away from his face. It didn't seem to help much, but there wasn't anything else in the desolate landscape to serve as a windbreak. As far as the eye could see, there was just snow and ice broken by the occasional rock crag that’d been scoured clean.
He hadn't been outside since his parents had taken him out on short trips as a child. It had been so long ago he'd forgotten just how cold it was outside the shelter of the caves. The chill cut right through his gurra wool clothes, but the light was almost as bad. He'd never imagined light could cause his eyes to hurt, but Jasmin had explained it was possible for things to get even brighter.
The argument in the guest rooms before they left had given Va'del a vague idea of what would happen, but events had still played out much differently than he'd expected. If Betreec and I'rone's course of action was the more peaceful, non-confrontational way of handling things, I hate to think of what Jasmin's plan was. Maybe for I'rone to start killing random people until their demands were met?
When I'rone demanded the customary parting gift of food, and sufficient clothing and equipment to outfit Va'del, the Headman had looked nearly ready to attack the Guadel with his bare hands. It had been obvious Ma'del wanted nothing more than to order Jas'per and the others to attack the Guadel, but everyone in the cavern had known I'rone was capable of killing them all without breaking a sweat.
The food and equipment had arrived a few minutes later, at which point Ma'del had curtly informed Betreec that since his village would no longer be trading with the Capital, the Guadel wouldn't be given any of the trade jewels scheduled to be sent down with the next caravan to the lowlands.
I'rone hadn't displayed the slightest emotion at the obvious slight. Instead he'd reminded Ma'del that the testing of youngsters wasn't dependent on trade with the Capital, and any attempts to prohibit the Guadel from continuing their traditional duties would be viewed as open rebellion. I've never seen Ma'del truly speechless. It's a good thing I'rone got us moving before I ruined everything by laughing.
For all that the day started out with excitement, it’d quickly devolved unprecedented levels of monotony. Walking across the crusted snow was made simultaneously more difficult and easier by the steel-spiked platforms I'rone had helped him strap to his shoes as they'd left the caves. After just a couple of hours Va'del's legs were burning and tingling from the unaccustomed weight.
The gurra he was leading wasn't any happier to be out in the cold than he was, and frequently pulled back on its lead, tiring his arm and causing it to ache. And I can't switch hands because the other arm is broken. I don't think I've ever been quite this physically miserable in my entire life.
Just when the teenager felt he could go no further, the party reached a outcropping of rock that served to protect them somewhat from the wind, if not the cold.
I'rone opened up one of the small bags on the gurra he was leading and pulled out objects which he passed to Betreec, who in turn handed them back to Va'del. "Drink this. All of it, and eat the dried meat too."
Va'del looked back to Jasmin who had taken the last spot in the party as they'd set out, and saw she'd already secured provisions of her own, and was consuming them with a greedy abandon that seemed to indicate he'd better get on with it or he'd miss his chance.
The break wasn't as long as Va'del had hoped, but it proved long enough for him to finish the curiously-sweet beverage inside the water skin and make substantial progress on the meat.
When the party set out once again, their path angled slightly upward and Va'del found his breathing grew ragged and forced despite their pace being no quicker than before.
Time seemed to grind to a near halt, and for a while Va'del f
ound himself looking back frequently to verify they were really making progress. Eventually he ceased to care; it took all of his energy, physical and mental, just to pick up his feet and move them a few inches further up the trail.
Va'del had long since passed the point where he thought he couldn't go on by the time I'rone finally led the group into a smudge of darkness that turned out to be the narrow entrance to a fairly sizable cave.
By the way they moved, Betreec and Jasmin wanted to collapse to the hard, rock floor, but they both joined a seemingly unfatigued I'rone in stripping packs off of the gurra, and setting up camp.
One of the first things Betreec did was to pull a thumb-sized ruby from a pocket hidden underneath her outer layer of clothing, and carefully position it near the mouth of the cave. Va'del suppressed his curiosity as Jasmin directed him in a variety of tasks, keeping him occupied until he noticed his breath was no longer billowing out in a white cloud.
By the time the gurra were stripped, rubbed down and fed, Va'del found himself loosening the ties on his coat. Betreec continued to shuffle about placing several more dimly-glowing gemstones in different locations inside the cave. By the time camp was set up, not only had the air temperature reached comfortable levels, Va'del found that he was no longer gasping for breath.
Jasmin looked at the amazement on the young man's face and smiled as she shed her last bulky layer of cold-weather clothing.
"The stones are somewhat like the glow spheres in your village, but they serve a different purpose." Pointing to the one by the door, the Guadel continued. "That one holds the heat in and keeps the wind out. Others provide slight amounts of heat which we can use to cook on and warm the cave, and one of them holds the air in, making in a little thicker so we can breathe more easily."
Magic, they're powered by magic. Overcome by amazement, Va'del found all kinds of questions charging to the surface of his mind, but he suppressed them. He was still unsure how Jasmin would respond.
Betreec looked over and must have divined what Va'del was thinking. With a laugh like tinkling bells, and kindness in her violet eyes, she pointed at Jasmin. "Don't be scared of this one, Va'del. She does get somewhat...excited from time to time, but she is also as patient as anyone I've ever met when it comes to those who have the great luck of being part of her family."
Sensing he might finally get answers to some of the questions building inside him, Va'del plunged ahead. It had become obvious that the three were more than just companions.
"You're all married?"
"Yes. I'rone and Betreec for many years, and then I joined them later. I know it's not something you'd be used to, but among the Guadel such groupings are typical."
The idea of such a marriage was almost more than Va'del could comprehend, but he chose to continue with a more conventional line of questioning.
"How do the spheres work?"
Jasmin smiled once again, and Va'del realized those smiles somehow warmed her pale blue eyes. "That’s quite the question. You knew, I assume, that Sara could do unusual things."
Va'del nodded, "Yes, healer magic."
I'rone shook his head from where he was examining harnesses. "Magic is magic."
Jasmin seemed almost as startled by the interjection as Va'del, but she nodded to her husband and continued. "There are those as would argue magic isn't the proper name for it all, but he's right, it all flows from the same source. Healing, is just one aspect of a larger whole."
The slender Guadel had pulled a small gemstone of her own from a pocket somewhere while she was talking and placed it in a small hollow in the center of the cave floor. Pausing for a second in concentration, Jasmin smiled as the stone suddenly started to glow.
I'rone handed his wife a basin filled with snow, to which she added a small amount of water before placing it over the depression. "Those with the innate ability to perform magic, like Sara, Betreec and I, can, with great effort, eventually alter the nature of precious stones so they tap into the same place we touch to perform the wonders you would call magic."
Va'del nodded absently, not sure that he understood everything he'd just been told, but satisfied to let it simmer in his mind before asking for further clarification. "Why am I here?"
Jasmin looked at Betreec for a second before answering. "Va'del, just like not everyone has the ability to learn to become a healer, not everyone has the ability to become a Guadel like I'rone. You do, which is why you’re here. We hope to be able to train you to one day help protect the People."
Chapter 4
Va'del had been more than a little shocked at Jasmin's declaration that he might one day end up a Guadel. A few days previous, the idea of becoming as terrifying as I'rone would have scared him more than just about anything else. He no longer felt that way though. He'd come to realize the Guadel were all human, even I'rone. Va'del was convinced I'rone wouldn't have enjoyed cutting down Jas'per and the others, but however much he might have regretted the deed later, it had been obvious he'd been ready to kill whomever he needed to.
Betreec gently cleared her throat, and Va'del realized his attention had wandered from the book he was supposed to be reading.
The older woman looked at him with a smile. "I know reading about the laws surrounding the villages and their interaction with the Guadel isn't the most exciting past time, but the knowledge you'll find in there is vitally important to the People as a whole, and us as Guadel specifically."
Jasmin looked up from where she had been sitting motionless against the gray rock wall of the way cave for the last half hour and winked at Va'del. "You may never be the legal scholar I'rone is, but I think if you give it a chance, you may find it all more interesting than you would have guessed."
Not likely, this is dryer even than the stuff I had to read back home.
The twinkle in Jasmin's eyes combined with her next comment almost made Va'del wonder if she was reading his mind again. "Trust me on this one, you just need to read it with the aim of understanding how the laws all work together to protect the rights of the villagers--from each other, from the Guadel, and most importantly from their Headman. Once you approach it from that stance, it gets much less dry."
Va'del shrugged noncommittally, and shifted slightly, testing tired muscles for soreness. He never would have guessed having an actual instructor for weapons training would make such a difference in how enjoyable it was. I'rone still didn't say much, in fact sometimes his comments were downright cryptic, but even so Va'del had learned more from him in the last two days than he had from Ma'del in the last three months.
I'rone had started with Ma'del's style of fighting, but promised that once Va'del's arm was healed, the lessons would change. The Guadel's manner of fighting involved the use of not only the standard longsword, Va'del was familiar with, but also a long dagger that was held in the left hand and used for parries and the occasional strike. It seemed to Va'del like it would be hard to mentally keep track of both weapons, but I'rone had promised that with enough repetition the proper strikes and counters would become reflexive.
If the study of law was the low point of the past two days, and the study of weapons was the high point, the things Jasmin had asked Va'del to do were more or less in the middle. I don't understand what possible purpose meditating could serve. She just makes me sit there and visualize a thick sheet of ice slowly melting away. Or a beaded curtain parting before me so that I can see the outside world. That and relaxing. She seems awfully concerned with me relaxing, and when I ask her about it, she just says that the mental will follow the physical.
As frustrating as the pointless exercises were, Va'del found he couldn't really generate any ill feelings towards Jasmin after what had happened the first night they'd reached the caves.
Va'del had awakened partway through the night, unable to catch his breath. Initially, he'd tried not to wake the others, but as his breathing had grown more and more ragged, he'd been overcome by a mounting sense of panic, and crawled over to where the other three were
sleeping.
Jasmin had been the first to wake. She'd looked up at him with sleepy eyes for a second and then sworn and yelled for Betreec. Jasmin had hurriedly explained to Va'del that his lungs were filling up with liquid, and then joined Betreec in a trance. The better part of a cycle passed before the two women came out of the trance, but somewhere along the way Va'del found he was once again able to breathe.
Thinking about what had happened, Va'del took a deep, experimental breath. Betreec looked up again. "Do you still feel ok?"
Va'del nodded, "Yes, I have since that night."
The older woman smiled, and looked back down at the book she was reading, but Va'del decided it was time to ask the question that had been on his mind. "It only took a few minutes for my breathing to ease. What were you and Jasmin doing for the rest of the time?"
Betreec suddenly had the look of someone who'd just realized something they'd thought trivial was about to come back and cause problems. "As we mentioned before, the reason you were having a hard time breathing was that the cold, thin air this high in the mountains was damaging your lungs and causing them to fill with liquid. While we were repairing the damage and helping your body to absorb the liquid, we made a few changes so that you'll be less prone to have problems of that sort in the future."
Va'del found his fear of the Guadel suddenly swept away by the greater fear of what he would become if they had their way with him. "You changed my body without asking? Like I was a piece of stone to be molded with no thought to what it might prefer?"
Leaning into the cold wall behind him, Va'del fought off tears. "You made me even more different from everyone else."
Betreec looked devastated as he turned away, but he didn't care. For once he suppressed his concern about how others felt, and instead rejoiced in the fact that someone else felt bad.