by Sharon Green
"I'll bet you were taught to say that when you were very young," Tamrissa commented with a sound of ridicule, the very thing Rion had also been thinking. "How many more of your kind were sent here to take over?"
"One group of mate-equals has always been enough to make any barbarian land ours," the man answered, arrogance back in his voice. "If your tricks are able to keep us prisoner, however, more than one group of mate-equals will follow after us. Tricks will not be successful with them."
"How long will it take those others to come after you?" Vallant put in, his tone making the question casual. "They should be givin' you enough time to kill or take over everyone in your path, I'd guess, so any followin' shouldn't be happenin' for a while."
"It was expected that this land would be ours within the half year," the man replied, this time sounding reluctant. "If we haven't announced our complete victory by then, the others will come after us."
"Which will give the High Blendings in this country more than enough time to practice and grow as strong as necessary," Jovvi said, looking out into the audience where the Gracelian Blendings sat. "And by then we ought to have things settled down enough in our own country to lend some High Blendings as support. How does that sound to you people?"
"It sounds like pure relief," Rangis Hoad, a member of one of the Gracelian Blendings said with a shaky smile. "We were worrying about how we would face one of these invader Blendings on our own, but we have been growing stronger every day. By the time any more of them show up… We should be strong enough to handle it, don't you think?"
"Yes, we do think so, as long as you're not stupid about the matter," Rion said, feeling it was time to underscore a particular point. "If you behave as your predecessors did and limit the number of Blendings in this country, you could well have a problem when the next wave of invaders appears. If, however, you continue to encourage the formation of as many Blendings of all strength levels as possible, you should have no difficulty coping."
"Why do you consider Blendings of other strength levels necessary?" Alesta Vargan, another Blending member, asked. "Won't it only be High Blendings who defend our country?"
"Countries require more than just defense if they're to prosper and grow," Lorand said, giving the woman an encouraging smile. "If you have nothing but High Blendings to look after things, chores will pile up and important matters will accidentally be left undone. Besides, don't you think that others are entitled to experience what you have? Even if they aren't able to do very much with their Blending?"
"He's right, but not just for those reasons," Hoad said to the woman wryly. "I don't know about you, but I spent a lot of time resenting the fact that there were only fifteen Blendings I might be able to force my way into - if one of the major talents didn't decide to cheat in some way. If we get to run this country, even for a little while, we'd be foolish to start out with the same kind of resentments piled up against us."
Most of the others around the two who had spoken nodded their agreement with what Hoad had said, Rion was pleased to see. If the Gracelians didn't suddenly come down with the "privileged noble" disease, they might make really good allies after all.
"It might eventually be worth our while to look into where these people are comin' from," Vallant said once it was clear the discussion with the Gracelians was over. "If and when a second wave of them gets here, we can see if we're in a position to take their ships back to where they started to make sure there's never a third wave. But we have time before that decision has to be made."
Most of their audience seemed to take Vallant's suggestion with interest, which brought the five invaders a good deal of agitation. Rion watched them begin to struggle again only harder, and then they all went completely still.
"I think they finally accepted the fact that they weren't bested by trickery," Tamrissa observed as she looked at the five people who were now completely controlled again. "The idea seemed to send them into a frenzy, as if their entire world was collapsing around them. I certainly hope they're right."
Rion chuckled his agreement along with everyone else who had heard Tamrissa's words, and then it was time to get to other things. There were a lot of slaves standing around waiting to be freed, and what happened after that would probably be the hard part.
The five leaders of the invasion were put into a small and dirty shed that had probably been used for storage of some kind, and then Rion and his Blendingmates joined everyone else in gathering up the slave forces. The slaves from the road had been ordered to continue on to the village and then await further orders, but it was Rion and his Blendingmates who had to fetch the first group. They were still hidden in the nearby countryside, and had to be ordered back.
"And since you were the one who ordered them out there, Vallant, you ought to be the one who initiates the Blending this time," Tamrissa said with a wide smile. "But don't worry, I'm confident that you won't have any trouble."
"We're definitely goin' to have to do somethin' about that cruel streak of yours, Tamrissa," Vallant told her with a frown that Rion suspected wasn't entirely playacting, and then he sighed. "All right, I suppose it is my turn to try. And since you ladies did it first, I only have to follow your examples."
Rion joined Lorand in murmuring something encouraging while the ladies merely smiled. Rion had the feeling he would be just as uneasy when his turn came to initiate the Blending, and Lorand seemed to feel the same. Naran, however, looked far too calm and confident, which most likely meant she'd Seen something she hadn't mentioned.
In spite of Vallant's faint unease, however, the Blending formed with no trouble whatsoever. The Rion entity found himself fully prepared to do what was necessary, a mild and distant amusement present for some reason. The Rion entity reflected on the amusement for an instant, and then floated into the woods to see to his chore. The amusement was, for the most part, anticipatory, as well as an enjoyment of very satisfactory progress.
The slave flesh forms hidden in the woods were easily located and ordered to the village, and then the Rion entity took itself directly back. Rather than dissolving, however, there was an … adjustment within himself, the sort of adjustment the Rion entity had experienced only once before. There was the sense of increased satisfaction, and then his Vallant part spoke.
Yes, that's much more like it, the Rion entity heard. This is the way it should have been all along.
And you did it exactly right, Rion's Tamrissa part said. Just as I knew you would. Aren't you glad you tried?
Yes, I certainly am glad, but now it's time we gave the others a hand, the Vallant part answered. If we make them do all the work, we could have a revolt on our hands.
And then the Blending dissolved, leaving Rion alone again and fairly puzzled.
"Did any of you understand why that happened?" Jovvi asked, sounding as confused as Rion felt. "I experienced a change of some kind when Vallant adjusted our places in the Blending, and then it seemed that he and Tamrissa were no longer part of the Blending - even though they were. How did it feel to you, Vallant?"
"It felt as if the entity disappeared, and all that was left was me," Vallant said with raised brows as he looked at Tamrissa. "But you were right there with me, and I knew who you were and that you were there. It wasn't like hearin' everyone in the Blendin', it was somethin' else entirely."
"I think we need to find out just where all this is leading," Jovvi mused, then she glanced at what their associates were doing. "The first group of slaves has been freed, and there isn't anywhere near as much trouble as we were expecting. Let's tell someone that we're going to take an experimentation break, and then see what happens."
Since it was obvious that none of them disagreed, Vallant went over to tell their associates what they would be doing, and then Rion and his Blendingmates returned to the house they'd been using. The rain had stopped, leaving the day merely overcast, but an excitement of sorts crackled back and forth among all of them.
"All right, who wants to be next?"
Jovvi asked once they were all settled on their sleeping pads. "It can't be me, because I have the definite feeling that I have to go last."
"Because of all the time you've already spent initiating the Blending," Rion said, distantly wondering how he knew that. "With that truth in mind, I volunteer to be next."
Lorand made no effort to put his own offer forward and Naran merely smiled again, so the matter was decided. Rion found the need to deliberately relax his body as he reached out to his Blendingmates, and then it was the Rion entity who looked about.
Are you able to tell how far away the balance of us are? the Rion entity's Tamrissa part asked. Once you perceive the distance, you must draw us all closer.
The Rion entity did indeed look about himself, and quickly saw that what had been said was true. His parts certainly were far too distant from him, therefore he drew them closer - and once again the world shifted.
Nice going, Rion, Tamrissa said, and Rion knew that she smiled at him. And don't you two look handsome now.
You're not exactly an eyesore yourself, Vallant came back, and Rion somehow saw his grin. In fact he somehow saw both of them, as themselves with no entity involved.
Where has the entity gone? Rion asked, now even more puzzled. I can tell that what we've done is proper, but where did the entity go?
Maybe we'll find out after the rest of us have had a turn, Tamrissa suggested. Why don't you dissolve the Blending now so Lorand can join us?
That was the logical course of action, so Rion did indeed dissolve the Blending. How odd that had been, to first be the entity and then -
"I don't know if I'm ready to try this," Lorand said after taking a deep breath. "I had a lot of trouble forcing myself to keep up with the rest of you, and I'm just afraid I might not be ready to take the next step."
"If you're not ready, then it won't work," Tamrissa said before Rion could think of something supportive to put in. "If it doesn't work, then we'll be no worse off than we are right now. What can we lose by trying?"
"Nothing, I guess," Lorand answered, clearly responding to Tamrissa's lack of accusation before he shrugged. "And since we have nothing to lose, I might as well give it a try."
Rion could see that Lorand wasn't quite as unconcerned as he'd tried to sound, but a moment later it was the Rion entity who looked about. There was a short delay as the Lorand part adjusted his perceptions and viewpoint, and then a jarring twist changed the picture entirely. It was now Rion, Vallant, Tamrissa, and Lorand who regarded one another, and then Lorand laughed an instant before the Blending dissolved.
"I had no idea that that would be so simple and - and - easy," Lorand blurted. "I wanted to say something to the rest of you, but then I decided to wait until Naran and Jovvi were with us. This is much too good to keep to ourselves."
"Yes, it certainly is," Tamrissa agreed with a gentle laugh while Rion joined Vallant in smiling. "And now it's Naran's turn, so let's get on with it."
"I was prepared to worry, but then I Saw that I would succeed," Naran said with the same calm smile she'd been showing all along. "With that in mind…"
Rion saw Naran close her eyes, and then there was a repetition of the experience with Lorand. The Rion entity formed, there was a jarring lurch, and then Rion saw the others with Naran included this time. They all smiled at one another, and then the Blending was gone.
"I'd still like to know why we start out as the entity and then the entity disappears," Rion said to Jovvi. "Do you have any idea why that is?"
"Maybe I'll understand once it happens to me," Jovvi replied ruefully. "I've done what I'm about to do a hundred times, but the entity has always been there."
"I think that's because you never brought the rest of us forward," Tamrissa mused, obviously considering the matter. "When I first initiated the Blending I did what you always did, but that put me out in front instead of meshed in with the rest of you. Once you do the bringing forward, it ought to work out the way it's supposed to."
"Then let's try it," Jovvi said with raised brows, clearly as encouraged as Lorand had been. For the third time the Rion entity formed, but there was a longer delay than previous. Then the Rion entity perceived a sound of pleased discovery, there was the familiar jarring lurch, and then -
"What happened?" Jovvi asked as she looked around at all of them. "We were Blended, I brought you all forward, and then we weren't Blended. What went wrong?"
"You expect us to know?" Tamrissa said with a sound of ridicule. "When it comes to knowing what's going on, we're lucky we know what time of day it is. Why don't you initiate the Blending again, and maybe we'll get a clue."
"I might as well," Jovvi muttered, and Rion sat prepared to be swept up into the Blending. But a long moment passed with nothing happening, which couldn't possibly be a good sign.
"What's wrong, love?" Lorand asked a Jovvi who seemed to have gone pale. "Why aren't you initiating the Blending?"
"I'm trying, love, I'm really trying," Jovvi answered, tears clear behind the words. "For some reason I can't seem to do it, so I'd like one of you others to Blend us. I may be able to do it again after that."
They all agreed, of course, and Tamrissa was the first to try. When she failed then Vallant took his turn, but he wasn't any more successful. Rion made the effort when it became his turn, but there was nothing to be gained.
"It seems as though there's a - a - blank wall there instead of the Blending state," Rion said after the wasted effort, his insides twisting and churning. "Why is this happening?"
No one seemed able to answer his question, and no one seemed able to initiate the Blending. Each of them tried more than once, but finally they were forced to admit the truth.
Gandistra's Seated Blending was no longer able to Blend!
Chapter Twenty
Driffin Codsent stood in the room where Wilant Gorl, Oplis Henden, and the rest of their Blending, sat unmoving. Just staring at them wasn't doing the least bit of good, but Driff had felt the need to do it anyway.
"I almost asked if you were sure there weren't any clues here," Edmin's voice came from the doorway behind Driff. "But I do know what a foolish question that would be, so I won't make things worse for you by asking it."
"I don't see how anything could make things worse," Driff answered, turning away from the unliving Highs with a sigh. "It's as if something froze them in place all at the same time, and is now preserving them perfectly. Even after all this time, I can't sense anything actually wrong with them."
"Much like the same nothing our entity found," Edmin said, staring past Driff with a frown. "Nothing seems to be wrong with them, but if we can't find what's affecting them we can't bring them back to life. What about those books they're all staring at? Maybe if we looked at those books-"
"No!" Driff said sharply, and then he shook his head in apology. "I didn't mean to bite your head off, Edmin, but the servants tell me that everything was fine with the Highs until they started to read through those books. I can't imagine what could be in them that would do this not only to the ones reading but every other High in the city as well, but checking ourselves isn't a good idea. If this did happen because of something in those books, we could end up in the same state the Highs are in."
"I don't think I'd enjoy that," Edmin said ruefully, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. "Hopefully I'd have no idea it was happening, but on some level I know I would not enjoy it. So what are we going to do next?"
"We'll just have to get on with things, and hope that the Seated Blending gets back sooner rather than later," Driff said as he began to move toward the door. "I'm hoping that whatever is affecting these people is too subtle for my own talent strength, but not for theirs."
"But … what if the same thing happens to them?" Edmin asked, a question that stopped Driff just as he stepped out into the hall. "Since we don't know what's causing the condition, isn't it possible - "
"I don't believe I never thought of that," Driff said in horror, accidentally interrupting
Edmin again. "But you're absolutely right, so we'll have to do something to keep the unaffected Highs out of the city until they can look around from a distance. It's a good thing you're here to do my thinking for me, Edmin. Obviously I need someone to do it."
"You're just being overwhelmed by the responsibility of being in charge, Driff," Edmin answered with a smile as he stopped to Driff's left. "And you're frustrated over not being able to help those people. The point would have come through to you as soon as someone reported the approach of the Seated Blending."
"I'm not sure you're right, but I still appreciate having you say it," Driff answered with a shake of his head and a clap to Edmin's shoulder. "But we do have to get on with things, and our next chore is to interview all those prisoners we took. Are you ready to get started?"
"I will be as soon as I take care of a chore of my own," Edmin answered, his own sigh rather deep. "As long as we weren't here in the palace, I could tell myself that seeing my father wasn't practical. Now that we are here, the excuse doesn't work any longer."
"Are you sure you have to do it alone?" Driff asked, somehow aware of the pain and disturbance filling his Blendingmate. "I know my presence won't do more than give you moral support, but if you'd like at least that much…"
"You have no idea how tempted I am to accept that offer," Edmin said with a grimace. "And I would accept it, except for the virtual certainty that my father would have a marvelous time making you feel absolutely worthless. If you were there, it would just give my father and me something else to argue about, Driff."
"Since you already have enough things to argue about, I withdraw the offer," Driff said with a faint smile and a headshake. "We'll be in that big meeting room once you've finished with your visit."
"As long as the visit doesn't finish me, I'll be there," Edmin said with the sort of faint smile he hadn't shown in quite some time. "Since those prisoners are still under control, you won't even have to wait for me to question them. I'll … see you later."