by L. S. Gibson
"We're getting distracted," Jhond said. "Father, go on."
"I'm in contact with officials of many of the governments of states swallowed up by Bardius. My original intention was to gather information that might be of aid to Timendra in our resistance of the empire, but it has become increasingly clear to me that if there was a way to draw all these men together we may have the beginnings of a rebellion."
"Why was I not aware of this, Father?" Rhou asked.
"I was under strict orders from the king to keep it secret." He raised an eyebrow as he continued, "Especially as you were becoming close to Patinus and, while we hoped he had come to us with honesty, the king recommended caution. And one must admit, Patinus, we had cause to be concerned."
Patinus nodded. "I'd have done anything to have come to you with open arms and begged for your help, but my small state lies at the mercy of a tyrant. As I'm sure you're aware, Bardius has been building his fleet for some time now and he's made it clear some of those ships will sail from Irobi ports. He hasn't needed to inform me that many of my people will man those ships as sailors or soldiers when his invasion fleet finally sails. It seemed whatever way I turned, my path was barred. When I learned the Eynan had finally come, it was as if the Lords of Light had at last answered my prayers."
"You never even questioned Jhond's assertion?" Amired interjected.
Patinus' eyes widened. "No, I didn't. Somehow I just knew he spoke the truth."
"If I may?" Rhou asked. "You said you found a lead this very afternoon. A lead to what?"
"During my time away, Ninian and I followed clues we discovered at the Temple of the Magi at Tandera, and in a temple on the Isle of Truth, we found a hidden chest and in the chest were various artifacts, among them the strands of time--"
"The strands? They're real?" Girau interrupted.
"Very real," Ninian said, but explained no further. "We also found some scrything crystals, a pendant and a message in a language only Jhond could read with a clue that led us back here to the secret archive."
"Secret archive?" Rhou asked. "I thought that was just a stupid tale passed down through the family."
"No," Girau said. "Papa Marvek showed it to me on my majority and swore me to secrecy, but it soon became clear I wasn't as interested in the old legends as he'd hoped, yet he never pushed me. I see now he knew I wasn't the one he was to teach. Jhond showed an interest in it that I never had, nor did you or Tiran. Papa Marvek showed the archive to Jhond when he reached his majority. That's why Jhond is named Doyen of the House of Reeve and not I or either of his brothers. He is the Keeper of the Archive of the Magi."
"The clue, Ninian, what of the clue?" Patinus asked.
"To quote," Ninian said, "'To find the key, search the library in the House of the Doyen.' We already knew Jhond was the keeper and the clue led him home. We've been searching for the key since we arrived and today we found mention of the pendant in a book written in the same language as the clue."
"I thought you said only Jhond could read that language," Rhou said.
"That's right. There were only three books in the library in that language, so Jhond gave the two of us a list of words to search for. It was laborious, but whenever we found a passage containing any of those words, we showed them to Jhond. Some he dismissed; others we put aside. This afternoon, while Jhond was out, Amired found a large section in one book that repeatedly used all of the words on Jhond's list. It's the most promising link we'd found. We showed Jhond on his return."
"And?" Patinus pressed.
"And Jhond discovered he has been wearing an artifact since Papa Marvek's death." Ninian looked at Girau as he spoke.
Girau frowned, then declared, "The ring!"
"Indeed. The ring his grandfather told him never to take off. It is used in conjunction with the pendant. We've not had time to test it yet, but somehow they fit together and help release the power of the Eynan."
"But I thought you said he was already displaying increasing powers?" Gallia queried.
"He is. But you have to understand. From the moment he entered the Temple of the Magi at Tandera, his latent talent as a mage began to manifest itself. Such can happen to any new mage. But the power of the Eynan is something more, something beyond the knowledge of an ordinary mage, and something different. The items we found in the chest are all linked to the power of the Eynan. There is no mage alive who can teach the Eynan to control his power.
"My family was charged with the duty of searching for the Eynan at the time of the Withdrawal. The timing of his emergence was fluid, unknown; my family has searched for generations, gathering information where and when possible as legends and fables grew, trying to pick out the wheat from the chaff. I could hardly believe it when I found him."
"If no mage alive can teach him, how will he ever learn to use his power?" Rhou asked.
"Perhaps I misspoke. No mage alive can teach him without first collecting each artifact by following each clue. I've been learning, too, as we uncover the artifacts. When we have it all, he will truly be the Eynan."
"Ninian has already taught me beyond measure how to control and use my power. I trust him to find the solutions we need."
There was a knock at the door just then and Blanel entered to announce dinner was served.
"We can finish this conversation after dinner," Girau said, knowing they couldn't continue their discussion with servants who could overhear.
Dinner that evening had to be one of the shortest meals ever in the Reeve household. Everyone gathered back in the reception room, even taking the same seats. It was almost as if no one had ever left.
"Patinus, how do you get your responses back to Suvran?" Ninian asked.
"By messenger bird. There's no other way I can contact him."
"And he expects you to have an answer to every query before you send a reply?"
"Yes, or a damned good explanation why I'm unable to do so. Why?"
"I'm just trying to estimate how much time you might have before Suvran expects to hear from you."
"The way I understand it, Suvran doesn't know Jhond has returned home. He only asked me to check with the family for the answers he wanted, including if they knew his whereabouts."
"That's right. Jhond covered our tracks leaving the Isle of Truth," Ninian said. "From what Suvran intimated, he has a way of tracking Jhond and has been watching him for some time. Jhond has used a spell to keep himself hidden ever since. He has even taken to carrying the chest on his person at all times in case the power of the artifacts in the chest can be sensed by a powerful mage such as Suvran. I can feel their power constantly now, though I'm sure that is due to proximity."
"He carries the chest at all times?" Rhou asked. "How can that be? I've never seen him with a chest." His eyes widened. "Is it invisible?"
"No." Jhond smiled, dipping into his pocket and drawing out the tiny chest. "I shrunk it." He didn't bother explaining the wired oval and its use to shrink the chest and how the oval shrank to the size of a tiny bead, which Ninian kept secured on his person at all times. Without the oval, the chest couldn't be restored.
"By the Lords! Can we see inside it?" Rhou was very excited.
"Not now."
Girau frowned at Rhou, shook his head and asked Ninian, "Can you still sense its power when Jhond is farther away, like today?"
"I could."
"Lords, we have to do something about this...this monster," Lady Narissa said.
* * * *
Girau stood and went to lean against the mantelpiece. "I have the stirrings of an idea." He looked around at those watching him, expecting his family to disagree vehemently with his idea. His gaze finally settled on Patinus as he continued.
"I had a meeting this afternoon with King Corianus. He's increasingly concerned about the possibility of invasion and wants to find a way to at least slow down Bardius. The king asked me if I could possibly arrange to meet some--even one--of my contacts in the empire. Try to find a way to get them to cooperat
e with each other to incite their populace to rise up against the empire. I told him I would have to think it over. In truth, I thought it would prove much too difficult to convince these people to revolt against the emperor. He is too powerful and they are too afraid. But now, with your help, I think maybe there's a chance."
"With my help? How?" Patinus asked.
"As I said, I have contacts, but I can't claim to know any of these men. A couple of the countries I had in mind border with Irobi. I thought perhaps you might know these men, either personally or by reputation, and can advise me on the best candidate to approach."
"Which countries?"
"Amister and Colyon."
Patinus closed his eyes, and Girau saw pain wash over his features. His jaw tightened and he opened his eyes. "I'm surprised either state would consider rising after what Bardius did to Endymion. The horror committed there destroyed their resistance in an instant. I will never forget what I saw there."
"You witnessed it? Was it as bad as the rumors suggest?" Amired queried.
Patinus gave a bark of laughter, harsh and devoid of humor. "The rumors did not do justice to what I saw that day. It still gives me nightmares and I pray I may never see the like again."
"Knowing such retribution is possible, you still wish to assist us?" Jhond queried.
"I don't deny I'm afraid of what we're facing, but I know, more than any of you, what that monster is capable of. My principality is only safe as long as he decides it is. You, with the help of your comrades, are the best chance we have of defeating him and his lap dog."
Ninian raised an eyebrow. "Ah, but who's the monster and who the lap dog?"
Girau stared at Ninian. "You think the mage Suvran is pulling the strings behind the throne?"
"I'm not certain, but I think it's very possible. Bardius might be a power-mad dictator with delusions of grandeur, but I see no clear evidence of an evil genius in him. But Suvran? That's another story."
"And why would a mage of Suvran's proven power bow down to anyone? I'm inclined to agree with Ninian's assessment; more likely, he allows Bardius to think the emperor is the one in charge," Jhond said.
"It also might explain why the Eynan is needed at this time," Amired said. "Without such power, we could never defeat them."
Girau stared at Patinus. "Are you saying it would be worthless to approach either of your neighbors?"
"No," Patinus said slowly, thoughtfully. "I know if they could break free they'd jump at the chance, though convincing them it's possible won't be easy. It will depend on just how much you're prepared to tell them." He glanced at Jhond and Ninian before he turned back to Girau. "Tell me who your contacts are?"
"Egon Rosterus in Amister and Login Narivin in Colyon."
"Two well-placed contacts, Narivin in particular. He's the Minister of Security, and I well remember his determination not to give in to threats. Rosterus is a member of the high council with a responsibility for education. My first instinct would be to say go for Narivin, but I also well remember how appalled and furious Rosterus was at the slaughter in Endymion. He'd have torn Bardius limb from limb then if he could've got his hands on the bastard."
"So either would do then. Very well, who is easiest to reach?"
Patinus didn't answer. He stared ahead, and Girau knew what the prince was seeing was not in this room. Girau waited. Eventually, Patinus turned to Jhond.
"This method that Suvran can use to watch you... Do you believe he can also watch Ninian or Amired?"
"No, I don't believe so. I think if he could find either of them, he'd have attempted to use his mage powers against us somehow. What are you thinking?"
"That perhaps Captain Amired could use his vessel to take Lord Girau to the northern Irobi port of Buchern. From there, it's not far to the Amister border. I can provide him with special transit papers that should get him across any border." He turned his attention to Girau. "Use my name as an introduction; I can give you a code word Rosterus will know only comes from me. If you wish, you could also travel on to Colyon and speak to Narivin."
Girau nodded, looking thoughtful. He glanced at Amired.
Amired rose, approached Patinus and inclined his head. "It will be good to be acting on your behalf again, my prince."
Ninian said. "Patinus, this method Suvran uses to watch Jhond... Do you know what it is?"
"No, I'm afraid not. The only thing I do know is he's always alone when he wishes to draw on his power. He locks himself away in a room at the top of the tower in Rugarold, but he revels in releasing it in public to show how powerful he is. Don't you have any idea?"
"Hmm, probably needs a power circle and special sigils," Ninian muttered under his breath. He raised his head to look at Patinus. "I do have an idea, but since I'm not certain, I prefer not to speculate."
"You've not said what you think of Patinus' suggestion," Amired said to Ninian.
Ninian inclined his head to Patinus. "If you're willing, Amired, I think it would be an excellent idea, particularly if you and some of your most trusted men accompanied Girau on his travels. I can provide you with a small device you can use to check if anyone near is using mage talent."
"And you, Father," Jhond said, "are you in favor of this plan?"
"Yes. I thank you for the use of your vessel, Amired. It's much safer than using a Timendran ship. I'd also like to accept the offer of an escort of your trusted men, Captain."
Chapter 27
Suddenly, Jhond felt easier about everything, as if simply having an idea of how to proceed lightened his load.
His father and Amired were already making arrangements to travel to Tsarn and board the Horologue for the journey to Irobi.
Patinus was drafting transit papers that would be stamped with his royal seal and, hopefully, enable them to travel anywhere within the region. Patinus also had a report to write about Jhond to send to Suvran, but they had yet to decide what it should say.
Jhond and Ninian returned to the archive to finish studying the books. Ninian thought they had gathered most of the reference material they needed.
"I wish we could find more specific reference to the scrything block and two crystals we found in the chest, but there's nothing to differentiate them from the hundreds of other crystals we've seen on our travels," Ninian said.
"But then we haven't really used them, have we? Once you discovered the secret of the oval artifact, you put them aside. Perhaps we don't need a reference book for them; we just have to see what else they might reveal."
"Lords, but I've had my head stuck up my rear!" Ninian exclaimed, and Jhond laughed.
* * * *
The following morning, Patinus rode up the tree-lined avenue to the House of Reeve to find Captain Amired outside checking his pack was secure on his horse. There was no sign of Lord Girau.
Amired turned at the sound of the horse's hooves. He inclined his head. "Your Highness, if you've come to bid farewell to Lord Girau you are just in time. We're about to leave."
"I said my farewell to Girau last evening. I came to speak to you."
"Me, my prince? Thank you. I appreciate the thought." Amired smiled.
"I didn't only come to wish you good journey, Amired I also wanted to respond to your comment yesterday."
"Which comment? Much was discussed yesterday."
"That you appreciated acting on my behalf again. It gives me great pleasure you still feel that way. I remember I wasn't very understanding when you left my service, Amired." Patinus frowned. "Perhaps it was meant to be; otherwise, you couldn't be here to help Lord Girau now."
"Yes, I've heard Ninian say on more than one occasion it was always designed to be this way. It angers Jhond that his life's path was laid out so long ago."
The door opened and Girau came out with Jhond and Lady Narissa. Patinus stood beside Jhond as Girau bid a last goodbye to his wife. Amired and Girau mounted up and with a final wave were on their way to Tsarn.
"Would you join me for some refreshment, Patinus?"
Lady Narissa asked.
"Perhaps later, My Lady. I would like to speak with Jhond and Ninian just now."
"Of course. Later then." She inclined her head and left them alone.
"Jhond, I think we need to decide on my message to Suvran. He will have expected me to discover the answers to his questions by now. I can delay no longer."
"Yes, of course. Come along...we'll talk to Ninian."
Patinus followed Jhond to the library. He was surprised when Jhond headed for one of the small closets at the rear. Patinus half expected to see something unusual inside, but it looked perfectly normal--shelves and cubbyholes with a few coat hooks along one wall. Jhond reached inside one of the cubbyholes and, abruptly, the wall with the hooks swung open. Jhond looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Welcome to the secret archive."
Patinus returned the smile. "I appreciate the trust."
Inside, Patinus saw Ninian bent over a desk making notes in a pad as his finger moved swiftly over the pages of a book, a very old book. Ninian looked up when they entered, and he closed his notebook and rose to meet them.
Jhond explained the problem and the three of them sat, Ninian back in his chair, Patinus in the only other chair and Jhond perched on the edge of the desk, facing Patinus.
"First off, what was the precise wording of Suvran's order?" Ninian queried.
Patinus closed his eyes to bring the exact wording back to mind. "I was to discover whatever I could about Jhond Reeve. Specifically: what was his position in the Reeve family? Did they know how powerful he was? Where did the family believe him to be? When did they expect him back? What were his future plans?" He opened his eyes to stare at Jhond. "He made it very clear you're a threat to the empire's plans and he intends to capture you."
* * * *
Jhond sucked in a breath, and Ninian glanced at him.
"Nothing you didn't know already," Ninian said. "And seeing how there's much he doesn't know after years of spying on you, I believe he can see you, but not hear you."
Jhond's eyes widened and he smiled.