by L. S. Gibson
Amired was slumped in a chair in front of Colonel Shoelin, a soldier standing either side of Amired. The colonel looked as if he'd just been on parade, which made the untidy state of his soldiers stand out even more. Both of them had removed their jackets. One had his shirt sleeves rolled up; the other hadn't bothered and his cuffs and lower sleeves were speckled with blood, some of it Girau's, and the rest Amired's.
The colonel spoke in a bored voice. "How much longer do we have to keep on with this? You know you'll tell me what I want to know eventually. Save yourself the pain and talk. Why are you here? What do you hope to gain? What do your masters expect from such a risky venture?"
Amired lifted his head, and Girau knew just how difficult it was for his friend. "Stop wasting time and get on with it. We won't tell you a damn thing." Amired's voice was weak, but not his determination.
A flash of anger crossed the colonel's face, but he quickly schooled his features. He sighed dramatically and said, "I'll leave you to think it over. My men are a little tired, so they can go and get some food and have a rest. We'll be back in a while." His men grabbed up their jackets and, with a sneer in the direction of their prisoners, they followed the colonel from the room.
Girau got up onto his knees, gritting his teeth against the pain. He crawled forward to Amired's chair. "You coping?" he asked.
"As much as you, I imagine," Amired said. "You think you can really hold out?" he murmured.
"We have to." Girau glanced around. "Be careful. You never know who might be listening."
Amired nodded. "What I wouldn't give for some food right now."
"And some water," Girau added. Girau reached up and gripped Amired's wrist.
Amired looked down at him. He smiled and nodded. Then his smile disappeared, and Girau sensed he wanted to say something, but knew he couldn't risk inadvertently giving away information. Girau thought he understood and held Amired's gaze as he gripped his arm yet again.
Amired sighed and closed his eyes. Girau slid to the floor beside the chair and tried to get some rest.
Chapter 31
It was slow going, but no more so than Jhond had expected. In truth, King Corianus made arrangements much speedier than he and Ninian anticipated. The battalions stationed in Timen were the first ones on the move, but every other battalion commander in the country received orders to get his men ready to follow as soon as feasible. The War Ministry had issued orders to the Admiral of the Fleet to get every single ship possible back to the Estan Sea ports.
Corianus sent messengers to their neighboring states, hoping he could gain their agreement to send troops as well or least to agree to the possibility. He hadn't sent ordinary messengers on this occasion; he had sent ministers with outriders and guards indicating how important his request was. But the king decided not to wait for responses. He wanted to get his army moving, the plan being to gather in the plains ten miles west of Tsarn, which would also put them only eighteen miles east of Craiten, the large port base for the eastern fleet.
There was no official announcement that Timendra was going to war. The military issued a strict command no serving men were to discuss their orders. The official plan was to keep the news quiet, but that was a forlorn hope. With so many men being deployed, rumors were flying left and right.
Jhond and Ninian decided to leave with the first group heading for the coast, and Patinus and Gallia asked to travel with them. Jhond was torn, not wanting to take Gallia into a war zone, but she was determined and there was no denying her skill with a blade. Also, Patinus wanted her by his side and seeing as Jhond needed Patinus with them when they arrived in Irobi, Jhond had no choice but to agree.
They'd been on the move for seven hours when word was given to halt and set up camp for the night in the open fields just ahead. Considering how many were travelling, Jhond supposed they'd made good time. Of course, if he and Ninian were travelling alone, even with Patinus and Gallia in tow, they'd have travelled much farther, but that was of little consequence. What mattered was that things were happening at last.
Jhond knew he ought to feel relieved, so why did he feel apprehensive?
* * * *
Girau realized he had fallen asleep when the noise of the key grating in the lock of their cell door dragged him back to awareness. He glanced at Amired to find the captain was staring at the opening door, a look of resignation on his face.
Colonel Shoelin walked in, accompanied by the two sergeants, one of whom was dragging another chair into the cell. The chair was placed alongside the one Amired was using. Girau was unceremoniously dragged to his feet and then rammed into the second chair. Girau had to grab onto the seat to prevent himself from toppling over and back onto the floor.
"I'll give you one last chance to answer my questions. If you still refuse, we'll have to resort to a different method to get the answers we need."
"You're wasting your time," Girau grated. "Increasing your violence will not produce a different result." Girau hoped that was true and it wasn't just bravado he was spewing.
The colonel smiled. "Oh, fear not, we will not use further violence. We have other methods."
Girau didn't like the sound of that and on catching Amired's eye, he saw how nervous the captain was.
"Have you reconsidered?" Colonel Shoelin prompted.
Girau was silent, and Amired didn't respond either.
The colonel sighed and walked to the door, which one of the sergeants opened for him. Girau glanced at Amired, but the captain kept his eyes on the door, and the sergeants kept a tight watch on the prisoners. Girau waited with growing disquiet.
It was only a few minutes since the colonel had left, but it seemed much longer before the door finally opened again. The colonel wasn't alone. Another man was with him; a man of medium build with thick black hair and eyes that seemed oddly penetrating. Even as the stranger stepped inside the cell, he smiled. A peculiar, twisted smile.
"Ah, so we meet again, Captain."
* * * *
"What is it, Jhond?" Ninian suddenly asked.
"What?" Jhond frowned.
"Are you telling me that nothing is wrong, nothing is worrying you?"
Jhond raised an eyebrow. "How did you... For some reason, I do feel unsettled. Not exactly worried, but..." He shrugged. "Probably just with all this going on around us..." Jhond indicated all the activities surrounding them.
Ninian regarded Jhond intently and then decided he was doubtless correct. Patinus and Gallia were approaching, so he dropped the matter.
"My, I'm hungry," Patinus said. He grinned at Ninian. "Do we have to wait for the cooks to have everything ready or can we beg you to indulge us?"
"Oh yes, please," Gallia said. "I've heard so much about your magically-appearing food."
Ninian laughed. "Better get under cover first. I can't feed the whole army." Tents were already set up for the senior officers, and Jhond and his party had been allocated one of them. Ninian led the way inside and, before Gallia's fascinated gaze, he produced a meal "fit for a mage."
They had only just begun to eat when Jhond went rigid, his hand still halfway to his mouth with a forkful of food. His eyes were staring, and Ninian felt the power surrounding him. Ninian got to his feet, with Patinus and Gallia following his lead.
"What is it?" Gallia whispered.
"I don't know, but I can feel his energy." Ninian replied. "Jhond, what's going on?" No response. "Jhond, can you hear me?" He glanced at the others. "Stand clear. I'm going to try something."
As Patinus and Gallia moved farther away, Ninian reached out to touch Jhond, unsure whether Jhond's energy would allow contact or not. As Ninian's hand brushed Jhond's energy, he felt a strange sensation rushing over him, as if their currents weren't quite matched, but not enough to cause a reaction and cast him aside. Ninian breathed a sigh of relief. He pushed on until his hand touched Jhond's arm, which felt like a rod of iron, hard and unyielding.
"Jhond," he murmured again.
As unexpec
tedly as it had begun, whatever happened to Jhond ended and his body relaxed, his energy fading fast. Ninian was forced to withdraw his own contact swiftly as he didn't want Jhond to react automatically as if to an attack.
Jhond turned to face him, and Ninian began to ask, "By the Lords, what was--"
Jhond gripped his biceps. "Suvran. He has my father and Amired!"
"Oh Lords!" Gallia exclaimed.
Ninian held Jhond's gaze as he asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Get there. Fast."
"It'll take days to cross the sea and ride to Colyon," Patinus said.
"I have a faster method of travel," Jhond said, fishing into his pocket. He pulled out the tiny chest at the same time as Ninian drew the tiny, wire oval from his pocket. In an instant, the chest was normal size, and Jhond pulled out the cylinder. At the same time, he absently fingered the pendant hanging from the chain around his neck.
"You sure about this?" Ninian asked. "You've never actually done this before."
"Done what? What is that?" Gallia asked.
"The strands of time," Jhond said hurriedly, as he squatted down with the cylinder in his hands, gripping it by the top and bottom.
"I'll explain later," Ninian said.
* * * *
Jhond focused all his energy on his father. On the bond he had with Girau. There was nothing like the connection between child and parent. Jhond took a breath, closed his eyes, whispered the words Ninian had taught him to center himself and draw all his energy to him. Then he flipped the cylinder and caught it by the sides. The next instant, Jhond felt a pull on his energy, a very tiny tug. Jhond allowed himself to be drawn along until he was falling, tumbling end over end.
The cylinder glowed and those watching could see the interior; could see the tiny strands of what looked like glass swirling around each other in a fine mist.
Jhond's vision cleared and he saw a small dark room; both Girau and Amired were there, both having clearly been savagely beaten. Suvran stood staring down at them, a cruel smile on his face. He was speaking and from his expression, his words weren't pleasant. Jhond could draw on the power to hear now, but he didn't need to take the time. All he needed was to know was precisely where they were and he now knew that. He withdrew immediately and his consciousness was returned to the tent where Ninian and the others were waiting anxiously.
Stepping up to Jhond, Ninian took the cylinder from him, casually holding it by the sides with no effect whatever. Jhond removed the chain from around his neck and slipped the pendant from the chain. He then placed the pendant face down on top of the ring on his finger and twisted it a one-quarter turn. Jhond felt heat emanating from the ring and flowing over his hand and across his body, making him shudder.
Watching, Ninian said, "It's ready. I'll keep the strands safe."
Jhond nodded and closed his eyes again, visualizing the room where he had just seen his father and the others. He drew a sigil in the air and murmured the incantation he and Ninian had discovered in the archive.
Even Ninian gasped when Jhond disappeared.
* * * *
Jhond hadn't known what to expect, but it wasn't this. It wasn't anything like the disorientation he felt when in contact with the strands. When using the strands, even though he felt as if he was falling, most of his awareness had been of witnessing somebody else's life. This time, his awareness was wholly on his surroundings, or rather on the lack of them. There was no feeling of temperature at all. No sense of color, and he had no idea which way was up or down. Then in a flash, he was standing upright in the dimly lit room and all his senses had returned. He was also very aware of gasps, cries, and shouted orders.
Jhond materialized between Girau, Amired and Suvran and he didn't know who looked more shocked. There were two guards positioned directly behind the mage, near the door to what Jhond now recognized as a cell, and they appeared frozen to the spot. Jhond knew he had to keep the initiative. He couldn't allow Suvran to act. He'd already used a protection spell before he even left Timendra, but he wasn't sure how long it would hold against Suvran. There still wasn't a proper estimate of just how powerful a mage he might be.
By now, the guards were yelling to each other, but they were too confused to act. Suvran was busily drawing sigils and reciting spells, his frustration evident as he couldn't breach Jhond's protection. Jhond said firmly to his father and Amired, "Each of you grab onto me; hold tight."
Neither man spoke, but they obeyed instantly. Jhond imagined they were as shocked to see him as Suvran and the guards, but he was grateful they had kept their heads and obeyed him without question. Suvran was cursing and yelling at the guards to get to Amired and Girau, as if somehow they could accomplish that which he could not.
Jhond quickly grasped the pendant fixed to his ring and twisted it back a quarter turn and once again entered that empty nothingness. But this time he welcomed it as they journeyed homeward.
* * * *
Girau landed in a heap, arms and legs jumbled up with those of Amired. He stared at his son, who stood calmly beside them, smiling down at them.
"Jhond! By the Lords, what just happened?" Amired put into words what Girau wondered.
"Jhond is sealed as the Eynan and has all the power that entails," Ninian replied.
"But that was the first time he's used it," Gallia added.
Girau got to his feet and embraced Jhond. "My son." He was a little embarrassed at the wealth of emotion in his voice, but he didn't regret that Jhond heard it. "Thank you for taking such a risk on our behalf."
Girau was relieved and happy when he felt his son's arms wrap around him.
Inclining his head, Amired said, "Yes, my grateful thanks. Did my sailors get a message to you then?"
"There was no message," Jhond replied heavily. "I sensed my father was in close proximity to Suvran and knew that could only mean trouble for both of you."
"What happened to the sailors you took with you from the ship?" Patinus asked. "I assume the Horologue is still in the harbor?"
"Yes, it is." Amired answered the last question first. "As to the three men who accompanied us, we left them outside the ministry, and I think they must've seen us and the minister arrested. After that, I cannot say. I imagine they'd try to get back to the ship."
"The minister was arrested with you?" Patinus interjected.
"Yes, you didn't know?"
"No," Jhond answered. "I was only able to find you, too, Amired, because you were with my father."
"Lords, so he's still being questioned. I wonder if Suvran will go after him now?"
"I assume they were questioning you about Timendra's plans?" Patinus asked.
"Yes."
"So how much does the minister know? How much could he tell?"
"About Timendra's plans? Nothing. About Jhond and the fact he's the Eynan? Enough."
"What exactly was Suvran asking you when Jhond got you out?" Ninian asked. "I mean, did he say anything that led you to believe he knew the Eynan had emerged?"
"He didn't really have time to say much of anything," Amired replied. "He obviously knew who we were. Colonel Shoelin had our names. Suvran made a point of letting me know he remembered me and what he'd done to me on the Isle of Truth. He made some comments about Jhond and it was pretty clear he was furious he hadn't been able to track Jhond since we left the island."
Amired glanced at Girau, who took up the narrative. "He seemed pretty pleased he'd captured me. He'd just finished telling me the perfect bait had fallen into his hands." Girau smiled at his son. "Don't think he expected you to respond to it that quickly, though."
"Still, wouldn't it be best if we could extract the minister just in case? Once Suvran gets his hands on him--"
"And what about my three men?" Amired added. "Can we get them to safety?"
"Hold on," Ninian said raising a hand. "You're asking a lot of Jhond. Using the strands and the pendant take a lot of Jhond's power. He should rest now to regain his strength."
Pat
inus looked uncomfortable, but still he pressed. "Couldn't you at least get the minister out? He knows enough and... Damn, but I feel responsible. I gave you his name. Lords, Suvran will have the letters of recommendation and the passes I provided for Lord Girau!"
"You knew the risk when you provided the letters for me," Girau commented.
"I know, but that was in the abstract. This is...reality."
"Tell him you had no choice," Ninian suggested. "You couldn't possibly refuse without causing suspicion among your new allies."
"I'll try, but he'll ask why I didn't let him know. Warn him."
"But why ever would you need to warn him?" Girau pointed out. "After all, he's such a powerful mage, you assumed he would easily discover such an ill-conceived plan." Girau shrugged. "Not so far from the truth as it turned out."
"It might not work, but it might buy us some time. Especially if his concentration was elsewhere," Ninian said.
"I should go and find out what's happening with Narivin," Jhond said.
Ninian didn't look too happy, but he passed the cylinder back to Jhond. Girau was fascinated to watch his son use one of these miraculous new powers he possessed, and it was a remarkably short time before Jhond put the cylinder aside and disappeared from view.
Girau said, "While we wait, can someone tell me where by the Lords we are? What's been happening and how it was possible for Jhond to do what he did?"
Ninian was still talking about what had happened at Corianus' court when Patinus interrupted.
"Damn, I hope Jhond gets in there in time. I dread to think what Suvran will do if he learns the truth."
Jhond reappeared and abruptly collapsed onto the floor, looking pale and panting for breath.
"Something to eat and some wine, quick," Ninian said.
Gallia hurried over to the table Ninian had brought forth earlier and grabbed up a plate of food and a goblet of wine. She passed it to Ninian, who knelt on the floor beside Jhond. Ninian put the plate down and pressed the goblet to Jhond's lips.
"Drink," Ninian said, and Jhond immediately obeyed. He drained the goblet, and Ninian passed it to Gallia. "Another one." He then began to feed Jhond pieces of meat, cheese, bread and fruit from the plate. He pressed one after the other to Jhond, who soon grabbed the plate and devoured everything on it.