Riah nodded her agreement, smiling indulgently at the youths. Spots of red appeared on Cha’le’s face, but Jalorm appeared unaffected. Celdic marveled at how similar Riah was to her sister, Selindria. Aside from Riah’s honey blonde hair and unusual height, she was a mirror image of her dark-haired sister.
“How long will the soldiers stay asleep?” Celdic asked Thistledown, more to change the subject than out of any real curiosity.
“Until I wake them,” Thistledown answered with a wolfish grin.
“But what if something happened to you before you woke them?” Li inquired. She had moved around the table and sat across from Celdic, with Jesha sitting next to her.
“Then they would waste away and eventually die,” Thistledown replied unconcernedly. “The death of the body isn’t really such a bad thing. Once a person begins to understand that your time in a mortal body is just a very short speck in the timeline of your Spirit’s life, your fear of death will fade away.”
Celdic frowned, suddenly seeing the last twenty years of his life for what they really were; a short streak in a timeless journey. A thought occurred to him and he looked up at Thistledown with a sudden hope. “Does that mean that we could still speak with people that have died? With their Spirit, I mean.”
Thistledown nodded, a knowing look in his feral eyes. “Your mother is one of the Spirits that acts as an envoy to the hosts of Elementals who have chosen to help us in our struggle against the Enemy. Spirits of the deceased play a very real part in our lives, long after their mortal bodies have released them.”
Most of the other youths at the table mirrored Celdic’s thoughtful expression. Lori’s eyes looked troubled. “Where does God fit into all of this?” she asked in puzzlement. “If we are able to see Spirits, can we see God?”
Celdic glanced around the table at the others, and saw the same blank incomprehension on their faces he knew was on his own. “Who is God?” Celdic asked curiously.
Lori looked quickly at Thistledown. “Don’t tell me the people on this planet don’t know who God is!” she exclaimed in stunned disbelief.
“That is a difficult question, Lori,” Thistledown replied with a sigh, “but to answer the immediate question; no, the people on this planet do not know who God is. As far as I can tell, there is no God in this universe.”
Lori gasped, her eyes going wide. She looked like somebody had knocked the wind out of her. “What about our universe?” she demanded forcefully. “There is a God, isn’t there?”
“I have certainly wanted the answer to that question myself many times,” Thistledown admitted, rubbing his knuckles on his chin. “You see, before Terrance left your planet, he was unable to sense his yar, or that of anyone else. We have theorized that it was due to strengthening Auras over thousands of years that eventually shielded humans from being able to interact with the Spiritual Realm at all. At the center of that question lies the largest question of all. Was there an intelligent being that made the change on human bodies and set the physical laws to what they are on Earth, or was it all just random chance?”
“But if we can see Spirits, then that is proof there must be a God!” Lori insisted, her face determined.
“It is proof we knew of Spirits at one time on Earth,” Thistledown corrected her, catching her gaze. “It is the fact that knowledge about Spirits existed on Earth that led Terrance to believe pre-historic humans could sense the Spiritual Realm. Whether a God arrived in our universe to take charge of things is the unknown question.”
“I’m still fuzzy on the whole God thing,” Lendel interjected with a small frown at Lori. “Who is God?”
Thistledown sighed again. “It’s too early in the morning for a theological debate,” he muttered to himself. He glanced around the table at the curious faces of the others. They were all watching him, including Riah. “To sum it up, there is a belief where Lori comes from that a being exists who is all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present. Most of the people on her world believe this being created their universe and when a person dies, God will judge them. If a person has spent their life doing bad things, God will punish them in the Spirit World. If a person has spent their life doing good things, God will reward them.”
Celdic tried to blank his face of the doubt he knew must be on it. It sounded to him like a bedtime story you would tell a child. The rest of the group around the table seemed to be thinking the same thing, and Celdic hoped he was doing a better job than Lendel was at keeping the doubt from his face. Cha’le was not even trying to hide the skepticism from her innocent features.
“You said most of the people on her planet believe this all-powerful being exists?" Cha’le asked in disbelief. “Has anyone ever met him?”
“Have you ever seen the Chasel at your mountain?” Lori demanded of Cha’le angrily, “or the city of Shalilayo? Or do you just take it on faith that the people who told you they exist knew what they were talking about?”
Before Cha’le could erupt at Lori, Thistledown raised a hand to silence everyone. “I think we have exhausted the possibilities of this conversation.” Thistledown shook his head almost wonderingly. “On Earth, almost all of the wars ever fought were justified by religion. Something about it seems to make people feel muscular.” He paused, appraising Riah with a critical eye. “How are you feeling today?”
“Much better,” Riah answered with a smile that seemed to light up the room. “A little rest was all I needed.”
Thistledown grunted doubtfully. “We will ride for Shalilayo today, then. Remember to stay extra alert. I expect Jerard to attack us sometime within the next couple of days.” Thistledown finished with a warning glance at all of them. “Let’s saddle up and move out. Someone needs to wake Seranova up.”
“I’ll do it,” Jalorm offered, rising from the table and walking up the stairs. Celdic smiled to himself at Jalorm’s obvious interest in Seranova. Looking across the table, Celdic found Li gazing at him with a small curve on her full lips. Celdic found himself grinning back at her, without really knowing why he was grinning.
Cha’le rose from the table and left the room, with the burr still firmly lodged in her hair. Lendel followed her out of the room; his handsome face clouded with what Celdic would have said was uncertainty. He would have to question Lendel about it later.
Celdic went up to his rooms and gathered his traveler sack before returning to the ground floor of the inn. He had mixed feelings about riding the horses. He remembered reading about them in some of the books he owned, but seeing the actual size of them was more intimidating than he expected. The dun that Thistledown led him to when he came out to the front of the inn had a look of flat disapproval on his long face as he surveyed Celdic with one eye.
“Just remember that a horse can sense your mood,” Thistledown warned him as he handed the reins to him. “If he thinks you lack confidence, he will try to take liberties.”
Celdic nodded, trying to mask the uncertainty that he felt. Sticking his foot in the stirrup, he swung onto the large beast in one graceful motion. On a sudden impulse, Celdic reached out with his yar and probed his horse, wondering how aware animals were of other Spirits. His horse snorted and turned its head sideways so that it could stare at Celdic curiously. “Just getting to know you,” Celdic murmured soothingly.
One large eye blinked at him. “What shall we call you?” Celdic wondered, absently stroking the soft mane.
“Do you really think the dumb brute needs a name?” Cha’le asked coolly as she walked past him to her horse. “Just call it horse.”
Cha’le jumped back in surprise as the dun nipped at her with its teeth. She glared at Celdic, her eyes daring him to say anything. He wisely kept his mouth shut, turning his back so that she would not see his smile. “I think that we shall call you Travesty,” Celdic whispered into his ear.
The rest of the party was already mounted. Seranova was yawning, her eyes still shiny with sleep. Jalorm sat on a tall roan next to her, trying to appear in control of his h
orse. He was succeeding rather well, so far.
“Let’s ride,” Thistledown called from his tall chestnut. Celdic followed him out of the city gates, under the suspicious scrutiny of the town guards. The guards were probably wondering why they were leaving on the soldier’s horses.
Morindessa spurred her horse up to where Thistledown rode at the front of the party. “I suppose I should update you on a few complications before we arrive at Shalilayo,” she informed Thistledown, glancing back to where Ferrich was engaging Lori in an animated conversation.
Thistledown studied her for a moment before nodding. “I saw the leftovers of the king and his party after Seranova raised the Chasel at Lake Magnus,” he told her gravely. “I meant to ask you why the king was chasing you.”
“He was after Ferrich,” Morindessa replied with another glance back at Ferrich. “Captain Kerns had been sent to arrest him at the building of Arcane Arts at the University. Ferrich told me he had just finished climbing down the steps to the Pit and found Radroc’s body when the soldiers came down to arrest him. Captain Kerns told him the king learned of Radroc’s murder and ordered his arrest.”
Thistledown sat rigidly in his saddle, his eyes wide. “He saw Radroc’s body?” he demanded incredulously. “Are you certain?”
Morindessa looked surprised at Thistledown’s concern. “That is what he told me. Ferrich thinks that he might not be dead, though.”
Turning in his saddle, Thistledown beckoned Ferrich to join them. Ferrich broke off his conversation with Lori, looking startled. He nudged his horse and it sped up to join them at the front of the group.
“Tell me what happened when you saw Radroc’s body,” Thistledown commanded, his feral gaze latching on to Ferrich like a hook.
Ferrich seemed unable to break his gaze with Thistledown. “I saw him hanging from the ceiling by his entrails,” Ferrich said quietly. “I couldn’t touch him, though. I tried to pull him down and my hand went right through him.”
“What else?” Thistledown probed. “Did you notice anything else?”
Ferrich nodded, still unable to break his eyes away from Thistledown’s intense gaze, “I used yara to seal off the entrance to his private quarters. He said anyone crossing the boundary would die immediately and I didn’t want anyone crossing it accidentally.” Ferrich swallowed. “When I molded the rock from the ceiling to create a wall, an image appeared in the middle of the wall. It looked like a giant tree stump in the middle of a meadow, with sun shining down on it. Then it flickered and disappeared.”
Thistledown nodded slowly when Ferrich finished, finally releasing his gaze. “It sounds like Radroc knew he was in trouble and framed his own death.”
“But how would my father have known Radroc was dead already?” Ferrich asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I am guessing the reason Radroc knew he was in trouble was because the king sent something to kill him,” Thistledown replied dryly. “The insubstantial shade you described sounds like the work of a Frond Lord. They like to toy with their victims before they kill them. It sounds like Radroc knew it was coming, and prepared a clone for it to play with.”
“A clone?” Ferrich asked with a puzzled frown. “You mean a clone of himself?”
Thistledown nodded. “It is very complicated, but Radroc knows how it is done. A Frond Lord isn’t very bright, but it can track you anywhere. After killing Radroc’s clone, the Frond Lord would not even have noticed the residue of the real Radroc, because it would remember having killed him.”
Jalorm had been watching Ferrich closely, an expression of incredulity on his rugged face. “What do you mean ‘my father’? Are you the king’s son?”
Ferrich looked back at Jalorm in surprise. Celdic wondered if Ferrich had forgotten they were there. Since meeting Ferrich the previous day, Celdic noticed the middle-aged man had a tendency to lose track of the world around him when he was in a conversation.
“Oh yes,” Ferrich replied with a deprecatory shrug. “It wasn’t by choice, though, I assure you.”
Morindessa laughed softly, gazing at Ferrich fondly. Jesha was riding with Morindessa, sitting in front with the reigns in her small hands. The small Zeran had a contented smile on her finely sculpted face.
“So where is Radroc now?” Celdic asked Thistledown curiously.
Thistledown turned in his saddle to look back at Celdic. “Chasel Ri’ Aven.”
Chapter 27
Sentina stood on the balcony outside her palace bedroom. She was gazing at the mammoth city of Shalilayo, without really seeing it. Her thoughts were more concerned with important things than the poetic sunrise cresting the Western horizon. Her life had been rather dull before her brother killed their father, the king. Sentina would never have thought Ferrich capable of such an act of brutality. He had always seemed so innocent in his pursuit of academic achievement that Sentina had doubted Captain Kerns' word that Ferrich was responsible for their father’s demise. King Fedrin had been a fair ruler for the most part, but he was a terrible father. From the time she could walk on her two legs, her life was in danger from plots and intrigues, most of them started by their father. The constant conspiracies were his way of training his children to be what he thought were proper rulers. Affection was an emotion you must deny at all costs, lest it cloud your judgment.
The danger that was a part of Sentina’s everyday life had increased a hundred-fold since the death of the king. Her brothers and sisters spent all of their time forming alliances with strong houses and hiring assassins to try to eliminate competition. Sentina was almost an only child now. When she was still in her youth, Morindessa the assassin had saved her from an arrow that would have gone through her heart. When Sentina asked Morindessa why she saved her, the dark-haired assassin replied that she did not like seeing children murdered. Sentina never saw Morindessa again, but she had hired her services more than once. She had learned the value of knowing the good assassins, while her late siblings hired killers randomly, regardless of their training.
Sentina spun around as she heard a throat clear behind her. It took an effort to keep from cursing like a stable-hand. Denrik stood several paces behind her, his handsome face expressionless. He stood several inches shorter than Sentina, which was an achievement considering that Sentina was herself quite short. Denrik wore palace livery to blend in with the servants. A dark cloak with a concealing hood is what everyone expects an assassin to wear, he had told her. It was also a good way to attract attention.
“It’s done, milady,” Denrik reported quietly. “I had to remove a few of Captain Kerns’ guards, though. I am told he wanted to stop the blood bath, so he stationed his elite guard on the remaining two. They were good men.”
Sentina nodded silently, moving into her chambers and toward her large wardrobe. Reaching inside, she pulled out a large purse filled with gold and handed it to Denrik. Turning to her mirror, she picked a large comb up and began stroking it through her long, chestnut hair. She paused as she saw the grim look on her broad-featured face. Trying to smooth her face to a more pleasant expression, she stared into her dark brown eyes, wondering if she was becoming the monster her father had wanted to replace him.
“I need Ferrich found and dealt with as well,” Sentina said softly. It was hard to do this to Ferrich. Somewhere inside herself, she still felt that Ferrich was still the innocent she had envied growing up. Of all her siblings, Ferrich alone seemed to possess an energy and enthusiasm for life that shone like the sun. Extinguishing that light was a hard choice, but if he really did have the nerve to kill their father, then she was probably on the list as well.
Denrik frowned slightly, absently brushing his fingers against his side, where he probably concealed a knife. Sentina watched him carefully. He had never shown any hesitancy in any of his other jobs.
“Is something wrong?” Sentina asked with a frown of her own.
Denrik hesitated a moment before replying. “I have heard from some associates that Ferrich left in Morindessa’s compa
ny.”
Sentina creased her brows together in puzzlement. Why would Ferrich leave with Morindessa? How would he have even known her? He spent every waking moment at the university.
“Is this going to be a problem, Denrik?” she inquired with a raised eyebrow, wishing that she knew more about the inner workings of the assassin’s society.
The short man was silent for several moments, stroking his side unconsciously. “It will make things difficult if she is still with him when we locate him,” he replied at last, glancing up at her warily. “Under most circumstances, a target is always more difficult to defend than to kill. In Morindessa’s case, it is slightly different. She is able to sense everything around her all of the time, so stealth does not really help us as it normally would. Whoever kills Ferrich will have to be able to approach him on friendly terms in order to get close enough to act before Morindessa can do anything to prevent it. And whoever kills him will be killed immediately after the deed.”
“Do you have anyone you can use for that purpose?” Sentina asked coolly. There were plenty of amateur assassins she could use for a job like this, she was sure of it.
Denrik nodded, a hint of a smile playing across his handsome face. “As a matter of fact, I do know one.”
---
Terrance pushed out with his yar, trying to feel some kind of resistance. Even though he was straining until his yar was stretched to its limit, he still felt nothing. Somehow, he had missed being sucked into Jerard’s trap. When he had grabbed Selindria, pulling her into the vortex Jerard created for him, he was sure his old colleague would finally have his wish of killing him at last. When the vortex had closed on them, the momentum swung both he and Selindria out into the cosmos. Before Terrance could do more than shout in surprise, he had slipped into the Dark Realm.
It reminded him of life on Earth, watching the astronauts float around in space with nothing to push or pull against. The only person who could enter the Dark Realm with any chance of returning was Lochnar. His link with Thistledown was like a string he could use to pull him back to the physical realm. After everything Terrance had learned during his three-thousand-year life span in the new world, he still knew nothing of the Dark Realm. Hoping Selindria was somewhere safe, Terrance began a meditation technique he learned from the primitives on the new world. It was the same meditation that allowed his body to hibernate and let his spirit escape in the physical realm.
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