The Seer

by Kirsten Jones

  Gleacher did not reply and Mistral risked another glance at them. They were glaring at each other, barely inches apart, their bodies rigid with tension. Mistral heard the faint sigh of Fabian’s voice in her ear and resisted the urge to listen in on his thoughts; she had promised, and for once she was determined to stick to her word.

  ‘My loyalties lie with Leo, as they always have and always will.’ Gleacher finally said.

  ‘Then can we expect your support during his campaign?’

  ‘No.’

  Another strained silence fell. Mistral gritted her teeth and battled the desire to cut short the tense process and just listen in on Gleacher’s thoughts. Why wouldn’t he support Leo if he claimed to be loyal to him? It didn’t make sense.

  ‘I think you should explain!’ Fabian demanded shortly and Mistral instantly recognised the icy edge in his voice; he was losing his temper.

  Mistral saw Gleacher’s shoulders move as he drew in a deep breath. ‘It is not an easy matter to discuss,’ he said quietly. ‘It concerns Leo’s birth right.’

  Fabian instantly froze and Mistral held her breath. Did Malachi and Gleacher know that Leo was Mage Grapple’s son? Was that the secret Malachi had been blackmailing Gleacher with? If he did, Leo’s campaign to be the next Divinus was over before it had begun. There was no way the warriors would elect the son of Mage Grapple to be their Divinus.

  ‘Leo is an orphan. No-one knows his birth right. That knowledge died with his nursemaid.’ Fabian said flatly.

  ‘The identity of Leo’s parents may be unknown, but their race is not.’ Gleacher retorted sharply. ‘Leo has the Craft, he is a full-blooded Mage.’

  Fabian’s statue-like stance relaxed slightly and Mistral exhaled in relief. ‘And you know this how?’ Fabian asked coldly.

  Mistral watched Gleacher turn to look out over the grey sea, making her strain to catch his words. ‘Leo was a lonely child, by his own choosing. He was aloof and hostile towards the other children and they quickly gave up trying to befriend him. I admit that I felt compassion for him and spent more time with him than my duties as Training Captain strictly required.

  ‘In many ways, Leo reminded me of myself.’ Gleacher admitted in a more thoughtful voice. ‘I assumed that he had elven blood too, his fair looks and blue eyes were indicative of the race, as was his serious nature. Even as a small boy he was fascinated with weaponry and would ask me endless questions about training styles and different types of swords. As soon as he was old enough to handle a sword we would drill together for hours in the Training Room, sometimes until late into the night. Leo was driven, almost fanatical in his desire to be the best. It is a trait that lingers within him still.

  ‘During one of our training sessions he challenged me. It was only natural; Leo was an exceptionally talented swordsman even then, and filled with the arrogance of youth. He was keen to prove that he had become more skilled than his tutor.’

  Gleacher paused and stared silently out to sea; Mistral battled her impatience and waited for him to continue.

  ‘Of course, I was forced to best him. His pride was injured and he lost his temper and with it his control over the power that lives within him. The Craft exploded out of him and struck me with a force that flung me across the room. I was deeply shocked by the strength of his power and could see that he was too. We agreed not to speak of it, and never have. Unfortunately Malachi had been passing on his way to the library and smelt the ozone signature of Leo’s spell. He questioned me relentlessly about the incident, and although I never admitted the truth to him, he suspects enough to endanger everything that Leo has worked so hard all to achieve.’

  Gleacher paused again and drew in a deep breath to continue in a voice so quiet that Mistral had to almost lean out of the lookout to catch his words.

  ‘You are correct Mage De Winter; I have allowed Malachi to use the apprentices for fear that if I did not he would denounce Leo as a Mage and have him cast out of the Ri. I could not let that happen. Not only was the Valley the only home Leo had ever known, it was his last resort. Without the sanctuary of the Ri where would he go?’

  ‘Admirable sentiments Gleacher.’ Fabian said softly. ‘However, you freely admit to allowing apprentices to risk their lives for the financial gain of Malachi Nox, which is considerably less noble.’

  Gleacher’s voice rose in anger, ‘I gave great consideration to what I agreed to do! Do not think I did was ignorant to the risk I was placing my charges under! If I had not bent to Malachi’s will, not only would he have revealed Leo’s true bloodline, but he would have found a way to have me removed too and install a Contracts Officer more susceptible to his schemes. I reasoned that I would at least be aware of the extra requirements he placed on certain Contracts and only offer them to apprentices I considered to have enough ability to safely complete them. And as for being responsible for smuggling the finished potions off the Isle.’ Gleacher concluded in a hard voice. ‘Yes, I was exactly that; responsible.

  ‘If I had refused, Malachi would simply have bribed one of the more gullible apprentices into performing the task. But if I carried the goods and was caught then it would be me that faced the death penalty, not one of my apprentices. And that, Mage De Winter, was the justification I have used to help me live with my actions all these years.’

  Fabian did not respond and for a few moments there was only the sound of waves breaking against the wooden sides of the ship and the snap of the sails. Mistral watched Fabian turn away from Gleacher and walk over to lean his hands against the rails. He stood there for a while, staring out across the sea. After a brief tussle with her conscience she called up the vision of his aura, reasoning that he’d only told her not to listen to his thoughts but hadn’t said anything about looking at them.

  His aura floated obediently into view in a swirl of blues indicating focus. She instantly frowned, wondering what he was thinking. At once his thoughts whispered in her ear. She turned her head away sharply to break the vision and looked at Gleacher Shacklock instead. The Contracts Officer remained standing where he and Fabian had been talking. His head bowed in thought … or shame. Mistral breathed out slowly and cleared her mind, pushing aside her own curiosity to leave her mind free of distractions. His aura materialised in the air above his head in a depressing cloud of greys and pale greens, brightened by the occasional lightening flash of amethyst. Mistral sighed and blinked to break the vision. Gleacher was depressed about the truths Fabian had forced him to reveal; the pale greens showed his unhappiness and the burst of amethyst his concern. She didn’t need to read his thoughts to know it was about Leo. Fabian turned around and Mistral immediately dropped down to the bottom of the crow’s nest. Hugging her knees to her chest she prayed that he hadn’t noticed her peering over the top.

  ‘The fact that Leo is Mage born is irrelevant in this matter.’

  ‘It has every relevance!’ Gleacher’s reply was sharp. ‘The warriors already feel that he is too much in the Council’s thrall, if they discover he is actually a full-blooded Mage there is no way they would ever trust him. Leo would never become the next Divinus! He would be ostracized and forced out of the Ri! I must continue to keep his secret the only way I know how and ensure Malachi’s silence!’

  ‘You are fooling yourself if you believe that ignoring Malachi’s scheming will buy his silence!’

  Mistral could hear the cold edge in Fabian’s voice again; she held her breath and rose slowly to look over the edge of the crow’s nest. Fabian and Gleacher were face-to-face, glaring furiously at each other.

  ‘Your fear of Leo’s secret being discovered is giving Malachi power over you! Malachi will use you to gain the support of the warriors until he is certain of success in the vote, then he will reveal the truth anyway, leaving you with the bitter knowledge that your years of deceit were for nothing! Leo is no longer the orphan boy in need of your protection Gleacher; he’s a grown man in need of your loyalty!’

  ‘The warriors will never trust a Mage!’<
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  ‘How many times have we fought side by side?’ Fabian argued.

  Gleacher stared wordlessly at Fabian, ‘More times than I can recall,’ he finally admitted.

  ‘And, in all of those innumerable times, did you trust me?’

  ‘With my life.’

  ‘And yet by my blood I am a Mage.’

  Gleacher said nothing. Mistral watched his cold-grey eyes flicker slightly and knew that the truth in Fabian’s words had registered.

  ‘The warriors will not judge Leo on his blood but on his past actions and the promises he makes. He already has their loyalty and trust as their Training Captain. Leo will make a strong Divinus, but can the same be said of Malachi?’ Fabian asked reasonably.

  ‘Malachi is self-serving and immoral.’ Gleacher growled. ‘I would rather die a shameful death than serve under him!’

  ‘And yet you are aiding his cause to become the Ri’s Divinus!’

  Gleacher’s rigid stance suddenly wilted, his shoulders drooping in defeat, ‘But what else can I do? Betray Leo by telling the truth about his blood? He has been like a son to me!’

  ‘Why should you need to speak of his blood at all? Let Malachi attempt to reveal the information without your involvement; I am sure he will already have a plan for doing so.’

  Mistral felt a pang of guilt as she realised that she hadn’t read Malachi for the last couple of days. She immediately resolved to read him that afternoon to keep Fabian updated.

  ‘We must remain steadfast to Leo when Malachi does break the news. The warriors respect you Gleacher, if they see you appearing to support Malachi in any way during this campaign their allegiances will change. Would you see the Ri ruled by a corrupt Divinus? He would not care how many warriors he sent to their deaths so long as there was gold in his pocket and power at his finger-tips!’

  Gleacher stared at Fabian silently, his iron-grey gaze boring deep. Mistral could see the tension emanating from him; it seemed to pulse in the air around him with a life force of its own. She wondered how Fabian could stand such open hostility without reacting when she realised that she was unintentionally reading Gleacher’s aura and could see what Fabian could not. Cursing silently, Mistral forced her eyes to see only their two figures, not their auras. It felt odd to deny something so instinctive and natural, and although she had a clear view of them both, the image felt somehow incomplete without the addition of their auras.

  ‘I ask you Gleacher, to honour the promise you made to Elise White all those years ago.’ Fabian’s lips barely moved as he uttered the words but Gleacher started as though he had been struck.

  ‘How could you know about that?’

  His shocked voice was full of disbelief. Mistral frowned; who was Elise White? Frustration bubbled up, forcing her to fight back the temptation to read Fabian’s thoughts and find out for herself instead of being forced to wait impatiently until he voiced them.

  ‘I knew Elise.’ Fabian said quietly. ‘And I know Leo. He may be like a son to you but he is like a brother to me. Tell me again Gleacher, where do your loyalties lie?’

  Gleacher stared frozenly at Fabian for a long moment. Mistral watched him draw in a deep breath, nodding his head once before he finally spoke. ‘I stand with Leo. Now, and when the truth about his blood is revealed by whatever underhand methods Malachi chooses to employ. He will be the next Divinus, it is his destiny.’

  Mistral rolled her eyes. Destiny again, didn’t anyone get to make choices in their lives?

  ‘Then your choice is made.’ Fabian’s voice held a note of satisfaction. ‘If you have the time now, I should like to discuss with you the second matter Mistral and I must address on this Contract –’

  Mistral listened for a few minutes while Fabian outlined his plan to draw a party of Rochfortes close enough for her to read one of them. Their voices faded as they began to walk along the deck. Denying the Sight, Mistral was forced to merely watch them silently reach the prow then turn around and start to walk slowly back again. Mistral realised with a sinking feeling that whilst they were talking and meandering around aimlessly on the deck she wouldn’t be able to climb down without being seen. She was stuck in the crow’s nest until Fabian and Gleacher finally finished their conversation and went back below decks. She shivered, suddenly cold without the distracting thrill of eavesdropping. Tucking her bare feet up beneath her she hugged her arms around her knees and decided to See what the twins were up to instead.

  Visualising Phantasm’s more serious features first, Mistral smiled at the image of her brother’s face, so familiar but no less breathtaking; the striking green eyes and white blonde hair swept back from a flawless brow. His thoughts murmured in her ear in a gentle bubbling noise like a shallow stream over a stony bed. She listened carefully, her smile growing ... he was berating Prospero for bringing a dead rat into the house … Eloise had eaten it and been sick on the cream rug … Mistral smothered a laugh. She would have to take a gift back for them as thanks for looking after her troublesome dog. Breaking the connection with Phantasm while he cleaned the rug, Mistral imagined Phantom’s face; his green eyes glinting with mischief and lips that always seemed to be curved into a smile … or sulking. She listened to her brother’s strangely random and disconnected thoughts and quickly realised that he was still asleep and she was hearing his dreams.

  School … I hate school … Do we have to go mother?

  Fascinated, Mistral Saw through Phantom’s eyes as he begged Melsina not to take them to school. When he turned to his twin for support Mistral smiled at the cherubic boy with sleek blonde hair that would grow up to become an incredibly gifted and skilled warrior; the godfather of her son. The young Phantasm she could see was gazing beseechingly at Melsina with tears shining in his marble-bright eyes.

  Please mother … the other children hate us there …

  Don’t you dare to try my patience today Sheldon! I have appointments to keep! You and Wesley are going and that’s final! Now, come here … look at the state of you!

  Mistral watched silent tears trickle down Phantasm’s face while Melsina briskly combed his hair and brushed a speck dust from the shoulders of his pristine uniform. Locked into the dream, Mistral shared in Phantom’s anguished dread at the long day of bullying that lay ahead of them.

  The scene suddenly became vague then vanished altogether, leaving Mistral staring around in confusion at a swirling grey mist. Two dark shapes began to materialise in the murk, gradually becoming clearer as they moved towards her until she was staring into the sneering faces of two burly Mage children, their jeering taunts echoing back through time in Phantom’s dream.

  Half-breeds!

  Freaks!

  What colour’s your blood? Is it green like your weird eyes?

  Let’s find out …

  Mistral felt a rush of anger in response to the clenched fist that smashed into Phantom’s jaw. She tensed expectantly, waiting for her brother’s retaliation but to her surprise none came. The blows continued to fall, smashing into his arms and face, forcing him to curl into a protective ball.

  Wish it brother, wish it …

  Phantasm’s whisper pierced through Phantom’s veil of pain. He peered out from beneath the cover of his arms to meet the emphatic green gaze of his twin.

  Leave us alone … leave us alone … leave us alone …

  The thought repeated desperately in his mind while he looked into his brother’s eyes, staring so hard into the glassy depths that Mistral could see his own pale face reflecting back … a terrified boy with a bruise already darkening on the edge of his jaw. Mistral looked out through his eyes and felt the strange sensation of falling, tumbling helplessly into the reflected image of Phantom’s face, sinking down into the tranquil green pools of his twin’s eyes to become one … the Gemini …

  ‘You can come down now Mistral, Gleacher has gone.’

  Mistral’s eyes abruptly eyes flew open to meet Fabian’s bemused gaze. She stared at him, confused by the black eyes that were lo
oking at her; shouldn’t they be green? Seeing her bewildered reaction he immediately frowned.

  ‘Where were you?’

  Mistral felt his hands grasp hers and pull her upright. She leaned against the side of the crow’s nest and drew in a deep breath letting the cool air clear away her lingering remnants of her vision. ‘I was reading the twins. Phantom was dreaming about being at school … they were being bullied.’

  Fabian’s expression hardened, ‘I went to the same school. If you couldn’t trace your name back to a Rochforte or a Noble you were given a hard time. I can only imagine how much the twins must have suffered because they were half-breeds.’

  ‘They used their gift to get the other children to leave them alone. I was in his mind when he and his brother were using it … it was … strange –’ Mistral frowned and gazed out unseeingly out at the sea before continuing to explain herself. ‘It felt like when I look at you sometimes, like we’re one and the same.’ She suddenly blushed and looked down at her bare feet, mumbling. ‘I know that sounds stupid.’

  ‘No it doesn’t.’ Fabian lifted her chin with one hand, forcing her to meet his eyes. ‘I feel that every time I look at you. I know our souls were meant to be joined, Mistral. We are meant to be one.’

  She looked at him, captured by the blackness of his eyes, so deep and dark, drawing her in with their hypnotic power. The sound of his velvet voice seemed to come to her from a long way off. With an effort she forced herself to listen to what he was saying.

  ‘Now, I can only assume that you obeyed half of my request not to listen to either my or Gleacher’s thoughts since I’ve been stood at the bottom of this ladder thinking that you should come down for about ten minutes now.’

  Mistral blinked, she’d forgotten about Fabian’s confrontation with Gleacher, ‘Oh, er, well I didn’t listen to either of your thoughts … but you didn’t say anything about not listening to your actual words –’