by David Wind
“What something?”
“Listening.”
“How do you try to listen? You either do or you don’t.”
“Not that type of listening, but a listening within your mind—tuning your mind into everything around you.”
“Such as?”
Areenna inhaled slowly. As she did, she opened her thoughts to what was around them. To her left she heard the skittering of a rabt scratching at the base of its warren. To her right was a dar nibbling on the leaves of a low hanging branch, its mate standing behind her watching for any danger.
“The rabt in the woods to our left, and a dar foraging to your right. Join me,” she said and opened herself to him. This time she was fully aware of drawing him into her mind. “Listen, feel, see,” she whispered.
She heard his sharp intake of his breath and smiled as he pulled back from her.
“I...”
“No, just listen.”
Mikaal did as she commanded. This time he was able to control his ranging thoughts. It soon became clear to him how this form of listening had nothing to do with hearing; rather, it was a feeling of whatever living presence was near. It was about knowing what surrounded him without having to see or hear or feel. It was…magic.
“I understand,” he said at last.
Areenna did not hear him because at the far range of her senses there was another, darker presence. It was only a faint trace, but she knew it well enough. The dark one was searching for them. They had lost it when Mikaal had allowed himself to be caught because of his anger. Now she sensed it was searching for them toward the east. She drew her thoughts back swiftly, not wanting to be discovered.
“They are looking for us,” she said.
“Near?”
“No, far, and have not located us yet. But they know, somehow they know what we are doing and that we will be going east.”
Mikaal shook his head. “You keep saying they, but it is only the one.”
Exhaling slowly, she shook her head. “No, they control her. The dark powers use her to do their bidding. Everything she does is directed by the dark ones. She is a vessel for their use, nothing more even though she believes she acts on her own.”
“This can be a weakness.”
“It can be,” Areenna said.
“If you sense her, cannot she sense you as well?”
“If I let her. But I will not. When you have gained strength with your powers, you will do the same.”
“Can you show me how to sense her?”
Areenna thought about how to explain the process. What she had done a few moments before was simple, and it did not require a lot of power, but to have his inexperienced presence in her mind while she searched might present a danger. “It would be a risk,” she admitted.
“Then we will wait,” Mikaal said and, with a smile, drew his sword. “Protect yourself!”
She ducked under his swing and drew her short sword.
<><><>
They passed Handlebridge Lake late in the afternoon. Two miles later Areenna found the symbol Layra had marked by the narrow road, which in reality was more of a thick, tree lined path. Before turning onto the dirt packed lane, Areenna sent Gaalrie ahead.
The treygone rose high and flew swiftly, showing Areenna the road ahead was devoid of travelers and their destination was less than a mile distant.
“The way is clear,” she said to Mikaal, who nodded. While he had worked with Areenna on her mounted sword defenses, he had also been practicing the listening that she had shown him earlier. But, with her words came the awareness of how tired he was and how glad the day’s journey was near its end.
“I am sorry to be pushing you this way.”
He smiled at her. “I can handle it, and I will sleep well tonight.”
They rode the final distance without speaking and, as darkness descended, they reached the homestead which Queen Layra had directed them. They dismounted and a young stable boy came out to take Hero and Charka away.
Areenna glanced at Mikaal and saw his features tighten when the boy reached for Charka’s reins. “Where is the stable?” she asked.
“Behind the house, My Lady.”
She looked at Mikaal who nodded. “Thank you,” she said. As the boy led the two kraals away, she turned to Mikaal. “No matter where he is, you will have a connection.”
Mikaal studied her face. “You are worried for me?”
“Yes. I remember at the beginning, when I discovered Gaalrie was my aoutem, I panicked because I was afraid something would happen to her.”
“And nothing did because of your connection.”
“Yes.”
“I know,” he said. “I can feel him now.”
When they started toward the house, Queen Layra stepped through the doorway and started toward them. She too was dressed in a riding cloak, the hood thrown back to show her long mane of silver hair framing a face of undeterminable age.
When they met, the Queen embraced Areenna warmly before stepping back to look at her companion. When Mikaal lowered his hood, Queen Layra’s eyes widened. She gave the prince a slight bow of royal acknowledgement.
“Come inside and tell me what your presence here means. Queen Enaid sent word you would be coming, but the message wasn’t clear.”
Once inside and seated at a long dining table, Areenna began the explanation of their mission, but stopped when the housekeeper brought glasses and a pitcher of water, the stable boy following with a platter of fruits.
When they retreated, Areenna said, “There are several purposes to our journey. Foremost, it is my time to go to the East, to further my learning.”
Layra held up her hand. She turned from Areenna to Mikaal, her eyes hardening. “Every woman of ability must make the journey,” she said, turning back to Areenna, “but neither are you on the solitary journey required, which is a journey made without a companion—or with a woman of power, but especially not with a male companion—nor are you traveling east. For what reason would you travel from Tolemac to here, why would you go northwest to travel east?”
“Truth be told, My Lady,” she replied, “these are troubling times and such times force change. Queen Enaid insisted upon my traveling with Mikaal.”
“What are you not telling me? This is still the business from Tolemac, is it not? This is about the dark ones?”
“In part it is,” Mikaal affirmed, “which is why we traveled here rather than go directly east.”
Turning from Areenna to glare at Mikaal, she pointed a solitary finger at him.
Sensing what was about to happen, Mikaal raised a mind shield the way Areenna had taught him.
“Prince or not, who are you to—” Her words died as her eyes widened. Her finger, still pointed at Mikaal’s face, trembled. “How…”
“He is mind blocked,” Areenna said quickly, speaking truthfully, but withholding the knowledge of who it was doing the blocking.
Layra turned to Areenna. “I knew you needed to travel secretly, but the prince?”
“Yes, Highness. No one must know lest they learn of this. I am going to further my training. Mikaal is to guard me from those who would stop me.”
“The journey has never been done with a male companion. It is dangerous for him. Why would Enaid risk the life of her only son? There is much I cannot divine of this,” Layra said, her voice dropping to barely a whisper. “Too much.”
When Areenna did not speak further, the quiet went on for a few moments before Layra spoke again. “They will not learn from me. Why would they want you?” she asked. “For what happened at Tolemac?”
Areenna nodded.
“I had not thought of that.” She covered Areenna’s hand. “Of course they would want vengeance on the one who exposed them. You are very young for travel to the Isla—east, but you are very strong.”
“Not yet,” Areenna whispered.
“Do not doubt yourself.” She turned to Mikaal. “Leave us for a moment, please, My Prince.”
&nbs
p; Mikaal looked at Areenna, who nodded. Standing, he offered the women a slight bow and, with a lilting smile, left the room. He knew he would learn all, later. Outside, he looked toward the forest a few hundred yards away.
Closing his eyes, he let his thoughts wander, pushing himself and his mind toward the tall trees deep inside the forest. As he did, he began to feel the life that filled the wood. The treygones and danglores, craves and even some smidges flew among the branches. He sensed a family of tibbars at the edge of forest; deeper in was a large male dar. Mikaal could almost feel the weight of the rack of horns the dar carried so proudly.
Like a door opening wide, he was amazed at what he could sense. And, the one thing he did not sense was anything dark within the forest.
<><><>
“You will need to be careful on the Island. There will be many things that mean you harm. You must leave Mikaal at the Landing. He must not enter the Island—it will go badly for him as it would for any male. The block placed upon him will be useless.”
“I understand.”
Layra’s eyes clouded. “And I will emphasize such warnings. Tread carefully. Look not into places that do not feel safe. When you reach the spot you seek, you will know this. Go only there and when you are done—and I hope you will be done quickly—you must leave immediately.” She paused in thought before saying, “Your mother was a strong woman and I can sense her power in you. Be careful, Areenna, when you are on the Island. The forces there will strive to subjugate you.”
“I will,” Areenna agreed, unwilling to explain why she must bring Mikaal to the Island, and of that she was not the only one seeking the training.
“Good.” Layra clapped her hands twice, and the young housekeeper came into the room. “Is the food ready?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“Prince Mikaal is without. Please have him join us.”
<><><>
An hour after Mikaal had been called to the table, and the evening meal finished, Queen Layra announced her guard had returned to accompany her back to Troit and asked Areenna to step outside with her.
In the foreyard, four mounted guards surrounded a small carriage. And, as Areenna and Layra walked to the carriage, the guards backed away to allow them passage. At the carriage’s door, Layra turned to Areenna. “When you are on the Island, every eye there will be upon you. Never falter, not once.” She lifted her right hand and placed it on Areenna’s forehead, her palm cupping the skin. “Go with safety, go with strength, feel the power within you, and feel the energy of those who ride at your side.”
There was a sudden flash within Areenna’s head, and as it stopped and Layra’s hand left her skin, Morvene’s queen asked, “How many stops are you to make?”
Puzzled by the question, she said, “Three. Here, Northcrom and Aldimor.”
“That is good. Enaid has selected three different powers. It will help.”
“What will help?”
Layra smiled. “The custom of the blessing—of the gifting. With each blessing comes a different strength.”
“I know of no such tradition.”
“Nor are you meant to. It is the last lesson we women teach our daughters before they go. It is usually done a few weeks before travel to the Island, but I am certain Enaid has her reasons for doing it this way. Now, return to the house. Rest well tonight and may tomorrow’s journey be swift,” she said in the traditional parting.
Areenna watched Layra and her guards ride off and, when they were out of sight, she went into the house, wondering what the gift was that Layra had blessed her with. The housekeeper and her son had already gone to their quarters, as instructed by the Queen, leaving Areenna and Mikaal alone in the house.
Sitting in chairs and enjoying the comfort they had not had for two days, Areenna smiled at Mikaal. “She was very concerned about you,” she said before launching into the details of what she and Layra discussed. “She has no idea of your ability, or that you are anything other than my protector. What I did pick up from her…what I sensed, was how she thinks your mother sent you because she wants us to—” Areenna cut her words off even as a deep scarlet rose from her neck to her hairline.
“Of course she would think that,” Mikaal said quickly. He smiled at her. “Do not be embarrassed, it would seem to be an obvious thought to someone who does not know the real reason.”
“Yes,” Areenna replied, wondering at the same time if Layra had somehow seen something she herself had not seen….
CHAPTER 14
Like a dark tornado spinning within even darker skies, the seething anger boiling within her mind grew hotter. She walked circles inside the large dusky cavern, mutters and curses keeping pace with the uneven steps of her misshapen legs.
One arm was much shorter than the other. Where a hand used to be was nothing but memory, yet using the unseen hand, she cast spell after spell, sending her mind ranging, seeking the trail of the two who had escaped her trap. Ever since the snuck had been killed, there had been a block set over them, protecting their thoughts from her detection.
She screamed. The sound boiling from her open mouth was like the screech of a banshee. It grew louder and louder until it morphed into a high pitched howl setting the rocks above her head crumbling.
Cutting off the scream as dust from the rock ceiling rained down, she went to the center of the cavern and squatted. Her malformed continence blended into the rocks of the floor and walls. She slowly worked her mind into the state of fugue needed to enter a full, seeking trance and, as the trance began to strengthen, she sent her thoughts on the wings of the newly hatched wraith she had created yesterday.
She made contact with the wraith, which carried the partially transferred mind of its creator, and pushed it to search for the mind patterns its mistress had fought outside the walls of Tolemac.
When the wraith reached the spot where the snuck had failed, it landed. Slowly, waddling on its two clawed feet, it began to scent out the physical traces of their presence. With every step taken by the specter of evil, the grass beneath its clawed feet turned brown.
Less than a minute after arriving, the wraith picked up the trail and launched itself after them. The moon, a crescent sliver hanging askance in the sky, cast enough illumination for the creatures of the forests to see its dark form gliding a hairsbreadth above the treetops. For the wraith to fly higher would mean a loss of scent.
Just before daybreak, the wraith settled onto a high branch a mile distant from the homestead where Areenna and Mikaal slept.
She came out of her trance and a crooked smile broke open a toothless mouth. She had them now.
<><><>
Areenna awoke instantly, the spot in the middle of her forehead burning like a hot-tipped poker. A powerful sense of anxiety gripped her. She fought to settle her thoughts and discover what had broken into her sleep. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the lingering sensation.
Using the feeling of anxiety, she traced it back, seeking its cause. She started slowly by pushing her senses within the homestead, seeking whatever disturbed her within the walls. She found nothing and began to widen her range. The housekeeper was in the kitchen, preparing food; the stable boy was outside doing his chores. She pushed to the stables, where the kraals ate the feed left by the stable boy. She touched Hero’s and Charka’s minds and found nothing bothering them.
She ranged further, while at the same time feeling Gaalrie join her. She urged the treygone to stay where it perched. She would not risk her aoutem until she knew what they faced. Then she sent her thoughts into the surrounding trees.
It took only a few minutes more for her to discover the blank space within the forest—it was as if there was nothing there, no trees, no life, only a black hole in the middle of the forest.
She approached carefully, testing its edges, pushing a little here and a little there, but it refused to yield its secret. A cold dark feeling seeped into her mind as she tested the boundaries surrounding the emptiness. She cut off her seeki
ng the instant the coldness pushed back. We’ve been found!
Rising, she dressed quickly and went to wake Mikaal, who she discovered was already up and staring out the window. He was dressed in breeches, his shirt in his hand, the muscles of his broad back cleanly defined.
“There’s something out there,” she said.
“I know,” he responded, still staring out the window.
“You sense it?”
Mikaal shook his head and turned to her. “Not it, you. I felt your disturbance.”
“They have found us,” she whispered.
“How? Are our thoughts no longer protected?”
“I am not sure. I feel no lessening of the blocks. It is something else…”
“Then we need to learn what it is before we leave.”
“Morning meal is being prepared,” she said. “We’ll talk while we eat. We should leave soon.”
Mikaal noticed the lines of worry creasing her forehead. “Yes,” he agreed.
When the food was set before them at the same table they’d eaten at last night, they began to eat and to discuss options.
“Would Layra have betrayed us?” Mikaal asked. His eyes were on his food rather than on Areenna.
“No. We’ve talked about this.”
Mikaal shook his head. “You are so certain, but many things could happen to change this.”
“No.” Areenna reached across and grasped his hand in hers. Her hand tingled when her skin wrapped around his. A sensation of closeness enveloped her. “Feel me,” she whispered, “join me.”
Small shock-like explosions were set off where her skin touched his. “Close your eyes, concentrate.”
He followed her lead and a soft comfort grew within his mind —an opening of her thoughts and a welcoming of him to her. “Do you feel me?” she whispered.