The Master's Chair (The Chronicles of Terah)

by Morgan, Mackenzie

  Glendymere nodded. Then he turned to Kevin and said, “All right. You have the general idea. Now let’s try for something somewhere between nothing and destruction. You need to release the energy in a controlled manner. Build it slowly until you find the right level for what you want to do.”

  Kevin looked around for another rock while he thought about what Glendymere had said. “I’ve got a question. It seems to me that my major breakthroughs have always come when I have the least amount of control, when frustration has built up to the point of anger. Like the time with the pebble, or the time that I set my bed on fire, or just now. I was angry, and something seemed to explode in my head just before the rock exploded.”

  “So, what is your question?”

  “It just seems to me that lack of control is the key, not control.”

  “For the explosion, yes. But how useful is the explosion? Did the pebble go where you wanted it to go? Did the candle get lit? Did the rock give off a useful warmth? After the explosion, comes the control, and you must control the magic. Otherwise it controls you. We want all the explosions to happen here, where I can sort of keep a lid on things, before you get strong enough to cause real damage.”

  Kevin thought about what Glendymere had said for a moment and then nodded.

  “Now, back to the rock. See if you can get a nice warm glow out of it. Could come in handy on a cold winter’s night out on the prairie.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  A week later, Kevin and Glendymere were on top of the cliff on the east wall of Willow Canyon. Kevin was trying to stir up enough turbulence in the air to produce a rain shower, but he wasn’t having much luck. He had managed to push some clouds together and he had even created a few up and down drafts to mix warm and cool air, but it wasn’t enough to cause the drops of moisture to become large enough to fall as rain.

  While he was concentrating on the wind and clouds, Glendymere spotted Macin’s wagon as it wound its way up the side of Wildcat Mountain towards the peak. “You might want to wait until Macin unloads his wagon before you start the rain.”

  “Like I’m really going to be able to make it rain,” Kevin said, irritated that his efforts had yet to produce any results. “This place is in for one long draught if it only rains when I cause it!”

  Well, why don’t you take a break for a bit and let him get inside before you play in the clouds anymore. Who knows? You might do it right for a change.”

  “Yeah. Just my luck, to do it right at the wrong time,” Kevin said as he sat down on the edge of the cliff. About that time he felt a few raindrops hit his head. As he looked up at the sky, the cloud opened up and rain pelted down all over the area. At first Kevin just sat there with his mouth hanging open and his hands out for the rain drops to hit. Then he looked at Glendymere and asked, “Did you do that?”

  Glendymere shook his head no.

  Then Kevin jumped up and started dancing around in the rain, yelling, “I did it! I finally did it! I made it rain! I did it!”

  “Yes, you do have a knack for doing it right at the wrong time,” Glendymere said with a quiet chuckle. “Why don’t you fly over there and help Macin unload? Unless, of course, you’ve figured out how to make it stop. I’m not going to do it for you.”

  “No, I haven’t gotten there yet,” Kevin said as he rose a little above the treetops and worked his way sideways towards Macin.

  After Macin and Kevin unloaded most of the goods at the giants’ house, they drove the wagon down the side of the mountain to Rainbow Valley and pulled into the cave entrance where Karl and Blalick were waiting somewhat patiently for the sudden rain shower to end.

  “That sky was pretty much clear a little while ago, Kevin,” Karl commented. “I don’t suppose you had anything to do with this sudden rain shower, did you?”

  “Well, yes, sort of. Sorry about that. But I did it! And it feels great!” Kevin broke out in a big grin. “Well, since you two are here to help Macin, I’m going back over to Willow Canyon and see if I can do it again. See you at dinner.”

  After Kevin left, the other three unloaded the wagon and carried the groceries to the kitchen. When they got to the dining room there was a large tray of cookies sitting on the table next to a pitcher of milk. Theresa and Joan were heading for the table with mugs in their hands.

  “After you put the groceries down, grab yourself a mug and join us,” Joan said. “We’ll put them away in a few minutes.”

  Once the men joined them, it didn’t take any time at all for the cookies and milk to disappear. As the men were heading back outside, Macin handed Theresa a sealed envelope. It was from Evelyne. She quickly ripped it open and skimmed the two-page note.

  Dear Theresa,

  Macin delivered your note this morning. I am writing this while he collects the supplies that he’s taking back to his family. I hope this letter finds you safe and in good health.

  You mentioned coming here for a visit. I really do not think that is wise at this time. For the past month some rough looking men have wandered in and out of Abernon, asking a lot of questions about the minstrels, you, and most especially about Taelor. From what I’ve been able to gather, they are bounty hunters sent by Rolan with orders to arrest all of you for aiding an escaped slave.

  Since you stayed at the Chapel while you were here and did not go out into the town, they have not been able to find out much. I know that they have questioned my staff, but there was very little that any of them could say.

  I was the only one who talked to Taelor when he came by late that night. No one else even saw him. I imagine he planned it that way. So, as far as the bounty hunters know, he was never in Abernon. As for the rest of you, the only thing my staff knows is that a Sister Theresa stayed here one night, accompanied by some minstrels, and that all of you left the next morning.

  For some reason the bounty hunters have been hesitant to question me. But do not fear. Even if they do try to get information out of me, I have none to give. You never mentioned your plans or your destination. I know that you headed south when you left Abernon, and that much I will gladly tell them if it will get them away from here.

  I have warned Macin not to talk while he is in Abernon, but he is a quiet boy and is used to keeping his own counsel. The giants never discuss any of their guests with the townspeople of Abernon, so his reticence is not seen as unusual.

  As long as all of you stay away from any of the roadways and towns around here, you should be safe. There are too many valleys and canyons for the bounty hunters to consider searching all of them. They seem to be waiting for one or all of you to surface. They have pretty good descriptions of all of you, but they don’t have any names other than yours. The people of Billows remembered Sister Theresa, the sister who treated them during the recent illness that swept through their town, and they also remembered the young man who assisted her.

  Take this seriously, Theresa. Be careful, and stay out of sight. Maybe when things settle down I will be able to take a short vacation. We’ll see. I certainly could use one.

  With regards,

  Evelyne

  After Theresa read Evelyne’s letter, she passed it on to Joan, who stopped putting away groceries, sat down with a cup of coffee, and began to read. When she had finished, she said, “I think we need to tell the guys, don’t you?”

  Theresa nodded. Then she slowly shook her head in dismay. “It wouldn’t hurt to bring the giants up to speed on this, too. You never know. We might have inadvertently involved them.”

  “What a mess. Oh well, let’s finish putting away these groceries and get dinner started,” Joan said as she got back up and continued sorting through the groceries.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  That evening, Theresa passed Evelyne’s letter around so that everyone could read it. Chris was the first to comment. “It’s almost funny. We made it all the way from Kalen’s to Glendymere’s without anyone catching on to who Kevin really is, only to get a gang of cutthroat bounty hunters on our trail.”

 
; Darrell nodded. “I’d rather not have anyone looking for us for any reason, but I’m surprised it took them so long to connect us to Taelor’s disappearance. I expected them to be hot on our trail within a day at least.”

  “Maybe they’ll give up before we have to leave for Camden,” Theresa said hopefully.

  “I don’t think we’d better count on that, especially not if Rolan has put prices on our heads as well as on Taelor’s,” Darrell replied.

  “Even if the bounty hunters do move on, everyone will know there’s money involved in our capture. That’s not a very comforting thought,” Chris said.

  “Everyone’s going to be looking for a troupe of minstrels and a sister,” Steve pointed out. “The only reason we traveled as performers was so that no one would pay any attention to Kevin. Now we simply need to come up with new roles to hide in.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right. I just hate to give up a routine that worked so well,” Karl said. “And it was nice that we were able to travel pretty much for free using the minstrel show.”

  “We won’t be able to do Healing Clinics on the way to Camden either, so we can’t use that to trade for room and board,” Joan added.

  “I’m still bound by my vows. If we come across anyone who needs help, I have to help. It’s not optional,” Theresa said quietly.

  “Okay, but not as Sister Theresa. Sister Theresa is wanted for assisting a runaway slave,” Karl said. “Is there anything in your vows against using a different name?”

  “No, at least not as far as I know. I guess I could use Marie, my middle name, if you really think it’s necessary,” Theresa replied. “Or maybe Teri.”

  “Well, we have plenty of time to work out the details, but we’ll need a new cover story for traveling together, and maybe some kind of simple disguise,” Karl said.

  “You know, we could split up. If the bounty hunters are looking for seven people, maybe we should travel as five and two,” Kevin suggested. “Then no one would look at us twice. Chris and I could go first. In fact, I could go as Myron. That would certainly distract any bounty hunters out there. They would be too busy trying to collect the bounty on my head to worry about the rest of you.”

  “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I’d rather come up with a way for all of us to travel together. I still think it would be wiser to make it to Camden before you let anyone know who you are,” Karl said. “After all, the only reason any of us are even on Terah is to get you to Camden and to Badec’s castle safely. That has to be our primary focus.”

  “And if we do travel together, your magic would be like a secret weapon, held in reserve until needed,” Darrell added. “I sort of like the idea of having a powerful sorcerer to act as backup should we have to defend ourselves.”

  “Well, I don’t know how powerful I’ll be by then. I could be more of a hindrance than a help. At any rate, we don’t have to decide tonight, but keep splitting up in mind as an option,” Kevin said.

  “Whether we stay together or travel separately, we’ll need to do something about the instrument wagon,” Chris said. “It’s a dead giveaway as it is now.”

  “I don’t want to leave the instruments behind though,” Joan said.

  “We may have to,” Karl said. “How could we explain having all of those instruments if our things were searched? I’m not sure we should chance it. We might be able to take your harp though. Let’s see what we can come up with for a cover story.”

  “Steve, you’ve been awfully quiet over there. What do you think about all of this? Do you have any ideas?” Joan asked.

  “As a matter of fact, I might. Take a look at these sketches,” Steve said as he handed a sheet of paper to each of the Tellurians.

  On the left-hand side of the papers, Steve had sketched each person as he or she had looked on the trip to Rainbow Valley. On the right-hand side, he had sketched the same person, but with significant differences.

  “First of all, we’ll be traveling in the dead of winter. If we could get hold of some thick sweaters to wear under our tunics, we would all look a bit heavier and rounder. Of course, that would also mean that we would need larger tunics, but we’re going to need new clothes for the trip to Camden anyway.” Steve looked around as everyone nodded in agreement. “I had already decided to stop shaving and let my beard and hair grow out, but I wasn’t thinking in terms of a disguise. I was thinking it would help with the cold winds we’re going to run into crossing the prairies. But if all the men grow beards and wear their hair long, and Joan and Theresa pull their hair back over their ears and braid it, we won’t look anything like the minstrels that the bounty hunters are looking for. Top it off with clerical hats or maybe fur-lined caps that come down around our necks, add long dark cloaks, and I don’t think even Evelyne would recognize us.”

  “I like it,” Karl said as he studied the pictures. “I think that would definitely work for a disguise. Can we come up with the clothes we’ll need to pull this off?”

  “Let me talk to Ashni. We were already planning to make more clothes. This will just alter the things we need to make a little,” Joan said. “I think we have enough time to get it all done, but I may need some of you to help with spinning and weaving. Karl, we’re probably going to need another spinning wheel and loom.”

  Karl nodded. “All right, but to make this work, we’ll have to come up with some kind of compelling reason for traveling across the country in the dead of winter.” Karl stood up and stretched. “Let’s think about it for a while, and talk about it some more later. As for now, I’m ready to get some sleep.”

  “Joan, you’ll have to let us know when you need our help. I’m going to count on you to do that. Otherwise, I’m going to stay out of the way. You too, Karl. If there is anything that any of us can do to help, just let us know,” Steve said as he gathered up his papers and pens.

  As everyone got ready to head off to bed, Kevin offered to take care of straightening up the living room and washing the mugs. Chris stayed behind to help.

  “Do you really think it would be best for us to strike out on our own?” Chris asked when they reached the door to his bedroom.

  “I don’t know,” Kevin admitted. “It might be safer, for them at least, but then again, maybe not. As it is now, we have enough people to be able to stand guard through the night when we camp. If we split up, neither group would have enough people to be able to post a guard. I keep remembering that night when the bandits attacked. If we had not had someone on guard duty, I think we would all have been murdered in our sleep.”

  “I know. That thought crossed my mind, too. Oh well. We don’t have to decide tonight. We have time to come up with a plan,” Chris said as he entered his room.

  Chapter 35

  North Amden

  Taelor knew that if he was going to have any hope at all of finding Landis, he was going to have to find her foster parents, but all he knew about them was that her foster father’s name was Hayden and that he was an elf. Since most of the elves lived in North Amden, which was on the west coast, Taelor set his course by the sun and headed west when he left Abernon.

  Whenever possible, he followed streams and rivers as he worked his way through the mountains, and although he came across a few wandering shepherds, for the most part, the wilderness was uninhabited. Along the way, he gathered and prepared herbs, which he used to barter for food when he came across a farm or a village.

  The valleys to the west were a little more populated, but he kept a low profile and avoided established roads. The few towns that Taelor came across were usually no more than tiny villages, with maybe a tavern and a dry goods store. Travelers were rare in this area, and most either camped out in the woods or bartered with a local farmer for an empty stall for the night. Weather permitting, Taelor slept in the woods.

  No one paid much attention to him. He was just a skinny young man who was passing through. The biggest problem he encountered was that other young men occasionally wanted to join him. Traveling
with others could provide a certain amount of cover and safety, but at the same time it could cause a lot of problems. Companions expected conversation, and there were few topics Taelor could safely discuss, including his destination. His plans to go to North Amden would make even the most disinterested of companions curious. Humans just didn’t go there.

  Taelor’s first sight of the ocean came as a bit of a surprise. He hadn’t realized how close he was until he climbed a hill one morning in August and saw the deep blue waves shimmering in the distance. When he reached the coastline, he wasn’t sure which way he should go, but north felt like the better choice, so he that’s the way he headed.

  A couple of days later, he came across a large sheltered bay. On the east side of the natural harbor, there was a town about the size of Abernon. A sign near the docks welcomed him to South Port. Taelor was hesitant to enter the town until he saw that the inhabitants were elves.

  None of the elves in North Amden would be interested in capturing him and returning him to Rolan. They didn’t recognize human laws, and as long as humans left them alone, they didn’t bother humans. At the same time, they were just as likely to ignore him to the point of refusing to help him in his search.

  When Taelor entered South Port, he attracted quite a few stares. He needed to talk to someone in authority, but he had no idea how to go about finding out whom that might be. Since he wasn’t sure what to do, or where to go for help, he ended up just wandering around town.

  After a couple of hours, he became aware that there were a couple of elves keeping an eye on him from a distance. Finally one of them approached and asked if he could be of any assistance.

  “I hope so. I’m looking for someone who lives in North Amden, but I have no idea where. I have a name, and a little information, but not much. Is there anyone around who might be familiar with some of the outlying families?” Taelor asked.