by Lee M Eason
“I don’t think so,” Gwen frowned slightly. “Some have a little and don’t know it. A few have enough to make a living from it but are largely untrained and then there’s people like us who have a natural ability and have been lucky enough to be discovered or recommended for training.”
Jenna hadn’t had the chance to talk about this properly and was eager to find out all she could. “Does everyone with real talent get discovered? You know for training and everything?”
“Probably not. It’s a big continent and not everyone has access to a village healer or a local practitioner like you and Aaron. Because of Orla you were both identified at an early age and received some training. She kept us in touch with your development until we thought you were ready for Naddier.”
“Orla said we would be trained by you and Carrick and we should think ourselves lucky. But when we asked her to explain it she wouldn’t.” Jenna shrugged. Hoping at last she would get some answers to questions that had gnawed at her for years.
“Oh she probably didn’t think it was her place to say more. She is odd about that sort of thing. Those who make it to Naddier are very talented and occasionally amongst those are people who have the ability to become Adepts. People who can focus their will more than anyone and so draw more from the field. Carrick and I fall into that bracket and when a new Adept is discovered it falls to us to develop them. You and Aaron are the first to come into our claves for some time.” Gwen smiled. “It’s an interesting coincidence that you’re brother and sister too.”
“I hadn’t really thought about that.” She considered it briefly but then saw Gwen’s expression changed. She instinctively followed her eyes to a mounted figure.
“Is everything ok,” she asked suddenly a little nervous.
There was an unsettling pause. Gwen looked back over to Carrick and then Bryn who signalled he’d seen him too.
“Sorry Jenna. It was an Ildran, an UruIldran. We hadn’t expected to see any on these roads. I sensed his anticipation, which made me look for a face.
“I didn’t even notice,” Jenna admitted, feeling the need to look back. Bryn was still watching him, which was unsettling.
“Anyway, go on,” Gwen said turning back to the road. “What were you going to ask?”
“Err,” Jenna had one last look. The man was gone and Bryn was looking forward again. “You said claves. I mean earlier you mentioned claves what are they?”
“Didn’t Orla tell you any of this?” Gwen asked a little exasperated.
Jenna shook her head. “No, should she have?”
Gwen tutted. “Ok then.” She began the explanation in a tone that suggested this information had been drummed into her since an early age and had been recited until word perfect. “In The Naddier Order there are ten disciplines which form ten Claves or groups if you like, most of the Orders across the south divide themselves into claves: The Clave of Summoners, The Clave of Shapers, Speakers, Healers, Conveyers and so on. Each is able to access and use the field, the energy we all draw on, in a different way. There, that’s it in a nut shell.” Gwen smiled to herself, thinking of the number of times she’d had to repeat that at the start of her own training.
“You’re a Convoker aren’t you?” Jenna asked
“Yes and you will be.”
Jenna tried out the title in her head it sounded strange.
“Carrick heads the Clave of The Sarrons, though sometimes they get named double handers. It’s a nickname. Keeps their feet on the ground.” Gwen explained when Jenna looked puzzled. “They have abilities in all ten disciplines one for each finger- so double hander’s but he’s lazy and tends to stick with the discipline of the clave I head - The Clave of Convokers.”
“Aren’t some of the claves rare, I mean not many people have those talents?”
“That’s right, there are very few Summoners in comparison and currently I know of one other Chanter in the whole of the south and to the best of our knowledge there hasn’t been a Seer since before The Panids.”
The road ran alongside fields and farmsteads and began to climb gently into open woodland. Some of the precisely laid curb-stones had been lifted by stilttree roots, red ferns and other shrubs softening the edges and occasionally wild fruit bushes offered the chance of a sweet snack. Kellim managed to spot these well before everyone else and at one point had them all, mounts tied, picking the pale fruit for the meal that night. The road continued to climb and the woodland became thicker. The wind had picked up slightly, stirring the leaves and branches.
“Funny,” Jenna noted. “It sounds like a water fall.”
“It does,” Gwen agreed combing a hand through unruly hair.
“That sound makes me think of a ruin near where we lived.”
“Why’s that?” Gwen asked.
Jenna pursed her lips pulling up the memory. “It was up on a hill. The tower I mean. It overlooked the sea. We went up there to play when we were young and I liked to sit up there to watch the sun rise or set whenever I could.”
“It sounds nice.”
“It was. Trees had grown up around it and whenever I hear that sound it makes me think of the tower. I think it was very old. It had a sense of history.”
“It sounds like a watch tower. A lot were built during the war. I wonder how many more are still around slowly slipping back into the landscape.”
“It seems a bit of a shame really,” she said.
Gwen looked at Jenna. “Things change Jenna. But usually for the better.”
They rode on a while, Jenna listening to the wind and watching the rope trees ripple, Gwen more intent on the passers-by.
“There weren’t always claves, were there?” Jenna said, seemingly out of the blue.
“That’s right the claves came about as a necessity really. Before The Panids created The Field’s Cap and limited the extent to which Talents could draw on the field, they all used the full range of disciplines. Naturally each individual was better at some than at others but still able to use most because of the abundance of energy available in the field. And like us The Panids ability to focus their minds determined how powerful they were.”
“I can’t imagine how different it must have been then.” Jenna said wistfully.
“Very,” Gwen agreed. “When The Field’s Cap was put in place and the field became more restricted Talents found they could only access it, to any useful degree, through one particular discipline. So the claves were formed to focus on the development of this. They didn’t have to start afresh but a lot of the rules had to be re-written and new limitations understood. It took a long time for them to get to grips with what they could and couldn’t do, along with the rest of the continent. It would’ve been a time of considerable change for everyone. Not a good time. You should ask Kellim about it.” Gwen nodded ahead as he rode alongside Aaron. “You might have more luck getting him to talk about the past. There’s a lot I’d like answers to.”
“You said Talents are very limited by The Field’s Cap. Is it the same for the remaining Panids?”
Gwen laughed. “That’s one question I’ve tried no end to get an answer to. Kellim and the remaining Panids are a bit of an enigma.”
“How many Panids are left and what happened to the others?”
“There are four left, though one of them hasn’t been seen for decades. The others were either killed or sacrificed themselves during the Great War.”
“Sacrificed!” Jenna was about to ask another question when Carrick called them all to a halt at the top of the hill. The view stretched across a small valley of fields and woodland to the hills on the other side. A number of smallholdings were clearly visible and the road could be seen winding its way past them before beginning its zigzag ascent of the other side.
“This is the start of them,” Kellim was saying, “We could save ourselves several days’ travel.”
Carrick was looking through a telescope across to the other side. “The clearing at the road’s side is still there and the tr
affic’s not too bad. If we judge it right, there shouldn’t be any problems.” He collapsed the brass object with a satisfied click and turned. “Kellim, would you take Lewen, go across and provide us with a marker? Gwen and I’ll bring the others. We can swap for the next couple and share the work.”
“Indeed,” Kellim agreed. “It’s a pity there are not more valleys like this along the way.”
Jenna edged her mount over to Aaron. “What are they talking about?”
“Do you remember Orla talking about being able to put yourself in more than one place and then decide which one you wanted to be at,” he gestured. “To move yourself from one place to another so long as you could see where you wanted to end up or failing that had some sort of marker to home in on?”
“I remember her saying it could be risky and you had to be careful,” she replied warily.
“Well, that’s what they’re planning on doing. Across the next three valleys apparently,” Aaron had an edge of excitement in his voice.
“Really. How do they do it? Is it safe?”
“Kellim was telling me. You link points and kind of slip from one place to the other,” Aaron tried to explain. “He also said that this is the way all Talents used to get around, before The Field’s Cap. Apparently there used to be a network of things they called jump platforms. It was an everyday thing, very safe,” he added.
“Jump platforms?”
“Like a raised stone platform type of thing. There were always two, one for arriving and one for leaving.”
“Type of thing? Kellim used those words, they don’t sound very technical.”
“I can’t remember everything he said. Can you remember everything Gwen’s told you? The Field thingy was your last one.”
“Okay, okay,” Jenna held up her hands. “I won’t interrupt. Look I’m all ears,” She cocked her head and affected a look of intense interest.
Aaron narrowed is eyes. “Well, as I was saying,” he paused.
“Still listening.”
He shook his head. “Are you sure we’re related?”
“Come on stop messing about, you were talking about the jump platforms.”
“Me messing about? If you could see yourself right now.” Aaron knew he wasn’t going to win but he had one last go. “Lewen’s looking,” he said slyly. Jenna straightened in a flash.
“Oh no my mistake,” he said innocently. “Anyway. Jump platforms. It was an unbroken rule that no one and nothing ever stood on the arrival platform so it was always safe for Talents to transport to. And if you stood on the leaving one you sort of communicated with or sensed where you wanted to be and then transported yourself there in stages, jumping from one platform to another.”
“I suppose they can’t do that anymore,” Jenna mused.
“I don’t think so, not now that The Field’s Cap exists, not enough energy to go any great distance.”
“Aaron, Jenna,” Carrick called over to them. “You should watch this.”
They headed over and Gwen explained the process. They could feel the subtle alterations in Kellim’s concentration and the effect it was having. Kellim of course made it look easy, as with practised skill he focused his will and drew on the field, selected the point he wanted and collapsed the space between. He disappeared leaving a dull feeling in the air and almost instantaneously reappeared on the other side of the valley. He waved and Jenna and Aaron waved back, just able to make him out in the distance.
“He made that look so easy,” Aaron said in admiration.
“Only after a lot of practise,” Gwen said as she guided the mounts over to where she wanted them. “Remind me to tell you about the first time we tried it!”
With that she focused her will. Jenna and Aaron could clearly hear the dull roar in their heads like the sound of a distant waterfall and feel the quality of the air change around them again.
“See you on the other side,” she said and was gone along with their mounts.
They could both pick out the change in air pressure this time caused by the larger movement of animal flesh.
“Are we all ready?” Carrick asked. “Stand close to me. I’d rather we didn’t collide with our mounts or one of the trees over there.”
The others did as they were asked and before they knew it Jenna and Aaron found themselves on the other side of the valley.
“How was that?” Kellim was asking as they appeared.
“If we weren’t looking at a completely different view I wouldn’t have known we’d moved, that was amazing,” Aaron answered looking about.
Kellim smiled, already on his mount. “The sign of a true master,” he acknowledged.
“Flattery, is always welcome,” Carrick joked and thanked Lewen as he handed him his reins.
It proved a short ride to the other side of the hill where they found themselves looking across another valley very similar to the last. After a brief pause, while they located the distant road, they prepared for the next crossing. A short time later and they were on the other side having waited for a set of five carts to reach the top and crest the hill. Jenna had noticed that any travellers who had witnessed their actions were only reasonably interested and stopped briefly to see what she assumed must, in these parts anyway, be a reasonably common site. They did this two more times until a final short ride brought then to the lip of a much larger valley.
“We’ve been lucky with the weather,” Gwen was saying. “It’s been a clear day. Any haze and we wouldn’t have been able to see safely across this one,” she handed Carrick’s telescope back to him. “As it is this one’s a bit of a stretch.”
“Yes, we’ll have to double up for this one. How about you Kellim?” Carrick jumped down from his mount.
“I’m a little weary from the last two but I should be able to manage this along with the mounts.”
“They’ve done very well,” Lewen said patting his mount’s neck as he climbed down.
“Alright. In that case Gwen and I will take Bryn and Lewen. Then we can pull the remaining three from the other side.”
The transports went well and Gwen and Carrick left with Bryn and Lewen. There was to be a pause this time to allow the others to rest before completing the final jumps so Jac, Jenna and Aaron had sat down to wait in a spot where Jac could keep an eye on things. The traffic had thinned as the afternoon wore on and now the road was quiet. Aaron went and stood on a rocky outcrop looking across the valley through the telescope. Its patchwork of fields and farms spread out before him. Beyond he was trying to make out the spot where he expected to see the others resting.
“Jac,” he called back absently.
“Hey there,” Jac got up from his vantage point. “You alright?”
“Can you see the others?”
Jac came over and Aaron handed him the telescope. “No actually,” he puzzled, lowering it.
“I was looking in the right place, wasn’t I?”
“Yep, they aren’t there,” he looked at Aaron his brow wrinkled. “Get your sister.” He said checking the hillside again.
Aaron returned with Jenna. “Can you see them?”
“No. Something’s not right,” Jac’s brow furrowed. He turned to look at the road behind them and then at the surrounding woods. His hand had moved to his sword hilt. “Get onto the road,” he said calmly, not wanting to alarm them. His eyes swept the trees, it was clear he had heard or sensed something. “Start walking. No questions.” He added firmly at their hesitation. His eyes had fixed on one area. Without altering his gaze, he slowly drew his sword. The woods had fallen silent. He knew he was being watched and by something big. Sancir still had wild predators but this far south?
Jenna and Aaron had begun walking, glancing back over their shoulders, uncertain about what to do. Jac’s stance had altered. Aaron didn’t know much about swordsmen but he could tell when a man was preparing to fight. He ushered his sister on and started checking the woods to either side.
There was a sudden movement in the bushes and
an arrow shot out catching Jac’s side as it tore past. “Run!” he shouted before another one ripped through the air. Somehow he managed to leap clear and took cover. There was a log crack and a great movement of leaves and branches. Then the greenery erupted as a huge man-like being erupted from the undergrowth. Jac was stunned, vital seconds passed as his eyes and brain struggled to make sense of just what had lumbered out of the woods. It threw its bow aside and drew a massive sword. Quickly covering the distance between them it swung. Jac recovering himself was just able to block the blow. The force of the impact jarred his arm but he didn’t lose his grip. He was able to avoid the next blow. He parried several more. Each was heavy and brutal, straining his back and shoulder muscles. The creature was at least half his height again and massively built. With the quickest of glances Jac checked Jenna and Aaron were clear and only just managed to avoid the next enormous blow. It sliced the air and bit deeply into the stilttree he’d used as cover. Jac took the opportunity and swung. The blade found flesh and the creature bellowed in pain. He made ready to swing again but the creature freed its sword and brought it humming round in a wide arc. Jac leapt back from the point. The thing swiftly brought its sword round to cut down. Jac parried the action, spun and brought his sword down with all the momentum he could. He hoped to knock the weapon out of his opponent’s hand. It didn’t work. Its size gave it strength and with a grunt it raised its weapon. Jac’s sword was lifted into the air and he was thrown back. He landed well and thrust his sword into the vulnerable gap. Again the creature bellowed in pain. Rage tainted caution. It lashed out with the sword and swung its other arm to grab Jac’s blade. Yanking him unexpectedly towards it. As blood streamed down the steel, it slammed its forearm into Jac, throwing him clean across the road. His sword spun out of his hand and he landed on the hard stones. Winded, he struggled to right himself before the creature got to him. He had just enough time to draw a knife but not enough time to throw it. The creature focused its will and sent Jac spinning backwards into a tree. There was a crack and he dropped to the floor.
Satisfied the man was no longer a threat the creature touched its side, with a grimace and looked at the blood on its hand. Discarding its own sword in irritation it sniffed the air and then headed down the road.