The Jasper Forest

by Julia Gray

  Do you sense a connection between the two elementals?

  There are no walls in their rooms, she replied.

  Do you feel a link to the one here — as a sleeper, I mean? he asked, hoping that making the question more personal might prompt a less enigmatic answer.

  No. Not yet.

  But the sleepers here . . . Ysatel. . . ?

  Yes. Their fates depend on the creature in Talazoria.

  So you see, Terrel, Muzeni began, it really is—

  It's all right, he cut in. I'll go. I don't really have much choice, do I?

  The ghosts looked relieved.

  If I leave soon, Terrel went on, there's a good chance I can get to the coast in time. I'm still coming back to you, Alyssa.

  I know, she responded simply.

  They looked into each other's eyes for a few heartbeats, the bird's black orbs contrasting with the boy's crystalline light. His promise was repeated and accepted again in that look.

  Did you find anything more in the Code about the jewelled city? Terrel asked, turning back to the seers.

  There was one piece that intrigued us, Shahan said. The commonly accepted translation is, 'Beware the golden way, the silver steps deceive, Until the royal day, the diamond moons believe.''

  I had no idea you astrologers could be so poetic, Elam commented.

  What does it mean? Terrel asked.

  It's in the form of an instruction — or a warning — to the Mentor, Shahan told him. The trouble is, because it's couched in poetic terms, the exact meaning isn 't clear.

  And anyway, you think it might not have been translated correctly? Terrel guessed.

  Muzeni nodded.

  The first couplet is straightforward enough, but the second is open to several interpretations. 'Royal day' could just as easily be rendered as 'important time', and 'diamond moon' might simply be about anything to do with a source of light in the sky.

  So how is this supposed to help me?

  We don't know, Shahan admitted. But the reason we think it's relevant is because when the Mentor is mentioned later in the same passage, he's supposed to be accompanied by a flying creature.

  A bird? Terrel asked, glancing at the bee-eater.

  So I'd better be careful what shape I choose when we get close, Alyssa remarked calmly.

  fust bear the passage in mind, Shahan concluded. It might make more sense once you get there.

  Is there any reference to an earthquake? Terrel asked.

  We couldn't find anything specific, the seer replied, but we haven't had the opportunity to check all the sources yet.

  There are several mentions of large waves from the west', though, Muzeni said.

  One passage calls them 'mountains of water'. But it's hard to tie any of them down to a definite time.

  A quake here is unlikely to be part of the islands' prophecy, Shahan explained. Though the resulting tidal waves would be. I think we have to take your dream warning seriously.

  But you said the Code contains descriptions of lots of things that don't exist on Vadanis. So why wouldn 't the earthquake be in there too? Terrel was confused - but it had occurred to him that if it wasn't in the prophecy, then it might not be going to happen. His dream could be wrong.

  We think the places and events that don't seem relevant to the Empire are related either to the Guardian's exploits or to the Mentor's observations, Muzeni explained. The foreign aspects of the Code couldn't exist unless he -

  or they- experience something directly.

  So if the quake does take place, I won't see it? How could that happen? In his dream, the devastation had engulfed the entire land. It was only after he'd asked the question that Terrel thought of one possible explanation. He would see nothing if he was already dead.

  We don't know, Shahan admitted. This is all new to us, so a lot of it is speculation.

  You 're not exactly being very reassuring, you know, Elam remarked.

  I'm sorry, Terrel, Shahan said. We're doing the best we can.

  It was the first time either of the spectral seers had even come close to displaying any degree of humility - and perversely, this made Terrel feel worse, not better. He

  wanted them to be arrogantly certain they were right. That way he could feel confident about taking their advice.

  We did find something else that points to your journey, Muzeni said. It refers to 'a path guided by the dreams of many'.

  The villagers all saw me going inland.

  Exactly.

  I thought you said that was on a mountaintop? Elam said, looking puzzled.

  That's what it appeared to say on first reading, Muzeni conceded dismissively, but all translations have to allow for some degree of inexactitude. There is a prominent mountain here, after all. He gestured towards the mass of black rock that towered above them. Do you have a better explanation?

  I was on top of a mountain myself recently, Elam stated, blithely ignoring the heretic's challenge.

  I thought you were going to see what Jax was up to, Terrel said.

  That's what I was doing. The prince had gone to Tindaya.

  Why? Terrel felt a sense of foreboding at the news. What was he doing there?

  I've no idea. As far as I could tell, he was just wandering about, looking at the ruins.

  An enchanter's whim? Alyssa suggested. Or a hero's pilgrimage?

  They all looked at her, but she did not expand upon her remark.

  I wasn 't able to stay long, Elam went on, so I didn 't learn much. I'll do better next time.

  They have to go now, Alyssa said, stabbing her beak towards the ghosts.

  Before he vanished, Elam pulled a face and tugged at an imaginary forelock.

  The seers simply accepted their fate.

  I don't want to confuse the issue, Alyssa said.

  For once, Terrel was not sorry to see the ghosts disappear. It felt as if the time for talking was over.

  Are you going too? he asked.

  Not yet, she replied. There's something else we have to do first.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  'Does this have anything to do with my father?'

  'Indirectly, yes.' Terrel was not going to start lying to Olandis now. That would only make things worse. 'But I want you to come for your own sake, not his.'

  'Olandis doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to,' Elyce said belligerently. She had come down to the river bank with Terrel after he'd called at her hut.

  'I know that,' Olandis snapped. The girl looked crestfallen, but although Terrel felt sorry for her, he had more important things on his mind.

  'There's someone I want you to meet,' he went on. 'You won't have to say or do anything, just listen. And you can walk away again at any time if you want to.'

  Olandis looked at him steadily, but there was uncertainty in his gaze now as well as suspicion. Terrel's evident sincerity was obviously having an effect.

  'This is the last thing I'll ever ask of you,' the boy added. 'I'll be leaving Fenduca soon.'

  Olandis nodded slightly, his expression grave, as if he had been expecting this.

  'You saved my life once,' Terrel reminded him. 'I'm trying to repay part of that debt now. Please come. You'll always regret it if you don't.'

  'What could be so important. . .' Olandis began, then shrugged. 'All right.

  I'll come.'

  'I'll come with you,' Elyce said quickly.

  'No,' he told her shortly. 'Go home. This isn't for you.'

  Terrel was aware of the venomous look the girl flashed at him then, but he could feel nothing but relief. He had done his part. All he could do now was hope that Alyssa was able to live up to hers.

  Davi was lying on his stomach, studying an ant trail, when the bird landed in front of him. He knew instantly that it was a treecreeper, but he'd only ever seen them in the woods before - and never as close as this! Although it seemed awkward on the ground, it didn't appear to be injured in any way. They were usually shy and secretive creatures, but t
his one seemed to be staring straight at him, ignoring the scurrying insects, and when its delicately curved beak opened, the thin call held a note of appeal.

  'What do you want?' Davi asked softly, keeping very still in case any sudden movement scared his unexpected visitor away.

  The bird repeated its shrill cry - seeee - and shuffled a few paces to one side, its long tail dragging in the dirt. Its jerky movements reminded Davi of those of his mouse. Slowly, he raised himself up onto his knees and then stood up. As he did so the treecreeper rose into the air, fluttering up in a spiral that mimicked the strange way it climbed up and around the tree trunks of its normal habitat. Davi expected it to fly away, but it remained nearby, flitting towards the forest and then returning, calling every so often.

  'Do you want me to come with you?' he guessed, taking a few steps after the bird.

  Immediately it flew a little further in the same direction, and Davi followed.

  He looked round once to see if his mother was watching, but she was nowhere to be seen. His parents had become gradually less vigilant as the days had passed. They could hardly keep him a prisoner, and because they both had work to do, they'd contented themselves with making Davi promise not to go to the infirmary or to speak to Talker. They hadn't said anything about not going to the woods.

  When they finally arrived at the glade - Davi had guessed their destination some time earlier - he found several people there already. He only had time to notice that there was a bee-eater perched on Terrel's shoulder before the healer spoke.

  'Don't be nervous, Davi.'

  The small boy looked around, and wondered why he should be nervous. Even the new voice in his head was kind and gentle. He wondered where the treecreeper had gone.

  'Tell Kerin and Olandis what you see,' Terrel instructed, pointing towards the centre of the group of ancient stones.

  'You mean the lady?'

  'There's no lady here,' Kerin stated.

  'Yes, there is,' Davi insisted. 'She's come to see you.'

  'What's going on?' Kerin demanded, looking at Terrel.

  'If this is some sort of joke . . .' Olandis muttered, anger simmering in his dark eyes.

  'Davi can see things we can't,' Terrel told them. He knew that the ghost was there, but all he could see was a vague, shimmering outline. 'What's her name, Davi?'

  'She didn't say.'

  'Then tell us what she looks like.'

  'This is ridiculous,' Olandis hissed.

  'Just listen,' Terrel said forcefully.

  'She looks nice,' Davi said, with a happy smile.

  'What colour is her hair?' Terrel prompted.

  'Yellow. It's very long. And her eyes are green.'

  Terrel saw the ghost's shape flicker, and Davi took a few steps towards her.

  'She has a ring,' he said, 'with lots of blue stones, like a star. And there's a brown mark on her arm that's the same shape.'

  As the boy spoke, Terrel watched Kerin and his son. They were frozen where they stood, several paces apart. Both faces reflected a mixture of shock and disbelief.

  'Will she tell you her name now?' Terrel asked.

  'Aryel?' Kerin breathed, answering the question himself.

  'It can't be!' Olandis exclaimed, but he sounded uncertain, his anger replaced by fear - and by a little hope.

  'She says "Follow your heart. If you do that there can be no regrets",' Davi announced.

  Olandis looked stunned, and Terrel knew he was remembering the words from his own childhood.

  'And she called you "Thunder",' Davi added.

  'No one's called me that since . . . since I was a boy,' Olandis said, his voice no more than a whisper.

  A little of the colour that had drained from Kerin's face was seeping back now.

  'Is she ... a ghost?' he asked.

  'Yes,' Terrel replied. 'Her spirit is here.'

  Kerin nodded, signalling that he no longer needed any convincing of that fact.

  Davi had not been born until long after Aryel had died, and the accuracy of his description had been very persuasive.

  'Can I talk to her?'

  'She can hear you,' Davi answered. 'I'll tell you what she says.'

  For a few moments this prospect stilled Kerin's nervous tongue. He looked lost and frightened, prey to a dozen different emotions. When he finally spoke, it was to utter the words he'd never had the chance to say, the words that had festered inside his heart for twelve years.

  'I'm sorry, Aryel.'

  It was no more than an agonized croak, but in the stillness of the haunted glade that was enough.

  'She says you don't have to tell her that,' Davi reported. 'She's always known.'

  'Can you forgive me?' Kerin whispered.

  'There was nothing to forgive. If you'd known what was happening, you'd have come back. I knew that.' Davi was now simply repeating what Aryel told him, word for word.

  Kerin's eyes were brimming with tears, and his next words were tentative, as if he was having to force himself to speak.

  'You . . . and . . . and . . . the baby?'

  'Her spirit was never fully formed in your world. She's moved on. After today, I'll be able to as well. I didn't know it before, but I was waiting for this.'

  Kerin seemed to have forgotten that it was Davi's voice he was hearing. He was staring transfixed at the spot where the ghost stood — and Terrel wondered whether he was able to see anything of his first wife's spirit.

  'Then . . . you are . . . well?' the prospector stammered.

  'We are well.'

  Kerin hesitated again.

  'There's so much,' he began, 'so much . . .' He glanced round as a racking sob interrupted his halting words. Tears were streaming down Olandis's face.

  'It wasn't your fault, Thunder.'

  'I know that,' Olandis said, his voice that of a confused child.

  'You did all you could. It wasn't your fault,' Davi repeated, his words carrying a mature sincerity that did not belong to a five-year-old.

  'It was never your fault,' Kerin said. 'I never blamed you.'

  'I blamed myself,' Olandis said, trying to wipe away his tears.

  Prompted this time by Alyssa, Terrel intervened again.

  'Aryel doesn't have much time. She has something else to tell you.'

  'What?' Kerin asked.

  'Ysatel.'

  'I like her,' Aryel told him.

  'You've met her?' Kerin exclaimed with renewed astonishment. 'But—'

  'She is wandering. Not in your world or mine. But she will return to you, Gate. Your love is worth a little patience, isn't it? She deserves that - and more.'

  'You . . . you . . .' Words failed him.

  'Be happy, Kerin.'

  And then the glade suddenly felt empty.

  'She's gone,' Davi said, as he looked round at Terrel.

  'Come on,' Terrel said, as he walked forward and took the boy's hand. 'You did very well, but we'd better get you back home now, eh?'

  They left Kerin and Olandis clasped in each other's arms, their murmured words mingling with their tears.

  From that time on, Terrel knew that he was truly free to leave. The wounds of the past had been healed a little. The scars would always be there, but the pain-filled memories would be allowed to recede now.

  A day and a half later, as dusk set in, Terrel knew that this was to be his last night in the village. He would be leaving at first light the next day, and he'd already made his round of farewells. Most of the villagers were sorry to hear of his departure, but when he explained that he was following the path of his dreams, they all understood that he was doing what he had to do. One visit was particularly important. He had been to see Davi's parents, and had persuaded them to let their son resume his partnership with Talker. He had told them nothing of the events in the glade, but had simply praised the boy's remarkable talents. Although they had initially been less than enthusiastic, Terrel's heartfelt pleas had eventually won them over. Davi had been overjoyed, and had dashed off t
o give Talker the news. Terrel had grinned to see such

  eagerness, and first Erena and then Frasu had eventually smiled too.

  That evening, after sharing a final meal with Kerin and Olandis, Terrel began to feel the familiar mixture of excitement and dread that had accompanied his earlier travels.

  'All set, then?' Kerin asked.

  Terrel nodded. His few belongings had been placed in the backpack that was a gift from Olandis, and he'd memorized some detailed instructions about the first part of his journey.

  'I didn't want to leave you alone,' he said.

  'Now you don't have to,' Kerin replied, glancing at his son. Olandis had told Elyce that he was moving back to his own family. He was ashamed of the way he had treated her, and had tried to be as gentle as he could, but he'd been resolute in the face of her tears.

  'At least I understand why you have to go,' Kerin added. 'And you know you'll always be welcome back here.'

  'I know. And I'm grateful for all you've done for me.'

  'Here,' Kerin said, holding out a cupped hand. 'Take this.'

  Terrel saw the fire-opal on his palm, and shook his head.

  'No. Aylen meant that for you - and for Ysatel.'

  'But you'll need money for the journey.'

  'I've managed before. I don't want it, Kerin.'

  'If you don't take it, he'll just go on and on,' Olandis said. 'You know how stubborn he can be.' Father and son exchanged wry grins.

  'No,' Terrel repeated. 'Thank you, but no.'

  'He'll probably hide it in your pack if you won't take it,' Olandis added.

  'Please, Terrel,' Kerin said. 'If you succeed, and it helps Ysatel, that will be worth more to me than a hundred of these.'

  Terrel had told them of some — but not all — of his reasons for going to Talazoria.

  'Aylen would say the same if he were here,' Olandis said.

  'I'm not going to win this argument, am I?' Terrel said resignedly.

  'No,' Kerin agreed, placing the stone in the boy's outstretched hand.

  Some time later, as the others were preparing to go to bed, Terrel told them he was going for a walk. The sky was clear, and both the Amber and White Moons were just past full, so there was enough light for him to make his way through the village. Scar's barking turned to nervous whining when he recognized the scent of the visitor trying to rouse his sleeping master, and the dog slunk into a corner when Cutter ushered the boy inside and lit a candle.