by Lexy Wolfe
"There had been a decided drop in the number of Forentan coming to Fortress over the past decades." Musingly, Almek said more to himself, "I wonder how many others may have been overlooked to be trained as Guardians because they were gifted elsewhere, if not forbidden for other reasons." Drumming his fingers on the table, Almek said nothing for a time. "We may have blinded ourselves to those gifted in dual talents because we assumed to be able to touch one energy precluded the ability to touch another."
The mage looked up sharply, frowning at Almek as the meaning beyond his words sank in. "You believe me to be able to manipulate Guardian as well as Forentan magicks?" Almek nodded, watching Ash.
The mage was silent, lost in thought for several minutes. "I am unsurprised," Ash stated with brisk self-confidence. "The abilities of Guardians are not very different than that of mages, and I am the best of any Forentan mage ever born." He set the last of the shards from his hand aside. He grimaced in pain as he forced the gashes in his hand closed, murmuring words of magic under his breath.
"Similar in appearance, but not the same." Almek twitched his fingers towards the pieces of glass. They pulled together and fused to make the broken glass whole, save for the streaks of blood now infused in the glass itself. "The significant difference between what a Guardian can do and what any other highly trained user of magicks can do is a matter of time."
Ash watched the shattered glass reform, eyes widening slightly. "You mean how long it takes to be trained?" Ash made a dismissive motion with his newly healed hand. "I doubt it would take me long. I have already mastered more of the Arts than most manage in their entire lifetimes." He looked surprised when Almek shook his head.
"No. A Guardian works with the energy of time itself. Most others float along in time's currents, oblivious to the flow around them." Almek leaned forward and stated in a low voice, "The simple fact that you sense what even some Unsvet Guardians do not, that you, untrained in time manipulation, have been able to affect what most Guardians spend their lives training to do... this tells me you are more than merely a potential. You are at the same level as an Adept." Sitting back, Almek stated, "I would like you to be my student."
"Like the Sevmanan healer that travels with you?" Ash stated more than asked, considering. "All of my life, I have sought to hone my skills. I would be a fool to turn down such an offer." His voice cut off, but hinted at unspoken thoughts.
"But?" Almek prompted after an extended silence.
Ash's expression reflected annoyance. "The Se'edai has honor bound me with two students. She would probably bind more to me if she thought she could get away with it, but a master can determine the maximum number of students he is willing to be personally responsible for. I doubt she would release me from the arrangement, even for the Dusvet Guardian. Perhaps especially for the Dusvet Guardian."
Drumming his fingers on the table, Ash added in a low voice, "And of my two students, there is only one I would be willing to dispense with. They will need to come with me."
"No. I will not have any following me who did not choose to do so for themselves. Where I go will be too dangerous to demand it of someone unwilling to bear the burden." Almek's expression was uncharacteristically grim.
Ash arched an eyebrow. "You are the Dusvet Guardian. Your word is law. Even more so than an Illaini Magus's word is supposed to be. You need only order it and it would be done."
Almek irritably waved a hand dismissively. "Other Guardians may enjoy wielding such authority. Make potentials feel that the decision to walk the path of serving the Timeless One belongs to the teacher, not to the student. Making a Potential believe they should be grateful for the Guardian finding them. That if they fail to follow their 'destiny' that the world would implode."
The Dusvet smacked the table emphatically. "That is not my belief. The choice should always belong to the student, so their success or failure rests solely with their own desire to succeed. Otherwise, unwilling students taken away from their old lives would become resentful and dangerous."
"The healer master chose to become Guardian Adept?" Ash studied Almek thoughtfully.
Almek nodded. "Taylin is my student because she chose to be, yes."
"And how did you determine she had the ability?"
The Dusvet Guardian did not allow his pleasure at Ash's intense curiosity to reflect outwardly. "I witnessed it for myself. You know successful healing is normally restricted to a time shortly after the injury occurred." Ash flinched, looking away but not before Almek noticed the flash of pain across the younger man's features. "Taylin was able to repair a poorly healed injury that would have killed the child she tended had it been left as it was."
Raising his eyes to Almek's, Ash studied the Dusvet. "You had not witnessed me doing anything, not even simple Forentan magicks. Yet you believe I... potentially... have this ability?"
"Several months ago, you encountered a lupine with one eye." Watching Ash's reaction, Almek continued in even tones. "It had attacked a wagon with several people. Only a small child remained alive. Your apprentice diverted it away from the child." Before Ash could speak, Almek held up one hand. "The creature was not simply a rabid lupine. It was possessed by a creature known as a temporal shifter. A darkling as they are called outside of Fortress."
"A darkling... My master spoke of these things. Most consider them tales to frighten young children into obedience. Figments of the imagination."
"They are hardly tales, Illaini Magus. They are quite real. And only someone who wields temporal energies can impact these creatures." Almek sipped his wine, watching Ash. "I would teach you to harness that strength within you. Coupled with your already considerable strength, you would be stronger than even me."
Ash opened his mouth, then shut it, frowning. "Guardians serve the Timeless One. I already serve the Great Mother." He held up his right hand. The image of twining ribbons of forest green and copper, both metallic as Almek's markings were, briefly appeared before fading from sight again.
Almek closed his eyes for a moment, then said in a low voice, "The Timeless One is one of the Ancient Triad. Serving Her would not conflict with your duties to the Knowing One, but would expand them beyond the narrow focus of Forenta's borders."
Ash grimaced. "Her wisdom should never have been confined to only our land. It was meant to guide everyone to fulfill their life's purpose."
Before Ash could continue speaking, a tall man in black barged into the room. "Illaini Magus," he stated with a cold, lofty attitude. "Se'edai Magus Ysai Oberlain has received word that—" He looked at Almek, his words faltering as he paled. Less confidently, he continued. "You are forbidden from speaking with the Guardian. Forenta's sovereignty comes before the outdated traditions of kowtowing to outsiders."
"She forbids, Oberlain?" Ash leveled a hard look on the man. "She believes her authority supersedes that of the divine laws themselves?"
"The Se'edai Magus is the supreme authority of Forenta," the thin man stated flatly. "Fortress and the other nations are beneath our notice."
Ash looked at his palm, rubbing an old, star-shaped scar. "You allow your students to choose, Master Almek." Looking up at the Dusvet, the Illaini Magus stated, "I have chosen. And I can do no less than to emulate you and have my students choose to remain my students or seek other masters." Ash drew his knife and cut his finger, letting the blood pool at the tip. Before Almek could ask his intentions, Ash very deliberately drew a careful glyph onto the table.
Ysai's messenger stared in uncomprehending shock. "What do you think you are doing, Andar?" he demanded. When he grabbed Ash's wrist, he was flung back against the wall, repelled by the magic field.
Ash stated flatly, "By my choice, I bind myself into your service, Almek Two-Tones, Dusvet Guardian of Fortress. I give you my Soul Oath to last until the end of this life and beyond."
"You fool! Do you have any idea what you are doing?!" the messenger demanded. His advance stopped short after a step, backing away from the dark look in Ash's eyes.
"If you had any family, they would all be punished for your disobedience," he spat. "The Se'edai will hear of this." With the dire promise, he turned and left.
Almek's eyes were wide as the depth of the spell sank in, feeling the ethereal tie solidify between them. "You have sworn you life to me... Ash, you need not have sworn so strongly to me."
"When dealing with the Se'edai and the rest of the Edai Magi, nothing less than everything will sway them. And this they cannot undo." As Ash completed the glyph, the bloody image hissed as it burned itself into the wood of the table. "My life. My soul. Belong to you, Master Almek."
Chapter 9
THE din in the crowded common room fell to near silence when the Illaini Magus and Dusvet Guardian emerged from the private room. Excusing himself politely, Ash joined his waiting students. Almek had crossed the room and was about to start heading up the stairs when he nearly ran into the bard heading back down.
Almek's eyes lit up with surprised pleasure. "Mureln Nadeesi! Are you a sight for sore eyes!"
Mureln smiled broadly, shocking most of those watching as he laughed and grabbed Almek in a hearty embrace that the Guardian returned. "Almek! I heard rumors through the gypsy clans you were out and about again!" He chided mildly, "But it's just Master Mureln now. You remember Vodani traditions. Masters have no family allegiances. Only the Forentan mages retain their family ties." His disapproving opinion of the Forentan tradition was apparent.
"I can see life has treated you well. And a master of the bardic arts?" Almek smiled faintly. "I would love to speak more with you, but I need to check on my student—"
"Master Taylin will be down shortly." Smiling charmingly at Almek's surprised then scolding expression, Mureln held up both hands. "I was a perfect gentleman with your pretty student, Almek. She just needed a nap after zinging a few idiots." Glancing behind him, he said wistfully, "Lovely and strong."
"Mureln, behave yourself. And don't give me that innocent look. I've known you since you were a boy, and I can tell already you've lost none of the mischief."
The bard affected a comical expression of innocence as he teased, "I am surprised you recognized me at all after all these years." He shifted the mandolin across his back absently. "I was barely a man when we parted ways."
Almek snorted softly, turning to head towards the table that had remained empty since he left it earlier. "Are you thinking I'm age addled, too?"
Mureln's jovial expression dissolved into one of consternation at the uncharacteristic sourness in Almek's voice. "What? No, of course not. But I was still a wet behind the ears bardic student when you first came to Vodanya." The bard put a hand on Almek's shoulder. "Who dares to call you age addled? I'll take my mandolin up side their heads. Every last one of them."
The dire promise brought a wan smile to Almek's lips, the Guardian shaking his head. "No, no. It would be a pointless waste of a good instrument and their heads are too hard for it to do any good."
"I'd feel better," Mureln muttered like a petulant child, making Almek chuckle. Pleased to have lightened the Dusvet's soured mood, Mureln waved to one of the serving girls as they sat. He looked up as his companions rejoined him, brushing their hands on their hips. "Almek, meet Emil and Emaris of the Morlaiz clan. They've been my traveling companions for... what? Ten years now?"
Emil made a sound, waving a hand to the serving girl looking for him where he and Emaris had been waiting. Taking the drink and downing half of it, he shrugged nonchalantly. "We been keepin' 'is arse around t' count th' gold fer us." He wagged a finger at Mureln. "Don't go askin' me t' be doin' yer countin' job. Ain't that right, Emaris?"
The larger man simply nodded mutely, looking Almek over and nodding once in greeting. "Emaris don't be meanin' no disrespect neither, High Guardian. He jus' don't be much fer talkin', ye see." Taking the plate of food the girl brought him, he grabbed his spoon, waving it a bit. "Our boy Mureln, here. He been good t' us. Lots o' gold wi' him around."
Hiding his smile behind his hand as he idly rubbed his white speckled beard, Almek nodded congenially. "It is a pleasure to meet you both. Mureln has always had a way of acquiring... unique companions. If I remember once, there was this pretty girl he—"
Mureln cleared his throat. "No need to bring up the past." Seeing the open curiosity of the other two men, he wagged his finger at them. "Don't."
"Aw, but—!"
"No!" With comic annoyance, Mureln turned an accusatory glare on Almek. "Now see what you've started?!"
"Hm?" Almek asked innocently, eyebrows raised as he lifted his glass to his lips. The old man's eyes drifted across the room to where Ash sat with his two students, studying the interplay he could not hear.
"Dusvet Almek, forgive me. I—" Taylin stopped short when she realized who was sitting with him. "What are you doing here?" she asked incredulously.
"You have met Master Mureln. These are his companions, Emil and Emaris of the Morlaiz gypsy clan." Both men stared at the Guardian in shock. "Don't assume everyone is oblivious to the gypsy roads. Some of my best years were spent traveling with them."
Mureln stood and graciously pulled out the empty chair for Taylin, waving invitation for her to sit with grand flourish. Annoyed, she sat, sliding her chair away from the bard and closer to Almek with a sniff.
All eyes were drawn to the Illaini Magus's table when his journeyman shrieked in outrage. "Now there be a happy girl," Emil muttered.
"Apparently, she is not pleased about the Illaini Magus choosing to become my student."
"Student?" Taylin and Mureln echoed in surprise.
"Almek, this is unusual, even for you. Taking on masters as students is one thing, but more than one student at a time?" Leaning forward, Mureln whispered, "And one who is god-chosen?"
"You remember what I taught you when you were still my student, Mureln." Almek made a dismissive gesture. "Follow your gut instinct and you will find what you need and be where you need to be."
"This is more than just following your gut. Even I can tell that much." Mureln tore his eyes away from the small scene the girl was causing. Even other Forentan were casting disdainful, disapproving looks over towards the blond woman. "It would explain my restlessness for the past while."
Emil looked up from his meal, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "An' here I thought ye just needed t' get laid." Mureln snorted, smacking the back of Emil's head. "Hey! What?" Looking between Almek and Mureln, the man rolled his eyes. "Oh, shards, ye still need to get laid, don't ye? I thought ye were goin' t' get with this pretty— Hey!" he exclaimed when the bard smacked him again, oblivious to Taylin's cheeks turning bright red. "Don't be gettin' on me about th' lack up here. Ye know these tree flowers got their legs clamped tighter than a noble's fingers on 'is coin." Emaris paused in his eating to belch loudly, earning Emil's attempt to outdo him.
"I can't take either of you anywhere civilized," Mureln lamented, waving a dismissive hand at the rough Sevmanen pair. He did not even look at Taylin as she averted her gaze and focused on her drink. Mureln looked grim. "Seriously, Almek... what is going on?"
"I am not sure," Almek confessed. "But there are precious few who seem to sense the wrongness that I have glimpsed. The other Guardians barely give me the consideration they used to give. Sometimes it feels as though they simply humor me, but ultimately ignore me." Draining his glass, he said simply, "I went to the Timeless One to share Her vision."
Mureln jerked, his back stiff as he stared at Almek. Even Emil and Emaris went still, looking between the two men in silence, though they looked more confused than shocked. "You did... what?"
Almek did not bother to repeat himself, knowing the bard heard him perfectly the first time. "Even She could not clearly see, but She confirmed what is out there is not my imagination. But whatever 'it' is, it is beyond ancient." He met Mureln's eyes. "And She is afraid." In a quieter voice, the Dusvet pointed out, "You were my student once many years ago, Mureln."
"You know I did not choose my bardic training o
ver that of a Guardian because..." Mureln's words drifted off, his expression the depths of apology and worry. The words began tumbling out of his mouth in a rush. "I just... I could not have lived without the music. Its call was so strong."
"Mureln," Almek stated emphatically to get him to stop speaking. "I never blamed you for your decision. If you need forgiveness, you were forgiven long ago." Shaking his head, Almek's expression changed. "It may well be that whatever is out there... will require Guardians with gifts beyond what has always been accepted." He took a long drink, unhappy. "I blame our own pride. If there have been potentials who have had an equal measure in other gifts, then there was a reason. If Guardians were turning a blind eye to that, then we failed in their duties."
The bard looked troubled. "I had always believed Guardians to be infallible. To have the clearest of visions and purest of purposes. Not be petty and political like so many others are."
"Then that corruption is a sign. Or it is something else. But regardless, it is a failure on my part for being blind to it for so long myself. But that is the past." He looked at Mureln. "It is now for me to try to mend things before they fall apart completely. I fear," Almek closed his eyes and said quietly, "that it has grown beyond what I alone could manage." The Guardian extended a hand to the bard. "I asked you to be my student once, but the bardic call was stronger. Now you have mastered your art, and your Sight is still strong. I ask you again... would you accept me as your teacher?"
"Almek, you were like a father to me when I was a boy." Mureln clasped Almek's offered hand in both of his, as if trying to impart his sincerity. "You do not even need to ask. I would share your path into the depths of all the hells, as your student or just a friend. Though I'm afraid these lugs will be tagging along."
Almek smirked and shook his head, then looked at Emil and Emaris. Before he could say anything, Emil said, "Don't be lookin' at us like that. We goes where Mureln goes." The wiry gypsy smiled wickedly. "Besides, bet there be some fine money t' be made down in the hells. All them idiot nobles stuck on 'emselves gotta be there."