by West, Shay
“I can't help it, Master Brok! Taking the power, feeling it all through you….” He shuddered. “I'm sorry.” Jon buried his face in his hands.
“It's alright, boy.” Brok tried to make his voice sound light-hearted and sure. It was no easy thing to resist the urge to use the dark power. It was difficult to go back to relying only on the power within yourself to perform spells; it paled in comparison to what could be taken from other life. Jon deserved to know the truth. “Jon, listen to me.” Brok pushed the boy away from his chest and gripped him by the shoulders. “It's not alright. I need to show you the consequences of the power you wield when it is taken from others.” He pointed to a blackened area where the boy had been standing as he wielded the power. “By taking the life force from everything around you, you may end up destroying it. Sometimes, the life is only injured and can recover from the loss. But not always.” Brok looked at the blackened area sadly.
Jon's eyes widened and his skin paled. “But when I performed the magic in the enchanted pools, nothing like this ever happened. None of the guests were harmed, and there isn't any plant life around. So how was I able to do the magic?”
“I do not know.” Brok shook his head. “Did the Queen have you stand always in one spot?” He continued after seeing the boy nod. “She may have had slaves or prisoners in a room beneath you. You were drawing on their life force without ever being aware you were doing so.”
Jon turned to the side and retched. What have I done? “The Queen told me the symbols carved there would enable me to draw power.” The boy fell to his knees.
“You do not have to touch the power, Jon. It will not be easy to resist, but you must,” Brok said.
“Do we have to tell the others?” His face was pale.
“They might be able to help you.”
Jon sighed miserably. “I will tell them.”
The two headed back to camp, the moons providing enough light to find their way. The insects were out in force, filling the night air with their strange music. The others were sitting in a loose circle, listening to the nightly choir. Moira was keeping them entertained, trying to catch firebugs.
Jon sat in an empty spot next to Saemus and began to tell his tale, and soon the words poured out faster and faster. This was the first time he had spoken about what had happened, and once the flood gates were opened, there was no stopping it.
“Some men grabbed me while I slept. They gagged and tied me up, telling me that no harm would come to me if I cooperated. Once I was at the palace, the Queen told me that if I worked for her, she would teach me magic, dark magic.” Jon paused, glancing at his fellow Chosen, gauging their reactions.
Keera chewed a red curl and started at him with a furrowed brow; Kaelin refused to even look at him; Saemus was frowning as though wishing he had a quill and ink to write the account down. Gwen was the only one looking at him with an expression that he could describe as understanding.
“I began learning how to use the dark magic. I didn't even know I could do it till I tried. The Queen watched me every time I did a spell with this little smile of triumph. She wouldn't tell me why I was taken. But I overheard her talking to one of her handmaids and she said that I was special somehow, and that she was adding me to her collection.”
“Adding you to her collection? As if you were a vase or something,” Gwen said.
“Didn't you try to escape?” Keera asked.
“She had me locked in my room when I wasn't learning spells and performing in the pools.” Jon blushed, remembering that they had all seen him in next to nothing. “And I was never left unguarded.”
“Well, just don't be practicing that dark magic around me!” Keera said.
“He's not going to. He knows the danger. It's not like he had any choice in learning it. The Queen made him,” Gwen said.
Keera sniffed and crossed her arms. “He just better not use it, is all I'm saying.”
“I think that's enough for tonight. Try to get some sleep. I will take first watch, Saemus, you have second, and Keera, you take third,” Brok said.
Saemus groaned. Second watch was hardest. He feared sleeping and not waking at the correct time to relieve the person on first watch, and then having a difficult time falling asleep for what was left of the night when the watch was over.
Brok ordered everyone to their blankets. He sat on a log, facing north. Every now and again he let his senses range out in a full circle, to see if anyone was near. As was often the case on watch, he thought of home, the mission, the Chosen, the Mekan threat that he knew was coming closer and closer. He allowed his thoughts to stray, certain in the knowledge that no one was following.
* * *
The man sneered at the old man's feeble touch. I am so close and yet he is completely unaware of my presence. He held Mystics, and others like them, in contempt. Who were they to decide using dark magic was wrong? He could do things no Mystic had ever dreamed of.
He had decided many days past to follow the old man and the young ones rather than take them back to Siswae for the Queen's justice. He wanted nothing more than to storm in and make the entire group submit to his will. His cheek muscles twitched as he remembered well his treatment by the old Mystic Faerow. And then there was Jon. Fa' Vel smiled when he recalled the first time the young man had come into his tavern. The dark magician had been able to sense the boy's propensity to touch the forbidden power lurking just below the surface.
There were many secrets attached to this group of people. I will follow them until they lead me to the answers I seek. Fa' Vel's onyx eyes seemed to glow of their own accord in the darkness. The scar running from cheek to chin pulled his mouth into his accustomed leer.
* * *
The next day dawned cool and crisp. A thin layer of frost covered the ground, sparkling in the sunlight, but it soon melted in the first rays of the sun. Birds began chirping, singing their welcome to the new day.
Keera yawned and shivered as she added wood to the fire. She stretched and trudged to the nearby creek to fill the water skins and splash ice cold water on her face, scrubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Keera stifled another yawn as she stood. As she turned to leave, she spied a footprint in the mud on the far bank of the creek. It looked fresh. Her heart pounded as she backed away. She was afraid to turn around, sure that someone would come springing out of the brush to snatch her.
She woke Master Brok. He jumped up quickly and followed her to the spot where she had seen the footprint. He splashed through the creek and bent down to examine the print. A man made it. They could find no other prints anywhere around, which made Brok very nervous. What manner of man leaves only one print? He asked himself. The kind that is erasing them and forgets one. He let his senses flow out and did not sense anyone. He and Keera went back to camp where he set the students to saddling the horses.
Brok worried about the one footprint in the mud on the bank of the creek. His senses told him that there was no one about and yet here was evidence that someone was near. The Mystic's mouth suddenly went dry as he looked at Jon, rubbing Piper's nose as he bridled him. Perhaps whoever is out there can hide from my magic.
Dare I ask him to use the dark magic?
Brok sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Do I even have that right? He had told the boy never to use it and yet here he was considering asking Jon to risk losing the very essence of himself in what could quite possibly be a wild goose chase.
What about having the twins try? The Chosen looked up as Brok came near. “Keera spotted a lone footprint in the mud along the creek bank, not far from here.”
They were all ready to get moving, hoping they could shake off the pursuer. Gwen had argued that if the Queen's guards or someone else in her employ had made it, they most certainly would have come to the camp and attempted to arrest them all. Saemus had countered that if it had been a lone guard, he may have been reluctant to take on all seven of them, and be on his way to get help.
“I was unable to d
etect anyone in a ten mile radius, or more,” Brok said. “But the person who made the print may be beyond my reach. Or,” Here he paused. “They could be using dark magic to hide their presence from me.”
“What do we do?” Jon asked.
“I need the twins to try to locate the person responsible for making the track. I have already searched and can detect nothing. Perhaps their combined powers can do what I cannot,” Brok said.
Saemus grabbed his sister's hand. He reached down inside himself, grabbing hold of the power. He felt his sister do the same. Without really understanding how, he pushed the power toward the arm that gripped his sister's hand, his power winding around hers, amplifying what each could do alone.
Saemus took charge, as he always did, and sent the power as far as he could go. His magical senses touched on animals and birds. After a few minutes, he broke the connection with Kaelin.
“I didn't sense anyone, Master Brook.”
Brok nodded his head, another possibility pushing its way to the forefront of his mind.
I cannot ask him to do it.
* * *
“Best eat quickly. We need to be in the saddle again soon,” Brok said.
He meant to take a boat, from one of the villages near the shore, and sail across the Sea of Solace for Saguach Port. The sea could be temperamental during cold weather. He had the barest of sailing skills and would need to hire someone who knew what they were doing.
Jon and Saemus put out the fire, burying the embers beneath layers of dirt. Jon seemed a new man. Where once he would have avoided the others in the group, he now could not get enough of their company.
The call of the dark magic was strong. Jon tried his best to ignore the urge to draw on the power, talking incessantly with his classmates, as though their voices would drown out the whispering of the voice insisting it wouldn't hurt to just use it a little bit. Kaelin let him hold Moira, knowing the little creature seemed to help with his mood. Jon wished she would at least look at him or show anything other than indifference at his return.
It's like she doesn't even care.
Jon smothered the thought. It was at times like these that the desire to draw on the forbidden magic was strongest. He ignored Kaelin as best he could and focused on staying close to his other friends.
Brok allowed himself a moment to watch them, filled with love and pride for his Chosen. He hoped that when they finally had to face the Mekans, they would all survive. He could not bear the thought of losing one of his Chosen.
He shook himself, trying to rid his mind of these gloomy thoughts. I have to trust in their destiny, and mine. He saw to the final preparations, and then led the party south and west, toward the coast.
The sun climbed, warming the day. Heavy cloaks came off and spirits rose. They ate in the saddle, stopping to walk and rest their mounts. Weariness set in and they all dozed while they rode. As the sun neared the horizon, the Chosen began to catch the smell of salt water and knew the coast was near. Brok found a well-worn trail leading in the general direction they themselves were heading and followed it, hoping it would lead to a village.
They smelled the wood smoke before coming upon the town. The sun sank below the horizon as the group passed the first buildings, lights blazing in the windows and voices ringing out in laughter and good cheer. Brok took them around the village, keeping far enough away so they were only more shadows in the night.
“Oh, what I wouldn't give for a bath and a soft bed!” Kaelin gazed longingly at an inn. The clank of mugs and the sound of music could be heard through the back door.
“We cannot take the risk. We will camp away from the town, and I will see about securing a boat in the morning,” Brok said.
“I know. But I can still wish, can't I?” Kaelin gave the inn one last wistful glance as they passed.
Brok decided to set up camp in a small stand of trees. Jon and Saemus went in search of wood for a fire while the girls unsaddled the horses. Moira helped, though at first the horses were unsure of what to make of this pink, furry helper. She patted their heads, stroked their manes, purring and trilling.
“I wonder what she's saying to them,” Gwen said.
Kaelin watched the little urgit as she fussed over the horses. “Perhaps she is talking of things that are important to animals; good things to eat, drinking clear, cool water, a good scratch.” She shrugged. “Whatever it is, they seem to like it!” Moira jumped from animal to animal, giving them each her attention for a few moments before moving on. The horses looked amused, tossing their heads; mouths open in silent equine laughter.
Kaelin sighed. “I do wish Master Brok would let us stay at an inn, just for one night. Maybe the queen decided that we were not worth the trouble and gave up the search.”
“Or they are still behind us. I miss the comforts of home too, but not enough to risk getting caught,” Gwen said.
“Or Jon's getting caught?” Kaelin asked.
Gwen stopped. “What do you mean?”
Keera came and stood by her Gwen, ready to jump to her defense if it seemed the other girl meant harm with the innocent-sounding question.
Kaelin was amused at Keera's reaction to the question. She had come to understand about the girl's temper and japes better now. She sometimes wished she were as close with the other girls, so that one of them would come rushing to her defense. They have each other. But I have Saemus. “It's no secret how you feel about Jon, Gwen. Anyone with eyes can see. Have you told him how you feel?”
Gwen gasped in horror. “No! I couldn't bear it if he didn't return the feelings. After all, look what happened when you…” Gwen put her hands to her mouth. “Oh, Kaelin, I'm sorry!”
Kaelin smiled wanly. “I blamed myself for his leaving too, and for his kidnapping. But what I did was for the best. I do not love Jon.”
Gwen sighed. “I just can't tell him how I feel, Kaelin.” She indicated her twisted form. “I am not what a man wants. Men want beautiful women, with curves in all the right places, and long hair, and sweet voices.” She glanced up at the other girl, misery plain on her face. “Men want women like you.” She couldn't keep the bitterness from her voice.
Kaelin did not know what to say to make Gwen feel better. She would not apologize for being born the way she was, just as Gwen should not apologize for being strong in magic.
Keera hugged the dwarf girl. “You will find the perfect man someday, Gwen, you wait and see. He will love you for who you are, not for what you look like.” She gave her friend a mischievous grin. “Besides, if he doesn't, you can always put a spell on him!”
Gwen lightly punched the other girl in the leg. Soon the three were in hysterics, contriving all manner of spells and charms they could use to woo a man.
“Well, one thing is for certain. No man will want any of us until we have had a bath!” Keera laughed.
Kaelin's beautiful onyx eyes shown with glee as she clapped her hands. “Oh girls, I have just had the most marvelous idea!”
“Well, spill it!” Keera demanded.
“There's a stream nearby. We can bathe there.”
Keera rolled her eyes. “Take a bath in cold water? I'd rather do dirty.”
“We can use the power to warm the water,” Kaelin said.
Keera opened and closed her mouth a few times. “Why didn't we think of that before?”
“Who cares? We thought of it now! Let's ask Master Brok,” Gwen said.
Gwen followed the excited girl as best she could on her stunted legs. Moira jumped off Fire's back and scampered alongside Gwen, chittering, sharing in the excitement. Keera tried to match strides with Gwen, but quickly outdistanced her in only a few paces.
Kaelin reached Master Brok first and began to tell him her idea. Gwen looked at Master Brok to gauge his reaction, a flush of excitement spreading through her as she saw him nod in agreement.
“We could all use a bath. We'll go after we finish setting up camp,” Brok said.
They headed for a nearby stream.
There were several areas where the water had pooled near the banks. The light of the moons was enchanting, adding to the excitement. Fire bugs danced amongst the brush and grasses, like the stars had come from the night sky to play. Brok dug into his pouch and found two small cakes of soap and gave one to the girls. The three chose a pool that afforded them some privacy.
“Ready?” Kaelin asked, grinning from ear to ear.
The other two nodded.
“Tepidus aequora.”
All three spoke the words and directed their power to the pool. They kept the flow going until steam rose from the water. Kaelin, Gwen, and Keera stripped hurriedly and slipped into the luxurious warmth. For a moment, the only sounds were the contented moans and sighs as the pressures of the last few weeks disappeared from tense limbs. The girls passed around the soap and scrubbed from hair to toenails.
Kaelin exited the water and grabbed all of their clothes off of the bank. She sucked in a breath as her skin pebbled in goose pimples. “I thought we should wash our clothing too. I cannot abide clean skin covered in filthy clothes.”
“And no one wants to walk back to camp to retrieve fresh ones!” Gwen laughed.
“The boys would jump clean out of their skin to see us running about the campsite naked!” Keera's green eyes shone with mirth. It was just the sort of thing she would do to get a rise out of someone, or embarrass them.
The water was cooling off rapidly. The girls scrubbed their clothing and reluctantly exited the pool. As they stood shivering on the bank, they heard Master Brok shouting to them from around the bend.
“Time to be heading back, girls!”
“Almost finished, Master Brok!” Gwen yelled.
“Siccus.”
The water spilled from their clothing, leaving the garments clean and dry. The girls dressed quickly and made their way back to camp.
“What is that?” Keera pointed to the moons, Ayo and Ayi. Surrounding them both was a perfect ring of ethereal light. Kaelin and Gwen stopped in their tracks, mouths gaping as they stared at the sky.