by Ben Hale
"It means they are declaring war," he replied quietly. Across the distance he gave a nod to Kerok, who bobbed his head in response.
"Let's go," Hawk said. "They need to take care of their dead. We can talk outside."
"What about the ones still controlled by the Dark?" Rox asked.
Tess followed Hawk’s gaze. Four Harbingers and one rock troll growled and snapped like wild animals. They strained against their bindings even as more was added to hold them.
"The trolls will see to them," Hawk said.
"Will they get better?" Tess asked.
"I . . . don't know," Hawk said. "But we must leave them. Kerok will keep me apprised."
Tess shuddered. "If they felt what I felt . . .”
"I know," Derek said. "I guess they succumbed."
"Let's go," Hawk said, and ushered them toward the exit.
On the way out Tess noticed that two of the air boards had miraculously escaped unscathed. Rox and Derek grabbed them. Tess stopped on the threshold and looked back. Half of the clan had perished in the conflict, but the fact that they had survived spoke volumes of their skill. If asked, she would have said that two thousand fiends had come through the portal—in the span of minutes.
But Ducalik and the Dark had killed so many more than the fiends. A tremor rippled through her, causing her hands to shake. She took a deep breath and steeled herself, taking solace in the fact that—for now, they had won.
She turned and followed her friends out. Once the cave gave way to the open-topped crevasse, Tess helped her friends fly to the surface. Hawk simply blasted the ground with fire and launched himself up.
Tess landed on the desert floor. Still warm from the day's heat, it did not match the temperature of the air. She drew from the stone to warm herself and cast her gaze skyward. A half moon and thousands of stars twinkled above, lighting the expanse of emptiness. Broken only by a massive rock arch and great pillars of stone, the vista felt dark and somber.
Hawk landed beside her, but raised his hand to forestall her comment. Instead he turned to Rox. "Your father is alive, Roxanne. He should be getting back to Auroraq about now."
Rox released an explosive breath, and then bombarded Hawk with questions. While they spoke about her father, Tess turned to Iris.
"Hey, how did you speak into my mind back there?"
"Human thoughts are signals like anything else," she replied. "If I know a person well enough, I can usually pick up on stray thoughts. Skilled techno mag's can have whole conversations with each other. I figured since you were the oracle, you might be able to hear me."
"Whatever it was, thank you," Tess said. "You told me exactly what I needed to hear."
Iris gave a high tinkling laugh, and then stepped away to answer a pair of distant queries. Hawk took her place.
"You have a good friend that found me," Hawk said. "And you have him to thank for my arrival. He's safe, don't worry," he added. "He was just tired from getting to me. I sent him home with Breaker."
Tess felt a wave of relief. She hadn't realized how much she missed Stel. Then Derek rose out of the crevasse and floated toward them. He jumped off his air board and landed beside her. Then he wrapped his arms around her.
"You did good, Tess," he said.
She could hear the smile in his voice as she hugged him back. "You too, Derek." She swallowed at the memory of how close it had come. Then she pulled away.
Hawk turned to the group. "You four should be commended," he said solemnly. "Very few mages would have had the strength to survive this battle." He issued a troubled sigh and swept his hand at the large plateau that contained the troll village. "We have a bigger problem, though."
"How can it be a bigger problem?" Derek asked. He was tightening a bloody bandage on his arm.
Hawk raised his hand and began to tick issues off. "One, we have been tracking the Harbingers for some time, and knew they were after something big.
"Two," he said, raising a second finger. "We know the Harbingers are comprised of powerful and high-ranking mages—and aurens, meaning they might have the people to take over the Magtherian completely."
"But we knew all that," Iris said.
"That was the problem I thought we faced," Hawk said.
"And now we face this . . . darkness?" Tess asked.
Hawk's brow furrowed. "The fact that the Harbingers opened the portal today tells me they don't mean to use the Sword as a threat. They will open it again."
"That will just release Ducalik," Rox said. "And the Dark."
"But they won't use the Sword again until next spring," Derek said firmly.
"Not for a while," Hawk agreed. "Opening the portal takes energy. They won't risk sapping more until they can ensure it will remain open."
"How can you be so sure?" Rox demanded.
"Because I was there the last time the portal was opened," Hawk said.
Tess blinked as the realization dawned on her. Hawk wasn't just a phoenix, he was the phoenix, the one that had fought with the allied races in the Second Draeken War.
"Newhawk," Tess and Derek exclaimed at the same time.
He issued a faint smile. "I haven't been called that in a long time."
"I used to love reading about that war," Derek said. "I never thought we would have to relive it. But I don't remember a Ducalik character—or his shadow."
Hawk frowned. "As for Ducalik, I have never heard of him, but the way he spoke and the tattoos on his body give us a clue."
"What do the tattoos mean?" Iris asked.
"His speech was the common language of that period, and his marks were barbarian in nature. Prior to The Second Draeken War, the barbarians would mark themselves to define events. Everything from positions of leadership, to punishments were inscribed on their bodies. The marks on Ducalik were that of Warrior, Chief, Betrayer, and Servant. I can only assume the last refers to Draeken himself. Otherwise he would never have been on the other side of the portal."
"Didn't the ancient barbarians use body magic?" Derek asked, cocking his head to the side.
"They did," Hawk said, and his eyes darkened, "but I never saw one do that."
Tess felt a needle of fear pierce her chest. She had never seen Hawk so worried, but the glint in his eyes was unmistakable.
"And the next time the portal is opened . . .?" Rox asked.
"Ducalik will try again," Hawk said.
"So he is someone we need to learn about," Derek said.
"He is someone we need to fear," Hawk corrected.
Chapter 36: The White Mage
The next week was a blur of studying, exams, and escaping to the sky. By unspoken accord they spoke little of what had happened, and all of them focused on their studies. Even Iris had appeared somber. Then Tess received the note. In a brief, almost annoyed statement, it summoned her to a presenting. An hour later she stood with Hawk and her friends outside the inscribed doors.
"We'll be here when it's done," Hawk said.
Tess nodded to him, her emotions too strong to voice. It had been less than a week since the battle with the rock trolls, yet the memory remained bright in Tess's mind−the smell of blood, the sounds of death, and the image of fire. Then there was the Dark, and her fear . . .
She shivered and blinked it away before she could dwell on it too long. They had been triumphant, and that was what mattered. Taking a deep breath, she focused on what lay before her.
How would it be after the truth came out? How would the other students react after her presenting? Would they shun or accept her? Or worse, be afraid of her?
She felt a pang of sadness, and wondered how her life would have been different if she had remained at summer school. She released a small sigh. She knew exactly where she would be, still at a desk, miserable. Whether she faced scorn or adoration after her identify was public, she knew she wouldn't choose to go back to her previous life.
Her thoughts turned to her parents. Like the rest of the billions of aurens they were blissfully unaw
are of what lurked on the other side of a magical portal. Her father would be in some office right now, and her mother would be teaching a class. They had no idea that the Dark was on the verge of devouring the planet.
She squared her shoulders, and reminded herself that she had a chance of saving her family. It was a chance she wouldn't have had if she'd remained.
"I'm ready," she said.
"I don't see what the big deal is," Iris sniffed, her attention elsewhere. "You are just a teenager with the power to cripple nations and destroy armies. It's not like you're going to use it for that."
Tess smiled at her roommate, grateful that they had ended up together. She hugged the distracted girl. Iris blinked and appeared confused, but Tess had already stepped to Derek and Rox. She embraced Rox first.
"Thanks for teaching me to surf," she whispered into her ear. "I hope we can do it again sometime."
They separated and Rox nodded. Then Tess turned to Derek and wrapped her arms around him. For a long moment she clung to the security of his arms, and hoped that someday she would feel as safe as she did in that moment.
"Thanks for standing by me in the dark," she murmured.
His arms tightened on her. "Thanks for saving our lives," he whispered back. Then a smile crept into his voice. "Just remember the impact of a single kiss."
She grinned and they separated. "Good luck," Derek said, and squeezed her hand.
Her bracelet quivered, and she felt a burst of encouragement come from Stel. He extended a small hand and squeezed her finger before molding back into its former shape.
"Thanks, little one," she murmured.
Tess turned and looked at her friends for a long moment, and then stepped toward the grand doors bearing the crest of Tryton's. As she approached they opened of their own accord. She strode through with her head held high. She resisted the urge to look back as they swung closed in her wake. She walked to the center of the chamber and came to a halt.
Circular and high-ceilinged, the presenting hall bore the markings of tradition and regality. The floor was a polished silver, and reflected the deep blue of the ceiling. Directly above, a large crystal hung from the ceiling, and was the only adornment aside from the distinct school banners. The thirteen standards hung behind the directors and were identical in shape, but differed in color, pattern, and insignia.
The directors sat in chairs fashioned of flowing cloth. Each was dressed in the cloaks of their schools, their colors vibrant and unique. Probably by design, their faces were steeped in shadow. Raised above the floor, the men and women looked down on her from behind a smooth wall that circled the room. Carved with swirling runes and shapes, it glowed faintly, casting a spotlight onto Tess at the center of the room.
She'd entered the chamber between the light and sound banners, and faced the black banner that represented the unknowable school. Although the rest of the directors were clearly seated in a circle, a fraction of space separated the black banner from those on either side, implying that there was a measure of separation in the magics they performed.
One of the faceless directors finally spoke, "Have you been informed of the procedure?"
She shook her head. "I have not."
A few nodded as if her answer was expected. Then a different voice spoke, female this time.
"Each of us will look into your energy. If we perceive an ability with the magic of our school, then we will light a beacon to the crystal above. The stronger the talent, the quicker we will light the crystal. If you bear multiple talents, all of them will be displayed inside it. Secondary talents will not be lit."
She bobbed her head in acknowledgment. "Then I am ready."
As one, the thirteen directors gave a single, solemn nod. Tess felt her stomach knot within her for what seemed an endless moment. Then fire and gravity lit their beacons at the same time. Side by side, the beams of colored light stretched from the center of the director's banner to the crystal in the ceiling, filling it with a vibrant purple and red.
An instant later the director of air magic lit hers, and the water director followed suit. Teal and indigo joined the twin beacons illuminating the room. Yellow for light and brown for earth joined the others at almost the same moment. Sound, plant, and animal then dominoed in quick succession. With their colors of orange, green, and dark green, the crystal had become almost blinding with the swirling colors inside.
The silver of music lit next, followed by the gray of body magic. Then the pink of healing beamed to the crystal. Last to go, the black unknowable beacon reached toward the crystal. At its touch the collection of swirling colors began to accelerate. In a burst of brilliant white light, all the magics inside the crystal merged together. Shimmering and pulsing, thirteen colors of light beamed onto its surface from thirteen banners . . . and joined as one.
The rustle of cloth sounded loud in the chamber as every school director rose to their feet. Some shifted as if they were concerned, others appeared stunned to immobility. Then finally one of them spoke.
"It appears that all magics are within your ability," he said, and Tess heard him swallow twice before he was able to continue. "We welcome you to Tryton’s . . . Oracle."
She gave a short bow and left the room amid a storm of whispers.
Chapter 37: Death of an Oracle
Tess managed to get through the next week relatively unscathed because of Iris. An epidemic of inexplicable glitches struck the mage net the moment Tess left her presenting. Among other things, it slowed the spreading of Tess's identity—but even Iris couldn't stop it forever. By the time finals came around the truth was out. On Hawk's advice Tess held nothing back in her exams, and passed her magic courses with ease.
After the last one she hurried to her room, but stayed in the air as much as possible. She threw her things together, hoping to avoid the crowds that had begun to congregate wherever she went. She met her friends in the meal hall to say goodbye, but didn't stay to eat. With her stomach in knots she dodged through the doors and nearly knocked Shorn on his back.
"Er, sorry," Tess mumbled, and tried to step past him.
"Tess," he said, and caught her arm.
Her gaze flew to his, but his expression was apologetic. Stunned, she turned to face him.
"I just wanted . . . to say I was sorry," he said. He shifted his feet and subconsciously scratched at the scar on his hand. "Drake kept saying you would take my place on the team, and I guess I blamed you for it."
"It's okay," Tess said to him, and she meant it. Without the hatred twisting his features he was actually handsome.
He ran his fingers through his hair and looked away. "I guess I'll see you next quad? Drake is already gone, and the team voted me to be the next captain—"
"I . . . I'll think about it," she hedged, and then stepped past him. It seemed like he wanted to say more but she didn't give him the chance. Feigning ignorance, she gathered her bags and launched herself into the air. She didn't stop until she reached the Southpoint Terminous.
As she approached the ground she tried to avoid eye contact with the others in line, but it made no difference. The moment her feet touched the path the nearby students began to whisper. Tess pretended not to notice, but was forced to look when two sets of footsteps approached.
She felt a rush of relief as Breaker and Hawk split the crowd and took up positions on either side of her. Neither of them appeared armed, but their very posture seemed to deter any from approaching. Bolstered by their presence, Tess raised her chin and met the curious or fearful gazes of the other students and parents.
She stared them down until it was her turn to board. Mercifully, Hawk had purchased enough tickets to fill the sphere, leaving them alone as it prepared for takeoff. Breaker remained behind, preventing anyone else from slipping in at the last second. Even as the door closed Tess caught a glimpse of people jostling for a better position to see her. Then the wind began to accelerate and the ball of glass leapt into the sky.
For a while Tess just st
ared at the clouds floating by. Finally she couldn't stand the silence any longer.
"What do they expect from me?" she asked.
"More than you are capable of giving," Hawk said.
The odd answer caused her to turn and face him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Hawk sighed. "As I have said, some want you to bring mages out of obscurity so we can rule the aurens. Others hate the idea of change, and would do anything to prevent you from doing so. Everyone else lies somewhere in the middle. I would even wager there are some that would follow you out of blind allegiance."
"And I can't please everyone . . . can I?"
"No," Hawk replied, "you can't."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
Hawk's gaze was firm. "What is right. For a long time now mages have lived in hiding, but in harmony. We have cured most of the major problems that still plague the aurens. Depending on what you do, we might be able to help them—but not the way the Harbingers intend."
He sighed. "Perhaps it's time we joined our worlds so theirs can be healed. Just know that the change will induce a great deal of instability, causing fear and conflict on both sides. As long as you make decisions based on what is right, you will be fine."
"How exactly will I know what is right?"
Hawk gave a wry smile. "You will know. Human nature includes an innate ability to recognize right and wrong, but oracles seem to have a greater portion of that skill."
"How many oracles have you known?" Tess asked. It was the first time since the battle that she'd asked him about his identity.
He sighed and looked away. "A few," he replied.
"As a phoenix or as a man?" she asked shrewdly.
"I knew one as a firebird, and one as a man. I have known two as a joined one. One of which is you." He inclined his head to her. "From your ancestors—and from what I have researched—I knew of you, and a little of what was coming."
"So you knew Siarra," she said.
"I did," he replied, and his voice was sad, "and she was one of the bravest people this world has ever seen."