by Jean Lorrah
“Of course.”
“Pyrrhus, call Wicket. You two work best as a team-I don’t want you separated anymore. Julia will take her lessons here, with me. Until the child is born, let us offer Aradia the best protection we can.”
That night, Aradia dreamed again of her daughter, the young woman with the beautiful face, until she opened eyes filled with hatred.
This time she said, “Mother, I am taking your powers, just as you stole your own mother’s, for I am ready to be born, rightful ruler of the Savage Empire.
“You cannot fight me. Without your powers, you are nothing. You are going to die, Aradia-diel”
Aradia woke to Devasin’s touch on her forehead, and in moments Lilith was there. It was light in the room-the sun was up.
The two women soothed Aradia. “She said I was going to die,” Aradia sobbed, hating her weakness but unable to control it.
“Hush,” said Lilith. “It was only a dream. You’re not going to die. Your friends are here to protect you.”
Devasin and Lilith helped Aradia get up and dressed, but she was still shaking. “Here,” said Devasin, “just lie back on the lounge now. I’ll open the curtains to the courtyard, so you can enjoy the fresh air while I get your breakfast.”
But before Devasin reached the door, Julia was there with a tray. “I brought your breakfast, Aradia.
Didn’t you Read me telling you?”
“Read-?” Aradia tried, panic stabbing as she opened to Reading and met… nothing! “Julia-let me Read through you, please.”
“Of course.”
There was still nothing. “I can’t Read. She is taking my powers.”
“Who is?” asked Julia.
“My baby!” Aradia answered furiously. “She said she would take away my powers and kill me-just as I did to my mother!”
“Oh, my lady, no!” exclaimed Devasin. “You did no such thing, and you mustn’t think it of your poor little baby.”
Shuddering, Aradia forced herself under control. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I must not let dreams affect me that way.”
“Eat your breakfast,” Lilith said gently. “It won’t be long now-only a few more days.”
But the food had no appeal. Aradia managed only to drink her tea. Then she sat with her feet up, looking out at the courtyard, and tried the test she had been putting off.
A tree branch swayed gently in the spring breeze. It should take only a modest Adept effort to make it swing farther on each stroke. She applied the effort. The branch continued to move exactly as it had before.
Aradia looked toward the candelabra, and willed fire. A child’s trick.
Nothing happened.
Lilith saw where she was looking. “Aradia…”
“It’s gone, Lilith. I’m helpless.”
Lilith took her hand. “It’s temporary. All your energies are going into producing a healthy child. Try to sleep some more. Then maybe you’ll be able to eat.”
“No-just give me some more tea.”
Lilith poured her another mug from the pot Julia had brought, reheating it with Adept power. Yesterday I could have done that for myself, Aradia thought morosely.
Master Clement came a little later, to reassure her that her baby was fine. Of course the baby was fine! It was Aradia who was weakening, dying.
The Master Reader frowned. “Aradia, you mustn’t think that way.”
“Oh, no,” she whispered, hot tears stinging her eyelids. “I cannot even shield my thoughts anymore.”
“Oh, child,” he began, “if you can just think of…” He broke off, eyes unfocused for a moment, and she knew he was Reading something. Then he looked at her, and his ancient face crinkled into a grin.
“Aradia! Lenardo is home!”
“Home?” she cried, grasping his arm to sit up. “Where is he?”
“No, no-he’s not in Zendi. But he and Wulfston have landed safely at Southport, taken on supplies, and started up the coast toward Dragon’s Mouth. They’ll be here within two days!”
“Lenardo-safe! I’ve worried so about you. And Wulfston-oh, little brother, I’ve missed you, too.
Please, Master Clement, send them my message.”
“Already done,” he assured her. “Now, with that good news, surely you can eat something. I will have Julia bring you a fresh tray-if she can stop dancing for joy long enough to carry it.”
Julia sparkled with happiness. “Father will be here soon-and by tomorrow he’ll be in range for Reading!” Then, “Oh-I’m sorry, Aradia.” Somehow, her apology didn’t sound sincere. Perhaps she was just too happy to be sorry for anything.
So was Aradia. She just smiled at Julia, and found that food suddenly tasted delicious.
After she ate, she felt sleepy. In the courtyard, Master Clement, Julia, Decius, Pyrrhus, and Wicket were talking. “Go join them, Lilith,” she said. “I’m falling asleep, and certainly the group of you can protect me from twenty paces away!”
To warm thoughts of Lenardo’s being home for the birth of his daughter, Aradia drifted off to sleep.
And dreamed.
She saw herself, on this very couch. Out in the courtyard, her friends shared stories of Lenardo and Wulfston with Pyrrhus and Wicket. Wicket leaned back after a time, staring over at Pyrrhus, but he didn’t say anything.
The dream turned to the disorienting sensation of looking down at her own distorted body. Did she really look that terrible, lips and eyelids puffed, jaw slack?
She was dead!
In the dead woman’s womb, the child squirmed. It was dying-and its pain communicated to the Readers in the courtyard.
Everyone dashed to Aradia’s room. “She’s dead!” exclaimed Master Clement. “But the child is alive.
Lilith?”
“I’m trying-her heart won’t beat. What are we to do?”
“Save the baby!” said Julia.
“Keep the child alive, Lilith,” said Master Clement. “Pyrrhus, give me your sharpest knife.”
He slit her clothing, then her flesh, lifting the living child from the dead mother. The babe gasped and wailed like a normal child-and then suddenly opened hate-filled eyes and stared at the Master Reader.
“I have won, Clement,” she said in the voice of a woman grown. “Now I have both powers-and as Lenardo’s daughter I will rule at last! How fitting that I rule the Savage Empire!”
Aradia woke, feeling death in her veins. There was poison in her blood! But it came from her womb, where harbored that thing of evil, seeking its revenge.
She might die, but she would take that creature with her.
Fighting for every movement, Aradia rolled off the lounge onto her knees, crawled to the chest which held her clothes, and dragged herself to her feet.
Outside, Aradia could hear the murmur of conversation, but she did not let her attention wander. No Reader must know what she was doing until it was done.
Hanging on the wall over the chest were spears, swords, and knives. Aradia chose a large, sharp blade.
She could barely lift her arms to take it from its scabbard. Finally, though, she fumbled it into position. It must impale the child. If only she could Read how it lay…
In the courtyard, Wicket’s voice rose above the others. “Pyrrhus, what are you using Adept power for?”
“Adept power? I’m not-” And then a shout, “Blessed godsl” and it was as if someone grasped Aradia’s arms, pulling them up and away as she tried to plunge the knife into her womb.
“No!” she wailed, struggling. “I must kill her! She’ll kill us all!”
But Pyrrhus and Wicket were on either side of her, prying the knife from her hands.
“She’s been poisoned!” exclaimed Master Clement. “Lilith! Pyrrhus! Decius!”
Healing fire flowed through Aradia’s body, purging her blood. Pyrrhus and Wicket caught her as she collapsed, and laid her on her bed. She fought to remain conscious.
“The baby?” Lilith asked anxiously.
“Unharmed,” said
Master Clement. “Someone protected the child while the poison worked on Aradia.
Thank the gods you saw her, Pyrrhus!”
“If Wicket hadn’t said I-“Pyrrhus went pale, and put his hands over his face. “I was protecting the child!” He lowered his hands, eyes burning. “Someone used me. Clement-”
“Portia,” Aradia and Master Clement said with the same voice.
“In Aradia’s baby?” exclaimed Lilith.
“Yes!” said Aradia. “Kill her, Lilith! Use your powers-kill her now!”
“No, Lilith!” Master Clement ordered.
“Why?” Pyrrhus’ voice grated with fury as he stepped forward.
“Pyrrhus, please,” begged Aradia. “Kill her!”
“No!” Master Clement said again.
Wicket threw an arm across Pyrrhus’ chest to pull him back, as if his physical strength could affect Adept power.
“Portia is not in the child!” the Master Reader continued. “Wicket-Read with me. Tell Pyrrhus Aradia is wrong!”
“She’s there!” Aradia insisted, tears of weakness sliding down her cheeks. “She’s killing me-can’t you see? Does she control you all?”
“It’s just a baby,” said Wicket. “Pyrrhus, it’s an innocent little girl. Please trust Master Clement. Don’t harm a child!”
“They’re lying!” said Aradia. “She’s fooled them.”
“No!” said Master Clement. “I know Portia. She is here… but she is not in Aradia’s baby.” Suddenly he demanded, “Who poisoned Aradia?” Glancing at the abandoned tray on the chest, he said, “The tea-there is poison in-”
He whirled, scarlet cloak flaring, and Aradia saw Julia behind him.
Lenardo’s daughter had not joined the circle around Aradia’s bed. She looked up at the Master of Masters in round-eyed innocence-but there was something about those eyes.
“Oh, blessed gods!” the girl cried. “She used me, too. She made me poison Aradia!” But there was not a single note of sincerity in the performance.
“That’s not Julia!” Wicket said in a horrified whisper. Why would Portia poison Aradia?” Pyrrhus flung off Wicket’s arm and stalked Julia, who did not back off. “Why did you? I can see you, Portia, even if I can’t Read.” He smiled-the smile Aradia had not seen since he had first come to Zendi, colder than the freeze Portia had brought upon their lands.
Julia’s young face responded with an equally cold smile, her eyes empty of warmth and humanity. “Go ahead, Pyrrhus-kill the daughter of the Lord of the Land. Lenardo is on his way home now. When he arrives, you can explain why you killed me!”
Pyrrhus raised his hands, clenching them into fists-but the gesture was one of frustration, not threat.
“No,” he said. “Not because of what might happen to me, but because of Julia. You almost made me harm one child-but I will not. You will never use me again, Portia!”
He put his hands on her shoulders, staring into those cold, dead eyes. “Julia! Julia-fight her! Master Clement, help Julia.”
“He is,” said Wicket. “So are you, Pyrrhus-Julia’s there! She’s afraid. Come on, Julia:-you can do it!
Fight her off! Portia’s got no right to take over your life! Fight her-”
Cowering in a shadowed corner of her own mind, Julia huddled in terror as Portia controlled her body.
She could hear Pyrrhus and Wicket, but could not respond.
I don’t deserve to live. I got Galerio killed! I tried to kill Aradia and her baby!
“No, Julia-you were used,” Master Clement told her. “Portia played on your strengths and weaknesses, turned your courage against you. Don’t let her do it now, Julia. Fight her-drive her out.”
I cant. I’m evil. I don’t deserve to live.
“Die, Julia!” said Portia, pushing at Julia’s presence.
“Julia!” It was Wicket. “Don’t let that evil woman have your body-remember what she did to people.
To Pyrrhus. She’ll hurt more people if you let her live!”
I can’t fight her-I don’t have the strength.
“Use my strength,” said Master Clement.
“And mine,” said Wicket.
“Mine, too,” added Decius.
Julia rallied, focusing on Portia’s evil. She must not live again! But despite the support from the Readers, she didn’t know how to fight.
Evil laughter mocked her. “You are weak, Julia, lost! Let go now-before I must kill even your consciousness!”
Portia’s poisonous mind pushed blackness at her from all sides. She struggled desperately, but each attempt to push back the void allowed it in from another direction. She was being squeezed into nothingness!
A ray of warmth pierced the void. Like a spring sunbeam, it offered life and hope. She followed, feeling now that it was… love. Master Clement, Lilith, Decius, even Pyrrhus and Wicket were pouring love for her into that void, and buoyed by it she struggled, resisted until she finally felt-
“Father? Father?!”
Her mind leaped eagerly, training on that communion of family, strong and whole and determined.
Before the combined power, Portia fled. Julia’s knees gave way, and Pyrrhus caught her. She opened her eyes. “Where is Father?” she asked.
“On his way,” replied Master Clement. He smiled at her. “Julia, Lenardo is too far away to Read us, even with his great powers. What you felt was not your father’s love. It was your mother’s.”
Tears leaped to Julia’s eyes. She pushed away Pyrrhus’ support, and went to kneel beside the bed, taking Aradia’s hand. “I tried to kill you, and yet you…”
Aradia managed a weak smile. “It wasn’t you, Julia, any more than it was me trying to kill my baby. As soon as I understood what Portia had done, how could I help lending what strength I have?”
“Sleep now, Aradia,” said Lilith.
“Yes,” Aradia agreed, drifting off.
Julia stayed where she was, Reading turmoil among the other Readers.
Pyrrhus said, “Portia won’t give up that easily. Now that she has escaped from the plane of lost souls…”
Master Clement said, “We must find her, prevent her from taking over someone else.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to look very far,” said Wicket.
“What?” asked Master Clement. Then, “She might…”
Pyrrhus stared at Aradia. “Wicket,” he demanded, “Read the baby!”
Julia raised her head with a start. “That’s why she made you protect the baby until she thought she had me! She would have had power right away, because I’m almost grown up. In a baby she would have to wait for her powers to manifest.”
“But an infant has no will to fight her,” said Master Clement.
They Read the baby again, finding nothing but a normal, healthy child almost ready to be born. She slept peacefully in her private ocean, emblem of innocence.
“Too obvious,” observed Master Clement.
The hand Julia held tightened almost imperceptibly, and she perceived a thrill of wicked glee.
Leaping up, she said, “Portia’s in Aradia! She knew we’d Read the baby, so when Aradia went to sleep she entered her mind.”
“She’s been in all our minds,” said Pyrrhus.
“While we slept,” said Lilith. “That is when she implanted her commands-and caused Aradia’s dreams.”
“Lady Lilith,” said Pyrrhus, “I’m afraid she has learned to manipulate Adepts who cannot Read at any time, hiding from Readers behind our shields. ‘
“That is why our Readers could not discover her,” said Master Clement.
“Protect Aradia physically,” Pyrrhus advised Lilith. “I do not think she can manipulate you while you are using your powers.”
“If she seeks to return permanently, the child is her only refuge now that we know her intentions,” said Master Clement. “Julia, Decius, Wicket-defend the baby. Pyrrhus, lend them strength. Portia must act now, before Lenardo adds his strength to ours. She is desperate-and very dangerou
s.”
“As dangerous as the Ghost King,” said Lilith. “We always thought those stories were pure legend.”
“The Ghost King was defeated. We will defeat Portia as well,” said Master Clement as he lay down on the lounge by the window. He would have to fight Portia beyond the body, as she was beyond it.
Julia, Decius, Wicket, and Pyrrhus sat on the floor, joining hands. The three who could Read consciously
“borrowed” and guided Pyrrhus’ power, forming a mental barrier against Portia.
Even so, Portia’s strength of will almost overpowered them before Master Clement’s mind touched theirs.
Portia retreated.
Evil laughter taunted them. “Clement, you have grown old and dull-witted! Why should I take this child?
You would simply kill her-and I would move on, take someone else, or remain out of body. But perhaps I should take her over, merely to force you to kill Lenardo and Aradia’s child!”
Her presence made another feint at the babe in Aradia’s womb, but this time it did not test their strength.
“I do not underestimate you, Portia,” said Master Clement. “How could I, when you managed to follow Torio through the planes of existence?”
“That fool! Oh, he took pains that I should not follow him to the plane of the dead and thence back to this world-but he never thought that I would backtrack along the path he followed on his way to the plane where we met!”
“However you did it,” replied Master Clement, “you must go back now to the plane of the dead-and this time I will see that you pass beyond the portal.”
“Oh, no. I like it here. I can control people, kill my enemies, enter anyone’s body I please to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh, and escape onto the planes of existence when I encounter opposition. And no one can stop me-not you alone, Clement, and not any pitiful circle you can muster, no matter what powers they claim!”
Master Clement ignored her boasting. “Portia, I will guide you.” His mental presence urged Portia’s.
Julia, never having experienced anything like this, had no idea what Master Clement was trying to do, and neither did Wicket, who was trying to explain to Pyrrhus what they Read.
“He’s trying to force her to another plane,” Pyrrhus interpreted. “One Master Reader can’t do that alone, especially not to another Master Reader!”