Prophecy's Quest

by A. S. Hamilton

  After a long moment of silence, Brynn said simply, 'Thank you.'

  Leyhera gave him a nod, and then returned to their discussion. 'As I was saying, Sariah wanted confirmation of her parents passing. In part, I agreed because it gave me a reason to examine her spirit further. You described it as special, but in my estimation, that is a considerable understatement.'

  His interest in Sariah's spirit caught Brynn's attention. 'That is not a normal part of the training for journey-walkers.'

  'All Falkon-kai heirs have the ability to see spirits without using the planes, it appears to be a gift of our bloodline. Thus, I have had training relating to spirit-sight, as it is called, so when I saw Sariah's spirit, I knew I had come across something unique.'

  'Not unique,' Brynn corrected, 'just not common—'

  Another spasm overcame Brynn, and this time Leyhera got up and knelt by him. 'Just breathe through it, slow and carefully.'

  The pain on Brynn's face suggested that it was more than just a muscle spasm, but the journey-walker realised that it was just as likely Brynn would suffer whether he was in bed or sitting here. They just had to wait them out. After the spasm passed, Leyhera gently rubbed Brynn's side and lower back as he had seen the nurses do. The young mage closed his eyes as the pain eased.

  'That helps, thank you. I have been hesitant to show my pain; the healers and nurses are just as prone to seeing me as the Saviour as everyone else.'

  'They will not mind doing this for you. They explained to me that soft-tissue therapy is just as important as the medicines and rest. That was how I learned to do it. They show all the volunteers.'

  When Leyhera stopped massaging Brynn's back for a moment, Brynn indicated he was happy for the journey-walker to finish and take a seat.

  Once Leyhera had settled himself again, he met Brynn's gaze. 'I am guilty of a small deception in that I made it seem entirely coincidental that I choose ti-esca-in-ati to cook, but I was aware from my first meeting with Sariah that it is her favourite meal. I wanted to observe her while she ate.'

  Now Brynn understood. The strong links to memory the meal had for Sariah gave Leyhera the opportunity to study Sariah's memories without intruding on the barriers her father had set in place to protect her from other mages. Brynn knew that Leyhera would now know that Sariah had no memories of her early childhood. Neither did Sentary. Considering both siblings were currently in the Jagrery base, it was likely that, by now, Leyhera had found Sentary and confirmed this. Leyhera wanted to know why he should not tell both siblings that not only had their memories been tampered with, but that Sariah was not once adopted, but twice adopted.

  Brynn heaved out a weary sigh. 'You know about her memories.'

  'I know everything, now. She… They have a right to know.'

  Brynn stared off into a distant other world as he gathered his thoughts. The journey-walker expressed no discomfort at Brynn's long silence, but then, he was familiar with seers and mages and knew that there were times when they needed to think things through. They needed to figure out the consequences of their actions and the information they chose to pass on.

  Finally Brynn said, 'Sariah will not walk her path alone—'

  'No, she won't, for I will be with her. You see, my mother told me that the path back to my family would be in the shadow of a blind dragon warrior. Sariah may honour the hawk in her armaments, but she is a Ko-renti and they use a yllen-kaan on their crest,' Leyhera said, using the elvan term for the black fire dragon traditionally linked to Ko-renti heritage.

  What Leyhera meant about finding his family had to do with his discovery of The Prophecy. The entire House of Falkon-kai had purposely made themselves disappear, changing names, altering their appearance, leaving the country, hiding any talent that might suggest their training as journey-walkers. For it was known that a Falkon-kai knew who the Saviour was, had seen not just The Prophecy, but knew everyone involved and how they were connected.

  'The House of Falkon-kai 'removed' themselves because of me,' Leyhera's tone was heavy with grief, 'because I cared less for The Prophecy than for whether I could planes-walk to a future beyond the successful outcome of The Prophecy and see it as if it were history and 'walk' it and know it. Only after I succeeded, when I was excitedly telling my parents of my 'achievement', did I realise what they had warned me of, the danger to which I exposed not just myself, but all Falkon-kai.'

  A grievous mistake, indeed, Brynn thought.

  'I was still young, Brynn,' Leyhera continued. 'I still needed my family, but I, the heir of House of Falkon-kai, had, essentially, decimated it. The only hope I have had is that my mother told me to follow the blind dragon warrior when I saw her, for she would lead me to my kin.'

  Brynn could feel how badly Leyhera wanted to reunite with his family. His desire was understandable, but his zeal must not rush Sariah along her path.

  'Sariah may indeed lead you to your kin, Leyhera, but there is knowledge she must 'discover', not be given. As you said, your parents warned you of the dangers of pursuing The Prophecy, but it was not until after you succeeded that the knowledge your parents gave you had meaning.'

  Leyhera looked down at his hands. 'If I tell Sariah what I know, it will not have meaning for her yet and may alter the path that shapes her into being a terrifying foe or a formidable ally.'

  'Even mistakes teach us. Regrets, though sometimes painful, serve the purpose of teaching us to value those choices that contribute to our happiness.'

  The journey-walker forced a smile. 'I will just have reconcile myself with my role in the shadows.'

  Brynn shook his head. 'Oh, no, that is not your future. Without you, Sariah and those connected to her path will lose their way. But, like a parent, you will need to judge the moments when you let them discover and when you give them knowledge. You may have been trained as a journey-walker, but when you succeeded in finding The Prophecy, you took your first step as a planes-walker. If you think seers' lives are complex, complicated does not even begin to describe a planes-walker's life.'

  Leyhera gave Brynn a genuine smile. 'You make it sound so enticing.'

  Laughing Brynn clutched his side. 'Clothe it in light-hearted sarcasm if you like, Leyhera, but you were born to be a planes-walker. Your curiosity may feel like a curse, but it is an asset to the planes-walker and you will value it, in time.'

  Day 29 – Morning

  Jagrery Ranges Rebel Base

  It was early morning when Brynn went to check on Sershja. He still needed the cane to move about, but he found he did not lean on it as heavily. Sershja's white and grey muzzle was buried in the green grasses in one of the meadows of the hidden forested grove that rebel mages created for the animals that helped them fight against Abbarane rule. It was actually quite a large space, surrounded by mountain cliffs and ragged, rocky slopes. But the landscape had been altered to let in as much sunlight as possible and so the area was bathed in golden light.

  Brynn smiled as his friend looked up.

  'You're up early,' the charger greeted.

  'I have something for you.'

  Sershja's ears pricked up and he trotted over.

  'Do you remember that promise I made?'

  Sershja snuffed. 'My apples?' he sent uncertainly, then he saw Brynn's grin slowly widen and he neighed happily as he butted Brynn in the shoulder. 'You brought me apples, didn't you?'

  Brynn laughed as he dodged the charger's horns. 'Careful, I still need the cane for support.'

  Sershja whinnied in apology as he backed away a little. 'I was excited, I'm sorry. I thought you'd brought apples.' The charger's tone was filled with uncertainty again because although Brynn was smiling, he had not moved and Sershja could see that Brynn appeared to have no apples in his free hand or pockets.

  Brynn moved forward and rubbed Sershja nose. 'It looks like your armour is starting to come through,' he observed, referring to the armoured scales dwarven chargers developed over the front of their faces and around their chests and legs. Then, se
nsing the charger's disappointment at the apparent lack of apples, he said, 'Worry not, seeca, I would not break my word.'

  'Now you're confusing me, Brynn. I cannot see any apples!' the charger exclaimed plaintively.

  Brynn laughed again, and then whistled. Keysjhon and Kassan emerged from the trees, each holding a roughly-woven basket filled with apples.

  The fact that not all of them were gold, did not diminish the horse's enthusiasm. Sershja's head moved towards one and then the other, overwhelmed by the choice. Kassan paused, allowing Keysjhon to get ahead and making the decision for Sershja, who almost knocked Keysjhon over as he buried his muzzle in the basket. Apples rolled everywhere as the loosely woven branches of the basket broke. Sershja did not mind, he just followed the apples and munched them up where they fell.

  'Hey, watch it,' Keysjhon warned. 'That's my foot!'

  Treya and Jess noticed the commotion and approached curiously. Realising that Sershja was getting a special treat they paused, not sure if sharing was a part of Sershja's vocabulary today.

  'Sershja?' Brynn prompted.

  The charger barely glanced up as he grunted happily.

  'Do you remember what I taught you about sharing?'

  Sershja looked up, then, and saw his two friends. He whinnied briefly, a signal that they could share his reward.

  Brynn chuckled, patting the horse on the flank. 'You have earned it. Do not give yourself a bellyache.'

  Sershja merely grunted again.

  Kassan leaned against a tree as they watched the horses. 'That was very nice of him. I did not think Sershja would be so willing to share.'

  'Not really,' Keysjhon replied. 'He knows, too well, that Brynn has another two baskets hidden away for him.'

  Kassan laughed. 'That would make it easier.'

  'Besides,' Brynn said, 'I taught him that if he shares now, then those he shares with will share when the windfall is theirs.'

  Day 29 – Morning

  Sal-Cirus

  'What did you do?'

  Toormeena stormed at Ko-rayen, shaking with rage. The pain from her old injuries flared to excruciating levels, but she would not let it stop her from venting her abhorrence at his behaviour.

  Ko-rayen knew Toormeena's reaction was never going to be anything but enraged. At least not until he explained. And even then, she might not forgive him. He was surprised that it was still so strong, he had thought avoiding her for as long as possible might dull the edge of her anger. Besides, he now had Linuk to monitor, at least for the time being.

  'I saved his life,' he replied, keeping his tone neutral. The worst thing he could do, right now, was let his own emotion cloud the air.

  'You what?' Toormeena spluttered. Momentarily lost for words, she shook her head in disbelief. 'You… you saved his life? You speared him with that cursed blade of yours. He is just a child—'

  'He is not just a child, Toormeena,' Ko-rayen calmly interjected, 'he is the Saviour. He is the one who sent you the vision of his victory.'

  Toormeena thumped his chest. 'So that gives you the right to kill him?'

  Ko-rayen resisted taking hold of her wrists, the strikes were not hurting and it would be worse to try and stem her fury. Better to let her release it, she had a right to be upset.

  'As I said, I saved him.'

  This brought the seer to a halt and silence. For a long moment Toormeena tried to figure out what he meant. She did not want to calm down, she was angry, no, she was furious. But Ko-rayen's insistence of the virtuousness of his motivations required logical discussion, which required a calm mind.

  Exhaling sharply through her nose, Toormeena relented. 'You have a very short time to explain in very, very succinct sentences what ridiculous notion makes you think plunging a sword through the Saviour would save his life.'

  'Colnba would have killed him.'

  For a moment, Toormeena thought that was the entirety of his explanation, then she realised what he meant.

  'By wounding him,' Ko-rayen continued, 'and I did judge the strike precisely to miss all his vital organs, Colnba was diverted.'

  Toormeena inhaled, started to speak and then reconsidered, gesturing for Ko-rayen to continue.

  He met her gaze and held it. 'My aim was to make the strike look mortal and indicate — falsely — to Colnba that I had killed the Saviour. The paths showed me that this course of action would prompt Colnba to immediately return to Sal-Cirus believing the Saviour fatally struck. However, knowing his mother and two other healers were nearby, I was certain of his survival.'

  Pausing, Ko-rayen let some emotion show, not for Toormeena's benefit, but because he was tired, and maintaining the neutral front was becoming too much. There was grief, too, and shame. Stepping back he leaned on the back of the divan and looked down at his hands, crossed in his lap. 'That is, it would have if Riqumorgia had not intervened.'

  A deep frown creased the seer's brow. 'It was you who took Caradon's spirit?'

  Shaking his head, Ko-rayen looked up. 'So you knew Riqumorgia was really Caradon.'

  Toormeena nodded. 'Colnba and Nisari told me once. They said Caradon survived in the form of the raven's guardian — Riqumorgia.'

  The revelation made Ko-rayen raise his eyebrows, it was surprising that they had parted with such significant knowledge. Nisari had sworn him to complete secrecy.

  'No. I did not kill Caradon. It was Colnba who delivered the strike, but…'

  'It was intended for Brynn,' Toormeena finished.

  Sighing, Ko-rayen rose and moved restlessly to look out the balcony windows. 'I was too late in planes-shifting, that blasted lightning strike slowed me down. I delivered the strike to the Saviour as I intended but Caradon was already involved. Everything went awry.'

  Toormeena watched with growing concern as Ko-rayen pushed himself forward to pace. He ran his hands through his hair and stopped finally to lean his forehead against the window. The meaning of what he was telling her had just sunk in — he had betrayed Colnba and Nisari. They were as good as kin in Ko-rayen's mind. Another significant realisation occurred to her — if he had kept it to himself, Ko-rayen's mental shields would have kept the information safe from other mages. But by revealing his true intentions to her, Ko-rayen immediately endangered himself, for it was now a plane of past memory, one accessible to experienced mages like Colnba and Nisari. If, for any reason, either mage had a notion they should review such paths, they would discover Ko-rayen's treason.

  The realisation that the betrayal had been motivated by her depth of care for Brynn filled her with confusion. She did not know if she was joyful or fearful. Both, she decided. Limping over to him, she placed a hand on his shoulder. 'What will they do if they discover your true motivation?'

  Turning, Ko-rayen took her hand. 'I will be destined for a cell in Denas, no doubt. They cannot trust me any longer.' He closed his eyes. 'I cannot trust myself.' He raised her chin and looked into her eyes. 'My actions to save your prophecy were on impulse. I will not pretend to you that I joined Colnba and Nisari in their pursuit of the Saviour intending to protect him. Nor did I know that they meant to kill the Saviour. I thought they intended to capture him, as they did others they wanted to intercept. But I was purposely being naïve as such a belief saved me from having to face the question of what affect their success at stopping the Saviour would have on you.'

  Breaking away from her, Ko-rayen started pacing again. A dangerous sign. Ko-renti learned to intentionally enter ko-hagen, a talented trance state that made them unstoppable in battle, but once learned, a highly-stressed state could inadvertently push them into it, and no one would be safe if that happened. It also emphasised the turmoil he was experiencing. Ko-renti were trained to retain their calm under the more severe circumstances, Ko-rayen's inner conflict was counteracting that discipline and it worried her deeply.

  'Will you let them?' she asked, watching him closely. 'Imprison you, that is.'

  Ko-rayen stopped, his expression bemused. 'I have not thought that far
. All I know is that I am too selfish to let you think I meant to kill your saviour.'

  Toormeena started to move to the divan, it was too painful to stand, yet it felt wrong to have this conversation while sitting. Even as she thought it, Ko-rayen moved to her side, lifted her and took her to the bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed next to her, he said, 'So here I am… Trying to stand up for what I believe in,' he glanced at her, 'and I believe in them — Nisari and Colnba — and at the same time, there is you. I watch you suffer, knowing that amongst the rebels you could be healed. I allow your incarceration even though I know it leaves you vulnerable to the likes of Nathan Kennelm and Malithorn Abbarane.' Ko-rayen looked down at her. 'Where is the line? Is it my belief that I cannot effect your escape that prevents me from trying, or is it pure selfishness to have you within reach?'

  Toormeena took his hand and brought it up to her cheek. 'It does not matter. I am equally determined to keep you within reach. Is there any chance you can prevent Colnba and Nisari from discovering this?'

  He was silent for so long, Toormeena thought that mayhap he had dropped into a trance unintentionally, but finally he looked at her. 'We will have to wait and see. It is the price we pay to be together.'

  She squeezed his hand. 'I am content to pay it.'

  Leaning over, Ko-rayen kissed her forehead. 'As am I.'

  Chapter 13

  Day 29 – Morning

  Jagrery Ranges Rebel Base

  Leaving Keysjhon and Kassan with the horses, Brynn walked to a low outcropping of rocks on the other side of the meadow. After his exertions the evening before, he was careful to take his time and rested every time his injuries starting complaining too much. He now selected a wide, mostly flat rock and used his cane to support him while he pushed himself on to it. He needed time and seclusion to think and this spot looked to provide him with just that. There was a lot to do. Of growing concern was that Sariah was avoiding him, and everyone else. Brynn was becoming very worried because from what Leyhera said, Brynn suspected she had an infected wound and it could very easily become deadly. He had missed her again this morning. He had gone by her quarters to see if she wanted to come down and see the horses, but she would not answer. He had known she was in there, but after ten minutes, he grew too tired to keep standing and had sought out a place to rest before going to meet Keysjhon and Kassan who had agreed to carry the baskets of apples for him. He would try again later, and if she still refused to answer his knock, he planned to use his talent to force his way in. He was not up to using his talent, really, his injuries may no longer be mortal, but it would be sennats before he was completely recovered.