"I assume we can take a vacation then?"
"Absolutely." I smiled in anticipation. "We just have to solve this problem first."
"That's going to take longer than two weeks," he pessimistically predicted.
I gave him a glare. "Don't interrupt my happy moment."
He gave me a sardonic look, but switched topics. "So what are we going to do once the internship is finished?"
"Haven't had the time to think about it," I answered honestly. "I think we should find our own place to live, though. Probably on the outskirts of the city so you have enough room to really stretch out." Heaven knows that I have enough money saved up to buy a decent house at this point. Internships from the King paid decently, and I really hadn't had a chance to spend any of it, as I was constantly working or traveling. All of the traveling expenses had been paid for me, leaving my money gathering interest in the bank. "I'm not worried about having enough work when the internship ends," I continued thoughtfully.
"With you being the only trained Mage in existence?" Night drawled in amusement. "No, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Besides, you're famous."
"Infamous is more like it." I rolled my eyes at the reminder. I still didn't know where the nickname "Advent Mage" came from, but it was a very prevalent nickname. No matter where I went, as soon as I introduced myself, people recognized me and called me that. I couldn't get them to stop calling me that either. Night thought it was hilarious.
For probably the thousandth time, I promised myself that if I ever figured out who had given me that nickname, I'd bash them over the head.
"How long will it take to get to Jward?"
Too long. I accessed my mental Jaunten map, as I'd come to think of it, and started calculating distances. "Probably about two days."
"Do we have a point of contact?"
Night was as familiar with the ins and outs of the business as I was by now. "The one writing all the reports was a scientist by the name of Greddon Ibbin. But the real leader of the city, according to Haben, is the Head Patriarch, Raimon Elion."
"So we talk to Elion."
"That's the plan," I agreed.
~*~
As with most plans, mine didn't last long—actually it barely survived the day. As soon as we hit the Beor Mountains, we ran smack into a party of Tonkawacons. Which tribe, I had no idea—being around Trev'nor had taught me quite a few of their customs, and some of the language, but not much else. These Tonkawacons didn't look like the ones that Trev'nor had been living with, although the differences were subtle. Their tunics were shorter, for one, and predominantly black. I knew enough about braids at this point to recognize that I was faced with all adults and most of them were in the horse business, in one way or another.
I was on a narrow mountain pass which had been cut through a fairly dense forest. If this meeting became trouble, I could always get the trees to wrap their limbs around the Tonkawacons. Still, I didn't think there would be trouble—Tonkawacons were known to be a very friendly lot. I wrapped Sable's reins around the saddle horn to free up my hands, and then put both hands directly over my heart. Trev'nor had told me it was the correct way to greet Tonkawacons—if they were DauZmor or higher, I was to bow my head as well. I was hoping at this point that there was not a DauZmor in the group because I wasn't sure whether to include the head nod or not. Carefully, I used the little bit of their language I knew. "E asse Magus Rhebengarthen. Fideh tre inlah ness."
One of them nudged his stallion up a step, drawing my attention. "I am Small Rider," he said in fluent Hainish even as he returned my greeting. "A pleasure to exchange names."
I heaved a mental sigh of relief—oh good, one of them at least spoke Hainish. I had been wondering what to say after that greeting, since it used up most of my linguistic skills. I took a quick study of Small Rider—about my age, dark hair woven in the braid of a…master horse trainer? I think that was right. He was clearly in charge of the party if he was the one speaking. "I am traveling to Jward," I offered cautiously. Tonkawacons, as a rule, were not territorial, but there were always exceptions to the rule. I was trying to step cautiously here, until I had a better idea of where I stood. "Have I crossed into your territory?"
"A little," Small Rider acknowledged cheerfully. "But we don't mind, Magus Rhebengarthen. I suspect you're here to discover why we have had so many minor quakes recently?"
I relaxed at his reply and smiled at him. "I am indeed."
"Patriarch Elion told us that you were coming. Come, we will take you to him."
Ooh, spiffy. I got an escort and everything. Nodding in agreement, I waited until they were turned around—with a path this narrow, that took a bit of maneuvering—then I fell in beside Small Rider. Now that I was closer to him, I was sure that he was my age, maybe a shade younger. And the braid in his hair was that of a master trainer for horses. Maybe when I had this earthquake problem fixed, I could ask him for a few pointers on how to train Night.
"You have a remarkable stallion," Small Rider observed. His eyes were practically glued to Night, and I think he might have been drooling. "Where did you get him?"
"Del'Hain," I answered dryly. I had a pretty good suspicion of what the next question would be.
"Will you sell him?"
People are sometimes really predictable. I shook my head with a sigh. "I can't sell him. Believe me, if it were my choice, I'd just give him to you—but he can't be sold."
Night gave me a dirty look for that comment. I gave him a pointed one in return, reminding him of a certain episode this morning when he had nearly scalped me. I got an eye roll in return.
When I turned away from my glaring contest with my Nreesce, I realized that Small Rider was studying me through narrowed eyes. "Why can he not be sold?"
"Because he is not a horse, Small Rider," I explained calmly. "He is a Nreesce, and I am his Rider."
His jaw dropped so hard I think it bounced on the ground. "Nreesce?!"
I just nodded in confirmation, finding his shocked reaction rather amusing.
Night finally decided to participate in the conversation and turned his head so he could look directly at Small Rider. "Surely you must have realized that I am no normal horse."
"He speaks," Small Rider breathed, almost reverently. He wasn't alone in this reaction—every man in the group was staring at Night with the same reverence. "What is your name?"
"I am called Night."
Small Rider blinked at the name, brow furrowing a little. "Night?" he repeated dubiously.
"Short for Nightmare," I explained for perhaps the thousandth time. "When he was a colt, he was an absolute nightmare when he wanted something—the nickname sort of stuck. I shortened it to Night so that my friend Chatta would stop ranting about it."
This really perturbed the Tonkawacon, and his frown became even more fierce. "He should have a proper name."
"And so I do," Night countered mildly. "But I prefer to be called Night."
Reluctantly he subsided. "As you will it. But if you are his chosen Rider, Magus, then why are you not riding him?"
"He only recently matured enough for me to ride him," I explained easily. "But we've been traveling around so much that neither of us has had the chance to train together. Night needs some proper instruction on how to follow my signals before I can get on his back."
"While you are in Jward, I will teach you," Small Rider told us in a no-nonsense manner. "I am the best trainer in my clan, and it will be my honor to work with you both."
If he was a master trainer at this young age, then he probably was pretty good. It was easy for me to smile at him in gratitude. "I appreciate the offer, and accept."
"Good." He smiled back, obviously pleased with himself. "Now tell me where you found a Nreesce?"
There was something about Small Rider that let me relax and enjoy his company. He had a charming air to him, rather like Chatta, actually. I related the story to him about how Night chose me, and a few anecdotes about raising a d
emanding colt. Most of the men were laughing at me at one point or another, but it was the laughter of men who had experienced similar things, and not the laughter of derision. The rest of the trip to Jward passed pleasantly in their company, and made the long road there seem just that much shorter.
Chapter Sixteen: Jward
Jward was not an impressive or beautiful city. It hugged the coastline, as expected of a port city, and was constructed out of the native stone—which happened to be a rather dark and dreary gray. It was larger than I had expected, perhaps about the size of my hometown. Despite its considerable size, it felt cramped and hemmed in. The closer I got to it, the more foreboding it became.
Usually I loved being in cities, but this one felt very unsettling to me.
Night must have picked up on my unease because he asked quietly, "Are you all right?"
"I don't like the feel of this place," I muttered back.
"Any reason in particular for this feeling?"
I shook my head grimly. I couldn't put my finger on why I didn't like this city, I just didn't.
"Garth."
I turned to look at Small Rider, my eyebrow cocked in question.
"You are unwell?"
"There is something wrong about this city," I reluctantly admitted. "It's making me uneasy."
His face lit up in sudden understanding. "You are an Earth Mage, yes? Legend says that Earth Mages did not like being in cities."
I twisted abruptly in the saddle, giving him more of my attention. "Really?"
"Yes," he answered slowly, eyes intent on my face. "You have not realized this?"
"It's the exact opposite with me," I negated with a flick of the hand. "I love cities—that’s why I'm confused on my reaction to Jward."
Now he was confused. "Odd. Perhaps the legends are wrong? Every story I have ever heard mentioned that Earth Mages could not bear to stay in a city for long."
"No, they're probably right." I pondered this new bit of information, turning it over and over in my mind. "Things that have been altered or created by man are hard for me to manipulate. I can see why an Earth Mage would be more comfortable in the country, where things are more natural. I think I'm probably the odd one—I just love cities."
"Hm."
Two independent thoughts that had been swirling in my brain suddenly crashed head on. I love cities, but this one made me uneasy—why? And the reason why I was at this city was because they had minor earthquakes one right after another—why?
The light dawned, and I suddenly had a healthy suspicion as to the answers to both of those questions. I reined Sable to a quick halt, and nearly jumped off her back. "Night, give me a half hour," I requested quickly as I sank to my knees on the ground.
"You're doing a scrying right here?"
"Yes." I was already tuning him out, putting my mind into the earth beneath me, mentally focusing so that I could feel the bedrock itself. Night probably realized this because he didn't say anything else.
It’s usually a little tricky for me to do a scrying in the earth—at this moment it was downright hazardous! There are magical ley lines running all through the bedrock of the planet, and I’m used to "seeing" them. But these ley lines were almost swollen with unused power, and they were not lying in the bedrock as they should have been, but almost jumbled together—like a ball of yarn tangled by a playful kitten. What, by all of the stars, could have caused this?
I spread out even more, searching for a cause. I have no idea how long I looked before I truly realized what I was looking at. Retreating a bit, I tried to feel the general lay of the land instead of looking for specifics.
And that’s when I found it.
There was a huge fault right in the middle of the bedrock, and it was being driven apart. This part of the continent was literally breaking away from the mainland, bit by bit, earthquake by earthquake.
Great guardians!
I snapped back into my body, breathing hard, and not just from the exertion of doing a scrying. Feeling the land tearing itself apart like that was terrifying me down to my toes. There is a city sitting on top of the land that was breaking off, for crying out loud! I had to get the people out of this place, and I had to do it fast. I wasn’t sure how much longer the dividing process would take, but my bet was—not long.
Night had pressed his forehead against my back, offering me a support to lean against. I took it gratefully, taking in deep breaths until my body stopped shaking. "The land is breaking apart," I told him grimly.
"Why?"
"I'm not sure why," I responded slowly. "There's some great force that's coming up from beneath the bedrock. It's hot and…it feels like liquid rock."
"Is it breaking the bedrock?"
"Not exactly." I struggled with what I had sensed in my scrying, trying to put it into words. "It's finding a great fault in the bedrock and is pouring into the gap, forcing the fault wider until this part of the land we're sitting on will break apart completely."
"How long do we have?"
"At most? A few months. But I can't guarantee that."
A lithe body dropped in front of me, settling onto its knees. My head jerked up in surprise—Small Rider. Great magic, but I'd nearly forgotten he was there.
"You are sure of what you have seen, Magus?" His eyes were solemn on mine, and the serious tone of his voice made him seem so much older in that moment.
"I’m sure," I acknowledged quietly. "We need to get to the city quickly."
He nodded in agreement.
I hauled myself to my feet, and with shaking limbs scrambled onto Sable's back. I really hate scrying for this reason—it takes so much out of me. No one said a word as I settled myself in the saddle, and I appreciated their understanding silence. When I felt secure, I tapped my heels to Sable's flanks and urged her into a quick trot.
Time was very much of the essence.
~*~
Small Rider had taken me directly to the Order of Eyl-Szen, the Father of all the Gods in Hainian religion. I had seen Orders before, but this was by far the largest complex I had ever laid eyes on. It was as big as my old school in Del’Hain.
Running into Small Rider was truly a blessing—everyone recognized and respected him. Because of my association with him, we were immediately taken to see Elion. Alone, I would have had to introduce myself, and explain my presence a dozen times over. Right now, that was not a delay we needed. Once outside Elion’s study, however, I was brought short by the realization that I had absolutely no idea what to tell this man. How do you tell the leader of a city that he has to move because the land he was sitting on wasn’t going to stay connected to the mainland for much longer? These people had been here for centuries—generations upon generations. They probably never questioned whether their surroundings would ever change. It had always been here, so why should they? It was as solid as, well, the ground underneath their feet! I was going to have to be very persuasive.
And I’m not good at persuasive!
I’ve never gotten used to speaking to people. Conversationalist, I am not. Even after all of these months of traveling and working with people, I still felt tongue tied when meeting people for the first time.
Why hadn’t I brought Chatta with me? She was good with people, curse it.
I was brought out of my thoughts when there was a hail from the doorway to the patriarch’s study.
“Patriarch Elion will see you now,” a fresh faced page told us. He couldn’t quite hide his curiosity, eyes darting over Small Rider, Night and me.
With a last, deep breath for composure, I squared my shoulders and walked into the study as if I knew what I was doing.
Patriarch Elion was not the little, wizened old man that I had been mentally picturing. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. He was a tall man, towering over even most Hainians. He had thick black hair, bushy eyebrows, and a hooked nose that had to have been broken at least three times in his life. If it weren’t for the simple grey robes of a patriarch, I woul
d have guessed he was a carpenter or stonemason. He politely nodded to us both, and flashed a friendlier smile to Small Rider, who apparently was a good friend. “I am Patriarch Raimon Elion, of the Order of Eyl-Szen.”
“Thank you for the gift of your name. I am Rhebengarthen,” I responded just as politely. With one hand, I indicated my four-legged shadow. “This is Night, my Nreesce.”
Elion’s eyes went a little wide as he took in Night, and I think he silently put together just who I was in that moment. “You…are the Advent Mage?”
After so many months of asking people not to call me that, I’d pretty much given up. With a mental sigh, I just nodded.
He was giving me a familiar look of awe, but fortunately recovered after that brief second of stunned realization. “Please, be seated. May I offer you any refreshments?”
“No, thank you.” I doubt I could swallow anything in this moment. “More importantly, Patriarch, I must tell you what I have found.”
He paused, half-way into his seat, and shot me a disbelieving look. “You have only just arrived. Surely you have not discovered the problem already!”
“He stopped outside the city and worked magic,” Small Rider informed him neutrally. “He bears grave news, my friend.”
I waited until Elion had fully seated himself. For this, he needed to be sitting down. “I shall be blunt, Patriarch. In a few months time, the land that you are sitting on will no longer be connected to the mainland.”
The silence in the room was so absolute that it was oppressive. Elion was staring directly at me, like a man waiting for the punch line. When I didn’t offer another word, he wet his lips and croaked, “Say that again.”
“The ground the city is resting upon is breaking away from the mainland,” I reiterated in calm tones. “In a few months, this city will no longer be a part of the mainland of Hain, but will be separated by the ocean.”
“Magus…” he had to swallow twice before he could speak again, “are you sure?”
“Positive.” And I just knew that he wouldn’t be able to fathom what I was telling him until I somehow showed him how this was happening. I cast about for a moment, looking for something to aid me in a small demonstration. There was a potted plant sitting on his desk, probably from some female family member. Then I took a closer look at it and realized it was one of those spy flowers that Night had eaten several months ago. I wonder if Elion realizes exactly what that flower does…?
Jaunten (Advent Mage Cycle) Page 20