by Claire Frank
The watchman reached his hand slowly to pluck the coin from Callum’s palm, eyeing him with narrowed eyes and a furrowed brow. Callum adjusted the Projection, sending out a strand of relaxation and calm.
Giving the man a quick smile, Callum reached across to pat his opposite shoulder. “No need for concern.” With his arm stretched out between them, blocking Gerald’s view of his belt, Callum slipped the fingers of his other hand in and found the edge of a folded piece of paper. “Strange things are happening in our fair city.” He patted him again and pointed to the coin in Gerald’s hand as he pocketed the piece of paper. “Careful with that. We wouldn’t want anyone accusing you of corruption.”
Gerald looked down at the coin and held it out toward Callum. “I shouldn’t.”
Callum held up his hands, as if admitting defeat, and Projected a hint of happiness and gratitude. “No, no, it’s yours now.” He winked as Gerald’s face softened into a smile. “It’s the least I can do for how helpful you’ve been.”
“Um, sure, I’m glad to help,” Gerald said as Callum walked away, fingering the slip of paper in his pocket as he turned from the alley and into the street.
30. NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN
A knock at his door woke Pathius with a start. He rose and dressed quickly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, confused as to why someone would be knocking so early. When he opened the door, he found Ara. She was a few steps away, as if she had changed her mind and was going to leave.
Pathius blinked at her, his mind still fuzzy. “Ara?”
She brushed the hair back from her face. “I am sorry to have woken you. I could not sleep and wished to speak with you.”
He gestured for her to come in, and shut the door behind her. He hadn’t seen much of Ara since she’d taken him to see the statue in the forest, although this time he was the one doing the avoiding. He felt guilty for how he had treated her, but he couldn’t escape the sense of raw vulnerability she induced in him. As much as he craved the connection he felt to her, he feared it as well.
“I have been thinking about your Wielding ability,” Ara said, as they settled down on two thick cushions.
Pathius blinked, taken aback. “You came here to speak about my Wielding?”
“Yes,” she said. “When Dashal lost control, I watched as you stopped him. I knew you were capable of this. You can pull in large quantities of energy with great force. But you did more. You felt Leotan and separated him. This is a different thing.”
Pathius simply nodded. He wasn’t certain where her explanation was going.
“I have thought on this for many weeks since it occurred. This is something we should have been exploring since that very day, but I have let my emotions rule me. It was I who volunteered to teach you, to guide you while you are here, and I have not done this to the best of my ability. For this, I owe an apology.”
“I don’t think you owe me an apology,” Pathius said. “It’s been—”
“Complex,” Ara finished for him. “We feel something for each other that we did not expect, and neither of us is certain that it is a good thing.”
His mouth hung slightly open at her forthrightness. He wasn’t sure what to say.
“There is still darkness within you,” she said, her voice quiet. “We both know this. But that is not the whole of you. You are like most Halthians, understanding only one way to use your power. You can take energy into yourself, and push it back out again. This ability you have is very strong, stronger than anything I have seen before. But you use it like a blunt instrument, violent and destructive.”
Pathius furrowed his brow. It was oddly painful to hear himself described in such a way, although he certainly couldn’t argue. “This is what I am.”
“That is not truth,” she said. “You simply need to learn. The more you understand the delicate intricacies of your ability, the more control you will achieve.”
“There’s nothing delicate about it.”
“There could be,” she said. She rose from her seat and moved to stand in front of the water basin. A light trickle of water flowed through the tubes and she turned a valve to increase the flow. Raising a hand toward the running water, she spread her fingers wide. Her head tilted to the side and, as Pathius watched, the water separated into two streams. “Imarans learn a great deal from practicing with water. It is much like the energy of life, always circulating. Flowing water has its own energy and we work to manipulate it in small ways, giving us a feel for the energy that runs through all things.” As she dropped her hand, the streams of water reunited into a single flow.
She turned to look at Pathius. “I think you can do more than pull energy into yourself, and this will help you maintain control, keep you from danger.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” he said.
“The water flows with energy, like all things. If you could sense Leotan’s energy amid the madness of Dashal, you can learn to manipulate the energy in the water.”
“That was nothing but instinct. I didn’t even realize what I was doing.”
Ara smiled. “That is precisely what I speak of. You feel this within you already.”
Pathius took a deep breath as he looked at the water. “What should I do?”
“Feel the energy in the water. I know you can pull the water’s warmth and make it freeze. Instead, separate the flows. Change how it moves.”
Watching the water cascade into the basin, Pathius tried to feel its energy. It was clear, with swirls of bubbles running along its edges as it hit the bottom. Plunging his hand into the current, his eyes drifted closed and he felt the cold rush past his fingers. There was raw power there, the relentless grinding of water over rock, the ability to move mountains with its flow. It was filled with patience, a willingness to endure the slow churn of time.
Pathius opened his eyes and allowed a trickle of energy to flow into him. Could he do something with it? Could he divert it back through the water? Withdrawing his hand, he tried to push the energy back out, causing the water to move. It splashed backward against the wall as if a gust of wind had hit it, and he lowered his hand in frustration.
“Try again,” Ara said.
With a deep breath, Pathius raised his hand. He could feel the sense of motion as the water cascaded from the opening, countless drops pressed together into a mass, reaching a precipice and plunging to the bottom. There were indeed separate flows, a thousand unique streams running through the liquid. Pathius tried to make them move, to divert the water, but his grasp remained elusive. He pressed his lips together in irritation and Absorbed what little warmth it had. The water froze in a stream of ice, crackling down to the bottom of the basin.
The trickle faded as the water stopped, and Pathius stepped back, pressing his hands to his temples.
“This is difficult,” Ara said. “You cannot expect success on your first attempt.”
“I don’t think I’m meant to work this way,” he said. Water seeped through the ice and dripped into the basin. Pathius knocked the side of his fist into the ice, breaking it from the pipe, allowing the flow of water to resume. The ice dropped into the basin with a crunch.
“Because it does not come easily?” she asked.
“Because I’m not Imaran. I am a hammer, not a precise chisel. This is what I was made to be and there isn’t anything I can do to change that now.”
“You are more than someone’s weapon,” she said, her voice quiet.
Pathius turned away. That was all Nihil had ever intended for him to be. “I don’t know what I am.”
“You surprise me,” she said. “There are times you exhibit great control yet, when emotion rouses you, this balance falters.”
Keeping his back to her, Pathius rubbed his hands over his face. Her warmth called to him and he felt a gentle prodding deep inside. He wanted to touch her, to take her in his arms. To his surprise, he realized it wasn’t her energy he craved. There was no desire to Absorb her heat and feel it running through him. He simply wanted h
er.
He nearly gasped as her hand touched his arm. “Pathius.”
Turning, he reached out and slipped his hand around her waist and drew her close. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t pull away. The feel of her body next to his was intoxicating. “This wasn’t supposed to happen, was it?”
“No,” she said, her luminous eyes locked with his.
A winding trail of warmth moved through him, singing a melody that didn’t touch his ears. “What is that?” he said, his voice only a whisper.
“The life within us calls to each other,” she said, so quiet he almost couldn’t hear.
He reached out with a tentative hand to brush her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. His fingertips tingled as they touched her soft skin, and a shiver ran through him. He let his fingers trail down her cheek to her jaw and pulled her face close with a gentle touch.
A part of him wondered if he should stop. He didn’t trust his own feelings, especially where Imaran bonds were concerned. But, as his eyes drifted closed and his lips brushed against hers, he knew that resisting was pointless.
Her mouth was soft against his and as he pulled her closer, her body relaxed and she threaded her arms around him. His heart beat wildly as he kissed her, deep and slow, the feel of her making his body come alive.
He ran one hand around her neck, his other up her back and held her, drinking in her scent as her tongue danced across his lips. Her breath was hot against his cheek and he moaned softly as she pressed her body into him. Sliding his hands beneath the folds of her clothes, he caressed her bare skin, the sensation sending jolts of electricity through him.
With a soft nudge, he led her toward his sleeping alcove; their lips never parted. She melted against him as he lay her down, and the spark within him burst into flame, consuming him with the feel of her body against his.
***
Pathius drifted, as if floating in calm waters on a warm day. Ara’s arm draped across his chest, her body tucked in close to his, and her head rested on his shoulder. He held her, relishing the feel of her against him, the fresh scent of her hair. He’d been nearly overcome with awe as he made love to her, as the beginnings of their bond opened them to each other and intensified their intimacy.
He looked down as she shifted and her eyes fluttered open. “That wasn’t supposed to happen either, was it?” he said.
She gave him a lazy smile and nuzzled her head into his chest. “No.”
He nearly asked her what would happen now, but instead he caressed her arm and kissed the top of her head. There would be time enough to consider the future. For now, he let his eyes close, and savored her warmth and closeness.
31. MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE
Pathius waited outside the doors to the gathering place, listening to the low hum of voices inside. He had been summoned by the Raeswa early in the morning. It would be only the second time since arriving that he had seen the Imaran elders, save at a distance, and he wondered why they wished to see him. Could this be about Ara? Would they even know? He realized he wasn’t familiar with Imaran customs or expectations regarding relationships. Over the last several weeks, he had spent most of his time with Ara, as she helped him delve more deeply into the intricacies of his Wielding abilities. They certainly hadn’t made any attempts to hide their liaison, and Ara hadn’t expressed any need to do so. He suddenly felt a bit like he had when he’d been caught kissing the young Lady Thea behind a curtain when he was fourteen.
An Imaran came for him, gesturing for him to follow. They emerged in the large gathering place, with its empty rows of benches spread out in widening circles around the center. The five Raeswa sat in the middle, their ageless faces turned toward him as he entered.
A glimmer of nervousness trickled through Pathius as he approached. Their eyes were solid silver, bright and shining in their faces. It made him wonder how his own eyes appeared. Were they still multicolored, or had they returned to their original color the way Daro’s had? It had been a long time since he had looked.
“You sent for me?” he said, drawing a few steps closer to the elders.
One of the men stood. Merefin, if Pathius remembered correctly. “We did. It is good you have come.”
The others remained seated, but angled their bodies to face him. The air was warm, and a fresh breeze wafted in through the open ceiling.
“You have been with us many months now,” Merefin said. “We can all see you have gained a high degree of control over yourself. There is no reason for us to consider you a danger any longer.”
Pathius blinked and gave a brief nod, but remained silent.
“There are things about you we still do not understand, and the risk that you could once again lose control will always be present. You have seen the peril, even felt the grip of madness, and come back to yourself. Ara, Raed, and others have taught you well. There is a sense of vitality to your energy now, whereas when you first arrived, it was dark and chaotic. I see very little of that now.”
Pathius swallowed. What is he saying? Are they going to send me back?
“We can no longer insist that you stay,” Merefin said. “You are not Imaran, and this is not your home. But neither will we insist you leave. This place is open to you, should you wish to remain.”
Relief washed through Pathius. The thought of the Raeswa forcing him out was alarming, but his mind swirled with the ramifications of their invitation to stay. The truth was, he wasn’t prepared to make this decision. He’d scarcely considered where he would go once they set him free. He knew he was alive only because they had agreed to take him away, and he hadn’t concerned himself with what he would do when he was no longer under their watch. Although, as he thought about it, he realized he hadn’t noticed the Imarans watching him for some time. Perhaps they had been loosening his invisible chains and he simply hadn’t noticed.
“I thank you for your invitation,” Pathius said. “If I may, I need some time to consider. I must admit, this is unexpected.”
Merefin nodded. “From our point of view, there is no need for haste.”
“What of the other altered Wielders, Dashal and Blur?” Pathius asked, wondering about the other Halthian Wielders who were still in Imara.
“They have already been given leave to go,” Merefin said. “The one who calls himself Blur is anxious to return to his homeland. Dashal is as well.”
“Is that safe?” Pathius asked. “Is Dashal ready?”
“As there is with you, there is always a risk for those who were altered. There is little we can do about that. Dashal was pushed too far by Leotan. The fault for his loss of control was not entirely his own. He has since shown great progress and we are satisfied that he is ready to depart.”
“How is Leotan? I haven’t seen him for some time.”
“Leotan is well, although what he went through did not leave him unchanged. But the healers are confident he will recover fully.” Merefin tilted his head to the side. “It is because of you that he has this chance. We are aware of this.”
Pathius nodded, unsure of what to say.
“There is more that is important for you to know,” Merefin said.
The hint of trepidation in Merefin’s voice made Pathius pause. “Yes?”
“We have received news from Halthas. There have been attacks in the Halthian countryside, and the army of Attalon marches for their southern border.”
Pathius looked away. An army marching for Halthas. He had known this was coming, but the foreknowledge had done little to prepare him to hear the reality. “An invasion. Even my father knew it would come.”
“It appears Halthas will soon be at war.”
“I don’t know if Halthas is ready for this,” Pathius said. “The Empire is vast.”
Merefin lifted his hands, his palms up. “It may not be. I do not know.”
“Aren’t you concerned?” Pathius asked.
“The wars of men rage, as they have for thousands of years. Imara has seen vast kingdoms rise and fal
l. These things are not our concern.”
“Will it be your concern when the Empire takes Halthas and has the means to encroach on Imara?” Pathius said. “If they have the river, they will be at your door. It won’t matter how many wild animals you have or how many stories of death in the forest you spread.”
“If it comes to this, we will defend our homes,” Merefin said.
Pathius couldn’t keep the rising irritation from his voice, and a sheen of frost spread from his feet. “You say that as if you don’t care what happens to Halthas. Haven’t we been a friend and neighbor to you long enough? What is the Life Tree for, if not to showcase our friendship? You would stand by and watch Halthas fall?”
“We are not permitted to use our forces in such a way,” Merefin said. “This is not something I expect you to fully understand. There must be the threat of the power of Fedan being abused. This is why we exist.”
Clenching his teeth, Pathius looked away. He had seen the Imarans fight. He imagined a host of men like Raed, spears in hand. Alone, they would not be enough to stem the tide of a large army, but they would be a powerful ally.
“Pathius,” Merefin said, softening his voice, “Halthas will stand, or it will fall, but Imara will remain. We have been here for more lifetimes than you can fathom. As one of the Raeswa, I have lived long. I remember the earliest days of the Halthian kingdom, when your ancestors were nothing but immigrants fleeing to a new land. I remember the building of the Life Tree. I have seen much during my time in this world. Before donning this mantle, I was a young man. I traveled far, I learned much, and this I know: the kingdoms of men do not last. If Halthas is toppled, something else will one day rise to replace it. It is not our place to interfere in such things.”