by Unknown
“Go back to whatever you were doing,” the second Balaton ordered the onlookers, at the same time motioning for Meghan and Jae to remain behind.
“Sorry about that,” he aimed toward Meghan. “Husband says she’s been inconsolable all night.”
“It’s okay,” Meghan stated. “She’s upset.”
17
“Don’t think twice about it,” he added with a wink. “Just let us handle it. Keeping the peace, that’s what we do!”
Meghan nodded.
The Balaton grabbed a slice of toast and then darted around the corner of a nearby tent.
Meghan and Jae quickly joined Colin, and the invisible Catrina, taking refuge behind the rock at the edge of the meadow.
“What was that all about?” Colin asked.
“She wanted me to see for her, and tell her what happened to her daughter,” Meghan told him.
“Can you do that?” he asked.
“I hadn’t really thought about it. I don’t know.”
Meghan handed Colin her extra food, which was most of her plate. She had lost her appetite. Colin then handed some to Catrina, insisting that she eat.
Meghan snapped her head, freezing her eyes on a spot just into the woods.
“What?” Colin asked.
Meghan relaxed her gaze.
“Nothing, jumpy I guess. Thought I saw a shadow. There’s nothing there though,” she said, while nodding in the direction she had been looking.
Colin, Catrina and Jae each looked as well, but saw nothing.
“Not to change the subject, or reiterate points we already know,” Jae said after a bit, “but be careful.” He lowered his voice so only they could hear. “I think the Balaton are spying on people.”
“I thought they weren’t using magic,” Colin noted, having seen the Balaton walking through the meadow, rather than popping in, as usual. He had hoped this would make it simpler to keep Catrina hidden.
“Not supposed to be, but times are crazy. I just wouldn’t rule it out.” Colin nodded that he understood, sighing deeply. Seeing his concerned face, Catrina took hold of his hand and squeezed.
Just then, a leaf hit Meghan in the head and fell into her lap.
“Like I said,” Jae spoke. “Always know how to find us.”
Meghan picked up the leaf and read the message.
“Well I am outta here. Jul… The Banon would like to see me,” she said.
“You can stop calling her Banon,” smirked Jae. “You don’t have to call her that on my account.”
“Sorry, I was just trying to stay formal when I talk about her in public.”
“Yeah, but she’s your teacher now, too. I get it.”
“In that case then, I’m off to see Juliska,” she said. Meghan swore she saw Colin and Catrina shudder from the corner of her eye as she walked away.
18
Meghan made her way through the smoldering meadow to the opposite side, where Juliska’s tent stood alone, and guarded, by Jelen and Jenner Wandrer. As Meghan arrived, Pantin Hollee came skirting out of the tent’s entrance.
“Oh, good! You got the Banon’s note. You can see yourself inside, she’s waiting for you,” said Hollee as she scurried away.
Before entering, Meghan wondered if she should say hello to Jelen and Jenner, but decided against it, seeing their stern faces keeping watch over the tent and the surrounding meadow and woods.
She had expected to step inside the tent and see a lavish space and setting, like the magical insides of the gypsy wagons, but instead the setting was intimate. The furnishings were sparse and simple: a long table with chairs, and a stove, which still threw off warmth, even though the fire had clearly died, leaving behind just smoldering embers.
The tent had just two other rooms, both with closed canvas doors. Through the one on the right, Juliska’s head popped out.
“Would you please join me in my room, Meghan,” she spoke, getting immediately down to business. “There is something I wish to discuss with you.” Meghan followed her into another sparsely furnished room, which included a bed covered in thick blankets, and three large travel trunks. One sat, closed, at the foot of her bed. The second was sitting on its side, and open, serving as a closet. The third was also on its side, and oddly, had two ornate doors inside. That must be a magical space. Wonder what’s in there?
As if to answer her question, Juliska stepped toward the trunk.
“The door on the right remains locked. However, the one on the left I believe you will find of great interest. But first, there is an urgent matter of which we must speak.” She then sat on the edge of her bed and motioned for Meghan to join her.
Meghan sat, facing Juliska, waiting eagerly for her to speak.
Juliska inhaled deeply, but said nothing. The longer the silence continued, the more Meghan’s nerves fluttered, turning her thankfully empty stomach upside down.
Had the Balaton discovered Catrina? What would this mean for her brother? Her heart skipped, but she tried to keep a straight face, as she waited for Juliska to speak.
“I am afraid…” the Banon began and then stopped, swallowing hard.
This can’t be good! Meghan’s thoughts raced quickly, debating whether she should speak up first and admit that they had brought Catrina back with them, from Eidolon’s Valley.
“I am afraid,” began the Banon again, “that I have a difficult favor to ask of you, Meghan.
But I would not ask unless I had exhausted all other options.” Meghan’s heart slowed back to a normal rhythm for just a moment. This could not have anything to do with Catrina, or her brother.
“And I must stress that anything we discuss here in this room, is strictly between the two of us. No one else!”
Meghan’s eyes were wide with curiosity now, and her heart once again quickened pace.
Juliska sighed.
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“I am completely freaking you out. I’m sorry, this was exactly what I wanted to avoid.” She then stood up and started pacing.
“This room is my safe room. Anything I say or do in here cannot be seen, overheard or witnessed by anyone not in this room. In addition, to enter, you must be invited by me. Few people have this honor.”
Meghan nodded that she understood but could not find her voice to speak.
“I need your help, Meghan. The kind of help that only a Firemancer can offer. What I am about to tell you is a secret I have kept for many long months. Not even my loyal Pantin has been told.”
Meghan felt her stomach lurch. What secret could Juliska possibly want to tell her, that she could not or would not tell another soul?
The Banon then slid onto the bed and grasped Meghan’s hands, inhaling deeply. Upon exhaling her secret slipped across her lips.
“I have not had a vision in over a year!”
Meghan could think of no response.
“I do not know what has caused this, but my visions have simply vanished,” Juliska continued. She let go of Meghan and started pacing the room again.
“I did not realize it was possible to lose them,” Meghan whispered.
“Nor did I. It is a first, as far as my knowledge is aware. Perhaps this lifestyle is…” Juliska did not finish.
Meghan’s thoughts filled in the blanks. Stressful. Tiresome. Dangerous...
“Regardless of the reason, Meghan, when I discovered you were a Firemancer, I knew instantly that I would come to rely on your visions if mine continued to fail me. I am afraid to admit I have been rather selfish in my cause. My lack of vision is why I pushed your training along so quickly. This is why I allowed you to be Ivan Crane’s Learner Companion in Eidolon’s Valley. I will point out, that I would not have pushed if I was not one hundred percent confident that you were up to the task!”
“I never feel that confident,” Meghan replied.
“Which is what will make you a great Firemancer, Meghan.”
“Um? How?”
“It shows me that you are not arrogant and will not abuse the
power that comes with being a Firemancer.”
Meghan’s heart nearly stopped. She did not know how to respond. Power?
“Meghan, breathe, please,” pleaded Juliska, upon seeing her face turn pale.
Meghan did so and looked into Juliska’s eyes.
“I know a thousand equally frightening and confusing thoughts are rushing through your brain right now. Would you like some time…”
“No,” exhaled Meghan. “I’m okay. Just, definitely caught me off guard. This was not what I expected in the least! Not that I expected anything specific, I just… ”
“I realize that what I am about to ask of you, is again, too much, and certainly not simple.
Moreover, I fully realize you have much yet to learn. We are living in desperate days, 20
Meghan. Without my visions, I fear for the survival of my people. I need you to be my eyes, Meghan. I need you to see what I cannot. Our very existence may well rely upon it.”
“That’s not adding any pressure or anything,” Meghan blurted without a second thought.
Juliska covered her mouth as if not to laugh.
Meghan could not help it and laughed, nervously.
“I’m sorry,” Meghan tried to apologize, in between fits of laughter. “I guess it’s a little overwhelming.” She bit her lip, regaining control. “Do you really think I can do this?” she asked, her tone more serious.
“Completely confident,” Juliska stated. “You know, I was about your age when I began an apprenticeship with my own teacher. To be fair, though, you are still new to this world, and I was told from birth what I was.”
“You had a Firemancer as a teacher then, too?” asked Meghan.
“A seer, yes. A Firemancer, no. Firemancy is not as common as you, or I, make it seem. The ability is passed down from mothers only to their daughters.”
“It’s a family thing?” Meghan already knew this; however, it was Uncle Eddy, their ghostly and secret tutor in Grimble, that had explained, so she pretended not to know. “So my mother was a Firemancer, too?”
“Do you know nothing of your mother at all?” prodded Juliska. “I have to admit I have been very curious.”
Meghan replied honestly.
“I don’t really know anything… but, I am learning that even with my gift of sight, I seem to know less and less about everything.”
“Well, I have to be honest, getting this secret off my chest is more of a relief than I could have imagined. My people have enough to worry about. If they discovered that their leader had lost her visions…” she did not finish.
“What do you need me to do?” Meghan then asked. “Where do I start?”
“By moving in, actually.”
Meghan perked up.
“I’ll go pack my things,” she replied, and then paused, remembering her brother. Colin will be fine. He’s busy guarding Catrina anyway.
“We start first thing tomorrow,” Juliska then told her, bringing her back into the moment.
“So what’s in there?” asked Meghan, nodding in the direction of the trunk with the ornate doorways.
Juliska smiled. That will be one of our first lessons. I think you’re going to like it,” she hinted mischievously.
##
Meghan’s nerves buzzed with nervous anticipation as she departed Juliska’s tent. Moments later, Nona appeared.
“Good hunting?” Meghan’s thoughts asked her loyal Catawitch.
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Nona licked her lips and grinned in reply.
“You’re going to pack, I presume,” Nona asked Meghan.
She had already heard the entire conversation through her connection with Meghan’s thoughts.
“Yes, Nona. I wonder if Juliska realized you would still be able to hear my thoughts. She told me that everything we said to each other in her room was completely secret and could not be overheard.”
“I am sure your conversations are safe from others, but the connection we have is not breakable, by any known magic,” Nona informed Meghan. “But it does make me curious…”
“About what?”
“Whether Colin would be able to hear you as well?”
“Hm, I wonder. I haven’t ever told Juliska about being able to read Colin’s mind.”
“And I think, for now, that is one secret that should remain,” Nona said.
“I agree,” smiled Meghan. “Pretty crazy, though, huh, Nona?”
“Juliska’s lack of visions concerns me greatly. Not only for what it means to everyone’s safety, but also to yours.”
“She is under a great deal of pressure, Nona. I mean, can you even imagine living day to day with the knowledge that it’s your responsibility to protect all of these people?”
“And now, in part, it is also yours,” Nona reminded.
“I will do whatever I can to help Juliska. I just feel so… not ready!”
“We will do this task, together. You know I will help you in whatever manner I can.”
“Really don’t know how I ever lived without you, Nona.”
Nona rubbed up against her leg returning the compliment.
“How about we take it one step at a time,” her Catawitch advised, sensing Meghan’s nervousness rising again.
“Right,” Meghan agreed. “First: pack. Second: move. Tomorrow?”
“One step at a time,” Nona repeated kindly.
A short while later they arrived at the Mochrie tent.
“Hi, Mireya,” Meghan said upon entering.
“Oh, hi,” she replied, lifting her head from a book.
“Your parents gone?”
“At a zone meeting.”
Meghan continued into their shared room, confused by the scene unfolding inside.
“What are you doing?” Meghan asked her brother.
“Packing, obviously,” he replied.
“Yeah, figured that much out on my own. Why are you packing?”
“I decided to take up an offer from Billie, for me to stay with her for awhile. The Mochrie’s tent is a little crowded, and she’s got a free room.” He then leaned in. “I figure it’s better for Catrina. You could come with me if you want.”
“Not like Colin took up any room in here, anyway,” joked Jae. “Always sleeping outside.
But, Billie’s place is probably a little safer,” he agreed.
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“Well, there’s no need for me to move into Billie’s, as I have had another offer. I guess your tent is going to be a lot less crowded after today, Jae.”
“Where are you …” Colin did not finish, but rather sighed. “You’re going to stay with Juliska again, aren’t you?”
“Yes. She asked to me to do so, in order to continue my training as a Firemancer.” Meghan felt Colin nudging through her thoughts. She blocked him out, smirking.
“Where is Catrina?” she asked him in a whisper.
“Billie’s. I left her there after Billie showed me the room and insisted I take it. She’s taking a nap I think.”
Meghan sensed his eagerness to return to her.
“We need to remember to thank your parents, Jae, for letting us stay with you. And who knows, we might be back,” Meghan said.
“I’ll pass the message along,” he offered. “This will be strange, though. We’ve been living together for a long time. Can’t say it won’t be nice to have a little extra space though,” he added, keeping the conversation lighthearted.
The three laughed.
“It has been quite the adventure,” Meghan said, as if it were all coming to an end.
“You’re acting like we’re moving away, permanently,” Colin told her. “It’s not like we’re leaving. Just be a few tents over.”
“Oh, I know,” she said. “But in a way, we are sort of all going our separate ways. It’s a little scary,” she said honestly.
“Leave it to my dad to be right,” Jae said begrudgingly.
Meghan and Colin waited for him to explain.
“Nothing stays the same forever, s
o don’t get used to anything.”
“That is actually a little depressing if you think about it,” Meghan replied
“And sadly, these days, very true!” Colin added.
“Well, you two have fun!” Jae said, while falling backwards onto his sleeping cot. “I’ll be kicking back and enjoying all this peace and quiet.” He let out a big sigh.
There was a strange foreboding behind his words. Both Meghan and Colin felt it. Jae joked, but at the same time, they got the feeling that he seemed pleased about their departure.
Something about the moment sent shivers down their spines.
“Was that your bad feeling or mine?” Colin asked his sister through their thoughts.
“Let’s not go there again!” she shot back. “I don’t need any more bad omens.” Meghan blocked her mind, losing all confidence. What am I doing? Leaving Colin to fend for himself. Taking on a life I’m not ready for. What happened to getting back home?
Figuring out what happened to Uncle Arnon?
Nona touched her hand, jostling Meghan back into reality. Nona jumped down from the cot and Meghan grabbed her bag. She opened up her thoughts to Colin.
“Be careful,” she sent him.
“You, too!”
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“We might not be staying in the same place, but whenever you need me… I’ll hear you, I promise!” she told him.
Colin nodded. He then gently patted Jae’s shoulder, and rushed out of the tent, yelling a quick “see you later” to Mireya.
Minutes later, Meghan did the same. Jae followed her out and waved goodbye, alongside his sister.
Mireya sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“It is kind of sad, isn’t it?” he whispered.
“Yes. But it’s not just them leaving.”
Jae put his arm around his sister.
“I know. But maybe once we find out what’s happened here, some things will get back to normal.”
“Like play time!” she giggled.
“Yes! Definitely that,” he agreed heartily.
“I just hate sitting around, waiting and waiting. I wish there were some way I could help.
To do something!”
“I know what you mean,” he replied. “But we have to let the Initiated take care of this. The best thing we can do is keep our eyes and ears at the ready, and study hard. So when the time comes, we can do our part.”