Dark Nadir

by Lisanne Norman

  “You should have told us earlier about the missing Aldatans,” said Keaal, tail moving jerkily to show her displeasure.

  “Why? It wasn’t concerned with visions as far as the Brotherhood was aware,” said Lijou. “If I’d had news of these latest visions of Brynne’s sooner, I would have told you. In him we have another visionary on a level with Kaid Tallinu. I want him trained and taught to dream-walk as soon as possible. That way, the Entities can speak directly to him. He obviously has a role to play in our future. He’s part of our world, called by our Green Goddess Herself.”

  “No,” said Noni, anger rising in her. She fought to keep it from her voice and thoughts. “His Triad is not the one that will link us all, not the one we need to have in this Council so we can learn about the Humans. And Tallinu was never taught to dream-walk. It never held him back. What need has Brynne of it?”

  Dhaika shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “He wasn’t taught, but Vartra took him to His realm during a meditation session at the Retreat several months ago.”

  “Why was I not told of this?” she demanded, knuckles whitening on her stick in an effort to hold back the explosion of rage. “You know my concerns for him! I should have been informed.”

  “It was a matter personal to him and the Entity,” said Dhaika stiffly. “You know I don’t breach confidentiality unless there is a sound reason to do so.”

  “How do you know there isn’t a greater purpose behind Brynne’s Triad?” countered Lijou, leaning closer to her. “You’re so sure it’s Tallinu’s that you’re blinding yourself to the choice of the Goddess!”

  “They were not the first. Tallinu’s is. The first Triad, and the Aldatans were the first mixed Leska pair,” she said in a tone that Challenged any argument.

  “Lijou still has a valid point,” said Rhio.

  “He has no point at all. Brynne is the only one of his Triad to have visions. In Tallinu’s, all three of them have seen. We need to wait and see how Brynne and his partners develop before we agree on taking the drastic step of training him further.”

  “With respect to your family, Miosh,” said Tulla gently, “we may have no choice if the Aldatans remain lost. All we may have is Brynne’s Triad.”

  “We don’t need to decide now,” said Noni firmly. “More mixed pairs are forming almost daily, aren’t they, Miosh?”

  Miosh inclined her head affirmatively as she put a hand up to her eyes to rub at the tears forming in them.

  “We wait,” said Noni. “Actions taken in haste are worse than no action. I say we do nothing for now.”

  “Teaching someone to dream-walk is not a decision to make lightly,” said Sister Tokui, letting her tail rise and fall lazily on the seat beside her. “There’s the danger to the person themselves. To visit the realms of the Entities isn’t easy or safe, even for the most experienced of us. To get lost there is to die. To cause harm to a person or animal that lives there is to die. We don’t yet know enough about these Humans, whether altered by a Leska Link to one of us or not. I would have to agree with Noni. We should wait.”

  “Why not teach him?” asked Keaal, looking round the group. “What better way to find out about them than in the realms? There’s no room for pretense. You’re stripped down to your soul. I say teach him, if he agrees to it, knowing the dangers.”

  Tokui looked at Miosh. “What do you say?” she asked gently.

  “We may have lost one Triad. We can’t afford to lose another,” she said, rubbing futilely at her damp cheeks. “We must wait.”

  “Wait,” said Tulla.

  “I say let him choose,” said Rhio.

  “Rhaid, you’ve said nothing so far.”

  Rhaid roused herself and looked over to Sister Tokui. “I’ve faced evil, Tokui. I know what imprisonment is like. If the Valtegans come, that’s what we’ll all face. I say we offer to teach him. He’ll know what’s at stake as well as we do. His people lived under the talons of the Valtegans on Keiss and are as much at risk from them as we are. He should be the one to choose, not us.”

  “Dhaika, yours is the casting vote,” said Tokui.

  “He’ll say wait,” snorted Lijou, getting to his feet and beginning to pace in front of the semicircle of chairs. “You’re blinding yourselves to what really matters here. This isn’t just about our cozy little world, there’re millions of stars out there, millions of worlds! We live in an interstellar community, for Vartra’s sake! Humans, Sholans, and the rest of our Alliance, we’re at war with aliens determined to wipe us out! We need to develop every edge we can get, not put it off because of our own petty politics! I thought this Council of Guardians would be different, have a greater insight into life because we were all telepaths! But you’re no better than the World Council at Shanagi!”

  “Lijou, you’re new to our Council so I’ll excuse your outburst this time,” said Tokui coldly. “Sit down. The meeting’s not over yet.”

  Lijou glowered angrily around the room before returning to his chair.

  “Dhaika, your vote,” said Tokui.

  “Wait,” he said.

  “Then the majority decision is to wait. In the interim, I would suggest that since you obviously have a visionary on your hands, Dhaika, you accelerate his learning program. The sooner he’s equipped to cope with these visions, the better for us all. And, Dhaika,” she said, fixing a hard look on him, “Next time he comes to you with any kind of dream or vision, you will report it immediately, not only to the Brotherhood, but to me personally. Is that understood? Fail to do so and we will have you replaced at the Retreat.”

  Dhaika inclined his head.

  “Don’t underestimate the Humans. This has been a lesson to us all, one the Telepath Guild learned, and so should we. Is your business with us concluded, Noni?” Sister Tokui asked.

  “Yes, except to remind you I need to be kept informed of any visions, too.” She tried to focus on the positive aspects of the meeting. She’d gotten what she wanted. There had been a danger they’d want Brynne taught to dream-walk and that would not have suited her purposes. But the news that Tallinu as well as the Aldatans was missing was a blow indeed, one that she couldn’t think about until she got home. His work had always been dangerous and the chance he’d not survive each mission had always been there, but to have death loom so close barely six months ago and now this, was more than she could take.

  “Noni,” she heard someone saying. “Are you all right? I’ve spoken to you three times.”

  “Eh?” She looked up to see Lijou bending over her.

  “Are you all right?” he asked. “I’m sorry you and Miosh had to hear the news this way, but I had no choice.”

  “I’m fine,” she said tartly. “You go see to Miosh. I’ve got Teusi with me. I’ll call you tomorrow,” she said, levering herself up out of the chair by leaning on her stick.

  “Are you sure? Sister Tokui’s with her.”

  “I’m fine, I tell you! Now stop fretting over me,” she said, pushing him aside. “You just see you contact me immediately you have any news of them, you hear me?”

  “Of course I will, you know that.”

  “Right. Good night to you, then,” she said, beginning to walk toward the door.

  “Good night, Noni.”

  * * *

  Lijou could see Dhaika eyeing him warily as he waited for him in the parking area outside the temple precincts.

  “What do you want, Lijou?” Dhaika asked, stopping, “I’m in no mood for any more recriminations.”

  “We had an agreement, Dhaika,” said Lijou angrily. “You said you’d teach Brynne to dream-walk if you believed Ghyakulla had called him. You purposely ignored those visions of his to avoid doing that. Worse, you told my student not to come to me with them!”

  “I did not. I truly believed they were his overactive imagination.”

  “Don’t wrong-spoor me, Dhaika! It comes down to the fact that you’re afraid of Noni, doesn’t it?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” Dhaika blust
ered.

  “What’s so difficult about saying no to her?”

  “Have you ever said no to her?”

  “I did in there.”

  “You disagreed with her, that’s different. Your time’ll come, and when it does, you won’t find it so easy as you think to say no.”

  Lijou ruthlessly suppressed a few uncomfortable memories of encounters with Noni. “Are you reneging on our agreement?” he demanded.

  Dhaika glanced round him furtively. “She’ll hear you. She’s still around here somewhere.”

  “Oh, in Vartra’s name, Dhaika, stop worrying about her!” Lijou snapped. “I’ve got us shielded! Do you take me for a fool? Now, are you going to teach Brynne or not?”

  “What if she finds out, or the others? What if something goes wrong for him?”

  “I was there every time you were teaching him, wasn’t I? Do you think I’d let anything happen to him?”

  “You’re new to dream-walking yourself, Lijou. When I agreed to do it, only Noni had said no. It’s another thing to go against a majority Council vote, especially when I also voted no.”

  “Shola’s at stake here, Dhaika! Not the ruling of the Guardians, our whole species! Get a backbone and start thinking for yourself!”

  Dhaika stiffened, ears flicking forward. “I’ve made my decision,” he said, sidestepping the Head Priest. “Unless you’re prepared to pull rank on me and order me to do it, I’ll bid you good night.”

  Furious, Lijou turned to watch Guardian Dhaika board his aircar before heading back to his own.

  * * *

  Noni sent Teusi home for the night as soon as he dropped her at her cottage. She’d remained silent during the trip, wanting no chatter, no matter how well intentioned. She went in, closing her door behind her and reaching for the light sensor. A hand covered hers, preventing her.

  “You’re a fool, old one,” said a familiar male voice in her ear.

  “How so?” she countered, trying not to let her fear be heard.

  “You meddle too much this time. Let this matter take its own course.”

  “I do no more than I was chosen by the Entities to do,” she countered.

  “Not this time. I’ve been sent to warn you that in this matter the pledge between us has been set aside.”

  “Then the price must be paid.”

  “You’d barter at this time? When Shola herself is at stake?” The voice grew louder, the hand tightening around hers.

  “It’s part of the pledge,” she said, forcing herself to remain calm.

  She heard His low growl of anger, then abruptly the hand and the presence were gone, leaving behind it the gentle scent of nung blossom and an echo of laughter.

  The price will be paid in full, never fear.

  “I didn’t say what I wanted!”

  When was it ever anything but Tallinu’s safety? He’s the child you never had, Old One! But this time, you’ll get more than you bargained for.

  * * *

  Oblivious to the furor surrounding him, Brynne had chosen to spend the evening in one of the meditation rooms at the Retreat. His visit to Noni’s had left him almost more confused than before. For the first time he had the room to himself, as Jurrel had decided to exercise in the gym.

  He lit the taper with his lighter, then leaned forward to touch it to each of the oil wicks in turn. That done, he passed his hand over the light sensor beside him, keeping it there till the room was lit only by the warm glow cast by the lamp. Giant shadow images of the petals and stamen of the lamp flickered on the plain walls, yet the atmosphere they created was welcoming, peaceful even.

  Once more he leaned forward, this time to crumble incense on the hot charcoal at the heart of the lamp. Heavily scented clouds of smoke billowed round him then slowly drifted ceilingward, wafted there by the heat of the flames. Focusing on the flames, he rested his hand in his lap and began to recite the litanies, each one in turn, letting them guide him deeper and deeper away from the everyday world.

  A faint noise caught his attention but try as he might, it wouldn’t be ignored. He found himself straining to hear it better. Part of his mind was aware that the nature of the shadows had changed, that they were not so pleasing: they didn’t flow across the walls as before, now there was a spiky, jagged quality about them. The sound was becoming clearer too, resolving itself into a monotonous chant. Flames flared, lighting up the room briefly as the shadows leaped and jerked in huge shapes that covered the ceiling in darkness. He heard the wind blowing through the trees, felt it against his face, moving his hair, as the shape on the other side of the fire resolved itself.

  Though the face was much leaner, and the eyes now burned from dark sockets, he knew Derwent instantly.

  “Did you think you’d be free of me that easily?” Derwent asked mockingly. “You made a pledge to me, Brynne. I won’t let you forget that. It’s time for me to redeem it.”

  Brynne sat motionless. He wasn’t here, he couldn’t be. This campfire out in the forest wasn’t real, it couldn’t be. He knew he was in the Retreat, yet every sense, augmented by his Link to Vanna, told him otherwise. He could smell the woodsmoke, scent the moisture on the air and the damp earth on which he sat. He heard the wind not only in the trees, but stirring the grass around him. To his left, a jegget stopped suddenly, sitting up to watch this strange, alien spectacle. He could hear its tail flicking gently against the stalks of grass as it wondered what to do. Even its thoughts were open to him, but not those of the man opposite.

  “This is real,” Derwent said. “As reality goes. I used the link I established with you for training to call you here.”

  “Where is here?” he heard himself ask, surprised at how calm his voice sounded.

  Derwent’s face clouded over as he frowned, but his eyes sparkled feverishly in the light cast by the twin moons.

  “Aduan and Agalimi,” said Brynne in answer to the unspoken thought.

  “It took me weeks to calculate the right phases so I could work this spell,” said Derwent, relaxing again. “So much easier when there’s only one moon. It matters little now.” He waved his hand in an airy, benign gesture. “You’re here.”

  “Where is here?” Brynne repeated.

  Derwent picked up a stick and poked at the fire, sending showers of sparks leaping up into the night. “Depends what you want to call it. Some say the dreaming land, others dreamtime. I call it the plains. You’re in my world now, Brynne Stevens. The world of the guiders of souls. It’s our path in this life.” He looked across the flames at him, holding his gaze with his piercing pale eyes.

  “I need your help, Brynne,” said Derwent, his voice gentle and persuasive. “I want sanctuary so I can stay on Shola. We have work to do on this world. They’ve turned their backs on the true nature of their gods and it’s up to us to be their salvation. We have a mission here.”

  Derwent sounded so reasonable, so sane, Brynne found himself thinking. Of course he must help him, he owed it to him. “What do you want me to do?” he heard himself ask.

  “I need you to come to me, lead me up to Stronghold. There I can get sanctuary, if you ask it for me.”

  “How will I find you?” He felt as if the words were being squeezed from him against his will. He had no wish to help Derwent. Why was he agreeing to do so?

  “You’ve been to the plains before with me. I brought you here the night I initiated you as a shaman. Remember?”

  He tried, but the memory, if memory it really was, was hazy, lost in time. Initiated? He didn’t remember anything like that.

  “Reach out your hand to me, Brynne,” Derwent said, holding his across the fire toward him. “Take my hand. I’ll remind you.”

  He hesitated even as he felt his arm moving of its own volition. No! Something deep inside him screamed. No! I don’t want to be involved! I won’t help you!

  “Your hand.” The voice was growing authoritative now, insisting he obey.

  He watched helplessly as he stretched his hand across th
e flames toward Derwent. Sudden pain shot through his leg and, instinctively, he yelled out and pulled back from the fire. Clutched by its scruff, in his other hand he held the offending mammal.

  The fire exploded in light and sparks, blinding him, making him shield his eyes with one arm and tuck the jegget close against his chest with the other as he flung himself backward to safety.

  A hand touched him and he pulled back, ready to fight.

  “Not necessary.” He could hear the purr of amusement in the Sholan voice. “You’re safe now. You Humans are almost as troublesome as some of my people.”

  He opened his eyes and looked around him. Night, the forest, the fire and Derwent, all were gone. In his arms, the jegget struggled. He clutched it more tightly.

  The male squatting in front of him reached out to caress the jegget’s head briefly before holding his hand out to help him up.

  “Who are you?” asked Brynne, refusing to accept it.

  “Now you’re learning,” said the male with a satisfied nod. “But there’s no need to fear my touch.” He extended his hand another couple of inches.

  Cautiously, Brynne accepted it and let himself be helped off the ground. “I’ve seen you before,” he said suddenly. “I know your face.” He looked him over, noting the gray tunic and the pouched belt round his waist. He was well muscled, likely one of the Brothers come to his aid.

  “Perhaps,” the other admitted, mouth opening in a grin. “I’ve come to show you the way back.”

  “Where am I? What the hell happened to me? Where’s Derwent?”

  His new companion began to walk along the path toward a wooden door. He stopped and waited for Brynne to join him. “Where are you? Well, I rather think you should work that one out for yourself, but I’ll give you a clue,” he said, reaching into a pouch on his belt. He held out his closed fist to Brynne.

  Again, he hesitated.

  “You really have learned that one, haven’t you,” he purred in pleasure. “Take it, there’s no hidden danger from what I’m giving you.”