by Amy Hopkins
She was interrupted by another white flash, and the following thunder cracked right on its heels. A spike of anxiety in the room touched Julianne’s senses, and she shook her head, knowing the old building would weather the storm.
“It’s not the storm,” Danil whispered as she sat beside him. Julianne jerked her head up, reaching her mind out to the crowd of mystics in the hall, then further, to the guards. Yes, there it was.
Someone was at the door.
CHAPTER TWO
Who is it, Aldred? Julianne projected into the mind of one of the Temple guards.
I can’t tell, came the bewildered mental reply.
Julianne delved into his mind. He was right, whoever was beating the brass knocker was shielded so tight, none of the mystics at the door could penetrate. She reached out herself, probing the slippery mental barrier.
“Stay here.” Julianne ran across the hall, pushing past the few mystics who didn’t move out of her way first. And make sure the others do, too, she added, sending that thought only to Danil.
Danil sent a mental reply that was more a serious nod than words.
“Master,” Aldred called as she raced to the entry of the Temple. “Can you sense them?”
She shook her head brusquely and walked up to the door. Aldred already had his hand on the latch, waiting for Julianne's instructions. His heavy frame looked as fit as ever, but grey streaks at his temples reminded her that time passed in the mountains just as quickly as everywhere else.
William, the second guard on duty, stepped aside to let her through, ducking his sandy haired head at the Mystic Master.
Who is there? She sent the words directly at the shielded mind, projecting the thought as loudly as she could. Even shielded, a mystic would hear it.
Greetings, Julianne. Please, open the door.
Julianne clamped down her mental shields, furious that she hadn’t thought to do so earlier.
Donna? William sent the name with a feeling of shock.
“Who the hell is Donna?” Julianne hissed.
“An old friend. She and two others went on pilgrimage… oh, years before Selah…” He stopped before saying the word died, but Julianne still heard him speak it in his mind. The death of the former Master marked much time in the Heights for all of them. “Well, I haven’t heard from her since.”
“Can she be trusted?” Julianne asked, brushing aside a mental probe sent by the visitors.
“Yes,” William said, “assuming she’s not changed greatly. Selah thought highly of her.” He added the last part as an afterthought.
Julianne still hesitated.
Please, Donna sent. The storm will wash us off the mountain if we do not find shelter immediately.
The thread of fear in the woman’s thought stabbed at Julianne. She couldn’t allow people—her people—to die outside the gates that were supposed to keep them safe. She instructed William and Aldred to open the heavy wooden doors, even as she forced away a memory of a guard almost dying on the very floor below her feet.
That was different, she told herself. And it was. When Adrien sent his soldiers looking for Ezekiel, she'd immediately known to be on guard. An over eager blast from one of the soldiers had hit one of her men. Ezekiel had not only taken out the attackers with Julianne’s help, he’d healed the wounded mystic guardsman and likely saved his life.
They were Arcadians, though. Not mystics.
The two guards lifted the bar that held the doors shut. Wind slammed them open, almost knocking Aldred flat on his ass as six robed figures hurried in. With their help, it only took a moment for the two guards to recover and latch the doors shut again while Julianne examined their visitors.
“William!” A tall woman pushed back her hood, revealing a mess of red curls threaded with silver. She leaned in to give William a breathy kiss on the cheek and his face reddened. A brief memory flickered in Williams’ mind, and Julianne saw that they were more than just ‘old friends’.
Rather than probe, Julianne turned her attention to the others. They wore matching robes of sky blue silk, trimmed with silver thread. A symbol was embroidered onto the chest and back, one of the sun cresting over two hills. Something about it made Julianne’s stomach twist, though she made sure to cloak that reaction tightly behind her mental shield.
“You must be Selah’s replacement? I'd heard he'd left the Temple to a girl, but I hadn't expected one quite so young.” Donna ran her eyes up and down Julianne's small frame, her face neutral.
“I am Julianne, the Master of the mystics,” Julianne conceded, ignoring the subtle jab at her age.
“Well, we are glad to have made it here. The hike up that mountain was almost as bad as trekking through the Madlands. I expect the evening meal is still at the same time?” Donna asked before sweeping past Julianne in the direction of the great hall. “Ensure your people have enough for guests.”
Bristling at Donna's attitude, Julianne followed, nodding for the two guards to remain behind. Five robed figures trailed behind, silent, as they made their way through the Temple.
Donna strode into the hall with confidence, bestowing smiles and greetings on those she recognized, warmly introducing herself to those she didn’t. As her followers pushed back their hoods, Julianne caught more flickers of recognition from nearby mystics.
She delved into those minds and quickly learned the entire group were mystics from the Heights, trained when Selah was at his peak. They had all set off for various reasons; some to find new talents, others to learn and stretch their minds, and one because he was just plain restless.
None had been heard from in at least five years. All were well-liked members of the community, with friends and some even family, but they'd all just… faded away. That in itself wasn’t uncommon. Pilgrimages could last decades. The rustles of worries and discomfort were for another reason.
Julianne tried again to penetrate their shields, this time going for a quiet, older man instead of Donna. Nothing. Her attempts met an impenetrable wall, slipping aside as though the old man’s mind was made of glass. Julianne muttered a curse under her breath.
“Steady.” Danil appeared beside her, taking her arm and leading her back to her spot at the table. “There might be a reasonable explanation for this. Maybe they’re launching a new fashion line, and want you to model for them.”
“If they think they’re going to cause trouble here, they’re in for a shock,” Julianne grumbled. She gave up trying to use her magic on them, instead saving her energy in case it was needed later.
“It’s not like no one has ever been able to shield from you before.” Danil hesitated. “Have they?”
Julianne eyed him, raising her own shields to cover a memory of a man who’d done just that. He wasn’t even a mystic! He hadn’t just blocked her from his mind, he’d caught her heart, too. Julianne breathed deeply to keep her cheeks from coloring as thoughts of Marcus, the Arcadian guard, rushed through her mind.
“Friends! Thank you for welcoming us back into our home.” Donna’s voice carried over the pockets of conversation in the room.
Julianne hadn’t noticed the noise when she came in, but a quick brush against the closest minds showed every one of them locked down. The mystics were shielding so tightly it was making mind-to-mind conversations difficult, and the normally subdued dining hall was full of noise. If Julianne had a headache before, now it was bordering on a migraine.
“The Temple welcomes all who come in peace.” Julianne let the words drop with all the weight they deserved.
Had they come in peace?
Donna smiled. It did not reach her eyes. “We come not only in peace, but offering gifts. We have heard of your efforts, dear Julianne, and have come to join you in your fight. You will find our resources run deep.”
“Our fight? What fight?” Samantha, a middle-aged mystic called out. “Arcadia is safe, there's no fighting left to be done.”
A space cleared, leaving Donna alone in the middle of the room.
“Your fight against the Arcadians is not over, far from it.” Donna gave Julianne a small bow. “We fight not just the people, but the depravity of mankind, and the failings of those who are not blessed to know the minds of others.”
Donna turned to her audience. “For it is our power to read minds that allows us to rise above. Only we, who can truly experience empathy and walk in the shoes of another, are immune to the greed and treachery, the utter selfishness of the human race. Only we are fit to guide the people into a bright new future.”
“Not wearing that color blue with that hair, you’re not,” Danil mumbled.
Julianne raised an eyebrow. “What the hell are you saying? That we’re some kind of superior race?”
Donna shrugged, as if to ask what else she could possibly be saying.
“You know what?” Julianne stalked around the table and went to stand toe to toe with the other woman. “That shit sounds awfully similar to what Adrien thought. I assume you know who he was?”
Donna shook her head. “My knowledge of the recent battles is scant. The condition of mankind, however, is something I am well versed in.”
“He was a magic user who thought he was better than others. He thought his way was the right way, and damned anyone who disagreed. He trod on the weak and helpless, ground them into the dirt while climbing to a higher station.” Julianne paused, narrowing her eyes. “And he’s dead. I helped to take him down, because that kind of behavior is exactly what our magic is supposed to stand against.”
“Of course!” Donna smiled. “What a horrible man. We would never align ourselves with someone like that, and indeed, it was those exploits that brought us here. But please, we have had a long journey. Perhaps this would be best discussed in the morning?”
Julianne carefully shielded her next thoughts. The pretty woman looked as though she’d stepped out of a manor house, not undertaken a long journey. The few mystics in the room whose feelings could still be read emitted blatant distrust. Julianne was inclined to agree with them.
“Very well,” she said. “Morning. The guards will escort you to your rooms and refreshments will be delivered soon after. Be warned, we rise early.”
“We always have,” Donna said with a saccharin smile. “I’m sure by then we will have convinced you of the value of an alliance. Together, the New Dawn and the mystics of the Heights will rule the world!”
She took the arm of the first guard to enter and swept away like a lady in her own manor house.
CHAPTER THREE
Good grief, the girl is strong. Reva sent the thought to Donna’s mind directly, hiding the exchange from the other members of the New Dawn, and from the mystic guard escorting them to one of the visitors rooms. If she keeps pushing like that tomorrow, I don’t know if we can hold her off.
Don’t be ridiculous, Donna sent, her thoughts laced with irritated exhaustion. Julianne was strong, but they had the advantage… for now. All we have to do is keep that shield up. We’ve practiced this. She doesn’t know our methods, or our strength.
Reva bit her tongue. Their ‘strength’ was nothing but a parlour trick that enhanced their mental shield, and it relied on everyone in their group staying strong. Sure, they’d had a ton of practice… but never against anything like Julianne.
Stop it, Donna warned. We were sent here to do one of two things. As long as our shield stays up, we are safe.
And if it doesn’t? Reva thought timidly.
Back in the dining hall, the door banged shut, leaving the room in silence. One by one, minds unshielded to reveal an overwhelming current of unrest.
A thread of calm wove through, and Julianne traced it back to Margit, one of the older mystics present. Grateful for the prompt, Julianne copied the soothing waves, touching the minds of the most afraid first and moving on when that person had calmed. Despite Donna's absence, Julianne kept her thoughts locked down.
“You’re all worried,” she called out when the room had begun to settle. “Despite our recent discussions, I know we all feel the same way. People are not chattel. Everyone, no matter their status or whether they can use magic, deserves a good and fair life.”
“With wine and women and laughter,” Danil added with a grin. The room ignored him.
“We have disagreed on my choice to involve myself in the fight with Adrien, and I respect that. I know that even those who wish I’d stayed behind are just worried about our own safety, that none of you think another human should be controlled or enslaved just because of how or where they were born.”
“She didn’t mean it, though. Did she?” A younger man looked around for confirmation from his peers. “She doesn’t want to rule the world, just…” He trailed off at the glowering faces beside him.
“What do we do? Surely, you don’t agree with her?” a voice called out.
“Nor do we want to start a war with another faction of our own!” came a reply. Julianne recognized both as the speakers from earlier in the night.
“Or submit ourselves to such awful taste in robes.” Danil’s gripe caused a ripple of light chuckles in the nearby crowd this time. Leaning back, a satisfied smile on his face.
“Right now, we will do nothing,” Julianne assured them. “We will let Donna and her people plead their case in the morning. Maybe it’s just a case of mixed messages. Then, a meeting of the seniors will be called, and we will figure this out together.” She ran her eyes over the pale faces before her. “I promise, nothing will be decided by one person alone. Not this time.”
Tentatively, she reached out to gauge the mood in the room. She was surprised to feel, amongst the worry and fear, a sense of pride and security at her words. They respected her as their Master, she knew that. But proud of her? She had to fight to keep the color from her cheeks and was glad she’d left her mental shield up when the guests had left the room.
“Go and rest. Our visitors will be watched through the night and in the morning, we will see what they have to say.”
Julianne sat back down and took a long swallow of elixir, then pressed the chilled glass to her forehead.
J, you need to do something about those headaches, Danil sent.
What? The sudden mental intrusion took Julianne by surprise. It’s fine, just a little worried about the newcomers.
He’s right, Margit chimed in. You’re overexerting yourself. You might be stronger than the rest of us, but that doesn’t mean you’re smarter. Listen to Danil. He at least has a brain in his head.
Me? Brain? I reject that accusation, Danil retorted.
Margit was a mother figure to many of those who’d come to the mystics at a young age. Though her talent for magic was average, her sharp mind and firm manner made her perfect to address the needs of the children.
She helped with their schooling a little, teaching them history and politics, but also made sure their teeth were clean and clothes tidy, that they took to their beds at a reasonable time and made them up in the morning.
I’m fine. Julianne sent the words with confidence. She had been pushing herself harder, but she was getting stronger for it. A little pain was worth the extra power, and Julianne had a feeling she’d need every bit of it.
Very well, Margit sent. The door to the great hall creaked shut as the last of the mystics left, leaving Julianne with Danil, Margit, and Zoe. “But don’t come crying to me when you burn yourself out.” She enveloped Julianne in a tight hug.
“I won’t, Margit.” Julianne gestured for Zoe to come sit at the head table with them. “Do you think I did the right thing?”
Margit raised an eyebrow. “You want to know what I’d have done?”
Julianne laughed. “Turned them over your knee and spanked them, probably. They should be safe enough, but what about tomorrow? I can’t just let them run around the countryside if they truly do pose a threat, but how can I stop them without alienating half the people who live here? If I start imprisoning people on a gut feeling, I’m no better than Adrien.”
“This th
reat is a lot closer to home than Adrien was,” Margit pushed. “Those tree-hugging peace lovers will realize their options resemble a choice between a used chamber pot and a bucket of shit. They’ll come around.”
Zoe’s thoughts were loud enough that she didn’t need to voice them.
“No, Zoe,” Julianne said before anyone else could speak. “I won’t delay my trip. In fact, this makes it even more pressing.”
In two days, Julianne had planned a private pilgrimage. An old mystic named Artemis, one with an odd manner and not much talent but an obsession with learning, was recently seen across the Madlands. Though travelers from that direction were rare, the rumor had instantly piqued Julianne’s curiosity.
“You’re heading off on nothing but a rumor, and leaving us alone with that cult stalking the Heights?” Zoe asked.
“It’s more than just a story. I’ve spoken to four people who remember him—Margit included.” Julianne nodded at the older woman.
“I do remember Artemis, but damned if I know how you think you’ll find him. The man never was happy amongst people and could go days without being seen even here in the Heights.” Margit’s face softened fondly as she remembered him.
Zoe screwed up her face. “I still don’t think it’s safe. Not for you, or for us. Who knows how many more of those New Dawn people are roaming the countryside?”
“Zoe’s right. We need to discuss where to go from here.” Danil spoke slowly, but Julianne could feel his mind racing. “Tomorrow’s agenda, other than this mess?” he asked, knowing the others would have read his thoughts.
Danil wanted to begin training the younger residents basic self-defense skills and to re-examine the security measures put in place since the events of Arcadia.
Julianne nodded. “I think we need to discuss it, at least. I don’t want to scare anyone more than we already have.” With a deep sigh, she stood. “I miss the days when all we did was talk philosophy and drink elixir. I need sleep first, though.” Julianne stood and the others followed.