by Tamie Dearen
Head bowed and eyes closed, he called on his gift, stretching out his arms and speaking the summoning words. When he opened his eyes, the air shimmered in the rapidly dimming light, far away, just inside the river. A few breaths later, the air cleared, but he knew the barrier was still there.
Just in time.
The first four warriors rode through the invisible wall. The pull on Bardamen’s strength dropped him to his knees. Each successive warrior sapped his energy until he collapsed, gasping for breath, barely hanging onto consciousness. The shield would only hold the enemy gifts while Bardamen was awake to assert his will. His breathing slowed, as did his heart. He blinked, his eyelids as heavy as sodden blankets.
In a desperate attempt to remain awake, he slid his knife from his sheath, jabbing it into his thigh. Pain shot through his leg, bringing his heart back to life, hammering against his ribs. He welcomed the pain and the alertness that came with it. Each time he felt his consciousness fading, he twisted the blade, reawakening his mind.
Again and again, he wrenched the blade, holding the enemy gifts at bay, until the twist no longer elicited pain.
It was then he knew for certain he would not survive the night. That he would never have the opportunity to tell Meravelle of his feelings.
Please, God. Let her live.
**********
“At least Markaeus finally learned how to make a portal,” Charles yelled above the din. “It could be a good thing. It might actually go to Glaenshire like he claims.”
Kaevin rubbed his tired eyes. “I don’t know how Father lives like this, day after day,” he mumbled to Alora, as the excited arguing continued all around them. “I’ve only been responsible for Stone Clan for a few hands, yet I’m already exhausted.”
“Want to transport to your dad? See what he thinks?”
“I’d like nothing better than to ask Father’s advice, but I don’t wish to disappoint him. And also, I don’t wish to burden him. Father didn’t relish his duty in visiting Rivershire. He fears—no, he knows—what he sees there will be sickening.”
Though she only squeezed his hand, Kaevin felt a surge of courage and strength.
I wonder if she’s manipulating my emotions again.
He remembered Laethan’s directive that he must learn to trust his soulmate, yet a seed of doubt still niggled in the back of his mind.
She murmured from the corner of her mouth, “I know. I’m tired, too. I really just want to go to bed and get some sleep.”
Sleep. That sounds good. Perhaps I can convince everyone to put off this discussion until morning.
“I want that dangerous portal out of my house.” Karen Franks’ words came out in a crazy up-down pattern, with every other word emphasized in a high hysterical pitch. Then, in her typical fashion, she turned to Markaeus and spoke in a sweet voice, “Don’t worry, dear, I’m not angry with you. I know you didn’t make the portal on purpose.”
Markaeus flinched away when she tried to pat him on the head.
“It’s not dangerous if it really goes to Glaenshire.” Uncle Charles was clearly having a difficult time controlling his temper.
“Glaen-shire, Port-shire, Whatever-shire! It’s not safe for Daegreth if there’s a portal here. What if Vindrake comes traipsing into our home? Huh? What are we supposed to do?”
“Now, Karen, calm down, sweetheart,” Brian began. “I’ve got a shotgun that will handle anyone who so much as sticks a nose through the portal.”
Following through on his statement, Brian unlocked the nearby glass cabinet and selected one of the displayed weapons. Cracking the gun open and closing it again, he mumbled something about shells before marching out of the room, presumably to guard the portal.
“Why doesn’t anyone believe Markaeus?” asked Charles. “We needed a portal to that Craedenza place, and he made one.”
Kaevin grasped Charles’ shoulder, hating to dash his hopes. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. We determined that a new portal can only be formed from one gressor to another. Markaeus couldn’t have made a portal to Raelene because she isn’t a gressor. He only knows two gressors—one is Arista and the other is his grandfather.”
In the quiet following his words, each listener must have contemplated the ramifications of this idea. The portal must lead either to Arista in Laegenshire or to Faestus in Portshire. Only Doc’s muffled curse disturbed the pensive silence.
“You should put me in irons at once,” Daegreth declared. “I’m a danger to all.”
“Wait a minute. Let’s think about this.” Beth danced to the center of the somber circle, her auburn curls bouncing about as she spoke with emphatic gestures. “Unless Vindrake himself steps through that portal, Daegreth is perfectly safe. And you know if Vindrake attacks, he’s not going to risk himself. He’s going to send his warriors. So not only is Daegreth not dangerous, but he’s our best defense. Personally, I feel a lot safer with Daegreth guarding the portal, and that way we’re not gonna blow somebody’s head off when they come through.”
Kaevin considered Beth’s argument, and found himself in agreement, though Daegreth pressed his lips together in an angry white line.
“It’s true, Mom. Daegreth could easily defeat any warrior they send,” Wesley agreed. “And it’d be awfully messy to shoot whoever comes through the portal.”
“You’re right, Wesley.” Karen’s eyes were wide and round. “Blood spatter would make awful stains. I hadn’t considered that.”
“I doubt anyone will come through the portal at all,” said Alora. “They didn’t the last two times. We should probably just go through the portal with Markaeus and see where it goes.”
Squaring his shoulders, Kaevin stepped in front of Alora, calling on his budding clan leader gift to lend authority to his words. “I don’t believe we should make any rash decisions. The portal poses no immediate danger, as it is easily guarded. We’d be wise to travel through the portal with a force of armed warriors, prepared for whatever might be on the other end.”
He was gratified to see some heads nodding. “This will require consulting with the council. And hopefully, my father will return quickly from his duty on the border to add his voice. So let us adjourn until morning and let sleep lend wisdom to our decisions. Meanwhile, Alora can transport a few warriors here to stand guard for the night.”
Heavy footsteps pounded on the wood floor, growing louder as someone stomped down the hallway. Brian wore an irritated scowl and carried a shotgun on his shoulder. “Where is this portal thing? I can’t guard it if I can’t find it.”
“You’ll have to ask Markaeus to show you,” Alora said, twisting her head to look from side to side. “Where did he go?”
“Cripes! Markaeus is gone,” said Beth. “And so is the backpack.”
Kaevin’s groan vibrated in his chest.
No sleep tonight...
**************
Alora was glad Jireo and Arista didn’t act upset by their sudden transport. Fortunately, neither one had been in an embarrassing state of undress at the time. That thought hadn’t occurred to her until Jireo arrived shirtless. Arista was fully clothed, but had taken out her braid, so her blond hair flowed in a mass of long crazy curls, like the tangled tendrils of a jellyfish.
Alora hadn’t stopped to ask Kaevin before transporting the two, and she felt his disapproval and heard it in his thinly veiled jibe.
“How very efficient you are, Alora. As usual, your reaction time exceeds expectations.”
She tucked her lip to keep from pouting. “Well, I knew we needed a gressor and you needed your defender brother. I was trying to save time.”
Wesley’s mother ran off into the kitchen, ostensibly under a sudden compulsion to make tea for the newcomers. But Alora suspected Karen was overwhelmed—she always looked wide-eyed and panicky when she witnessed a transport. Beth took it upon herself to bring the siblings up to date on the events of the evening.
“Why didn’t you return the scroll to Laegenshire?” Aris
ta asked, efficiently plaiting her hair into a braid—messy, but out of the way. “Was that not the plan?”
Returning with a spare t-shirt, Wesley fielded her question. “That was before Alora lost her cookies. The scroll made her throw up—in spectacular fashion, I might add—and that means the scroll is bad news.”
“Have you attempted to transport Markaeus back here?” Jireo inquired as he accepted the shirt from Wesley and pulled it over his head.
Alora winked at Beth when she caught her ogling Jireo. Beth stuck out her tongue as her cheeks turned pink.
Hmmm... she said she liked Daegreth, but perhaps she hasn’t eliminated Jireo as a possibility after all.
Alora fielded Jireo’s question. “I tried to transport Markaeus, but nothing happened. I’m afraid that means he’s back with his grandfather.”
“I believe it means he’s absconded with one of my chains. He must have taken it from the foot of my bed on his way into the portal.” Daegreth appeared, clearly distressed. “I supposed I can be secured with one less chain, but you must be alert at all times. It wouldn’t do to come close to me if even one limb remains free.”
“That little brat! He must’ve tied that chain around his waist so I couldn’t stop him.” Alora fumed. “Didn’t he learn anything at all last time he did this?”
“He’s only been gone for maybe ten minutes,” said Uncle Charles. “Let’s just hurry and go after him.”
Kaevin spoke again, his authority firming in a way that made Alora proud. “Since the portal didn’t go to Arista, that only leaves Markaeus’ grandfather in Portshire. We’ll go at once, but we can’t follow him unarmed. We’re fortunate to have Arista here so we’re able to travel through the portal.”
Alora mumbled under her breath, “Oh yes, and thank you, Alora, for your quick thinking, bringing a gressor here to open the portal for us. You’re welcome, Kaevin. Glad to be of help. No need to shower me with praise, though of course I deserve it.”
“I volunteer to help,” said Brian. “It seems that scroll is our best chance of freeing Daegreth from Vindrake, permanently. Let me get our bows and arrows. Wesley, you know where we keep the knives.”
Brian dashed down the hallway, while Wesley disappeared inside the utility room.
“I left my stuff in the back seat of the pickup,” said Uncle Charles, his cowboy boots thudding on the floor as he clomped toward the front door. “Don’t leave without me.”
With a heavy sigh, Doc eased onto the couch and picked up the television remote. “Might as well make ourselves comfortable, Janice. No use going home when I’ll probably have to patch these people up after this is all over.”
Janice said, “Don’t get any ideas, Beth. You’re staying here.”
Beth heaved out a long-suffering sigh in response.
“Jireo, do you have your transportable knives?” Kaevin patted his own loaded belt, checking to be sure the leather ties were secure before pivoting toward Daegreth’s room.
“I’d already taken my scabbard off, as you might have guessed from my state of dishabille, ” Jireo replied, his eyes resting on Alora just long enough to let her know he’d appreciate a warning next time she transported him. Turning, he strode behind Kaevin.
“Hold on!” Beth trotted after Kaevin and grabbed a handful of his shirt, jerking him to a stop. “Shouldn’t you consult with somebody before you go dashing through that portal? Like the council? The way I figure it, if Markaeus could come back, he would’ve already done it. So he must be in trouble.”
“We can’t wait for the council’s input. By the time the council met and discussed it, and Morvaen decided which warriors to send, Markaeus would probably be dead,” Kaevin answered, shaking free of her grasp and continuing on his way. “And, as Stone Clan leader in my father’s absence, I have authority to make the decision.”
“Even if you’re not in Laegenshire?”
Beth followed so closely she collided with Kaevin when he stopped in midstride.
“My father has set up a temporary line of succession to keep order in Laegenshire, but I remain leader unless I hand over my authority, as my father did before he left,” he replied in a terse voice.
Beth held up her palms to his face. “Don’t get in a huff. I’m trying to make sure you don’t get in trouble, that’s all. You and Alora have been known to make a few hasty decisions in the past.” Bobbing her head with a pseudo bow, she twisted her mouth in a crooked grin. “Oh great leader of Stone Clan.”
When Kaevin bristled at Beth’s mocking tone, Alora stepped between them.
“He can’t help it, Beth. His leader gift makes him a little arrogant when it kicks in.”
“Yeah, but you love that strong macho-type, don’t you?” Beth teased.
Alora planted a kiss on Kaevin’s cheek. “I only love this particular brute.”
“We’ve no time for this,” he groaned, as he hurried into the bedroom.
They arrived to find Daegreth attempting to chain himself to the bed. “I’ve got both feet, but I need help securing my arm.”
Kaevin gripped the warrior’s shoulder. “Daegreth, will you swear by your life’s blood to protect Stone Clan and the friends of Stone Clan, to follow the rule of the leader and the law of Tenavae?”
He blinked in confusion. “I... I can’t really control... If Vindrake comes through—”
“I ask only whether you are willing to make the commitment. Will you profess your loyalty with your whole heart?”
Sitting up straight in the bed, his legs still bound to the metal footboard, his chin lifted as he answered. “I will.”
“Very well, by my authority as Stone Clan leader, I pronounce you a citizen of Stone Clan. And I order you to unchain yourself and stand ready to defend the friends of Stone Clan should any enemy attempt to exit this portal.”
Daegreth’s face darkened as he recognized the trap. “This is not a wise order.”
Kaevin shrugged. “You’re welcome to your opinion.”
“I’ll help you,” said Arista, popping the two locks that fastened the chains around Daegreth’s feet, sending the chains rattling to the floor.
“Stone Clan leader or not, Kaevin, I still hold you to the vow you made in this very room.” Daegreth’s jaw muscles flexed, and Alora wondered how his teeth didn’t break to pieces.
Kaevin lifted his chin, his gaze unflinching as he returned Daegreth’s glare. “I keep my promises. Do you?”
Alora made a mental note to ask Kaevin about this ominous-sounding vow when she got the chance.
The two men—for Kaevin no longer seemed like a boy—did a stare-down that lasted almost forever before a loud noise distracted Daegreth.
Brian bumped his way into the room, with his arms full of bows and quivers. “I’ve got my compound bow and Wesley’s and a spare straight bow. Who wants it?”
“Me!” Arista snatched it from his hands, slinging the quiver over her shoulder.
Wesley arrived, hefting a cardboard box full of knives, including two long machetes, which a delighted Kaevin declared to be almost as fine as a sword. He fastened the accompanying back holster over his shoulder and handed the other to Jireo when he returned from his conversation with Darielle. Brian bragged about the recent machete purchases and how he ordered them right off Amazon.
“I’m ready!” called Uncle Charles, who made a quiet entrance. Having ditched the cowboy boots for sneakers, he no longer clomped when he walked. “We should hurry. The longer we wait the less chance we have of saving Markaeus.”
Arista stepped up about a foot onto an invisible platform and held out her hand, leading the others into the portal, one by one, where they literally disappeared into thin air.
“Wait!” Karen yelled, running into the room in full panic mode. “Brian didn’t kiss me goodbye. We always kiss goodbye. It’ll be bad luck if—”
Leaping back out of the portal, Brian reached Karen in three long strides and planted a kiss on her lips. When the kiss lasted more than a sec
ond, Wesley called out from inside the portal, “Get a room!”
Laughing, his father climbed back into the portal, throwing an “I love you” over his shoulder.
Sensing a volcano of frustration building in Daegreth, Alora held back until last, laying a hand on his arm. Laethan had taught her the subtle difference between “manipulating a person’s emotions” and “empathizing while relieving an emotional overload.” Properly using her gift, she felt his emotions boil over and spill out through her, no more uncomfortable than having someone scream in your ear.
Though Daegreth was angry at Kaevin, Alora knew her soulmate had done him a favor—forcing him to take on a responsible role of protection. Daegreth struggled with a lack of purpose living in Montana, unable to utilize his gifting in any useful way, the same frustration Kaevin had fought in himself.
As Daegreth’s shoulders relaxed, she leaned in and murmured, “We’re not going to stop until we’ve figured out how to remove Vindrake’s bloodbond. It’s not just for you. It’s our best chance of defeating Vindrake. I’m really hoping the answer is in that scroll. Okay? Do you believe me?”
He nodded, swallowing hard. “Go. Find Markaeus. And the scroll. You needn’t worry about me.”
Alora took Arista’s hand and stepped into the portal. Looking back, she spied a very awkward-looking Daegreth placing his arm around Beth’s trembling shoulders. The last thing Alora saw before the portal door obscured her view was Beth’s lips as she mouthed, “Be careful.”
~13~
Finally!
Raelene almost called out loud in her excitement. Day after day she’d read through the ancient manuscripts, much of the time with Bardamen’s less-than-enthusiastic participation. She didn’t blame him for his obvious distaste of the task. Unlike her, Bardamen couldn’t call on a gifting in wisdom to ease the work. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she remembered how the young shaman had studied with more diligence whenever they were joined by Meravelle, who not only had wisdom gifting, but language gifting as well. The vivacious scribe had translated many parchments covered with strange scribblings under Bardamen’s close supervision.