I slowly turned my head to confirm what my senses had told me, but I was still in for a shock. There was more than the Gardener. Standing next to him was a young man of perhaps twenty-five or so, obviously Chahiran with bright blond hair and a deep tan that spoke of many hours outdoors. He looked vaguely familiar to me, but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why.
The Gardener extended a hand to me, gesturing me closer.
I smiled in return, and reached out and took his hand. It seemed to become easier each time I took a Gardener’s hand. I didn’t know if I was becoming more adept at this unique form of communication, or they were getting better at holding back. I suspected the latter was probably closer to the truth.
Once again, I was linked directly to another’s mind. This time, it was to the young man standing uncertainly before me. I looked into his eyes and saw a brief flash of his history. He’d been found by the Star Order when he was very young and incorporated into their Order. He worked with them diligently, never questioning the orders he was given or the tasks he accomplished, no matter how difficult it sometimes was for him to follow through on those orders. I blinked in surprise when a scene from the battle at the pool, nearly a year ago, flashed through my mind’s eye. That’s where I knew him from?!
Then another scene replaced it, of being in a struggling landscape with a Gardener by his side, patiently teaching him how to cultivate the ground and restore it to full health. I had the feeling that time passed for this young man before the Gardener gently withdrew the link until he was the only focus I had.
“This one is ready,” the Gardener stated with calm assurance. “He has learned all that he needs to. You must take him as your student.”
I swallowed hard at that. A former Star Order Priest...as a student. My mind boggled, but I knew better than to question the Gardener’s judgment on this. If he said this young man had learned the error of his ways, then he had done exactly that. I managed a nod. “I will.”
“This will be the last task that we will give you.” He did not smile, but his face seemed to soften. “Balancer, you have done the work we gave you, and you have done it well. With the redemption of this man, the balance has been restored.”
For a long moment, I couldn’t wrap my head around what he was telling me. “You mean...I’m done? That’s everything? The balance has been completely restored?”
This time he did smile, a small enigmatic curve of the lips. “There are other tasks that must be accomplished still, to keep the balance, but your part is finished. Garth,” the emotional overtone in his voice became very parental, like a doting parent, “you have brought joy to many people. Now it is time to enjoy the happiness you have won for yourself.”
I was too flabbergasted to form a response to that.
With a last, fond pat of his hand against mine, he released me entirely and stepped back. He touched the hand of the young man again, briefly, but I did not hear what last message he left with him. With a last nod of farewell to all of us, he disappeared into the earth as if he had never been there at all.
“Well.” Chatta came to stand at my shoulder, pulling me to my feet. She looked as thoroughly dazed as I felt. “I guess I don’t have to worry about you racing all over creation at the Gardener’s bidding anymore.”
Night perked up, tail swishing in an excited movement. “So does that mean I can finally go by my true name?”
I looked at him, a little startled by this sudden question. True, we had avoided using “Trivoxor” simply because we didn’t want power-hungry loons trying to bond as his Rider. Now that the prophecy was fulfilled... “Oh, you want recognition for your portion of the prophecy?”
“What portion?” Doss inquired of us with deep suspicion in his voice.
I smiled genially at Night. He’d started this. He could finish it.
Night drew himself up in the most formal pose I’d ever seen from him and stretched out one leg in an elegant bow. “I am the last son of Advent Eve, Mount of the Balancer: I am Trivoxor.”
A profound, shocked silence froze every magician in their tracks. They stared stupidly at Night for long moments, some of them forgetting to even breathe. Doss especially seemed to have trouble staying upright, mouth working but no articulate sounds coming out.
Night lifted his head again with a slight toss of his mane, nearly prancing in place with wicked delight. “Pleased to meet you,” he added impishly.
Balancer (Advent Mage Cycle) Page 32