“What are you doing?”
“I am practicing Reshtok, a ritual of quieting one’s mind and centering one’s self. I moved over here so as not to disturb or be disturbed.”
“And I interrupted. Sorry. I’ll go away.”
“Please stay. I have been wishing to speak with you.”
“About what?” Jason asked. “Wait. Before we talk, can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Well, don’t take this the wrong way, ‘cause I don’t want you to be mad, but I have to ask, because I can’t tell.”
“Tell what?”
“Well….are you a guy or a girl?”
Nekoor laughed, or barked, Jason wasn’t sure which, and then said, “Of course. Being a Far Planer, you would not know how to discern the differences. I am female.”
“Ah. Okay, well, thanks. So what did you want to talk to me about?”
“And what are you two doing over here away from everyone?” Seerka’s voice interrupted as he walked up with a smile on his face. “My dear Nekoor, I hope my presence is not the reason for your separation.”
“Of course not,” Nekoor said. “I was just telling young Jason that I had moved over here to practice the centering ritual of Reshtok.” She glanced at Jason with an unmistakable twinkle in her eye, and then turned back to Seerka. “Perhaps you would care to join me?”
“Join you?” Seerka said, blinking a few times. “Well, I am not—”
“Oh, I insist,” Nekoor said, getting up and guiding Seerka to the other side of the small fire. “I think you will find it very helpful and relaxing.”
“I am certain—”
“In truth, once our mission here is over, I would be happy to extend my stay so that we could do this on a daily basis. At least until you are able to do the ritual on your own.”
“Actually,” Seerka said, ducking out of Nekoor’s grasp, “although I am certain this would be delightful, I just remembered something I need to discuss with Captain Gatlor. Perhaps another time.”
“Of course, of course,” Nekoor said. “Whenever you are ready, you have simply to let me know.”
“Oh, I shall,” Seerka said, retreating back to the main fire.
“What was that all about?” Jason asked. He’d never seen Seerka look so uncomfortable.
Nekoor motioned for him to sit beside her. Once he was seated, she leaned close, speaking in a low voice.
“The Ferrin derive no small amount of enjoyment from goading my people, always under the guise of extreme courtesy. In my years, I have found the most effective way of stopping such behavior, and even annoying them in return, is to be exceedingly nice to them.” She gave him a toothy smile. “It confuses them no end, and amuses me greatly. Most react in much the same way as Seerka, suddenly finding somewhere else they need to be,” she finished with a chuckle.
“That’s pretty smart,” Jason said, returning her grin. “I would have never thought of something like that.”
“Well, it is not our natural reaction,” she said. Then she stiffened and turned toward Ishadon. “Something approaches.”
Jason stared into the darkness, and then jumped up as Lenai stumbled into the ring of firelight. Her left arm hung lifeless at her side, and there was something odd about her right hand. It looked larger than normal, and she was holding something in it that looked like a feather. He was vaguely aware of Nekoor shouting something, but was too focused on Lenai to pay attention. He ran toward her as she staggered and almost fell, but caught herself. Meryl reached her an instant after he did, and immediately took Lenai by the arm and guided her to a seat by the larger fire.
“Lenai, what happened?” Jason asked, sitting beside her. He had been trying to pay attention to what he was sensing through their bond, but, although he had sensed wariness and a moment of surprise, nothing had given any indication she had been in trouble. There had never been any fear. The others gathered around as Meryl examined Lenai’s injuries. Jason didn’t know what was wrong with her arm, but by the light from the fire, he could see that her right hand was one large mass of blisters.
“I cannot feel my arm.”
“Tell us what happened,” Gatlor said.
“The building where the gemstone is has become a lair,” she said. “I have never seen creatures like these.” She held up the feather with her blistered hand. “They are not very fast, but they shoot these like arrows and their blood burns like fire. This one struck me in the arm. I lost feeling immediately where it pierced my flesh, and the poison spread as I made my way back. I killed the creature, but my hand was covered with its blood.”
Meryl reached for the feather. Lenai couldn’t open her fingers, so Meryl had to tug it free. Soft argent light enveloped her hand and the feather as she examined it.
“A few more of these and the creatures would not need to be fast,” Meryl said. “The toxin is designed to paralyze. One would assume that would allow the creatures to feed at their leisure. You are fortunate that only one hit you, but even so, we need to get the poison out. Having this will make it easier.”
She searched Lenai’s arm until she found where the quill had struck her. Laying the pointed end of the quill against the skin close to the puncture, she increased her power until it spread over Lenai’s entire arm and shoulder. Jason watched as drops of yellowish fluid began discharging from the wound and running back into the hollow shaft. When the final bit of poison had returned to the quill, the small hole in Lenai’s skin closed, and Meryl ran her hand lightly up and down Lenai’s arm. When she finished, the argent glow faded.
“How does your arm feel now?” Meryl asked.
Lenai carefully flexed her arm and fingers. “The feeling is returning,” she said.
“Good. Now let me see that hand.”
Jason watched as, under the glow of Meryl’s power, the blisters shrank and faded until Lenai’s hand was back to its normal shape and size. She opened and closed her fingers and then nodded to Meryl. “The pain is gone. Thank you.”
Meryl smiled. “I am glad I could be of assistance.”
“Now,” Gatlor said, stepping forward, “how many of the creatures were there?”
“I am uncertain. I saw eight, perhaps ten, but more were coming out of the lair when I left. Their numbers could be much higher.”
“How did they find you? Were you concealed? Did they smell you or hear you?”
“No. I discovered too late that I am unable to remain invisible in the city. Apparently, the Blood Iron nullifies that ability as well.”
“Hmm.” Gatlor stared at the ground for a moment. “Perhaps our leather will protect us against the barbs.”
Meryl shook her head. “After examining the quill, I do not believe even your leather will be defense against them. They are extremely sharp and strong, and the depth of Lenai’s wound suggests they are propelled with significant force, enough to pierce your leather.”
“Then we must devise a way to distract the creatures so that we may enter the lair to retrieve the diamond.”
“May I see the feather?” Calador held out his hand to Meryl. With a puzzled look, she handed it to him.
He examined it, turning it over in his hands to see both sides. Then, with a sudden motion, he jabbed it into his bicep.
“Calador!” Meryl exclaimed.
“What are you doing?” Nekoor asked.
“A test,” Calador answered. Jason looked at the quill sticking out of the giant warrior’s arm. Although it stayed in his flesh, Jason saw that it only went in a fraction of an inch.
“An interesting sensation,” Calador rumbled. “Wait,” he said, as Meryl reached for the feather. He flexed his arm a couple of times, and then looked at Lenai. “How long did it take for you to lose the use of your arm?”
“Not long. Although I retained feeling in my hand for a time, I became unable to move my arm shortly after I left the city.”
Calador nodded slowly, still flexing his arm. After a few moments, he pulled the quill out. The sha
rp end had shattered, clearly unable to pierce the natural armor underneath his skin. “I believe I may have a solution to our dilemma.”
*****
Delani concentrated on directing her dimsai so that, instead of coming from her entire hand, it came from her first finger only. She had never tried to narrow the focus of her power in such a way, but after numerous failed attempts to get free over half the night, this was the only option that appeared to have any hope of success. She knew the Blood Iron would absorb her power as soon as it emerged; she hoped if she held her finger against the silk, and concentrated her dimsai, she would be able to burn part of it away before her power was captured. If she could get even one hand outside of the trapsilk, she could burn it away from the outside. At that point, it would have to pass through the silk in order to be absorbed by the Blood Iron.
The cave was almost pitch black. Only a hint of light came from the entrance; not enough filtered into their chamber to break the darkness. She looked down, unable to see exactly where her finger pressed against the silk, and called up her power. A brief glow of purple, and a small flash of crimson and yellow sparks told her the idea had worked. She poked her finger though the new hole and nodded.
A commotion outside tore her attention from her task. Agitated chittering sounds came from the entrance, and then began growing fainter. Apparently, whoever, or whatever, was making the sounds was getting further away. She moved her finger over slightly and called up her power again. As before, a small spot of the silk burned away. It would take time, but this might just work.
“Iz good plan, but never get free in time,” a quiet voice said from the darkness.
She gritted her teeth in frustration. The creatures moved so quietly, she had never heard the guard enter the chamber.
“No fearz. No movez. No zoundz.”
She flinched as the buzzing, clicking voice spoke again, this time from right in front of her face. Its approach had been completely silent. She heard a faint scraping sound and felt a mild tug on the trapsilk, and then, suddenly, her right arm was free. It was cutting her loose! She almost fell forward as the remaining silk holding her shoulders and other arm came lose, but the creature’s hand pushed her back against the wall of the cave. A moment later, she was standing on the ground, although her muscles were so weak she had to put one hand on the cave wall to steady herself.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“No zoundz,” the creature insisted. “If you want live, ztay zilent.”
In the blackness of the cavern, she dared not move. She called up her power, and in the brief flash before it was absorbed into the cavern walls, she saw that the Manarach had just finished cutting Brin down and was working on Borin. Muffled whimpering from the shadows alarmed her, but when she called up another burst of power, she saw the creature had its hand over Borin’s mouth as it cut at the silk holding him.
“No zoundz!” it said again as darkness reclaimed the chamber.
A moment later, she felt several thick strands of silk pressed into her hands. “Hold,” it said. Then she felt it wrapping more silk around her waist, and heard it tell Brin and Borin to hold also. Apparently it was stringing them together. Then, a tug on the silk in her hand. “Follow.”
She could not imagine why this creature was aiding them, but that was a question best saved for when they were safely away, if that was indeed the Manarach’s intent. She knew silence was their ally, but they could not leave without what they had come for.
“We cannot leave without the Blood Iron,” she whispered.
“What iz?” it asked.
“The rocks in our bags. It is vital that we have them.”
“Rockz,” the creature muttered. “Humanz needz rockz.” She heard muffled sounds, stones clicking together, and then silence again.
“Now come.” She felt another tug on the silk, and followed.
Instead of going toward the entrance, the creature led them deeper into the darkness. She held the silk with one hand, and held her other out in front of her to keep from running into anything. She could feel a hand on her shoulder, but did not know if it was Brin’s or Borin’s. After walking for what she was sure seemed longer than it actually was, she saw faint light ahead. A few more steps and they walked out into the dim light of Teleria’s moons. She sent a mental command to her hawk to rejoin them, and then she turned to their unexpected benefactor. The creature had wrapped all of their bags into one large sack of silk, which it now dropped to the ground as it turned to them. It was bare from the waist up, and crossed scars marked both sides of its chest.
“Now you take rockz and go,” it said.
“Why are you helping us?” Brin asked.
“Iz wrong what queen iz doing. Humanz, Manarach, zhould not be enemiez. Zhould join, make peaze.”
“Peace? Do others share your feelings?”
“I alone. Am outcazt for thiz.”
“Outcast?” Delani asked. “Then how did you get into the cave to free us?”
“Found zrrsta beazt. Much wanted by my people. Very tazty. Made run by guardz. Guardz chaze. I go.”
She bowed her head. “We are in your debt.”
“No debt unlezz ezcape. Take rockz and go. Uze powerz to get away.”
“We cannot,” Delani said. “The rocks prevent us from using our power. We must go on foot.”
The creature shook its head. “Will be caught again when queen findz gone. Queen be very not happy.”
“Perhaps one of us could go back and get horses,” Borin said. “Then at least we could move faster.”
“No,” the Manarach said. “We catch eazy. Muzt uze power. Rockz important?”
“Extremely important. We are facing very powerful enemies who threaten not only us, but all of Teleria. The rocks may be our only hope of defeating them.”
The Manarach did not answer. It appeared to be considering her words. Then it nodded.
“I bring.”
“You bring? Bring what? The Blood Iron? The rocks?” Delani wanted to make sure she understood exactly what the creature was saying.
“If zo important, I bring. You go now. I bring to you.”
“You would bring the rocks to Lore’s Haven?” Borin asked.
“Yez. Three zunz. I bring. You watch.”
“You can get from here to Lore’s Haven in three days?” Delani asked. These creatures’ speed must be incredible.
“Three zunz, maybe one more. I come. I bring rockz.”
She exchanged a look with Brin. He shrugged in response. They really had no other alternative. It would do them no good to keep the Blood Iron with them, only to be captured again. She was sure they would not escape a second time. She turned back to the Manarach.
“Do you have a name?” Considering its offer, it was due some amount of respect from them.
It answered in a series of clicks and buzzes.
“I am sorry,” she said, “but I cannot pronounce that.”
It thought for a moment, and then said, “Call krrr z’an. It iz outcazt. I am outcazt.”
She gave the creature a formal bow, echoed by the others. “Krrr Z’an, you have our thanks. You have saved our lives, and perhaps all of Teleria. Your actions will not be forgotten. We will watch for you.” She nodded to Brin, who began opening a portal back to the Haven.
*****
Regor sent his senses out again as he stepped to a new location along the edge of the Riftlands. He had been monitoring Reyga’s movements by keeping track of his own reserve of power in the Loremaster. Then the old fool had gone into the Riftlands, the one place in Teleria that no Altered would ever risk entering. His frustration had grown as his sense of the Loremaster’s presence flickered in and out the further he went into the Riftlands. Then, the old man had vanished completely. As the light of day faded into night with no further sign of the Loremaster, Regor had decided to go looking for him. He knew Reyga wasn’t dead, because his power had not returned to him. If he could just get close enough, m
aybe he could still sense his reservoir of power in the man. Now it was just a matter of finding out where he was, and what had happened to interrupt Regor’s plan.
“I should have just killed the boy when I had the chance,” he grumbled as he probed the darkness. But attacking Jason Bennett through the bond he shared with the Shanthi had been extremely satisfying. And the irony of using one of Jason’s strongest allies against him was just too tempting to pass up. The boy deserved to suffer as much as possible for his impudence. Who was he to challenge the Altered? He was a mere human. A powerful one, yes, but a human nonetheless. And if Nyala—No…Airam, he reminded himself—hadn’t stuck her nose in where it didn’t belong, none of this would be necessary. His anger at being thwarted still simmered just underneath the surface. Underneath, but no more. Use the anger, but never let it control you. That was his guiding principal. Let the anger control you, and mistakes were almost always made. Keeping it in reserve, only allowing it full reign at the right time, usually yielded much better—and much more satisfying—results. And the right time was definitely coming for Jason Bennett and the others; and for Airam too, once he had no further use for her.
He sensed no sign of his power anywhere nearby. He clenched his fists, and then forced himself to take a deep breath and relax. Patience, patience. He would find the old man sooner or later. He stepped to the next spot and sent his senses out probing again.
Although, he had to hand it to Airam. It was a clever plan, and it had almost worked. Well, to be honest, it had worked on three of the others. If he hadn’t gone to verify that Nyala was still imprisoned, it quite likely would have worked on him as well. Fortunately, he had been able to expose Airam’s ruse and distract the boy enough to give him second thoughts about who he was actually helping. But then, while he was arguing with Airam, Nivek had grabbed Jason and the healer, and then somehow found a way to free Nyala and restore her to full strength before he could catch up to them. Now, as much as it galled him, the three of them had the upper hand over him and Airam.
“Nivek, Nivek. What are we to do with you?” he said into the silent evening air. Son or not, Nivek would have to be dealt with sooner or later for choosing the wrong side. He shook his head as he considered the two Altered opposing him. Their weakness was that they were still living in the past, expecting him to act like they were still one happy family. He, on the other hand, had moved on. Being a god demanded that all such past allegiances be forgotten, and that included blood ties. If Nivek and Nyala would have just realized that, as he had, they could have ruled Teleria together. He would have allowed that much in consideration of their past relationships. Now, once everything was said and done, he would be the only one left standing.
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