“That is not possible!” she managed.
“And now your wisdom fails you,” Lenara said, without looking up from Reyga. “For you to claim something is not possible when you see it with your own eyes does not suit one with your training.”
Meryl felt her cheeks warm. “Forgive me,” she said. “Clearly, what you are doing is indeed possible. I just do not understand how. I was taught that once a saiken is attuned to a certain discipline it cannot be changed.”
“As was I,” Lenara answered, as she ran the dimsai back and forth between Reyga’s chest and head. “It was not until I was able to pursue my own studies, unhindered by the strictures of the Circle, that I discovered the truth.”
“Which is?”
“That it is possible to cross the boundaries between the Orders. It is not easy, and not all can do it. In truth, I imagine there are very few who can accomplish it, but it is possible.”
Cross the boundaries? The thought of mastering more than one discipline left Meryl speechless. Did the Circle know this? No, of course not. They would not withhold such knowledge. But how much power could one person control? She looked at Lenara again, noticing that she had stopped moving the emerald power back and forth, and was now focusing it on Reyga’s head.
“What are you doing now?”
“Do you know why victims of backlash often do not survive?” Lenara asked.
Meryl shook her head. “No. It is something we have never been able to learn.”
“When a person trains with a specific Order, they become attuned to the power associated with that Order. So much so, in fact, that if their connection to that type of dimsai is broken, they cannot survive. Backlash disrupts that connection, many times severing it completely. This is what has happened to Reyga. This is why the healers fail. They cannot do what I am doing.”
“And what are you doing?”
“I am attempting to restore his connection to the dimsai of the Emerald Order.” She quenched her power and stepped back. “We will know momentarily if I was successful.”
Meryl watched intently for signs of any changes in Reyga’s condition. As the moments dragged out, her hopes that Lenara had been able to help the older Loremaster waned. Then Reyga drew a sudden, deep breath of air and his eyes opened. He blinked rapidly and glanced around, looking confused. Then his eyes found Lenara, and his breath caught.
“Lenara? Do I dream? Is it truly you?”
“No dream, Reyga,” Lenara said, laying a gentle hand on his cheek. “I am here.”
He covered her hand with his own. “Oh, Lenara, I am so sorry. Can you forgive me?”
“There is nothing to forgive. In truth, I should be asking forgiveness of you. I reacted too harshly at my home. After I had time to consider, I realized what happened was not your fault, but that of the power within you.”
“Still, I—” His gaze went past her to the motionless figure on the other bed. As his eyes widened, Meryl could almost see the memories come rushing back.
With a look of horror, he whispered, “What have I done?”
The Nasaiken
Tal peered into the woods to either side of the trail. He, Seryn, Brin, and Borin, along with Captain Gatlor and a number of Warders, were trying to find the nasaiken village. Lenara had told them it was located in a forest at the edge of the Riftlands. She had also told them how to get there through the woods surrounding it, so they could portal to a location nearby, rather than having to travel overland through the Riftlands.
He was trying to stay focused on their mission, but the idea that he could be mere moments from seeing a son he had thought long dead refused to be ignored. I should have kept looking. The words kept running through his mind. Yet another decision for him to question. They had been coming with cruel persistence, one after another, over the last few sixdays. Withholding information from Jason Bennett, which almost caused the boy to join Bodann, and had possibly cost Loremaster Chon his life. Waiting to tell the Circle of the attacks by Bodann’s forces, after which another village had been destroyed. Sending the Loremasters into dangerous territory to gather a substance that would render them unable to defend themselves, leaving four Warders dead. Only the intervention of the outcast Manarach had saved the Loremasters themselves. It seemed on every turn, his decisions turned out badly.
And now, finding out that Elam was still alive! The knowledge only served to further cloud his judgment. Perhaps I should step down as High One. It had never been done before. No High One in good health had ever voluntarily abdicated the position. But how could he endure it if another of his decisions cost more lives? These were perilous times, with the Altered having returned, and he already felt the weight of too many deaths bearing down on his shoulders as it was. Then another, more troubling question arose in his mind. If I had kept looking, and found Elam, would Andrya still be alive today? The thought shook him so much he almost walked off the trail into the trees before catching himself.
“High One?” Seryn asked from behind him.
“Forgive me,” he answered quickly. “I was lost in thought and not paying attention to my steps.” That was certainly true enough.
“That is far enough, saiken.” Tal jerked to a stop and scanned their surroundings quickly as a voice came from the woods somewhere up ahead. About twenty paces further along the trail, he could see that the path opened up into a clearing, and a few building were just visible through the trees. Captain Gatlor and his warriors drew their swords and took up positions around the Loremasters.
“Greetings,” he called, although the speaker remained hidden. “We are—”
“We know who you are,” the voice said. “Why are you here?”
“We have traveled here from Lore’s Haven. We seek the nasaiken. We need their help.”
“You have traveled for nothing,” the voice said. “We have no reason to aid those who turned their backs on us and cast us out.”
“Then you are the nasaiken. I understand your reluctance to aid us.” He spread his hands in appeal to the unseen man. “In truth, I have another reason for coming. I wish to see my son.”
“And who is your son?” the voice asked.
Brin stepped forward. “If you know who we are, then you know the answer to your own question!” he shouted. “What is the point of pretending otherwise?”
For several moments, there was no answer to Brin’s challenge. Then the voice said, “Come forward to the end of the trail and stop there.”
They moved to where the path opened into a small clearing. From there, they could see a number of buildings beginning about twenty paces from the edge of the trees. A group of men came out from behind one of the buildings, while two other groups of men and women, all armed with bows or swords, emerged from the trees on either side of the party. Gatlor and the Warders moved between the Loremasters and the nasaiken as they eyed each other.
One of the men in the group by the buildings took a step forward. “The saiken may come forward, but your escort must stay where they are,” he said.
“High One, I mistrust this,” Gatlor said.
“I understand, Captain,” Tal said, “but we must earn their trust if we hope for their help. To do that, we must first display trust ourselves. Remain here.”
Although the frown on his face betrayed his thoughts, Gatlor nodded and stepped back as Tal motioned for the rest of the Loremasters to follow him.
When they were a handful of paces from the men that had come out of the village, the first man held up his hand for them to stop. “I am Bartel, the chosen leader of the nasaiken. You are Tal Vardyn, High One of the Circle. Now that the pleasantries are over, you will tell me why you come to our place, and why you think we should do anything except take you prisoner.”
“This is the greeting you give the High One of the Circle of Nine?” Brin asked in a grating voice.
“I care nothing for the Circle. It is at the Circle’s bidding that we are here, torn from our family and friends. In this place, whic
h we have made our own, your titles are as meaningless as your power. We have but to lay our hands on you and your power will be useless.” Several of the other men began to step forward.
“Useless you say?” Brin asked tersely. He spread his hands, which were suddenly bathed in crimson. Tal felt a vibration in the ground underneath his feet. “We will see how useless it is.”
With a rumbling explosion of earth and rocks, two massive boulders erupted from the ground, lifted into the air and hung there, suspended by Brin’s power. The Loremaster motioned with his hands, and the two stones moved forward until they hung directly over Bartel’s and another man’s head. Bartel’s gaze never left the Loremasters.
“Now,” Brin said, “if you wish your men to lay their hands on me to nullify my power, you have but to order it. Afterwards, you can tell me how useless our power is. That is, if you are able to speak at all.” He let the boulders drift downward until they were less than an arm’s length above the two men.
Bartel turned to the others. “You see? This is how saiken believe we should all be treated. Those without power are nothing to them.” He turned back to the Loremasters. “Do what you will. We do not fear you.”
Tal closed his eyes as he forced down his initial reaction to Brin’s display. “Enough, Loremaster Brin. This gains us nothing.”
Brin left the rocks suspended over the men’s heads long enough that Tal thought he was going to have to repeat himself. Then the two boulders flew off to the sides, crashing loudly, but harmlessly, to the ground.
“Nasaiken or no, they should still show respect to the High One of the Circle of Nine,” Brin said.
“In what way have we earned their respect?”
“High One?”
Tal turned to him. “Had we—” He took a deep breath. “Had I served my office faithfully, these people would not be here now, separated from all they hold dear. We have failed them. I have failed them, and I cannot say that I would feel any differently were I in their place.”
“You judge yourself, and us, too harshly, High One.”
“Do I? Look at them. See the hate and mistrust in their eyes and tell me we did everything in our power to put an end to the banishments. We sent out our proclamation and assumed the people would abide by it. Clearly, they did not. And just as clearly, we did not fulfill our sworn obligation to all of the people of Teleria, not just the saiken in Lore’s Haven.” He turned back to Bartel. “Although it is many years overdue, I ask your forgiveness on behalf of the Circle and myself. I give you my word; we knew nothing of your plight.”
A second voice broke in. “The word of a man who would abandon his own blood is worthless here.” Another man stepped forward from the back of the group and stood beside Bartel, crossing his arms as he glared at them. One look at his eyes and Tal knew. Although they were older and harder, they were the same eyes he had first looked into so many, many years ago. Tal’s world shrank until he only saw the man standing before him. Over the pounding in his chest, he managed one word.
“Elam.”
*****
Ignoring Lenara’s and Meryl’s protests, Reyga pushed himself into a sitting position, every ounce of his attention focused on Jason’s still form. Only their physical restraint prevented him from attempting to walk over to the table Jason was on.
“Reyga,” Lenara said, “you know you are not at fault here. You were not in control of your actions. Do not think to take responsibility for this.”
Empty words. How could he not feel responsible? Oh, to be sure, a part of him, in the back of his mind, understood that she was right. Regor’s power had overcome him, controlled him. In truth, he barely remembered coming back to Lore’s Haven. Other than brief flashes here and there, the last memory he had, before waking up here, was looking up from the shattered remnants of the nasaiken shackles into the dancing flames of Regor’s eyes. But regardless of that, what had been done here had been done by his hand. It mattered not who had been controlling it.
“Is he…?” He could not bring himself to finish the question.
“He lives, Loremaster Reyga,” Meryl said. “Loremaster Seryn was able to heal his injuries. It is her belief that he will be well. Now it is just a matter of waiting for him to awaken.”
He released a shaky breath. At least Jason’s death would not be on his conscience. He only hoped Jason would understand that his actions were not of his own volition. Although, he could hardly blame Jason if—
“Well, well. What have we here?” A familiar voice yanked Reyga’s attention away from Jason. Bodann stood at the end of the room. Regor’s shadowy form stood to one side of him. Lenara moved between Reyga and Bodann, while Meryl and Lenai, dagger now in hand, put themselves in front of Jason.
“Bodann,” Lenara said. “What are you doing here?”
“Ah, Lenara. How nice to see you after all these years. You look well.”
“Thank you. Now answer the question. Why are you here?”
“I came to see how my patient was faring.”
“Your patient?” Reyga asked. “And who would that be?”
“Why, the lad, of course. After all, I did save his life.”
“Saved his life?” Meryl asked. “Loremaster Seryn saved his life. Not you.”
“Did she now? Well, lass, the truth of the matter is that Loremaster Seryn had already failed when I stepped in. I pulled the boy back from the brink o’ death. You should be thanking me. If not for me, Regor’s little trick would have succeeded, and Jason Bennett would be dead.” He looked at the group, and, when no one answered, he added, “You’re welcome.”
“So do you once again serve the Shadow Lord?” Reyga asked.
Bodann smirked. “Actually, he serves me now.”
“What?”
“Tell him,” Bodann said to Regor. “And while you’re at it, you should apologize for trying to kill the lad.”
“I serve Bodann,” Regor said. Although Reyga could not see his expression through the shadows surrounding him, he sounded like he was speaking through gritted teeth. “And I apologize for using you, Loremaster Reyga, in my attempt to rid myself of Jason Bennett.”
“There now,” Bodann said with a smile. “All better.”
Lenara looked back at Reyga, a crease between her eyebrows. He saw Meryl and Lenai exchange glances as well. He had to agree with their unspoken thoughts. Something was terribly wrong here, and it could not possibly bode well for Lore’s Haven and Teleria.
“What are you up to, Bodann?” Lenara asked.
“Now, Lenara. You’ve always known my mind. We had many a talk about the way Teleria has been run by the Circle. I’m going to change that.”
“How?”
“A splendid question. That is why I am here,” Bodann said. “I have come to address the Circle.” He turned to Meryl. “You’re a spirited lass. Would you be so kind as to let the other Loremasters know?”
“They are not all here,” she replied.
“No? And where would they be?”
Reyga glance at the others. No one spoke.
Bodann sighed. “Before you go gettin’ any ideas, consider this. There are seven people in this room. Aside from myself, there are only three that I really want alive. One of them is with me. That leaves three of you that I will not hesitate to kill if I dinna get an answer to my question. Where are the other Loremasters?”
“Very well,” Lenara said. “The High One and several members of the Circle have gone to see the nasaiken.”
“The nasaiken? Well, that should be an interesting meeting. Why?”
“The High One has recently learned that his son, whom he thought dead, is alive and living among the nasaiken. He has gone in hopes of seeing him.”
“Alive? Really? Why, that’s wonderful! I’m very happy for him. So, tell me. Where would I find the nasaiken?” His smile vanished as his voice lowered ominously. “I do love a good family reunion.”
*****
Tal moved toward Elam, raising his arms t
o embrace his long lost son. He stopped when Elam lifted his chin and took a step back, staring at Tal with eyes like ice. Of course. He believes I abandoned him. Why would he welcome me? The thought sent a fresh pang of loss through his heart. The coldness in Elam’s eyes did nothing to appease the ache. Clearly, the young boy who was once so proud of his father no longer existed. As he lowered his arms, Tal could think of nothing he would not do to have that son back once more.
Bartel stepped forward. “You have given us your word that you knew nothing of this. As Elam has stated, the word of a saiken carries little weight among us. However, if you wish us to hear what you have to say, we will test your word. Are you willing to meet our conditions?”
Tal did not hesitate. “Yes.”
“Very well. While you are here, neither you, nor anyone with you, will use any dimsai without our leave. None at all, for any reason whatsoever. So long as you can abide by that restriction, we will hear you. If you cannot, we will know what worth a Loremaster’s word holds.” He looked over his shoulder at Elam. “Elam and I will speak privately with you, High One, and one other. The rest will wait at the edge of the clearing. If that is not acceptable, you can be on your way.”
“It is acceptable. We will use no power while we are here.” Tal looked at each of the Loremasters in turn to be sure they understood. Then he motioned to Borin. “Loremaster Borin, will you join me?”
Borin’s surprised glance jumped from Tal, to Seryn, to Brin, and then back to Tal. Although he looked more than a little apprehensive at Tal’s invitation, he said, “Of course, High One.”
The four of them moved away from the rest, leaving the nasaiken eyeing the remainder of the party with unveiled suspicion and contempt. Once they were out of earshot, Bartel stopped and turned to Tal and Borin.
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