Seryn stepped up to him, glaring into his eyes. “The High One has ordered me not to treat him without your leave. He is willing to die to satisfy your sense of honor. I will not disregard his words.” She looked at Elam. “Nor should you.” Then she turned away and knelt beside Tal. Even before she laid her hand on his chest, she could feel the heat coming off his body. The sandbarb had been one of the largest she had ever seen. The amount of poison its twin stingers had delivered would be massive.
The moments dragged out. She looked up at Bartel again, but the man showed no sign of relenting. She wanted to rail at him, to slap him, anything to break through the hard expression etched on his features. How could anyone stand by and let someone else suffer when they had the means to stop it? The healer in her screamed for her to ignore Tal’s promises to these nasaiken and treat him anyway. But, as a friend, she could not. The two of them had been friends ever since they had been students and he had asked her about Andrya at one of the Gathering’s End festivals. She had subsequently introduced Tal and Andrya, and was delighted as their relationship blossomed and grew. And when he had been named High One, she could think of no one more deserving of the position, or anyone she would trust more with the safeguarding of Lore’s Haven and the people of Teleria. She refused to sully those years of friendship by disregarding what may very well be one of his last wishes.
They had to let her treat him. She turned to Bartel again. “Please! You must let me heal him! We are running out of time!”
Elam finally broke. “Bartel!”
“Very well!” Bartel said. “But for this purpose and this purpose alone. Any other use of power is forbidden. Do what you must.”
“Thank you,” Seryn breathed, as she turned back to Tal. Argent energy enveloped her hands as she sent her senses into Tal’s body. When she saw the amount of damage wreaked upon his flesh by the venom, her shoulders sagged and she quenched her power. She closed her eyes as she realized there was nothing she could do for him. She looked up at Brin and Borin and shook her head. They had waited too long. Over her shoulder, she said to the nasaiken, “It is too late. The poison has done too much damage. I cannot heal him.”
“I am sorry for your loss,” Bartel said.
Sorry? She could not believe what she had heard. It is your fault he will die! She felt a flare of anger, and was about to respond when a light touch distracted her.
“Seryn,” Tal whispered, “Brin, Borin.”
The two men knelt on Tal’s other side as his labored breathing filled the silence.
“High One?” Seryn said. “We are listening.”
She thought she saw him nod weakly. Then he said, “Although it has not been used in…in generations, I…I claim the Right of Succession.”
The three Loremasters exchanged puzzled glances. Although it was almost always the Circle’s decision as a whole as to who would be the next High One, the Right of Succession allowed a High One to name his or her own successor. But it had not been used in over two hundred years.
“We hear you, High One,” Brin said.
“As is my right, handed down from Agathon Saltor and the first Circle, I name my…my successor.” His eyes turned to her. “Seryn Shal will be the next High One.”
“Seryn Shal will be the next High One.” The words rang in her ears, echoing over and over again in her mind. High One? Her? The idea was ludicrous! She could not be the High One. As she stared at Tal, she realized her mouth was hanging open. She closed it and tried to bring her thoughts into order.
“High One,” she said, “I cannot take your place. Surely there is another who would be more suitable. Perhaps Brin,” she looked at the Ruby Loremaster, but his expression was unreadable, “or maybe Delani. The times ahead—”
“The times ahead will…require a healer’s touch,” he said, looking past her at Bartel and Elam. “I can think of no one whose talents will be more necessary.”
“But, High One…”
“I have cla…claimed my right, my friend. Please forgive me for placing such a burden upon your shoulders, but you are my choice.”
She bowed her head to him. “So be it. I only hope I do not fail your trust in me.”
“You have never failed my trust, Seryn.”
“Even now?” She could not help herself from asking.
“Even now,” he said. “I gave you little choice, after all.” A hint of a smile bent his mouth. “Of all of the decisions I have ever made, I have the greatest faith in naming you as High One. And if my death serves to heal the rift between us and the nasaiken, then I will be well satisfied with that as well.” His gaze moved to Brin and Borin. “See your High One,” he said, completing the Right.
They stood and bowed to her. “We will follow your wisdom, High One. May your power be exceeded only by your honor.”
"May the mantle of wisdom ever rest upon your shoulders,” she answered automatically. It was strange to think they were addressing her with that title. There will be much for me to become accustomed to. She looked down again at Tal, but his trembling had stopped, and his eyes stared, unseeing, at the sky.
This time she did not try to hold back the tears.
~~~
After the first waves of grief had subsided, she became aware of someone standing beside her. She looked up to see Elam staring down at his father’s body. She dragged her hands across her cheeks and stood, facing him.
“He is truly dead?” Elam asked.
“According to you, he has been dead for many years.” The words were out before she could stop them. She knew it was cruel, but there was little compassion in her at the moment. Were it not for their refusal to allow her to use her power, Tal would be alive now.
He winced as her words struck home. “You do not understand.”
“No. I do not,” she said. “You judged him without even hearing him. He came here for you. Because he has believed all these years that you were dead.”
“I thought—”
“Whatever you may have thought, it was wrong. As he has just demonstrated, your father loved you beyond life. It is unfortunate that it took his death to prove it to you.”
“My mother told me it was his decision to send me away. How could I doubt her? She was my mother.”
She softened a little. “Elam, I knew Andrya, and I loved her dearly. But she was raised in a small village, and was somewhat set in her ways. If she told you your father ordered you sent away…” She sighed. “Well, I am sorry, but she lied to you. Your father searched for you until the day your mother brought him one of your tunics, covered in blood, saying she had found it in the woods. Clearly, that was false.”
“But why? Why would she do such a thing?”
“I do not know. What I do know is that your father found the entire practice of banishment abhorrent and cruel. That is why the Circle ordered it ended under his watch. Our only failing was that we did not verify everyone had complied with our decree. That mistake cost Tal a son, and you a father. I am sorry.” She saw his lip beginning to tremble, and turned away, giving him what privacy she could. She looked at Bartel. “I will address your people now.”
“You have no right—”
“My father’s blood gives her the right!” Elam said from behind her. “You have always said the Circle hated us. My father gave his life to prove you wrong. You will let her speak.”
Wordlessly, Bartel and Elam stared at each other. Then Bartel’s gaze dropped to Tal’s body. After a moment, he nodded and stepped back. Seryn moved around him and looked at the nasaiken, standing a few paces from them.
“Tal Vardyn, High One of the Circle of Nine, is dead,” she said in a loud voice. “He died honoring your ways. He would not allow me to treat his wounds, even knowing he would die, because your rules forbade the use of dimsai. He considered his death his way of atoning for what you have endured these many years.” Several of the nasaiken looked at each other, exchanging glances she could not interpret. “You heard his words earlier. We did not k
now of this place. We believed the practice of banishment had been ended. We were wrong. What has been done to you is unconscionable, but we cannot change what has already happened. All we can do is try not to repeat such mistakes in the future. We come to you today with an appeal for help…” she hesitated as a thought occurred to her, “…and an invitation. I am Seryn Shal, Diamond Loremaster, and newly appointed High One of the Circle of Nine. On behalf of the Circle, I invite you to return to us.” Her gaze traversed the ring of men and women as they looked at her with expressions ranging from skepticism to suspicion to hope, some engaging in furtive conversations with their neighbors. She waited until the whispering died down before continuing. “We will contact your loved ones. If you cannot find a place with them, we will make a place for you at Lore’s Haven. You have just as much right to be a part of our society as any Telerian. Those who wish to come are welcome. If you prefer to stay here, that is your right as well. It is your decision to make.” As she finished, she could see a number of them looking at Bartel, as if awaiting his reaction. She turned to him, inviting him with her glance to respond.
Bartel looked at her, and then at his people, waiting for him to speak. Then he looked once more at Tal’s body. He gave a little shake of his head before turning to face them.
He took a deep breath, and released it slowly. “We may have misjudged the Circle. Or, at least, this Circle, and these Loremasters. A man has died to honor our ways, when it would have been very easy to set his word aside and allow Seryn Shal to treat him. I cannot say that I would have chosen his path. Such a man deserves our respect. My respect. And Seryn Shal, the new High One, could have also disregarded his orders and our ways so that she might save him, but she did not. She also kept the word we required of her. That too deserves our respect.” He took a few steps toward them. “This is not an easy life. It is not a life for everyone, even nasaiken. For some,” he placed his hand on the shoulder of a girl standing in the front, and gave her a troubled smile, “it is a new life, and I know it can be difficult to be separated from everything you know and everyone you have cared about.” He raised his head and looked around at them as he stepped back. “Therefore, any who wish to return may do so, with no ill will or hard feelings. As High One Seryn has stated, you have the right to make your own decisions. As for me, I will remain. I have been here many years. I have no place among the saiken any longer. This is my life, and this is my place. If you wish to stay, I welcome you. If you choose to go, I wish you well.”
Before the whispering conversations could resume, Elam stepped forward. “I will be returning to Lore’s Haven. Part of the responsibility for my father’s death rests upon my shoulders. It was my misjudgment that made him feel he had to prove himself to me, and he was willing to sacrifice himself to that end. To atone for my mistake, and to honor his memory, I choose to aid the Circle.” He turned to the Loremasters. “I am an accomplished smith. If you will show me what you need, I will make your staff for you.”
Bad News Travels Fast
Regor sat on his throne, clenching and unclenching his fist. If the situation before, with Nyala and Jason, had been unacceptable, the way things currently stood was absolutely intolerable. Groveling in front of Bodann while the man strutted and preened like he owned the world was simply more than he could stomach. The fact that Bodann had forbidden him to touch anyone upon whom he cared to vent his frustration only made matters worse. Use the anger. Never let it control you. He repeated his mantra to himself, trying to keep his thoughts in order.
Where had Bodann gotten such power? Although he had been strong for a saiken, which was the only reason Regor tolerated him, his power had been nowhere near as strong as an Altered. Now, he apparently even had enough to spare to allow someone else, like that Loremaster, to defy the Altered.
The first thing he had to do was to find out how Bodann became so strong, and either figure out how to reverse it, or duplicate it for himself. If that wasn’t possible, the next thing would be to find out how strong he really was. Were there limits to his power? Certainly, he was stronger than one Altered, but what about two? Perhaps two Altered would be more than Bodann could handle. Nyala would never join him, not even against Bodann, but—
“Well, that didn’t quite go as expected,” Bodann’s voice broke into his thoughts. “But it wasn’t a complete loss.”
Regor turned to see Bodann smiling at him with his hands on his hips. “What didn’t go as expected?” he asked. After they’d left Lore’s Haven, Bodann had told Regor to “go home and stay put” until he returned. He hadn’t said anything about where he was going, or what he planned to do.
“Oh, I thought to give Tal and his long lost boy a little surprise for their reunion. Tal decided to be noble, and now there’s one less Loremaster to play with.”
“You killed the leader of the Circle?”
“His own foolishness killed him,” Bodann said. “It was supposed to be his son.” He shrugged. “Well, the end result is the same, even if it did come earlier than I’d planned.”
“As long as you’re satisfied.” He could barely make himself say the words, but Bodann had to think he had accepted their new arrangement.
“Oh, I am. I am.” He frowned a little. “Although I do feel like sitting down. Would you mind?”
Regor forced a smile to his face Use the anger. Use the anger. “Of course not.” He stood and moved to the side. “Please, take my seat.”
“Thank you. We might make a gentleman of you yet.” He took his place on Regor’s throne. “Not bad. But I’m thinkin’ I’ll need somethin’ a little bigger, more grand.”
“Of course. It would only suit you.” Your ego, perhaps. He kept the smile on his face, even though his jaw was starting to hurt from clenching his teeth between sentences. “You know, I’ve been thinking. You should get Airam to serve you also.”
“Why would I need her? I already have you for amusement.”
The arrogance in Bodann’s voice made Regor’s blood boil, but he pushed it aside. “Forgive me if I underestimate your power, but surely it couldn’t hurt to have another to serve as your eyes, and to see that your will is enforced. Unless, of course, you are now all-seeing as well as all-powerful.” He wanted to spit as the words crawled across his lips.
Bodann stroked his chin as he considered Regor’s words. “Well, I can see across the whole of Teleria, after a fashion. But I suppose it couldn’t hurt to have someone else to handle the more mundane tasks for me.”
“Then with your permission, I will go find her.”
“No need.” Bodann closed his eyes for a few moments, and then Airam was standing in the room with them. Her eyes widened, shifting hues rapidly as she spun around to see her new surroundings.
“What is this? How did I get here?” Her gaze locked onto Regor. “What are you up to, Regor? And how did you bring me here?”
“I didn’t,” he said.
Bodann laughed. “I brought you here, but to be fair, it was Regor’s idea.”
She turned to him. “You? How could you do anything to an Altered without their permission?” She looked him up and down. “I thought you were dead.”
“Bodann isn’t the man he used to be,” Regor said. “I serve him now,” again, the words tried to stick in his throat, “and I think you should also.”
“Serve him? Me? What makes you think I’m going to serve anyone, much less this little man? For that matter, why are you claiming to serve him? Don’t you have it backwards?”
Regor flashed a look at Bodann. “With your permission?”
Bodann waved his hand at him. “Oh, by all means. Explain the situation to her.” He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
Regor pulled Airam a little ways away, although, for all he knew, Bodann could hear them no matter where they were. He would have to choose his words carefully.
“The first thing you need to understand,” he began, “is that Bodann is not the man you remember. He is much stronger. Much. He
is, and I speak from personal experience here, considerably stronger than even an Altered.”
Airam looked skeptical. “How would he have gained so much power?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t figured that out yet. But his power is undeniable.”
“Even so, how does this affect me? Or you even?”
“Airam, you know me. You know that I always pick whichever situation gives me the advantage. Right?” When she nodded, he continued. “Well, right now, the only situation that gives me anything even close to an advantage, and by that I mean keeps me alive, is to serve Bodann. So, I will serve him. I think you should, too.” He glanced over his shoulder at Bodann, but his eyes were still closed, almost like he was asleep.
He watched her eyes narrow as she looked at him. All of the Altered knew he was the strongest of them all. He hoped she understood that, if he couldn’t stand against Bodann, neither could she. But perhaps the two of them together might be enough, at the right time, to overcome Bodann. While he couldn’t take a chance on suggesting it while Bodann was right here with them, he would bring it up with her soon. The sooner he was out from under this man’s thumb, the better.
Then a wide grin spread over Airam’s face. “Well, lad, your devotion warms my heart, it does.”
“What?”
She laughed. He’s controlling Airam too! The thought that he could even control an Altered was extremely unnerving. Then her laughter stopped, and Bodann began laughing behind him. Airam staggered back a step, and then swung to face Bodann.
“How dare you! What are you that you can take over someone’s body like that?”
Bodann grinned. “I am the new god of Teleria. And you can either serve me, or…” He shrugged. “Well, let’s just say the alternative is a bit more grim.”
Airam glared at him, and then looked at Regor. “What have you gotten me into, Regor?”
“Regor quite probably saved your life,” Bodann said. “As he said, your only hope of staying alive is to serve me. It’s your choice, of course.”
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