Jason could hardly argue with him. Even now, the adrenaline rush was fading, and with it, the power of his shield. The wall of dimsai wavered, on the verge of collapse. Finally, he let his arms drop, his power vanishing along with his strength.
“Fine,” he said. “Here I am. Do whatever you want. I’m too tired.” He flopped back onto the bed and waited for Regor’s attack.
“Jason, Jason, Jason.” Regor shook his head as he pulled a chair out and took a seat. “I told you, I’m not here to fight you.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I want to help you.”
Jason pushed himself to a sitting position, giving Regor a confused frown. “I’m not sure I heard you right,” he said. “You want to what?”
Regor grinned at him. “I want to help you.”
“Uh, huh,” Jason said slowly. “Why? Wait a second.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed as a thought occurred to him. “You don’t like having to take orders from Bothan. You’re hoping I can do something to beat him.” He nodded as he realized Regor’s true reason for his visit. “You don’t want to help me. You’re hoping I can help you.”
“Very perceptive. But you’re missing the larger situation. In this instance, what helps me does help you and everyone else in Lore’s Haven, not to mention Teleria as a whole. You and I both know what will happen if Bodann wins.”
“Maybe so, but why would you want to change anything? You may have to serve him, but at least you’re probably on the winning side. There’s nothing I can do against him. So why come to me?”
“Because, to be quite honest, the man is insufferable. He’s arrogant, self-absorbed, and entirely too smug to tolerate. It’s like having Ekim and Haras rolled into one big disagreeable package.”
Jason couldn’t quite hold back a laugh. “Wow! If he’s going to bother you that much, maybe I should join him after all.”
Regor gave him a tight smile. “Amusing, but short sighted. Bodann is no longer interested in having you join him. I’d have thought that would be obvious to you by now. So, considering that, what do you suppose will happen when he gets tired of toying with you? What happens when you no longer amuse him?”
Suddenly, Jason didn’t feel like laughing anymore. He knew exactly what Bothan would do once he got tired of playing with him. But still, everything he’d learned about Regor told him the man would rather survive on the winning side than fight a battle he knew he couldn’t win.
“He’s going to kill you eventually, Jason. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I know. But I still don’t know why you want to help me. It’s not like we’re best buds or anything. It wasn’t that long ago that you were threatening to kill me yourself. So, even if I do end up beating him, what makes you think I wouldn’t come after you next?”
“Because, Jason, I don’t really believe you want to kill me. In fact, I don’t think you want to kill anyone at all. As far as what happened before, well, I was angry. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I had just found out that the woman I’ve loved for centuries had betrayed me, and it hurt. How was I supposed to feel? But it wasn’t right of me to take my anger out on you, and I sincerely apologize for my actions. You’re just a young man who got thrown into the middle of a bad situation through no fault of your own. Now everyone’s expecting you to save them.” Regor gave him a sorrowful look. “It’s really not fair for them to expect so much from you. This isn’t even your world. Why should all this fall on your shoulders? But I know you want to help them. That’s the kind of young man you are. So, why don’t you let me help you help them?” He leaned forward in his chair. “Do you know what the most compelling reason I have for wanting to help you is?”
“Self-preservation?”
“No. It’s because I trust you.” Regor chuckled at Jason’s incredulous expression. “It’s true. I believe you are a much more rational and reasonable person than your ancestor could ever hope to be. And I believe you are much more honorable than he is too. I believe if someone helps you, you’re the kind of person who wants to help them in return if and when you can. If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t be offering this. By helping you, I am, quite literally, placing my life in your hands.” He stood and bowed to Jason. “I hope, if we can find a way to beat your ancestor, you and I can sit down and work out our differences. There is absolutely no reason for us to be at odds with each other.”
Jason blinked and gave his head a little shake when Regor had finished. Wow. Now I know what Nyala was talking about when she warned me about his smooth talking. But something still wasn’t right. There had to be a catch to this somewhere. Something that would help Regor. Something besides just getting out from under Bothan’s control.
“Okay,” he said, “let’s say I’m buying all this. How can you help me?”
“I can tell you how Bodann became so powerful.”
Jason didn’t answer for a moment as Regor’s words sank in. If they could find out how or where Bothan got his power, maybe they could undo it. Or maybe they could do the same thing and match him. That would at least give them a fighting chance. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something. There still had to be a catch.
“Alright, how did he get so strong?”
“He died.”
Oh, yeah. There it is.
*****
“Absolutely not! That is out of the question!” Reyga waved his hands in the air as he spoke. “He is just trying to trick you, Jason. Surely, you can see that?”
Seryn pursed her lips as she considered what Jason had just told them. They were back in the Circle chambers, which had been finished the day before. Upon hearing of Regor’s visit, Seryn had called for an immediate meeting of the Circle so that all could hear what Regor had told Jason. Although the idea of being able to match Bodann’s power was intriguing, the method Regor proposed screamed deception. Looking at the skeptical expressions the others wore, it was clear she was not alone in her belief. Regor had been against them from the start. Regardless what he may have told Jason, it made little sense for him to change his position now.
“I must agree with Reyga,” she said. “Rather than an offer of help, this sounds much more like a way for Bodann and Regor to rid themselves of you without actually having to take any action on their own. To me, that would imply that they still see you as a threat to them.”
“I don’t see how I’m a threat,” Jason said. “Bothan is doing whatever he wants to me, and I can’t stop him.”
“The potential must still be there,” Lenai said. Along with the Loremasters, Seryn had asked her and Captain Gatlor to attend as well. Nyala and Nivek were present also. Jason had already told Nyala of Regor’s visit.
“Then why hasn’t he just gone ahead and killed me?” Jason asked. “I’m sure not strong enough to do anything right now.”
“You said yourself Regor was an eloquent speaker,” Seryn said. “Considering your past dealings with him, does it not seem more likely that this is just a way for him to manipulate you? It would not surprise me to find that he is actually acting under Bodann’s orders.”
“You must not allow your judgment to be clouded by the things he says, Jason,” Nyala said.
“I guess, but that still doesn’t really explain why he hasn’t killed me already if I’m such a threat.”
“Perhaps,” Gatlor said, “he fears your death at the hands of another could trigger the same increase in power as he experienced after our encounter.”
“Maybe. But Regor said Bothan thinks he got so strong because he died just as he was going through a portal. If I’m not in a portal, then how can I become as strong as him?”
“That is an assumption on his part,” Seryn said. “I doubt Bodann actually knows if the portal played a role in his change or not.”
“You doubt, but you don’t know for sure.”
“True,” she said. “But I find this explanation more plausible than Regor’s sudden change of heart.”
Jason scow
led at the ground. “Yeah, I guess. You’re probably right.” His gaze returned to her. “So what do we do now?”
Another voice broke in. “My suggestion is to make your peace in whatever way you find most comforting.”
Seryn spun around to see Bodann standing at the door to the Circle Chamber, flanked by Regor and Airam.
The big man paused for a moment as he looked around at them. Then he gave a dramatic sigh and shook his head. “I come bearing unfortunate tidings. Although I will remember our time together with a certain measure of fondness,” he said, “I’m afraid it must come to an end. The game is no longer entertaining, and I must be about forging the new Teleria.”
“The new Teleria,” Brin said, taking a step toward Bodann. “And how do we fit into this ‘new’ Teleria?”
“Well, there’s the rub,” Bodann said. “You don’t.”
“Meaning what?” Seryn asked.
“Meaning the Circle’s time is at an end.” He shrugged, and then looked at Delani. “Are you sure you won’t join me, Del? You dinna have to be a part of this unpleasantness.”
Seryn glanced at Delani and saw the anger blazing from her eyes as she raised her chin. To her credit, when she answered, her voice was firm and unwavering.
“I would prefer death.”
“Aye,” Bodann said with a nod. “Well then, that is exactly what you shall receive.” He surveyed the room again. “Being the gentleman that I am, I will graciously give you one day to make any preparations you may need.”
“You will forgive me if I fail to see the ‘graciousness’ in telling us we are to die tomorrow,” Seryn said. “Why kill us at all? We are little threat to you.”
“Threat? No, of course not. You are an annoyance. Like insects buzzing about. But I know, if I let you live, you will spend every waking moment trying to think of some way to defeat me. It will never happen, of course, but I really dinna want the bother.”
“I wish I could say I’m surprised that you are a part of this,” Nyala said to Regor. “But I’m not surprised at all.”
“I know a winner when I see one, my dear,” Regor answered.
“Indeed,” Bodann said. He clapped his hands together, rubbing them briskly. “So, I’ll be back tomorrow just after Second Meal. You have that long to make your goodbyes.” He started to turn away, and then hesitated. “Oh,” he said, “and as I’ve said before, dinna waste your time trying to hide from me. There’s no place in all of Teleria that I canna see. It would only prolong the inevitable. Better to meet your fate head on.” Then he and the others vanished.
No one spoke for several moments. Then Jason turned to her. “So, I’ll ask again. What do we do now?”
Seryn searched her mind for an answer that stubbornly refused to reveal itself. The idea that, after all they had been through during the last cycle, after all they had endured, it had all come down to this was simply unacceptable. And yet, no matter which way she looked at their present situation, the outcome appeared unchanged. No! I must not simply give up. There had to be a way. She refused to believe that all they could do was wait for their eminent demise. The silence in the room penetrated her thoughts as she realized they were all waiting for her answer. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.
“We fight,” she said. “We have the Blood Iron staff, plus the Blood Iron ore gathered after the Manarach attack. We have the nasaiken who returned to us.” She looked at Jason. “We have Nyala and Nivek. And we have you, Jason. Regardless what happens tomorrow, we will not simply await Bodann’s pleasure.” She scanned their faces as she spoke, seeing determination slowly beginning to take the place of dismay. “To the last breath, the last drop of blood in our veins, the last traces of honor and love in our hearts and souls, we will fight.”
High Noon
Reyga jerked awake, startled to see the early morning sunlight streaming into his room. Although it seemed unlikely at the time, he had apparently dozed off sometime during the middle of the night. Sleep had been elusive, held at bay by the multitude of thoughts crowding his head and demanding his attention as he tossed and turned in the dark. He would not have even gone to his room had Seryn not ordered it. The healer side of her insisted the Loremasters try to get some rest, as they would need every ounce of their strength today. I wonder if any of the others had more luck getting rest. He inhaled deeply, smelling the fragrances that, of late, he had come to take for granted. Now, he savored every whisper of scent that drifted through his window from the flowers, trees, and bushes outside.
He crawled out of bed, got dressed, and started his day. Possibly my final day. The thought was inconceivable. Although he tried to make each moment last, the morning seemed to fly by in a blur. There was little they could do by way of preparations. The meeting of the Circle after First Meal had lasted mere moments, or at least that was how it felt looking back. Seryn had spoken with Elam and the other nasaiken in the keep, who agreed to do whatever they could to help the Circle against Bodann and the Altered. What that might be remained to be seen. Hopefully, the staff would prove to be a potent defense. But would it be enough to overcome three adversaries as strong as or stronger than the Altered?
Without quite knowing how, he found himself dawdling over Second Meal, poking absently at food he had no desire to eat. Across the room, he saw Seryn sharing what could be her last meal with her mother and sister. Not far from her, Loremaster Brin and his two sons sat eating and sharing quiet conversation. As his gaze wandered the room, he saw the Loremasters who had loved ones sharing meals, conversation, sometimes long hugs, with those dear to them. Although they had agreed not to tell their families about what could soon happen, the Loremasters knew these could be their final moments with them, and were making each precious second count.
Lenara had returned to her home to gather some things she thought would be helpful. To her credit, she had set her differences with the Circle aside, and promised to return just after Second Meal, to stand with Reyga and the Circle against Bodann and the Altered. I should have told her to stay there. But the feelings that had been rekindled upon seeing her would not allow him to be so selfless.
“So, has anyone come up with an awesome plan to beat Bothan?” Reyga looked up at the sound of Jason’s voice. He gave Jason a half-hearted smile as he and Lenai took seats on the other side of the table.
“I am afraid not,” he said. As he looked at them, his smile relaxed and became more heartfelt. Although he had no real family other than the inhabitants of Lore’s Haven, if he had to pick anyone to share his final meal with, it would be Jason and Lenai. “Do you have any ideas, Jason?”
“Not unless we can distract Bothan with a big plate of haggis.”
“Haggis? Is this a weapon of some sort?”
“Depends on who you ask,” Jason muttered. Then he shook his head. “No, never mind. I wasn’t being serious. I don’t have any ideas.”
“Ah.” Reyga nodded. “Well then, I suppose we will simply have to hope for the best.” He saw Jason shake his head at a server who had approached with a plate of food. “You are not eating, Jason?”
“Not really hungry, y’know?”
“Indeed.” Reyga pushed his plate away. “I find my appetite rather lacking as well.” Across the room, Seryn stood and gave her mother and sister a long embrace before turning and almost running from the room. With a heavy sigh, Reyga stood as well. “I suppose we should make our way to the courtyard.” He saw the other Loremasters rising from their seats also.
The walk to the courtyard seemed to take forever and yet no time at all. He returned greetings from those they passed in the halls who, although they did not know precisely what was about to happen, knew something momentous was preparing to take place. The very atmosphere of the keep seemed to crackle with worry and apprehension.
They entered the yard, and Reyga’s heart almost skipped a beat when he saw Lenara moving along the base of the walls. Along with the Loremasters that were already there, Gatlor, Seerka, and Cal
ador were also present, conferring quietly off to one side. Archers stood at the ready along the walkway overlooking the courtyard, and the last members of the Circle were just arriving, moving to join the others in the center.
Reyga’s attention returned to Lenara. She was placing stands, each with a large crystal mounted at the top, in a large circle just inside the walls. The stands were similar to the ones she had used when she attempted to remove his dimsai. She made a minor adjustment to the angle of one and then looked up, giving him a smile as she saw him watching her. She walked over to join them as the rest of the Loremasters filtered in.
“Well,” she said as she stopped in front of Reyga, “are we all ready?”
“Oh, yeah,” Jason said. “I can hardly wait.”
Lenara gave him an amused look. “Have faith, young man. We are not dead yet.”
“Do you believe your crystals will be able to absorb their dimsai?” Reyga asked.
“I believe between my crystals, the nasaiken, and the Blood Iron staff, we have a very good chance of defeating Bodann and his Altered,” she said. They turned as Elam entered the courtyard carrying the staff. A score of nasaiken followed him carrying loaded sacks over their shoulders.
“There. You see?” Lenara said. “I highly doubt Bodann knows what awaits him and his lackeys.”
“I hope you’re right,” Jason said.
They walked over to where the Circle had gathered. Seryn was speaking with Elam as they approached.
“So, you know what to do?” Seryn asked.
“Yes,” Elam answered. “We will be ready.” He gave Seryn a slight bow and moved back toward the wall. The other nasaiken had already taken up positions all around the yard.
Before Reyga could say anything to Seryn, Nyala and Nivek appeared.
“Get ready,” Nyala said. “Bodann is coming.”
“No, lass,” a loud voice said. “Bodann is already here.” Reyga spun around to see Bodann and the two Altered in the middle of the yard, a handful of paces away from where the Circle stood. Airam’s eyes were like small suns, shifting throughout the spectrum, the colors continuously matched by the hems on her clothing. Regor’s darkness was absolute, offset by flaming eyes that now seemed to blaze white-hot. Bodann must be sharing his power with them. If they were dangerous before, they would be doubly so now.
Soul of Power Page 22