“Okay. About what?”
“We want to be human again.”
The New Teleria
Reyga let Jason’s words run through his mind again as he mulled over what they had just heard. How could this be true? How could they have had it wrong for so many years? How much pain could have been avoided had we but known what the prophecy truly said?
They had gathered in the recently restored Circle chambers. All of the Loremasters were present, along with Jason, Lenai, Nyala, and Jason’s father, Bruce. Jason had asked that his father be present as well when he told them what they had learned about the prophecy. The two stood close together, with Lenai on Jason’s other side.
Reyga looked at Jason, shaking his head. “So, all this time, the prophecy has been wrong?”
Jason nodded. “Yeah. This whole time we thought it was talking about ‘a far land,’ when she actually said ‘McFarland,’ my ancestor’s last name.”
“So none of this needed to happen,” Seryn said, looking distraught. “None of those people needed to die. Tal Vardyn did not need to die. Had we but known, we could have dealt with Bodann from the beginning, and none of this would have happened.”
“No one had ever heard of the name ‘McFarland,’” Jarril said. “It is not surprising they assumed Taleth had said ‘a far land’ instead.”
Brin looked at Nyala. “Perhaps you could go back and correct it. Would that not prevent Bodann from betraying us?”
“Not necessarily.” Nyala gazed around at them. “As I have told Jason, I have learned that once the present is set, even if you change things in the past, events between then and now tend to make corrections to maintain the same present you came from, or at least similar enough that the difference is negligible. If I were to correct the prophecy, Bodann may gain his power, and his Altered ally in Regor, in a different way, maybe becoming more dangerous. Or, a different threat could appear to replace Bodann, perhaps one that would cause even more death and destruction than what you have already experienced.”
“Let sleeping dogs lie,” Bruce Bennett said, putting a hand on Jason’s shoulder. Reyga saw a little smile play across Jason’s face at his father’s words.
“Sleeping dogs?” Reyga asked.
“Dad and his sayings.” Jason laughed a little. “It means don’t go stirring things up without knowing what might happen. We know where we’re at now. We don’t know what might happen if Nyala changes the past.”
“Your father is a wise man,” Lenai said.
“I keep telling him that,” Bruce said, squeezing Jason’s shoulder.
Reyga smiled as Jason rolled his eyes.
“So,” Seryn said, “we are here. And for the moment, Teleria seems to be at peace. It is a time for new beginnings, and a time to right old wrongs.” She nodded to one of the Warders standing beside the doors. “Bring him in, please.”
The Warder opened the door and motioned to someone outside. Elam entered, carrying the Blood Iron staff. He looked around the room, a slight frown on his face, as if he did not expect to see all of them there. Then he stepped forward, holding the staff out in both hands, offering it to Seryn.
“High One, here is the staff as you requested. I only hope our united efforts will serve to mend the broken relations between the nasaiken and the Circle.”
“Your assistance was greatly appreciated, but I am afraid we must ask yet more of you in order to consider the rift between us healed.”
“More?” Elam frowned, clearly taken aback by Seryn’s remark. “What more is there? We risked our lives to assist a people who had turned away from us. And yet you ask for more? Were it not for my father’s final wish, I would give you this staff and return to my people.”
Seryn gave him a grave look. Reyga tried to suppress a smile, knowing what was coming.
“You misunderstand. We wish you to keep the staff.”
“Then what it is you want me to do?”
“We would like you to join the Circle.”
“Join…” Confusion reigned supreme on Elam’s features as he looked around at the Loremasters. His gaze came to rest on an empty seat among them, a seat that had not been there a few days before.
Now Seryn smiled. “Clearly, the voice of the nasaiken was not being heard in Lore’s Haven. We need to be certain that never happens again. I have already spoken with each of the Loremasters personally.” She looked around at the Loremasters, each of whom nodded as they met her eyes. “We would like you, Elam Vardyn, to be the tenth Loremaster. The Nasaiken Loremaster.” She indicated the empty chair.
“I…I do not know what to say.”
“Say ‘yes,’” Reyga urged. “Your father would be proud.”
Elam looked at him, and then his gaze dropped to the floor. After a few moments, he looked up at Seryn. “Although I hardly consider myself worthy to speak for all nasaiken, I accept.” He looked back at Reyga. “It is the only way I know to honor my father and what he died for.”
“Excellent,” Seryn said. She indicated the empty seat. “Take your place, Nasaiken Loremaster.”
Once Elam took his seat, the Loremasters rose as one and bowed to him.
As they sat back down, Seryn turned to the Warders by the door. “Send word across Teleria that there is a new Loremaster, and that, henceforth, we shall be known as the Circle of Ten.”
*****
Jason gazed around the hall only half paying attention to what he was seeing. Although Lenai had brought him here during his initial tour, they hadn’t stayed long and she didn’t tell him much about what was in it. Statues of men and women lined the walls, each holding a large gemstone cupped in their hands. Lenai had told him this was the Hall of the High, but hadn’t explained who the statues were supposed to represent.
His thoughts were on Nyala and Nivek. Alayn and Kevin, he reminded himself. They had told him once they were human again that they no longer wanted to be called by their Altered names, and would prefer to use their real names from before the Devastation.
It seemed odd that there were no more Altered. Although they had originally set out, with Airam impersonating Nyala, to eliminate the rest of the Altered, Jason always expected Nyala and Nivek to stay the way they were. Seryn had been a little surprised at the request as well, but had agreed to do as Nyala asked.
“We have been alive for over fifteen centuries, Jason,” Nyala had said when he asked her why they wanted to be changed back. “Everyone we used to know, except for Conrad, is dead and gone. Since you came to Teleria, you have given us the gift of new friends, in yourself and the members of the Circle. For beings like us, that is rare. We do not wish to outlive all of these friends as well.”
“But…what if I give Seryn too much power? You didn’t see what happened to Lenai. I almost killed her.”
“Nivek will go first. I will guide you and show you how much power is required. I am confident you will be able to do this.”
And he had, although seeing his allies encased in sheaths of dimsai made largely using his own power made him a little uncomfortable. They had asked him to do it, but the sight of them unconscious in the healing area afterwards—
“This is where we remember those who have served as High One of the Circle,” Reyga said softly from beside him, interrupting his thoughts.
The Circle was all here, along with Gatlor and a contingent of soldiers. Calador, Seerka, and Lenai stood with him. A large group of people Jason assumed were from Lore’s Haven were also present, gathered around the edges of the room.
“So all these statues…”
“They are former High Ones. We gather here today to pay our respect to Tal Vardyn, and ensconce him here among the others.”
As he finished speaking, Jason saw two saiken, members of the Diamond Order judging by their robes, enter the room with the body of Tal Vardyn floating in a gauzy cocoon of dimsai between them. Seryn and Radyn, Tal’s apprentice, now the new Pearl Loremaster, followed behind. They walked to a dais in the center of the room; at o
ne end of the dais was a large pile of white stone. When they reached the platform, the saiken gently lowered Tal’s body onto it, and Seryn stepped forward to face the Circle and the gathered throng.
“We are here to remember Tal Vardyn, High One of the Circle.” Seryn’s voice echoed throughout the chamber.
The crowd answered in whispered unison. “His wisdom shall be remembered.”
“Tal Vardyn gave his life in service to the Circle, Lore’s Haven, and to the people of Teleria.”
“His wisdom shall be remembered.”
“We gather today to say our farewells, and to honor him and his service to us.”
“His wisdom shall be remembered.”
“Tal Vardyn was High One of the Circle, but he was also one of us. If any present wish to honor him with their words, speak now, so that all may hear.” She moved back beside Radyn.
A thin man stepped forward from the crowd. “My name is Gerrid Carr,” he said hesitantly. “I was the one who first mentioned Brayden Fenn to the High One. He remembered my name, even though we had only met one time, almost a year before. Not many would have remembered a simple man like me. Tal Vardyn did.” He wiped his eyes and stepped back.
“His wisdom shall be remembered,” the crowd intoned.
An older man stepped forward. “My name is Thoris Realdyn. I was village elder of Arynn before it was destroyed. When I came to Lore’s Haven to tell of what had befallen Arynn, the High One treated me with respect, as an equal. Even in the midst of the crisis, he was never short with me, never stood on ceremony. He showed this old man a bit of kindness.” He stepped back.
“His wisdom shall be remembered.”
One after another, men and women stepped forward to tell their stories about Tal, each story met with the whispered refrain from the rest. Jason was amazed at how many there were who spoke of Tal’s kindness, gentleness, and humility. More than one speaker had to wipe away tears as they spoke. I never really knew him at all. Obviously, the circumstances surrounding his and Jason’s meeting, and subsequent events, never gave Jason the chance to know the man these people were describing. As he listened, Jason realized the loss was his.
Finally, the last one had spoken, and Seryn stepped forward once more. “Although Tal Vardyn projected an air of confidence, he was ever questioning himself; always wondering if he should have done something differently, if he could have done something better. His driving concern was for the welfare of those under his care. He always wondered if he had done enough. Listening to you this evening, I believe we know the answer to that question. No one engenders such love and respect unless they are doing something right. Although his wisdom has gone from us now, it shall not be forgotten, nor shall he. His wisdom shall be remembered.”
“His wisdom shall be remembered.”
Seryn touched Radyn’s arm, and the two of them went to the pile of stones, each selecting one. The Loremasters moved to follow. Reyga put his hand on Jason’s arm, urging him forward to join them.
“Wait, I don’t know what to do,” Jason said.
“Just do as the others do.”
“Are you sure? I mean, I’m a Far Planer. Should I be taking part in this?”
“As much as any Telerian, perhaps more, we have you to thank for our victory over Bodann and the Altered. So, to my mind, yes, you should. I believe Tal would want it this way, and I would challenge any to say differently.”
Jason shrugged and fell in line in front of Reyga. He watched as Seryn and Radyn laid their stones beside Tal’s body. He noticed the men and women of Lore’s Haven falling in line behind the Circle.
One by one, they laid their stones beside Tal’s body, surrounding the still form from head to toe with a mound of white marble. When all had passed by the body and contributed their stone, they returned to their previous positions, while Brin stepped forward. Radyn took a step back, and Seryn moved to the side of the dais. As argent light bloomed around Seryn’s hands, she extended them over Tal’s body. The light poured over his chest and down his arms. Then, as Seryn moved her arms, Tal’s arms copied her motions, until both pairs of hands cupped air in front of them, like the statues lining the walls.
Brin stepped to the base of the platform, and crimson power erupted from his hands. He sent his power flowing along the stones surrounding Tal’s body. As Jason watched intently, the stones began to deform, like wax melting. The liquefied stone flowed up and over Tal’s body, eventually covering every inch until it seemed that a perfect likeness of Tal, cast in stone, now lay upon the dais. Once the stone encompassed Tal’s hands, Seryn released her power and stepped back. Brin intensified his power, and Tal’s body, now completely encased in white marble, lifted to a standing position, and then floated upward until it was a few inches above the platform. Maintaining his power, Brin guided the new statue toward an empty base by the wall. Once there, he lowered the form, and the stone around the feet merged with the base.
When Brin extinguished his power, Radyn stepped forward carrying a large pearl, which he placed in Tal’s outstretched hands.
“His wisdom shall be remembered,” the crowd said. And with that, the ceremony was over, as some moved forward to look at the new statue, while others made their way toward the exit.
Lenai had departed with Gatlor and the others, so, after telling Reyga goodbye, Jason started walking back to his room, still thinking about the ceremony. As he walked, a bug began buzzing around him, distracting him from his thoughts. He waved a hand at it, but it continued flying and humming around his face and head. He flapped both hands at it, and even moved over by a window away from the main stream of people returning to their quarters, but it still refused to leave him alone. Oh, drop dead, he thought, waving his hands again.
The buzzing stopped.
Jason frowned, puzzled. The buzzing hadn’t faded away, like the bug had flown off. It was loud, almost right in his ear, and then it had simply…stopped. He looked down to see the large insect on the ground at his feet. He nudged it with his toe, but got no response. Did I just think it dead? Cool! But then he had another thought. What if that had been a person I was annoyed with? Is there a chance I could do that to them too? The idea that he could kill someone without even trying, or even meaning to, was frightening. And Bothan was stronger than me. The more he thought about it, the more disturbed he became. What if someone else got that kind of power? Someone who meant to use it that way. It had already happened twice. What was to keep it from happening again? And if it did, what would they do then?
“Jason? Are you well?”
He looked up to see Lenara standing in front of him. You may be just the person I need to talk to. “I’m not sure,” he said. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Certainly.”
“Reyga says you probably know more about dimsai than anyone. Is that true?”
“Well, that would be difficult to say, as I do not know everyone in Teleria,” she said with a smile. “But if there is anyone who knows more about dimsai than I do, I have yet to meet them.”
“Do you have a little bit of time? I need to talk to you.”
*****
Seryn walked through the halls of Lore’s Haven, along with the other members of the Circle. They were headed to the plateau at the back of the keep, although none of them knew why.
“And Jason told you nothing of why he wanted us to meet him there, or why we needed to bring our staffs?” she asked Reyga, who was walking beside her.
“The only thing he said was that he knew of a way for us to never have to worry about someone like Bodann or even the Altered ever again.”
“His timing could have been better,” Brin said, “but if he can prevent us from having to go through such events again, I will not complain.”
They made their way to the plateau to find Jason waiting for them, along with Lenara and Lenai. Seryn wondered at Lenara’s presence, but gave no outward sign.
“Thanks for coming,” Jason said.
“Considerin
g all you have done for us,” Reyga said, “it was the least we could do.”
“Reyga tells us you have found a way to keep Teleria safe,” Seryn said.
“I hope so.”
“What is your plan?”
“Well, it’s kinda drastic, but it’s the only thing I could think of that might work. I asked Lenara about it, and she gave me some ideas.”
Seryn glanced at Lenara. Although Lenara had always claimed to support the Circle’s ideals, her methods could be questionable, at best. From what Reyga had told her of Lenara’s experiments, the thought that she may be the guiding force behind whatever Jason was proposing did not inspire confidence. “What ideas?” she asked.
“I think I can make is so that nobody has power but the Circle.”
“You would make everyone nasaiken?” Jarril said, sounding alarmed. Seryn echoed the feeling. If that was Jason’s plan, it was unacceptable. She started to add to Jarril’s remark, but Jason continued before she could say anything.
“No, no. That’s not what I meant,” he said. “Sorry. I said it wrong. Everyone would still have power, but only up to a certain limit. There would still be saiken lo and all of the other kinds, but only the Circle would be able to exceed that limit. In fact, you would be stronger than you are now. Not as strong as an Altered, but definitely stronger than now.”
“How would you accomplish this?” Reyga asked. “Would you need to change us similar to how the Altered, or yourself, were changed?”
Jason shook his head. “No. Nothing would be done to you. The triggers would be your staffs. Whoever had the staff would be able to use the power it controlled.”
“And what if someone else were to obtain one of our staffs?” Brin asked.
“They still couldn’t use it,” Jason said. “Only the person wearing the jewelry can use it. Reyga’s ring, Seryn’s bracelets, Kalen’s…thing around his neck, and all the rest. The staff would be linked to the jewelry so that only the person wearing the jewelry could use the staff. I’ve never seen any of you without your jewelry, so it seems like it should work.”
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