Thread Strands (Golden Threads Trilogy)

by Leeland Artra

  ‘Explore your disciple later.’ With that came the understanding that he could find Illa, no matter where she might be, in comparison to himself, in the entire universe. More interestingly, he could pull her mind there and interact with her as Kliasa did with him and Ticca.

  ‘You are my grandfather, the All-Father God Argos.’

  ‘Yes.’ Images of his mother, father, grandmother Lothia, and some of their interactions came with that simple statement.

  He looked around and found Argos’s energies near him. ‘Where are you, really?’

  ‘In time, you may learn. I do not need rest now.’ Instantly, he received the ominous knowledge that he may need to step in for Argos, should his grandfather’s strength or mind start to fail at their task, as it was his mother’s duty before him. He knew then that Argos and his direct relatives had a responsibility that would never die, and something inside of him resolved to be prepared, should his turn come. A feeling of pride came to him from Argos.

  ‘You begin to understand. That is for later. Now, you must comply with the laws of Gods.’ In came a flood of laws he was required to follow. His mind spun at the volume of rules and the levels of detail to many of them. There were ways to bypass many of them, but the circumvention always had to be justified. He also understood Argos was the enforcer of the laws and would never ignore anyone who broke one of the laws, no matter how minor. Three other Gods, always chosen at random, would judge if the actions of the law-breaker were justified or not. Argos would enforce their ruling ruthlessly. There was also a council, or ruling body of Gods, known as the Circle, which was responsible for maintaining the rules of Gods.

  He had hundreds of marks of study ahead just to learn the basic patterns of the laws. If he could cry, he might have, when he saw the rule about Gods not being allowed to use the mana lines for magical work other than to replenish themselves, if they were starving, or for necessary actions, should they not have enough power from followers. His cleaning spells had absolutely no justification, as they were merely for comfort.

  ‘I need time to study these.’

  ‘You have the means here.’ He understood he could pull the ‘year in a night’ trick that Kliasa had used for him earlier by coming between.

  ‘I shall learn and obey.’

  ‘The others come for judgment.’ Fear gripped him as the understanding of that came into his mind. He had pulled magic from a mana line and activated a cleaning and comfort set of incantations without need.

  ‘I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to do that!’

  ‘Ignorance of the laws is no defense.’ Councilor Nillo’s words came back to him: ‘The Gods do not allow ignorance to excuse unlawful behavior, and many countries have incorporated that into their own laws. As a representative of Argos, you will be held accountable far more than most. Be careful and always learn the laws as quickly as possible.’

  Argos looked away as if dealing with something. Kliasa reached out to him. ‘Hail Lebuin, Son of Waylen and Alia, Grandson of All-Father Argos and Lothia. I greet and welcome you.’

  ‘You know who I am?’

  ‘I have known of you since before you were born.’

  ‘Did you know my parents?’

  ‘No. I wish I had known your mother and father, but I died before I could meet them. I knew of you through what I learned by observing Magus Vestul.’

  ‘Magus Vestul knew me?’

  ‘Oh, yes. He watched over you with great interest and secrecy. He also was a good friend of your father and mother. In fact, it was your father who procured the old sharre for him as a gift for Duke.’

  Just then, three other entities came near him. He did not recognize any of them. All three touched Kliasa. He heard no words, but he sensed a great deal of emotions exchanged between the three new entities and Kliasa. Kliasa also shared something with them. Can it be that everyone of power knows, respects, and loves Kliasa?

  The first entity’s attention slipped away from Kliasa and turned to him while addressing the others. ‘Lebuin has joined us. This is new.’ He only got the words from this entity. The sharing of knowledge must be voluntary. I bet I am going to broadcast my whole life every time I respond to these Gods until I learn how to restrain what I am sharing.

  ‘It is unexpected,’ said the second.

  He felt Argos’s attention return to them, and Argos addressed Kliasa most gently, ‘Kliasa, please withdraw.’

  ‘Argos, be kind to your grandson.’

  ‘I must enforce the laws; Lebuin is not exempt. My eternal gratitude for your support and training of Lebuin. It was unexpected and most generous.’

  Argos’s tone with Kliasa was gentle and respectful. Lebuin’s respect for Kliasa went up several notches. Argos knows that she trained me in that wondrous night-year in her Rea-Na-Rey. I find it amazing that the All-Father God is being so polite and responsive to a dead silver-elf.

  ‘Thank you, Argos.’ Kliasa turned to him, and her form in his mind firmed up to nearly a solid representation, which bowed to him, in elven respect. ‘Until we meet again, Lord Lebuin.’

  He smiled at her and touched her form, as he had seen the other three do. ‘Be well, Kliasa.’ Her presence then moved off, back to being close to Ticca’s presence. He wasn’t surprised that he could tell she was still watching what was going to happen to him. Lebuin felt from Argos a moment of humor at her ’withdrawal’ being little more than a step or two. Seeming satisfied, Argos’s attention turned to the other three entities and himself.

  The third entity poked him in places, commenting as it did. ‘He nearly died from not knowing. His health returns. His disciple is an interesting choice.’

  The other two also started to poke at him. I feel like a prize horse on display. Next, they are going to want to check my teeth.

  They ignored his thoughts if they heard them at all. ‘The disciple is strong and committed. She is an excellent choice, even if chosen too rapidly. He did judge her. I vote this is acceptable.’

  Lebuin’s mind spun. They are judging me for taking Illa as a disciple? He reviewed the rules and found that there were dozens around followers and disciples, and even more about interacting with other Gods’ followers. ‘I thought this was about the cleaning spell.’ His mind was still not disciplined and he realized too late he had sent that thought out.

  All three entities were amused. The first entity answered him. ‘We will get to that momentarily. There are a number of other laws to be considered first.’

  The second entity did something. He felt his connection to Illa stretch and pull away. He immediately defended it and strengthened it. The connection snapped back into its proper place. ‘He has reasonable control. I abstain my vote until a point of my own choosing.’

  The first entity spoke up. ‘You are allowed. The disciple is too early. However, I vote the choice sound and the making performed well and within reasonable limits.’

  Argos was pleased. ‘Two in favor, one abstained to future. Judgment is suspended, then, until final vote. Lebuin, know that penalties may still be applied, based on the final vote of Poalua.’

  Poalua was annoyed. ‘You didn’t need to inform him of my identity.’

  ‘You three have little need to hide. He is a God, and if he had experience, he would already know.’

  The first entity laughed. ‘Argos is right. Lebuin, I am Iolenda.’

  The third entity remained closed. ‘I am Uialua. Never mind my brother. He has an over-dramatic mind.’ He understood Poalua and Uialua were twins, born near the beginning of the world.

  ‘All other violations, except for the misuse of mana line energies, are rooted in the Circle’s rulings. Argos, do you call them to judgment?’

  ‘No, judgment has already been passed on the Circle.’ He understood that other rules had been broken regarding him and that other Gods had taken responsibility for them and paid the penalties imposed for it. Well, that answers some of my questions. They kept me ignorant on purpose, and even paid a price to
do it. Reviewing the laws, he found a number of them that could apply and resolved to study them in detail later, to try to resolve some of his questions on what was going on.

  Iolenda felt scared by Argos’s pronouncement that the Circle had been judged. ‘Very well. On the misuse of magic, I vote it was a third-degree violation and that the related charges be consolidated into one.’

  Poalua poked at him some more. ‘I desire to make note of his near-starvation state due to the Circle’s actions. Based on that, I vote it was a third-degree violation with extenuating circumstances, and recommend clemency. I also vote in favor of consolidating the related charges into one.’

  Uialua considered for a time. ‘I concur with Poalua.’

  Argos ended it. ‘Unanimous vote to consolidate all charges related to the misuse of mana into one, for conviction of a third-degree violation of misuse of magic, with a majority request for clemency. Iolenda, do you recommend a form of penalty?’

  Iolenda was silent for a time. The longer she took, the more nervous he got. ‘I do not see a requirement for a penalty. I will amend my vote to concur with Poalua and Uialua.’

  Argos was neither pleased, nor displeased. He simply pronounced judgment. ‘Lebuin, you are found guilty of third-degree misuse of magic. By recommendation of the judges, all charges on misuse of magic and the relating items are consolidated into one judgment. It is recorded and will affect future judgments, should you repeat this offense.’

  Lebuin felt the tension wash out of him. This was a serious near-miss.

  Iolenda responded, ‘Indeed it was, Lebuin. I would concentrate first on learning all the laws well enough to stay clear of them. Then I would suggest you learn how to shield yourself when between. Good luck.’ Iolenda’s presence vanished from his perception.

  Poalua and Uialua agreed with that and then vanished, leaving him the sole recipient of Argos’s attention.

  ‘Lebuin, you are not human. You require magic.’ With that, came the understanding that he needed magic, as well as food, to sustain him. Even worse, he had been starving himself for years by controlling his magic and using incantations of no consequence. He also understood there were laws that the Gods needed to keep themselves healthy.

  ‘I understand, Grandfather. Can I keep magic from followers separate from power from the mana lines?’

  ‘Only in casting.’ He understood he could channel power to an incantation and that would maintain the separation. But anything else would blur the line, and precise calculations would be used to determine if he had broken a law. Looks like I am going to have to be restrained in using magic until I get more followers, and even then.

  ‘You must continue. I am watching.’ As Argos’s attention left him for whatever else he had to deal with, he felt the love and pride of his grandfather. It felt more important that it was his grandfather that was proud of him, than the great All-Father God Argos.

  ‘Thank you, Grandfather.’ He let himself shift back to his physical body as Argos’s presence vanished.

  Ticca was sitting in front of him, and Illa was next to her, with concerned looks on their faces. Ditani was leaning back against the cave wall, watching. Ticca’s eyes looked relieved when she saw he had focused on her.

  “What happened to you?”

  “I made a pretty serious mistake and was called to the dirt on it.”

  Illa looked worried. “My Lord, are you well? Do you need something to drink?” She held out a cup of something.

  He took it, smiling, and after a quick sniff to confirm it was some of her wine, he drank it down. Wiping his mouth, he handed the cup back. “Thank you, Illa. That was just what I needed. I am okay now.”

  Illa moved back to her sleeping pad and sat, watching him. Ticca looked him in the eyes, as if she was trying to probe him with her will. “Are you sure you’re okay? You asked where someone was and then went blank for about two minutes.”

  He nodded. “Yes, Ditani was right. There are new rules, now that I have a follower. I violated some rules and was called by Argos to judgment.”

  Ticca’s eyes went wide and she sat back, looking at him. “Were you guilty? What happened?”

  “It is too much to explain tonight. I was found guilty, but with cause, and so the charges were recorded and dropped. If I break the same laws again, it won’t go so easy. I was also given all the laws of the Gods, which are the equivalent of about a dozen thick legal books. I need to memorize all of them well enough to work within them.”

  Ticca shook her head. “So now you have to learn the laws of the Gods and research what Vestul was up to. I might be an old maid by the time we figure out what to do next.”

  He shook his head. “Not really. I’ll have the laws all figured out by tomorrow. Argos taught me how to pull that ‘year in a night trick’ Kliasa uses, all the laws are imbedded in my mind, so there is nothing more needed than one night’s time.”

  Ticca nodded and looked into the fire, thinking. Ditani’s lips were pursed and he was looking at Lebuin with narrowed eyes. Illa, too, was watching him, but her forehead and eyes told, as much as his connection to her, that her mind was working through the events so far.

  As he took a self-inventory, he again noted the additional connection he had to Illa, and found the channels Ditani had spoken of. Some of his magical abilities had been altered, and he wasn’t sure what it would mean overall. At least my ability to manipulate magic is still intact if not yet fully healed.

  He toyed with the conduit to Illa and found himself looking at himself through her eyes. He was holding the papers. His face had developed a little stubble over the last couple of days, and he had filled out a lot more than he thought. He was no longer the skeleton of a man. He had also developed some muscles over the weeks of training, picking up at least a quarter stone in weight. I see what they mean. I really was starving myself. I might even end up looking better than my brother, with a few more cycles of work. Overall, he was pleased with the clean-shaven appearance, but he needed to get some decent clothing. The Dagger leathers were kind of stylish in a rough-and-tumble way, but he was surprised to discover he still missed some of his better clothing, especially the goldenrod doublet he had left at the Guild. He recalled the various outfits he had hanging in his room there.

  ‘You needn’t worry. You are very handsome, my Lord.’

  Shocked, he snapped back to himself and looked at Illa through his own eyes. She was still looking at him with that perpetual, soft smile. “You heard my thoughts?”

  “Of course, my Lord. I felt you join with me, and I understood what you were thinking about your appearance. You are very handsome. But I don’t think the goldenrod doublet would be the right color for you. Maybe something in a deep maroon or green would go well with your complexion and eyes. But that blue one was good, too.”

  Ticca looked up from the fire. “What are you talking about?”

  “I was feeling out the connection between Illa and me that Ditani explained earlier. By accident, I found that I can join with Illa and see what she sees. Apparently, she can hear my thoughts, and I can hear her thoughts when doing this.”

  Ditani took a sip of his wine, leaned forward, and nodded. “You can shield your thoughts and presence, but I understand that takes practice.”

  That is why Argos’s Magi have to travel, so he can observe the world through them, as Councilor Nillo said. Only this is more literal than I expected. “Argos does this, doesn’t he? He watches through us.”

  Ditani nodded. “Yes, he makes sure all his Magi are connected well enough to allow him to do this.”

  Ticca yawned and put the maps back into her pouch. “I don’t know about you two, but this has been a very busy and surprising day. I think we should get some sleep and make our plans in the morning.”

  Ticca’s yawn spread like a plague, causing all of them to start yawning, repeatedly.

  “I think you’re right. Also, we’ll be better able to plan, once Illa and I have had a chance to learn the rules
we must follow.”

  Illa looked at him.

  “Illa, if it is okay with you, I would like for you to spend a year with me tonight. I know it sounds strange, but it is an interesting and useful trick. There are rules you must know, too.”

  “Your will, my Lord.”

  Ticca looked at her. “Illa, knowledge is the most valuable weapon you can wield. But blind obedience is not honor. You must think for yourself. Learn to listen to your conscience. Then you can have honor by putting courage in motion to do the right thing. Even the Gods are not all-knowing.”

  Lebuin smiled at Ticca. “Trying to make my disciple a Dagger?”

  “Of course. She’ll be a great high priestess if she follows the Dagger code, and you know it. Otherwise, Oh Mighty One, your own subconscious wouldn’t have included a Dagger symbol in your sigil.”

  Shocked, he looked at her, and knew she was speaking the truth. Looking over at Illa, he saw she was considering Ticca’s words. The look on her face showed that the idea of questioning a superior was a difficult concept to accept.

  “Thank you, Ticca, for pointing out something I should have realized. You are right. I guess you managed to make me into a Dagger in these last few weeks. You are infectious.”

  “You know it. Now, take this girl off to your mind space and work out what you both need to know.” With that, she pulled her blanket over her and lay down with her back to the fire.

  Looking at Illa, he saw she had also lain down, but was facing him. She nodded and then closed her eyes, so he followed suit. Relaxing, using a mind technique from his mage training, he built up an idea of what he needed to do. Now, to see if I can do this. Looking inward, he pushed away from his body, into the between realm, and willed his mind to close off from that space, so he had a private place to study.

  Lebuin was not surprised to find he was sitting in the Guild library in his favorite nook. Arranged around him were tomes with the symbol of Gods, a double twisted loop of words surrounding a star on one side and a moon on the other, stamped on them. He concentrated and found Illa’s connection. He pulled on it, willing her to join him, and she appeared, standing before him. She looked around and picked up one of the books, flipping through it.