by Sharon Green
“I agree,” Jovvi said, a frown creasing her lovely brow. “We have to find them without delay, since someone innocent could be hurt next time. They can’t—”
Whatever else she would have said was drowned out by a scream of rage and insanity. Some of their followers had noticed what Lorand and the others were doing and had passed along the word, and everyone had abruptly stopped reaching for food and drink. It was probably that abrupt change which told the would-be murderess that her plan had failed, so she immediately substituted another. As she screamed she also ran forward with a very long, sharp knife, her targets clearly being Vallant and Tamrissa.
Lorand had already begun to reach toward the sleep centers in the woman’s brain, when she came to such a short stop that it was almost as though she’d run into a wall. The crash knocked the breath out of her as well as stopping her in her tracks, and then she dropped to the floor in deep unconsciousness.
“And when she wakes up she won’t be able to do something like this again,” Jovvi said, joining the others in walking over to look down at the woman. “She may never be completely sane again, but at least she’s no longer a danger to anyone.”
“She’s dressed like a servant, but that has to be Eltrina Razas,” Tamrissa said, Vallant’s arm tightly around her. “It looks like she bears something of a grudge over the various associations we had with her, but this is really an extreme reaction. There must have been goings-on that we know nothing about.”
“And she must have had the same grudge against the Five, since she’s obviously the one who finished off the last of them,” Lorand said in agreement. “Considering that you took Vallant right out of her hands when she shouldn’t have had him in her house, Tamrissa, she was most likely blamed by the Five for Vallant’s escape. They may have been confused there at the end, but it’s hardly likely they were just as confused all along. And now we’ll have to decide what to do with her.”
“That can be worried about later, once we’ve gotten some rest,” Jovvi said with a sigh. “But Lorand—what did you mean about the Five being confused at the end? I didn’t notice any confusion, just a sense of unbalance that was a very long time in building.”
“I know what he means,” Vallant said before Lorand was able to reply. “I also found confusion, and over what particular problem was supposed to be botherin’ me. The fool I faced thought it was closed-in places that I couldn’t abide, and tried to take advantage of me by usin’ it. What a shame it didn’t work.”
“That’s right,” Lorand agreed with a nod. “The man thought that I was worried about burnout, but that doesn’t happen to be my trouble. He … actually insisted… Why are so many of you looking at me like that?”
Lorand had blurted the question, forced to it by the way Tamrissa and Rion and Naran were staring at him—and at Vallant. Just as though he and Vallant had lost their senses, and the others were simply reluctant to say so…
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, I forgot to tell the rest of you what we did,” Jovvi said, sounding exasperated with herself. “Lorand and Vallant knew in advance, but now they have no memory of the true situation as it was… All right, I’ll start from the beginning. We knew the Five would probably try to reach them through their vulnerabilities, so I took control of each of them and then … changed the memory that caused each of them to have a problem. Without those terrible memories to fuel their fears, they started to get over them rather quickly.”
“What memories?” Tamrissa asked, glancing at Vallant. “No one ever told me about specific memories…”
“That was because it was very painful for Vallant to talk about,” Jovvi said hurriedly, putting a hand to Tamrissa’s arm. “He almost drowned while being trapped in an underwater cave as a child, and that’s why he couldn’t bear enclosed places. Now he remembers only a fun time in that cave, just as Lorand remembers only the punishment given to that girl in his school. She didn’t burn out trying to control a thunderstorm, she was caught and stopped before that happened.”
“Of course she was,” Lorand agreed, wondering why Jovvi was discussing the obvious. “We all have to be cautious at times to avoid burnout, but the rest of the time it’s nothing to worry about.”
“And closed in places provide privacy, somethin’ I could use right about now,” Vallant said, clearly showing that he, too, felt puzzled. “Right after a decent meal, that is, but I’d rather not try to get one here. Why don’t we find a decent eatin’ parlor, and give ourselves a reward for a job well and easily done.”
“Too easily done,” Jovvi murmured as the others all agreed with Vallant’s idea. “And I can’t get past the feeling that we’renot quite as through with trouble as we believe… What’s all that fuss about?”
The fuss Jovvi referred to was a stir by the door, and then the guardsmen standing there parted to let a small figure hurry in. Lorand was startled to see Pagin Holter, whose Blending had stayed behind to see if they might stop the advance of the Astindan army. Lorand was about to ask if they’d been successful, but one look at Holter’s face made the question unnecessary.
“What’s wrong?” Vallant asked as he stepped out toward Holter. “Didn’t things go the way your Blendin’ planned?”
“Not even a little, but that ain’t th’ problem now,” Holter said as he approached, looking around at them. “Th’ Astindan army don’t wanna hear nothin’ about stoppin’, an’ they tore apart th’ army sent after ’em by th’ nobles. But that ain’t the worst part. Worse’n thet is tellin’ ya m’Blendin’ don’t have a hope a matchin’ th’ leader a th’ Astindans—and they ain’t more’n a day ’r so b’hind us. If’n you folk don’t do somethin’, they’s gonna tear down Gan Garee’n scatter th’ ashes ’n bricks.”
Lorand exchanged glances with his groupmates, realizing that any appetite he’d had had just disappeared. A day or so behind Holter and his people … and if Lorand and the others couldn’t handle the invaders, they would die along with everyone else…
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
None of us would have had much of an appetite if we hadn’t expended strength, but we had so we did. We found an eating parlor and stopped for a meal, but don’t ask me what it was. Rather than paying attention to the food, I couldn’t help noticing that we and our people were the only ones in the parlor. Since it was definitely an upper class establishment there should have been some members of the nobility there, but word of what had happened must have already spread. The parlor’s serving people were certainly nervous enough, and that despite the fact that they weren’t nobles. They didn’t know precisely who we were, but our escort must have told them we were centrally involved in whatever was going on.
And what was going on could be seen in part on our way back to the house we were using. Ordinary people had come to flood the streets of the former noble neighborhoods, laughing and shouting over their newfound freedom. We’d set Captain Herstan—and any guardsmen in addition to his own that he could find—the task of keeping the celebrations from turning into looting and burning, but there was certain to be trouble anyway. At least until the word spread about the approaching Astindans. Then there would probably be panic and attempts at mass exodus, which might or might not be better than looting and burning.
But we couldn’t run, not even if most of us would have preferred to do it. Or even some of us. I looked out of the window of the coach which was now turning into the drive leading to the house, admitting to myself that I wouldn’t have minded leaving Gan Garee again. Having an actual bed to sleep in was marvelous, but it wasn’t worth what we would probably have to pay for the privilege. Pagin Holter and his people were almost as strong as our Blending, and they hadn’t had a chance against the leading Blending of the Astindans, Holter had said. How much more of a chance we would have remained to be seen…
Our entire group was silent as we climbed out of the coaches and walked toward the house, showing that the others were as deeply into their thoughts as I’d fallen into my own. A large number of
people moved around the stables and the house, coming and going and generally doing what needed to be done. Most of them were lighthearted and happy, showing that they knew we’d won against the usurpers, but they obviously hadn’t yet gotten the rest of the word.
“I’m going to need a few minutes with Lorand and Vallant,” Jovvi said as we approached the house. “I suppressed their memories of how they used to react in order to protect them, but suppression never does anyone any good. After I restore the memories, we can all sit down and talk about what to do against the Astindans.”
“I’d like to suggest turning Eltrina Razas loose on them,” I couldn’t help saying. “She finished off the usurpers and almost did the same to us, so she probably has the best chance of winning against them.”
“I think I’ll second that,” Rion said with something of a laugh. “I’ve always known that the female was the deadlier half of our species, and the former Lady Eltrina simply proves the point.”
“The rest of us may end up agreeing with you,” Jovvi said wryly as we stopped in the middle of the house’s entrance area. “Right now I can’t think of anything to better the idea, but hopefully that will change. I’ll send someone to find the rest of you once we’redone.”
We all nodded agreement, so Jovvi took Lorand and Vallant and went off toward the sitting room at the back of the house. I knew Rion and Naran would enjoy being alone, so I went upstairs to my bedchamber to see if anyone had managed to accomplish the request I’d made. Most of our clothing was still at my house, and now there was no reason not to have it brought to us. I’d also asked to have Gimmis’s clothing brought, to give Rion and Lorand—and any other of our people who could use the things—something to wear besides what little they had.
It was getting on toward evening and the room was becoming dim, so I lit a lamp and walked to the large wardrobe where I’d put my only other change of clothing. Opening the righthand door showed the immediate difference, as the wardrobe was stuffed full of dresses and gowns and skirts and blouses. I opened the lefthand door as well and began to search around to see if any of Jovvi’s clothing had accidentally been mixed in with mine, and the strangest thing happened. A puff of dust billowed at me, as though the clothing had been left untouched for years instead of days. It was startling as well as surprising, and then—
And then I was suddenly cut off from the power! The world became darker and narrower and much more shallow, as though one entire dimension of it had died and disappeared. And then I began to feel faintly dizzy, just enough so that the thought of going anywhere but to the nearest chair was beyond me. I quickly put a hand to the side of the wardrobe to keep from falling due to the weakness in my knees, and abruptly, frighteningly, a big hand and arm came to circle my waist.
“Let me help you, child,” a deep, gloating voice said from my left, making my blood run cold. “I added the dizziness after the hilsom powder did its work in order to keep you from running out of here, but I think I’ll leave it in place for a while even though escape is no longer possible for you. You need to be taught right from the beginning who your master is, and the lesson will be sharper if you’reunable to bring stubbornness to the time.”
Even through the vast confusion in my mind, I knew immediately that it was Odrin Hallasser who held me and now urged me toward the bed. From what he’d said it was clear that his talent was Earth magic, and my being unable to reach the power turned me helpless in his grasp. Deep inside my mind a wail of terror began, but one that would never reach any of my groupmates. It was the power which bound us together, and without that…
“Your father is a fool, and I’m sorry I ever thought it possible to depend on him,” the man said as he moved slowly along with me. “These last few days I haven’t even been able to find him, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. When I heard that you and your friends had returned to the city, I had your house watched. I expected you to return to it, but having people to follow in order to find you was quite good enough. You were off somewhere when I arrived so I waited, and now my patience has paid dividends. We’ll leave here together in the same unnoticed way I arrived, and then we’ll begin our life together.”
“I know you’reinsane, but are you stupid as well?” I tried to demand, ignoring the way my voice trembled. “Not only will my groupmates come looking for me, I have to be here to help against the Astindan army. We got word not long ago that they’reabout a day away from here, and they intend to destroy the city when they arrive. That means you can’t—”
“Don’t even think about telling me what I can and cannot do,” he interrupted in an even harsher voice, his grip on me tightening in a way that suggested the action was unconscious. “I’ll do exactly as I please, just as I’ve always done, and no one will change that! Your friends can search for you until they turn old and gray, but you can be certain that they won’t find you. And as far as this city being destroyed goes, how credulous do you think I am? No invading force will ever reach our gates, the authorities would never permit it. Now keep silent while I have a taste of you, and then we’ll be on our way.”
We’d reached the bed by then and he tried to push me down on it, but another strange thing seemed to have happened. Being captured and helpless was terrifying, but the fright wasn’t as crippling as it had once been. When he tried to push me onto the bed I struck at him with both fists and all my strength, aiming for his face. He cried out in startlement and pain and backed away a step, so I immediately struck at him again and again. Hurting him wasn’t likely to free me, not when he was so much larger than I, but I’d decided to make him pay in advance for whatever he eventually managed to take. I knew I couldn’t win, but that was no reason not to fight.
The enraged man bellowed out his anger as he stopped simply defending himself, and the next moment I was thrown onto the bed. He’d shoved me down and away from him, and then he stepped forward to glare down at me.
“There will never be anything like that again!” he growled, fury now blazing from those dead black eyes. “My possessions are mine, and no one—even the possessions themselves—can deny me! You will be punished for making the attempt, but not in a way that will damage your beauty. You will, however, learn quickly to avoid doing anything that will incur that punishment again.”
“Wrong,” a voice said an instant before I said the same thing in different words. “She isn’t going with you, and you aren’t going to hurt her. If you don’t agree with that, turn around and face me.”
Hallasser whirled rather than turned, to see what I already knew he would: Alsin Meerk standing near the wardrobe. The door to the chamber was still closed, which meant that Alsin must also have hidden himself inside before I arrived.
“You don’t know me, Hallasser, but I know you,” Alsin went on, folding his arms as he stared unblinkingly at the hulking man. “You have a deadly reputation in this city, just like the nobles used to have, but the time has come to get rid of your sort right along with theirs. I saw your people following those who went to Tamrissa’s house, so I simply waited until you showed up and then came in behind you. The lady isn’t going anywhere with you, not now and not ever, so you might as well just leave again.”
“Not alone, not this time,” Hallasser growled in answer, his hands having turned to fists at his sides. “The woman is mine, and I haven’t gotten as far as I have by letting people take what’s mine. If you think you can stop me, go ahead and try.”
And with that they began to fight, but not in a way I could easily see. They both grunted at the same time, suggesting that their talents had clashed, and then they stood braced and glaring at one another. I continued to sit on the bed, fighting with all my strength to reach through to the power, but it was simply no use. If Hallasser was to be beaten with the use of talent, I wasn’t the one who would be doing it.
But suddenly it seemed that Alsin would also not be the one. He cried out in pain, his eyes widening in shock, and then he began to fall to his knees! When he h
it he also put his palms to the floor, as though trying to hold himself up against enormous weight or pressure, but a final choking sound ended his efforts. He collapsed the rest of the way to the floor, and then lay still.
“And so much for you, scum,” Hallasser muttered as he panted, obviously having fought hard. “You were stronger than any of the others, but not as strong as I am. You won’t ever interfere in the lives of your betters again, and now to go back to what you interrupted.”
The man began to turn back to me, but I felt too horrified to really notice. Alsin was dead? Another life gone trying to save mine? I put my hands to my head, ready to scream at the top of my lungs, feeling even more dizzy than when Hallasser had been causing it. Wasn’t this horror ever going to stop? Did I have to die before it would end?
“As I was saying,” Hallasser began, then he had to whirl around a second time when the door to the hall flew open. Vallant and Lorand rushed in, realized what was happening in just about a single glance, and then both looked at Hallasser. The bulky man growled and clenched his fists again, clearly intending to fight my groupmates, but this time he didn’t stand a chance. First his disbelieving scream rang out, and then most of his bulk was gone. It disappeared just before his clothing fell to the carpeting over the pile of dried ash he’d become, and that part of it, at least, was over.
“Tamrissa, are you all right?” Vallant demanded as he hurried over to me, sitting down beside me to circle me with his arm. I shuddered as I leaned closely into his embrace, needing his warmth to melt the ice inside me. It didn’t work all the way, and I felt so terribly confused that I didn’t know what I would do.
“Meerk is beyond my help,” Lorand said from where he stood looking down at the unmoving body, his voice sad. “He must have thought he’d have no trouble at all against Hallasser, but the man was a potential High. I don’t know how Hallasser escaped the net and wasn’t put through testing, but he definitely had the strength of a High. But in the end Meerk did what he intended to. If he hadn’t fought the intruder with his talent, we wouldn’t have known what was going on. He held the man long enough for us to get here, which means he won after all.”