by G. R. Lyons
Ryley shook his head. “I'm fine,” he insisted. He needed to get back to his training.
Master Ross held up a hand. “That is an order, dear boy. You nearly ended your life with that display. I shall not allow you any more efforts until the morrow, at the very soonest.”
Ryley sighed. “Fine,” he muttered. If he were being honest, he was pretty tired, but he didn't want to say goodbye to Asher quite so soon, not after seeing him for the first time in months.
Asher pulled him close. “I'll be back,” he whispered. “I promise.”
Ryley nodded, stretched up for a kiss, then watched the three men walk away before he turned and headed back to Eventide.
ASHER FOLLOWED Vic and the robed man into the next garden before they stopped and faced one another.
“Asher,” Vic said, gesturing at the strange man, “this is Master Ross, Ryley's mentor. Master Ross, Asher Arden.”
Asher shook the mage's hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“And you as well,” Master Ross replied, eyeing him with curiosity.
“Master Ross has been telling me about Ryley's progress,” Vic went on, “and something he said may help clarify some of Ryley's history. He's offered to take me up to speak with the Vakti, and I'd like you to join us.”
Asher frowned. What the hells was a Vakti, and what did it have to do with Ryley? “Alright,” he answered slowly.
Master Ross, still giving Asher a strange look, held out a hand each toward Asher and Vic. “Do not let go,” he instructed.
Asher and Vic shared a look, then each man took one of Master Ross's hands. The mage clasped tightly, and before Asher could blink, the garden in which they stood disappeared, and Asher found himself in a sort of courtyard instead.
“Steady yourselves,” Master Ross said, releasing their hands. “One's first experience with transportation can be rather disorienting.”
Asher blinked, feeling a subtle dizziness fade as he looked around. Directly in front of him, right in the middle of the courtyard, was a fountain statue depicting Father Kalos, the god of magic as well as the creator of both Man and the secondary sun, Subhadin. The god held starlight in one hand and a human heart in the other. To Asher's left was an enormous temple, the structure almost ethereal. He couldn't quite make out if it was built of stone, glass, or metal, or some strange combination of all three. The effect was stunning, to say the least.
To his right was…nothing.
Asher gasped, slowly walking in that direction. The courtyard just ended, dropping off into nothingness, and when Asher got close enough to the edge and peeked over, he gasped again.
There was a valley down below, except it didn't seem to be connected to the ground on which he stood in any way.
“What the hells?”
Master Ross came up to his side and chuckled. “Welcome to Temple Hill, where the Vakti reside. The land floats directly above Jadu'n.”
Asher jabbed a finger at the valley below. “That's Jadu'n?”
Master Ross nodded. “We were just…” He scanned the valley, and pointed to their right. “There.”
“Oh my gods,” Asher whispered. He'd heard about the things magic could do, of course, but seeing it—experiencing it—firsthand was an entirely different thing.
And Ryley was learning this? Gods. He couldn't wait to see what his man could do once he was trained.
“Come,” Master Ross said.
Asher tore himself away from the edge of the floating hill and followed Master Ross toward the temple, sharing looks with Vic as they went.
The mage paused in front of the statue, touching his hand to his heart, then to his forehead, then up toward the sky, before they continued on their way. The closer they got to the temple, the less Asher could decide how it was made. He was sorely tempted to reach out and touch the wall just to see how it felt, but even up close, it wasn't clear if the building was constructed of glass or stone or something else entirely.
The grand front doors opened with a wave of Master Ross's hand, and Asher stared as they passed inside, realizing the doors had no knobs or handles. Just inside was some sort of anteroom, followed by another doorway. Master Ross waved a hand again and the doors opened, allowing them into a massive chamber decorated with what appeared to be iridescent surfaces of gold, glass, and marble. At the far side of the room, a raised platform held seven gold chairs, each one occupied by a woman dressed entirely in black: Black gowns covered them from their throats all the way to the floor, the sleeves coming down past their wrists. Even their hair was pure black, and their pale skin—at least, what little of it Asher could see, which was pretty much reserved to their faces—was decorated with what appeared to be black tattoos, the design reminiscent of trailing vines.
The temple was fairly empty, though one man did stand before the dais, addressing the women. Master Ross brought their party to a halt several feet back, standing there in silence while the other man completed his business and left.
The woman in the middle of the seven chairs waved them forward.
“Master Ross,” she said, giving a regal nod.
“My Ladies of the Vakti,” Master Ross said, pressing a hand to his chest as he gave a half-bow at the waist. “Might I introduce friends from Agoran: Mr. Victor Lucius and Mr. Asher Arden.”
The women all greeted them with polite nods, and all Asher could do was stare. The Vakti were stunning, though it seemed impossible to decide just how old they were. One moment, they all seemed to bear the pure skin and vibrancy of youth, but the next moment, Asher got the impression of centuries of wisdom in their eyes. He couldn't have guessed their ages if his life depended on it.
“Welcome, friends from Agoran.” The woman in the middle continued to be the only one who spoke. “I am Lady Qora, and these are my sisters,” she said, gesturing at the women on either side, her movements slow and fluid. “What brings you to Jadu'n?”
Master Ross gestured at Vic, who stepped forward. “It's regarding one of your students here,” Vic said. “Ryley Skye.”
A strange look flashed across Lady Qora's face before she stood and called across the room. “Palorin?”
Asher glanced over his shoulder and saw a man in blue-grey robes scurry toward them from the door, a large book in his hands. “Yes, Lady?”
“Halt court for an hour,” Lady Qora ordered. “Tell anyone who comes that we are not to be disturbed.”
Palorin frowned, but bowed. “Yes, Lady.” He scurried away, and Asher heard what sounded like a pair of large doors clanging shut.
Lady Qora stepped down from the dais. “This conversation requires privacy. Come with me.”
Asher scanned the room. Vic looked confused, but not nearly so much as Master Ross. The mage looked nearly dumbstruck, but he followed the woman without a word. Asher and Vic glanced at one another before they did the same, crossing the giant chamber toward a small door at one side, beyond which was a study, the room surprisingly cozy considering how large it was. Lady Qora shut the door and offered them each a seat.
The three men gathered on a sofa while the Lady took an armchair across from them.
“To begin,” Lady Qora said, “please tell me what you know of the situation.”
Asher looked directly at Vic, but the man made no move to speak.
After a moment of silence, Master Ross cleared his throat and said, “Novice Skye informed me that he was in denial of his power for many years, despite curious signs, and some tragic incident—upon which he would not elaborate—ultimately brought him here to us for training.”
Asher looked at Master Ross, then at Lady Qora, trying to read their faces.
“When I inquired,” the mage went on, “as to why he had not begun his training sooner, we discovered that, to his knowledge, at least, the Vakti had never come for him as a child, leaving him with no knowledge of his gift.”
Lady Qora nodded slowly, then turned to gaze out a window for a long while, her youthful brow furrowed in thought.
&nbs
p; “So he still does not remember,” she whispered.
“Then you did approach him?” Master Ross asked.
Lady Qora nodded again, then looked at each of the men in turn. “As with all of the magi, we felt the moment his power manifested, but the way in which it did…”
She trailed off, and when no one said anything for a long, tense moment, Asher blurted out, “How did it happen?”
Lady Qora slowly turned her gaze on him, a look of pain flashing across her timeless eyes before she whispered one word.
“Death.”
Chapter 23
ASHER BLINKED, staring at the woman dressed all in black.
“Death?”
Lady Qora nodded. She opened her mouth to say something, then glanced at each man in turn again, studying their faces. “You have knowledge of this,” she said, looking at Vic.
Vic gave a somber nod. “Some, yes.”
The lady looked at Asher and Master Ross again. “But you don't.”
Both men shared a look, assessing one another, then shook their heads.
Lady Qora sighed. “Then it is not for me to tell you what happened that day. All I can say is that Ryley was so traumatized, we deemed it best, at the time, to coach him in a meditation technique that would muffle and contain his powers until such time that he was old enough to decide whether to receive training or have his powers removed.”
“You couldn't have just removed his powers back then?” Vic asked.
Master Ross gasped while Lady Qora shook her head, saying, “Gods, no. A Circle of Seven cannot be performed on a child.”
“Why not?” Asher asked.
“In an adult, the Circle removes the core of the mage's power,” the Lady explained. “It strips him of the gift, leaving a void, yes, but leaving the rest of his essence intact. In a child? The Circle would kill him instantly.”
Asher sucked in a breath. Good gods.
“We have kept watch over him,” Lady Qora went on, “though clearly our observations weren't thorough enough, if what I understand about his arrival here is true. It was entirely possible that, with constant reinforcement of his meditations, he could have lived a normal life, unaware of his powers. Or, at least, in sufficient control of his powers that nothing like what happened that day could ever happen again. It was assumed that Ryley would either ultimately remember and then seek help, or live out his life in blissful ignorance. Perhaps we became negligent. Perhaps we should have watched him more closely.”
“Why can't we just tell him?” Asher asked. “Whatever it is–”
“No,” Lady Qora insisted, her voice so commanding that it seemed to fill the room. “He must remember it on his own. Trust me, Mr. Arden, we have consulted the greatest minds on this matter over the years, and we all agree that any attempt to force Ryley to face that memory could lead to a psychotic break that could destroy him.”
Asher shared a look with Vic.
“So what happens now?” Vic asked.
Lady Qora lifted a hand in a sort of half-shrug. “That is entirely up to Ryley. He has come to receive training, and has so far avoided the option of enduring a Circle, though his training has yet to show any significant level of self-control.” She paused and glanced at Master Ross. “Yes, we have been watching.”
Master Ross nodded and looked down.
“Of course, we would prefer to have him trained and join our ranks,” the Lady went on. “Watching him endure a Circle would be a tragedy in itself, especially when that process is reserved as a punishment for a crime. However, the choice is entirely up to him. I suspect, though, that whatever denial he's still engaged in—whatever is keeping him from remembering—is only making it more difficult for him to learn. I would not be surprised if unlocking that memory was the key to unlocking his potential.”
“Yet you will not allow us to encourage that process?” Master Ross asked, frowning.
“As I said, it could destroy him.” Lady Qora narrowed her eyes. “I will not allow that to happen. Do I make myself clear, Master Ross?”
The mage nodded. “Yes, Lady. Of course.”
“Good. He needs to face this in his own time and in his own way.”
Asher looked at the woman, nodding slowly to himself. She was right. Ryley needed to face this—whatever it was—on his own terms.
Hells, the man was already facing his demons, just being there, turning away from his life in order to do what was necessary to gain some self-control.
Maybe it was time for Asher to face a demon of his own.
* * *
RYLEY PACED his cottage. It was no use. He couldn't just sit still and do nothing. He needed to be studying, practicing, something. Every time he tried to sit down and attempt simple spells, regardless of what Master Ross had ordered, he still couldn't find the necessary focus. It didn't help that the three men—one with whom he'd once been involved, one with whom he was currently involved, and one with whom he'd be tempted to be involved had things been different—were all off on some errand together, something having to do with him. The whole situation was awkward at best and nerve-wracking at worst.
He finally gave up and left the cottage. Ryley paced the gardens, keeping close to the path the men would need to take in order to return to the Gate, assuming Master Ross didn't send them another way. He wanted to see Asher again, even if it was only for a moment.
Ryley kept pacing, counting his breaths, until he heard voices. He stopped and waited, standing there in silence when Asher, Vic, and Master Ross appeared.
“Ash.” Ryley darted forward, and Asher met him halfway. He pulled Asher into a kiss, then stepped back. “What's going on? Where'd you guys go?”
Asher put on a smile and shook his head. “We were just learning about your time here, that's all.” Asher paused, then said, “You're supposed to be resting. How are you feeling?”
Ryley waved a dismissive hand. “I'm fine,” he said, and Asher raised his eyebrows. “No, really. I'm fine. I feel a lot better.”
“You seriously freaked me out, you know that?”
Ryley nodded. “Kinda freaked myself out.” He shivered. “I didn't know it was possible to feel so cold. Don't worry, I have no intention of ever doing that again.”
Asher chuckled. “Good.” He kissed Ryley's forehead. “Now go rest.”
“I can't. I need to be doing something.” Ryley sighed and shook his head. “But I'm not cut out for this. I can't seem to focus. Gods, you know what I need? A case. A dead body. Something that I can actually do, you know?” He paused and glanced at Vic. “But I probably don't even have a job anymore, do I?”
Vic shook his head.
“Shit.” Ryley scrubbed his hands over his face. “I knew that– Hells, I deserve that, but–”
“Hey.” Asher grabbed his hands to stop him from moving about. “You're here, and you can do this. You do what you need to do, and when you come home, we'll figure it all out.”
Ryley huffed out a sigh through his nose and looked up at Asher. “You sure?”
“Absolutely.” He bent to kiss Ryley. “You've got this. Hells, you found me, didn't you? I'd say you can do just about anything.”
Despite his worries, Ryley felt himself smiling. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Definitely,” Asher corrected, then took a deep breath and stepped back. “We'll let you get back to it.”
“You're leaving already?”
Asher nodded. “I've got something I need to do.”
“Oh. Alright.”
Asher leaned close and whispered, “I'll come back to see you next weekend and tell you all about it.”
Ryley grinned. “Alright.”
Asher kissed him, then backed away again. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” Ryley called, then waved goodbye to Vic and watched the pair of them walk away. Ryley sighed once Asher was out of sight, then turned around, only to stop short at the sight of Master Ross still standing there, watching him.
“Ryley,” the mage began, c
lasping his hands in front of himself, “I believe I owe you an apology.”
Ryley frowned. “What for?”
Master Ross gestured at the stone archway through which their visitors had gone, then clasped his hands again. “Had you told me of your involvement with Mr. Arden, I would never have presumed to behave in such a forward manner.”
“Oh.” Ryley gave a slow nod.
“Though, you did say there was no one…”
Ryley nodded again. “I wasn't sure I was ever gonna see him again.”
“Oh?”
Ryley grimaced. “He's the reason I'm here. He's the one I hurt.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yeah. I wasn't sure if he'd ever forgive me, and I couldn't risk injuring him again, or anyone else, for that matter, so I kinda just upped and ran away here without telling anyone.”
“Goodness.” Master Ross chuckled. “Well, it certainly seems as though that rift has been mended.”
Ryley glanced back at the archway, then turned to Master Ross again. “Yeah, I hope so.”
“In that case,” the mage said, giving a decisive nod, “I promise to behave as a perfect gentleman in future. I shall keep my hands to myself. You have my word on that.”
Ryley managed a half-smile. “Thanks.”
“Now.” Master Ross clapped his hands together. “As you seem determined not to rest even when ordered to do so,” the mage said, tilting his head and giving Ryley a smirk, “perhaps we might give transportation another attempt.”
Ryley shrugged, and gestured for the mage to lead the way.
They returned to the garden where they'd been practicing before and sat again on the same bench, though with a more appropriate distance between them. Master Ross held out his palm, and a pebble appeared.
“Shut out the world around you,” the mage instructed. “All that matters is this pebble, and what you command of it. When you become more adept at this, you will be able to transport any item to or from anywhere in the world, so long as you know precisely which item you are moving and the precise location whither or whence it is to move. Ultimately, you shall be able to do the same with your body.”