A familiar touch pulled him out of his musings. He’d felt that power before. He focused his perception in the direction the sensation had come from. Kelsu. The Loremasters had uncovered the deception, and that insolent nuisance had used his power to shatter the disguise. He was truly going to enjoy every moment once he had Jason Bennett in his possession. The boy would wish he’d never come to Teleria.
Well, since the ruse was over, there was no reason to hold back. Time for you to remember just who you’re dealing with, my young friend. He stepped to the Grithor caverns and smiled as he saw the Shanthi girl hanging from her shackles.
“How are you feeling, my dear?”
Her head snapped up at the sound of his voice, and from somewhere, she managed to find enough strength to stand up straight, glaring at him as she did. She had spirit, he had to admit, if only to himself. Too bad for her that spirit would do absolutely nothing to change her current situation.
“I thought Jason would have destroyed you by now,” she said.
“Yes, well, perhaps you should leave the thinking to me.” The poisonous look in her eyes was her only reply. I wonder how much spirit you’ll have left after I destroy Jason Bennett, he thought. He imagined her reaction once she knew. Then again, with this link she shared with him, she would probably know before he had a chance to tell her. Let’s see how defiant she’d be then.
“I hope you’ve enjoyed your little respite, but it’s time for me to pay another visit to your ch’nai. Before I do, though, you should know they captured your brother.”
“Did you really think he would be able to deceive them?”
“Perhaps not,” he said. “But I did expect them to let him live.” Let’s see how she liked the thought of her brother dead.
She looked at the ground without answering. Then she raised her head, “He made his choices.”
“Oh, my. No sorrow at the death of one so close to you? And I thought you were the one who was supposed to be so honorable. Instead, you let your own brother die without so much as a single tear.”
“I mourned when I saw what he had become,” she said. “My brother died when he gave his allegiance to you. The man you speak of,” she shook her head, “I did not know him.”
“Well then, I suppose it won’t bother you to know that Jason Bennett is the one who killed him.” So what if it wasn’t true? Rules were for the losers.
This time her silence was much longer. Then she said, almost in a whisper, “Jason would not have done so unless Kelsu gave him no other choice.”
“Of course, of course,” he said. “Whatever makes you feel better, my dear.” She didn’t sound quite so certain as before. It was time. He poured his power into her, forcing his way into the link, and into Jason Bennett’s mind.
Tossed and Turned
Jason tossed and tumbled in a turbulent void, pitched from side to side relentlessly. Although he had no body in this place, the chaos was unmistakable. The constant turmoil disoriented him, making it difficult to focus on a thought for any length of time. He knew where he was, though. And he knew he wasn’t alone.
“Hello, Jason. Did you miss me?”
Jason didn’t know how much Regor could tell through the bond, but he wasn’t about to let him see any fear outright. “Wait a second. We came to see you, remember? You ran away. You know, like you were scared?”
“Afraid? Of you? I think not. Think of it as a strategic withdrawal. Anyone who stays when the odds are against them is a fool. I am no fool.”
“Call it whatever you want. You ran.”
“Obviously, you’ve forgotten who’s in charge here, boy. Maybe this will remind you.”
Jason cried out as dimsai filled the bond, sending waves of pain through his being. As before, he could hear Lenai screaming in the background. He had to remember, everything he felt, she did as well. He needed to back off a bit, see if he could keep Regor from attacking.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Another searing explosion of pain rocked him.
“Don’t think you can avoid what’s coming. I’m not so stupid as to think you meant that last remark.”
Only his concern for what might happen to Lenai prevented Jason from sending his own power back. “Fine. You’re right. If I had my way, we’d do the same thing to you that we did to the others.” He braced himself for another attack, but none came.
“Now, that’s better. How can we have a decent conversation if we’re constantly trying to deceive and manipulate each other?”
“Well, you’d be the expert in that area.” He didn’t know what would trigger Regor’s assaults, so he figured he might as well just speak his mind. He might not get another chance.
Regor’s laughter surrounded him. “I know you meant that as an insult, but it takes an intelligent person to deceive well. So, I will say ‘thank you’ even though I’m afraid you’re wrong.”
Jason couldn’t help himself. The words were out before he could even think about what he was saying. “Wrong? You mean about you being intelligent?”
“Very amusing. Laugh at this.”
Another blast of pain. Another scream in the distance. Stop it, Jason, he chided himself. Your mouth is going to get Lenai killed. “Alright, alright! I’m sorry! How am I wrong?”
“You’re wrong because I am not the one doing the deceiving in our current situation.”
“Oh, you mean Lenai’s brother pretending to be her wasn’t your idea?”
“No, no. That was mine. I’ll take credit for that. But it pales in comparison to a much larger deception that we all fell for. One that you are at the very heart of.”
“What do you mean?” Jason didn’t trust anything Regor said, but right now, there was nothing he could do to Regor, and the Altered knew it. There wasn’t any real reason for him to lie.
“Everything you have done in the last few days has been based upon a lie. You are being deceived by someone you think you know, but in fact is not the person you think they are.”
Jason gave a mental roll of his eyes. It was like talking to Darnoc again. “Why do you guys always have to talk in circles?” he asked. “Just tell me who it is and what they’re doing.”
“Oh, now Jason,” Regor sounded disappointed, “you always take the fun out of everything. Very well, the one you know as—”
Regor’s voice cut off and Jason’s eyes flew open. He was lying in the middle of the Circle camp, inside a shimmering circle of power that arced overhead to enclose him. Seryn and Nyala stood over him. He sat up and then put a hand to his head as the sudden movement made the world tip and sway.
“What happened? How’d you get me out?”
Seryn kneeled and put a hand on his arm to steady him. “When Nyala arrived, she was able to block Regor’s power.”
“Once we knew what Regor was doing, I was able to shield you so that he could not reach you through the bond.”
“Is the bond…” He couldn’t bring himself to say ‘broken.’
“No, the bond is strong. I doubt even an Altered could break it. Only his power is blocked. But he has made a fatal mistake. I was able to find out where he is by tracing his power back through the bond before I shielded you. But we must hurry before he realizes what’s happened.” She reached down and pulled him to his feet. “It’s time to finish this.”
*****
Reyga looked around. How did I get here? He was standing back at the edge of the forest, where he had first arrived. Peering into the shadows, he saw splintered tree trunks, and scorched holes in the ground. He turned and looked at the twisted plain that bordered the woods. Several of the large stone spikes were nothing more than shattered stumps of rock. What happened? Did I do this?
He thought back. The last thing he remembered clearly was Lenara moving some large crystals into position around his chair. Lenara! If I did this, did I do the same to her? He started running back along the path. Destruction bordered it on both sides. Occasionally he
would see the charred carcasses of animals in the brush. Had he done this? If he had, why did he not remember? He rounded the last corner and stopped. The vine bridge was gone. He could see the remnants hanging on the other side. That was quickly forgotten as he stared in shock at what was left of Lenara’s home.
The building was in ruins. All of the windows were shattered, and the walls and roof were marked by gaping holes, some still smoking. One end had collapsed into a pile of wood and stone. Movement caught his eye and he gave a sigh of relief as Lenara walked around the other end of the structure. Her robes were ripped and torn, and she walked with a limp, but at least she was alive.
“Lenara!” he called.
Her head snapped up as she heard his voice. Without answering, she sent a blazing bolt of power streaking toward him. He managed to shield himself before the impact sent him staggering backwards, and saw with dismay that his shield looked like shadow interspersed with streaks of emerald. Then a snarl curled his lip. How dare she attack me? Foolish woman, pay the price for your impudence! He raised his hand to retaliate then stopped. It took all of his willpower to lower his hand. The effort left him gasping. He looked back at her. When he saw that she was not attacking, he lowered his shield.
“Lenara, what happened?”
“You know what happened, Reyga! Do you think to come back now and finish the job?”
“I do not remember. Are you saying I did this?”
“You cannot trick me again. I will not allow it.” She threw another blast at him, which he again deflected. “You should not be able to defend against me, Reyga. My studies have made me stronger than any member of the Circle. I do not know who you are, but you are not the Reyga I once knew.”
“I give you my word, Lenara. I do not remember what happened here.” It was inconceivable that he had done this. She deserved it, the meddlesome hag. No! He tried to push the thought away. This was Lenara. She was trying to help. “I need your help!”
She shook her head. “I cannot help you. Even if I believed you, I could not help you. You have destroyed years of my work.” She gave him a puzzled look as his shoulders sagged. “I do not know if you are telling me the truth now or not. But if you truly do not remember, then I am sorry.” She shrugged and waved a hand toward the ruins. “There is nothing I can do. Now leave me be.” Without waiting for an answer, she turned and limped back behind the building.
Reyga stared at the spot where she had been standing. Then an almost overwhelming desire to destroy what was left of the building rose up in him. He managed to force it back down, but not before a shadowy blossom of dimsai engulfed his hand. With an effort, he extinguished that as well. He needed to remember what had happened. But first he had to get away from Lenara, lest he be unable to resist further destructive urges.
He made his way back to the edge of the forest. He found a stump and, after using his corrupted power to smooth the top, sat down to search his memories. As he concentrated, small bits and scraps of images floated through his mind, but nothing coherent. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Then he went back in his memories to when he was sitting in Lenara’s workroom, pushing through the shadows obscuring his thoughts…
~~~
“Within two days, you will be Regor’s willing servant.”
“Can you remove dimsai from humans?”
“I can and I have, but there is a complication. Because the Shadow Lord’s power has grown as much as it has, it has become enmeshed with yours. Reyga, I cannot remove his without taking yours as well. You would be powerless.”
“Take it. Take it all.”
“Are you certain? You would be nasaiken.”
“Nasaiken? I suppose I would. I have not heard that word in years. Not since the Circle put an end to that horrid practice.”
She gave a little laugh. “Did they? Are you so sure?”
“We sent word to all of our villages and cities that it was to end.”
“You cannot simply issue a decree to abolish superstitions.”
“Are you saying it is still going on?”
“As much as the Circle would like to believe otherwise, they do not know everything that happens, sometimes right under their very noses.”
“Well, we will have to discuss it at the next meeting of the Circle.” Then he thought about what he had just said. Soon, he would no longer sit on the Circle. “I mean I will mention it to one of the Loremasters once this situation is resolved.” Shadows gathered at the edges of his vision. “We should hurry. I can feel his power attempting to gain control.”
She nodded and began wrapping leather straps around his wrists. At his questioning glance, she said, “I have had others lose consciousness and slide out of the chair.” She began fastening another strap around his waist. “If that happens, the results can be unpredictable because the crystals lose their focus.”
He watched as she moved several metal stands into position around him. They were of varying heights and had four tines at the tops. She went to her shelves and came back with four large crystals. These did not have an inner glow like most of the others. She set a crystal in the top of each of the stands, aligning the angle and direction so that it was focused on him.
“You said you have taken others’ dimsai before?”
“Yes. Enough that I was able to perfect the technique.”
“Who would want their power taken away?”
“Practically none,” she agreed. “But it is the price for my assistance.” He must have looked alarmed, because she laughed and said, “Be at ease, Reyga, I have never taken all of someone’s dimsai. Only a little from each petitioner.” She finished her adjustments and stood in front of him. “Now, I must ask one final time. Are you certain this is what you wish to do? Once done, it cannot be undone.”
“If this is the only way to ensure Jason Bennett’s safety from the trap Regor has set within me, then yes.” The boy is not worth this! He gave a sharp shake of his head. “Please begin.”
She moved behind him and placed her hands on his head. From the corners of his vision, he saw a halo of power form. Then an overwhelming rage descended upon him. Black power shredded the restraints and he surged out of the chair, knocking the metal stands aside as he did. The sound of shattering crystal filled the room as the stands fell over.
“Reyga! What are you doing?”
“What I should have done when I first arrived,” he shouted, sending a gout of ebony power at her.
She managed to partially deflect the attack, but was knocked backwards into a shelf full of crystals, many of which fell to the floor. As they shattered, dimsai of all colors exploded from them, sending more and more crystals to the ground, until the room was filled with the sound of shattering crystal and explosions of power. He shielded himself inside a wall of shadow until the pandemonium subsided, and then emerged from his cover and surveyed his surroundings.
The room was in ruins, with only a few crystals left on what remained of the shelves. Holes had been blasted into the walls and ceiling, and broken crystals and twisted metal littered the floor. Lenara lay against the far wall, her robes shredded and hair in disarray. A thin layer of dust was beginning to coat her skin and clothing. He could not tell if she was alive or not. You should not have meddled, he thought at her still form, before stalking out of the room.
The rest of the house had fared no better than the workroom. Fragments of glass were all that was left in the windows, and debris covered the floors. With a wave of his hand, he blasted the front door away from the house and left without a backwards glance.
~~~
Reyga put his face in his hands. “Oh, Lenara, I am so very sorry.” In a matter of moments, he had destroyed what had taken her years to gather, and almost killed her in the process. It was little wonder she wanted nothing to do with him. She deserved it! He almost sobbed as the thought tried to force its way to the forefront of his thoughts. Unless he could think of something, he would soon be trying to find Jason, in all likel
ihood, trying to destroy Jason. But without Lenara’s aid, what was he to do? There was no one he could go to that could help him with something like this. There was nowhere he could go that would prevent Regor’s power from taking over…or was there?
Jason had told them the Altered avoided the Riftlands because dimsai did not always work there. Maybe, if he went there, the Riftlands could nullify the reserve of power Regor had placed within him. Why would I want to do that? He needed to hurry. Regor’s influence was growing stronger by the moment. He stood and hurried out of the forest. Just think how strong I will be with both my power and Regor’s. He squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself to focus on the Riftlands. Then he stretched out his hand and opened a portal, stepping through before he could change his mind.
He saw the patch of dull maroon sand and rock, and remembered how he had felt when he watched Bodann run his blade through Jason. Too bad the boy survived. Then I would not be dealing with this. He took a deep breath and shook his head violently. Creating the portal had strengthened Regor’s power again. Beyond the discolored earth, he saw numerous rifts, over which turbulent clouds rolled. He turned and looked out across the Scorched Plains. Somewhere out there, the Circle had waged a battle against what they had then thought to be the greatest threat Teleria had faced. They had been wrong. Jason Bennett is the greatest threat and he must be dealt with! Reyga gritted his teeth and forced the thought away. Somewhere beyond the battleground, the Circle was camped just inside Faedor Woods. He hoped he would see them again.
With a last glance at the bloodstained ground, he began walking into the Riftlands.
Showdown
Seryn choked back a cough as they stepped into the Grithor caverns. The pungent odor filling the air was an assault on the nose. Nyala’s sparkling appearance lit up the chamber they were in and cast the tunnel entrances in deep shadow. The Grithor that had been there when they arrived fled from her shining form. Now they faced Regor again. This time Seryn stood behind Nyala so that Regor could not use her as a shield.
Altered Intentions Page 24