Julianne swooped away from his mind, her eyes clearing as she broke the trance. Her legs wobbled, and she sat down on the floor with a thump, then leaned over to press her forehead on the cold stone wall beside her. Despite Margit’s warning, she’d overextended herself.
After a moment, the spinning in her head slowed down and she could stand again. Julianne watched him lie on the ground, drool tracing a glistening line across one cheek. Despite his condition, he was more alive than Gunther and Daved, more than she would have been if she’d stepped out the ‘door’ in her dream.
When she opened the door to her room, the guard outside ducked his head.
“Matthew, ask Aldred what to do with our guest. He won’t be a danger, but he’ll need babysitting so he doesn’t choke on his own tongue. If he lives past morning, I’ll decide what to do with him then.”
“Yes, Master.” The guard’s eyes misted over for a minute. “He said the holding cell should be sufficient, there should be someone down there. Are you… well?”
For a moment, she didn't understand the question.
“Sorry, Master. It’s just… you look like shit. Worse, even.”
An image of Julianne’s pale, drawn face and shadowed eyes floated in front of her, projected by the guard.
Screwing up her face, Julianne said, “I’m fine. Just tired. That reminds me, was Aldred on last shift?”
The guard nodded and Julianne cursed herself for slow thinking. She’d sent the man on a dozen errands when he was already dead on his feet. “Before you take our new resident away, send for William. I need to see him.”
Matthew didn’t ask why Julianne didn’t just send the messages herself, likely guessing she was mentally exhausted. His eyes whitened again, barely returning to their normal warm brown before boots came jogging down the hall. “He’s just—”
“Here,” William called as he rounded the corner. “What do you need?”
“No other problems?” Julianne asked.
He shook his head. “Everyone seems to be accounted for. Aldred mind-searched those on duty when the New Dawn crew left. It looked like all five passed through the gate, but Aldred found telltale signs of an illusion. He suggested that was the reason for the robes. Much easier to project a simple hooded figure when you don’t have to worry about facial details. We think two left, and these three stayed.”
Julianne nodded tiredly. “Tell Aldred he’s relieved for the night. I’ll wager he needs rest as badly as I do.”
10
It was another two days before Julianne finally left on her journey. She woke early, still feeling mushy after several late nights spent fortifying the Temple defenses, checking that emergency drills were in place and hoping each night would lead to something other than dreams of falling, dying, or killing.
“You’re sure the rearick were ok with rescheduling?” Julianne asked as Margit ran down a checklist of things to be addressed while Julianne was gone.
The older woman would, with the help of the elder mystics and some of Julianne’s trusted advisors, take the reins while she was gone. It was only a short-term solution, and Julianne suppressed a shiver of fear, wondering what would happen if she ran into trouble and couldn’t return.
“Of course, they were. An extra fifteen percent charged for the privilege of lying about a few more days? The greedy bastards are always ok if it makes their pockets a bit heavier.” Margit rolled up the papers and used the hollow tube like a weapon, pointing it at Julianne. “Stop being a ninny. I might be old, but I’m far from dead. I can handle things until you get back, even if you run into delays.”
Grinning, Julianne nudged Margit with her shoulder. “Your secret will be out, though. No more playing the frail old lady—they need a strong leader, and you won’t be able help yourself.”
Margit scowled. “Fine. The cranky old sow persona won’t be going anywhere, though. That one’s real.”
Julianne snorted as she headed for the door, hefting her pack over one shoulder. Months spent in Arcadia pretending to be a guard had given her a new appreciation for physical strength as well as mental, and she’d made sure not to lose it when she’d returned. “If you’re going to see me off, we’d best get going. I want to be gone before the sun is fully up.”
She took the stairs quickly, barely stopping to give each guard she passed a silent nod or quiet farewell. At the door, Aldred greeted her, his expression pained.
“Aldred, what’s wro—oh.” By the door, Danil waited for her. She’d expected him to be up in time to say goodbye. She had not anticipated him turning up with his bags packed and an extra horse saddled and ready. “Danil, what the hell are you doing?”
Aldred heaved a sigh and fished in his pocket. As he handed over two shiny coins to the blind mystic, he mumbled an apology. “Sorry, Master. Damn fool just showed up and ordered a horse. Threatened to wake the whole Temple if we said no.”
“And the bet?” Julianne asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Well, seeing as how close you two are, I figured you’d have guessed at his plans, or read them from him. He said you wouldn’t, that you’d been too busy.”
“Too trusting, more like,” Julianne huffed. “Thank you for your faith in me Aldred, even if it was misplaced this time.” The guard nodded, watching sadly as his money disappeared into Danil’s pocket.
She turned to Danil, hands on her hips. “This was a solo trip, Danil. We’ve told the rearick we need a single person escort, not a party of two. I can only imagine the surcharge they’ll add on. And anyway, I need you here. You can’t come. Your ass is staying in the Heights.” She didn’t apologize for her order.
“Sorry, Jules.” He shrugged, then turned to check that his saddle was fastened correctly. “I’m coming. My feet have been itching to go on a pilgrimage for a while, and I’d planned to go a little after you left anyway.”
“But you—”
“Besides,” Danil cut her off with an easy smile. “Think how reassured the others will be to know you won’t be alone, traipsing across the Madlands.” He pressed a hand to his heart. “Think of the children.”
“I’ll shield you,” she threatened. “You won’t be able to see where you’re going.” Julianne knew she wouldn’t do that, but damned if she was going to back down without a fight.
“Fine. You know I can make it down the mountain alone, the horses are well trained. Mine will follow yours, until you abandon us. Both of us. A mystic and his loyal horse, frozen to death or maybe drowned, all because they couldn’t find their way home.” He struck a dramatic pose, one hand to his forehead while the other stretched out beside him.
Julianne let out a howl of frustration. He’d been in moods like this before. She wouldn’t be able to convince him to stay, and if she dug her heels in and made good on her threat, he’d try even harder to follow. “You, Danil, are as lovable as the sweaty scrotum of a hairy boar. The boar is better looking, too.”
His mouth dropped open, unused to hearing such colorful insults from the Master of the Temple.
“Aldred, will you help me with my pack?” Julianne turned away from him to address the Master Guardsman. While he tied her bags to the horse, Julianne briefly delved into Danil’s mind. He was more worried about her than he should be, and not just for her physical safety.
She had, after all, killed two men. Though Julianne had tried hard to block off that part of her mind, to protect the cool confidence she usually wielded when running the Temple, Danil had seen past that.
Her nose prickled and her eyes stung, and she cursed him for making her feel emotions she was trying to ignore.
“All ready, Master. Any last instructions?” Aldred patted the mare’s rump, then stood back. He eyed Danil warily, as if wondering if he’d need to restrain his fellow mystic at the Master’s request.
When Julianne shook her head, Aldred dropped his eyes for a moment. “It might not be my place to say, Master, but… be careful.”
Julianne leaned in for an impulsive hu
g, leaving the Master Guardsman red as a beetroot. “Take care of our people, Aldred. Margit is strong as a horse and has wisdom even beyond her many years, but she’ll need your support.”
“Aye, that I will, young man.” Margit’s tall frame looked willowy in the wide doorway, but she stood tall and strong. Moving over to Julianne, she dropped a peck on her cheek. “I see you’ve already picked up some road dust,” she commented with a sharp glance at Danil. Then, with a wink at Julianne she added, “I assume it’s welcome, though.”
Despite the chill in the air, heat rose up past Julianne’s neck to tinge her cheeks a fiery red. Shut up, you, she sent to Margit.
Nothing wrong with a body to keep you warm when you’re spending the night on the ground, came Margit’s razor-sharp reply.
The thought of rolling around in the dirt with a man brought a very different image to Julianne’s mind and she slammed a shield down as fast as she could assemble one. It was too late. Margit’s eyes widened like saucers before she broke into a cackling laugh.
And who, exactly, is Marcus?
Julianne didn’t dignify Margit’s stunned question with a response, instead taking a moment to stifle the thought of the handsome young guardsman she’d become close with in Arcadia. She cursed internally when a quick glance at Danil showed his face still, shoulders tight as he stared resolutely in another direction.
Oh, hell, Julianne thought to herself. This was going to be one awkward journey.
Aloud, she said, “It’s not too late to stay behind, Danil.” Julianne tried to keep her tone light. “No warm beds or easy coins where I’m going.”
If you’re really against me going, I’ll leave you be, he sent.
Danil, I… What could she say? She’d known about his feelings for a long time, but it had never affected their friendship. Please come.
His face broke into a sunny smile and he kicked his horse, sending it carefully picking its way down the mountain.
“I suppose I better go, before he and the horse end up halfway to Cella. Margit, you’ll be ok?” Last minute doubts assuaged Julianne about leaving her tiny community to fend for themselves.
“Be gone with you, girl. We survived alright before you, and we’ll do just fine while you’re gone.”
Julianne waved as her horse made its way after Danil’s. Before she was out of sight of the Temple, she found him waiting beside the path.
“Err… thought I’d better let you go first,” he called to her.
“Just remember, I can’t see behind me,” she replied.
“I know. Just remember, I do this every day.” He stuck his tongue out at her and Julianne laughed, feeling the tension from earlier drop away.
They took their time, not wanting to rush the horses over the rocky terrain. It took an hour to reach Craigston, by which time both were starving.
“Shall we stop for breakfast first, or meet the rearick?” Danil asked.
“I planned ahead. We’re meeting them in Ophelia’s.” Julianne turned her horse in that direction, after taking a moment to pass her eyes over the small mining town to give Danil a better view of where they were.
Julianne made for a low, stone building, following her nose more than her memory. The smell of sausages wafted out, along with the jumbled sound of several conversations.
Julianne dismounted and tied her horse to a wooden post outside, then helped Danil to secure his. Together, they made their way inside. Julianne wrinkled her nose at the smell of spiced meat and boiled cabbage, then pressed a hand to her stomach as it let out a noisy growl.
Julianne? Danil’s soft mental nudge made her jump, enthralled as she was at the smells coming from the kitchen. He directed her attention to a figure in one corner. She quested, then recoiled when she realized the mind was familiar.
“What the hell is he doing here?” she groaned.
11
Bastian looked up, alerted by Julianne’s brief touch on his mind. He quickly stood, bowing his head to Julianne in a gesture of courtesy. Bastian had butted heads with Julianne more than once.
As a recent graduate, he hadn’t yet gone on his own pilgrimage and Julianne had meant to address that before she left. Oh, I hope this doesn’t mean what I think it does, she thought, careful to keep it behind the mind shield she used almost constantly outside of the Temple.
“Master, I’m glad to see you. I expected you earlier.” He shot Danil a brief look of curiosity, but didn’t comment.
“And why exactly were you waiting for me here, of all places?” Julianne asked, trying to keep the irritability out of her voice.
“To… well, to join you on your pilgrimage. If that’s ok. I mean, the rules do say…”
The rules said a senior mystic must do all they could to facilitate the journey of a new graduate. Julianne was pretty sure that didn’t extend to babysitting them along the way. “This really isn’t a safe journey, Bastian. We’re heading right through the Madlands on a search for a man who may not even be alive anymore. This isn’t your typical jaunt through the countryside.”
“I’ve packed for a long trip.” His face was eager. “Besides, I plan to break off once we cross the Madlands and take my own journey.”
Julianne sighed. She turned her back on Bastian to speak to Danil. “Do you want to wait here while I find the rearick we hired? They’re not going to be happy when they find out the party of one they were escorting is now three.” Danil nodded, tweaking an eyebrow at Julianne’s stark white eyes.
While her face was hidden, she deftly slipped into Bastian’s mind. In it swirled the words Donna had spoken about mankind, and their mission to make the world a ‘better’ place. There was also the hint of resolution, a map of Irth, and the questions he’d asked the barkeep about navigating to the border of the Madlands.
He was unaware of her intrusion, and Julianne took a moment to curse whichever teacher graduated him. Julianne felt her jaw clench. What she’d seen in his head convinced her that even if she forbade him to join her, the stubborn mule of a boy would make the dangerous trek alone.
A cough behind Danil caught her attention. Julianne peered around him to find a rearick, hidden behind the taller mystic, tapping his foot impatiently. “Are you the mystic that hired a guard?” the rearick asked.
“Yes,” Julianne said quickly. “But there’s been a slight change of plans. There are now three of us.”
The rearick scowled. “One of my men can’t protect all three of ye. Expect ta be payin’ fer more hands, and a fee fer the last-minute change.”
Three? You’re bringing him with us? Danil slipped the words into Julianne’s head.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave Bastian behind just now. I’ll explain later.
“That’s fine, I can cover the costs. And I’m sorry for the sudden change. It was a… last minute thing.”
The rearick lifted an eyebrow, as if wondering how a bunch of mind readers could have so much trouble organizing themselves. Then, he shrugged. “Coins are coins. I’ll fetch yer hire and see if I can’t find two more. The booking will be tripled, but maybe ye can talk down the hires when ye meet ‘em. Group discount, if ye like.”
“Tripled?” Julianne asked. “That’s ridiculous.”
“So is asking fer a one-man hire and needin’ three.” The rearick stuck his hand out and waggled his fingers.
Julianne dropped the required coins into his palm and he grinned. Though she probably could have talked him down a little, it would have taken time. She was too impatient for that. When the short man wandered off, he was whistling a satisfied tune.
Julianne slid into a seat next to Bastian, Danil taking a seat across from her. An awkward silence fell.
“You lot wantin’ food, or nay?” Ophelia yelled. The rearick woman was as burly as her male counterparts.
“Please,” said Julianne. “Two plates of whatever’s cooking, with some bread, too.”
Ophelia looked at her expectantly and Julianne smiled sweetly. “Danil? I�
�m afraid I only brought enough coins for myself.”
The contented smile fell from Danil’s face. “You’re gonna make me pay for this a thousand times over, aren’t you?”
Julianne’s smile widened. “If you’re lucky, it’ll only be a thousand.”
Groaning, Danil pushed himself up from the table to go and pay for their meal. He laid out his money on the counter, a tactic Julianne had seen him use when he was relying on someone else’s eyes to see the coins. After counting a few out and sliding them across the counter, he returned to his seat.
“So, Bastian,” he said, stretching his arms out to either side. “What gave you the bright idea to cross a land of dangerous, ravaging monsters for your first pilgrimage?”
Bastian paled slightly, looking from Danil to Julianne, who just shrugged. Danil’s description of the Madlands had been more accurate than she’d like to admit.
“I seek truth,” Bastian said, his voice wavering. “I want to know what the world is really like, not just what I've been told.”
He came from Arcadia, didn't he? Julianne asked Danil.
Not quite. His family had a small estate outside the town, he answered.
Julianne mulled that over. If Bastian’s family had been of high station, they would have lived in the middle of the city. Yet, they weren't so poor as to be pushed into the slums. Bastian’s family would have dealt with the nobles though, if they'd traded with the city.
“Bastian, I plan to pass Arcadia on my way to the Madlands. Do you have family there you wish to visit?” Julianne wanted to read his thoughts, but she couldn't do that without her eyes changing. The little she'd seen earlier made her want to tread carefully.
“No.” His answer was terse and a shadow passed over his face. He buried his nose into his mug.
“Slow down,” Danil said with a hint of alarm. “That's not rearick ale, is it?”
That made Bastian chuckle. “Don't think I can handle my liquor? Don't worry. I've heard about the brews down here and I admit, I'd probably be on the floor after one or two. This is just cider.”
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