“She wanted to see what we Watchers have to fight the Seekers, so let’s show her. We’re starting with the usual — the Shifting Sands meditation.”
One or two Acadians groaned, and Isidora shot them a look. “You need the practice most of all, Heron. An eight-year-old boy could put your focus to shame.”
“Bring one and we’ll see,” Heron retorted. But he folded down onto the floor with the rest, crossing his legs and sitting with his back straight. Xaron joined them. It left me alone standing, unsure of what to do.
Isidora seemed to sense my discomfort. “You may join us for this first exercise, Airene, if you wish.”
I nodded and quickly sat, though more meditation was the last thing I wanted after my lesson with Eltris. But it was better than standing and watching.
“Close your eyes and clear your mind. Listen to my words and feel as I feel.”
The experience was entirely different from Eltris’ mediation. Instead of attempting to empty my mind, Isidora filled it with a vividly described scene. At her prompting, a wide desert expanded across my mind. Waves of sands poured over the crests of dunes. The hot sun beat down on our heads. Dry air filled my lungs with every breath. There was no end to the horizon before me. I followed an unseen path toward a destination I’d never reach.
“All may shift around you,” she prompted us several times. “You alone are still.”
And I was, for a time. When Isidora told us to dismiss the scene and we stood and stretched, I marveled how much more effective it had been for me than Eltris’ stubborn repetition for me to stop thinking. Perhaps I’d have to paint my own scene during my next lesson, no matter what the Master Augur instructed, though I doubted I’d manage it was well as Isidora had.
The Watchers, as they referred to themselves, moved into the next phase of their training, one that I could also participate in. Mirroring Eltris’ exercises, the next exercise was to prepare our bodies. We moved in a ways I hadn’t since I was a child, pushing ourselves off the floor, running in place, and circling our arms until our muscles were warm and limber. Despite sweat beading on my forehead, I found my tension easing and my headache dissipating. Again, I found it superior to Eltris’ method. I was beginning to wonder if the augur knew what she was about at all.
Then began exercises I couldn’t participate in. Leaning against a column, I watched as Isidora led the gathered Acadians through intentional channeling of each of the elements. This, at least, wasn’t unlike what Eltris had made Xaron do during the lesson I’d witnessed. Isidora instructed them in the steps for making their radiance a single stream so it had no seams that an opponent could use to pull it apart, then how to sharpen your kinesis to ward against dispersion.
When they arrived at magnesis, I was surprised to see Xaron step up next to her and instruct them in polar charges and magnetic fields. True, he’d successfully channeled lightning against Vusu. But to see my friend as an authority on the subject was seeing him in a new light. Talented and strong he might be in his attunement, but he had barely a season of training. It went to show how novice all of these Acadians were in their magic.
I tried not to think about my own inability as they channeled, but found it impossible. My hands flexed and relaxed as the Acadians practiced each energetic element. A longing to join them ached in my chest. I watched their every gesture and hung onto every word of Isidora and Xaron’s instructions. Never had I listened closer to my friend. Though I’d heard much of it during Xaron’s lesson with Eltris, it took on a different aspect now. I wanted to test my own mettle. I wanted to know if I could channel at will yet, and where my five shifts would rank among the others. If I had this gift, I wanted to know how I measured. No matter who had given it.
My anxiousness only increased as Isidora moved them into what seemed the most anticipated part of the practice: sparring. Xaron paired off with Heron and beat the joking young man a dozen times in a row. Other pairs were more evenly matched. Two on the opposite end of the room were barely able to muster flickers of magic against each other. Isidora moved from pair to pair, supervising as best she could. I paid particular attention to the intense matches. My fingertips itched with anticipation as blows were turned aside or met. Even in their Acadian robes, many of the men and women moved nimbly as they wove in and out of their channeling.
But even in practice, channeling was far from safe. A cry filled the room as an errant beam of radiance clipped a woman’s shoulder and sent her spiraling to the ground. Isidora was by her side immediately, and the sparring died down for a moment. But as she crouched next to the young woman, Isidora snapped at the others, “Why are you standing around, staring? You’re supposed to be sparring! You think Seekers will stop fighting if one of us gets hurt?”
The cold reality of what they trained for sprang the room back into action. The Acadians took to the practice with new abandon. It inflamed me as well. My toes had begun to itch along with my fingertips. I rubbed my hands against my trousers as I watched Xaron send Heron tumbling through the columns, wincing as the young man hit the floor again and again, clouds of dust rising around him. Xaron looked about, but his gaze didn’t settle on me. Isidora was watching him and nodded approvingly, at which my friend grinned. I looked between them, wondering, and wondered at the uncomfortable feeling in my gut.
Only then did I realize what had been building up inside me without my realizing. As if a dam broke, radiance suddenly flooded my body, filling me a warm elation unparalleled by anything else I’d experienced. The energy coursing through me tried to burn away my sudden anxiety, but I clung desperately to it. If I let go of that worry, I knew I would channel outright. Already I could feel the heat pressing against my fingers and toes. With horror, I looked down and saw light seeping through the skin. I curled my toes into my sandals and balled my hands, squeezing shut my eyes as I did. I couldn’t channel here. I wouldn’t allow it.
But the more I tensed, the more the energy intensified. I couldn’t close off my locus to the Pyrthae, not this time. More radiance crowded into me with every moment. It felt as if my very organs must burn from it. I couldn’t hold anymore, but I couldn’t release it. Fear clawed through me. I’d die if I didn’t release it now. I had to.
NO!
The denial surged out of me in a rush. Dimly, I was aware I’d collapsed to my knees, and my body trembled with sustained tension. But though something had escaped me, I found some of the radiance pressing back through the opening inside me. Strained but emboldened, I mustered my will and pressed against it further. The warmth and peacefulness of radiance leeched away as I pushed it back into the higher plane. Exhaustion rushed into its place, but I didn’t relent. I pushed the last of the energy back through the locus, then blocked it off. I didn’t know how to seal the gap in me, but I meant to dam it for as long as I could.
“Airene? Airene!”
Slowly, I opened my eyes. Xaron and Isidora knelt next to me. Even the flickering torchlight pained my sensitive eyes. But I didn’t relax. If I let up my concentration even for a moment, I knew radiance would flood through me again, and this time I wouldn’t be able to stop it from escaping.
“I’m fine,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Whatever that was seems to have affected her most,” Isidora said. She looked pained as well, eyes squinted and her brow creased. “I suppose it makes sense. She wouldn’t have any defenses against it.”
Xaron didn’t say anything, but his eyes told it all. “I’ll escort her home,” he offered as he slid an arm around my waist. “Airene, can you stand?”
“Yes.” I wouldn’t have been able to without his support. My legs were wobbly from my struggle with radiance as if my bones had melted. Step by step, Xaron led me from the room, the rest of the Acadians watching me. But I couldn’t worry about that. Breath hissing through my teeth, I walked out, hunched over like an old woman, fighting every moment to keep from burning them all alive.
14
Twin Flames
; As with all of Clepsammia’s prophecies, this one came to pass, and swifter than expected. Eleven days after the Goddess of Fate came to them, as Agmon Brandheart sat at his war council, a girl boldly entered.
‘What is this?’ Agmon demanded. ‘Who are you?’
‘I am Aika of the Green,’ the girl said. Her voice spoke of the country folk living in the hills, a poor and uncivilized people.
Agmon grew enraged. ‘We return to war in the morn. Why have you disturbed us at such a dire time?’
‘Because I am the one you have been seeking. I dreamed of a snake devouring fruit from a great tree and woke to fire in my veins.’
’So did it happen to many of us,’ Agmon replied. ‘But though we possess godly power, none of us have the seed of a god within us. How are we to know the Seed of Harvest has planted within you?’
’No words can tell you. Only my actions will. Take me before Famine and I will show you.’
Her courage swayed even the iron will of Agmon Brandheart. ‘Very well,’ the Hero of Man said. ‘When we ride on the morrow, you will ride at the fore — and may Harvest keep you safe.’
- The Seeds of Famine, a translation from the Lighted-tongue; by Oracle Kalene of deme Hull; 881 SLP
The walk home was long and hard, ,y locus not closing until we’d already stepped through the Laurel Palace gates. Xaron had to support me the whole way. From the smirks and coarse words of the laurel guards, I knew they thought me drunk.
“Even you can do better than a drowned Finch, Hilarion,” one of them japed.
“Very funny,” Xaron replied wearily. The journey home had been no easier on him, and we had a ways to the Aviary yet.
But as my connection to the Pyrthae severed, I found I was able to walk. My legs still wobbled, and my head hurt worse than it had since I’d woken from my three-day sleep, but at least I was upright.
As we mounted the bridge and the wind hid our words from any eavesdroppers, he finally asked, “Were you damming your locus?”
I nodded, too weary for words.
He smiled sympathetically. “I told you about when I had to do that as a kid. It was a brief phase for me; you shouldn’t have to do this for long. And who knows, maybe as an adult, you’ll master it faster. That you didn’t channel tonight was a marvel itself. I had three accidents before I managed to put a lid on it.”
I nodded to his compliment and kept my eyes on my feet. Though the bridge had sides high enough to stop me from going over, I didn’t fancy falling to the stone all the same. My knees hurt enough from falling in the Acadium earlier, and that had been on carpet.
“Don’t worry about Isi and the others guessing. They seemed to think that whatever you did came from somewhere else, and that scoria would be more vulnerable to it.”
“Good,” I murmured. At least that much had been achieved from my efforts.
He looked sidelong at me. “What did you do, anyway? Was that quintessence?”
“I don’t know.”
He shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t matter.”
We lapsed into silence for a few moments. “I shouldn’t have brought you,” he mused aloud. “I should have known it was too early, that it would be too taxing.”
“You think you should have known that seeing other people channel would make me channel too?”
“But you didn’t just watch, Airene. Isi put you through the beginning exercises. Your body and mind were made as ready to channel as any of ours. Besides, there’s something about being around other wardens that makes it come easier. Feeling the energy coursing through the air… It brings it out of you.”
I didn’t regret attending, no matter what had happened. I’d learned more in those turns than I had in my two lessons with Eltris. My thoughts clung to something else.
“Are you close with Isidora?”
He glanced at me. “We work well together,” he said carefully.
“Apparently you’re her authority on magnesis.”
“I guess. Airene, is everything alright?”
“Everything’s fine.” My head hurt, my body was sore and weak, and what was supposed to be a gift was barely under my control. But none of that had to do with Xaron, and it wasn’t fair to take out my frustration on him.
Xaron knew enough to let things lie. We walked the rest of the way to the Aviary in silence. He bid me a brief farewell when we arrived at its weather-worn door, and I managed to paste a weary smile on my face before turning inside. It had only just grown dark, but after I ate a brief supper of the cold food Sizani had left out for me, I trudged upstairs to my room, intending to tuck in. I’d just have to make an early start of the next day.
But when I reached my room, I found Nomusa’s door cracked open and yellow light streaming from within. If she was awake, I knew I should talk to her about our potential new Verifier. And, if I was up to it, my new revelation. Sighing inwardly, I knocked lightly on her door and pressed in.
Nomusa looked up from a series of finch scrolls scattered on the floor around her. She seemed as much at ease curled up on the floor as standing straight amongst a group of Servants. “You’re cutting it close to dark,” she observed, then narrowed her eyes. “You look awful. Did you get mugged again?”
“Worse — I ran into Xaron.”
I slumped onto her bed and reported the evening to her, though I had a feeling I wouldn’t like her response. Sure enough, it followed the lines I’d feared.
“You shouldn’t have gone,” she said reproachfully. “Not only was it risky for all of them, but look what happened to you.”
It annoyed me how closely her response mirrored Xaron’s. “I had to go. Not only is it good to know which wardens are on our side, but I need to learn to channel. Didn’t you say we have to take risks?”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
I knew I wouldn’t keep my temper much longer and quickly changed the subject. “But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. I think we should take on a new Verifier.”
“Oh?” Nomusa arched an eyebrow. “And who has gained your trust?”
“She hasn’t gained my trust yet. But what she offers is enticing.”
“You have my attention.” Her eyes asked for more.
I drew in a breath. “Her name is Kelena. And she’s an honor to Iason.”
“An honor? To Iason?” She looked dumbfounded. “Why would she be a good Verifier? And where did you even find her?”
“Wisp brought her to me. I know it’s strange, but I think we should give her a chance. She’s already aided us once. You remember last night, when that honor led Xaron and me up to Komo’s rooms?” I flinched as I said the Shaka-Heir’s name. Nomusa’s face had gone carefully blank, and I pressed quickly on. “She said to remember that she helped us. Then Kelena brought up the incident and said she was responsible for the honor’s aid.”
Nomusa’s brow creased. “Are you saying this Kelena was able to contact an honor within the Laurel Palace to help you at the drop of a copper?”
Now that she mentioned it, it didn’t seem likely. “I guess I don’t know. Maybe this is another time we’re being set up to be betrayed, like with Vusu. Maybe we shouldn’t make her a Verifier after all.”
“Perhaps. But if she’s telling the truth, if she’s able to make use of other honors so quickly, then that could be invaluable. And you said she was honor to Iason? Think of the information and access she could provide. We might even be able to make headway on the Council’s mandate to find corruption. Though not the way they’d like.” Wicked humor lit her eyes.
“All true. And Vusu did help us as well as manipulate us. Even if she isn’t on our side, we still might get use from her.” I put my head in my hands and kneaded my temples. Hard enough to make a decision like this, much less as I felt right then.
Nomusa spared me the burden. “Let’s bring her on. I don’t see how she could put us more at risk than we already are. And I doubt the Council will confirm her anyway. But if we try, i
t will prove we’re serious about working with her.”
“Fine.” I rose, my body screaming in protest. “Now I’m going to collapse in bed.”
She rose smoothly and gave me a hug, sniffing as she did. “Make time to wash tomorrow. You haven’t gone since the fight last night, have you?”
“I didn’t have the time,” I said, slightly affronted. But I quailed at the suggestion. Time wasn’t the only reason I hadn’t ventured to the baths. With the city in turmoil, bathing was a risk I didn’t like to take.
Nomusa sensed my reservation. “We have baths here at the Conclave, you know. I can show you them tomorrow if you like. Who knows, it might be good for your wounds as well.”
“If you insist.”
“I do.” She looked at me with her head cocked like bird. “Your hygiene is growing almost as poor as our old Guilder friend’s.”
I smiled at the thought of Talan, even as a sudden ache woke inside me at his absence. “Please let me never get that bad.”
“You won’t while I’m around. Now go. Get sleep. Tomorrow will come soon enough.”
I woke with Talan’s flame in mind. Nomusa’s reminder of him seemed to have wormed its way into my thoughts, and likely my dreams. I smiled to myself for a moment as I remembered his roguish smile and knowing eyes, the soft touch from his rough hands. Wherever he was, I hoped he was keeping himself safe, though I knew it was a vain hope.
Then I remembered the last I’d heard of him. I sat bolt upright. How many days had it been since the Guilder had passed on Kalindi’s threat? In the whirl of activity, I hadn’t given more than a thought to warning Talan. But would it be better to warn him, or further endanger him?
Only when I rose and thought of what the rest of the day held for me did I realize how impractical that resolution was. Once I bathed, I knew I should squeeze in what I could of my research in Tomes, give Kelena the news with enough time for the Council meeting that evening, then attend the meeting. I wished I could skip the latter, but if I wanted to be taken seriously as a First Verifier, I had to appear before the Low Consuls.
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