by Katy Winter
"Did," he asked Choja one evening, "the southern mage's men report to the warlord at any stage?" Choja was listening to Bethel and Jochoh playing the pipes, but he turned to face the warrior with a shrug.
"I only know the warlord sought Chlorien for the southern mage." He spat behind him. "Aub died in the desert. Only Queeb survived. It's my regret he did."
"What did they look like?"
Choja's description was so vivid Sarssen clearly recalled the two men who'd visited the warlord at Ortok before the city was taken. He began to see things in a clearer light, things that had irritatingly and frustratingly tantalised him for cycles. He suspected this highly intelligent and perceptive tribesman was seeing clearly too.
Choja was honest with Sarssen about the trouble Queeb deliberately fomented among the tribes that led to the attempt to murder Chojoh. Choja and Jochoh may have led Queeb astray for seasons after Autoc and Chlorien went from the desert, but the man had more than paid them back. The simmering rivalries among the tribes had boiled over into some of the fiercest and most bitter fighting seen in the desert for very many generations and it was soon discovered who was behind it even though Queeb was well gone.
The Sophy survived the attack with tribes loyal to the legitimate Sophy holding Indigo and the immediate surrounding titles. Kosko and his followers held the northeast, Choja the south, the centre and the northwest. At present, Choja assured Sarssen, there was a stalemate though he couldn't, Choja added with a glint in his eyes, guarantee it would endure for much longer. He could only tell the warrior that Queeb had gone northwest after the mage, the Gnosti and Chlorien.
Asked about Menk and his men Choja frowned heavily and went to question his men. When he returned he looked grave but shook his head, saying nothing was known of the contingent of Churchik. Both he and Sarssen could only assume what was meted out to he and Bethel was given in heavier measure to Menk and his men. Sarssen gave a shiver at such a fate. He carefully skirted round the issue when questioned by Bethel, merely making an offhand remark that he hoped would discourage further questions. It did.
~~~
Bethel settled into desert life as if born to it, wandered around barefoot, the tunic flowed loose and the skifi hid his dark hair. He and Jochoh settled down, back to back, so they could play duets, Bethel's eyes sparkling as they did on the trip south. He was happy.
Choja studied the pair. He shook his head at them wrestling, throwing knives, riding hard, playing music, gambling and enjoying each other's company. Sarssen watched from afar, aware Bethel was as he should always have been. But the warrior was a realist and he knew it couldn't last. Then he sighed, because he knew they had to return north soon.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sarssen knew he was in the presence of a mage the moment he set eyes on the very tall, tawny-headed man who walked calmly into Cency towards the middle of autumn. Sarssen didn't need to be told this man had unusual blue eyes. He knew who it would be. He was standing looking out at the desert when he heard the sounds of an arrival behind him, turned and saw scampering children and chattering adults speak to a traveller who stood still. The traveller finally disengaged himself, his eyes surveying the contemplative warrior.
This very tall man who would top even Bethel, had taken a few steps but now stood without moving, his eyes watchful. Sarssen saw his reading of Bethel did full justice to the colour of these compelling orbs. He stood equally still.
It was Autoc who made the first move. He crossed the hard-baked clay street, dust scuffing under his sandals. He wore desert garb.
"Adept?" he said, in his imperturbable voice. Sarssen met eyes that smiled gently and quizzically into his.
"Scholar," he said quietly. Autoc nodded and put out his hand. Unthinking, Sarssen placed his hand upon it, a gesture that made the mage smile a little in appreciation.
"Call me Autoc, young man."
"Have you come for Beth?" Autoc's eyes twinkled responsively.
"I've come for you both," was the reply. "Are you recovered?" Sarssen nodded. "And the boy?"
"He is well." Sarssen hesitated. "Scholar, he is happy here." He saw a shadow touch the mage's face.
"I know, Adept, I know. I didn't foresee the attack that so hurt you both. You've travelled cruelly long, lonely hard roads, warrior - believe me when I tell you they'll come to an end. It's something you both must hold to."
"If you tell me so, mage," responded Sarssen quietly. "It is Beth. He has suffered in ways that -." He broke off, then resumed. "Will you not come and see the boy you cared so much for, mage? He is not far away."
"You miss little, Adept," observed Autoc, a mite sourly. "You'll be quite formidable in cycles to come, young man." Sarssen turned his head on a grin that Autoc instantly warmed to.
"I am already in considerable awe of your august self, mage."
"Silver-tongued too," said Autoc, on a sudden chuckle. "Lead on, Adept."
~~~
They found Bethel kneeling in the sand tussling with Jochoh, their laughter making them quite helpless until they fell apart again, breathless. Seeing the two older men approach then stand near them they looked up in enquiry. Jochoh was curious, but this gave way to a mixed welcome of pleasure and anxiety.
"Schol!" he exclaimed, his eyes bright. He was instantly on his feet and came close. Autoc looked down at him in amused surprise.
"How you've grown, Jochoh," he observed. "Do let me look at you." Embarrassed Jochoh shuffled his feet before he backed a little and glanced up with a delighted grin. "Yes," approved the mage. "A very fine young tribesman indeed. Where's the Sophysun?"
"I'll find him, Schol." Jochoh turned to go, then swung back. "Chlorien?"
Sarssen saw anxiety on the young face and an odd expression cross the mage's face though Autoc's answer was calm and quiet.
"He's very well, boy, I believe. Now fetch your father."
Autoc turned from Jochoh to Bethel who rose uncertainly, his eyes meeting the mage's. Unable to speak Bethel bent his head from eye contact with the gentle man who befriended and helped care for him since he was an infant. To see someone dear to him from a shattered childhood was well-nigh unbearable.
"Bethel?" said the deep, serene voice from a past Bethel thought irrevocably destroyed. He swallowed a choked gasp. He knew Autoc approached because he felt hands that soothed him cycles before run again across his head. "Our gentle boy," murmured the mage, his arms going about the still figure. "I'm relieved we've found you again, child."
Without being aware how he responded Bethel was torn by a deep, anguished cry that shook him. The mage's grip tightened. He held the young man very close, his head bent to Bethel's, but what he murmured to the clearly distraught Bethel Sarssen had no way of knowing. He just saw the mage's lips move then lightly touch the dark head. When Autoc looked up his eyes met Sarssen's. The warrior's voice, unusually for him, was somewhat unsteady.
"He is hurt."
"Aye," said the mage. "I know, Sarssen, I know. You both are, very deeply." He looked back at the dark head and spoke softly. "Is that easier, young one?"
Sarssen saw the young head nod imperceptibly. Autoc loosened his hold and Bethel sniffed twice, an unsteady hand going to his mouth.
"Scholar," Sarssen heard him whisper. "Scholar."
"Aye, lad. So it is. Easy now, Bethel. Take time to gather yourself. Your delight at seeing me could never exceed my joy at being with you." Bethel coughed. "Now stand back from me, young one so I can see what you've grown into. I can see you're as tall as Sar, aren't you?" Bethel shuffled back. "Such a handsome boy as you are," Autoc added with a provocative smile. Bethel was only used to being gently teased by Sarssen so this quiet banter from childhood caught him unawares and made him blush. "Just look at you, lad, you're quite hopelessly as beautiful as you were as a child!"
Bethel's blush deepened, he wriggled his toes in the sand and quickly glanced over at Sarssen who began to laugh.
"There you are, Beth. I told you once you were far too
pretty a boy for your own good!"
"My lord!" protested Bethel, starting to grin in spite of himself.
"And bearded," teased the mage amused. "If it helps, lad, you're very like Sar at the same age." He watched the young man run a hand across his chin, his blush now very ruddy.
"It helps," mumbled Bethel. "Just to speak with someone who -." He broke off with a shrug. Sarssen sensed resurging distress.
"Lad, I understand," said the mage quietly. "It'll be easier once you and I have a chance to talk, won't it?"
"Yes," came the almost inaudible response.
"And I see you've acquired another brother since I saw you last," went on Autoc blandly. "Since when have Ortokian Samars worn so much jewellery not to mention a large and extremely rich stone implanted in their heads? You have some explaining to do, lad, haven't you?"
Bethel jerked up his head indignantly then saw mirth in the mage's eyes and relaxed. He started to laugh. The tension was broken. With a smile, Autoc drew Bethel forward until they joined Sarssen, suggesting easily that they should seek out Choja.
Sarssen found the mage charming and approachable but also sensed formidable power. Any who took this man lightly would be a fool. The warrior was deeply appreciative of Autoc's handling of Bethel in the way he set the young man at ease and encouraged him to talk in the most natural way. Bethel almost chattered as Sarssen guessed the child once did. He'd never heard Bethel talk so fast and with such animation and his Samar was astonishingly fluent despite cycles of speaking only Churchik. Bethel was all Samar. Sarssen recognised the touch of a master in Autoc.
Choja's reaction was predictable. When he saw the tall figure near him, a blond warrior to one side of him and Bethel on the other, the tribesman froze, his cold dark green eyes riveted to Autoc's face. When the three men came to a halt and the mage stepped forward Choja spoke with the faintest hint of a smile.
"Schol, you're indeed welcome."
"Choja." Autoc held out his hand and Choja grasped it. "I told you we'd meet again as I recall."
"Yes, mage, you told me it was your wish." Autoc glanced at Jochoh standing behind his father.
"He's grown into a fine young man, Choja." Choja followed Autoc's look and his smile broadened.
"He's learned much over the last cycles." Choja's eyes came back to Autoc's face with painful intensity. "Chlorien?"
"He's well and fulfilling his destiny in the way that he must. You'd be proud of him, Choja." Choja's lips twisted.
"Her, mage, isn't it?" Autoc sighed heavily.
"Bethel told you that was possible, did he?"
"No," interpolated Sarssen calmly. "We guessed."
"Yes, Chlorien was Myme Chlo."
"You didn't fully trust me, Schol, did you?" Seeing hurt deep in the dark eyes Autoc's grip on Choja's hand firmed.
"I told you once, Choja, that I trusted you implicitly. I still do and I don't say such things lightly. Mages aren't prone to rashness." Autoc paused there for a moment, thoughtfully, then went on. "Those I didn't trust were those who followed who could harm you for your association with me. I wanted to protect you from them. And they did follow, didn't they, and cause havoc that still continues?"
"They do," admitted Choja.
"Believe me, Choja, I'd trust you with my life." As he spoke, Autoc freed Choja.
"Ah," sighed Choja. "It does my heart good to see you again, Schol. Perhaps you'll tell us of Jaim, too."
"Indeed I will. He has a part to play soon as much as you have." Choja turned to Bethel.
"And he's like Chlorien, isn't he?"
"Much, much prettier," drawled the mage, amused to see Bethel toss his head very like a young colt. "Very good, Bethel," he approved on a deep chuckle. "I do wrong to tease you." Bethel pushed his hair back.
"No, I like it, Scholar. It is like old times to have you do so," he admitted, his voice a trifle unsteady. Choja walked across to him and rested a hand on the young shoulder.
"This is a courageous boy," he said quietly. "We're as fond of him as we are of Chlorien." He said something softly to Bethel that brought a reluctant grin and a nod. "He and Sarssen are welcome to stay with us," went on Choja. "I believe they could teach us much and there's a great deal we could teach them."
"Like surviving in a desert," observed Sarssen wryly. "Let alone sorting out where on Ambros you are."
"If it only could be," said the mage tiredly. "But let's find some shelter and have something to drink! Choja, I seem to have forgotten my desert conditioning. This simply will not do!"
~~~
The next few days were full ones for both warriors, Choja and the mage, the latter spending most of his time with Bethel, the two deep in conversation either sitting together or walking out to the fringes of the oasis. There they communed companionably, Bethel rapidly reverting back to the way he'd been so many cycles before.
The restraints imposed on him by the warlord and the Churchik for so long lifted and he responded to Autoc like a flower opening to rain, the strain on his face gone, his laughter bubbling irrepressibly and his eyes alight with what Sarssen thought was sheer delight at who he was with and where he was. It was a Bethel new to Sarssen and the young man he saw now was precious. Bethel, in the mage's company, was happy.
Sarssen commented on it to Autoc one cool afternoon when the sun had lost its heat. They sat stretched out under one of the oasis nanty trees, these a desert oddity that had spindly trunks but proliferating branches that drooped down feathery leaves almost to the ground.
"Beth is unrecognisable, Autoc."
"Aye," agreed the mage, puffing gently on his pipe. "He sees someone from his past with whom he closely relates as he did as a child, something he thought lost forever. He's happy."
"Can it last?" Autoc turned his head to scrutinise the warrior's countenance.
"Why do you ask?"
"We must return to the warlord, must we not?"
"That's so."
"So this Beth I see and enjoy will again become the boy I have always known."
"I'm giving him a chance, Sarssen, to know peace as he once knew it," responded the mage. "And you see the young man as he could be as well as the boy that was. I want you to remember Beth as he is today because that's what he must become if he's to live whole." Autoc paused. "I've merely eased his mind of anxieties about much that was his home and about those he loves. The damage to him, as you know, is very much deeper than that and now isn't the time to attempt to help him."
"The peace you offer him for this brief spell gives me contentment, too," observed Sarssen. "I sense it in his music which has always been haunting. The Beth I know is a different person, though coming south away from the warlord he blossomed."
"You'll know more than me what life's like for him with the warlord," suggested Autoc. "It's not so dissimilar from your own experiences."
"No," agreed Sarssen stiffly.
"Your hurt runs deep, too, young warrior, as does the harm done you."
"I would not argue that, though I have spoken to no one about my life."
"No," said the mage gently. "But now I ask that you speak to me." Autoc saw the expression on Sarssen's face and added quietly, "I would do all I can for one like you, Adept. You've earned considerable respect from those you don't even know."
"I do not know what to say," said Sarssen uneasily. "It has not been my custom to discuss myself with others."
"Tell me about Elbah, your mother, Adept. She had considerable talent, didn't she?"
The mage waited for the long silence to end, then he had the satisfaction of hearing Sarssen speak.
~~~
A day later Autoc asked Sarssen if he could enter the warrior's mind. Startled, but acquiescent, the warrior nodded. When the mage explained that he wished merely to trace Sarssen's contact with Bethel from the first the warrior gave a small chuckle. Autoc also wanted to see for himself how much Sarssen knew of Bethel immediately after the sack of Ortok and how far the warrior had gone in his working wi
th Bethel's talent. Sarssen sensed the mage's power as their minds melded. Autoc withdrew with admiration for the warrior both as a man and as a guide and friend to Bethel. Though it wasn't said or even suggested Autoc knew this warrior had kept Bethel alive even at risk, more than once, to himself. Such selflessness made the mage feel humble.
Autoc also saw for himself what Sarssen had borne over the cycles and how he struggled to cope with odds equally as against him as they were for Bethel. Even more so, Autoc realised, because Sarssen wasn't early befriended and was forced to survive purely on his wits and courage alone before Morsh found him weeks after Lodestok took him. The mage was left with a sense of pity mixed with overwhelming respect.
Bethel became silent and awed when he learned the scholar of his childhood was a mage, his big eyes drawn to Autoc's face. The mage stared back in affectionate amusement. He was reminded vividly of Chlorien, only in the girl there wasn't the dreamy softness - what the mage saw was vulnerability in them both and it saddened him. Wearily, he looked away from the beautiful face.
He took Sarssen with him when he finally entered Bethel's mind, Bethel opening to them both with absolute faith and trust. Autoc noticed how very carefully and gently Sarssen moved the blocks he'd set in place in the young mind to prevent Bethel exposing his talent inappropriately and he was equally careful to remember they had to be replaced.
At first the mage's mind reeled under the onslaught of the awful abuse the boy was confronted with and forced to endure and the sheer terror he had to overcome. He went beyond where Sarssen had been and stayed there until Sarssen became familiar with a part of Bethel he'd not known existed before both mage and Adept withdrew. He knew they barely touched on the damage done to Bethel. Sarssen blinked rapidly and Bethel stirred, the luminous eyes drowsy.
Sarssen watched Autoc absently brush a hand across the young man's forehead and Bethel, yawning widely and about to speak, was instantly asleep. The mage glanced across at Sarssen, to see amusement.
"I did it to Chlorien all the time," he explained. "It's useful for avoiding questions."
"I see," murmured the warrior appreciatively. "Very useful." Autoc grinned as he fumbled with his pipe.
