Holes in the Veil

by Beth Overmyer

  Their sister rose, her chair vanishing into a puff of gray smoke. “What do you mean, ‘wizard’? Och, there art no wizards in these lands since Cedric took to his tomb.” Whatever the three hags were going to argue, they didn’t get the chance. An unearthly growl filled the night air, and the sisters huddled together.

  After a moment of frozen terror, Jinn crawled away from the three, trying to still her breaths. She needed to get to Quick. She needed to run.

  “Where be One? We are not so powerful without she.”

  “Dead,” said one of the hags.

  Jinn rose into a crouch, ready to disappear into the bracken behind her without a sound. She spied the hag’s knife lying where the elf had let it drop, and grabbed it. Quick had both of their packs, which the elves mercifully hadn’t taken from them when they’d been captured. But speaking of her brother…. “Wattlewasp,” she said. She had hoped that Quick would hear and comprehend that she meant for him to start running. Her twin did not respond.

  Another growl ripped through the trees as a cold, sharp breeze rushed down upon them. Jinn found her footing as the hags began to scream. “Run, Quick, run.” She crashed through the brush, arms flailing, foot still stinging from where the fire viper’s fangs had pierced, though the hags had obviously treated it.

  Quick was crouching by a great oak, his form hidden beneath a pile of leaves. At first he did not seem to hear as Jinn called him, the unnatural breeze and the roaring beast fast upon them. Magic lit up the night in shades of red and blue, and that was when Quick turned, and looked at Jinn. “We go?”

  “Yes, Quick. Now!”

  Without waiting for an explanation, Quick scooped Jinn into his arms and sped off into the eastern end of the woods, far from where the hags were shrieking in rage or in pain. Exhausted after all that had come to pass – I killed her. I killed her! – Jinn allowed herself to be carried as a sack and shook with silent sobs.

  Chapter Nine

  Jinn

  Whatever had come to pass between the hags and their attacker, Jinn did not know. Not that it mattered. She and Quick hadn’t been pursued…though she kept checking the near future, and Quick kept looking behind them as they trudged on. They traveled until they ran out of moonlight, and then settled down for the night. No fire this time. They could not risk it.

  Without speaking, the siblings lay down beneath the shelter of a great tree after eating the last of the dates they had brought from the north. Their waterskins would have to be replenished in the next town…assuming they could reach it. And she would have to wash her wounded hand lest it become infected. Ankle throbbing from where she’d been bitten and then healed, Jinn closed her eyes and meant to look ahead to the next day, when Quick spoke and upset her concentration.

  “Smell bad.” He sniffed and said again, as if to clarify, “Smell really bad.”

  Jinn checked her annoyance. The whole thing had been terrifying and humiliating, and the grease she’d been covered in caused her not only to smell bad, but it trapped all of her body heat and made her feel feverish. “I’ll take a bath when we reach the next town.”

  For a moment, Quick was silent, but Jinn knew better than to peer ahead again. She would have to wait until her brother was finished with his ruminations. Sure enough, he let out a long sigh and said, “And new clothes.”

  “You’re right about that.” It was a good thing Mother had given them a large sum of money for their travels. Avoiding highwaymen had been a slight concern, but with Quick’s strength and thick skin, humans were the least of their worries. “Sleep well, Quick.” But he was already snoring. Jinn wondered how he did it, falling asleep wherever and whenever. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and sought the day ahead.

  It didn’t take her long to map out a good course for their travels, a path that would lead them to a small village where they could replenish their supplies and perhaps stay for a night. It would be their third interaction with humanity since setting out from Egethberem one moon cycle ago. Satisfied, Jinn closed her eyes and an hour later succumbed to sleep.

  Though she slept, rest eluded her. For the last fortnight, flickers of a nightmare had danced behind her closed eyelids. It was always the same: she and Quick became separated, and Jinn was…. Well, Jinn didn’t know where she was going or what happened to her in that vision; there was a giant hole from the moment she left Quick, and her foresight reached no further. She always avoided paths that led to nothing, because that almost certainly meant her future self was going to die. Surely her future self wouldn’t be so foolish as to choose a blind path?

  This night held a different dream, and the relief and realization that she would not have to replay her seemingly inevitable demise over again nearly jolted her awake.

  In the dream, there was a woman Jinn thought she knew but couldn’t tell why. The woman glowed an eerie shade of blue, and her hair and face had taken on that color in a darker hue. She looked straight at Jinn and said, “Take heed: the wizard approaches.”

  Assuming this was a vision, Jinn waited for her future self to respond, but she did not. The strange woman-creature seemed to be waiting for Jinn’s present, sleeping self to answer. “The wizard?” her sleeping self muttered. “There are no wizards in the Saime.”

  The brilliant being glared at her. “There are four.” Before Jinn could ask who and where, the woman said, “I am the third, there are yet three others. Don’t ask me to speak their names. Names possess power.” The words came out a violent hiss, and Jinn’s mind recoiled.

  But this she-wizard – was such a thing possible? – shot a cord of glowing blue at her consciousness, and latched on with overwhelming strength.

  Jinn’s world glowed and burned, and pain threatened to pull her mind to pieces.

  “You’re strong,” the she-wizard said. “But there is always a price, Blest One. I don’t think you paid yours.” It wasn’t a threat; Jinn knew who had paid the price for her abilities. “Never mind that.” Her voice was gentler now, though she did not loosen her grip on Jinn’s mind. “All Sightfuls lose their minds eventually.”

  Jinn gritted her teeth until she tasted blood. “What am I supposed to do?”

  The she-wizard’s eyes flashed. “Seek the Goblets Immortal. The rest will play out as it should.”

  “How can I know you’re not some dirty sprite? What makes you think I can trust you or anything you have told me?”

  The woman clucked her tongue and shook her head. “Jinn. For someone with that sort of name, you had better watch whom you call a dirty sprite. You think my present self is speaking to your slumbering mind?” The creature threw her head back and laughed. Jinn wanted to slap that smile off her face. “Oh, I’m certain we’ll get in some good kicks and punches at each other, eventually. Well, eventually for you.”

  Jinn’s mind was reeling. “Eventually? You can see the future?”

  The creature laughed. “Jinn, I am from your future.”

  “But—”

  “Too many questions and too many answers affect destiny. Suffice it to say that my future spirit is speaking to your present spirit. Understand?”

  She did not, but nodded anyway.

  The she-wizard smirked knowingly but said nothing more on that score. “Now, listen carefully. Your current plans need amending. Do not go to the village. Head straight for Cedric the Elder’s tomb.”

  “But the Summoner is—” Jinn couldn’t breathe.

  “Leave. The Summoner. Alone. Understand?” When Jinn did not object – could not object – the she-wizard loosened the tendril of blue fire still encircling Jinn’s mind. She regarded Jinn searchingly for a moment before yelping in surprise and backing away. The tendril of light guttered and went out, and the strange vision faded with the words, “Destroy them all.”

  Jinn woke up, coughing and choking, her hands clutching her head. She pulled away from Quick, just in time to vomit
all over herself, and then began shaking so hard that she could hear her teeth clashing together.

  Of course Quick had slept through it all. Nothing ever disturbed his sleep.

  For a moment she regarded her twin with envy, but envy gave way to guilt and shame. Quick would do anything for her – had done so much for her. Jinn shook her head, the dream already ebbing away from her consciousness. In the stillness of the early hour, she could almost convince herself that it had all been an invention of her unsettled mind, but for the lingering burning around her forehead. When first light came, she would see if there were any physical marks left from the encounter. She hoped not; Quick would worry and ask questions, and maybe even inadvertently sway her from her devious path.

  No, neither Quick nor any she-wizard would alter her course. The Summoner would be found, and then Mother would die.

  * * *

  Jinn didn’t sleep after waking from the dream, but instead welcomed the morning in her own quiet way: with washing her face in a nearby stream and praying a hasty northern-faced prayer. Her body was still grease-smeared from the previous night, and her face was the only part she managed to cleanse. When they reached the town, they would rent a room, and she would take a proper bath with proper soap and would take as long as she liked, other priorities be hanged.

  Once the sun had crested the horizon, Jinn shook Quick by the shoulder. “Come on, it’s morning. We need to be g—”

  Jinn didn’t manage to finish before Quick’s fist shot out and caught her on the jaw. Yowling in pain, Jinn reeled backward and fell onto her rump. For a moment she sat there in stunned silence. What had gotten into Quick? He had never laid a finger on anyone, and had rarely even so much as spoken a cross word to her. Perhaps he was having a bad dream and lashed out at her in his sleep.

  Jinn rubbed the spot, thankful that he obviously hadn’t used all of his strength. If he had…she did not want to think about how many places her jaw might be broken in right now and how that would look to an outside observer once they reached the town. “Quick,” she croaked.

  Her giant of a brother was grunting and struggling in his sleep, and it was then that it occurred to her: something was wrong with him. Foam formed at his gaping mouth, and his open eyes now rolled back in his head as he shuddered and fisted at the air.

  Avoiding his meaty hands would be a challenge, as he was reeling about everywhere. She tried screaming his name again and again, but her twin only convulsed and spasmed more violently. With care, Jinn stepped out of his reach and looked around for something, anything long enough that she might prod him with. There was nothing nearby but a branch about as thick as her arm. She might be able to break it off, but she had absorbed only part of the Enduring Goblet’s gift, and what there was came and went as it willed. Still, she grabbed on to the branch and attempted to break it away from the trunk. When that did not work, she leapt astride it, trying to summon the power she needed. But that power wouldn’t come.

  At last, after laboring and toiling, Jinn fell to the ground in exhaustion and could only look on and scream his name as Quick’s tremors continued. Over the following ten minutes, they grew fewer and further between, and at last, her brother lay still, his chest rising and falling normally again.

  Tears ran down Jinn’s face. She let out a soft sob, lower lip trembling as she approached him on her knees, very much aware of the pulse throbbing in her jaw. “Quick?” He lay still. She ventured to place a hand on his shoulder. There was no response. “Quick, are you all right?”

  After what felt like an eternity, Quick groaned, and his eyes blinked open. “Where is Jinn?”

  “I’m here,” said she. “What happened? Are you all right?”

  He sat up, wiping the drool and foam from his face with his tattered sleeve. “Quick is hungry.”

  Jinn sat there in silence for a moment, stunned. “Quick? You just had an attack. I don’t think you should….” She let the thought trail off and eyed her brother askance. She had warned him so many times not to. It couldn’t be. Trying to keep the ire out of her voice, Jinn said softly, “You didn’t, did you? Please tell me you weren’t looking ahead.”

  Quick gave her a gentle shove, that sent her sprawling over backward, and immediately looked upset with himself. “Sorry. Quick is sorry. Didn’t mean to shove Jinn.”

  The wind had been knocked out of her lungs, but other than that, Jinn was all right. Well, not all right. She was furious. “How far ahead did you try to look?”

  He shrugged and started reaching for his pack, but Jinn pulled it out of his way before his fingertips could brush against the straps. “Sister, don’t be angry.” It was hard staying furious with Quick long, what with his innocent puppy eyes staring at her. But Quick was no puppy. He knew better than to exert himself.

  “What did you foresee?” Jinn asked, rubbing her weary brow.

  “Bad man.”

  She stared at him, waiting for him to finish. “Oh?”

  Quick shrugged. “Bad man who didn’t think Quick could see. But Quick saw him.”

  Jinn groaned. “How would anyone know you’d be looking for them? Wait, never mind. This is all beside the point. You’re not supposed to be using your part of that gift. It’s too dangerous.” She stared at Quick, who looked more like a sulky child than anything. With a sigh, Jinn reached out and patted him on the shoulder. “When you’re feeling yourself again, I’ll come back. I’m going to scout.”

  “Bad man’s looking for you.”

  That made Jinn pause mid-step. Looking for her? No one knew that she or Quick existed; Mother had seen to that. She was going to ask him if the ‘bad man’ was a Sightful – highly unlikely, as men didn’t usually have the fortitude – but it wouldn’t do to encourage him. Later she’d draw the information from him without his knowing. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

  The look Quick gave her made it clear that he did not think so but was in no mood or shape to argue.

  * * *

  After scouting out a good path for them to take, Jinn returned and they broke their fast with the remnants of their foodstuffs: dried caribou meat, withered cherries Quick had picked off a wild tree, and an onion. There was no choice left them but to finish the supplies. Although it was only a six-mile hike from there to Gullsford, Quick burned through food like a forge in frigid weather on good days. Jinn foresaw that the way would be difficult.

  She was about to finish her portion of meat, but noticed her brother eyeing it longingly. “I don’t think I can abide another mouthful of this horrid stuff. Quick, would you finish it? Waste not want not, you know.”

  Quick nodded sagely, and with a fast chew and a big gulp, their supplies were gone.

  Their journey started out in silence, besides their stomachs making their complaints known. Jinn saw the path clearly in her mind, and Quick followed her at a restrained pace, bumping into her when she walked more slowly than he would like.

  The morning saw hazy gray skies. Humidity prickled the cool air, but in no time, Jinn was sweating and swatting at yellow flies that plagued the byways around the marshes. Quick tugged on her sleeve, and Jinn stopped, her eyebrows raised in question.

  “Be quicker through there.” He pointed at the swamp, whence came the noxious odor of rotten eggs. “The village is on the other side.”

  Jinn nodded. “It won’t be quicker. I—”

  “You foresaw,” Quick cut in briskly and moved on ahead.

  She raised an eyebrow and resumed walking. Her brother wasn’t usually so tetchy about her proficiency in that magical art.

  “You’re not asking?”

  “I’m not asking what?”

  Quick took a deep breath and started walking backward. “Bad man is coming. Maybe the village is bad idea.”

  Jinn frowned. She hadn’t seen anything amiss in the village. Perhaps she should check again…. “We’re almost there,
” she said instead. “Do you need to rest?”

  He grunted once, his only response, and they walked the remaining four miles mostly in silence. They had to watch their footing, as the way was pockmarked with rabbit and gopher holes. Quick sank into one once and could have easily twisted his ankle, if he weren’t nigh impervious to physical harm. Jinn could foresee holes before she fell into them, but there were enough possible and probable steps that they both would take, that she had been unable to warn her brother about any of them.

  By the time they reached the wall that surrounded the town, the sun was high in the sky and they both were sweaty and cross. Quick wouldn’t come within five feet of her, lest he smell her ‘pig stink’. She really did need that bath.

  At the village gate, which sat wide open, there was a tiny watchhouse that held an open-roomed tower at the top. No one was above, but there was a rough-looking little man sitting on a stool in the room below. “State your business,” said the gatekeeper, not bothering to look up from his lunch, a pasty stuffed with what smelled like onions and liver.

  Jinn looked at Quick before answering, “Lodging and a meal.”

  The whiskery fellow nodded and jerked his thumb in the direction they should head. “Thanks for visiting Gullsford. Enjoy your stay, and stay out of trouble.”

  They thanked him and entered.

  For a town named for seabirds, there was no body of water beyond a stagnant pond on the outskirts. There were not many people about at this noon hour. The few individuals she did see were sleeping in rocking chairs or even in the grasses with hats over their eyes.

  As if in response to what he saw, Quick let out an enormous yawn. “Hungry.”

  “There should be an inn not too far from here,” Jinn said below her breath, not wanting to disturb anyone during this strange napping hour. “We’ll hopefully fill our bellies there.” She had already looked ahead at seven possible outcomes for the trip from the front gate to the green-doored inn. That was all she had the energy and the stomach for. Experiencing the strange vision and getting punched by her brother earlier had left her tired, sore, and cantankerous. If she had to play out one more possible outcome for the morning, she might go mad.