by Gin Hollan
Sam shook his head. "I knew you'd find a way to cause trouble."
"Then think of it this way—just because someone says what they think is the truth doesn't mean it actually is. They simply believe it to be so. It would be up to me or whomever I was gathering information from to corroborate it. It would be a starting point, or used to corroborate someone else's story."
"You need to find a stone that works as a shield to combine with the blue one. That would be honest,” said Sam, frowning.
"I'm not even sure I could use two at a time. And what if this was you? With your police training, you think that it doesn't matter how you get to the truth because you have a badge. That's hypocritical, you know. It's almost like you don't trust me." Arabeth fanned her face a moment, wondering where all that came from. She clearly had issues with some of the accepted police tactics, but why take it out on Sam?
"Focus," Andun said. "Can we focus? What just happened was perfect. We need to read that book as soon as possible."
"It's too dark to read now." Arabeth sighed. "In the morning, we'll ride."
"We're going to sleep out here?" Andun looked startled.
"How far is the next town?" Sam wondered.
Arabeth agreed. "You've been the guide so far. Where should we head now?"
"It's a little ways. We'll need to ride."
"That's fine. The horses see better in the dark than we do, anyway," Arabeth looked at Davin. "Just remember, you're in disguise … and act like it."
// Chapter 35 //
ARABETH WOKE UP, her head resting on a little desk with the book open in front of her. She should have gone to bed. The strange dreams might have been avoided, then. Slamming the book shut, she stared at it like it was a new adversary. She couldn't read a word of it and the sketches weren't helping.
Strange dreams. Is that what those were? As her fingers passed over the ink of a passage, things around her changed. Except for a three-foot radius around her, nothing stayed the same. At one point she and Marble had morphed into dragons; another time they were sitting in the desert.
It may as well be magic, she thought; it was so fake, so frustrating. Gibberish and symbols. Arabeth stood, straightening her hair and clothes. Suddenly she started laughing, but there was no humour in it. She was going to be burned alive at the stake. The minute she got home, someone was going to try to kill her. It might not even take that long.
A knock on the door startled her. She tucked the book under a blanket. Sam and Andun both stood on the other side looking worried, looking her over but not talking at first.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"You tell me. What exactly happened last night?" Sam asked.
"I'm afraid you’ll need to be more specific." She didn't like the idea of being scowled at so keenly first thing in her day. She hadn't done anything, really. Her fingers tingled as she thought about the book, though.
"Want to tell me what's going on?" she asked. Maybe it wasn't a dream. If so, this was not a conversation for public ears. She turned away to let them into the room. As the door closed, she retrieved the book.
"It sounded like you were ... fighting demons ... in here. When we opened the door, the room was empty," Sam said. "Then the door vanished."
"Witchcraft," Andun said.
"It's not that," Arabeth protested. "Witchcraft needed components. All I did was dream ... out loud."
"If it's not witchcraft, what would you call it?" Andun asked.
"You tell me. This is your technology." Arabeth hesitated, not sure it fit the definition of technology. "I am going to say that this is a technology we do not yet understand. This is not witchcraft, and I will stake my reputation on that."
"You would. My suggestion is you keep it behind locked doors." Sam shook his head balefully. "And don't fall asleep again. I will bring you endless coffee, if that's what it takes."
"What was Gregor thinking?" Andun muttered.
"He was probably too shocked and excited by the idea that the Lyar was being used." Arabeth defended his decision. “And that meant someone might be able to use the programs in this book. That's what I think this is. It seems to draw blood from my finger when I trace the lines, and that must be closing connections, like on the shuttle control panel.”
"More like he's glad to find someone else to take on the risk," Andun said, with a touch of resentment coming through. Arabeth and Sam looked at him. "He's a coward. If he can defer or transfer risk while staying loyal, he will," he added.
Arabeth took her satchel and tried to stuff the book in. The book was four inches thick, but barely bigger than a novel. Still, it wouldn't go in, as though it fought her. She wiggled it and fought to get it in anyway.
"Your satchel is full," Sam said, putting his hand on her wrist. "Try your backpack."
"It fit yesterday. I don't know why it's arguing now." Her voice was low but the edge of panic in it worried her. She stopped and took a deep breath. She didn't want it in her backpack; she'd almost left it behind three times. "Just get in there," she muttered. "I'll strap you shut if you don't behave." Suddenly the book slipped in.
Andun and Sam exchanged a look. Andun eyed her satchel like it may jump up and eat them all, if the whim took it.
"Let's get on the road. Breakfast, tea, then riding straight to the Lyar again." She leaned forward so Marble could jump up to her shoulder.
"Why are we going back there?" Sam asked.
"If I can talk to Melanie directly, that beats waiting for some one-way crystal communication. Do you think she would be able to use the Lyar too?” Arabeth asked.
"Normal people can't, and very few crystal-sensitive people can," Andun said.
"Is that based on scientific study? You said the Seers were so few because it is highly regulated, and a matter of status."
He paused. "Well, I don't actually know. You are proposing we open the fields up to the general population, and teach people how to use the Lyars. Our ancestors controlled access for a reason."
"If crystal exposure changes allegiances, making people loyal to the king, that would ensure you are the most powerful person in Vensay," Sam pointed out.
"Seers are predisposed to loyalty. They are not mindless automatons," Andun replied.
That struck a chord with Arabeth. She was going to do everything she could to open this up to the world at large. Being able to talk to anyone, at any time, would revolutionize life as they knew it.
"This is all distant and theoretical.” She changed the subject. “Let's go see what mischief Graham has got himself up to."
"Right. Melanie said he was playing with explosives. How is that different than normal?" Sam scoffed.
She hadn't told him Blastborn was a burning mess. It was unbelievable. They'd saved the city when they collapsed the cave. "We need to ask why he came back. A complete about-face on being home again warrants investigation," she insisted.
"And what about catching the people responsible for attacking Blastborn?" Sam narrowed his eyes. "It seems like you've forgotten our real goal here." Arabeth, forget? How could she? She shook her head. It was all connected. She didn't answer, gathering her gear and walking out ahead of them. She'd sound like a conspiracy theorist if she told Sam what she was really thinking now.
"Hey, can you talk to Graham using the copse?" Sam asked.
Had he forgotten what the otherworldly fire was called? Or maybe he didn't like it being called a Lyar. It was kind of an unfortunate name. Arabeth shrugged. "It will save a lot of time, if it works."
Andun nodded. "We should have thought of that sooner. Of course, we didn't know you'd be able to use it, so...."
"Hey, I wonder if you could talk to people back home, too." Sam's expression brightened. "Didn't Mel say Graham called it a disaster area? We should check, if we can."
"Brilliant, yes. I'll try." Arabeth climbed up on Davin, happy to be with her equine travelling buddy again.
Her nerves jangled as she rode, memories of the things she'd appa
rently done last night coming more to the fore; all had been thankfully undone by morning.
Her notebook. She must have taken some notes as she went, right? Next time she read the book, she wanted supervision, but could she risk anyone? Not likely. She'd hide in her old workshop and test things there, during daylight. Right now, though, she needed to put the book out of her mind.
As they neared, the copse stood quiet, giving no hint of the fire quietly burning inside. What equipment had been with the practitioners when they were destroyed? Why didn't the fire spread? What would happen to that spot once it had burnt out? Logically, it had to burn out, eventually. Or flare up. Or something, right?
"Who will you try first?" Sam asked.
She'd been avoiding thinking about that.
"I'm going to try Melanie first. She hasn't messaged. Since she's closest, she may be our first stop,” Arabeth finally said.
"Aren't you worried about Graham? He's in the more ... explosive situation," Andun said.
"Yes, but it may be a bad idea to let him know we're coming. If he has gone off the deep end, we'll need a strategy," she explained.
"I think the broader question is why. Why is he building bombs? Did he find out who attacked Blastborn?" Sam asked.
"Hmm, maybe I should contact my mother first, then. She is the head of the intelligence community there," Arabeth said thoughtfully.
Hopefully it wasn't the doings of her mother's minions that got them blown up. That would put the biggest bullseye on her family. Maybe minion was too strong a word, she amended. However, it was no secret to Arabeth that her sister Maralise had unhealthy levels of ego and ambition. She could be involved.
Arabeth's own life was built on other people's secrets and lies. Technically, she ought to be as paranoid as Melanie, or worse. Today she would suspect everyone, she decided. Everyone except Sam and Andun. Paranoid, but logical.
She would start with the yellow crystal and reveal herself if things looked safe. As for the book … it was supposed to be about Lyar use, but last night had proven it was for more. Should she test it here? Arabeth was tempted.
"I'll do this quickly," she said, pulling several different crystals out of the saddlebag. "Two conversations, and I'll play it by ear with Graham."
Both Sam and Andun nodded silently and waited with the horses. Why not bring everyone into the copse, including the horses? There was room enough for all of them, and then some. The fire was only three feet in diameter, after all. And the centre was large enough for a middle-income house.
With one last glance back at her travel companions, she nodded and went into the trees.
// Chapter 36 //
ARABETH PULLED THE book out, then changed her mind. She got the feeling that the book and the Lyar may not be related. She'd ask Gregor about it later. For now, she withdrew a yellow crystal. She'd been thinking that Melanie would be the best first choice, considering how connected she was to information sources.
She fought back the itch to travel. She knew Graham was trying to blow up Andun's seat of power now. She also knew why. Did she really need to talk to Melanie?
She placed the yellow crystal beside the blue one in the centre of the fire. As they rose up to hover in front of her, she concentrated on finding her friend. Suddenly she reached out and took the blue one back, sticking it into her pocket. Instead, she chose a purple one and placed it in the fire. She had no idea what purple did, but there was no other way to find out.
As Melanie came into focus, Arabeth gasped. She sat blindfolded and tied on the floor of what looked like a wooden storage room. The dim light could only be attributed to cracks along the wall. Maybe small windows, up high.
Arabeth looked around to see if anyone else was in the room. There was another shape off to the side, curled up against the wall in a dark space. She suspected that would be Gregor. Whoever it was, they were in the same situation as Melanie.
"Melanie," Arabeth whispered, standing close, then sitting on her heels. "Where is this place? How can I help?"
"Arabeth," Melanie barely said, her voice dry and raspy. "I think they forgot they put us here. I don't know where here is."
As Arabeth's gut wrenched, she stood up. She could find that out; all she had to do was look outside, or go outside, if that was possible.
The other person coughed harshly.
"I'll see what I can find out." Arabeth turned toward the door, hoping she could touch it, the same way she had taken the book when Gregor offered it.
It would be her luck for them to suddenly remember Melanie and come drag these two away. Arabeth shook her head. No. She had to find them first.
She reached the door and extended her hand to the doorknob. She couldn't take hold of it. She tried again, concentrating, not sure why she thought that would help. Her hand passed through it again and she thought about the purple crystal. This could be good.
Arabeth reached her hand out toward the door itself. Her fingers passed through. Interesting. Stepping forward, she thought about slowly placing her face through to see what was outside. A chill ran through her at the thought. No—if she was going to do this, she would have to make up her mind and just go.
With a deep breath, she leaned forward, but was startled when she bumped into something she couldn't see. Holding her hands up, she felt for it. Tree. She'd hit the edge of the copse. That was fine. She didn't have to use the door. Walls ought to be as easy to get through.
Slowly, she felt her way around until one spot seemed likely. She stepped forward into daylight and sand, not unlike a place she’d gone in one of her 'dreams.' Following the outside, she nearly screamed when she felt a hand on her arm.
"Arabeth, I hope you found out what you need to know, because it looks like we're going to have company." Sam's voice came through.
"I need another minute. I can't tell where they are. I need two water flasks, a knife, some rations, and ... well, anything you can think of to help Melanie and Gregor escape a large storage shed."
She went back inside, intending to untie them and give them enough to survive on, and hope they could get help.
"Why did they do this? And who?" Arabeth asked. She felt water flasks being pressed into her hand. "Remove the purple stone, if you can," she said, turning to where she hoped Sam stood.
"Done," Sam said. "We have about ten minutes."
"I have an idea, but it might be risky. Gregor was able to give me the book. That means these places are physically connected in a way. Can you walk through? Take my hand and I'll see if that bridges the gap, so to speak."
"Hurry Arabeth." Sam's urgency came through plainly. "Andun is already mounted up and staying out of sight."
"Good. You do that too." She pulled off Melanie's blindfold and untied her hands before moving to untie Gregor.
"Not without you," he said.
She felt something bumping her arm and reached for it. She pulled the small bag into view and dropped it beside Melanie. She'd untied her feet and Melanie was hurrying to help Arabeth with Gregor.
"If this works, it means you could get stuck here, too. Don't take any chances," Melanie said. "You go when Sam says it's time."
Gregor roused more slowly and came to his feet with a struggle.
"Take my hands, both of you." Arabeth reached out. Their hands firmly in hers, she backed up to where she imagined the border between the areas was.
"Sam, see if their hands become visible and pull them through."
"You're crazy. Hurry up," he replied.
"There's no change. Maybe a different crystal needs to be in place," Arabeth said, forcing her nerves to settle. A racing pulse impairs thought, she said to herself.
"I'm trying different ones. You all keep walking around."
"Sebastian is behind this. We suspected him, or a group he is part of, but it’s really just him and Grace, running around causing trouble," Melanie said. "He helped us get Graham home, telling Clare to assist, so that Graham would come back, ready to blow up anything
Sebastian suggested.”
"That doesn't make sense." Arabeth walked over to untie Gregor. "How would he know to come back to Owen?"
"All part of the plan, apparently. The cave-in was us walking into his trap. Now that he has us, the only foil has been my being a Seer and you being a ... whatever it is you are now."
"The term ‘crystal mage’ has been used,” Arabeth said.
Melanie moved slowly, as though she were made of rust.
"I have to go. Can you two work out a plan?" said Arabeth.
"I need a crystal. Any colour," Melanie said. "Maybe a few, if you have that cache still."
"Sam, I need a handful of the crystals for Melanie." She turned to face Melanie again. "I'm not sure they'll transfer, but we have to try."
A few moments passed and there was no indication Sam was coming back. Fear gripped Arabeth, thinking she'd taken too long and now he was in danger.
Suddenly she felt someone rifling through her satchel and she turned to pull it away.
"It's me. We need something to put them in. They interact otherwise, pushing themselves out of my hand," Sam said.
The sound of horses grew louder outside. Were they at the shed, or the copse?
Sam pressed a small container into her hand. "Try," he said.
Arabeth took them and handed them to Melanie. "Good. That worked," she said, relieved. "I have to go, Mel. I'll be in touch."
Melanie opened the case and took a crystal out, sighing as she did. On a hunch, Arabeth took her by the hand and pulled her. Melanie stumbled forward and fell, landing near Sam. She'd managed to grab the bag with the water and supplies. Quick thinking.
"Mel, hide in the trees. They won't be looking for you," Sam said.
Arabeth saw Gregor pull a crystal out as well and pulled on his hand, imitating what she'd done with Melanie. There was no change.
"Melanie, what colour did you grab?" Arabeth wanted to yell, but held her voice down.
"Orange."
"Gregor, hold an orange one."
The sound of horses coming to a stop outside the copse divided Arabeth's focus. "Gregor, now." She grabbed his hand, whether he was ready or not. He scrambled out behind her and rushed into the trees as quickly as he could. Arabeth led out a deep breath of air, not realizing she'd been holding it.
