A Binding of Echoes

by Kalyn Crowe

  "That's enough, Gunnar, let's get out of here. Duri will report without a Spiritist. The Duress clause, remember?" Kat sounded like she turned toward them. "He owes her that much."

  ✽✽✽

  Kat and I returned to the stables while Gunner went for Conrad and Rhys. She held me in front of her on I assumed the same black horse from before.

  Odion followed on a loose rope. He wore the barding and Order caparison from Gunnar's horse over his head and down to his feet — a blanket covered up Tilly.

  Kat said he looked like a decorated horse who carried a covered basket. "Your eyesight will return soon. It's a product of severe spell sickness. Your mother struggled with it before she practiced more."

  "So, you can build up how long you can cast?"

  "Yes, but it's about how much strain you can take." She took a heavy breath. "You might hold a seal like that for a quarter-hour if no one struck it, and no threat piled on more stress. You are already pretty resilient, so maybe more."

  I adjusted in the saddle and squinted. We passed by the barn.

  "You're such a slight thing, but you heal faster than anyone I've treated."

  "It's the second time you've helped my spell sickness."

  She stayed quiet.

  "You do have a lot of different imbuements in your jewelry," I said. "But I thought Conduction healing could only speed up the body's natural processes. I'm surprised it works for spell sickness."

  A long pause hung in the air.

  She said, "It can treat side effects, but the illness is from something destroyed, or consumed, in the blood. It needs replacing." She waited again. "The Anima takes the place of whatever it is as it flows."

  "Like when lightning travels through a tree?"

  "Sort of." She took a deep breath. "We'll get you something hearty to help you recover."

  I held my forehead. My whole head throbbed.

  "I couldn't even find you." Her voice was unsteady. "I was lucky I intercepted Gunnar and Tilly."

  "I ran off with the animals because I believed they knew something." I caught my breath. "They took me to my old house."

  "I saw. We never told Tilly or Odion anything." She slowed her horse. "I hate to think they waited for Philomena all these years."

  "Tilly couldn't leave without Odion."

  "And he never left the barn after Philomena died. They lost their link. Surely upon seeing one another, seeing you or Kepi maybe, they wanted to find her. I can't think of another reason. Tilly wouldn't lead you to harm if she knew about it."

  "She only left me when I told her to; she's got a big heart."

  "That she does. Odion's blood is in her, and he is the kindest creature I've ever met."

  "Not Kepi's blood?"

  "No. Philomena said Kepi was too small."

  Kepi didn't coo.

  Kat touched my forehead. "I need to get you to the house." She lowered her hand. "Strange."

  "What?"

  "It looks like Eda is here. I see her donkey."

  "She has a donkey?"

  "Uses him to pull a cart for Reliquary business."

  Gunnar's house sat between the horse and oxen wings behind the great barn.

  Kat helped me down, and before I knew it, Leyla wrapped her arms around me.

  The golden glow of her scroll flashed.

  "I can't read."

  It dulled and lit again.

  Kat's hand supported my back. "There was an attack. She's spell sick but otherwise fine."

  Another soft shape appeared from the house. Eda said, "Can you not heal her further?"

  "Once I eat. Gunnar has some steaks in the cellar. I need one for each of us. Abyss, cook them all up."

  "Where are the boys?" Eda said.

  "Gunnar went to get Rhys and Conrad so they could see the scene before clean up gets there. The stable workers use the far barn doors; we should be out of view if we stay on this side."

  "The Hall will expect a report," said Eda. "Seeing as Mere is sick, I trust we will need a story to tell them."

  "We're relying on Duri for the initial. Gunnar will report in tomorrow." Kat sounded heavy with concern.

  Eda didn't reply right away. "Leyla, if you would start dinner. Mere must eat. Also, keep them rare."

  Leyla held my hand and stroked my hair.

  "I'm all right." My lack of sight separated us, and loneliness came for the first time around her.

  She let go, and the open and shut of the door marked her departure.

  "Eda, if you would help Mere from here, I'll take Odion and Tilly to their spots."

  A wuffle of protest came from behind.

  "Does she know?" Eda said.

  Kat stood close. "I, no, I didn't explain." Her voice came out more breathless every sentence.

  Finally, she didn't have to tell me. "You can heal spell sickness with your health. It's why you need to eat; you get sick in turn." I looked at her, still a blur. "You're an Attuned of some kind."

  She sighed. "Let me tell the tale over food."

  Eda took my hand.

  As we walked toward the house, Kepi hopped to my shoulder and nudged my cheek.

  Odion and Tilly called out.

  Eda said, "Bring them in. Gunnar will not mind; I am certain. Tell us what happened."

  ✽✽✽

  The wedge-shaped house held sparse furniture and bare hallways. I rested at a long table in the kitchen.

  Kat sat beside me while Leyla seared meat in pans. The rich smell appealed to something primitive in my brain. She set the first one down, and I almost picked it up with my hands.

  "Try to eat it all." Kat cut off a piece and handed it over on a fork.

  "Thank you. I think I can do this myself. You eat."

  "All right." She stood halfway.

  Eda brought her a plate. "Rest, eat. Mere, if you would like, you may use my vicar coat."

  I devoured the steak but looked up. Focused flashes came and went. "Oh, are my clothes damaged?" I felt around.

  "They will need mending." Eda, always so gentle.

  "She can have some of mine in the meantime, too." Kat cut a piece of meat. "I keep a few spares here."

  Eda sat down with her food and Leyla's. "Sit. Kat has a story for us."

  She stilled and set her silverware down. "So, as I said, I." Another shard of focus revealed she studied her plate.

  "We all have secrets, but now is your time to be forgiven for yours, Kat," Eda said in her warm, unshakable way.

  She sighed. "Leyla, I'm not sure how else to say this, but I'm an Apexist, like you."

  In focus now, Leyla lit up but then fell into confusion.

  "Your mother taught me. She swore me to secrecy, but still." She stared at her plate. "I should have told you. I should have told Gunnar what we were doing."

  "We understand." Gunnar's voice came from behind.

  Conrad stood with him. "It's my fault. My orders kept her silent. She's always been too loyal to me."

  Kat frowned with her brow cross. "I owe you my life."

  "You owed my wife, and you paid her off long ago." Conrad surveyed our faces. "My wife was on the strike team for Kat's parents. She reported the baby died and took her in. We never had one of our own, you see." He sat beside Kat, across from Eda.

  Rhys bowed to Kepi and gave Odion and Tilly a few scratches on their heads, then knelt beside me.

  I put a leg over the bench and faced him.

  He said, "There was only one horse, and two riders would have slowed him down."

  "It's all right."

  "When I saw Tilly, I." He stood halfway up, hugged me, and whispered, "Gunnar knows your a Weaver, by the way." He let go.

  "No way," I said.

  "It shocked me when Conrad explained."

  I looked at Conrad, who rolled his eyes and then back at Rhys.

  "I'm glad you're all right, even if you're a jerk." He pulled at a ripped seam in the jacket's lapel.

  "Stop that." I batted his hand.

&n
bsp; He pulled away. "You look terrible."

  Leyla's scroll lit up in his face. "You look terrible! Stop picking on her."

  I chuckled.

  He raised his hands. "Sorry, but look, I saw the scene." His struggle to stay jovial showed. He peeked over my shoulder at the table. "Was that steak?"

  "There's more." I put my leg back over the bench and made room for him.

  "Are you sure you didn't eat them all?" He sat down and pushed my empty plate with a finger.

  Kepi popped up between us.

  Conrad cleared his throat, "Tell us more about what Lady Voclain taught you, Kat."

  She focused on something distant, the past perhaps. "In the early trials for the Chimeras, she learned to imbue part of a creature to another." She took a deep breath. "She experimented with which parts of a person she could transfer through imbuements. She learned that Apexists could heal spell sickness as a Conductist couldn't." She lifted her head.

  Eda said, "My brother noted the experiment. However, he specifically wrote that they experienced no success." She glanced over.

  I searched my jacket; the journal and feather were still there.

  Kat collected herself a little. "A Conductist can't repair anything the body can't. It's why their healing creates scar tissue. Lady Voclain thought a combination of Anima could create bodies. Even restore parts of them." She sucked in another breath. "At the cost of the Apexist. So they brought in Philomena who, in only theory then, could make bodies without losing her own."

  Leyla touched her neck.

  Kat's lips shook a little. "You should have been your mother's apprentice, not me. I am a heretic child."

  I took her hand. "On the Sleigh, you asked me to pretend you hid behind this black jacket. We are in this together."

  She put her other hand on mine.

  Leyla reached over and piled her hand on Kat's. "You honored my mother's memory. She knew you'd tell us when the time was right."

  Gunnar put his hand on her back.

  Eda smiled at Kat and then stood. She rekindled the kitchen fire and said, "I learned something related to this and the Chimeras."

  Everyone's attention locked on her.

  Even Tilly stalked into the kitchen with her head cocked.

  Eda said, "We all agree that Philomena's role was to create suitable bodies. The key to suitability, however, is the ability to retain a soul. Much like Kat loses her health to heal, a soul must already exist to transfer. My sister moved and imbued souls, likely with my brother's help as a Spiritist. The Chimeras live and think to this day with no need imbuement recharging, and after my family's deaths."

  I said, "Other imbuements will degrade with time or use without an Apexist to maintain them. Or when the creator dies. This rule doesn't apply to the disks and the Chimeras. Also, Kat's health imbuement doesn't seem to wear off."

  Eda nodded. "Perhaps what an Apexist imbues plays more of a role than we thought. In Kat's case, health itself. In the Chimera's, a soul. Both self-perpetuating. Both of which someone may take away again without magic."

  Conrad ruffled his brows and then studied Tilly, who came up to his side. He patted her head and said, "But the disks don't breathe."

  Eda turned over a steak. "No."

  He and I exchanged glances.

  I took the short answer to mean there was more for another time.

  He seemed to do the same.

  After a few silent minutes, Gunnar served Rhys, Conrad, and himself. He sat beside Leyla and leaned on the table, utensils in hand, but like the others, mind elsewhere.

  Eda sat and continued her unfinished dinner.

  Conrad chewed on a mouthful. He lopped off a hunk of his steak and reached over.

  It dropped on my plate.

  "Eat," he said, "And Gunnar?"

  "Sir?"

  "May we get some sugar cubes?"

  ✽✽✽

  After dinner, I told Conrad, Eda, and Leyla about the attack. I also gave a generic version of the visit to my mother's office. Like how I found her journal and notes on Chimeras, but not the rest, not yet.

  Eda heard most of this, and more, before but she showed great interest all the same.

  All along, Leyla stayed near. Even after, she held Kepi on the other side of the curtain while I got a bath. Her scroll floated around. "I know you feel guilty, but you shouldn't."

  I didn't reply. I didn't even move.

  "About the attack. Some people will let pride kill them. They didn't come when you called. You told them to turn off the imbuements, but they didn't."

  Colors danced along the surface of a big bubble. "Maybe they couldn't hear."

  "Maybe. I think if you wade through all the grime, you'll see I'm right."

  Her warmth and the coldness of the day fought. To smile and even laugh with her, or weep for the dead and undone.

  I scrubbed at a dark handprint on my ankle. It ached with a dull but constant pain — a bruise, not dirt.

  I said, "Some grime takes a long time to wash away."

  "Sometimes."

  I sloshed the warm water and suds around.

  "There's a robe in here. I'll get some clothes from Kat and meet you in the room at the end of the hall."

  Leyla knew I hadn't told her everything yet.

  After I dried off, I found her in one of the small guest rooms with two twin beds.

  I changed behind a screen into a set of Kat's old clothes.

  Leyla's scroll floated around the edge again. "Odion and Tilly finally agreed to go back outside after she laid an egg in the living room."

  Kepi perched on the top edge of the screen and cocked her head at Leyla's scroll.

  "That's probably for the best." I stepped out in oversized, but tucked in, blouse and belted pants.

  Leyla snorted. "Looks like a perfect fit."

  I tried to smooth down the bunchy folds of fabric. "Thanks." I blushed a little.

  "Oh, I have something extra for you." She stood and picked up a bundle of quilted silken cloth. "This is Eda's old vicar coat." She handed it to me.

  I held it up and let gravity unfold it. Peach and yellow colors played in swirls under glittered threads. "It's beautiful. Thank you."

  She helped me put it on with a smile.

  Horn buttons ran down the front and also fastened an over-sized hood to the coat. I flipped it over my head.

  Kepi slipped in the hood and peeked out beside my cheek.

  We all walked down the hall, past a couple of doors, and knocked on the third. No answer.

  Leyla pointed to the other door down the hall.

  As we approached, we could hear Kat. "I tested the corpses with my Form tools before Mere woke. Each body showed abundant traces of Apex like they would for a major imbuement. Except for those around where Gunnar found Mere."

  "She removed the imbuement with her seal. It explains the golden glow she saw when the Abyss seal passed through those people. Could you sense what the imbuement was?" Eda sounded worried.

  I shivered and reached for the door, but Leyla held up her hand.

  She said in her silent gold words, "Wait."

  Kat said, "Spirit, maybe? If Sybil were here, she could tell us more about the purpose of the imbuement. My tools only show the type, and even then, it wasn't clear." She paused. "But."

  "What is it, Kat?" said Conrad.

  She said, "The thing that worries me most is some of those people died from spell sickness. They didn't have Attunements. It's as if the imbuement killed them."

  Conrad grumbled. "That can happen?"

  "I guess so," Kat replied. "It's different from the ones who died with the disks. Sybil said the man at Meredith's school was greatly Abyss sick and only faintly Apex. He was an Abyssist. Everything was in line with the other disk attackers."

  "Or what we understand of the disk using Attuned." Eda sounded skeptical. "Even if the illness differs, it is possible these events relate. Also, after Philomena's attempted arrest, were there not traces of both Apex and
Abyss at her house?"

  "That's right," said Conrad. "And claw marks, but no acid. She was a Weaver. We couldn't prove any Anima traces meant anything."

  A pause followed his words.

  I thought about the strange Woven sword I created today. And about the well-covered path my mother left.

  "That reminds me, we should assume Kepi's null zone moves with her and doesn't clean an area," said Kat.

  Conrad replied, "So then, we're going to have to answer for the Abyss found at the scene from today."

  "The templar sword imbuements are Abyss," said Kat. "They might serve as our loophole."

  "Good thinking. Also, Mere said she thought those people seemed controlled." He sounded tired.

  "I believe her, but I can't explain it." Kat yawned. "It's little wonder these people don't come forward. Imagine telling us they were Apex possessed?"

  "Is that possible?" Conrad asked.

  "If I can imbue my health, who knows what else someone might give." She sounded sarcastic when she used the word 'give.'

  Eda said, "This reminds me of the Northland Conflict one hundred and fifty-some years ago."

  "Yes," Conrad said. "Much smaller scale."

  "Everything starts in a way no one gave enough notice to stop," Eda said.

  "Very right, and today was a trap laid for Meredith if she looked for her house." He waited and added, "Could someone have known Tilly would take Mere home and let her out of the cage?"

  Kat said, "It seems Tilly can sneak out of the coop at will. I didn't notice the cage was open until I took her back in the coop tonight."

  "Trap or no, whoever opened the cage did not know Tilly well enough," said Eda. "She seems to wish to foil our enemy."

  The image of Conrad and his signature beard stroke passed through my mind.

  I tried to peek through the keyhole but nothing.

  Eda added, "It takes a certain drive to kill to protect as Tilly did. I wonder what she knows."

  Conrad said, "Not only Tilly but Kepi, even Odion."

  The smallest chime of a cup and saucer came before Eda replied, "Kepi chooses what to engage in; it is the clearest sign of her higher intelligence. Odion, although wondrous, is not of the same mental acuity. Tilly is something different altogether. We do not yet understand enough."

  I frowned.

  Kat sighed and said, "Eda, I've meant to ask you something."