Where before Kirheen had seen a wall inside Garild’s mind, she now saw what he wanted her to see, the view shifting according to his will. At times it was a forest, filled with towering wraith woods trees, alive with the sounds of bugs and birds. Sweet smelling flowers blossomed all around, luring her in with their delightful fragrance. Lush grass, tall and green, tickled her as she strolled through his creation. The forest was designed to lower her guard, to make her feel safe and complacent, and it did the job well. There were times she’d lose focus, wandering throughout the forest aimlessly. Other times she’d come face to face with wild creatures that would chase and attack, forcing her into the safety of her own mind.
His skillset proved difficult for Kirheen, headstrong as she was. Her tendency to keep her eye on the goal left her open to manipulation, and Garild was getting better at it with each passing day. She was so intent on the bigger picture that she often missed the little details. Subtle shifts in the forest went unnoticed and it was the things she did not see that proved the most fatal. The weeks dragged by, leaving Kirheen feeling weak and defeated.
Tomias recognized her frustration, the solemn storm cloud that followed her wherever she went. He worked on teaching her new ways to seek out his traps, to move slowly and deliberately towards her goal without leaving herself open or losing sight of what she’d been after to begin with. It was a different skill from blocking. What he began teaching her was something else, a form of counter manipulation that involved using Garild’s projections against him. When the creature he’d conjured would attack, she’d overpower it with her own will, forcing it to do her bidding. She’d send the conjuration into the forest where it would seek out traps and drive away other creatures that would seek to force her out of his mind. It was a difficult skill to master, but soon she was keeping pace with Garild.
Training changed them, morphing them over the winter months. Garild grew taller, losing some of his boyish chubbiness in the process. As he grew more confident in his powers, his youthful naivety fell away, wits growing sharp from his constant sparring with Kirheen. Now he was the manipulator, capable of shaping his own world, and that power gave him a strength he’d lacked when they’d first started training.
Kirheen changed right alongside him. As she learned control and patience, humiliation and defeat, she softened to the world. No longer did she fear her powers or the power of others. She was confident in her ability to guard her mind and, for the first time in a long time, she felt safe. Defeat at the hands of Garild had taught her to be humble, to accept defeat graciously. She smiled more willingly, communicated more openly, and was friendlier with Garild than she’d ever been before.
They grew closer, friendship solidifying into a solid bond that elevated them both. Before, their teamwork had been clumsy and unstable, but now they were able to weave their powers together in a seamless blend that left Tomias and Fenir defeated more often than not.
On a chilly winter night, Nyson gathered them all within the hollow tree where they’d been bonded. A large fire burned in the center of the circle, and the Bonded crowded close, basking in the warmth it provided. As they sat around the fire, Nyson announced a tournament to be held after the snows of winter melted away.
The tournament would pit the Bonded against each other. It would be an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to show the Council all they’d learned during the long winter months. At the end of it, a grand celebration would be held to honor the Allseer herself.
The room exploded with electric energy, growing in intensity as the Bonded discussed the tournament. Nyson’s words had sparked a flame within each of them, the promise of the competition to come filling them with a renewed sense of purpose.
The reign of winter came to an end. As the snows thawed, the landscape changed, plants and flowers bursting to life, the air heavy with their fragrance. Hearts soared with the sun as it rose high above them, becoming the dominant force in the sky.
On a dark night, the moon but a sliver in the sky, the forests of Sanctuary came alive. A spark floated, tree to tree, waking the slumbering giants. It continued, on and on, until the wraith wood trees came alive with icy fire once again.
CHAPTER 14
“Wait, you told them?” Tomias asked, hands pressed to his cheeks. He paced back and forth, muttering under his breath as he went. “When did this happen? This might ruin everything.”
Kirheen shook her head, completely baffled by his concern. She’d made the mistake of mentioning a prior conversation with Grant, Abby, and Burk in which they’d discussed their powers. Never had she imagined it would turn into such a problem, that Tomias would be pacing like a nervous cat and acting as if the Darkness were right outside their door. “What exactly is the big deal? They told us what they were learning. Besides, it was the beginning of winter. They probably don’t even remember our conversation.”
Tomias exhaled sharply, shooting her an annoyed glance. “Wrong. Grant remembers everything, the sly old fox. He’s probably been training them to counter us all winter. And don’t bother remembering what they told you – it was a lie. Just because Burk acts and looks like a bear, it doesn’t mean he’s actually a bear. For all we know, he’s a skilled manipulator and that won’t bode well for us.”
Garild let out a lengthy sigh, rubbing idly at his temples. “I think you might be taking this a little too seriously, Tomias. Isn’t this meant to be fun?”
Tomias stopped pacing. “It is, yes, but winning is also fun. If you think I spent all winter training you day in and day out just to have you lose, you’re very mistaken. We’re not losing, especially not to Grant.”
“Nobody said we’re going to lose, but they aren’t the only opponents we need to worry about. Besides, we’ve learned a lot over the past few months,” Kirheen explained. “Garild is more than competent when it comes to manipulating the mind, and I’d like to think I’ve mastered some interesting techniques. We’ll win this if we can nail down a solid strategy.”
Tomias frowned and rubbed at the stubble on his chin. He’d stubbornly refused to shave, claiming it helped telling him and his brother apart, but it was easy enough to see it only remained as a way to annoy Fenir and Trista. “You’re right. I’m not trying to undermine your efforts. You’ve both far exceeded my expectations. It’s just the first time we’ve done something like this. It’s exciting!”
“And stressful,” Garild muttered.
“Yes, but you’re at least feeling confident about what you’ve learned, right?”
“As Kirheen said, we’ve learned a lot. We’ve managed to knock you and Fenir down a peg or two, so I’d like to think we’re somewhat prepared.”
“I’d appreciate it if in the future you didn’t mention how often you beat us. I won’t deny you two have a level of finesse that we sometimes lack. Being almost the same person can sometimes make for a rather one-sided perspective, wouldn’t you say? Your teamwork is enviable, but this isn’t the time to go letting your guard down. You’ll be facing opponents with different abilities than what you’re used to dealing with. They all have an edge, an advantage, and they will use every bit of their strength to win.”
Garild shrugged. “Does any of this really matter? It’s not like we get anything for winning.”
He had a point. Aside from getting to show off to the Council, the only reward for winning was the gratification of knowing they were better than the other Bonded. It was a satisfying thought, but nothing more.
“There is no physical reward for your efforts, but it does offer you a chance to impress the Council, a chance to show them that you really have what it takes to face the Darkness in the coming years. Remember, not all of you will get the chance to fight,” Tomias said, his face troubled. She could tell he was thinking about them, about where they would end up in the years to come. “Some of you will end up as workers, providing for the Bonded that come after you. And remember, you’ll have bragging rights. You can’t deny those. I, for one, would have a splendid tim
e rubbing our victory into the faces of the other instructors.”
Kirheen grinned. “Oh, of course you would. How long do we have until the Union Battle?”
“Three weeks. It’s not a lot of time, but it’s enough to lock down your techniques and strategies.”
“Will they be telling us ahead of time who we’re going up against?” Garild asked. The finer details of the battle were kept to a minimum, making preparing harder than it already was. Without knowing who their opponents might be, the only option was to prepare for as many scenarios as possible. It was a daunting task, one she hoped to avoid.
“I don’t think we’ll know until the day of the competition,” Tomias sighed. “I know it would make it easier to prepare, but we can only work with what we know, which isn’t much unfortunately.”
“There are only so many powers we’ll face, and we’ve got the majority covered between us. We’ll just use this time to practice countering and hope we’re prepared when the day comes,” Kirheen said, hoping she sounded more determined than she felt.
“True. You’ve both experienced most of what you’ll find in the battles, and that will give you an advantage,” Tomias agreed. “This might just work in your favor.”
“What do we need to be most concerned about out there?”
“Manipulators, by far. Not everyone will use their powers the way Garild does, and without knowing how they’ll be doing the manipulating, it’ll be hard to counter. They do have a weak spot, however. Manipulators require extreme focus to do what they do. If they are focused by a pusher and they don’t have someone to defend their mind, things will go wrong very quickly. Be aware of that. Kirheen, if you aren’t watching out for Garild’s mind and they are able to interrupt his focus, you’ll both lose.”
Kirheen nodded. “Doesn’t sound stressful at all. Well, do you think we can pull this off, Garild?”
He met her gaze, dark eyes glimmering with determination. “We’ve got enough time. We can do this.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Tomias grinned. He dragged his chair closer, squeezing in between them. Huddling close, talking in low whispers, they discussed the strategies for the battles to come.
A week before the Bonded would be pitted against each other, Nyson called the Council together for a meeting. They crammed into the Temple of Union, just as the sun began its slow descent across the sky. Every instructor was present, as well as Herzin and Trista, all shifting impatiently as they waited for Nyson.
Tomias hated meetings. They required he keep a firm hold of his tongue so his more daring thoughts couldn’t slip out. He’d gotten good at it over the years, but it’d taken a number of scoldings before he’d learned to just stay quiet. The only way he made it through each meeting was to spend most of it conversing mentally with Fenir. He could voice his opinions to a captive audience without the lecture that usually came along with it.
Fenir grunted, gaze sweeping over the other instructors. “Lot of bodies in this room. We’re going to be in for quite the competition.”
Tomias followed his gaze, nodding his head in agreement. The Council had swelled in size over the years, and he was sure it would only get larger with the ever-increasing demands out of Nyson. Eventually they’d need a bigger space to conduct their affairs, but for now the hollowed wraith wood tree had to suffice.
“How do you think we’ll do?” Tomias asked his brother. He cast a suspicious glance at Grant standing nearby, arms crossed, his expression as brooding as ever. He had the air of a man that had far better things to do with his time, like practicing so he could beat Tomias in the competition.
“We’d do a lot better if you’d stop worrying. We might not even be against them.”
Tomias let out a lengthy sigh, hoping it might deflate the tension growing within him. “I am worrying too much, aren’t I?”
“Yes, and you need to stop. Kirheen and Garild are doing better than we ever expected. You’re just stressing me out.”
“Sorry, sorry. I just-” His words faltered as Nyson entered the room. He looked almost serene, a rare expression on his weathered features. Most days, the man looked ready to snap, like a frayed rope being pulled too taut. All it would take was one good tug and he was sure Nyson would unravel. Today was different though. His usual frown had disappeared, his eyes shone with good humor, and the harsh lines of his face seemed to have softened, as if he’d reverted back to a younger version of himself. It was almost unsettling to see.
Nyson took his place in the center of the circle. Never one to stand still, the set up afforded him the luxury of being able to move about the room, to address whomever he wished face to face. “Thank you for joining me today,” he spoke, sweeping his arms out as he turned a slow circle. “As you well know, the Union Battle is almost upon us. Today we’ll be discussing the details of the battle so you know what to expect. For the battle, I will be splitting the Bonded into two groups. Each group will consist of eight students. The Bonded will face each other in pairs and eliminations will take place until only two teams remain.” Nyson motioned towards a servant standing on the outskirts of the circle. She approached swiftly, a bundle of scrolls tucked under one arm. Nyson took them from her and she was dismissed, returning to her original post, her face devoid of emotion.
“On these scrolls is a breakdown of the battles. Only one battle will take place at a time with Herzin and myself overseeing each one. Please review your scroll as it is passed to you.” The scrolls were passed around the circle, and Tomias eyed the approaching parchment wearily. When he finally had it in hand, he unraveled it quickly, heart thumping so loudly he thought it might leap right out of his chest. The scroll showed a breakdown of who each pair of Bonded would be up against, as well as the official rules for the battle. He scanned the parchment, looking for the names of his students. A line connected them to another pair of names, and he muttered a curse under his breath.
“Of course it’d be them,” he huffed, jabbing a finger at Burk and Abby’s names. “See, I knew I was worried for a reason. This isn’t going to end well.”
Fenir shrugged. “You knew this could happen. No point whining about it now.”
Tomias let go of the scroll, ignoring the looks he got as it rolled together with a snap. He was already seeking his target, eyes darting to where Grant stood reading his scroll. As he finished, bright blue eyes rose to meet his gaze and the unscarred corner of his mouth rose in a smirk. Tomias glared before looking away in disgust.
“We’re going to lose.”
“Would you shut up!” Fenir growled. “I didn’t deal with you three all winter just to lose the first round.”
“Fine, I’ll shut up, but it doesn’t mean I’m okay with this.”
Nyson clapped his hands twice, drawing their attention back to the matter at hand. “These scrolls are yours to keep. While the breakdown of the battles is yours to review, please keep this information from your students. The matchups should be a surprise. Please make sure to review the terms of the battles and discuss the rules with your students. Any Bonded found breaking the rules during the competition will be immediately disqualified and face disciplinary actions.” His gaze hardened as he looked about the room, eyes meeting each instructor as he spoke. “This is a chance for your students to prove their worth, to prove they have what it takes to defend us against the Darkness. Do not let them disappoint us. That will be all for today. Please use the remaining week to practice. You’ll have the day before the competition to rest. Use your remaining time wisely.”
Nyson bowed his head and left the room, servant following close behind. The Council trickled out after him, murmuring softly to each other. The sun had sunk low, leaving the forest drenched in vibrant streaks of color. Tomias soaked in the beauty of the moment, knowing it would be quickly swallowed by the ghastly glow that dominated the night.
“It really would be a shame if this place fell to the Darkness,” Tomias mused.
“It would,” Fenir agreed. “That’
s why we have to train them the best we can. They’re our future.”
“When did you get to be so sentimental? You’ve been around Trista too much.”
With a grunt, Fenir increased his pace, leaving Tomias behind before the conversation could go any further. The brisk pace set by his brother made the walk back short, albeit exhausting. When they reached the house, Kirheen and Garild were quietly discussing strategies and talking through possible scenarios, their outlines cast in a blue glow from the nearby fire. They hardly looked up when they entered the room and Tomias’ heart swelled with pride. Maybe he was being overly paranoid about the battle.
“Having fun?” he asked his students, taking a seat around the fire. Fenir followed suit.
Kirheen ignored the question, instead eyeing the scroll Fenir held. She arched a brow. “Uh oh, what did you find out?”
“I found out all the boring rules you get to follow so you don’t get disqualified and punished,” Tomias chided.
“And?”
“Oh, you’re doomed.”
Kirheen and Garild both sneered, obviously displeased by his lack of enthusiasm.
“Why do you say that?” Garild asked. “What did you find out?”
Tomias sighed. “I say it because, as I rightfully feared, your first battle is against Burk and Abby. You know, the ones that know your dirty little secrets?”
Fenir looked alarmed, his eyes bulging. “We aren’t supposed to tell them!”
“When have we ever followed the rules? Besides, it’s more fun this way. Now put your eyes back in your head before you lose them.”
Kirheen grumbled. “Well, great. What does that mean for us?”
“It means you may be starting this competition at a slight disadvantage but fear not! I think I have a way to fix this.”
“What’s this grand plan of yours?”
The Allseer Trilogy Page 11
