The Pain of Compassion

by Roland Boykin

  Navon’s smile pushed away the last of the darkness as he vaulted onto the Elder’s back and held out his hand to the apprentice. “Chaska, ride with me and I will teach you why sorcerers were first created.”

  Chaska climbed up behind Navon, but was concerned for Moshere after their struggle to reach the Deluti. “Do you think he can carry us both?”

  The Elder snorted and broke into a run. “Do I look like horse?”

  ***

  Covered in the blood oozing from burns that had never healed, Scorpios painfully levered himself up on one elbow and stared at the destruction around him. Several small fires still ate at the remains of his shattered furniture while the charred body of his Master Sorcerer lay crumpled in the far corner.

  It could have been much worse if he hadn’t been so intent on punishing that traitor, Chaska, and felt the power release. How dare the apprentice go against direct orders and hand the amulet back to Navon? The Dark Lord had been able to deflect the majority of the attack to his underling, but the ferocity stunned him.

  An emotion kept buried for millennia awoke, and the worm of fear began to wiggle and squirm in the pit of his soul. He had no defense against the human emotions of suffering and sorrow infusing the power of the new Deluti. Its strength came from pain; the pain of compassion.

  ***

  Rafael stepped out into the darkened hallway and paused to listen. His sister had stayed up later than usual, excitedly discussing choices of dress for the banquet tomorrow with their mother. The flickering shadows on the wall from the single lantern brought back memories of his childhood. He and Mathias would sneak out late at night and meet in the alley behind the Palace. Most of their adventures ended in big trouble for both of them. He hoped this wouldn’t end up the same way.

  At the bottom of the stairs, he could see light still coming from under the door to his father’s office. Anger rose up inside him at the thought of what his father had planned for tomorrow. His hands clenched into fists and he started for the door. Frustrated, he turned away. What could he do? The Duke would never listen to him, and he didn’t want his father to find out anyone else knew. Besides, plans were already in motion and it was too late to stop them now.

  Rafael had made up his mind to protect the Prince’s life with his own if needed, but right now, he had a meeting with an ogre.

  From the looks of it, the old door in the back of the pantry hadn’t been used since the last time he’d snuck out. Quietly moving old barrels and crates out of the way, he opened the door, peered out and jumped down into the alley. Reaching back in, he put everything back and shut the door. It couldn’t be opened from the outside, but wasn’t a problem. When Rafael returned, the guard at the gate would assume he had left earlier when another was on duty.

  He’d never been bothered on the streets at night, but kept a hand on his knife anyway. A short figure leaned out of an alley up ahead and waved. Curious, Rafael slowly approached the opening and peered inside to find Poppie beckoning him.

  “Poppie, what are you doing here?”

  “The ogre send Poppie to warn you. There is a man inside the inn watching. Be careful. Come, follow Poppie.”

  The boy led them to the back entrance of the inn where he stopped and whispered. “Sir Ogre is on the second floor, far room to the left. Knock once and enter.”

  Rafael waited until he saw the man sitting at the corner table turn to talk to Poppie before slipping out of the kitchen and hurrying up the stairs. Reaching the last room, he knocked and opened the door.

  A deep, quiet voice called out. “Welcome, Rafael d’Lorange, friend of Prince Mathias. I hear you are interested in history.”

  Hours later, in between yawns, the new friends called it a night and made plans to get together again. Rafael opened the door prepared to step over Poppie who Sebastian said had a habit of sleeping in front of it. He glanced down the hall, but the boy was nowhere to be found. Shrugging, he slipped down to the common room which was empty also. He left through the front entrance so as not to disturb the cook.

  The guard at his home nodded and smiled as expected, but the red faced Duke who confronted him just inside the door was not.

  “How dare you disobey my orders to stay away from that filthy animal!”

  Rafael was just tired enough, he no longer cared to play his father’s games. Unblinking, he met the Duke’s glare and answered softly. “Sebastian is a respected member of the Elder Races, not a filthy animal. The father I once knew would never have given that order in the first place. As soon as I am able, I will move out and you won’t have to worry about me disobeying your orders ever again.”

  The twisted smile that spread over the Duke’s face sent shivers down Rafael’s spine. At a signal from his father, two guards appeared to either side of the young man.

  “Escort my son to his room. He is not to leave until I give the order.”

  Rafael called back over his shoulder as they led him away. “This isn’t over, Father.”

  The Duke laughed out loud. “After tomorrow, it will be for the ogre.”

  Chapter Twenty Four ~ Three Leave As One

  The two men clung tightly to Moshere as he flew over the last rise and plunged down the slope into the valley where Moonlight lay surrounded by the three guards and their Brothers. Even at this distance, the physical condition of Navon’s beloved partner flooded into his heightened awareness. Her body had already begun to cool, and any signs of life were fading fast.

  Two of her wounds were the result of arrows imbedded in muscle, and the guards had already removed the shafts and dressed those injuries. The third shaft protruded from her chest where it had punctured a lung. Wisely, the men had left that one untouched.

  Navon refused to acknowledge the fear and panic threatening to rise up inside him, and fought the tears blinding his sight. He slid from Moshere’s back, pulling Chaska with him. They knelt at Moonlight’s head.

  “Open yourself to me, Chaska. Sorcerers were originally created to be healers, and trained to work closely with the Deluti. Watch and learn. I need your help if we are to save her.”

  The Deluti opened his heart and sent his spirit deeper than ever before, searching and calling her name. A tiny spark of life flickered in the distance and whispered his name. Navon reached out and captured her before she could escape the world of the living. Enveloped in the warmth of his love, and fed by his passion for life, the spark grew into a flame. He drew from Moshere the strength needed to bring Moonlight’s spirit back and anchor it to her body once again.

  “Watch closely, Sorcerer. Once I clear the blood from her lung, it will be up to you to keep it clear while I attempt to remove the arrow.”

  Navon began to dissolve the blood, used the energy released to feed her body, and encouraged it to replenish the blood lost. Once the lung was clear, and her heart slowly began to beat again, Chaska fumbled for a moment before settling into his role. Now Navon could concentrate on removing the shaft while repairing the damaged tissue left behind.

  At one point he faltered, but then strength flowed into him from another source. More Brothers had arrived along with Jamar and Atora, and volunteered to support him. Soon, all of Moonlight’s injuries were healed, and even her coat regained its original luster. Navon released Chaska from their rapport and collapsed against her side. The rhythm of her beating heart matched his own.

  Raising his head, Navon searched the faces of the three guards, wanting to understand. “Why?”

  The three shared a look before one answered. “We reported to the Maudwan tracks from a large predator were discovered just north of our range. He ordered us to track down and kill the animal.” He gazed at the young wolf and whispered. “We had no idea.”

  The Deluti lowered his head and sighed. Now he understood.

  The Elders had brought along a cask of the drink used by the workers while out on the plain. Each man received a cup while bowls were set out for Moonlight and the Brothers. It still had the same bitter taste N
avon remembered along with the feeling of being refreshed.

  He helped the wolf into a position where she could reach the bowl, and watched as Chaska stood and moved away from them, ignoring the cup in his hand. Moonlight urged him to find out what was troubling the young sorcerer. Sharing her concern, Navon sighed, let go of her neck and approached the apprentice.

  “You should drink. It has a bitter taste, but will refresh and restore you.”

  The Deluti couldn’t help but smile at the face Chaska made after taking a sip, but the apprentice continued to stare into the distance, and didn’t comment. Navon knew he would have to find a way to get through to Chaska and determine what was wrong. Too much depended on the sorcerer’s loyalty.

  “Thank you. Not only did you place your life in danger to rescue me from myself, I would not have been able to save Moonlight without your help. For that I will be forever grateful. I believe you are on your way to becoming a great sorcerer.”

  Chaska spun around to face him, the anger in his voice at odds with the tears that welled up in his eyes. “And what sort of sorcerer shall I become, Navon? I’ve spent the last ten years of my life studying how to kill, destroy, and twist the minds of others to do my will. I reveled in the praise as I strove to become the best. In a few short hours, you opened up a whole new world for me that exposed the evil I’d been taught. I can’t unlearn what I have learned.”

  Navon studied the face of the young man and carefully choose his words. “No, you cannot. Learn to balance the evil with the good, Chaska. Until Scorpios is defeated, you will need those skills you’ve learned, especially if you accept the new responsibility I wish to place upon you.” He turned away and returned to Moonlight’s side.

  The elders had brought along a tarp they carefully positioned under the wolf. Together, the men lifted her into the cart. Navon jumped in to hold Moonlight’s head in his lap while Chaska rode Moshere. Jamar and Atora guided the cart along the smoothest path they could find. A soft breeze fanned their faces as the sun dropped toward the horizon. It would be dark by the time they made it back.

  A crowd of angry and frightened families met them at the northern entrance to the city. Navon stood up in the cart and waited for them to quiet. The people exchanged surprised looks when he addressed them in perfect Shadhuin.

  “Some of you believed I was a demon, yet you accepted me and even treated me with respect. That meant more to me than you’ll ever know. There is no excuse for my loss of control putting all of you in danger. I apologize. What I can tell you is I am no demon, I am Deluti.”

  They stared at him in stunned silence until someone called out, “We are afraid to return home.” Another asked, “What happened to our water?”

  “Your homes are safe, and the water will return before I leave.”

  Most of them took him at his word, but several were unsure and approached the elders with quiet questions. A man Navon recognized as one of the harvesters after the fire, looked up at him and asked. “Why you lose control, Navon?”

  The young Deluti studied him for a moment and then asked his own question. “What would you do if you thought someone had killed your Brother?”

  “I would kill anyone who took the life of my Brother.”

  Navon nodded and jumped down to face him. “I am bonded to the she-wolf in this cart as you are bonded to your Brother. I had the same reaction when I thought Shadhuin scouts had killed her. I lost control, and for that I am sorry. It will never happen again.”

  The man peered into Navon’s eyes and saw nothing but regret and truth. After glancing at Moonlight, he reached out to grasp the Deluti’s forearm. “Understood. It is good your partner still lives. Fare you well, Navon Deluti.” Turning away, he gathered up the rest of the people and herded them into the city.

  Moonlight was now a constant presence in his mind, as it should be. Never again would he be foolish enough to let them be separated. Right now, hunger was foremost in her thoughts.

  “Elder Atora, I would be grateful if you would take Moonlight and feed her as much as she can stomach. I’m afraid our time here is coming to an end.”

  As Atora led the cart away, Navon turned to Jamar and Chaska. He spoke in the common tongue for the sorcerer’s benefit. “Walk with me, both of you. The Maudwan will be waiting for me, and there are decisions to be made.”

  By the time they reached the Maudwan’s hut, Chaska had agreed to stay and protect the Shadhuin. Jamar, with the approval of the other elders, would assist the sorcerer in finding and training others. The knock on the door sounded unnaturally loud in the eerie silence left by the absence of cascading water.

  Navon waited just long enough to hear the word ‘Enter’ before he slammed open the door and stormed in. That was the only courtesy he was willing to extend at this point. The perpetual gloom no longer a deterrent to his heightened senses, he approached the raised bed and glared down at the emaciated man lying there. The heat of his anger flared, driving the son back while beads of perspiration gathered on the Maudwan’s face.

  “You knew!”

  “Yes.”

  “I could have destroyed part of this city and taken the lives of innocents. Why would you order such a thing?”

  The old man struggled to sit up and glared back at him. “Because I want to die! I can’t continue to live like this. You could have destroyed the city, but you didn’t. You came here to kill me just as I hoped.”

  Before anyone could move, Navon lunged forward and wrapped his hands around the Maudwan’s neck. The golden chain flared at the Deluti’s touch and began to grow, loosening it’s strangle hold. Navon quickly healed the bruised and deformed flesh, allowing the old man to speak and breathe easily again. The glow diminished and the chain lay normally around his neck.

  Navon stood back, crossing his arms, the lack of respect for the man evident in his voice. “As Moonlight still lives, so shall you. Whether the Shadhuin wish to have a coward continue leading them is something they will have to decide. Another will return soon to claim what is rightfully theirs. Only they will have the power to remove the amulet from your neck. At that point, the charge set before the Shadhuin long ago will be complete.”

  Navon turned away and left the hut, walking past a frowning Jamar, Chaska hurrying to catch up. Standing next to the lake, he sent his sight deep into the earth to slowly re-open the channel feeding water to the city. As the sound of water cascading over the racks returned, people appeared and began to cheer.

  Concerned by what he had seen, Chaska whispered. “What if Scorpios finds out there is another amulet here?”

  “I’m afraid he already knows, Chaska. The power needed to unlock the chain was also a signal to summon the chosen bearer of the amulet. That person should already be on their way here, but the Scarred Mage would have sensed it also.”

  Jamar left the hut and slowly closed the door behind him. Glancing at the flowing water, he nodded and then approached the two young men. He looked Navon in the eye and sighed. “Forgive us, Navon. What he has done goes against everything the Shadhuin stand for. The elders will decide his fate.”

  “Every man has a breaking point, Jamar. The Maudwan found his.” Time was growing short, and the pull to return north intensified. “The Dark Lord will not hesitate to send his men and sorcerers against you now that he knows an amulet is here. I would stay to help, but the Spirits are calling me and I must leave.”

  Navon headed for the apartment he had shared with Jamar, the elder and Chaska walking alongside. Neither man spoke while he changed back into the wool and leathers he had arrived in. Jamar left for a moment, returning with the weapons that had been taken from Navon earlier. As they left the building and headed for the stables, Shadhuin began gathering along the way, some nodding, some bowing, and others holding torches to light their way.

  The Deluti nodded and bowed in turn, and made eye contact with those he had worked alongside. A smile lit up his face when they left the city and found Moonlight and Elishere standing side
by side in the flickering light. The wolf’s love for him was echoed by the emotions coming from the colt. Navon returned their mental greeting, knelt down to gently hug Moonlight, and then faced the two men he would have to leave behind.

  He reached out to grasp Jamar by the arm. “Elder Jamar, I will never forget the patience and understanding you displayed towards a lost and confused young man. It was an honor learning from you and your people.”

  “Till we meet again, Navon Deluti,” the elder responded, grasping Navon’s arm in return.

  Navon then turned to the young man who had succeeded in his mission to befriend him. “The title of apprentice no longer fits you, Sorcerer. Defend these people as best you can.”

  “I will, and thank you.”

  A bright flash caused everyone to blink and stare as a glowing white archway appeared in the road. Resting his hand on the wolf’s shoulder, Navon and Moonlight started for the arch when Moshere stepped out of the darkness and blocked their path.

  The elder Brother locked eyes with the Deluti, and then bowed his head. “I no longer have a purpose here. The bond we share is not the same as your bond with Moonlight, but is strong nonetheless. I wish to continue that bond and join you.”

  The initial fear Navon had felt when taking Moonlight into the unknown rose up inside him, but was quickly replaced with his newfound confidence. “I would be honored, Moshere.” He smiled at the Brother, “Besides, you run faster than I do!”

  Moshere snorted and moved to stand beside him. Navon turned back one last time, and carefully repeated the words of respect and thanks he had picked up from the boy out on the burnt plains. He sent it out as a mental farewell, and from the startled looks, it must have been successful.

  The archway widened to allow them to walk through side by side, and then disappeared.

  ***

  Emma broke into a steady run as soon as she left the inn, a pace she could maintain for hours thanks to the talisman from the Ancient One. This time of day, there were still crowds of people going about their lives, and she had to stay alert. They might not be able to see her, but would certainly feel it if she accidentally ran into someone.