No Stone Unturned

by Frank Morin

  "How is it possible?" Verena asked.

  "I will not share the details," Kilian said. "Not even with you. I had hoped the knowledge died with Tallan. Given the way Dougal is maneuvering your Connor, the fear is growing in me that he may have learned the secret."

  "Tell us something," Verena implored. "How do you know all of this?"

  "Many secrets were buried since the Tallan Wars, some for better reasons than others. It seems that history is turning full circle, and with the rebirth of the Blood of the Tallan, many of those ancient secrets can no longer remain contained."

  For a moment, his eyes looked haunted. "This is the real conflict, my friends. The war is but the excuse to set the board. When the stones are cast, it is Connor's powers, and whether or not he or another controls them that will define the fate of nations."

  His expression turned resolute. "You both must prepare yourselves. If we lose the struggle to free him, you cannot hesitate. If Dougal indeed succeeds in controlling that boy, the monster that he could become would make what you saw happen at the rampager camp seem laughable."

  "What are you saying?" Hamish asked, hating that he was even listening.

  "If we cannot save Connor, one of you may have to kill him to save us all."

  Chapter 47

  Connor yearned for sleep, but turned away from his Dawnus suite and the promise of his huge, soft bed. Instead, he tapped basalt and raced out of the Carraig, passing no one on the deserted streets.

  When he sensed no Sentries near the north sally port in the outer wall beyond the plain, he climbed over and sped onto the mountain. He had no idea where Ilse was camped, but needed her to contact him. So he ran three miles up the first ridge and found a hidden clearing.

  Switching to granite, he yanked several trees out of the ground and lay them together, forming a giant arrow pointing toward the Carraig. Then, tapping marble, he blackened them, hoping that Margrit, Ilse's Longseer would smell the smoke, even if Ilse didn't notice the shape on the ground.

  Then he tapped slate and stomped the ground, sending out a pulsing soundwave three times. Sentries in the castle might pick up on the signal too, but even if they sent someone to investigate, chances were slimmer than Hamish missing a meal that they'd stumble upon Ilse.

  As he returned to his suite, he hoped Ilse would decipher the message and contact him. Despite everything he had to think about, he fell asleep almost before he finished climbing into bed.

  The next morning, he tried to follow his regular routine, but found it hard to focus. He nearly triggered a mob in Professor Nandag's class when he almost walked away without actually leaving their portions.

  Thankfully, his captains took care of most of the instruction during army group practice. He was scheduled to attend a leadership class on battlefield management, but made up a lame excuse and skipped it.

  The secret gnawed at him, even though he'd concealed the powder in his Dawnus suite in a lockbox even a Boulder wouldn't be able to open. How could life go on with a secret like that begging to be confirmed? He studied the purplish powder several times, but didn't dare do more than that yet.

  So he brought a little bit of it with him to the Sculpture House to meet with Ailsa and Gisela.

  "There is power here," Ailsa confirmed after studying it for a few minutes.

  "A new power stone," Gisela breathed, crouching low over the desk to study the purplish grains. "There are being no new stones discovered since the Age of Legends."

  "Can you tell what it does?" Connor asked.

  Ailsa shook her head. "If I had a solid piece, perhaps. With powder, I can sense if it's power grade or not, but the vortexes and currents within a stone are missing once it's powdered." She prodded the little grains with a finger. "Every stone, even powdered, creates a certain feel against the skin. Granite has a sense of enduring strength, like sunlight on the peak of a mountain. Basalt is more like the rushing of a mountain stream. This." She paused and poked it again. "This is chaotic. I cannot get a solid read. It's like a panicked horse in the midst of a stampede."

  "It has to be tied to Hector turning unclaimed," Connor said. "But does it actually somehow trigger that transformation?"

  "Or does it only drive him beyond the bounds of patronage?" Ailsa asked. "There is no way to know for sure."

  "Actually, there is," Connor said, inching closer.

  "Don't you dare try to establish affinity with this powder," Ailsa warned, her voice as sharp as one of her chisels.

  "Why not?" He felt a desperate need to confirm it was a power stone, and that it was indeed responsible for the unclaimed.

  "Think of what you're suggesting." She fixed a disapproving look upon him. "If indeed this powder triggers the unclaimed, then you would be casting yourself beyond humanity and embracing the raging monster that Hector became."

  "I am thinking it would be bad," Gisela agreed. "Many could die."

  "But what if it's not responsible for that?" Connor asked. "Hector was declared unclaimed by Lord Dail. He was a Boulder."

  "He must have been Agor if this was indeed the power stone he embraced to turn unclaimed," Ailsa said.

  Connor considered that. Agor were the rare Petralists who managed to establish two primary affinities, but where did Hector get porphyry, and why wouldn't he have already tried either obsidian or basalt? Would Dougal have supplied it to him, or did he find it on his own?

  "But does it work the same way for others?"

  "Think about it," Ailsa said. "If patronage really is a lie, as we suspect, then no matter whether Hector was considered in good standing or unclaimed, the powder wouldn't care. It drove him beyond humanity. This is too dangerous to use."

  "We have to know," Connor argued. "If it's responsible, then that's the proof we need."

  "You should just leave," Ailsa said. "Run to Granadure. This is proof enough."

  He wanted to so badly, but shook his head. "I can't. I ran into Evander last night. He warned me that this is part of a broader geall. Even if I dared leave now, he might not let me."

  "I wish we knew his purpose," Ailsa muttered.

  "What if he's trying to change things," Connor said. "What if this is all part of a plan to avert the war, break the high lords' hold over the commoners?"

  "He hasn't interfered in the past," Ailsa said.

  "But unclaimed weren't being used against helpless villages in the past either," Connor retorted. "I need to know his geall before leaving."

  "No," Gisela said. "Come to Althing. We could studying this powder together."

  That was tempting, but Connor didn't want to replace Shona with another set of lords trying to control him and his curse. "Perhaps, but not yet."

  "Don't attempt this stone," Ailsa cautioned. "It's not worth it."

  "I don't even know what it is."

  "It has the appearance of porphyry," Ailsa said, again studying the powder.

  "What's that?"

  "It is a very hard stone. It is very rare. I'm not familiar with any large deposits."

  "That would make sense," Connor said. "If it's a secret power stone, they'd want to keep anyone else from knowing about it."

  "Who?" Gisela asked. "Who is knowing this secret?"

  "Dougal," Ailsa said. "Hector was his man, and he's devious enough to keep such a powerful secret." She fixed Connor with a grave look. "Yet another reason to tread with extreme caution. Dougal is not one to trifle with. He is perhaps the most dangerous man in the world."

  What did that make Kilian?

  He left them, torn about what to do next. His steps turned to Lord Nevan's palace. Thankfully, Shona was out, so he went to Jean's room. He shared what they'd learned about the secret powder, hoping she'd encourage him to test it, but she chose the restrictive, logical route.

  "Are you daft? What if you accidentally established affinity with it? Connor, it would destroy you."

  "You don't accidentally establish affinities," Connor said, but slid the powder back into the bag. If only Veren
a was there, she could test it with her Builder powers. That would prove something. Maybe.

  "You can't risk it," Jean said. "Connor, this is the key we've been searching for, but this means that Dougal's been controlling unclaimed for decades. He's responsible for those attacks I've been studying."

  "Unless someone else has been involved too. The other noble houses might know about this too. When you see Evander again, ask him if he's learned anything more."

  "I'll go as soon as I can, but I can't today because. . ." Her voice trailed off and she actually blushed.

  "Because why?"

  "Because I have a date with Jok," she said quickly. "I have no choice, Connor. He insisted, and Shona approved."

  Connor grimaced. He'd forgotten she had Jok to deal with. "Don't you have any herbs you can slip into his drink to make him sick?"

  "I couldn't do that."

  "Why not? It's not like you want to go out with him."

  When she hesitated, he exclaimed, "You do want to go out with him?"

  "No," she said quickly. "Well, not really. But Connor, he's only acted the gentleman. He's been very nice, and he gave me some jewelry to wear. It's beautiful."

  "Don't trust him," Connor cautioned. He couldn't believe Jok was swaying her with pretty things. Jean was supposed to be smarter than other girls.

  "I don't." She sighed. "I know it's a bad idea, but it's so nice to spend time with someone who appreciates me. Can't I enjoy myself just a little?"

  How could he argue with that? They were neck deep in deadly intrigue all the time.

  "Just be careful."

  She kissed his cheek. "And you don't touch that powder."

  Over the next two days, he struggled with that decision, considering it from every angle. The ultimate truth of the unclaimed was right there in his suite, but did he dare test it? He tried to focus on training his army, learning advanced leadership tactics from the Fast Rollers, and his personal training with Aonghus and Camonica.

  His distraction and poor performance in training angered Camonica so much, she forgot to get annoyed with Cameron.

  "The poetry's working," Cameron grinned after the instructors left on the third day. "Didn't you see that far-off look in her eye?"

  "You've melted her brains," Tomas retorted. "I think I saw them leaking into that vat she fell into at the end."

  That was all the excuse they needed to start bashing on each other. Connor laughed until they pulled him into the fight. He enjoyed the unrestrained bash fight that resulted, despite the fresh bruises. Sometimes pummeling a friend was the best way to settle one's nerves.

  Ilse finally contacted him that evening and he eagerly met her beyond the northern outer wall, in a little box canyon half a mile into the mountains.

  "I have news," Ilse said as she stepped into view from behind a huge piece of stone that had fallen from the cliffs years prior.

  "Me too," Connor said. "I found Hector's secret stash of rage monster powder."

  Ilse blinked. "You found powder?"

  He nodded and revealed the pouch. Of course he'd left half of the powder back in his suite. He was eager to discuss his find with Ilse, but that didn't mean he trusted her. He dumped a little into his palm and showed it to Ilse and her team as they crowded close.

  "What is it?" she asked.

  "Ailsa thinks it may be porphyry. It definitely is some kind of power stone."

  "Burn some of it," Ilse said.

  "What? No. I only have a little."

  "Trust me. Burn just a bit of it."

  Frowning, Connor poured all but a thimble full of the powder back in the pouch, then tapped the marble already under his tongue. Flames erupted out of his palm and consumed the purplish grains. They burned readily, with an eerie reddish hue.

  Ilse leaned over his hand and sniffed.

  "What are you doing?" Connor asked. The powder smelled like charred flour.

  "That's sufficient," Ilse said. "Turn off the fire. This confirms a report I just received from Kilian. A company of unclaimed, which they are now calling rampagers, attacked during a raid from Obrion."

  "The war has started?" Connor felt sick. He had hoped to divert the war with the knowledge that patronage was a lie.

  Ilse shook her head. "The nations are hovering on the brink, but the assault was only a diversion for the rampagers to strike."

  That was a great name. Verena must be involved.

  "That's not the action of an out-of-control rage monster," Connor pointed out.

  "Indeed. Kilian set the trap to prove that point. Several of the monsters were captured and when they returned to human form, they were again coherent, if uncooperative."

  She gave him a fierce grin. "With the help of your friend Hamish and your girl Verena, Kilian tracked the monsters that escaped. They fled deep into the mountains to a secret camp."

  Connor smiled to hear that Hamish was well and working with Kilian. His heart sang to hear Ilse refer to Verena as his girl. If only that could ever be possible.

  "Are you saying there were more of them?"

  Ilse nodded. "Many more. Kilian's team destroyed the camp."

  "Was have to be many good fight," Erich said with approval.

  "How did they manage it?"

  "I don't know the specifics, however Hamish recovered a charred sack of powder. The report stated that it smelled like burned flour. They haven't determined its true nature yet."

  "This smelled like burned flour too," Connor noted.

  "Indeed. It appears to confirm Kilian's report."

  "I think this is another igneous stone," Connor said, extracting the pouch again and peering inside. "I believe it creates the rampagers and that High Lord Dougal and perhaps other high lords have used them to continue the lie of patronage and unclaimed."

  "Evidence points in that direction."

  He took a deep breath. "Then we need to prove our theory."

  "How?"

  "I need to test it."

  Ilse considered that, then nodded. "I don't see any other way."

  Connor grinned. He had expected Ilse to recognize the need. Of course, he usually considered her company certifiably insane.

  It was a little scary to think about how often insanity offered the only chance of success.

  Chapter 48

  Connor's hand shook as he poured a tiny portion of porphyry into his palm. He removed his shirt and placed the pouch of powder on top. He was really going to do it. All his life, the threat of unclaimed had been like a weight around his neck, the chain of evil that made his curse a power to be feared. He had shackled his life to Shona and risked it in her service, all to avoid the dreaded loss of patronage.

  Now he was planning to embrace his powers and prove they were no curse at all.

  As he concentrated on the purplish grains in his hand, he thought back to that terrible day when Hector turned unclaimed. Other stones triggered marvelous powers, and he loved that feeling of wonder every time he embraced them. Could porphyry really be so different? Would it really transform him into a raging monster? Was it possible to retain his humanity?

  Connor glanced at Ilse, who had retreated several paces, her expression grave. The rest of her team had also retreated, although Erich and Anika flanked him about a dozen paces to either side.

  Anika winked and blew him a kiss. "Be many strong, Connor boy."

  He tried to smile, but it came out more as a grimace. On the other side, Erich raised a clenched fist in salute. "Is good die bravery. If lose mind, I remove you head with many salute."

  "Ah, thanks."

  "Focus," Ilse urged. "You're a strong one, Connor. I do not believe any powder can consume your ability to control yourself."

  "If this doesn't go well, tell Verena. . ."

  "I will," Ilse said when he couldn't finish.

  Connor focused again on the powder. He couldn't wait any longer. It was like leaping off the cliff above Loch Sholto. Waiting only made it harder to make the leap.

  Of cou
rse, now with the loch broken and drained, that cliff hung over the edge of a much longer drop that was guaranteed to kill anyone leaping from it.

  Not helping.

  Connor willed the powder to open to him, drew it toward him like he did granite and basalt. It was hard to focus because the image of Hector's howling fangs kept popping into his mind. Trying to banish the terrifying image, he squeezed the powder into a fist and raised it high.

  "Come on," he growled. "Show me what you can do."

  Then he felt it.

  The powder dug into his skin. Unlike the other igneous stones, it did not absorb and creep up his arm. Porphyry clawed its way under the skin like a hundred little teeth gnawing at his hand. He tried to release it, but his fist locked closed in a spasm of pain.

  "This wasn't a good idea," he cried, shaking his hand, but unable to open it.

  Ilse rushed forward. "Let it go, boy!"

  His reply became a gasp. The porphyry reached his bloodstream and shot up his arm like liquid fire. It struck his heart, and his vision turned purple. Every muscle convulsed, and he threw his head back and howled.

  The sound that came out should not have been possible.

  His throat burned and he howled again with pain and fear, the sound reminding him of that cry of glorious horror he'd heard Hector make. That meant it was working, didn't it?

  Connor's thoughts turned fuzzy and he heard his own voice as if from a great distance, the tortured cry turning more animal with each passing second. If it didn't hurt so much, he'd be really impressed.

  His limbs burned, but he barely felt them. The world spun around him, and his pulse pounded loud in his ears. He tasted his own blood, and he smelled fear more clearly than ever before, a sharp, rank stench. Every inch of him ached, and he wasn't even sure he still stood. The world felt wrong. The air felt too cold, the grass underfoot too clear, the sounds of nearby voices too loud. It was terrifying.

  Then the pain evaporated like steam from a flash fire, replaced by a rush of strength greater than anything he'd ever felt. He surged upright from the little ball he'd crumpled into, and euphoria roared through him. He felt more alive than he had ever dreamed possible. He threw back his head and howled, exulting in the terrifying sound that echoed back and forth from the mountains, as if the earth itself celebrated his glory.