The UnFolding Collection Two

by S. K. Randolph

  Tesilend’s rigidly organized mind had netted her some important information, but not as much as she would have liked. Her admiration for his discipline and his strength of will had grown exponentially through the process of her probe. It went against her instincts of respect for individual privacy to use a telepathic search to gain information. He had given her no choice. What to do with him now troubled her. She did not have facilities to hold a prisoner over an extended period of time.

  Yuin held the back door open for her. As always, she found herself awed by the Pentharian’s alien beauty. Jordett, Paisley, and Allynae, deep in conversation with Jeet and Stee, turned to greet her, their faces filled with questions.

  Allynae spoke first. “What did you discover?”

  She joined them at the table. “We’ll have company sooner than we expected. Once Tranwar Nagry returned to RewFaar, he realized immediately that he’d been tricked. Tesilend arrived back here in time to see Merrilea, Sparrow, and One Man enter the gateway. He knows they’re headed for Singtil, but not why. A message has been relayed to the Largeen Joram.”

  “Lorsedi may assume why,” said Jordett. “Does Tesilend know who Sparrow is?”

  “Not as far as I could tell. His training gave him strong defenses against a telepathic probe, so it’s hard to know for certain what he knows and what he doesn’t.”

  “There are RewFaaran soldiers in Thera and The Borderlands.” Allynae stroked the bristled beginning of his new mustache. “I’m betting they’re also in SumnerTyme since the PPP saw Sparrow and Merrilea in the mountains near there. And they may even be in—”

  Almiralyn motioned for quiet. Conversation ceased. Her mind filled with flickering pictures of One Man, Merrilea, and Sparrow. Expectant faces watched her massage the smooth, satiny grain of the tabletop with the tip of her fingers. Preparing herself for Allynae’s response, she said, “One Man has been captured.”

  Allynae made a strangled sound. “Sparrow and Merrilea?”

  “They have not been discovered, Alli.”

  Allynae came to his feet and leaned over the table. “How do you know?”

  “One Man carries the Seed of Carsilem. He let me know.”

  “The Seed of Carsilem!” Stee let out a soft whistle. “What a rare and wonderful gift. So our hermit is from Tao Spirian.” He looked at Allynae. “You need not worry about Sparrow if she is with One Man. The power of Carsilem is greater even than that of a DiMensioner.”

  “Except that he’s been captured and that leaves only Merrilea to protect her.” Allynae smacked the tabletop with his palm. “I’m going to Demrach Canyon, Mira. Don’t think for a second you can keep me here.”

  Jordett sat back in his chair and spoke with unassuming quiet. “Both the PPP and RewFaaran soldiers are guarding the gateway. Are you ready to be captured and tortured? They won’t even bother to take you to the Five Towers, Allynae. They will simply extract information—you know everything they need to know to find your family—and when your life serves no other purpose, they will kill you. Lorsedi will use your death as a means of weakening those you love. The game we’re playing is serious. The soldiers we fight against are the best in the Inner Universe.”

  Allynae’s nails raked the wood grain as he sank onto his chair.

  Almiralyn understood his desperation and his fear. “One Man will not be a prisoner for long, Alli. Also, I have sent Karrew to make sure Sparrow and Merrilea are safe until One Man can rejoin them.”

  “By the Fathers, Mira, why didn’t you say so?” Relief tempered the anger in his voice.

  Jordett rested his forearms on the tabletop. “My biggest concern, Almiralyn, is how they’re going to get back here once they have found Gerolyn. The gateways in Demrach Canyon and Idronatti will be well guarded.”

  “They won’t need to use either Idronatti’s or the canyon’s gateway. I created a temporary one from Standin’s farm to Nemttachenn. But they will need the sacred Key or CheeTrann won’t let them through.” Almiralyn kept her voice steady.

  “It seems,” Stee said, “that it would be best for Pentharian to scout out the situation and deliver the Key. We can go unseen. If need be, we can assist without revealing ourselves.”

  “I agree.” Voer entered the kitchen and placed a hand on Allynae’s shoulder. “You, my friend, are too important to send on this mission.” He turned to Almiralyn. “Stee and I will go.”

  “Grantese Tesilend?” asked Allynae.

  Paisley hoisted his large body out of his chair. “I’ll guard him well.”

  “Thank you, Pais,” Allynae called after him and turned back to his sister, who continued to set her plan in place.

  “Yuin and Jeet, please accompany Voer and Stee to the gateway and remain there on guard. If the portal in the clearing is compromised, Voer, the Key that will take you to the tower is Mite Skil Wren.”

  “How will we know if it’s been compromised?” asked the blue Pentharian leader.

  “Jeet will be waiting at the waterfall to warn you.” She addressed Jordett and Allynae.” Please travel to the Dojanacks. Take the Intersect and inform Yookotay of what has occurred. He will need to prepare a hideaway for Sparrow and Gerolyn.”

  “That will leave you here alone.” Allynae’s expression verged on rebellion.

  “Paisley and I will manage. Keep your trip to Meos short. In the event that things develop here, you’d better come back via Nemttachenn. Don’t return to the cottage unless one of us gives you the word. Now go. All of you. We have very little time.”

  The room emptied. Almiralyn crossed to the window. Four vultures flew over the woods. Allynae and Jordett headed to the barn to advise Paisley of the plans and to begin their journey through the Intersect.

  A silence filled with unanswered questions and uncertainty settled over the kitchen. Out of its depths came a message so clear it sent her hurrying up the stairs to her sanctuary. Elcaro’s Eye, emptied of the water that enhanced its power, held her motionless in the doorway. The carved woman on the rim seemed to turn her head. Light from the window made her stone eyes glisten. Almiralyn strode forward and gripped the bowl. At the bottom, the tip of the Vesen Crystal caught the sunlight and sent tiny rainbows skating over the fountain’s alabaster sides. “I certainly cannot leave you here. You would be a formidable weapon in the hands of Lorsedi.”

  Warrior instincts sent her to the window. Soldiers are on their way. I can feel it. Returning to the fountain, she moved her hand in a circle above it and whispered,

  “Elcaro, the all-seeing Eye,

  Must be hidden from those who try

  To steal it for their evil plan

  And use it for their brigands’ band.

  Smaller, smaller let it be,

  So the crystal within stays free,

  Until a time when it’s made clear

  Elcaro’s Eye may return here.”

  One, two, three sharp claps ricocheted around the room. Elcaro shuddered. In the blink of an eye, it shrunk to only three inches high. Almiralyn picked it up and pressed it to her heart. Tucking it a way in a pouch at her waist, she hurried down the stairs.

  On Thera the narrow, dark space between the two rocks where Sparrow crouched next to Merrilea felt just big enough to hide them both. Above, on the cave’s ledge, she imagined soldiers preparing for their descent down the steep rockslide. Her heart hammered against her breastbone. A shadowed form emerged from the dimness in front of the entrance to their hiding place. Near panic pressed her deeper into the enclosure.

  Whoosh… Something touched her cheek, eliciting an almost silent cry. Merrilea squeezed her knee. Sparrow could imagine her soundless “sshhhhh.” Another soft whoosh made her scoot further back in the crevice. Gasping, she tumbled backwards down what she gratefully discovered was a short drop. Cool, moist air rustled through her hair. Surprised and somewhat fearful, she scrambled to her feet.

  Merrilea projected a tremulous whisper into the darkness. “Sparrow? Where are you? Are you alright?”

&n
bsp; Sparrow turned toward the sound. “I’m fine,” she answered in a projected undertone. “Careful, there’s a small drop.” She listened to Merrilea’s tentative approach as she shrugged off her backpack and set it on the ground. Kneeling, she began a search for her lite-stick.

  A surprised yelp on the rockslide made her look up. Rocks smashing together and a smothered cry presented the clear picture of a fall. Boulders grated against each other in response to the abrupt weight change. The rockslide shifted. A resounding crunch left Sparrow momentarily immobilized. As surely as she knew her own name, she knew the gap had closed. We’re trapped. Her fingers closed around the lite-stick. She pulled it out and thought it on.

  Merrilea perched at the edge of the drop off, her face pale in the soft light. “The gap closed. Now what?”

  Sparrow offered a hand. Drip. Drop. Drip. The sound of water hitting a wet surface matched the beat of her heart against her ribs as Merrilea clambered down beside her. Surprised wonder replaced her friend’s fear of the previous moment. Holding the lite-stick higher, Sparrow pivoted to follow her rapt gaze.

  “Oh my,” she whispered, staring.

  At the base of a rock-strewn slope, where level ground reached away into nothingness, stalactites and stalagmites in various sizes and colors glinted in the soft light. A pockmarked pattern of pools created over time by the drip, drop, drip of water were scattered throughout. Light vanished—absorbed rather than reflected—on their inky surfaces.

  Swoosh. Whish. Whish.

  Merrilea gave a startled gasp as a dark shape landed on her shoulder. Whipping her head around, she could only stare.

  “Karrew? Is that you?” Sparrow offered her arm.

  The big, black raven hopped down from Merrilea’s shoulder and cawed, “It is.”

  Merrilea gave a nervous laugh. “You nearly scared me to death. Next time, warn me you’re preparing to land on my shoulder.”

  “We’re so glad you’re here,” Sparrow added. “How did you find us?”

  Ignoring her question, Karrew cocked his elegant head to listen. “We need to move.”

  A sound akin to the rustling of autumn leaves moved in a wave across the cavern. Goose bumps raised the hair on the back of Sparrow’s neck. “What the…” She grabbed her backpack and slung it around her shoulders. “Where are we?”

  “This isn’t Vascorrie, is it?” The trepidation in Merrilea’s voice did nothing to allay her fear.

  “Quiet.” The raven’s terse tone reflected his alarm. “Extinguish the light and crouch as low as you can. Stay close together.”

  Sparrow dropped to her knee, her hand resting on Merrilea’s backpack. The lite-stick flicked out, pitching them into abrupt and complete blackness.

  Karrew’s great wings moved the air above their heads. “No matter what happens, don’t move.”

  Sparrow’s hearing, made more acute by the lack of light, picked out Merrilea’s rapid breathing, the steady drip of water, wings pressing against air…not just Karrew’s. Wings, too many to count, beat against the cool moistness of the cavern and circled above her head. “What in the name—”

  “Don’t even breathe.” Merrilea pulled her lower, her whisper hoarse with fear.

  19

  ConDra’s Fire

  DerTah

  T orgin, half blinded by wing-whipped sand, could barely make out the blazing form of the Fire ConDra, where it hovered above them. Through squinting eyes, he tried to bring it into focus. The massive breadth of its wings pulsed, whisking the sand into a swirling cyclone. Fire-gold eyes reeled him into its hypnotic gaze. More fascinated than scared, he watched the vicious beak smoke like a volcano ready to erupt. Shrieking, it plunged toward him, its tongue licking the air. Sand stung his cheeks. His eyes watered in defense against the light blazing around him. All he wanted—home—safe, comfortable, boring home.

  Brie, whom he had been hiding behind, took a step away. A high, sustained sound flowed from her throat and burst into a cascade of quivering notes. Her body seemed to undulate in the wind created by the huge flaming wings. Fading until translucent almost to the point of nothingness, it vanished all together. He gasped, grabbing for Ira’s arm as the Water ConDra lifted effortlessly into the air.

  “ConDria rises.” Nichi came to her feet, hood thrown back and eyes never leaving Brie’s shifted form.

  Soaring up to meet her foe, the Water ConDra’s silver body soaked up the red of the desert. The two ConDra met and danced a wild dance…a quick step…a swooping and soaring grapevine that wove its way across the late afternoon sky.

  Torgin’s ear tuned to the sung chorus that passed between the two great creatures. One song filled with watery changes of key melded with the other steady burn of notes. “What are they doing?” he whispered.

  “Why she not destroy it?” Nichi said, cowering beneath her kcalo hood.

  Ira shaded his eyes with a hand. “Just watch.”

  Desert light changed as the sun followed its cycled-course, withdrawing reflected color from the Water ConDra’s form as it went. Phosphorescent silver and fire-orange soared side-by-side in a wide circle. Wing stroke for wing stroke, they matched each other in another intricate pattern of loops and arcs.

  Torgin watched the breathtaking pas de deux with rapt attention. When they dropped out of sight behind a dune, he felt an acute sense of loss. “Where are they?”

  “There.” Nichi pointed at the top of the dune, where two backlit figures appeared in silhouette.

  Torgin stared, rubbed his eyes, and stared again.

  Ira gave a low laugh. “Well, I’ll be…”

  Together, the figures descended the dune, taking on substance and form as they exited the sun’s lingering light. Brie’s face glistened where sparkling stars of water clung to her fair skin. Beside her walked a Pentharian, tall and proud, his eyes glued to Torgin’s.

  “Yaro! Yaro, is it really you?” He ran forward to meet his heart brother. In the ways of ReTaw Au Qa, they touched palms, then foreheads, and finally, each other’s heart. “How did you know we needed you?”

  “I came to discover you, my brother, and to help rescue Esán. It is rumored that a ConDria has risen in the desert of Fera Finnero.” He bowed to Brie and smiled at Ira. “I have also been told the tale of Ira.”

  Torgin almost laughed at Dansgirl’s expression. Then he remembered seeing Yaro the first time in the Dojanack Mountains on Myrrh. “This is my heart brother, Nichi. He is a Pentharian from the planet of ReTaw Au Qa, and he is our friend. Yaro, this is Nichook, Atrilaasu of the Desert od DerTah and our guide.”

  Yaro bowed his head and smiled at the wide-eyed girl. “Thank you for helping my friends, Nichook.” He grew serious. “I have much to share. Our danger is greater than you know.”

  Torgin’s excitement at seeing Yaro backslid into dread. I just want to rescue Esán and go back to Myrrh. Why do I know this is going to be more difficult than it sounds?

  What Esán had learned during his search of DerTah’s desert made his heart sing one second and plunge into the depths of despair the next. The twins and Torgin travel this way! My rescue is their goal. But…Wolloh also knows…and…he wanted me to know. Why? I sure could use Corvus’ advice.

  Repeated knocking interrupted his racing thoughts. Seval pushed the door ajar and peered at him. “Master Wolloh would like you to join him.” His eyes, bright with excitement, noted Esán’s red robes lying on the bed. “Please wear your robes. I will help.” He slipped into the room and closed the door.

  Esán scowled and scrambled into his Tyro costume.

  “He’s here,” Seval said, tying the gold sash with a flourish. “He’s here, and you are to meet him.”

  “So, the mystery guest has arrived. Who is it?” Esán asked, eagerly.

  Seval’s face dropped. Excitement melted away in a blank, lost look.

  Esán touched his arm. “It's okay, Seval. I’ll know soon enough, and then I can tell you. Take me to Master Wolloh.”

  Seval seemed even m
ore confused. “You are to go to the inner garden.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to come with me?”

  The boy shook his head. A tear slid down his cheek. He flicked it away and stared at his wet fingers. Blood drained from his face. “I must go. Corvus says to be careful. Give nothing away.” He opened the door and motioned Esán through.

  “Wait, Seval, when did you see Corvus?”

  The boy shook his head. “Later.” He sidled past him and padded away toward the back of the house.

  Esán watched him go with his usual mixed feelings. It’s time to find out who this mysterious guest is. He masked his mind. I wish I had discovered my friends after this meeting. No one else must know they’re here. He squared his shoulders and strode down the hall.

  Two uniformed soldiers stood guard at the double doors leading to the inner garden. He approached them with some misgiving.

  His uncle, who waited beyond the door, talking with Baroh and several official-looking men, caught his eye. Excusing himself, Nomed spoke with one of the guards and then beckoned him forward. “Hello, nephew. You look charming in your robes.” The hazel eyes held a knowing gleam.

  “Wolloh ordered me to wear them.” Esán wrestled with his growing annoyance.

  Nomed laughed. “We do all dance to his tune, you know. Shall we find a spot where you can take stock of the situation? Being forearmed is always a good strategy.” He led the way to a quiet, shaded corner of the garden. “I’ll leave you here. Spend a few minutes and then join me.” Nomed waded through the crowd to the Dreelas TheLise’s side.