The Apprentice In The Master’s Shadow

by Ian Gregoire

  Fay sipped absent-mindedly from her mug of herbal tea, thinking of all the hopes she’d had for Kayden’s future, all the knowledge of Zarantar that she would no longer have the opportunity to impart to the peerless apprentice. The gentle breeze passing through the trees caressed her skin like a sorrowful sigh, reflecting the ache she felt in her heart. It was a pain that would only be assuaged by exacting bloody retribution, though nothing could fill the void created by Kayden’s demise.

  Without warning, something intangible struck Fay like a body blow. The jolt was so unexpected she spilled some of her tea in her lap.

  “Danai Annis, is everything all right?” asked Lindo.

  “She’s alive!” Fay’s response came out like a breathless gasp.

  “Who?”

  “Kayden. My Apprentice.” Fay set her mug down on the grass and stood up. “She’s still alive.”

  Both stunned and relieved, Fay had no idea what caused the burst of Zarantar that hit her, but she could feel Kayden’s presence once more. Surprisingly, she felt it stronger than before, without even casting out her senses. If she didn’t know better she would swear that Kayden was standing right beside her, though the apprentice was many miles away.

  “There’s no reason to believe that’s the case,” said Lindo rising to his feet. “I understand that you want it to be true, but how can it be?”

  “Mirai Karteris, I’m just as certain she’s alive as I am certain that you are standing here. I need to leave right away so I can get her back.”

  Looking unsure of himself, Lindo replied, “Obviously, I don’t have the authority to order you not to go, but I fear you’ll only find disappointment at the end of your journey.”

  “We shall see.”

  The dramatic change in circumstance caused Fay’s spirits to rise. She hurriedly marched to where Shadow was tethered with the other horses, while Mirai Karteris trailed behind her. Clambering swiftly up into the saddle, she spared him a few moments, issuing instructions that the search party should return to their staging area without her, and that Ari should be informed as soon as possible of her continued quest to bring Kayden home alive. With four days remaining before the day of the mission against the cult of Yosarian, there was plenty of time to rescue the apprentice before then.

  “Best of luck, Danai,” said Lindo, waving her farewell.

  Fay set off at a trot, but once she was clear of the rowan trees she urged Shadow into a canter. Minutes later they reached the road leading to Nagornorak. Heading south, she kicked her heels into her mount’s flanks to prompt the grey mare into a gallop, kicking up dirt with every swift stride. If she pushed her trusty horse hard over the next two days it might be possible to reach Kayden by nightfall tomorrow.

  By the time she slowed the pace back down to a canter, Fay was still amazed that she was detecting Kayden’s presence without casting out her senses. It was as though she was riding with her apprentice in the saddle behind her. For the second time during her quest, Fay pondered whether she should attempt mind-to-mind contact with Kayden. This time it was an easy decision. She was no more than seventy miles away from the apprentice’s location, and the unusual strength of Kayden’s presence suggested that a strong connection would be easy to establish.

  Concentrating here mind, Fay cast her thoughts out to Kayden.

  Kayden, it’s me, Fay. Can you hear me?

  Startled, Kayden peered back over her left shoulder, then her right. She was confused. Besides Zarina and the other turncoat Jaymidari standing in the corners, there was no one else behind her, though she could have sworn she’d heard Fay’s voice. Frowning, she realised that she had just imagined it. Her prolonged captivity without food or water—not to mention several bouts of torture—was obviously affecting her state of mind.

  Kayden, can you hear me?

  This time she was absolutely certain. The words were as clear as if Fay was standing right next to her.

  “Fay?” she said tentatively. The only response she got was a strange look from the athletic Sanatsai standing guard over her. Averting her eyes downward, she lowered her voice to speak again. “Is it really you?”

  “Be quiet!” said the Sanatsai cultist.

  Can you hear me, Kayden?

  “Yes! I can.” She was unable to contain the excitement in her voice. “Where are you?”

  “I said shut your mouth before I stuff a dirty rag down your throat.”

  “You shut up!” she snapped at the Sanatsai. “I wasn’t even talking to you.”

  The glowering Sanatsai cultist bounded forward in two strides, and seized her by the jaw with a large, powerful hand. “I do not like having to repeat myself,” he said in a threatening undertone. “If you need extra incentive to not piss me off, I should warn you that the three men you killed when you arrived were friends of mine.”

  Angered at being aggressively manhandled, Kayden fought the urge to offer a biting retort that she had only killed two of his worthless friends, the third having ended his own life like the coward he was. Although she was confident the cultist wouldn’t kill her for saying it, given that Josario seemingly wanted her alive, still she didn’t want to push her luck. He may not be authorised to take her life, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t hurt her if she gave him cause to do so.

  Kayden, if you can hear me, reply by casting out your thoughts in the same manner you would cast out your senses to locate my presence.

  At last, Kayden understood what was happening: somehow she was hearing Fay’s voice in her head, assuming she wasn’t hallucinating. But as the angry guard released his grip on her face, and retreated a few paces, she wondered what to do. How could she even attempt to cast out her thoughts to Fay when her Zarantar had been bound? The only answer she could think of was probably wishful thinking on her part, yet she had no other option. She had to hope the mental link Fay had somehow initiated between them was a two-way street, allowing her thoughts to reach her master.

  Taking Fay’s advice, she focussed her mind and sent out her thoughts as she would cast out her senses.

  Fay, I can hear your voice in my mind, she thought, but I don’t know if you can hear mine. I’m a prisoner, and my Zarantar has been bound. I’m completely powerless.

  I can hear you loud and clear, Kayden. Surprisingly loud and clear, actually. If your Zarantar really was bound it wouldn’t be possible for me to establish mind-to-mind communication with you.

  Despite the certainty she heard in Fay’s mental voice, Kayden knew that the assertion had to be a mistake. She had been powerless since her captivity began, and even now she still couldn’t feel her Zarantar.

  Kayden, are you still there?

  Yes.

  Tell me what’s happening. There was an unmistakeable urgency in the request. For two days I couldn’t detect your presence. I thought you were dead.

  From what Fay had just conveyed, Kayden surmised that her captivity, and subsequent torture, began two days ago, which confirmed her earlier conjecture that it was now Sixthday, the beginning of the weekend.

  I’m so sorry, Fay, she thought. I tried to kill Josario Sandolari before the Order could do it, but I failed. I was captured. Now I’m being held captive in some kind of underground pit.

  Are you all right? He hasn’t hurt you, has he?

  I… I’m…

  Memories of being tortured flooded back to Kayden. She had never experienced pain like it before, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell Fay about it. The only thing worse than being vulnerable and helpless was to admit it to a loved one.

  I’m alive and in one piece, that’s all that matters. But without my Zarantar I have no hope of escaping my captors.

  Kayden, I already told you, we wouldn’t be communicating like this if your Zarantar was bound. Besides, if you are an elite Sanatsai, as I believe you to be, then your Zarantar cannot be bound—at least, not permanently. If it were to be bound, it would only be a matter of time before…

  The unexpected pause made Kayden
wonder if her connection to Fay had just been broken. Her alarm spiked. If Fay was unable to come to her rescue, there was no telling when, or even if, she would be freed from captivity.

  Oh, of course! That would explain it, came Fay’s voice again. Your Zarantar broke free of its binding a short while ago. I felt the burst hit me right before I was able to sense your presence again.

  Fay’s assertion induced a flash of memory in Kayden’s mind. She remembered the sight of Josario being blown off his feet, and colliding against the wall of the underground pit after he delved into her mind, where he uncovered her rogue doppelgänger who symbolised the potential for evil lurking deep within her. She also remembered the kaleidoscope of glowing red glyphs that had simultaneously appeared on the wall, floor, and ceiling of the man-made cavity. Did that mean…?

  A little while ago it briefly felt like my Zarantar was coming back, thought Kayden, but when Josario summoned a bunch of his brainwashed underlings to watch over me while he takes care of other matters, that feeling went away. I still feel as powerless now as when I was first captured. I’m sure my Zarantar is still bound.

  Tell me about the people watching over you. How many of them are there? Are they Jaymidari?

  Glaring at the cultists in her field of view, Kayden sent her reply to Fay.

  There are six traitors to the Sisterhood here, yes. She wondered if her disdain for the treacherous women would be carried with her mental voice via the mind-to-mind connection. There’s also an angry Sanatsai down here, too.

  The prolonged delay in Fay’s response worried Kayden. What bad news was her master about to impart?

  Unfortunately, it seems that Master Yosarian knows what you are, and that you have broken the bind on your Zarantar, said Fay mentally. Right now, the six Jaymidari you mentioned are blocking your ability to sense Zarantar, tricking you into believing that you are still powerless. Fortunately, that means I don’t have to worry about you being killed before I can get to you.

  I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Fay, replied Kayden. Vartan Pazarian, of all people, is part of Josario’s cult, and I don’t know how much longer he can resist his desire to kill me. The sooner you get here, the better.

  You are much more valuable to Master Yosarian alive than dead, Kayden. It’s highly unlikely Vartan would risk killing you in defiance of his new master. I expect to reach you either tomorrow night or the following morning, so you should be safe until then. If, however, you feel that your life is in danger before then, you will have to make your own escape.

  Kayden found it odd that Fay was referring to Josario as Master Yosarian; she was obviously aware of his true identity. Trying not to read too much into it, Kayden couldn’t help but worry what would happen when Fay came face-to-face with her former mentor, especially in light of Josario’s evident excitement about the prospect of her arrival.

  Even if you’re right that my Zarantar has returned, she thought to Fay, I’m not certain I can fight my way off the commune. When I arrived, there were literally hundreds of cultists present.

  I don’t think you’re being held at any of the communes, Kayden. An advanced scout maintaining surveillance of the commune you entered reportedly saw your lifeless body being carried away into the woods. Wherever it is you’re being held is probably some distance away from the closest cult commune. It’s likely you’d face minimal resistance if you decide to escape. In fact, you might be better served trying to make a run for it rather than waiting for me. But don’t endanger yourself needlessly. Whatever happens, I will be with you soon.

  Feeling reassured, Kayden contemplated the feasibility of breaking out of the underground prison by herself. It wasn’t impossible if Fay was right about minimal resistance, but having been deprived of food and water for the past couple of days, as well as being subjected to physical abuse, she was in a weaker state than she would otherwise be. For the time being, an escape attempt was an unnecessary risk. Josario had declared that she was no longer a prisoner, but rather his guest. As such, she was going to be released and taken the cult’s main commune to await Fay’s arrival, negating the need to make a bid for freedom. If Vartan attempted to interfere with that plan, she would make good on her promise to kill him.

  I think I’m going to wait for you to come for me, Fay. Making an escape attempt by myself is a last resort.

  Very well. Stay safe, and I will get to you as soon as I can, came Fay’s mental reply. I’m going to end the connection between us now, but if you need to communicate for any reason, you know how to establish the mind-to-mind link.

  Before you go there’s something you need to know.

  Go on.

  Josario already told me that you were here in Anzarmenia, searching for me. Apparently he has spies who reported seeing you in Nerezan a few days ago. He’s now awaiting your arrival, and he said he was going to release me in time to greet you. I think I should warn you that he seems very excited about your coming here, so you need to be careful.

  There was a protracted silence. Kayden assumed the connection between herself and her master had ended, then Fay’s voice returned to her mind once again.

  You don’t need to worry about me, Kayden.

  The silence was restored, and this time Kayden knew the mind-to-mind link had been severed. She couldn’t help but smile to herself. The dire situation she was in not so long ago suddenly didn’t seem quite so hopeless. Fay was coming to rescue her, meaning Josario and his cultists were living on borrowed time.

  “What do you think you’re smiling at?” said her Sanatsai guard.

  Kayden’s half-smile turned into a smirk. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  In the muted, unnatural glow permeating the underground pit it was impossible for Kayden to accurately gauge the passing of time. Despite that, she was absolutely certain that a couple of hours had lapsed since her mind-to-mind conversation with Fay, and she was annoyed. When was Josario going to order her release and have her taken back to his commune? If he thought she would accept being kept trussed in a damp, constricted pit until Fay’s arrival, he had another thing coming.

  “When am I getting out of here?” she asked irritably to no one in particular.

  The two impassive women standing in the corners directly ahead stared blankly at her, offering no response, while the Sanatsai guard looked as though he wanted her to shut up.

  “Hey! I’m not talking to myself.” She yanked the chains that had her arms elevated above her head. “Answer me! When am I getting out of here?”

  Taking a threatening step towards her, the Sanatsai cultist said, “If you don’t shut up and behave yourself…”

  Kayden didn’t need him to finish the sentence. It was safe to assume she was being threatened with physical violence by a man holding a grudge against her because of the deaths of his friends. “Fine,” she said. “If none of you underlings know anything, then get Josario back down here so I can speak to him.”

  “We don’t know who you’re talking about,” said the Sanatsai cultist. “Now shut up before I shut you up.”

  Oh, for crying out loud, thought Kayden. Were these sycophantic cultists really going to keep up the pretence that they were unaware of their master’s true identity? She let out an exaggerated sigh. “If I am forced to break out of this hole in the ground by myself,” she said, “you will all be sorry.”

  The three cultists in her immediate line of sight lowered their heads in unison. Kayden initially interpreted the act of obeisance as their way of showing deference to her, until she felt something cold and wet snake around her neck.

  “Well, we can’t have that, can we, my pretty?”

  As Josario ambled into Kayden’s field of view, whatever was wrapping itself around her neck became warmer, and felt as though it was solidifying.

  “What are you doing to me?” she blurted, alarmed by Josario’s gaze on her neck.

  The cult leader offered no response, and Kayden noticed the empty glass jar he was holding in his left hand. Th
e warming sensation around her neck subsided quickly, prompting a sense of relief that alleviated her fears for her safety. It now felt as though she had a cold, metallic collar around her neck, and she had a good idea what that meant.

  “To answer your question,” began Josario. “You took me by surprise when I looked into your mind earlier, yet it was apparent that you were more surprised than I. However, I knew it would only be a matter of time before you realised that you had broken the bind on your Zarantar, and so I have taken steps to prevent you using your power, just in case you get any ideas about making a second attempt on my life.”

  That seemed to confirm Kayden’s assumption that Josario wanted to coerce her into obedience, in the same manner that Governor Baldassian had turned Baranzev Kazdaranian into a reluctant puppet in Sevdanor.

  “Do you really think you can control me with a compliance collar?” she asked with disdain in her voice. “I know how to remove it.”

  A mocking chuckle escaped Josario’s lips. “Which is why it would be stupid of me to waste time putting one on someone who wields Zarantar.” He pointed a finger at Kayden’s neck. “That little beauty right there is a decapitation collar. Or, as I prefer to call them, a headhunter. If you attempt to use your Zarantar for any reason, even just to scratch the tip of your nose, it will cause the collar to detonate immediately. And though the detonation would be too small to cause harm to anyone in close proximity to you, it would be sufficient to separate your head from your shoulders. Which would be a shameful waste. It’s not everyday an elite Sanatsai falls into my lap, not to mention you have such a lovely head upon those young shoulders.”