by Sharon Hinck
That was too weird to follow. She smiled at my face. “I know, I was confused too when I met him again. He had been gone for two years. Now I’m twenty, and he’s forty. Time flows differently between the two worlds.”
“And when Cameron dragged my mom here,” I said slowly, “I came an hour later, but two seasons had passed already.” I shook my head. “It’s not fair.”
Lukyan frowned, his hands gripping the table edge for support. “For anyone to use a portal between worlds and survive is beyond what is fair. I told the Lyric songkeeper it was not our place, but he chose to send your father through the portal, and look what has happened.” His face was dark.
“Okay, so after Kieran left, Cameron called the songkeepers together. Then what?”
Lukyan drew a long shaky breath, and Linette pulled a chair close to the table for him. He sank into it with a grateful smile. “He told us of a visitation of the One, who came and spoke to him in the tower. We were skeptical, of course. Cameron has never supported our efforts to stay close to the Verses or to trust the One for our protection. But he gave each of us one of the new Records that were given to him by the One.”
With trembling hands, Lukyan lifted an object from the box. He laid it on the table reverently, and Linette’s eyes shone as she stared at it.
I burst into laughter.
Lukyan’s grizzled eyebrows drew together, and Linette stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
“This?” I sputtered. “Cameron gave you this? It’s just a jacked-up MP3 player.” I reached out to hit Play, but Lukyan slapped my hand away. I pulled myself together and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Can we listen to it?”
Linette’s eyes were huge as she looked at Lukyan. His white hair fell across his face as he bowed his head. After a long pause, he nodded and activated the recording. I had to admit it was impressive. Cameron had accomplished a lot in a month: learning the technology, getting someone to mix these recordings, gathering everything he would need.
A powerful voice intoned a message about the new generation and the prophecy of the king who would make the People of the Verses secure.
I reached over and shut it off, causing gasps of shock from Lukyan and Linette.
I didn’t feel like laughing anymore. Dad had told me about the real Records. They were the audible voice of the One, carefully listened to at each season-end gathering. They were the touchstone of the Verses, making sure the oral traditions didn’t slip and introduce any errors. He couldn’t even talk about them without his voice dropping to a whisper of awe. This trick was pure evil.
“I assume that the voice is similar to the one in the real Records?”
Lukyan nodded, watching me closely.
I folded my arms. “It’s a fake. In my world, these kinds of audio records are common. Does it look like your other Records?”
Lukyan lifted out another object, carefully keeping it protected with cloth. It was a short metallic tube, sort of like a thick stack of CDs. There were no visible buttons, but like much of the technology on this world, there were probably hidden levers or panels. “These Records have guided our people for hundreds of generations,” Lukyan said with quiet dignity.
I nodded. “I understand. This other thing won’t play for generations. The batteries—um, magchips—will wear out in a few seasons. But we can’t wait that long to prove they’re fake.” I paced a few steps away, rubbing my hands together. “I could record over the voice or change the recording to show how it works, but I don’t have any equipment. Maybe there’s something from Skyler’s house that I could use. Or would it be enough for me to explain that I know how these are made?”
“Jake.” Lukyan was grave and stopped me in my tracks. He glanced at Linette, and she gave me a worried look.
They were doing it again. They were looking at me like I was nothing but trouble. “What?”
“Do you understand what might happen when you reveal that these holy Records, personally given to Cameron by the One and listened to by each of the twelve clans, are simply a man-made creation?”
“Yeah! They’ll know not to believe Cameron, and they’ll reinstate the Council.”
“Or?” Lukyan sat back and watched me patiently. What was he getting at?
Finally, Linette helped me out. “Jake, there have always been some among our people who doubt the truth and worth of the Records. The real Records.”
I might be slow sometimes, but I’m not stupid. “You mean if they find out these are fake . . .”
Lukyan nodded sadly. “It may be all that is needed to destroy generations of faith in the true words of the One.”
I fumbled for a chair and dropped into it.
Linette stood behind me and rested a comforting hand on my shoulder.
I couldn’t even enjoy her touch. Stripped of all my impatience and cockiness, I looked at Lukyan. “What should we do?” The words felt raw and scratchy in my throat.
His grim demeanor eased and a starburst of wrinkles deepened around his eyes. “What can we do when we don’t know which road to choose?”
A grin twitched into place. “Ask the One.”
He nodded and bowed his head.
Much later, Linette and I returned to Tara’s house. Lukyan’s time of prayer had rattled me around, emptied me out, and filled me with something new and strong. Even with the risk involved, after our prayer time we all believed that the people needed to learn the truth. Lukyan agreed to send word to the other songkeepers about what I’d told him and demonstrate how the technology worked, if that would help. We hoped he could reveal how Cameron created false Records but avoid revealing that the new technology came from another world. We didn’t need more people to find out about the portal. Since Hazor was always developing advancements, the songkeepers might assume the new invention came from Hazor.
Tara had soup simmering on a heat trivet, and Dustin and Aubrey had enough energy to tackle me as I came in. Tara noticed me looking around the large table at the many empty places. “Payton went with Gareth and Talia to do some hunting. They’ll be back in a few days. Tristan and Kendra . . .” She turned away and wiped a hand over her face. Then she turned to Linette with a desperate look. “The baby is due soon.”
Mom and Dad had told me that after years of waiting, Kendra was expecting her first baby. What a time to have to run for their lives. Linette hurried to Tara’s side in the kitchen alcove and gave her a hug. She whispered something in her ear, and I realized I was able to hear it. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but was fascinated by how easily their quiet conversation carried. Feeling a little guilty—but not guilty enough to interrupt them—I continued to listen.
“I told you; she’s doing great. We’ll send a messenger as soon as the baby is born. Kieran is taking care of all three of them.”
I busied myself by removing my sword belt and propping my gear against the wall. Keen hearing was one of the Restorer gifts, but I hadn’t noticed it before now. Of course, I hadn’t been paying attention, either.
So that was what Linette hadn’t wanted to talk about earlier. She and Kieran and the other songkeepers in Hazor had heard about what happened—not from a messenger but from Tristan and Kendra. Good thing they were safe and not sleeping in caves like the renegade guardians were. I put on a deadpan face before joining Tara and Linette at the table.
“Can we play soccer?” Dustin tossed a small bread loaf from hand to hand.
I laughed. Tara shook her head. “When we ran out of gourds, they tried using stones and smashed a window and nearly broke their toes.”
“Stones? No, no, no. I have a better idea.” I dug into my pack for my extra hiking socks and waved them in the air. “A sock ball will work great.”
Tara rolled her eyes. “Not until after supper.” She tried to frown, but a dimple flickered in her lined face.
The next morning at first light, Linett
e tied a cloak around her shoulders, preparing to return to the pass over the mountains by Morsal Plains. I worked up my nerve and gave her a quick hug, urging her to be careful. For her part, she rested a hand on my head and spoke a blessing over me. I soaked in her words like my skin soaked in the baking sun on a day at the beach in August.
“Give your mother my love.” She opened the door. “Let her know that the shrines have been closed down in Hazor and many people are learning to know the One.” I promised to pass along her message, and then she slipped out like a goldfinch flitting from tree to tree.
Tara fed me some breakfast, and I grabbed my gear and hiked back up to the caves. I didn’t want to risk staying in the village and figured that Wade would come here first. Since the clearing was empty, I drew my sword and practiced the forms that Dad had taught me, as well as the new moves Arland had shown me yesterday. After a good workout, I retreated into one of the caves and took a nap.
As I drifted into sleep, my mind retreated to the comfort of the familiar. I was at Harvey’s helping a man find spark plugs for his pickup. We walked down the cramped aisle to the cash register, and the man moved around behind the counter.
“Hey, wait,” I said. “Customers aren’t allowed back there.” I used my best customer-service smile, but the man started scanning in the spark plugs, ringing up the price over and over. The amount kept climbing, and I didn’t have the money to pay for them. I told myself that I wasn’t the one buying, but then the man looked up and he wasn’t a man anymore. He was Medea. She smiled, and I took a step back, crashing against the rack of pine-tree air fresheners.
“Poor Jake. You really don’t understand the cost, do you?” Her words slithered into me, and goose bumps rose on my arms.
I managed to turn away, but the store was gone, and I was in a small white room. Someone rested her head on a table, sobbing. The pain of those cries tore me apart. “Lord, let me help.” I reached out to touch her but realized my sword was in my hand. The room dissolved into walls of hooded figures. Grey cloth masks obscured their faces and they moved toward me on silent feet.
“Don’t let them pass, Jake!” a voice shouted from behind me.
I glanced back and saw Kieran. His tunic was burned from syncbeam fire, and blood darkened the fabric from a sword wound that should have killed him. His eyes were wild, and he shouted my name again. Why didn’t he draw his sword and help me fight?
“Jake, you have to stop them. Jake!”
A hand grasped my arm, and I jolted awake.
Wade’s jovial face was shadowed by the cave walls. “Jake, you need to sleep light if you don’t have anyone to watch your back.” He turned and ducked under the low stone of the entry to leave the cave.
I followed him into the clearing, rubbing my face and trying to shake off the dreams. “Where is she?” I looked around, wondering if Wade’s bulky form was blocking her from view. “Where’s my mom?”
He stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. She wasn’t there.”
My mouth opened, but I couldn’t speak.
“I looked everywhere. Had a run-in with a few of the king’s guards, too. Whatever Cameron did with her, she’s not in Lyric.”
He saw my shock and gave my shoulder an awkward pat. “Maybe she already went back home.”
I jerked away. “No. I have to be sure. I’ll go myself.”
“And accomplish what? Get yourself captured? Jake, I’m telling you, she’s not there. Now, grab your gear. We have to go warn the men. Cameron knows they’ve been gathering, and he’s sending a regiment against them. Somehow he found out they were headed to Blue Knoll.” Wade tossed me my sword.
I belted it on but shook my head. “Wade, I can’t go galloping around the countryside with the guardians. I have to find my mom.”
“You don’t have any choices right now.”
Choices. Lukyan’s words echoed in my head: What can we do when we don’t know which road to choose? “Wade, wait. Let me talk to Lukyan. If he agrees I should go with you, I will.”
He scratched his head. “You want to visit a songkeeper? Didn’t you hear me? The men are in danger.” He turned and started toward the path.
“It’ll only take a minute.” I ran to block him. “Hey, you swore to protect my dad’s house. Help me with this. For the sake of your oath.”
His teeth clenched, and for a second I thought he’d shove me aside and continue on his way. Then he snorted out a breath like an angry bull. “All right, but we have to hurry.”
I nodded and threw my pack over one shoulder. I tore ahead of him down the trail and went straight to Lukyan’s cabin.
Lukyan showed no surprise when his door crashed open, and Wade and I raced inside.
I told him the latest news. “So what am I supposed to do?” I was still breathing hard from the run. “The One showed me I’m supposed to expose the false Records and help reclaim Rendor.” A grunt of surprise came from Wade, but I kept talking to Lukyan. “But first I have to save my mom.”
“Do you?” Lukyan seemed to lean forward on his chair without moving.
“Of course I do. That’s why I came.”
“That’s what pulled you to come. But what is the One’s purpose for you?”
Wade shifted his weight side to side and scratched his arm. He glanced toward the door and back.
Lukyan turned his watery eyes on Wade. “What is the role of the Restorer?”
Wade blinked in confusion but decided to humor the old man. “In every time of great need, a Restorer is sent to fight for the people and help the guardians. The Restorer is empowered with gifts to defeat our enemies and turn the people’s hearts back to the Verses.” He rattled off the rote speech in the machine-gun cadence of a little kid reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Inside me, the words hummed with power like an engine revving. I stared at Lukyan.
Past the cloudiness of age in his irises, I saw an answering fire. He nodded once. “You will hear many calls. There are hundreds of places where your help could be of value. But you cannot be His tool for each. Trust the One. No need will go unanswered. Follow His task for you today. What you cannot do, be assured the One will send another to do.”
I grabbed at that promise, as the decision tore me in two. Wade cleared his throat and shuffled his feet. No more time.
“Thank you.” My voice was a hoarse whisper around the lump in my throat.
Lukyan raised one trembling hand. “Go with the One.”
Wade and I stepped outside. “What’s with the songkeeper double-talk?” he asked.
“I’ll explain later.” My hand found the hilt of my sword and drew strength from it. “Now, which way to Blue Knoll?”
Chapter
15
Susan
“You once called me to surrender.”
I prayed aloud while circling the small room. My mind could no longer focus if I prayed silently. I had lost count of how many weeks I’d been here or how many times Medea, and sometimes Nicco, had visited to burrow into my thoughts. But I could measure the toll on my mind. I couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t remember things—sometimes didn’t even know what was real and what wasn’t.
“I give up. I can’t fight this anymore. It’s what You want, isn’t it? I surrender.”
No.
The word resonated so loudly in my heart that I stopped pacing.
Surrender your life into My hands. Don’t surrender your mind to these lies.
“But I can’t keep fighting this. I’m so tired.” I sank into a chair. A tear, and then another, slid down my face. I touched my cheek. I had thought there weren’t any left in me.
My head drooped against the small table, the metal surface cool against my forehead. “Help me.” They were the only words I had left.
The door slid upward with a swish like an elevato
r gasping open. They were back. A deep tremor shook me, but I didn’t look up. Maybe if I kept my eyes closed, they wouldn’t see me, they’d leave.
“She won’t last much longer.” Nicco’s bland voice came from the doorway.
“I’m bored with her anyway.” Medea sounded like a petulant child.
Nicco laughed. “If you ever learned to focus on anything for more than a day, you could develop amazing powers.”
Medea yawned. “I have what I need. Why bother?”
“Because your plans are going to take strength and they’re important to all of us.” Nicco’s usual affectionate tolerance for Medea disappeared; his voice held a hard edge.
Her laughter sparkled. “What do you know about it? You’ve never crossed our borders.” Then she sighed. “Stop being so moody, Nicco. Cameron just sent a bunch of new ones. Want to come see them?” Now her voice was playful and wheedling.
“And her?”
“I don’t need her anymore. You can have her.”
Holy God in heaven, no. Medea had kept me as some kind of pet, but she didn’t expend much energy. She preferred to savor my surface weaknesses: guilt, loneliness, regret, despair. It was misery, but a comfortable misery that kept one foot in reality. I had sensed her growing stronger in these past weeks, but she didn’t direct that new strength toward tormenting me. She was storing it for some other purpose.
Nicco seemed less concerned with preserving his own mental power. He could take one small thought and twist it into a raging lie that drowned my rational mind. He didn’t do it to gain strength. Often he’d even seem drained after a brutal campaign through my thoughts. I wasn’t sure what his purpose was. Maybe, like Medea, he was just easily bored. Whatever his reasons, he didn’t bother with emotions that were easy to access. The few times Medea let him delve into my thoughts, he dug for small threads of irrational terror or savage anger. Greed, rage, vicious cynicism. I knew all humans had the root of every sin trapped in their fiber, but these were less common battles for me, and I didn’t know how to fight them.
