by A. R. Wilson
One of the vines within sprouted a thorn. “Why?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Tascana stood, keeping her back to the girl. “Try me.”
“I don’t think you’re ready to know.”
Spinning on her heel, she felt something crumble beneath her foot. “Ready to know what? That The Master’s plan involves me having a child?”
The girl stood, hands spread. “You’re pregnant?”
“What? No!”
“Then how could—” Her voice cut off mid-thought. “Oh. Maybe it’s not worth the risk.” Dellia sank back to the pile of broken and discarded stones, wrapping her arms around her knees.
“I’m confused. You didn’t know?” Tascana took a step back.
“I knew Arnya intended to train you to prepare you for your future.” She leaned her forehead against her arms. “I assumed she meant your place here.”
Clenching her fists, she stooped to one knee. “I have to escape, and you have to help me.”
“If The Master plans to —”
“Arnya is his servant. I’ve seen it. Staying here only prepares me to fulfill whatever he has planned. I have to leave before it’s too late to make a difference.”
The girl’s head lifted. “Before anyone would suspect anything. Yes, that could work. If Arnya is preparing you for something, The Master won’t know to seek you until it is finished. Neither of them will know what happened until it is too late to stop us.”
Their eyes locked, clinging to the possibility of a well-planned betrayal.
Dellia held out a hand. “Can you pretend to love this place like home?”
“I see you as a sister already.” She took the girl’s hand and pulled her into an embrace.
She broke the hold within moments. “No time for mush. We need to get back to the village and prepare for Revel’s dinner party.”
“Why?”
“What better way to put up a front than by celebrating your intent to perform the citizenship ritual?”
“A what ritual?”
“Don’t worry. It takes months to memorize all the codes and creeds. At least it took Revel and Chalance six months each. Then there is a whole ceremony. But if Arnya thinks you want to pursue it, she will begin your apprenticeship.”
“Four days isn’t much time to steer her.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.” Dellia gestured for her to follow, turning to walk back the way they had come. “Like wanting to know the illusion that keeps this place hidden from The Master. Or feeling scared of your vision and wishing you knew how to hide in plain sight.”
Tascana nodded, both ideas sounding clever, but choosing a tangent of her own. It had to be a desire to keep herself completely hidden in the valley. Being so afraid of someone from the outside world finding her that she would do anything.
The vine sprouted another thorn. She welcomed it. With each shift from fear to anger, she felt as though she gained a little bit of control over the trellis that had become her soul. Anger held far more power than fear. Every fear about the valley, the scrolls, The Master and anything else which threatened to enslave her had the potential to be fuel for her new fire. She would beat every fear into a thorn of rage until she had enough weapons to fight her way free. This prison would hold her no longer.
Back at the house, Revel fretted around the kitchen snapping orders at Chalance. The girls jumped in to help.
Telling the boys about the planned escape had to wait until Tascana learned what she needed to know from Arnya. Neither of them wanted to risk an accidental conversation overheard by a dallest. No one could know until it was too late for anyone to do anything.
Dozens of guests filtered through the house that evening. Tascana did her best to field their questions (some more polite than others) with as much courtesy as possible. Dinner was more like a lingering buffet as dallests picked their way through the kitchen. Several times Tascana found herself backed into a corner as guests pressed forward to get their first eyeful of the newest member to their community. Each time, Dellia rescued her by dragging her across the room to meet someone else or answer someone’s question. More than once, Tascana praised the Fates that body odor was banished in this place. She could only imagine what the house might smell like if these muskrat people truly reeked of their animal forms.
By the time Tascana managed to pull away to go to bed, she scarcely noticed the dirty feel of the stairs. She lay flat on her bed, gazing at the ceiling, running over the conversation with Dellia earlier that day. What story would sway Arnya best?
Dawn brought her an answer. She rushed to find Arnya.
Knocking on the door twice produced a sleepy-eyed dallest only in her short pants.
“Ah, Tascana. I wasn’t expecting you today.”
“Dellia said yesterday was my day off. Did I misunderstand?”
“No, not exactly. I saw a vision the evening of our last meeting and I have yet to decipher its meaning. But alas, I forgot to convey that to you.”
You had a vision that night too? Sure you did!
Heat filled her belly, and she punched it down. “Does that mean you’re not up for another lesson today? I think I’ve almost mastered this meditation thing.”
“Maybe tomorrow. I’m too exhausted.”
“Oh.” She pulled her hands behind her back, twisting a foot into the ground. “I guess I understand. I’ll go down to the grove by myself, then. My vision still confuses me too, but I don’t get much peace and quiet at home.”
Arnya’s ears pricked up at the word home. “Is your room more comfortable now?”
“In a way.” She leaned into the doorpost and folded her arms. “It’s more like I feel safe there. Like no one can reach me. I know that sounds silly, but knowing The Master can’t see inside that room makes it feel safe.” She gave a shrug. “But my roommates can’t be expected to stay quiet all day so I think I’ll head down to the grove.”
“You can find the way on your own?”
“I’ve walked it several times. Due west until the stream, then follow the flow. Circle of tree stumps is straight ahead, give or take fifteen minutes.”
Arnya grinned. “Allow me a short nap and I will join you. No more than two hours behind you.”
“If you need rest, Teacher, I understand.”
“I do need rest, and I will take it. But once I’m rested, I will meet you for another lesson.”
Battling her anger to stay hidden behind a smile, she nodded. “I will be waiting.”
True to her word, Arnya came to the grove two hours later. Tascana waited on her usual stump.
“You don’t look like you’re meditating.” Arnya took her place across the circle.
“I’m still trying to determine the meaning of my vision before I risk having another one.”
The dallest nodded. “Multiple visions can be difficult to manage. Tell me what you saw the other night.”
This was it.
Don’t let your anger show! Keep your fear just below the surface. That’s what she needs to see.
“It’s... well, it was creepy. Lots of death and floods and earthquakes. Almost like it was the end of the world.”
“And where were you? In the vision or watching from a distance?”
“Actually, it was my fault.” She gripped her knees then shook her hands and folded them tight against her chest. “Not exactly my fault. More like I created the person doing it.”
“How did you create them?”
Tascana lowered her eyes until the dallest’s face rested at the edge of her peripheral vision. Then, she slowly moved her hands to rest on her stomach. Flinching her arms back into a folded position, she shook her head.
“I can’t let it happen, Arnya. I can’t. I’ll do anything to never let it happen.”
“Let what happen?”
“I figured out how to escape this valley.”
Arnya sat a little taller.
Good, keep followin
g me.
“If someone projected a vision out of this valley, gave a message to an oracle, that person could get past the Soldiers of Basagic.” She watched Arnya’s eyes widen then pinch with suspicion. “That means if my parents ever find an oracle, a path would open and The Master would find me.”
The dallest’s eyes softened.
“Arnya, you have to make the spell on the Soldiers of Basagic stronger. Oracles don’t know everything. My parents have no clue what happened to me. They’re probably trying to find a way to me right now, and if they... if they ever do—” She covered her face, her shoulders trembling.
“Spells like that involve speaking with the Fates.”
Her hands dropped to her lap. “You did it before. Can’t you do it again?”
“Not in here.”
“Oh. Well, what about an illusion? Is there some way to hide this valley from all sight? Hide it in such a way that even if an oracle looked this way they would see nothing but useless trees?”
“There already is such a spell on this valley.”
“But it needs to be stronger!” Tascana scooted to the edge of her stump so quickly that she flopped off and onto her knees. “We can’t risk underestimating The Master’s cunning or his potency. You even said that each vision he received from the Fates was incomplete. What if the promise given to you was incomplete?”
“It is trustworthy. The century of peace in our valley is proof of that.”
“But I saw things. Terrible and dreadful things! If The Master, or Jerricoh, or anyone finds me here, the world will never be safe.” She pulled back onto her rump, burying her face into her knees. “I’m scared.”
Arnya walked over to her, placing a leathery hand on her shoulder. “You trust me to be your teacher, now trust me to tell you the truth. You are safe here.”
“Then how did I see those images? How did that monster call me his mother?” She pulled her throat tight as she said the word. “Someone is going to find me! They’re coming for me!”
“Shh! Shh! It’s all right.” Arnya sighed then stooped next to her. “Would you trust me if I showed you?”
“Showed me what?”
“How strong the spell over this valley is.”
“But spells can’t be seen.”
Arnya’s head bobbed a little. “Yes and no. This spell is unique. It will actually take a few days of training to help you see it for what it truly is.”
“I want to trust you. I really do.” She let the heat of anger pool into her eyes until they stung, then let the tears flow. “My vision was so real. Like I was there.”
“Come. Sit back on your seat. I will arrange the stones this time.”
Tascana watched the dallest work. It took so much effort not to smile.
Arnya returned to her seat and cast out a handful of sand. The blue-green flames leapt upward and began to dance. “Picture a color. Any color you wish.”
“I don’t understand.”
“This is your first lesson. Now picture a color in your mind. Let all your thoughts fill with that one shade.”
“Alright.”
“Now imagine the flames turning that color.”
Tascana did as she was told. For several hours.
By evening, she saw the flames shift darker, but they never turned black. At least not as black as the cloud she imagined in her mind. The next day unfolded much the same way. Each time she saw the flames darken, she stirred with excitement, then the flames brightened to their original colors. By evening of the third day, she was digging her nails into her palms trying to force the flames to become black. Dellia’s turn in the tunnels began at sunset the following day. If she didn’t learn how to project a vision between now and then she might have to wait six months or more until the next opportunity.
“You are trying too hard, child.” Arnya stifled a laugh.
“This is my third day of trying, and I can’t do it. Not even a little!”
“Tascana.” Her voice purred with motherly affection. “Do you remember your first successful meditation? The first time you were able to let go into the flames?”
“Yes.”
“And how did it happen?”
“Promise you won’t get mad?”
“Why would I get...? Yes, I promise I won’t get mad.”
“I imagined all this going away. That nothing and no one existed. Only me and the flames.”
“Why would I get mad about that?”
“I really wanted you gone at the time. Imagining you disappearing helped.”
She grinned. Not a smile of amusement, but one of knowing. Like she anticipated that answer. “Try changing the flames again.”
Taking a deep breath, she did as she was told. Imagining a realm where she alone stood before... “Black flames!”
“You did it. Excellent.”
“But this won’t protect me.”
“Hmm?”
“I keep seeing that vision in the back of my mind. I think someone is trying to find me. This valley has to stay hidden. It has to!”
“Child, child. You are nearly ready to see what protects us.”
“But... I just... I just keep having this feeling, this knowing, that it’s not enough. I think Fate is trying to warn me, to warn us, that something is coming.”
Arnya closed her eyes a moment. “Come with me.”
Tascana followed Arnya toward the Soldiers of Basagic. An evening sun cast long shadows around them. Twilight filled the valley by the time they reached the slopes. Arnya stepped past a tree, and Tascana waited.
“Come with me, this way.” Arnya motioned her forward.
“I can’t.” She hesitated a moment before adding. “I tried once before.”
The dallest grinned. “I know. Come with me. It will be safer this time.”
Easing one foot onto the hill, she waited. No oily heat. She inched her way a few steps closer to Arnya. Then another step and another. No nausea or sinking feet.
“Good job. Follow me, now. Hurry.”
Trudging up the mountain side, they came to a gap in the trees and turned to look back down the mountain. The whole of Tretchin Valley lay before them.
“Now watch.” Arnya held up a single finger and pointed at the valley.
Ripples of water skipped over the ground until all of Tretchin looked like a giant lake. Then dust billowed over the water, creating an immense sandpit. Granules swirled and pooled, hinting at something sucking beneath the quicksand.
“You see, child? This valley looks like whatever I want others to see. For us, for my people, we see the land as it is. For anyone outside the valley, they see a deadly quagmire. Any individual who passes this way feels themselves drowning in sand. A few invaders have even died trying to press through the illusion. Do you understand now? No one will find you here. Even the air is guarded by the illusion I place over this valley. Nothing sees, moves, or perceives the borders of our valley unless I personally will it. And it is my will that only the oracles that I wish to find us are allowed to see through to the valley floor.”
Tascana watched as the sand dissipated to reveal the lush foliage surrounding the village. “And which oracles are those?”
“None. All oracles in this world serve one of two masters, and I refuse to trust the servants of either. So come, let us return home to sleep in the knowledge that we are both safe.”
They walked back to the village in silence. How Tascana wished she had more time to practice her new skill. And yet a nagging thought pecked at the back of her mind. How did The Master not perceive the oddity of a sandpit forming near his castle? Had the deal Arnya struck with Fate fooled him too?
As they crested the next hill, dancing flickers indicated the few lamps in the village still burning into the night. Tascana looked to the left of the village. Somewhere in that black, empty space beneath the starline lay the tunnel leading back under The Master’s castle. Which meant somewhere past it laid an immense castle hiding in plain sight of the villagers.
He’s waiting for me, right there.
Gray fog wavered between two peaks in the shape of a house. No, it was a castle. A gigantic castle!
“Tascana?”
The image lifted away like steam from a boiling pot. It was gone.
“Tascana? Is everything all right? What are you looking at?”
“Nothing. Just a memory. But now I get to have new memories.” With a smile and a wave, she turned to take the path to Dellia’s home.
Another thorn sprouted within her.
Once in bed, she laid staring at the dresser. With minimal effort, she focused her thoughts to coat it with vines. Easy enough. She pulled the illusion back, then sent a wave of grasses across the floor. After a few more tries at her new skill, she nestled down to sleep. The real test would come in the morning.
She woke the next day to Dellia knocking on her door.
“I’m up, I’m up.”
“Arnya is waiting downstairs.”
Tascana quickly straightened her clothes then cracked opened the door. “Watch this.”
Dellia stole a glance toward the stairs then slipped inside. “What?”
“I figured it out.” The dresser wrapped in vines until it became a box shaped tangle.
“Oh!” She put a fist to her mouth then gripped it below her chin. “Can you do something larger too? Enough to hide four people?”
The walls peeled away to reveal a grassy meadow hovering in midair then slapped back into place.
Flicking a lock of tangled hair back over her shoulder, Tascana grinned. “Can you have everything ready by tonight?”
Dellia threw her arms around her. “My sword is already sharpened.”
Pushing her back, she wagged a finger. “No time for mush.”
They both stifled a giggle.
Grabbing her elbow, the girl tugged Tascana out the door. “Be home at least an hour before sunset.”
“If I make it that long.”
They marched down the stairs arm in arm.
“Ah Tascana, you’re finally up.” Arnya stood from the table. “Our walk last night must have taken a greater toll than I thought.”
“I could barely sleep last night.” See, I can lie too. “I just kept thinking how amazing it is to know that no one can find me here.”
