“Do you understand what she is showing you?” Dayamar asked.
“The spirit world.” She knew with ever fiber of her being it was true.
“Yes. And she achieved this opening to the incorporeal world with an ease I could not hope to emulate.”
It took a few moments for her to absorb the import of his words. Now her jaw sagged. How could he so casually admit his young apprentice outstripped him?
“Look closer, Nerraya,” Hope invited, her voice strangely flat. And compelling. So compelling, Nerraya couldn’t resist. Her limbs moved her jerkily forward. She drew on every ounce of her stubborn will, biting her lip so hard she drew blood, but the Sehani compulsion was impossible to deny. Step by painful step she moved inexorably forward until she stood before the window Hope had opened.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Y-yes,” Nerraya managed through clenched teeth.
“Do you know what those little twinkling lights are?”
“No.”
“They’re the pure energy of soul-lights, each representing the soul of a living being on this world. Yours is there, Nerraya. Look at its beautiful colors. Behold your soul, Nerraya.” Hope gestured and one of the tiny lights seemed to separate from the mass and expand.
Nerraya gazed deep into the rift, drawn to the beauty of her soul’s light. It magnified until she could see every individual strand entwining it. Wonder softened her tightly controlled expression.
Hope gestured again and the panorama shrank, moving farther away until the entire world was again visible.
Nerraya smiled. It was so beautiful….
And then it shrank still more. Now a foul black mass shrouded the beauty. Something evil had enveloped the world. Only the thin band of pure white light encompassing the sphere prevented it from being entirely smothered.
The mass expanded and contracted, fingerlike tendrils pushing, searching for weaknesses in the protective veil of light. It was… disgusting. Terrifying. She dug her fingernails into her palms and clenched her jaw to keep from vomiting. “Is— Is it real?” she managed to ask. “Do you show me the truth?”
“Yes, Nerraya. This evil is real. Do you understand what we face now? Do you believe me?”
“Yes!” She dashed tears from her cheeks with the back of her wrist. When had she started crying? She sank to her knees and covered her face with her hands in a vain attempt to shut out the truth.
“I was brought here to fight this.” Hope’s gentle voice cut through her soul-deep horror. “I want to help, Nerraya. Please let me try.”
She could only nod. And allow Dayamar to assist her to her feet because her legs shook so badly she couldn’t stand up on her own. It cut deep that none of her own people had offered. She supposed she deserved their censure but it hurt all the same.
Hope raised her hands and brought them together slowly, painfully slowly. Little by little, she knit the rent between the two worlds together. The sweat beading her brow was the only outward indication of the inner strength it took to perform this task. When the rift was but a rippling slash in the air, she brought both hands together with a resounding clap and the rift sealed and vanished.
Nerraya gathered the shreds of her self-control. “How is this… this… infection of the spirit world killing our people?”
Hope stepped back, seeking refuge by Blayne’s side and leaving the explanations to Dayamar. “We believe the six people mentioned in the ancient histories are still alive in some fashion,” he said. “And that they are imprisoned in a cave in this ‘Valley of Lights’. They have melded into a six-fold entity and we believe this entity is consuming the life-forces of our people. I don’t yet understand how, or why, but I suspect the darkness threatening the spirit world is a manifestation of this entity. As it feeds and grows stronger, so the darkness spreads. It’s imperative we discover this whereabouts of this valley and neutralize this being, or we will all suffer the fate of those poor souls you burned.”
Nerraya swayed on her feet. Again, no one offered assistance. She stood alone, reaping the folly of her pride-fueled hatred for Dayamar and his kind. She’d almost rebuffed their offers of help. She’d almost sent them away, condemned every survivor in her settlement. She wanted to run away and hide, vomit up her guilt and fear. Pray to the gods for forgiveness.
She stayed on her feet. Her people needed her to be strong. She was their leader.
“Our best chance to locate this Valley of Lights is for me to winnow through everyone’s past memories,” Dayamar said. “And I mean everyone. No exceptions. I need you to gather your people here before last light this evening. I will contact the other settlement elders and instruct them to gather their people also.” He seemed to be waiting for her to say something.
Nerraya bowed her head. “It shall be done, Sehan Dayamar.”
“I will take my leave. There is much to organize.”
“Of course, Sehan Dayamar.”
When Daryon remained mute Nerraya almost sagged with relief. She’d half-expected him to call an immediate vote of no confidence in her. And although she deserved to be stripped of her status, it would have broken her heart.
“Do you need my help, Dayamar?” Hope asked.
“No, my dear. Rest while you have the chance.”
The young Sehan turned to Nerraya. “I’m sorry,” she said.
Nerraya blinked at her. “For what?” she blurted.
“For forcing you to share the burden of what I have Seen. It was unforgivable.”
Nerraya swallowed and spoke the stark truth. “Frankly, Sehan Hope, I’m amazed you didn’t shriek yourself hoarse and beg the gods to wipe what you’ve Seen from your mind. That’s what I would have done. No, I’m the one who’s sorry—for forcing you to relive the horror of it.”
Daryon led them back to the guest quarters, a grouping of six small dwellings. It was a relief to leave the stifling confines of the hall. At least Nerraya’s startling turnabout boded well for future dealings with the Usehani leader. Hope inhaled. “Mmm, smell those herbs.”
Earlier, Daryon had obliged her with a detailed description of the garden and the bench seating that been strategically placed around the perimeter. She appreciated his attention to detail.
“Did you deliberately choose this spot because of the water here,” she asked, referring to the well that formed a centerpiece for the garden.
“Breanna, one of our original settlers, has a talent for water divination. With her advice, we designed the whole settlement around the wells.”
“I would very much like to meet this woman, Daryon,” Dayamar said. “Water divination is an interesting skill.”
“Breanna lost her life-partner and son. Naytan is keeping her sedated.”
Hope turned her face away so he wouldn’t see the tears stinging her eyes.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Blayne said. “If there’s anything I can do—”
“There’s nothing anyone can do for her. I’ll leave you to settle in and return in a couple of hours for an update.” He strode off, the pain and misery he tried so hard to keep hidden swirling through his aureya.
“I’ll leave you all to your own devices,” Dayamar said.
“Are you sure you don’t need me?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m sure. Put your feet up. Rest.” And with that admonishment he retired to his quarters.
“She looks a bit peaky, Blayne,” Taran said, his voice gruff. “You need to make sure she rests.”
“Taran’s right,” Maya chimed in. “You should be putting your feet up.”
“I agree,” Varaya said. “Make her go have a nap.”
“Will you all quit fussing? I’m not an invalid.”
Apparently Blayne didn’t agree. He scooped her into his arms and, ignoring her protests, retired to their quarters. Inside, he dumped her on the sleeping platform and bent her to his will by the simple expedient of giving her a foot massage. It was impossible to stay cross when you groaning with pleasure. “Ooh
, that feels wonderful.”
“Good.” He set her foot aside. “Rest. I’ll get you a hot drink and something to eat. Uh uh—no arguments.”
She snapped her mouth shut.
“Good call.” He lifted a tangled lock of hair. “You’re a sight, you know.”
“I didn’t exactly have time to pack a bag.”
“Don’t remind me,” he growled. “But I knew I’d find you, so I packed spare clothes.” Pause. “And a comb.”
Thank the gods. If she had to spend one more day in these clothes she’d scream. Oh, she knew she could have asked Naytan or Daryon for a change of clothing, but they had enough to worry about already. And with all that had happened, worrying about creature comforts seemed selfish.
“Have I told you I love you?” she said.
“Not lately.”
“Well, I do.” Without him she’d felt lost, like a piece of her soul was missing. She needed to be close to him now, to feel alive and loved and whole. She fluttered her eyelashes at him flirtatiously.
“You’re supposed to be resting,” he said.
“I’m in bed aren’t I?”
“Point taken.” The mattress dipped as he crawled toward her.
Chapter Twenty One
The swift onset of darkness only heightened the anxiety emanating from those assembled in the hall. Hope compartmentalized her own emotions and locked them away. She couldn’t afford to be affected by them—not if she was to succeed.
She knew Dayamar believed she would cope admirably with task ahead. In his own words, she already surpassed him whenever immense mind-power was required. She felt no pride for that accomplishment, however, only relief that she could shoulder at least some of the burden he bore. Although he made light of it, his own task tonight was incredibly difficult. It would require remarkable skill to sift through the memories of each opened mind without causing lasting damage. Hope had brute force on her side, but not the fine control needed for a task such as this.
“Hush,” Dayamar told the restless gathering of people. “I need to verify the other settlements are ready.”
Hope lurked on the periphery of his mind, watching closely as cast out his seer-senses and linked minds with the each settlement’s appointed spokesperson.
“We will begin now.” He used each spokesperson as a mouthpiece to repeat his words. “I want you all to relax and think of something pleasant—your favorite dish, for example. Mine is hotcakes. Yes, hotcakes still warm from the grill. A mouthwatering stack, dripping with sweet syrup.”
As he waffled on about food, his voice worked its magic and Hope sensed a noticeable release of tension from those around her. This was her cue to begin.
Earlier she’d tried to formulate a step-by-step plan to accomplish her task but she’d floundered. Finally she’d decided to do what she always did and rely on her instincts. First she sought the aureyas of the people she knew well, Dayamar, Blayne, Varaya, and the rest of her Dayamari friends. Their minds were relaxed and open, exuding confidence she would not harm them in any way. She visualized her own mind as a golden thread, gossamer-thin but incredibly resilient. She threaded her mind through each individual aureya, linking them one-by-one.
That task complete, she sought more aureyas. She wove each individual Usehani mind into the intricately beautiful tapestry she had wrought. Her weaving affected the participants barely at all. As each mind was brought into the link, its owner felt a barely perceptible tugging sensation, quickly forgotten.
Finally the Usehani linkage was complete and it was time for her to move on.
Exhilarated by her success, she soared upward like a tiny a spider riding the breeze on a parachute of silken thread. Ah… there! She sensed the people of the First Settlement.
More confident now, she threaded them together and linked them to her weaving, creating a massive tapestry of minds. She moved on to the next settlement. And the next.
Now to visualize the scene she had been shown before Geramar had shoved her to safety. At first it was blurred and lacking color or detail. And then, frame by frame, it sharpened and sprang into vivid relief. A valley. A cave. Lights. Shadows. Shrouded figures. A skeleton clad in tattered remnants of clothing….
Interesting. She hadn’t remembered that particular detail before. What other important details might she have missed? She set the scene in the forefront of her public mind and joined the linkage.
The Dayamari/Usehani mind-link besieged her. She weathered thousands of tiny pricks and prods as each mind accessed her memory before withdrawing to mull over the scene she had revealed. Some minds, unconsciously or perhaps intentionally, attempted to root about in her private thoughts. She threw up an impenetrable wall around them, and gently rebuked each errant mind before sending it on its way.
Just when she believed she might shriek aloud from the strain, it ceased. Her task was complete, and thank the gods for that. Right now she wanted nothing more than to sink into oblivion and think of absolutely nothing.
A soothing balm bathed her bruised mind. Blayne.
Thank you, my love. She rested a moment, luxuriating in his mental embrace, before reluctantly disengaging.
Dayamar? It’s done. They’re all yours.
Don’t relinquish them yet, Hope. Hold them together while I search.
I understand.
She maintained the linkage but allowed a tiny portion of herself to disengage and observe, wanting to learn from Dayamar’s technique. His skill at delicately winnowing through the memories of each mind surpassed anything she might have been able to accomplish on her own.
Aha! A slight recognition of your memory there… there… and there! I have them. Let the others go now, Hope. Slowly, one by one. There will be resistance but you must persist. You know what to do. His presence faded from her mind.
Disengaging each individual mind from the link was a painstaking process. Each mind had to be enticed, encouraged to the limit of the link before she could carefully sever it and send it on its way. Children were the hardest to reintegrate. Their energetic young minds clung to hers, unwilling to give up the novelty of being part of what was almost a hive-mind.
An eternity later, it was done. She sank to the floor and curled up with her eyes closed. Her head throbbed in unison with each shallow breath. Right now the relief of swallowing a simple aspirin would have been heavenly.
Blayne’s voice intruded on her woeful attempt at peaceful oblivion. “What’s wrong, dearling?”
She forced her heavy eyelids open. “You have no idea how exhausting that was.”
He slipped an arm about her back and helped her to sit, and she sagged gratefully against him. “You don’t look too good,” he said.
“My head hurts. I have what my father used to call a ‘mother of a headache’.” A babble of voices snagged her attention but she couldn’t concentrate enough to pick up what they were saying. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing much. Everyone’s a bit dazed. Dayamar is still at it.”
“He’s still mind-linked with some of them I think.” A sharp pain stabbed her temples. “Ouch. Remind me not to think for a while. It hurts too much.”
“All finished, I presume?”
“Seems that way, Naytan,” Blayne told the healer.
“What now?”
“Tell Nerraya to send everyone home, but keep an eye on anyone who seems rooted to the spot. Best not to disturb them because they might be mind-linked with Dayamar. And do you have anything handy to cope with a headache? A bad one. I don’t want to leave her to get a remedy from my pack.”
“I’ll see to it right away.” The healer hurried off.
“Do you think anyone’s informed the settlements we have what we needed?” Blayne asked. “They could send everyone else home.”
Hope groaned. “I should have thought of that. Is Dayamar finished yet?”
“From the way he’s standing? I don’t think so.”
“I’d better do it. If you can hold me upright fo
r a bit? This won’t take long.” She gathered her rapidly waning strength and sent her seer-senses rocketing toward the settlements. Luckily the first person she recognized was an elder from the First Settlement, whose familiar mind was easily breached.
Greetings. It’s Hope, Second Sehan. We have what we need. Dayamar’s identified those who can help. You can send the rest home now. Tell the healers to keep an eye on anyone who seems non-responsive but don’t try to wake them. They might be mind-linked with Dayamar.
The next two messages would be more difficult as she’d not met anyone from the other two settlements, and couldn’t simply zero in on a familiar mind-signature. She latched onto a vibrant mind and extracted the man’s name from his thoughts.
Greetings, Keeton. I’m Second Sehan Hope. His rather graphic expletive made her smile… and wonder whether it was possible for a human to do that. She accepted his hurried mental apology, and then repeated the same message she’d given the First Settlement elder.
Onward she flew, seeking a mind from the Third Settlement. She’d almost reached the limit of her strength when thankfully, she caught a faint glimmer of masculine energy. She cast out a thought-thread and latched on to him.
He was strong, and fought her intrusion. In a flash that left her reeling, her position was reversed and it was his mind who latched onto hers, holding her in thrall.
Who are you? What are you doing in my mind?
I’m Hope, Second Sehan. She struggled to extricate herself from the stranger’s powerful mind-grip.
I see. I sensed a new power abroad recently. You’ve overshot the Third Settlement by many, many miles, girl. You’re gifted indeed to have reached this far.
She felt herself caught in a vice-like grip. He opened up her mind and peeled back layer after layer like an onion. Not even her most private thoughts were safe from his velvet-gloved invasion.
Girl, you’ve an interesting past. I’d love you to stay and chat but you’ve over-extended yourself. I fear you won’t be able to return home on your own. Let me help you.
The massive mental boost sent her flying back along the tenuous thought-thread she had created to her physical body. But as he tried to cut the connection she resisted. The Third Settlement… have to tell someone….
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