Sunweaver

by Ryan W. Mueller

  "Is it something about Faina?" Walin asked, looking on with concern.

  How much of the truth could Kadin reveal? He debated a few moments, then said, "Yes, at least part of it has to do with Faina." He lowered his voice. "I want to get her out of here."

  By now, he had told Aren and Walin of her situation. She had given her permission.

  Walin spoke in a hushed voice. "Really? You think it's possible?"

  "I think there might be a way," Kadin said, "but that's all I can tell you."

  "Well, if you can do it," Walin said, "I'll do anything I can to help. She doesn't deserve what Andric's doing to her. I'm glad Marell decided to help." He grinned. "So are you two using the evenings to plan?"

  "Yes," Kadin said, forcing himself to look Walin in the eye. Could Walin tell that he was lying? After all, he felt his lies were obvious.

  But neither of his friends questioned him on anything. He felt sorry that he'd be deserting them soon, but he had to remind himself that he was no longer like them, however much he still felt the pains of a Lightless life. Strangely, he didn't want to leave the plantation. He enjoyed the work for the most part, and the treatment was better than back home.

  Again, he thought of his father. The man would pay for his crimes.

  Then he thought of Faina. Should he talk to her and try to convince her to accept his help? Of course, he planned on helping her whether she liked it or not. He didn't care what she said about herself. She'd shown sympathy for him, and that meant a lot.

  The next day, Kadin resumed his training with Marell. After dinner, they walked to the same secluded section of the plantation. Aren and Walin had given Kadin strange looks, and he'd wondered if they could see through his deception.

  "We're going to start with Red and Orange," Marell said. "I know you did it yesterday on accident, but I want to see that you can do it deliberately." He directed Kadin to a spot near the giant stone fence, where there was nothing but rock. "Start the fire here. It shouldn't burn anything."

  Kadin nodded weakly. What if his powers had vanished on him? He'd been too afraid to practice them at all. And how would he practice once he learned the basics from Marell? Could he find isolated spots without drawing suspicion?

  "Stop worrying," Marell said. "I can see it on your face. You need to learn to disguise your emotions."

  "Well, it would help if you told me how to do all these things instead of just telling me to do them. I'm sorry I'm so stupid."

  Marell glared at him. "What's the point if you don't even try to change?"

  "I am trying! It's not as easy as you think."

  "All right. Maybe it isn't. Let's get back to your training." Marell backed off a few steps. "Sunweaving is not like Suncasting. I can explain to you how to cast a color, but when it comes to weaving, I'm in unfamiliar territory. I might not be able to teach you."

  "And what if you can't?"

  "We'll worry about that if we have to," Marell said. "Now I want you to think about Red and Orange. Think about taking those colors and weaving them together, like a basket. You won't see this obviously because it all happens within you, but this approach should work."

  Kadin did as Marell had instructed, but he felt foolish. Nothing happened.

  "Now think about what you want to do," Marell said. "Produce fire."

  Kadin did so, but there was no change. He stared at the spot ahead of him, shaking his head in disappointment. "Maybe I can't do it. Maybe I'm not really a Sunweaver."

  Marell gave him a hard look. "Anyone who can cast multiple types of light is a Sunweaver, and anyone who can feel the sun like you say is a very powerful Sunweaver. You managed to do this weave before. Try to capture something about how that felt."

  Kadin thought back to that moment and tried again, thinking more about producing heat alone than producing fire. Soon the air around him warmed, but no fire appeared.

  Marell sighed. "I'm not sure how else to make this work. This is where having an actual Sunweaver to train you would help. Are you sure you want to move on with this insane plan of yours? It isn't worth the risk. Sunweaver or not, what you intend to do is a serious crime."

  "I don't care," Kadin said. "I'm doing it, and I am going to learn how to do Sunweaving, even if it takes me years. Life around here isn't so bad—for me at least."

  "Let's try another weave, then. Perhaps Red and Yellow. It produces something like a cloud or field of lightning. Useful in battle."

  Kadin thought about weaving those two colors, about creating this cloud Marell had described. After a few tense moments, a prickly sensation crept through his body, and a small spark leapt from his fingers.

  "I-I think I did something," he said. He tried to do it again, but nothing happened.

  Marell stroked his dark beard, as he often did. "I think your powers are erratic at this time. Most Sunweaver children learn a whole lot more about the theory and start trying to produce weaves from a young age. I'm afraid you're rather far behind."

  "Do you know how I can get over this problem?"

  "We'll have to keep trying," Marell said. He paced for a while, then turned to Kadin. "We can't do Red and Blue right now. We don't have any water with us. But we can do Orange and Yellow."

  'What does that do?" Kadin asked.

  "An Orange/Yellow weave detects the heat field around another person. This heat field is generated by our powers. A Suncaster produces a weak heat field. Sunweavers produce stronger ones. Firecasters and Fireweavers have dramatically stronger fields."

  "So anyone with Suncasting always produces one of these fields?" Kadin said.

  Marell scratched his head. "Not exactly. It only shows up when people are using their powers. That's why many Fireweavers live among us unnoticed." He paused. "Now let's give it a try. Think about weaving those colors and seeing my heat field. I'll be casting some Orange. Don't worry. I won't cast it at you."

  Kadin had wondered for a moment. As much as Marell had helped him, he couldn't bring himself to place complete trust in the man. How could Kadin trust anyone after growing up the way he did?

  Marell nodded to Kadin, then turned. Orange Suncasting was invisible, so Kadin had no idea if Marell was doing it. All Kadin could do was focus on the Orange/Yellow Sunweaving. It still felt foolish, but he thought about weaving those colors together within him.

  To his surprise, a field of orange appeared around Marell.

  "I think I did it!" Kadin said, jumping with excitement.

  "Now that's strange," Marell said with a smile. "Your abilities are completely unpredictable. I think you'll be very strong one day, but not yet."

  The orange field around Marell faded to a dull glow.

  "Are you still Suncasting?" Kadin asked.

  "No. Why?"

  "I can see a glow around you. It's not as bright as before, but it's there."

  Marell scratched at his beard once again. "Very interesting. I've heard of things like this. Some especially talented Orange/Yellow Sunweavers can detect a person's heat field even when that person isn't casting or weaving."

  "If people can do that," Kadin said, "then why don't they catch all the Fireweavers?"

  "We do have laws, Kadin. People can't simply go around reading other people's fields and turning them in as Fireweavers. The Fireweaver must actually use their Fireweaving. That's what earns them the death sentence."

  In truth, Kadin didn't know what to think about Fireweavers. Yes, they were supposed to be evil, but he'd never encountered any, and he liked to form his own opinion on things.

  "What's the next weave?" he asked.

  "Let's do Yellow and Blue," Marell said. "That's how you create a shield."

  "How will I test if it works?"

  Marell chewed on his lower lip. "I'll cast Orange again. Don't worry. I'll try to keep it very weak. The last time I used it, I wanted to show you how much a fairly strong Orange casting could hurt. Now that you know, I can take it easy on you."

  "All right," Kadin said, swaying on hi
s feet.

  "Think about weaving Yellow and Blue, about creating a shield."

  Kadin focused on that, but he had no idea if it was working.

  "Are you ready?" Marell asked.

  "I guess so."

  "Yes or no," Marell said. "Not I guess so."

  Kadin felt an upwelling of frustration, but he ignored it, focusing on the task. "All right. I'll try to remember that." He paused a moment, noting Marell's frown. "Yes, I'm ready."

  A moment later, the pain hit Kadin. It burned, but not as much as before. Was that because of his shield or because Marell was performing a less powerful casting? Kadin only staggered a little as waves of pain washed over him.

  "I think your shield is working," Marell said. "At least a little bit."

  "Yeah, that didn't hurt too much."

  "Let's try again. Focus on making your shield stronger. I'm going to put a little more power into my casting."

  Kadin's stomach churned. "All right. I'll try."

  He thought about weaving Yellow and Blue, about making the weave as strong as he could, ignoring how strange and useless such thoughts felt. When Marell's Orange casting hit him, the pain was stronger, so strong Kadin fell, twitching and moaning.

  Marell relented and walked over to Kadin. "I'm sorry. Are you all right?"

  Kadin groaned as he sat up. "I guess my weave wasn't strong enough."

  "You can do it, Kadin, but you need more training, more consistency. Let's move on to the next weave." Marell helped Kadin to his feet. "Green and Blue. It helps you control plants. People can use it to influence plant growth and to use plants in battle in some instances."

  Marell motioned for Kadin to follow, and they stopped at the nearest row of crops.

  "I want you to manipulate these leaves here," Marell said, gesturing to the closest plant. "Think about weaving Green and Blue and about twisting the plant to your desires."

  Kadin stared at the plants, wondering how in the core this was possible. He'd never had much opportunity to think about Sunweaving before.

  He focused on Green and Blue, on weaving them together. The more he did this, the more natural it felt. The awkwardness had passed, and now it felt like Sunweaving had always been a part of him. Strange.

  The plant in front of him began to twist. He thought about tying the leaves into a knot, and to his amazement, he did so.

  "It looks like you're pretty good at this," Marell said with a rare smile.

  "I wish I could be good at all the weaves."

  "Every Sunweaver has strengths and weaknesses," Marell said, his tone more patient than usual. Had he come to like Kadin? "I think you'll be quite strong in time."

  "Are there any other weaves?" Kadin asked, feeling more eager.

  "Only one more that I can teach you now. A Blue/Purple weave can be used to communicate over long distances, but the person you're contacting must also be a Blue/Purple Sunweaver. However, I can teach you a Yellow/Green weave. Yellow/Green weaves manipulate rocks. It's the ability you might find most useful for getting Faina out of here."

  "Could I use this weave to get through the stone fence?" Kadin asked.

  "It might be possible. When the fence was built, Yellow/Green Sunweavers used their abilities to reinforce it against such attempts, but a particularly skilled Sunweaver might be able to counteract these abilities. Over time, the stone's protections have surely weakened in spots."

  "But you aren't sure," Kadin said.

  "Unfortunately, no, but this is your best chance. Now think about weaving Yellow and Green, about manipulating the rocks in front of your feet. Try to make a small hole. That's a common thing Yellow/Green Sunweavers do."

  Kadin thought about the weave, and a low rumble began. In front of him, the rocks shifted. They didn't quite form the hole Marell had wanted, but Kadin was moving them.

  "I think that's a good start," Marell said. "But you should get back to your cabin. We've been out here a long time, and people are going to be suspicious."

  "All right," Kadin said, feeling disappointed. But he understood Marell's logic. If anyone found out what Kadin could do, they wouldn't let him stay on the plantation. He'd lose his chance to rescue Faina.

  And now he felt one big step closer. A little practice and he'd have the power to save her.

  Chapter 22: Traitors

  Deril and Tiran sat on their beds in the small room the Brotherhood had provided them. Sondir had told them they would soon see their first mission. On the one hand, Deril relished the opportunity to prove his loyalty—or his fake loyalty—and make progress on rescuing his father. On the other, he dreaded what he might have to do.

  "Don't you think they might be taking advantage of us?" Tiran asked.

  "I've considered it. They know we don't have the power to rescue my father on our own, so they know we'll do almost anything they ask. I'm scared of what I might do, to tell you the truth. Sondir's right in one way. Can we risk the world by sticking to our morals?"

  "He knows full well that we don't have to do these things," Tiran said. "He could speak a few words, and they would trust us. He's using our weak position to give himself an advantage."

  "But why would he need our help? They have plenty of people already."

  "But few as powerful as you," Tiran said. "You don't realize just how strong you are, do you? Maybe you'll never be a Sunlord, but I'd say you're more than your father's equal when it comes to Sunweaving. The Brotherhood will find a use for you."

  "Why do you always believe the worst of people?"

  "I'm a Sun Guard. That's the way I've been trained. If you treat everyone like they're some kind of suspect, you're more prepared in the case that they are."

  "Sounds depressing to me."

  There was a knock on the door, and Tiran rose to answer it. When he opened the door, Sondir stood in the doorway, flanked by two people Deril had seen only in passing. Sondir stepped into the room, motioning for the pair to follow.

  Deril's stomach twisted. Who were these people?

  "Meet Davin and Arna," Sondir said, gesturing to a dark-haired man and then to a woman with auburn hair. "You're going to be working with them."

  "You already have a mission for us?" Tiran asked.

  "Yes, a few Fireweavers affiliated with us in Illindel were recently captured. The Sun Guard is transporting them here to Hyrandel for execution. It's your job to rescue them."

  Tiran narrowed his eyes. "And how're we going to do that without bloodshed?"

  "As I said, you might not find it easy to stick to such lofty morals. I understand you might be reluctant to harm your fellow Sunweavers, but you have to remind yourself that these people are persecuting Fireweavers for a simple accident of birth. Can you let that continue?"

  Deril put a hand on Tiran's shoulder. "Rorik, I know it's hard, but we have to make hard choices if we're going to stand up for what's right."

  Tiran gave an almost imperceptible nod of understanding. Deril wished he could believe what he'd said.

  "You're right, Zalin," Tiran said. "But I've never killed anyone before. I hope it won't come to that."

  Arna's gaze was cold. "It probably will. This is a war, whether anyone admits it or not."

  "We don't go out with the aim of killing anyone," Davin said. "But sometimes it happens. The important thing is that we're saving good people who've done nothing wrong."

  Deril wanted to believe that, but a lifetime of beliefs was hard to erase. Though a part of him believed the Fireweaver version of the scriptures, another part rebelled at the very thought. In the end, it didn't matter. He was doing this to save his father.

  He could deal with the other issues later.

  "We're ready for this mission," he said, faking confidence he didn't feel.

  "Good. Davin and Arna will provide the details."

  Sondir strode out of the chamber and closed the door. An awkward silence fell, during which Deril tried to keep his suspicions off his face.

  "So what are the details?" he
asked. Did he sound too eager?

  Arna leaned against the small room's stone wall. Her gaze remained cold. "A small caravan containing the Fireweaver prisoners is heading north from Illindel along the main road. It is our job to intercept this caravan and free the prisoners. Not a whole lot to it."

  "Well, it's not quite that simple," Davin said, wrapping an arm around Arna's shoulders in a way that said they were more than friends. "Arna likes to make things sound that way. In truth, we'll have to do some planning. Since we have a history of freeing prisoners in these situations, the caravan will be heavily guarded. We can't free the prisoners through a battle. We don't have the numbers, and we don't want too much bloodshed."

  Arna barked a laugh. "I wouldn't mind a little."

  Deril took a strong disliking to Arna. Why had Sondir made them work with someone who had no regard for the lives of Sun Guards? Was he trying to test how much Deril and Tiran were willing to do for the cause?

  Perhaps Tiran was right. It was best to be suspicious of everyone.

  "All right," Deril said, disguising his true feelings and praying he was a better actor than he'd been a few days back with Captain Hanir. "What's the plan? How're we freeing them?"

  Davin cleared his throat. "Sondir told us you could both weave Yellow and Green."

  "That's true," Tiran said. "In fact, Zalin is one of the best in the world."

  "Good," Davin said. "That will make our plan go more smoothly. If we work ahead of time, we can prepare a strong Yellow/Green weave that should halt the caravan's progress. While the Sun Guards are investigating that disturbance, we'll free the prisoners."

  "You sure this will work?" Tiran asked. "It sounds like a standard practice of Fireweaver bandits. I know people in the Sun Guard. They'll be prepared for it."

  "It's a standard practice because it works," Arna said. "Two of us will remain ahead of the caravan, ready for the Sun Guards who come to investigate. The other two—and I think that should be the two of you—will be waiting behind the caravan. You'll rush forward to free the prisoners. A few Sun Guards will likely remain with them, shielding them."