“Yes, sir.”
“I see.” He paused. “Alayne, I do think it's possible that your ring is showing you clips of a likely future.”
“But how can that be possible, sir?” Alayne interrupted. “Jayme was in nearly all of them.”
Manders studied the symbol he had drawn, deep in thought. “Have you—I wonder—Alayne,” he uncharacteristically tripped over his words, “Chairman Sprynge was in charge of mopping up after last year's fiasco with the mountain range. You were aware, or course, that the Last Order has come to the conclusion that Sprynge may not be someone who can be altogether trusted.”
Panic and hope and terror and wild delight spilled from the edges of Alayne's consciousness. “Sir, are you saying that—that...”
“I don't want to get your hopes up, Alayne, so do try to keep yourself contained.” He tapped the end of his pencil on the piece of paper. “But if the ring is indeed showing you clips of a possible future, then I would also conclude that there is a possibility that Jayme somehow managed to escape death, to escape Sprynge's clean-up efforts, to escape all of it.”
“But—but I saw him. I saw the knife... and—and a two-hundred foot drop. How would he have survived something like that? How could he?” Her fluttering hope dropped from its incredible height to plunge her deep into despondency. “And, if he were still alive,” she paused, the more pressing question unable to hide behind closed lips, “why wouldn't he have come back?”
Manders shook his head. “I don't know the answers, Alayne, but time will eventually tell. If those visions you've had are indeed of the future, and the people in them not much older than what you see now, some of those things may begin to happen. The thing to remember is that the future is not fixed; even the tiniest event now can effect large changes in future outcomes. You may be seeing a future that is possible now, but that same future may become impossible with a single seemingly inconsequential decision.” He looked gravely at his drawing. “We'll get our answers, Alayne, and they'll probably be answers we don't want to see. This is the Ring of Three.”
Alayne glanced down at where Manders's pencil was pointing. “The drawing, sir?”
“The objective. Elemental Alliance's objective. I was pulling together some research, and it hit me. The Elemental Alliance's objective is to take down the Natural Human race and set up a race of only Elementals, correct?” He glanced over his shoulder again and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Frederick Connel was killed not long ago, but before he died, I managed a visit with him in his chambers. Skies, Alayne!” He looked thunderstruck. “I wonder if that's why he died? If I brought suspicion on him. There was one person who may have seen something...” His voice trailed off, his cheeks tinged with gray. He raised wide eyes to Alayne's, horror blanching his expression.
Alayne watched him, eyebrows raised.
With an effort, he seemed to refocus, shaking his head. “You—no, I—need proof for—never mind. I'll talk to you about that later. What I'm trying to say is that Fred Connel gave me something to think about the last time I saw him. In his High Court session with the rest of the Justices, he heard some whispering about a circle with three components. There were references to the High Court, to Andova, and to Clayborne.”
He swallowed and stood hastily, linking his hands behind his back and pacing the worn carpet. “Alayne,” he whispered feverishly, “Andova replaced their chairman with Malachi just before Christmas. Fred Connel was killed a few weeks ago, and he was the last Justice who kept the Elemental Alliance from obtaining the majority in the High Court. Now the EA can put teeth into any laws they make because they can carry the EA's agenda into law. Public sentiment has already swayed their way. The Continental Guard is behind them, too, with Shane Beckyr as their General. And Sprynge,” he snapped his fingers, pausing mid-walk. He seemed to have forgotten that she was there. “We don't know for sure about Sprynge, but we have enough information to suspect him. Do you see, Alayne? Those are the three components! When all three are united, that's when the Ring of Three will be complete.”
“Why those three, though, Professor? Specifically, why Andova, Clayborne, and the High Court?”
“Those are the three central powers, Alayne.” Manders began pacing again. He paused and looked up at her. “The High Court makes the laws, yes, but Andova and Clayborne are the only two training facilities on the Continent. They are the only two facilities to turn out Elementals. They're factories, if you see what I mean, Alayne.”
Alayne wasn't sure she did, and it must have showed on her face.
Manders returned to his seat. He leaned forward, intensity blazing from his gray eyes as he explained his idea. “The Elemental Alliance has effected a complete coup. The first laws they pass will give them freedom to begin tracking down and destroying Naturals, under law. Already, Naturals no longer have rights as citizens of this Continent. Now that the Elemental Alliance has gained the majority, they will create laws that make it legal to destroy Natural Humans. Right now, they've been toe-ing the line and doing a superb job of winning the public's sympathy. Now that they’ve removed the last obstacle in the High Court, they’ll be able to do anything they want. They have Andova already. Clayborne was the last resistance. The only resistance. But now, with Simeon Malachi and Sprynge on the side of the EA, there is no more opposition.”
All the pieces began to fall into place when Manders laid it out. She stared at the professor, her mental cogs churning. She nodded slowly. “I see.” She paused. “Will anything stop the EA from passing anti-Natural laws?”
Manders shook his head. “Nothing but a little bit of time stands as an obstacle. The first High Court session convenes in a few weeks at the beginning of summer. You can be sure that there will be a motion that condones the eradication of Naturals on the docket.”
Alayne fingered her braid. At the end of the school year, it would be legal to hunt down and destroy Naturals. Manders would have to tell her where her parents were so she could set up some form of defense for them. She cleared her throat. “But sir, we students have a mind of our own, too. We can't be led around by our noses. If the EA infiltrates the schools, tries to take over, they—we can stand up to them. It's the whole reason for the—the speed-dating club.” She couldn't help tacking on one final word. “Right?”
The flash of approval in Manders's gray eyes sent any remaining doubts fleeing from her mind. “That, my dear Alayne,” he said as he sat back, “is exactly what I'm counting on.”
Chapter 18
With Manders's warnings weighing down her mind, Alayne threw herself into organizing Clayborne's Last Order student chapter with a vengeance. It became more apparent that several of the students had come initially to gain a closer glimpse of the Quadriweave. Some dropped out, but others arrived to replace them.
Alayne still lived in constant fear that news of the meetings would leak, but Marysa threw her mental powers into creating more safeguards. Now students, whether current or former members of the speed-dating club, were required to wear simple bracelets that did not come off without leaving a burning brand on their wrists, results of a clever element twist and a notched bend from Marysa. As long as the bracelets stayed on, there was no pain.
“These will burn hot and fast, though,” Marysa warned as she placed them on the arms of the students, “if you mention any of the keywords I've put on the chart.”
“I thought that was what the chart was for,” one of the students protested.
“The chart is to let me know if you've cheated. The bracelets are so everyone else knows, too. Also,” Marysa added grimly, “they're so you remember never to do it again. I told you this is important. You certainly didn't have to come in the first place. You certainly don't have to return. But you will keep it secret.”
Alayne hated the intimidation in the fear tactics, but she also realized the importance of no leaks, so she said nothing as Marysa and Rachyl continued to brainstorm security. In the meantime, Alayne tried to keep the practice sess
ions short as stuffy rooms and cramped quarters made everyone irritable.
Kyle didn't walk her to classes anymore. He still sat with Alayne, Marysa, Daymon, and occasionally Rachyl during their classes, but at lunchtime, he usually found a different table. Alayne couldn't help but feel hurt. She'd grown accustomed to being one of the most important people in Kyle's life. When he ignored her, Alayne realized the rather selfish view she'd taken. She found she didn't like the fact that he got along fine without her. She knew she should be happy for him; he seemed to be adjusting well. Wasn't this what she'd wanted, to see him free of the pain that came from an unrequited flame? Even so, no one liked to be forgotten too easily.
Marysa sensed this and was careful not to tread on raw emotions. She made no more mention of her dislike for Kyle, and Alayne worked to remove the selfish barb from her soul. Kyle was her friend, and she had no business wishing him anything but happiness. Besides, since Manders had suggested even the merest possibility that Jayme might somehow, somewhere, still be living, a tenuous, elusive hope flickered at the edges of her consciousness. It made no sense; the possibility of that being the case was nearly non-existent, and yet, she refused to let go of the hope.
In a small way, Alayne's break-up with Kyle had smoothed the pathway for Jayme's return, if such a return should happen. Which, of course, it wouldn't. Jayme was dead, and that was all there was to it.
But he's not dead to you. Kyle's words drifted through her head.
Alayne set her teeth, glaring at the history assignment in front of her, struggling to close out those thoughts and turn her attention back to Professor Manders's uninteresting exposition on Elementals in the third century. She glanced around, surprised to realize class was over, and most of her classmates were gathering their belongings.
“Miss Worth?”
“Yes?” She glanced up at Manders as he approached her desk.
“I need to speak with you again regarding your water-current history.”
Ah. The code he had set up to let her know they would have another session down in the tunnels.
“Yes, sir. Same time?”
He nodded and turned his attention to collecting some of the papers on the tables. Alayne pushed her books into her bag and stood. Kyle walked out of the room far ahead of her.
If Jayme were still alive, how would she even begin to search for him?
* * *
Alayne had become adept at sneaking through the common room to the chute and stealing around the base of the spire to meet Professor Manders by the back hedge. He was always there before her, having checked the tunnels to be sure Sprynge was nowhere to be found; then he would unlock the door for her and lead her down to his underground office.
Their sessions had started once every two or three weeks, but as time passed and the EA had gained their majority in the High Court, Manders increased the urgency of the sessions, seeming determined to teach Alayne as much as he could before the High Court convened at the end of the school year. They now met at least once a week. They had continued practicing more awareness of the elements, but this night as Manders closed the door behind Alayne, he motioned her to sit down.
“I've been working on setting up some simulations.”
Alayne's eyebrows arched. “Oh?”
Manders paced to his desk and leaned against it, steepling his fingers together. “Alayne, the High Court released their docket of cases for the spring and summer session. The first case on that docket is, as I expected, a motion to begin the “cleansing” of society. There is lots of language that will go into that law, but the general gist is that Naturals will become legal targets for the Elemental Alliance to kill. Since Fred Connel was the last peg of resistance to the Elemental Alliance's majority in the High Court, it's not likely that the ruling will take long. When it happens, Alayne, you can be sure they'll be coming after you.”
Alayne blinked at Manders. “You mean, like they weren't before?”
“They were before, Alayne, but because they hadn't a majority yet, they couldn't legally take you unless you went of your own accord for questioning. What Pence did to you the night she found you outside in the field was highly dangerous, illegal, and probably would have gotten her disbarred. She didn't maintain strict rigidity to the Elemental Alliance's rules, and as a result, has been punished.”
Alayne snorted. “The EA doesn't strike me as a law-abiding group. Why would they have punished Pence for stepping outside the lines?”
Manders nodded. “They've been terrified of losing the public support that they gained after the shooting. For Pence to do a highly illegal thing that involved possible harm to a student—the EA could have seen that support go up in smoke. The High Court EA members were furious when they discovered what Pence had planned.”
Alayne thought back to Sprynge's speech the morning after the mountain lion's attack and the flood of embarrassment that had colored the professor's scarred cheeks. Pence still glared at Alayne when she exited the Throw-Casting classroom, but the professor no longer spoke to her at all.
“Has she, even once, addressed you in class, called you up, humiliated you again since that time?”
Alayne sagged against the back of her chair. “No, but—”
“You can be sure, then, that her superiors tightened their reins. Until the High Court convenes this spring and passes a law that grants the Elemental Alliance unprecedented powers, you can't be touched at risk of losing their support base. Once that law is passed, though, it doesn't matter how much or how little support they receive. Once that law is passed...”
Alayne shot a wry smile at Manders. “The Guardians will be busy?”
“Oh, yes. Well,” Manders amended hastily, “with the EA in full control of the High Court, all their pet political causes will have immediate and complete support. They’ll pass the act allowing the NRCs to begin eliminating the extradited Naturals. But worse, they might pass legislation allowing them to do the same to mixed race offspring. That’s you, Alayne.”
Anger shot through Alayne. She eyed the professor. “Even if they rule in favor of destroying only Naturals, you can be sure I'm going after my parents, and I will, literally in this case, move heaven and earth to keep them safe.”
“I know.” Manders sighed. “And it's right that you should. Which is why, Alayne,” he motioned her forward to stand in the center of the room, “we'll be doing some simulations today. Lots of unknown situations ahead. Best to be prepared.”
Manders positioned Alayne exactly in the middle of his square of carpet and instructed her to close her eyes.
Alayne hesitated. “Sir, can I ask you a question?”
“Ask away, Alayne.”
“If the EA wants the Vale so badly because it will make them the master of the elements, basically unstoppable, why am I not unstoppable right now?” She blushed as soon as the words left her lips. She didn't want him to think she wanted raw power.
Manders rubbed his neatly trimmed goatee as he pondered her question. “I would guess because you and the Alliance have two different objectives. Your goal, Alayne, is not CommonEarth domination, certainly not the eradication of an entire race of people. I think the only reason why you aren't 'unstoppable', as you put it, is because, deep down, you don't want to give the Vale that much control.”
Alayne dropped her gaze to the floor. His words soothed her, but did not erase the shadow of worry that had been nibbling on the edges of her subconscious since the first time she'd felt powerless against the Vale's takeover of her control.
“But—what if the Vale grows stronger in spite of what I want?” She glanced back up at him.
“Do you mean that the Vale sometimes tries to make you do things you don't want to do?”
“Well, not—not in so many words. It's like impulses that I don't think are mine. Feelings. Ideas. Right now, I can overrule them. But the urges have gotten stronger, and I wonder if there will be a time when I won't be able to resist.”
Fleeting worry cre
ased his brow, but he smoothed his expression immediately. “You're strong, Alayne. Stronger than most students—most people—I've ever known. Should the time ever come when you and the Vale clash, well, we'll worry about that then. Meanwhile, keep using your natural good sense. Your Guardians are here to help all that we can.” He squeezed her shoulder gently.
Alayne twisted the end of her braid around her fingers. That was it, wasn't it? The Vale was hers, hers alone, and no matter how much support she had from the Guardians, she alone would be the one to struggle against it until it either possessed her, or she possessed it.
“Alayne, are you ready? Could you close your eyes, please?”
Alayne obediently slid her eyelids shut. “You do realize, sir, that it's just after one in the morning. I'm liable to fall asleep on you.”
Manders chuckled. “Oh, I doubt it. Please open your eyes.”
Alayne did as he instructed and gulped in an involuntary gasp. The sun, blazing a brilliant orange, shimmered in her sight just above the horizon where the sea met the sky. The water stretched out to the edge of the earth, undulating in purples, grays, and greens as swells and pockets moved across the liquid surface. Alayne's feet rested on a wooden platform; it was wet from salt spray, and slippery. The ocean swells rose up and over it, rushing around Alayne's legs. She nearly lost her balance.
“Manders? Where are you?” she cried desperately. She shifted her feet to give her more stability and looked all around her. Ocean as far as she could see in every direction. Her platform stood stable in the middle of the vast expanse. Another swell washed around her platform.
“Use your elemental senses, Alayne.” Manders's voice spoke from the air in front of her, but she couldn't see him. “We've practiced this. You know what is coming.”
“What's coming?” She tried to lock in to her senses, but the slippery boards and the swells of water distracted her. The next thing that happened probably would have been less surprising if she hadn't already had her attention on those two things.
Shadows of Uprising (Guardian of the Vale Book 2) Page 21
