First Comes The One Who Wanders

by Lynette S. Jones

  “We’ll have to remedy that in the future, Joshuas. You’re always welcome here.” Turning he addressed Leilas. “It’s good to see you again, Chidra. It seems you have much to tell us, and perhaps we can help you with something.”

  Leilas let her hand drop to her tunic. Despite everything they’d been through, the book was still there. “Yes, I hope you can,” replied Leilas, dropping her hand.

  “Then we’ll await you in the council chamber.” He paused at the door. “I’m afraid it’s a bit worse for wear. But, it still serves its purpose.

  Leilas remembered the mural from Crysalis, Master Frey talking to the council in the ruins of the council chambers. She wondered whose vision had been painstakingly portrayed on the walls of that cavern and why?

  “Someone will bring food shortly. In the meantime, you may use that room to freshen up.” Cedric Manchu pointed to the door next to where he was standing.

  “One more thing,” Leilas spoke to the master of the council. “This cloak, insignia and these weapons–, they belong to a crafter who’s dead. Can you have someone prepare them for the family?”

  The master looked at the weapons and then the insignia. A look of sadness passed over his face. “That will be done. Leave them in the room, someone will come for them.” He paused for a moment. “Barrett Styphan was a good man. He’ll be missed.”

  “I’m sorry to have to tell you this way.” Leilas remembered her manners at last. “I should have realized you knew him.”

  “You’ve had many challenges that needed your attention, and much on your mind,” Cedric Manchu excused her. “It’s understandable that you might not follow all the customs.”

  Leilas felt more chastised than forgiven. During all the lessons Solein had given her in Neothera, he’d never belittled her or made her feel inadequate. What was it about Dirth and the school that always ended up making her feel as though she was wanting in some regard?

  Erion stepped closer to her. “The Chidra has followed all the customs and traditions in helping those passing from life to death. I’m sure she helped Barrett Styphan in the same way. This is what’s important.”

  A brief smile passed Leilas’ lips and she felt a load lifted from her shoulders. It felt good to have someone defend her. Cedric Manchu looked from Erion to Leilas then nodded his acknowledgment of Erion’s statement. “The council will be waiting for you, when you’re ready.” With that last statement, he opened the door and stepped through, leaving them alone in the main hall.

  “Thank you,” whispered Leilas to Erion. “No one has ever stood up for me before.”

  “Something we’ll have to remedy in the future. For good or ill, I’m your companion until you’ve completed what it is you must do.”

  “And me,” added Joshuas. “So, we’ll be three against whatever we must face.

  Leilas bowed to both of them in turn. “I’m honored to have you accompany me. One could ask for no better companions.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Leilas unclasped the cloak and folded it, then laid it on a chair that stood near the washbasin, the crest pinned to the collar. Slowly, she removed the axe and laid it on the cloak. It had been a good weapon for her and saved her on more than one occasion. She would be sorry to lose it, but it had to go back to where it belonged, to serve as a reminder of Master Barrett Styphan. Unbuckling the sword, she stood it next to the chair. She hadn’t had the weapons long. Still, she felt naked and unprotected without them.

  The room where they’d taken her was spartan. It had a bed, a desk, a chair and a washbasin. There were pegs on the wall to hold clothes. These had been designed to be temporary quarters. The quarters in the east turret had been supplied with more comfort in mind. This would do though, thought Leilas. She’d spent the night in worse places. She thought of Rengailai’s dungeon as she unlaced her tunic and pulled it over her head. Laying it out on the bed, her boots and breeches followed. The water jug and basin were a far cry from the bathtub Marlette had provided.

  Taking the flannel next to the basin, she dipped it in the water and began to wash. The soap was scented with lavender and soothed her tired muscles. When she’d finished washing, she leaned over and washed her hair as best she could. Then, she took the cloth to her clothes. The cloth of the tunic was fine satin and had resisted most of the dirt and blood. When she finished, she was satisfied she would be presentable for the council meeting.

  Reattaching her short sword to her belt, she tied her hair back with a piece of leather. Hoping she looked somewhat presentable, she stepped back into the main hall. Erion and Joshuas were there waiting for her. Food had been placed on the wooden table near the fire pit. Sitting, they began to eat the simple meal of bread, cheese and wine in silence. Leilas stole furtive glances at Joshuas. This was the first time she’d seen him when he wasn’t covered in grime and dust. His dark, shoulder-length hair was pulled back and tied at the neck with a leather strap. His beard had been trimmed and combed. He was broad through the chest, with hips that narrowed. He’d shed his cloak, as well, but wore his insignia on his tunic collar, silver for wanderer, gold for master. Leilas’ fingers slipped to her bare collar. Catching herself, she put her hand back in her lap and continued eating. Joshuas wore a white tunic with blue stitching and black breeches and boots. When he smiled, it lightened up his usually stern expression. Erion seemed to have a knack for making him smile. Usually, he just frowned at her. Leilas took a bite of bread and cheese, washing it down with wine.

  The men finished before her and began talking quietly while she ate, puffing on pipes that had mysteriously appeared. She let her mind drift away from the present moment into deep thought. Then she was at the Chasm of Ceryk again. The voices of the lost souls were ringing in her ears. A voice she recognized as Rengailai’s was laughing. But this time, the more she tried to concentrate on the vision, the more it eluded her. Then, she was back with Erion and Joshuas, trying to understand what that vision meant and why she’d seen it.

  “You about done, slowpoke?” teased Joshuas. “It’s not polite to keep the masters waiting too long.”

  Leilas looked down at her plate and then up at Joshuas, trying to get her bearings. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she answered, swigging down the last of the wine in her goblet. Pushing herself out of her chair, she swept her hand toward a door. “Lead on.”

  Joshuas gave her an assessing stare. “Are you okay? You didn’t drink too much wine, did you? It wouldn’t do to appear before the masters drunk, either.”

  “They are not my masters,” said Leilas a bit sharply. “I’ll appear before them as myself and not as someone I’m pretending to be. I’m not drunk. I just had an odd experience. I’ll be fine.”

  “What kind of experience?” probed Joshuas, leading them to a staircase.

  “A private kind,” retorted Leilas.

  Joshuas held his hands up in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. You don’t have to bite my head off. What happened to the nice woman we were with when we came here?”

  “She’s still here,” replied Leilas, “just a little nervous.”

  “Rightly so,” interjected Erion. “These are very powerful men who have many questions about you. They could become strong enemies given provocation.”

  “Leilas isn’t going to provoke the masters, right?” Joshuas turned the question to Leilas.

  “Not intentionally,” she replied. “But I do have a knack for finding trouble.” Joshuas just groaned and led them up the staircase that opened into the council chamber.

  The chamber matched the mural in the cavern of Crysalis. The only person missing was Gidron Frey. But then, the mural had been about events that had already happened. All twelve masters had come to this meeting. Circle complete, they were waiting patiently for their guests. There were no other masters or students here today. Leilas swallowed hard and tried to calm her nerves. She hadn’t been this nervous facing Rengailai. What was it about these light masters that made her squirm?

  “You’ve lear
ned to shield your thoughts since the last time you were here, Leilas.” Master Manchu broke the silence. “As well as many other things I’m sure. Come forward, all of you, into our circle. Welcome to our council.”

  Joshuas led the way, Erion followed and Leilas brought up the rear. There were chairs placed in the middle of the circle for them. After bowing to the council, Joshuas took his seat. Leilas and Erion followed his lead, bowing and then finding a chair.

  Cedric Manchu took his time and assessed each of them before he spoke. “We haven’t been as diligent as we should have been in guarding the balance. Also, despite our efforts to keep Gidron Frey from going to the School of Land, he went and what we feared would happen appears to have happened. He went to find a certain book, a book I believe you have in your possession Leilas.” Joshuas looked at her in surprise. “What he found was the Book of Rengailai and it has already corrupted his mind. We’d seen hints of these events in the mists, but chose to believe Gidron wouldn’t choose to pick up the Book of Rengailai when he came across it in the library. Perhaps he was already under some evil influence.” Cedric paused. “Why else would he destroy the library so wantonly?” He stopped talking briefly, reflecting on his own question. “So, events that had been prophesied are beginning to happen, despite our efforts to change the course of the future. Perhaps we were fools to think we could.”

  The masters sat silent as did the three in the middle. Leilas found herself thinking of the masters differently than she had in the past. Before, she’d thought of them as perfect men, who never made mistakes, who always knew the right course and took it. Now, she saw them for what they were, wise men who used their knowledge as best as they could at the time, just like she did the best she could at the time. Still, she made mistakes and sometimes she acted without knowing all the facts. It seemed that was true of the masters of Sky, as well. Some of her apprehension and nervousness faded at this insight.

  “The Book of Rengailai has been taken in the name of Light crafters, the library destroyed. So much knowledge lost.” Cedric sighed. “The Land crafters have amassed an army and are moving to meet crafters from Andresia, men from Crogmanland, and crafters from the School of Fire. We can assume from the prophecies and from news we’ve received from our guild affiliates that war is imminent. Word has been sent to our allies, warning them. Duke Cheran is in the process of assembling our forces.”

  “Duke Cheran,” Leilas mused aloud. “A warrior, but not the one I’m seeking.”

  Joshuas breathed a sigh of relief at her statement. Master Manchu nodded his agreement. “We never believed the Chodra was Adrian Cheran. He’s a good man, but the prophecies point in a different direction.” Cedric gave Joshuas a sideways glance and continued. “When we heard of your vision, we thought perhaps you took him as your lover and that was why you used the term Chodra. The word also means betrothed, your chosen one.”

  Leilas looked up at him in surprise. She did know the other meanings of the word. It hadn’t occurred to her she might have been using it that way in her vision. Perhaps because since she’d met Joshuas, she’d been thinking of him as her beloved. Would she abandon that belief and turn to someone else for love? It didn’t seem possible, but many things hadn’t seemed possible just a few weeks ago.

  A month ago, she’d believed she would never be a warrior. Now, fighting was almost second nature to her. Last month, she was going to be a Sky master. This month she was Chidra and would never take the oath of a Sky master. She hadn’t met Solein, or even heard of him. Now, he was her true teacher and Neothera her true home. She’d lived hundreds of years with him in his universe. A month ago, she’d been a child on the brink of adulthood. Now, she was a seasoned veteran. “I suppose that’s a possibility,” agreed Leilas. “Or perhaps I misread what I saw in the vision.”

  “The other possibility is that the vision was bent by Master Frey’s will,” remarked Master Ren Narwhal. He may have already been twisting his truth to match what he wanted it to be.” There were murmurs of agreement from the other masters. Leilas had to agree that could be a possibility as well. “Have you had any other visions that include Duke Cheran?” asked Ren.

  “No, nothing that had to do with the Duke,” replied Leilas.

  “But you have had visions?” asked Cedric.

  “Yes, several,” Leilas didn’t elaborate further on her disturbing visions. She wasn’t comfortable with the idea of sharing them with the Sky masters.

  “If you’d like our help interpreting them, Master Hallan could help. He can also help you with the book that you found. He’s our most experienced crafter in rune interpretation?”

  A thin master with a sallow face nodded in acquiescence. “If you wish, I’ll find you tomorrow and we can study the book together,” he addressed Leilas in a high, harsh voice.

  “I’d appreciate your help with the book. I think that it’s important to find out what it says.”

  “As do we,” agreed Cedric. “Now, where were we?” Cedric closed his eyes and tried to regain his train of thought.

  “Gathering forces for war and prophecies,” offered Erion in his musical voice.

  “Yes, yes that’s it,” agreed Cedric. “There are some other factions we need to take into account in this war. The last war involved only crafters. This war will include all the people and creatures of Preterlandis, including the United Guild of Scribes.”

  “Terlan and Mandrak,” growled Joshuas.

  “Yes, they’re very intent on gaining power in this war. The scribes have never been happy with the treaty Greyan and Darrus made. Leaving the rule of Preterlandis to humans always struck them as foolish.”

  “There are others, besides the scribes, who agreed with that assessment,” remarked Joshuas under his breath.

  “So there were, Joshuas. But we all agreed to abide by the treaty after it was made, yourself as well.”

  “So we did,” agreed Joshuas, wearily. “And many of us knew as soon as the treaty was signed that this day would come.”

  “Teran has amassed quite a force within the guilds of scribes. It’s whispered that he has an evil crafter under his control, one who is very strong. Rumor has it, it’s Jayram.”

  Leilas’ head jerked up at the mention of the dark crafter’s name. She’d felt his strength. He’d be a formidable enemy. “These prophecies,” began Leilas. “What are they about and how does it affect me?”

  “Ah, I wondered if you’d ask,” replied Cedric. “The prophecy is about the balance. Master Greyan wrote it after the treaty was signed.”

  “First the one who wanders the earth, the depths and the heights, who holds the balance between light and dark.

  Second will come one who seeks the words of power to undo what has been done.

  Then will come a warrior, to reunite a people and a land.

  Still, the way forward is not clear.

  For all must choose the way in which they will walk, light or dark –

  And no one can know how they will choose.”

  Pausing for a breath, Cedric Manchu continued.

  “Chidra the chosen and the one to choose. Balance is within her being. Hers is the gift of giving.

  Chodra, the one chosen. Balance is within his being. He will reunite a land and a people.

  The seeker shall find and be found. And peace will reign.”

  Cedric stopped quoting the prophecy. “Many masters have studied these words and many have interpreted their meaning.”

  “Yes, I’ve seen some of the interpretations,” remarked Leilas, “though I hadn’t heard the entire prophecy. Some say that when the Chidra appears, the beginning of the battle between the Creator and Rengailai will be at hand. The Chidra is supposed to choose the warrior who will fight Rengailai. There’s only one problem with that interpretation.”

  “And what is that?” asked Master Hallan with interest. “That has been the interpretation for a thousand years.”

  “I’ve heard a story about the creation of the Chasm of Ceryk
. Have you heard this tale?” The masters shook their heads. Leilas was surprised that she alone knew about Rengailai, but continued. “In this story, it says the battle will be between the Creator Jovan and the Dark Lord Dredrac. The battle will be led by Rengailai on the dark side and by the light crafters who were with Jovan in the beginning on the light side. In other words, Anhj, Sylph, Crog and Solein. The battle won’t be led by a warrior the Chidra chooses.”

  “I see. This does give one something to think about,” said Master Hallan. “Where did you hear this story?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. If you can trust me, it was from a very reliable person. Someone I trust with my life and have on several occasions.”

  Joshuas looked askance at her but refrained from saying anything. “Ah, more to consider,” replied master Hallan. “Perhaps we can find this tale written somewhere in the archives.”

  “Maybe so,” agreed Leilas. “What I’m saying is, this prophecy must be about something besides the fight between Rengailai and the Creator.”

  “What do you think it’s about?” asked Joshuas.

  “I don’t know,” admitted Leilas. “There will be a warrior. Perhaps it’s as simple as the prophecy suggests. He is supposed to reunite Preterlandis.”

  “Preterlandis hasn’t been united for hundreds of years. It would take winning the Amulet of Ley to reunite the countries of Preterlandis again,” said Cedric, shaking his head. “I find it difficult to believe this is what the prophecy means.”

  Leilas could hear other masters gently disagreeing with him in her mind, but they agreed to discuss it at a later time. She’d never heard of the Amulet of Ley, nor did she understand its significance. She also doubted that the masters would share that information with her. She could feel their reluctance to share too much with her. For a reason she didn’t understand, they weren’t willing to take her fully into their confidence.

  “And the seeker?” Joshuas drew her attention back to the conversation in the council chamber. “The seeker becomes a mystery.” Joshuas sighed. “It all becomes a mystery again and all those years of study were just a waste of time.”