by Traci Loudin
“Enough,” Dalan said. “Has a necklace, which makes him one of us.”
“He may be a danger to us—”
“Nyr, if he’s telling the truth, tying him up won’t help.”
No one spoke, and Caetl kept his thoughts to himself.
Someone rolled him over on his side. When they sliced the rope away from his forearms, the pain somehow worsened, and Caetl wept again. Hands rolled him gently onto his back, his arms to either side.
“Whether you are one of us or not, it is not advisable for you to do anything stupid.” Ti’rros’s voice seemed far away, so Caetl assumed Dalan had cut him free.
When Dalan came back into view, his face had lost its feathers. “Sorry for this, but you’ll thank me later.”
The boy stared at Caetl as though trying to visually determine if he told the truth. His fingers prodded Caetl’s shoulders, making him yelp. Without warning, Dalan lifted Caetl’s right arm and wrenched it across his body.
Caetl’s world flashed to brilliant, all-encompassing white. Then everything went black.
Chapter 20
Dalan, Nyr, and Ti’rros stood over the mystic’s unconscious form amid the trampled-down grasses. Dalan fought to remain between melds in spite of intense thirst.
“Tough to get him to answer any more questions if he’s unconscious,” Nyr grumbled.
Dalan concentrated on making his vocal cords shape human words. “You did this to him.”
“It does not matter now,” Ti’rros said. “We need to find the Wizard he spoke of.”
Nyr raised an eyebrow. “Which brings us back to my original point.”
“We should continue in the direction from which he came,” Ti’rros elaborated. “He said the Wizard sent him, and he came from the east.”
“Searchtown’s to the east.” Nyr rummaged through the horses’ saddlebags.
Having decided to figure out the necklaces’ secrets before returning home, Dalan agreed with Nyr’s logic. Maybe the Advisor knew more than she’d let on. He bent to lift the mystic. “Help me get him to a horse.”
The Joey stooped down on her backwards knees and lifted the big man’s legs. Dalan tried to support his upper body without wrenching the mystic’s shoulder back out of place as they heaved him up onto the back of his horse. The animal continued grazing as though nothing unexpected had happened, and Ti’rros bound the mystic to the saddle with his own rope.
“Here.” Nyr tossed Dalan a jug she’d taken from one of the saddlebags.
He uncorked it, sniffed to confirm it was water, and then took a long draught. All the exertion, combined with trying to stay between melds, burned his energy and made him thirstier than ever. If Nyr had noticed, it must be obvious.
Ti’rros eyed the horses as Nyr put a foot into a stirrup and launched herself up.
“Do you ride, Joey?” Nyr glanced down at the two of them. “I assume Dalan’s going to fly.”
“Yes,” he said, turning his back to the west. He’d been so close to home. He glanced up at Saquey, wishing he knew which images might suffice as an apology. He wasn’t the only one who wanted to go home.
“It’s not necessary…” Ti’rros said, her gravity-defying hair waving against the breeze. “I can travel as fast as a horse over land this flat.”
“Will help save your strength,” Dalan said. The Joey gave him a sidelong look, but as always, he found it impossible to decipher.
Nyr chuckled. “What she means to say is, ‘Says the boy who’s wasting his energy on a meld’.”
“Is different,” he huffed. “Refuse to let whoever’s behind the necklace talk in my head anymore. Your choice, Ti’rros.”
“Idiot boy,” Nyr said. “The voice hasn’t spoken since this supposed mystic appeared.”
Dalan shrank, but before he fully transmelded into the hawk, he said, “Don’t care about your suspicions. The mystic tells the truth. Is not the voice behind the necklaces.”
He flapped back up to a respectable altitude. Nyr yanked the reins of the mystic’s horse and said, “You know what’s really ironic, Joey? The stupid mystic said he couldn’t believe Dalan’s kind exists.”
She had a point. Dalan had believed mystics nothing more than legend. When the first tendril of thought had brushed Dalan’s mind, he’d expected to see someone from his tribe. Once he flew closer and saw him in human form, Dalan quickly realized otherwise, as no one from the Omdecu Tribe could share thoughts from birth form.
Nyr kicked her horse into a trot, traveling in the direction the mystic had come from, and Ti’rros followed on foot. Nyr brought the horses to a halt as night fell on the borderlands. Before Dalan could suggest it, Saquey buzzed away to do a perimeter check.
Ti’rros untied the mystic without waiting for Nyr’s go-ahead. She wrestled the large man to the ground, and Nyr bound his wrists back together. Letting out a squawk, Dalan swooped to the ground beside him.
Seeming to understand his consternation, Nyr growled, “Even a mystic can stick a blade in our ribs.” She pulled some food from her pack. “I’ll take first watch, Ti’rros you take second, and Dalan, you can take third so you don’t have to waste your meld.”
Dalan was surprised by her magnanimity and dipped his beak in gratitude.
“He says thanks,” the mystic croaked, startling all three of them.
Dalan hopped across the warm earth, but the mystic remained prostrate where they’d laid him. “I don’t mean to alarm you, but like Nyr said, I am a mystic. I can be of some service by helping Dalan communicate with the two of you when he’s in a… How do you think of it, Dalan? A transmeld?”
Can hear my thoughts even now? Dalan’s heart sank. Does that mean the necklace…
An unfamiliar mental voice said, No. The Wizard’s mental powers only work through the devices—the necklaces.
Aloud, the mystic said, “The Wizard is distracted right now, you see, so we’re free to talk. Would you mind if I asked where we’re headed?”
Nyr stared down at him. “We’re retracing your route. As you well know, if you really are a mystic.” She chewed on a bar of nuts and honey.
Dalan answered his question in greater detail, pointing his thoughts toward the mystic as he would one of his tribemates in a transmeld. Were retracing your route back as far as we could before waking you. Intend to find the Wizard and force him to release us.
“Ah,” the mystic said, his voice strained. “The Wizard sent me to you to guide you back to him. And yes, Nyr.” The mystic opened his eyes and met her gaze without moving. “The old man you dragged to Mapleton by the throat? That was the Wizard. He manipulated you into putting on the first device—trinket, whatever you call it—and into collecting the other pieces. He’s slowly been gaining control of you, hasn’t he?”
Nyr’s expression grew dark, making Dalan wonder what had happened. No one said anything, so Dalan assumed Nyr and Ti’rros were also silently communicating with their captive. Though Saquey’s presence reassured him, but he sent the dragonfly to scout around more in the darkness. He flew up to perch on a scraggly tree branch a few feet from the mystic.
Ti’rros opened a horse’s saddlebags and grabbed a few things. “Is it advisable to follow his plan, to walk into his trap? If he wants us to come to him, should we do it?”
She handed the mystic a jar of salve and began applying it to his shoulders, where he would have difficulty reaching due to his injuries.
The mystic didn’t rise. “I guess the question is, what else can you do?” He put his fingers into the jar and slathered the salve on his forearms, where the rope and the grasses had cut him.
“He’ll know we’re coming.” Nyr took a menacing step toward him. “He’ll know what we’re about to do before we do it.”
“That’s hardly my fault.” Anger filled the mystic’s voice. “I’m just as trapped by these old devices as the three of you are. More so, actually. More than you could imagine.”
Though a small bird, Dalan launched himself out of
the tree and hopped across the hard earth between Nyr and her victim, to remind her that no further violence should be visited upon him. He might be their only chance for freedom.
The man’s warm thoughts entered Dalan’s mind. I certainly appreciate that sentiment.
The mystic’s eyes flicked to Ti’rros and back to Nyr. “I realize I didn’t properly introduce myself. My name is Caetl. Now, if instead of thinking toward me, you thought toward each other, you could communicate to one another through the necklaces, even over a distance. That was their original purpose.”
Saquey whirled above them as Nyr asked, “What about images?”
“Yes,” Caetl said. “The devices can also transmit images and sound to the other wearers.”
Dalan preened his feathers and directed his thoughts to Caetl. Are you too injured to rise?
Speaking aloud, the mystic said, “We don’t have much time for you to practice with the talismans, as we have other things to discuss. The Wizard will try to use the force fields in his home to chop you in half if he feels threatened.”
I’m just in too much pain. Dalan heard Caetl’s voice in his mind, but wasn’t sure how he could tell the difference between when the mystic sent thoughts to him directly or through the necklace. Thank you for putting my shoulder back in place, though. You were right.
“Force fields?” Nyr raised an eyebrow.
Dalan could sense the smile in the mystic’s thoughts, yet Caetl’s expression was blank as he answered Nyr, “They’re like transparent walls that could cut you in half as they fall from the ceiling of his hut. Watch for when he touches his wrist; that’s how he controls them. But more important than that, you need to learn to cloak your thoughts.”
I’m not very good at it compared to other mystics, but I try not to betray my thoughts too much. Nyr would probably take a smile the wrong way and assume I’m plotting something.
“Sounds like mystic nonsense to me,” Nyr said.
“Also,” Caetl said, “He has an amplifier. It looks to be carved from the same stone as our pendants, but it’s what allows him to hear your thoughts. Without it...”
Keeping up with more than one conversation at once proved difficult, but Dalan’s guilt bubbled to the surface. Should be angry at me and Ti’rros just as much as you are at her.
Caetl waved a hand. “You need to avoid thinking about anything I’ve told you once the Wizard is paying attention, or he’ll know of your intentions.”
I… understand… her reasons for doing it. Caetl’s thoughts were hesitant. Torture doesn’t usually work to gain information, but I suppose it’s a good way to prove someone’s not an Ageless. Trust me, right now I wish I were one of their kind.
Nyr shifted her weight. “And how exactly do we do that?”
“I’m glad you asked, Nyr,” Caetl’s voice sounded warm to Dalan. “The Wizard already has a hard time tapping Ti’rros, and when Dalan’s transmelded, the Wizard can’t hear his thoughts either. So you’re the one most disadvantaged, I’m sorry to say. You should try to submerge your thoughts underneath others. It would be difficult to penetrate all those complex layers before your real thoughts move onto other things.”
Nyr snorted. “You’re saying I’m simple-minded, is that it?”
The mystic laughed, but his laugh cut off abruptly and he put a hand to his ribs. Dalan hoped he hadn’t broken something.
“Not that you’re simple-minded. Just that you’re a bit too single-minded. Try covering what you’re thinking right now with other thoughts. Think about the weather, good times you had as a child, bad experiences you had as an adult. Whatever it takes to carry on multiple lines of thought at once. Go on, I’m listening.”
Nyr’s pupils dilated as her expression became more thoughtful.
“I know it’s hard, but now try putting those other lines of thought into loops, so you don’t have to constantly try to come up with new ideas.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Wouldn’t that make it easier to tell which ones are my true thoughts?”
“For me, yes,” Caetl admitted. “But the Wizard hasn’t had the years of practice I’ve had. He’s not that good at untangling things. I’ll snap my fingers twice when I sense his thoughts beginning to show interest in us again.”
They fell quiet, and Ti’rros put the lid on the salve and returned to her spot by the fire.
Dalan tried Caetl’s instructions as well. He wondered what his tribespeople would think of this. In his homelands, a transmelded person could see the thoughts of everyone nearby and their thoughts had always been easy to follow. He’d never noticed anyone trying to cover anything up the way the mystic taught. Dalan could see why it might be useful, but his tribemates would find it deeply offensive.
As Dalan was thinking those thoughts, he also imagined soaring over the drylands with Saquey. His dragonfly’s mental images seemed clearer while flying, perhaps because the bird’s thoughts were similar to the dragonfly’s.
You can communicate with that bug telepathically? The mystic’s mental voice seemed incredulous.
Everyone bonds with one in my tribe. Are our hunting companions and guardians. Help us scout out prey or enemies while in a shortsighted transmeld, like the omdecu, who see best at night. Guess this means my doublethink wasn’t working?
Hah, doublethink. That’s good. It was fine, but like I told Nyr, I’m more experienced. I can unravel your thoughts and hers at the same time.
Not to brag, right? Dalan couldn’t help but like the mystic. Nyr had tortured him, but yet he tried to help her. Then again, he remembered the last time he’d naïvely trusted someone based on what they appeared to be.
Except I’m nothing like her. You can call me Caetl, you know. That the mystic heard his background thoughts in addition to the ones he specifically tried to think at the man troubled him.
Just hope you’re not something worse, Dalan admitted.
Nyr snarled. Fur erupted from every inch of her skin. Before anyone else could move, she straddled the mystic with one claw above his face.
“You’re the Wizard—you’ve got to be. I swear you get in my head just like he does. You push my thoughts around just like he does.”
The mystic stared at Nyr. Dalan dared not move a feather, but Ti’rros rose slowly from the ground, out of Nyr’s line of sight.
Caetl cleared his throat. “What you just did is perfect. The Wizard will never see it coming.”
Nyr pulled back her lips in a snarl and rested her fingertips against his face. “Explain.”
The mystic’s expression betrayed his fear, but his voice remained steady. “When you shift forms like that, you’ve essentially become part animal. And animals can react instinctively before a human can even think of moving. By giving into your animal side, you can be provoked into acting without any premeditation whatsoever. Meaning, I never even saw the thought cross your mind that you intended to attack me.”
Ti’rros struck. Her tail hooked around Nyr’s middle, and the Joey yanked her away like a rag doll through the air. Nyr yowled in fury and collapsed to the ground as Ti’rros stumbled back. Nyr sprang to her feet, claws unsheathed.
It’s okay, Caetl said in Dalan’s mind. Nyr won’t hurt her.
“What’s your problem?” Nyr spat the words.
Dalan held his breath. His skin itched, making him realize he’d started transmelding unconsciously.
“Just as I wouldn’t allow Dalan to harm you, I will not allow you to harm the mystic.” Ti’rros spread her arms wide and held her tail at the ready with her backwards knees bent.
“Why?” Nyr dropped into a fighting stance as well. “Is he suddenly part of your idealistic little clan now?”
The Joey’s stoic gaze bored into her. “He knows where the person behind these necklaces is. It is important to keep him alive.”
Dalan hoped Nyr would listen to reason, but she took two steps toward Caetl. Ti’rros stepped into her path. Nose-to-nose, Nyr glared at her. At the same moment, they both tilted t
heir heads, listening to something Dalan couldn’t hear.
Caetl snapped his fingers twice.
Nyr smirked at the mystic. “You would say that either way, wouldn’t you?”
“It’s not me speaking, you know that.” Caetl tipped his chin up to the darkened sky, his eyes unfocused. “I won’t.”
Dalan tilted his beak, regarding Caetl with one eye and then the other, trying to figure out who he was talking to.
He knows. Caetl’s words slipped into Dalan’s mind.
Nyr glanced at Ti’rros. “What’s he—”
“No!” Caetl’s back arched, and he slammed his palms to his temples. Then he rolled to the side, his knees coming up to his elbows. “You fool!”
Dalan flapped away, unable to control the hawk’s startle response. Saquey buzzed in from the east, circled the group, and then hovered next to him in the cool air. Dalan stared in horror at the scene below. Nyr and Ti’rros kept their distance as the mystic flung himself back, kicking up dust.
“Caetl…” Ti’rros said.
The mystic took a deep, shuddering breath. “We’ve got to stop him. He’s too powerful. I—I’m not sure my mind will hold up to another assault like that.”
“Who?” Nyr put a hand to her hip.
“The Wizard, of course.” Caetl put a hand to his ribs and let out a groan. His eyes searched the campsite until he spotted Dalan and Saquey above him. He knows I can tap your thoughts. Sooner or later, he’s going to try again. He’s gotten stronger. More experienced.
Will try what again? Dalan asked. His wings grew tired without any updrafts to keep him aloft.
He tried to get to you through me. Caetl’s mental voice sounded strained.
Dalan’s pulse quickened. How?
He’s suddenly able to break into my head somehow. But he still wouldn’t be able to tap your thoughts unless he... The mystic’s words cut off.
What? Dalan tried to understand how this could happen. Hears your thoughts?
I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter. You’re our greatest asset, Dalan. I’ll try to keep him at bay, but you’ve got to get that amplifier away from him.
