by Kay L. Ling
“Right now, we’re their government and we’re gem masters,” he reminded her with a trace of amusement.
“I suppose you have a point. But we’re only temporary leadership.”
“And whatever leadership structure they settle on may be temporary too. If we restore the Amulet, the system over there may be imposed here.”
Lana sighed. “After all they’ve been through with S, I’d hate to see them ruled by someone like Kaff. And what about the breghlin? Where would they fit in? Gnomes without gem powers are second-class citizens. Breghlin would be the dregs of society.”
“They are now.”
“But we’re working on that. Gnomes and breghlin are starting to get along and become more equal.”
Jules lapsed into silence. Then he said, “They don’t have breghlin over there. Just gnomes like Kaff with deformities. It’s hard to say what would become of the breghlin in that society.”
“Speaking of Kaff, if he winds up in the dungeon, will you visit him?”
“I don’t know. I know I wouldn’t be able to resist trying to shake some sense into him, and he’ll get his share of lectures without me.”
They were nearing the end of the passageway. The terrace door stood open, and the cool night air felt wonderful.
“Let’s go outside,” Lana said. “I could use some fresh air.”
They stepped outside. On the other side of the terrace, a figure turned. Lana hadn’t seen him.
“I see I’m not the only one who needed a breath of air.” Elias sounded tired. It had been a long day for all of them.
Lana said, “I had to get away. I felt like an intruder.”
Elias came toward them, looking pensive. “We knew they were over there—the other clans—yet now that we’ve made contact, it hardly seems real.”
“It will take some getting used to,” Jules agreed.
“And they’re so very different.” Elias’s tone suggested that he too found that troubling.
Jules said, “Parcune and Kaff marveled over the ruins of a little village like Corrustown. Imagine what they’d think of Mierek City.”
“Before today, I had a romantic image of the land beyond the barrier,” Lana said, staring into the distance. “I pictured quaint little villages and farms with grazing maraku.”
Elias said. “There’s probably some of that too.”
“And what about the woodspirits?” Lana said, folding her arms. “All they care about is art, music, and literature? Really? We’re supposed to believe that?”
“It’s strange they don’t take an interest in science and technology. They live so long; imagine the advancements they could make,” Jules said.
“And how much damage they could do with the wrong ambitions,” Elias countered.
“Let’s hope they’re really hippies.”
Jules gave Lana a puzzled look. “Hippies?”
“A 1960s phenomenon. I’ll explain later.”
Franklin burst through the door, out of breath and clearly upset.
Elias stiffened. “What’s wrong?”
“Raenihel’s here. You need to come right away!”
“Raenihel? Now? I expected him tomorrow.”
“I bet he came here directly from the elders’ meeting,” Jules said.
“Did he bring Kaff?” Elias asked.
“Er, um, you need to come right away,” Franklin repeated, avoiding Elias’s eyes. He took off before anyone could question him further.
“What in creation has gotten into him?” Elias asked as they all followed.
“Maybe the elders banished Kaff after all, and Raenihel wants you to intervene,” Lana suggested.
“As if they’d listen to me.”
Franklin raced down the staircase.
“What’s the hurry?” Elias called after him.
Franklin didn’t answer.
They followed him down a passageway that led to the rear entrance, and when they finally caught up to him at the entry hall, everyone stopped short. Lana couldn’t believe her eyes.
There stood a very distraught Raenihel . . . and something else.
“Good heavens!” Jules cried.
“What in blazes!” Elias sputtered.
Lana couldn’t find her voice at all.
Raenihel said in a stricken voice, “They sentenced Kaff to ten years in the dungeon. He was so angry he tried to escape, and . . . well, you see for yourself.” Raenihel let out a strangled sob. “Please tell me you can help him.”
As Lana’s initial shock wore off, she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. The thing beside Raenihel was part gnome, part bird—the product of gem powers gone horribly wrong. Gnome height, he stood on skinny yellow legs with three-toed feet, and his feathered body seemed to be molting—here and there, skin showed through the gray feathers. His feathered arms ended in three-fingered hands with long, curling claws. A feathered crest adorned his head, and ironically, it was the same reddish color as Kaff’s normal hair. He had birdlike black eyes and a long beak.
If they were tempted to laugh at this ridiculous creature, they couldn’t when they saw Raenihel’s tear-streaked face.
“Um, can he understand us?’ Lana asked. “Or talk?”
“Thankfully, yes. Kaff can explain what gems he used, and Elias can figure out what went wrong and reverse it.”
Elias stared at the avian Kaff. “Perhaps. If I were inclined to do so.”
“You can’t leave me like this!” protested Kaff, his voice a high-pitched squawk. He stamped one chicken-like foot indignantly, and the crest on his head bobbed.
It was all Lana could do to keep a straight face, and she didn’t dare look at Jules.
Franklin stood silently regarding Kaff, perhaps reflecting on his own years as a bird. Franklin’s condition, however, hadn’t been self-inflicted.
Elias’s expression hardened. “Franklin, would you see our feathered friend to the dungeon? I’ll speak with him in the morning.”
Franklin approached Kaff warily, probably afraid Kaff would peck his eyes out, but he needn’t have worried. The miserable creature followed him peaceably.
Elias said to Raenihel, “Come have some fialazza to calm your nerves. He brought this on himself, and now he must suffer the consequences.”
Chapter 25
Jules was always depressed after Lana went home. He’d see her this Thursday, but he’d be sharing her with Greg and Jordy since she had invited the Secret Society to her apartment. Spending time at her place was always a treat. The apartment definitely reflected its owner’s tastes. Gem and mineral displays lay everywhere along with a variety of books, from reference books to historical romances. The mishmash of furniture, some of which Lana’s father had refinished, gave the place personality and added to the relaxed atmosphere.
Today, Jules had nothing pressing to do, but he needed to stay busy, both to keep his mind off Lana and to avoid questions about Kaff. It was impossible to keep secrets around here, particularly something as sensational as “Kaff the gnome-bird,” and the situation was awkward due to their close relationship with Raenihel.
When Jules entered the kitchen, the cooks and servers were all gossiping about Kaff, and they didn’t stop when they saw him. One of Kaff’s guards had been there a few minutes ago, complaining that Elias’s request for everyone to stay away from the dungeon had fallen on deaf ears. Gnomes and breghlin alike were determined to see the spectacle for themselves, and the guards had been turning away a steady stream of curiosity-seekers all morning. A few clever souls, refusing to give up, had crawled through the air passageways and peered down through the vents.
No one felt sorry for Kaff. He had stolen S, and after being sentenced for his crime had tried to turn into a bird and fly away. Even the breghlin, who had few morals, considered Kaff a worthless traitor who should rot in the dungeon.
After finishing his coffee, Jules went to the ministry offices to approve requisitions, and there too, everyone was talking about Kaff.
&nb
sp; Wally and Grace had just returned from carrying news of S’s defeat to distant breghlin clans. They were eager to talk about their trip, but the clerks cut them off, impatient to share the news about Kaff. When Wally and Grace heard what had happened to him, they collapsed in fits of laughter, vowing they’d sneak into the dungeon to see the gnome-bird for themselves.
Jules sighed. He’d like to hear more about Wally and Grace’s trip, but any serious conversation was impossible at the moment. He left the breghlin to their merriment and went to the library where Tyla, Arenia, and other volunteers were studying books and manuscripts.
He spent some time looking through one of the newly discovered spell books, but it was hard to concentrate. His mind kept returning to Kaff. The lad could have become an excellent gem master and perhaps an elder someday, but Kaff wouldn’t have much of a life now, locked in a dungeon. According to Elias, he wasn’t even repentant and insisted the elders were being unfair.
It was unfortunate that someone like Kaff had gem powers and someone more deserving like Parcune or Lant did not. Today, Parcune was on duty in the communications room, and Lant would take the following shift. Both gnomes were overjoyed that they didn’t need gem powers to work there. It was dull work watching the pedestal gems, but they didn’t mind.
Jules decided to surprise Parcune and take down a lunch tray for them to share.
Parcune was delighted to see him. They sat on empty kegs, eating vegetable soup, bread, and cheese while reminiscing about their trip to the Amulet barrier. Predictably, the conversation turned to Kaff, and they chuckled over his more memorable blunders like turning his head invisible, and nearly knocking himself senseless with a rebounding stone.
“He was trouble from the start,” Parcune said wiping bread crumbs from his tunic, “but I wouldn’t have thought he’d come to this.” He gave Jules a sidelong glance. “Is it true that Elias refused to change him back?”
“Yes, and if I know Elias, he won’t change his mind, so Kaff had better get used to feathers.”
Parcune fell silent for a moment and then changed the subject. “I hear you’ll be working on gem experiments this week—looking for a way to disrupt the Amulet’s energy field.”
“Elias and I will oversee the experiments, but we’ve decided not to take an active role.”
“You want us to make the discovery,” Parcune said, catching on immediately.
Jules didn’t deny it. “It seems only right.”
Parcune gave Jules a long, considering look. “That’s a fine gesture, and we won’t forget it. We wouldn’t have discovered this room if Lana hadn’t gotten into the armory and found the spell books. We owe you, Lana, and Elias a great deal. And I shouldn’t leave out Franklin. He does so much here and takes no credit for anything.”
How true. Everyone took Franklin for granted. Jules felt a twinge of guilt as he realized he hadn’t invited Franklin to Lana’s meeting, and she had told him to ask Franklin to come. After running Shadowglade by himself for a couple weeks, Franklin certainly deserved a night out.
“Franklin has been giving some of the breghlin woodworking lessons,” Jules said. “I never thought I’d see the day he’d get along with breghlin, much less volunteer to help them.”
“I’ve started to change my opinion about them, myself,” Parcune said, his expression thoughtful. “I thought they were all inherently evil, but after spending a couple weeks with Ben and Tina Ann, I see I was wrong. I’ll tell you this: I’d sooner spend time with them than Kaff.”
Jules smiled. “I have to agree with you.”
As Jules was taking his tray back to the kitchen, he ran into Franklin who was heading there himself. Jules didn’t need to ask what Franklin had been doing; there was sawdust in the man’s graying dark hair.
“How was class?”
“Good. We’ve been making chairs, and the breghlin have turned out some remarkably fine work.”
“They have an excellent teacher.”
“I’d ask you to join me for lunch, but I see I’m too late.”
“I had lunch with Parcune in the communications room. He’s in his glory working there.” They continued to the kitchen together. “Lana’s having a get-together at her place on Thursday. Would you like to come?”
Franklin’s face lit. “Are you kidding? Of course!”
They had just reached the kitchen when someone behind them called, “Gem Master Jules, Gem Master Elias be lookin’ for you.”
Jules turned. It was Tina Ann. “What does he want?”
“Dunno. He say go to his office.”
Franklin said, “I’ll take the tray. Go see what he wants.”
Tina Ann seemed determined to accompany Jules, and there was no polite way to get rid of her, so she tagged along.
“How long you figure Kaff be a bird?” she asked, having difficulty keeping up with his long strides.
Jules groaned inwardly. Was there anyone who didn’t want to talk about Kaff?
“The day I follow him an’ feel the Dark gems, I know there be trouble,” she said, shaking her head, “but this beat all.”
Jules had nearly forgotten Tina Ann’s role in tracking Kaff.
“Gem Master Elias say dark powers change how ya think. Not that Kaff ern’t to blame fer what he did. He be bad to start with, but the gems made him worse.”
“I think you’re right,” Jules said, pleased that she cared about right and wrong. He used to think breghlin had no conscience. They reached Elias’s office and Tina Ann tapped him on the arm. “Just wanna say, I hope he don’t have to be a bird forever, even though he deserve it.”
Jules smiled. The gnomes had a saying: As likely as mercy from a breghlin. Things were certainly changing. “That’s the kindest thing anyone’s said regarding Kaff today.”
“I better go,” she mumbled and hurried away.
Jules went into the office and Elias looked up, his expression grim. “Take a seat. We have several things to discuss.” Elias cast a nervous glance at the door. “Kaff’s parents are here. Raenihel is with them, and they’ve gone to the dungeon. I find myself in the middle of things. The family assumes I can restore Kaff and they insist I do so. They say imprisonment is punishment enough. Tell me, am I being too hard on Kaff?”
“No, I don’t think so. If Kaff had been sorry and accepted his punishment, that would be one thing, but he’s unrepentant and tried to escape.”
“That’s how I see it. They claim that if I don’t turn him back, I’m adding an additional punishment to the elders’ sentence.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Jules said indignantly. “He did this to himself. Why is it up to you to reverse it?”
“Apparently because Kaff can’t do it himself, so the duty falls to me.”
“Raenihel and some of the others have gem powers. Let them figure out how to restore him. In the meantime, he’ll have to be a bird.”
Elias said dryly, “I suspect Kaff will be a bird a very long time.”
“So what are you going to do?” It would be hard to ignore the family’s demands, but Jules hoped Elias wouldn’t give in.
Elias sat back in his chair. “Nothing at the moment. For all I know, the rest of the clan thinks I shouldn’t intervene, but in any case, I won’t be bullied. Raenihel said he was shocked at my lack of compassion, especially considering my past, but you and I know the last thing Kaff needs is compassion. It’s ironic that I find myself playing the role of the stern friend, just as you once did for me.”
How very true. Despite repeated warnings from Jules, Elias hadn’t turned away from Dark gems, and it had cost him his son, his business, and everything he valued in the Fair Lands. Jules shook his head sadly. “Cruelty can be kindness in disguise.”
“But we seldom understand that at the time.”
They fell silent, thinking about the past.
“Well,” Elias said at last, “we have other matters to discuss. The Anen elders say any gnome may serve as Watcher in the communications room, but el
ders should be the ones to speak with the officials. So, from now on, elders will reside here on a rotating basis.”
“Tyla will be relieved to hear that.”
“Yes, I’m sure she will, although she was doing a fine job. The other thing we need to discuss involves breghlin.”
“Breghlin?”
“Wally and Grace are back,” Elias said.
“Yes, I saw them at the Ministry.”
“Their report was encouraging. While there’s some dissension, most breghlin clans seem to understand that they’re better off without S, and they’re starting to realize that this is a new era with new rules.”
“Do they know about gnome gem powers?”
“Yes. If they didn’t before, they do now, and that should encourage peaceful relations.”
“I hope so. Gnomes will be tempted to retaliate for past injustices, so breghlin should be on their best behavior.”
“Wally says most are willing to work in mines, learn a trade, or farm the land, as long as they’re allowed to keep some of what they produce. Wally and Grace assured them they would be fairly compensated.”
“And what about the Amulet? What did they have to say about that?”
“Some were familiar with the barrier zone and said an invisible wind bends trees and makes stones roll uphill. Being somewhat superstitious, they think the area is cursed and avoid it. I’m hopeful that as breghlin learn more about the Amulet’s history and their own heritage they’ll want to better themselves. They have always believed themselves to be a separate race from the gnomes, but they’re starting to accept the truth.”
“It’s time they acted more like gnomes.”
“I believe many will. I only hope the reverse doesn’t occur—gnomes falling into new temptations and becoming more like breghlin.”
That was an unpleasant thought. So far, gnomes had lived sheltered lives. Freedom brought all kinds of opportunities, both good and bad, and without a strong moral compass, well . . . you could end up a giant, molting bird in a dungeon.
