A Bridge of Realms

by B. T. Narro

  The excess Artistry in the Tisary made the task easy. The rope was already primed to be linked to itself. He made a bond between the rope and the point where it was tied around itself at the base of the pillar. The Artistry looped and wavered, reaching out from different points along the rope like tendrils all converging on the same spot.

  The woman with Andar’s food entered the Tisary as he had begun to pull. It could not have been better timing. She saw the rope snap and Andar tumble backward.

  “What are you doing?” she exclaimed.

  “Testing the rope again. And it broke! You saw.”

  “I did.” She set down his tray and picked up the rope where it was still whole. “This is thick. You must’ve cut it.”

  “With what?” Andar turned out his pockets. “And why would I even do that?”

  She seemed to be thinking as she stood still, Andar eyeing his food hungrily.

  Andar spoke before she could think of another irritating question. “I’ll take my meal, then I want to speak to the commander. Do you know where he is?”

  “I never know that.” She set down Andar’s food, then went over to investigate the hole. “What would happen if the rope broke while you were down there?”

  “It has once already, and I nearly died.”

  She looked at him as if he was exaggerating. He stopped eating to show her how serious he was.

  “Gods, they must pay you well.” She looked into the hole again.

  “Not well enough. This will be my last day.”

  She showed him a sympathetic look. “It would be mine as well if I were you.”

  Later, Andar left the cavern and told the two guards there to inform the commander that he would not be returning.

  “The rope broke again,” he added. “I’m glad I wasn’t in the hole this time.” One of the men had been there when Leo had disobeyed the guards to save Andar.

  “I don’t blame you for quitting,” the guard said to Andar’s surprise. “Not a lot of men would return to that work after what happened the first time.”

  Andar nodded to show his thanks. He figured the commander would have the same reaction. He walked home and wondered why the commander hadn’t come to speak with him since he’d gotten Andar, Leo, and Rygen out of their prison cell. According to Leo, no one had visited the Bookbinding Guild on behalf of the commander, either. Andar would’ve been a little jealous if Rygen was sought after more than he was, but it didn’t appear as if the commander was interested in any of them.

  He wondered why not? Why feign interest at all?

  Andar missed his father, who always cared even if he had trouble showing it. Andar and Leo’s aunt had shown more emotion in one meeting than their father had throughout most of their lives, but she had not returned. Andar had gotten somewhat of a bad feeling from her, and he found out later that his brother had the same. It wasn’t that they thought she would do something to hurt them. It was just that it was difficult to trust her as they did their father.

  Andar smiled when he came home and saw his brother there, with Rygen. They seemed to have just finished their supper and were now tidying up. They were in the middle of a conversation about something but stopped when Andar arrived.

  Leo looked excited. “What happened?”

  “How could you possibly know that something good happened?” Andar beamed with pride.

  Leo mimicked his smile. “I just do.”

  “What is it?” Rygen asked.

  “Nothing noteworthy,” Andar said sarcastically.

  “He’s lying!” Rygen said with a laugh.

  “What Andar?” Leo bounced on the balls of his feet.

  “Really, it’s nothing. I quit the digging work…oh and—” He took the two rocks from his pocket and set them on the table. “I made a link. Like I said, nothing noteworthy.” Andar separated the rocks, then casually lifted one of them. The other rose from the table.

  Leo and Rygen gasped.

  And then they screamed.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The three of them stayed up when they should’ve been sleeping. Andar knew that if his father was here, he would’ve made them go to bed an hour ago. But there was too much excitement, at least between Andar and his brother as he tried to help Leo understand links as well as Andar did. Rygen, however, eventually decided to call her night finished.

  “I have to make sure I don’t upset the overseer by being late,” she said.

  “Is he as bad as Rhenol?” Andar asked.

  “No,” she said, sharing a look with Leo that told Andar they had spoken much about this already. “He’s a little less severe, but the farm is farther from here. I should sleep now.”

  “I will soon,” Leo said. “I think I almost have it.”

  “I don’t think so,” Andar informed him regretfully. “It took me hours, and I’m older than you are.”

  “I really think I’m close.”

  “Leo, you haven’t even felt the link yet. Once you do, it’s even harder to—”

  “I felt it soon after you came in.”

  “What? No, you didn’t.”

  “I did! I just didn’t know what it was I was feeling until you explained it.”

  But Leo was three and a half years younger than Andar…three and a half years! There were men and women much older than the two of them who had failed to make a link of their own, men and women with years of proper training. Andar had thought himself to be something of a prodigy, but what did it mean if Leo had learned it faster than he did?

  “Are you sure you feel it?” Andar asked.

  “I do. It’s like I’m noticing it’s there with a different sense all together, just like you described. So that’s Artistry I’m feeling, right? The link is made from Artistry?”

  Andar nodded hesitantly. He still felt as though Leo couldn’t possibly sense the Artistry yet. It was just too fast for someone so young.

  “If you already felt the link,” Andar asked, “then what have you been doing while I was continuing to describe what it feels like?”

  “Just listening and learning. I want to know how to make my own link, but I have to understand them first, don’t I?”

  “When did you get so smart!” Andar grabbed his brother in a headlock and mussed his hair. He was a little angry, or perhaps jealous, but Andar knew this was good news. He didn’t know why exactly, for what would they use their ability to do? But it was good news nonetheless.

  “Stop.” Leo laughed as he nudged Andar away. “Can I try breaking the link now? I think I’m ready.”

  “Yes, but you’re not allowed to touch the rocks.”

  “I wasn’t going to.” Leo glanced at Rygen, who still stood in the kitchen. “Didn’t you need to…?”

  “Yes, but I won’t be able to sleep until I see what’s going to happen.”

  “All right,” Leo said, “but I’m nervous.”

  There’s no way he can do this already, Andar kept telling himself. However, he had some doubts as he watched his brother focus.

  It wasn’t a moment later when Andar felt the link break. Leo smiled triumphantly as he picked up one rock and the other did not move.

  “I think I can link them back together.”

  Andar was in awe. He tried to suppress his jealousy, fearful Leo might feel it. But his brother seemed too concentrated on the rocks to notice.

  Leo stared at them for a while. Rygen rested her head on the table over her folded arms, glancing between Leo and the rocks with sleepy eyes.

  “I think you can do it,” she whispered.

  Andar wanted to be encouraging as well, but he knew a jealous tone would betray him if he tried to speak.

  “This is hard,” Leo said, then looked at his brother. “It was hard for you as well, right?”

  “Yes.” And I had a dense amount of Artistry in the air to use. Andar stood and put his hand on Leo’s back. “You can try again tomorrow.”

  “No, I think I can do it now.”

  Andar stood awkw
ardly near his brother for a while as Leo focused on the rocks again. Eventually Andar sat once more.

  Suddenly, Andar felt Artistry around the rocks. Leo must’ve gathered it from their surroundings, but how?

  “I’m close,” Leo said, letting out a small groan.

  The Artistry condensed and strengthened, a link forming.

  “There,” Leo said.

  “Can I move one of the rocks?” Rygen asked with excitement.

  “Yes.”

  Rygen reached for one of the two small stones sitting near each other on the table. Leo leaned close. Rygen nudged the one nearest to her. The other shook. She gasped.

  “Pick it up,” Leo said.

  She put her hand on top of the stone, then cautiously wrapped her small fingers around it. With great care, she lifted the stone. The other floated into the air.

  “Oh gods,” Rygen exclaimed. “You did it!”

  “The link wants to break,” Leo said with squinted eyes and creases across his forehead. “I’m holding it together.”

  “It doesn’t want to break,” Andar corrected him. “It wants to keep the link together, but it does break over time, and even more so when force is applied.”

  “Why?” Leo asked.

  One of the rocks fell and banged against the table.

  Leo smacked his lips in obvious disappointment. “I lost it.”

  “You did so well!” Rygen threw her arms around him. “Do it again!”

  “All right!” Leo stood to arrange the rocks near each other again.

  Andar tried to think of an answer to his brother’s earlier question. Eventually he stated, “I don’t know how the link breaks on its own, Leo. I’ll try to find out.”

  “Aren’t you proud of him?” Rygen asked.

  “Of course!” Andar shook Leo by his shoulder, breaking his concentration. But Leo only smiled up at him.

  “Thank you.”

  Leo seemed partially out of breath. He appeared to suddenly notice it, becoming confused.

  “Why does it feel like I just ran somewhere?”

  “Remember the stories?” Rygen asked. “Ascendants always tire out when using Artistry. It must take effort like running.” She grabbed Leo and hopped a bit. “Gods, I don’t know how I’m supposed to sleep now! You really are going to be an Ascendant one day, Leo. You and Andar!”

  “I don’t know.” Leo looked up at his brother. “It wasn’t that hard to link the rocks. I think a real Ascendant would laugh if he heard us talking about being one.”

  “Leo,” Andar said, “I’ve watched many men and women come to the Tisary. Not only are all of them older than we are, but I’m sure all have had some sort of formal training. Yet none of them was able to make a link. They all left frustrated.” Andar finally felt his jealousy dissolving. “If it was easy to link the rocks, then it means we are that much stronger than they are. Do you see it now?”

  Leo nodded as if he might’ve already figured the same. Perhaps he had just needed his older brother to say it before he could really believe it was true.

  Leo bolted out of his chair and hugged Andar.

  “Thank you so much for teaching me. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  Filled with pride, Andar returned the embrace and told his brother, “You’re welcome.”

  ◆◆◆

  Andar slept through the next morning. When he finally got out of bed, he had a little smile. They would be able to keep this house because Rygen had begun work on a farm. Andar could easily feel guilt, but he didn’t let himself. He had worked too hard not to enjoy these moments when they came. Thieving was dangerous, but if he became even more skilled with his fast hands, then he shouldn’t be caught. Perhaps over the next year or two he might even be able to make enough coin to buy a small house for the three of them so Rygen no longer had to slave on a farm.

  The Farmers’ Guild still could force them out if they found out that there was no adult here, but they were probably too busy with other matters to worry about investigating every household that already had one worker. Andar didn’t worry.

  He was getting ready to head out and procure himself some breakfast when someone knocked. He opened the door to find the commander. Rolan always wore the same uniform adorned with decorative stars and straps. It made Andar feel as though he was standing before someone kingly, a man who deserved respect.

  “Commander.” Andar bowed his head.

  Although Rolan did not smile, his tone still carried a friendly tone. “I heard another rope broke but thankfully you were not digging at the time, and now you wish to quit. Is that right?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “That’s all well and good, Andar, but our agreement cannot continue this way. You do understand that, don’t you? I cannot continue to pay for your lodging in this house.”

  “I understand that, sir. Rygen has started work on a farm. All we ask is that you do not pester the poor Farmers’ Guild about us living here without an adult. The hardworking men and women of that guild are already so busy ensuring everyone in the city has an equal chance at becoming wealthy. I would hate to trouble them.”

  “That’s very funny, Andar,” the commander said with a frown. “No, I won’t bring it up. I’m glad you’re safe and that we understand each other.”

  I understand that you could pay for us to live in this house if you chose to, or you could’ve come by to speak with Rygen or with me sooner.

  As if sensing Andar’s thoughts, the commander looked regretful as he said, “I must apologize. I meant to do many things this last week, including speaking with you, your brother, and Rygen, but I’ve been dealing with insubordinates. Do you know this word?”

  “Rhenol, my old farm master, used it all the time to describe me.”

  “Well, this is more severe and could be dangerous. I wish I had time to continue our talks, but I don’t right now. When I have time I will come back here. Understood?”

  “Of course, sir.”

  “I will be visiting your neighboring homes now. There have been more reports of theft and unwanted visitors, and I’m compiling a list of descriptions. I hope to find and return everything that was taken as well as punish the deserving. Are there other incidents you need to report?”

  “No, so is Marcus Dowl finally removed from the army?”

  “Yes, he had another incident and has been stripped of his uniform.”

  “That’s all?” Andar asked, knowing he shouldn’t speak this way to the commander but unable to help it. “Why not put him in the dungeons?”

  “He broke no laws.”

  So this incident must mean he was prevented from doing something, just like he was here. Andar despised the fact that someone had to suffer in order for the culprit to be caught. But it was even more common for culprits to go on with their lives despite their despicable acts, as Rhenol had after banning Andar’s family from farm work.

  “The laws shouldn’t matter,” Andar said. “Not when everyone involved knows what kind of justice needs to be done.”

  “I have no more time, Andar. If you trust me, then you should also trust that I’m doing everything I can. I will return to speak with you later. If not immediately, then certainly by the time you turn fourteen and are old enough to join the army. I realize that you have a special skill that needs to be honed, and I will make sure you are taken care of. Stay safe and do not break any laws. Understand? Your life will get better so long as you are patient. Tell your brother and Rygen the same thing.”

  “I understand, sir.”

  The commander offered his hand. Andar shook it with pride. The man was certainly not perfect, but he tried his best.

  As Andar shut his door, he wondered what the insubordinates in the army were trying to accomplish. Were these criminals hoping to stop the commander from compiling a list that would lead to their discovery? Or was there something else they strived for besides freedom to take advantage of the less fortunate? No matter what it was, he did trust the commande
r to take care of it.

  Andar knew he shouldn’t worry about things that did not concern him when he had his own matters to take care of.

  He fetched his cloak with a hood that he had purchased with stolen coin one morning recently. It was quickly becoming his favorite, for he could flip up the hood soon after he’d gotten away with something, and he’d feel safe. It only worked in weather like this, when the heat was not oppressive, but fortunately mild weather was common in Jatn. The city wasn’t all bad, he supposed.

  He had walked a few steps outside when he heard a man scream as if in pain.

  The commander!

  A dozen thoughts went through Andar’s head as to who and how many could’ve attacked the man, but one thing was for certain. The commander needed help. Rolan screamed again, but this time it was cut short.

  Andar was almost there by then, sprinting down the dirt road and toward one of the nearby homes. There wasn’t much along the roads here, the houses sparse. There weren’t many places to hide.

  A few of his neighbors looked out their windows at Andar. Why weren’t any of them coming to help?

  Andar rounded one home and saw the commander lying in the dirt between two houses. Blood pooled around him.

  “Rolan!” Andar crouched over him to see that his neck had been stabbed. The commander had his hand over the wound, his eyes gaping. He opened his mouth as if trying to speak, but it sounded like he was choking. He pointed north. Andar didn’t care to figure out what the commander was telling him, for it would not save his life.

  “Help! Help!” Andar yelled. “We need to get him…” Where could they possibly take him? Andar knew of no healers anywhere nearby. Hopefully someone else did. “We need to get him to a healer!” Why was no one coming out of their homes?

  “Help us!” Andar screamed in rage.

  The commander grabbed at Andar’s shirt, pulling his attention back down. Rolan’s face had gone pale, his movements slowing. He lifted his arm above his shoulder to point, which Andar noticed this time. The commander’s weapon lay in the dirt, blood streaked across its sharp end.