by Tina Hunter
“As a matter of fact,” he said puffing out his chest, “I think it might do you two some good to hear the words of the Allsaint.”
“Don’t be a woman, don’t be an Inborn, don’t be different, and don’t use magic. I think we’ve got it covered,” she said, shoving a spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth with a smile. Malack pretended to be offended but she could see the little smile on his face. “Come on,” she said once she had swallowed, “you know I’m not wrong.”
Malack sighed, “You might not be wrong but there is more to Donassi than that. You should know that.”
“I do,” she said, “But it doesn’t make up for the fact that all three of the people sitting at this table are not approved of by the monks.” She took another bite of food and when no one spoke she changed the topic. “So how was your morning... Douglas?”
Dorothy grinned with her mouth full of food and she seemed to swallow without chewing so she could answer swiftly.
“This morning I was listening to Simon and Brutus, and Simon didn’t tell you everything, and Brutus seemed to think that it might get you killed if you didn’t know what that someone had learned from Simon, I think it was the princess’s guards.”
“Wow,” Malack said, “and I thought you talked fast.”
Lynn poked him with her elbow again and he pushed her back with his.
“Well, that’s great information to know. Did they happen to mention what it was?”
Dorothy shook her head. “Are you going to talk to Simon and get him to tell you?”
“No,” Lynn said. Aside from borrowing her uncle’s scrying crystal, she doubted she could get Simon to tell her anything. Especially not after learning he and Brutus held a secret that Darkan didn’t want her to know.
So much was riding on her Uncle Benjamin’s plans now. Perhaps she should spend some time finding out how much he had told her was true. “I think you and me should go for a walk. Maybe visit the Morendi town?” she said casually.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Malack asked with some concern. He was putting on a good show, but something was off with him. Was he still upset about the prayer thing? Was it because of last night with Declan?
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. You are welcome to come with us?” she said hopefully.
Malack snorted, “No, thank you. Those Inborn-loving mountain goats can stay far away from me.” He must have noticed Lynn’s face because he quickly added, “No offense meant, Douglas.”
Dorothy’s face was a mixture of anger and confusion for a good minute before she recovered enough to say, “Well, I’m coming. Why are we going there?”
She was trying to be casual about it but Lynn could easily see the girl was excited about meeting the people who took in Inborns despite the Aguarian edict on them.
“I’ll tell you on the way. If you are finished...” Lynn didn’t have a chance to say another word before Dorothy shoveled in the last three bites of food from her plate. “All right then. How about you grab us a couple of rolls from the buffet for the road.”
Dorothy was out of sight in moments. Her excitement was amusing but also a little upsetting. Was she really so eager to be gone from them? From her?
“So, why are you heading there?” Malack asked in a hushed tone. His eyes never resting on hers for long. He was definitely upset with her.
“Just something I need for my contract. I’m more concerned about you. What’s wrong? Have I done something to upset you?”
“Only laden me with a child to care for. I could have stayed at home if I had wanted that. And I have my own con to worry about.”
“You don’t like her?” That was a shock to Lynn. Malack was always the compassionate one.
Malack sighed. “It’s not that I don’t like her. She is a sweet kid. I just don’t know if I could really take care of someone... like her.”
So, it was the Inborn thing. If what she had learned today was true, how would her cousin react? Would he come to hate her? Would she lose him? Was this what Declan had been afraid of?
“Are you and Declan ok?” she needed to know if she had caused any lasting damage between them after Declan’s slip.
“You mean besides him trusting you with his real name and not me? We’re just fine.” His voice was dripping with venom and sarcasm. Guilt crushed her chest. Dorothy was back with the rolls and Lynn stood up to leave with her.
“We’ll talk about this later,” she said, resting her hand on his shoulder for a moment. “But I... I love you, cousin.”
She left with Dorothy without waiting for Malack’s response. Once they were outside Dorothy’s nerves seemed to get in the way of her mouth again, making her start to say something then stop before any sound came out.
“The Morendi community just outside of town,” Lynn said. “It won’t be long. Thirty minutes or so.” Lynn started walking and Dorothy dutifully followed behind her.
“So why are we going there?” she asked again when they were on a quieter road. Lynn smiled sadly down at her, she was having doubts about bringing her, but there was no going back now.
“I know you were thinking of coming to stay with them, but that’s not actually the reason we are going. Though if you want to check them out, in case it’s a place you want to stay, I won’t blame you.”
Dorothy seemed to consider her words carefully. “You still haven’t answered my question, though,” she said with a little half smile.
“Because apparently, I have family there,” Lynn said as they turned onto the road that would lead them out of town. Dorothy’s eyebrows rose in response, but she said nothing. Lynn wanted desperately to tell the girl what had happened this morning. She had to tell someone. She looked into Dorothy’s eyes and came to realize that she trusted Dorothy. Not an easy feat. “Well, I suppose I could tell you a little bit more, but you have to promise to keep it to yourself. I haven’t even told Malack yet.”
Dorjee nodded her head hard. “I promise,” she said. Lynn couldn’t help but believe her.
“Well,” Lynn said looking all around them, “It turns out I might be an Inborn too.” She said it with a shrug and a half smile.
Dorothy almost jumped onto Lynn to give her a hug.
“How? When? Tell me everything!” she said in a shrill voice and then immediately froze, no doubt remembering she was supposed to be pretending to be a boy.
Lynn just laughed. “Ok. I’ll tell you everything.”
Lynn told Dorothy mostly everything that had happened to her that morning. Meeting her uncle, finding out about her mother and grandmother, and why they were heading to the settlement to meet her possible blood grandfather. Dorothy was a perfect listener. She made all the right noises of encouragement at all the right times. Lynn might have to take lessons from her for some of her future characters. It was a relief to finally tell someone. Even if it had only been weighing on her for the morning, it had felt so life-changing that it was hard to keep it in. She had expected it to be Malack she told, but looking over at Dorothy Lynn didn’t feel like she had made a mistake in confiding in her new friend.
The part she had left out, of course, was that her uncle was the leader of the Blades who were planning an attack on the fort and might just help her complete her mission here. But Lynn figured that would come out in due time, no point in muddying the waters with more information than needed.
Dorothy was finally silent and pensive as they neared the settlement. The stark white homes looked like square blocks that stacked next to each other up the steep hill to the mountain behind them. Some appeared to be carved out the of rock itself.
And people were starting to stare at them. It was not every day they received visitors, apparently.
“So how are we going to find this guy, exactly?” Dorothy asked, her unease plain to hear.
“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing,” she said with her most reassuring tone. Truthfully though, she didn’t have a clue what she was doing, or what she was doing here other tha
n checking to see if her Uncle’s story was true. It had seemed simple enough back in town, but now that a growing number of unfriendly faces surrounded her she regretted bringing Dorothy. This could turn out badly and she would feel awful if anything happened to the girl.
The closer to the center of the little town they got, the more people who had come out to watch their progress, until a crowd formed in front of them, hindering any further forward movement.
“Hello,” she said, lowering her tone a full octave, “I’m looking for someone named Gregorio Faulago?” She looked into the faces of the people in front of her for any sign of recognition but all she got where unfriendly glares. Apparently, she’d been wrong about the whole grudge thing against Iridans. Lynn could pass for a Dukana if she did her makeup right, but Dorothy with her pale skin and black-brown eyes was the perfect image of the Dukana Empire.
“Maybe we should go?” Dorothy whispered fearfully.
Lynn nodded her head in agreement, “You know I think you might be right,” she whispered in return. “My mistake,” she called out, “Must have been in some other village around here. We’ll just go.”
Unfortunately, the crowd had closed off the exit behind them. They were completely surrounded by scowling faces. Dorothy pressed her side into Lynn’s as if the girl could pull strength from her. Lynn wished she had some to share. This was not one of her better decisions.
“Who’s looking for Gregorio?” a voice called out from somewhere in the crowd. Lynn couldn’t see who said it but it came from her right so she turned that way.
“Just a friend,” she said, holding her arms out to show she had no weapons.
Behind her someone shouted, “Gregorio has no friends among the Iridan folk.”
Oh dear, she thought turning around. “What about Benjamin Gazor?” she asked. And was greeted with several people spitting on the ground at her feet.
“Gregorio is no friend of Benjamin.” The statement came again from a new voice in the crowd. Oh, Dragon Shit. What had she gotten herself into?
“Throw them in the river and let them swim back to their town,” another voice cried. The crowd cheered in agreement and Lynn did the only thing left in her power to do. Tell the truth.
“Wait!” She pulled off her hat and unpinned her braid, even pulling the tie out to let her black hair fall free. “My name is Lynn Verta. Maria Gazor was my grandmother. I only wanted to meet Gregorio, the man she married.”
She kept her hands raised in surrender. The crowd stopped moving, some even appeared surprised, but most looked blankly at her.
“If you want to throw me in the river to be rid of me, that’s fine. But I ask you to spare the boy. Let him walk home unharmed.”
Moments passed. No one moved, not even the people in the far reaches of the crowd. They all seemed frozen.
And then they all blinked rapidly and went back to their homes or work or whatever they had been doing before. Lynn and Dorothy were forgotten.
“Forgive our security measures,” a voice behind them said. Lynn turned to see an older man with a walking stick standing alone on the path. “But you can never be sure who’s coming for a visit these days. Please follow me.”
Dorothy and Lynn shared a confused look before following the older man into a large building near the main road. Well, large for this town. It was the size of Darkan’s basement office inside. Yet from the looks of all the benches and the large ornate fireplace, this was a meeting place.
“It’s not every day I get to meet my granddaughter,” the old man said.
Lynn stared at his face. She’d heard that Morendi had more in common with the Prymese and their almost black skin and dark features, but he looked no different from any other Aguarian. Kind face, deeply tanned skin, dark eyes, and dark, curly hair mixed with equal amounts of grey. Green eyes though. She hadn’t seen those before in anyone from the country.
“You are Gregorio Faulago?” she asked cautiously.
“Of course, who else would I be?” He shrugged his shoulders and went over to the fireplace to stoke the flames.
Dorothy gave Lynn an encouraging smile. Lynn hoped the girl didn’t see just how confused by his behavior she was.
“Well then, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said trying to get herself back into conversation mode. It was hard to go from thinking you would be thrown in the river to meeting your grandfather. “My name is Lynn...”
“Verta, yes, yes. I did hear you out there. And who is this little one?” he stared hard at Dorothy for a moment before a grinning. “Oh ho. Not a boy at all. No. Another girl. What is your name dear?”
Lynn glanced at Dorothy and saw the girl was sitting with a smile on her face, completely relaxed and at ease with his strange behavior.
“It’s Dorothy, sir. Did you figure that out with your magic? Was that you out there?”
Lynn was thoroughly confused now. “What are you talking about?” she whispered.
“It’s quite alright, Lynn. Young Dorothy is correct. That was me out there. I can enter people’s minds. Only a little if they don’t give me permission, but if they do, I can talk to them directly without moving my mouth.” He sighed heavily, “It’s so much easier.”
Lynn was starting to understand. He was like Renaldo, but a lot more powerful. “So, you can talk in people’s minds?”
“Yes,” he said. “Would you like to continue this conversation that way?” he looked hopeful but Lynn felt uncomfortable. The thought of someone she just met, even if that someone was supposedly family, rummaging around in her mind was not appealing. In fact, it was almost creepy.
“I see,” he said with a sad little smile.
“Sorry,” she stammered out. It was unnerving to have him even on the edge of her mind. She had made the right decision.
“So, you said you wanted to meet me?” He rummaged around in a cupboard along the wall by the fireplace.
“Um, yes.” She took a deep breath and refocused. “My uncle Benjamin told me a story about you and my grandmother, and I wanted to know if it was true.”
Gregorio spun around quickly to yell at her. “My son is a murderous liar. Do not trust him. However,” he paused to take a deep breath, “in this case he did tell you the truth.” He produced a tray of brown, misshapen lumps from behind him and held it out to them. “Cookie?”
Well, if he was her grandfather, it would explain a lot about her family.
“Me, please.” Dorothy reached out and took one from the tray, and Lynn heard the dull thunk of her teeth hitting something too hard to bite into. She winced in sympathy.
“Oh dear,” Gregorio said, taking the cookie from Dorothy. “Seems I’ve gotten the recipe wrong again.”
He took the tray over to the fireplace and dumped them all into the flames unceremoniously.
“Um, so you said my uncle...”
“Yes. Awful boy. Awful man.”
“How can you say that about your own son?”
“Because I’ve been in his mind. Horrible thing to do as a parent. Don’t recommend it. At least before I could pretend he still had good inside him.” He sighed heavily again, and Lynn was thoroughly disturbed. No good inside him?
“That can’t be right. I’ve met him. He’s a little strange and scary at times, but no good inside him? At all?”
“Oh, child.” He walked over to one of the benches and sat down, motioning for the girls to join him. Once Lynn sat next to him he changed the topic.
“I believe you wanted to ask me something else. Not just about your uncle. Something about a certain necklace I had made for you?”
“You made that?” Lynn said, immediately kicking herself for falling for his change of topic tactic. It was a good one.
“I did. And there is quite a surprise in there for you,” he said looking pleased with himself. “A Demo stone is normally only used on children who gain their abilities too early to handle and are a danger to themselves or others. Their mother normally carries the stone until they ar
e old enough to handle their change, and then they wear their stone as a badge of honor. And normally pass it down to the next generation if it’s needed.” He pulled a red stone out from under his shirt. It didn’t glow; there was no outward way to know that this stone would have any abilities, but Lynn knew it as soon as she saw it. It was the same red stone that made up her mother’s necklace. Underneath the gold latticework and fancy chain it looked exactly the same.
“You are right, child, it doesn’t look like magic because it’s not,” Gregorio said, looking at Dorothy. Lynn realized then that Dorothy had opened her mind to Lynn’s grandfather. He could speak to her in her mind if he wanted to, and apparently, she could talk to him. “This stone,” he continued, “was made long ago when the blood of the guardians that lie buried in these mountains was burned away by lava. Having had magic in it, it craves to have it again. But the will of a man, or woman, is stronger than that of a rock, and so it is easy to take it back.”
“And who are the guardians?” Lynn asked. If this was some Morendi mystical nonsense, she was going to be upset.
“Amatra and Amagus,” he said as if naming his neighbors.
“And why is their blood in the mountains?”
He sighed and rolled his eyes. Lynn thought that was a bit uncalled for.
“Do you really think everyone has been digging up mere rocks full of magic? They are the crystallized blood of the Guardians, the blood of the Anima. The same blood that runs in the veins of the Changed.”
“The Changed?” Dorothy asked.
“Inborn. Like you and me dear. And Lynn too.” The way he looked at her made her uncomfortable. He knew she didn’t quite believe him, yet she couldn’t really deny anything he was saying, either. Perhaps she should just accept that she had a skill she’d yet to unlock.
“So, how do the Inborn abilities work? Do I get what my mother had, like her eyes or something?”
He laughed a little. “Nothing that simple. The Changed can have the abilities to do anything that magic from one of the crystals can. You could do anything!”
“Well, almost anything,” Lynn said. It was a statement; everyone knew what it couldn’t do.
