by Kelley Grant
Master Sandiv’s dark face was concerned as she looked at Kadar. “Master Ursa was our prominent mind healer. Her experience and skills far eclipsed mine. We have lost the greatest energy user our generation has known.”
“Not lost,” a warrior said with a frown. “Her sacrifice will be sung about generations hence. Her sacrifice has saved hundreds of lives.”
Master Sandiv dipped her head in acknowledgment. “I can block your memories. I can make you believe that your sister and grandmother were sacrificed at the waymarker to change the wards. I can implant the routes the warriors of the One wish you to take the deities on after we spring our trap for their army. However, I’m not certain I can bring your true memories back.”
“But if I see Sulis is alive, that should trigger my real memories to return, shouldn’t it?” Kadar asked.
Master Sandiv shook her head. “It might. But you might not believe she is real. It could break your mind. I will do my very best to put in a trigger, but a mind shield thick enough to stop deities could be too great to release. The longer it is in place, the greater the hold will become. If I am still alive, I should be able to release the shield—but my first duty is stopping Voras’s army.”
Kadar swallowed hard. “I’m willing to take that chance,” he said.
Master Sandiv gazed over at Master Gursh, who nodded for her to continue.
“We would also need to block your twin bond with your sister,” she said. “The deities would be able to sense through it that Sulis is not dead, and it could break the mind blocks I set. Again—I don’t know if the block could ever be removed. Have you spoken with any of the Chosen about this idea? If they have plans for you to aid Chosen Sulis in defeating the deities, this might destroy that choice.”
“I need to talk to Sulis,” Kadar said grimly. “I had hoped to save her worry so she could remain focused on her tasks. But if you block our bond, she will feel that.”
“If you choose to continue, we will leave today and take you directly to the oasis. We will set up a tent, leave a humpback and supplies as you requested. We will block your memories and implant new ones, and you will wake up disoriented and believing your sister and grandmother were sacrificed by the warriors of the One.”
“There is barely enough time to set this plan in motion before the army arrives,” Master Gursh added. “We will leave you at the oasis alone, so you will not be confused by our presence when you wake. The Voices and the army should arrive soon after.”
“If the Chosen do not object, do you have any other objections?” Kadar asked.
Master Sandiv shook her head. “None. If you are willing to take that chance, we will honor your courage. We will seek our midmeal and leave you here to speak with the Chosen.”
“And we honor your sacrifice, the risk you are taking,” Master Gursh said, slapping him on the back as the others filed out.
Kadar nodded and settled cross-legged on some pillows. Amber “murrped” and stood, stretching her front and then back legs. She leapt from the table to his shoulders, nibbling on his ear.
“Stop that,” he grumbled and put her on his lap. He winced as she kneaded his legs through his thin robe. He reached out with his mind.
Sulis, he called.
Kadar, can it wait? We’re doing some energy work, Sulis sent, responding to him instantly.
No, Kadar said. The warriors of the One want a decision from the Chosen about a course of action I’ve proposed.
Kadar felt her concern. I will link to Grandmother and she can speak for the others, Sulis sent.
When did you learn to do that? Kadar asked.
His grandmother’s voice answered him. We have been training hard. What do you need us for?
Kadar explained his plan and the possible outcome. He concluded by saying, They want to know if the Chosen need my skills in the final battle before they put the blocks in.
There was a moment of silence, and then Sulis burst in.
No! Kadar, you can’t do this! It could damage your mind. This is too dangerous.
This is the only way to fool the deities, Sulis. If I do this, I can save lives—possibly even yours. It’s a chance I must take.
What would Onyeka say? Sulis asked. She wouldn’t want you to risk your mind. What about Datura?
Onyeka helped me come up with the plan, Kadar told her.
Sulis sighed. Bloodthirsty Tigu, she said.
Grandmother interrupted them. I have conferred with Master Anchee and Amon. Neither sees a place for you in the final battle. You have found your path and we will not stand in your way. I am so very proud of you, grandson. May the One be by your side. I will see you after the final battle.
One be with you as well, Grandmother. Please take care of yourself, Kadar answered. He felt pressure on his forehead, as though she’d kissed him, and then she was gone.
Onyeka thought of this plan, Sulis said. Did she know it might permanently take away your memory?
No. But she would approve anyway.
But what would your life be like after, if you could not regain it? Sulis persisted.
Onyeka is part of the plan. She will guide us after I separate the deities from the rest of the army. The only people who would be erased are you and Grandmother, Kadar said, regretfully.
So you could still have a family, Sulis said. You and Datura and Onyeka. Then that’s okay, even if you never remember me and have to live away from me so your mind doesn’t go crazy. I could live with it, as long as you could still be happy.
Sis, if something happens, and I don’t come back, I need you to look after Datura.
What about Aunt Raella? Sulis asked. Should I take Datura from her? Raise her as a Hasifel?
No, but make certain that she is being loved and cared for.
I will, Kadar. But you need to make sure I don’t have to. I can’t be whole without my twin.
I feel the same about you, sis, Kadar sent, touched. Stay alive. I want a future where Aunt Sulis, Datura, and Onyeka boss all us hapless men around.
Love and misses, Kadar.
Love and misses, sis.
Kadar sat for a moment after he’d said goodbye, thinking of his twin bond. He knew there was already a good chance the bond would be severed by one of their deaths. He prayed that neither of them would die and he could regain his connection with Sulis. Kadar knew with certainty that this was his path. He set Amber on his shoulder and rose to find Master Sandiv. It was time for them to take him to the oasis, put the blocks in, and leave him to his destiny.
“I know what you are,” the Mother Superior growled at Tori, blocking her in the meal hall as she tried to put her tray away. “I know you are one of those traitorous Descendants of the Prophet. Ivanha knows of your treachery. We are watching you and will remove you if you try to harm our deity.”
Aggie shoved the Mother Superior out of Tori’s way. Aryn’s former riding master sported a gold cloak and a no-nonsense attitude to match Tori’s. “Humans harming deities?” she said over her shoulder as she escorted Tori away. “You’d better check what your acolytes are putting in your tea. It’s making you more paranoid than usual.”
Tori shook her head as Aggie and Shane flanked her. She wasn’t surprised by the antipathy the heads of the deity altars held for her, but she was surprised that they were this openly hostile.
“That’s your third threat this ten-day, isn’t it?” Aggie said as they walked to the Temple of the One.
Tori nodded. “The only altar that hasn’t threatened me is Parasu’s.”
“The Magistrate would consider that unlawful,” Shane said. “He might be thinking it, but he would never act on it.”
“Act on what?” Counselor Elida asked as they came abreast of her.
“More threats for our leader,” Shane said. “This time from Ivanha.”
Eli
da snorted. “I’m surprised it took her so long,” she said. “They can’t miss the energy we’re raising here. It’s must be terrifying them.”
“I’m not your leader,” Tori protested. “Elida is senior to me.”
“Seniority doesn’t matter,” Aggie said. “You and your Northern friends are the ones teaching us how to channel the One’s energy into shields to protect the city and the other acolytes from the deities draining their energy. None of us had tried to use it this way.”
“It’s true, Descendant Tori,” Elida said. “We’ve never had enough Counselors to try this type of energy sharing. And the ability to cut others off from the energy of the deities is not one I’ve seen before your people came to Illian. In this, you are my leader and I am content to follow.”
Tori glanced around the Temple of the One. It was a different place since the One had chosen her new Counselors. It was no longer a dim, quiet meditative spot. Candles lighted every corner as Counselors broke off into small groups to practice raising energy and blocking each other’s ability to channel energy from their feli. They were working with Descendants who had traveled south with Tori—the best shielders she had. It was bright enough in the Temple with the candles that Tori could see a dozen or so curious eyes of the feli watching from the ledges around the dome. There were more feli than humans in the Temple, as their chosen feli mingled with the unattached ones.
“We need to make certain no Counselor walks alone,” Aggie said. “Especially Tori. Threats can easily escalate to violence if the acolytes of the deities think they can get away with it.”
“I’d like to see them try,” Tori said. “With my training, I can fry them before they get a single blast of energy off.”
“But you can’t ward off a knife in the back,” Aggie said. “And that’s what this lot would do. They know you’re leading this transformation.” She looked over at Tori. “It’s funny—you were the quiet one in your pledge group. Sulis was the rabble-rouser.”
“Sulis was a great foil,” Tori said. “With her attracting all the attention, I never had to hide what I was.”
“I wonder what happened to her,” Aggie mused as they walked over to one of the small groups.
“This is confidential, so keep it to yourself,” Tori murmured, and Aggie bent her head closer. “She’s one of the Chosen in the desert,” Tori said. “Along with Alannah, Dani, and Lasha from my pledge year. Everything we do here gives them a chance to win the final battle, which will be held in the middle of the desert. If the Chosen fall in that battle, if they fail, everything we worked for is gone.”
“Whiskers!” Aggie said, stopping in surprise. “I should have realized. She is a Hasifel, granddaughter to that powerful desert witch.”
“Those desert witches may have to sacrifice everything to subdue the deities,” Tori said. “When the deities reach for their acolytes’ energy to escape the trap the Southern witches have laid, we need to put a shield up between the acolytes and their feli so the deities find no energy is available. We also need to make certain the final spell doesn’t drain the Northern Territory of life by shielding all living energy.”
Aggie nodded. “One guide us all,” she said. “We’re going to need every blessing she has when the acolytes of the deities realize what we’re doing. What group do you want me in today?”
Tori directed her and was about to follow when Elida stopped her.
“Pause a moment. I have had word from the desert,” the Counselor said.
“From Sulis? Or Kadar?” Tori asked.
“Neither—from Alannah and the warriors of the One. Vrishni are with them, so we are able to communicate.”
“What do they say?” Tori asked.
“Another Descendant of the Prophet, Amon, is directing their efforts now. They have a task for us, a test of our shielding skills.”
“Go on?” Tori wasn’t certain she wanted to know what cousin Amon was up to.
“The warriors of the One will be manipulating the weather in the desert,” Elida said. “They are trying to blow up a small sandstorm to confuse the deities and separate them from their army. The Tigus will augment it with illusion, making the storm seem worse than it is and they will attack the army under the cover of illusion.”
“Disrupting weather patterns is dangerous,” Tori said. “It seldom goes as planned.”
“Which is why they want us on guard. They want us to see if we can shield the North against a disruption of their weather if the casting becomes dangerous.”
Tori thought for a moment. “We can’t completely shield natural forces like weather currents,” she said. “But we could put up a series of partial shields—kind of like breakwaters set out in the ocean to calm the water by coastal towns. Severe weather would hit the breakwaters, and some would spill over until it hit the next breakwater, with the water gradually becoming calmer as it comes across. How soon do they say this will happen?”
“In the next ten-day. They have spies in the army who will tell them when. The sandstorm and illusion will create confusion and terror with the fighters. The warriors of the One and the Tigus will cloak themselves and ride at the back of the storm.”
“We’ll start setting the breakers now. It will be a good test of our range and our ability to set partial shields,” Tori said. “I hope the warriors of the One know what they are doing. If their sending gets out of control, they could kill the people they want to save.”
Elida shook her head. “So much is riding on so few people.”
Abram stared at the golden horse with suspicion. It glared at him, ears back.
“Kadar wanted you to care for Asfar. If he does not return, she is yours,” Kadar’s companion, Onyeka, said, handing Abram Asfar’s lead rope. The horse snapped at Abram, and Onyeka smacked her muzzle and cursed at her in Tigu. “She will be fine. You must be firm.”
Turo slapped Abram on the back, causing Asfar to shy away, as Onyeka turned and threw her leg over her humpback. “Ha! She killed the man who owned her before Kadar. You will have your hands full.”
“Delightful,” Abram muttered. Turo and Abram were serving as runners for the warriors of the One and the Tigu elders, so Abram had become familiar with the Tigu man’s odd sense of humor.
Onyeka’s humpback heaved to its feet. A howl startled Abram, and he stepped back as Kadar’s cat flung herself at the humpback. Amber caught the saddle halfway up with her claws and climbed the rest of the way onto Onyeka’s lap.
“Blasted cat!” she exclaimed, trying to unhook the purring cat’s claws from her robes. “Father, take this beast.”
Turo backed away. “I caged her in the dormitory,” he said. “If the suncat managed to escape, she was meant to be with you.”
She glared at the cat, then shrugged. She pressed the back of her hand to her head in farewell, before riding off without a backward glance. Kadar had done the same thing, two days before when he rode to the waymarker with Master Sandiv to have his memories blocked. But Onyeka was traveling south to a camp in the mountains a day east of the Obsidian Temple. Master Sandiv would implant a suggestion in Kadar’s mind along with the blocks, directing him to the camp after he’d separated the Voices from the rest of the army.
“My daughter is a fine woman, is she not?” Turo asked. “But, sadly for you, in love with another.”
“Onyeka is far too intense for my taste,” Abram said as they walked together toward the stables, Asfar following as far back as her rope would allow.
“Just like her mother. Now that woman was all fire! But like you, I prefer a warm bed rather than searing flame,” Turo said as he opened the stall door.
It took both of them to convince Asfar the stall was not a cave full of snakes.
“We begin our march through the Sands in two days,” Abram said as he bolted the door. “She’ll have to stay here. I don’t have the time to tame
her.”
Abram was catching his breath and wiping off his brow when Casia called to him.
“I’ve been looking for you. With the Tigus here, the masters want to practice coordinating their sandstorm illusion with our weather working,” she said. “I’ll be with the energy users, raising wind energy.”
Turo shook his head. “It is madness, playing with the weather,” he said. “Nothing good can come of interfering with the One’s natural forces.”
Casia glared at him. “We have been experimenting for months. Master Ursa trained and directed us. It is only a small storm. The Tigus will make it seem larger than it is. There is little danger.”
She walked away and they trailed after her.
“But Master Ursa is no longer with us,” Turo said softly, for Abram’s ears only. “And I fear that most of all.”
Kadar woke disoriented. His head throbbed like someone had used it as a hammer. He was in a tent, on a bedroll. It was bright and hot in the tent and he was alone. His thoughts were hazy and he tried to get his bearings. He was supposed to remember something, what was it? Something about the warriors of the One, about the deities. Kadar struggled with his thoughts, wondering if he’d hit his head. Then memory surfaced, cleared. He was at the first oasis on the trade route toward Shpeth. His sister was dead. Remembering was like a punch in the gut.
He crawled out of the tent, half-blinded by the full sun. It didn’t matter; tears blurred his vision anyway as he knelt by the oasis waymarker that should have responded to his commands, but no longer did. The wards on the waymarker had been changed by Sulis’s blood and had been set into her bones. He clutched at the scrap of silk he’d found, a pattern that had been part of her favorite robe. She must have worn it to her death.
Kadar had known when the warriors of the One had sacrificed Sulis. He’d sat straight up when it had happened, waking Onyeka, who slept beside him. She’d held him as he searched for his sister, searched for the bond that was missing.
His mind went to that twin bond and once again, it was gone. She was gone. Kadar wiped his tears away, remembering that he had screamed at the Tigu elders when he’d realized that Sulis was dead. They’d told him that it was Sulis’s choice and that Grandmother had sacrificed herself at the next waymarker. His family, gone in an instant. Stupid, heedless sister of his, jumping into death with both feet, as she had always jumped into life. She’d never said goodbye—probably worried he’d talk her out of this stupid sacrifice.
