by Sharon Green
"I was about to suggest that they be locked up somewhere, but I withdraw the suggestion," Naran said with a sigh when Lorand didn't respond. "That option allows for the possibility of escape, and those people really are vicious. If they escape from confinement then innocent people will die, and the deaths will be our fault for not having the stomach to do the necessary."
"I'd love to argue for mercy, but I'm afraid I can't," Jovvi said, mostly to a forlorn-looking Lorand. "We have no right to put innocent people's lives in danger simply because we dislike the idea of killing. Happily, though, the matter will be seen to by those of us who have no qualms about doing the necessary. We'll have to take full responsibility for the action along with them, but we can avoid what we'd find painful if not impossible."
"And we don't mind," Vallant said as Lorand nodded despite his obvious reluctance, clearly speaking for Tamma and Rion as well. "As long as we know that the rest of you will tell us if we start goin' too far, we don't mind takin' care of the hard part."
Everyone reached out to touch Lorand then, showing him their love and support without words. Lorand clung to them for a moment before he straightened again, strengthened in spite of his continuing upset. Jovvi knew that Lorand would be strong enough to join the rest of them, and also knew that she would be the same. The one thing she didn't know was just how guilty she would feel afterward…
Chapter Eighteen
The village had a large, empty building that could have been a meeting hall, so we called our people in there to tell them what we meant to do. The new Gracelian High Blendings had taken the building over instead of using some of the houses, so they were the only ones who didn't have to send a couple of representatives. Everyone else did have to choose two attendees, otherwise we would have been five deep in each others' laps.
"Are you people serious?" Deegro Lapas, a member of one of my link groups, said once Vallant explained things. "Do you actually mean to tell us you've been doing things wrong all this time?"
"How can it be wrong if it got us this far?" I countered, shaking my head at the idiot. "You should know that we keep finding out all sorts of things about Blending that the nobles never knew - or simply didn't share - and this is just another of those things."
"Only a couple of days ago I would have said I wasn't up to trying your idea," Arinna said, looking delighted. Arinna was the Fire magic member of Pagin Holter's Blending, the Blending that was closest in age and strength to ours. "We were going through that phase of being exhausted all the time, but now we seem to be past it."
"And we're lookin' f'rw'rd t'hearin' each other in th' Blendin'," Holter himself added. "That ain't happened yet."
"But it will, and probably fairly soon," Vallant told him with a smile. "We're thinkin' about chargin' you people for the warnin's we've been givin'. Without us you'd be flounderin' around the way we're doin'."
"Whatever you charge will be worth it," Arinna said with a laugh that Holter and most of the rest of the people in the building joined in. "You have no idea how good it feels to know what's coming, and because you don't you have our sincere sympathy."
"We'll remember that the next time we think we're goin' crazy," Vallant told her with a wry grin, and then he grew serious again. "One of our Blendin's is keepin' an eye on the enemy, and their entity just came back to report. It seems our invaders are still gettin' their people out of the hole we dropped them into, but that chore is almost done. We expected them to have to fill in at least part of the hole to get their litters across, but apparently they cheated. The litters are already across the gap, so they must have used Air magic to give the litter bearers somethin' to walk on."
"Which means that after they've gotten the rest of their people out they'll be on their way here again," I said into the mutter of comments coming from our listeners. "You know that we wanted to wait until they were completely rested before we faced them, but that might not be possible now. They'll be resting in their litters as their force continues along the road, and if we wait too long they'll be here before we know it. We don't want to have to fend off murdering slaves determined to reach our bodies while we're Blended, or we won't be able to give a confrontation all our attention. For that reason I propose that we stop them about a mile away from here, and issue our challenge then. That will give the rest of you a chance to retreat if we still can't stop them. Does anyone have an objection to that plan?"
"I object to the idea of running away, but we're not the ones who will be doing the fighting," Arinna said when no one else spoke. "Since you're the ones whose lives will be on the line, I can't see that the decision is anyone's but yours."
Murmurs and mutterings of agreement came from all over the room, and the message was perfectly clear.
"You all seem to feel the way Arinna does," Jovvi observed aloud as she also looked around. "With that in mind I think we ought to end this meeting now, to give us a chance to practice Blending through Tamma."
That decision caused more commenting than protests as everyone turned to a neighbor to discuss what they'd been told. The meeting was over and no one was unhappy about it - with one possible exception…
"Stop worryin', you'll do fine," Vallant murmured to me, his arm coming to circle me. "I know you want to do it, and that's more than half the battle."
"I'll let you know whether that's true after we do our practicing," I muttered in return, really appreciating his support. "But I think I just had a better idea. Why don't we start with you initiating the Blending, and then you'll be able to tell me from personal experience just how easy it is."
Vallant started to give me one of those exasperated looks he'd gotten so good at showing, but Rion joined us before Vallant added words to the expression.
"I couldn't help overhearing your remark, Tamrissa, and although I'm sure you were joking you did give me an idea." Rion certainly did look thoughtful, and he smiled when he saw my raised brows. "What I mean by that is, I've just realized we ought to be able to Blend with any of us initiating the Blending. Once we've seen to the invaders, we really should try it just to see if there are any major differences each time."
"That's a very good idea, Rion," I said, seriously thinking about the suggestion. "If it works, the arrangement will make things easier for us. If one of us happens to see a situation where we need to Blend, we won't have to try to get Jovvi's attention."
"You're both right," Vallant agreed, looking as surprised as I'd felt a moment ago. "I'm rememberin' that time we were on our way back to Gan Garee, and I left that fancy inn the Guild people found for us and walked outside alone. The guardsmen were gettin' ready to attack us, but I couldn't think of a way to alert Jovvi without givin' away my position. If we were all able to initiate the Blendin', we could avoid situations like that."
By then the others had joined us, and they were just as enthusiastic about the idea. It felt mildly odd to be solving problems instead of finding new ones, and then Jovvi made me forget about pleasant things by touching my arm.
"Yes, it is time we got started with the practice," Jovvi confirmed my suspicion. "But just relax, Tamma, because initiating isn't hard at all. You'll be reaching out to the rest of us just the way you always do, but this time you'll be doing it first."
"That's not quite the tiny difference you're trying to make it sound like," I pointed out sourly, then took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. "Well, if we're going to try this, let's get to it. If it isn't going to work I want to know it for a fact, not just worry over the possibility."
Everyone seemed to be giving me nods and smiles of encouragement, so I took one last look at the rain outside the windows and then dove right in. I knew those people as well as I knew myself, so I closed my eyes and reached to all of them rather than to Jovvi first. In fact I left Jovvi for last, and suddenly I was the entity rather than just myself.
This feels rather different, the Jovvi part of me said after a moment. I still lack full understanding of the difference, yet the oddity is certai
nly there.
Perhaps the observation is mistaken, but I seem to sense a good deal more strength, the Rion part of me said. This is definitely an arrangement which should have been attempted sooner.
I feel an approval of sorts, I contributed as my own comment. It seems as though something has been done to advance us as a properly integrated entity. I shall now dissolve our unity, so that our flesh forms may discuss the matter. Such a doing is necessary at the moment.
The others knew that I'd spoken the truth, and then I was apart again and looking around. Everyone seemed pleased, but Vallant looked to be closer to delight.
"Yes, I was definitely feelin' a good deal more strength," Vallant said, mostly to Rion but to the rest of us as well. "If this doesn't make us at the very least equal to the invaders, I'm throwin' my hands up and goin' home."
"And the rest of us will be going with you, because we don't have anything else left to try," I agreed with a shrug. "Did you all notice that when we were Blended? That if we don't win now we never will?"
"I certainly did," Naran said with a sigh. "Our chances at victory have increased tremendously, but it's still up to us to turn the possibility into reality."
"You know, suddenly that doesn't worry me," I said as a revelation of sorts broke through. "We keep fretting over the fact that we aren't being guaranteed victory, but didn't we decide a long time ago that nothing is guaranteed until it actually happens? Even if the probabilities show everything stacked against us in the coming fight, there's still the chance that one of those litter bearers could trip and make the others drop the litter. Falling could break the neck of one of the enemy, and that would be the end of all the probabilities stacked against us. So let's not worry about the fight, only about where we put our feet."
"I think I'll take that excellent advice personally," Lorand said with a laugh while everyone else made sounds of agreement. "I'm probably the least graceful of all of us, so I need to take the advice. What are we going to do now?"
"We're going to have some tea and relax for the next hour or so," Jovvi said firmly before anyone else could answer. "Vallant will have one of our associate Blendings keeping an eye on the enemy, so we have nothing to do but gather all the strength we can. When the time comes, we'll then go out and put those invaders in their place. Does anyone think we won't?"
Jovvi looked so fierce when she asked her question that the rest of us simply shook our heads without showing our inner smiles. We were going to win, I knew we were…
Rion protected us from the rain on our way back to the house we'd slept in, and then he went off to think about what he would make for lunch. The rest of us got tea and sat down on our sleeping pads, but I, personally, found relaxing beyond me. I wanted to get on to the fight and have it behind me, but we couldn't even go out to meet the invaders at the place we'd decided on. Putting our bodies within reach of the enemy's slaves would have been colossally stupid, and we couldn't afford to be stupid…
"You know, I've been thinking about those invaders," Lorand said, appearing suddenly beside my sleeping mat. "They remind me quite a lot of your parents, Tamrissa."
"In what way?" Vallant asked, making room for Lorand on his own mat. "I didn't notice the enemy tryin' to fix her up with a husband."
"They've done everything but that," Lorand said with a chuckle as he sat and looked up again to see my faint smile. "They're just as arrogant as Tamrissa's parents were, demanding that we all do as they say, and they completely dismissed what we want. They also think we'll never find an effective way to argue with and resist them, and the whole point of their lives seems to be to get their own way no matter how many other lives are ruined in the process."
"I hadn't noticed that, but obviously you're right," I said with brows high. "Those people are just like my parents, going their merry way without once stopping to think about anyone else. And they need taking down just as badly as my parents did. Now I really can't wait until the fight starts."
I got to my feet and carried my tea over to a window, staring out into the rain as I enjoyed a sense of anticipation. I happen to love rainy days, finding the gentle confinement when indoors a snug and comfortable thing. If I have to go out in the rain the world seems different, as if it's enjoying its cleansing as much as I enjoy the smell of freshness. Yes, rainy days have always been special for me, and this rainy day would turn out to be more special than all the rest.
I lost myself in daydreams of sweet revenge for a while, thinking about the past and making plans for the future, and the sound of Vallant's voice came as a surprise.
"All right, brothers and sisters, the time for action has arrived," he said, his voice full of happy anticipation. "Our associate Blendin' tells me that the enemy is almost to the place we want them to reach, so it's gotten to be our turn to move."
"Yes!" I breathed, then headed back to my sleeping pad. "Okay, is everybody ready?"
"Not quite yet," Naran said, surprising me. "We don't know how long this will take, so a quick trip to the facilities is in order."
Everyone seemed to agree with her, and I discovered that that included me. We all took a turn using the facilities, but it still wasn't long before we were back to our sleeping pads.
"Okay, is everybody ready now?" I asked as I looked around. All I got in response was amusement, so instead of saying anything else I simply reached out to them. Their answering touches were immediate, and then it was the Tamrissa entity once again.
I knew the point at which I'd wanted the enemy to be met, so I flashed there without having to confer with our current guard entity. The slave flesh forms walking in advance of the enemy's litters were already in sight, so our arrival was just in time.
The others are arriving behind us, the Vallant part of me said. Our associate entity informed them of the impending battle after reporting to us.
Good, the Naran part of me said in approval. Their presence is required in some way.
Our own presence is required to an even greater extent, the Rion part put in. Will it be necessary for us to announce our readiness to the enemy?
I believe my senses detect the beginning of their Blending, I replied, pleased that the necessary awareness had now developed. They should be with us in no more than a moment.
-You are too late,- the enemy entity announced an instant after it had formed. -Clearly you thought to attack before this entity was prepared for you, but such an action would not have been possible. This entity is more than prepared, and so shall it ever be.-
-And you are mistaken,- I told the enemy, annoyed by its air of smug superiority. -It was necessary that you be fully prepared to face us, else we would have taken advantage of your earlier lack of attention. Our aim is to defeat you where others may see your defeat, an aim which we now mean to accomplish.-
-A pity, then, that it shall be this entity's aim which is accomplished instead,- the enemy responded. And then that roiling began inside it which indicated it was in the process of gathering the power.
It seems to be necessary that we allow the enemy to strike first, my Naran part informed me. The reason for such an action eludes me, yet am I not unsure.
Perhaps we must allow the attack so that we may be certain of what level of strength is available to us, my Jovvi part surmised. In past attacks, we were merely able to withstand the enemy. Now we must also be able to reply.
We shall be able to reply, I stated, my annoyance growing. The enemy means to bend us to its will, and that I shall not allow.
My anger flared even as the enemy stuck, which was a fortunate thing. The strength brought against me was as full as it had been the previous times, and although I was able to withstand the attack much more easily I found I was still unable to reply. The frustration of that truth added to my anger as the enemy struck a second time, even more strength behind the attack. I knew I lacked a certain knowledge, a certain procedure…
And then the obvious finally made itself known. I had very little experience as the initiator
of the Blending, and therefore still thought as a segment. Previously my place had been to add my ability to that of the others, but now the reverse was necessary. I knew I must add the ability of the others to my own, in a true Blending of minds and talents.
As quickly as the thought came, that quickly did I act. My Blendingmates had been … behind me, so to speak, but now I brought them forward in a full and proper union. I felt my flesh form breathe a sound of satisfaction, and then the enemy struck a third time.
-This entity perceives that you have gained some small amount of strength,- the enemy informed me smugly as I gave a whisper of distance to allow myself greater freedom of movement. -You have, however, no hope of standing forever against my superior ability. When one or two of your flesh forms collapse, they and the others will then be mine to do with as I please.-
And then a fourth attack came, harder than the previous ones and obviously meant to jar me back to my body. This time there was no reason to give ground or allow the attack to touch me in any way, and once it had washed past me harmlessly I couldn't hold back a very nasty smile.
-Well, I'd say that that's all the chances you're going to get today,- I sent, making sure the enemy was able to perceive my amusement. -Now it's my turn, and I can guarantee I won't need more than just the one.-
-For what reason do you seem so strange?- the enemy put with an odd quiver behind the question. -Never has this entity seen such a thing before, and the perception distresses me. You are an unnatural freak, and therefore must be destroyed. Then all those behind you will be this entity's property, and they will be made to -
The entity's comments broke off when I struck at it, and then it was gone. I was able to tell that most of the members of the enemy Blending were at least reeling if not actually unconscious, so I quickly turned my attention to the slaves surrounding the litters. It took very little effort to neutralize them and freeze them in place, and then I turned to my associate Blendings and our new Gracelian allies.
