by David Wind
Above them, on a branch close enough for Areenna to see her perched Gaalrie. Charka, still uneasy after the battle, rested next to the lean-to, his head against the silks. Long after Mikaal and Trebor had fallen to sleep, Areenna lay awake; worrying about how to be sure Trebor would not speak about Mikaal’s powers.
Thankfully, all he’d seen was the last battle. He had not realized that Mikaal had deflected the arrow. If he had, Mikaal’s explanation would have sounded false. What to say? How to say it? Those were her last thoughts before sleep claimed her.
<><><>
An hour before dawn, Charka woke Mikaal with a mind picture of the unhurt Blade trying to free himself. He rose silently, slipped from the lean-to with his knife and went over to the man who he found contorted, trying to untie his feet with his hands by bending his body backwards like an inverted bow.
“Stop. It’s useless.”
The man froze at the sound of Mikaal’s voice. He pulled his legs from under him and turned to face the prince. His eyes were hard, his mouth pulled tight. “Why keep us alive? What will you have of me?”
“You seek death?”
“I am not afraid of it.”
“Such is more than obvious, for you attacked us without knowing us. Why?”
“Why not? What fight could a single guardsman, a woman and a boy prince put against the seven of us?”
“You found not what you expected, eh?”
The man shook his head. “A sorceress, no.”
“Talk to me truthfully and I will let you free when we leave.”
“And I am to believe that?” the Free-Blade asked sarcastically.
“You have the word of Mikaal of Tolemac, son of Roth, High King of Nevaeh.”
The man’s eyes widened in surprise. Then they narrowed. “Why release me?”
“I bargain for information, but if you prefer…” Mikaal drew his knife.
The man’s eyes locked on the blade. “All right,” he whispered.
“Why did you and the others turn renegade and leave the Free-Blades?”
“What does it matter?”
“It matters,” Mikaal said, “much more than you know. Why?”
The man shrugged. “There was something wrong with our Free-Blade company. I don’t know what, but it was wrong.”
He sent a thought to Areenna to waken her so she would be a part of this. I have been here, came her replying thought.
I felt you not.
I did not want you to be disturbed.
“Wrong in what way?” he asked the man.
“I don’t know. All I know was one day I was with them, the next day there were seven of us on our own. We have been roaming ever since, taking what we could, where we could.”
“Why attack us? What would we have?”
“The prince.”
“To what purpose? You would never survive King Esnal and his men.”
The man shook his head. “You would not believe me.”
“Try me.”
“All I can tell you is that it seemed the right thing, to take the prince… and I had to do so. The others were of the same mind.”
“The purpose? Feeling right is not a purpose.”
The man’s eyes seem to be pleading for understanding. Then they changed. They became hard and opaque, as had the eyes of the leader before he died. Smoke rose from the ropes on his wrists and ankles and a moment later the bonds fell free.
Instantly, Areenna’s energy flowed into him and he exhaled slowly and allowed her through. As her energy surged, it spread across to the man. His eyes cleared and he shook his head. He stared at Mikaal as if he had never seen him before.
“What…”
“Who are you?” Mikaal asked.
“I am Nivram of Marlot’s Free-Blades.” His voice was different from moments before. His tone was smoother, the sound higher.
“Do you remember what happened last night?” Areenna asked from behind Mikaal. She stepped next to him and knelt. “Do you?”
The man nodded. “I remember it, but I… It was not me. I don’t understand.”
Mikaal turned to Areenna. “It is like the man you told me of in the Blue Desert. The one she had taken over.”
“Yes,” she replied. “Do you remember anything of the day you left the Free-Blades?”
He nodded. “I remember feeling that I had something important to do and they were holding me back.”
“What was so important?” Areenna asked.
“To capture him,” he said, nodding toward the lean-to where Trebor slept.
“To take Prince Trebor?”
He shook his head. “To take any Prince or King if I could. All of us had to do this.”
She is trying to weaken Nevaeh for the benefit of her Masters, Areenna told Mikaal.
I see that. “Nivram, you may not understand this but the darkness, the Dark Ones have been using you. If I release you, will you return to your Free-Blades?”
The man nodded slowly.
“There is a war coming. Nevaeh will need everyone. I charge you with that message to your commander. Make him understand the words come from the High King Roth, Prince Mikaal and Areenna of Freemorn, daughter of King Nosaj. Can you do that?”
“I will try.”
Areenna leaned toward him. “Your mind, the way you thought things were wrong with the Free-Blades, a sorceress with dark powers did that to you. She was controlling you. I can help protect you from the Dark Ones. Will you allow it?”
A small light of understanding built on his face. “You can stop them?”
“From taking you again, yes.”
“I am willing.”
She reached out with both hands and put one to each side of his head. When she released him, the block was firmly in place. Then she turned to the man lying next to them and saw his eyes were open. “You have heard everything?”
The man nodded. “Are you willing to be protected?” When he nodded again, she repeated the blocking on the injured man but offered no healing. There was no time.
“We leave at dawn. You are free. Bury your fellows. They deserve not to become food for the danglores,” Mikaal said, looking up at the large carrion-eating birds circling above, waiting patiently for the people below to leave so they could feed.
“I shall do so,” the man promised.
“You have been tied all night. Relieve yourself, drink some water and do what you have promised. Help your comrade as well.”
“Thank you, My Lord, My Lady, I will keep my word.”
“I am certain you will, Nivram,” Areenna replied.
She and Mikaal rose together and returned to the lean-to where they saw Trebor awake and watching. When they reached him, he raised his brows in question. “Tell him while I start to break camp,” Mikaal said. “We eat as we ride. I need to be away from this place.”
CHAPTER 13
The cold mountain air washed across their faces. After leaving the campsite, they had climbed steadily into the higher mountains of Welkold. The temperature dropped with each mile traveled. All three wore their heavier cloaks. Trebor’s was thick and quilted; Mikaal and Areenna wore their rabt fur cloaks.
Two hours earlier, Areenna had sent Gaalrie to Akassia, letting the Princess know of their arrival. They had talked throughout the morning, explaining more to Trebor about what Nevaeh would be facing and deflecting questions about Mikaal.
As noon approached, and with less than an hour’s ride before they reached Ontan, Welkold’s capital, Areenna knew it was time to speak to Trebor about Mikaal’s magic. She glanced at the young prince, who was the same age as she, and wondered why she felt so much older.
“Trebor, we must talk about last night.”
He turned to her, a question on his face. “What more is there to say?”
“You understand nothing of what you witnessed of Mikaal can be told, do you not?”
He shook his head slowly. “No. Why?”
“Think of how it affected you when you reali
zed Mikaal had a woman’s ability. What was your first reaction?”
His eyes locked on hers. “At first I could not believe my eyes. When I realized what I had seen was real, my first thought was of dark magic. No man can have a woman’s magic.”
“You know Mikaal’s gift is not of the dark powers now, yes?”
“Yes. I…” He shook his head; his eyes were troubled. “It seems wrong somehow.”
“I know it seems that way, which is why no mention can be made. The people of Nevaeh will not understand, not at first. All they will see is dark magic. They will cast Mikaal out, and by doing so weaken Nevaeh. If this happens, Nevaeh will be lost to the Dark Ones.”
“You are so certain?” Trebor asked, his eyes laden with doubt.
“As certain as my ability to breathe. Do you trust me?”
“Of course,” Trebor responded. “I have known you all my life.”
“Then you must believe I would not ask this of you if it were not so important. Trebor, when we… when I was on the Island, the forces there, the powers that give women their magic charged me with a mission, and they charged Mikaal the same. The ability they gave him was to help protect Nevaeh and me. We go to do our best to defend all our people from what is coming. But if Mikaal’s ability to do magic is known, we will not complete our task and…”
Trebor turned from Areenna to glance at Mikaal, and then he looked straight ahead. Areenna sensed his conflicting emotions and remained silent.
Mikaal, slightly ahead of them, stayed silent as well, intuitively knowing it had to be Areenna, who convinced Trebor of the need for his silence. He also understood the prince had to be convinced. If they forced him to keep the secret through their abilities, they would be no better than the Dark Ones who sought to dominate Nevaeh.
Several minutes later, Trebor turned back to Areenna. “You have my pledge. I will speak nothing of what I witnessed.”
“Thank you.” A weight lifted from her shoulders.
Watching them, Mikaal heard Trebor’s promise but sensed the young man’s troubling thoughts of Mikaal and the unnatural gift he had seen at work during the fight.
A half hour later, the top of the center tower of Ontan’s keep came into view. It was a magnificent sight. Nestled high in the mountains, the capital of Welkold sat on a wide plateau, the clouds so low their white trailing tendrils surrounded the keep’s high tower. A ring of snow-capped mountains— undulating slopes filled with tall green pines, slumbering gazebow trees and the most important trees on Nevaeh, the acont tree, whose wood was the rarest and valued above all, encircled Ontan. The only passage through the protective mountains was this very road.
Unlike the other dominions of Nevaeh, Welkold had no outer wall for defense. The mountains were barrier enough. The keep itself had a high wall, as did all castle keeps. Surrounding the keep wall was a ring of shops where merchants sold and traded their goods. Across from them were the stands of the farmers. Further back from the merchant shops, and in concentric rings, were the homes of the citizens of Welkold. Far from Ontan, at the base of the mountains next to a fast-flowing river, spread the warehouses and mills of the wood merchants.
Welkold was a trading dominion. They bartered wood, lumber and game for whatever the dominion needed. The wood of Welkold was the strongest and best in Nevaeh for the acont tree only grew in the local mountains.
High above them and directly overhead, Gaalrie soared on warm currents of mountain air while Areenna watched through her eyes. A few moments later she saw herself, Mikaal and Trebor—three small spots on the road.
“Go,” she told the giant treygone and built a mind picture of Gaalrie flying over Ontan.
The bird dove downward for hundreds of feet before straightening and flying toward Ontan. Still melded with her aoutem, Areenna watched the road below. Halfway to the keep, the road grew busy with people going to and from the capital. Smoke filtered upward from hundreds of chimneys and life abounded.
While Gaalrie circled the keep, Areenna noticed there was much activity in the courtyards. Soldiers were at their duties, and the staff of the keep was hard at work. In the center courtyard, Areenna saw Akassia walking with another woman. The Princess paused, smiled and waved to Gaalrie, who dipped once before returning to the road and Areenna.
“Akassia knows we are near,” she said aloud. In reaction, Trebor pushed his kraal slightly faster. Areenna smiled.
A quarter hour later, they passed through the keep’s main gate, where both Akassia and King Lebon waited. Dismounting, Areenna drew Akassia into an embrace and Mikaal greeted the King with a bow and a gripped arm. Trebor did the same.
Stepping back, Areenna studied Akassia. It had been a year since she had last seen her. In that year, her friend had become a beautiful woman. Thick wavy black hair flowed halfway down her back; her face, which had been unusually thin, had filled out. Her deep copper skin glowed with life. The umber eyes set beneath narrow arching brows had matured to womanhood.
The stable hands came to take the kralets and the kraals to the stable, and the three followed Lebon and his sister into the keep, and to an already prepared chamber where platters of food and pitchers of wine and water awaited.
Seated, Libon turned to Mikaal. “How long will you stay?”
“The night only,” Mikaal responded. “We have considerable distance to cover and not much time. I wish it were not so. It has been a while since I spent time in Ontan.” Mikaal paused for a moment. “We grieved on the passing of your mother. She was a powerful woman and a good queen.”
He watched the young King as he spoke. Libon appeared the same as he had at the council meeting in Tolemac, a little more than a half-year before. He was tall and reed thin, with the same copper skin as his sister and identical black wavy hair. The only change to his face was new lines at the corners of his eyes. Being King matured one quickly.
“We thank you,” Libon said. “We miss her counsel, my sister and I.”
“I understand, Highness,” Mikaal responded.
“The messages we have received from your father, he is certain of what is happening?”
“Sadly, yes. The Dark Ones are preparing for war. They use whatever minions they can find to disrupt life in Nevaeh, and they are coming from across the sea. Have you started preparing your people?”
“I have, and I’ve also given instruction to the merchants for weapons. Arrows and spears from acont trees will be made, not just for us, but as much as we can produce for where they are needed.”
“You are generous, Highness,” Areenna said.
“I do only what I know my mother and father would have done. We have always stood with Nevaeh. We shall continue to do so as long as I am King. Now tell me more of this journey you take.”
Mikaal exchanged glances with Areenna before saying, “When Princess Areenna went to the east, to the Island, at her time of the woman’s calling she was—” he searched for the right words. “—charged with mission to the Frozen Mountains.”
“Charged with a mission? By whom?” Libon asked, looking from Mikaal to Areenna to Akassia, his brows pulling together in question.
“We are… women are called to the east when it is their time to learn if their abilities will remain the same or grow. There are ancient powers on the Island. It was these powers that charged me with this responsibility,” Areenna said in a low voice. “These powers are trying to save Nevaeh from the Dark Masters across the sea.”
While she spoke, a burning built within her. When she stopped speaking, she sought out its source and realized it was Akassia. She glanced at the girl, who nodded imperceptibly.
Libon exhaled softly. “Then we must make the most of your time here. We must talk more of the preparations necessary. Trebor, you will join us?”
Trebor drew his eyes from Akassia and nodded. “Of course, Highness.”
Libon smiled at him. “There will be much time to spend with my sister.” His smile widened and he added, “Many years.”
When they finished their meal, Libon took Mikaal and Trebor to the King’s administration chamber, leaving Akassia and Areenna alone. When the voices of the men faded away, Areenna asked, “What bothers you?”
The young Princess reached across the table to grasp Areenna’s hands. She sighed softly. “It has been hard, these past months since mother’s death. There are no women of strong power, and I feel alone.”
“I understand,” she said, giving her friend’s hands a gentle squeeze. “It was the same for me after my mother… Akassia, it will get better. You will soon be in Lokinhold and have Ammie to work with you.”
Akassia nodded. “But not until Libon marries. I cannot leave him without advisor or my powers, as weak and untested as they are.”
“Sanna of Kashold has grown strong. She will be a good advisor, as you will be to Trebor.”
Akassia smiled. “Was it so short a time ago when we were in the school? It seems longer somehow. I remember how you and I would play in the trees behind the school, go exploring the caves nearby and Master Thrumweld would come to chase us back inside. It was a time I hold close.”
“And I,” admitted Areenna. Of all the children at the school, all the sons and daughters of the ten dominions of Nevaeh, she and Akassia had shared many adventures, some of which had landed them in trouble. “It has been only a few years since school; but, yes, it feels like a very long time since we were there,” Areenna admitted thinking how her life had changed in the past six months.
“Areenna, I… I have been having dreams, visions I think.”
Looking into the troubled girl’s eyes, Areenna sensed fear coming from her. “What visions?”
“They started about… ten days ago. At first I thought them only disturbing dreams, but meaningless. Anxiety perhaps about the coming bonding with Trebor, but they kept coming, stronger and clearer each night. Last night was the strongest and I have been unable to understand it.”
“Tell me.”
“I… It is hard to speak about this. It seems not real.”
