by Kyle Belote
Meristal’s amethyst gaze caught Julie watching the exchange unfold. She swallowed, a flush rising in her face, and hope she had the courage to break the sudden silence. “Are you two married?”
Meristal burst into a bright, bubbling laughter, covering her mouth with her hand while Judas shook his head in silence. Julie changed the subject, hoping to distract them, break the tension and the awkward moment. “How are we getting to where we are going? Journey stones?”
The warlock snorted, standing. “We will be walking and teleporting. Since we are in the Cape, the Corridor is near. Afterward, we will teleport to where we are going.”
“So, I’ll learn to teleport?” Julie begged, hopeful. She pushed the quilt away from her, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
“You have to be capable enough to complete the journey, and you have the potential, but your control needs mastering. We must work on your ability to reach out and have it respond to your will. Teleportation is the simplest way to get around but fatal if done incorrectly.”
“That doesn’t sound easy!” Julie said, standing.
“He said simplest, not easiest,” Meristal reminded her. She moved away from the warlock and Julie, her arms crossed over her stomach. Most people when they cross their arms seem standoffish, but she didn’t. Her arms seemed to drape about her in elegance.
“There is also the visible element to teleportation. If someone teleports near you, you can perceive the aura if you are more powerful or they haven’t mastered their essence. In addition to teleporting, there is winking and blinking. Blinking is a precursor to winking. Blinking is moving between two points near instantaneously, but the distance is short comparative to teleport or winking. Winking is just the same as teleporting but no cast time and no visible elements; you can’t even feel the surge of aura before their arrival. Only the most powerful can wink in and out of places.”
“So … they’re pretty much the same?” Julie argued, her words were drawn out. They all sounded the same to her.
“Well–,” Judas started.
“Yes, they are the same, in concept,” Meristal chimed in, cutting the warlock off. She shook her head at Judas. “You’re going to bore the poor girl to death and badger her with technicalities; not everything needs to be so long-winded, deary.”
Judas’ lips moved, but he said nothing to Meristal. To Julie, he spoke. “To answer your question, Julie, we will utilize the teleport to cover great distances. I will teach you what I can or at least, the theory of how to, but it’s far too dangerous for you to attempt. Promise me you will not be foolish.”
“Promise!” she affirmed, both giddy with excitement but solemn in her vow.
“If separated by some chance during our journey, you can visit any city and ask a Journeyman to port you to wherever you want to go. The destination is Wizard’s Pass. I will give you some money before we set off if that happens.”
“Journeymen are the guys with the stones, right?”
“Correct! They craft and charge stones to teleport the user where they need to go, but once invoked, it becomes a one-way trip. All the energy will deplete afterwards and are more expensive the further you travel. Their cousins-in-cause, the Portal Masters, take groups. Now then, I will inquire with the innkeeper about some food for our journey. Excuse me.”
Judas left the room, and Julie grew conscious of Meristal appraising her.
Breaking the growing silence, Julie murmured. “Thanks for changing my clothes.”
The older woman smiled and winked at her. “Well, Judas wouldn’t. He is far too prudish, even if the situation, like yours, warranted it. But I sensed something when I was addressing your wounds. The remnants of lust? Did you copulate before the incident?”
“No!” Julie informed, her answer swift and resolute. “Almost, but no.”
“If you did, don’t be ashamed. I am amazed you had the fortitude to fight off the magelust. The fact you did implies the longing lacked strength. Perhaps the fault lay with the man. Was it a man?”
Julie nodded. The fact that she could go into lust with a woman never crossed her mind, an impartial yet intriguing idea.
“One day you may face one too compelling to fight.”
“Any advice?”
Meristal’s lips poised, hesitating to speak. “Enjoy the moment, regret afterward, move on, the only thing you can do, I’m afraid.”
“Have you ever been affected by it?”
Meristal nodded, a slow movement. “Yes.”
“Did you regret the moment of indecision?”
This time, she shook her head and a small smile spread across her face. “Don’t tell Judas. It would tarnish the image he built up around me.”
Julie remembered the question she wanted to ask Judas, about the two percent of the population but now that he wasn’t here, a comfort settled over her about inquiring. “Am I like all the others who can’t filter out the lust, or will I master the technique in time?”
Meristal shrugged. “Let me tell you something that is very much against the accepted quo of each Rallocan. The people of Ralloc are a pretentious lot, prudish and close-minded. Probably has to do with all the nobility and the city’s long history. Speaking as a foreigner to the capital, don’t be too quick to dismiss or shut down everything. Judas is fairly progressive as far as open-minded people go, but in certain matters such as this, I would caution against broaching the subject. His prudish Rallocan side balks of such talk. If you need someone to talk to, I am here for you. Having been one who entered the magelust, it’s not as bad as most people make it out to be. Everyday people have sex; they make love with their wives or husbands or lovers, and no one bats an eye. Lords and Arystos frequent brothels and bed mistresses, a duality of their culture that reigns supreme. It is okay for the men but not for the women? Rubbish! Don’t let the confines of society define you. I would suggest be a Lady and keep your private life veiled in secrecy, but never shame your choices, especially if you reside in Ralloc.”
“Is there anyone I won’t go into the magelust with?”
Meristal shrugged again. “Sure. Everyone says the magelust is more to do with aptitude and the inability to ward yourself. That is true to an extent. A natural attraction is another part. If you view someone as old and infirm, or see a close friend like a family member, the magelust will not work. Most who enter the lust are around strangers.”
“Well, that explains why Judas never triggered lust within me.”
Meristal’s smiled widened. “Very true. He does seem too old or fatherly.” She smiled. “He was also warding himself and dampening his aura.” Meristal glanced at the door and back to Julie. “Better get dressed while he is gone.”
Julie went to her pack, heeding Meristal’s advice and dressed quickly. The other woman was kind enough to give her privacy by turning her back. Meristal claimed the long chair while Julie dressed. She shrugged into her robes of forest green and tan, the outer and inner robes, respectively. Dressed, she moved to sit beside Meristal on the long chair.
“How long have you and Judas been friends?” Julie asked as she sat down.
“Since the war. A long time.”
“He’s trained a lot of apprentices?”
Meristal arched an eyebrow. “Having trouble?”
Julie winced. “Yes, but I think its more to do with me than him.”
The other chuckled, warm in the back of her throat. “Our established friendship goes back a long time. I think it is safe to say its a matter of both, not just you. Judas has great abilities and is a superb teacher for those he doesn’t teach from the beginning. He is a reserved man and likes to hold things close to his chest.”
“Secrets?”
“Perhaps.”
“Secrets involving me?”
Meristal’s eyes narrowed. “Probably, but he keeps secrets from me. You either learn to live with it, or it drives you away. I get a distinct feeling it will do the latter to you. Address this with him. He is not an unreason
able fellow, just set in his ways.” She smiled. “Has he mentioned me?” Julie tried to think back and shook her head. “Typical,” Meristal snorted. She leaned forward, conspiratorial-like. “Well, I am sure he will get around to it. I’m an Apparel.”
Confusion flickered across Julie’s face, and Meristal explained. “I can change my features at will.”
“What? Can you teach me?”
Meristal smiled. “In time, maybe. Not now. From what Judas has said, you are having trouble getting your essence to respond. Once you obtain better mastery, I could teach you, as long as the affinity is there. It’s a rare gift.”
“Can you show me?” Julie quizzed, excited. Meristal smiled, and her amethyst eyes changed colors to match Julie’s own amber eyes and then slid back to purple. “By the gods! Are there others like you?”
Meristal’s face faltered, an emotion flaring into existence for a fraction of a second before she composed herself. Julie witnessed the myriad of expressions dancing in front of her eyes. “Yes, there are others, but I only know of one. Daylynn Reese. She is a member of the Kothlere Council.” She waved the subject away. “I don’t have anything polite to say about the woman so it’s best not to say anything.” Meristal leaned back, changing the subject. “Has he told you about the Archangels?”
Julie shook her head, her eyes widening. “No, he hasn’t! You’ve seen them?”
She nodded. “They are steeped in majestic power. You can feel it roiling off of them. Their wings are large, white–almost transparent like a unicorn,” she recalled the memory, her voice charming and bright. “They are the fiercest creatures in the entire Realm, if inclined. Beautiful and deadly, and brilliant strategic minds but rather emotionless, almost apathetic. If you see them, don’t run. Your first reaction is panic; it is natural. If you run, they will sense your terror, and will rationalize you are afraid of them and must be evil. They have been known to kill.”
“How many times have you been around them?” Julie asked, dumbfounded.
“More than anyone else, as far as I know.”
“Enough to be old hat?”
“Old and worn and patched back together again,” Meristal answered, a chuckle escaping her.
“So who is your student? Where are they? Are they here with you?”
“I don’t have one, hon, not for a long time,” Meristal lamented. Julie watched the other’s face settle in a visage of deep remembrance.
A brittle silence filled the gap between them and Julie tried to ease into returning to the conversation. “Well, you can teach me something!” she said, smiling.
“No, I’m afraid not, hon.”
“Why not? Is there a law against it?”
“No ….”
“Well, then, there isn’t an excuse, is there?” Julie reasoned, not giving Meristal a chance to back out.
“Well …” apprehension brokered Meristal’s face, and she cast a wary glance back at the door.
“Oh, come on. It won’t be that bad, will it? I mean, sure, I’m pretty much terrible, but I’m sure you can show me something that will help.”
“Why do you say you are terrible?”
“Other than a few basic spells, my magic always flounders. I can never complete a task on my own. I think Judas and the fairies are wrong. I can’t be the mage from their myth.” Julie read the doubt on Meristal’s face, not in regards to prophecy, but inner doubt.
“If it will boost your esteem, then who am I to deny such a request? Best not tell Judas. We skirt a taboo, teaching another’s apprentice without expressed permission,” Meristal relented, sighing. “Alright, what has Judas taught you so far?”
Julie discerned the uneasiness of her voice and the instructive intuition creeping forward. After a moment of reflection, she realized Judas hadn’t divulged much. “He made me find my essence by trying to influence a candle. It was late last night when I finally started to sense it, and I managed to bend the flame without resorting to emotions. And he showed me enhanced vision, but that ended in disaster.”
“Is that all he taught you, child?” Meristal asked skeptically.
“Er–yeah, pretty sure,” Julie answered, her voice guarded. “He showed me the incantation to levitate; he wrote it down for me, wanting me to practice on my pillows but I couldn’t lift them. I think the incantation is as broken as I am.”
“I see,” Meristal said solemnly. “How are you ever going to make it in the Corridor with such little knowledge? Very well, here is something that will defiantly help you. Pull out your wand.” She motioned her arms together as if she were drawing curtains shut in the air and muttered something quickly under her breath. A skittering hush fell over the room, the curtains drawing shut along their rails, engulfing the room in darkness.
Julie took out her wand, and Meristal instructed her on the incantation. She repeated the word several times, each syllable stressed.
“Okay. Now you try,” Meristal instructed.
The young woman pointed her wand steadily and spoke the incantation. The white tip of her wand spewed a tiny, bright light.
“Now, point it at an object in the room.”
The apprentice complied, and the speck of light shone brightly against every surface she pointed it at and giggled with excitement.
Meristal was about to say something but stopped, her ear turning towards the door. She muttered under her breath again, and the curtains flung themselves back open. Light flooded the room, revealing Judas.
“Teaching again, are we?” he teased Meristal.
“Better than you, apparently,” she retorted.
Judas turned to Julie. “Could you give us a minute? Grab your bag and wait outside for us, please.”
Julie left silently, but her spine stiffened as she walked between the two friends. She didn’t feel like hovering against the door. While she was curious as to what they were going to talk about, it felt too much like eavesdropping, her face hot with shame. Somehow, Julie knew she would be the center of discussion behind the closed door, but for good or ill? What else would Judas say or not say about her?
She retreated down the stairs. The new inn was much smaller and only two stories, four rooms to each floor. Julie didn’t stop at the front desk, where an old man with wispy gray hair gave her a withering glance, his lips moving as he mumbled something under his breath.
Outside, warmth greeted her, the morning air much hotter than Dlad City had been. From the Transference Judas performed, she had a rudimentary idea of where Cape Gythmel was on a map. It was south by southeast of Dlad City, but she couldn’t recall how far south it was. The Corridor was just outside the Cape by a league, and Gythmel was the furthest south settlement in Ralloc’s Domain. Once through the isthmus, they would be in the Marcoalyn Domain.
A bird twittered, and Julie’s head turned in that direction, hoping to catch sight of the winged creature. She saw a streak of blue and a flutter of wings and it was gone. Few pedestrians walked around the small town which boasted a dozen buildings. It wasn’t even a quarter of the size of Dlad City. Julie could see all ends of the town from her current position. She glanced to the north and the large, rising blue sun.
Apor, she recalled. I wonder if Praema will rise today as well.
A galloping horse drew her attention back towards town, and she watched a man drive his horse hard through the main street, his leather reins hitting the backside of his horse. “Hyah!” the rider accented with each smack. He thundered past without a backward glance.
The door to the inn opened behind her, and Julie watched Judas and Meristal exit. She tried to read their body language but couldn’t read much from it. Their expressions were blank.
What did they talk about? Did they talk about me? Is it about one of those secrets Meristal mentioned?
For the first time, it struck her that there may be more to the Judas-Meristal relationship than they let on. How did two friends who survived the Wizard’s War together never become romantically involved? She wanted to ask no
w, but the timing wasn’t right. She could ask Judas later and judge his reactions, would he hold back or lie outright? Reluctantly, she let the question fade away.
Today was the start of her trip through the Corridor of Cruelty. Apprehension snaked its way through her and even though she didn’t fully trust Judas and his openness, she didn’t worry about her safety.
He’ll be there to protect me, won’t he? she reasoned.
She faced Judas and Meristal and waited for the two to join her.
***
Chapter 19 : The Corridor Of Cruelty
Julie slung her pack over her shoulder as Judas took the last few steps and joined her. She sensed him inspecting her and the turmoil of feelings beneath.
“It’s time,” he advised.
Julie waved her goodbyes to Meristal Raviils, but the woman had a solemn expression, almost sad. Her first impulse was to ask why Meristal seemed despondent, but she hastily decided against it. Whatever transpired behind the closed door was not her business despite how bad she wanted to know. She turned her gaze towards her master. Judas, by contrast, didn’t seem emotional at all or bothered by their departure.
“Thank you,” Julie called back to Meristal. She hoped she understood that it had just as much to do with her healing as with their talk.
The other woman nodded and smiled, but she did not call to Julie. “Judas …” Meristal paused on the porch. “You better teach her more than a few spells if she is going to survive.”
Judas nodded his understanding. “See you when the war begins.”
Meristal bade them farewell again and winked out of existence.
The warlock promised her before she packed her things that they would be traveling by teleport. While not her first experience with teleporting, she vowed to pay more attention than last time. In her prior trip, she had been too shocked by the sudden disappearance and reappearance of surroundings and the immediacy of change; this would be Julie’s first experience with teleportation and the slight ability to perceive the essence within her. She hoped to gain some understanding that would help further her potential. Excitement riddled her body, and she trembled not with fear, but anticipation.
