"I know. I really missed you, too. If Kyri hadn't kept me so busy with training after I recovered, I probably would have moped the whole time."
"Ana's doing very well," Misten said as the training field came into view. "The others are somewhat slower."
"I'll take a look," I said. "Tell me who to go to first."
"Best or worst?" Caral asked.
"Let's go with worst. If we can get him or her going, maybe the others will be more enthusiastic."
"Barney," Misten said quickly.
"What's wrong with him?" I asked.
"Not him. Her. Real name is Barna, but prefers Barney," Caral explained.
"I see. She's ah, not of the Bulldog variety, is she?"
"I don't think so-she just isn't catching on. At all."
"What can she do?"
"Well, we got her to make fire, but that's about it," Caral frowned.
"So she's a washout from the beginning?"
"From about twenty years ago, yes."
"And she still wanted to try this again?"
"She wants to, but it's just not happening for her."
"We were hoping you could put your hands on her-like you did in the past," Misten pleaded. "She's not really popular with the others, because she can't do anything."
"I know how that feels-to be excluded," I blew out a breath. "Take me to her. We'll see what she has."
We found Barney sitting beneath a tree on the edge of the training field while others were practicing their shielding. Ana was helping another instructor; I could see it from a distance.
There was plenty of work to be done here, that was obvious.
"Barney, this is Sherra," Caral introduced me.
"Sorry," Barney jumped to her feet and brushed off her trousers before offering me a hand, which was now covered in dust.
"Sorry," she pulled the hand back immediately and wiped it on her shirt.
"Barney, Caral tells me you really want to learn," I said, ignoring her nervousness and discomfort.
"I do. But I just-can't."
"Will you let me touch your hands-so I can see what level your power is?"
"What if I don't have any?" Tears were forming in her eyes as she hid her hands behind her back.
"You can make fire. You have power," I assured her. "If I touch you, your power will be revealed," I added. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
"You saved Az-ca. Everybody says so." She hung her head.
"Barney, take my hands," I held them out to her.
Reluctantly, she brought her hands around, then hesitated for several moments before gripping my fingers with hers.
A simmering pool of power, previously untapped, lay within her. I was surprised she'd been able to make fire, because of the disconnect between the power and her mind.
A pathway was there, but it took a few turns instead of being straight, as another's would be.
"Let me show you the path to your power," I blinked into deep green eyes. "Close your eyes, I'm about to connect with you to show you what you have and how to reach it."
"I have power?" she breathed.
"You have power," I smiled. "Now, close your eyes. We'll travel this path together."
Chapter 11
Sherra
"You mean that the way she reads or writes-misspelling words and such, is a reflection of how she connects with her power?" Caral asked as we walked into the mess hall for midday meal.
"Yes. Now that she knows how to get to it, I think she'll learn quickly."
"She sure surprised everybody, when she made a shield strong enough to knock those wooden balls away," Misten said. "And that was right after you showed her how to do it."
"I think some of the others will be lining up for Sherra this afternoon," Armon said as he and Levi followed us in. "Nice job, taking the worst of the lot and working a miracle."
"She wasn't the worst, I'd bet on it," I said. "She just didn't understand. Now she does."
"We only have to deal with weak shields and self-doubt in the others," Levi grinned.
"Have I hugged you lately?" I turned to ask him.
"No," Levi's grin grew wider.
"You only get a few minutes before we have to report excessive contact to the Crown Prince," Armon teased as Levi lifted me off my feet in a bone-cracking hug.
Pottles' mindspeak came after Levi set me down.
Sherra, I'd like to bring the young ones to Secondary Camp for a short visit-they're curious, she said.
That's fine. Tonight, though, when I get back, I want to see the lists of all the talented young ones in Az-ca. Feel like going through it with me?
If you'll let us watch the training.
Done. Bring them in an hour-we're about to eat right now.
I will.
"Pottles is bringing the young ones-they want to see the camp," I said.
"Really?" Misten asked.
"Yes. Let's eat; they'll be here in an hour."
* * *
Merrin
"Those clerics can cook," Plicton patted his stomach after our midday meal. "I like being served," he added.
During our meal, which Ruarke's clerics had prepared, they'd silently served us, anticipating our requests and keeping cups filled with the beer we'd found in the outpost's cellar.
Ruarke hadn't joined us-two clerics served him in the commander's office. He'd be engrossed in Thorn's Book, I imagined, and wondered if he'd tell me the important things he'd read, rather than making me read them for myself.
I hated reading, actually. Thorn was always the one who studied; I never cared for it, myself. I'd done the minimum of what was required during my training, just to get to the more physical aspects of using my power.
I'd gotten enjoyment from blasting things to atoms, early on. Thorn was one of the few who could surpass me during our field training, and it made me angry most of the time.
I'd carried that anger to Drenn, who not only agreed with me, but helped to plot small ways to dig at Thorn. We always laughed about it afterward, too.
Thorn would regret Drenn's death-I'd make sure of it. Drenn and I should have been brothers, and Thorn should have been a lesser cousin to the royal family. It angered me still that I hadn't been able to kill Uncle Hunter-just to eliminate his path to the throne and destroy Thorn's only legitimate heir.
Except for me.
I was a legitimate heir, once Uncle Hunter died. I hoped Ruarke would find the passages in the book-the ones about the talent employed to prevent me from killing Hunter in Thorn's study. I wanted to learn that for myself.
Most urgently.
With the ability to destroy blasts that way, I could take on Thorn's army and defeat them single-handed.
Since Ruarke's power was contained in a small device, I had no worries that he'd learn anything useful from the book. He was from Ny-nes, and everybody knew they had no power; they only had devices and machinery. His device would only make blasts, step him and his clerics elsewhere and form shields. Anything else was beyond its capability-by his own admission and by the marks on the device's dials.
Ruarke must depend on me to employ the book's subtler secrets. The thought brought a smile to my lips.
* * *
Secondary Camp
Sherra
By nightfall, shielding lessons were going better and faster. Armon was more than happy with the progress made, and told me that the warrior washouts needed my attention the following day.
Pottles and the young ones had sat at the edge of the training grounds, while Anari, Laren and Kyal watched wide-eyed as the trainees worked on their shielding.
Occasionally, I'd glance their way, wishing all of the black rose girls and warrior boys were sitting on the sidelines watching, instead of the boys scattered among the villages, and the older black rose girls too terrified to go to Kyri.
I wondered how I'd have felt if her invitation had come to me when I was younger. I suppose Pottles' presence had negated the need for it, but had she not been
there, I'd have been very tempted to make that journey.
And Az-ca could be destroyed by now, I reminded myself. The enemy could have killed or overrun Kerok's army, and Az-ca would be taken by that malevolent horde.
Had Kyri known I'd be needed where I was and hadn't interfered? Perhaps that was a question for Pottles later.
I couldn't shake the feeling that I still didn't have all the information concerning Ruarke-and other things. I hoped someone would tell me if it were needed.
My rose?
Kerok?
Will you have dinner with me tonight?
I'll be there shortly, I said. I'm returning with Pottles and the young ones.
Good. I need you to myself for a while.
May I have the lists of the older black rose girls and all the warrior boys? I asked.
Yes, but not until we've had dinner.
All right. Thank you.
* * *
Northeast Outpost
Ruarke
It only takes a small amount of the powder to make even the strongest mind compliant, and serving it in beer was more than easy, as the brew masked the powder's taste. Merrin was already immersed in his own self-importance; it only took a bit of the powder to add to his delusions, followed by a small nudge from me to convince him that I only had his best intentions at heart.
I'm sure Az-ca may have wondered for years why Ny-nes' army was so focused on killing them-and why those troops would willingly die in that effort.
Too bad they'd never learn the truth-that ingrained dogma, combined with the drug, would produce the desired results.
How very easy it had been to usurp a religion, interpret and misinterpret it too many times to count, and then combine it with a drug its followers willingly accepted. All Kaakos and I had to do was point to a book the population could no longer read, and it was accepted as fact.
Moving my cup of tea aside, I turned a page in Thorn's Book to keep reading. How I wished I'd had this earlier in my life-so many things could have gone differently, and Az-ca would have fallen long ago.
* * *
King's Palace
Kerok
I wanted Sherra in my arms; she wanted to talk laws and business during our meal. "Kerok, the trainees need the book. Isn't there some way to rescind the law and make copies?"
We were discussing The Rose Mark.
I was an unwilling participant.
"There's something else," she said. "I'd like to see the law changed about roses being with other roses. It's only fair-the warriors can choose to be with other warriors."
"My love, can we do this after dinner?" I complained as gently as I could.
"All right." Her eyes dropped to her plate.
"Did they feed you well at Secondary Camp?" I pointed our discussion in a different direction.
"Of course. The food is good, there. Did you know Caral's sister works in the kitchens?"
"I do-I gave permission," I said.
"Caral is really happy about that," she said. "I think all the troops-warriors and escorts alike, should be allowed to visit family now and then."
We were back to laws and business.
Again.
"Tell me why." I cut into the lamb we'd been served.
"Well, it may have gone a long way toward getting needed information to the villagers-that your Council didn't think important enough to carry to them in the past few years," she pointed out bluntly.
My fork poised halfway to my mouth. "Granted," I said after a moment, before placing the food in my mouth and chewing. Clearly, she'd learned many things from Armon and Levi while at Secondary Camp.
"You're saying you'll do it, or just agreeing with me?"
The agreeing part, I sent mindspeak, as I was still chewing. I watched her frown while I considered what Kyri and Pottles had done to make her as forward as she was, now.
"Hmmph," she sniffed aloud.
"I'm not King yet," I growled once I'd swallowed my food. "Father is failing, but he still holds that title."
"And you're unwilling to set things right."
"You're saying things aren't right?"
"Some things, yes. I'm not hungry." She rose from the table, dropped her napkin on the chair and stalked out of my suite.
* * *
"I have no idea where she is. What did you do to upset her?"
Pottles-Doret-glared at me as if I were not only wrong, but so deeply mired in it I might never get out. That glare certainly belonged to a former Queen of Az-ca; there was no doubt in my mind.
I'd gone looking for Sherra after finishing my food because I was frustrated, angry and not in the mood to chase anyone, including my black rose.
"My Prince," Hunter joined me in the hallway outside Doret's open door. She chose to glare at him, too, until something in his expression softened her anger.
"What happened?" she asked immediately.
"The scouts keeping a watch outside Northeast Outpost are dead, except for one and he's badly wounded."
* * *
Doret must have sent mindspeak to Sherra; she walked into the meeting room and sat beside Doret without speaking to me or anyone else.
Hunter and Barth exchanged a glance but refused to say anything. Kage had joined us quickly once Hunter sent for him.
Five scouts were dead; the sixth had barely escaped with his life, but was severely burned by one of Merrin's rogue warriors. He was in the infirmary, now, being cared for.
"Merrin knew every landing spot around the outpost, didn't he?" Doret's voice was accusing.
I wanted to sink into my chair at her words. She was right, of course. Those scouts had been easy to pick off, and once Merrin and his allies learned of the times the scouts arrived to change shifts, they'd struck, killing five of the six.
Likely, they didn't care that one had survived to tell the tale. Who knew what they planned if we sent more spies?
"They probably want us to attack them, now," Hunter grumbled. "So they can show us how good they are at picking us off."
"I'll take suggestions," I said with a troubled sigh.
"Send those who can make mirror shields," Sherra snapped. "None of those scouts were able to make a shield-admit it. If it requires a warrior and his escort, so be it. An escort can place a bubble shield before a warrior steps; that way, it won't matter where he sets his feet-he'll be safe enough. If the shield is a mirror shield, as long as it's set down outside the perimeter divination, they'll be able to watch for hours while remaining hidden."
"You're saying it's possible to set a shield around someone who steps-before they step?" Barth asked.
"Yes. It's easy," Sherra said. "I've shielded myself when I step. I don't need a designated place to set down, as long as it's in an open area."
"How will we know where Merrin set the perimeter?" Barth asked.
"I'm assuming his power may be limited, and doesn't extend very far outside the walls," Sherra said. "That's how Garkus surprised him before-by setting down far enough away and firing blasts from around a quarter mile outside Central Outpost."
"How do you know about that?" I snapped at her.
"I went to talk to Garkus, that's how."
"He was willing to answer questions?" Hunter sounded surprised.
"I think he knows how desperately he fucked up by now," Doret snorted.
"I told him that Merrin is allied with the enemy, now, and it's partly due to his foolish interference," Sherra said. "He should have stayed put. People would still be alive and we'd be discussing how to alleviate a hostage situation rather than engaging in an all-out war with an enemy who's taken up with some of our own."
"How can you say that for sure?" I demanded.
"Because if Garkus hadn't intervened, I could have gotten past Merrin's perimeter," Sherra snapped. "As it is, we now have to contend with an enemy power wielder who has possession of Thorn's Book. I have no way to get past his perimeter, if he sets one. I'd need something of his to make an attempt, and I have nothing
."
Her voice had gotten louder the longer she spoke, until it was a half-shout.
"Fucking hell," I stood and shoved my chair across the floor in a teeth-jarring scrape.
"Is that true?" Hunter whispered in the ensuing silence.
"Yes," Doret sounded defeated. "I wish now we'd sent Sherra back days ago. Hindsight is always clearest, is it not?"
* * *
Ketchi
Kyri
"Some want assurances," Cole said. He and I stood amid trees west of the village, where we could see the ocean in the distance.
"I understand-I just can't guarantee anything at the moment," I told him.
"If we're willing to fight-and give our lives to their cause, why shouldn't we be welcome?"
"Old prejudices, my friend."
"We've dealt with that from our childhood," he muttered. "I was hoping for better."
"This is no fault of yours-it is the fault in others," I explained. "Changing hearts or minds is often the most difficult task of all."
"So. If we go to help, all they'll see is the enemy."
"I think there will be some who won't see it that way. Sherra is there, now."
"One ally out of many?" Cole was skeptical, just as I would be in his place.
"What will convince you?"
"I will serve with Sherra, as will the others. We stand together-under her command. You say she is an officer in the army? We will follow her."
"I-may be able to offer that," I agreed. "Give me two days, perhaps."
"We will be waiting."
* * *
"Have you convinced Cole to take his troops?" Adahi sat at my kitchen table, waiting for my return.
Removing my jacket and draping it on the back of a chair, I frowned at my uninvited guest. "He says they'll serve under Sherra's command."
"Cole is adept at reading others. I believe it is because he was so terrified as a child, that it developed in him unawares."
"However it happened, he can sense insecurity and prevarication from miles away." I shuffled to the stove to boil water for tea. "Sherra made an impression on him-a very good one, it appears."
"Are they trained well enough?"
"I believe so, but Sherra is adept at bringing troops to their full potential."
"An unusual talent in one so young."
"I don't know that she's ever been young, Adahi. Much like Cole was never young. I think he was born aware of the dangers around him."
Rose and Thorn: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 2 Page 14
