The Children of the Light: Book 1: Spirit Summoner

by Matt Campbell

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Fearless, a man named Wyntol Ictarus set out to explore the new world left behind by the Ancients. The maps and charts he created led to fame among all the races, and they honored him by naming the new world Ictar. At the time of his death, Wyntol revealed artifacts he wished to give to all the races. In his travels, he’d found the Sephirs left behind by the Ancients who once protected them.”

  ~From A Current History of Ictar, as told by Nidic Waq

  Nobody in the room moved. Jinn had become a focal point, a statue hewn from granite, still and unchanging.

  There is so much more to know, Darr thought to himself. Why Jinn? Why now? What is it she must do and will she be safe?

  Why not me?

  This last thought disturbed him, but before he could think on it, Jinn stood up and walked to her room. Without a backwards glance, she disappeared into the darkness and closed the door behind her.

  Erec struggled to rise, but Nidic Waq advised, “It’d be best if you let her be for the night.”

  “What would you know, prophet?” Erec shot back. “She’s my sister and all of this is nonsense.”

  “What you think to be best for Jinn is tainted by your anger,” Nidic Waq replied, his tone firm. Erec’s face turned bright red, but he said nothing. “Let her be. Let her make her own choices, just as you have made yours.”

  The prophet rose up before them, his presence filling the entire room. The man no longer intimidated him. The truths he’d revealed this night were far more threatening than anything physical about him. Isolation would follow the prophet anywhere he went because of his knowledge.

  “I’ll return in the morning. For a little while longer, our paths shall be the same.” Nidic Waq turned for the door. As he passed Darr, he whispered, “I’ll talk to you then.” The prophet stepped through the door and into the halls of the Red Wyvern.

  As soon as the door closed, Erec shot Darr an accusing look. “What was all that Chosen nonsense? Did you know about this?”

  Darr shook his head. “No. I knew nothing about it until tonight.”

  For a brief moment, Erec appeared to contain himself before erupting in anger once more. The words blurred together as Darr’s thoughts centered on Jinn. He worried for her, and for whatever task Caeranol had set for her. He wished he’d never brought her and placed her in this kind of danger

  He wished it’d been him.

  The thought disturbed him for the second time. He worried for Jinn without a doubt, but in the deepest part of his soul, he believed he should’ve been the first of the Chosen. Nidic Waq had sent him to help the Soul Seekers and restore the Sephirs.

  Erec continued to yell and Conra tried to calm him down. Darr saw without seeing, and his vision blurred. His thoughts drifted and spun away.

  * * * *

  Darr’s dreams were disjointed images of Nidic Waq and Racall, of his family and Conra, and his mind’s rendering of the creature called the Devoid. He woke tired and stiff, but as soon as his eyes opened, he could feel Nidic Waq’s presence in the Currents, waiting close by.

  The early morning light outlined the bodies of his brother and Conra. Erec slept on the sofa, his face free of distress for the first time in days. Conra looked as if he might have melted into the chair across from him. The door to Jinn’s bedroom remained closed. Now, the harbinger of doom, Nidic Waq, waited outside to bring some new disturbance to their lives.

  He sighed. Nidic Waq wasn’t responsible for the truth of things. The events conspiring against them had been set in motion long ago. Nothing could be changed. All he could do was accept his place.

  Darr rose from his chair and made his way to the door, keeping his movements light and undetectable. In the hallway, Nidic Waq stood motionless while Darr shut the door. The prophet’s shredded robes were replaced with fresh ones. He’d left behind his rundown appearance from the previous night, but Darr eyed him assertively.

  “I apologize for my harsh words last night,” Nidic Waq said, his face confirming his sincerity. “You’ve contributed much to this journey and you’ve done well. Had it not been for your attempts to navigate the Currents, the first of the Chosen would still be unknown to us.”

  Darr smiled but said nothing. Nidic Waq continued. “Despite everything, I admire your will to succeed, but I cannot stress enough the dangers compiling against you. The further you travel, the harder it will become for you to avoid using the Currents. The journey ahead will require more of your attention not only to the physical world, but to the Four Elements connecting in the Currents. You could have discovered Jinn without allowing the scattercrab to break free.”

  “How?” the Summoner asked.

  Nidic Waq shook his head. “Since Stern, you’ve been oblivious to the balance of the Four Elements in the Currents. I can read it in your Light. Racall told you to be mindful of imbalances and to stay far from them. In the days ahead, I will show you how to heal these imbalances when you find them, but you must learn to look for them.”

  Darr recoiled inwardly, ashamed at his failure. Nidic Waq reached out and gripped his shoulder, reassuring him.

  “I’m sorry, Summoner,” the prophet said. “I know you’re doing your best. I want you to be safe. While it’s good Jinn has been revealed, there are still three more Chosen to locate. As for the Soul Seekers, they’re ready to crush the Dwarves at any moment. The defense the kings and I have made will soon be rendered ineffective because the Seekers’ numbers are increasing far too rapidly. That means the Devoid knows of our plans to stall the Soul Seekers, or worse, it knows of the Chosen.”

  “What does that mean for Jinn?” Darr asked.

  “It means you must protect her and yourself. Once you cross into the Triker, you’ll find the Seekers at every turn.”

  Darr hesitated but spoke before he could think better. “Why wasn’t I named one of the Chosen? Why does Jinn have to bear this burden?”

  Nidic Waq rubbed at his beard, and said, “I cannot begin to understand why the spirits selected Jinn over you. Something about her was required and that is all I know. While each of the Chosen are infused with Caeranol’s magic, he doesn’t make the decision as to who inherits that magic. The spirits are the ones to decide.”

  “Shouldn’t he still know who they are?”

  “Yes,” Nidic Waq replied. “However, the Currents are so badly distorted he can’t discover where the magic was dispersed. Worse yet, the spirits aren’t able to tell him. It’s as if they’ve forgotten, and the only way that can happen is if something very powerful is disrupting them.”

  Darr’s throat tightened. “Does the Devoid know where the Chosen are?”

  Nidic Waq nodded. “It’s a possibility. Regardless, we must act swiftly and find the other Chosen before the Devoid can put any of its knowledge to use.”

  Darr thrust his fear into the back of his mind, burying it under Nidic Waq’s words. “I should go wake the others,” Darr said and turned back towards the door.

  “You’re as important as the Chosen,” the prophet said in a soothing voice. “I don’t know how you were able to reveal Jinn as one of the Chosen, but some part of you knew how.”

  Darr looked over his shoulder and asked, “What does that mean for me?”

  “It means your journey hasn’t changed. The Devoid is held in check by the Sephirs’ power alone, and without them, it will break free of its prison completely. The Chosen cannot defeat the Devoid unless balance is first restored to the Sephirs. But there’s more at work here, for Caeranol told me before I spoke to you in Tyfor you were tied to the Chosen somehow. It appears now you are to discover them somehow.”

  A buzzing tingle shot down Darr’s neck. Excitement or fear, he couldn’t be sure. The Devoid would be defeated, not because of his acts directly, but because of his journey. He wasn’t out for the glory of ridding Ictar of evil, but that wasn’t entirely true. He would prove to himself his skills as a Summoner were worth something.

  “Thank you,”
Darr said. “I’ll do my best.”

  Nidic Waq’s stare bored into the back of his head. “You’ll do well, Darr Reintol. Now go and wake your friends. Talk to your sister--she needs your support. When you’re ready, meet me outside. I’ll have provisions ready for the next leg of your journey.”

  Nidic Waq’s presence in the Currents faded to nothing more than a whisper, but Darr didn’t turn back to watch him go. He walked into the room and woke Conra, telling the Elf to help Erec up and make sure he could travel. Conra went to Erec at once, leaving Darr to wake Jinn.

  The Summoner rapped on the door into his sister’s bedroom, and after a moment, he stepped inside. Jinn no longer slept, but she remained in bed, her body stretched out flat beneath the covers while she stared up at the ceiling. She didn’t appear to notice him when he sat down next to her on the bed.

  “How’re you doing?” he asked, feeling stupid for asking. Jinn didn’t answer, her eyes were focused on an imaginary point above her.

  Darr reached for her hand and grasped it. “I want you to know you have my support,” he told her. Jinn blinked and her lips moved slightly. “I don’t know what you’re supposed to do or how you’re going to do it, but I want you to know you’ll have me to help you through it, just as you’ve helped me.”

  Jinn tilted her head towards him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Darr smiled and asked, “Are you up for moving around? Nidic Waq is waiting for us whenever we’re ready.”

  His sister raised herself up and stretched. “I suppose so. I don’t know what’s expected of me, though. I’m not sure where I’m going or what to do when I get there.”

  Darr shifted his body. “Start by listening to Nidic Waq. I know he’s difficult and intimidating sometimes, but he has an enormous amount of pressure on his shoulders. He’s looking out for all of Ictar and doing his best to protect it. He knows what he’s talking about. I would know if he was lying.”

  “I believe you,” Jinn said. “If you have faith in him, then I will too.”

  “Then we’ll figure all this out as we go,” Darr said, forcing an encouraging smile. “You’re coming with me anyway. We’ll discover our fate together. There’s no point in sitting here and worrying about what might happen next.”

  The two siblings looked at each other, and the connection between them grew stronger. Did the magic they command somehow bring them closer? Jinn’s magic was a mystery, but it had to be strong if it could defeat the Devoid.

  “Thanks, Darr. I’ll be along in a moment.”

  The Summoner squeezed Jinn’s hand and got up from the bed. Relieved that his conversation with Jinn had gone well, Darr still faced one more obstacle. He had to talk to Erec. His brother would be difficult, but that was no surprise.

  In the main sitting room, Conra and Erec sat on the couch while the Elf applied a healing salve to his back. Darr got a good look at the wounds left by the scattercrab. His brother had endurance, and the courage it took to deal with the pain testified for his strength. Darr waited patiently while Conra wrapped Erec’s back and ribs with fresh bandages.

  “Do you think you’ll be able to walk?” Darr asked.

  “Does that mean you’re still going?” Erec asked, his voice filled with defiance.

  “Why would I change my mind?”

  Erec cocked his head like Darr had spit in his face. “You can’t really believe all that talk last night.”

  Darr shrugged. “I don’t believe it.” He waited until the confusion appeared on Erec’s face. “I don’t believe because I know. I heard it all from the spirits when Nidic Waq told the story. Everything he told us is true. Now you have to decide how that’s going to affect you.”

  Discomfort washed over and replaced Erec’s confused look. Without listening to the Currents, Darr sensed the emotional battle roiling within his brother.

  “I’m sorry,” Erec whispered, hanging his head. “I might be angry with you and fearful of the danger you’re putting yourself in, but I’m not. I’ve seen the things you can do.”

  Despite his surprise, Darr remained calm and concentrated on Erec’s words. “Then what is it? Why do you resist so much?”

  When his brother lifted his head, the glare of anger burned in his eyes again. “Because I don’t believe in this quest, and I know I should, but something inside won’t let me. My heart tells me this is all wrong. We shouldn’t be fighting this battle with magic...”

  There it is, Darr thought. Erec’s misgivings all centered on using magic. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe there were Soul Seekers or the Devoid. The conflict came from his belief that magic was wrong no matter what form it took. The way of the sword had always been Erec’s answer to everything. Now, at a time when physical strength served no purpose against their enemy, he had no idea what to believe in.

  “I think I know what you’re trying to say,” Darr said. “I want you to know I don’t think any less of you for what you believe.”

  “I don’t expect you to think one way or another about what I believe, but...” Erec smiled. “I’m glad you don’t look down on me when your beliefs conflict with mine. I’m glad we can still be friends despite our opinions.”

  “Well spoken,” Conra said in a mere whisper.

  “Enough of this.” Erec propped himself up with a low groan and stretched. “I’m well enough to walk today, but don’t expect me to carry any weight. I’ll leave that to you, little brother.”

  Erec gave him a playful shove and laughed when it caught Darr by surprise, nearly knocking him off his feet. The Summoner righted himself and flipped his hair out of his face. He shot his brother a mocking sneer.

  When they were finished teasing each other, the brothers went about preparing their things. Jinn appeared from her room looking refreshed. Darr smiled at her as she went to work packing, impressed with her courage. Conra acted oddly quiet, saying little during their preparations. It appeared he had something on his mind, though the Elf would talk when he was ready.

  When they were starting downstairs, Conra finally approached Darr. Erec and Jinn had already gone down the hallway. The Elf called Darr back before he stepped out the door.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking about all this business with the Devoid and the Chosen and what not, and I think I’d like to come with you,” the Elf announced.

  When they first met, Conra had been stubborn and irritable. As they traveled together, and Conra became more interested in magic, his attitude had changed. Darr wasn’t sure why, but he believed it must have something to do with his request to come with them.

  “I’m not sure I understand, Conra,” Darr said. “I didn’t think you wanted to come this far, let alone go to the edges of Ictar,”

  Hesitation flashed across the Elf’s face, but he forged ahead. “I know, I know, but I’ve been meaning to return to the south for years now. And I’m interested in you and the magic you command. I know I’m old, but you won’t find a more experienced tracker than me. I don’t think I could return home without seeing where all this business leads.”

  Darr bit his lower lip. Conra was a good friend, and Darr couldn’t imagine the Elf backing down on anything. They were headed into dangerous country, lands they knew nothing about. Nidic Waq wouldn’t be with them forever, and Conra’s skills as a tracker and survivalist would come in handy.

  “You’re sure about this?” Darr asked. “Nidic Waq says we’ll be in much more danger once we cross the Dwarf Borderlands.”

  Conra chuckled. “Do you think I got to where I am today by avoiding risks? Darr, I welcome the adventure.”

  A smile spread across his face and he nodded his approval. “I guess we should be going then.”

  The Summoner turned and walked out the door with Conra a step behind.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Against Wyntol’s wish for the races to share the Sephirs, the Aeon Wars began. The wars continued over the next millennia, crisscrossing Ictar like a disease. The five races fought over the Sephi
rs in relentless battles, sometimes to protect them and other times to exploit their power. Early on, the races discovered magic forcibly pulled from the Sephirs had many uses. They could augment their physical abilities or create elementals capable of vast destruction, but magic such as this upset the Four Elements and threatened returning everything to chaos. The races used their newfound power cautiously.”

  ~From A Current History of Ictar, as told by Nidic Waq

  As promised, Nidic Waq stood alone in the shadows of an alleyway beside the Red Wyvern, hidden from all who passed. Darr wouldn’t have been able to find the prophet had he not sensed him in the Currents. He brought his companions before the prophet, who gave everyone, including Erec, a perfunctory nod. His gaze lingered momentarily on Conra.

  Doubt rumbled through the Currents. “Conra would like to continue on with us,” Darr said. “His experience as a tracker will be invaluable, and he’s proved himself a loyal friend.”

  Nidic Waq’s face lacked emotion when he eyed the Elf. “After all you’ve heard last night, you accept the dangers that lie ahead?”

  Conra grunted and shrugged. “I’ve been ready for anything for the better part of seventy years.”

  “This journey would be better suited to those who are younger,” Nidic Waq said. “The trials ahead will undoubtedly test your endurance.”

  “I’ll take experience over youth any day of the year,” Conra snapped. “I may not be able to move as fast as I used to, but I’ll manage just fine.”

  The seconds ticked by while the prophet looked down at Conra as if in evaluation. At last, he nodded and welcomed Conra, then went about distributing food and supplies from a sack he carried. He’d also found a replacement sword for Erec, though how he’d done so in a military state like Oasis couldn’t have been easy.

  When he was finished, Nidic Waq discarded the sack. How the prophet planned to support himself without provisions was a mystery. Then again, Nidic Waq had taken care of himself this long without a pack, and he seemed to be doing just fine. Once everyone was ready, Nidic Waq turned and led them into the city.