by Bob Blink
She could sense that something had gotten through by the sudden widening of S’erom’s eyes and the flare of his nostrils.
“The Controller determines the actions of the Baldari. She has forced the war upon your people.”
That was the longest communication passed as yet, and confirmed what they had come to believe. The Baldari were puppets to the Brryn.
“I know,” Nycoh responded.
“You know? Then why did you come into our lands? Why did you attack our villages?”
“You....attacked....us,” Nycoh managed.
S’erom sneered, and Nycoh suddenly sensed his intense anger through the link.
“You claim you know. We had no choice. We were forced to attack you. If you knew this might happen, why would you force an encounter?”
“We...must...stop...Controller,” Nycoh managed.
“You will fail,” S’erom replied. “Just like us, you will be her slaves. Already she uses many of your own to fight against you. Your magic will be used to destroy you.”
“We...must try.”
No words followed, but Nycoh could sense how little S’erom thought of their chances against the Brryn.
“Do....you....know....where....Controller?” Nycoh was pleased at how her sentences were growing and the ease of passing information improving.
S’erom’s response was quick and abrupt. “I have never seen the Controller. I don’t know where she is. There are none among the Baldari who would know.”
Once again the harshness of his reply was somehow conveyed through the link. She could also see the anger in his eyes.
“Why . are . you . so angry?”
“Your people destroyed my home. You killed everyone I know, including my mate and family.” An image formed in Nycoh’s mind of a female Baldari and a couple of youngsters. The power of the emotion that came with the image was almost enough to force Nycoh to step back.
She realized what needed to be done. The decision is not hers to make, and she had gained enough for now. Her head was aching and she needed to think. First, she must speak with Ash’urn.
“I’m sorry,” she managed to communicate. Then she stepped back and turned toward the door. As she walked away, S’erom’s thoughts followed her.
“The jungle is larger than you can imagine, and the number of Baldari far greater than you realize. They will finish this. You have no chance of winning.”
“That’s remarkable!” Daim exclaimed when Ash’urn explained what Nycoh had been able to accomplish. She had asked Ash’urn to take the lead in this meeting, and had asked the attendance be limited to a small number, and those people she knew well. She was still uncertain what kind of response certain revelations were going to receive. Rigo was here, as were Mitty and Jeen. Ash’urn and Daim completed the small group. Nycoh couldn’t help wishing that Daria and Kaler were here as well. She even had a strange wish that Lyes were here. This might help him understand why she could do what he couldn’t, and maybe mend some fences. Of course, he might react quite differently.
“How is this possible?” Rigo asked.
“I was as surprised as anyone,” Nycoh said. “When I was visiting the Baldari, I sensed something in my mind. I went and talked to Ash’urn about it.”
“But why you?” Jeen asked.
Ash’urn came to Nycoh’s aid. “From what Koess has told us, the Brryn blood was spread among the commoners over the years, and that gave rise to the wizards that eventually overthrew them. That means, you all have Brryn blood in your systems to one degree or another. Without it, there would be no magic. I suspect it is true of Casters as well, although the percentage must be far lower. Nycoh apparently has a somewhat larger percentage than the rest of us. That has given her access to greater powers, and now, it seems, this useful ability.”
“Have there been any other indications?” Rigo asked. “Have you known of this before?”
“Actually, yes,” Ash’urn said. “Nycoh approached me a while back, and explained her suspicions. She wished to keep the knowledge secret, and I agreed there was no harm in doing so. Now, there is reason to make this all known.”
“What other indicators have there been?” Jeen asked, smiling at Nycoh to help put her at ease.
Nycoh reached into her shirt and pulled out the small flat container and handed it to Jeen. Looking at the container uncertainly, Jeen opened it and looked inside. She looked back at Nycoh.
“Hair?” she asked.
Nycoh nodded. “It’s mine,” she said. “Hold it up and look carefully.”
“I don’t have to,” Jeen said. “It’s clearly a faint purple. Is that what made you suspect?”
Nycoh nodded uncomfortably. “I’m not like her,” she said unhappily.
Daim snorted. “Of course not. No one would think so. It wouldn’t be so even if all your hair were to turn purple.”
“Some might,’ countered Nycoh.
“Only a fool,” Rigo added. “Is this what you wanted Ash’urn to keep secret?”
Nycoh nodded. “With all the concern of late about the Brryn, I was afraid what some might think if they were to learn I appear to be developing some of the same attributes.”
“It doesn’t mean a thing,” Jeen said soothingly. In all the years she had known her, Jeen had never seen anything affect Nycoh so strongly.
“I don’t think it is necessary, but if you wish, this secret will remain between the members of this group,” Daim said.
“I would be more comfortable,” Nycoh said, “but it is only a matter of time before the secret will be out. The rate at which the hair is turning has been accelerating. I fear one morning I will wake and find my hair is as purple as the woman Mitty sees in her visions. I have been hoping we would have captured the damn woman before then.”
“With your ability to communicate,” we might be closer than ever before. Why don’t we keep this between us as long as possible, or until you feel ready to reveal it, while we see what we can learn. Personally, I consider it a great thing. It suggests that we have someone who might be able to challenge the Brryn woman should she escape. I suddenly have more hope than before.” Daim looked directly at Nycoh to emphasize the sincerity of his words.
Nycoh found her voice a bit hoarse as she looked around at her friends. She hadn’t known for sure how they would react, but now she realized she should have guessed. Ash’urn had told her as much, but the change had been so unexpected.
“He thinks we killed his family,” she said finally when she was more certain of her voice. “I can sense his anger. I also sense he knows something that he isn’t revealing. He says he has never seen the Brryn woman, and I believe that is the truth. But he might have a clue where she is hiding. It would be good if we could somehow make him see us as friends.”
“What do you propose?” Daim asked.
Nycoh told them.
Daim nodded. “It seems like a good idea. Perhaps you and Ash’urn can see to it.”
Nycoh was given supporting hugs from all of those she considered closest to her. Jeen had lingered to see if there was anything she could do.
“You’ve done enough,” Nycoh said honestly. “I’m glad to have it out, at least among those of you I’ve considered family for so long.”
“It’ll be all right,” Jeen assured her. “You will see that others will react the same.”
“Perhaps,” Nycoh replied. “But it would be easier if we had ended this, and I had a part in bringing the Brryn down.”
“Somehow I suspect that will be the case,” Jeen said, and gave Nycoh a final hug. “I’ve got to go. I’ll be back tomorrow night if you need someone to talk with.”
“Where are you off to?”
“I’ve got to go to the dig at Roin. It appears they have found something.”
Chapter 54
Around midday the next morning, Nycoh stepped into the room where S’erom and the others were being held. Two large soldiers followed after her, each carrying a double handful of the top
s of the red Ler’ver’ar plant that S’erom had shown her in the mental image the previous day. The plants weren’t that heavy, but the unusual, and frankly, very unpleasant odor they gave off was difficult to withstand. No matter how hard she tried, Nycoh couldn’t get past the thought she might have been stepping in horse droppings on her way here. The men selected to bring the plants here clearly wished they had been unavailable when their commander had been looking for someone to help. They had thought at the time the duty would be easy, getting them away from the more laborious tasks usually assigned as work duty. They would rather have been out in the sun sweating with their compatriots than carrying these foul smelling plants.
The eight Baldari must have caught a whiff of the pungent Ler’ver’ar, as they looked up almost immediately as Nycoh and the guards entered the room. She hadn’t been certain S’erom hadn’t played some kind of a joke on her, but the moment she saw the happy smiles on the faces of the captives, she knew they really liked this stuff. They were practically salivating as the guards walked over to the cell and passed the harvested plants through the food opening. Once they had the plants inside the cage, they quickly stripped some of the red nodules off the top of the stems, and with a twisting motion pried them apart. Inside was a waxy appearing, nearly circular, yellow mass. This they picked out of the shell, and with great gusto began snacking upon the odd looking substance. Several of the Baldari glanced in her direction and more than one faint “thank you” reached her mental ears.
S’erom had watched the whole process with interest, saying nothing, and watching as his fellows went to work on the fruit, if that’s what it was. He accepted a couple of the yellowish masses from one of the others, and nibbled on it while he waited to see what was going to happen next. Nycoh could still sense the anger simmering below his calm exterior. While all of this was happening, Kaler stepped into the room to signal Nycoh that they were ready to go.
Daria and Kaler had been at the Outpost for other reasons, and had agreed to accompany Nycoh and Ash’urn out into the Ruins today. Nycoh always felt better when they were along, having learned that magic wasn’t always the solution to every problem. She had revealed to Daria and Kaler the transformation she was undergoing earlier this morning when they had met. After the support she had received from the others, she was more comfortable with doing so, and she had known these two for a very long time.
“I want you to go somewhere with me,” she thought toward S’erom, but she knew she hadn’t mastered the ability of directing her thoughts as the other Baldari glanced her way as well. She pointed at S’erom to make her intentions clear. She was getting better at putting together longer thoughts. “We will be going into the Ruins. There is something there you need to see.”
S’erom glanced at the massive Kaler, who stood off to one side. Nycoh caught the glance and nodded.
“He will be going with us, as will a couple of others.”
S’erom shrugged, and then nodded. It wasn’t as though he had any choice. He knew he could go willingly, or they would find a less dignified way of taking him where they wanted him to go. He wondered why only him, and wondered for a moment if he had let too much of his anger show and they had plans to kill him. He didn’t sense that from this Tall, but time would tell. He was in no position to resist anyway.
A short time later Nycoh, Kaler, and S’erom, who was now enclosed in an individual version of the protective shield, gathered together. He was inside the shield with Kaler, which allowed Kaler ready access to the Baldari should he decide to prove troublesome. Kaler wore both his belt sword and the massive two-hander over his shoulder today. Compared to the smaller Baldari he looked like a giant, and not someone to be trifled with. The effect was not lost on S’erom, who had glanced at Kaler several times.
They escorted their charge outside, where Daria and Ash’urn waited for them. Daria carried her bow over her shoulder, and less obviously her usual complement of knives. S’erom must have somehow sensed she was more than she seemed, as he stared at her as if he knew very well she was also someone who shouldn’t be taken lightly. Ash’urn stood, hand on his large staff, smiling as they approached. He nodded his head in the direction of S’erom, as if in greeting, something that the Baldari found curious.
Nycoh opened a Bypass without any special preparations, and Ash’urn led the way through. She indicated that S’erom was to follow, and he and Kaler of necessity walked through together. Being inside the same shield, their movements were somewhat restricted. Daria and Nycoh came through last, closing the masked Bypass behind them.
The oasis they were visiting was by far the largest that had been located in the Ruins thus far. It featured a very large lake in the center, a great many trees with their accompanying shade, and a large grassy area off to one side. It was large enough that several thousand individuals could find space comfortably, although there was nothing in the way of a food source. That had to be brought in, as did the fuel for fires, and materials to build shelters. The number of trees would have been consumed in short order otherwise. Nycoh was starting to understand what an effort holding prisoners could be.
They arrived inside one corner of the extremely large protective field that had been created around the entire oasis. It had taxed the abilities of the wizards to create. The protective barriers did not provide a barrier to the creation of a Bypass to the inside. Used as personal defense, the barrier couldn’t be penetrated by a Bypass because there was no room, and the person using it was too frequently on the move. A much larger barrier, the kind used around structures, and in this case an oasis, didn’t provide that protection. If one knew where the location was, he could create a Bypass and overcome the blockage. That is, unless other means were used to block an unauthorized Bypass. That had been done at the Outpost, using Daim’s method to limit who had authorization. Nycoh was certain the Brryn had other, most likely better, methods of accomplishing the same thing.
Daim’s approach to blocking access didn’t work for an open area such as the oasis. But that wasn’t the intent. The hope here was that the Brryn wouldn’t learn of the existence of this place. The protective barrier was to keep the Baldari held here from wandering off, and more importantly, prevent their existence from being discovered by the Brryn. If that happened, they would almost certainly be targeted for extinction. If they could be held secretly, they wouldn’t be exterminated, nor would they be available as a weapon to be used against Sedfair or the Three Kingdoms.
S’erom stared at the large groups of Baldari moving freely around the central area of the oasis. He hadn’t known the Talls had taken so many prisoners. He wondered why he and the other seven had been singled out, but apparently he was to be brought here. The Baldari were busy building structures from the supplied materials. Cooking fires could be seen scattered around the oasis, and from a Bypass adjacent to the one they had arrived through, huge loads of the Ler’ver’ar plant were being brought into the oasis. Nycoh had ordered a large supply of the plant to be brought to the oasis once she verified that it was indeed a favored food of the Baldari. He savored the sweet aroma, and noticed that some of the Baldari were already walking over to pick up bundles and carry them off into the camp, their pleasure at seeing the familiar staple clear on their faces.
S’erom was about to ask the Tall a question, when he was shocked to see someone he recognized. The Baldari who had just picked up a load of Ler’ver’ar was from his own village. He had been at the battle with him. S’erom had assumed he had been killed with everyone else, but somehow he had managed to survive unharmed. He had been captured and brought here. S’erom looked at the Tall called Nycoh, and struggled to form his question.
“They are from your village, Nycoh said to him before he was able to ask. Feel free to ask around if you see anyone you know. Your family is here somewhere.”
S’erom was afraid to believe what she had just told him. It had to be some kind of a trick, but aware that the shield between himself and the massive Tall had
been removed. He hurried toward the retreating back of the man he had recognized. If there was the slightest chance, he had to know.
Nycoh smiled as she saw him hurry off. Rigo and Daim had insisted that whenever possible the attacks against the Baldari be constrained to the stun magic that Ash’urn had stumbled across. They knew the Baldari were victims as much as anyone else. They were being used to fight a war they had no interest or stake in. If they could be spared, it was the right thing to do. There was also the hope they could build some kind of relationship with them. The idea wouldn’t find much favor among many of the residents of the Three Kingdoms or Sedfair, many of whom had lost family to the invading warriors, but eventually they would understand. Or perhaps, even if not, once this battle was won, the Baldari could hopefully be returned to their homeland. It was so far away, that interaction between the two races could be limited to those who understood the situation.
The attack near S’erom’s village had been predicted. It was a likely maneuver, given the Brryn must have determined the location had been disclosed somehow. Some of the attackers had been killed. There had been no choice. But the majority of those who had been part of the assault had been brought down with the stun magic. While they had been unconscious, almost five hundred guardsmen had been brought in to move the Baldari to the oasis. It was necessary to do so before they recovered, because it was feared they would be subjected to the control that resulted in their spontaneous deaths. The bodies they had found at the nearby camps had confirmed the correctness of this concern.
The Baldari in the camp were not aggressive toward their captors. Freed from the controlling mind that drove them to battle, they were more inclined to follow their normal ways. The fact they had been provided for, and that a number who had been hurt in the encounter were given marvelous care via the magic of the Talls hadn’t hurt relations either. They were unhappy to have been moved from their village, but some suspected the reason.
