The Greater Challenge Beyond (The Southern Continent Series Book 3)

by Jeffrey Quyle

  She marked you,” Jenniline told him. “You have red streaks in your hair.”

  “Thank you,” he belatedly told Geric. “That helped. I feel better. I’m going to rest now, and you two can go back downstairs and do the same. I’ll call if I need anything.”

  They both bid him to sleep well, and then left with worried looks on their faces, while he lay on his bed, too wounded to undress, and relived the pain of Shaine’s touch over and over until he finally fell asleep.

  Chapter 19

  Grange awoke with the arrival of dawn in the eastern sky. He sat up groggily, his poor night’s sleep disturbed by various nightmares of the goddess Shaine torturing him through eternity. He put his hand to his scalp, wondering if the redness Jenniline had described had been smears of blood from the painful wound Shaine had inflicted upon him, but his hair did not feel matted or damp.

  He rose and went downstairs to the bottom floor of his tower enclave, then created a floating globe of light as he stood in front of the only mirror in his rooms, and looked at the mark of the goddess. Five bright red streaks all emanated from the same point just left of center at his scalp line, and spread broadly out, finely defined marks that traveled to the far ends of his hair.

  “Admiring yourself?” Jenniline asked from the doorway of her room.

  “How do you think the court will react to the news that Shaine has marked me for punishment?” Grange asked.

  The princess paused. “Those who don’t like you will continue to not like you,” she told him. “I think, personally,” she said after a further momentary pause, “it makes you seem that much more dangerous if the goddess herself is paying that much attention to you. She must see you as something special.”

  “It’s an honor I’d pass on,” Grange said wryly. “I’m going to go to the harbor front to see what it looks like,” he told her. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”

  “Don’t forget you’ve got a princess interview today,” she told him as he headed out the door.

  Grange left the palace grounds and walked down to the harbor. A large number of fishermen were on the docks, tending to their boats and nets. Grange listened to their comments as he walked among them, listening to the relief they all expressed that no great damage had been done by the storm.

  “That was the worst storm I’ve ever seen,” several said, as they all pondered its inexplicably fast development from clear skies, and its equally abrupt disappearance.

  “The gods must have been playing,” one said.

  Satisfied that no harm was done, Grange walked back towards the palace, but stopped when he found his path crossing the square in front of the temple of Huem. On the spur of the moment he turned and entered the temple to contemplate his future, hopeful that the same priest who had counselled him before might be available to talk.

  Moments after he sat down, the man appeared and took a seat in the next pew over.

  “Are we going to convert you to be a follower of Huem?” the priest asked whimsically.

  “Perhaps,” Grange grinned. “He’s not likely to do things like this to me, is he?” Grange asked as he pointed to the red streaks in his hair.

  “You’ve had a conversation with Shaine, I see,” the priest remarked. “She only marks the ones she really is concerned about. Either she thinks you’re already too great for her to control, or she thinks she has to prevent you from growing beyond her control. It’s a sign of a healthy respect from the goddess. Not many mortals ever receive such a mark.

  “You should be honored,” he added.

  Grange laughed at the comment that echoed Jenniline’s earlier observation. He thought about the princess, then abruptly remembered that he was supposed to have another exchange of messages with Brieed. He stood up. “I apologize, I have to go,” he told the priest.

  “Have a good day, and don’t worry about Shaine,” the man said as he stood. It seemed strange, Grange thought, for a priest to advise not to be concerned.

  Grange left the temple, then stood outside and looked up at the moon on the western horizon. He’d have to hurry to deliver his message and receive the return before it fell below the horizon.

  “Master Brieed,” he said urgently, standing amidst the moving traffic of the square, urging his words to travel as quickly as possible. “I will be ready to receive your message as soon as you can send it. I hope all is well. Please tell me how the troubles in Palmland are going, and how I can help,” he pleaded, as he watched the glowing words of his message shoot across the western sky towards the moon.

  He hurried back to the palace grounds and to the temple, where he climbed to the top and then sat on the roof, collecting his breath from the fast pace of his jaunt. He had arrived in plenty of time to receive the response that Brieed was likely to send, he was relieved to conclude.

  Geric appeared at the steps. “Can I bring you anything, my lord?”

  “Would you bring some breakfast for me to eat up here, please?” Grange asked, feeling hungry.

  Geric nodded his ascent and disappeared. Seconds later, Grange was startled to hear Brieed’s voice emerge from the sky, many minutes earlier that Grange had anticipated.

  “Grange, we must begin your lesson quickly, before we lose the moon, but let me ask one favor first. Tonight, as soon as the moon rises, please send a message to me; I would like for you to play your music on your flute.

  “I know that sounds strange,” Brieed said, “but the Lady Selene, the sister of Lord Selebe, has been injured, and I think that your music with Grace’s singing may be the only way to save her life. Grace is so relatively close that I have discovered I can speak with her in practically actual time – none of the delivery lagging that you and I have.

  “If you can play your flute for me, I believe I can arrange for Grace to sing at the same time, and so manage to offer your extraordinary musical healing to the lady.

  “If you can do this, wonderful,” Brieed continued. “We will talk of that more, later. Now, your lesson has to do with the use of second level powers. This is a very tricky and dangerous activity, not to be entered into lightly,” the master warned. “The results are unpredictable more often than not.

  “But the results can be spectacular, and given what I understand you may face in the way of a challenging struggle ahead, I want to make you aware of this option.

  “What the second level involves is the use of the power for multiple tasks, all performed at the same time, and designed to interact with one another simultaneously,” Brieed explained. “It’s a bit like a recipe for a cake. An egg, and some flour, and some milk, each eaten separately, would hardly match the satisfaction of eating the three of them all mixed together properly and baked to create a cake,

  “To achieve the second level, you must discharge your energies at the highest levels, first to carry out one task, then to carry out a second task, then to carry out a third task, If there is a fourth task to add, that will be even more potent. Almost always though, only three tasks are involved, because few wizards in history had enough energy to discharge four tasks at an energy level high enough to achieve results. And just two tasks will not create the compatible energy interactions to catalyze the results to reach the second level,” Brieed explained. “And each task must be carried out with a great deal of energy, more than a typical wizard would be likely to muster for even one of the tasks. I think though, that you have grown to have the capacity to do this; I’m both proud, and frightened, for you.

  “Please do not try this without consulting me,” Brieed told him. “I’ll think it is best if I advise you on the types of interactions to use; some could be dangerous if set in motion without proper safeguards.

  “I look forward to hopefully hearing your music,” Brieed said. “The moon is dropping below the horizon as I speak so there’s no more time to…” his voice ceased to speak.

  Grange found that his chin was resting on his hands, as he had listened intently to the startling broadcast by the senior wizard. Ther
e had been two topics, and both had been disturbing to hear. He was frightened by Brieed’s words of instruction regarding the use of powers to achieve the second level of energy.

  The master wizard in Palmland had given him useful advice, and Grange wished he had heard the instructions the previous day. He knew why his storm in the harbor had grown so inexplicably powerful – Grange had inadvertently raised his efforts to a second level effect with the storm. He would be sure to ask Brieed for advice before he tried anything similar.

  “Master?” Geric’s voice called. Grange turned, and Geric approached, carrying a tray of food and drink.

  “I did not wish to disturb you while you talked to the voices in the air,” Geric explained as he set the tray down next to Grange.

  “Will you need my services for anything further, my lord?” Geric asked.

  “No,” Grange shook his head and smiled. “Thank you, this tray is all I need,” he looked down at the assortment of foodstuffs. “Please feel free to go do others things that you need to.”

  “Thank you,” Geric smiled. “I’ll go see my wife today. It’ll be good to show her how nicely you’ve healed me.”

  “You have a wife? You’re married?” Grange asked in astonishment. “Why are you staying here, if you have a home?”

  ‘You healed me, and I am your servant now,” Geric answered, as though the answer were simple and obvious.

  “But wouldn’t you want to live with her?” Grange asked.

  “Are you dismissing me?” Geric asked with a shocked expression.

  “No!” Grange exclaimed. “I just want to be fair. I can’t ask you to leave your wife behind. If you want to live with her and come to me during the day, that will be enough service,” Grange answered. “I wasn’t raised as a nobleman. I don’t need someone to wipe my nose every time I sneeze!”

  “I could perhaps spend every other night at home?” Geric struggled to reconcile his sense of debt to Grange with his desire to spend time with his wife.”

  “Sure,” Grange quickly agreed. “You can bring her up to the tower to stay with you here if you want, for that matter,” he offered.

  “Oh my lord, she wouldn’t know what to do in such a fine place,” Geric marveled at the offer.

  “I’ll tell her what a kind man you are, rest assured my lord, and I’ll return to your service this evening,” he added, then departed from the roof with a lively step.

  Grange bgan to eat his breakfast, hopeful that he had made Geric’s life better, but after only a few moments his thoughts turned back to Palmland. He wondered at Brieed’s idea of sending his music off the moon and to Palmland to heal Lady Selene. Grange remembered the noble woman with both fondness and embarrassment. She had been beautiful and kind, and Grange was still acutely conscious of the time he had tried to conform to the nobility’s habit of kissing cheeks lightly, but had mistimed his kiss with Selene and pressed his lips firmly on hers.

  She had laughed and handled it graciously, but Grange had felt mortified by the misstep, and even now he felt his cheeks grow warm at the memory.

  He was sorry to hear that the noblewoman had been harmed in some way that required such an effort to heal her, and he resolved to play his music for as long as seemed necessary to allow Grace to match her voice to his instrument so that they could deliver as much improvement in Selene’s health as possible. It was ingenious of Brieed to hatch such a scheme, he realized.

  His lesson finished and his breakfast eaten, Grange felt much better. He was over the immediate shock of Shaine’s punishment for his activities, and he felt ready to be active. Downstairs in the bottom level of his suite he found Listrid sewing some of Jenniline’s clothing. “The princess is about the palace on errands, but she told me not to let you to go anywhere without telling you to be back here on your rooftop at mid-afternoon to meet and interview Princess Paile.

  “Her Highness made quite a point of saying that you needed to be told to be presentable,” Listrid said. “But I know you already know to do so, of course, my lord,” she suggested with a hint that she agreed he needed the reminder.

  “And that stack over there,” she motioned to a pile of folded cloth, “is the new clothing the tailors have prepared for you. Some of that will be perfect for your chat with the young lady.”

  Properly warned, he promised to be suitable when the time came.

  Grange left the tower and went to the armory, where he avoided giving an explicit explanation of the new appearance of Shaine's marks in his hair, and focused on practicing his work with his weaponry. He worked and fought and practiced throughout the late morning and into the afternoon, until Jenniline arrived and scolded him to get cleaned up and back to the tower.

  An hour later he changed clothes in his chambers, then finished using his powers under his counselor's direction to move chairs and tables to the roof as the setting for Paile's visit.

  "Now move your bed down out of sight," Jenniline commanded. "You don't want to intimidate the poor girl," she said. “It would be rude."

  Listrid climbed the steps and announced the arrival of the Princess Paile.

  "Please have a seat," Jenniline suggested to Paile. Grange took a seat after the princess sat, then Jenniline sat in the third chair.

  "I thought this would be a private meeting," Paile said, looking from Grange to Jenniline to Grange.

  "As the Champion's counselor, I am responsible for helping him with his decisions and actions."

  "Are you responsible for changing the look of his hair?" Paile asked. "Because I'm not sure it's attractive."

  Grange watched the interaction between the two, but then spoke.

  "She's not responsible for it; Shaine visited me last night and personally imprinted her mark," he said clearly.

  "You had a dream about Shaine?" Paile asked.

  "Not a dream; a visit," Grange corrected. “The goddess was here. She's had some things to tell me lately," he said with a smile, "and she is very direct in delivering her message."

  "She has to be to make a thick-skulled brick like you understand," Jenniline interjected.

  Paile watched the two intently. "Are you serious? The goddess blessed you?"

  "It's not to mark a blessing; it's to mark a curse she placed on him, a promise that she'll come back to punish him," Jenniline replied.

  Paile's eyes grew wide.

  Grange looked at her, and he saw the waxing moon beginning to crest the eastern horizon behind her. He felt anxious to start playing his music for Selene.

  "Is it already decided that you'll marry each other?" Paile asked.

  "I've decided that I won't marry him, no matter how many more times he asks," Jenniline said.

  "Do you like music?" Grange asked suddenly. The rising moon was taunting him with its visibility, and he longed to play music.

  "I suppose so," Paile answered.

  "What are you doing?" Jenniline asked softly.

  Grange called for his flute to come to him, and grabbed it as it arrived, making Paile murmur uncomfortably.

  "I'll play some songs for you that I learned in Palmland," he told Paile. "Master Brieed, here is my music, " he spoke towards the moon after a whispered command to the energy to carry his voice.

  "This first song is 'The Bells of the Party,'" he announced to both audiences for the impromptu performance. The song was one he had learned and performed on Selebe's yacht at the birthday party for Selene; it had been taught to him by Prince Rupert, when Grange hadn't realized who the royal elder was. Grange hoped Selene would remember and appreciate the party where they had met, and that she wouldn't feel scandalized by his choice of a love song for her.

  He played the song, then announced the next one, and played it as well, and played two more songs.

  "I'll take a break, then play more songs in a few minutes," Grange announced for the benefit of Brieed and the Palmland audience, if they had listened, and he shut his transmission off.

  "Thank you for visiting," he addressed Paile. "I
hope you enjoyed the music."

  The princess stood, a bewildered look on her face. "Is our meeting over?" she asked.

  "It is, "Grange confirmed. "I understand that you’re already engaged; there’s no reason to waste your time further. Jenniline will see you back to your rooms in the palace," he announced.

  His counselor gave him a penetrating look, then escorted Paile down the stairs.

  "Will I have a second chance?" Grange heard his guest ask as they left the roof.

  Grange readdressed his attention to the power, and asked it to send more of his music to Brieed’s chambers. He announced his next set of songs and commenced playing more of the tunes he had played on the yacht.

  He finished up as he heard Jenniline's returning steps on the stairs. "Let me know if you require more music," he told his Palmland audience, and released his use of the energy just as the princess returned.

  "Your dress looks nice," he complimented her.

  "What was going on?" she responded.

  "Music? Did you like it?" he asked.

  "Was that a rejection of Paile? I don’t think her heart will be broken if it was," Jenniline said.

  "She didn't like me?" Grange asked.

  "Hmm," Jenniline made a noncommittal sound.

  "You're scheduled to speak to Hilto tomorrow at the same time," she said. "We have to do these and you ought to take them seriously. The girls will talk among themselves, you know. Paile's probably spilling the story at this moment."

  Grange's shoulders slumped in acknowledgment of her words. "I'll do better tomorrow. This was just a set of special circumstances, with Shaine's mark, you know," he tried to excuse himself.

  "Let’s get some dinner, then I have to go out," he suggested.

  "Out? Where? What do you have brewing now?" Jenniline rolled her eyes.

  "I'm going to play music tonight," Grange explained.

  "Does Inge know? He'll take a crowd to listen to you," Jenniline said. "He bragged about your music last night. He told folks in the palace that you are talented."

  Grange grinned, as they began walking downstairs to dinner.