Shatter (The Children of Man)

by Elizabeth C. Mock

  "Okay, I definitely felt that one," Jair told her and Kade nodded confirming that he had as well.

  Sheridan tucked her arms across her chest. "If that's just your tracer spell, why is Jair feeling it?"

  Kade raised his shoulders indicating his ignorance. "Maybe it's a Gray thing?"

  "Did you feel that, Haley?" Sheridan asked, but Haley talked with Eve oblivious to their discussion.

  The tugging returned and this time it managed to upset Faela's equilibrium and she staggered into Jair who put out a hand to steady her.

  "I have to go, now," Faela said regaining her footing. "Tell Mireya to hurry up or catch up, Sheridan. I'm not waiting."

  Sheridan opened her mouth to argue, but Faela had already started walking in the direction of the tugging with Jair and Kade at her heels. They continued through the market, passing weaver’s shops, ironworks, then butchers as they approached the livestock market. As they passed each shop, Kade noted their location within the city.

  "I think we're heading for that tavern, the Tin Whistle," Kade remarked.

  Within a block, the pungent smell of animal had blown down wind and away from the shops they now passed, tailors and cobblers and bakeries. As they rounded the third block they saw a tavern with a sign marking it as the Tin Whistle. The tugging led directly inside.

  Faela inhaled slowly, holding her breath for a moment and exhaled gustily. "Here goes," she said more to herself than her companions.

  Stepping through the doorway of the tavern, they entered a raucous room filled with men and women laughing, cursing, dancing, eating, and singing off key. Seated at the bar with his arm around a serving girl lounged the source of the tugging, a large, muscular man with a bushy beard and curly brown hair pulled back in a ponytail at the base of his neck. He looked barely out of his thirties. When they entered the room, the man's head perked up and he swiveled his gaze to the door.

  When he saw the three of them, his eyes fixed on Faela and his mouth cracked into a wide grin. "My, you've filled out nicely, Rafaela."

  "Tobias?" Faela spoke the name as if she looked at a ghost.

  Patting the serving girl on the hip, he winked at her and whispered something in her ear. She giggled and hurried away back behind the bar. Free of his encumbrance, Tobias stood showing that his height matched Jair's, but his frame could have fit two of Jair inside it. He strode over and swept Faela into a paternal hug.

  "I knew it would be you," he whispered through the fabric of her scarf, his voice tinged with sadness.

  Faela stood stunned as Tobias enveloped her much smaller ribcage with his arms. Then coming to her senses, she put her hands between his chest and herself and pushed back to look up at him.

  “Now you just wait a darkness blasted moment,” she said, her face still displaying her shock. “You're not Gresham. I'm looking for a man named Gresham. You can't be Gresham.”

  Tobias smiled his dark eyes twinkling. “Rafaela, think for a moment. It will come to you.”

  “No.” She shook her head, her face beginning to flush. “No, Ianos would have told me. He would have.”

  “Let me see if I can guess,” Tobias offered, his eyes crinkling as he tried to keep from laughing. “Ianos took you to the vault in the crypt below the Tereskan temple in Kilrood. He gave you a blood sample to cast a tracer. He told you it would lead you to a man named Gresham who once served the Tereskans.”

  He lifted Faela's chin with a finger to force her to look him in the eyes. His eyes flashed silver then returned to their deep brown. “A man who was a redeemed Gray.”

  Faela protested, her voice weak. “But your name isn't Gresham.”

  “Did it never occur to you that it might be a surname?” he asked smiling down at her.

  “But your surname is...” Faela's voice trailed off as she blinked and covered her face with a hand. Dragging her hand down her face, she made a disgusted noise. “I don't know what your surname is.”

  “I'm guessing it's Gresham,” Jair added helpfully still several paces behind Faela, where he and Kade had claimed seats at the bar facing the pair.

  Faela turned a look of loathing at him as Kade smacked him in the back of the head.

  “Ow!” Jair exclaimed looking far more injured than he was. “What? I'm not wrong.”

  “And in no way are you helping,” Faela said ruefully before turning back to Tobias. "I don't understand. Why didn't Ianos tell me I was looking for you?"

  "He had his reasons, girl. Just as you have yours," he said nodding his head to indicate her eyes.

  "His reasons?" Her pitch rising, Faela began to object to his non-answer.

  "But let's find somewhere quieter to sit in here so we can talk," he said cutting her off. "It seems like just yesterday you were that skinny little girl with the dirty face."

  The look he gave her was affectionate as he squeezed her shoulder. Walking over to the bar, he thumped the counter to get the barkeep's attention.

  "Rick," he called to the thin man with large gold hoops in his ears. "Back room open?"

  Not even trying to be heard over the crowd, he waved Tobias to go on back.

  "Ladies first," he said to the trio, waving in the direction of a curtained opening.

  Jair looked around for the rest of the party. "Um, Kade," he said stopping the other man with a hand before following Faela who had disappeared behind the plain canvas curtain. "How are they going to find us?"

  Patting his chest directly over his heart, he replied, "Eve will." Kade too disappeared behind the curtain.

  Not wanting to miss what would inevitably follow, Jair ducked after them through the doorway. A round, carved wooden table shiny from use and age filled most of the space in the room.

  Already settled into chairs, Tobias saw Jair's admiration of the craftsmanship and the sheer size of the table. "It's used for card games that Rick would rather keep off the main floor."

  Jair found a seat next to Kade who had pulled back a chair near Faela. A small black stove in the back corner blazed filling the room with heat. Faela sank into her chair enjoying the warmth like a cat in a patch of sunlight.

  Her eyes never leaving Tobias, she asked, "How is it that you don't look a day older than the last time I saw you?"

  "It's all the ale and women," he replied. "Keeps me preserved."

  "It's been twelve years since the last time you visited Ianos in Kilrood. I was fourteen and you still look exactly the same. Don't try to peddle that to me."

  Tobias tented his fingers and watched her over them. "Never could back then either. You always were the suspicious sort. Guess I have your brother to thank for that."

  "Is it because of being,” she hesitated, “is it because of being like me?"

  “Yes and no," he answered. When she threw him a murderous look, he held up his hands. "Whoa, I was going to explain. Rein it in, little miss. I would not be as I am, had I not turned Gray, but I am not as I am because I was Gray."

  "Okay, that explained nothing to me," Jair said shaking his hair out of his eyes.

  "Why don't we start where this began?" Tobias suggested. "But before you hear my story, I want to hear yours, Rafaela."

  Faela had feared this would be necessary when she found Gresham, but she had never imagined it would be Ianos' old friend who used to regale her with wild tales of his adventures when she was a child. Forcing herself not to look at Kade, she had to decide how much she was willing to reveal, even to Tobias.

  While she steeled herself to answer him, Tobias locked Jair with his gaze. "Yours as well, son. Don't think I didn't notice that you're one of us."

  Jair swallowed and nodded under Tobias’ gaze, but said nothing.

  "Before I tell you," Faela prefaced, remembering what Tobias had whispered to her. "Why did you say that you knew this would happen to me?"

  "Patience, girl," he said, melancholy tingeing his smile. "That's part of my story too."

  Faela exhaled. "Fair enough. Well, there's no point in beating around the bus
h about it. I killed my father, Tobias."

  Tobias put his hand to cover his mouth and leaned his weight onto his elbow resting on the table to listen.

  All emotion erased from Faela’s face, she spoke as though reporting something she had memorized without any understanding of what she said. "I abused my gift by violating his mind and free will by forming a link through repeated manipulations of his emotions. Eventually, my own hopelessness and selfish desires influenced him through that link and he took his own life. Because of the link, I felt him slit his arms clear from wrist to elbow. He was in his study. When I found him, he was dying.”

  Faela's voice finally caught. She curled her fingers around the arms of the chair and cleared her voice. “I severed the link and tried to repair the damage, but I was far too late. When I severed the link and reached for my red magic, I felt like I was being burned from the inside out. The next time I saw my reflection, my eyes had changed. I was cursed as a kin-slayer."

  “No,” Tobias disagreed. “You weren't cursed. Is that what you think this is?” He tapped her temple with two fingers.

  Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes and she looked away from him to the stove. “What else could it be?”

  Tobias' eyes carried a deep pain despite being offset by his absent smile. “Tell me what you think you know about Grays.”

  “According to Roland’s Legends,” Kade spoke up, “the first Gray was Simon's apprentice, Justin. After the Shattering, he had broken his vows to the Orders by wielding black magic, which was forbidden, but when Simon ordered him to take the life of a Lusican seeker, Justin refused and used his orange magic to shield the girl nearly killing himself in the process. Simon fled and Justin had turned. He had become Gray.”

  “You know your legends,” Tobias said complimenting him.

  Kade folded his hands across his chest. “I knew a little girl who had trouble falling asleep.”

  “So, what can we learn from this legend about Grays?” Tobias asked his gaze moving around the table to all three.

  Jair surprised them by answering in a quiet voice. “You have to have used black magic.”

  “You are correct about that," Tobias replied, "but not all who wield black magic turn and become Gray. So, what was different about Justin?"

  "He risked his own life to protect another's life," Kade suggested.

  "That's part of it, but it isn't the whole story." Tobias leaned toward them. "Dark magic steals its energies like a parasite. It latches onto other colors and uses them. But more than that it corrupts any magic it touches. All magic has two sides. Red magic is the most obvious, because it can heal and save life, but it can also kill and take life. Orange magic protects; it tracks, seeks out the truth. But where there is the power to protect there is the power to enslave. Yellow is the expression of magic through beauty and art, but it can also manipulate and lie. Green is the foundation, the fuel for magic, but it must be used carefully so to not alter the Balance of magic."

  At this Jair retreated into himself, his expression troubled and guarded.

  "Purple magic," Tobias laughed to himself, "has the ability to see through space and time and for some to move through either and with that comes the potential to destroy the very fabric of reality. I can tell you that I'm glad I was never called to Wistholt. I wouldn't want that responsibility."

  "But blue magic doesn't have two sides like that, does it?" Faela asked.

  "Of course it does," Tobias said running his fingers through his beard. "Why wouldn’t it? Blue magic is probably the most misunderstood, because of the Orders teachings."

  "Their teachings?" Kade questioned, his brow wrinkling.

  "Yes, their teachings. Only Nikelans have blue magic, correct?" Tobias asked them.

  "Right," agreed Kade.

  "Wrong. More people possess blue magic than the Orders would like you to believe. That boy sitting next to you," he said pointing to Jair, "he has blue. It's not dominant, but it is there all the same."

  Faela rocked forward in her chair, her mouth slack. "Blue?"

  At the same time, Kade raised an eyebrow and asked, "Him?"

  Tobias nodded. "How did you meet him, Rafaela?"

  "He was being chased by Kade in the forest. I had just finished my tracer spell looking for you, when they ran into me near a clearing. Jair used me for a shield actually."

  Tobias’ eyes twinkled. "Jair, why did you run toward that clearing? You knew you'd find help there, didn't you?"

  Jair opened and closed his mouth. "It was just a gut feeling."

  "You get those a lot, don't you? Knowing where to be, at the right place at the right time? That's untrained blue, boy.”

  Kade tapped a finger against his lips as his mind connected bits of information. “I never did ask you, Jair. Why did you steal my circuit kit?”

  “Honestly?” Jair said sinking in his chair. “It seemed like a good idea at the time?”

  “You took the one thing that would make me chase you and by getting me to hunt you, you were able to shake two of the best bounty hunters I know. I’m one of the only people alive who could confuse the trail well enough to confound Caleb.” Kade shook his head laughing. “Darkness, you do have blue, Jair.”

  “Just as I said. Now, if you two are here,” he said indicating Jair and Faela, “then there's a Nikelan somewhere nearby. Am I right?"

  "Yes," Faela admitted slowly. "Her name is Mireya."

  Tobias nodded, his smile widening. "Sweet girl. She's a favorite of Riv’s."

  "Riv?" Faela's pitch rose flabbergasted at the casual familiarity he used referring to the Nikelan Scion.

  "Scion of the Nikelans," Tobias explained. "I know you've heard of Rivka, Rafaela. Ianos is a stickler about learning history. If Mireya is here, then there's been another prophecy and you're part of it, children. If Lior is moving in the world again, then your meeting was directed by him."

  "You mean it was predetermined? Meant to be?" Kade asked his voice skeptical.

  "No, I said you were directed. Jair didn't have to follow his gut."

  "You clearly don't know Jair." Faela spoke only loud enough for Kade to hear.

  "But he did. Lior didn't decide for him. He just nudged him."

  "You sound like Mireya," Jair observed.

  "I've spent some time with Nikelans," Tobias said cryptically.

  “Lior?” Faela asked realizing what he had said after he repeated the name. “The tri-fold deity of the Deoraghan? What does he have to do with this?”

  “That is for you to discover, my girl,” Tobias said with an infuriating smile, “not for me to tell.”

  Faela rewarded him with an exasperated glare and finally asked, "So, what're the two sides of blue? Since you refuse to answer my other question.”

  "The blue opens a channel to the infinite, which enables those with it to see the future. Some are possible futures, but there are certain events that will occur. Knowing the future can be a terrible burden. It can be used powerfully for good, but when someone with blue presumes to understand what future a prophecy will create and tries to bring that interpretation into being instead of allowing Lior to guide them...” He left the implication unsaid.

  "Any magic can be used for the Light or corrupted by darkness. But black,” Tobias paused, his fingers drumming the tabletop, “black magic is inherently self-focused. There's a reason why those in the Orders are called Brothers and Sisters. They are meant to serve the people of this world, not exploit or enslave them. But that has not always been the case in our history."

  Tobias looked beyond the three to a darker time haunted by the consequences of his past.

  Faela chewed on the inside of her bottom lip, something troubling her. "Tobias, what did you mean by ‘another prophecy’?"

  "Well, I promised I would tell you my story and I will." Tobias looked into Faela's eyes reassuring her fears that he was just putting her off again. "But we still need to hear this young man's tale."

  Jair squirmed in his se
at, shifting his weight from side to side. "I didn't know what I was doing," he began.

  Before he could continue his story, Mireya peeked her head through the curtain. "There you are," she admonished and said back into the front room of the inn, "They're back here."

  She jerked the curtain aside and walked into the room. "You know, it's not nice to go running off without even a word, when I was just trying to find some nice herbs to brew some tea to help you wake up in the morning."

  Mireya's rant cut off when she realized the three were not alone. Spotting Tobias Gresham sitting with his back to the stove, she squealed with delight and rushed around the table and threw herself into his lap. "Tobias!"

  "Am I the only one who doesn't know this guy?" Kade whispered to Faela who suppressed a laugh.

  Behind Mireya, Dathien crossed the cramped room in a few strides.

  Tobias extracted an arm from the bundle of Mireya and clasped Dathien's forearm. "Looking well, mate. Have to fish this little one out of any ponds recently?"

  "Well met, Tobias," Dathien replied with a slow smile. "No ponds, just briar patches and bogs."

  Mireya glared balefully at her spouse, but snuggled in closer to Tobias. "No complaining. I got us there."

  Sheridan, Eve, and Haley entered through the curtain hesitantly. Eve and Haley stopped at the canvas divider, clearly feeling like intruders. Unfazed, Sheridan marched to Jair's side and fell into the chair next to him with a wink. Eve trailed after her with Haley at her side. They sat near the exit and shared a cautious look, unsure of what they had stumbled into.

  "I'm sure you did get where you were going, child," Tobias answered stroking her arm, "by taking the most direct path possible regardless of the obstacles in your way."

  Dathien and Tobias shared a knowing smile of memories and mutual experiences.

  Mireya looked over to Faela. "Tobias brought me past the Boundary to the Nikelan temple in Vamorines when I was a little girl."

  "Aye," Tobias affirmed. "You were a wee little thing too. I couldn't take my eyes off of you for a moment or I'd find you up a tree or in a pond or feeding a chipmunk or petting a wolf."