by Lexy Wolfe
"What cycle?" Seeker traded a look with Star. "Anibu is unclear about why Zhekali's echo dwells here. I don't think he knew this existed."
The cycle of death in joined love. Zhekali's echo dwells here because Zhekali is part of Avarian's Heart. We exist to remind Avarian's children the heart and mind need not war. The heart and mind together are stronger. Alone for too long, that value learned in the First Sundering was lost during the divide. Rediscovered two thousand years ago. Lost during the sunder.
Seeker sighed, covering half of his face with his hand. "It is like asking a question of Anibu. The answer just makes it more confusing." The two faces on the statue just smiled at his words.
Grunting as he struggled to his feet, Nolyn put his arm around Star's shoulders to keep his balance. He glanced down with an arched eyebrow as several firebirds settled on or against his feet. "What are they doing? Why are they sitting on my feet?"
The birds of fire are drawn to Zhekali's heart.
"But you just said you were Avarian's Heart," Eptina protested.
Yes.
The woman sighed and looked at Seeker. "You have my sympathies if speaking to your Totani is this maddening." She regarded the statue. "Can't you just answer our questions with clarity?"
Because of what we represent, we are bound to obey the divine laws.
Valerian held up both hands to forestall both Forentan and Desanti exclamations of irritation and frustration. "Think about it. We are mortal when we are born into this world, but our souls are immortal. Divine servants cannot simply give answers directly for every question they are asked. Mortals learn best when they learn for themselves. So, unless the great balance is in peril, they give clues to put mortals on the path to discover the answers for themselves." He shrugged one shoulder. "Even Guardians of Time are to consider the divine laws since we are as close as any mortal creature gets to immortality." Inexplicably, the firebirds and phoenix chatter-laughed again.
As the others digested his words, Valerian and the statue looked at each other. "You are not a finite journal of Avarian and Zhekali. You are the journal of Avarian and Zhekali's souls, not simply Avarian and Zhekali." The statue did not reply. "I am right, aren't I?" he stated more than asked.
We are bound to offer truth to questions posed to us. We are bound by the divine laws. The answer is not simple. We are uncertain how to respond to your observation.
Nolyn pressed his lips together. "Do you represent Avarian's soul or Zhekali's soul?"
The answer is not simple, the statue repeated apologetically.
Star looked up at Nolyn. "Who was Avarian?"
Avarian was one of the most powerful mages of his lifetime. His family took his name as theirs to honor him and his life of teaching and learning. It is his ideals the Avarian family strives to emulate and to protect.
The group traded surprised looks at the succinct reply. Valerian mused. "That was the clearest answer we have gotten yet. Let me try." He cleared his throat as the statue turned its regard towards him. "After the First Sundering, the warriors and mages kept to their own territories."
Yes.
Encouraged, the Vodani asked, "Then how did Avarian meet a Totani?"
At the end of his life, Avarian sought to discover the truth about the warriors. It goes against the Edai of the Knowing One to accept facts without proof they are, indeed, facts and not opinion. Opinion is truth only to the one making it, but it may be truth or fallacy to others. If warriors were murderers, his life was already near its end due to illness. If warriors were not, the truth would be returned to the mages, no matter how painful learning they lived by lies would be.
Totani Zhekali challenged his presence within Desantiva's borders. His answer satisfied her. She took him to the tribe she patroned so he could learn the truth about warriors. Their ways, not being of the north, knew how to cure him of his disease.
Seeker grimaced, hand over his right shoulder. "Anibu says Zhekali always walked the blade's edge of the divine laws. She walked the mortal land more than any of the other Totani."
Yes. Avarian drew her attention most of all. She sought to learn from him about the people of the north. She did not dismiss his worth. In him, she saw hope for understanding between mages and warriors to be brought to both her people and his. She could not allow betrayal to destroy that hope.
"Betrayal?" Nolyn frowned deeply. "Someone betrayed them?"
Avarian's twin brother Oberlain betrayed him. Oberlain feared what it would mean for the mages if no one saw Avarian's actions as treason to the Knowing One. Oberlain destroyed the magic of Avarian's immortal soul so his trust in the warriors could never return when he would be reborn. Had those actions fully succeeded, he would have destroyed the soul of Avarian and he would never have been reborn.
Eptina paled, her hand going to her throat. "That is the root of the bitter rivalry between the Avarian and the Oberlain families?"
No. Knowledge of Oberlain's betrayal died with him. He believed his actions were necessary to protect the sanctity of Forenta's beliefs, but the actions would be seen before the purpose behind them. The rivalry exists because of differing philosophies in following the Knowing One's edai. Avarians create and encourage change. Oberlains create and encourage tradition. They balance each other, but envy blinded Oberlain.
Nolyn shook his head, leaning more heavily onto Star when one knee gave out briefly. "If Oberlain destroyed the magic in Avarian's soul that means his soul is gone." He raised his eyes to regard the statue. "So you are an echo of Zhekali, because Avarian is gone."
It is complicated. But neither soul is gone.
"Please, uncomplicate it," Nolyn growled as Star tightened her arm around him and widened her stance to stabilize them. "I am not sure I how much longer I can stay awake."
The man in the statue nodded as the woman grinned. Very well. Zhekali asked a boon of the Timeless One. The Timeless One took the magic of Zhekali's soul and bound it to Avarian's so his could restore itself and allow him to live as he had been, as well allow him to be reborn when it was time. They were bound by divine oath. Zhekali would live as a mortal until his soul was healed. Once healed, he was to return that part of her soul to her, so she would once again be immortal. During that time, they secretly came to this place and created us. We do not know why, just that they felt it right. Their souls were mingled, so we are not one or the other… exactly.
"Things did not happen as they were supposed to, did they?" Nolyn asked, looking at the scar in his right palm.
No. The Trisari had vanished from the northlands while Avarian was still a boy. The attack on the southlands tried to do to the Totani what Oberlain had done to Avarian many years before. Despite being mortal, Zhekali was still a Totani and was too weak to survive the attack. She died a mortal. Avarian followed her into death, for part of his soul was hers and while her soul was split into two, it remained connected.
Divine oath knows no mortal boundaries. It demanded the original contract be fulfilled by the souls who swore to it. Unfortunately, they were doomed to perpetual failure because of Desanti self-exile. Zhekali and Avarian could never find each other.
Seeker took a step forward, making sharp gestures with his hands as he spoke. "If the Trisari were gone, then it was the Knowing One Herself who allowed the war to happen! She was responsible for—"
She was deceived. Because the Knowing One and the Raging One never spoke, They knew only suspicion of the other's children and their intentions. The Knowing One was hobbled, blinded without Her divine servants and trusted those undeserving of Her trust. Lies mixed with truth, woven together such that She saw only the weave that She expected to see. Only once the war was set into motion did the Knowing One realize the deception, Her error, and the truth of what destruction of the warriors would mean to Her own mortal children. She stopped what She could, altered the spell intended to kill to one that imprisoned Him. It was not enough to spare Avarian and Zhekali the past tortured two thousand years.
"Ash… Storm… They are Avarian and Zhekali reborn?" Nolyn's simple question shocked Eptina and the three Desanti.
As the statue continued to speak in their minds, the masculine half became more dominant, the feminine fading. They each bear the same souls. Each of you have souls that have lived lives before, but you are yourselves, not those who you once were. Who you once were can affect who you are now, but you are yourselves. As Zhekali closed her eyes, Avarian turned a familiar smile on Nolyn. You always were adept at discovering secrets, Nolyn Lirai. And keeping them. Thank you. I apologize I have not been a better brother to you, making you suffer everything I have this life. Most especially endure healing delayed more than two thousand years.
Nolyn blinked, confused. Then he repeated the statue's first words. "It is now as it should have been then. You are just Ash now."
The statue shrugged.then quirked a faint smile. This statue echoes only Avarian's soul now, yes. But Zhekali has been and always will be a part of his heart. They are lifemates. The man of the statue looked to Kiya while the woman remained still. I am glad you have found what I finally could rediscover myself, brother of my soul.
Nolyn chuckled tiredly. "You have not had an easy life, Ash. It is the least I could do for you. No one should suffer alone." He sagged against Star, who struggled to hold him up. Valerian got under his other shoulder, taking some of the burden off the slight Desanti woman. He shook his head, struggling to stay awake. "Goddess, I am… so tired."
Go rest. Then return home. Take care in the secrets of the Avarians shared with you. Their wisdom is meant for each of you. When you understand, you will know how to share them with others. Nolyn. He waited for Nolyn to peer blearily up at him. Tell me when I return to find myself here. There is something I must do. Nolyn nodded in agreement, then passed out.
The flock of firebirds took wing, circling the area and creating a swirling wind. The humans watched in amazement as the statue vanished from sight once more, the symbol in the ground fading from view before the snow blew back across the surface. Then they disappeared under the rough-hewn stone arch, a dull glow visible in the blackness.
Seeker sniffed the air and blinked. "It smells like the volcanoes from home. They nest here!" He looked at the phoenix that sat on his drizzen's saddle, preening itself. "You are not staying with the others?" The bird paused in its preening long enough to give a disdainful look to the Githalin Swordanzen. The man held up his hands. "Fine. I guess I am walking."
Windsong, who had been silent for the strange encounter, drew her drizzen forward, urging it to lower itself. "I will walk as well. Githalin Su'alin, you ride with Edai Magus Nolyn. We will guard you both."
Eptina and Valerian were in the process of mounting their horses when the woman cried out, nearly toppling. The Vodani caught her by the arm to steady her. She managed to say, "The-the Edai Tredecima… is broken. Again. I think… Something is very wrong." She shook his hand off her. "We must return to Andar's library."
Chapter 91
The sight that greeted the group when they approached the ancient tree that housed Andar's library was as perplexing as it was alarming. Snow was stained red and trampled, reflecting the violence from earlier. Armed servants stood outside, standing guard. Pacer was outside with them and raised a hand in greeting to the others, his expression reflecting shock when he saw the bird sitting on Seeker's drizzen's saddle. He turned and gave a sharp whistle.
Marcus and Tobias raced out, skidding to a stop at the top step by the entrance into the tree. "Oh, thank the goddess you are all alive! Ana and Marcus were imagining all sorts of terrible things having happened."
Giving the Sevmanan healer a dirty look, Marcus elbowed Tobias. "You were thinking them, too!"
Tobias scratched his head. "Well, yeah, but—"
"Don't make us sound like we're scardy cats, then! We were all scared and there is nothing wrong with that knowing they could have run into Master Kerburn's men," Marcus shot back.
Eptina stared at Marcus. "Those were… my father's men?" she whispered. Her gaze went to the stained snow below. "Then… who…?"
Tobias pointed upwards where several silk-encased bodies hung, covered with huge, grey spiders guarding them. "Edai Magus Draustus Oberlain of Gallilae," he said dryly, mimicking the boorish officiousness the man had displayed. "We tried to stop him. I think we did not do too bad!" Marcus elbowed him again. "Well, the tree helped." He made a sound at another elbowing. "The tree and the Desanti did most of the work. But I did take out two trying to get into the library! Made my head hurt a lot, though. They hurt Endarian pretty bad, too, but once Marcus got the bad metal out of his wound, I was able to close it so he didn't bleed to death. That would have been bad, having the Trisari die after we just found him." He looked up when a green tree sprite with black markings and a bow landed on top of his head. "Oh, hi, Zizi."
The sprite drew an arrow when the phoenix hissed at it. "Oh, no you don't," Nolyn growled, snatching the sprite from the top of Tobias's head. "Valerian's already lost decades in the past few hours to save that bird. No one here is an enemy, understand?"
Zizi's struggles stopped and he looked at Nolyn. "Why you not saying so in first place?" The sprite flew out of the mage's hand when he released it. Its shrill voice brought the cloud of tree defenders from inside, the colorful swarm circling the newly returned in inspection before they flew back inside. Zizi saluted crisply, then darted back inside.
Nolyn made a sound, hand on the side of his head. "No amount of alcohol is going to help this day make any more sense." He looked over at Marcus. "Is there food? I think much of my headache is from hunger as it is from everything else."
Marcus jumped to action. "I will tell the servants you are back and want food and drink and goddess, I am not looking forward to the report Master Ellis will want of what happened. I thought the last one was long." The apprentice's chattering faded as he disappeared further inside, the group following at a more leisurely pace.
Over the course of time while servants prepared, then served the meal, and while they ate it, the group discussed the details of what had happen. The sun had set well below the horizon by the time everyone finished relating the details of their adventures. Nolyn and Eptina waved the others to go and rest while they discussed the implications of Draustus's actions and assumed intentions.
Valerian rose stiffly, grimacing at the ache in his joints. Brushing his fingers through hair that held almost none of its former brown color, he bowed to the pair of mages. "While I would dearly love to sleep, my mind is chasing itself with everything that has happened. Would it be all right if this old Vodani Unsvet Guardian wandered the hallowed halls of the Knowing One's library?"
Neither mage could conceal their worry for the Unsvet Guardian. Nolyn waved a hand at Valerian. "Of course. You are more than welcome, Valerian. If you can find some corner that lets you get some rest, please take advantage. But, we will come looking for you if you do not return by this time the day after tomorrow." The Vodani man sketched an elaborate bow before walking out of the dimly lit dining hall.
"Edai Magus Nolyn Lirai, may I speak?" Aughas said as he approached, his head bowed and hands clasped behind his back.
"Apprentice Aughas Oberlain," Nolyn acknowledged with the same formality the boy spoke with. He tilted his head to the side. "Ah, I remember your name now. You were one of the applicants the Se'edai Magus had sent to me for my consideration for apprentice. Your credentials were exemplary." He waved a hand. "Speak freely, Apprentice. My brain is too muzzy to engage in the courtly tango of extreme formality."
"Freely, sir?" Aughas asked with a frown, dubious. "If you say so, sir." With the air of someone who expected the promise to be renigged, he squared his shoulders and did not hold back his thoughts, speaking in a rush. "I know that Apprentice Marcus said he would vouch for me, and I know that he has already with you. But I wish you to hear from me that-that…" He lowered his eyes. "I did not know what my Uncle Draustus's true intentions were when we h
ad come to Andar. And even though I did not think that Apprentice Marcus was worthy of being your first apprentice upon being named Edai Magus of Verusia, the second to the Se'edai Magus of the Edai Tredecima himself, I did not agree with my uncle that you were undeserving of the appointment by the Knowing One Herself and I did not want Marcus hurt just because I was jealous of him." Taking a deep breath, he added, "And I certainly did not want to destroy Andar's library. Everything he did went against our great mother's first laws, but I had hoped maybe I was mistaken."
Before Nolyn could say anything, Aughas continued. "I know that the Se'edai Magus will punish me because I am an Oberlain. I just wanted you to know I truly did not wish to betray the goddess or Forenta. Even if no one was supposed to have known we were here, and maybe the goddess Herself might not have known, it was just… wrong."
Nolyn tilted his head to one side. "You are an apprentice who followed his master. And when your master was doing wrong, you knew better than to follow him blindly. You think for yourself and are willing to admit when you are in error, which belive me, is a refreshing change of pace from what has become far too normal." He paused for a few moments. "Why would Master Ellis punish you?"
"Because he is an Avarian and I am an Oberlain," Aughas responded. Eptina and Nolyn traded unreadable expression that hinted sadness at the boy's matter-of-fact belief. "Oberlains have never been kind to the Avarians, and have gone out of their way to try to hurt them… obviously," he added as his face turned deep red in shame. "He cannot punish my uncle now because… beause he is dead. I'm… the only one left alive. Someone has to be punished."
"You are assuming any of what has happened here will become public knowledge," Nolyn pointed out. "The chaos it would cause among the population to learn an Edai Magus risked the wrath of the Knowing One and the Timeless One? No, Ellis will not allow that. Such a thing would make fools believe they could try and succeed where Draustus failed. And since it will not be public, there will be no reason to punish you."
