Harmonic Magic Series Boxed Set

by P. E. Padilla

  Nice…meet…you, she sent.

  After returning the hapaki to the ground, she and Sam discussed her apparent ability to communicate with Skitter.

  “I guess it makes sense,” Sam said. “The only other human Skitter had ever been able to communicate with was Uncle Grayson. It must be something that runs in the family. That’s great!”

  “Is it always that difficult to communicate?” she asked. “I can only get every few words and some feelings.”

  “That’s the way it started with me, too. Within a couple of weeks, we were communicating much more fluidly. It just takes some getting used to.”

  Nalia had knelt and was scratching Skitter behind his small round ears. “Now I feel left out,” she said in a fake pout. “Everyone can speak mind-to-mind except for me.” She exaggerating puffing her lower lip out like she was a child. Nicole thought it was adorable.

  “You’re even beautiful when you throw a tantrum like a child,” Sam said, kissing her cheek. “You don’t have to feel left out. We won’t talk about you. Much.” He winked at her and kissed her again.

  Nicole liked to see the interaction between the two of them. They had an easy, teasing relationship filled with humor. It reminded her of when she was young and newly in love with Mark, Sam’s dad. She swallowed the memory, noticing one of Skitter’s eyes opening to look at her knowingly.

  It’s…nothing, she sent to him. He nodded slightly and closed his eye, enjoying Nalia’s scratching.

  Sam took out the gift he had brought Skitter: a whole case of granola bars. The excitement in those large green eyes made Nicole giggle. After a moment of silence, with Sam wearing the look that apparently indicated he was communicating with Skitter mind-to-mind, he spoke.

  “I’m going to carry these to Skitter’s community. The dwellings there are too small for us to enter and he’s not sure how afraid the other hapaki will be, so if you two could stay here, we’ll be back in a little while. Is that okay?”

  Both women nodded. Skitter left, leading Sam, who was carrying the case of food for him. It was much too heavy and unwieldy for the hapaki to carry. As she watched them leave, she wondered why she couldn’t hear Sam’s thoughts if she could hear the hapaki’s without trying. She’d have to ask him later.

  Nicole and Nalia sat quietly chatting, watching the small animals and insects in the forest move about. Soon, Sam came back. Skitter was with him, as well as another hapaki. This one was smaller than Skitter and had dark brown fur banded with a lighter tan color. Sam had told her that hapaki really had no gender—they had a fascinating ability to begin gestation of offspring within themselves, at will—so it wasn’t really a “he,” she supposed, but Nicole didn’t like the thought of calling the intelligent creatures “it.” “He” would have to do.

  “Skitter has decided to come back with us to Whitehall,” Sam said. “He is also bringing his favorite nephew. The community decided that it was time to reach out to other communities and to other species. If a new government is going to be established, they want to have their say in how things are run.”

  Nicole sent to the younger hapaki, Hello. Nice…meet…you. She watched him look around for the source of the sending, finally letting his large, luminous blue eyes rest on her.

  You…talk…me…in mind? he sent.

  Yes…but need…practice.

  We…practice…together.

  She sent him a feeling of happiness and affirmation. When she looked up, Sam’s smiling face was right in front of her. “Well, are you ready to head back home?”

  “Yes, I am. I have a lot of language practice to do. Kasmali and Hapaki.”

  Chapter 13

  Sam knocked on Rindu’s door, wanting to ask him about a particular movement in the kori rohw.

  “Come,” he heard the Zouy say.

  Sam stepped into the room to find Rindu at his small table, books strewn about and paper scattered over the surface.

  “Master Rindu,” Sam said, “I was hoping to ask you a question.”

  “All of the things in the world, Sam, and the one you hope for is to ask me a question? It seems that you do not dream largely.”

  Sam looked into Rindu’s eyes, searched his face for any sign of emotion. There was none. He didn’t know what to say.

  “It is a joke, Sam. Perhaps staying in your own world for too long has ruined your sense of humor. No matter. What was your question?”

  “It’s about the twenty-fifth movement of the kori rohw. I still can’t seem to get it right. Can you help me?”

  “Of course,” Rindu said. “Show it to me.”

  A few minutes of Rindu pushing and pulling different parts of Sam’s body as he tried to assume the correct body position and he had it.

  “I’ll practice it,” Sam said. “Thank you.” Turning to Rindu’s desk, he asked, “Master Rindu, what are all those papers and books?”

  Rindu looked forlornly at the table. “They are my attempts at learning your language. I do not want to rely on Dr. Walt or you to translate the fine books you gave me as a gift. I want to learn your English—” he sounded the word awkwardly “—so that I may translate the words myself and thereby become more intimately familiar with them.”

  “Oh, that sounds great!” Sam exclaimed. “Please let me help you, as you helped me to learn Kasmali.”

  “That would be much appreciated, Sam,” the Zouy said. “It is difficult with just the few passages Dr. Walt has provided to translate others.”

  “We can start right away,” Sam said with a smile, “but instead of doing it like we did when you taught me, we can tackle the written word at the same time. I bet my mom would even help, and Nalia.”

  “I am anxious to see if your world follows the wireh as the Zouyim and the Sapsyra do here.”

  “The what?” Sam asked.

  “Wireh.” Rindu looked at him, confused. “The path, the way. You know, wireh.”

  “I’m not really sure what you’re talking about, Master Rindu. I don’t think you ever taught me about that when I was here before.”

  “Ah,” the monk said, “perhaps I did not name it, but I taught you of it. What we call wireh, Old Kasmali for road or path, is the manner in which a man should live. It is the way through which we fulfill our cosmic significance, through honor and in harmony with the rohw. Does not this sound familiar to you?”

  “Oh,” Sam said, “Tao. On my world, it’s called Tao. The way. At least, that’s one name for it.”

  “It is the way to an enlightened existence, to an honorable and harmonious life?” Rindu asked.

  “Yes, all of those things. It’s not the only such philosophy, though. There are many that declare they know the only true ‘way.’ Several of the books I gave you are about those philosophies, including the Tao.”

  Rindu’s eyes lit up. “Truly? Sam, again I must tell you how great a gift you have given me. I must learn your language right away to unlock the secrets of the wisdom of your world.”

  Later that evening, everyone was gathered for dinner in one of the dining halls. There seemed to be more people trickling in from the cities and villages in the surrounding areas. Dr. Walt’s messengers were keeping busy, no doubt, in inviting the leaders to the grand summit at Whitehall to design the new government. The dining hall held more than thirty people besides Sam and his friends.

  Skitter and his nephew had moved into the park area in the greenhouse temporarily, until they found another suitable location, perhaps in one of the gardens elsewhere in the keep. The two of them were sitting on benches near the table where the others sat, eating the vegetables provided them, including onekai. It wasn’t just Skitter’s favorite, it seemed, but also that of his nephew.

  When, in idle conversation, Sam brought up Lahim Chode’s viewing of Ayim Rasaad, Rindu interrupted him.

  “Did you say Ayim Rasaad?” the monk asked.

  “Yes. That’s the name Lahim used to refer to the woman he saw in the viewing.”

  “That is…interes
ting, and a little troubling,” Rindu said. “Ayim Rasaad was one of the Zouyim. She betrayed the order to go to the Arzbedim, but that was at the same time the Gray Man had come into his power and destroyed all the rogue rohw users. We had always assumed she had died with the rest of them. Perhaps she did not. It is probably of little matter, but it is unexpected.”

  Conversation at the table stopped for a few moments as everyone wrestled with their own thoughts. The buzz of conversation from the other tables continued.

  Sam kept noticing people watching him and they seemed to be talking about him. When he looked toward a group that was pointing and whispering, they immediately averted their gaze. It was disconcerting.

  “Dr. Walt,” Sam said. “Is everyone staring at me or am I just imagining it?”

  Dr. Walt swallowed the food he was chewing and looked up. “Well, my boy, you are famous. It seems that the soldiers who fled and some of the servants who left the fortress spread tales of what happened here that fateful night. Too, rumors have trickled in from other areas, places we passed through on our journey north. You know how stories grow in each telling. Gythe has been so long without a hero, they have decided that you would be theirs.”

  “But I did the least amount of any of my friends,” Sam said. “I was trapped in a force field while Rindu and Nalia fought. Even at the end, it was Skitter who made the difference and reminded Uncle Grayson who he was. I didn’t really do much of anything.”

  “Be that as it may, they have decided that you are the face of the new Gythe. You are the one they pin their hopes on. I’m afraid there’s no talking them out of it. You’re the closest thing to a celebrity that Gythe has. Don’t despair, though. Rindu, Nalia, and even Skitter are also famous heroes. If it makes you feel better, they are looking at and whispering about them as well. All of the heroes of Gythe at one table. It’s something to tell their grandchildren about.”

  “Do not forget that you also are highly respected, Dr. Walt,” Rindu said between stuffing forks full of food into his mouth. “You are the genius from another world who masterminded the operation from within the fortress, after you cleverly allowed yourself to be captured to lull the villains into a false sense of security.”

  Dr. Walt’s eyebrows climbed half way up his forehead. “What? I haven’t heard that. Are you sure?”

  “I am,” Rindu said, winking at Sam when Dr. Walt looked away.

  “Anyway, anyway,” Dr. Walt stammered, “what I’m trying to say is that many of the leaders are calling for you to be part of the government. Many are calling for you to head the government.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Sam protested. “Even if I did everything they have told tales about—and I didn’t, mind you—that wouldn’t make me qualified to lead them. These people are crazy!”

  “No crazier than back home, Sam,” his mother added, in English. Nalia had been translating for Nicole throughout the entire conversation. “Look at the presidential elections. Often it devolves into a race for who is more popular. Why would it be different here?”

  “I guess you’re right,” Sam admitted, “but I am not going to be a leader or government official. I don’t know the first thing about governing and even if I did, I’m not cut out to do that sort of thing.”

  Nalia patted his hand and smiled at him. “Do not worry, Sam. If they ask me, I will tell them you can hardly manage to walk and talk at the same time so they should not expect you to be a leader. I will make them understand.”

  Sam made a face at her. He was tempted to stick his tongue out. “Thanks a lot.”

  “So, Sam,” Dr. Walt continued, “I have been thinking about what we discussed earlier, about having Nicole and Skitter’s nephew act as emissaries to other hapaki communities. I think it’s a great idea, but communities are hard to find. I have told you how hapaki haven’t really been seen for hundreds of years.”

  “I know,” Sam said. “I talked with Skitter about it and he doesn’t know where to find them, either. He has never seen a hapaki that was not of his community, nor does he know of any who have. I don’t know what to do about it.”

  “I mentioned it to Lahim a couple of days ago. Perhaps he will find some clue as to where they may be.”

  Sam looked to the doctor and sighed. He wasn’t going to get into this subject again. Dr. Walt seemed to understand from his expression.

  “Sam,” Dr. Walt said. “when I was still on Telani, I read a fair amount about what was later called remote viewing. It’s something that has been reported through the ages, by different names. Seers, oracles, people who have out-of-body experiences, they all seem to be related. I know as a scientist perhaps I should not believe in such, but what scientists actually believe in the rohw? Let’s just see—”

  A servant interrupted Dr. Walt and handed him a message. The old man read it, folded the small piece of paper, and looked up.

  “Speak of the devil. Lahim Chode sends a message that he has seen something. Would you care to go with me, Sam? Nalia? Rindu?”

  “I’ll go,” Sam said.

  “I too,” Nalia said.

  “I must review the English lessons Sam gave me earlier,” Rindu said. “Please excuse me.”

  Nicole was communicating with the hapaki, by the focused look on her face, so Sam told her quietly they would be back later and left with the others.

  Soon, all three were at the door to Lahim Chode’s room, knocking.

  “Come in,” he said. His voice sounded a little stronger than the last time Sam had seen him.

  The man looked less pale than before, but he was still sickly and appeared exhausted. Sam saw him try to look Nalia in the eye. When he was unable to look at her face, he averted his gaze to her body, but then realized what that would look like, so he dropped his gaze to the floor. It was this type of thing that caused Nalia’s parents to make her wear a mask as she was growing up. It was embarrassing to all involved.

  “I just wanted to tell you,” he said quickly to chase away the awkward silence, “that I have located two hapaki colonies.”

  “Communities,” Sam corrected.

  “Ah, yes,” Chode said. “Communities. My apologies.”

  “That’s wonderful, Lahim,” Dr. Walt said. “Where are they?”

  “I have drawn rough maps. They are not close, and both are in areas not frequented by men, thus not near any roads.” He handed a piece of paper to Dr. Walt.

  The drawing were crude, but there were landmarks that allowed them to determine a general location for each of the communities.

  “This one,” Sam said, pointing to the marking far to the south of where they were, “seems the best bet. If we start from the site of my old house, it will be less travel time than the other location west of us, since I don’t know any locations to teleport to near that one. It looks like it is near where Barstow would be on Telani. Are you sure about your viewing? I don’t want to spend several days hiking only to find nothing.”

  “I’m sure,” Chode replied. “Sam, I know you don’t believe in my talent and I can’t really blame you. It’s different than what you are used to. But please think of your work with the Zouyim ‘magic.’ To me, that power is hard to understand, hard to believe. Can you at least try to be impartial and see what evidence is presented to you, for and against?”

  Sam felt as if the pressure in the room increased, closing in on him. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I know with all I’ve been through and all that I’ve seen, I should be more willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I’ll try to remember to do so.”

  Lahim Chode smiled at him, the skin around his eyes crinkling in amusement. “That’s all I ask. My talent will prove itself.”

  “It’s all decided then,” Dr. Walt said, defusing the tension. “All that needs to be done now is the preparations. When will you leave, Sam?”

  Sam considered for a moment and then answered. “I think first thing tomorrow morning would be soon enough. I’ll have to talk to my mom and to the hapaki and gather su
pplies. I have an idea that may make traveling much easier.”

  Chapter 14

  The morning dawned bright and crisp. Sam started the day in the same way he had for the last week, meditating on the top of a short tower. He had found the location while looking out from a higher battlement and searched for half a day to find the stairs that reached it.

  It was a roughly circular—perhaps more octagonal—platform twenty feet across, surrounded by a low parapet which reached just above Sam’s waist. Though it was lower than many of the surrounding towers and walls, it was not crowded by them so it provided a view of the bailey and courtyards, even of some of the gardens. Most of all, it was away from the general hustle and bustle of the keep, so it was ideal for quiet thinking or meditation.

  Sam slowly came out of the khulim. He opened his eyes over the course of several breaths—all of them puffing little clouds in the cold air—allowing them to adjust to the glare of the sunrise off the surrounding snow. The fluffy white flakes had fallen during the night, covering all surfaces within sight.

  It still amazed Sam when he saw the snow up against the battlements and walls. Though he had used it as a reference when he changed the color of the fortress, the stone seemed to shine brighter, making the snow look almost dingy by comparison. He thought it might be that the “magical” nature of the fortress accepted what he did and made it just a little bit better.

  Rising to his feet, he sighed as he looked out over the keep and its surroundings. It was breathtaking.

  He heard the door to the platform stairs creak open. Speaking of breathtaking, he thought. Nalia made her way silently toward him, her dark hair glistening in the morning light.

  “Good morning, Sam,” she said as she came close and embraced him. “I thought you would be here.”

  “Yep. I like it here. It’s peaceful.” He held her for a moment more, just enjoying the warmth of her, the scent of her. The feel of her.