“Thank you, Joshua,” Sacha said. “You may leave us.”
The gruff soldier gave a curt nod and then exited the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
“The girls fancy you, Rouke,” Sacha said as she placed A History of Waterfall Citadel on the chair-side table. A thought occurred to her suddenly, and she was surprised that it had never come up before now. Out of curiosity she asked, “Have you ever been married?”
Rouke’s pause as he considered the question was uncharacteristic, to say the least. It had generally been the policy of the armsman to say whatever it was that was on his mind, Mot take the consequences. “I was,” he said finally. For a moment Sacha thought he was going to leave it at that, but then he continued with, “She died.”
Sacha’s cheeks reddened with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry.”
“Ya needn’t be. It was awhile back now,” Rouke said. “And I’ve got my little girl, though she isn’t little anymore.”
“I had no idea you had a daughter,” Sacha said, truly surprised. The armsman rarely spoke of himself and never about family. She had built a solid friendship with the man, but she was coming to realize its foundation had been based entirely on necessity and survival, a warrior’s friendship. That must change, she decided. “She must be an amazing young woman. I would love to meet her.”
“Perhaps, Princess,” Rouke replied with more of his uncharacteristic hesitancy. “She’s not in the Citadel proper and rarely makes the visit. The country is the place she likes best.”
“I see.” Sacha frowned. “Well, maybe one day our travels will take us close to her, and we’ll meet then.”
“Beggin’ your pardon, Princess. But I hope our travels never come that close to her,” Rouke said heavily. “Not until something’s done about him, anyway.”
Sacha knew of whom he spoke. There was no way for her not to know. “Him” indeed. Vinnicus had shadowed every moment of both their lives since her arrival at Waterfall Citadel. She harbored a fear that the creature would continue to plague her for the rest of her days. Rouke was only right in trying to shelter his daughter from exposure to the monster, though Vinnicus wasn’t the type to miss details. He most likely already knew of the girl but had no need to use her at this time. Sacha hoped such a time would never come to pass. “I understand and wholeheartedly agree.”
Rouke looked as if a great weight fell from his shoulders. “Thank you, Princess.”
Talk of the creature brought Sacha’s thoughts to her plans with Teacher, and she asked, “Have you found success regarding the Wildmen?”
Rouke’s expression darkened. “Yes. Several of them await us at Riverside. Kahl has seen to it that they are well hidden.” His lips flattened into a straight line.
Anger heated Sacha’s cheeks at his dissatisfied expression. They had been over this several times before. Rouke’s concern about the risk of her plan was misplaced and beyond his authority to judge. She had thought the issue settled during their last discussion, but he apparently harbored some misgivings. She’d grown tired of the argument, and her voice gathered strength as she spoke. “What would you have me do? Let the Wildmen burn village after village, raping our daughters and killing our sons? Should I allow Vinnicus to dominate our lives forever?”
Rouke’s expression didn’t change as he shook his head. “No, of course not. But we should—”
“Tell the prince,” Sacha finished, exasperated with the old argument. “Eos, you just don’t understand, do you? Alexander can’t help us. Teacher can’t help us. The Mot-cursed Monastery can’t help us! We are alone in this, and we have to start doing something about it!”
Rouke opened his mouth, but Sacha cut him off again. “No, Rouke.” She came to her feet and pointed a finger at the obstinate soldier. “This is the last time we speak of involving Alexander. I command it.” The words sounded strange on her lips. In all their time together, she had never given Rouke an order. Her wants and needs had always taken the form of questions, but now she had crossed a threshold that might have grave repercussions on their friendship.
The armsman hesitated for a moment, startled. His features hardened suddenly, donning a soldier’s mask. He straightened to attention and stared straight ahead. “As you say, Princess.”
A pang of regret softened the edge of her fury. He had probably not earned that last bit of venom. She did not waste time wishing she could draw back the words, but she did press on with a more even tone. “I know you are concerned for me and what it might mean if things go poorly, but surely you can see that I have to take this risk. Time is fleeting, and no solutions for me, for Teacher, or for Basinia are presenting themselves. Unless you have news of something…”
Rouke shook his head, still standing rigid. “No, Princess, I do not.”
“Well then,” Sacha said with a touch of remorse. She hoped Rouke would forgive her in time, but for now she had to move forward. “Let us go.”
Kahl, broad smile firmly in place, spread his arms wide as Sacha’s carriage rolled to a clattering halt on the smooth river stones that paved the lovely courtyard. “Princess! A pleasure as always,” he boomed.
It was difficult for Sacha to not lose herself when she came to this place. Kahl’s warm personality and the veritable paradise of Riverside worked together to sweep her darker thoughts away with the rolling waters of the Tanglevine. That Waterfall Citadel was a place of wonder there was no doubt, but it was also the hub of Basinia and the home of its governing body. Thousands called it home. Riverside was simply Riverside.
After Kahl helped her out of the carriage, he glanced inside. “I see my gaming companion is still away.”
Sacha nodded. She knew Kahl and the chancellor had played strategy games to pass the hours while she was cloistered with Teacher. According to Kesh, Kahl was a “decent hand at planning.” She didn’t think that the chancellor would admit to it, but she suspected that was his way of saying, “The servant drubs me thoroughly every time we play, and it makes me cross, so please stop asking if I enjoyed the game.”
“Unfortunately, Chancellor Tomelen is still away on business, and I have been given no hints as to when he will return.”
“Ah, then we shall have to make do on our own as best we can.” His dark eyes were hopeful as he turned to Rouke.
Rouke caught the dark man’s look and shook his head vigorously. “Oh, no. You’ve had as much of my coin as I care to lose. I’ll play, but not for wager.”
Kahl hung his head with an exaggerated sigh. “You flatter me, my friend. Truly the outcome was one of pure luck. Certainly the conclusion today would not be the same as the last.”
Rouke handed the reins of his horse to one of the young stablehands. “The last four conclusions, you mean.”
The smile on Kahl’s face was decidedly the most satisfied Sacha had yet seen on the man. Dogging Rouke no further, their host said, “Come, your companion awaits.” He led them through the villa to a covered, freestanding pavilion that was elevated enough to have an excellent view of the falls. Teacher sat on a carved stone table that had been placed in the center. His legs were crossed, and his upturned hands rested on his knees, allowing the morning sun to soak into both palms.
Kahl gestured to the meditating mage and said to Sacha, “I look forward to visiting with you after you’re finished, Princess.” He then turned to Rouke. “A wagerless game, perhaps?”
The soldier gave Kahl a wry grin. “For starters, yeah.” Rouke nodded to Sacha, and then the pair, soldier and servant, were off to the main part of the villa, where they could enjoy their gaming.
Sacha sighed. She knew Rouke was still upset with her, but there was nothing for it now. Greater issues lay before her, and it was time she paid them the attention they were due. She took a deep breath to gather her nerves and made her way to Teacher.
As she approached, his eyes opened to blue-dappled slits, while a smile worked its way into the lines of his weathered but gentle face. “Pupil,” he said, gaze fixed on S
acha.
“Teacher,” she replied just as formally, spreading her dress in a shallow curtsy.
“You are well, I trust?” he asked, unfolding his legs and stepping lightly to the stone floor.
“I am,” Sacha answered. She picked a place in the shade and leaned against a low wooden railing. “And you?”
He bowed his head. “As well as I can be.”
She always enjoyed their common ritual of greeting before lessons started in earnest. Sacha had been in awe of him since her early days at the monastery, when his power and innate calm could override her most violent outburst. It was comforting when Teacher appeared more human. The small talk helped her connect with him and see him as an equal.
Today, however, she needed more than an equal and more than a comforting ritual. She needed answers, the first of which related to the news Alexander had shared with her yesterday about the abandonment of the Monastery. She had considered the matter many times in the night, and while she found that she trusted Alexander, she had come to know that things were often not as they appeared.
Sacha tried to pitch her voice lightly, masking her concern. “Have you heard from your brethren? I was just thinking they must be wondering what has become of you.”
“There is no need for worry,” he answered. “They are well aware of my location and are more than capable of handling any issues that might crop up in my absence.”
All except for Vinnicus, Sacha thought but could think of nothing further to say.
Her lack of a response spurred Teacher on. “Well, I think that we should begin. Today I—”
“My apologies, Teacher,” Sacha interrupted, recognizing the beginning of a new lesson. “I have other questions and a request, if you would indulge me.”
He indicated she should continue with a wave of his hand and a patient smile.
“Have you given any further consideration to the question I posed to you about being blocked from the Shamonrae?”
“Ah, yes,” he said. “We had discussed the issues of exhaustion and a mage’s strength of will, correct?”
Sacha nodded, remembering how neither of these thoughts had adequately addressed her completely ineffectual state at the hands of Jagger DeBoucher. Before she could say she was looking for something else, he surprised her by forging ahead candidly.
“There are at least two other ways a mage can be neutered, as it were. The first is a matter of an exceedingly rare plant. Not only is the plant rare, my brethren have actively sought to keep the knowledge of its existence and use from becoming common.” Teacher frowned in distaste. “Destruction of knowledge is abhorrent to me, but in this case it has been necessary. If the existence of such a thing were widely known, there are those who would attempt to use it to harm the mages or, worse, influence them toward their own ends.”
“What is this plant?” Sacha asked, certain they were finally getting close to what had happened to her.
“It is called Hen’s Fern and is found along the shores of Long Lake.”
Now that Teacher had given her a place to start, this was information Sacha could look into more thoroughly on her own time. It was oddly comforting to know there was a plausible tool that Jagger might have used against her, as she had eaten the food he’d offered at Ordair’s Keep. “What of the second way?”
For an instant, Teacher appeared deeply conflicted. His mouth opened as if to answer, and then he closed it suddenly. Emotions that could have been anger or doubt wormed across his features. “I... These are things we should not be discussing. It is forbidden.”
The doubt in his voice was so unlike him that Sacha found herself speechless. More than his self-doubt, however, his refusal to answer her question conflicted with his behavior since her arrival at Waterfall Citadel. He had been so forthcoming, in fact, that she felt that it must be part of whatever Vinnicus had done to him that had brought down the usual safeguards he maintained.
Teacher shook his head slowly. “We should not speak of such things. You are not ready.”
Understanding dawned on Sacha as she watched her mentor struggle. He’s resisting Vinnicus’s influence, she thought excitedly. Every so often, he had objected to teaching her something that he had deemed “unsafe,” but over the course of time he had shown her anyway, as he had just done with the revelation of Hen’s Fern. She had known she was learning things she shouldn’t: sensing emotion, channeling lightning, and a host of other disciplines she hadn’t been “ready” to learn. Now that she thought she understood, she could see that each of his hesitations was actually an outward sign of his inner struggle. Until now, she had been too caught up in her own horrible predicament and agenda to notice.
Inspired, Sacha rushed forward and took hold of Teacher’s hands. “You’re right. You shouldn’t be telling me this. You shouldn’t have shown me many of the things you’ve taught me, but you have. Do you know why?”
Teacher’s face twisted in concentration. “No, no, I do not.” He pulled one of his hands away and rubbed his temple, a look of pain distorting his usually calm features. “I keep thinking that you are prepared to learn, but...”
Sacha wasn’t entirely sure how to proceed as Teacher trailed off. The revelation had caused her to act rashly, and now she found herself conflicted. She desperately wanted to see Teacher free of Vinnicus’s control, but it was obviously painful for him to struggle against whatever it was that had been done to him. Additionally, she feared that if Teacher was free, he would deny her the information she was certain he would need her to have, and need soon.
As Sacha wrestled with those thoughts, Teacher slouched slightly, staring unfocused at her shoulder. He sat that way for some time until suddenly blinking repeatedly. “I apologize, pupil. It is unusual for me to lose my focus to this extent. What was it that we were discussing?”
Sacha simply stared for a moment. Teacher was looking at her as if the conversation they were just having hadn’t happened. Unable to reconcile her feelings, she blurted, “Methods by which I might be prevented from reaching the Shamonrae.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you,” he continued. “As distasteful as the herb might be, it pales in comparison to the alternative. You will recall our discussions about the dangers of controlling the mind of another?”
Given her current goals with the Wildmen, she could hardly have thought about much else. Sacha was happy to see Teacher had come to the subject of his own accord. “You are saying mind control can stop a mage from using their power?”
“Yes, of course,” Teacher answered. “To control another’s thoughts and actions is simply that—controlling what they think and do.”
“That does make sense, Teacher,” Sacha said, feeling a bit sheepish. “Thank you.”
Teacher nodded his head graciously then asked, “Are you ready to proceed with today’s lessons?”
She took a breath before responding, “Not yet.”
Teacher raised a bemused brow.
“I have some concerns,” Sacha said. “And I would like to learn something of my choosing today.”
Both of his brows rose at that. “I see.” He patted her hand. “Tell me of these concerns and what it is you would like to be taught.”
“I am concerned for you. And for myself.”
Teacher looked at her, puzzled. Hoping Teacher’s resistance to forbidden topics would fade as it had so many times before, Sacha rolled the dice. “I would learn how to enter someone’s mind.”
The strain from earlier returned instantly to Teacher’s face as he struggled with himself. “Forbidden,” he croaked.
“Obey me.” The remembered words of Vinnicus spidered across the surface of Sacha’s thoughts as she watch her mentor struggle, and she shivered. She felt she understood now, at least in part, what appeared to be happening to Teacher. “I know,” she said, squeezing his hand. “But you must try to understand. There is a danger we are both in… a danger it is difficult to talk about. You must teach me—”
“I cannot!” Teacher
came to his feet, pushing her hand away. “I will not—” He grasped the sides of his head suddenly, wincing in pain.
Sacha had never seen him in such turmoil before. The strength of his refusal filled her with hope that he might yet win free, but the agony he was experiencing was unbearable to watch. Detesting herself, she pressed him further. She could not help him until she understood how mind control worked, and she had no time to puzzle it out on her own. “I don’t want to cause you harm, but I have to know these things. There are forces moving that are beyond anything I have ever known or even thought to guess at. Teach me!”
“No!” Teacher screamed as he fell to his knees.
Fear and self-loathing dug at Sacha. Tears blurred her vision as she cried, “You must!”
Teacher convulsed violently, falling to the floor. He shook for the briefest moment and then went deathly still.
Sacha covered her mouth, horrified. What have I done?
Her mentor began to twitch and mumble. The same glazed-over look from before masked Teacher’s expression as he slowly opened his eyes. His mouth opened and closed like that of a fish attempting to draw breath out of water.
Sacha watched him, worried he might not come back this time. Her voice was weak and thready when she finally managed to cry his name. “Teacher?”
He blinked, snapping out of the terrible state. He managed to get to his feet and dusted himself off as if nothing had happened. “I apologize, pupil. It is unusual for me to lose my focus to this extent. What were we talking about?”
Sacha goggled at Teacher, biting back a scream of frustration and more than a little fear. Page one! she thought. If she had ever doubted the extent to which Teacher had been manipulated, she no longer did.
She tried to speak several times. When the words spilled from her, it was almost as if she also was being controlled. Her heart cried to relent, but her mouth said, “You were teaching me how to enter a person’s mind and how to control their thoughts.”
“Ah, yes,” he said with vacant eyes. “This will not be easy for you, my pupil. Prepare yourself.”
Book of Sacha: Dark Fate (The Dark Fate Chronicles 3) Page 16
