"Wend," the next name in line was called. I sighed.
"M y name is Barth." He smiled at me as he introduced himself. This was the King's Chief Diviner, and I was terrified of him. He'd done a very thorough job when he'd been called to determine Merrin's and Ura's misdeeds.
He was about to put his hands on my face, and he'd see everything in me, too.
My hatred for the King.
My possession of a forbidden book.
I'd be lucky if I weren't executed on the spot.
"Let's see," he placed hands on either side of my forehead as I sat on the examination table. Miri, instructor from Fifth, sat in a corner, giving every trainee from Fourth and Fifth as much comfort and support her presence could offer.
Barth never said anything while he worked; I watched as his eyes lost focus. If I hadn't been so frightened, I'd have wondered about his talent and how it worked.
"Well, now." Barth's eyes returned to normal. He was still smiling at me, although this time, the smile didn't reach his eyes. If the King asks you a question, young woman, your answer should be yes. Understand? Your life depends upon it—as do many others.
His mindspeak was loaded with authority—and with suppressed information that I had no access to. I had a good idea what that information was, though, and wondered why he wasn't calling for guards immediately. Perhaps the King would present the questions concerning my guilt himself, but how would that save my life and others, too?
My answer will be yes, I silently replied. I'm sure he recognized the fear in my mental voice, but I couldn't hold it back.
Good. Very good. "You're dismissed," he said aloud. "Call the next trainee, please."
CHAPTER 12
K erok
"I like this new method. Very much," Father said as Levi poured a glass of wine for him in my office. We'd stopped the trials after Second and Third had performed, so everyone could have a midday meal. I'd arranged a private meal in my office for Father, Barth, Hunter and myself.
A table had been brought in and covered with a fine cloth by drudges, who worked silently to lay plates and carry food and drink.
"You'll have to describe it to me, as I'll miss all of it," Barth mused.
"Come to Secondary Camp, Barth. You'll see it in full practice with the warriors," I invited.
"I'll do that," he agreed, holding up his wineglass in a salute.
"I think it's extraordinary," Hunter said. "A work of genius, no less. I predict longer lives for the escorts, if we're successful in retraining what's in the field now."
"That's what I plan to do, actually, while at Secondary Camp," I said. "I'll bring in one or two pairs at a time and show them how it's done. More, if possible, providing the enemy lets up somewhat."
"I remember when the Secondary Camp would be filled with new trainees and their warriors," Hunter said. "Most of it lies empty after new black roses are named."
"Has the enemy become that much stronger?" Father asked. I noticed he wasn't eating much, but didn't remark on it.
"No. It's not that," I said. "We've just become—fewer and weaker."
"If you find a way to change those things—without resorting to a breeding program because it's far too late for that, I'll listen," Father sighed.
"I may have answers for you soon, Father, but that may take some cooperation from Barth and other strong Diviners."
"What sort of help?" Barth was immediately interested.
"Is it possible to remove the blocking of a trainee's power, after they wash out? Male and female?" I asked.
"Yes, I think so. I've just never done it," Barth admitted.
"Good. Father, some of the trainees you'll see this afternoon were washouts. I challenge you to sort them from the others when they go through their trials."
Father's hand stilled as he gripped his wineglass. "What changed about them?"
"Sherra. She was determined not to let them fail. And they haven't. At least one of them is quite talented with her shields, and can move them about, easily and under a warrior's direction, if necessary."
"And you say she washed out?"
"At the beginning, Father. She couldn't produce fire and was tossed aside with many others. Sherra and some of her fellow trainees took them in and showed them how to do the things they'd previously failed at doing. She can touch them and see their talent, I think, and then has the ability to let them see it, too."
"Outstanding," Hunter breathed, setting his empty wineglass on the table with a joyful thump. "If we can gather up all the washouts and release the power blocked within them, that would certainly increase our army."
"I want the same thing for the escort instructors," I said. "If they'd had some sort of power, I believe they'd be better able to teach trainees."
"I think that's how it used to be, before we needed every able-bodied and talented woman on the front lines," Barth said.
"Hunter, check the laws," Father waved a hand. "Give me the legalities on all this, please."
"Gladly," Hunter agreed. "The moment we return to the palace."
"I'd like the information, too, if you don't mind," I said.
"Include Thorn in all your communications," Father said, and that was that.
"Commander, it's time," Armon knocked lightly on my door.
"We'll be there soon," I called out. "Shall we?" I nodded at Father.
"Yes," he said, rising from his chair. "You've issued a challenge. I wish to see if I can solve it."
Sherra
I should have known they'd make me wait until last. It made sense—none of the others probably wanted to do their testing after I did mine, and I couldn't blame them for that. Armon was wise to keep the members of our cohort in the testing order he'd designated.
"They're doing well," Levi said. I stood beside him at the fence surrounding the training field. High on the stands, under a canopy, sat the King, his advisor, Hunter, a few guards and Commander Kerok.
The other warriors sat lower down—those who hadn't been selected to participate in the trials, anyway.
Caral was next to last, and she was performing very well. Blasts from the warrior who stood near her sailed straight through her shield, while those of her warrior opponent broke and spattered in clouds of sparks, smoke and loud booms.
We'd heard applause earlier for the first two cohorts. We received as much or more for our efforts. Even the washouts had successfully completed their trials, and walked toward the far end of the field with huge smiles on their faces.
I should have known Armon had something different planned for me, however. When Caral finished, she grinned and winked at me as she walked past to join the others from Fourth.
Levi urged me forward.
Two warriors came to stand beside me. Two more appeared farther away. I was about to see if I could allow two separate blasts through, while protecting the three of us from multiple attacks from the outside.
"She has to touch both your hands," Armon stepped in to explain things.
"Armon?" I asked. Why were they singling me out for this, when I'd never attempted it before?
"Don't worry—I think you can handle this," he said.
I reached out to touch the first warrior's hands, searching for his fire. Once I located it and conformed mine with his, I turned to the other warrior and touched his hands, to do the same.
"Ready?" Armon asked after I squared my shoulders.
Who would ever be ready for this, with the King watching? "I'm ready," I said anyway.
Armon had barely stepped away before my shield was under attack—both adversaries were tossing blasts as hard and fast as they could.
The two beside me launched blasts of their own, which sailed right through, landing near the rock formations around the lake and blasting some of them to rubble. The sound of those hits carried back and rocked the stands behind us, causing the warriors to whoop.
I ignored them—in the interest of self-preservation. The onslaught continued for a time that felt li
ke forever, until Armon sent mindspeak, telling me to capture the attackers' blasts and toss them away.
I did so, working to land them around the same distant rock formations already destroyed by the two beside me.
I imagined after the fourth or fifth volleys landed there that the rock had been pounded into sand, which resulted in high-flying geysers of small rocks, sand and dust, which blew away with the force of resulting winds.
The attacks went on—the booming sounds coming in a near-regular rhythm. The warriors in the stands laughed every time a blast rattled the seats beneath them. I hoped the seats were sturdy enough to remain standing—especially if Armon didn't call a halt to this soon.
Even the warriors standing with me were grinning as they sent blast after blast—without having to wait for me to raise and lower my shield.
This—this was how it should be in my mind. It saved all of us time and energy, and, unless you counted our sweat from the heat of the sun overhead, we were still relatively fresh.
Still, I was grateful when Armon called a halt to my testing. Ignoring the applause, I walked toward Levi, who couldn't stop grinning.
"I knew you could do it," he said as I reached his side.
"A little warning would have been nice," I said as we headed toward the rest of the cohort. Fifth was ready to take the field after we left.
"Where's the fun in that? This is a test, remember?" Levi said. "You passed. Be happy."
"I smell," I said. I did. The top part of my fatigues was drenched, too, and I wanted a drink of water. A big drink of water.
"We'll head to the showers, now," Levi announced to the others when we arrived. "Water will be waiting there for you, and some fruit, courtesy of the King and the southern domes."
"I hope it's apples," Wend whispered as she came to stand in formation beside me. "I'd like grapes," Caral sighed. "I only got to taste them once."
I wanted pears, but I didn't say that.
Levi marched us to the showers, where he left us, after telling us to meet him outside when we were finished. "I'm proud of you," he added. "I don't think anyone could say you're not worthy of the black rose you wear."
"T his is so good," I moaned after taking a second bite of the juiciest pear I'd ever eaten. I leaned against a wall just inside the door into the showers, a cup of water in one hand and my pear in the other.
I'd cleaned up first, after getting a much-needed drink of water. Once I was dressed, I found a drudge-managed table laden with apples, grapes, peaches and pears.
"Are you kidding? These grapes are fit for a king," Caral came to stand beside me.
Eventually, the rest of the cohort joined us, eating their choice of fruit and licking juice from fingers, it was so good.
"Time to join Levi," I sighed when the last one finished her treat. Caral took the lead, while I waited for them to file out the door, taking last position as I usually did.
Levi led us back to our barracks, where he instructed us to wait until Fifth cohort was finished with their testing.
"Rest if you can," he advised. "The rankings and lists will come after the last trainee is tested. We'll march to the mess hall for those announcements."
"Were there any washouts?" I asked.
"None so far," he said. "Be proud. All of you. I think the King is very impressed."
K erok
I was just as surprised as Sherra by the test Armon set for her. Hunter sat beside Father, his mouth open more often than not as he watched her trial on the field.
"I've never seen anything like that," Father shook his head when it was over. "I had no idea it was possible."
I'll need a moment of your time when the testing is done, Barth sent mindspeak.
I can arrange that, I replied. Just me, or anyone else?
Hunter, too.
That told me the unscheduled meeting involved Sherra and what Barth had seen in her. Is there something we should worry about?
Not concerning Sherra, no. It's something else, but I want to ask your thoughts—and Hunter's—in the matter.
I'll ask the instructors to show Father around, then. The crack in the soil is still there from Sherra's dome—I think he may be interested in that.
Good. I'll meet you in your office, then.
An hour later, after I left Father and his guards in the hands of Ana and Miri, I stepped to my office to meet with Barth and Hunter.
"What did you find?" I asked while offering seats to both men.
"Sherra received the book from a blind pot seller when she was ten, and had no idea at the time it was forbidden."
"A blind pot seller?" Hunter asked.
"That was Sherra's memory of the woman. Her memory also told me that a farmer traded the book, some vegetables and crockery to the pot seller in exchange for two cooking pots."
"You don't think a farmer had the thing, do you?" Hunter scoffed.
"No, and I believe I have a suitable reason. I believe the book belonged to the pot seller, and she knew exactly what she was doing when she offered a seemingly innocent book to a ten-year-old."
"What makes you believe that?"
"Her name," Barth said.
"Sherra's?"
"No. The village called her Pottles, because she sold pots. Her real name was Doret."
"Coincidence," Hunter flung out a hand.
"What if it isn't?"
"Where is she now?" I demanded. "We'll find her and let you ask her yourself."
"She's dead. I saw that memory in Sherra, too."
"So. We have an old, blind woman with the same name as a kidnapped and murdered Queen from nearly two centuries ago. You have an active imagination, Barth." Hunter still wasn't buying Barth's explanation.
"I've never met anyone with that name, have you?" Barth wasn't giving up.
"Tell me how it's possible?" I rolled my shoulders to get kinks out of them. I'd been sitting most of the day, and the inactivity made me restless.
"I don't know," Barth shook his head. Hunter and I were wearing him down in this, I could see.
"Without putting your hands on the woman, you'll never know—and she's dead. If you want to visit her ashes, you'll have to find them yourself," I sighed. "Barth, it's a grand theory, but it doesn't hold up under scrutiny. Besides, she'd be ancient by now, and most women don't live that long."
"I know, but the woman I saw in Sherra was ancient."
"How old did Sherra believe she was?"
"Sixty-nine, but the images I saw," Barth argued.
"Barth, I think you're chasing rainbows," Hunter clapped him on the shoulder. "The woman's dead, regardless. We still have things to do, today. We can discuss old, blind women over wine some night, but not now."
The men have their lists prepared, and the rankings have been recorded, Armon informed me.
Meet us in the mess hall, then, and have the instructors bring the trainees.
It will be done, Commander.
Sherra
"It's time," Levi walked into our barracks, interrupting talk among all in Fourth cohort. Fear and excitement ran rampant, and I'd shut out the noise and occasional laughter, choosing to sit against the wall beside my cot and think.
"First of all," Levi said while I rose to my feet, "There were no washouts."
The former washouts squealed with joy and hugged one another.
"I think you'll be pleased, for the most part, as to how the rankings went. Now, assemble outside and we'll march to the mess hall, quietly and orderly, as becomes a black rose cohort. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," they all chorused.
I hadn't said anything. This would be where we learned our future—and our fate. Wend appeared at my side and hugged me. "Come on, we have things to do," I sighed after hugging her back.
The march to the mess hall was faster than I wanted it to be. Uncertainty clouded my mind and my future. I prayed that Armon and Levi had placed their names on my list, because more and more, I was leaning in their direction.
; At least I knew what life would be like with them, and there would be no expectations of anything different. Friendship was a crutch I could lean on in the years I had left, and I considered both very good friends.
Kerok—he was like the wind. He could be strong and violent, cool or hot. Frosty, too, at times, if he weren't pleased about something.
I'd only seen gentleness from him once, and that had served to confuse me more.
"The warriors are already inside," the whispers made their way back to me as Caral and the others in the lead walked inside the long building.
Behind us, I could hear Fifth being marched toward the mess hall. That meant Second and Third had already arrived.
Once my eyes adjusted to the dim light inside the mess hall, I saw that the tables had been removed, although the benches remained. Warriors occupied the benches on one side, while the trainee cohorts were being seated on the other side.
At the far end stood the King, his guards and advisors, Commander Kerok, Armon, Nina and Ana.
The King conversed quietly with Hunter and Barth; Nina and Ana were soon joined by Levi, who'd acted as Fourth's instructor. He'd done very well, in my opinion, considering the hardships and deaths we'd faced throughout the months of our training.
Kerok—his face was a mask. He wasn't looking around as the others were. He stared straight ahead as if lost in some memory, which made me wonder what he was thinking about.
K erok
I hadn't seen a gathering since Grae had confirmed her black rose, and then chosen me from the others on her list.
I'd watched her during her training—always the quiet one, who observed carefully and executed deliberately. I think I'd fallen in love with that, first, and her later. What would she say to me if she were here?
Would she urge me to do what I now understood I must?
In my short time with her, she'd never displayed jealousy; I'd never given her a reason. I didn't intend to give her memory any reason, either, but would lay out my truth to the one I ended up with and we would go on from there.
Were there any other warriors here, who now reflected on past partners—their escorts who'd protected their lives as long as they could?
The Rose Mark: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 1 Page 17
