by Karen MacRae
“Can anyone tell me more?”
“I don’t know of any practising Shapers in the Kingdom so your best bet is the person who can confirm your aura. They know a lot of people who know a lot and have a lot of resources.”
“How do I meet him or her if I don’t know who they are or where to find them?” Anna asked, frustrated. She felt like she was going around in circles.
“If you stick with us, you’ll meet her,” Spider interrupted, taking pity on her. Finn gave him a stern look. Spider just shrugged. “I trust her,” he said, sitting down.
“Me too,” agreed Sy, putting a bowl of steaming meat and vegetables into Anna’s hand.
She smiled at them both. “Thank you.”
“Here,” said Spider, giving Finn the second bowl he carried.
Silence ensued as they enjoyed Sy’s restored cookery skills. Respect for the miracle of turning basic ingredients into sublime flavours demanded they empty their bowls before the conversation resumed.
Anna sat back with a sigh, her belly full and her taste buds singing. “It’s really important I learn more about peristones. They’re the only reason I managed to beat the black.”
“Beat the black?” Finn asked.
“That’s what it feels like. As if I’m in a fight. I pull and I get nothing. I pull harder and get a bit of a response, but the black surges back. Even if I use all my crystals, it comes back. It’s only when I push crystal at it that it fades. But it’s only when I use the peristones to focus the light and…” Anna searched her mind for the correct word. “And… I suppose… kill it… that I win.”
“Kill it?”
Anna nodded. “The first time, I exploded it with a needle-thin blast of clean crystal energy I focused through the peristones. The second time, the needle didn’t work. I had to draw more energy and basically put a sword through its heart. It was stronger the second time. Maybe because I didn’t notice it straightaway? It had spread a long way through Sy’s aura.”
“Sorry, but why black?” Finn asked.
“Oh, right… You wouldn’t know… Sickness of any sort shows up as a shade of grey in an aura. The shade of grey tells me how bad it is. The darker it is, the worse it is. For example, I can tell that Spider’s left elbow is bothering him at the moment because of a thin grey shadow across his aura there. It’s a graze that’s been aggravated by holding reins all day. You, on the other hand, are a mass of bruises from being in that chest: you’ve got grey smudges all over the place. None of it is too serious though, unlike the gash that Spider had in his side when I first met him. The wound was poisoning him. It would have been fatal if he hadn’t seen a Healer soon.”
Spider swallowed hard. “I had no idea.”
“And the two wounds you’ve used the peristones on were black?”
“Pitch black. Darker than anything I’ve ever seen.”
“And they fought against your Healing.”
“I couldn’t Heal them. I had to destroy them.”
“Interesting,” said Finn. Spider and Sy just gulped.
“Who’s after you?” Anna asked, changing the subject. “I know they’re not after me, so it has to be you. I’ll accept that the first lot and maybe the second lot of bandits who attacked us after Straton were regular outlaws, but the third lot came with that black knife. Then some of the men I knocked out turned up at the attack on the prison caravan. Don’t tell me that different gangs of outlaws have suddenly started working together.”
“The King has enemies. Sometimes they try to… inconvenience him by getting in our way,” Finn fudged.
Anna sighed. “And there ends another avenue of questioning... Okay, so what about the man who was in the mountains? The man who watched us afterwards?”
“What man?” Spider asked.
Anna realised she hadn’t told anyone. “There was a man in the forest. Dark-haired, average height and build, unremarkable really, apart from the hatred pouring from him. He was looking right at me while I was doing the ‘woe is me’ act so we could scarper. It was like he knew I’d Shaped those men. Like he could see right through me. He was only there a moment. I haven’t seen him before, but I wondered if he could have been responsible for the storm. It was altogether too convenient for the bandits.”
Finn swore under his breath then murmured a man’s name. “Mystrim.”
Spider turned quickly, concern on his face. “Here in the Kingdom?”
“Unless you know another?” Finn asked.
Three faces became solemn. Anna realised this Mystrim was bad news, but she also knew there was little point in asking for more information.
They’d talked until late into the evening. Anna offered to take a watch but was refused as always. She wondered if she’d ever be fully trusted.
CHAPTER 12
A nna woke to the sounds of an argument. The voices were muted, but there was anger and frustration aplenty. She could pick out a few words without trying, the most notable of which was “Anna”. They were arguing about her. Eavesdropping might be frowned upon, but they only had themselves to blame if they wouldn’t tell her anything but the basics.
“… no reason to take her word that her aura is white. It could still change anyway, especially if Mystrim has Sesi with him. No way will Nystrieth allow a budding White Shaper to develop into a real threat.”
“All the more reason to keep her close and to warn her. How is she supposed to fight off an aura attack if she doesn’t even know one could happen?”
“She doesn’t have time to learn to defend herself between now and Alscombe. What if he takes control of her while she’s in the King’s presence?”
“Better some defence than no defence.”
“Agreed, but by learning defence, one also learns attack.”
“You haven’t seen her in action. She’s already got attack well and truly under her belt.”
“And you know everything a Shaper can do?”
“Well no, but I’m telling you she’s a brilliant asset and one we should nurture. And, anyway, how would Sesi ever get into the King’s presence?”
Sy broke into the conversation. “I understand your perspective, Finn, and I agree we have to be very careful when we get to Alscombe, but Spider is right. Anna deserves every chance to prove herself and defend herself. Would you leave one of us helpless if Mystrim was standing over us with one of those crested blades?”
“Light, no. But I’ve known you two since you were babes.”
“When did you get so hard, Finn? We’re supposed to be on the side of good.”
Anna heard a sigh. “All right, I’ll sleep on it. Sy, you better get some rest. Spider, it’s your watch.”
Much as she tried, Anna couldn’t sleep. She waited until the sounds of heavy breathing were coming from two nearby bedrolls and sat up to look for Spider. The moon was almost at its slimmest, its weak light hampered by clouds. She mentally cursed her inability to see auras in the dark. It would make life so much easier. She walked a short distance away from the fire and stood still, her eyes fixed on the surrounding forest, waiting for them to adjust to the lack of light. She finally made out the vague outline of a man leaning against a tree on the outskirts of camp. No stranger would have got so close without Spider setting up an alarm so she made her way over.
“Can’t sleep?”
“Your argument woke me.”
“Oh,” was the thoughtful reply, his voice cautious.
“So Nystrieth is the baddie and Mystrim works for him as well as someone called Sesi and, I’m guessing, Nystrieth is a Black Shaper. And he’s probably going to attack me if he knows I’m a White Shaper, although I have no idea how he might do that other than send people to stick knives in me. Is that about right?”
He cursed in Sy’s language. She was definitely learning some swear words.
“Finn’s the boss, Anna. I can’t tell you any more than you already know unless he tells me I can. I’m sorry.”
“But you could maybe nod if I say
something that’s right?” she wheedled.
He didn’t answer. It was worth a go.
“Nystrieth isn’t in the Kingdom because you were surprised that Mystrim was here. Mystrim is weather gifted. He’s been manipulating the local outlaws too. He gave them the black blades and persuaded others to gang up to attack the prison caravan. He can only have done that because he found out that Finn was there as well as you and Sy. They’ve got to think it worth the lives of a few dozen outlaws for the chance to take out three of the King’s men and some of his guards. He probably heard about me before the caravan attack but didn’t see me in action until that night. Not that there was much to see, but men don’t tend to fall down unconscious and you two were busy so it had to be me. Saying that, if he’s any good, he must know your gifts so he’d know it wasn’t you anyway. Oh, I just realised, he must know Morris Grayson too. That’s the only way he’d know Finn was part of that caravan.”
Spider gave the tiniest of nods.
“Somehow, this Nystrieth can attack people from a distance. He attacks their auras. I can’t think how he could possibly do this, but it sounds extremely scary. How would I know my aura is under attack? Would I feel it?”
It dawned on Anna that she was asking questions rather than making statements. There was nothing for Spider to nod at. Another question struck her. She changed it to a statement.
“I need to know how to defend myself.”
Spider nodded.
“I’ve just realised… Finn talked about someone taking control of me. Nystrieth could take over me and make me Shape the King. Make me kill the King.”
Spider hung his head. The nod, when it came, was almost non-existent, but it was there.
“Dearest light,” she prayed. “We can’t let that happen.”
“No, we cannot,” Finn said from the darkness.
Anna hadn’t heard him approach. She wondered how long he’d been there.
“I would never hurt the King,” she told him. “I admire the man. His family has done wonders for the Kingdom.”
“The thing is, Anna, it doesn’t matter. We can defend him against weapons and almost every gift, but one. Yours.”
“Then I should leave,” the Shaper said sadly.
“Sorry, Anna, but we can’t let you,” said Finn, his rich voice echoing her sorrow.
“What do you mean le…” Anna’s speech faltered as she felt a push on her aura and the world slowed. Her breath left her in a rush as her body flushed with heat. She heard Spider berate Finn, his words elongated as if time itself had been stretched. Through this, she saw Finn’s white aura, her aura, freeze and then ripple with confusion. Her brain struggled through thick, Triol honey to try to understand what had happened. Horrified, she realised he’d used his gift on her to control her. She felt her feelings for him begin to grow at no behest of her own mind. She tried not to panic, to stay calm. Her eyes flew around Finn’s body, looking at her own aura. Where had he attacked? Was there blackness anywhere? Was it a more subtle effect? It felt like it took hours to find it, but it was only moments. There was a small, golden sheen just over her heart where no gold belonged. She began to will it gone when Finn’s aura suddenly turned bronze. He’d taken his eyes off her. Too late. Thanks to him, she already knew where he’d infected her. She visualised her own aura burning white around her, the energy from the golden stain sizzling up into her crystal.
The world returned to normal. Spider and Finn were arguing. She turned her own gift on the man who would Shape her. He fell senseless to the ground.
Spider’s rant stopped abruptly. “Anna? Anna! Are you all right? By the light, I swear I didn’t know what he planned to do… Hold on. It didn’t work?”
Anna stood up from her spot under the tree and looked at the man lying before her on the ground. She felt as if her soul was being torn in two. One part of her understood his intention, that he’d meant only to keep her with them until the King could decide what to do with her, that she posed too great a risk should Nystrieth learn of her existence and take control of her. The other part wanted to release the guards’ wounds from the crystal under her shirt and let him feel her power. Let him squirm and scream in agony until he begged her to take it back.
The feelings warred within her, her eyes burning as she stood motionless over the unconscious body. Spider’s shout of “Ware! Weapons!” and the clash of steel brought her round. A more immediate threat required her attention.
She saw a dozen outlaws swarm over and around the hillock they were camped beside. “How many more of these people can there be, for light’s sake?” she muttered angrily. She ignored the screams and the sounds of metal on metal and pulled a tiny amount of energy from the crystal. Finn’s gift. She wouldn’t inflict the guards’ wounds on the robbers, no matter their intention, but there were six men close enough to the fire for her to see their auras. She linked with them and let go of the energy, directing it right at their hearts. She didn’t wonder how she could do this. She didn’t consider the fact that she held neither dagger nor staff. She just did it.
Sy stood with mouth agape as the three men he fought stopped as one and turned their backs on him. He stilled his axe and watched as their eyes swung to a large tree at the edge of the camp, coming to rest on the prone body of Finn and the half dozen attackers making towards him. One greasy-haired, black-toothed brute shouted, “He’s down!” and they all ran towards Finn. The three men paused in the raiding of bags joined them. Their comrades turned at their shouts, confused.
Sy, Spider and Anna watched as six engaged six, allies no longer.
The Shaper took a moment to consider whether or not to act. Two men fell before sense won out. She couldn’t see their auras, but she knew where they would be and she knew she need not direct the energy at anything in particular. The surviving ten men fell where they stood.
Sy raced over to the tree. “What the inferno happened?” he shouted.
“I did,” came Anna’s quiet reply. “With a little help from Finn.” Sarcasm dripped like venom from the “help”.
She walked over to the fire and gathered her scattered belongings. As she stuck her dagger and staff in her belt, she heard Spider hiss in shock.
“She didn’t have raw crystal on her?” he asked Sy in awe.
She found Hope waiting for her, red swirling through her aura. How she knew, Anna had no idea, but Hope was livid on her behalf. Blue nuzzled at the mare. She bit him. Sadness and shame shot through his aura and he hung his head.
“Anna, please, don’t go. Finn doesn’t know you like we do. He did what he thought was right. Please stay. We need you. The King needs you,” Spider pleaded.
The girl tacked and mounted her horse, oblivious to her friend’s pleadings. She rode out without looking back.
“What the hell is going on?” Sy demanded angrily.
Spider shook his head. “Sweet light, what a mess. Let’s get Finn up and strapped onto Blue. We’ll have to follow her. He’ll kill us if we lose her.”
“There’s no rush. Blue’ll find them. If he wants to. I get the feeling he’s not too impressed at the moment although I still have no earthly idea what is going on.” Sy smacked a bag out of Spider’s hand and forcibly turned his friend to face him. “Why did she leave?”
“Finn tried to Friend her. Tried and failed spectacularly. She knocked him out. Then the bandits attacked and I think… I think she must have turned Finn’s gift on the ones by the fire. The ones who suddenly started fighting their friends?” Spider’s question asked Sy to confirm what he could hardly believe himself.
Sy dropped his hands from Spider’s shoulders. “I saw it but hadn’t a clue what was happening. One moment I’m fighting three men and the next they up and start defending the camp. Or Finn, I suppose.”
“You realise what this means?” Spider asked his long-time partner.
“Yes. Not only does she not need raw crystal in her hands to work within eyesight, she somehow or other Healed herself of Finn’
s Friending without seeing her own aura and stuffed whatever it is that he does into that crystal she wears around her neck then used it to Shape those men.”
“No wonder everyone’s terrified of Shapers.”
A few moments passed then Sy’s back straightened and his shoulders went back. Spider’s were but moments behind. They spoke at the same time. “She’s only a kid” and “She’s a friend” rang with resolution. The two men nodded at each other and continued packing up. They left the outlaws where they lay. Finally, they threw Finn over Blue’s back and tied him in place. None too gently.
CHAPTER 13
T ears streamed down Anna’s face as she rode back towards Sienna and the fork to the main road North. She knew she was being childish. She didn’t care. She’d done nothing wrong. Finn’s gift was a form of Shaping and he wasn’t hounded for it. She’d never done anything as bad as make someone her friend against their will. All right, maybe she had Shaped the Captain and his men, but not for her own benefit. And she’d bet that man Mystrim and his boss would leave her alone if she wasn’t with the others. Mystrim only knew about her because of them, the men she’d thought were her friends. What a fool she was. They wouldn’t give two coppers for the plain girl with the ugly birthmark if their beloved Finn told them not to. They were just like all the other boys she’d known: users, bullies, cowards.
Hope plodded along, deep in a morose that flooded from Anna’s aura into hers. The mare was as equally lost in misery. Neither heard the shadows following them or wondered at the chill in the air that made them shiver or why the rain fell about them and only them.
Half an hour’s walk behind them, Blue sniffed the air and snorted urgently. The big bay gelding picked up his pace to pull ahead of Rojoch, the rope connecting them snapping tight as the carthorse failed to respond quickly enough. Blue reared, Finn’s body twisting and nearly falling from his back.
Sy slashed the rope to give the horse his freedom. “Anna’s in trouble!” he shouted to Spider as Blue and then Rojoch galloped past him at full speed.
