Sage Truth [Book 2 of the Teadai Prophecies] Read online

  Zarenia nodded in silence and the lightening seemed to move off into the distance. But both were tossed to the ground by another quake, much stronger than before. Birek managed to stay on his feet and keep Maesa upright this time. This latest temblor caused the entire upper level of the keep to fall, taking several portions of the floors below with it, including the tower. Dust billowed toward the sky and outward from the portcullis and the curtain wall fell in huge sections. Tears fled down Zarenia’s cheeks. Maesa wept with her.

  Chapter 21

  Despite the cold and intermittent downpours that assaulted Brev the past few days, Xiath went about chores as though the weather posed no discomfort, but his teeth chattered whenever he let go of the Energy. Though he could harness the Energy, he could make no use of it. The old errant, Sureyah, had them under some kind of spell, he was certain, perhaps even elemental magic, which made his blood run cold. And something within the Energy had changed. He couldn’t be certain but he felt as though the void had retreated somewhat.

  Elder Siri couldn’t contact Ved’nuri in the Netherworld, so he had no way of verifying what he suspected. And, unfortunately, meals were his only chances to speak with Siri and the others. Blazes! He was quest leader. There should be something he could do. At least none in his quest had been harmed. Yet, anyway.

  Pim Fargoodes had taken some kind of personal vengeance against Cass. The new-oathed woman had fire in her eyes each time Pim ordered her to some loathsome task, which was quite often. Xiath still had trouble believing that girl wasn’t a youngling and that he’d been duped. She had even fooled the truth-seeker. Pim hadn’t shown her face since morning meal, which he found odd.

  Sureyah’s lackey, Shon Denintrop, got Xiath’s hackles up too. He would take little mercy on that bloody middling once he was free. Sureyah had bonded the awful man to the Azure Amulet of Cholqhuin. Siri informed Xiath that even a middling could use its power when bonded by the Energy. By the extent of power Shon had, the Elder suspected elemental magic was being used as well.

  Xiath stepped through the cold, soggy grass, hauling fire logs again. Gypsies couldn’t get ill, which was probably why the old errant showed little interest in their discomfort, but they could certainly freeze to death. Not that they would in this weather but Xiath still longed for dry clothes and a warm fire. His muscles ached. He hadn’t done this much manual labor since his youngling days when he trained under Elder Yuri.

  Since they hadn’t been in the Land of the Goddess during Xiath’s youngling days, Yuri had kept his clan sons fit and out of trouble by giving them hard chores for both mind and body. He had said it would make better Gypsies out of the lot of them. Though Xiath hated the work back then, Yuri had been right. He might have caused many problems without that discipline, perhaps even harmed himself with the Energy. But right now, he wanted a salve to sooth his aches. Holding the Energy put the discomfort at a distance but he couldn’t hold it for days and had to be selective as to when he harnessed. He wondered how Yuri’s quest faired. Better than this, he imagined.

  “Get moving, Gypsy!” Shon pushed Xiath toward the woodpile, causing him to stumble and almost drop the logs.

  “Bloody middling.”

  “What was that, Gypsy?”

  “I said I’m moving.” Yes, he would definitely enjoy teaching this one manners, Gypsy style.

  He wasn’t certain how many more days he could tolerate this slavery. And they still knew nothing of Sureyah’s plans, except that she followed Cholqhuin, the idiot woman. The other men in Xiath’s quest also hauled logs and set up racks beneath tarps so the logs could dry out, while the women labored over laundry and cooking cauldrons. He dropped his burden on the designated pile just as the bell chimed for midday meal. Shon left him in a hurry. That man never missed a meal, which might just come in handy. Something caught his eye across the river and he studied the forest.

  He was certain he saw a sparkle. Nothing. Just as he was about to head to his meal, he saw it again, from the trees. No, in the trees.

  Don’t fear, Xiath, a voice called in his head, accompanied by a faint scent of wild greenery. I’m here with Haranda and the others. This had to be a sender he heard, and from the wildness of the male essence, he must be an errant. Errant or no, Xiath wanted to shout to Haranda.

  May the Goddess bless that woman! I hear you. What’s Haranda planning? He started toward his meal as though nothing out of the ordinary were happening.

  There was a pause. She wants to know how many there are. Middlings and those who can harness.

  My entire quest is here, along with an elderly woman named Sureyah. She can harness and has bonded one of the middlings to the Azure Amulet of Cholqhuin. He uses it to control us. There’s an errant girl here, also. There are other middlings but I don’t know how many, possibly an entire village or more. Children too. I haven’t been able to question Sureyah. She hides in the third hut from the large fire pit. She knocked us down with some sort of spell. Elder Siri believes she’s using elemental magic.

  Another pause, this one much longer than the first. Haranda says to go about your business. She’ll confer with Wren and Elder Finlor. Until then, they’ll remain out of sight. Tell the others to await instruction. The sender was gone, along with his essence.

  Xiath’s heart felt light for the first time in days and he pondered the new situation. The Vedi must have ordered Elder Finlor’s quest to join Haranda when Siri lost contact. And Wren would be with them. He missed his bedfriend, especially on cold nights, and looked forward to having her in his arms again.

  He took up a bowl, spoon and a roll and sat on a hard, soaked bench with Elder Siri, Thad and Cass. The other Gypsies sat on adjacent benches. The bloody middlings had been given tables beneath oiled canopies. At least the Gypsy servants were allowed that protection too.

  “Don’t give away what I’m about to tell you,” he said in a low voice. “Keep steady.” He waited until he heard or saw some sort of response. “Haranda and Elder Finlor’s quests are across the river.” He scooped some unrecognizable stew onto his spoon. “Keep eyes on your bowls. We’re to continue as though nothing is happening and wait for instruction.” He stretched his back and groaned.

  “At least,” Siri said as several middlings meandered by, “you don’t have to be up to your elbows in bloody laundry.” Once the middlings were out of earshot she added, “I will personally give Sureyah part of my thoughts when we’re out of this.”

  “Very well.” Xiath eyed his first counsel. “But I get Shon.”

  “I would like to help with that one.” Thad’s eyes darkened. The boy had grown up along this river. Shon came from his root village.

  This must be harder on him than anyone. Xiath nodded. “I welcome your assistance.”

  Thad offered a grave nod and downed his stew. Xiath realized he’d eaten most of his, tasteless as it was, so he scooped the remaining chunks into his mouth and used the roll to soak up the broth.

  Sureyah came out of her hut for the first time today and walked past. She leaned against her cane for support as Pim trailed her. “No, child. There’s no cause for you to bother the Gypsies today. I need your assistance.”

  Pim frowned at Cass as she followed the old woman past the main fire pit and toward another hut.

  “I get that little snit.” Cass’s hand drifted to her belt, and Xiath knew she longed to have her knife tucked there. “I can’t figure out how she hid her lies from me.”

  Thad eyed the truth-seeker. “She had a harsh life. That the truth. No doubt confused about who to trust.”

  Cass gave the new-oathed body-healer a thoughtful gaze and nodded. The two confided in each other more as the days progressed.

  Xiath had learned that Cass also had a difficult childhood. The young woman had experienced what none should ever have to go through. He eyed her a heartbeat and caught some sort of understanding between her and Thad. Had he missed something? Thad was smitten with the girl, but she’d never shown any interest in men b
eyond flirting with groups, and that seemed to come out of habit. She usually stayed to the women.

  The errant sender’s scent found Xiath again. Sender?

  Yes. Haranda wants you to get Sureyah and the errant girl close to one of those laundry trees.

  Xiath glanced at the four trees with the day’s washing hanging between. What’s she planning?

  The treewalker will take care of that.

  Eletha? He hated to use younglings out here and knew Haranda felt the same. But they had their orders. What about the middling? The one who controls the Amulet.

  Wren has plans for him. Wait until he’s away from the others.

  May the Goddess assist you. He couldn’t wait to see Wren.

  I will let them know.

  The wild scent disappeared and Xiath turned to the others and opened his mouth to explain Haranda’s strategy.

  Siri held up her hand. “We heard that time.” The other hand pulled her cloak tighter.

  For a sender to communicate with several Gypsies at once, he had to be strong. Xiath looked forward to meeting the errant man. The servant hunter, Camlys, must have noticed something because she came over and sat on the bench and pretended to tie her bootlace, while the other Gypsy servants meandered over.

  The Azure Amulet kept everyone from fleeing and made them compliant with Shon’s orders, but the bells triggered slave behavior, each with a different number of rings to indicate what task needed doing, part of Sureyah’s elemental magic spell, no doubt. They had to hurry before the end of meal bells sounded and everyone went blindly to chores again. If that happened, they wouldn’t get a chance to do anything until evening meal, so Xiath took this opportunity to give the servants the news.

  After he finished informing everyone of the plans, Sureyah stepped from the hut with Pim on her heels again and they started slowly across the soggy grass. The old woman looked increasingly tired. Pim didn’t head for the bells, though, and Xiath let out a relieved breath.

  “Kal and I can get those two where Haranda wants them.” Bel’keive twisted the gold ring in her nose. “What say you, former clan sister? Up for a game of roughian?”

  Kal’s eyes lit and she cocked that braid wrapped head to stare expectantly at Xiath.

  He pulled his cloak tighter in a futile attempt to shut out the bitter cold and rain that fell in a constant drizzle now. “Good as any plan.”

  The old errant harnessed the Energy but she was weak. Elemental magic could boost what little urging power she possessed. Magic had to have a ritual and a spell to work and that took more than a few heartbeats, especially when controlling this many. Sureyah claimed she could see Death but that gave her no power against Gypsies. The only other Energy Xiath had seen her use was yellow sparking to create a single orb. And that wavered. She was weak but she wasn’t stupid.

  “Wait until Shon is away from the others,” Xiath told the girls. “Do it as quickly as you can. Don’t give that old woman a chance to think clearly. I’ll give the order.”

  The Gypsies dropped their bowls and utensils in the waiting barrels while keeping watch on Shon Denintrop. Xiath worried when the middling man crossed to Sureyah, but he headed for the river right afterwards.

  Once Shon moved far enough away Xiath turned to Bel’keive and Kal. “Now.”

  “I’ll grind your teeth in the dirt for that, imp!” Kal yelled as she chased Bel’keive in Sureyah and Pim’s direction. They circled the two errant women as Bel’keive feigned a search for protection. The middling villagers simply watched, none making a move to assist either side.

  Bel’keive screeched as one of Kal’s hands reached around the old errant. “Don’t let her thrash me!”

  Sureyah swore and stumbled as she and Pim were forced closer to the largest of the laundry trees. “Stop this foolishness! Shon, come here and control your children!”

  But the two new-oathed had been successful. The nearby tree wrapped its low-lying branches around both errant women. Treewalkers could see through the trees but Xiath had never witnessed one do such a thing as this, and he looked forward to speaking to Haranda about Eletha. Pim’s eyes widened and she let out a frightened scream. Sureyah’s old eyes burned at him.

  He glanced at the river. Shon started their direction, and Xiath silently begged the Goddess for support as he and the others were still bound by the Amulet and Sureyah’s magic. The girls assisted the treewalker’s efforts by grabbing rags from the wash line and tying the two errant women to the trunk of the tree.

  He looked to the river again and saw that Shon was searching for something on hands and knees. The middling stood and yelled something then came at a run. Before he got too far, he lurched forward as though someone had hit him square in the head and fell face down into the soggy grass. He remained still.

  Saldia appeared out of nowhere with the Azure Amulet dangling from her fingers. Haranda and the others came from the woods and began to cross the old wooden bridge, while the Gypsy guards went to gather the unconscious Shon. A tall, red-haired woman walked with Haranda, and several others Xiath didn’t recognize followed her, including a man with a cane and a curious young man with a misshapen head. A Guana boy? It had been a very long while, centuries in fact, since one from Zark got the calling.

  What he saw next stunned him. Dozens swept from the forests to follow the Gypsies across the bridge. Men and women, dark-skinned and large in stature, strode beside those of all different sizes and shades. Xiath recognized Hunters by the rings in their noses. Those imposing bodies must be Bankari. He had never ventured to Bankar in all his years as a Gypsy, though he knew LeChamb had been born there.

  Great Mother Goddess, how did Haranda convinced them to follow? He couldn’t wait to find out.

  One giant man stepped to catch up with Saldia, while another kept pace with Eletha, dwarfing the little treewalker.

  When she arrived, Haranda waved off Xiath’s questions. “I’ll explain later.” She offered a smile.

  Brief hugs and assurances that everyone was unharmed filled the air before Saldia offered the Amulet to Siri. The Elder took the pendant and pulled it over her head with a satisfied nod. She concentrated for several heartbeats, probably to break the binding from Shon and take control of the Amulet with her own Energy.

  Xiath gave the Elder his talisman, glad to be rid of the thing, then wasted not another heartbeat taking Wren into his arms. She kissed him soundly and he returned the gesture. “I don’t know what I’d do if something had happened to you,” he said into her ear. She nodded and he could tell she fought tears. He pressed his nose to her neck and breathed her in.

  Afterward, they exchanged brief introductions to the newcomers. Lyssinya Atan Colewin was a Sage. Xiath longed to find out the details of that little surprise. She had red hair as bright as Eletha’s and was as tall as Siri. In fact, she resembled Elder D’Esher, except that she wore skirts. Xiath again wondered how Yuri’s quest faired.

  Taniras, Eletha and Adelsik no longer revealed their footprints. In fact, Henny and the odd fellow with the misshapen head were the only ones with footprints showing. That didn’t seem to bother Henny, though, and she held her head up as she followed Adelsik and the Sage.

  The errant sender gave his name as Ryder. By the look Haranda offered, Xiath wondered if the errant man had a secret or two. The village middlings stood nearby surrounded by formidable Bankari and armed Hunters. Thank the Goddess Shon hadn’t gotten the chance to control them again. There might have been a blood bath. Kin against kin. The Goddess would not have been pleased.

  “Let’s see how well this works, shall we,” Siri said after everyone had settled. The mass of Gypsies and servants, along with a few Bankari and Hunters, followed the Elder to Sureyah.

  The old errant woman gave a horrified look when she saw what hung from Siri’s neck. “Please. You don’t understand.”

  Not taking any chances that the old woman could still harness more Energy than she should, Xiath said, “Bind her, Elder.” He was still le
ader here.

  “My pleasure.” Siri wrapped the old errant woman in green Energy. She then placed Xiath’s talisman around Sureyah’s neck. The old eyes burned with fear and Sureyah cried out.

  “Silence,” Siri ordered, and Sureyah clamped her mouth shut. “I’m in charge now you idiot woman. You’ll tell me what kind of elemental magic you’ve been tampering with or I’ll let the treewalker have you.”

  Eletha stepped close to Siri, dwarfed by the large woman’s stature, and crossed skinny arms. The tree extended its branches to wrap around Sureyah’s head and secured it as it had the rest of her body.

  Pim saw this and let out a shriek. “That enough!” She struggled ineffectively against the natural bonds. “That enough! I’ll tell you! Everything!”

  “Shut your lips, Pim Fargoodes,” the old woman said through her teeth, her head still secured against the trunk. “They killed your husband. They’ll do the same to you.”

  “He’s not dead,” Cass said. Fire lit her eyes as one hand motioned to Shon, and her other drifted to her belt where her knife usually hung.

  She had endured so much and Xiath worried this recent captivity may have pushed her to her limits. He nodded to Haranda, who acknowledged him and studied the truth-seeker.

  Pim’s wide eyes took in her husband, who sat slumped over and tied to another tree. “You should have killed him.”

  Siri stepped closer to the girl. “Why would you say that, child?”

  Frightened eyes looked up at the Elder. “That one a bad man. You think I wanted to marry that swine?” She spat. “He forced me. Sureyah gave me to him as a reward.”

  “Shut your lips, Pim.” The old errant didn’t look dangerous now, secured to a tree.

  “And how do we know you tell the truth?” Cass moved next to Siri and placed hands on her hips. “You lied before, Pim.”

  “I did. I lied. He made me. Said if I didn’t put on a good play-act with you, he’d beat me and I would do nothing but stand there and take it. Kill him. Please, kill him.” She broke into sobs.