Between Darkness and Light (75 page)

“What?” Kaid jackknifed into a sitting position. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“The message from Kusac—he keeps playing with his knife at the beginning. I saw a command mark on it.”

Kaid sat back again. “Not the message,” he groaned. “It was likely Banner's knife you saw.”

“No, it was Kusac's. You can clearly see the single command mark and the graduation seal on the top of it. It's dated for last year.”

“You're mistaken,” said Kaid.

Jurrel shrugged and got to his feet. “I hope not, because Banner's been gone long enough. I'd prefer to think he was on a Brotherhood mission rather than jetting about randomly with someone on the edges of sanity.”

When he'd reached the door, Rezac called out to him since he knew Kaid wasn't going to. “Are you positive it wasn't Banner's knife?”

“You think I don't know my sword-brother's knife?” he asked, his tone slightly acerbic as he opened the door.

The silence after he left was unbroken till Rezac spoke again. “Well, she was right. She did find something. Are you going to look at the message again, or must I?”

Kaid looked over at him.

“Don't make this an issue of pride,” Rezac warned him, sitting up. “Look at all the problems that caused Zashou and me.”

“If it's really Kusac's knife, then I'll watch it again,” he said eventually. “Check it out for me, please.”

“How will I know if it's Banner's?”

“The graduation date will be some twenty years ago, and there will be at least four command marks on it.”

“And if it's Kusac's?”

“He graduated late last year. And if they've given him a command mark, then he is on a mission, and I'll want to know why we've been lied to and he was thrown to the wolves,” he said grimly.

 

“Jurrel!” Rezac called, sprinting up the path to the village. “Wait up for me!”

Jurrel stopped and turned.

“Any chance I can see that message?” he asked as he drew level.

“Kaid sent you?”

Rezac nodded. “Yeah, asked me to look into it for him,” he said, sinking his hands in the pockets of his long coat. “Pulled the ‘That's what little brothers are for' stunt on me.”

Jurrel chuckled as they began to walk on. “We'll need to stop at Ruth's, see if Carrie's still there talking to Ray and Andy. If not, she'll be back at the villa.”

 

Carrie was back at the villa.

“Why should I let you see it?” she asked Rezac. “Kaid shouldn't have sent you, he should have come himself.”

“He asked me to come because I could be more objective than he would. He thinks it's Banner's knife and that Jurrel made a mistake.”

She gave him a scathing look. “And just how likely is that?”

“I know,” he said. “The point is, Kusac has never been given a command. If it's his knife, the grip should be completely plain—no command mark.”

She got up and headed toward the den workstation, climbing the few steps up to the half level by the entrance. Switching on the comp, she put the crystal in the reader.

“See for yourself,” she said. “Then read the notes we made this morning while analyzing it.” She reached into an eye level pigeonhole and pulled out a sheaf of papers, slapping them down beside him, then headed back down to the main level.

“You've a sure touch with the ointments, right enough,” said Noni, sealing the last jar.

In his seat by the stillroom fire, Conner laughed gently. “I told you I've been making them since I was less than half the age of your apprentice, Teusi.”

“So you did, so you did,” said Noni, heading back to sit in her seat opposite him.

“I know,” he said. “Just as I would, you needed to see for yourself. I take it you're satisfied now?”

“You'll do, I suppose,” she admitted grudgingly.

“Then make good on your promise,” he said. “The knowledge exchange—your religions for ours.”

“You young ones are always so hasty,” she grumbled, sipping her drink. “What's wrong with learning it the old-fashioned way?”

“It was your suggestion,” he said, frowning. “What's the matter, Noni? Afraid?”

“Me? Afraid?” she said, faking outrage. “I'll have you know there's nothing of Shola that can frighten Noni!”

“But I'm not of Shola, that's it, isn't it? Then let me do it.”

“You? An untried, untrained off-worlder ...” she began scornfully.

As she spoke, she was peripherally aware of the temperature in the room dropping suddenly, and the lights beginning to flicker then dim. It wasn't till the fire also began to fade that she realized he was drawing energy from them, and then it was too late.

Conner stood up, almost disappearing into the shadows because of his black robe. He seemed to grow taller, larger, as he fed on the energy. His blue eyes and long gray hair crackled with it as he stared at her.

She tried to stop him by blocking the flow, but found her efforts as useless as if she'd tried to stem the spring floods. Here was a Talent far more encompassing than any she'd encountered before, that carried within it the echoes of many, not just one. He, the stranger, the alien, had done the seemingly impossible—he'd harnessed the energies of fire and air and earth all at once.

“Do not make the mistake of underestimating me, madam,” he said, his voice rolling through the small room like thunder echoing in the mountains. “I've played your games long enough. I will not be toyed with again.”

As he turned, he seemed to gradually shrink back to his own height again. The lights flickered and buzzed, then resumed their normal brightness; in its grate, the flames once more began to dance. When she looked back at the door, he was gone.

 

“Power all over the building was being drained, Noni,” said Lijou. “That's all I can tell you.”

“What I want to know is what is he,” muttered Noni. “Ain't natural, is what it isn't.”

In one of the armchairs, Alex was sitting chuckling quietly to herself.

“What's up with that youngling of yours now, Rhyaz?” Noni demanded tartly, glancing over at her.

“Ask her,” said Rhyaz, looking up from the report he was reading. “I've no idea, Noni.”

“Well?” the elderly Sholan demanded.

“Nothing,” said Alex. “I was just thinking, that's all.”

“Vartra preserve us now!” exclaimed Noni waspishly. “She's thinking!”

Alex's smile died and she got to her feet. “Fine. Find out for yourself, then. Go ask Vartra, see if he'll help you.” With that she swept out of the room in a huff.

“Not wise, Noni,” said Lijou gently. “She comes from the same country as Conner. She might have been able to help you.”

“The day I put up with a youngling's hormone-fueled moods is my last day on Shola, Master Lijou,” she responded. “Now, what you got on this Conner?”

Rhyaz suddenly began to chuckle but when he caught sight of Noni's glare, he hastily stifled it. “I think I'll go find Alex,” he said, leaving his report and heading hurriedly off after his Leska.

What is it with you two?
asked Lijou, going to his desk to fetch a printout he'd prepared for their healer.

Alex won't tell me anything except she thinks Noni's met her match,
replied Rhyaz, using the same tight mental link that his colleague had.

Thoughtfully, he returned and handed it to Noni. “This is all I've been able to find out about him. They haven't been that forthcoming at the Old Sarum College.”

She pushed herself up out of her chair and took the papers from him. “I suppose it'll have to do,” she said. “Get one of your lads onto it, Lijou. We can't have him running round Stronghold with a rogue talent, can we?”

“It isn't rogue, Noni. He can obviously control it, and well, since he's never exhibited this side of himself before. He helped me solve a problem without me even telling him what it was. Somehow he just knew, and I'll swear he didn't read my mind.”

She looked at him seriously for a moment. “If you couldn't feel him read you, then it's some Talent he has,” she said thoughtfully. “You and Konis Aldatan have the two strongest Talents on Shola, excepting maybe for his son, Kusac. There's more to him than meets the eye, Lijou, mark my words.”

With that, she left for her quarters where Teusi was waiting for her.

 

Conner had gone to the Goddess' Shrine inside the temple. He was angry and frustrated, mainly with himself. For one such as him to be treated like some raw beginner by Noni had rankled with him all along, but until tonight, he'd managed to contain it.

The artificial sunlight had dimmed to dusk in the grotto. He closed his eyes, leaning back on the bench, trying to let the sound of the running water and the smell of the nung tree soothe his raw nerves. What he'd done had exhausted him, cost him dearly in terms of his own energy levels. With a quiet request to the Goddess for healing, he slipped his bare feet out of his sandals and let them sink into the grass. Opening his mind, he felt the familiar tingling as the earth began to gently replace the energy he'd lost. It was the first time he'd tried this since he'd arrived, and was pleased to find that this much was the same here as it had been on his world.

He was here for a purpose, he knew he was, but how could he find out what if that damned old crone wouldn't help him?

He heard a faint chuckle, followed by,
If I were you, I wouldn't let her hear you even thinking that!

Opening his eyes, he sat bolt upright and looked around. The small cavern was as empty as it had been a few minutes ago. He frowned, knowing there was someone else there, but unable to see them or even sense their presence.

You can hear me?
The thought was slightly stronger this time, and full of surprise.

I can,
he replied.
Who are you? Where are you?

It was a question, and he felt his heart leap inside his chest.
Yes!
An Entity, it had to be an Entity!

Then come to me in my realm.
The thought was getting fainter, almost fading.
Look for the blue-white crystal at the heart of a triple spiral on a wooden door. It will be late spring, as it is here in the Shrine. I will meet you.

That he could do, and easily! He even knew the triple spiral for it existed even on Earth. At last he'd found what he needed.

With an ease gained from years of practice, he began to relax himself into a light trance until he was able to step between the worlds and enter the void. Ribbons of light flowed around and past him until one, of bright green, came toward him and swept him away with it.

He kept his mind clear of all thoughts save late spring and the door he knew he would come to, with its sign of the triple spiral with the crystal heart.

 

The Head Priest, Lijou, was gently shaking his shoulder, trying to wake him.

“Conner, are you all right?” he was asking.

He stirred. Putting his hands up to rub his eyes, he felt something drop to the ground, heard the metallic clink it made.

“I'm fine,” he said as Lijou stooped to pick whatever it was up. “I wasn't asleep,” he began.

“I know,” said Lijou with a smile, handing the object back to him. “You were pathwalking to Vatra's realm. He gave you this.”

Conner examined it carefully. It was like a coin. On one side there was the triple spiral, on the other, in the cursive Sholan script, a V.

“Do you understand its significance?” Lijou asked, sitting down beside him.

The face Conner turned to him was bleached of all color. “Never before have I brought anything back from the Entities' Realms,” he whispered. “It's unheard of. I hold the memories of hundreds of ...” He stopped what he'd been about to say just in time. “Of previous leaders of the College, but this is truly unique.”

Lijou raised an eye ridge. “Things are different here on Shola,” he said quietly. “You'll find that to the Chosen few, our Entities do appear. In fact,” he said wryly, “sometimes they are a bit too active.”

The color was creeping back into Conner's face as he nodded. “So I understand. We have to seek them out, usually.”

Lijou reached inside his own robes and brought out a coin identical to the one Conner held. “This is the symbol of the Brotherhood,” he said. “It is only worn by our members. Normally they are only given out at Graduation, but a few here have been given one personally by Vartra.”