The Godling Chronicles (Shadow of the Gods, Book #3) (15 page)

Aaliyah rose to her feet. “It is time for
your first lesson,” She knelt in front of the basin. “The water is
cold. You shall heat it.”

Gewey knelt beside her. “What do I do?”

“
The same as you do with power from the
earth. Only you must focus your spirit on the air that surrounds
the basin.”

Gewey cocked his head. “The air? Not the
water?”

Aaliyah shook her head. “No. You could heat
it that way, but the effort would be much greater.” She reached
over and took his hand. “You must learn to find the smooth path.
Water will resist you, while the air is pliant.” She squeezed his
hand tightly. “Open your mind to me. Allow me to guide you.”

Gewey breathed deep and closed his eyes. At
once he saw Kaylia, her face anguished and lonely. His eyes snapped
open.

Aaliyah released her grip and sprang to her
feet. “This will not do.” Her voice was disapproving and sharp. “If
you cannot govern your bond, I must...assist you.” Grabbing Gewey's
shoulders she pressed down hard.

“
What are you doing,” he demanded. Then
it felt as if he had been struck between the eyes. He fell back,
reeling.

Aaliyah knelt beside him. “You are not hurt,
Shivis Mol.”

Gewey opened his eyes. It took him a moment
before he managed to sit up and regain his focus. Something was
wrong. An overwhelming sadness filled his heart, and tears began
streaming down his cheeks. He closed his eyes, and reached out to
his bond with Kaylia. It was gone! He glared accusingly at Aaliyah.
“What have you done?” he roared. He experienced sorrow blended with
sheer fury.

Aaliyah looked serene and almost satisfied.
“Nothing that cannot be undone.”

Gewey leaped to his feet. His hand slid to
his sword as the flow raged through him. “Then undo it!”

Aaliyah didn't appear intimidated as she
slowly stood. “I will not. Not until your lessons are complete.”
She turned to the door. “You are unable to control your bond with
Kaylia. That will hinder our work, and we can ill afford that. The
time I have to teach you is short, and I will not allow passion to
cripple you.” Reaching for the door, she turned her profile to
Gewey. “I will leave until you calm your storm.” With those words
she left the room.

Gewey let out a tortured scream. For more
than an hour he raged, pacing back and forth. Again and again he
tried to reach out to Kaylia, but could feel nothing. The sensation
of pure emptiness had him weeping openly several times. Finally, he
sat on the bed, defeated.

The door opened and Aaliyah entered and sat
next to him. Her face bore the look of deep concern and sympathy.
“When you have the strength, you can overcome what I have done. I
have not broken your bond, only pulled it from your grasp.” She
placed her hand on Gewey's. “You must trust me.”

Gewey reached down and roughly pushed her
hand away. “You had no right to do this.”

“
Better for me to face your anger now,
than to let you face your enemies unprepared.” She knelt back down
beside the basin. “Come.”

Gewey stared with seething anger, and
remained on the bed several minutes, before kneeling beside her.
“You had better keep your word. Once you've taught me, undo
it.”

Aaliyah took his hand. This time he did not
resist. “When I have taught you what you need to know, you will not
need me to undo it.” Her mouth turned up to the tiniest of smiles.
“When that happens, your foes will tremble before you.”

Gewey closed his eyes and let Aaliyah enter
his mind. Despite his anger, the touch of her thoughts felt
soothing and warm.

“
Allow yourself to feel as I feel.” Her
voice lifted away the loneliness.

Gewey let himself drift nearer and nearer,
until he could no long separate where his mind ended, and hers
began. He had only been this close to Kaylia. Guilt and regret shot
through his heart, but somehow, Aaliyah pushed it away, replacing
it with a feeling of joy and contentment. He felt her spirit reach
out to the air that surrounded the basin. At first it was
confusing. It felt very different than when he drew power from the
earth. It seemed as if it were so removed and strange, that it
couldn't be part of the flow. But as Aaliyah began moving and
molding it, he began to see how it melded to the actual fabric of
the world. Suddenly it was so simple. He wondered how he had never
seen it before.

“
Magic,” he whispered.

“
Yes,” said Aaliyah. “In a
way.”

The air above and around the basin swirled
and compressed, faster and faster, until heat sprang forth from its
core. Increasingly hot, it danced and swayed, caressing the surface
of the water and sides of the basin. Then, as suddenly as it began,
it ended. The water steamed and rippled.

Gewey reached out and touched the basin,
burning the tips of his fingers. He scarcely noticed the pain. “How
didn't I see it before?”

Aaliyah squeezed his hand and helped him to
his feet. “It may still elude you.”

Gewey closed his eyes and reach out for
Aaliyah once again. This time she didn't allow him to join with
her. “Why—”

“
You must try without my help.” she
said.

Gewey realized in that moment that he longed
to feel her spirit, and felt ashamed. He felt as if he had betrayed
Kaylia. “Of course.” He pushed his feelings aside, and tried to
recreate what they had done, but as Aaliyah said, he couldn't.
After three straight attempts, he threw his hands up in
frustration.

“
Patience,” said Aaliyah. “It will come
more easily with time.” She turned to the door. “I will leave you
to bathe. Then we can rest.”

“
But it's still morning.”

Her voice became soft and seductive. “I
prefer the night. And I am weary from our journey.”

Gewey blushed under her gaze. The feeling of
guilt and betrayal returned to snap back his reason. He was very
tired. And now that he had released the flow and his anger had
subsided, he became keenly aware of the dull fatigue that was now
washing over his entire body.

After he washed and changed into the elf
clothing given to him by Theopolou, he settled into his bed. The
waves rocked ever so slowly, until he drifted close to sleep. He
was only barely aware of Aaliyah's return. For a moment, just
before sleep completely took him, he could feel her mind touch his.
It was soft and comforting, as if a mother soothing a frightened
child. He felt his lips turn to a smile. Then there was only the
dark oblivion of a deep, restful sleep.

Chapter 11

Gewey awoke to the sound of Aaliyah humming
softly at the desk, reading a small blue book. He lay there and
listened for a time, then sat up, refreshed and strong.

“
You slept well, I trust?” she asked,
without looking up.

He yawned and stretched. “Yes. I was more
tired than I thought.”

“
You have had quite an eventful few
days.” She closed the book and placed it in the desk drawer. “I am
sorry to say that you will get little rest while on board. We have
much to do.”

She waited outside for Gewey to change, then
led him to the galley. Two plates of eggs and bread awaited them.
After breakfast, she took him on deck. The cool sea air sent a
chill down his spine. As he looked out onto the Western Abyss he
envied the sailors such a life. The dark, rolling waves and the
endless expanse calmed him. The sun was just sinking over the
horizon, setting the sky ablaze with swirls of orange, blue, and
red. Stories his father had told him of storms and sea monsters
couldn't exist in such a marvelous place.

Aaliyah walked to the port railing and leaned
her slender figure over the side. The wind wrapped her thin cotton
dress around her curves. “Beautiful, is it not?”

Gewey blushed, thankful she could not see his
unease. “It is,” he replied and joined her. “It's like nothing I've
ever seen.”

“
It is not always so peaceful,” she
warned. “The sea is more perilous than you can imagine. Storms can
rise without warning, and there are beasts that lurk within that
are larger than this ship.”

Gewey laughed. “Sea monsters?”

“
Some,” she replied. “Though not all
are monsters. Some are gentle and wise.”

Gewey cocked his head. “Wise? How can a beast
be wise?”

“
There is much about the world you have
yet to learn,” she said. “One is that not all ‘beasts’ are what
they seem.” She took his hand. “Come. It is time to
begin.”

The crew was busy about their work, but each
took a moment to greet them as they passed. Gewey had counted about
thirty elves aboard, and assumed there were more below. Aaliyah led
him to the bow where the navigator was concentrating on her
duties.

“
Is she using wind or water?” asked
Gewey.

“
Both,” said Aaliyah. She placed his
hand on the navigators shoulder. “This is Faaliyasi. Join with
her.”

Gewey obeyed, allowing his mind and spirit to
drift outward toward the navigator. Her mind was different than
that of Kaylia or Aaliyah. It was hard, cold, and as unyielding as
steel. She let Gewey draw close, but only close enough so he could
feel as she did. The flow was similar to what he experienced that
morning, but a million times more complex. The forces intertwined
in perfect harmony, dancing and twisting as one.

“
Amazing,” he whispered. “How can you
do this?”

Faaliyasi did not respond.

After several minutes Aaliyah pulled Gewey
away. “She has trained for many years to learn this skill.”

“
Can you do that?” Gewey
asked.

“
Yes, but not as well,” she admitted.
“Our navigator’s begin learning their craft at childhood. What you
saw was just a small thing. Should a storm arise, you will see her
true power.”

Aaliyah had a small bowl of water brought on
deck, and Gewey spent the rest of the evening trying in vain to
touch the power of the air to heat it. He soon found Aaliyah to be
as severe a task master as Lee had been, though not as harsh in
temperament. By morning he was exhausted and frustrated.

When they returned to their quarters, he
found that a basin of wash water had been left. The prospect of
joining with Aaliyah excited him. He had not been alone inside
himself since he first joined with Kaylia, and the loneliness was
unbearable at times. Had he not been so utterly engrossed in his
training, he was certain it would bother him considerably.

“
You shall wash with cold water until
you can learn to heat it yourself,” Aaliyah said.

Gewey's heart sank, but he tried once again.
This time he felt it. Unlike the throbbing pulse of the earth, he
felt an irregular current of energy.

“
Yes,” said Aaliyah softly. “The air is
not a brute like the earth. It is like a whimsical child. Let it
dance through you.”

Gewey drew in the flow of the air for the
first time. His fatigue washed away at once, and like when he used
the earth, his senses erupted with awareness. But unlike the earth,
it was difficult to control. It scattered and twirled throughout
his body as a tempest. It resisted him, threatening to tear him
apart.

“
Do not use force,” Aaliyah instructed.
“Use your heart...your soul, to have it obey your
commands.”

“
I don't understand.” The flow
continued to build, rushing through him. Finally, he could no
longer contain it. Gewey let out a horrifying scream and the air
exploded, tossing both he and Aaliyah back, slamming them hard
against the wall.

Gewey slid down, the breath forced from his
lungs, gasping. After a moment, he regained his senses and caught
his breath. Aaliyah was slumped down against the door. He sprang to
his feet and rushed to her side.

“
Are you all right?” he asked
desperately. “Gods, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.” He took her limp hand
in his and reached out to her spirit. The moment he touched it, he
felt the keen sense of loneliness vanish. Her spirit seemed to
embrace him, pulling him to her.

Slowly her eyes fluttered open. “I am
unhurt.” She managed a smile. “You are far stronger than I could
have imagined.” She sat up straight. “But I should have known
Shivis Mol would be.”

“
I am sorry,” he repeated.

“
Do not be sorry,” she said,
soothingly. “The fault was mine. I must be aware that I am not
training an elf child, but a young godling.” She placed her hand
gently on his cheek. “And in this world you have only just come of
age. I must remember that as well.”

Gewey stiffened. “I am a man.” he insisted.
“Even before I came of age, I was my own master.”

She giggled, amused at his reaction. “A man
need not assert that he is a man. Only a child would do so.” She
struggled to her feet, aided by Gewey, and smoothed her dress.

Gewey gave no reply. Embarrassed by the truth
in her words, he turned and retrieved his elf clothing from the
chest. Aaliyah left the room to allow him to wash, returning just
as he was climbing into his bed.

Aaliyah dimmed all the lights and climbed
into her bed. “I am sorry if I upset you,” she said, pulling the
blanket close. “But compared to me, your years in this world are
few. There are lessons for you still to learn.”

“
I know,” said Gewey. “I just feel...I
don't know. I suppose I don't like being reminded that I'm so much
younger and inexperienced than everyone around me.”

“
You are young.” She closed her eyes
and sighed. “But you are not without experience. And you are mature
for your age. You should think no more on it. I will try to be more
delicate with the matter.”