Knight of a Trillion Stars (31 page)

“I hate food shopping.” What made him think she would do such a domestic thing? Perhaps he’s going senile, she thought irritably.

He appraised her knowingly. Still the
gharta
. “Very well, I will do it.” He went to a cabinet, retrieving some fresh clothes, changing as he spoke. “I will not be gone long.”

Deana rose up on the bed, leaning on her elbows. “Lorgin?”

“Hmm?” He looked over at her as he laced up his shirt.

“Don’t tell Rejar I…threw up. It was really nice of him to bring the candy and all. I don’t want him to feel bad.”

“Of course not. You have had an eventful day. I will tell him you are tired. It is the truth, is it not?” He winked at her.

She was asleep by the time the brothers left, her peaceful nap unknowingly aided by the tree which shielded her as she slept, its graceful leaves fanning out to protect her from a strong breeze.

Traed sat at Yaniff’s scarred wooden table observing the old master’s home. It was a place of unsettling simplicity.

Yaniff placed a cup of
mir
in front of Traed, seating himself across the table from him. Traed suspected he was about to hear some things of which, perhaps, he might prefer to remain in ignorance. He was not altogether convinced it had not been a mistake to return to Aviara.

Yaniff’s fathomless eyes pierced the younger man. “Do you know why the Guild excommunicated your father?”

Traed crossed his booted feet. His fingers were tightly interlaced, resting on the table. He leaned back in his chair.

“I only know what Lorgin has told me.”

“Which is?”

Traed scowled. “What is the point of this?”

“Which is?” Yaniff repeated calmly.

A muscle ticked in Traed’s jaw. “He said that my father kidnapped my mother from the Tan-Shi, took her against her will, performing the Transference ceremony. There is the why, Yaniff. Satisfied?”

“Not quite. Perhaps you did not hear all of his words.”

Traed’s green eyes narrowed. “I heard them.”

“Then perhaps you did not
listen
to them.”

“Do not circle your words with me, Yaniff. If you wish to tell me something, then do so. I find I no longer possess the patience I once had.”

Yaniff snorted. “You have the patience of honey rolling uphill when it suits you, Traed. I will say what I have to say to you in my own fashion. Whether it meets your approval or not.”

Traed glanced away, shamed by his outburst to this most revered mystic. “Forgive me.”

Yaniff inclined his head slightly. “Now, Traed, did Lorgin not tell you the true reason for the excommunication?”

“Lorgin told me the Guild was…unhappy with my father’s behavior in regards to his culpability. He implied that the reason they barred him was because of his treatment of the situation.”

Yaniff peered at Traed unrelentingly. “Tell me; who circles his words now?”

Traed slammed the flat of his hand onto the table top. “What would you have me say? That my own father was thrown out of the Guild because of his cruel and irrational behavior toward his only son?”

Rather than seeming upset by the heated words, Yaniff seemed strangely pleased. “You have just said it.”

Traed sank back into his chair, suddenly weary. “What would you have of me, Yaniff? Tell me and be done with it.”

Yaniff picked up his cup of warm
mir
slowly sipping the relaxing brew. “Lorgin has been called upon by both the Alliance and the Guild.”

Traed was not overly surprised. “He is on a quest for them?”

“Yes.”

“Who set him upon this quest?”

“I did.”

Traed raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“There were some inexplicable disturbances on the Rim. At first I believed them to be inconsequential—just slight flutters and twitches in the continuum. Nothing to be concerned about. However, these disturbances began to
increase. The manifestations of these disturbances became quite alarming.”

“So, having the Charl at your disposal, you sent Lorgin out to investigate for you. What did he find?”

“It is more complicated than that. You began your training years ago. You know there can be many facets to a seemingly simple stone.”

“Do not speak to me of Charl training! I will not hear of it! Think you I would heed the teachings of such a body of righteous hypocrites after what they did to my bloodline?”

“You condemn all Charl for the actions of the Guild?”

“Do not ask me such questions; I will not answer.”

“Has it ever occurred to you that the Guild has regretted its decision?”

Traed slashed his hand through the air. “It is of no interest to me!”

“Ah, but it is, Traed. They ask that you take your rightful place by joining them.”

Traed laughed, a sarcastic sound devoid of humor. “How touching after all these years,” he sneered.

“Your father is a sixth-level mystic, Traed. You have a destiny to follow.”

“Perhaps.
But not with the Charl.
”

Yaniff nodded sagely. “You may be right in that.”

“So, have you called me back to ask me to recant and join the Charl?”

“No. That is not why you are here. As I mentioned to you, Lorgin set out to investigate the situation regarding the disturbances.”

“What did he find?”

“For one thing, he found Adeeann.”

Traed was surprised. “His wife?”

“She wears the Shimalee.”

“I know—I have seen it. It is connected in some way to these disturbances?”

“Yes. I had discovered that the disturbances on the Rim were causing rifts in time and space. Since all corridors of time and space are linked by the Shimalees, there definitely appears to be a connection.”

Traed thought about the serious ramifications should the continuity of the continuum be compromised. He could not help but be concerned. “Continue, Yaniff.”

“Lorgin knew of the prophecy regarding the first in the line of Krue and she who wears the Shimalee, but at the time, he did not know how interconnected it would become with this quest. He took Adeeann to wife, bringing her with him. Then he set about to track down a rumor I had heard—a rumor about a man, not a diviner, who had somehow found a phasing stone. One can only speculate that such a man would seek to unlock its mysteries. Eventually, Lorgin was able to discover his identity.”

“
Someone is creating these rifts?
By
Aiyah,
why would anyone do such a thing?”

“Here is where we come full circle, Traed. As much as you dislike Charl analogy, you will forgive me my allusion: another facet of the stone is revealed.”

“How so?”

“The action of the Guild comes back to haunt them, as I warned them it would.”

Traed seemed confused. “I do not understand.”

Yaniff leveled his compelling gaze directly onto Traed.

“It is Theardar who is causing the rifts. Theardar who found the phasing stone. Theardar who very well might destroy all existence with his tampering.”

Traed slumped in his seat, deathly pale. “My father uses his powers in darkness?”

“It is so.”

Traed closed his eyes, the enormity of what his father was doing overwhelming him. “What do you want from me?” he whispered brokenly.

“I seek Theardar on the Rim. Lorgin will go to face him. Will you stand with us?”

A moan of pain issued from Traed’s throat. “Do not ask this of me, I beg you!”

“I do not ask it lightly, I assure you. It is a terrible thing to ask a son to stand against his father. Your life has not been an easy one, Traed. This will not be the only painful decision you will make in your life, but perhaps the most lasting.”

Traed bolted out of his chair, turning away from Yaniff. He was silent for a long time. When he spoke, his voice was very quiet, very low. “How do you propose I make such a decision, mystic? Do not tell me there is no Charl platitude you can hand out just for this occasion?”

“I understand your bitterness.”

He turned around to stare at the old man. “Do you?”

Yaniff’s face held sorrow. “More than you know.”

Traed was immediately contrite. He knelt down in front of the old mystic.

“Forgive me, Master.” Unconsciously he used the Charl title a supplicant calls his teacher. A title he had not spoken in years. Not since Lorgin and he were boys, studying together for the Charl, deeply honored to have been chosen to study with Yaniff.

Yaniff placed a withered hand upon the bent head of Traed ta’al Theardar. So good a man, he lamented; so tormented a soul.

“Arise, Traed. There is more. Another facet of the stone approaches. Your loyalties are soon to be divided further.”

“What do you mean?”

A light knock sounded at the door.

“Enter, Rejar.”

The door to the cottage swung open and Rejar ta’al Krue entered, his Familiar eyes immediately adjusting from bright sunlight to the darkened interior.

“I wish to speak with you, old man.” His eyes flew to Traed. “Alone.”

“Sit, Rejar. What you have to say to me is best said in front of Traed as well.”

Rejar hesitated, not at all sure he should be saying what he had come to say in front of Traed.

Yaniff got up and poured Rejar a warm cup of
mir.
Placing it in front of the Familiar, he said, “You must learn to trust me, my young friend. Speak what is in your heart.”

Taking the
mir
in his hands, Rejar sipped slowly, thinking over his words. He would not enter Traed’s mind with his thoughts and therefore was forced to speak aloud.

When he was ready, he looked directly across the table into Traed’s green eyes. “He is my brother of the line. I have sensed it.”

Shock flitted across Traed’s face, followed by anger. “What lie does this Familiar speak?”

Rejar was incensed. “No lie, Traed! I have sensed Lodarres blood in you and the bloodline is strong!” He turned to Yaniff. “How can this be, Yaniff? Familiar senses do not deceive, yet I cannot accept what my insight tells me is true, for to do so dishonors my name!”

Traed got to his feet, furious. “How dare you impugn the name of Krue? A man of honor!” Traed whipped out his light saber in the blink of an eye, bringing it to bear on Rejar.

Yaniff looked from one to the other of them, well pleased that Traed rose to defend the name of Rejar’s father. “Put away your light saber, Traed, and sit. What Rejar has said is the truth.”

Retracting his blade, Traed staggered back to his chair, clearly startled by yet another unexpected revelation.
A brother of the line.
What Charl trickery was this?

It was impossible. He said as much.

“Since you are here, and you are indeed a Lodarres, Traed, it is not impossible, is it?”

“Explain yourself!”

Yaniff took a deep breath. “Your mother was the sister of Krue.”

“No.” Rejar was emphatic. “My father had no siblings.”

“Yes, Rejar, he did. He had one younger sister, whom he loved dearly.”

The potential of Yaniff’s words was affecting both men. If it were true, Traed would be a son of the line to Krue. Since Traed was the only offspring of Krue’s only sibling, the power of descent in him would be strong. By Aviaran law, and Charl mystic belief, Traed could be called son of Krue.

Rejar was shaken. “Why has this sister never been mentioned to us? Lorgin and I both were raised with the impression that my father had no other members in his line.”

“The Tan-Shi were outraged when Marilan was taken. Since Theardar was a Charl, they partitioned the Guild for equanimity. Marilan had already taken the Oath, so the Tan-Shi asked the Guild that all references to her familial ties be forever severed, her name never mentioned outside the context of the Tan-Shi. The Guild rendered judgment in their favor. From that day forward, Krue could not acknowledge her existence as his sister.” Yaniff stared intently at Traed. “Nor claim you to his line, Traed. No matter how much he desired it.”

“Why punish my father for Theardar’s act?” Rejar revolted against this seemingly unfair ruling by the Guild.

“He was a Charl. It was not personal. The Tan-Shi was demanding all Charl to share in the responsibility of one of their kind. They felt, and probably rightly so, that the Charl should have foreseen the problem and been more attentive to their own.”

“Foreseen the problem?”
Traed hissed. “An interesting choice of words, Yaniff. Did either the Tan-Shi or the Guild ever consider my existence or what such a decree would mean to me?
I never even knew who my mother was.
”

“As I said, Traed, the Guild regrets its decision in regards to you. They seek to mend the breach.”

“How unfortunate for them!” he snapped.

The room went silent for several moments as Yaniff gave both men time for heated emotions to cool.

“I ask that neither of you, as yet, discuss what has been revealed here with Lorgin. As you know, as the eldest, he would be honor bound. It is imperative he not be sidetracked at this time; Lorgin must remain focused on his objective.”

Both men knew what Yaniff was saying. The old mystic believed it was more than a possibility that Lorgin might well be moved to stand for Traed. Lorgin would confront Theardar not as an agent of the Alliance, but with revenge in his heart. As first in the line of Krue, he would seek to make Theardar answer to him for Theardar’s conduct to the line of Lodarres. Such a confrontation could only bring grief at its conclusion.

Rejar gazed down at the table; Traed glanced away. Both men nodded curtly.

Traed rose, standing with his back to them, staring vacantly out the window. When he spoke, his low voice did not hide the conflict within him. “I will accompany you to the Rim. I
will not
stand against my father.”

Yaniff inclined his head, relieved. “Very well, Traed.”
It was enough,
he thought…

For a moment Yaniff’s conscience panged him for his manipulation of the younger man. Resigned to it, the mystic nonetheless grieved in his heart. In truth, Traed would suffer greatly for what lay ahead. There was no help for it.

It was done.

He addressed both of them. “Go. Walk with each other as brothers. If you seek it, you will find that the two of you have much in common.”

The men rose, awkward with each other in light of their new relationship. Traed hesitated at the door, an ironic expression crossing his intense features; he turned back to Yaniff.

“Lorgin said much the same to me on Zarrain. At the time, I thought his reasoning faulty.”

Yaniff stroked Bojo’s feathers contemplatively. “You will find, as I have, Traed, that the reasoning of Lorgin ta’al Krue is rarely faulty.”

Deana made her way through the woods, hoping she was following the right path to Yaniff’s house. Her pastel caftan shimmered in the daylight, sunlight picking up the gold threads in the dress and in her hair. She prayed Yaniff was feeling sociable today and she wouldn’t find herself back on the main road.

The perfect opportunity had presented itself this morning; it would be a shame to waste it. Lorgin had told her he had further business with the Guild that day, suggesting she might like to visit with Suleila. Since she had suffered no lasting effects from her bout of overindulgence with the spun honey, she had seized upon the opening, telling Lorgin that, in all likelihood, she would.