The Ways of Mages: Starfire (37 page)

When she opened her eyes, Russy met them
.
“
You could tell
me
what is bothering you
.
”
He suggested in pup-like innocence.

She went to him and knelt to cradle his head. She whispered in his ears
.“
My dreams
.”
She pulled back to meet his eyes.

“
I think there is some truth to them. Remember the child who told me to wake you
?”
He must have sensed her uneasiness because he continued.
 
“
But it does
n’
t really matter. Not now, anyway. And now is all that matters
.”
He licked her face and pulled away. She stood and ran with him back to the rest of the group.

***

The brush of power faded from Grim's neck as he stepped through the portal that Jewel had created. He found himself in a shallow cave. Keeping his hand on his sword, the knight led his horse out into the late afternoon light. A mountainous vista greeted his eyes. The sight of the verdant grasslands and forests in the distance kept his attention for a time. Thomas Holden gazed at the lands before him and nodded to himself. Marlhema was a truly beautiful land. Though, in his mind, nothing could compare to home in its ability to warm his heart. His horse nudged his shoulder, demanding attention. Absently, Grim gave it.

Looking at the landscape, Grim was glad that magical transportation existed. No matter how beautiful, it would have taken weeks to travel what he was looking at now. In the distance he could see the faint purple smudge that were the Central Mountains, or the Teheadrillion as Jewel had originally called them. The Lake of Ghosts had been on the other side of those mountains.

After the Nirami's Child had told Jewel that she needed to be at Razyan's Keep in a week
s
’ time, Jewel had driven them hard. She had said that the journey would take about three weeks, and that was being optimistic. The entire group had felt the urgency to act quickly, since the Child of Darkness was to be born in two months time. The race to find the Child of Light and the Three of Three had given the group the energy to move quickly. Jewel had told them that she had a transporter symbol that could get them to Razyan's Keep much sooner than horse back would, but they had to find it first as it was stationary. So they rode quickly there. Throughout the ride, Thomas had watched his niece. She hadn't been sleeping well, but she refused to tell him why.

Pressure built again and Thomas turned to see his soon to be wife step through, also leading her horse. Soon after her came the two sailors. Last of all came Jewel. The portal closed behind her.

"Where do we go from here?" Jay Dee asked.

Jewel nodded toward the entrance where Grim was standing. "There should be a road down there." Grim looked. Further down the slope of the mountain he could see the winding way she mentioned.

Grim nodded. "It's there."

"When you reach it, turn left. We have perhaps an hour ride before we reach Razyan's Keep." The horses did not enjoy the downward slope, but they survived. Once on the road, the companions mounted their horses. Jingles was the exception as he had no horse. A fact that seemed to make him happy. Grim took point on the one wagon wide road. On the other side of the road, the mountain slope continued before dropping into a steep cliff. Far below, he could see the twinkle of a river.

The companions followed behind Grim in staggered pairs. Jingles walked next to Grim's horse on the side of the road nearest the rising slope. In the rear was Jewel. Sleepless circles framed her eyes. She gazed after the others before looking out toward the vistas. She knew that Grim was worried for her. She shrugged him off because the problem were only reoccurring nightmares every night. She saw no point in worrying Thomas over simple nightmares. Besides, it was those same nightmares that fed her images of her beloved. A tear touched her cheek before she whipped it off. She turned her mare to follow after the others. She wondered if it was possible for the Child of Light to be, in fact,her daughter? The prophecy had been the reason why she and Gawin had married so quickly. They would have married anyway because of their love, but the fate of the world had made it possible to stand before the alter sooner than they had hoped.

Could it be that Gawin and the baby were now just coming through the portal? She had searched for them for centuries without luck. She had thought that was because they were in Pershara, but could it be? Could it be that the portal had transported them to
this
time and this
place?

Hope was a beautiful rose that had often made her bleed in the past. It was the fear that she was wrong yet again that kept her in the rear. She didn't want the rose's thorn to prick her again, but she wanted to hold the rose for as long as she could...

From a distance Razya
n’
s Keep was magnificent. Up close it was beyond words. Terana could not help but tremble. It was intimidating. She had been born and raised in Plarn; a town that by the look of it, could fit comfortably in Razya
n’
s Keep with room for another. There were guards upon the wall above the gate. One smiled and waved to Kadrean. Kadrean returned the smile. The companions traveled through the gate.

Tiv
i’
s hooves made clopping sounds atop the stone of the outer courtyard. The stone of the courtyard walls were a light gray with a golden kiss. Cobble stones of rich warm browns, earthy reds, blue touched gray, and moss green were laid out in a circular pattern. Glassy white marble outlined the designs and gave attention to the grand doorways. There were many cracks in the glassy finish. It also was the substance of the five stairs leading up into the palace. There were windows with wide sills that looked out upon the court yard. People in red robes with various colored belts sat on some of them. Others stood talking to them. There was a pressure on the back of her neck.

It suddenly occurred to Terana. There were so many students and she would have to spend more than a night with them. She would be living with them and she knew none of them. She gazed at them in wide eyed wonder and trepidation. Many of them, on the other hand,  were too busy to spare her much more than a passing glance. Others stared at her and whispered among themselves. She suddenly longed for the sighing forests. They were the only places where no one stared. She swallowed and tried to not stare at them. How would someone act in this situation? The continuous pressure was not helping.

And people were staring. But not at her, she soon realized. They were staring at Russy. Russy was looking about like Liam and her. It took Terana a second longer then Kadrean to realize what the problem was
.“
Terana
,”
She looked up at him
.“
We forgot to put a collar on him
.”
Terana winced. Russ
y’
s head turned toward them quickly. His amber eyes caught hers.

“
Collar? Please tell me that I miss heard
.
”
Terana did
n’
t have an answer for him.

Liam, picking up the thread of conversation, murmure
d“I’
m so used to him being quiet and tame that I forgot till now that he is a wolf
.
”

“
I did
n’
t
.”
Zeeve remarked from between Tiv
i’
s ears. There was something smug in his tone. Russ
y’
s gaze narrowed at him. Zeeve warded the look off with both his hands
.“
You are not helping your case, Fluffy. You are making yourself look dangerous right now
.
”

Russy snorted and looked away. He leaned his shoulder against Teran
a’
s leg. Instinctively she buried her fingers into his ruff. She glanced at the staring spectators. Their fearful gazes transferred to her. A few seemed to be wondering if she was in danger. A few others seemed to be wondering if they should be avoiding her like the plague. Kadrean raised an eyebrow at them. Softly to Terana he sai
d“
They are just students, Terana. They probably do
n’
t know that some mages can have an affinity with animals yet
.
”

Terana gave him a startled look
.“
I did
n’
t know that
.”
At his raised eyebrow she flushed
.“
Okay, there is me, but I did
n’
t know it was common
.
”

“
It is
n’
t that common, but i
t’
smore common than shapeshifting or being a drainer
.
”

“
So is that my gift? Talking with wolves and hearing what they say
?
”

Kadrean blinked
.“
Hold that thought
.”
He murmured. Turning to the spectators, he sai
d“
Stop staring, did your parents not teach you manners? Besides, you see strange things every day, go put your eyes somewhere else. I'm sure your studies would like to be admired." A few students groaned at that. Kadrean raised an eyebrow at them. "Or I could find you something else to do." Several of the students got up and headed to the doors hurriedly. Several stayed behind. "You don't have classes right now?" Kadrean asked. They shook their heads in response. "Alrighty then, would one or two of you be kind enough and take my horse to the stables? The bags you can send to my rooms
.”
Two students nodded and,  taking a wide route to avoid Russy, took Tiv
i’
s reins.

“
Since it is too late to test the Keep Stone,
I’
ll make sure they take care of him right
.”
Zeeve remarked.

“
Ah, and miss dinner too
?
”

“
Dinner
?”
Zeeve quickly perked up
.“
You are on your own, horse
.”
And with that he slid down Tiv
i’
s neck and leapt onto Kadrea
n’
s shoulder.

“
I thought that would be your reply
.”
Kadrean chuckled. He gestured for Liam, Terana, and Russy to follow him through a door to the inside of the Keep. He turned back to the lingering students and said
.“
Quit staring
.”
At his authoritative voice the people in the court yard looked away. Though that did
n’
t stop them from sneaking looks. Terana wondered, with a little bit of dread, what studying with them would be lik
e
…
 
Kadrean brought her out of her musings of Plarn like class rooms
.“
So you can understand Russy?  Not images, but actual words
?
”

“
Ye
s”
Her voice was hesitant. She watched him for a moment. He seemed intrigued
.“
Is that not what you meant b
y‘
an affinity wit
h’?
”

“
Sort of.  Those that I heard who have a similar gift could only pick up vague images or feelings. Not actual words
.”
He glanced at her
.“
I really ca
n’
t wait to know what your gift is
.”
He sighed in frustration
.“
But I will have to. Come, dinner is waiting for us
.”
The group followed after him as he led them through a hall. As the walked, Terana started to massage her neck, trying to relieve the pressure. Kadrean noticed.

"Slightly unpleasant, isn't it? Especially here where it is so concentrated." Kadrean said. At her look he mimicked her massaging gesture.

" What is it? "She asked.

"Magic. It causes that telltale sign every time it is used."

The  stone was the same in the hall as the court they just left. There were many great arches that they passed by. One of which drew Teran
a’
s gaze. For a brief second she saw a dark stone imbedded in a pedestal.

Next to the room with the dark stone were grand stairs that climbed up into the higher reaches of the Keep. Across from them was another arch way. It was this that Kadrean led them through. There was a long hall way with doors on either side. At Lia
m’
s glance Kadrean replied that they were class rooms. And a closet. Kadrean opened the closet and pulled out a length of rope which he handed to Terana.

“
I know he does
n’
t like it
.“
Kadrean said apologeticall
y“
But to keep too many people from panicking just tie it loosely and have him stay by your side
.”
Terana nodded and knelt before Russy. Russ
y’
s eyes were irritated.

“
Do I have to wear that
?
”
He whined.

“
Sorr
y”
She whispered to him. She looped the rope about his neck in a very loose collar
.“
Just stay next to me, okay
?
”

The wolf snorted
.
“
Like I would wonder away in this rock nes
t
…
”
He took his place at her leg as they continued on their way.

At the end of the hall was an archway that actually had doors. They opened into a room that was equal to the first sight of the Keep that Terana had seen.  The room was like a cathedral. Strong beams looked delicate in their patterns. Filigree vines threaded their way around marble columns. One wall was almost entirely windows. Metal filigree outlined the different panes. It gave the window watcher the impression of looking out through silver trees. There were many round tables around the hall. At the far end was the head table. The head table was settled upon a marble dais with silver threads running through it. There were many adults there; some men, some women. Terana wondered which one was Razyan.

“
Come, friends, le
t’
s eat
.”
Kadrean led them to a table that had room for diners. Russy slumped down next to Teran
a’
s chair. He rested his nose on his forepaws with a soft groan of misery. Liam sat on the other side of Russy and bent to stroke the wol
f’
s head. Russy glanced at him with his amber eyes. Terana could faintly hear the thought behind them. Liam did
n’
t, but he must have known that there was an idea that the wolf wished to communicate. He gave the wolf a sorry look and glanced up to Terana.

“
What does he say
?”
His voice was soft and only she and Russy could hear him.

Terana met Russ
y’
s eyes then said to Lia
m“
He does
n’
t like the collar. And he is hungry
.”
She turned to Kadrean
.“
Kadrean, can we get Russy some meat
?
”

Kadrean glanced at the wolf and gestured to a youth in a gray robe. The youth smiled and greeted Kadrean with respect and nodded when asked to get some meat. He seemed surprised though when Kadrean asked for it to be raw. Kadrean chuckled at the la
d’
s expression
.“
It is
n’
t for me. I
t’
s for my frien
d’
s companion
.”
He indicated Terana who nodded. The lad nodded slowly and hurried off to fetch the meat.

“
Great, so fluffy mutt gets to have special orders
.”
Zeeve muttered
.“
What about us. More importantly, what about
me
?
”

“
You had your feast of honor, Zeeve
.”
Kadrean replied dryly
.“
Now you get to eat with  the rest of us. Besides, I do
n’
t think Russy would like dinner tonight
.”
Zeeve gave him a puzzled look then grinned.

Terana raised an eyebrow at their conversation, but most of her attention was on the area just before the doors. On the way in Terana had noticed a basket with cords of different colors. Now there was a woman dressed in blue robes with a green cord about her waist. She was small in stature with long flowing blond hair.  Coming in the doors were a bunch of youths of various ages. The youngest looked to be eight while the oldest appeared to be about sixteen. They were all dressed in clean red robes. A white cord about their waists. 

Kadrean leaned to whisper in Teran
a’
s ear
.“
This is a sorting ceremony. Those youths there have already been tested by the Keep Stone
.
”

“
What exactly is the Keep Stone
?”
Terana interrupted.

“
I guess you could call it the master of all
kadelle
. The main difference is not only can it tell that one has magic, but also what that mag
e’
s talents will be
.
”