Vibrations: Harmonic Magic Book 1 (9 page)

Dr. Walt made himself comfortable. After a few words to the man and the woman, he settled in as if for a long story. Sam likewise adjusted how he was sitting, ready to hear about his enigmatic colleagues.

Facing Skitter, who was curled up on the ground near Sam’s feet, he sent some thoughts to the hapaki.
Can…understand…others…from my mind?

Looking thoughtful—how could Sam know what “thoughtful” looked like on the furry face?—Skitter was silent for a moment. Then, he sent back to Sam,
Try. Make…other…talk.

Sam turned to Dr. Walt. “Can you talk for a moment before starting the story? I want to try something with Skitter. I think maybe he can use me as a conduit to understand what you say to me. Just say whatever pops into your head.”

“Surely.” The doctor had an excited and hungry look in his eyes. “I would love to be part of that type of research. Please tell me what happens, how you feel, how it works. I’ll take notes.”

Rolling his eyes, Sam sent to Skitter,
He…talk. What…I…do?

Skitter chittered—was that a laugh?—and sent,
Nothing
.

As Dr. Walt spoke for a few minutes, just going on about his childhood, Sam barely paid attention. His mind was wandering as he looked toward the man and the woman. He wondered what their story was. He would find out soon.

You…creatures…jump off…big rocks…into…water?
Skitter asked in his thoughts. Sam’s attention snapped back to what he was supposed to be doing. “What?,” he said out loud.

“What?” the doctor asked. “Did you not hear what I just said? Which part?”

Sam felt his face growing warm. “Oh, no, that’s not it. Sorry. I meant to send that thought to Skitter, not say it out loud.” Looking toward Skitter, he saw his friend silently shaking.

At first, he thought something was wrong. Then, he felt feelings being pushed into his mind, feelings of…humor? Skitter was laughing. Not just laughing, but laughing at him.
Very funny
he sent.
Understand…doctor?

Yes. Interesting
.

Turning once again to the doctor, he said, “Ok, Skitter listens better than I do. He asked if we really jump off rocks into the water. My mind was wandering. Did you say something about that?”

“Yes, yes indeed. When I was a boy, I had great fun jumping from rocks into lakes and rivers. He understood that?”

Sam eyed the hapaki. “Yes, he did. And he apparently has a highly developed sense of humor, especially when it relates to my embarrassment. Ok, now that he’s tuned in, can you tell me about our friends here?”

“It would be my pleasure.” And with that, Dr. Walt started his story.

The man had been born Rindu Wroun in a small village along the coast far to the north. Because of its location, people living in the village worked primarily in farming and fishing. Rindu’s family was a farming family and as such, he started working hard from a very young age.

What set Rindu apart from other boys was his uncanny knack at knowing things he shouldn’t have been able to know. He could somehow tell when it would rain, what plot of ground to use for a particular crop, where to find water in times of drought, and even where to look for fish, though he rarely got to go out on the boats with his friends to fish because of the work he needed to do on the farm.

His family and, in fact, the whole village did not have a problem with his keen insights. It helped to put food in their mouths, so why should they care? They were not superstitious and he was a valued member of the small community, even as young as he was.

One day, a pair of Zouyim were passing through the village, on the way to their temple from somewhere in the north. When they saw Rindu, they immediately sensed that he was naturally talented in vibratory energy. That was how he recognized things intuitively. He was uniquely attuned to the energy fields that surrounded all.

When all was said and done, the monks paid Rindu’s parents a large sum of money in compensation for taking their son to the temple for training. His parents, while heartbroken by the loss of their son and his useful skills, understood that it was a great honor for him to be accepted to the temple. Saying his goodbyes, he accompanied the monks as they returned to the temple.

The grand temple of the Zouyim was at Kokitura, a large mountain in what on Telani is the Mount Shasta region. Rindu, being a serious and diligent child, applied himself and learned quickly. He became an important Zouy in the temple and enjoyed his studies and his work.

When he was 18 years old, a group of Sapsyra warrior women stopped at the temple to resupply and rest on a journey they were taking. The two groups were different in their methods and responsibilities, but both were dedicated to the protection of and service to all people, especially protection from the Arzbedim, the rogue vibratory mages who were evil and bent on world domination. Thus, they shared and helped each other whenever there was an opportunity. Rindu knew this, though he had never actually seen a Sapsyr before then.

There were male and female Zouy
monks, but the Sapsyra were all women. Being exotic and unfamiliar, Rindu was curious about the visitors and snuck looks at them when he could. During the four days the Sapsyra rested at the temple, Rindu met Ylleria Zose. With her light brown hair and her blue eyes, her confident swagger, and her beautiful face, Rindu instantly fell in love with her. She originally feigned disinterest, but in reality, she was immediately attracted to him as well. Over the next two years, the two met often, even going on missions together, when their superiors would allow it.

They married when Rindu was just about to turn 21 years old. On Gythe, women generally took their husband’s name, as on Telani, but it was different with the Sapsyra. The husband always took his Sapsyr wife’s last name because of the warrior wife’s elevated position in society. Thus it was that he was no longer Rindu Wroun, but Rindu Zose. As was customary, however, his daughter inherited his original last name. So, when their daughter was born, she was named Nalia Wroun.

Because Ylleria was gaining prominence in her order and could not be away for long periods of time, the family lived at the Sapsyr
compound at Marybador. Rindu would stay for a month or two and then travel back to the Zouyim temple at Kokitura. During a time when he was with his family at Marybador, the Gray Man attacked the Zouyim temple.

The Gray Man, who was reported to have come from another world, had risen in power and prominence among the Arzbedim. He seemed on a mission to crush all resistance to his plans for world domination and so his attack on the temple was not unexpected. What was unexpected was the effect.

When Rindu arrived at the temple, with his wife and his daughter, he found it destroyed. Only five monks escaped the destruction, monks who were away from the temple, as he was, when it happened. The remaining monks found each other and they agreed to meet every four months. They split up and went separate ways so that they could not all be attacked together, ending their order for all time. Thus it was that he was one of the few vibratory energy masters left alive in the world.

As the Gray Man gained power, it was clear to Gythe’s remaining protectors that something must be done. Destroying the Zouyim and their temple was the final insult. Within six months, the Sapsyra gathered 100 of their best warriors to finish the Gray Man and his forces once and for all. Because of her prowess, Nalia was included in the 100, with her mother commanding the entire force. Rindu was meeting with the remaining Zouy at the time, so he was not able to go with them. He didn’t find out about the attack until after it happened.

The small army traveled to the Gray Fortress, which was far north of Marybador and the Sapsyr compound. Destroying all the human troops of the Gray Man, as well as some creatures that were not human, the Sapsyra arrived at the walls of the fortress with 97 of the warriors still alive. It looked as if nothing could stop them.

The number of Sapsyra quickly dwindled. Between traps, magical and mundane, and special reserve troops, getting to the interior of the fortress was a hard-won effort. When they finally faced the Gray Man and a small group of powerful assassins and warriors, there were only 32 Sapsyra left. In less than an hour, only Nalia and her mother were still standing, and both were wounded.

The Gray Man, himself taking part in the battle and by far doing more damage than any of his forces, walked calmly to Ylleria Zose, who was injured and bound hand and foot with thick rope. Looking at Nalia first, who was twenty feet away, he focused on Ylleria’s eyes. With a smirk, he waved his hand. Ylleria literally disappeared.

Nalia gasped. With her ability to use vibrational energy, she saw the force traveling from the Gray Man’s hand into her mother. Then, Nalia watched in horror as her mother simply shook apart. The particles of her body vibrated rapidly and then exploded outward at an impossible rate. And just like that, her mother was dead and gone. Literally gone, with a flash of light and a soft thumping sound. There was not so much as a trace of the material that had made up her body.

She readied her one remaining weapon and prepared to die, but the Gray Man waved his hand again and she felt as if she was locked in chains. She struggled, but could not move.

After explaining to her that he wanted her to take his message to the order’s compound, he let her go. Limping out of the fortress, Nalia swore she would get her revenge against the Gray Man.

The message to the Sapsyra was this: “Disperse the order, cause me no further problems, and I will allow you to live. Rise up again and I will destroy every last one of you. You have been warned.”

From that time, seven years ago, until now, Rindu and Nalia worked not only to evade the Gray Man’s minions who were multiplying across the land, but to start a resistance movement. Though fairly successful at the former, they were spectacularly unsuccessful at the latter. People were scared and would not rise up. The few Sapsyra and fewer Zouyim that remained had gone to ground, committing themselves likewise to gathering a resistance.

When they met Dr. Walt several years ago, they realized that he may be helpful in finding a way to destroy the Gray Man through technology or ancient magic. He agreed to help and redoubled his efforts at researching old civilizations for anything that could be useful.

“And that, in a nutshell, is where we are at right now,” the doctor finished. “I think we can help each other, Sam. When we get back to my compound, I will do some research in the materials I have collected and stored there. Perhaps there is something that has slipped my mind, something that will be useful.”

“Thank you,” Sam responded. He looked to the ground, picked up a leaf, peeled it, absently dropped the shredded leaf pieces as he tore them. He slowly lifted his gaze and met the doctor’s eyes. “Ummm, Dr. Walt?” he started.

“Yes, my boy. You have a question?”

“Yeah. Do all the Sapsyra wear masks like the one Nalia has? It looks horribly uncomfortable. Is it magical or is there some religious or spiritual reason for it?”

The doctor laughed. “Again, I am guilty of my familiarity with the situation. I can see how that would be confusing. No, other Sapsyra do not wear masks. The simple reason is that, according to Rindu, and to Nalia herself, she is hideously ugly. Because the Sapsyra code of ethics, much like chivalry or bushido on our world, is based on honor and service, they tell me it is shameful to subject others to her ugliness. To force others to avert their eyes is too much for her honor to bear. I have argued that it is a silly position to take, but they cannot be dissuaded. I myself have never seen her face in all the years we have been together. I don’t think she ever takes the mask off. Ever.”

Sam grimaced. “That sounds degrading to me. I have known some pretty ugly people, but as I got to know them, they became more normal looking, or even attractive, to me as their personality shined through. It is unfortunate that this world is so harsh in so many ways.”

“Oh, you haven’t experienced the half of it,” the doctor responded, sadness evident in his voice.

9

Sam slept that night in a few blankets his hosts had let him use. The temperature was moderate and the ground under the tarp dry, so he slept soundly. Skitter remained with him, sending something about staying to see what would happen. Sam was glad for the hapaki’s presence.

He was awakened by the smell of food. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he saw Rindu standing over a crackling fire, spoon in hand. A large metal pot, the source of the aroma, hung on a crude tripod over the fire. Sam breathed the scent in deeply, deciding he was hungry. His rumbling belly agreed. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he was not just hungry; he was famished.

He tried to converse with the stoic man.

“Good morning. I am Sam.” He pointed toward his own chest. “Sam.”

The man looked at him, his face expressionless.

He tried again. “You are Rindu?” He pointed to the man. “Rindu?”

“Rindu,” the man confirmed.

Pointing to the hapaki, Sam said: “This is Skitter. Skitter.”

“Skeetah,” the man said. For a moment, the man’s mouth twisted as if tasting something foul. “Skeetah, Samg,” he forced the unfamiliar words out, pointing toward each in turn.