The Ways of Mages: Starfire (14 page)

“
So basically
,”
Tommy muttered in shocked amazement
,“
The white Tree Gir wants us to walk. Why does this feel like a trap
?”
He asked looking at the rest of the party.

Bendon gathered his cloak and began walking out of the cave
.“
We had better get walking. And do
n’
t worry, if it attacks
I’
ll fry it
.
”

Tommy raised his eyebrows at the wizar
d’
s declaration. He knew the old man could be feisty, but he  was surprised by the bluntness of the wizard's statement. But Tommy knew too that Bendon was very worried. To be honest, so was he.  He had become good friends with Perela and Duncan during their adventures to Thioden.

The thief hung back waiting for Kindra. The woman had her head bent in thought
.“
Kindra
?”
Tommy asked. Kindra glanced up at him and smiled. Tommy could not help but smile back. But he saw that her eyes were still dark with whatever she was thinking
.“
What is it, love
?”
he asked.

She smiled ruefully
.“
Nothing gets past you, does it
?
”

Tommy inclined his head in a courtly way
.“
Why no, Madame. As a humble thief, one must learn to be observant or else some pretty jewel might slip by
.
”

Kindra shook her head at him
.“
Scamp
.”
She muttered
.“
As I recall, I
let
you find me
.
”

“
Glad you did
.”
Tommy said putting his arm about her shoulders
.“
Now, tell me, what were you thinking about
?
”

“
Something about that Tree Gi
r…
its eyes reminded me of my grandmothe
r’
s brother, Firen. But Firen died during the Fal
l
…”

“
Could it be someone related to him
?
”

“
Perhaps. He had been married twice before he died. I know he at least had a son, but I have
n’
t heard anything from him for a long time
.
”

“
Could that Tree Gir have been him? And if it was, why did
n’
t he come forward as something les
s…
threatening
?
”

Kindra shook her head
.“
That is what I do
n’
t understand. A dragon would not have threatened. He would have offered to hel
p…
. Bu
t
…”

“
But what
?
”

Kindra sighe
d“
Fieressen had always been different. Noble in his own way, but unpredictable too. My mother used to say that it was the Ucora in him
.
”

“
Ucora
?”
Tommy asked puzzled.

“
Unicorns born from the Heart of Fire. They were a people who came from Arathin. Firen married one named Lady Cyendara. Fieressen had been their son, a child of both with the abilities of both. Mother said he paid a price for his gifts, but I never learned what. Nor did I actually see him often. He was always elsewhere. For all I know, he is either dead and if not dead,  wel
l…
he would be elsewhere. He might have survived the Fall if he was
n’
t hunted down; he is very old, after all. One that old would have a large well of magic
.
”

“
Dare I ask how old
?
”

“
Older than me and I have two-thousand, one hundred eighty-two years
.
”

“
Damn! I mean, I was
n’
t going to ask how old you were
.”
Tommy said quickly.

Kindra reached up and patted his cheek, amused at his flustered state
.“
I know, love. You always did have good manners. As to Fieressen, he would be a little older than three thousand
.
”

Tommy flinche
d“
Dare I ask what dragons conside
r‘
a littl
e’?
”

Kindra grinned
.“
A century
.
”

Tommy whistled softly
.“
So, when you say i
n‘
a little whil
e’
I should expect to die waiting
?
”

Kindra raised an eyebrow at him
.“
Maybe
.
”

Tommy groaned
.“
I do
n’
t like that word
.”
He muttered. Kindra chuckled softly at him. Tommy decided it was time to continue their previous conversation before she said that word again
.“
Okay,  say it was
n’
t this Fieressen, could it have been someone else? Did Firen have any other children with his second wife
?
”

“
His second wife was a powerful mage name
d…
le
t’
s se
e…
Kaylynn. I know they had children. But I think they also died during the Fall
.
”

“
Well, I would guess that at least somebody survived
.
”

“
That seems so, but why just the cryptic warnings instead of actual help
?”
Kindra asked.

***

Golden eyes watched the group heading south. The white Tree Gir kept to the shadows. His sharp ears had caught Kindr
a’
s final question and he rolled his eyes and flopped down in a deep snow drift.
I did help you, you just have
n’
t figured it out yet.
He thought.
And you should know already, cousin, the way of the world does not always travel the way you would wish. 
The Tree Gir got up and trotted away toward the spot where the lightning had struck the tree earlier, its cinders still warm.

“
Thioden is not the only sentient thing to test those who come to i
t
…”
-Kaizir

Arathin- Plarn, Marlhema

Zeeve stared grumpily at the window. Gray dawn was seeping though and still there was no Terana. He had
n’
t seen her since Jeremy had lectured him. Razyan would not be pleased. Hell! He was
n’
t pleased. He had sat on her bed all night. Sometimes he had succumbed to the thousand pound weights on his eyelids only to start awake a minute later thinking he heard Terana come in. The black bag Razyan had given him rested near him like a guard dog.  His eyelids were closing again. A growl rumbled from his tyrant stomach. Sleepy, hungr
y…
what next?

Jeremy.

He should have guessed.

Jeremy knocked on the door even as he opened it. His black hair was disheveled and his hazel eyes were expectant. It looked like he had just jumped out of bed
.“
Terana
?”
He asked, suddenly realizing the girl was not in the room. Jeremy looked disappointed. His eyes settled onto Zeeve
.“
Zeeve, do you know where she is
?
”

“
Not a clue. The only time I ever saw her was last night before she left
.
”

“
Oh well. She probably slept in the woods
.”
Jeremy said shaking his head
.“
I would have after yesterday
.”
Jerem
y’
s voice lowered as he planed ahead
.“I’
ll give her a few more hours before I go looking for her
.
”

“
Good. While you wait,
I’
ll get some sleep
.”
Zeeve stated in a gruff voice. With that he toppled onto his back and, like one of those dolls that opened and closed their eyes, his eyes shut before he even hit the blankets. He was approaching the gates to Dreamland when Jeremy closed the door after he left.

Jeremy returned to his own room and changed into some work clothes. His father expected to see him in the shop. After snatching a berry muffin from behind his mothe
r’
s back, Jeremy hurried outside.  He heard his mothe
r’
s scold just as the door shut. With the shutting of the door he was saf
e…
for now anyway.  His mother would get him later.

The Carpenter shop was on the south side of town. Jeremy nodded respectful greetings to the early risers of Plarn. Upon reaching the shop, his father set him to work carving chair legs on a foot driven lathe.  After that he was to assemble the chairs. His father would then inspect them. If they passed his inspection, Jeremy then had to sand and stain them.

Using the lathe required Jeremy to concentrate on the depth of the blade and the speed which the wood was turned.  Unfortunately, he found that he lacked concentration. Jeremy paused in his work often to peer at the woods. Why did he have a nagging feeling that something was not right? It was not an evil feeling, just a suspicion that life was
n’
t as it should be. He had
n’
t seen Terana yet. That in itself did
n’
t mean much, but should
n’
t she be back now? Around midmorning, his father let him take a break.  As soon as he was released Jeremy was walking out the door. His destination was the thicket room. Terana was likely there, or near there, drawing.

Jerem
y’
s path led him past the Seedman barn.  Kadrean watched him briefly. He was only vaguely curious to see were the lad was going. Soon Jeremy passed out of his sight after putting a building between them. He had been heading in the direction of the woods beyond the fields. Kade turned back to his horse, Tivieis.

“
I wonder where he is off too
.”
Kadrean wondered to Tivieis. Tivi looked at him with a watery eye. In answer to Ka
d’
s question the horse blew through his nose
.“
I do
n’
t know either
.”
Kadrean confided to the horse. Tivieis nickered. Kadrean turned back to the task of running a stiff bristled brush though the gildin
g’
s hair. He hummed as he worked. This time was a quiet time to be with his old friend.

“
Morning Kadrean
.”
A voice greeted from behind him. Kadrean started and turned to see who had snuck up on him. With his cane before him, Liam smiled a satisfied smile
.“
Sorry, did I startle you
?
”

“
Yes
.”
Kadrean replied dryly
.“
Why do you have your cane? Is the leg bothering you
?”
He added with growing concern.

“
No, the leg is fine
.”
Liam said, raising a placating hand.

“
Then wh
y…?
”

“
Because, Kadrean
.”
Liam interrupted with a tired smile
.“
People will see the miracle you have given me as something unnatural and therefore something to panic over. On a personal note, I did not want them to ruin my joy
.”
Lia
m’
s smile brightened
.“
Besides, it is amusing to laugh at their pitying faces and gossiping. I
t’
s a win-win situation; they get to think I am weirder then usual and I get to imagine their faces when I show them that I am healed
.
”

“
If you say so
.”
Kadrean said, turning back to Tivi. 

Liam kept smiling cheerfully
.“
So have you heard from Zeeve
?
”

“
No
.”
Kadrean responded, brushing the gildin
g’
s neck. Suddenly a vice-like grip attached itself to his arm.
 “
What th
e…?”
He saw and felt the fingers spasm painfully into his arm.

“
Ride
!”
Kadrean turned to see Liam no longer looking like the man he knew. Liam was paler and his eyes were glazed over
.“
Ride
!”
He repeated. His voice seemed to come from a distance. It sounded hoarse and painful.

“
Are you alright
?”
Kadrean asked, concerned. Liam might disturb him from time to time, but he found that he rather liked the man.

“
Who gives a damn about me?
!”
Lia
m’
s grip on his arm intensified. His milk covered eyes glared at him
.“
You must leave! You must go. Go back the way you have come. The one you seek lies that way. Go. They are naive of the world and no longer are they protected
.”
Liam seemed consumed with his need to command Kadrean to do whatever this task was
.“
Take the small one and ride
!”
Liam shoved away from Kadrean, stumbling. He backed into the wall; his hands clutched it, like roots of a tree clutching the earth for support. Liam blinked; his eyes were their normal shade. He looked miserable
.“
Do
n’
t stare at me, Kadrean
.”
His voice was weary
.“
Just do what I told you to do
.”
Liam pushed himself from the wall and made his stumbling way to the exit.

“
Are you okay Liam
?”
Kadrean had to be sure.

Liam did
n’
t even look back
.“
Just go, stranger.
I’
ll meet you by the road where it meets the forest
.”
Liam paused for a second
.“
Oh, and when you call Zeeve, make sure he leaves his crystal in Jerem
y’
s room
.”
With that Liam disappeared from sight as he turned outside the barn.

Kadrean stared after him in shock. Liam was a Seer.  He had just seen a Seeing. Such people were rare. At Razya
n’
s Keep there were a few.  They were
n’
t prophets, they could
n’
t see that far ahead, but they could see what would happen in the near future. Kadrean had no doubt that what Liam said was true. So Kadrean quickly saddled Tivi. Then he headed to the house and snatched up his belongings. He put his saddle bags on the saddle. Then he sat down near his horse.

“
Tivi, make sure no one sees me
.”
He instructed. He was
n’
t sure if the horse understood him or not. He liked to believe Tivi did understand. Even if the horse did
n’
t, it made Kadrean feel better. He did
n’
t relish the idea of hearing someone scream upon seeing his cloud of magic. These people did
n’
t know he was a wizard and there was no telling of how they would react. Granted, Liam treated him just fine, but one had to admit, Liam was
n’
t a normal person here. 

Kadrean leaned his head back and sang softly. Purplish light shrouded him. He sent a small trickle of it through the wood of the barn. It traveled along the edge of the path leading from house to barn. Like a mist, it rose from the ground and made itself one with the wood of the house. Kadrea
n’
s senses became one with the wood. He could sense everything where his magic touched, even the spider that journeyed to the corner. He could watch Lila and her mother Lily knitting together by the hearth if he wanted to, but he did
n’
t. His magic rose up, through the wall to the roof. Upon the shingles it separated itself from the house. He bounced it from house to house. It reminded him of a bee going from flower to flower.

Finally it settled on a house that Kadrean could sense the sleeping moleci.  Trickling like water through the tiniest of cracks, his conscious magic slipped into the house. It drifted though the ceiling into the room where Zeeve was. Kadrean had to make contact with Zeeve to talk to him, so he let his magic drop down onto Zeeve.

Zeeve? Zeeve! Wake up!

Zeeve groaned. Like a nagging butterfly, Kadrea
n’
s spell slowly roused Zeeve
.“
What is it Kadrean
?”
Zeeve murmured, rubbing his eyes.

We need to go. Liam is a Seer. He told me to fetch you and go back the way I came into the valley. He told me that he would be waiting for us by the woods. He also said that we would find the one that we seek.

“
Terana
?”
Zeeve perked up.

I would think. Although
I’
m not sure.

“
Why did
n’
t you wake me up sooner
?”
Zeeve demanded.

How? You sleep like a rock.  Zeeve grunted as he stood up on the bed. He grabbed Razya
n’
s bag and started toward the edge of the bed. Oh ,Zeeve?

“
What
?
”

Liam also wanted you to leave your crystal in Jerem
y’
s room.

”
Why
?”
Zeeve sounded disgusted.

I do
n’
t know. Maybe so Jeremy could contact us incase Terana shows up at home. With that thought in mind, Zeeve flung the bag over the edge of the bed. That was probably a mistake. Kadrean stated.

“
I
t’
s a rock, is
n’
t it? I
t’
ll be fine
.”
Kadrean was
n’
t so sure, but he remained silent. Zeeve climbed down the edge of the blanket and jumped the last four inches to the ground. He then hefted the bag into his arms and made his way to the door. Kadrea
n’
s magic slipped into the door handle and turned it. With a click the door opened a fraction. Zeeve pushed it a little wider and peered into the hallway.

No one is there. Kadrean informed him.

“
So I can see
.”
The moleci replied. He then scurried across the way to Jerem
y’
s room. Luckily, Jeremy had not bothered to close his door all the way. Inside Zeeve took out a small peridot  crystal
.“
Could you put this up there
?”
he asked Kadrea
n’
s magic, gesturing to the side table. Kadrea
n’
s magic concentrated around the crystal and lifted it to where the moleci wanted it
.“
Hopefully h
e’
ll see it
.”
Zeeve muttered. After that, Kadrean followed Zeeve out of the house, helping here and there. It was amazing how quickly a person Zeev
e’
s size could travel. As Zeeve dashed from place to place until he reached the barn, Kadrean woke himself up. He was slightly tired, but he was anxious to get going.