Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders) (12 page)

Galloran raised his voice again. “Nedwin left weeks ago to prepare the way for us at Trensicourt. Nia did likewise for Jason and his party. The day wanes. The hour for farewells is almost past. Let us make ready to depart. Know that with every remaining moment of my life, with every opportunity I can seize and every resource I can borrow, I will devote myself to bringing down the emperor!”

This earned a final rousing cheer from the assemblage. Rachel found herself clapping and yelling along with the others. At the same time, she felt a little distant. Soon this moment would be a memory, as would the protective walls of Mianamon. Before long she would be separated from her two best friends in Lyrian, perhaps never to see them again. No more cheering. No more rest. No more jokes. Just a parade of unpredictable difficulties and dangers.

Corinne took her hand. Rachel looked up at her.
Are you in my mind?

We’ll see each other again.

Do you really think so?

At times like this, it’s the only thing we can let ourselves believe.

A cynical part of Rachel wondered how much Corinne could possibly understand about times like this.

When I stood outside that tree in the swamp
, Corinne conveyed gently,
all I clung to for years was a hope that my father would return for me. Long after I might have stopped believing, he finally came. And here I am.

Rachel hugged her.
Be safe. Watch out for Jason.

I’ll protect him with my life.

Rachel looked up, startled by how earnestly Corinne had conveyed the sentiment.

I’ll do my best to stay alive too
, Corinne assured her.

“Bye, Corinne.”

“Safe travels.”

Everyone was checking gear and shouldering packs. They were really leaving! Rachel hurried over to Jasher and hugged him. “Be safe.”

“You too.”

She turned to the half giant, Aram, who would remain small and unremarkable until sundown swelled him into a tall, heavily muscled warrior. “Take care of yourself.”

“Don’t fret about me,” Aram said. “I’ll do my best to watch out for the others.”

Drake was walking away, following a treeperson draped in heavy vines. Rachel jogged to him and placed a hand on his elbow. The seedman stopped, turning somewhat, not fully facing her. The profile view of his face emphasized his flat features. “I suppose there was no escaping you.”

“What? You wanted to just wander off without a word?”

“It can be easier that way.”

“Don’t be silly. You come back. You survive. I want to see you after this. I want you to show me your private valley in the mountains.”

“It wouldn’t be private anymore.” A small grin bent his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck, the place where his amar had failed to grow correctly after his last rebirth. “But I suppose I could live with that. Stay close to Galloran. He’ll keep you from harm.”

Rachel threw her arms around him. They had not been parted since Drake had guided her away from the torivor for weeks in the wilderness. “Take care.”

“I’ll try. Have a safe journey, Rachel.”

“I’ll miss you.”

He gave a stiff nod and strode away. She thought he might be near the brink of showing emotion. Her heart squeezed painfully
at the thought of parting from him and so many of her other friends. She tried to draw strength from his example.

Rachel caught up to Jason, who already had a pack on his back and a bucket of orantium in one hand. He set down the bucket and hugged her. He felt solid. Consecutive months of good eating and intense physical training had paid off.

“Are you trying to speak with your mind?” he said after a moment. “I can’t do that.”

She pulled away from the embrace and looked into his eyes. “Don’t give up.”

“There goes my plan.”

“I’m serious. Even if things look bad, find a way. You’re good at that. The oracle saw a way that we could win. Find it.”

“You too,” Jason urged. “Within reason. Don’t try some huge Edomic command and blow yourself to pieces.”

“There goes my plan.”

“You stole my line.” Jason glanced at the others departing.

“I know we have to hurry,” Rachel said. “But this is it. We’re taking different paths.” She took a breath and put conviction into her words. “We’ll see each other again.”

Tark came up to them. “This is wrong, Lord Jason, letting them part us.”

Jason turned to the stocky musician. “Sorry, Tark. The oracle is calling the shots on this one.”

“I remain your pledged man,” Tark avowed, touching a fist to his chest. “What are your orders?”

“Do your best to help Galloran win his war.”

“I swear it.”

“And keep an eye on Rachel. See if you can get her to stop telling me she’s going to see me again. I think she’s jinxing us.”

Rachel punched Jason’s arm.

Tark eyed Rachel uncertainly. She saw a hint of disapproval in his gaze, along with a little wariness.

Jason smiled. “That’s assault. Tark, take her out.”

The musician grinned, but not with his eyes. “You better handle this one.”

Chuckling, Jason picked up the bucket of explosives.

Rachel felt the moment slipping away. There was so much she wanted to say. What if something happened to him? What if she never told him how much she appreciated his coming back to Lyrian for her? How much she cared about him? There were too many feelings to translate into words. “See you later,” she managed.

“Not if I see you first,” Jason said, starting toward the main doors of the temple.

She watched him walking away. Were those the last words he would say to her? She stalked after him. “You can’t leave with a joke.”

He glanced back. “Why not?”

“What if I die?”

“Then at least I cheered you up before the end.”

“That wasn’t a cheerful joke. It was a teasing joke. And not even a very good one.”

“Fine. Why did the baby cross the road?”

“No jokes,” Rachel complained, striding along beside him.

“I guess it’s more fitting that we should end with an argument.”

“I just mean there are certain times when jokes aren’t appropriate.”

“Which makes them more needed and funny.”

She grabbed his arm and tugged him to a halt. “You have your way of coping, and I have mine. You’re amazing. You’re inspiring. You’re so brave. I’ll miss you and I appreciate you. Everything about you.”

“Even my humor?”

“Almost everything. Don’t die.”

“It might help if you stop giving my eulogy. You don’t die either. I’ll miss you too. I have one last question.”

“What?”

“Are you going to bring your pack?”

Rachel started. She had left it back where she had been talking with Corinne.

“Never mind,” Jason said, looking over his shoulder. “Your acolyte worshippers are grabbing it for you. Do you have a pen? You should really sign some autographs for them.”

Rachel banged her forehead with the heel of her hand. “You know what I still have? My camera! I’ve been meaning all winter to get a group shot.”

She rushed over to the acolytes, retrieved the camera from her pack, and hurried back to Jason, who stood waiting.

“You really are an optimist,” Jason said. “You realize you’ll have to get back home before you can develop any photos?”

“At least I can do it myself,” Rachel said. “I’ve done it lots. If this camera were digital, I’d probably be out of batteries by now.”

Jason helped her round everyone up for a group shot on the temple steps. Rachel showed Ulani how to work the camera. Jason explained that the device would capture and preserve the image, along with their souls. Rachel explained that he was joking. Once Ulani had taken a couple of shots, Rachel let Tark have a turn as photographer with Ulani in the picture. Then Rachel snapped an extra one herself for good measure.

After stowing her camera, Rachel gave Jason a final hug good-bye. And then they left by separate trails into the muggy jungle.

CHAPTER
3

R
achel stood before a full-length mirror in her room. Turning left and right, she supposed her acolyte robe did look kind of like a Halloween costume, but not a cheap one. Made of fine material, the robe felt silky and comfortable, and it gave off a faint shimmer, as if silver threads had been woven into the dark-gray fabric. Light and billowy, the robe stayed surprisingly cool considering how much of her body it covered.

She shed the fine robe, folded it neatly, and began dressing for her upcoming journey. Though less silky, her Amar Kabal robes were also comfortable. The acolyte robe was great for roaming enclosed hallways, but would prove restrictive for running or riding. The more rugged Amar Kabal robes made much more sense for travel.

A soft knock made Rachel turn. “Come in.”

The door to her bedchamber opened, and Ulani entered, wearing a gray acolyte robe accented by a silver mantle, which designated her as the future oracle. Few people made Rachel feel tall, but Ulani was one of them. Short and slight, the woman looked to be about forty, although Rachel knew that her real age was closer to a hundred. A circlet of violet blossoms ringed her head.

Ulani spoke a brief Edomic phrase. Rachel’s initial reaction was to flinch, but the words were an appeal for Rachel to stay, and carried many subtle nuances. Rachel belonged with them, had a promising future with them. Her departure would wound many hearts and lead her into perilous circumstances. Sometimes Rachel wished that Edomic weren’t quite so expressive.

“I don’t want to leave,” Rachel apologized in plain English. “I’ve enjoyed studying and training here. You of all people should understand why I have to go.”

Ulani nodded. “Your departure was ordained by the oracle. She also privately wished for you to return.”

Rachel paused. “I might.”

Ulani narrowed her gaze. “I do not foresee it.”

“Have you . . . looked?”

“Not prophetically. I would never be able to see beyond the upcoming conflict with Maldor. I simply realize that you yearn for your home more than you aspire to serve with us here.”

“I don’t really belong to this world,” Rachel apologized. “I know my parents are worried about me. They may have given up hope by now.”

“For decades I have toiled to develop my talents,” Ulani said. “I was disciplined. The oracle tutored me. And in a few short months you have surpassed all that I accomplished. You have the innate gift. You could become a true prophetess, perhaps greater than Esmira.”

“That’s too much praise,” Rachel replied. “I was never tested to discover if I could see beyond the present.”

“Only because Galloran forbade it,” Ulani said. “Not without reason. The test can be fatal. But you display every indication of one who would more than excel. The oracle herself sensed your potential. You’ve already mastered everything else we could teach you.”

“I’m no master,” Rachel corrected.

“You’re much better at our disciplines than those of us who have studied them our entire lives,” Ulani insisted. “I think you’re already even more adept than the oracle was.”

The praise made Rachel blush. “I’m very grateful for all I’ve learned.”

“It was our privilege to host you.” Ulani lowered her gaze. “I’m very sorry about Kalia. She brought shame upon us all. This should have been a haven for you.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Rachel said. “Maldor finds ways to harm whoever he wants, wherever they are.”

“It was our duty to protect you. Instead, you had to defend yourself against one of our own. It’s inexcusable.”

“I don’t blame you.” Rachel took Ulani’s hand. “Everything else has been wonderful. These have been the best weeks I’ve spent in Lyrian.”

Ulani nodded and offered an apologetic smile. “It will be lonely here without you.”

Rachel knew that Ulani felt trapped. She had nowhere near the raw ability that the previous oracle had possessed. Yet everyone expected her to become the next great prophetess, to guide the children of Certius through the troubled years to come, and to keep the peace among the different factions of treefolk.

“You have a lot to deal with,” Rachel said. “Don’t underestimate yourself. You’ll do great.”