Death Weavers (47 page)

“What else can I do?” Cole asked.

“Your unshaping could be useful in combat,” Dandalus said. “Keep in mind that you can't directly shape or unshape a person. It just won't take. Anything with a will is very hard to shape unless the subject agrees. Even vegetation is resistant. Try that tree.”

Cole focused on the trunk of a tree. He could sense it, but when he tried to push his power into it, he felt no connection.

“See?” Dandalus asked.

“Yeah,” Cole said. “What about making stuff?”

“You could undoubtedly develop that skill over time,” Dandalus said. “It wouldn't hurt to practice. Your power appears to be inexhaustible. But don't get frustrated. Certain disciplines take time and practice. For example, try to close the wound you made in the ground.”

Cole centered his attention on the furrow he had left after pulverizing the rock fragments. He focused on the soil along both sides of the little trench, connected to it, drew on his power, and tried to force the earth together. Clumps of soil broke off, making the split bigger and messier.

“Tricky,” Cole said.

Dandalus raised a hand, and the split closed up neatly, covered once again in clover.

“Wait,” Cole said. “What did you do with your hand?”

“Nothing vital,” Dandalus replied. “Sometimes a gesture helps my focus. My concentration and power are key, not the gesture. But mind the lesson. If closing a little ditch is difficult, imagine what it takes to shape a complex object.”

“It dissolves into brown dust,” Cole said.

“It can,” Dandalus agreed. He crouched and scooped up some soil, then pressed it together with both hands. “Or you might produce an item like this.”

He held up a golden strand just like Jace's.

“Whoa,” Cole said. “Does it work?”

“Not yet,” Dandalus said. “Somebody would have to charge it with Sambrian shaping energy.”

Grinning, Cole held out a hand. Dandalus passed the strand to him.

Cole felt instantly connected to the little rope. He pushed, and ghostly flames flickered over the strand. Flicking his wrist, Cole willed the rope to extend and wrap around a tree trunk. It did so perfectly, as if it were an extension of his arm.

“My parting gift,” Dandalus said. “I saw it in your memories and had to try.”

“Will it work when I leave here?” Cole asked.

“Anywhere in the echolands, if you provide the energy,” Dandalus assured him.

Cole willed the rope to release the tree and to retract into a little strand. It complied.

“Thank you,” Cole said. “This could come in handy.”

“Don't go looking for trouble,” Dandalus reminded him. “Astride Thunder you will be hard to find. Best to remain hidden as much as possible.”

“Sneak attack,” Cole said. He glanced over at Thunder. The Mare snorted and stamped one hoof. She seemed to be calling him. He looked back at Dandalus. “Think she'll take me to the Fallen Temple?”

Dandalus shrugged. “The Mare will take you where she takes you.”

Cole sighed. “They have Destiny.”

“And you now have your power.”

Cole nodded. This was better than before. Now he had weapons—a functional Jumping Sword, a golden rope, and his power. He had already planned to challenge Nazeem to rescue Mira, basically weaponless. He now had an extra princess to save, but maybe he had more of a chance for success.

“Bye, Dandalus,” Cole said.

“Be careful if you make your way to the Fallen Temple,” Dandalus suggested. “If you unshape too recklessly there, you could potentially weaken the barriers that hold Nazeem captive.”

“Good to know,” Cole said. How dumb would he feel if he accidentally freed Nazeem?

“Don't forget the Weaver's Beacon,” Dandalus said.

Cole decided not to admit that the relic had slipped his mind. “Sando didn't take it?”

“He tried,” Dandalus said. “It would take stronger shapecraft than he or any of his lackeys possess to take the beacon without permission. One of his underlings got burned.”

“I'll get it,” Cole said.

“No need to use it while astride Thunder,” Dandalus explained. “Nothing could conceal you better than the Mare.”

“Thanks again,” Cole said.

“Farewell, Cole,” Dandalus said.

Cole ran around Thunder and followed the channel. He knew that trying to ride the horse now could lead to him galloping away without the beacon.

It was a fairly long run before finding the shuttered lantern right where he had dropped it. Thunder trotted along behind. Cole retrieved the beacon and turned to face the horse.

Thunder crouched down, and Cole climbed on. As the horse stood, Cole could feel his power flowing into the animal. Thunder brightened, light seeping through the writhing clouds of her coat.

Cole patted the horse's neck. “Are we going to save Destiny?”

Thunder took off like lightning.

33

C
ole squeezed with his knees and clung to the silky mane as Thunder accelerated to a ludicrous speed. His previous ride seemed like a casual trot by comparison.

Thunder continued to draw power from Cole, his contribution enhancing their breathtaking velocity. Cole supposed it made sense that if the Mare was an embodiment of shaping power, then his power could boost her capacity.

The Pass of Visions quickly drew near. Just before they rushed into the pass, the terrain and sky transformed.

The sun glared down from overhead. The cliffs ahead were replaced by brown, crumbling ridges where half-dead shrubs and trees clung to life. Cole had not seen a struggling plant since coming to the echolands. Nor had he seen the actual sun! Off to one side, a meager stream trickled down a series of ledges.

The colors were less vivid. The music was gone.

Cole and Thunder had crossed to the mortal world.

But they continued at a furious pace.

The transition had been seamless. Cole had not suspected that Thunder could cross to physical Necronum so effortlessly, or that Mare could bring his echo along. Destiny had some serious power.

Beyond the broken ridges, Thunder and Cole returned to the echolands without slowing. The sky reverted to the even glow of a duskday, the music returned, and they raced across the plain of smooth, clear crystal.

Cole felt thankful for their speed. He wondered how fast they were going compared to Sando's gliders. Was there hope of beating Sando to the Fallen Temple? Maybe intercepting Destiny before they delivered her?

Thunder continued to draw on Cole's power and sporadically switched between the mortal world and the echolands. Cole thought it seemed the horse was going back and forth based on what terrain was more favorable. When riding in the mortal world, Cole found he missed the music of the echolands, but the direct sunlight was welcome. As an echo in the mortal world, Cole felt no more tired or hungry than he did in the echolands.

Thunder never reduced her breakneck pace. Landscapes came and went. Eventually, when in the mortal world, they galloped under stars and moonlight. When they returned to the echolands, the terrain became richer in vegetation until Cole once again rode across short grass between lush groves and gardens. After returning to the parklike topography of the central echolands, Thunder stopped crossing to mortal Necronum.

Trees and blossoms sped by in a colorful blur. Cole's power showed no sign of depletion in spite of the constant usage.

Up ahead Cole heard momentous, fervent harmonies. So far Thunder had generally avoided noteworthy music, but they headed directly toward this new sound.

A large building came into view, expansive and low except for six tall, slender towers. Enclosed by a crenellated wall, the structure occupied the highest ground in the vicinity.

Cole wondered if this could be the Fallen Temple. The momentous music didn't seem threatening enough to match Nazeem's prison. But where else could they be?

Thunder slowed slightly as they approached an open gate in the wall. Startled echoes hurried out of the way as the horse zoomed inside. Cole received astonished stares as he streaked through courtyards and up stairways. Thunder galloped along covered walkways until skidding to a stop beside a large rectangular pool beneath the sapphire sky.

Cole stared in surprise. He had never seen standing water in the echolands.

Suddenly, the sky darkened and came to life with stars that reflected in the black water of the pool. The same masonry surrounded them, but he and the horse were now in mortal Necronum.

Thunder crouched down, and Cole slid off. He heard soft footsteps and waited as a figure moved along one of the covered walkways, coming toward the pool, carrying a small oil lamp and wearing a silver robe, the hood obscuring the face in shadow.

“Where are we?” Cole whispered to Thunder.

The figure stopped walking. “What?” a young, female voice said.

Thunder gave a soft whicker.

The figure threw back her hood and hurried toward the Mare. Cole gaped in astonishment, unable to breathe. It was Jenna.

She looked beautiful in the lamplight—the familiar face that he had longed to see for hopeless months. The face that had lived in his imagination long before they were brought to the Outskirts, long before he had promised to find her. His first crush. For a long time seeing her again had seemed an impossible dream. Cole had almost died more than once since their last encounter. And here she was, alive and well.

“How did you get in here?” Jenna asked the horse, not even glancing toward Cole.

“Jenna?” Cole asked, hardly able to speak. He could still barely believe this was happening. It had never crossed his mind that Thunder might bring him to her. But there she was—dark hair falling in wavy curls, soulful brown eyes reflecting the glow of her lamp.

Jenna continued to ignore him.

She began petting the horse. Thunder once again had fiery highlights in her swirling coat. It had to be the darkness. Or maybe being in the normal world?

“Animals are not allowed inside the temple,” Jenna chided quietly.

“Jenna!” Cole repeated more loudly.

She turned away from Thunder toward Cole, wide eyes looking beyond where he stood. “Who said that?”

“Me. You know, Cole Randolph? From class?”

She did not appear to hear or see him. “I'm in no mood for sneaky echoes tonight,” Jenna said. She waved the hand without the lamp. “Show yourself.”

Cole felt a tingling, and her eyes met his.

Jenna gasped. “Cole?” she asked uncertainly.

“You see me?” Cole checked, excited and relieved.

She stared for a long, silent moment. “Yes.” She reached out a tentative hand, and her fingers sank through his chest. “Are you . . . ?”

“I'm a bright echo,” Cole said.

Jenna smiled widely. “Really? It's really you?” She bit her lip, and her eyes welled up. “I didn't think I'd ever see anyone from home again! Especially, well, you. But you're here! Cole Randolph. Alive! Well . . . sort of.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “I'm sorry, it's been so long. I'm glad you're bright.”

“My body is far away,” Cole said. “This horse brought me to you.”

Jenna scrunched her brow. “But I could touch it.” She patted the horse again to demonstrate. “How can an echo ride an actual horse?”

“Do you know about the Mare?” Cole asked.

“What mare? This one?”

“It's a long story,” Cole said. “This horse can appear in Necronum and the echolands.”

“Wow,” Jenna said. “I've never heard of anything like that. Although . . . I guess after everything I've seen here, nothing should really surprise me anymore.”

“We're partners for now,” Cole said.

“It's so good to see you,” Jenna said. “Even if . . .” Her fingers passed through his shoulder.

“I've been looking for you since we got separated,” Cole said. “I found Dalton.”