Interphase (16 page)

Rupu led her to the section where the wall ran closest to the house and slid a long plank across the gap. "You'll want to go first, but be careful. It's not secured to the roof."

Analara nodded and stepped onto the board, arms spread for balance. She was comfortable with heights and crossed the distance with ease. Reaching the wall, she knelt down and gripped the Rethkor's sturdy vines. The great plant pulsed in response to her touch, but stayed still.

Rupu joined her shortly afterward. He pointed to a path outside the city that led beyond a field. "I left David at the trees just beyond there. He's waiting for you."

Analara touched his shoulder, but he shook his head. "We don't have time for sentiments, 'Nala. Just go."

She nodded and started to climb down. The Rethkor's sinewy vines were slippery, but they were numerous and gave her plenty of holds. She glanced up and saw Rupu disappear behind the wall.

Suddenly Analara heard a loud shout. A flurry of footsteps passed by above her. Slowly, the yells faded into the distance.

One of the guards must have seen Rupu. Analara stayed still a moment longer and jumped the last few feet to the ground. As soon as she landed, she dashed down the path.

***

Shalaron strode into the temple office, his brow creased in thought. "Have there been any updates on Rupu's whereabouts?"

"We have received none," an aide responded. "The initial report of his absence came from one of his friends about midday."

Shalaron glanced through a narrow window within the inner temple. The sun was nearing mid-harvest, and a bright sky stretched to the horizon. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Ilinar was not a large city. After an hour of searching, it was assured that Rupu was not there.

The curtains covering the office entrance rustled, and Shalaron turned away from the window. "What news to report, Melarras?"

"My Sage, we have found the missing young man. He was atop the northern wall. I believe he was trying to leave."

"Trying to leave
again
, more likely. Bring him to me," Shalaron ordered. Melarras bowed and left.

Shalaron turned to his aide. "Rupu and his mother are wards of Varlath, correct?"

The assistant opened a sheaf of parchment and paged through them. "Yes, my Sage. He is also a close acquaintance of Analara, Nathalion's pupil."

"Indeed. She has been hiding a secret for quite some time. Something is amiss in my city. We shall soon learn the truth of it."

Moments later, Melarras and another guard led Rupu into the chamber and waited by the doorway. The young man knelt before Shalaron, keeping his gaze lowered.

Shalaron stepped in front of Rupu and stood looking down upon him. "Where have you been?"

Rupu did not reply.

"Tintal told the watchers that he had not seen you since midday. None of the guards had been able to find you until mere minutes ago. Where have you been?" Shalaron repeated, injecting a note of ice into his tone.

Rupu stared at the floor, his expression a blank mask. It required a strong will to remain silent in this fashion. Only his quiet, restricted breathing gave testimony to his nervousness.

"You would dare to defy your Sage in such a manner?" Melarras growled. Rupu glanced at him and back to the floor, shaking his head.

Shalaron took Rupu's chin and raised his face. "Answer my question. Why were you caught trying to leave the city?"

"I was not trying to leave when the guards took me," Rupu said.

"You have not been within the city walls for at least an hour," Shalaron said. "Despite the orders given for the safety of our people. Tell me why you disobeyed."

Rupu drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I beg your forgiveness, Lord Shalaron." His tone was resigned, his words clear. "I can not answer your questions. I have taken an oath before Siath to guard a secret on behalf of another. To answer would be to break that oath. I can merely reply that the secret poses no threat to Ilinar or our people."

Despite his frustration, Shalaron was impressed with the youth's self-control. He was annoyed, however, by the knowledge that something illicit was going on inside the city. "This friend must be very dear to you, if you would break our laws to guard their secrets. Melarras?"

"My Sage?"

"Go to Varlath's home and find Analara," Shalaron ordered, keeping his gaze on Rupu. "Bring her directly to me." It was imperceptible, but he thought he detected a flinch on Rupu's face.

Melarras bowed and marched from the chamber. Shalaron released Rupu and walked to the window.

"You may keep your oath, Rupu. I will not force the knowledge from you. For your disobedience of our laws, however, you will be required to serve at the Field of Penance for two weeks." Shalaron gestured to Rupu's guard, who pulled the young man to his feet and led him away.

Needing to be alone with his thoughts, Shalaron walked to his quarters and wrapped a gray traveling cloak over his garments. He gathered a few supplies and waited in the outer chamber for Melarras to return.

There were few people that Shalaron truly considered friends. Beyond Halathas, who had been by his side for decades, only Melarras had shown himself to be worthy of his complete trust and respect. It was a bond that Shalaron felt comforted by in troubled times.

Melarras bore a displeased expression when he returned to the temple. "She was not at the house, my Sage. Varlath said that she was assisting the Artisan of the Natural World with a ceremony and was not to be disturbed. I am loath to distrust him, but his words did not ring true to me."

Shalaron nodded, pleased by Melarras's dedication, but not at the news he bore. "Your senses are sharp as always, my friend. You have been one of my most loyal guardians, so I must entrust you with a serious task. There is a conspiracy at work here that demands my intervention. You have seen the first traces of it here today. I must depart for a time. I do not know how long it will take me to uproot this corruption." Shalaron paused and looked out over the city. "Carry word of what I have said to Halathas, and instruct him that he is to keep order until Siath sees to my return. Guard him as you would me, and maintain peace within Ilinar.

Melarras bowed deeply. "It will be as you have commanded, my lord Sage. Neither darkness nor flame shall touch our city while I draw breath."

Shalaron laid a hand on his shoulder in blessing and departed down the temple stairs.

No one noticed Shalaron pass through the streets of the city. He wandered quietly to the wall near Varlath's house and looked about for any witnesses. The area was empty and with a focused jump, Shalaron cleared the walls. Once he was under the trees, he concentrated on his palm, and a layer of light spread over his fingers. He raised his hand, and a set of fresh footprints began to glow green. They were headed toward the deep wilderness. Quickly, he followed them.

The trail led Shalaron to a large grove, where another set of prints joined the first. The second set glowed blue, clearly not one of his people, and his lips curled in a grimace. He had an idea of who had come to meet here.

The trail led deeper into the wilderness, and Shalaron broke into a run, hoping to gain on his prey.

Someone laughed from a grove up ahead. Shalaron released the light and moved with absolute quiet, stalking through the trees and pressing against a rock near an open clearing. He saw Analara walking side-by-side with David, their hands entwined. They approached the center of the clearing, and David stepped behind her and covered her eyes.

A flash of blue light hung near the ground. It expanded and formed a glowing doorway. The forest inside it darkened, becoming black and strange. Keeping Analara's eyes shut, David guided her straight into the darkness, and they disappeared from view.

Shalaron waited a minute, but they did not return. The strange portal began to shrink, fading from view. Shedding his cloak, Shalaron raced forward and dove into the darkness before the gateway vanished.

***

David kept a firm grip on Analara's hand as he guided her through the command core. He watched her from the edge of his vision, making sure she kept her eyes shut. There was enough light to see the curiosity on her face. "There is a strange feeling here. What kind of place is this?" she whispered.

"Think of it like a passageway between places," he answered. "It is the fastest way to get to where we are going."

"We aren't outside anymore, are we? I can't sense any trees or plants near us."

Laughing softly, David put an arm around her shoulder and steered her toward the castle portal. "I'll explain it all later, if you want to know the details. But we have to hurry. My present needs to be given soon."

They emerged into the mirror room. Puffs of dust kicked up as they walked toward the door, and Analara gave a quiet sneeze. Without letting her hand go, David held the door open and guided her through.

David had changed the castle considerably in preparation for Analara's arrival. He had removed the murky gloom and the seething shadows. Candles flickered in dozens of sconces along the walls, casting their soft glow into crystal chandeliers. The marble-tiled floor of the entranceway gleamed. "All right, Analara, you can look now."

For several minutes Analara stood silent, mouth agape and eyes staring. She ran her hand over a banister, marveling at its polished surface. "Is this your home?"

"I don't live here, but this place is mine." David swept his gaze across the chamber, pride welling up inside of him. "I come here if I'm troubled, or when I just need to escape from things for a while. It was the one place I could truly be alone." He took her hand again and squeezed it. "At least until now."

Analara turned to look at him. In the candlelight, he could see tears glistening in her green eyes. She squeezed his hand back and smiled.

"Come on." He tugged her hand and started toward the upper balcony. "There's something I want you to see—"

"David, wait." She pulled back. "Wait. I have something to give you."

"Could we do it in a moment? We only have a few more minutes."

"Please?"

There was something in her voice that stilled his arguments. Mind buzzing with curiosity, he nodded. Analara bit her lip and untied a draw-string pouch from her belt, holding it tightly before pressing it into his hand. David opened it and reached inside. The tips of his fingers felt something cold and smooth. He drew out a string of stone beads, tied in a loop with a three-color pattern: blue, green and red.

"I-I don't know if… if you have this tradition among your people." Analara reached up to brush the beads, and David felt her fingers tremble. "It's a, um, well, it's a special tradition in Ilinar. It's a symbol of, of strong friendship and… interest."

She blushed fiercely as she said it, and David's eyes went wide.

Did she just tell me that she…

David closed his fingers around the bracelet, holding Analara's hand against it, and smiled at her, shock still numbing his thoughts. "You made this gift to tell me that you have feelings for me."

Hesitantly, Analara nodded.

David spread his arms, turned and gestured to the chamber and the castle beyond. "So did I. This place is a present for you." He turned back to her as he felt her arms encircle him.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The hug was shorter than he would have liked, but he knew time was running out. "It's time to show you the rest of my gift. Close your eyes again."

Taking her hand, David guided Analara up a spiral staircase. Above them, he could see brilliant orange light glowing from a window; the sun was setting.

Windowed doors led them to a balcony overlooking the castle grounds and the valley below. From a distance they could hear waves thundering against the ocean cliffs. A cool breeze drifted past and rippled through Analara's hair. "David, what's that sound?"

"Just wait." David gripped her arms and turned her sideways, facing her toward the sun and the sea beyond. The glowing orb sank slowly into the horizon, igniting the sky with gold rimmed clouds. Heart pounding, he wrapped his arms loosely about her waist. "Okay, open your eyes."

Analara lowered her hands, and David saw them fly to her mouth. He peeked over her shoulder, trying to get a glimpse of her reaction; her eyes were wide above her hands, her breath completely silent. A smile broke across his face.

Suddenly she backed up hard against him. David released her to avoid being knocked down, and Analara turned away. She shuddered and stared at the horizon with an expression of terror.

"Analara, what—"

She screamed, cutting him off, and looked around wildly for an escape. Before David could react, she ran back into the castle and disappeared down the staircase.

"Analara," David shouted, chasing after her. He rounded a corner and found her stopped in front of Winston. She took a look at the ghostly figure and screamed again, dashing down another corridor. Knowing the surroundings far better, he was finally able to catch her in the throne room, throwing his arms around her. She screamed and tried to shake him off. "Analara, please stop! Tell me what's wrong."

"The sky," she cried. "The sky is poisoned. Where have you taken me? What have I done?"

Analara wrenched out of David's grip, sending him crashing into a table, then collapsed against the wall, her breath choked by sobs.

Rubbing his side, David gaped at her. "What do you mean, the sky is poisoned? It was just a sunset. A sunset that I made for you."

"Beware blue skies that steal breath; beware blue sky for it brings death," Analara chanted in between sobs. "This place has been corrupted. Why would you bring me here?"

David knelt beside her, trying to draw her gaze. "Analara, I don't know what you're talking about. The sky is supposed to be blue here. Please, please tell me what's wrong."

Analara lifted her head and stared at him, her face a mask of terror. "David, where are we?"

"It's just a different module. I opened a gateway between your program and the castle, I just wanted to show you… your present." He sighed, trying not to let his hurt and frustration spill out. "I rebuilt this module for you as a gift."