Shine: The Knowing Ones (32 page)

“Trinton,” Mikhail called. “We are running out of time.”

Trin nodded. He was more than ready. He couldn’t get there fast enough. He crossed the room to Mikhail and Anvil. “Sam really is our only way back, isn’t she?” Trin asked.

Mikhail glanced to the stone, the energy fading. “Once this energy is gone.” Mikhail began a torrent of rushed instruction as precious seconds passed. “Llamar is well versed on life in our village and surrounding area as it was back in the early 1900s. He will be your touchstone as you must do all you can to avoid contact with the tribe. Anvil will still be alive, and
you
do not yet exist. Your goal will be to find Samantha and bring her back before the next solstice. Try to remain unseen. As wrong as it sounds, things need to stay the same.”

Mikhail looked earnestly at Trin. “It will be very difficult for you to let things lie. It is in your nature to exact justice. You will get an opportunity to fix what Ashbel has done when you return.”

Trin nodded.

Anvil began. “You will be going back to the twentieth of December 1910, the eve of the winter solstice,” he said. “Once you get there, remain out of sight and call to her. As soon as you have found her, return without delay.” He reached out and put a hand on Trin’s shoulder. “I know I cannot be there, but I will be watching, Trinton. I will never leave you alone.”

Trin held the gaze of his lifelong brother and nodded.

Mikhail removed his heavy coat, giving it to Trin. “That jacket is not enough where you are going.”

This brought Sam’s scant costume to mind and Trin’s determination increased one hundred fold. Where was Ashbel keeping her? Did he care she was probably freezing? Other disturbing thoughts began to form in his mind
. “Send me now
.”

“I will be watching,” Anvil said. “Llamar will find you. Take care of yourself and remember this is part of your path.”

Trin waited impatiently as Mikhail took the pendant from the box. “I will remain with the girl until you return,” he said. “This should occur instantaneously from my end, if all goes well.”

“You mean if Sam stays alive,” Trin said.

Mikhail stared in response, no words necessary.

Trin stood erect, more ready than ever.

Taking the tainted pendant from the velvet setting, Mikhail lifted his palm a few inches above it, focusing. His aura gleamed in a violet full body sun, the energy in the pendant churning like smoke as Mikhail lifted the blueprints to open a portal through time. The energy expanded between Mikhail’s palms. Trin watched, waiting. An electrical disturbance crackled, and in seconds a rushing sound and blinding light appeared in front of them. The conduit gleamed brilliantly before them.

“Go. Go now,” Anvil said.

Trin stepped through the light and disappeared.

The bitter cold hit him like a wall. He lifted his head from a crouched position in a thicket of trees and bushes just outside his native home, the village of Ivanova. Littered with a million shining stars, the vast sky opened up endlessly above him, the crisp, clean air energizing him each time he filled his lungs with it.

He nearly laughed aloud he was so relieved. He had made it. Right now he didn’t care if he ever made it back. Sam was accessible again and he would gladly die of hypothermia before he would stop searching for her. He stood, his instincts pushing him to take off running, yelling for her like a mad man, but he had not forgotten Mikhail’s words:
no contact with the tribe.

Trin took in his surroundings, scanning, reading—in the Urals, close to his home. Though he was in the past, the terrain and vegetation were the same he had grown up visiting.

He wrapped Mikhail’s coat tighter, grateful for the added warmth. The arctic environment stung, snow and unfathomable cold. He lifted his feet through the snow, pushing through the brush, making his way into a clear area of the towering wooded mountainside, so vast, the navy blue sky endless, the enormous pines so tall. He kept moving, his senses pulling him toward familiar energy. He knew he was close. The village had to be near. He could feel it. He wasted no time, tapping into Sam’s energy like a homing device and began searching. A sharp familiar essence slipped up behind him. He froze, crystal eyes gleaming, staring in a panic to the moon glittered snow—calculating his next move, escape? Fight? Had he been seen?

“Trinton...”

Trin spun around.

He stood several feet back, amusement in his light green eyes glowing beneath tousled white blonde hair. His formidable frame moved in grace beneath black Veduny fatigues as he approached his temporary charge, golden blue aura shimmering in a halo around his muscular body.

Trin let out a breath. “Llamar,”

The spirit guide walked toward him, a slight smile lit his face as a Russian conversation began. “I apologize. There really was no good way to make my entrance.”

“No, I guess not.”

Llamar’s energy was wonderful. Trin beheld him with humility, the Keeper who had taught his own mentor, who had trained Anvil
and
Ashbel and watched everything fall apart. He was the perfect assistant to the current task at hand. “You cannot stay out here much longer,” he said. “If you intend to find Samantha, you must stay alive. Come with me.” He turned, making his way back through the woods, opposite of where Trin had been going.

“Isn’t the village this way?”

“It is,” Llamar said. “But you will never make it in this cold.”

“How far is it?” Trin asked. “It feels like it’s right here.”

Llamar stepped over a fallen snow covered tree trunk. “You are used to twenty-first century air, twenty-first century chaos. Your environment is jammed with it,” he said. He glanced over his shoulder as
he walked. “Your modern day chaos does not exist here. It is like you have spent your life trying to see through tainted glasses and now the glasses have been removed. You are perceiving everything with that powerfully heightened clarity you have fostered.” He checked the path and turned again to Trin. “Be grateful for that. Your intensified intuition will serve you well in helping you locate your charge.” With a glint in his eye he said, “You are like a super Veduny here.”

Trin paused, then followed behind him in the snow and cold.

“She is still alive, by the way,” Llamar added.

“How do you know?” Trin asked.

“You tell me.”

Trin gazed forward. “I still feel her.”

Llamar eyed him approvingly. “
You
would feel it if she were gone.”

They continued on through the cathedral of massive pines, bristling in the frigid night air until they reached a small clearing. A small stone cottage stood, nestled in pines. Walking up the snow covered cobblestone path, Llamar pulled the ornate handle down, pushing the heavy wooden door open. Thick stone walls and darkness surrounded the tight space. In the center of the room a beautifully carved wooden table and two chairs interrupted the harsh feel, and in the far left corner was a large hand-carved bed, thick with opulent blankets and quilts flanked by a stone fireplace. Ominous blue heat swirled above the stone hearth—no fire. The levitating sphere of energy gleamed, illuminating the room in muted light.

Llamar turned to Trin. “No smoke,” he smiled. “Strengthen it, will you?” Llamar knew Trin needed more warmth, and that Trin’s physical energy would do a better job than his spirit form. Gazing at the sphere, Trin focused. The ball of energy grew, spinning faster, brighter. Warmth radiated outward from the fireplace, spreading itself evenly throughout the small space.

Trin gazed back at Llamar.

“This will be yours while you are here,” Llamar said. “Of course, no one knows anyone will be here.”

“Where are we?” Trin asked.

Llamar walked to the window opposite the front door, pulling the curtains aside.

Trin moved across the room, gazing out through the plated glass, shocked. He turned to Llamar in alarm. “Why did you bring me
here?”

Through the window and up the spacious stretch of land stood a vast, beautiful castle, home to Veduny royalty.

“It is the furthest Veduny structure from the village while still keeping you
in
the village. No one will be using it now, and I do not expect you will be here very long,” Llamar said. “But you cannot be here on your own with nowhere to go. No one will find you here as long as you don’t draw attention to yourself.”

Trin gave one last glance to the area and then turned to Llamar. “Thank you,” he said. “I’m going to search for Sam.” He turned and headed toward the door.

“Might I make a suggestion?” Llamar said.

Trin turned.

“Mikhail says Samantha has extraordinary gifts.”

“Yes.”

“Why not try to contact her from here, where it is warm? You will not have the distraction of the cold and if she hears you she can bring
you
to
her
.”

Trin contemplated that, feeling like he should be out in the village searching.

“It will not slow you down,” Llamar answered, reading his doubts. “If anything, you may be able to find her faster, and eliminate the risk of being seen.”

Trin glanced up at him. Llamar was right. “Thank you.”

Llamar nodded. “One more thing,” he said. “Cloak your energy. This heat source does not give off much light, but
you
certainly will.”

Trin stretched out a hand. “Thank you, Llamar.”

Llamar took it with a firm grasp. “You summon me the same way you do Anvil,” he said. “I will be here whenever you need me.” Then he was gone.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

T
rin stood in the silence of the cottage. Outside, the frigid wind howled through the dense forest and the urgency to find Sam became unbearable. He walked to the center of the cottage, crossing his legs and sitting down on the floor. He closed his eyes, inhaling, concentrating as his lungs filled and emptied again. His mind cleared, expanding, reaching out, nothing blocking his search aside from the energetic cloaking Llamar had reminded him to do.

Sam? Sam, I’m here. Where are you?

Agonizing seconds passed in the deafening silence. He tried again.

Samantha, please. Where are you? Help me find you.

His only answer was the increasing howl of the bitter wind outside. His heart raced, jaw tight. It wasn’t enough. Abandoning Llamar’s advice he extinguished his cloaking. His strongest energy shredded the environment.

Sam, where are you? I’m here. Bring me to you.

A voice ruptured the silence. In the midst of reclaiming her mind, her will, her sanity, his angelic voice sounded. Her heart leapt in response. Still unable to move or speak, desperation mounted.

Answer!
She commanded herself. She focused, strained, firing a response into the psychic environment.

Trin...

Still so weak—as if stuck in a dream, screaming out, knowing no one could hear her.

Try again...

Her awareness spiked, eyes shifting beneath her lids. The phantom voice had returned. She hesitated.

Who are you?
She finally managed to ask.

Do not waste your energy on me. Respond to Trinton.

Sam reeled, mind and emotions spinning. Drawing all the strength she could muster she forced another response.

Trin...

Sam!

A physical pang shot through her body, nearly evoking movement. Her heart pounded, on fire as his voice continued.

Sam, where are you?

She forced a response, fueled by hope.

I don’t know. It’s dark. I can’t move.

Are you hurt?

I can’t feel anything.

Sam, bring me to you, the way you moved Mikhail. Try.

Panic struck. Mikhail had been with her, and she had
sent
him
away.

Samantha, do not doubt. Just do it. Your will is all you need.

Again, the phantom voice counseled her, hearing their thoughts, their conversation. She focused. Constructing Trin’s image in her mind she willed him to her. A barely perceptible shift spun the environment.

Give more. It is not enough.