The Channel (The Gifted Book 2) (34 page)

Rhea stepped forward and handed him the painting. "I'm interested in learning more about the stone building."

Thaen took it from her. His eyes narrow in question as he tried to remember. Then a grin started to form. "I painted this a very long time ago ... when I was still a boy. I was working on a cargo ship when I sketched it, and then many years later, I painted it."

Rhea was calmer than she thought she would be but still anxious to learn more. "Do you remember where you saw it?"

"Oh, miss, that was more than two hundred years ago. I was working the shipping lanes between Port Iris and Caumden Bay."

Huntr stepped closer. "Please try. Anything you can remember will help."

"I remember that we were blown off course for a few days when we came up on a group of islands. That's where I saw it. I remember thinking it was strange to build a home in such a remote place."

Rhea glanced between Huntr and Daen. "Where are Port Iris and Caumden Bay?"

"Port Iris is west of here and Caumden Bay is in Laundan, northeast from here."

Rhea winced. "That's a lot of water, isn't it?"

Daen and Taulin both nodded.

Rhea turned to Thaen. "Thank you for your time. You've been very helpful."

Thaen handed her the painting. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more specific. Can I ask what this is about?"

"It's a long story," said Rhea. "If it turns out well, I'll be happy to come back and tell you the tale."

He wore a knowing expression as he nodded. "Good luck to you then. I hope I see you back here. I like a good story."

~~~

The ride back to town was uneventful, just the way Huntr liked it. They stopped at the guard station to check on the status of the supplies for their trip. Everything was set. Huntr and two warriors would be accompanying them.

Their next stop was the message center where birds had arrived from Taulomi and Laundan, as they suspected they would.

The message from Taulomi was from Gaibel. Daen read it aloud, "King Argeon advised. On way to palace city."

Rhea gave Daen a confused look. "How did she know we would be going to the palace?"

"Our last message said the queen had been informed of your existence. Remember? Gaibel probably assumed she would be needed."

Rhea felt a sudden sense of relief. "I'm glad she'll be there."

Taulin finished reading his message. "Patrols at the borders have been doubled. Daulr is at our southern border station ready to provide support if we need it." He looked up from the parchment. "Well, good news all around."

They headed for the inn after making plans to meet Huntr at the west end of town at first light. Rhea watched him ride away from the inn and couldn't help wonder how it would feel to be married to a man who was away on duty for long stretches of time. It had to be hard on his whole family.

They grabbed some dinner and called it a night but not before Rhea checked to see if their spies had returned. She didn't see anyone just standing around so they relaxed a little. They knew that it wasn't the last time they would see the spies; they would get word when they checked out.

35
Visions

It was still dark when they packed up and headed west through town. The street lamps, trying to shine through the mist that had settled on the town, gave the road an eerie feeling.

Instead of relying on her eyes to see past the lights and into the shadows, Rhea kept a mental watch for energy spots. Daen rode on her left, and Randell was on her right, providing protection while her eyes were closed. Taulin and Bandon kept a look out for anyone that might come up from behind.

Before they left the inn, they stopped by the kitchen and convinced the cook to sell them some bread, fruit, cheese, and dried meat, the standard makings of traveling provisions. They knew Huntr would have some supplies, but this would at least cover breakfast.

It wasn't a stealthy ride out of town with the clopping of the horses' hooves on the cobblestones. If there were any light sleepers near the main road, they would definitely be heard. The sound echoed off the buildings, bouncing and repeating, making it seem as if there were twice the number of horses.

By the time they reached the end of town, light was just starting to break.

"I see three riders and an extra horse ahead. It's hard to see, but I think it's Huntr and his men." Rhea opened her eyes to watch as they got closer.

A few minutes later they heard Huntr's voice. "Greetings."

"Greetings, Commander." Daen raised his hand. There was just enough light that they recognized the men with Huntr. "Greetings Danbr, Haurld."

They each nodded. "Sirs. Ma'am."

"Shall we?" The commander waved his hand towards the road ahead.

Daen and Rhea fell in behind the commander and Haurld, followed by Randell and Taulin. Bandon and Danbr brought up the rear. They rode in silence for a while, watching the light overtake the dark. It wasn't long before the growl of Rhea's stomach could be heard over the horses' hooves as they hit the packed dirt road.

They ate while they rode, adding new meaning to 'eating on the run.' Afterwards, they picked up the pace, bringing the horses into a canter. They passed citizens of Sentran going about their business as they cut through a vast flatland west of Cauhill.

Daen explained that the mountain range to their north marked the border between Sentran and Taulomi and that it was called Sky Ridge. The mountain was smaller than Kinling and lacked the sparkling snow-covered peaks, but it was still impressive. To the south, they could see the occasional hill, but for the most part, it was flat and filled with wildflowers, farms, or pasture lands with grazing livestock.

Rhea scanned the area on a regular basis, looking for any surprises that might be waiting. During one of her scans, Daen whispered to her, "Have you tried to use your mind's eye with your eyes open?"

"Not yet. I realized yesterday I need to learn how, but I'm not sure I can mix two visions together."

"Try it."

Rhea wasn't sure she could do what he was asking. How does one process what the eyes are seeing, and at the same time, take in visions of that which the eyes couldn't see?

After a bit of thinking about how she might pull it off, an idea came to her. She would lay the vision from her mind's eye over her normal vision, basically making it seem like her eyes could see further than they actually could.

Rhea started by closing her eyes, using her mind's eye to see directly in front of her and then farther out. Holding the vision, she slowly opened her eyes. She was quickly reminded of a scene in a horror movie where the character is trying to reach the end of the hall, but the hall just keeps getting longer.

She immediately closed her eyes again to control the wave of nausea that threatened to force her breakfast from her stomach. It took a couple tries before she could open her eyes, hold the double vision, and not have it bother her.

The next step was to see if she could synchronize the two visions as she looked in another direction. Again, double vision and the uncomfortable side effects were quickly upon her. She kept practicing, as it was a good way to pass the time.

They stopped beside a small stream for lunch and to give the horses a break. It was a popular spot as indicated by the multiple fire pits and matted grasses.

Rhea was standing by the stream with the horses when she felt Daen behind her. "How are you doing with your visions?"

"Fine, I guess. I'm working on synchronizing them, letting my eyes control the direction of my mental vision."

"Any success?"

"Some. My stomach isn't doing so great, but it's getting better."

Daen stepped closer to the water's edge. "Can you scan the area, and let me know if anyone is around?"

Rhea practiced keeping her eyes open and slowly scanned the area, reaching out as far as she could see. It was easier to do when she was standing still. There wasn't the added forward movement to mess with her equilibrium. "I don't see any people."

"Thanks." Daen handed her an apple and a wedge of cheese. She thanked him but couldn't help thinking that a cola and a slice of pizza would be so much better.

Daen took a bite of dried meat as he watched the water flow by. "You've been quiet most of today's ride. What's on your mind?"

Rhea glanced up at him, confused by his comment. "I've been busy trying to calm my stomach while I figure out how to sync up my visions."

Daen shook his head. "There's something else."

Rhea knew what he was getting at. "I'm nervous. I know we've talked about this already, but I still can't stop wondering how she'll react to me. Her
invitation
seemed nicely worded, but that doesn't mean she won't have guards waiting to throw me in the cells for impersonating a royal."

Daen thought about the circumstances. "I suppose she could do that."

Rhea rolled her eyes. "Oh, that's comforting."

Daen laughed lightly to himself. "I don't think you'll be thrown in the cells right when you arrive. If your mark and Gaibel's testimony aren't accepted, the fact that you're a channel will probably keep you from being locked up." He winked at her. "Like the cells could hold you."

Rhea turned back to the stream and sighed. "How reassuring."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Seriously, Rhea. Don't worry about it. It will be all right."

The commander walked up behind them. "Are you ready to go?"

Rhea turned away from the stream. "Yes."

They mounted up and were on their way to face the second half of their day, which turned out to be the same as the first, quiet and uneventful. Rhea continued to practice syncing up her mental visions with what she could see with her eyes. By the time they reached the guard station where they would spend the night, she was starting to get the hang of it.

As soon as they rode into the station courtyard, Commander Nauylor directed the men to the barracks and Rhea to the main building.

Once inside the main building, the commander opened the door to a room on the upper floor. "You'll stay in here tonight. I'll be sleeping downstairs in the front room if you need anything." He pointed to the bathroom across the hall. "You can clean up in there."

Rhea glanced around the room and at the personal belongings displayed on the various shelves and surfaces throughout the space. She stepped back into the hall. "This is somebody's room. I'll stay with the others. I'm not going to put someone out." She turned to go back down the stairs, but the commander intercepted her.

"The only other option is the women's barracks, and they're full. And you aren't staying in the front room when it's my job to ensure your safety."

Rhea wanted to tell him to relax, but she knew he was only doing his job. She sighed in defeat. "Please thank whomever it is I'm putting out."

"That would be me."

Rhea turned to see man coming down the hall towards them. "Then, I thank you. I would have been more than happy to bunk in with the others, but the commander has explained that isn't possible."

"Rhea, this is Captain Aurner. Captain, this is ..."

Before the commander could say whatever name he was going to share, Rhea interrupted, "Call me Rhea."

The captain looked between Rhea and the commander and then nodded. "Rhea, it is. Dinner will be ready in the hall in a few minutes."

"Then I should clean up. If you'll excuse me?" Rhea stepped into the room and closed the door as the commander and captain retreated down the hall. After dinner, rhea climbed into bed, exhausted from the day's journey.

~~~

The hot air swirled around her, lifting the dust and sand from the parched ground under her feet and burning her as it brushed against her bare skin. She struggled to stay upright as the ground shook under her feet. In the distance, she could hear someone laughing. Not a happy laugh, but a wicked, evil laugh.

Rhea battled to keep the sand from her nose and mouth as she tried to breathe, but it wasn't working. She was suffocating. It didn't matter which way she turned, or how many steps she staggered to relieve herself of the constant battering—she was engulfed.

The ground rolled, throwing her to her hands and knees, and the laughter got louder as the winds lifted her off the ground, kicking and flailing to regain control.

"Rhea! Stop!" The commander and his captain tried to avoid Rhea's arms and legs as she struggled against her invisible enemy. "Go get Daen. Now!"

The captain ran from the room, taking the steps three at time before bursting from the building. In seconds, he was in the barracks and at Daen's bed. "Daen," he hissed, wanting to wake him quickly, but not everyone else.

Daen rolled away from the sound that woke him and took to his feet ready to defend. Blinking quickly, the vision of the station captain came into view. "What is it?"

"Come quickly!" The captain ran from the barracks with Daen close behind.

Daen heard Rhea scream, "NO!" as he and the captain entered the building. He bounded up the stairs to her room in time to witness Rhea in a fit.

"What are you doing?" All he could see was the commander standing over her, his hands wrapped around her wrists as she struggled.

"Help me," Huntr pleaded. "She's having a nightmare, and I can't wake her. I'm afraid she's going to hurt herself."

Daen could feel the energy radiating from Rhea. He knew what was about to happen, and it wouldn't bode well if the commander was still holding her when it did.

Daen stopped the captain. "Stay back." He lunged into the room and grabbed the commander, pulling him towards the door.

"What? Wait! We must help her."

Daen twisted his body, forcing Huntr out of the room before him. He reached behind him to close the door just as the wave of energy forced the door closed in a wall-shaking pulse that rattled the building, knocking the commander, the captain, and Daen to the floor.

Silence filled the hall as the three men lay without moving, performing the much-needed body checks to see if any permanent damage had been done.

Realizing Rhea was still in the room when the blast went off ... or whatever it was that knocked him against the wall, the commander drew himself to his feet and stumbled to the door to her room, fearing she'd been attacked and lay dead in her bed.