The Ways of Mages: Starfire (15 page)

“
Ready
?”
He asked Zeeve. Zeeve was panting. At least he was
n’
t that tired. Kadrean reflected wryly.

Zeeve nodded. Kadrean picked him up and put him into a saddle bag. Gripping Tiviei
s’
s mane, he hauled himself into the saddle. Flicking the reigns stimulated the horse to walk out of the barn. Without an explanation to anyone, Kadrean kicked Tivieis into a swift canner. Tiviei
s’
s hoofs thudded against the dirt of the road as they raced past startled townspeople. At the fringe of the forest they saw Liam with several bags of supplies. Kadrean dismounted and the two men loaded up Tivieis. They then continued on foot at a fast pace to meet whoever they were to meet.

***

The Valley of Plarn was like an oblong bowl. Plarn itself was near the eastern part of the valley, sitting on one of the mountain
s’
feet. Above it were the fields in which livestock lived. Around most of the town were the planting fields. The rest of the valley was woodland; thick woodland.  Cutting through it was the seldom used road that led to the outside world. Few of the townspeople used it. The road meandered from the south western part of Plarn, along the foot of the mountains, then through the pass that led to the world beyond. Terana and Russy were making their way to it.  After Terana met up with Russy, the two had traveled a little ways and then stopped for the night. This morning they had continued

Terana had never felt this excited or this scared in her life. The thought of the unknown world was intimidating. The closer they got to the pass, the more Terana imagined it to be a maw ready to crush her. At times, she wanted to turn back, but her adventurous heart would hear none of it. To turn meekly back was cowardly. She was committed now; with every step it became even more impossible. Besides, no one wanted her back there.  

Russy walked beside her like a tame dog. His attentive ears scanned the forest for any sound. Once, without warning, he vanished into the undergrowth to reappear with a rabbit in his jaws. He looked very pleased with himself. Some of the rabbit meat replaced what she had eaten of the chicken. Russy had the rest.

Music of a nearby stream bubbled and clamored for Teran
a’
s attention. Her canteen was half empty. It would be a good idea to fill it again. She smiled. It would also be nice to wash her face. Terana tapped Russ
y’
s shoulder and followed the strea
m’
s music. Kneeling on its mossy banks, Terana washed her face. The water had a very eye opening quality. Being a mountain stream in late spring gave it its refreshing nip.

A cold feeling that had nothing to do with a refreshing mountain stream washed over her. She got that prickle along her neck that warned her she was being watched. Really watched. Watched with hungry eyes. The woods had a deathly quiet to it. This did not help squander the vulnerable feeling Terana was suffering from. Beside her, Russy trembled.  She deftly filled her canteen, trying to look like she noticed nothing. Just maybe that would keep her from being noticed. But the more she tried the more she could not do it. The eyes seemed to be everywhere.

A breathless cry; unearthly to its core came from the forest depths. It was hard to describe; like a mixture between an eagle
s’
scream and wind whistling under an eave. Terana could scarcely breathe, much less keep from shaking. She would have nightmares tonight, if she lived that long. Her fingers sought Russ
y’
s thick coat. His fur was like an anchor for her. She felt him sink to his belly in fear. He whimpered. She had never heard him truly whimper before. It made her even more terrified.  What could make the top, natural predator of the Valley quaver with fear? A greater predator, perhaps?

Seconds stretched into hours. Night seemed to invade upon noon. Her eye caught movement out of its corner. A shadow seemed to slide from shade to shade. She felt vulnerable in this open space. It felt that at any moment, the monster was going to attack. Russy was quivering beneath her palm. Terana knew subconsciously that they were probably going to die if they stayed where they were, but she could
n’
t move. Fear had frozen her blood and made her muscles useless. She was stuck. Swallowing, she glanced at Russy. He did
n’
t seem any better off than she was, but if she could get him going he had a chance. Russy could run faster and farther then she could ever hope to.

Terana began pushing at him. Moaning, Russy looked at her
.“
Go! Get out of here
!”
She hissed at him. Russy groaned
.“I’
m serious, get out of here
!”
She pushed him harder. Something seemed to snap in Russy. He growled at her. Russy never growled at her.

Their watcher shrieked triumphantly. They could hear it moving toward them. Terana thought she could see it just inside the trees. It seemed to like the shadows.
Probably waiting for the most opportune moment to strike.
Her thoughts whispered.
What
a
thought
. The waiting for something to happen was wrecking havoc on Teran
a’
s nerves. Apparently she was
n’
t the only one to be suffering from a fit of crawlies. A mouse squeaked its terror. There was another terrified squeak that was cut off too soon. That was it. Terana shoved at Russy, knocking him over onto his side.

Snarling, Russy rolled to his feet and glared at her. His eyes declared his refusal to leave her. Butting her with his head, he knocked her over. Before she could get back up he was standing protectively over her. He growled menacingly at the shadow in the trees. It watched them for a few moments before it faded away.

The forest was how it was before the strange incident.  Terana and Russy glanced at each other wonderingly. Terana pushed Russy off of her. He complied distractedly. Sniffing, he headed toward the brush as Terana gathered her scattered wits.  Breathing deeply, she let her senses tell her whatever they could. To her good heath, the woods sounded and acted like a normal wood again. With her heart returning to normal, Terana could
n’
t help but wonder if her sanity was going. The incident felt like nothing more than a dream.

“
Was I dreaming
?”
She asked Russy as he trotted over. Russy met her gaze with his amber one.

“
Then how did I feel it
?
”
She heard a faint voice in her head. Her eyes widened. Did she just hear Russy? No. That was impossible. Impossible, animals did not talk. Not the way humans did. It was impossible.
Then what was that answer?
A small part of her mind asked.
Probably just what I imagined him to say.
The rest of her mind answered logically. She took that answer to heart. Of course Russy could
n’
t talk.

Russy blinked and turned away.

Terana sighed, looking about the forest
.“
Whatever it was, I never want to feel that way again
.”
She got to her feet slowly. Her muscles were still weak from their terror
.“
I think we should continue moving
.”
Terana put action to words and started to walk in the general direction of the road. Russy yipped and followed
.“
Thank you for staying with me
.”
Terana whispered softly, stroking his ears. Russy glanced up at her then licked her hand before jumping ahead.

The innocently murmuring stream was left behind as they covered ground. After a few hills and ravines they came to a great stone imbedded in the hill. A shelf of rock jutted over head at its top. Littering the forest floor before it were victims of erosion. Terana stopped and stared at it. It felt that at any moment it was going to fall away from its bed and crush her. Russy clambered over the fallen victim rocks to sniff at the cliff's sandy base. Terana sat away from the rock against a tree. She took out some cooked rabbit. She nibbled at it as she watched Russy. He lifted his head. His nose was filled with the smell of cooked rabbit. Nimbly, he leapt over the fallen rocks toward her. He looked at her expectantly. Appropriately, she tore a hunk of meat off her portion and gave it to him. He snatched it up happily. Smiling at him, Terana stood back up. After another bite of her portion, she gave the rest to him. This he took happily too.

Understanding her intentions, Russy sprang back along their chosen course. Smiling after him, Terana started to follow. Briefly she glanced back and froze. Something glittered in the rock. Terana walked toward it, entranced. It was a silver star with a black stone in its center. Curious, Terana reached for it, but before her hand could touch it, it vanished. Terana gazed blankly at the cliff for a moment before she shook her head. Rubbing a finger over the bridge of her nose she considered the possibility that she was going mad. First the unseen horror, now this. Going mad was a distinct possibility, right?

A loud bark startled her. Terana turned to see that Russy had come back. He gazed up at her with an annoyed expression that asked if she was coming or not
.“I’
m coming
.”
She told him. This time when he led she truly did follow him. Her mind kept picturing that silver star. Why was she seeing things?

Soon the forest fell away on either side of her.  They had finally made it to the road. Before her was the pass: the gate to the future. Staring at it, Terana felt that she had a knife to her throat. She had to really choose if she was leaving or not. Instinctively she knew if she took one step outside the valley that she would not turn back. This was her last chance to change her mind. Russy yipped beside her. She glanced down at him. His expressive eyes asked if they were to go on or not.

“
Well, this is it
.”
She told him
.“
Last chance to change your mind. I wo
n’
t hate you if you do
.”
I’
m considering changing my mind.
She finished in her head. Russy shook his head and started to walk toward the gate
.“
Okay
.”
She called after him. Gathering her courage, she took a step forward.  As she approached the pass she saw something shinny. She was drawn to where it was in the middle of the pass. She crouched down for a closer look. A glint of silver welcomed her.

It was like what she had found in the cliff.  The silver was shaped into a four point star. A black stone with flashes of red and blue was imbedded in the silver. She moved it in the light, fascinated by its intense colors. She had no idea what the stone was. It was a beautiful mystery. Teran
a’
s fingers tingled where they touched the cool metal. It was small; about the size of a large coin. The facets of color bloomed with an inner fire. A shiver of power winked around her and the pass. A slight pressure brushed against her neck. It was gone just when it began. Terana blinked. She shook her head to clear it, then turned the trinket in her hand. A detail that she had not noticed before was that onyx ran along the outside edge of the star.  So immersed in the strange object was she that she did not hear the plodding of a hors
e
…

“
Concerning Magic: Magic is one of those funny things in the universe on the same level as wind, love, and the divine: one ca
n’
t see it, but one can definitely see its effect
s….
”
 
Author unknown.

“
Terana
!”
A shocked voice called. Terana turned her head so fast that it hurt. Her hand holding the trinket went to her pant
s’
pocket; where it was soon forgotten
.“
TERANA, TERANA
!”
Zeeve came running toward her.

“
Zeeve
?”
She did not know if she could trust her eyes and ears.

“
Well,
I’
ll b
e
…
”
Said a vaguely familiar, awed voice. Terana looked up at the rest of the approaching party; two men and a dapple gray gilding. One of the men was the white haired stranger. He was leading the supply burdened guiding. The other was Liam Seedman. She swallowed. Liam was an okay fellow, but he was a little unnerving. Their eyes met. Mr. Seedman smiled slightly and gave her a slight nod. Raising an eyebrow, Terana turned to the stranger. He too smiled at her.
 “
Hello. Your name is Terana, right
?”
He asked.  Zeeve answered before she could.

“
Yeah. Who else
?”
Zeeve turned to her
.“
I told him it might be you
.”
He told her seriously.

“
Why would you think I was here? How
?”
She was at a loss. How could these people know that she was going to be here? She had
n’
t told a soul. Unless Jeremy had found her note... And that reminded her about why she was leaving. Her heart bled a little more. She knew she would cry soon if she did
n’
t stop this train of thought. So she stopped. 

Zeeve shrugged, casting a glance over at Mr. Seedman
.“
A hunch
.”
He replied with infuriating simplicity
.“
By the way Terana, this is Kadrean
.”
He gestured to the stranger.

Terana looked back up at Kadrean. So that was the name of the white haired stranger. Interesting. Terana stood and started to curtsy, as had been drilled into her head, but then realized that she was not wearing skirts. Her cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. She corrected herself quickly and nodded her greeting to him instead
.“
Nice to finally meet you, sir
.”
She said with a shy smile.

“
Please do
n’
t call m
e‘
si
r’.”
He begged plaintively
.“
I had enough of that in Plarn, thank you. Kade works
just
fine
.
”

Terana smiled, liking this man. She glanced at Zeeve, who was trying to sniff her bag.
Smells the food, no doubt.
She thought. She smiled sadly. She did
n’
t know how she felt about Zeeve knowing about he
r…
lack of relation to anyone else. The knife was poised over her heart again.
Damn it Terana! Stop it!

Mr. Seedman laughed, drawing Teran
a’
s attention back to the conversation
.“
You did
?”
Seedman shook his head, smiling broadly
.“
I ca
n’
t say I blame you, Kadrean. That is why I prefer my first name
.”
He turned to her
.“
Hello, Terana. Lovely day for a walk, do
n’
t you think
?
”

“
I would guess, Mr. Seedman
.”
She replied shyly.

“
What did I just say?
Liam
, if you do
n’
t mind
.
”

Teran
a’
s eyebrows climbed her forehead in mock shock
.“
But, Mr. Seedman, you are older than I am. You deserve the respect due someone your greater age
.”
She flinched after she said it. If she had said the same thing to anyone else with the same lack of respect, they woul
d’
ve had her whipped. With her hands clamped over her mouth in horror of what she had just done, she wondered how it had happened. Liam laughed.

“
Now you know why I do
n’
t want to be called by my sir name. It makes me sound old
.”
His smile relieved her. She returned his smile. Maybe she liked him too. She looked about at her companions; Zeeve was glaring at Russy who had stopped his forage into her bag, Kadrean stroking his hors
e’
s neck, and Liam who was watching Zeeve and Russy. She knew why Russy was here, but why were they? Liam caught her puzzled look
.“
Something wrong, Terana
?”
She became the center of attention at his words.

“
Why are you here
?”
She asked
.“
And
how
did you know
I
would be here
?
”

“
Already answered your second question
.”
Zeeve said sweetly
.“
A hunch
.
”

“
Ho
w
”
Terana repeated
.“
I never spoke aloud my plans. And Zeeve, you are speaking normally
.
”

“
Yep.
I’
m tired of the third dialogue
.
”

“
So you have been lying to me
?
”

Zeeve blinked
.“
No. Zeeve never lied to you. I was just playing with accents. Tha
t’
s all
.”
He finished with a shrug
.“
tis fun
.
”   

“
Ah, Terana, you now discover why Zeeve is so annoying
.”
Kadrean cut in. Zeeve glared at him and stuck out his tongue. Russy snorted what sounded suspiciously like a laugh. Zeeve smacked Russ
y’
s snout. In retaliation, Russy sent Zeeve rolling across the path with his paw and a wolfish grin. Zeeve  skidded to a stop on his face
.“
Anywa
y
…
”
Kadrean continued
.“
You wanted to know how we knew where you would be. If you wanted to leave Plarn the pass is right there. This is the way you would eventually have to go
.
”

“
Oh
.”
Terana felt sheepish. Another thought occurred to he
r“
How did you know I
would
go? I could have just spent the night in the woods like I sometimes do
.”
How are you going to answer that?
She wondered. She was certain that they would have trouble explaining this. She forgot Zeev
e’
s favorite answer.

“
A really good hunch
.”
He answered on cue, lifting his torso off the ground and raised his finger in declaration. His strength gave out, apparently, and he flopped back down to the ground.

“
A suggestion. Besides I was leaving anyway
.”
Kadrean answered.
 ‘
bout time someone actually answered the question.
Terana thought.

“
Why would you be looking for me anyway? I am no one special
.”
Terana pointed out reasonably.

“
Teran
a
…
”
Kadrean paused for a second as if searching for the  right words
.“I’
m not sure how to phrase this, but has anything ever strange happen around you
?
”

“
What type of question is
that
?
!”
Zeeve exclaimed, springing back to his feet.

Terana blinked. That was what she wanted to say. What was Kade trying to ask?

“
Have things reacted in tandem with your emotions
?”
He tried again.

Terana remembered rocks splitting around the Pan boys yesterday
.“
Maybe. Why
?”
She replied uneasily.

“
Terana, have you ever heard of magic
?
”

“
Who has
n’
t? I
t’
s in every fairy tale
I’
ve heard
.”
She said scratching Russ
y’
s ruff. Russy still had a smug expression on his face.

“
You have it
.”
Said Zeeve with certainly, brushing dirt off his front.

Terana laughed
.“
Yeah right. Magic does
n’
t exist
.
”

Kadrean snorted
.“
I beg to differ
.”
He held out his hand and a purple flame licked at his fingers
.“
Terana, I
am
a mage
.”
Terana stared at him, struck dumb
.“
There are many mages. Zeeve and I believe that you are one
.
”

Terana turned to Liam; the only one she could count on to be somewhat normal. If not that, at least above the insanity of what the other two proclaimed
.“
Please tell me that I did
n’
t see that
.”
She begged.  There was no such thing as magic, there just was
n’
t such a force. She had been imagining things for awhile now, that purple flame in Kadrea
n’
s hand was just another of her imaginings. She could dismiss it if Liam let her by telling her that she did
n’
t see it
.
”

Liam raised an eyebrow
.“
Surely you do
n’
t want me to lie to you, do you
?
”

Damn him, h
e’
s just as bad as Jeremy. Terana thought looking away.

“
If I lied to you, I would
n’
t be able to appreciate what he has done for me
.”
Liam continued nonchalantly.  His ploy worked. Terana returned her curious gaze back to him. Liam held his cane in both hands and walked first two steps back then two forward then he did a little jig in front of her. Teran
a’
s jaw dropped. She remembered seeing him have to clutch at a wall sometimes when his cane fell. Liam was known for his inability to walk. Now he was
dancing
?!

“
Yo
u’
re a healer
?”
She asked Kadrean.

He smiled.

“
Fine, magic exists, but
I’
m not a mage
.”
She amended.

“
But you are
.”
Zeeve insisted.

“
You
believe
, but you do not
know
.”
She pointed out.

Kadrean nodded
.“
True, but we have a way to find out
.”
He reached into a saddle bag and pulled out a black velvet bag. He tossed it to her
.“
Within that is a
Kadelle
.
”

“
A what
?”
Terana asked dumbfounded.

“
A rock that glows if a person has magic
.”
Zeeve explained
.“
You dump it out of the bag onto your hand. If it glows, Kade and I are right. If it does
n’
t, yo
u’
re right. Small chance of the latter
.”
He muttered under his breath.