To Darkness Fled (16 page)

Achan lowered his defenses to allow Sir Gavin inside. He was getting better at this.

'Tis a long journey, lad. And now that we're riding horses, we can practice without fear of walking into a tree. We must perfect your ability to bloodvoice. Vrell's going to practice with us. I'll invite him into our counsel now.

Achan's body rocked in the saddle. He closed his eyes, opened them, closed them again. No difference. Amazing how horses could see in the dark. If they neared a cliff, would Scout stop or plummet over the side? Achan sensed himself falling--

A soft prick to his temple.
Vrell Sparrow.

Achan shook away from his wandering thoughts, embarrassed he'd lost control so quickly. He opened to Sparrow, and the boy's mind floated into Achan's head.

Achan could hear nothing from Sparrow.
How do you guard your thoughts so well? I've never once been inside your head. I mean, I can speak to you, but not see through your eyes.

You are strong in some ways, but so am
I.
Arman has given us both what we need to serve our purpose in this life. At least you're shielding well. It no longer hurts to talk to you.

Was he shielding well? A rush of hope filled him. Maybe he'd get the hang of this after all.
Where's Sir Gavin?

He told me to wait with you. It's strange, these knights knock differently than how I learned. I was taught to give the name of the person I wanted to speak to, but these knights give their own name.

Does it matter?

I suppose not. I usually sense the person as well anyway. Do you?

Never really thought about it.
A bird screeched in the distance. Scout snorted and Achan patted his neck. "It's okay, boy."

Sparrow went on.
Do you think someone could give a false name?

Why would anyone want to?

To get into your mind, fool you, storm or attack in some way.

Achan frowned. He supposed that could happen.
Do you think there's a way to force someone to lower their defenses? I mean, bloodvoicing is a powerful gift. I should think forcing secrets from my enemy would come in handy during a battle.

It might. But bloodvoicing is good for other uses in war. Jax told me your father used to send orders to his generals in battles. Imagine the benefit of a coordinated attack controlled that well. That is why most Kingsguard knights have the ability in some measure. They are recruited because of it.

The giant knew my father?

No. Jax was a soldier, but he heard your father give orders.

Why didn't you mention this before?

It did not occur to me. We have been traveling a great deal.

Achan's temple prickled.

Prince Oren Hadar.

He straightened and fingered his uncle's ring. He saw a flash of the man on his knees, black hair slicked back over his head, blue eyes penetrating into Achan's as he offered his sword on both palms. The memory of his words brought chills.

"I swear fealty and service to the crown of Er'Rets, to ever give wise counsel, to uphold the laws and customs of our land, to serve where I might, according to my knowledge and ability. Thus swear I, Prince Oren Hadar, to you, my king."

Achan could sense his uncle, even recognize his voice.

Another prick came.
Sir Gavin Lukos.

Achan lowered his guard to allow both men into his mind.

We'll postpone our lessons for the moment
, Sir Gavin said.
Prince Oren, I've asked Master Vrell Sparrow to join us so he might learn ways to help Achan practice.

Excellent
, Prince Oren said.
Master Sparrow, Sir Gavin has informed me of your service to my nephew these past few weeks. All Er'Rets is in your debt.

Thank you, Your Highness,
Sparrow said.

How are you faring on your journey? Are you well?

I am, Your Highness
.

Excellent. Nephew
, y
ou must learn to communicate without being overheard. I have much to speak with you about but not until you are ready. How do you feel about our link now?

Fine
, Achan said.

And after your encounter with the Hamartano mage?

Heat crept up the back of Achan's neck. Did Sir Gavin have to share that blunder with his uncle?
I'm glad to know what she's capable of. I'll not be so foolish again.

Well said. What is your agenda, Sir Gavin?

We head for Melas. I have a friend there who'll give us shelter and replenish our supplies before we head into Therion.

Good. Achan, I am glad to hear you are well and safe. You must be a student now so that later you can be a king. My prayers go with you on your journey north. Arman protect you.

And as quickly as he'd come, Prince Oren's presence faded away. Achan stared into the black void, the scraping of hooves over rocky soil grating loudly in his ears. Would he ever get to see his uncle on a regular basis?

Very well
, Sir Gavin said.
For our first lesson, Achan, I'd like you to shield yourself against Vrell. You'll both stay connected to me. Vrell, you'll try to force your way into Achan's thoughts. Achan, you'll speak with me and try to keep Vrell out. Are you ready?

Yes
, Sparrow said.

Aye
. Achan fortified his mind. He patted Scout a moment before more pinpricks needled his temples.

Sir Gavin Lukos.

Achan opened to the knight.

Talk to me about something only you know, lad. Anything will do.

Achan's mind spun.
Um...the longer bread raises, the rounder the loaf. Dough raises best in a warm place. Under a cloth and near the fireplace is where Poril always--

Hold. You started out fine but distracted yourself from guarding your thoughts. Vrell heard half of what you said. Try again. A different topic.

Achan gripped his reins and concentrated on closing off his mind again. A different topic? His knowledge didn't range far.
Oh, I know. It's said goats will eat almost anything, but they're actually quite particular. Their stalls and troughs have to be spotless before they'll eat. Mold in their feed can make them sick. I almost lost Dilly one winter due to mold. Alfalfa is...

Achan paused. His temple itched, almost like a knock, but no voice announced an intention to enter. Was that Sparrow trying to sneak in or someone else?

Achan duplicated himself, leaving one man to guard the door. The other stepped outside and pounced on the mysterious intruder.

A scream spilled out around Achan, but he concentrated, not willing to fail this test. He groped for the person, trying to discover this trespasser's identity, but the person blew away like a gust of wind.

12

"Inko, a light!" Sir Gavin yelled.

Achan's walls collapsed. He whirled around on Scout. "What's wrong?"

Boots splashed though water. A torch whizzed to life from the horse in front of Achan, throwing an amber glow over Sir Gavin's moving form below.

"Vrell's fallen off his horse." Sir Gavin crouched out of sight. "Achan, close your mind. You're spilling all over."

Achan drew up his shields and blinked rapidly, trying to see. He swung his leg over Scout and slid to the ground. His feet splashed into at least a foot of water.

Sir Gavin heaved to his feet, holding Sparrow's limp and dripping form. "He's breathing." Sir Gavin sighed. "Achan, what did you do?"

He did something? "I...I doubled myself, then attacked."

"I'll be ransomed." Sir Caleb's voice drifted down from his horse. "You taught him to storm?"

"I most certainly did not. Where'd you learn such a maneuver, lad?"

Maneuver? "I--nowhere. Seemed like the right thing to do."

"And you saw nothing of it, Gavin?"

"Nay. He blocked me. Must have duplicated himself first."

"Did I... Is he hurt?"

Sparrow wheezed in a long breath, coughed, sputtered.

"Are you all right?" Sir Gavin bounced the boy in his arms. "Can you stand?"

Sparrow coughed. Nodded.

What had Achan done? He could only stare as Sir Gavin lowered the boy to his feet. He didn't understand any of this. How could simple mind games wound someone? Was this what Vrell had done to the black knight mage?

"What happened, boy?" Sir Caleb asked.

"I am uncertain." Sparrow's voice croaked, eyes fixed on Achan's. "Achan did something strange. I felt...pushed from my body. I have a weakness, though. When I bloodvoice too long, I black out."

"It's Arman's blessing you did. A true storm can trap the strongest man in the Veil." Sir Gavin frowned at Achan. "It's not something to be played with."

Achan gulped. "I just wanted to see who was there."

"'Twas Vrell, Achan! We were having a lesson. Do you think it would be anyone else?"

"To be fair," Sir Caleb said, "it was wise to be suspicious of what you sensed. Just don't experiment with your power until you've learned. You could kill someone."

Sir Gavin tugged his beard. "Sir Caleb, surely you can teach this better than I."

"We made a bargain. I'd take over his weapons training if you trained his mind. Gavin, you're the strongest of us all."

"But I'm no teacher! What if Vrell had stormed Achan? What if we'd lost him?"

"You're knowing better than to be giving fear a listening ear," Inko said. "You should be thanking Arman for this warning and be having no more lessons until you can be giving the prince a proper understanding of the art."

Sir Gavin sniffed long and hard. "That's wise, Inko. But he and Prince Oren must be able to speak securely. So we must continue to practice sustaining a private connection. From now on I'll lecture in your mind, lad."

"If we each do our part," Sir Caleb said, "we might manage to train you properly."

"We need to keep moving." Sir Gavin gripped Vrell's elbow. "It's still hours to the sandbar. Come, Vrell. Let me help you onto your horse."

"Thank you, good sir."

Achan cocked his head as Sir Gavin boosted Sparrow into the saddle. The boy must be crazy to be so calm. It was the second time in two days Achan had attacked him. "Sorry, Sparrow. I didn't mean to--"

Sparrow turned his pale, round face down to Achan. "Do not think on it. I should have warned you how bloodvoicing weakens me. What I do not understand is when we first began I sensed your mind like an icy wall. Macoun Hadar's mind was the same. Always a cold presence."

"I felt that in him too," Achan said as Sir Gavin slogged past to his horse.

Sparrow glanced at Achan, eyes wide. "But with you, the coldness faded. And then I could not sense you at all."

Sir Gavin mounted his horse, water drizzling off the heels of his boots. "The chill you sense is weakness. Achan's still learning. He starts out weak but gets stronger. With Macoun, the coldness is lack of control in his old age. That's why he seeks out strong, young apprentices. He cannot shadow people if they sense they're being shadowed."

"So when Achan learns fully, even those with the gift will not be able to sense him?" Sparrow asked.

"Aye. He'll be able to enter any mind in Er'Rets undetected."

Silence hung on Achan's shoulders like a chain coat. Water sloshed as a horse shifted its feet. A mosquito buzzed down by his elbow.

"Why give such a tool to a man?" Sparrow asked.

"Only to one man at a time," Sir Gavin said. "The man Arman ordains king."